Holy mackerel, I cannot believe that it’s already August! I felt like January and February were pretty long, slow months, but the spring and summer have absolutely flown by! July was a crazy month, and I took a bit of a break from social media and writing blog posts. I was feeling a bit burnt out and, to be honest, uninspired with this space. I’ll share more moving forward about some takeaways, but one of the major ones is just how much our stay in Belhaven rejuvenated me! Thanks for joining me on the July 2019 Instagram Roundup! I hope you have an excellent August!
CHECK OUT PREVIOUS MONTHS’ INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP HERE: JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL | MAY | JUNE
August and July 2019 Instagram Roundup
I mentioned in June’s Instagram Roundup that our flight to Montreal was cancelled and we couldn’t get a flight another flight for over 24 hours. That meant we had to postpone our trip, and while we were both bummed, we were grateful to for our safety and made the best of an impromptu date night at some of our favorite places in Mordecai.
This cute passport cover is old, but there are some cute ones here and here. Also, I’m living in my Rothy’s, these Levi’s, and this Target suitcase is the best carry-on for under $75! My manicure is OPI Eurso… Euro by my best girl, Khameo at Paintbase.
Swimming at the Umstead
One of my favorite places to spend time during the summer is the pool at the Umstead! David and I spent the 4th of July here. You can shop my favorite swim suits and cover ups just in time for the last months of summer!
Happy Hour in Durham
Y’all know I love a good manicure, so I shared my favorite nail shades for summer here. This romper is a steal for under $35 from Amazon and was perfect for a happy hour at The Unscripted in Durham! The Unscripted is such a unique gem in the Triangle for meeting friends. Their cabanas are the perfect spot to have some delicious apps, drinks, and people watch!
Dinner at Em’s
My friend Em hosted an influencer dinner and it was just what I needed to feel inspired. I was bummed by the canceled Montreal trip and had just been feeling underwhelmed by Instagram. It’s hard listening to negative talk about the algorithm, but I also understand. I sometimes get more interaction on my personal Instagram than on my curated feed. I also was tired of hearing about the Nordstrom Sale. It was oversaturated and it perpetuates materialism and competition. So, this dinner came at the right time, and conveniently, right before our last minute trip to Belhaven.
It was great because my friend Kayte went with me, and she is a great friend and cheerleader. Also, her feed and her recipes are goals… although, goals I’ll never achieve. I wore this J.Crew Factory top paired with my J. Crew Factory white denim, J. Crew Factory heels, and these earrings from Red Dress Boutique.
Over Night Stay at a Bed and Breakfast
Our stay at Between Water and Main was exactly what I needed. I felt inspired, excited, and that while our trip to Montreal didn’t work, this trip was what my feed and blog had been missing recently. Also, it was a great reminder of why I got into writing and why I loved sharing travel guides.
Fun Trip with the Boys
While I love traveling with David, we often miss our boys. One of our favorite staycations was when we took them with us to the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill.
Vacationing in Ocracoke
Over on Instagram, I introduced y’all to vacation Meghan. Whenever we go to Ocracoke, I always over pack, which is something I will work on for next year. I don’t wear make up, I don’t use heat products on my hair, and I appreciate the opportunity to relax. I love this striped maxi and my Jack Rogers for summer.
I took this screenshot last fall and it was exactly what I needed at a time where I was drowning in self doubt.
Bona Essentials Feature
I love our boys so much, but their shedding leaves much to be desired for our floors. I am loving the Bona Essentials options to best suit our needs for house cleaning. You can see my original post here.
This post is sponsored by Bona but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Appreciating the Little Things
One of my favorite details from our stay at Between Water and Main was the personal touches from Kasey and Molly. Kasey loves cocktails, so she made a rum cocktail with Elderflower from Connecticut, where she lives full time, and served it in this hobnail milk glass. These are the details that I love about eastern NC hidden gems!
Home Updates
I’ve been waiting on doing a second year in our home update, but I think I’ll get it posted in the next couple of months. Here is the first year update, but since then, we’ve updated our curb appeal with shutters, updated our front porch with some rugs and a porch swing, and most recently, David has installed built-ins. Stay tuned for our DIY on how he added those and updated our home office. I love this blue maxi dress for under $25 from Amazon and these sandals are my go-tos for summer.
Dining in Raleigh
I recently posted about the best restaurants in Raleigh that aren’t actually in Raleigh. They’re actually in the suburbs, and are delicious options if you’re looking for a change in scenery! This restaurant isn’t on my list, but only because I wrote the post prior to trying this restaurant in Holly Springs. Osha Thai Kitchen and Sushi is a beautifully decorated, delicious spot and an excellent addition to Holly Springs!
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What are some of your highlights from July and August? Share in a comment below!
