Oh August.
The beautiful month. My beautiful birthday month. A month where I feel like everything aligns. Everything always feels right during this time of the year. It always feels like August was just yesterday. The harvest of summer. The sun beating just right. The days still long, but time slows down a bit going into the emergence of fall. Maybe that's just the leo in me speaking.
My previous post talked about slowing down. A sentiment I still hold true for this month and what's to come of it. There is so much more to discover this month and new explorations: of me and my surroundings. It almost feels like I've frozen the record for a moment, picked it up to inspect the disk, and put it back to keep on playing its sweet melody (shoutout if you still know what a record is...).
This month, the record keeps on playing. I've got a lot in store and am hopeful for the warmth August brings.
01. Only 15 more days—two weeks—until I leave for Italy with my cousin. We have finally booked everything. From our accommodations to our tours and activities. Thankfully, I have the advice from my neighbor who just went to Italy and my sister who just got back from Europe this past weekend to console with about my packing choices, places to visit and eat, travel restrictions, and recommendations from their recent traveling.
I know I will most definitely be packing light. As much as I want to bring really cute outfits and accessories, I know for a fact I will not want to be bothered with lugging around a ton of stuff. A backpack, purse, and a small carry on is all I'm bringing. I'm committed. Although I've been asking others what the one toiletry they stand by—I heard "lotion" and "deodorant" so I think I'm set...the anticipation builds and I can't wait to share that story on here soon.
02. I've always championed investment in "me time". The hustle of summer plans puts that on hold, but I also realize that every season brings its own vibe. Its own version of "me time". Such as, choosing to read a book outside or cozying up and drinking a cup of tea. I have the power to make and prioritize that time for myself nor should I have to defend it. #leo
03. Making moves. Career moves. I just transitioned into a new Strategic Planning role with my company, Golin! Ever since I graduated, I knew this path is where I wanted to be. And with a company and team of co-workers I truly have gotten to love working with this past year. It's not so much as a promotion, but I treat it as such. A "pivot" I would say. It will allow me to build off of my research and insights roots and challenge my creative side more. I will be working on some fun brands like McDonald's, Grubhub, Ferrara, and Allstate. After onboarding just last week in the office, I will be kicking off some new discovery projects this week.
04. Revisiting family is a big priority for me this month. Actually, in just three days I will be headed to southern Iowa to see my grandparents who I haven't seen since before the pandemic...three years ago. It will be a much needed reunion. It also is a place, a desolate and quaint place, for me to find inner peace.
What more would you need from corn fields, barns, cows, and a ton of gravel roads? This is a necessary trip for me and my family. It will be a hard trip for me and my family. But I am embracing the love that will come from it. And the love that is to come from this month.
There are moments during summer where I find that the cicadas chirp louder than my thoughts, the heat beats heavier off of my skin, the sun radiates a bit too bright, and the days are just a little bit too long. We always think of this season as a break, when really, we're aching to make the most of every sliver of sunlight we get until we're quite literally—burnt out.
The joys and radiation of this season over the years has left many beautiful memories, this one too, but lately I've been yearning for inner peace, calm, and for the days to just slow down a bit. To feel the easy summer breeze and just take a pause.
And so—I return to this blog. A place where I have been able to slow down. I can sit back, tune out the cicadas, sip a glass of cabernet, Cage The Elephant hums in the background, and I write away. Just like I used to. Just like I committed to. Just like I loved to.
I am at a point in my life where routine, ritual, and solitude are needed most. I've realized that this chick can't live without her peace. Her inner peace. Without disruption. Without interruption. I am definitely the type of person who needs to reset, recharge, and refuel her inner conscious.
However, I do find myself also boosted by those around me. My support system. My family. My friends. My love. When life gets a bit too noisy—noisier than the thoughts in my head—I've got a pretty cool superpower to help me out.
My love for myself. And those who remind me to do what makes me ME.
Those who remind me of what makes ME happy.
