July Favorites

Written by Cassie Douglas Published on July 30, 2020 in Favorites

July felt like it passed pretty quickly for us! There were definitely some highlights for me, including a long weekend getaway with family and a seeing a few friends in person for the first time in months. Connection really matters, and I don’t think any of us will be taking it for granted anytime soon.

I share a few favorite things with you each month in hopes that some of these might bring you some joy or inspiration. I love when someone I read or follow shares something they love. In a world full of overwhelming choices, it’s nice to have a trusted friend point out something great. So, enjoy!

At the top of my July Favorites list has to be….Hamilton. Y’all, I cannot tell you enough how incredible this musical-turned-movie is. The writing–genius. The casting–genius. The music–genius. It is a must-watch on Disney+. Find a way to watch it.

I love to read and love book recommendations. Each month, Shay Shull of the Mix & Match Mama blog, writes a blog post about the books she has read in the last four weeks. I look forward to reading this post every month, and often get a few titles to add to my TBR (to be read) list. Here is a link to her July post. You can subscribe to her newsletter or just follow her on social media to know when she releases this monthly post.

Speaking of books, Kendra Adachi, host of The Lazy Genius podcast, has a book coming out on August 11 called The Lazy Genius Way. Her mantra is “Be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t.” Isn’t that great? I was fortunate to be able to read an advanced copy of the book and love its practical advice for how to simplify processes to make your life easier.

I have been trying to be more intentional about the products and food I buy, replacing conventional with natural, organic or safer when possible. One resource I love to learn from on this topic is Just Ingredients with Karalynne Call. I mostly follow her on Instagram (@just.ingredients), but her website is a treasure trove of information about safer products she recommends. I find her very practical without being too “crunchy.”

I have several friends who don’t live nearby and it is difficult to align our schedules for a phone call. Last year, I was introduced to the Voxer app, and this app has given new life to these friendships. With the app, you leave a voice message (up to 15 min) or a text and the other person can do the same. It’s much easier than text, and you get the benefit of hearing the person’s voice. You can also be on a group voxer. I know people who use it for family, friends or work. It can be a little glitchy sometimes, but overall it is fantastic!

I bought these grain-free granola bars at Costco and really like them. Gotta love it when you know what all of the ingredients are! You can also buy them on Amazon, but it looks like Costco is cheaper.