Obviously I’m late to the game in posting July’s recap but how in the world are we (now, over) halfway through 2023?? I will say that I am pretty pumped about the fun holidays coming up that close out the end of the year. But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves! Before we get there, below are some of my favorite July moments.
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control; against such things there is no law.”
-Galatians 5:22-23
Thanks to a VBS song from my childhood, I actually do already have this verse memorized but I still need the reminders so this was a fun one to focus on this summer. And because these are familiar words, I checked out The Message version & really like how these words give fresh thoughts to ponder. Sometimes just changing the words a bit gives just the right reframing.
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
-Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG)
Independence Day – July 4th
The Fourth of July will always hold a special place in my heart. For one thing, it’s sweet to have a summer holiday that everyone celebrates because it’s a hot minute before the cozy holiday season in the “ber” months comes. And for another, I have fond memories of friend & family cookouts. This year, I got back to the neighborhood 4th roots which was the actual best! I have the privilege of living in a family’s bonus apartment space & this comes with the perks of some really fun neighbors who enjoy getting the block out to celebrate with one another. They set up a homemade popsicle stand, put on a professional-grade fireworks show, & ended with sparklers for everyone. Being new to the area, it was so sweet getting to meet more people that I now recognize & wave to as I’m driving (or scootering) down the street. So if you needed it, here’s your sign to meet the people you live by! It can be intimidating for sure but there’s something to be said about getting to know the community you live in.
Working at camps for several summers has also lended to the fun of this holiday & this year was no exception! We decked out our golf cart for the grand parade & partied in the USA all day!
For a whole post ideas for celebrating the Fourth click here!
Simplicity Day – July 12th
I just so happened to be reading ‘The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry’ at the time & simplicity was the section I was reading. First of all, such a good book – highly recommend! Secondly, it makes my heart happy that there’s a day to remind us about seeking simplicity. I think we all long for is but what are we doing to put it into practice?
Day of the Cowboy – July 22nd
Living in Tennessee where boots & country music abound, this one was easy to give cowboys a little tip of the hat! I celebrated by reminiscing on a trip to the Grand Ole Opry with friends where I discovered the cutest cowboys ever: ‘Riders in the Sky’ – seriously look them up & prepare for your heart to burst.
Friendship Day – July 30th
The thing about friends is that there’s a mutual understanding that you’re pretty big fans of each other or else you probably wouldn’t be friends but it’s also fun to remind your pals just how much you love & appreciate them. My favorite mode of doing this is happy mail especially since most of my closest friends live out of state. I adore this friendship bracelet revolution that’s happening as the moment so I took my newly learned skills from Camp Carla & put them to use!
Tutorial here (but I used yarn).
Christmas in July – July 25th
As you can see, when there’s a holiday at camp, there’s a parade haha! We went from parade to party because my boss’ birthday was right around the corner. Soup was enjoyed & holiday music was blasted. I always feel like I’m breaking the rules a little by celebrating Christmas for a day in the summer but I think that’s what makes it all the more fun!
I also feel as though this is an excellent time for a shameless plug for The Confetti Bar’s children’s book “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in Confetti Land”! I will forever cherish getting to be part of this project & would love for you to join the magic of Christmas in Confetti Land. Read more about our book here & get your copy here.
Board
Eat the rainbow! I am still loving taking inspiration from The Cheese Board Deck to create aesthetically pleasing snacks. I created this one for some camp staffers to enjoy.
Bucket List
- Go to a Sounds game (was rained out 😕)
- Go to Davis General Store ✔️ So stinking’ cute! I’m a sucker for a general store!
- Try a birthday cake popsicle recipe
- Try a new sourdough recipe
- Camp fam end of summer party ✔️
Some of these got away from me but still such a great & full month!
Confetti Reign 