Love old Hollywood? Want to listen to audiobooks in bed? Want to see what a restored picnic table looks like? It’s all here in this month’s HAPPY LIST.
I hope you guys have had a great month and have been soaking in a little sunshine this summer. Our summer will be soon coming to a close so we are trying to plan a little spontaneous trip to celebrate another summer in the books.
If you have any suggestions for a day trip to St. Louis, I’m all ears!
Would you like to hear what’s been making me happy this month? I’d love to share those fun things with you today!
If you have been missing the 3 little things list each week, I promise it is still here. I just moved it on over to my monthly newsletter so you can enjoy it in your inbox instead.
Sign up is super quick over here. I will even send you some free printables to help you put together an incredible home management binder and a FREE SUMMER READING GUIDE.
Let’s explore the happy for July!
I stumbled upon This Was Hollywood on Instagram and I couldn’t be happier. This account shares lots of little known facts about film and movie stars with incredible behind-the-scenes images and fun clips from older movies. I am such a nerd for things like this and really crave escaping into the nostalgia these days. You will definitely want to take your time and read the captions on these because you will be the hit of any dinner party with all these fun facts and scenes in your head.
Here are a few of my favorite posts from this account to get you acquainted:
Stars and Their Stand-Ins
The First Interracial Dance Pairing on Film
Black Cat Casting Call
Let’s Say It With Firecrackers
Gene Kelly Performing Dig-Dig-Dig For Your Dinner
Our New Patio Set-Up
We try to stain our patio table each year (here is a tutorial if you have a wooden table!) and usually I’m the one cranking out this project for my family. I really wasn’t looking forward to doing that this year so I was VERY thankful my hubby volunteered to handle the task this year. The finish we chose last year was the darkest stain so my husband sanded it down to create a bit of a weathered pattern and then we sealed it with a waterproof seal. Skipping the stain saved a bit of time, more importantly though, I love the unique finish on this piece.
If you are curious about the rest of our set-up, we ended up buying this umbrella last year and it is worth every penny. It survived all the crazy Midwest weather and looks just like the day we brought it home. We, honestly, didn’t even store it during the winter. We also paired it with this gorgeous rug that I scored on sale earlier this year.
Not sure how to keep your outdoor rugs clean? Here is the quickest way that I discovered. How easy is that?
My daughter requested a sushi and Stranger Things marathon for our 4th of July and I couldn’t have been happier about that. The only thing I discovered though is that sushi deliveries do not exist on the 4th so Whole Foods had to come in with the sushi save for our marathon.
Have you seen it yet? This season definitely was a lot darker and gorier (in my opinion) than past seasons. The moments where it really shined, for this mom, were the ones that addressed the big shift that happens in middle school and how we can become separated from our peers when we are embracing different levels of maturity. I also loved the section on boundary setting with kids and just how hard it would be to set boundaries with a kid that can do incredible power moves with her mind. Overall, I loved it and thought the writing was (as always) incredible.
I can’t wait to see what they dream up for next season!
I was in need of new summer pajamas and our reading retreat ended up being the perfect excuse. Since I have wee legs, I am constantly challenged with pajama pants that drag on the floor. I snagged this unbelievably soft pajama twin set that has cropped legs and I can’t rave enough about how amazing these are. They come in three beautiful hues and wash up amazingly well too.
Not a fan of the cropped pant? This same style comes in a nightgown and in a cute little pajama shorts set too.
Have you heard of SleepPhones? The company reached out and shared with me a pair of SleepPhones to try and I can’t rave enough.
As someone who has sensitive ears, headphones often bother me and I have never figured out a way to wear these comfortably while lying down. The SleepPhones are charged (just like all your other devices) and the headphones are hidden within a soft headband that lay flat and flush against your ear. You can check out the different versions over here.
If you are a side sleeper, these are REALLY amazing because you can still do your side resting/sleeping while listening to white noise, a podcast, or audiobooks. I have been trying out this app with them this week.
This week they are also sending me their latest ASMR version that they came out with and I CAN’T WAIT. Don’t know what ASMR is? Here’s a great explanation.
I have been on the hunt for high quality CBD that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The dosage I take and the amount I need is a lot. I happened to stumble upon the Lazarus Naturals Company that offers CBD products at affordable prices and decided to give them a spin.
I can’t say enough good things about the communication, quick shipping, and the quality of the product that was sent to me. I am in no way affiliated with them- I just had to share!
What I appreciate the most is that they offer a 60% Veterans Discount (for my amazing Dad!!) and discounts for low-income or people living on long term disability. If you fit ANY of these criterias, head here to apply. If not, just consider them for your needs because they are doing such great things for these people.
our boy celebrated his 17th birthday! I can hardly believe it! how are we this old?
I was proud to have clocked my 500th mile on my foldable stationary bike. This bike gets sooo much love over here.
It’s s’more season. We have been spending a lot of time out here by our fire pit now that we FINALLY have the perfect cover for it.
we have been getting in a lot of board games on the ol’ picnic table. Azul, Betrayal at the House on the Hill, and Love Letter have been in our rotation. Also, I’m madly in love with these tabletop tiki torches. They look like antique glass and have kept the bugs away when we have been outside.
I’ve been making my Pilates Wheel time my own version of physical therapy. I can’t believe how much better I feel, especially with the spinal mobility classes they offer. It’s saving me a ton on expensive equipment classes this year too.
I’ve been missing going on good old-fashioned library visits so I had to make up for lost time. This was my reward after the reading retreat successfully concluded. I really know how to treat myself. Can’t wait to share this next stack with you!
I love checking out new restaurants in town. If you are on the hunt for a good gluten-free pizza, The Lauber Bar & Grill has you covered.
Let’s talk about what YOU loved this month!
Top Ten Most Visited Articles in July
- Easy Burlap Wreath Tutorial
- 3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs
- June 2019 Must-Reads
- How to Make DIY Fluffy Slime
- DIY Kool-Aid Slushies
- March 2019 Must-Reads
- How to Spray Paint Furniture
- Best Kindle Daily Book Deals (be sure to bookmark this page!)
- How to Make Quinoa in the Rice Cooker
- How to Stain a Picnic Table
Top Ten Most Purchased Items in July
- Crepe Pull-On Shorts (what a steal right now!!)
- Too Many Books? I Think Not. T-Shirt
- Cat Petting Guide T-Shirt
- Mama Bird T-Shirt
- Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs
- Scrabble 2-in-1 Message Boards
- Introverted But Willing to Discuss Books T-Shirt
- XL Air Fryer
- Personalized Pony Pins
- Sannibel Platform Wedge Sandals
- Saints for All Occasions
- My Notorious Life
- Next Year in Havana
- My Not So Perfect Life
- The Psychology of Time Travel
- Honolulu
- The Roanoke Girls
- Light From Other Stars
- We Were Liars
- The Cactus
I hope you enjoyed this month’s round-up of July fun. I hope my month of happy brings a month of happy to you too! If this post doesn’t convince you my newsletter is fun, I’ve got nothing. Sign up over here to get this fun weekly in your inbox.
*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!