What's Up Wednesday in July 2025

It's the last Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for What's Up Wednesday. 

What We're Eating:

 Sunday: Smoked turkey breasts with rice and summer squash casserole.


Monday: Grilled steak, broccoli, and egg noodles (leftover squash casserole for me)

Tuesday: Quick and simple taco salad/plain tacos for the boys.

Wednesday:  A new recipe I'm making-- pulled pork pizzas with salad. 

Thursday: Pasta Primavera-- we like this recipe. I'll heat up sauce for the boys who will end up eating plain pasta and sauce but we'll have a salad to go with it. 

Friday:Shrimp and chicken kabobs over rice with corn on the cob.

What I'm Reminiscing About: So many times this summer I found myself remembering the summers when the boys were little and we would spend every single day outside on our back patio in the sand and in the water-- even eating dinner outside since we couldn't drag them away from the water. We were often joined by so many friends too. Now I can't remember the last time anyone swam off our dock! 


















What I'm Loving: I have really been loving how my latest crafts/painting/etc. have been turning out. This was a very creative month for me. I shared ALL my cards and paper crafts on Monday in this post. 
 
 





 
What We've Been Up To: July was a busy month; we celebrated the 4th (a few days in a row), we celebrated my birthday, had some nice dinners out, went to the zoo, picked/enjoyed lots of fresh fruit/produce, celebrated the boys' friend's 18th birthday, went hiking-- just the usual summer fun. 
 
4th/5th/ & 6th of July:
 


 




 My birthday shopping/party/dinner out: 








zoo trip:



boys' friend's 18th birthday:
 


 
Picking/kayaking/hiking/ misc. summer fun:
 




 

 



hiking views


 
What I'm Dreading: Nothing at all! 

What I'm Working On:  I'm trying to help Alec get all packed up and organized for college; hard to believe in 1 more month he'll have already started classes for his 2nd year of college. 

What I'm Excited About: While I don't want to wish our summer away the closer it gets to September the more excited I'm getting about our trip to Glacier National Park!  

What I'm Watching/Reading: The latest season of Ghosts (Paramount +), The latest season of The Bear (Hulu), The Waterfront (Netflix), The Gentlemen (Netflix), Animal Kingdom (Netflix), The latest season of The Guilded Age (Hulu), Dexter Resurrection (Paramount +), Dumb Money (Hulu), Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch (I don't know what we watch this on as my husband watches it and I often just get sucked in-- mostly laughing at them though).
  

I read 12 books this month and will have a full review of them all up on the blog next week. It was a great reading with month with so many good books! 
 


What I'm Listening to: My mom and I have been listening to Henry Winkler's memoir in the car on our way to and from the gym each day. We really enjoyed it a lot. 

What I'm Wearing: All my new birthday clothes and lots of old summer favorites. 
 
 
















 





What I'm Doing This Weekend: We don't have any plans

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month: Just more quiet and relaxing summer fun. I've been enjoying these quieter days. 
 
What Else is New: Nothing
 
Linking up with:


 

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 30, 2025 at 5:30 AM

    What a great summer month! I loved seeing your photos of when your kids were little. Those days go by too fast, don't they?
    Ruth@playworkeatrepeat

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maria RineerJuly 30, 2025 at 6:11 AM

    When did your boys learn how to swim? It looks pretty deep not from your dock. Great pics of them having fun in the water! Your July looks like it was a great one. Quiet days at home are wonderful as are a few fun filled activity type days to change things up a bit!! Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 30, 2025 at 6:41 AM

      They definitely learned fairly early and quickly living on the lake and having such access to the water. The only one I have a record of on the blog is Evan and he was 5 when he started swimming without a float/life jacket/etc. We also taught our boys very early on how to flip onto their back and float when they needed a break but they were all really good swimmers. By the end of our dock it's up to my armpits and just a few more steps I'm over my head.

      Delete
  3. Kathrine EldridgeJuly 30, 2025 at 6:42 AM

    Love the art that you created! And all your meals look delicious!

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amy ScottJuly 30, 2025 at 6:54 AM

    What a great month! I love the throwback photos and need to dig some out for a post sometime!

    ReplyDelete
  5. HollyJuly 30, 2025 at 7:13 AM

    My fave page is your Kentucky page- love the group shot! I have been reminiscing alot too- par for the course I guess! Your meal all look fabulous as always too- hope you enjoy a relaxing August- that is my goal here too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 30, 2025 at 10:38 AM

      Thank you so much! Amy is so great about taking those group shots.

      Delete
  6. Everyday MaddieJuly 30, 2025 at 8:14 AM

    Looks like a fun July!! Your meals this week look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dara @ Not In JerseyJuly 30, 2025 at 8:25 AM

    The throwback pictures are so fun! I love all your outfits too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lindsay's Sweet WorldJuly 30, 2025 at 9:07 AM

    I'm always amazed at how much you squeeze into each month! You seem to have such a good balance of fun, productivity, creativity, reading, cooking, and family time! It will never not amaze me how many books you read each month! I just started Say You'll Remember Me last night and I'm liking it so far!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 30, 2025 at 10:42 AM

      Aw, thank you! I try really hard to balance it all.

