The official start of summer wasn’t until June 21^st but I’ve been living it up in the blazin’ hundred degree weather since the start of the month.  The hot weather leads me to have simple days of chill tea dates with friends or just spend a bit more time indoors, discovering new favorites 😉  I’m really excited to share what I loved in books, TV, food, music, and more this month so, if you’re interested, keep reading!

What I’ve Been Reading

WomanCode by Alisa Vitti

Women who have period, fertility, or libido issues are the ones who can most benefit from WomanCode.  Though, those problems may exist without you being fully aware.  A while back, I heard about the book from Lee from America and hoped it could help with my personal health concerns.  The self-help book illuminates the areas in which lifestyle factors may be working against naturally-fluctuating hormone levels.  I touched on how reading the book pertains to my health and fitness journey but this won’t be the last I talk about it.  I feel positively influenced by the WomanCode Protocol so I hope to share equally positive results regarding my cycle and hormone regulation in coming months.  I’m also planning to follow this up in the future with blog posts about how I’m incorporating the recommendations in the book to perfect my cycle.

KP-ingitsimple’s Fit Fuel Series

Over the past year, I’ve become more and more interested in nutrition.  I think it’s a natural progression after beginning to prioritize personal health and fitness.  I’m avidly seeking out new information about what nutrients are best going to fuel my body and how.  Fellow TIU sister and peanut butter lover, Kelly or KP, already shares enlightening health posts on her blog in topics such as water weight and bloating, and now her Fit Fuel Series has me hooked!  It addresses exactly that you would want to know as far as how to effectively fuel your body for workouts.  The sort of information she provides can be hard to find online so I find it to be such a great resource!

Favorite Eats

Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin knows no single season at my house.  It screams fall but it also makes the perfect batter for baked treats all year long.  I am pretty proud of myself for baking up a super-tasty and lightly-sweetened cookie with good-for-you ingredients like rolled oats, pumpkin, and coconut oil.  They are even versatile enough that you can add a scoop or your favorite protein powder to them without sacrificing the cookie-taste.  See the post and recipe here.

Skillet Greens Sauté

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVNjKQoAsEx/?taken-by=tiu.melanie

Halfway through the month, I began incorporating WomanCode protocols and eating with my cycle.  During my luteal phase, I was all about sautéed greens and hearty veggies.  This skillet dish was one of my favorite meals.  I loaded up on dark leafy greens, sweet potato, brown rice, onions, and garlic—all rich in vitamins and minerals—to help with fluid retention and progesterone production pre-menstruation phase.  The interesting thing about this time of month is how sugar cravings kick up a notch so roasting and sautéing vegetables helps bring out natural sweetness in food.  I am so satisfied after meals like this, and don’t feel the desire to reach for a candy bar to satisfy my sweet tooth.

What I’ve Been Watching

(Surprisingly, all of the shows I’ve loved this month are series finales or just short-run programs)

Reign

Image via IMDB

I simply adore Mary Queen of Scots and her consistent motivation to do better for her people.  Yet, I’m baffled by the ending of Reign and disappointed with how history unfortunately played out for Mary.  Her long, tumultuous battle for a throne and respect as a queen is one worth watching.  I won’t spoil it for you if you haven’t seen it but the entire show is on Netflix if you want to catch up with the 16^th century queen.

Pretty Little Liars

I know the series finale just happened so I won’t give away any spoilers in case you have yet to catch up.  Admittedly, the show dragged out the A/AD storyline far too long but I’m glad I didn’t give up on it.  Freeform aired the second part of the final season which over the past two months and I’ve been hooked.  Friendships and relationships were tested but we also got a taste for possible AD suspects up til the finale episode.  I seriously didn’t see the ending coming!

Big Little Lies

Image via IMDB

This one is an HBO exclusive starring boss babes: Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley.  Upon moving to Monterey, Woodley’s character and her son become targets in a finger-pointing scandal.  It starts in the children’s elementary school but the parents quickly make it a personal with one another.  The show skips back and forth between present investigations about a murder and the past events leading up to it.  Viewers watch the past events unfold to get to know the main suspects and piece together who among them gets murdered.  It showcases an interesting look at how there is so much more happening in each person’s life than the face that they put forth to others.  Also, unlike the next show I’m about to mention, Big Little Lies has a bittersweet but satisfying end.

