Five Recent Summer Outfits

I've got a very small outfit roundup for y'all this week. Most of these outfits are from the weekend. Last week was kind of weird. My husband was out of town for most of it for a work thing, and Alexis spent a few days with her grandparents during that time. That meant I had several days at home by myself, so I honestly didn't really get dressed enough to warrant a picture. In fact, since I had the house to myself, I used that time to do some deep cleaning -- floors, bathrooms, etc. In other words, all the cleaning that I hate to do.

Anyway, here are five outfits from the last week or so.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I usually wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Dress (same pattern but shorter, similar) / Sandals

Tuesday is when Alexis has gymnastics, so it's the one day a week in the summer you can guarantee I'm going to get dressed. This dress is actually fairly new. I got it from Old Navy this spring, right at the end of the school year. I love this busy floral pattern. Unfortunately, this exact dress is sold out. They do have a few sizes in the same style dress in a solid, bright blue. They do have the exact pattern in one of their mini cami dresses, and there's a gorgeous blue-and-white floral linen dress that's available in all sizes and on sale.

My sandals are probably my best purchase of the summer. I did size up a half size because the straps were too snug. They come in three other colors.

Dress / Sandals (similar) / Sunglasses

Everybody was back home on Friday. We decided to ride to one of our neighboring cities to eat at a smaller Italian restaurant for lunch. Then I'm pretty sure we went to Target.

I got this dress at the same time as the previous one, but this one hasn't completely sold out yet. It also comes in a solid orange that's still available in some colors. My sandals are also from Old Navy, but they're a couple of years old. They're great quality, though, and have held up well other then me stubbing my toe on a curb and scuffing one. These knotted sandals are pretty similar.

Dress / Vest (similar) / Sandals

Saturday was a busy day. We took Alexis and my parents to the movies to see Despicable Me 4. We missed the early showing, so that meant we had time for a nice lunch at a local restaurant called Effie's Grill. Then we killed some time in Walmart and knocked some stuff off my dad's shopping list. Then on the way back home, we stopped and got doughnuts.

This exact outfit has had many appearances on the blog. I love this dress so much in the summer. This exact colorway isn't available, but the dress itself comes in a ton of colors and patterns. I also have the purple flower print.

My vest is old. I don't even remember when or where I got it, but it's my favorite summer accessory. It's perfect for when I want to cover my shoulders but it's too hot for a jacket. With this dress, it helps to create the illusion of a waist.

Dress / Sandals

On Sunday, we went to Texas Roadhouse for lunch, dropped a phone trade-in off at Verizon, went to Walmart for essentials, and eventually to CiCi's for dinner. In between, we just hung out at home. I'm pretty sure I did laundry.

This dress is one of my oldest favorites. I absolutely love this style. In fact, I also own the navy cherry print and pink pomander ones. Unfortunately, this exact pattern isn't available anymore, but there are 39 total options to choose from. I own this in a small and medium. Both sizes fit, but the medium is a bit more comfortable, mostly because the buttons lay nicer in the medium. The buttons are functional, by the way.

Tank / Shorts / Sandals

This is what I wore yesterday for a day of just hanging out around the house. Alexis and I went to the Dollar Store that morning to get a couple of things and then through the McDonald's drive-thru that evening, but otherwise we were at home. I did more laundry.

This tank is a favorite purchase this summer, and I've worn it several times despite it not making an appearance on the blog until now. I got this in a medium, and I'm glad I did because it did shrink a tad in the dryer. Otherwise it is so dang soft. I appreciate that the arm holes are not giant. I've worn it tucked and untucked.

These are my favorite denim shorts. I typically size up for shorts for more room in the legs, but these I actually got in my normal size 6 and have no issues.

These sandals have become my go-to this summer. Even though they're pink they're incredibly neutral and can be worn with most casual outfits. I'm wearing a 7 and initially thought I should have ordered a 7.5, but the straps have stretched enough to fit comfortably. However, the sole is pretty much exactly the same length as my feet, so there's that. Otherwise, these are really comfortable.

The 10 Best Books & Series I've Read So Far This Year

I feel like I've been repeating myself a lot lately when I say that I can't believe summer is halfway over, but that also means we've reached the halfway point of the year! So far this year, I have read 56 books, not counting books and/or series that I've reread. That's a lot of books!

About halfway through the year, I like to look at what I've read and pick out my favorites. As you know, at the end of this year I will rank my favorite books from the entire year. This post helps me to organize from the first half of the year so that I really only have to look at the second half, then narrow down this list. Many of these books will make it on my end-of-the-year list.

So, without further ado, here are my ten favorite books and series that I've read so far this year. Five of the ten are from my One Woman Book Club, which means I did a pretty good job of choosing books for this year. It's not too late to start reading along with me!

Cocktails in Hell series

Author: S.E. Sabin

I am absolutely in love with this series. It's technically not finished, with the next book (A Smidge of Voodoo), which is hopefully the final book, set to come out in August. I cannot wait!!! Anyway, this book is about Violet, a Brewer with a BIG secret. When a fallen archangel approaches her about becoming the next Potions Master and Guardian of the New Orleans' portal, she refuses until she has no other choice. What happens next is an adventure of epic proportions starring a cast of laughter-inducing characters.

