I can't believe this year is already halfway finished. There have been so many ups and downs, but as always books have helped keep me on an even keel. So far this year, I have read 56 books, not counting any I've re-read or the books I've been reading with Alexis. I've discovered a few new authors that I'm really enjoying and added a few series into my favorites list. These are my top 7 books and series for 2022 so far.

Author: Greta Kelly

This was actually the first thing I read this year, and I truly couldn't have picked a better duology to kick things off. It had a bit of a Tolkien vibe to it, and the main female character (MFC) was brilliant. Askia is the heir to the throne of Seravesh, but an invasion from her northern neighbor has led to Askia  fleeing her country to ask for the aid of her birth country. To save her people, Askia must secure an alliance with Vishir and learn to use her magic.

Author: Colleen Cowley

Technically, I read the first book of this trilogy in December, but I couldn't not include all three books for this. This trilogy is a magical retelling of the women's suffrage movement. In this reality, only men can wield magic, and wizards are the top tier of society. The women's suffrage movement is on a mission to put magic and non-magic users on an equal playing field when it comes to politics. Then, Peter Blackwell comes back to town and conscripts Beatrix Harper, sister of the anti-magic league's president, into becoming his apprentice. Subsequently, Beatrix discovers that she can, in fact, do magic. There's just one problem, she and Peter have become magically connected. For me, this trilogy felt a lot like The Paper Magician series, which is an all-time favorite.

Midnight at the Blackbird Café

Author: Heather Webber

This is one of those books that you can recommend to anyone. It's all about family and the power of forgiveness. It's beautifully written and has so much depth. Plus, the similarities between Wicklow and my own hometown are so accurate it's almost painful. Anna Kate Callow temporarily moves to Wicklow to run her recently-deceased grandmother's café and fulfill the stipulations of the will. While there, she learns that the magical tales her grandmother told her about the blackbirds for which the café is named are more real than she ever believed. And although she isn't planning on staying forever, Anna Kate wants to use her time in Wicklow to investigate the accident that caused her father's death and her mother's departure from town.

Author: Tirzah Price

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you'll already know that I love a good retelling of my favorite classics, and this book definitely fits the bill. It's like Pride and Prejudice meets Agatha Christie. In this retelling, Elizabeth Bennet's father is a barrister, and she badly wants to follow in his footsteps. All she needs is a case to prove her competency. She crosses paths with Mr. Darcy, a solicitor for the  much-larger Pemberley firm, on a murder investigation involving Darcy's friend. There are a lot of twists and turns in this mystery, and I truly wasn't sure how it was going to end.

The Deadly Seven series

Author: Lana Pecherczyk

Okay, so genetically-modified superhero books aren't typically my jam, but this series was so dang good, y'all. The Deadly Seven are a group of siblings who were born in a lab. They were each genetically engineered to sense one of the deadly seven sins and then eradicate the sinner. Fearing the ulterior motive of the siblings' creator, their biological mother and lead scientist of the project built in a failsafe. If the heroes find their soulmate, their sin will be balanced and they'll gain extra powers. If they do not find their other halves, they risk being completely taken over by their sin. The siblings were rescued from their creator as children, but the Syndicate hasn't stopped in its pursuit to rid the world of all sin and will stop at nothing to get their hands on the Deadly Seven.

Court of the Underworld series

Author: Alessa Thorn

I have always been fascinated with Greek/Roman mythology and give pretty much read any fantasy book that has to do with the topic. I'm frequently disappointed by these books. However, this series blew me out of the water. I think it's because it takes the characters who are typically viewed as the villains and portrays them in a new way. Here's the gist of what this series is about: Hades and his court preside over the city of Styx, rebuilt over the ruins of Corinth. Pithos is a monster-hunting cult on a mission to rid the world of all supernatural beings, starting with Asterion, the minotaur of legend. In each book, the members of the court find their better halves and get closer to unraveling the truth behind Pithos.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book is an intimate look at the film industry spanning the decades between the late 1950s and early 90s. It's also a poignant story of the sacrifices one woman makes for stardom and her true love. Evelyn Hugo is a film icon who's as well known for seven marriages as she is for the roles she's played. Now, at the end of her life, Evelyn wants to do a tell-all interview and has hand-picked Monique, an up-and-coming young journalist, to work with. But as with everything in her life, that choice was anything but random.