WHAT makes me happy.
WHO makes me happy.
And why I NEED to be happy for myself and only myself.
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On the flip side, I also need to remember the embrace and warmth summer brings. The life it brings to the apples of my cheeks. The hug it gives me every time I open my blinds. And no matter the millions of little love bites I get from mosquitos—I get a little comfort knowing I can take a deep breath and be at ease.
That tomorrow is a new day.
A new portrait to paint.
A new clear day.
It's only the beginning.
After what has already been a solid five months since the start of the new year, I can proudly say that one of my new year's resolutions has come to fruition as of a couple weeks ago. This summer my cousin Lindsay and I are embarking on a 14 day trip to Italy and France in August and it already feels like my time overseas just happened yesterday. I know travel is something I am going to incorporate into my life whenever I can and I have already been dreaming up this trip the moment I left Europe in 2019. With Lindsay already having studied in Italy in college, we both felt a longing for Italy—the birthplace of our many many great ancestors.
The Destinations
Lindsay and I both had to debate about some of the key cities we wanted to visit, but I knew there were a couple necessary stops we needed to make since I have never been and she had an idea of what cities she wanted to go back to as well. We ended up choosing Rome, the Amalfi Coast (staying in Sorrento), Venice, and then we will be finishing up the trip in Paris. All vibrant and thrilling cities all around the country, logistically we had to figure out where exactly we wanted to be and for how long during these two weeks. I'll be living out my Lizzie McGuire dreams, not to mention how Paris obsessed I was when I was 12.
We also wanted to be meticulous about where we were going and it was very helpful that Lindsay had background knowledge on the cities, transportation, and even the cultural/historical knowledge she has informed our choices. Not to mention ongoing research on both ends and just talking to others I know who have been before. We will be going at the end of August, which will be probably one of the hottest times to go, but I knew I needed to spend my 23rd birthday on the beaches of Positano—eating a wood fired pizza (or fresh seafood) and watching the sunset with a full glass of cabernet.
The Planning
All things considered, especially planning a trip with just two people, it took us about 4 to 5 months to officially book everything. Meaning, every week Lindsay and I would sit down together over Facetime bringing together our research on accommodations, flights, and things to do in each city. We understand that the state of the world could change, but we have planned accordingly so that our bookings are fully refundable or free cancellation.
We also knew that sticking to Air BnBs would be one of the safest and more secure ways of booking accommodations—and while some may not have been extremely cost friendly, we know that we don't want a hostel or run down hotel to keep us from enjoying the places we're staying in. Granted, we only really need air conditioning, running water, and a bed. We both wanted to splurge a little here and there on places where we might have a really nice ocean view, continental breakfast, or spend a little extra to have access to an in-unit washer and dryer. The Air Bnb we chose in the Amalfi Coast, for example, is on a lemon tree farm and the host was recommended by previous tenants. In addition, I also was drawn to it because the host lives on the property, makes you breakfast, and also might provide us some intel on the best places to eat, things to do, etc.
Next Steps
Speaking of things to do, our next steps will be to start booking tours and activities. Being the most American tourists we can be, I want to tour the Colosseum and Eiffel Tower, but also just find some of the hidden gems throughout each city. Lindsay and I have kept our itinerary pretty flex so that we can just have time to explore and decide what we want to do on the fly.
There are definitely more details to planning this trip, such as figuring out what to bring, but we're both pretty aligned with packing sundresses and bikinis. Leaving just enough room for all of the ceramics and even more sundresses I'm going to bring back.
This is only just the start to what is going to be the trip of the summer...and even potentially the trip of a lifetime! I cannot wait to share it with my cousin and for all of the memories to come.
I never thought I would be able to plan it on my own either and be able to do so incredibly soon—so I am very grateful for being able to even have the means to continue to do what I love and explore the world. I'll be back to document it for sure and in the meantime I'll be dreaming of Venetian canals, southern Italy coastlines, and The City of Lights. X
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