Luck Gods series

Author: J. Gabriel Gates

I've talked about this series a bunch already, so you know it was going to make this list. This series was so unique in the way the magic worked and didn't have all the tried-and-true magic users. The magic system is based on playing cards. The main characters are demigods and -goddesses and sorted into a suit based on their abilities. The Hearts, or Valentines, deal in love; the Diamonds deal in wealth; the Clubs deal in brutality; and the Spades, or Morbuses, deal in death. Hearts and Diamonds are good luck, while Clubs and Spades are bad. Aggie and her mom get sucked into their world when an experiment goes wrong and doses each of them with an overflow of luck -- Aggie with good and her mom with bad. I linked to the omnibus for you.

Daisy Jones & The Six

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid did it again! This biopic-style book kept me hooked from the first chapter, but I have to say that had I opened the book before I bought it, I would have left it on the shelf. It's written as a bunch of interviews with former band members, managers, and family members all woven together to tell the story of the rise and unexpected ending of Daisy Jones and The Six. This book is not written in prose. It is literally only dialogue, but not in a conversation. Still, the story unfolds from the mouths of those who lived it. The band is loosely based on Fleetwood Mac, and I mean very loosely.

Take What You Can Carry

Author: Gian Sardar

This book is definitely not for everyone -- my mother is currently struggling to finish it, but I loved the journalistic aspect. It is a historical fiction book set in 1979 mostly in Iraq. Olivia is an aspiring photojournalist who works at a Los Angeles newspaper as a secretary. When the paper announces a contest to pick their next photojournalist, Olivia decides to enter, and when her Kurdish-American boyfriend, Delan, gets a wedding invitation from back home, she convinces him to take her with him, sure that's where she'll find the perfect photo to win her the job. However, Delan hasn't been home in years and no longer has a true understanding of the situation in his home country. When they arrive, it's to find the Kurdish people being brutally oppressed by the Iraqi government, and their trip is fraught with struggles. This book was at once heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Floating Twigs

Author: Charles Tabb

Again, this book is not for everyone due to its sensitive subject matter. It is a historic/realistic fiction book set in the 1960s at the same time the Vietnam War is happening, but the war is not the focus at all. This book is about found family. Jack is a 12-year-old boy who's neglectful parents are considered the town drunks for good reason. When Jack finds a starving, three-legged dog, his dad tells him the only way he can keep it is if he figures out a way to pay for its upkeep, so Jack gets a job, and that's when the trouble starts. His job search leads Jack to Hank, an older man who goes on to become a father/grandfather figure for Jack, but all anyone else sees is an older man spending too much alone time with a little boy and soon the accusations start to fly.

The Lipstick Bureau

Author: Michelle Gable

I have read a lot of historical fiction books set during World War II, but I learned something from this book about the war that I had not previously known. When the United States established the OSS, the precursor to the CIA, during World War II, it included a division known as Morale Operations. It was a behind-the-scenes effort to create what's called black propaganda. This propaganda targeted Nazi troops in an effort to bring down their morale and increase the Allied Forces' chances of success. This book focuses on Nikki, a former Czechoslovakian who married an American and escaped the country just before the Nazis took control. She is recruited to the OSS because of her language skills but washes out of spy training and ends up in Morale Operations. She and her team are stationed in Rome shortly after it's liberated where they create a fake, underground Nazi magazine filled with half-truths that they deliver behind enemy lines by any means necessary.

The Woman in the Library

Author: Sulari Gentill

This is one of the best mystery books I've read in awhile. It is written in a very unique style. It's about a murder mystery author who is writing her next book, which is set in a library. She is sharing chapters with a fan who lives in the city the book is set in, and the fan gives her suggestions and insights based on the places she's including. Then the fan starts sharing photos of actual crime scenes, so the feds get involved. They convince the author to keep sharing chapters with the fan, who they now believe is a serial killer. This book kept me guessing until the very end. Every time I thought I had figured it out, she would throw something at me that had me second guessing everything.

Bluebeard's Secret series

Author: Sarah Wilson

This is one of the best fae romance stories I have ever read. The story does have many elements from the tales of Bluebeard the pirate, but it's not simply a retelling or really even a reimagining. It's an epic love story that is not predictable in the least. Bluebeard, or the Arrow, has been stealing brides from the moral realm for centuries and using their magic to compete in the Fae games. Those games determine not only the fate of the fae realm but also the moral world. Izolda is wife number sixteen, and she changes everything. The world building in this series is amazing, the character development is on point, and my favorite character is probably a severed head.

Book Lovers

Author: Emily Henry

This was a fun romantic comedy that was gifted to me by my mother. Nora is a successful literary agent who works way too much and doesn't have time for anything else other than taking care of her baby sister, Libby. Everything Nora does, she does via checklist, even dating. A spontaneous trip to the middle-of-nowhere North Caroline is definitely not part of her plans. Neither is Charlie, an editor who she despises and does not feel any attraction to whatsoever. This book made me laugh, a lot. The banter between Nora and her sister and Nora and Charlie was amazing. Like all good rom-coms, this book does have a serious side.

