Lifestyle: July and August 2025 Wrap Up
What Happened
Join me as I recap what happened in July and August with my hair, blog, health, reading, travel and fitness.
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Unfortunately I missed posting my July wrap up so I'm doing and two for one and giving you July and August together.
Wrapping Up July and August: What Happened
Hair
Health
I was hospitalised twice in the intensive ward in May for multiple blockages in my intestine and a diverticulitis flare. Since then it's been a struggle to get everything back under control and work out what I can and can't eat.
In July I had my mammogram and breast scan done. All good, although I had to do the mammogram a few times as it didn't give a clear result the first few times. I'd forgotten how painful it is. Still, needs to be done and the scan and visit ended well in the end.
I'm currently doing preparation for my colonoscopy which is scheduled for 3rd September. I also have more tests and my thyroid scan this week. Fun times! At this point I just want this week to be over and done with as soon as possible.
In other health news, my husband is keeping me company at home as he hurt his leg when we went to the beach in July. A simple dive turned into a 5cm rip in his calf muscle. We really are quite a couple aren't we?
You might also like: Monthly Goal Ideas for Better Health
Blogging
Again, due to health reasons I haven't been as active as I would have liked. I've been trying to schedule posts when I can to make sure I at least have a few posts every week for you. Promotion of the posts has also been minimal.
A great thing about blogging though is that if you create evergreen content you can promote it anytime.
Traffic for July: 70,978 page-views
Number of blog posts published in July: 16
Current DA score: 28
Traffic for August: 67,904 page-views
Number of blog posts published in August: 18
Current DA score: 28
In July I was part of a collaboration post Summer’s One Must Read Book 2025 put together by Carol from Reading Ladies with a fantastic group of book bloggers. Your TBR is guaranteed to grow if you read the post!
If you'd like me to be part of a collaboration post on your blog please get in touch. It's always fun to work with other bloggers.
Reading challenges
I've been in a bit of a reading slump of late. I'm exhausted a lot of the time and so have been finding it easier to binge watch Netflix than to concentrate on a book. Hoping to have solutions soon so I can get back into my reading flow again.
The Clock Reading Challenge 2025
Books read:
The Net Galley TBR Reading Challenge 2025
No new updates unfortunately.
Currently reading:
Shadow in the Ward by Ari Gray - currently on page 121/345 - Amazon - Goodreads
Travel
At the beginning of July we managed some trips to the swimming pool and the beach and even a few nights out which was nice. Summer in Rome is always packed with concerts and other events (a lot of which are completely free to attend). We also celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary.
At the start of July I took my youngest inside the Colosseum and the Roman Forum for the first time which was great. I hadn't been back inside for about 23 years (back when I was a tour guide for the Colosseum). It still has the wow effect!
We also went to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica - one of my favourites here in Rome. As it's the Jubilee, we went under the Holy Door whilst we were there too.
Unfortunately all our plans for the summer kind of went out the window after my husband hurt his leg as he can't walk on it. It would have been difficult enough going places with all my health problems but that sealed the deal and so we've been chilling at home.
Fitness
I've been trying to keep my daily steps up (not always easy with my health and the added heatwave).
I've also been continuing with some arm exercises when I can although I've not managed to stick to a regular routine.
I'm really hoping things will calm down and I'll be able to get into a more consistent exercise routine again soon.
How did you do with your Challenges over the summer months? What challenges are you doing for 2025? Join the conversation in the comments section.
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