GirlBoss

Last TV show, I promise!  The story of NastyGal founder Sophia Amoruso is one you won’t exactly want to cheer for but it is awe-inspiring.  Britt Robertson, who I love from Life Unexpected and The Secret Circle, plays Amoruso with a wild steadfast drive and independence.  The NastyGal founder isn’t the most admirable female role model, especially when you see what she had to do to get her business started.  Still, I couldn’t help but have hope for the anti-hero.  Unfortunately, Netflix probably didn’t want to pursue the series since real-life Amoruso filed for bankruptcy last year, so one season is all GirlBoss is getting.

What I’ve Been Listening To

Paramore’s After Laughter

Long after punk-rock and teen angst phase has passed, Paramore is still relevant!  I’ve been growing up with their music over the past few years and their latest release, After Laughter, is no different.  It’s expressive of struggles of changes with life and growing up but with a new fresh sound.  Expect groovy, pop-y tunes, and Hayley Williams’ soaring, fiery vocals.  Some favorites from the album include songs like Fake Happy, Told You So, and Grudges:

Product Favorites

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is under controversy recently but, like all oils, it should be used in moderation.  I’m not needlessly swallowing down coconut oil in coffee drinks but the unrefined variety is my go-to choice for baking (see below).  A little bit of this oil adds decadence that only butter may come close to providing.  Though, the jury is still out on health benefits of coconut oil, I’m keeping the unrefined, virgin, expeller-pressed variety around in my kitchen.  I like Spectrum and Nutiva.

Avocado Oil

Two favorite oils, Melanie?  Yes!  I’m not deep-frying up a storm over at my house but oil is still important to have on hand.  I have a collection of quality cooking oils that I use for different purposes.  Avocado oil is perfect for roasting veggies or pan-frying.  Its high heat temperature won’t smoke on the stovetop like extra virgin olive oil or other vegetable oils.  Plus, I notice it imparts a slight richness to food without messing with the flavor of your dish.  I’ve tried Chosen Foods and Primal Kitchen.  Both are great!

pHresh Deodorant Cream

I’d been searching for a natural deodorant that is not only aluminum-free but organic.  As I mentioned above, I’m making adjustments to my lifestyle to help out my hormones.  A step towards doing that involves ridding my environment of toxic chemicals that may be endocrine disruptors.  Our armpits are such a sensitive area and an important one for excreting toxins (which happens when you sweat).  I do need to apply the cream 1-2 times a day but, for a softening and protective cream deodorant like pHresh, it is worth it!  I’m not smothering my sweat glands with antiperspirant anymore, plus, my armpits have never been softer!  The Deodorant Cream deserves to be amongst my monthly favorites and you can read more about how I use it in my Shower Routine and Essentials post.

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

This lip product was all the rage a few years back but it never struck me as a big deal.  I had all but abandoned my Bite Beauty lip mask until I pulled it out again in the springtime.  I’ve been using it ever since as my nighttime lip protectant.  It is thick and made with food-grade quality ingredients.  It is something I feel safe to put around my mouth and the moisturization benefits last for hours!

Notable moments of the month

Friends from Instagram will remember that my pet rabbit, Twix, was always at the top of my favorites list.  So, I want to touch on what exactly happened to lead to this moment.  He had been slowly losing weight since April but we figured it was because of his age.  His hind legs were also giving out a bit more.  He no longer was able to hop onto our couch like he used to and he would slip when walking.  The signs pointed to age. 

Though, in the month of June he got dramatically skinny almost overnight.  Twix wasn’t eating his food or hopping around like he used.  Or even going to the bathroom in his potty dish.  If you knew Twix, you’d know that’s a big deal because he was particular about his preferred “peeing spots”.  Unfortunately, his condition just escalated so quickly.

Even if I fed him all the veggies and leafy greens, those were not going to be enough to put weight on him.  He felt frail and I think he himself noticed that his body wasn’t cooperating with him anymore.  It pained my family and I to watch our furry baby’s deterioration so we had to say goodbye to him after nearly 6 years.  I miss him every day but love is not limited to life or death.  I’ll always care very much about Twix and treasure the memories I have with him.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVYkQZIA7Yj/?taken-by=tiu.melanie

On another note, an old friend from school was here for the month in between graduation and the start of his doctorate program.  It was so fun to reconnect and hang out multiple times this month.  Nothing beats having a good catch-up and enjoying fun activities with friends.

Thank you for taking an interest in my favorites from the month of June! 

I only share products that I’ve been using for a while and can vouch for their effectiveness.  As for other favorites, like TV shows and interesting reads, those are ever-rotating.  Have you encountered some favorites in the past month? If so, definitely drop me a line and tell me what they are!  I love hearing you guys’ ideas and suggestions.