Happy Monday, friends.

I've been sitting here racking my brain for how to start this week's post. Truly, when I look at the last week, there's not a whole lot for me to tell you about.

Alexis had her first art camp of the summer. She spent every afternoon at our local art museum learning and creating mini-masterpieces. She had a blast and is already asking when she can go back.

We are about 10 steps closer to being fully moved into the house. We started hanging stuff on the walls, my husband finished unpacking all of his clothing, and we're down to one unpacked box of Alexis's stuff. The backyard fence is nearly completed, and the permit process for my husband's building has been started. We have a plan for storing all of my shoes, and I got in some kitchen organizational tools that are already making a big difference. So a lot of progress there.

Over the weekend, I took my teacher ethics course and got that out of the way. It took the better part of a day to watch all the videos, read all the policies, and take a bunch of quizzes, but it was a pretty big step in the process of becoming certified. I also have decided on at least one of the books I'd like to teach and have started to tentatively map out a curriculum for the school year.

In other news, it's still hot. We've cooled down marginally, but it's really not a big enough difference to make a difference. Last week we hit 100 or higher every single day with low or no rain chances. This week we're looking at 90s for highs every day with low to moderate rain chances. So it won't be as oppressive but still pretty miserable.

I'm not sure what we're doing for the 4th of July yet. All of the fireworks and festivals in our area are set for before the holiday so that's kind of throwing us off kilter a little bit. We'll definitely hit up at least one celebration, just don't know which one yet.

That pretty much sums up things for me. I've got some errands to take care of today and some follow-ups to do for the magazine, so I'm going to get busy with all of that. I hope everyone has a great week and a fun and safe Independence Day.

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. Growing up, it was always a day that my mom's family gathered at the lake for BBQ, swimming, and boat riding. Some years, we even camped the entire week of the holiday. And, of course, there have always been fireworks.

I have a lot of fond memories surrounding this holiday and most years spend the day in a swimsuit and coverup of some sort. The past few years, I've worn the same red-and-white star-patterned dress. It's finally time to retire it, so I thought while I was searching for my next go-to Independence Day look, I would share some of my favorite finds with y'all.

And don't worry! You don't have to dress like a giant flag to get in the spirit of this holiday.

Red Sundress - You can't go wrong with a red dress for the 4th. I really like this one by Grace Karin.

Blue Raglan Embroidered Dress - I can't decide if I like the blue or red version of this dress the best. Either way, I love the style and the embroidery.

American Flag Tank - We all remember the iconic Old Navy American flag shirts. I mean, were you even a kid in the late 90s or early 2000s if you didn't wear one? This isn't one of those obviously, although you can still get them today. This one has a little more personality, I think. Beware, it's very long.

Blue Gingham Maxi Skirt - In my mind, nothing says USA quite like blue gingham, and this skirt is super cute. You can dress it up or down depending on how you're spending the day, and then keep wearing it all year long because it's just that good!

Surf's Up Blue Maxi Skirt - If gingham isn't your thing, you can always opt for this tie-dye blue maxi skirt instead. It's such a pretty shade of blue and also comes in a light red.

Star Print Linen Pants - I actually kind of love these, although they're really not weather-appropriate for any type of celebration in my neck of the woods.

Flag Kimono - I've never been a fan of a flag bikini, but I can get behind this flag kimono as a cover-up.

Chevron Knotted Slides - Cute and comfy with an Americana vibe. Get them in red or blue.

Flag Earrings - Don't feel like going all out with the red, white, and blue? Keep it simple with these cute earrings!

Mad Love Americana Clutch - I think my favorite thing about this is that they call it a clutch when it is absolutely a fanny pack.

