Monthly Musings

Hello and happy Thursday!

Well, it’s the last day of July…and as cliche as it sounds, “where did the summer go?”

I’m linking up with Patty and Holly for Monthly Musings.

This month’s topic is…how we summer. Well, this topic is timely since I feel like summer is over…but of course, it’s not! We’ll feel the heat until October, but once school starts back, I tend to feel like that’s it for summer!

Anyway, here are my responses:

1. Favorite thing about summer 2025!

Well, it’s hard to choose just one. It felt like such a wonderful milestone for Travis and I to celebrate twenty years of marriage, and it was nice to get away for a few days to South Haven and Saugatuck, MI.

This summer has been extra special with one niece and one nephew getting married! We attended two beautiful weddings in the course of two months.

2. Favorite thing you ate this summer.

Not exactly what I ate, but one of the things I love about summer is relaxing a bit on meal planning and kind of just going with the flow. That being said, it is good when we can get back in a routine with meal planning and meal prep once the school year begins.

As for food I actually did eat, I loved breakfast at the bed and breakfast in South Haven and the boutique hotel in Saugatuck.

Also, the tasting menu at Coast in Saugatuck was ten out of ten!

3. Did you see any summer movies?

I do tend to watch a bit more TV in the summer just because I have some extra time to do so. We do usually try to have a movie night or go see at least one movie in the summer. Just this week we tried to see F1 in the theater. We bought the tickets and the popcorn and got settled in our seats…just to wait and wait and wait. Finally, after thirty minutes, they gave us ticket vouchers because they couldn’t get the movie to work. Maybe we’ll get to see it soon.

4. What books did you read this summer?

I shared my July reading yesterday, and I’ve read six of the nine summer books on my list. I’m hoping to get a couple more read in August.

5. Ready for fall or hold on to summer?

I really do love summer, even with the hot temps. Just this week, I went to the pool and it was so hot, I spent more time in the pool than out of it. That’s ok because I still was able to read my book and work on my tan!

That being said, after Labor Day, I’m ready for cooler temps and all things fall.

6. What is different about your summer schedule compared to the rest of the year?

Well, if you ask my kids…they’ll say, “What is bedtime?!” haha

For me, I love not setting an alarm to wake up. Also, it’s been nice having time to go to the Reformer Pilates classes that I love. Hadley joined me at a class this week, and she loved it. Due to the times, I can’t really do that during the summer.

Once school starts back, I feel like we are on the go more than ever. That being said, my kids typically have something going on every day of summer too, and I honestly don’t feel very rested heading back into the school year…but at least I get a nap if I want in the summer!

7. How do you take a break/relax in the summer?

In the summer, I enjoy slow mornings, afternoons on the front porch, pool or beach time to relax.

8. Any trips still on the calendar for the rest of the summer?

Unfortunately, no. We didn’t even really have our act together to travel this summer…besides the trip to Lake Michigan. That being said, the kids got to do what they wanted to do in regards to work, camps, hanging out with friends and more. Trav and I took the time to get away for a few days which we rarely do, so that was lovely too.

9. Any summer concerts this year?

No summer concerts this year for us.

10. When does summer end in your world?

Probably the first day of school when that 5:50 alarm goes off!

Sorry! I feel like I was kind of boring in this post. Truth be told, while we had lots of good memories this summer, it was also one that was hard for me. I know not every summer is perfect, but this one just felt overwhelming and disappointing in some ways. I’m forever grateful for time off and extra time with my kids, so no matter what, I don’t take that luxury for granted.