Red’s Roundup: July 2021

As I reflect on the month of July, I realize I have a lot to be thankful for. We went on vacation as a family to the Wisconsin Dells, enjoyed a long weekend in Chicago, entered projects at the county fair, and had an amazing week at VBS (Vacation Bible School). These were all things we were not able to do last year, so they did feel extra special.

July was HOT, so I also spent a lot of time watering my plants, making sure our chickens and cats had enough water, swimming, running through the sprinkler, telling children to shut the door (!), and did I mention watering my plants? Some days they needed to be watered twice a day! I’m willing to do it, as their beautiful blossoms and leaves are worth the effort.

The end of July also means getting ready to go back to school. My oldest two children were very excited to go back-to-school shopping, so we already tackled most of our list! My son continues to ask me if tomorrow is the first day back to school. Nope, not yet buddy! 🙂 It will be here soon enough. Let’s stretch out summer as long as possible!

I hope you enjoy my July Roundup of favorite things!

1. Gold Layered Necklace – I love the look of layered necklaces, and they have become so popular lately. While it is fun to create your own unique look mixing different chains and pendants, these layered options are great because it is already done for you! You can dress this 3 layered charm and chain necklace up or down. I wore it to my cousin’s wedding, and also with a casual cotton top. The gold is a nice matte finish, which I think is really pretty.

   

2. The Olympics – Do you love the Olympics? I do! Summer Olympics are especially fun to watch, in my opinion. I could watch gymnastics, diving, and beach volleyball all day. We also like to check out some of the less popular sports like judo, lifting, and badminton. There is something about watching the BEST in the world do their thing. I find it very inspiring. After waiting an extra year, I knew I wanted to include The Olympics in my July Roundup as it feels extra special! Go Team USA!
3. Fanny Pack – Can you believe it? Is it the 90’s all over again? I have FOND memories of my most favorite fanny packs as a young girl. The pockets filled with little treasures, ride tickets, and money for our town fair. They are BACK and I’m here for it. It only seems logical, doesn’t it? It’s like a purse that you can wear, it’s not going to fall off your shoulder, you don’t need to hang on to it which frees up your hands, and the black faux leather is a small notch up from my neon pink pack from the past. Only a small notch though. 🙂

   

4. Tie-Dye Party Kit – My two oldest children wanted to do a tie-dye project to take to the fair. We did some reading and watched videos to decide if we should make our own dye or use a kit, and the overwhelming recommendation was to use a kit. This is the kit we purchased and were very happy with it! It was easy to use, the colors were vibrant, and it included enough products to make many, many items. More than we needed! I guess it’s time to find a few more white items to dye!
5. Daylilies – When I think of July I think of daylilies! My grandparents had over 800 daylilies that they tended to, sold, and thoroughly enjoyed. My mom and one of her friends decided to piggyback off of my grandparent’s business and start their own daylily gardens! They now have hundreds of their own, many from my grandparent’s garden. As you can imagine, I have been generously gifted many daylilies. They will always hold a special place in my heart! Daylilies are hardy and can survive cold winters, hot summers, drought, you name it. With over 35,000 varieties, the color, shape, and size options are endless!

   

6. Quirk Hard Seltzer – In the summer, I really enjoy fruity hard seltzers, but I do not want a lot of added sugar! These Quirk drinks fit the bill. They have no added sugar, are low-calorie, and above all, they taste great! Around Des Moines, I have found them at most grocery stores, convenience stores, and even a variety pack at Costco. Every flavor is delicious, but my #1 pick is the Strawberry Lemon & Basil. It’s like summer in a can!
7. Plant Proper – As a self-proclaimed “plant lady” I am always on the lookout for good deals on plants. My wish list is long, and it is sure fun to find new-to-me varieties to add to my growing collection. I recently purchased several plants from Plant Proper. They restock weekly on Thursdays and have a wide variety of options. The plants were boxed up well, with moss covering the soil to prevent the plants from getting too dry during shipping, and dowels in each pot so the plants would stay intact even if the box was damaged. Their prices are very reasonable as well. Whether you are a seasoned plant parent or new to the obsession, check out Plant Proper to add to your collection!

   

   

8. Magnolia Network – It’s here and it’s awesome! I can’t get enough of Chip and Joanna, and lucky for all of us, we can check out all of their new episodes on their new network. We stream through Discovery+, but you can also subscribe straight to the Magnolia Network. My favorite shows on their network so far include Fixer Upper (of course), Magnolia Table, Where We Call Home, and Growing Floret. I love that Chip and Jo want to share other’s stories, and that is exactly what they showcase on the Magnolia Network.
9. V-Neck Jumpsuit – Last month, I mentioned how much I am loving jumpsuits lately! Well, this one might be the MOST comfortable of them all. I have worn this cutie over and over this past month and can verify that it is so soft and cozy. Wear it alone with a pair of sandals or paired with a denim jacket or sweater too. I bought it in gray, but there are several colors available.

   

10. French Terry Sweatshirt & Shorts – I picked up this cozy set before we went on vacation and I love it! Green is my favorite color, so I am naturally drawn to the gorgeous kelly green set (there is a cute tie-dye option, too!) These are easily worn separately and can be dressed up a bit too. Loungewear can still be cute, don’t you think? However, they are sold separately, so you could also buy just one piece if that’s what you’re looking for. Here is the link for the shorts.

As you can tell from my July Roundup, the month was packed with family, fun, and sun! I hope you are enjoying your summer as well!

Other Roundup Posts:

June 2021

May 2021

April 2021