Stars & Stripes Socks - I'm always on board with themed socks.

Let's start by clarifying what I mean by 'wash day.' Wash day is the day I do a full shampoo and condition. I try to limit this to once a week, but with it being summer and ungodly hot and humid where I live, that often turns into twice a week.

Okay, so I have a few options for shampoo:

-Scalp Purifying Scrub

-Purifying Vinegar Shampoo

-Renew Shampoo

I use the scalp scrub about once every three weeks or so, followed by the vinegar shampoo. This is like a clarifying treatment and leaves my hair squeaky clean. All other times, I use the Renew shampoo for both my first and second wash. I really like how this shampoo lathers and leaves my hair not feeling stripped of all moisture.

My conditioner of choice at the moment is the Intense Repair because I experienced some pretty significant thinning and hair loss post-Covid, and this conditioner promotes hair growth. Since going back to using it, I've seen a huge improvement on the thickness of my hair. This one is supposed to sit for five minutes. Honestly, I don't ever really time it. I just do it at the beginning of my shower and rinse at the end.

Before I even get out of the shower, I apply the Restore Leave-In Conditioner. I squeeze most of the excess water out of my hair, flip and then scrunch in from the ends. I wrap my hair up in either my perfect hair care towel or a microfiber towel, depending on where I'm at in my laundry cycle.

I leave my hair wrapped up for at least 10 minutes, sometimes longer. Usually while I get dressed and put on my makeup. Then I style for day one. Sometimes I finger comb the tangles out, sometimes I use my Denman brush. They both have about the same result. I mix together a good dollop of the Curl Cream, a small amount of the Flexible Hold Gel, and two drops of the Rejuvinque light oil. I rub that all together in my palms, flip, and scrunch in starting at the ends. I do not take it all the way to my scalp. Depending on how much time I've got, I either air dry completely or let the products absorb for maybe 10 minutes before diffusing it dry.

It doesn't matter what I do with my waves/curls overnight, they always need refreshing the next day. Monat's Wave Spray is amazing as a refresher. First, I use my pick to get out the worst tangles. Then I separate my hair into top and bottom layers and spritz with the Wave Spray until my hair is damp, scrunch from the bottom and air dry. Pro tip: don't spray it on your roots.

This is the easiest day. The best part about the Wave Spray, in my opinion, is how easy it is to reactivate the next day. All you need is a spray bottle of water. I get my hair good and damp, not dripping, then gently detangle any trouble spots, and scrunch. I always air dry with this, otherwise I end up with a ton of frizz.

In the summer, I cannot go more than three days without at least rinsing my hair. I usually do a co-wash with a hair mask around this point in my wash cycle, but lately that's just not cutting it. Enter Monat's Purifying Vinegar Rinse. I absolutely love this stuff. It helps remove all the grossness from my scalp without being a full shampoo. I follow it up with a hair mask (I'm alternating between the Advanced Hydrating and the Damage Repair ones) or conditioner. Then I restyle using my Day 1 products, followed by day 2 refresh and day 3 reactivate, before starting all over again with a full wash.

Easy peasy!

Happy Monday, y'all. I can't believe we're already halfway through this month. Summer will be over before we know it! We are in the midst of a major heat wave, with actual temperatures of above 100 degrees for several days in a row. It's been pretty miserable and looks like it's not going to let up anytime soon.

Father's Day was a non-event for us this year. Chris had to work the weekend, and Alexis spent a few days with grandparents, so I ended up having the house to myself for several days. Chris and I started watching the new season of Stranger Things. No spoilers other than to say it's pretty messed up and gruesome. I'm interested to see the direction it goes, though.

Surprise, surprise, we're still not fully unpacked. I'd say we're 90 percent there, though. The biggest accomplishment from the last week is getting the guest bedroom organized. That's where pretty much everything got put when we first moved in, so it's a relief to have some order in there. Chris is putting in a fence for the backyard so the dog will have more room to roam, and he'll soon have a building like he's been wanting back there. Once the building is up, a lot of our overflowing storage will finally have a home, and we'll be able to get the last few remaining things from where they've been being kept the last few weeks. Next on my list, is getting some décor put up. I've yet to hang a single picture or decorate a single shelf!

