Sunday, July 6, 2025
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Thankful Thursday: July 3, 2025
I Am Thankful For:
The new moon
Sundresses
A cool shower at the end of a hot day
Afternoon rain as a break from the heat
Dreams
Doggy smiles
Patio is complete
Words of affirmation
A movie date with my husband
Croissants
Making a plan
Grilled burgers
Dodging the rain
Peach season
Midpoint of the year
Early mornings
A busy day at the library
The start of an extra long weekend
Monday, June 30, 2025
Marking the Midpoint
Welcome to the midpoint of the year. Six months gone, six more to go. It has been a busy year so far, and June was no exception.
The most popular post on the blog for June was the latest addition to the "What No One Told Me About Menopause" series - It's a Hairy Situation, where we discussed all the changes that perimenopause can bring to our hair. Hot Girl Summer: Midlife Edition was a close second. Perhaps because it published just before the first heatwave of summer arrived and many of us needed those tips for coping with sweltering temperatures during perimenopause and menopause.
June was a month of changes around our house. The first phase of construction began on our new deck with the excavation and pouring of cement for the lower patio level. I am eager to have this project done so we can start enjoying our outdoor living space!
Home improvement projects were also taking place inside as we gutted the kitchen and dining area for a long overdue renovation. The walls and ceiling have all been patched, primed, and painted. New flooring should start to go in this week. And the new cabinets should arrive in a couple of weeks. I am so excited about how this new kitchen is going to look.
June was a medical month for me. I had my yearly bloodwork labs done and my wellness check with my primary doctor. I'm healthy for the most part, but my cholesterol and A1C have taken a negative turn. Coupled with a significant increase in weight, it's a clear indication that I need to get back onto a healthier routine. I'm not surprised by these changes. In fact, I anticipated this. Between my knee injury, surgery, and a back injury keeping me quite sedentary for most of the past year and a lot of stress eating - this was bound to happen. But, I have a plan in place to get back on track.
In June I read After the Forest by Kell Woods. Our book club selection for the month was The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon. My husband and I completed The Institute by Stephen King. I finished listening to The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. And I had the pleasure of reading my daughter's first published work - a novella called The Joke's On You (by Kaitlyn Owenby)!!
Two of my favorite things from June can't be found in any store. The first one is my little greenhouse garden. It has brought me so much joy to start harvesting my first tomato, some lettuce, lemon cucumbers, and herbs. I can't wait for more tomatoes and cucumbers to come in. The second thing is my hydrangea. They are really showing up and showing off this year! So many blossoms and in beautiful shades of purple. I am obsessed!
How was your June?
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Thankful Thursday: June 26, 2025
I Am Thankful For:
Cherry season
Sunshine
Deck construction has started
Thunderstorms
My daughter's family getting home safe
Sleep
Painting done in kitchen
A slow cooker full of gumbo
Deck footings passed inspection
First cucumbers from garden
Learning new things about the library
Air conditioning
A good yearly physical
Compliments
An afternoon nap
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Thankful Thursday: June 19, 2025
I Am Thankful For:
Breakfast with my dad
Sunsets
Friday the 13th (the day, not the movie)
Lunch with my husband
Fireflies
The first tomato from my garden
When my husband suggests getting takeout
Repair work completed
Ceiling is primed
My husband resolved the electrical issue
Simple dinners
A day with nothing scheduled
Gardening
Blood work done
Deck materials delivered
Silly dogs
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Hot Girl Summer: Midlife Style
Trust me on this... when you're in perimenopause or menopause, "hot girl summer" takes on a whole new meaning. While hot flashes are common during this phase of life and occur throughout the year - combining the summer heat and humidity can make a summer day feel like you're living in an inferno.
It's not in your head! According to the Mayo Clinic, fluctuating estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to become more sensitive to temperature changes. This is what triggers hot flashes. It can also explain why we may find that we are less tolerant of extreme temperatures than we used to be.
Are hot flashes more frequent during the summer? One small study did show an increase in hot flashes and nightsweats during June and July, but for the most part the jury is still out on this. There is one thing we can all agree on though. If it's already 90⁰ and humid when a hot flash starts - it is just going to feel that much more intense.
So, what can we do to keep our cool during hot girl summer season? Here are a few tips that might help:
- Keep your home cool. Run your air conditioning and use fans to circulate the air. Close the blinds and curtains to reduce heat gain from sunlight.
- Wear light, breathable fabrics such as linen and cotton. Avoid tight, restrictive clothing.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods. These can trigger or worsen hot flashes. Drink plenty of water.
- Use cooling products. From cooling wraps (or towels) and eye masks to bracelets, even cooling gel pads to wear in your bra - there are many products on the market designed to help lower your body heat.
- Talk to your doctor. Hormone replacement or low-dose antidepressants can help ease or eliminate hot flashes associated with perimenopause/menopause.
Perimenopause in the summer may feel like nature turned the heat up just for you, but you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not powerless. With a little planning, a lot of water, and maybe a fan in every room, you can stay cool and feel more like yourself. Listen to your body, and don’t be afraid to slow down when you need to. This season of life—and this season of the year—might be intense, but so are we!
What's your best tip for staying cool when summer and perimenopause turn up the heat?
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Thankful Thursday: June 12, 2025
I Am Thankful For:
A bouquet of hydrangea
Watching the clouds build on the horizon
Chocolate chip cookies
Listening to the rain
When my grandson yells "Oma" and runs to hug me
The old kitchen cabinets are gone
Picking out new light fixtures
Reading my daughter's first book
A good hair day
Pulled pork
The monthly book club meeting
That first cup of tea in the morning
Helping someone find a library book
Tacos
My greenhouse garden is flourishing
Tiny little cucumbers on my plants
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
What No One Told Me About Menopause: It's A Hairy Situation
- Practice good hair care. Choose gentle cleansers and conditioners free of harsh sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and silicones. Limit or avoid styling with high heat.
- Eat a diet rich in protein and nutrients that support hair health.
- Reduce your stress.
- Consult with your doctor to rule out any underlying problems that may be affecting your hair health and to discuss treatment options.
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Thankful Thursday: June 5, 2025
I Am Thankful For:
My creativity
Cabinets are ordered
An abundance of blossoms on my cucumber plants
My little chiweenie is feeling better
Lunch with my dad
Deep purple hydrangea
Plums
My son's birthday
My fall wasn't worse
Oreo dessert
Saturday nights
Waffles
Clean laundry
Paint samples
Starting the work
Ice cream with chocolate syrup
Warm sunny days
My daughter's first book