July Favorites: 10 Things I Loved + Your Favorites Too!

I cannot believe it is the end of July already. As much as I hate it, it's time to say goodbye to summer, which means it's time for another roundup of monthly favorites. At the end of every month, I share 10 things that made my life better as well as the 10 most popular things I've shared as determined by you.

July was another mixed bag in terms of highs and lows. I went to the dermatologist and had two things removed, only one of which was cancerous. Then, just after getting it back from the shop, my car got a nail in the tire, so we had to deal with that. On the flip side, we did finally make it to the lake, which was fun even if I couldn't get in the water. We were also able to get in one more trip to the water park. I wish we'd been able to go more, but there's always next summer.

The biggest news that I have to share with y'all is that we're moving, and this time it's a BIG move. Not just across town to a different neighborhood. Nope. We're moving back to my hometown, which is where I teach and my daughter goes to school. We're buying the house I grew up in from my parents, who are moving into a home they inherited. Anyway, we're currently in the process of packing everything up and moving in stages. We're trying to get as much done before I go back to work as possible, but we'll more than likely still be working on it during preplanning, as well.

I think that's got you all caught up on life lately. Now let's take a look at my and your favorites from the month.

My Favorites

The Examiner -- I devoured this book. I love this author's style of presenting the reader with a collection of evidence to piece together what really happened. This one was full of twists and turns and nothing was what it seemed. I highly recommend this murder mystery!

How to Sell a Haunted House -- I was skeptical of the doll aspect of this Grady Hendrix book, but it's become my favorite story of his and quite possibly my favorite book of the year. I have not been able to stop thinking about this one since I finished it. The story is just so good with the perfect amount of creepy suspense. Expect to see this one at the top of my best books of 2026 final list for sure.

The Correspondent -- This was phenomenal. Told entirely through written correspondence, it tells the story of the final years of life of a truly remarkable woman. I want to be like Sybil when I grow up. This one is definitely going on my best books of the year list.

Straw Slide Sandals (pictured above) -- One of my coworkers gifted these slides to me at the end of the school year. She'd gotten them in her size, but they run really small, so they didn't fit. I tried them on and fell in love. I've been wearing them with almost every outfit here lately. My exact ones are no longer available, but these ones are close and by the same brand.

Navy Blue Striped Dress -- This dress is so soft and comfortable. It's flattering, the perfect length,  and I've been wearing it pretty much as soon as it comes out of the dryer.

Snug Fit Striped Tanks from Old Navy -- These tanks have been on repeat here lately. They are cropped, but for me that means they're the perfect length to wear untucked without showing off my belly. I bought all of the striped ones they had in my size, but they also come in quite a few solid colors.

Tropical Skirt Outfit -- This is my favorite outfit of the month, hands down. This bright red tank is so good; these are my favorite basic tanks that I own in eight colors. The skirt is perfect for summer. All that's missing is a tropical island.

Denim Tank Outfit -- I love this outfit, even if I hate the reason I was wearing it. I've been shopping for a denim tank for a long time, and I'm so pleased with this one. Expect to see it all the time as I'll be wearing it with probably every skirt I own at some point. Speaking of skirts, this is one of those viral NASHALYLY ones. This exact pattern sold out not long after I bought it, but there are several other similar dark floral prints to choose from.

Snoopy Shorts -- I bought these on a whim at Walmart and have not looked back. I have been wearing these a lot, although I don't actually have much photographic proof (I mostly wear them to lounge around the house). They're sweatpant material, so they're incredibly soft. I sized way up in these so the legs would be nice and roomy; the drawstring waist keeps them from falling off.

Wavy Talk Wave Iron -- This thing is so easy to use! Even with my crazy short hair. It creates the tousled waves that I really love right now. I especially like the timer feature which lets me know when I've held it in one place for long enough without me doing a mental countdown.

Your Favorites

Straw Slide Sandals -- Great minds think alike it seems. These are not my exact slides, but they're pretty darn close. This brand runs really small. I usually wear size 7 but wear both pair I have in this brand in an 8.

Layered Initial Necklace -- This is such a good necklace. You can wear it so many different ways since the strands are not actually attached to each other.

Wide Woven Belts -- Third month in a row for these. Have I convinced you yet that you need these in your life?