Now for the big announcement. Although I've dropped some hints here and there, I've been guarding a secret for the past several weeks. At the end of last month, I was approached about teaching middle school English with a heavy focus on writing. It's a career path I've considered several times over the last ten or so years, but I've never had a solid reason to enter the field. Turns out, the school has a daily morning show that is in need of a sponsor. Considering my near-decade background in television news, I'm kind of a perfect fit, and there's the possibility of expanding into more aspects of the media business in the future. Not to mention, I'll be able to finally get my masters and open the door to teaching journalism at the higher level, which has been a long-term goal for awhile.

This is a decision that I didn't make lightly. In fact, my husband and I talked about it for weeks before I even agreed to a meeting with the principals. In the end, it was an opportunity I couldn't stop thinking about, and even before I met with them, I was excited about the possibility. It all became official last week, and I'll go through orientation in mid-July with the first day of school being August 2nd.

Now before anyone jumps to conclusions, I am not leaving the magazine. I will remain the publisher and still be in charge of all the local aspects of it. Obviously, some things will have to change. With the current economy, there were already some changes in the works to begin with. The most immediate difference for me will be the hours during which I work on stuff for the magazine. The rest is still being figured out, but this magazine is my baby and something our area desperately needs. So don't worry - it's not going anywhere so long as I have any say in it.

Speaking of the magazine, this is a big week for our next issue. We're trying to recover from the last two months, which have been incredibly tough. I know that's not a unique experience as all small businesses are struggling with the rapid increase in prices everywhere. So I'll be pushing pretty hard to make up the difference we've been seeing, as well as looking for new ways to maximize page space.

In other news, Alexis has art camp every afternoon this week, so that'll be good for some uninterrupted work hours. Plus, it'll keep her busy without me having to worry if she's overheating in the backyard.

Well, that pretty much covers it for me this week. I hope everyone has a wonderful week and stays cool in this crazy weather!

In other news, it is unbearably hot. We're in the midst of a heat wave. Our actual temperatures have been in the upper 90s with feels-like temps hovering around 110 most days. Over the next ten days, I'm sad to say, our highs are over 100. So suffice it to say that my strategy for getting dressed most days is staying cool. For me, that means a lot of dresses, skirts, and shorts, as you'll see in this collection of outfits I've worn over the last couple of weeks.

For those of you who are new to the blog, each Real Outfit Roundup post features outfits I've actually worn in my day-to-day life with links to shop the same or similar items.

You've seen this dress before, but it really is one of my favorites. I love blue gingham, and this one has the cutest bow detail on the back. Sadly, because I got this back in February, this pattern is no longer available, but there are limited sizes in the same style.

This photo is from the end of the day, after making a mad dash from the car to the house in a thunderstorm. Oh man, what a busy day this was. I had an early-morning appointment that ended up taking two hours. By the time we got back home, there was only an hour and a half before we had to leave for gymnastics. This pretty shirt dress was perfect for all the running around we did. It was polished and professional, but the material was pretty thin so I didn't get too overheated. I wore my Time & Tru neutral platform sandals to keep things more casual. It's hard to tell in this picture but I wore a pair of blue tassel drop earrings, linked above, and a pretty gold and sapphire bracelet (no link available, sorry). And this large shoulder bag, while larger than I typically prefer, was perfect for all the things I ended up carrying.

Back when I was in middle and high school, game websites were pretty popular, especially if you had time to waste at school. That was back before school firewalls blocked any and everything, obviously. But I can remember going to what was essentially an arcade of online games during my third period class or if I spent lunch in the library.

Online gaming has changed a lot since then, and if I'm being honest, I have not kept up with those changes. I prefer my video games on a console and my computer games more traditional.

That's why I was excited to find Solitaire.org. It's got all my favorite computer card games, and it's so easy to use.