The Echo of Old Books

Author: Barbara Davis

This was my first book club pick of the year, and I really enjoyed it. This is a well-crafted dual-timeline story. It starts in the 1980s when Ashlyn Greer finds a pair of unpublished books that read like corresponding letters. She sets out to discover who Hemi and Belle, the authors, really are. Her investigation leads her to Ethan, one of the writer's nephews, and convinces him to help her unravel the mystery surrounding Hemi and Belle. I will say that the pacing for this book was a bit slow, but I think that can be mostly attributed to the lack of technology in the storyline. I enjoyed watching Ashlyn and Ethan's relationship grow as they uncovered the truth of Hemi and Belle's relationship.

Prime Day: 8 Favorites That Are Currently On Sale

 Amazon Prime Day is here!

I'm a big Amazon shopper and have been a Prime member for years. I'm not actually shopping the sale this year -- there's nothing I really need at the moment outside of stuff for school, and the bigger ticket items aren't included in deals unfortunately.

That doesn't mean there aren't still lots of great deals to be had, though! All you need to shop the sale is to be a Prime member. If you aren't a member, you can try it free for thirty days to take advantage of the deals.

Speaking of deals, I wanted to share eight of my favorite things from Amazon that are included in Prime Day. Several are things that I use literally every day.

Kindle Paperwhite - I literally use mine every single day. It's waterproof and mostly glare proof. It took me a minute to get used to it not being in color after having a Fire for several years, but I appreciate not being distracted by ads and/or notifications while I'm reading.

The Book Seat - Speaking of reading, I absolutely love my book seat. I use it mostly with my Kindle, but it will work with physical books as well as other types of tablets. It's got a clear panel to hold whatever you're reading on steady without blocking the words. You can adjust it to fit any size book or tablet. It's got a little pocket on the back that you could keep reading glasses in -- I've never used the one on mine. Sadly, not all colors are included in Prime Day, but I'm not sure if color really matters here. Mine is pink, by the way, and not included.

Lighted Makeup Mirror - This was a gift from my husband, and it seriously changed my makeup routine. I don't use this every single day because I don't wear makeup every day, but it's pretty darn close. The light has three different settings, but I tend to just use one, although sometimes I will rotate through the other two just to make sure my makeup looks good in all lighting. It's got magnifying mirrors on either side and can be tilted up or down as needed. The mirror itself folds closed so it doesn't take up a ton of room on or under the counter. It has a little tray underneath that you can keep things in. I mostly use the tray to hold hair clips and/or ponytail holders. It comes in a few other colors.

Wireless Charging Station - My husband and I each have one of these, actually. It's nice because it takes up minimal space on my nightstand and only has one cord to deal with instead of two or three. This one is just for Apple products, but there are also ones for Samsung included in Prime Day deals. My husband has this one for his Samsung phone and watch.

Weekender Bag - This is a more recent purchase but it's already proved its worth. This bag was perfect for a three-day trip in which I needed to have multiple outfit changes just in case. I was able to fit everything easily, including two pairs of shoes, one of which was a pair of hiking boots. The bag is good quality and has a separate compartment on the bottom for shoes. I really like the shape -- it's more square on the bottom than other weekender bags I've had, which makes it easier to pack. All the hardware appears to be good quality so far (The shoulder strap on my last weekender bag snapped on the first use). This set includes a crossbody and makeup bag, as well. It comes in a bunch of other patterns.

Vepose Chelsea Boots - These are probably my most-worn boots from the last three years. They're comfortable for a full day of teaching. I've even worn them to festivals and for shopping trips. They came with cushion inserts for extra comfort, but I've never used them. They're easy to dress up or down and can be worn with pants and dresses. I loved them so much that I bought them in black as well. I usually wear a 7 in shoes and find these to be true to size.

Cropped Corduroy Jacket - I've had this jacket for a couple of years now and still love it. The cropped length is perfect for my petite stature, and even though it's corduroy, it's thin enough for me to wear in our very mild winters. It comes in a few color options. I got the medium and am happy with the looser fit.

Cereal Storage Containers - These feel like such a random thing to include on this list, but they truly are one of the best things I've bought. Cereal, believe it or not, is not a big commodity in our house, and often times when I buy it, it goes stale before we eat it all. Truthfully, I had basically stopped buying cereal because I felt like I was wasting money on it, but these storage containers are awesome. Since using them, I've not had to throw away stale cereal...no matter how long it takes us to eat it all. Definitely worth it!

Desk Chair - My office is my sanctuary, even now that I no longer work from home. I tend to spend a lot of time in there, even if it's just sitting and reading. This chair is not only unique and perfect for my style, it's also really dang comfortable and gorgeous.

Back-to-School Picks for Teachers

How is it back-to-school time already?!

Okay, so technically, I've still got four full weeks of my summer left, but many of you are getting ready to head back in the next week or so. That plus all the sales that are happening right now have me reluctantly doing some school shopping.

My state's back-to-school tax-free weekend just ended, Amazon Prime Day is this week, and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is still underway. Although, I feel like it's only fair to point out that I don't have anything in this collection from Amazon and only a handful of items from the NSale. The majority of picks in this round-up are from Old Navy and JCPenney, which are my go-to stores for teacher-appropriate workwear.

