CURRENT INSPIRATION
Vintage glassware – I need a body guard dedicated to keeping me away from thrift shops right now, because the collection of little glass bowls and huge old mason jars that I’m amassing is geting silly. I think I’m going to turn some of them into lanterns for our deck…
Wild raspberries – We bought two raspberry bushes last summer and added two more in this year… and we have some berries!! I know it takes a few years for them to really develop, but I love looking down from our deck and seeing the berries starting to ripen in the sun. Hopefully next year I can make a batch into jam.
Early mornings – My work schedule has bounced around all summer, but now that I’m working mornings I don’t have as much time to get centred and ahead of my e-mail as I would like. I’ve started setting my alarm for (cringe with me…) 5:45 AM and taking a full hour to have coffee, visit with Mister, write in my journal or read is just beautiful. It means I’m starting the day with intention & not feeling rushed instead of having to regroup at the end of the day- it’s the perfect summer habit.
THIS JULY I WILL…
Get my theatre fix! - The Fringe Festival is here!! The Fringe festival is here!! The Fringe is a 100% independent, unjuried two week invasion of the downtown. Winnipeg’s festival is huge, the second largest in North America, and touring artists from the world over come into the city to reconnect and put on amazing work. Every year when it comes back I can’t stay away and this will be no exception.
Hug my friends & sister (and then refuse to let go) - Two of my favourite people who have moved away from the prairies are coming home in July to visit, and at the end of July my sister is finally coming home from France. It’s going to be a great time to reconnect and catch up.
Learn to crochet – I’ve found the most wonderful little wool shop & the owner has promised to teach me how to crochet! I’ve always been a knitter, so moving to one hand is going to be a lot of wrap my head around- but I’m excited to put the crochet hooks I keep buying with the intention of learning how to use to good use.
Learn to make the perfect sangria - I didn’t get around to this in June so I’m going to make sure it try it in July! A few of you offered to send me your recipes so I’m going to try them out and share the results here.
Do you have any fun plans for July?
(& Happy Canada Day!)
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Keep posted about the Sangria! If you have good results with it I think I might be brave enough to try!
I’m kidnapping my sister for a fun-filled weekend. Can’t wait! :)
Ooo, how fun that your sister is returning from France! Will be so great to see her!
I learned to crochet this spring. Everyone says it is easier than knitting but I still prefer knitting and think knitting is easier… I am getting close to 1/2 done with a baby blanket, though, and am happy with how it looks. I will have to send you a picture of it (won’t be posting it on my blog until December when I give it to the baby being born!).
The Fringe Festival sounds really cool!
Ooh let us know how crocheting goes! I’ve been thinking of starting too :)
I would love to see a DIY on turning mason jars into deck lanterns. That sounds completely dreamy and perfect for summer nights. Hooray for your berry bushes continuing to grow. Some of my favorite memories are berry picking on my grandparents property. I’m glad that your sister and friends will be returning home.
This July, I’m working on developing a better relationship with my stepsister. Shes a neat person and someone I really want to get to know better. (Our parents have been married for over 10 years but she lived half way across the country, but now lives in DC.) I’m also going to visit DC and spend some time with some fabulous friends (Nora! Becky! Lots of others!).
All the talk of sangria…oh yum. I think it’s the first time in 18 months that I’ve actually been sad that I couldn’t have a drink!
Your month sounds wonderful! For me July is filled with friend get togethers, blogger meet ups, birthday celebrations, and some awesome time with family. I’m excited it’s starting today (with my mom’s birthday!)
That Fringe Festival sounds AMAZING! My first job out of college was working for an independent production company and I will always share a soft spot for indie films ;) Sounds like a wonderful July! Do share your sangria recipe….
I love this! I adore the idea of waking up extra early to start the day with intention. It’s something I really want to work on myself. And you are making me want to buy some vintage glassware for myself! <3
A Dallas couple recently published a book called “Porch Parties” and some of the drink recipes in it are swoon-worthy. I instantly thought of you while I was flipping through our office’s review copy. It also has a really great sangria recipe. I’m definitely going to run out and get one of those apothecary-style spigot decanters and make some soon!
I love the point about starting the day with intention. It’s a bit tough for me these days with such an unpredictable schedule (and often lack of sleep!), but thank you for the reminder to set aside some dedicated time just for me. :)
Your July sounds lovely, and I hear ya on the thrift shopping..er, mostly browsing for now… Somebody stop me! I actually have been craving to go today. I’m super excited because for July 4th I get to spend time with my cousin whom I haven’t been able to hang out with in YEARS. Many, many moons, really. It’s going to be GREAT.
I just got a container of raspberries in my produce delivery and promptly ate half of them. So much for baking anything!
I am using July to ::drum roll:: meet a family member I spent years searching for and haven’t met. TOMMORROW!
Happy Canada Day Kyla!
oooh perfect sangria – i too will be learning that :)
i’m really craving some thrift shopping too.
i’ve recently joined a gym, so july is for me to get on a workout schedule!
Implementing your morning routine would change my life! I definitely cringed with you–early mornings are the worst for me.
If it makes you feel better, our alarm goes off at 5AM. And as much as I hate getting up that early, you know what I love? My morning walk with the dog. The city is still quiet. The park often has fresh dew on the grass. The birds and rabbits and squirrels are out for their morning feeding (much to SoMi’s delight). And it’s my little date with a corner of my city that I don’t have to share with anyone else. Waking up early doesn’t have to entirely sour your day. It’s all about perspective, which clearly you’ve got!