The site opens on a traditional solitaire game. It automatically deals your hand and is set to a draw 3, which adds a bit of difficulty to the game I wasn't expecting right off the bat. You can change it to draw 1 if you'd like. The game is timed, but doesn't start until you make your first move. The site keeps up with your score and stats, which can be viewed at any time. The site states you can play even when off-line, but I haven't tested that.

There are seven different Solitaire games to choose from: Classic, Klondike, Spider, Freecell, Pyramid, Tripeaks, and Golf.

There are a variety of other games to choose, we well, from including Match 3, Word games, and Logic Puzzles like Chess, Minesweeper, and Tetris Blocks. There's even a section for traditional card games like Black Jack, Crazy Eights, and Hearts.

Mahjong is probably my favorite card game ever. I have different versions downloaded on my phone and tablet, but I rarely play on my desktop. There are seven game options to choose from. I chose the China version. There are about two dozen board layouts to choose from in that variation.

The colors are very vibrant, which took a little getting used to for me (I'm used to more of a traditional wood look). The game has music, but I always turn that off no matter what I'm playing. You can also mute the game play sounds and change the background picture. All of that is found in the control menu on the right-hand side of the screen. Like the solitaire game on the homepage, this game was also timed but didn't start until I made the first move.

I liked that if I clicked off the site, it would pause the timer on the game, even if I don't really keep up with my stats. There was also an unlimited amount of undo moves and hints.

My daughter's favorite category is the Hidden Object games. There are eight versions to choose from.

Alexis played Garden Secrets. There are ten levels to play. They're timed, three minutes each. If you fail to find all the objects, you can try again. I liked that if you do retry it, you don't necessarily get all the same objects to find, even though the objects themselves did not change location.

I thought the graphics on this one were really nice. The music wasn't annoying, and it was easy for her to navigate the game play on her own. It was challenging without being too hard. For reference, she's 7. As with the other games, this keeps up with your progress, so if you exit the site, you can pick back up where you left off on your next visit.

Our verdict? Solitaire.org is a win!

One of the fundamental pieces of any wardrobe are those that can be worn multiple ways. Depending on where you're getting your fashion advice from, you may see these pieces referred to as basics or foundation pieces, or maybe something else entirely. I don't really call these pieces anything specific, but they are definitely key parts of my closet, no matter the season.

I recently found a tank top at Target that is so good, I bought it in three colors. This Universal Thread tank top is perfect to wear on its own or layered under a vest or jacket. It has a vertical ribbed design and a double strap on the left shoulder. It's on the casual side but can be dressed up slightly with the right pieces. It comes in blue, yellow, and pink, and as I already mentioned, I bought all three.

In this post, I'm going to show you the three very different ways I've styled this tank top.

This skirt is actually what inspired me to grab this pale blue tank top, which then inspired me to get the other two colors. A solid colored top with a printed skirt is always a winner. The vest layered over the tank gives it a little more structure.

A good pair of statement earrings, like these tassel ones, are an easy way to level up what would otherwise be a basic outfit. So does opting for shorts that aren't denim, like these utility shorts. They've got more structure that denim shorts do. Opting for a pair of slides instead of flip flops is an easy way to elevate your outfit, too. I'm loving these knotted neutral slides.

Linen pants are actually something that I struggle with, but this tank top works very nicely with these. The ribbing keeps it from being plain Jane, and the thinness of the pants helps with the heat. I did a front/half tuck because I liked the silhouette better than a full tuck, and kept my shoes simple.

Happy Monday, friends. This has been the most ridiculously stressful start to a month ever. And yes, I realize we're a week and a half into it, but my statement stands.

Remember how I told you last week that there would be no printed issues for June? Well, the owner changed his mind. The normal shipment of June magazines arrived first thing Thursday morning, so I've had to add distribution back into my schedule...except I've already got several things on my schedule that can't be rescheduled. And of course it rained because it always rains when I'm trying to distribute. Oh, and I'm having to take Alexis along with me, which means I don't get as much done in one day. So it's a bit of a nightmare right now.

