june was busy in all the best ways. we took a short weekend trip to kansas city. we went on our long-awaited vacation to san francisco. i saw my sister graduate from high school. i got to see all three of my very best friends. we got to show off our not-so-new-anymore house to my dad and sister. and we got to celebrate the first birthday of our beautiful niece, tianna. june was full of adventure and i’m so happy it happened.

but july. july is what my dreams are made of.  july is for adventures of a completely different kind, like figuring out how many sets of string lights we need to go all the way around our yard and finding inspiration for our next grilled pizza (obsessed). july is for sipping cocktails in the backyard at sunset and getting all the bug bites (the true mark of a summer well spent). july is for shakespeare in the park and jazz on the green and picnics galore. july is for setting off my first ever fireworks and mastering the art of backwards running while watching them go off. july is for making myself this birthday cake…and probably this one, too. july is for catching up on reading all the books i’ve neglected while binge-watching orange is the new black instead. july is for harvesting san marzanos and sun golds and finally figuring out how to can tomato sauce.

july is for not worrying about the basement that still isn’t done, that baseboards and decorating can wait, because there’s no reason to be inside anyways. july is for not worrying about the possibility of not having a single well-functioning car, because we don’t need to go any further than our own backyard. (and because it’s reduced bus fare month).

july is all the reasons why i always dreamed about having my own house someday, and all the reasons why i’m feeling 110% grateful that dream became a reality 10 1/2 months ago. july is for living the slow life, the good life (#nebraskahumor).

i love you, july.