July 2025 & Traditions
The Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays! Every year, my entire family descends upon our favorite little beach town in Oregon. We join the community “walkabout,” cheer during the sing-along at the flag-raising (complete with fighter jets overhead!), and cap the day off with a spectacular fireworks show.
With the political health of our country feeling so fragile right now, these traditions feel more meaningful than ever. We show up to celebrate not just the holiday, but the goodness of community and the joy of coming together. And yes — I still make my flag cake every year.
I spent the rest of July in Oregon, soaking up the beautiful sunshine and everything the season has to offer.
This month, I’m also sharing the books I read! Books are a huge part of my life — and my travels. While I do sit down to read sometimes, I mostly listen to audiobooks. I borrow them from my public library using the Libby app, which means I always have something wonderful to listen to while I’m on the move. Not all of my choices are travel-related, but that’s a genre I especially love.
If you have any recommendations, please send them my way! You can also follow me on goodreads.com
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang 4/5 Stars - An awesome phycological thriller. I zoomed through this book and loved the suspense.
On the Hippie Trail by Rick Steves 4/5 Stars - Travelogues are one of my favorite genres. If you listen, you’ll enjoy hearing the voice of Rick Steves share his epic journey traveling from Istanbul to Kathmandu. He credits this adventure as the one that made him a travel writer. And aren’t we all so thankful!
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer 4/5 Stars - A sweet book of hope, love, and belonging. It takes place on a beautiful and mysterious island which transcended me to the travel of imagination.
Broken Horses A Memoir by Brandi Carlile 4/5 Stars - I love a good biography and have been wanting to read this one for a few years. Brandi reads her story and it is a musical tale of determination and love.
Algebra of Wealth a Simple Formula for Financial Security by Scott Galloway 5/5 Stars - As a traveler, financial smarts are a good skill to have while planning trips around the world.
Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foer, Dyland Thuras & Ella Morton 4/5 Stars - “An explorers guide to the world’s hidden wonders.” This book inspires you to set forth and see the world, and all of the unique places along the way. Each time I open this book, I travel to new interesting places.
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett 3/5 Stars - I love Ann Patchet’s writing and have read many of her books and count Tom Lake and The Dutch House as two of my favorites. Commonwealth is full of family drama, life challenges, and betrayal.