Howdy after a hot minute of being away!
Last year I took a summer break of sorts during the month of July. I found it so helpful that I ended up doing the same thing this year. Still, July was busy as a bee on a buzzsaw for Team Strong! I’ll go into the why of this more in my newsletter next week. (If you’re not on my mailing list, you can visit here to receive that newsletter right in your inbox!)
As a side note, I was so sad to hear of the passing of Dolly Parton. My daddy loved her music, and she was the soundtrack to some of my earliest childhood memories. I certainly didn’t know her, but I’m so thankful that she has a relationship with Jesus and is in heaven.
For now, I’ll take a break from listening to her tunes and watching clips from Steel Magnolias to send you this month’s edition of “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things.”
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: Sweet Summer Comforts
Peach Cobbler: Our newest neighbors came over for dinner last month, and I made this for dessert. If you have any left over summer peaches, this ain’t a bad way to use them!
Spiced Peach Crumble Bars: If you have more leftover peaches after making the above cobbler–or prefer crumble bars to cobbler–these are wonderful! I made them as a goodie for my daughter and her roommates 😁, and then I promptly forgot to bring them with me when I visited her last week. 😩 But boy howdy, they are good.
Apple Crisp: Yep, it’s another Southern Living recipe! I could also share Southern Living as a “favorite thing” because I still subscribe to it even though I haven’t lived within its regional coverage since the late 1900’s. 😂 Anyhoo, I’m sharing this recipe just in time for apple season. DIVINE.
Etsy Customizable Sign: My daughter and I hosted a bridal shower earlier this month (see pic above!). This Etsy business made the sign you see hanging in the picture. It was so pretty! And since it’s customizable, you can tailor it for all sorts of events.
Old Navy Workout skort: I bought this a couple of weeks ago and LOVE it. It’s so comfortable (and flattering!) in the summer when leggings are too warm. I bought this one, too. They’re both on sale so are very reasonably priced! This remains my favorite workout top, too.
Slim Velvet Hangers: By and large, I’ve only had plastic hangers till I started buying these. My clothes definitely stay on these hangers much better. Also, their slimmer design means the clothes hanging on them take up less space in my closet.
Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie: For this winner of a recipe, I used ground beef instead of ground turkey, and I used green beans and carrots instead of peas for my veggies. YUM.
Full Length Mirror: My daughter has this mirror in her room, and I love the way it looks modern and classic all at once. She has hers propped up against the wall rather than hanging on it. Easy peasy install!
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett: I’m not a fast reader, but I read through this one licked-split because I could NOT put it down. The twists and turns of this story surprised me more than once, and I really love the characters who take turns narrating this story. The Calamity Club is probably one of my favorite books that I’ve ever read.
House Hushing: The Simple Method to Declutter and Decorate for a More Peaceful Home by Myquillyn Smith: No, I haven’t read all of this yet, but it’s still safe for me to say that I love everything Myquillyn writes! And she’s been influencing the way I see my home for nearly 20 years now! No other person has helped me feel content and at peace with what I have in my home more than Myquillyn. Her philosophy is part of why I can’t wait to dig into this new book of hers. If you long to create a home that blesses those within its walls with intention and simplicity yet without spending a bunch of your hard earned dollars, this is for you. (Side note: I got one of our shower activity ideas, arranging flowers, from Myquillyn too!)
Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser: After talking about how I was in my Little House on the Prairie era, my friend, Aundrea, recommended this book to me. And I’ll tell you what: it offers the ultimate behind the scenes view of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s autobiographical books. Here’s some information from the book’s back cover: “…drawing on unpublished manuscripts, letters, diaries, and lands and financial records, Caroline Fraser masterfully fills in the gaps in Wilder’s biography, revealing the grown-up story behind the most influential childhood epic of pioneer life.” It indeed does just that.
Boos Cutting Board: My husband bought this for me several Christmases ago, and I LOVE IT. I keep it on my countertop, and I use it almost daily. I also bought one for my friend’s daughter as a shower gift!
Mrs. Meyer’s Tomato Vine Hand Soap: Good golly, do I love the smell of this hand soap. When my daughter was home, she commented on how much she loved the smell, too. A great end-of-summer soap scent!
Osea Body Oil: A few months ago, my skin’s itchiness leveled up. As in, it leveled up so much it kept me up for most of the night. 😭 So, when I heard Melanie and Sophie from the Big Boo Cast talk about how moisturizing this was, I bought some. It’s an oil, so a little goes a long way. Plus, I mix it in with my favorite lavender lotion and use it after I shower to make it go even further. Now, it is pricey. But honest to goodness, I’m not nearly as itchy as I was without it. So, it’s worth it in my book!
Cotton Sheet Set: I think I shared these a year or two ago, but given that I just bought a new set, I wanted to share them again. They’re soft and comfy yet won’t break the bank. My husband has commented that he likes them, too!
That’s all for today! May God bless and keep you, dearheart!
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