Hello June!! A new month with new possibilities! This is one of my favorite months as summer starts, my favorite season! So ready for all that this season brings, feels like this winter/spring lasted a long time!

Last week was busy! Workouts, tennis, Memorial Tournament, oh and painting!! I am happy to be back this week and not on a ladder painting a high wall. Loved the project and the result but this one was a big project! I loved having a break in it all. Hopping over to Murfield for the Memorial Pro Am last Wednesday was a perfect pause in the painting. Went out with Mari, Tuck and Tuck’s best friend David. We had a blast! Loved seeing the celebrity golfers but really loved seeing my favorite pros out there doing their thing. One aspect of golf I love is the up close view. You get to see the players and their play intimately. This day is now becoming an annual tradition with the kids. I am totally here for it. Memory making at its best.

Race Recap: FORE! MILER-The unofficial kick off to the Memorial Tournament this race never disappoints. I have run it for years and every year it just gets better. This is an evening race, not my fav but I love it none the less. The weather was great, with a little rain as I finished. I ran happy and felt strong for all four miles. The finish was parallel to the 18th green, headed right over to it for some pics after receiving my medal. Oh, and one of the SAWG perks from registering for. this race, a free practice round pass to the tournament!! Seriously, if you love golf, make sure to get moving and put this race on your calendar for next year!

TO REGISTER FOR ANY OF THESE AMAZING M3SSPORTS EVENTS CLICK HERE

BANANA BOAT SUMMER COLOR SELF-TANNING LOTION-I have tried several different kinds of self tanner and this one is my fav! Easy to apply, smells amazing, lasts and is under $10!! Easy order on Amazon, click on the link above to check it out.

KIT SCH STRENGTHENING RICE WATER SOLID SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER-So these are brand new to me. I do a lot of blonde highlighting to my hair and heat styling. As a result, it has become brittle. I have experienced a major breakage. Like major. Top of my head, a section seriously is missing. I have no idea when it broke off but it did. So now I am repairing the damage as well as working on regrowth. My stylist is working with me. I have a regimen of hair masks and heat styling spray. I also take biotin supplements and powder collagen. I, of course saw these bars on an IG ad and wondered enough about them I ordered them. LOVE them! They are literally soap bars, easy to use. No clogged bottle top, no missing out on the last little bit left. It’s hard to tell if they are making a difference in terms of growth yet. However, the texture has changed for the better! Again an easy order on Amazon! Click on the link above if you are curious.

Now that our house is in full summer mode we are meal prepping!!! Tuck, Mari and I are working hard to prepare our lunches. Having meals ready to go will make this season flow with ease. Eating healthy, and planning ahead gives us the ability too fuel in the best way possible. One thing needed for meal prep are containers. We have been through several versions of meal prep containers, like several. I think we have finally landed on a version that will work for us this summer. The containers are reusable plastic that can be microwaved and washed in the dishwasher. We were struggling to identify each other’s lunches. As I searched for containers, we found some with different colored bottoms. That was the solution. We each picked a color we liked. Now, once they are created and placed in the fridge for the week, we know who’s is who’s. Easy peasy…I love it when things are color coded and organized especially in the kitchen!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CONTAINERS WE PURCHASED

THE PROJECT: PAINT THE LIVING ROOM-It has been 13 years since this space received love. Oh my goodness it really needed it! A process this was for sure. Starting with patching ALL the holes, every wall had ton! I let the patching dry for 24 hours, then went back in to sand it out. There was dust everywhere! Painting started, took my time with each wall, baseboard and trim for the first coat. Over the next few days I applied 4 coats! Seriously, four coats! Going from a dark tan to white I expected a few but not four. To be honest, I could probably do a fifth coat in a few spots.

I had some leftover navy blue paint. I used it to paint the outside of the front and back doors a while ago. Used that to make a statement space in our entryway. It is bold, sleek and a great contrast to the white. Also very east coastal, which is the vibe I am going for.

I planned my supplies just right, with rollers, brushes, painter tape and paint. Super proud of myself for that. Had enough white left to paint switch covers and shelves in an antique hutch we have.

The space feels bright, airy and open now, in contrast with the dark “den” like feel of the dark tan. I am using the navy, neutral tans and some gold as accent colors in accessories.

This of course has sparked more projects as our home is a cape cod ranch. One room flows very much into another. First piece to finish in turning the mantel, inside front door and back door from black to navy. This is in process. The hallway off of the entryway will be next. It is brown and cream striped (which I love). I will be keeping the stripes, but they will be going navy and white. The kids bathroom will go from tan and red to some form of the white and navy. And then the kitchen, that will be another big project. Excited for the work to come, but taking a moment to love on the work I have already put in.

With so many celebratory events happening this time of year, gifting is at a high. And with gifting comes the thanking. Showing gratitude to someone for their thoughtfulness is the upmost importance.

My Great Aunt Peg was a stickler for a well written THANK YOU NOTE. There were rules to how it was to be written. There were also rules on the timing of sending the note. You must include a kind first greeting sentence. Then, follow with a thank you. Specifically, describe the gift and how you will use it. Then close with a thoughtful salutation. The timing of the note, the THANK YOU must be written and sent within one week of receiving the gift. She was very serious about that part, very.

Well, times have changed haven’t they? The art of the handwritten note is becoming extinct. I loved using the beautiful stationery. My Mom always had some sort of Crane note cards/paper in her office. I enjoyed using a great pen and writing in my notorious script handwriting.

To be honest, I haven’t written a thank you note on that pretty stationary in ages. My THANK YOUS have come in forms of texts, emails and even dms on social media. I think this is becoming more main stay. I am ok with it. I should be, as I am guilty of it myself. As long as a THANK YOU is said, in no matter the form that is what is important. My Aunt Peg would be in a total tizzy right now if she were reading this, I just know it. It is the thought and the gesture that matters, not the form it is sent in.

Celebrating life’s small things, the glimmers. SUNRISES and SUNSETS. In the summer these everyday occurrences become special events. Waking early, coffee in hand to catch the beauty before the day starts. Making a point to find the sunset, with friends, family and community. Grabbing a blanket to sit on, snacks and even a cocktail to toast the end of a lovely day. In the summer it becomes a place of coming together. You will start to realize these sweet, small and short celebrations will become something you cherish and look forward to. SUNRISES and SUNSETS will become some of your greatest core memories.