{"id":6351,"date":"2026-07-07T11:58:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T18:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/?p=6351"},"modified":"2026-07-07T12:00:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:00:14","slug":"my-july-personal-curriculum-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/2026\/07\/07\/my-july-personal-curriculum-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"My July Personal Curriculum Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A quick post with confessions &amp; my reading list<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I was watching the 3rd Harry Potter movie with my son the other night and the scene with the night bus stuck with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is how my summer has felt so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!xX0T!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F168dcc09-7791-46be-a5a6-0d55e728cd71_244x244.gif\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!xX0T!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F168dcc09-7791-46be-a5a6-0d55e728cd71_244x244.gif\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is an odd reshaping that happens to our days and an unusual speed to the calendar that makes summer so unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I would say that my individual days have been full of slow moments but the activity, many people, and hosting events in our home have kept the weeks moving by at a quick pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 4th of July was a big deal and there was lots of food, fireworks, and community gathered. I like that it\u2019s a holiday without much pressure. We do something different each year and I enjoy the variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!XU4p!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed4d7ef-c985-452a-a103-96e82ad5c2f7_498x375.gif\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!XU4p!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_lossy\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed4d7ef-c985-452a-a103-96e82ad5c2f7_498x375.gif\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Let\u2019s get into my July planning\u2026 <\/em>\ud83d\ude01<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!qvXR!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff66b8d53-6a8f-4569-8c90-6d37614a74fd_2000x1600.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!qvXR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff66b8d53-6a8f-4569-8c90-6d37614a74fd_2000x1600.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Plans, hopes &amp; goals for July:<\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udcd6<strong>reading stack<\/strong> \u2014 Dude, I am so behind in my reading stack!! My TBR has been sadly neglected and I need to get back into reading every night.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83c\udf2d\ud83c\udf54<strong>grilled dinners<\/strong> \u2014 We are turning grilled dinners into an art form this summer. I am blessed with many young adults who know how to cook and it\u2019s a joy to show up to dinner when someone else is in charge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udcbb<strong>writing<\/strong> \u2014 Each day is a little different but I make time to work on my writing goals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83c\udf7f\ud83c\udfa5<strong>summer movies <\/strong>\u2014 we have a few more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harkins.com\/events-and-series\/summer-movie-fun\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Summer Movie Fun tickets<\/a> left. I\u2019m a bit skeptical about The GOAT movie\u2026 but I guess we will see.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83c\udfca<strong>community pool <\/strong>\u2014 an afternoon at the pool just feels like summer and I want my youngest kids to have some of those memories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u23f0<strong>my morning routine<\/strong> \u2014 I need to be more intentional about getting up earlier 3-4 mornings a week to read and journal. I\u2019ve been missing those practices lately.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83e\udd6d\ud83c\udf4c\ud83c\udf53<strong>homemade smoothies <\/strong>\u2014 This is a household favorite snack right now and I love adding spinach to mine to get that extra iron and nutrition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udcda<strong>Little Libraries<\/strong> \u2014 I <a href=\"https:\/\/open.substack.com\/pub\/embracinghome\/p\/sorting-my-bookshelves-tips-for-organizing?r=1qjcbv&amp;utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&amp;utm_medium=web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cleaned out the bookshelves<\/a> in my office and now I have some books to take to the Little Free Libraries in my area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udccb<strong>summer<\/strong><strong>meal planning<\/strong> \u2014 I want to up my game in this area and be better about going to the local market every week for fresh produce.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>check out <a href=\"https:\/\/embracinghome.substack.com\/p\/my-go-to-summer-dinner-ideas?r=1qjcbv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this post + free printable<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sometime soon I want to enjoy <strong>watching Hamilton<\/strong> and singing along with the subtitles (loudly, not in tune, but with much enthusiasm\ud83e\udd23).