July has arrived and we are at the half way mark of the year. Do you take a moment to take stock of how your year is going?
I started the challenge of writing a sentence a day back in April and also continued in May and June. If you missed my posts for April and May you can read them here A sentence a day
On the first week of each month, we link our posts up and can read what everyone has been up to.
In July my theme for the blog is 31 days to focus on You. That means writing ways to bring the focus back onto what makes us as individuals healthy and happy.
Writing a sentence a month is short and sweet but can be a pertinent reminder of all the good things and perhaps not so good things that happen in life. This is my fourth month and it is really like keeping a diary. I just love the idea.
A sentence a day for July 2017
July 1 – Headed to the Gold Coast with my Saturday Sisters in preparation for our half marathon tomorrow. Caught in a traffic jam but managed to collect our packs in time and enjoy a delicious carb loading pasta dinner! Also started the Instagram #summerphotoghallenge2017 through Leslie from Once Upon A Time Happily Ever After Day 1 was Self Portrait and I hate selfies!
July 2 – Gold Coast Half Marathon and the Saturday Sisters and I did it! 21kms in good times and then celebrated with a huge breakfast watching the Marathon runners.
July 3 – Feeling great after my half marathon yesterday so walked up to visit my MIL and also caught up on some blogging and client work.
July 4 – Combined a walk with a visit to my MIL
July 5 – We have snow in Brisbane! Not real snow but Snow4kids which I took my darling grandson to. We had fun making a snow man and throwing snowballs at each other.
July 6 – Visited my MIL and then we headed to the Coast so my husband could finish putting the furniture together. Found this beautiful thank you note from one of my Saturday Sisters along with a bottle of champers which of course I opened and enjoyed.
July 7 – Hubby worked on the furniture which is now all finished – yay! and I worked on my blog and commenting on other bloggers’ posts.
July 8 – Woo! Hoo! Training for our 34km run in August is going well and the Saturday Sisters and I ran 24km, I then called in to see my daughter and darling grandson then headed back to the Coast for a long hot shower – I’m a little pooped!
July 9 – Hubby and I went to explore the Cararra Markets on the Gold Coast and I found these gorgeous blooms. Can you pick the real from the fabric ones?
July 10 – Enjoyed a lazy day on the Coast, reading but managed a 1 hour workout for core and upper body. The weather was gloomy and cold and so perfect for a lazy day with some Pasta takeaway for dinenr.
July 11 – Headed back to Brisbane from the Coast and relaxed for the afternooon.
July 12 – Spent the day with my darling grandson, we walked to the park, were superheroes and watched a movie and watered the garden in our superhero costume of course. Pure joy! The instagram challenge was hands so what’s better than holding the hand of your grandchild?
July 13 – Visited MIL at her aged care facility and they were having a Bastille Day morning tea (a day early) so she was too busy enjoying herself to spend time with me LOL:) My gift for my niece’s 40th arrived from Name Jewellery
July 14 – Caught up with my daughter who is organising my 60th birthday party (in co-junction with my darling husband) – the invitations have been sent!. Spent the rest of the day blogging and catching up on comments for my link parties.
July 15 – Time for my Saturday run with the Saturday Sisters and as we are in training for a 34km run in August, a 3 hour run was on the menu – lucky it was a glorious morning to enjoy. In the afternoon we brought MIL back home to go through her wardrobe – I have never met a women with so many clothes!!!
July 16 – What a lovely relaxing day spent with hubby, quality time together, I read most of ‘Into the Water’ by Paula Hawkins who also wrote ‘Girl on a Train’, almost finished knitting my jumper, some friends dropped in for a quick catchup and then I made a delicious lamb roast for dinner. A perfect day in my book.
July 17 – Started the day with a great PT session (upper body and core), a quick visit to MIL and then some helping my husband clear some of his mum’s possessions which she no longer needs or wants – that will take us years! Why do we accumulate so much?
July 18 – Shopping for our Christmas in July dinner party and an afternoon run with the Saturday Sisters.
