Hi everyone and happy August!!! How are you guys?
It’s been a minute since I did a monthly recap and favorite things post, but there’s no time to get back into it like the present. I love doing these posts!
July has been pretty calm and low-key. No complaints there! Lots of time boating or floating on Lake Lanier with my in-laws, many pool days to brave this hot Georgia sun, trips to the farmers market and of course, always exploring Atlanta.
One of the more monumental updates from this month is my big sister got married July 29th!!! I got the honor to be a bridesmaid for the first time which was SO fun. She got married at Tin Roof Farms in Saluda, South Carolina. It was the most gorgeous July day and the venue was breathtaking! It was such a fun and special wedding and she made the most beautiful bride!
Behind the scenes of our July pool and lake days, life has been full of exciting upcoming change over here in the Brabham household. After staying home with my daughter Blakely for the past 2.5 years, I have made the decision to officially start my career in Atlanta. Not exactly sure what that will look like yet, but I am along for the ride!
As Blakely’s gotten older and more independent, I’ve realized how beneficial it will be to surround her with children her age. And also- I’m finally feeling a peace and readiness to work full-time that I haven’t felt since having my daughter.
It’s been such a joy getting to be Blakely’s first teacher as a stay at home mom. Spending all day everyday with her has truly been so rewarding, exhausting at times too, but mostly rewarding. She’s grown to be incredibly social and I know putting her into school will be so good for the both of us!
With that said, I am currently waist deep in the midst of finding a full-time job! We are touring daycare’s, I’m actively applying for jobs, and I’ve already had one interview with (hopefully) more to come. All the things!
With those exciting updates out of the way, let’s get into July’s favorite things!!! You know the drill – favorite books, podcasts, shows, movies, recipes, and lastly things I’m loving from the month! Below you’ll find a few of my favorite photos from the month, followed by July’s favorites!
JULY FAVORITE THINGS
1.) READING…
This month was a bit of a slower reading month for me. I finished one book and am currently in the middle of two more!
- The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand 4/5
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (currently reading)
- What Color Is Your Parachute? (currently reading)
Meet Hollis Shaw – a new-to-fame food blogger and mom to an angsty teen daughter. Months after she unexpectedly loses her husband, she organizes an unforgettable “five star” weekend in Nantucket with one friend from each stage of her life. Childhood, college, mid-life mom years and lastly, one of her food blog fans. Full of secrets, drama, & unexpected friendship, The Five-Star Weekend brings readers along for a weekend to remember.
This one was slow for me, but overall I really enjoyed it! 4 out of 5 stars for me! It always takes me about 100 pages to get into an Elin Hilderbrand book, and so far it’s always been worth it to finish it. I was so invested in all of the characters lives and drama by the end of this story. A delightful summer must-read!
Currently reading this one and loving it. It’s a debut novel and a Read With Jenna book-club pick. After getting into the story I can see why! Excited to report more on this one when I finish.
I started this book as a resource in my search for a job and it has been SO helpful in learning more about myself and the career world. I recommend to anyone in college and post grad, or if you’re looking for a job or wanting a career change. This book will give you all the answers you need to score your dream job!
2.) LISTENING TO…
My top 3 podcasts/podcast episodes that I listened to this month:
1) NEW PODCAST ALERT🚨: Books, Beach, & Beyond | By Elin Hilderbrand & Tim Ehrenberg
- A book-talk podcast by one of my favorite authors, featuring interviews with more of my favorite authors? Say less! You guys, if you are into reading, the writing process of an author, the details behind a book becoming a movie all with exciting guests in the book world, this podcast is for you! They have already had incredible conversations with Kristin Hannah and Taylor Jenkins Reid. Two of my absolute favorites! Hoping to see an interview with Colleen Hoover or Emily Giffin soon!
2) Science-Supported Tools to Accelerate Your Fitness Goals | Huberman Lab Podcast
- This episode is incredibly informative and helpful for all my health and fitness lovers out there! If you’re unfamiliar, Huberman Lab is a wonderful podcast & resource for all things wellness and neuroscience by Dr. Andrew Huberman (a professor of neurobiology at Standford School of Medicine). Science was definitely not my specialty in school, and some episodes can definitely get a little too science-y for me… but overall I find this podcast so practical and relatable. I took so many notes during this particular episode! It covers everything listed below & more:
- details on how to create a well rounded fitness routine
- benefits of low repetition training
- 12 key ways to enhance your overall level of fitness
- exercise “snacks” to implement daily
- importance of rest periods
- using your phone while training: pros and cons
3) Tim Ballard & Jordan Harmon Expose the Dark Truths of Human Trafficking | The Tony Robbins Podcast
- An incredibly powerful and important conversation about the realities behind human trafficking. For some background, Tim Ballard is the founder of Operation Underground Railroad which is a non-profit dedicated to rescuing human trafficking victims. The new film “Sound of Freedom” is actually a true account of Tim Ballard’s story rescuing child traffic victims. Jordan Harmon is the co-founder of the production company that produced the new film.