Because it stays so warm here for most of the year, I tend to fill my wardrobe with clothes I can wear year-long. That means you won't see any heavy sweaters or corduroy. It simply doesn't get cold enough often enough for me to justify those types of purchases.

What you will find are a bunch of items that unintentionally mix-and-match pretty well. Is this a capsule wardrobe?!

Personally, I am on the hunt for some updated pants. It seems as though looser styles are here to stay, so I want to add a couple of current styles to my closet.

Top Row

• Yellow Striped Button-Down Shirt - I love elevated t-shirts, and that's exactly what this is. I love the subtle texture in the ribbed knit and the tortoise-shell buttons. It comes in solid black and orange, as well.
• Button-Up Sweater Vest - Vests are having a moment right now, and I love this button-up sweater vest. It can be worn over another shirt or on its own. It also comes in a cream color.
• Loose Floral Button-Down Shirt - I absolutely love this style of shirt from Old Navy. I already own several. This comes in quite a few color/print options.
• Split-Neck Textured Top - I actually prefer the white and tan version of this top, but it's sold completely out.
• Brown Floral Print Crepe Top - This blouse is a bit on the pricey side compared to what I usually buy, but I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.

Middle Row

• Worthington Pleated Skirt - Worthington is such a great brand for work-wear. They're relatively inexpensive but good quality. They've got a lot of really cute skirts right now, but I especially love this midi pleated style.
• Olive Green High Waisted Cropped Chinos - I've been looking at these pants for the past year, and I think it's time I bit the bullet and bought them. I already have a couple other pairs of olive pants, but they're dated in terms of style. I won't be tossing them out, but it would be nice to have a more current style.
• Caslon High Waisted Patch Pocket Wide Leg Pants - I'm not sure how I feel about the patch pocket on the front of pants trend that's currently in, but I like this style of pant and this color. I have a pair of linen pants in this color and always get lots of compliments on them.
• High Rise Loose Fit White Jeans - I need a new pair of white jeans that aren't skinny jeans.
• High-Waisted Crop Wide Leg Pants - I really like these in the cream, but unfortunately they sold out fast. This pale pink is also pretty and a nice alternative to khaki, I think.
• Olive Green Midi Skirt - Utility skirts are very in right now, especially in a mini length, but that's not exactly school appropriate for a teacher. This midi skirt feels like it fits the trend but is much more teacher friendly.

Bottom Row

• Blue Floral Split Neck Top - This is another style of blouse from Old Navy that I really enjoy and own several of. This pattern is just so pretty.
• High-Waisted OG Chino Pants - I have at least three pair of these chinos in my closet already, but this light blue is such an intriguing color!
• Marble Heather Blue Colorblock Cardigan - You have no idea how many things I have in my closet already that I could wear this cardigan with. Plus, it's perfect for my school's colors.
• Black High-Waisted Playa Wide-Leg Pants - I've been wanting a pair of wide-leg black pants that aren't jeans (since they're technically only allowed on Fridays), and I've seen these recommended in several places. They also have great reviews on the Old Navy website, so I think I'm going to try them.
• Black Striped Short-Sleeved Sweater - I love short-sleeved sweaters. They're a nice way to add texture and feel like you're dressing for cooler seasons even though the weather isn't cooperating. Plus, this pattern is so gorgeous!

Not Pictured

• Nike Sneakers - I forgot to put these on the graphic, but I wanted to include them. I'm always looking out for comfortable shoes, and sneakers have kind of become a weakness in recent years. I've been looking at these Nikes for awhile, and they might be the one thing I buy from the NSale.

What to Wear When It's 100 Degrees

Has it ever been so hot where you live that it saps away pretty much all your will? I'm being totally serious. We've been having feels like temperatures of over 100-degrees for at least the last two weeks, which essentially means that it's too hot to do stuff outside -- at least for any extended amount of time. So we've been mostly entertaining ourselves indoors or somewhere that there's water.

Much of the country is preparing to head back to school in a week or two, but we're lucky enough to still have four weeks before that time is here. Our district is going back to a traditional 160-day school year, and I don't think anyone is mad about it. So while everyone else is doing back-to-school shopping, I haven't even started mapping out my curriculum for next yet. I'm sure I'll cobble together some type of back-to-school post in the next week or so as I start to look for ways to update my work wardrobe. In the meantime, let's take a look at what I've worn in the last week. Warning: there will be some outfit repeating.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 135-140 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Jumpsuit / Tank Top / Sandals

This was an adventure of a day. Alexis was still at the lake with my parents for one more day of camping, so my husband and I took the opportunity to ride to Tallahassee. Our first stop was to eat at Steak 'n' Shake. Then we spent quite a bit at the Xfinity store trying to get a phone upgrade before checking out the Governor's Square Mall, which I was delighted to find was still functioning as the malls of my childhood. Only a few storefronts were empty and there were plenty of people inside shopping. Then we made a spur of the moment decision to drive to Panama City Beach for dinner. We walked through Pier Park (even after dark it was still hot), but the line for the restaurant we had intended to eat at was literally stretching out into the road! So we drove across town to Angelo's, one of our favorite steakhouses that is only open in the summer time.