July 19 – Wednesday is Ethan day – YAY! It was so windy so a quick visit to the park and then indoor play it was a dinosaur kind of day.
July 20 – My high school friend and her husband were visiting Brisbane so my darling and I enjoyed a catchup over a delicious lunch.
July 21 – Started preparing for our Christmas in July dinner party tomorrow evening plus a quick trip to MIL.
July 22 – It is cold this morning!!! Started the morning with another long run – only a few weeks to go now. It is our Christmas in July dinner tonight and have invited friends around to celebrate with turkey and ham and all the trimmings. It is too hot in December in Australia to enjoy this type of food.
- Mike made a delicious mulled wine
- The turkey was a triumph!
July 23 – Rest and relaxing after our Christmas in July so I gave myself a facial and body scrub.
July 24 – Started making and designing birthday cake for granddaughter and visited MIL at her aged care home.
July 25 – Prepared the icing for the cake, scheduled some blog posts, quick visit to MIL, then met the Saturday Sisters for an afternoon run.
July 26 – Wednesday – Ethan day and what a special day, playing in the sand pit, being dinosaurs (again) and building a volcano such a joy.
July 27 – Attended a volunteer course for aged care and I have the certificate to prove it!
ADD PHOTO OF CERTIFICATE
July 28 – Started the day with a long chat with my daughter which is always special. Decorated the birthday cake for our granddaughter and picked up my pack for the Stadium Stomp – running up and down 5,000 stairs on Sunday – I might just be a little bit crazy.
July 29 – Caught up with a friend for brunch and then helped another friend with her assignment.
July 30 – The Saturday Sisters do it again! We conquered 5,000 stairs at The Stadium Stomp. in the afternoon it was time to celebrate our granddaughter’s birthday – so as part of my tradition I made her birthday cake.

Another achievement for The Saturday Sisters!
July 31 – The last day of July and I looked back over my month – it wasn’t too bad at all!
So that was my month in a sentence a day. I hope you enjoyed reading what I got up to this month.
What has August in store for me? I turn 60 in August so it will be Sue’s Sizzling Sixtieth Selebrations!
Why not try this challenge for August? It is surprising what you might write over the course of the month and it is fun reading. You can then link up and read other posts from those taking the challenge.
Let’s Keep Sizzling!

28 Comments
You are quite amazing, Sue!! Your energy is quite contagious—it almost makes me want to go out running (notice I said almost..ha ha)
What a wonderful invite to your birthday party!!
And that “fake” snow—how totally fun!! Do you not get any real snow where you live?? Feel free to come visit us this winter—ha ha!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Ditto!
Thank you for your lovely words Jodie. My daughter designed the invitation and yes the fake snow was great. We do get snow in Australia but only in the southern alps and Tasmania. Not where I live where Winter doesn’t really feel too much cooler than our summers. xx
Congrats, Sue, on completing the half marathon and the Stadium Stomp. Your month of July looked great, and August, being your birth month with a party planned, will be even greater.
Thanks Natalie I was pretty pumped with my time and I recovered really well from both events. July was great and I’m sure August will be even better! Have a lovely weekend and thanks for stopping by x
That’s a busy month! Your invitations look fabulous, Be very proud of yourself Sue for doing that half marathon. I applaud you! And don’t be scared of selfies, yours looks great xx
http://www.vanityandmestyle.com
You are too kind Laurie and yes it was a busy month but I loved every minute of it. I am pretty proud of myself and hope I can achieve my last challenge for the year with a 35km run in August. Fingers crossed. Have a beautiful weekend, Laurie x
Oh, Sue, your birthday invites are so cheerful and festive. What fun! Can’t wait to read all about the celebration.
You amaze me with the running. I am upping my running game again, thanks to you. Nothing to the extent that you run but working back to my regular three mile runs. Have my eye on a couple of 5Ks so need to get back to it. I don’t know how one runs a half-marathon but my hat’s off to you.