I love that whole starting your day with intention bit…
Vintage glassware is my weakness too! In fact, my boyfriend has banned me from buying any more because our kitchen is too full!
(He doesn’t know I have plans to go thrifting with friends this weekend!) :)
Mentioning vintage glassware reminded me of this post at Apartment 412 {http://bit.ly/c12odW}. I’m totally enamored by the idea.
I really admire you for waking up so much earlier than you *have* to for work – that’s a habit I would love to get into. I’m always rushing to get ready for work on time. Maybe I’ll try to follow your lead on this one…
I made strawberry sangria a few weeks ago and it was so good! I blogged about it, with photos!
Since I start work at 7 a.m., I always get up at 5:30 – sometimes even earlier – because I like to have some peace and quiet in the morning. It’s actually really nice when you get in the routine.
Also, I love that you want to pick up crocheting… if you ever get stuck, I’d love to help you out :)
Yay, have fun with the summer goals!! Crocheting is *so* obsessive…it’s rad. :) he he. And you’ll have to share your Sangria recipe once it’s made! Yummy, yummy!
Yaay! for sister reunions. (And hi, I love mason jars, or more specifically: the “Kerr” jars. It’s just super fun to see part of my name on a jar. Which is maybe a bit narcissistic of me, but I’m pretty OK with that.)
This July I will:
Visit my family and spend a weekend lakeside.
Host a favorite friend visiting from Seattle.
Start Roller Derby! boot camp.
Shower a friend with bridal-related things.
Spend a night on Cannon Beach with dear friends (and three hilarious kids who belong to said friends).
Also: random craft-related story, but the tattoo artist that did my recent ink (I linked to adorable! pics of her in my latest post) is friends with Elsie (from Elsie Cakes!). They worked together at a shop in Kansas City before Silje (my artist) moved to Portland. Talk about small bloggy worlds.
I looooove vintage glassware, especially Depression glass. It’s just so much fun! But sadly, I have no room in my cabinets anymore!
Good luck with the crochet! I love to knit, but have never been able to fully grasp crochet. I would love to, though! Especially with all the wonderful yarns out there.
My. When did it get to be July? Seriously. My goodness. And raspberries are absolutely amazing. Yum.
I’ve always wanted to crochet! Let me know how it goes!
You can learn anything on the internet. I taught myself how to crochet (and how to make mittens) this way — there are so many tutorials out there!
That’s a great plan on waking up early as you can to not feel rushed and have some time to yourself before going to work. I really should do that because I spend that time at work before I get started on “work”…shame on me.
Hope July is lovely to us all! :)
July will be filled with learning Spanish, taking a mini-vacation to Orlando, and trying to liven up my life a little more.
Happy July!
Aw, what a great list for July! This month I’m going to Yosemite with the family, then Renegade Craft Fair in Los Angeles, possibly Renegade in San Francisco also & I’m opening up my Etsy shop! It’s a big month for me! Oh & the last weekend of the month I’m going to central Cali to stay at my favorite lighthouse for a weekend! <3
Good luck with everything! Your goals sound like fun. I love your blog so much btw…every post is so wonderful and your design is lovely.
I love your July list! Mmm sangria. I’ll be over in about 5 minutes ;)
Mm sangria. Sounds like some good goals for July!
yay for sangria and raspberries! two of my favorite summer things, woo!
I am trying so hard to do that same thing with my mornings, but still failing quite miserably. I love early mornings once I’m up, but getting myself there is such a struggle.
I always find your blog inspiring to read! Fresh berry jam sounds amazing! Hope you have a wonderful July. :)
I’d love to learn how to knit or crochet. I don’t have the patience to teach myself.
I’ve found that I’m a morning person now. Since I wake up at 5:00 a.m. for work, I get upset if I sleep later than seven on the weekends!
Fringe is going to be AMAZING. And it’s sci fi this year!!
Let me know when you make Sangria… I’ve never had it and I’d be a very willing guinea pig lol
One of my favorite white wine sangrias, perfect for summertime! =)
http://wine.about.com/od/howwineismade/r/whitesangria.htm
i learned to crochet this year. i haven’t knit much, but i find crocheting to be pretty easy once you get the hang of it:)
good luck with learning to crochet! I actually learned to knit first but find crocheting to be SO much easier and faster! I look forward to seeing your progress.
As for Sangria… mmmmm! We make if for every party at our house. So simple and delicious!
I adore the little July picture.. I am sucker for pearls. And isn’t it wonderful to wake up early to dedicate an hour of your time to the peace of the morning and the steam of a fresh coffee.. I love it.
Best,
Hannah Katy
545 am? You’re a rockstar. I moan and groan just to get up at 6:30/6:45 each day (and that’s if I’m okay with running late that day). I’m such a baby about my sleep. BUT when I do get up early, it does make a huuuge difference so I understand completely!
Hope to hear more about the perfect sangria. I have no doubt that you can do it.
Ah! Totally loving your goals for this month. My mum taught me to crochet when I was a young girl, who was taught by her mum. I never did get as good as them but my grandma’s house is just filled with all these intricate and gorgeous doilies, bedspreads, etc. that she made. I’ve been meaning to pick it up again.
i’ll be finishing my four-year college study! really hope it will be coming sooner. Wish i have time to crochet i looove doily, in love with doilies! Maybe i’ll arrange time to crochet in my holiday to make more doilies :D
Heart your July idea to hug your families and reconnect!