I actually didn't mean to order this jumpsuit when I did. I forgot it was in my cart when I was ordering some tank tops and was pleasantly surprised when it came in the mail with them. I will definitely be wearing this to teach in. I got this in a medium so that the hips would have enough room. The material is not stretchy at all, but the straps are adjustable.

I layered the jumpsuit over a ribbed white tank top that I picked up at Walmart. It's the No Boundaries brand, which runs incredibly small for whatever reason. I'm wearing a large here because that was the highest size they had in the white. I got two other colors in the extra large and they just a bit looser.

My sandals are the same ones I've been sharing all summer. Size up half a size.

Dress (similar) / T-shirt / Converse

The next day, Alexis still hadn't made it home yet. My husband and I got some lunch and then spent a good chunk of the afternoon at the Verizon store. After that, we went and got Italian Ice.

I was feeling a bit nostalgic when I put this outfit together. I had actually been thinking about this combo for several days. I was still a tad bit sunburned from the lake, and being out in the heat the day before did not help, so I wanted my shoulders and chest to be covered. This is just a basic t-shirt dress layered over a plain white tee. I almost wore my white sandals again but decided to keep that 90s vibe going with my Converse.

T-shirt / Shorts / Sandals (similar)

All I remember about this day is that my parents brought Alexis home early that afternoon. I have no idea what else we did, but we clearly left the house because I got dressed. We did strip all the beds and wash bedding that day, which explains the state of the bed behind me in the picture.

The linen shorts are surprisingly still available in all sizes on the Old Navy website, but I definitely bought them out of the clearance section in my local store. I sized up to a large in these because I wanted to make sure I had plenty of leg room, but a medium probably would have been fine. For linen, these are fairly thick, and I haven't had any issues with them being see-through.

I went back and forth about what shirt I wanted to wear with these and finally landed on my lightning bolt tee, which admittedly has no green in it, but I thought it was a fun combination. This is one of my favorite t-shirts. The quality is really nice, and the shirt is so so soft. I got it in a large based on the size guide but honestly wish I'd gotten the medium so it wasn't quite so loose.

T-shirt / Shorts / Sandals

On this day we drove a couple of towns over so Chris could get the oil changed in his truck. We stopped on the way to get burgers at one of our favorite diners. I'm pretty sure we stopped at another store on the way back into town, but I can't remember which one. The grocery store maybe.

These shorts should look familiar from the last outfit post. I told you there would be some outfit repeating in this post. This go 'round I paired them with my Barbie tee to try to pull out the pink in the stripes a little more. I suggest sizing up in the tee since it's pretty fitted; the sleeves are a tad snug.

My shorts are still available in all sizes online, but the stock was definitely getting low on them in my local store. Just a reminder, I went up a size in these for leg room. My thighs are thick, y'all.

Tank Top / Skirt / Sandals

Chris has been on night shift, so this morning when he came home we got up and went to a breakfast buffet. I had pulled this skirt out earlier in the week but then decided to wear something else that day but hadn't put it back in my closet. It was early, and I was still half asleep so I just went with it.

I've had this skirt for a few years. I don't wear it often because it's really long on me, which means I can't wear flat shoes with it without risking stepping on the hem and embarrassing myself. Thankfully my white sandals have a platform sole. It's lined and has pockets. The fit is a bit slim, but it's definitely not tight.

This day I paired it with a ribbed beige tank top. This is the same top as the white one from the jumpsuit earlier in this post, but it's a size bigger so it fits looser. I like this size better because I don't feel like it's suction cupped to me.

Dress / Sandals

I have so many of these tank dresses from Walmart, it's getting a little ridiculous. I grabbed this one on my last trip there and wore it literally the next day. We ate fish for lunch and took Alexis for ice cream that afternoon. We went to Target but didn't buy anything and stopped by the Dollar Store to get stuff to make chili dogs. I think we watched IF this afternoon, too.

I really do have too many of these tank dresses. I usually wear these in a size small, but I noticed on the last one I bought that it was a tad shorter than I was comfortable with, so I took the gamble and got this one in a medium. The length was just what I wanted, and I liked that it wasn't as clingy in my middle.

T-shirt / Shorts / Sandals

It's another outfit repeat! We went out for lunch as a family, then went to both Academy and Walmart in search of a new tennis racket for Alexis. She's getting interested in playing, which is very exciting for me since tennis is my favorite sport!

Anyway, I really wanted to wear these striped green shorts again. They just feel so fresh and summery to me, and I had gotten this idea in my head to pair my Just Peachy t-shirt with them. You should recognize this tee from my last outfit post as well. This was also the best my hair behaved all week, which is amazing considering the heat and humidity we've been experiencing.

What I Read June 2024

How's your summer reading going? Mine has been kind of hyper-focused on fantasy recently. In addition to the three fantasy series you'll read about in this post, I also have been re-reading The Bonds That Tie series by J. Bree and The Redemption Saga by Kristen Banet.

I've only crossed one title off my Summer Reading List, my book club pick for June, but I have started reading The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman and plan to start The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller soon. Additionally, I'm almost finished with A Twist of Demon by S. E. Babin and have read the first few chapters of Shadow Beasts by Nellie H. Steele.