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"image-link image2\" href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!gout!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4b7a9c16-93b3-4081-bd67-5637c36db596_498x263.gif\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!gout!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4b7a9c16-93b3-4081-bd67-5637c36db596_498x263.gif\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, a reading confession\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I didn\u2019t have anything to write in my <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/open.substack.com\/pub\/embracinghome\/p\/my-june-personal-curriculum-plans?r=1qjcbv&amp;utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&amp;utm_medium=web\">June personal curriculum<\/a> recap post so I skipped it! My ambitious reading plans and real life are currently negotiating terms.\ud83d\ude04<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;m choosing to enjoy a full season with family instead of stressing over a perfectly checked-off list, and I&#8217;m grateful there&#8217;s always next month. So here&#8217;s my TBR that I&#8217;m hoping to dive into this July but keep in mind that I am holding my plans loosely. \ud83d\ude1c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>My Reading Basket:<\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>  &#91;note: this post is NOT sponsored, I just want to share what I\u2019m reading and enjoying]<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Non-Fiction:<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>books from <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/embracinghome.substack.com\/p\/my-june-personal-curriculum-plans?r=1qjcbv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>my June plans<\/strong><\/a><strong> that I need to finish:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/annhandley.com\/everybodywrites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Everybody Writes (2nd Edition)<\/em> <\/strong>by Ann Handley<\/a>\ud83d\udcd6<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nataliegoldberg.com\/books\/writing-down-the-bones\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Writing Down the Bones<\/em><\/strong> by Natalie Goldberg<\/a>\ud83d\udcd6<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jonacuff.com\/procrastination-proof\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Procrastination Proof<\/em><\/strong> by Jon Acuff<\/a> \ud83d\udcd6 <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tylerstaton.com\/praying-like-monks-living-like-fools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer<\/em><\/strong> by Tyler Staton<\/a> \ud83d\udcd6\ud83c\udfa7\u2014 This book is keeping the things I learned at church summer camp fresh and alive in my busy life. It\u2019s a book that challenges readers to rethink their approach to prayer. It blends historical Christian monastic rhythms with everyday, risk-taking faith to help readers experience genuine connection with God.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tinyhabits.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything<\/em><\/strong> by BJ Fogg<\/a>\ud83d\udcd6 \u2014 I\u2019ve heard this book is an excellent read (thank you <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Niamh Celeste<\/a>\ud83d\ude01). Dr. BJ Fogg is the Director of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University and this book is well researched. I\u2019m looking forward to getting inspired for the homeschool year planning and fall habit planning that I have beginning in August.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hillarylmcbride.com\/the-wisdom-of-your-body\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection Through Embodied Living<\/em><\/strong> by Hillary L. McBride<\/a> \ud83c\udfa7I\u2019ve listened to a few specific chapters and come away with some helpful concepts. My favorite so far has been using mindfulness (which for me is prayer) to avoid shooting the second arrow at myself. <strong>\ud83c\udff9<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The First Arrow (Pain):<\/strong> The unavoidable challenges of human existence\u2014illness, injury, loss, or an off-hand comment. These are out of our immediate control and are a natural part of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Second Arrow (Suffering):<\/strong> Our psychological reaction to the first arrow. When we get hurt, our minds often add self-blame, shame, rumination, or fear. By beating ourselves up or resisting the reality of the situation, we inflict our own emotional pain.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>I would love to hear if anyone else finds this interesting\u2026 maybe a future post?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1781351986573-aae245cb3740?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMDB8fHN1bW1lciUyMHJlYWRpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzgyODQ2ODM0fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1781351986573-aae245cb3740.jpg\" alt=\"Person relaxing in a pool with a book and hat.\" class=\"wp-image-6354\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7500048459943011;width:401px;height:auto\" title=\"Person relaxing in a pool with a book and hat.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1781351986573-aae245cb3740.