That Ethan is one baby doll. Snow!!! Love all of the pictures of your activities together. Makes me long to hold my little ones again. They come and go so fast.
Your July 16 would be a perfect day in my book, too. I think I will look into reading Into the Water. Enjoyed Girl on a Train very much. And the movie as well.
You guys want to cover for dinner sometime? We could eat outside and dip our toes in the pool. And drink champers (champagne?) and you could knit and I could cross stitch. Wouldn’t we have fun.
My daughter designed the invite Leslie, and I’m so glad I can inspire you with your running – you can do it! Ethan is my light of my life and yes you are more than welcome for dinner anytime. Just let me know what time your private plane lands LOL:) x
What a great month you’ve had Sue and an even bigger one this month as you turn 60. You seriously don’t look like someone who is abut to turn 60 by the way! Your activity level is amazing and your cake making skills are awesome. I did like the fact that you had a few relaxing times scattered throughout the month, otherwise we’d have to call you the energizer bunny 🙂
It was a great month Debbie and I’m loving the writing a sentence a day to capture what I do. Thank you for your lovely comment and re the cake – I’m self taught and if you look closely it isn’t perfect but it is the overall image that I aim for. I had to laugh at your last sentence – the energizer bunny LOL:) Have a great weekend, Debbie x
Happy Birthday Month!!! Your running is soooooo impressive! And that Stadium Stomp sounds intense!
Have a wonderful August and a fantastic birthday!
Thanks Andrea! I actually felt great after the Stadium Stomp and it really is a fun event because it is something different. Thank you for your birthday wishes and for stopping by to comment. Have a lovely weekend. x
What a month you have had, so full of energy and variety, and now your birthday ahead of you. Lots to celebrate in these wonderful years of our lives.
It was a lovely month Jan and I’m really enjoying recording what I do. It is great to look back and see all I’ve done – I surprise myself really. Yes, August will be a big month for me that is for sure. Have a great weekend! x
I think I’d like to try this beginning in September. By that time I should have replaced the car that was totaled six weeks ago, finished insurance paperwork, and gotten an idea of what medical work may be needed ahead. If I start today I won’t have a whole month of August.
Oh what an August you have and I’m sorry to hear about your car. I hope you are okay? It would be lovely to have you join us in September. Take care Barbara and thanks for stopping by x
Firstly, you’re amazing – as must be your Saturday Sisters – and secondly, love the wool in that jumper. I’m really enjoying both the process of journalling my month in this way, and reading about other’s months. Bring on August.
Oh you are lovely Jo and yes my Saturday Sisters are pretty special. I loved the colours in the wool as well but I’m now procrastinating I only have to do the neck and I’m finished. I’m enjoying the process as well Jo. I find it easier to just write a sentence rather than lots of thoughts. Have a great weekend! x
Loved all the photos Sue – they really are what makes this such an interesting post each month. Little snapshots of the highlights of your life – loved the birthday invites and how they tie in with your blog xx
Hi Leanne I really enjoy this post each month otherwise I wouldn’t probably document my memories. Rachel designed the invitation and I thought it was lovely – very me!
This is a great challenge. Since it is early August and I am an avid writer, I will start this sentence a day August challenge. Thanks for the idea.
Oh that is great Carla – the more the merrier!
Wow! You had a busy and exciting month! The flowers are gorgeous; and no, I can’t pick the real from the fabric ones. Amazing. Gorgeous cake too!
Did I read 34KM OMGeee I cant feel my legs after 10k. You girls are Amazing. And I love your sentence a day Sue. Thanks for sharing at the Pit Stop 🙂
Hi Sue, I enjoyed reading about your July. 5,000 stairs, I am so impressed! The birthday cake is lovely. Enjoy your August, can’t wait to hear about your birthday!
Wow. I am impressed! I enjoyed reading about your month. I have joined the Sentence a Day challenge for August and am enjoying it so far.
🙂 gwingal
Thanks Nikki and great that you have joined in too! It is really great fun and kind of like keeping a diary 🙂