{Monthly} Midweek Ramblings: July 2025

 July 2025:

Life Update: WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSE!!! 🏡

      I am beyond thrilled to share the most exciting life update with you today. As of yesterday, we are first-time HOMEOWNERS! 2025 has been really been quite the year so far. I thought that finally getting a new career opportunity in May would be my biggest life update of the year, but I think this might even trump that. 😊 

Affordable Early Fall Fashion Picks.

     We've had a heatwave the past week in Coastal Virginia, and realistically colder weather won't be headed our way until at least October or November. But hot temperatures outside aside, I've been enjoying seeing some early fall fashion collections popping up at my favorite retailers! I shared these finds on Instagram and LTK this week, but wanted also wanted to share here on my blog.

HOTEL GUIDE: Historic Boutique Hotel in Washington DC - The Phoenix Park Hotel

      Last year when I was working as a hotel front desk agent, I won a great raffle prize at the annual staff Christmas party. There were several hotel stays at other properties in driving distance to Virginia Beach that were being raffled off. I ended up winning a free weekend stay at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington DC. I was excited to use it, and decided to book it for late March, guessing that might be a good timeframe for the cherry blossoms. (Since I moved to Virginia in 2018, it's been a big item off of my travel bucket list to see the Tidal Basin cherry blossoms in DC at peak bloom!) Not only did I correctly predict peak bloom weekend and finally get to see it, but Ryan and I also had the most wonderful stay at the Phoenix Park Hotel, which I'm excited to review today! 

Wedding Wednesday: Our Wedding Day - The Reception

      I truly can't say enough good things about our wedding reception venue, the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel. We went with the very classic "afternoon church wedding ceremony, evening hotel ballroom reception" combo for our wedding day. I think there is something so timeless and wonderful about a hotel ballroom wedding reception, and it really is easy from a planning perspective as well (since the linens, tableware and food and beverage is usually done all in-house).