Now let's get to the good stuff - what I actually finished reading in June.

Daisy Jones & the Six

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

I'm pretty sure that I read this in May and just forgot to include it in the last reading roundup, which is weird because it was one of my favorite reads of that month. I was obviously aware of the popularity of this book, so when I decided to buy it, it was without even opening the cover. I knew what it was about and wanted to read it. Had I taken a moment to look inside, I probably would have changed my mind and missed out on a fantastic story told in a very unique way.

This book is the story of a fictitious band, The Six, and their brief collaboration with a solo artist, Daisy Jones. More specifically, it is the story of why this successful pairing didn't last. The band is loosely based on Fleetwood Mac, I believe, although in the small bit of research I did, I didn't find many similarities.

What makes this book unique is the fact that it is not written in prose. It is put together like a series of interviews with different band members and the other people involved all woven together to tell the story. In other words, it's basically all dialogue. Frankly, it was very reminiscent of my days logging interviews, which is why I probably would have passed on the book if I had glanced inside before I bought it, but the way the author lets the characters tell the story is truly what great storytelling is about.

Mother of Spades, Daughter of Diamonds, and King of Clubs (Luck God series 2-4)

Author: J. Gabriel Gates

I reviewed the first book of this series, Girl of Hearts, in my last reading roundup, and I wasted no time in devouring the final three books at the beginning of June. This series was so good. It even made an appearance in the 10 Things I'm Loving Right Now post from a couple of weeks ago. It is a magical series in which the magic system is based on a deck of cards. Each suit represents either good or bad luck with some specific gifts thrown in for each. Hearts and diamonds are good luck with hearts having the power of Cupid and diamonds being able to control wealth. Clubs and spades, meanwhile, are the bad luck suits, with clubs being able to cause people to go berserk and spades having the touch of death.

This series revolves around Aggie, a 16-year-old aspiring scientist who became a Good Luck God when the experiment she and her mother were working on opened a rift to another dimension. Aggie's mother was also turned into a Luck God, but instead of good luck power she received bad luck power and resurrected a suit that had been wiped out. Now the mother-daughter duo find themselves on opposite sides of a cause that's being controlled by a much higher power that has been working from the shadows for centuries.

The Three Mrs. Wrights

Author: Linda Keir

This is my book club pick for June, and I have mixed feelings about it. I felt like this book moved so slowly and also that the female characters were dumb for lack of a better word. The last 10 percent of the book made up for the rest of it for the most part, but I was really frustrated with the characters through most of this story.

At the heart of the story is Jonathan Wright, a doctor who has invented some type of nanotech that can detect childhood cancer before it presents symptoms. He's been married to Holly for nearly twenty years and has three children with her. Holly is also a doctor, a pediatrician. She essentially gave up her dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon for her husband. Now, she sees patients three days week and spends the rest of her time running a horse rescue charity. Jonathan, whom she calls Jack, is rarely around, always flying here and there to set up new offices and find more investors for his cancer project.

While he is trying to advance his cancer tech, Jonathan is using those trips for other purposes, as well. If you couldn't guess from the title of the book, he's dating other people. One of those people is Jessica, also a doctor. He's gone so far as to hire her and move her to his main headquarters location where he shares an apartment with her. Jessica knows about Holly, but she believes all the lies Jonathan tells her about how Holly is mentally unstable and holding up divorce proceedings. When he lies about the divorce actually going through, he convinces Jessica to marry him.

The web gets even stickier with Lark, who honestly doesn't really fit Jonathan's usual MO. She is a board game designer. She meets Jonathan in a hotel bar. He introduces himself as Trip and they have what she believes will be a one-night stand but turns into a long-distance relationship in which he is also investing in her company. Their whirlwind relationship eventually leads to an engagement, despite the fact that Jonathan is already doubly married. Lark thinks he's been divorced for many years.

Eventually, all three women find out about each other and meet, and the secrets all come to the forefront. Turns out, Jonathan hasn't just been lying about his relationship status but also the true capabilities of his cancer tech. Working together, the women manage to save the company and all truly separate from Jonathan in a spectacular event at which literally every important person in his life is present. Like I said, the closing chapters of the book make up for the rest.

Psycho Shifters, Psycho Fae, and Psycho Beasts (Cruel Shifterverse series 1-3)

Author: Jasmine Mas

This series is like some weird omegaverse type deal but without the omega focus. Sadie and her sister grew up in an abusive adoptive home in the Shifter realm. Sadie, being the oldest, shielded her sister from the abuse by taking it all herself. One day a mysterious man in a cloak shows up and takes her to the lake where they test shifters to see if they are an alpha, beta, omega, or null. When she presents as an alpha, Sadie is taken to the closest outpost where she's expected to train to become a soldier protecting the realm from the fae. Being the first female alpha comes with a lot of problems, most of them coming from the other three alphas stationed with her - Jax, Cobra, and Ascher.