Speaking of Alexis, she did VBS last week and had a lot of fun. She was front and center for the parent night presentation, which I wasn't expecting, but she did great. The camp she was supposed to attend this week ended up not happening, but to be honest, I think she needs a break. 

We got a decent amount done with the house this weekend. We're still not fully moved in but getting closer! We're honestly not in a giant hurry, since it really feels like none of us have had much time to just sit and be lately.

This week will be spent trying to get distribution finished. I hope to be done by Wednesday, but I've got a few things set up for Tuesday that cannot be changed. I also have quite a few things that need to be done for the magazine this week, preferably also by Wednesday, so that'll be fun to figure out.

Anyway, I'm almost ready to announce my big news, but not quite. There's still one more thing that needs to happen. It's really just a formality, but if it doesn't happen then everything changes...or rather nothing changes I guess. So I should have some news for you either way in next week's Monday Motivation post.

I hope everyone has a good week!

I don't know about you, but buying a gift for my dad, and sometimes for my husband, is really difficult! Neither one wears ties for work, they tend to buy the things they want for their hobbies and interests, and whenever you ask both usually respond with "don't get me anything." So what's a daughter and mom to do?

I rounded up nine gift ideas that go beyond a tie, "Best Dad Ever" mug, or something equally as cheesy. I hope they inspire you to think outside the box this Father's Day!

1. Personalized College History Football Book - This is actually a really cool gift. You choose the college and they create a book of its football history using newspaper clippings. It's something that can be displayed on a coffee table, in an office, or man-cave.

2. Digital Tape Measure - This tape measure works like a traditional tape measure but it gives you a digital reading of the measurement.

3. BBQ Multitool - At one time, we owned three separate grilling sets. All three had multiple tools and were a pain to store (they all ended up on top of the fridge - not ideal). This multi-tool combines all your favorite grilling tools into one, solving that problem without sacrificing anything.

4. Fire Starter Squares - These are perfect for camping or a backyard fire pit, or even an indoor fireplace.

5. Camping Towel - This is another one of those multi-use gifts. It would be a great addition to a workshop, fishing boat, camper, or even the glove box.

6. Stanley Classic Lunch Box - I saw this and it made me think of my dad who's always on the road with road construction. I love the retro look.

7. Gerber Gear Multitool Knife - I've lost count of how many guys I've given this to. Seriously, you can't go wrong with this tool.

8. Record Coasters - These are a really fun gift for a music lover.

9. Car Coasters - Anytime we get in the car, a drink is involved, and that usually means condensation that inevitably leads to cup holders becoming a sticky mess. These boho coasters for car cup holder not only prevent that from happening but they come in several cool patterns!

Fun fact: when I was in middle school, the librarian would often ask me to read a newly released book that was considered on grade level for the school but might be considered controversial or too sensitive of a topic. My parents knew this, obviously, and were okay with it. That was really the first time I ever did a book review that mattered. My opinion on those books was used to help decide if they made it on the shelf or not. Most did, but there were a few that were on difficult topics that I recommended they not have out for general library use.

Anyway, that got a little more off topic than I planned. Back to summer reading. I don't ever really have a plan when I go into the summer. I always have a list of books on my Kindle and here lately a growing stack of physical books I've picked up from local bookstores. Because my TBR list is so insane, I've really been trying to pick a few books from it each month to start whittling it down to a more manageable size.

I know it's not officially summer yet, but here in the South it's been summer for over a month. Our temperatures have been set to hot and humid since at least mid-May, and I haven't even bothered unpacking any of my sweaters since moving.

There's really no secret ingredient when it comes to surviving a Southern summer, but there are some things out there that make it better. So I thought it'd be fun to share some of my favorite products to make this often-unbearable season easier to withstand.

Jergens Natural Glow - This has been my go-to for summer color for years. I use the fair to medium skin tone. What I like about this is that even if I apply it a little too heavily in a spot or two, it's not super obvious that I did. It's also never orange, and it leaves my skin nice and soft, like lotion.

