What I’m Loving Lately (June 2018)

Hey y’all- it’s hard to believe that another month has passed! To be completely honest and transparent with y’all, June was not the greatest month for me overall. I am definitely glad it’s a new month. However, even in the midst of some not so great things that came my way in June, the Lord brought me joy through several things. He is constantly teaching me that this side of eternity I will often simultaneously face good and bad things in life. But for today’s post, I am going to cast aside the difficult parts of June, and share some things I loved during June 2018!

(This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission from clicks or purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you.)

Kendra Scott Earrings

After buying my first pair of Kendra Scott earrings in May, I knew I wanted to add additional styles and colors to my collection. However, I made myself wait until another sale before doing so. Towards the beginning of June, Kendra Scott had an earring sale where you could save 15% on one pair of earrings, or 20% on two pairs of earrings. Both the Ivory Mother of Pearl Elle drop earrings and Ellie stud earrings were on my wishlist, so I went for the 20% discount. I am so happy with my purchase, and glad I went ahead and bought both pairs. The ivory mother of pearl stone literally goes with everything. And in just one month of owning these earrings, I have already lost track of how many times I have worn each pair. They would be totally worth full price, but it’s even better that I got them on sale!

Elle Earrings

Ellie Studs

Lilly Pulitzer Etta Top in On Parade

Lilly Pulitzer released another print that I love, On Parade. Because I loved the fit of the Etta V-Neck top I bought in the Home Slice print a couple months ago, I bought that same style top in On Parade. I have always loved Lilly prints that incorporate zoo animals, and On Parade includes some of my favorites-elephants and giraffes! In addition, the color scheme is absolutely gorgeous. I definitely plan on wearing this during an upcoming girls’ beach weekend, and can’t wait to show y’all how I style it! You can check it out on the Lilly website here.

Mickey Mouse Mug

I mentioned in my monthly favorites post last month that I was loving all the Mickey Mouse stuff at Target recently. This adorable coffee mug from Target’s Mickey collection now has a place in my kitchen cabinet, thanks to some sweet friends. A couple weeks ago I was having the worst day. I went to Target during my lunch break, and happened to run into a couple of friends on my way out. They asked me how I was doing, and I was honest and said “not so great,” and shared a little bit of what was on my mind. Later that day when I got home from work, I found a gift bag on my doorstep. It contained a sweet card from those two friends, along with several goodies, including this Mickey mug. I totally did not expect that at all, and felt so blessed that those two friends went out of their way to brighten my day.

As much as I love the South, I don’t like how we tend to have the natural reaction to say “fine” whenever someone asks us how we’re doing, even if we’re not doing so fine. This unexpected surprise from friends reminded me that it pays off to be open and vulnerable. So often we feel like we need to put forth a flawless, “together” image to the world, both in person and on social media, regardless of how we feel on the inside. Please remember that it’s okay not to be fine, and it’s okay to tell others that you aren’t fine. There’s such great reward in being open and vulnerable, especially in the context of Christian community.

Socker Boppers

Okay, so this next item is a bit different from anything I’ve ever posted on here before. During a session with my therapist this  rough month, I was rummaging through her toy box looking for something that I could release some pent up anger and frustration on without harming anything. Lo and behold, I found these Socker Bopper inflatable boxing gloves! When you punch things with this on your hand, you don’t have to worry about hurting your hand or another object. I found this so cathartic during our session that I knew I needed to order my own Socker Boppers to have at home. I highly recommend Socker Boppers as a constructive anger management tool. You can get your own on Amazon.

Lauren James Brooke Dress

One of my new favorite items in my closet is the Lauren James Brooke Dress I bought from the Pink Friday sale in early June. You can check out this post for more details about why I love this adorable gingham dress and how I styled it. Also, this dress is currently on sale for only $32 in red and navy gingham. You can check it out here. I had the best time shooting with Emily Gardiner at Maple View Farm while wearing this dress.

Maple View Farm Sunset

Speaking of Maple View Farm, the sunset was absolutely glorious the night that Emily and I went there for my photo shoot. Watching the sunset at Maple View was one item on my summer bucket list, and I’m happy I got to check it off in June!

Fun Shoot with Amelia Cassar

Shooting with Amelia Cassar Photography around UNC’s campus while wearing one of my new favorite tops was another highlight of June. You can see more pics from our shoot and how I styled my Lauren James Emmie tank here. One of my favorite things about blogging is that the Lord has placed some awesome women in my life who are talented photographers and also amazing friends. I love being able to encourage them in their photography endeavors while they encourage me in this blogging endeavor.

Increased Conversation about Mental Health Issues

Kate Spade’s suicide was an extremely tragic event that occurred during June. However, the silver lining is that it has sparked increased conversation about depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. This increased conversation is the first step to eliminating the stigma of mental health issues. The more people open up about their struggles with depression, anxiety, etc, the more it shows others who may be silently struggling that they aren’t alone. As a result, it encourages them to reach out and get help before it’s too late, since they are less likely to be ashamed. For more of my reflections on Kate Spade’s legacy and passing, click here.

Writing this post was such a great reminder to me that even in the midst of one of my least favorite months, there are still many great things I can be thankful for. So here’s to thanking and praising the Lord for the blessings of the good, and growing us, sustaining us, and making us more like Him in the not-so-good.

What are some things y’all enjoyed in June, and what are y’all looking forward to in July? Let me know in the comments!

-xoxo Liz