- My thoughts: This episode really opened my eyes to how REAL and VAST child sex traffic is. It’s incredibly sad, tragic and horrifying, but it is happening daily and Tim Ballard shares his first-hand account of his experiences with this global epidemic. I think overall this episode was to bring awareness to their new film, but it was so moving and I will definitely be going to see this movie and finding ways to support the cause.
3.) WATCHING…
I’ve been over-indulging in shows and movies this month which is probably why my reading has been put on the back-burner. There are so many good shows and movies out right now!
SHOWS:
I’m currently watching:
- The Bachelorette | ABC & Hulu. I am loving this season so much and Charity is the sweetest bachelorette!
- Claim To Fame | Hulu. I binged the first season of this on Hulu, and the second season is still live on ABC. It’s so addicting. I highly recommend, especially if you’re a fan of pop culture and reality.
- The Summer I Turned Pretty | Prime Video. This show just pulls at my heart strings! The second season has honestly been so sad, but I’m so obsessed with this story, the characters, and what’s going to happen next that I don’t even mind. I need to read the books!
Honorable mentions from the past few months:
- Queen Elizabeth | Netflix
- Daisy Jones & The Six | Prime Video
MOVIES ON MY WANT TO WATCH:
Has anyone seen these yet? I’m dying to watch all three!
- Barbie (2023 film)
- Sound of Freedom (2023 film)
- The Little Mermaid (2023 film)
4.) CURRENTLY LOVING…
1.COCO & EVE SELF TANNER… One of the most natural looking tanners I’ve tried! It comes on easy and doesn’t leave streaks, AND it has a delicious sweet smell unlike other self tanners. Highly recommend trying if you’re looking for an alternative to sunbathing.
2. PROTEIN POWDER… I’ve been consciously trying to incorporate more protein into my diet because I’ve quickly learned that you need enough protein to build muscle. This protein powder is my all time favorite (the vanilla flavor specifically). I typically mix it with frozen berries, spinach, a banana, chia seeds, whole milk & a dash of honey.
3. NUUN HYDRATION… I’m on an electrolyte kick & Nuun’s has become one of my favorite. I buy this pack of 4 from Amazon and all of the flavors are so good. I drink one during or after my workout usually and I can truly feel the instant hydration.
4. POPPI PREBIOTIC SODA… A real ingredient, low sugar, prebiotic alternative to regular soda! I have been obsessed with these as a weeknight mocktail- I’ll even put them in a wine glass at dinner to make it more fun haha.
5. FASHIONPASS… Is renting clothes worth it? That is the question I’ve had for years and I’m here to tell you YES!!! I have absolutely loved my experience on FashionPass. I’ve renting clothes as a wedding guest, for my wedding, for vacations, and just for a night out! It’s so fun to try out different pieces too and the return is so easy. It’s a must-try!
5.) EATING
Get ready for THREE incredibly tasty, healthy, and easy recipes I’ve been eating all summer long:
ORZO SALAD WITH CHICKPEAS, CUCUMBERS, LEMON, DILL AND FETA
A go-to lunch idea that’s filling and healthy! I like to prep this at the beginning of the week and eat off of for lunches the rest of the week. It goes perfectly as the side to a turkey BLT sandwich!
This would also be a great, crowd-pleasing appetizer to bring to a dinner party 🙂
PEACHES, GRANOLA & YOGURT
It’s not summer without fresh Georgia peaches!! So simple, yet hits the spot for the perfect light breakfast. Full of sweet peach flavor (try your local farmers market to see if they have them!), creamy Greek yogurt (I like Chobani vanilla) and my favorite granola of all time (Purely Elizabeth original granola).
4 INGREDIENT CHICKEN SAUSAGE + PASTA
A 4 ingredient dinner that is cooked in under 30 minutes sounds too good to be true. Let me introduce you to this delicious chicken sausage and pasta that checks all the boxes. I’ve been making this at least once a week for the past month and don’t see myself getting tired of it anytime soon. It’s that good! You’ll need:
- pasta of choice
- baby spinach
- chicken sausage (we use the Organic Italian Chicken Sausage from Trader Joe’s)
- Rao’s pasta sauce (our personal fave but any will work)
- parmesan (optional, but delish!)
6) JULY BLOG POSTS
In case you missed it:
Leave a Reply