Connecting the Dots: June
The start of new summer traditions, an ode to Kennebunkport, and the perfect summer dress and dessert.
I really debated not sending out an end of month recap of June, what with the whole deciding to take myself off of a publishing schedule for the summer and all. But I realized these round up posts are more for me than anything else. Of course I hope you enjoy them too, but beyond sharing with you, these round ups have become a way for me to mark the passing of time. A way to memorialize my month. A reason to stop and take notice of what brings me joy over the course of thirty-some-odd days. So if nothing else, I’m writing this as a way for me to remember.
Of all the memories I want to preserve from June, my trip to Kennebunkport, Maine with my college girlfriends ranks the highest. I hope to write about this trip in more detail later, but for now I’ll say this—all those memes about how an East Coast summer would heal you are not wrong. Stuffing my face with lobster rolls and oysters, sipping cocktails while wearing long sleeves in June, hunting for seashells and hermit crabs on a windy beach, and laughing with some of my oldest friends while scream singing 90’s country music until our abs and lungs hurt did, in fact, heal something in me. Four days of carefree living with old friends in a beautiful seaside town was exactly what my heart needed. So much so, that we’ve decided we want to make this an annual trip, choosing a different East Coast beach town each summer. My vote is Newport, RI next…
The other highlight of June was having my niece in town for a week. My SIL and I found ourselves due with girls almost exactly two months apart and for most of our pregnancies, thought we would get to raise those girls near each other. Life had other plans that included us moving away from Houston, though, and while that brought us closer to grandparents, it took us farther from cousins. The girls have a special bond and have always been able to pick up right where they left off whenever they see each other, but we are always searching for more opportunities for them to spend time together. So when the opportunity for her to come to town and attend VBS with my daughter and some of my in law’s closest friend’s grandchildren, it felt like a golden opportunity. The week was not only filled with VBS, but princess dresses, slip ‘n slides, s’mores, sleepovers with grandparents, and more. This was the first of what I hope continues to be a summer tradition and we can’t wait for my nephew to be able to join in on the fun someday, too.
The rest of June included lots of pool time, kitchen table art projects, time outside with friends, snuggles in bed, and snacks. Lots of snacks. It’s been such a sweet month filled with big and small moments that have all felt so quintessentially summer. Long live the long summer days! (Ask me if I still feel this way come August…)
Reading Roundup
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
Format: Audiobook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re a fan of The Thursday Murder Club, you’ll love this.
Create Anyway by
Format: Audiobook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It took me waaayyyy to long to finally read this, but I’m so glad I read it when I did. If you’re a mom needing a loving creative pep talk this summer, I highly recommend. I’m so glad I also own a physical copy to flip through when I need to refer back.
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Format: Physical book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s nothing better than reading an Abby Jimenez book poolside in the summer. This book was no exception.
The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler
Format: Audiobook
Rating: DNF
I wanted so badly to love this book. I was hooked from the beginning and ready to dive in. I don’t know if it was the content or me not being able to listen for long periods of time, but I only made it about 40% of the way through before my Libby hold was up and I didn’t feel strongly enough to place another hold.
Entertainment Honorable Mentions
Sirens on Netflix
I downloaded this to watch on my trip to and from Maine and after a 2 hour delay, diversion, and sitting on the jetway for 2 hours in Houston before heading home, I was very glad I did. Perfect travel show.
The Residence on Netflix
This is very Knives Out meets Scandal. I loved, I just wished it was maybe 3 episodes shorter.
America’s Sweethearts Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 2 onNetflix
I was saving this for an upcoming trip in July, but I found myself with a mysterious 24 hour bug this weekend that left me bedridden and decided to treat myself. A great weekend binge. I’m currently listening to Kate Kennedy’s podcast episode sharing her thoughts and it’s a fun companion listen.
Gadgets and Gizmos Aplenty
Ya’ll. Do you see this dress I’m wearing? It is the Perfect Travel Dress™️. It’s lightweight but long—perfect to keep you cool but also protect your legs from gross airplane seats and random bouts of arctic air conditioning. It’s gauzy so it doesn’t show wrinkles. It’s cute so you walk off the plane ready to go, but it feels like you’re wearing a nightgown so you don’t sacrifice comfort. Unfortunately, this exact dress is sold out and there doesn’t seem to be an option to sign up for restock alerts. I’ll link to some that appear similar and will report back immediately if I find out this one is restocked. I do feel that any gauzy maxi dress would suffice.
In a different life, I am a sourdough mom. I bake all of our food from scratch and grow our ingredients and am one with the earth. In this life, though, it’s all I can do to cook dinner three nights a week. But that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize quality when I see it. So when a friend turned me on to a local sourdough bakery in town, I couldn’t get my hands on a loaf fast enough. The first week I just grabbed a loaf of sandwich bread. The next week, Luke popped in a grabbed a loaf plus some focaccia. This week he grabbed a loaf for us, a loaf for his parents, a chocolate croissant for me, and a jalapeño cheddar loaf. We’re sourdough monsters. But I don’t even care, it’s so good. I’ve been making avocado toast every morning and craving sandwiches for lunch. If you’re in the Mid-Cities area, I can’t recommend GrainRoot Bread enough. Check out their Instagram for farmer’s markets and pop up shops.
In addition to discovering the Perfect Travel Dress™️ I’ve also come across The Perfect Summer Dessert™️ . Last year after picking way more blackberries than I knew we’d be able to eat, I searched for a recipe that would use up a significant amount of berries. Enter these blackberry pie bars. They have all the deliciousness of a pie with all the convenience of a bar. These are great to take for pool parties or BBQs or just to keep to snack on at home. I made them again this year and they were just as appetizing as I remembered. These will be a summer staple in our house for years to come.
In Case You Missed It
I didn’t write here as often in June as I usually do, but after a prompt in
’s Sunday Evening Stories workshop (which I did sign up for again in July, BTW), I was inspired to write a recipe for my perfect summer evening. If you have a soft spot for burned CD’s, sequined purses, and double layered Old Navy tank tops, you’ll appreciate this recipe and the included playlist. I also joined in this month’s Exhale blog hop and wrote about what embroidery, swim lessons, and wildflowers are teaching me about getting comfortable with being a beginner.Alrighty. That was June in a nutshell. Whether June meant full on summer for you or was just the beginning, I hope you were able to make lasting memories with those you love. If you consider Craving Connection something you love, would you forward this to a friend or share on social media? Sharing is an easy and free way to support this publication and I’d be endlessly grateful for your recommendation. 🥰
That east coast trip sounds so fun!! I haven’t read how to age disgracefully but I loved Iona iverson’s rules for commuting!
Ohh, your trip sounds so life-giving! I want to hear more about it! ;) ;) Love the breezy summer vibes of this recap!