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1781351986573-aae245cb3740-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1781351986573-aae245cb3740-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I love the summer reading vibes in this photo! I don\u2019t know if I can make this happen but #goals, right?! \u2014 Photo by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@abbyythompson\">Abby Thompson<\/a> on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\">Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Fiction:<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Books I need to finish:<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shelbyvanpelt.com\/books\/remarkably-bright-creatures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Remarkably Bright Creatures<\/em> <\/strong>byShelby Van Pelt<\/a><strong>\ud83d\udcd6<\/strong>\ud83c\udfa7<strong>\ud83c\udfa5 <\/strong>\u2014and I want to plan a fun day out at an aquarium. We watched the movie and I really enjoyed it. I loved the small town, the complicated relationships, and the attitude of the octopus.\ud83d\udc19\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It also reminded me of a documentary I loved: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt12888462\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>My Octopus Teacher<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong>\ud83c\udfa5<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/store.rabbitroom.com\/products\/theo-of-golden-preorder?srsltid=AfmBOorhBn36csHGobNBbOoqSZVtbp60GSvILO4wza16GSU7yZnfKfhz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Theo of Golden<\/em><\/strong> by Allen Levi<\/a><strong>\ud83d\udcd6\ud83c\udfa7<\/strong>\u2014 This has been highly recommended by several people in my life (shout out to Shannon W. and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brooke Z<\/a>.\ud83d\ude01) I\u2019m about half way through and not sure my thoughts on it. I want to like the main character but he seems a bit suspicious. The writing is excellent though and I appreciate the way that the author sees people with compassion. Have you read this one? I would love to hear your thoughts!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/christinalaurenbooks.com\/books\/the-paradise-problem\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>The Paradise Problem<\/em><\/strong> by Christina Lauren<\/a><strong>\ud83c\udfa7 <\/strong>\u2014 This book is a guilty pleasure summer read. It blends classic romance tropes like marriage of convenience, fake dating, and forced proximity.\ud83c\udf36\ufe0f Anna and Liam pretend to be happily married to secure his inheritance and help her financially, navigating high stakes and a slow-burn romance on a lavish private island.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sarahmaclean.net\/storms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>These Summer Storms<\/em> <\/strong>by Sarah MacLean<\/a><strong>\ud83c\udfa7<\/strong>\u2014 MacLean\u2019s regency romance series got me back into fiction years ago when I was in a reading slump. I am excited to read this contemporary fiction and the audiobook is read by the incomparable <a href=\"https:\/\/jmwhelan.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Julia Whelan<\/a>. \u201cA story about the transformative power of grief, love, and family, this luscious novel is at once wildly sexy and surprisingly tender, exploring past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.\u201d\ud83c\udf36\ufe0f<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Some more books on my summer TBR:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emilyhenrybooks.com\/books\/beach-read\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Beach Read<\/em><\/strong> by Emily Henry<\/a> \u2014 I really enjoyed this one last summer and I might reread it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.authorabbyjimenez.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>The Night We Met<\/em><\/strong> by Abby Jimenez<\/a> \u2014 This books looks and sounds like quintessential summer romance. I\u2019m hoping I can add it in this month.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Family Reads:<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jkrowling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Harry Potter series<\/strong><\/a> and related books <strong>\ud83d\udcd6\ud83c\udfa7\ud83c\udfa5 <\/strong>(with my 11 year old son) \u2014 Audible has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/ep\/pottermore?srsltid=AfmBOoqXRyaddjn4dTHku2bm3lAweh_BWUwDDgpYUQfIQEYwu5gbJumb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Full-Cast Audio Editions<\/a> that I recently used my credits for. Kyle and I found this <a href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/04DGcPx7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marauder\u2019s Map themed book<\/a> by Scholastic and we have had fun reading it and looking at it with the special wand light to reveal hidden text printed in invisible ink. We also have a shelf of Harry Potter themed books we have collected over the years including these <a href=\"https:\/\/bricksandminifigsslc.com\/collections\/used-sets\/Harry-Potter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">book Lego sets<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1632266484284-a11d9e3a460a?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aGFycnklMjBwb3R0ZXJ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzgyODY4ODk2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1632266484284-a11d9e3a460a.jpg\" alt=\"a close up of a necklace on a book\" class=\"wp-image-6355\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.6695507717865301;width:407px;height:auto\" title=\"a close up of a necklace on a book\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1632266484284-a11d9e3a460a.