July 2026 goals

We are back from our week in Michigan, and it was wonderful: 33 cousins on a beautiful lake, fishing, waterskiing, sand dunes, group meals, tubing down the river, skipping stones, sunsets, s’mores, and more. I Bricked my phone for the trip (so, no email or social media), and the feeling of remove from everyday life was almost total. (Aside from, you know, the unavoidable mediating of sibling squabbles.)

The one drawback? The adjustment back to normalcy seems more challenging than if I had kept one foot in the digital world. And there’s been no easing in: I’m coming back to a full-court press of logistics, with VBS carpool arrangements to be made, a birthday to celebrate, a birthday party to throw, a kindergarten neighborhood ice cream social to host, a sleepaway camp to pack for, and a houseguest to welcome — and that’s all just this week. (Whew.)

But the week’s reprieve was worth it, and I’m grateful. On to what’s next!

On my calendar:
— Annie, John, and Shep’s birthdays! Lots of number balloons, special dinners, and celebrations in our future.
— June’s two weeks at sleepaway camp — a highlight of her year, every year.
— Cousin Camp! After a skip last year, we’re thrilled to host our two NC cousins again for a week of sleepovers, bike rides, and bake sales.

What I’m loving right now:
— June recently requested a pajama shorts set that was less form-fitting and in the style of Lake. After a little searching, we went with this pair in the blue stripe for the stunning sale price of $10 and they are SO CUTE in person. Very much a Lake look and feel if you have a little lady in your life who wants to coordinate! (This set is also very cute!)
— I always enjoy The Atlantic’s cover stories (and appreciate reading them in print, because they’re often 20,000+ words!), but this recent one on online gambling (gift link!) was especially interesting, since it’s not a world I know much about. Worth a read — we’re actually discussing it for Articles Club this month.
— Speaking of Articles Club — when I host, I usually line the table with taper candles. These are some of the best I’ve found at a reasonable price and with lots of color options. (And this and this are the newest additions to my tablecloth collection — a weakness, but at least I do use them all regularly!) 

As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!

What you’re loving right now:

This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!

— My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection.
— The pastel snackle box we used for Teacher Appreciation Gifts this year. Perfect for pool trips, picnics, and beach days, too!
— The cleansing balm I’ve added to my skincare routine. I’m now a double cleanser and I’m not mad about it. Easy to travel with, too!
— This smocked tank dress, my big purchase from the spring that’s still going strong. Even though I opted for a bolder pattern, it has seen SO much wear – the silhouette is just so easy to pull on and feels like the right choice for occasions both casual and fancy. The other versions, too! Red gingham and pale yellow
— Our board game of the summer that’s genuinely as enjoyable with two players as it is with four.

Last month on The Connected Family:
— TCF Review of the Mighty 3, a kid-friendly, screen-free music player | Stepping up the ladder of technology
— The 2026 TCF Summer Reading Guide | Or, just give them a book
— 65+ life skills we’re teaching our kids | And how we’re going about it
— Finding time for each other in middle childhood, paying for daycare, whether I’ve ever considered being a stay-at-home mom, and more | Our twice-yearly audio AMA

What I read in June:
— The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume I | I am on the bandwagon! My many friends that have read and loved this series warned me that it starts slow, so I wasn’t put off by the leisurely pace. I enjoyed meeting the inhabitants of St. Albans and look forward to picking back up with them in Vol. 2! These are light, delightful, wholesome reads.
— Lady Tremaine | Okay — I enjoyed this book, but I don’t think it will be one of my favorites from the year. This is not because it wasn’t good — it was! It was clever, elegantly-written, it had some sympathetic characters, and the plot left me reading longer into the night than I should have, especially in the second half. It’s more of a me-thing, a quirk of my contrarian streak: I can’t help but think that the enormous popularity of revisionist fairy tales right now is entwined with our current culture’s pervasive relativism, something I disagree with. So I guess I’m just not rooting for this book, you know? Feel free to disagree in the comments :)
— What Editors Do | I am reading this collection of essays at work in prep for some upcoming responsibility shifts; it is decidedly not a universal recommendation, but as a professional editor and writer, I’m really enjoying it!

My reading list for 2026! I’m 10 / 24 so far.

Revisiting my June goals:
Hang string lights, curtains, and, height ruler with my Dad’s help (We got to the ruler and made some progress on the string lights!)
Film June in June
Book our 2027 Yosemite trip (Done!! Can’t wait!)
Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic
End the school year and begin summer well
Prep for sleepaway camp (Some prep completed, and some more to go)
Organize the hot sauce bar at church for Father’s Day
Celebrate Annie’s Walk Around the Sun
Continue planning for the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social, Annie’s birthday party, and Shep’s birthday party, all in July

July goals:
— Hang backyard string lights and Annie’s curtains
— Execute Annie and Shep’s birthday parties
— Edit June in June
— Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic
— Host the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social
— Host and enjoy Cousin Camp
— Finish writing my Sunday service message
— Celebrate all of our July birthday folks well, both in our immediate and extended family

As a reminder, many of these are drawn from my 2026 PowerSheets goals!

Let’s see… any buzzy book you’ve got a contrarian opinion about? Is there a particular month with tons of birthdays in your family? Have you just returned or are ready to head out on vacation? I’d love to hear whatever’s on your mind as we move into the second half of the year!

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