Mine Rapid Recovery After Sun Gel - I got this in my FabFitFun summer box last year, but it's so good, y'all. As a redhead, I've had my fair share of bad sun experiences, and this gel is the best I've ever used. Not only does it help with pain, but there is a marked difference after using it.

Time & Tru Utility Shorts -  I have these in the sandstone pink, sea turtle, and studio blue. I love that they can be dressed up or down depending on the shirt you pair them with. And even if you choose a t-shirt, they still feel a little more polished than a pair of jean shorts. I wear size 6 in this brand.

Sofia Jeans Lila Mid-Rise Destructed Hem Denim Shorts - These are my favorite casual shorts to wear around the house, and even out and about for casual activities. They are amazingly comfortable and surprisingly versatile. I wear them in size 6.

Sinex Saline Ultra Fine Nasal Mist - This time of year is hell on my nose. It's either running, stuffy, or so dry it hurts. But this spray is so amazing. It helps clear up congestion without burning or simply rehydrates my dried-out nasal passages. It's so gentle that even Alexis will use it without grumbling.

Monat Hydrate & Refresh Face Mist - This is one of those products I've seen talked up by a bunch of people, but I've only recently started using, and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to try it! One thing I've always struggled with having sensitive skin is finding a non-irritating makeup setting spray. Well, when I saw that this could be used for that, I knew I had to try it, and it does not disappoint. In fact, it works better than any other setting spray I've used without aggravating my skin!

Monat Wave Spray - This is a product I've been waiting to come back around since starting Monat last year. Thankfully I had the good sense to buy two bottles because it's already sold out! And for good reason. This product is pretty amazing. You can use it on damp or dry hair. I really like it as a curl/wave refresher on day two of my wash cycle. Then on day three, all I have to do is spritz with water to reactivate it. Perfect for summer. I do wish they'd make this a year-round product though.

Monat Purifying Vinegar Rinse - This rinse is great for days when my hair feels dirty but it’s too soon to wash, which happens a lot in the summer.

Have you ever come across something that makes you pause? This saying did that for me. Not so much in that I've been too busy chasing happiness to enjoy it, but more so in the fact that I think all sometimes forget to take time in our daily lives to just be.

That's especially true for me over the last month. Although saying I've forgotten to take time to pause is misleading. With it being the last month of school, which is always busy, buying/selling a house and moving, and some pretty big changes for myself (which I'll talk about soon, I promise!), it was hard to squeeze in time to just sit and relax. There was always something that needed to be done, and because of the move nothing could be put off for another day.

We are in the new house now. We've been here for a little more than a week, and before you ask - no, we've not finished unpacking yet. We've got some storage logistics still to figure out, which we were aware of coming into the move but couldn't sort out until after we were in the house. But in all honesty, we haven't been in that big of a hurry to get to that last box. Everything has been so go go go the last few weeks that we've all needed the break.

We did manage to make it to the lake for the afternoon on Memorial Day, so that was nice. I got a decent amount of work done while unpacking, and I had a meeting in the middle of the week. Saturday was spent relaxing in the morning and then visiting a few shops in the afternoon. Alexis headed off with grandparents for an extended stay so she can do VBS with their church.

This week, I'll be working on the magazine's birthday issue. I found out last week that I won't be having to do distribution this month, or ever again most likely, as the owner and editor decided to make the move to fully digital. We still put together a flip-through issue that you can read online, but for the foreseeable future there won't be a printed issue. We'll see how that goes. I'm not fully sold on it (I like my magazines in hand), but it is something we're seeing with magazines across the country.

There are some other changes that will be happening within the next month or so. Namely, my duties will be scaled back to mostly editorial, which I'm on board with since it's where my passion truly lies in this business. I'll still be the publisher and responsible for local content.

In other news, I've been offered and accepted a second job. I'm not ready to reveal all of the details that go along with that just yet. The people who need to know do, but there are a few formalities that need to take place before everything is 100 percent official. Once it is, I'll make the announcement.

Okay, that's it for me this morning. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!