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1632266484284-a11d9e3a460a-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1632266484284-a11d9e3a460a-686x1024.jpg 686w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1632266484284-a11d9e3a460a-768x1147.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/photo-1632266484284-a11d9e3a460a-1028x1536.jpg 1028w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@batley\">Allison Batley<\/a> on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\">Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>I\u2019d love to hear what\u2019s working for you!<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Share your summer book recs and favorite vacation reads in the comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/embracinghome.substack.com\/p\/my-september-personal-curriculum\/comments\">Leave a comment<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No matter if you fly through your reading stack or barely make it past chapter one, I hope you give yourself plenty of grace this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Books will patiently wait on the shelf, but the summer season goes by quickly. So enjoy the people, the slower moments, and whatever this month has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hope your July is filled with good books, happy interruptions, and the freedom to enjoy both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udf86\ud83c\udf2d<strong><em>Happy July! &#8211;<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"image-link image2\" href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!j_ao!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6307e108-bf92-43e1-be7d-428c5a8b7b33_1456x258.webp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!j_ao!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6307e108-bf92-43e1-be7d-428c5a8b7b33_1456x258.webp\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\ud83d\udcdd<em>Save these helpful posts for later:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/open.substack.com\/pub\/embracinghome\/p\/my-go-to-summer-dinner-ideas?r=1qjcbv&amp;utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&amp;utm_medium=web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>My Go-To Summer Dinner Ideas<\/strong><\/a>[free planning PDF]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/open.substack.com\/pub\/embracinghome\/p\/7-ways-to-add-hygge-to-my-home-this?r=1qjcbv&amp;utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&amp;utm_medium=web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>7 Ways to Add Hygge this Summer<\/strong><\/a><strong> \ud83c\udf1e<\/strong>\u2014 What does it look like to embrace the summer season and create a cozy atmosphere of home without thick blankets or a warm fire?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/open.substack.com\/pub\/embracinghome\/p\/6-quick-tips-for-planning-weekend?r=1qjcbv&amp;utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&amp;utm_medium=web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>6 Quick Tips for Planning a Weekend Away<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2b50consider this next step =<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My online course pulls everything together in one place. You\u2019ll get practical tools, simple templates, and a clear path forward (without the overwhelm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A great companion to your summer personal curriculum!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/mark-s-school104.teachable.com\/l\/pdp\/how-to-build-a-personal-curriculum\">See the course details<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A quick post with confessions &amp; my reading list I was watching the 3rd Harry Potter movie with my son the other night and the scene with the night bus stuck with me. That is how my summer has felt so far. There is an odd reshaping that happens to our days and an unusual&hellip; <\/p>\n<div class=\"readmore-wrapper\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/2026\/07\/07\/my-july-personal-curriculum-plans\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read <\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stc_notifier_status":"sent","_stc_notifier_sent_time":"2026-07-07 12:40:29","_stc_notifier_request":false,"_stc_notifier_prevent":false,"_stc_subscriber_keywords":"","_stc_subscriber_search_areas":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[692,429],"tags":[49,559,765,766,756,757,305,717,747,210,721,712,485,614,695,719,178,706,30,50,742,731,17,758,147,103],"class_list":["post-6351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-intellectually-alive","category-my-reading-stack","tag-books","tag-growth","tag-july","tag-july-reading","tag-june","tag-june-reading","tag-learning","tag-monthly-curriculum-recap","tag-my-book-basket","tag-my-book-stack","tag-my-learning","tag-my-personal-curriculum-plan","tag-my-reading","tag-new-hobby","tag-personal-curriculum","tag-personal-curriculum-planning","tag-personal-growth","tag-personal-learning","tag-productivity-for-moms","tag-reading-stack","tag-recap","tag-spring-curriculum","tag-summer","tag-summer-curriculum","tag-summer-planning","tag-summer-reading"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6351"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6356,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6351\/revisions\/6356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}