01 Jul Life Lately- What I Have Been Busy Doing in June

I’m sharing what I have been doing in the month of June as July is already upon us.

Happy July 1st!

“Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson had the right idea. Be present. Enjoy the things and people around you. Enjoy your life!

Part of that is enjoying the Summer- the longer and lighter days, the outdoors and socializing.

It is hard to believe June is over and we are heading into the middle of Summer. June, here was quite hot, with a few weeks ago having many days that were heat advisories and extreme UV heat over 100 degrees. I told my brother that this is out of the ordinary, at least in June.

I’ve always been an outdoor person, so the Winter months do not appeal to me, but every other month, with the exception of the cut through the air type of heat, the kind that makes you sweat before you even go anywhere, kind of heat.

It was a busy and fun month, with family having moved here and also visiting.

Family Time

Three out of the four siblings are here in Charlotte , and my brother and family from Hoboken, made the trip to visit last week. You got to hear and see a bit of our Avalon Beach trip last summer.

We love to eat al fresco “on the lake” and enjoyed several meals out with family while visiting. Nearly every day was a pool day and we all enjoyed cooling off and grilling out.

We did quite a bit when everyone was here: swimming, boating on Lake Norman, eating out several places on the water. For Father’s Day my family and I went to “On the Nines” a Country club open to the public with an amazing brunch! (We got a thumbs up from my NYC brother) and in the evening we went to our first Charlotte Knights Baseball game where I was schooling my 4-year-old nephew on the pitcher and catcher’s role. (Fun fact: I used to be a catcher on my softball team as a teenager, and always feared getting hit by the bat!)

Lunch time pit stop.

Mom enjoying the boat!

Hubby driving the boat!

My nephew Aedan. He is 4, and my little buddy! I just love that he wanted to be around me throughout his visit. He was my little shadow!

Vineyard Days

It’s that time of year! I love listening to live music, packing a picnic and hanging out at the vineyards. These are a few of our favorites.

Daveste Vineyards. (We pronounce it DAH-vest-ay) with the accent on the first syllable. Just sounds so good. Let’s go to Dah-vest-ay, Dah-ling!

JOLO- This winery near Pilot Mountain in NC, is award winning and we know why. In July, we head to a pick up party for Wine Club members. (Our first!) They are rated 1 of the top 7 wineries outside of California.  They have a process that eliminates the tannins and oh, the wine not only tastes delish, but you don’t have to worry about the headache!

Jones Von Drehle near the Blue Ridge Mountains, is my second favorite vineyard for delectable wines! While we were there during Covid, they were building a new Ampitheater which overlooked the mountains.

Books I Read

The last book I read was “The Three Sisters”, a true story of three sisters who survived the Holocaust. It was a book I couldn’t put down.  I have started An Italian Summer, as the Almalfi Coast is the backdrop for this book. It is also a change for me, as I love reading historical fiction, and this is just fiction. My favorite book recommendation this year is: The Last Bookshop in London which takes place during WWII. So good!

Outdoor Sports

You know by now, I love paddleboarding. We go out around our schedule and prefer earlier mornings. I purchased an “early birthday” gift for myself, this carbon fiber paddle. It only weighs 1.2 pounds and makes a difference with arm fatigue and my shoulders hurting. It really is worth it to have better equipment if it is something you will enjoy for years. I’ve been out with my hubby (he kayaks) and my friend as well. We try and make it out each week.

Pontoon boat- Hubby drove and we all filed into two boats for a day out. It of course was 100 degrees that day, but you have to “go with the flow” and schedule early, especially if you have a large group. We boated in Lake Norman, and then made a pit stop for the restaurant on the lake- Apps and Taps.

Clothes and Accessories I Bought

I have mentioned that I added a few linen pieces to my wardrobe this summer. I purchased these trousers  in a camel color from H&M, and boy, if you don’t jump on them, they sell out. They come in 4 colorways.

I also purchased these two linen dresses- This Mango dress for $14, thrifted, and this linen one on Mango for $55 on sale. The later dress is not available any more, but here is another great linen shirt dress that comes in tan stripes or olive. (on sale)

Since we are going to Italy at the beginning of Oct, I am on the hunt for a few things. I would like a pair of sneakers I can walk all day in. These Ecco sneakers are highly rated for travel, so I am considering. I also bought this black leather belt bag from Quince, as I want to be hands free and not have to carry as much during the day. They are fabulous as they are direct to consumer.

This Quince belt bag is 100% Italian leather and is a great buy at $59.

Last, I bought faux leather trousers from Zara, as another pair I had for years bit the dust. A steal at $30! ( presently N/A)

The picture above is Pedro my brother’s Australian Cattle dog.  I could relate, as I was beat! Anyone else feel like they need a few days’ rest after vacation or family weeklong get togethers? 🙂

Tell me about your month of June. What did you enjoy doing? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Have a great 4th of July weekend! 

Jess xx