I never feel like this but July seemed so long—in the best way! I think it’s because I didn’t have any majors plan this month, aside from the western-themed wedding, so I was able to fully relax and soak up the warm weather. I’m going home to Boise for a weekend in August but otherwise it will be another fairly uneventful month, which I think is the perfect way to end the summer.

What’s New?

• My biggest and most exciting update this month is that I finally surpassed 2,000 Instagram followers!! This is something that’s been on my goal list for years and I finally took it off during my 2025 planning because it just didn’t seem realistic. I can’t believe that in one month I gained around 400 followers, mostly thanks to this video and this video. I’m so proud of myself and am hoping my Percent Worn videos continue to attract the right audience to my content! Feels like such a gift for this to happen right around my nine year blogging anniversary.
• My friend inspired me to set a goal of reaching 10,000 steps every day in the month of July. I wouldn’t say I failed miserably… but my motivation did kind of peter out by the end. 10,000 is a lot now that I sit at a desk most of the day! I was hoping it would create healthy habits of forcing me to get up and move throughout the workday, but really it just resulted in me frantically running around the apartment every night at 11:55pm.
• I bought an inflatable paddleboard on a whim. My brother and sister-in-law both have the same one, which I have used with them several times. For the 4th of July we all got together, but since there were only two boards my brother tied an innertube to his board and paddled me around for two hours (honestly—it was amazing). REI was having a big sale on their paddleboards for the 4th, though, so I jumped on it. They’re so expensive to rent ($20+ per hour) that I figured even if I only go a couple of times each year with my brother and SIL, it will pay for itself after a few long days on the water.

Today’s Outfit

I mentioned this in my last Percent Worn video, but in addition to trying to wear 100% of my closet in 2025, I’m also trying to photograph all clothing items that have never been featured on the blog before (a lofty goal, I know). I’ve had this floral maxi dress from Old Navy for at least a year now, but it’s never gotten a dedicated blog post before. It’s such a perfect piece to throw on-and-go on hot summer days. I paired it with white sandals and a thrifted “picnic basket” purse for a casual conversational Spanish meetup that I went to in the park on Sunday.

Top Performing Social Media Posts

• Week 29: Percent Worn—92,900 views!
• Western Wedding Guest Outfit Reveal
• Changing my Earrings for the First Time

Favorite Outfits from July

Back when I posted my weekly recaps every Sunday it was so easy for me to look through the month’s outfits and pick out my favorites. Unfortunately since I stopped doing those posts I’ve gotten out of the habit of photographing my outfits every day! I really need to get back into it, so hopefully by August’s recap I’ll have something to show for this category…

What I Watched

Big movie month! My boyfriend and I aren’t watching any shows together currently so we’ve been knocking off movies from our “to-watch” lists instead.

• The Life of Chuck—We saw this Tom Hiddleston movie in theaters, and while I have to admit I didn’t fully “get” it at first, after it was explained to me I really loved it. It took me on a roller coaster of emotions but ultimately left me smiling. Would recommend if you like artsy movies.
• Django Unchained—My boyfriend has slowly been giving me a Quentin Tarantino education so this was next on our watchlist. It was bloody, as all Tarantino movies are. I enjoyed it but it’s not as good as Inglorious Basterds, in my opinion. I’m also generally not a huge fan of westerns.
• Prisoners—This one has been on my watchlist for a while. I’m not convinced everything totally adds up in the end but I really liked the thriller, basically a 2-hour long episode of SVU.
• Incendies—This movie is messed. up. I like dark and twisted things… and I think it was a good film… but dang did it leave me needing a shower.
• The Prestige—I had never seen this dueling magician movie before but I was intrigued until the end. A little disappointed that Hugh Jackman’s doppelganger was literally just Hugh Jackman, with no attempt to make him look different. But otherwise I thought it was really entertaining.
• Happy Gilmore—I’m not usually into stupid movies, but after rewatching Happy Gilmore in preparation for the second one I have to admit it was better than I remembered. I also can’t believe the actress is Claire Dunphy! It took me a long time to recognize her.
• Happy Gilmore 2—This one is just stupid. Worst movie I’ve seen in a long time. It also really bothers me that they cast both of Adam Sandlers’ daughters (who are very obviously sisters) but only one of them actually played his daughter in the movie. Super confusing to have two girls that look the same that are related in real life but aren’t related in the movie… but anyway…

