Shaping Happiness In July 2024

I knew it was coming. Summer. The time my energy is low, work is heavy and migraines are plenty. My plans of shaping happiness in July fell a bit to the wayside. But I tried. At times I excelled and in other areas there is time to improve. Let’s have a look.

How I incorporated my word SHAPE in JULY

Shaping Life and Happiness

• I have won a 150$ voucher for the learning platform Creative Life because my submitted image was chosen. I think I’ll use it for an annual plan. If you don’t know the platform check it out. They have daily free courses and I have learned a lot in photography from them.
• Work picked up and I was busy which is nice after the low time but also shows my yoga routine needs a new approach.
• We presented the new website at church and everyone was happy.
• I was back in Hamburg (for work) after almost a year and met a fellow freelancer for a beer.
• I was going the summer party of my new job project and it was fun. Unfortunately I realized when I left that the cocktails they served were alcohol free.
• I made some peanut butter ice cream and enjoyed a lot of store bought ice cream.

Shaping Health and Body

• I walked 139 kilometers and an average of 5.641 steps daily in July. Three days I hit the 10.000 steps goal.
• I managed to close my Apple Watch rings twice times.
• I hardly did my push up challenge… maybe twice so that was a fail.
• I did 5 yoga sessions and a total of 2 hours and 22 minutes. 
• I did two weight lifting session.
• I danced five times and a total of 46 minutes.
• I rode my bike six times and a total of 11.4 km and a total of 1 hour and 18 minutes.
• I took quite a few naps mainly to battle migraines.
• I started my summer salad challenge and ate 11 salads in July – three being new recipes.

Shaping Mind & Soul

• I started my Spanish practice again.
• I joined my online book club with special guest Laurie Frankel and it was again so great to chat with the author of the book. Love my bookclub (who is welcoming new members by the way)
• I bought myself a book on a whim and it so good already 70 pages in. One of this ebooks you read slowly because the words, the flow, the sound the story is so precious.
• I went swimming twice and it was wonderful. Will repeat.

Shaping Relationships

• I went to a big party and enjoyed myself.
• I met my best friend for breakfast in a restaurant which was fun for a change as we usually meet at her place.
• I visited my dad and saw him hobbling around. The moon boot is gone and he can start walking again. This time we watched the olympics and I napped, we had lunch and we chatted.
• I spent a day and a night with my nice. I told you all about it in my coffee chat.
• I went to our church meeting and it was fun even though it was only three of us.
• I had an online coffee date with a person I haven’t met before and we did some networking.

Shaping Home

• The hard wood floors have been repaired.

Cool Bloggers Summer Salad Challenge – Check-in

I am so happy you joined me in the salad challenge. There have been so many fun recipes added and lists compiled. Here is my attempt to keep an overview:

• Julie – shared an extensive list of salad recipes – there are so many good ones that I can not list them all… but pomegranate in a salad. Yes please.
• San – shared a list of her favorite salads – the tuna arugula and the farrow salad with chicken will be made!
• Tina – shared her recipe for Santa Fe Salad with Chili-Lime Dressing in the comment of the original summer salad post and her beloved Greek Yoghurt Waldorf Salad on her blog.
• I also posted a new recipe – Red Pepper Potato Salad

Shapes in the wild

I am on a hunt to find shapes in the places around me. Here is one I found.

How I will SHAPE life and happiness in AUGUST

• Shaping Life and Happiness I will enjoy the terrace and be outside as much as possible. I will binge watch the Olympics if I can. I will tend to my garden and be happy about that little paradise. I will try to spend a weekend at the country home as there is no vacation on the horizon for me.
• Shaping Health and Body I will continue to shape my healthy eating by incorporating as many salads as possible in my summer salad challenge. I will continue to strive for three days of yoga a week. I will try to swim every day and the days I don’t I will work on my push-up skills as the result in July was just sad. I will try stand-up paddling (for which I have to invite my sister and hr boyfriend).
• Shaping Mind & Soul I will need to incorporate breaks and take it slow because August is another migraine month for me. I need to give myself some grace. I will create a sun print (roll-over goal). I will find a piece of wood I can shape (roll-over goal). I will read books as every month and try to get through 1 or two with 500 pages. I will gather a few leaves and herbs for my teas. I will buy myself flowers (roll-over goal).
• Shaping Relationships I will shape my relationship by finally seeing my one friend again – it’s been too long. I will write some letters. I will chat with a friend in the U.S. I will have a date day (after July was too busy). I will call my aunt Andy sister and maybe my god child. I will plan an end of summer party (we are still hesitant but we probably should do it).
• Shaping Home  I will start hanging my picture wall and figure out new pieces to add (roll-over goal). We will find a solution for the sun umbrella (roll-over goal). We will research and order the bathroom mirror (roll-over goal). I will need to add things to eBay (kindle, suitcases, mirrors, shoeboxes…) I will drop off a book in the little free library at church.

How is your summer going? How have you been shaping happiness in July? Are you more active in summer, winter or does it not change? Do you have a great salad to share? How often do you see your friends? Do you like going swimming in rivers, ponds and lakes or do you prefer a pool?