White Platform Sandals -- These are still available in most sizes. Size up half; the straps are snug.

Boho Maxi Dress -- This is one of my favorite things that I bought this summer, especially in the pink, which is the one that y'all have been clicking on the most. I've been wearing the pink a lot lately. It always seems to be on top of the laundry pile, ha. Unfortunately, this is sold out in all but the purple and white floral.

Brown Sandals -- These basic sandals are what I link to for the pair I've had for years and years. I wear mine a lot, especially in the summer.

Kirundo Maxi Skirt -- This is one of my favorite skirts ever. I currently own it in three patterns.

Tanner Sandals --  Unfortunately, these sandals are completely sold out. I've rounded up some similar pairs for you, though: option 1, option 2, option 3, option 4.

Tiered Cotton Skirt -- This is a good, basic knee-length skirt. It's 100 percent cotton with an elastic waist and drawstring tie. I bought it in both colors.

White Slide Sandals -- The pair of white slides I have are really old, so these are the ones that I usually link to and will probably eventually buy for myself when my pair are worn slap out.

Teaching in Skirts: My Favorite Skirts for the Classroom

When it comes to getting dressed, especially for school, nine times out of ten, I'm going to choose a skirt. Even on the days when we're allowed to wear jeans. As a matter of fact, I rarely wear jeans to school...or at all really. Skirts are more comfortable than jeans and so much easier to move around in throughout the school day.

If you were to look in my closet right now, you would see that nearly half of the space is dominated by skirts. Over the years, my preferred style of skirts has evolved. These days, I prefer a midi length, though I have recently added a few knee-length options for warmer months.

Two years ago, I shared six of my favorite skirts to teach in with y'all. I still own four of those six skirts. Two I donated -- one because I no longer could wear it comfortably and the other because I no longer wanted a high-low hem. They're both still great options, though.

Today, I wanted to share with y'all the skirts that are currently in my closet that are great for teaching. As in, these are the skirts that stay in my teacher outfit rotation pretty much year round.

Floral Print

If you've been around the blog for awhile, then you'll already know that I love a floral print. So it should come as no surprise that a majority of the skirts in my closet fall into that category.

Kirundo Floral Print Skirts

We're going to start with what is arguably my most-worn skirt over the last 4-5 years. This dark purple floral print skirt has been a part of my life since summer of 2023 and was part of that first post I shared two years ago. It has been a favorite ever since I first added it to my closet, and I'm still finding new ways to wear it. It's incredibly versatile and insanely comfortable. It's also fully lined, which is always a plus for a skirt, even one that's dark like this. I love this skirt so much that I have repaired several tears over the last couple of years just so I can keep wearing it.

I also have it in this daisy print (khaki) and this bright floral (white red). I've had the daisy print for awhile, although I don't wear it as much as the purple (it doesn't go with as much in my closet), and I just got the bright print this summer, so it hasn't actually seen the inside of a classroom yet. There are several more prints available, so it's definitely worth checking this one out.

Viral NASHALYLY Skirts

These viral NASHALYLY skirts are relatively new additions to my closet -- within this current school year. I have this skirt in six patterns now: white floral (flower-203), dusky pink floral, pale green floral (sage), dark green floral patchwork (flower-231), black flower, and brown floral. These skirts were fast favorites for me, instantly melding with things I already own. I mean, there's a reason they went viral. They really are that good! And can be worn year round. I wear the white floral the most, I think, but I love them all equally.

Dark Blue Floral Print (similar, similar)

This skirt, unfortunately, is no longer available from the retailer at which I bought it, which is a real shame since it's such a good skirt. I especially love it in the cooler months, since the darker pattern lends itself well to that time of year. However, I do wear it year round with a variety of tops.

Allegra K Floral Chiffon Skirts

These chiffon skirts are a more elevated style skirt. I have the black, which is still available, and a no-longer-available light yellow. The yellow one is my favorite. But I must admit that I don't wear them as much as I used to. They feel fancier than my other skirts for whatever reason, and the chiffon snags on literally everything. I've had to fix both of mine at least once. I usually keep these in reserve for honor days, graduation, or other ceremonies.