What I Read

My reading is so sporadic! Some months it’s all I do and other months I don’t touch a book. I’ve been reading Trevor Noah’s memoir Born a Crime, which I have been enjoying. But it’s also very easy to put aside and pick back up again, since there isn’t really a plot, which has left me slowly chipping away at it for weeks… I really need to finish it already.

July Spotify Playlist

This month’s playlist will give you whiplash—the first two songs are a sad Irish song and “Bonfire” by Childish Gambino lol. One of these days I really need to make thematic playlists in addition to my monthly ones, but I just love how listening to these is like a walk down memory lane.

What I’ve Been Loving Lately

• I’ve been on a big smoothie kick the last couple of weeks. I go through phases of using my Nutri-bullet every day or not at all. I just discovered the wonders of frozen fruit (I know, late to the party) and I’m amazed by how long a big bag has lasted. Such a better deal than fresh fruit. I’ve been mixing in a lot of spinach, too. Doesn’t make the smoothie very pretty but at least I can’t taste it.
• I’ve been lovingggg changing my earrings to accessorize my outfits! I already have quite a few hand-me-down pairs from my grandma and a few that I purchased in anticipation of getting my ears pierced. Unfortunately on Thursday I dropped the front of my piercing earrings on the carpet and I CANNOT FIND IT. I know it has to be in the apartment, but I have scoured the place and tried every trick in the book. Still a little bitter about it. But I bought these little hoops from Hello Adorn as replacement “all-the-time” earrings and I’m really liking them so far.

What I’m Looking Forward to in August

• For my boyfriend’s birthday (back in March!) I got him IOU tickets for a cocktail making class. Somehow it got away from both of us but we’re finally going this Thursday! The class is at a local distillery but the two cocktails we will be learning to make are a surprise.
• Later in the month my boyfriend and I are flying home to Boise for a long weekend. I’m hoping we’ll have time to float the river, and we’ll be going to a party to celebrate one of my childhood friend’s wedding. I absolutely love Boise in the summertime and my boyfriend has never been then—so I can’t wait to show him!

This Month on Grace per Wear

• Cost of Sewing a Stuffed Dinosaur
• Girls Love Gingham
• June 2025 Month in Review
• Week 27: Percent Worn
• Who Are You? Transition
• Nine Years of Grace per Wear
• Roasting My 9 Worst Outfits
• Changing my Earrings for the First Time
• Week 28: Percent Worn
• Recreating my Worst Outfits
• Shop My Closet for a Western Wedding
• Goodbye Blazer
• Western Wedding Guest Outfit Reveal
• Week 29: Percent Worn
• Trying White Corset Blouse Part 1
• Shopping my Closet for Girls Night
• Haircut Transition
• Examining the Average Cost per Wear of my Closet
• Western Wedding Attire
• New Athletic Outfit
• Week 30: Percent Worn
• Trying White Corset Blouse Part 2
• When I Last Wore Every Item in My Closet

What are you looking forward to in August? As always, thanks for stopping by the blog today and for all the love as I celebrated my nine year milestone!

 

Miles of smiles,

Grace

 

Dress: Old Navy, $14 ($1.75 per wear) | Sandals: Trary Shoes, $17 ($1.00 per wear), sent to me for collaboration, last worn here, buy here | Sunglasses: Sungait, $15 ($0.48 per wear), sent to me for collaboration, last worn here, buy here | Purse: Thrifted, $24 ($0.92 per wear), last worn here