It is August 11 so that should be a sign that July was probably one of my busiest months in a while! Personally, professionally, and blog-wise there was A LOT going – so much so that I am just now getting caught up on everything so, let’s break it down!
The Lows
This month, the lows lead to the highs so why not start there right?
Changes at work.
In July, my team got the news that there would be some changes in our structure. As a young professional it is always hard to balance workplace happiness with the idea that you should stay at least a year. After some thought and careful consideration, I decided that the changes were not something I could get behind. When I took the job, I did so because I wanted to learn and be on the cutting edge of my industry – these changes made that a little harder. I made the decision to look for a new job.
The Highs
Finding a new job.
We were told about the changes at work on a Monday. I had a phone interview that evening, an in-person interview on Wednesday, and my new employer made an offer on Friday. In a whirlwind interview process that felt right at every step of the way, I put in my notice and was off to a new professional adventure. I didn’t start my new job until August so more on that in next month’s highs and lows!
Riding more.
Tim and I spent a lot of time in July riding our bikes. With summer in full swing here in Chicago, we figured we probably should take full advantage of the sunshine and warmth. We spent most of our free time on our bikes – from long lakeside rides to grocery store trips to grab bananas real quick.
I learned how to use my clip-ins for the bike and I am happy to report that I only crashed/fell twice! Am I still terrified of them? Absolutely! But I learned how to use them, so progress.
I got hella organized and wrote more than I ever have.
Blogging as a hobby is something that no matter how hard I try, usually ends up on the back burner. I love blogging and I love writing but finding the time to do so while being a wife and working fulltime isn’t always as easy as I’d like it to be.
I sat down and came up with a system that works for me. I got hella organized with Trello and I wrote 13 blog posts last month – the most I have ever written since having started Circa Wanderlust!
- Tips For Flying With A Pet
- 10 Things To Do In Vermont
- The Story of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Embracing Seasonal Produce + What To Eat When
- Why Rosehip Oil is My Beauty Secret Weapon
- 7 Ways to Boost Your Workout
- Things To Do In Chicago For Sports Fans
- Things To Do In Charleston
- Cruise Tips and Why You Need To Set Sail STAT
- Moving Tips + Moving Checklist For A Stress-Free Move
- 10 Best Vegan Restaurants in Chicago
- Bird Watching in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
- The Trails of Obed Wild and Scenic River
We moved!
We moved to a new apartment in our building. Our square footage is still the same, fear not we’re still living tiny! But our new unit has a better layout that we are super excited about. We are also a corner unit so we have more windows which I love!
Hola Mami came to visit.
My mom had never been to Chicago and she spent two and a half weeks hanging out with us! Her visit coincided with my last week of work at my old job so we were able to spend a lot of time together exploring the city. From Pilson to Chinatown and from Bucktown to Evanston, Hola Mami saw everything Chicago has to offer!
What I read: I didn’t really read a whole lot of books this month. I was so busy with my mom visiting and writing for the blog that most of my reading was research for what to do and what to write about.
What I listened to: I listened to my mom this month. We spent a lot of time catching up and getting to spend some great time just the two of us which was AWESOME.
What I watched: Like the rest of the world, Tim and I binged on Stranger Things. I also started watching The Office. We’re about to run out of things in our “to watch” list so any recommendations you have on what to check out next, leave it in the comments! We have Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HBO so gimme what you’ve got!
August, I’m ready for you! Let’s do this. What did you do in July? Any fun plans for August?