Allegra K Knee-Length Skirts

These are a more casual skirt, thanks to the shorter length as well as the more casual fabric. I actually wear these to work quite a bit all year round. They're easy to dress up or down, and the length is one that I enjoy. This one comes in several options. I have the white, which is still available, and the black, which is not.

Bohemela Ruffle Skirts

These ruffled knee-length skirts have been a welcome addition into my closet. I haven't worn either much yet, but I'm looking forward to adding them into my school rotation. These come in four options; I have the two 'multicolor' ones. The darker floral print looks purple in the pictures, but in person I swear it has an almost green tint. The pink paisley-floral one is a lot of fun to wear. It's so bright and colorful. These have an elastic waist and a decorative tie, which I cut off of both.

Breezaya Skirts

I have three of these knee-length skirts, but one of them is through a different link, so bear with me. We'll start with the two smaller-print florals. I have two of these ditsy floral print skirts. The white is a bright floral print with pink, yellow, and teal green flowers. The black (second option) is also nice and bright with purple, blue, and yellow flowers. The tropical print skirt is labeled 'multicolor.' It has a warmer feel to it with deeper reds and oranges dominating the color scheme. These skirts are tiered with an elastic waist and decorative tie, which you should already know I've removed from all three.

Stripes, Plaids, & Polka Dots

I don't think you can go wrong with one of the classics, so while I may lean more to floral prints in my personal preferences, there's plenty of room for stripes, plaids, and polka dots in my life. In fact, the first skirt I'm sharing with y'all in this section has become a favorite of mine, and I wear it almost as much as I wear my floral print skirts.

Yellow Stripes (similar)

I bought this as part of a matching set but ultimately didn't keep the blouse. It wasn't a great fit on me, and I've never been a fan of matching sets so knew I wouldn't ever wear them together. The skirt, though, has become one of the most versatile pieces in my closet.

Green Stripes

This is a new addition to my closet, so I haven't had the opportunity to wear it much yet, but I'm excited for the possibilities. I got this one because I used to have a bright green checkered skirt; I gained a little weight, and it no longer fit comfortably, so I donated it. But I've been missing that bright green in my life. So here we are.

Neutral Pinkish Stripes (similar, similar)

This skirt was a random buy a year or so ago. I had no idea how much use I would get out of it. For a neutral skirt, it's not boring.

Teal Blue Stripe (not pictured)

This is a brand new addition to my closet that I'm really excited to wear to teach in. It's such a fun color combo. It's lined and has pockets, which is always a plus. It also comes in several more colors, including a few polka dot options.

Brown Plaid

This was one of my best purchases of 2025. I wore this skirt so much during the fall and winter. The darker colors don't scream spring or summer to me, but who knows. With enough time, I might be able to make this one a year-round staple. It also comes in black and blue.

Black Plaid

This skirt actually pre-dates my teaching days, but it transitioned quite nicely into the classroom. I will admit that I don't wear this one to teach in all that often. It's wool and lined, so it's very warm. And I often get hot while teaching since I rarely just stay in one place. It's a great skirt, though, and one that won't ever go out of style.

Red Polka Dot

This skirt became a fast favorite, despite the fact that it's incredibly sheer. Like, if you don't wear something underneath it, you'll see straight through it. It's just too much fun to not wear, though, and I've had a blast creating outfits with it.

Black-and-White Dalmation (similar, similar)

This skirt is one of my oldest; I got it my first year teaching. I like that it's like an edgier version of traditional polka dots in that you can style it the same way as you would polka dots but that it feels like it has a bit more personality.

Frenchy Brown & Black Spots

This is an above-the-knee skirt that feels fancier than it is. It's pleated, which adds another layer of interest. It has an elastic waist, but it is not lined and does not have pockets.

Solid Colors

I might gravitate more toward prints, especially florals, but there is definitely a place in my closet for solid colors. Granted, these take up the least amount of room in my closet, but they are absolutely vital pieces of my wardrobe. I guess you could consider them as a basic.

SANGTREE Cotton Linen Skirts

Y'all should be familiar with these favorites. They're 100 percent cotton with a linen lining. I now own them in five solid colors: light blue, light pink, yellow, white, and black. I love these so much that I wrote an entire post about them.