Eventually, the group ends up in the Fae realm, betrayed by one of their own. While there, they must fight their way to freedom while under the suspicious eyes of Xerxes, an omega who escaped from the Beast realm and found his place among the fae queen's guard. When Sadie's best friend, who just so happens to be the fae queen's daughter in hiding, kills the queen but doesn't want to take her place on the throne, Xerxes helps the group escape to the Beast realm where they discover that Cobra is the long-lost son and heir of the leader of the group that keeps things in line. His father demands that they join his gang, so they all go through initiation, and eventually the fae come calling having been led to believe that the new queen was kidnapped. And at the center of it all is Sadie, who is a shifter-fae hybrid that apparently is destined to fight in some great cosmic war.

This series does continue with Psycho Academy, but it swaps to a different character's storyline. From reading the blurbs of the three books in that arc, I can't tell if it will address the thing that was left unresolved from the first three books, namely the war of which Sadie is supposed to be the great hero. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep going.

Supernaturals of Castle Academy series

Author: Tessa Hale

Let me begin by saying that this is not my favorite author. I have tried several books and series by her and never finished them for one reason or another. This series, while not the greatest thing I've ever read, held my attention long enough to finish.

Leighton has been living in hell ever since her dad died. Then a long-lost friend shows up to remove her from the situation and offer her a new life. They get her mom to sign emancipation documents, and Leighton leaves it all behind for a life of wealth and lots of secrets. Eventually, Leighton learns that she is an Anchor but never developed abilities and the group she's been living with are the supernaturals she was supposed to bond with - a wolf shifter, two dragon shifters, an incubus, and a witch. She's also caught the attention of a vampire who believes he's been cheated out of being among that group.  There's lots of politics happening, as well, and demon attacks. Oh, and a mean girl whose jealousy goes leagues too far. Leighton spends a lot of this series losing consciousness in some way, and she always came back to in the same way: the guys all talking about how it's been too long and she should already be awake, her being able to hear them and wanting to open her eyes but not being able to because they're just too heavy, the guys realizing she's trying to wake up and telling her they need to see her eyes, and her finally opening her eyes. That part got annoying pretty quick. Otherwise, the story line was pretty decent.

What I Wore Lately: 7 Casual Summer Outfits

I can't believe we've made it to the halfway point of summer! I've spent much of my time off relaxing or with family -- or both! If you've been following along this summer, you'll know that we've been to the aquarium and a few library programs. We've also spent a lot of time at the lake.

Unfortunately, it has been unbearably hot in my neck of the woods. Not that that's unexpected; it just plays a huge part in how I get dressed, as you will see in this roundup of real outfits. I'm sad to say that I have not done any better with taking photos every day. There have been some days where I haven't actually gotten dressed, and there was one day when I really liked my outfit and had planned on taking a photo but got caught in an afternoon storm and was soaked (it was this tank top and these shorts). I also didn't take a photo of a dress that I know is no longer available (this dress is a similar style by the sane company).

I've got seven casual outfits for you plus two swimsuits I've worn recently. Remember those lake days?

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 135-140 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Swimsuit (similar) / Sunglasses

Speaking of lake days, let's kick this roundup off with a swimsuit! I've had this swimsuit since 2020, so it isn't available anymore. I did pay more than I normally would for this suit, but it is really good quality and one of my favorites. I like that the top almost feels like a shirt. In fact, instead of a coverup, I just pulled on a pair of shorts and let the top act as a shirt when we went to dinner after coming in off the water late that afternoon. I found a really similar style and linked to that for you.

My sunglasses are still holding steady as one of my favorite things for this summer. When I tell you the tint is perfect, I mean the tint is perfect. I can't link to my hat since it's a souvenir from a 4-H camp.

T-shirt / Shorts / Sandals

I wore this on the day we tried a new Italian Ice/Ice Cream shop, Jeremiah's. I know it's not the only thing we did, but it's all I remember. They do this thing where they layer the Italian ice with the ice cream and various other toppings to create what's called a gelatini (or something like that). Anyway, I am officially obsessed.

Linen shorts are always a big summer trend, but I've never really hopped on the wagon. I always feel like I'm wearing pajamas whenever I break out a pair, but I really like this striped pair from Target. I did get these in a larger size than I normally would so that the legs would fit loose. They are nice and breathable and on the thin side, so be sure to wear light-colored underwear.

When I saw this graphic t-shirt, I couldn't resist it. I mean, cowboy skeletons? Come on! Even though I can wear a small in shirts like this, I usually get a medium for extra room around my hips. It's rare for me to tuck in a t-shirt, but I did with this outfit. It helped to make it feel less like pajamas and more like shorts.

My sandals are a pink color but very neutral. I wish I had gone up a half size, although these do fit. The straps don't have any give in them and my feet and the footbed match in length exactly, so the extra half size would make them even better. Otherwise, they're comfortable. The footbed is thin but not super flat and the straps are soft, despite their lack of stretch.

T-shirt / Shorts (similar) / Sandals (similar) / Sunglasses

I wore this the next day. We didn't do much, but we did go look at RVs and that was all outside basically in a parking lot. It was hot.

I got this graphic tee at the same time as the skeleton cowboys. I'm not usually into western-themed clothes, but I have several things in my closet that I can pair this shirt with. I decided to continue the linen shorts theme here though. Just like with the previous t-shirt, I got this in a medium.

My shorts are several years old, and I honestly don't remember where I got them. Probably Target, but they've been washed enough times that the tag has faded and the brand is unreadable. I linked to a similar pair.

