One thing that I can truly appreciate about June 2026 is that it felt, at least for me, like it really took it’s time while it was here. There was no sense of “where did the month go?!” in these last few days and no scrambling to prepare myself for when July and the upcoming long weekend for Independence Day arrived. This month felt slow, easy, and laid-back – all while still simultaneously including so many great memories, travel, major milestones and a lot of time spent in the company of some of my dearest friends and extended family.
I had started the month off relatively tame, sharing an inspired seafood appetizer recipe, and a colorful (and comfortable!) loungewear set I couldn’t wait to wear once the Summer had really kicked off. It wasn’t until right after I’d shared one of my absolute favorite boutiques to visit in Old Orchard Beach, Maine when things really started moving along and I took to the skies to head down to North Carolina to visit with Kelsey’s family for a few days of fun in the sun, ice cream, and lots of movie watching. It was such a great trip and I wish it could have lasted so much longer!
I checked in on the resolutions I had set for myself in 2026 since we’re near the halfway point of the year, and finally got to share the big news that I became a homeowner as of this month! There’s still a lot to be done with restoring/updating the house and grounds around it, but it’s a big milestone that was worth celebrating (and my friends have been so supportive and helpful with their enthusiasm and advice. I’m very grateful.)
At the same time my beloved longtime boyfriend (we’ve been dating for several years as of this Summer which is wild!), Troy, began a new and exciting career that requires him to travel quite a bit – but it also gave him the opportunity to move back home to Massachusetts from Nevada. We’re now only a short driving distance from one another, which has been such an emotional and financial relief since we no longer have to fly back and forth across the country or burn through our PTO at our respective jobs to see each other with more regularity. It’s been great!
When I wasn’t cooking up more seasonal recipes or unveiling additional pieces from my closet, I was hitting the beach in Rhode Island and both the beach and my new book club in New Hampshire, unveiling my favorite places to grab delicious food around my region this time of year, and kicking off the Summer Solstice with some very good lobster rolls in Connecticut.
This past weekend, the last one of June and one I’ll be recapping a little later on this week, was spent in both Vermont and Cape Cod and were filled with nature, art, beautiful scenery, great food and even better company. I can’t wait to share all the photos I took since it was such a perfect way to bookend what has been a truly spectacular month.
And with all that being said – what on Earth do I have planned for July? More beach days and day trips around New England, for sure, and plenty more dishes to serve and outfits to wear – but I’m also so excited to reunite with my brother, sister-in-law and niece who are visiting from Florida for the first time in a few years! It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve seen them and there’s so much to catch up on. It’s truly something I’m looking forward to the most next month.
So here’s a tip of my wide-brimmed beach hat to June in all it’s hot and humid entirety. This month has been incredible and oh-so-memorable, and I’m all the more filled with love and gratitude because of it. I could re-live this month over and over and never get sick of it or bored with it.
And here’s to July, too – and the hope that it is filled with just as much love, magic, great memories and sunny weather for each and every one of us!
See you all on the 1st!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 