The July Sundaze
It’s time to overshare about everything that I did, ate, read, watched and beyond in July.
Happy Sundaze!
And a big welcome to the new paid and free subscribers that’ve joined the Daisybutter Book Café this month – it’s a joy and privilege to have you in the fold.
July has been nothing short of magical. Terrible British weather that saw me retrieve knitwear from my packed-away winter wardrobe aside, I had a quieter month than most and leaned into my soft girl summer. Think crafting, cosy gaming, reading in solitude and consistent workouts, with date nights, a day in Paris and family time sprinkled in.
I completely forgot to share that I’m taking a summer break from my blog at the moment. The main reason was that I realised that I was spending a lot of time ranting and ruminating things in a way that didn’t feel natural to me, and thought the best solution would be to step back and not spiral publicly. That can all go in my beloved journal, after all. As such, I’m inadvertently taking a social media break as well, but there’s something about our Substack community that keeps me returning. You can continue to expect regular posts, depending on your subscription tier, all summer and beyond.
Doing
Our summer holiday to Antalya: My boyfriend and I escaped to beautiful Antalya in Türkiye at the start of the month, to belatedly celebrate his birthday. It was a magical few days away and I’m looking forward to sorting through our photos and mementoes to put together a travel guide on my blog.
Reformer Pilates classes: Last month I started Reformer Pilates classes at a local studio and I instantly fell in love with them. It’s such a great low-impact workout that also feels quite intense, which is just what I wanted to add to my existing workout routine. For now, I’m enjoying fortnightly classes until I magically conjure up more spare time in my weeks.
parkrun: I took part in my first-ever parkrun this month! I hadn’t run a 5k in over a fortnight, so it did feel like a struggle, but I’m proud of myself for even going. I completed it in 34:26, which isn’t my best 5k but also isn’t my worst! My sister, boyfriend and I are going to try and commit to running it at least once a month.
Go-karting: Mid-month, we went go-karting at a local centre to celebrate my boyfriend’s sister’s boyfriend’s birthday. It’s absolutely not my bag, but we had so much fun and I even ended up coming 4th of our six, then 1st of the girlies. I felt so anxious before we went, but it served as a timely reminder to step outside of my comfort zone every now and again.
A day in Paris: Mid-July, I caught a Eurostar to spend a Saturday in Paris with one of my best friends. I’d booked my tickets spur of the moment back in June, since I knew she was returning to France for the summer but we couldn’t make any dates line up in the UK. And I’m never one to turn down a little adventure! Since I’m lucky enough to have visited Paris a few times already, I wasn’t desperate to see the sights. Instead, we soaked up the pre-Olympics atmosphere, drank wine, people-watched from bistros, and had the best catch-up while strolling the city beneath the sunshine. Perfect!
Reading
A Person is a Prayer by Ammar Kalia: Loved this multi-generational family saga that unfolds over a handful of days after a loss in the family. It explores the immigrant experience, what it means to hope and be happy, and what ‘belonging’ means. I loved the slice-of-life vibe and how beautifully fleshed-out the characters were.
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa: The sequel of a cosy translated Japanese fiction set in a secondhand bookshop, and a lovely read at that. This was a nostalgic and emotional novel that says lots and nothing all at once.
A Love Like The Sun by Riss M. Neilson: I think I’m becoming a romance reader! This friends-to-lovers story was gorgeously sunny and radiant. I adored watching Ni and Issac’s friendship blossom into love, and enjoyed the Black love and success stories even more. There’s a few spicy scenes, just in case that’s not your vibe.
This Is Fine by Poorna Bell: Just loved this summery novel from Poorna Bell, a writer and journalist I already hugely admire. Padma and Wallace have spent 10 years building a relationship that feels just fine. When he gives her an ultimatum about starting a family, the pair take a break with Padma seriously overthinking whether she even wants children. I absolutely loved reading this. It’s heartwarming, relatable, funny and emotional all at once, and Poorna does an incredible job at balancing all this in a well-paced story that also handles big issues like mental health, alcoholism, the immigrant experience and parenthood. The rich food descriptions instantly connected me to the South Asian experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed being brought deeper into the heritage and culture with Poorna’s deftly woven subplots and snippets.
Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen: When I requested this on NetGalley, I thought I was getting a politically charged historical fiction, but Tiananmen Square reads more like a coming-of-age novel that is set in a politically charged moment. This semi-autobiographical story follows Lai as she grows up in China. It captures her teen hood, learning to love the written word and education, grief, and plenty more. I just wish there was a little more Tiananmen Square content and a little less teenage infatuation content.
The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch: A funny, observant, witty and evocative meditation by the sea. I haven’t read anything like this in quite some time and I’m so glad that I picked this up in July 2024, a month where I felt like I was swimming around in a shiny, watery, slippery mundane.
The Curse of the Flores Women by Angélica Lopes: This translated fiction is just over 200 pages and follows the lives of Eugênia, a woman dreading her upcoming marriage, and Alice, a young girl struggling with the relationship she has with her mother. When Alice begins learning about her family history, thus unravels the delicate tapestry hiding secrets that resonate through generations. I adored the characters in this story. They're confident, independent and fierce-minded, and I particularly loved Eugênia's parts, set in the early 1900s. There's splashes of family, friendship, love and duty, but it's mostly about tradition and an interrogation into autonomy and ritualistic belief.
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager: Another sharp and incisive mystery-thriller from Riley Sager, I enjoyed reading this on quiet summer evenings. The missing persons plot was great for this true crime enthusiast, and I love Sager’s cutting writing style.
Watching
The Hills: I’m currently rewatching The Hills while I read in the evenings. I really like watching it via Whitney Port’s YouTube series, and it is always such a comfort watch for me. There’s so much going on in life at the moment that easy viewing is key lately.
House of the Dragon: My boyfriend and I finally found the time to start the second season of House of the Dragon and we’re of course enjoying it. What a dark start to the season?! I do so love George R.R. Martin’s ASOIAF world, and it’s always nice to revisit it.
Eating
Salsa and tofu scramble-loaded hash browns: My breakfast obsession this month has been the Strong Roots cauliflower hash browns, air-fried and topped with tofu scramble for some protein and a homemade fresh tomato salsa. So delicious, fresh and filling!
Kale and chilli rigatoni: Now that I’m no longer working in London, dinners in the city are mostly a thing of the past, which in turn means I’m really missing Bancone. Thankfully the vegan option I always order is sort of simple to recreate, even if it isn’t a patch on the award-winning pasta-makers’! I rustle up a kale pesto with a handful of massaged Cavalo Nero, four or five softened garlic cloves, one small red chilli, lemon zest, salt and pepper, and a generous glug of extra virgin olive oil blended in a mixing bowl, and stir into al dente rigatoni with a splash of pasta water. Top with sautéed cherry tomatoes – I like yellow ones! – and crispy kale.
Loving
Papier Undated Daily Diary: Since work is getting busier and busier, I’m trying to streamline my everyday rituals to make a little more time. I recently filled up my latest work bullet journal and took the opportunity to switch back to a traditional planner. Even though it probably took me about 10 minutes per week to set up my notebook, I’m already enjoying the ease (and aesthetic) of my gorgeous Undated Daily Diary from Papier. Get 10% off your first Papier order when you spend £25 and shop with me.
Morning cups of English breakfast tea: Because I’m so British it hurts.
Home cooking: I really prioritised cooking, from scratch, at home all month. I love meals out, but I find cooking really therapeutic and it’s far easier to avoid processed vegan food when I make my meals at home. Plus, there’s a fair few things that I want to save for at the moment, so it’s a great way to save some money.
Reformer Pilates: Switching from mat Pilates to Reformer classes has been so much fun and a real challenge on my body. My training regime is typically four weightlifting sessions coupled with three runs but, as I get older, I’m also focused on lowering cortisol. This means experimenting with fewer weightlifting sessions and adding in some Pilates again. So far, so good, and I’ve even convinced my boyfriend to take classes with me!
How was your July? Share your top moments and favourite discoveries with me.
A day in Paris - the absolute dream. Lovely round up, Michelle x
Uh I miss living in Europe! So much beauty so easily accessible! Paris is always a wonderful time 💕 Hoping my August will be as amazing as your July 💙