July Wrapped
Oppressively hot (and sexy) playlist incoming
July
I’ve had a listless July. For those who understand, it feels like I went from one luteal phase to another and I’ve been finding myself sleeping in, opting for rest more, and just feeling a bit…lazy. It doesn’t help that as I’m writing this, I’ve actually just entered my luteal phase so my whole existence feels a bit groggier than usual.
Besides being lower energy, I actually did quite a bit this month.
and I launched , a project we’ve been quieting dreaming up over the course of this year. We announced (and sold out!!) our first IRL event and have been planning what’s coming next.
We also had a little 2-person creative retreat where we escaped to an off-grid cabin on Vancouver Island. We ate good, slept well, and slowed down to get inspired to create more purposefully. At some point, I’d love to host these creative retreats for larger groups!! That would be a dream come true for Kinship.
I wrapped up a bunch of projects in July as well. All-in-all, it’s been a fruitful month. Maybe that’s why I’m ending the month on such a soft note.
Rituals
Sunday admin days
Some time in the last year, I realized that if I don’t structure my free days, I end up feeling quite overwhelmed when trying to decide what to do with my time. Now, to keep myself sane, I categorize my days to help eliminate some of that decision fatigue.
I’ve started to dedicate Sundays as “admin days” aka the day that I plan for the week, decide on my meals, review my business goals, and go through my budgeting. Allocating time to reviewing how my past week went and how I’d like this next week to go makes me feel a little more confident that I’m using my time intentionally.
Door is a bore
I talked about this a little in my vlogs but Mika (my pup) has been dealing with separation anxiety again ever since I moved out alone. When I lived with my ex, someone was always home with her and we rarely left her alone. Now living on my own, it’s been a struggle re-training her to be independent when I need to leave the house.
We’ve been practicing "door is a bore” every single day for a few weeks now and slowly building up her tolerance for being alone. For all my dog owner readers who also have an anxious pup, definitely look this up! It takes a lot of time and does get quite tedious but it’s worth it if we can get to a place where she can comfortably be by herself for a few hours.
Exploring
Jordan River
I spent part of July actually outdoor exploring and it was the perfect mid-summer activity. Terri and I checked out the Sooke Potholes which have been on my bucket list for a while. Getting really vulnerable here: I don’t know how to swim. It’s something I’ve been thinking more about in recent years and definitely one I want to prioritize soon. I actually have a pool in my new apartment, so I have no excuses.
Even being a non-swimmer, just hanging out on the rock faces along the potholes was a peak summer experience. If you’re from BC, I could not recommend it enough.
Starting a new business
It’s been a while since I’ve started a new venture and it’s been an adventure all on it’s own. I want to take everything that I’ve learned from all my past projects and really build Kinship the right way. Having a co-founder is definitely a game-changer and I think we both bring different skills that will ultimately grow Kinship into something inspiring.
Playing
While we’ve been having a mild summer so far, this is the part of summer where I want to read books about messy women (or men) getting lost in their own heads in an oppressively hot setting. A few favorites in this category are The Bell Jar, Last Summer in the City, Giovanni’s Room, and Slow Days, Fast Company.
To celebrate this fabulous portion of the year that many hate but I live for, I also created a playlist that will hopefully transport me back to this part of summer even when the rain and cold inevitably arrive.
Obsessing Over
Davinci Resolve
This is going to be such a niche obsession, but I recently started using Davinci Resolve for video editing and I’m loving it so far. I’ve been a Premiere Pro + After Effects girl for 8+ years now but finally decided to upskill and try something new. I completely understand why so many video editors have made the switch…
Still Here NY Everyday Jeans
I’ve been reaching for my Still Here NY Everyday Jeans even more than I did when it was still cold out. Nothing beats the white tee + denim combo in the summer and I opt for the Everyday Jean every time.
Recommendations
OHME! freeze dried snacks
I have 0 self control when it comes to these snacks. I discovered them earlier this year and each time I get a new pack, I finish it that same day. Their Yogurt Crunch snack packs are usually my go-to, but I recently tried their freeze-dried mangos… TO DIE FOR.
Songmont tote
The Songmont Large Drippy Tote has been my most reached-for bag this summer, by far. I just love a catch-all bag and the beautiful green suede adds a sophisticated touch to any of my outfits.
Thoughts
In August, I really want to focus on creating with purpose. I put a lot of thought into my Substack articles and I want to bring the same mindset to my Instagram and TikTok as well. I still catch myself creating for the sake of creating at times and I want to lean away from that.
I’m learning that if take the time to create intentionally, I’m not only going to reach a more aligned community, but I’ll be saving time and energy as well that I can put towards accomplishing certain goals. So if you follow me on IG or TT, I’d love to hear your thoughts about what content you want to see more of. It would help me out a ton <3
Snapping
The photo of you and Terri giving AD spread 😍
snapping section is poppin