My sandals are also several years old, but I do remember where I got them -- Walmart. They're the Time & True brand, and I have almost worn them out. I seriously wear them all the time in the summer. This brand does not have this style of sandal this year; instead, they have this one with the big toe strap. I tried them on the last time I was in the store and was not a fan. The footbed wasn't as comfortable as the ones I have and the toe strap was very tight. However, that's just my opinion, and you should definitely try them for yourself. I did link to a pair that's more similar to these under the photo, and if you want an actual pair of Birkenstocks click here.

Dress / Purse / Sunglasses / Sandals (similar)

I have no idea what we did this day. I love this dress so much. It is so flattering and comfortable. It has a smocked waist, and the neckline is elastic. It's a maxi length, and the skirt is very flowy. It's unlined but not see-through. The buttons and tie on the bodice are decorative, and it does not have pockets. I could have worn a size small in this, but I'm glad I got the medium because the arm holes are a tad snug. They are elastic, but I'm glad for the extra room.

I don't remember what we did this day, but I kept my shoes casual. I wore my trusty triple bow neutral slides, which are several years old. They kept the focus on the dress without being too boring. I linked to a cute pair of raffia slides with a bow detail that I think would have the same effect but with a more current twist.

Swimsuit - unavailable (similar, similar, similar, similar) / Sunglasses / Mermaid Tail Float

This was obviously another weekend spent at the lake. We won't talk about the weird sunburn pattern I left with, but we will talk about what is probably my favorite swimsuit! It's from two years ago so no longer available, but this suit is such good quality that I couldn't resist sharing it along with some similar options by the same company. I'm wearing the same sunglasses that I've been wearing all summer long, and my hat is still the non-linkable 4-H one I got on our Tybee trip. I did, however, find this exact mermaid tail float, but let it be noted that I did not spend $30 on ours. Not even close! However, it's been a favorite for the last couple of years so maybe it's worth that?

Not pictured here is what I wore over my swimsuit for the day, which was not a traditional cover-up, but I wanted to share the links anyway because I love both pieces. This Sunshine Vibes tank is such a good casual summer top, and it was nice and loose so there were no weird bumps from the tie on my swimsuit top. I got a medium. I wore these fringe drawstring waist shorts, which are a fun alternative to traditional jean shorts. I got a medium, which fit, but I should have sized up to a large for more leg room. They do stretch out some with wear but I would rather they already be loose.

T-shirt / Shorts / Sandals

On this day, my husband and I rode to a nearby town to eat at one of our favorite barbecue places and walked through some stores we don't have at home. Then we picked Alexis up from grandparents' later that day. I think we just hung out at the house for the rest of the day.

I have been in need of a new pair of white shorts that aren't denim. The pair I have are perfectly fine, but they're raw hemmed and just don't have that clean, grown-up look that I've been wanting. I already have several pair of these Time and True utility shorts in other colors, so when I saw they had them in white, I grabbed a pair. Now the thing I've noticed about these shorts is that the different colors fit differently, even if you get them all in the same size. I sized up to an 8 in these and am glad that I did. Be warned that these are very thin and dark underwear will be visible.

My t-shirt is just a basic graphic tee. I saw it on another blogger's page and ended up buying the entire outfit, although these shorts weren't part of it. She paired it with these linen pants, but it's been too hot to even consider wearing pants. However, I will definitely do that once school starts back in August.

T-shirt / Shorts / Sandals (similar)

I definitely wore these shorts again the next day, but with a different t-shirt. I've had this shirt for awhile. I love the bright yellow. It felt like such a summer outfit pairing white and yellow. We mostly hung out at the house this day, doing some cleaning up around the house and laundry, but we did go back for seconds at Jeremiah's. It's just been so dang hot, y'all. We needed something cold and sweet.

T-shirt (similar, similar) / Shorts (similar, similar) / Sandals (similar)

Everything in this outfit is so incredibly old that I can't link to any of it, but this is what I dress like most of the time in the summer. I wore this on the day we took Alexis up to the lake to camp with my parents for a few days. Then when we came back into town, we might have stopped at Jeremiah's.

These shorts have been a favorite for probably five years. These are from Old Navy, but they don't have anything even remotely close. The best I could do was link to some tie-dye options.

My t-shirt is the Love and Pineapples brand that they carry at Academy. It is maybe the softest t-shirt that I own. The back says "Inhale Tacos, Exhale Negativity." If you search that on Amazon, you find different versions of that on t-shirts and tank tops. I linked to the one that I liked the best as well as a current Love and Pineapples taco t-shirt. It's hot pink and has a different saying but it's cute.

T-shirt / Overalls / Sandals (similar) / Sunglasses

The overalls are back! This was a pretty busy day for us. Alexis was still camping, so it was just my husband and me. We ate a nice lunch and went to a few stores. That night we fired up the grill for an at-home date night.

I do still really like these overalls. They're flattering even on days when I feel like I'm bloated and gross (probably from all the trips to Jeremiah's lol). I stuck with my pattern of pairing them with a graphic t-shirt. I started with a plain white tank top but it felt very white and I didn't like it. This t-shirt is one of my oldest ones. It's a Queen band tee and still in stock!