Tiered Cotton Skirts

These are new additions to my closet from this summer, but they'll work nicely for school as well. They're 100 percent cotton and lined, with pockets, an elastic waist, and drawstring tie. They are knee length on me (18.5 inches).

Denim (similar, similar, similar)

Denim skirts are tough for me. I've gone through so many different styles and ultimately just don't love them. Even when I find one that I do like, it's my least-worn skirt. What makes mine good for teaching is that it has the split in the front that allows for ease of movement. I wear this on Fridays mostly instead of jeans. That way I at least match my coworkers' vibes.

Whimsical

You can't be the quirky English teacher without a bit of whimsy, and I've found the easiest way to create a whimsical outfit is with a quirky skirt. So for the last section of this post, I'm sharing with you the skirts that don't fit into any other category.

Moth Print

To be fair, when I ordered these skirts, I didn't realize that they all had the same print just in different colors. But I don't really care because they are so much fun. The brown and blue are more of an a-line cut while the purple is more fitted. I've mostly played around with pattern mixing and fun layers with these skirts, but I'm excited to find new ways to style them this upcoming school year.

Dinosaur

This has become one of my most favorite skirts to wear, and I'm not even particularly into dinosaurs! I'm not even sure that other people really notice this skirt, since it's one that I've truly never gotten any comments on, but I keep on wearing it because I just love it.

Patchwork Quilt

When I say this skirt has every color in it, I mean it has every color in it. That makes it infinitely mix and matchable. It's super soft, too, so it's comfortable for all day wear.

Tulle

Who said you can't wear tulle to school? I have four different tulle skirts that I wear to work, though I'll admit it's not regularly. I pull these out for special occasions. I think the butterfly is probably the most wearable year round, but I do enjoy the pink sparkle one as well. The other two I own are holiday specific: Halloween and Valentine's Day.

10 Mid-July Outfit Ideas to Steal

Welcome to another episode of real outfit roundup, a post in which I share the outfits I actually wore in real life from the past two weeks along with explanations, reviews, and links to exact or similar items.

I've got ten outfits to share with y'all today featuring lots of stripes and lots of outfit repetition. Most everything is still available, too, so that's a plus for y'all.

The last two weeks have been pretty standard in terms of this summer. It's been really hot and humid lately to the point that being outside is honestly miserable. So all of our activities have mostly centered on being indoors. We've gone to the bookstore and the library, spent a day at the water park, and went to the movies. However, I can't remember which outfit goes with which outing, and I'm 99 percent sure I didn't take a picture of what I wore to the movies.

Before we dive into the outfits, a note on sizing. I'm 5'2"and weigh about 140 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes. I'll note the things I sized up in.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Tank | Shorts | Sandals (similar)

I am in love with these snug-fit, cropped tank tops from Old Navy. It's 96 percent cotton, so it's super soft, and the 4 percent spandex gives it the perfect amount of stretch. I got this in a medium so it would be less cropped and to account for any shrinkage in the wash. For me, this top hits right at the top of my shorts, which is perfect. It comes in lots of options. I own three of the striped versions.

Speaking of my shorts, these pull-on shorts are really comfy. They're 85 percent cotton. I sized up to a large so the legs would not be super tight on my thighs, but in all transparency they're definitely not as loose as on the model. I probably could have gone up to the XL if we're being honest, but the large fits comfortably. The waist is elastic with a drawstring, and the legs are cuffed.

Dress | Necklace | Sandals

This boho dress might be my favorite throw-on-and-go dress of the summer. This bright print is really fun. I'm actually pretty positive I wore this dress twice in this rotation of outfits but only photographed it once. Anyway, this specific pattern is all but sold out, but it comes in a few other options. I also have the purple version of this floral print pattern, which is available in most sizes.

My shoes are part of the Beach line by Matisse. I'm linking to the exact style, but they're only available in silver now and only a few sizes at that. Mine are gold. I own two different shoe styles in this particular line and both run very small. I usually wear size 7 and both pairs that I own I wear in a size 8.

Dress (similar) | Vest (similar) | Sandals

This is one of my favorite dresses. I've been wearing it for at least five years, maybe even longer. Sadly, this exact dress is no longer available in the yellow, but this same style does come in a coffee color that's pretty.