      Delete
  9. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasJuly 30, 2025 at 10:18 AM

    Joanne,
    Looks like you had a busy fun filled month....I think I need to do better with spending my time with more intention....Thanks for sharing and thanks so much for stopping by!!
    Hugs,
    Deb
    Debbie-Dabble Blog

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kari July 30, 2025 at 11:08 AM

    Your meals always look so good, friend. I'm going to make that taco salad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 30, 2025 at 1:48 PM

      Aw, thank you! We have been eating so well this summer.

      Delete
  11. EllibelleJuly 30, 2025 at 11:10 AM

    So many great photos in this post and how much fun the boys had in (and by) the lake when they were younger!
    Your cards, painting and scrabooking look wonderful! You definitely had such a busy month with lots of great activites and some relaxing. Love your new clothes!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jodie's Touch of StyleJuly 30, 2025 at 12:13 PM

    I love seeing those memories...it's funny how our "traditions" change over time. But life evolves, right??
    XOOX
    Jodie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 30, 2025 at 1:49 PM

      They sure do, I like the changes but it's just as much fun to look back (especially since I tend to mostly remember the good and not all the bickering and annoyances).

      Delete
  13. MarilynJuly 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM

    I am watching this season of The Bear as well. All of your food pictures look good, as always :).

    ReplyDelete
  14. FitFoodieMeghaJuly 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM

    Wow! That seems like a fun filled July! Good to see your excitement about Glacier National Park, your outfits and the choices of books. Stay connected! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tanya July 30, 2025 at 3:44 PM

    You're so creative. I love the painting, and especially the Louisville scrapbook page. Your lakeside home is seriously like being on vacation all the time! That is what we are hoping for with retirement!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Kim CarberryJuly 30, 2025 at 4:25 PM

    You have been eating well, I love everything that you have this week!
    Ahh! I have felt the same about summers when my girls were little. It looks like you all used to have a lot of fun.
    You are such a creative person, that painting is fantastic and I love your cards.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Christie - So what? Now what?July 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM

    It looks like you are really getting the most out of your summer, Joanne. Thanks for sharing these great photos with us. Here's to a happy August and a strong finish to summer!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lydia C. LeeJuly 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM

    You have been making the most of your summer! I love those cards, They're all so lovely! Clever you! I liked Dumb Money. I find Henry Winkler very funny - his acting choices in Barry and Arrested Development are very unexpected. Def more than meets the eye, #WWWhimsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 30, 2025 at 7:11 PM

      We just started watching Barry tonight! He mentions it his memoir and I thought it sounded like something we'd like.

      Delete
  19. Min - Write of the MiddleJuly 30, 2025 at 7:18 PM

    Hi Joanne, your meals had my tummy rumbling! They look delicious! You've certainly got some amazing summer memories and still creating some wonderful new ones. I'm impressed by your creativity! You'll have to share more! Loving a lot of your outfits too. Thanks for sharing with us at #WWWhimsy - keep on enjoying your lakeside summer days! xo

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lux G.July 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM

    Must be nice to have a back patio like that for the summer especially for kids. How often do they visit? I like those cards! Can't remember the last time I received a physical card.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 31, 2025 at 5:45 AM

      My boys all still live at home but we don't really have any young kids left in our family at this point. They're all teenagers and young adults now.

      Delete
  21. MarshaJuly 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM

    I loved seeing the photos of your birthday celebration and Fourth of July! You really know how to celebrate your birthday! The closest outlet mall is about 3 hours away. I'd like to go, but I rarely find anything I like. It looks like you really scored!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 31, 2025 at 5:47 AM

      Thank you, I really only go shopping for my birthday each year and tend to do quite well. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that everything is majorly discounted by then!

      Delete
  22. Deb's WorldJuly 31, 2025 at 5:18 AM

    Sounds like you're in a great place Joanne. I love your dock area, looks fun! I enjoyed the Henry Winkler book too and was quite surprised by a lot of it. Enjoy August!
    Deb #Teamwwwhimsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 31, 2025 at 5:47 AM

      Thank you! My husband and I are not watching quite a few shoes of his we didn't know about before I started reading his book.

      Delete
  23. LauraJuly 31, 2025 at 5:40 AM

    WOW so much going on. Your summers past look amazing! So many memories. And those berries - YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sammie @ The Annoyed ThyroidJuly 31, 2025 at 7:53 AM

    What a lovely summer you've had! Love your birthday clothes, all those delicious berries and am very impressed by how many books you've read :) What a wonderful childhood your boys must have had - that's a great dock!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne July 31, 2025 at 8:29 AM

      Thank you so much! We were so lucky to have access to water all summer long. They became quite the swimmers.

      Delete
  25. AnonymousJuly 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM

    You do summer right.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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