Inspired by the amazing Modern Mrs. Darcy.

1. I miss writing in this space. 

I’m becoming a bit like a broken record with this but here it is again. I have not been consistent here and I miss it.

2. The Kale Broccoli Salad from Trader Joe’s with grilled chicken makes me like salads for lunch. 

I know that I should eat more salads but when I have them for lunch I feel so unsatisfied that I snack all afternoon long. I recently found the Kale Broccoli Salad kit from Trader Joe’s and it is so good! I have had it with our own grilled chicken but I have also added the Trader Joe’s grilled chicken for a completely cook-free lunch.

3. Taking pictures while walking makes the walking much more fun. 

I am on a constant journey to find exercise that doesn’t hurt my back. I keep thinking I’ve found just the thing and then I throw out my back, my shoulders get painfully sore or in the case of last week, I just tweak my back but it worries me enough to stop doing what I’m doing. When this happens, I come back again and again to walking. I’m pretty sure I am not getting enough exercise for my mood (or my over 40 metabolism!) when I walk but it is the right thing for my back these days. Having a camera with me at all times, thanks to my iPhone, makes the walks much less boring. I love spotting interesting things along the way and capturing them.

4. Reading ‘assigned’ books in community is one of my favorite things to do. 

I joined Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Summer Reading Club and I am loving it. We recently finished The One in a Million Boy and it was so great to read and discuss a book I wouldn’t have chosen on my own with a community of people who love reading as much as I do.

5. The Overcast app makes podcast listening super easy. 

I’ve been listening to podcasts for awhile now but I only started using Overcast this month. I’ve heard lots of people recommend the app as a way to streamline podcast listening and they were right. The system is easier (and prettier!) than the native iPhone app.

How about you? What did you learn in June?