I wanted to cover my shoulders and upper back so I added my denim vest over the top, then buttoned it fully to create a shirt and skirt look. My vest is long sold out, but the one I'm linking to looks very similar.

My sandals are just barely peeking out the bottom of my dress. They're my platform white sandals that I've had for going on three years now. They're still available in most sizes. I recommend sizing up half a size; the straps are very snug and have not loosened up much at all over the years.

Dress | Sandals (similar)

I told y'all in my last outfit post to expect to see this dress on the regular. I didn't change much about how I wore it this go 'round other than my shoes. Instead of slide sandals, I went with a more traditional pair, although in the same neutral color.

My sandals are starting to sell out in some sizes, so in addition to linking to the exact pair, I'm also linking to a really similar pair from another retailer. I've not regretted buying this pair of sandals at all. They go with almost everything, so long as you're going with a casual look.

T-shirt | Skirt | Sandals (similar)

More stripes! It's hard to tell from the picture, but this t-shirt has pink, brown, and chartreuse stripes. I got it in a medium. As you can see it's kind of snug, which is pretty typical with crew-necks for me, but I think the large would have been too loose and looked sloppy.

Anyway, I paired it with this 100 percent cotton, tiered skirt. It also comes in white, which you saw in my last outfit post and will see again later in this post. This brown is a nice addition to my closet that will work nicely pretty much all year but especially as we transition into cooler weather.

Dress (similar) | Shoes (similar)

I love these ribbed tank dresses that I got last year at Old Navy. I was really hoping they would bring them back again this year, but they did not. I own these in four different colors -- that's how good they are. This red is probably my favorite, which is good since 'tomato' is apparently the color of the season. I'm pretty sure we went to the bookstore this day.

My shoes are another pair of slides in the Beach line by Matisse. The exact style is no longer available, but they've got some that are pretty close. Just like the previous pair I shared in this post, I'm wearing these in a full size higher than normal. They run super small.

Tank | Skirt | Sandals (similar)

Here's the white version of the brown skirt I shared earlier in this post. I decided to keep the stripes theme going in this outfit with this apron-neck tank. Unfortunately, this pretty earth brown stripe is sold out in most sizes, but it does come in several solid color options. This top is 96 percent cotton with 4 percent spandex. It's smooth, not ribbed, and very comfortable. I really like the apron-style neck; I find it to be very flattering.

Tank | Shorts | Shoes

This is the exact same snug-fit, cropped tank as in the first outfit I shared. I loved that one so much that I went back and bought every striped version they had in my size. This purple one is so pretty in person.

For this outfit, I decided I wanted to do small top + loose bottoms, so I pulled out my new fave baggy nine-inch shorts. These are the Vivien wash, which is a medium-ish color. They've got a raw hem and five-button-fly instead of a zipper. I also have the tinted stitch, which is a lighter wash with a braid-type detailing going down the side.

I'm kind of surprised that these blue espadrille mary janes are still available in as many sizes as they are. I ended up really liking the yellow pair I got, so when I saw the blue pair get marked way down, I grabbed them, too. These are not a sturdy pair of shoes, so I don't recommend them if you'll be doing a lot of walking, but they're cute and not uncomfortable for casual wear.

Tank | Shorts | Sandals (similar)

Here's that same tank again, this time in the navy stripe. You can't really tell from the picture, but this one has green worked into the stripe pattern, hence why I paired it with these green pull-on shorts.

Actually, this is exactly the same outfit as the very first one in this post, just in different colors. I wore this to work on getting my classroom organized. I wish I'd taken a picture of how the summer crew had stacked all my stuff in my room so you could understand the frustration. Literally all we did this day was unstack everything and get it mostly where it needed to go.

T-shirt | Shorts (similar) | Sneakers

More stripes again! Y'all, I will wear these lime green striped linen shorts until they fall apart. They are my favorites, no contest.

I decided to do something a little unexpected and pair them with this strawberry graphic tee. It's really soft, but I have to admit that the strawberry not being in the center of the shirt drives me a little crazy. I wore this, by the way, to do a bit more work in my classroom. We were putting together a bookcase, since they took out all our built-in storage. Then we helped my mom get her room arranged.