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?