Here’s a recap of June 2025. Captivations is a monthly post with links, stories, and news that captivated me.
June Recap
We are fully into summer now! I hope your time has been slower, more thoughtful, and relaxing. The heat tends to slow us down, but the desire to make the most of summer seems to pack the calendar. Here are some things going on with me:
- I’ve been working out at Orangetheory for about 4 years now (should hit 500 classes this year!), and this month we started the Push30 Challenge. It’s a month of stacked healthy habits like drinking more water, spending time outside, and improving sleep quality while aiming to take 12 classes. I’m taking on drinking 2.7 liters of water every day, and it’s been hard, but it’s a necessary habit I want to develop.
- Over the last two months, I’ve signed on to three major international trips in the next two years. They are dream trips, so I’m excited to see them come to fruition. However, a lot of planning is required until then.
- The girls’ trip finally made it out of the group chat! We took a much-needed trip to Round Top, about an hour and a half from Austin. We did a little shopping around downtown, enjoyed the pool at our house, and caught up.
Compassion
This month started with protests turning into riots in Los Angeles. Here’s a little primer if you missed it.
- ICE was created in 2003, following September 11th. From 2020-2024, an annual average of 352,000 people have been deported.
- This year’s ICE detainments have been inhumane, targeting people at elementary graduations, detaining in front of children, detaining without due process, and showing no compassion for people who have had legal status for decades.
- Undocumented immigrants have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) used to file taxes. Undocumented immigrants paid $97 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. In Texas, it was $4.9 billion in 2022. There are 5.8 million active ITINs.
- Another argument is that detainees are criminals. What if the person has already served their time for the crime and has rebuilt their life?
- But really, we shouldn’t have to justify someone’s worth.
- Can the administration find solutions to provide a better (clearer, less expensive, more productive) road to citizenship or legal status?
- The systems are broken. Will our government do its job and fix them?
Everything is Political
If you feel like what you do doesn’t make a difference, remember that your impact will be biggest in your community. Build the community you want.
- Follow your local politics. Learn about your council members, representatives, and senators.
- Support your local non-profits with your time and money.
- Support your local businesses with your purchases and reviews.
- Be thoughtful about your spending and do what’s in your power to live a rich life.
Recipes To Try
- Chicken Shawarma – Love a shawarma recipe because it’s easy and tasty
- Lemon Blueberry Scone – I added lemon juice and zest to this blueberry scone recipe, and it was good. It’s dairy-free
- Shredded Kale Salad with Grapefruit – You may have seen this recipe before because it’s my all-time favorite salad recipe. We like adding salmon to it
- Strawberry Cream Pretzel Tart – I made a version of this recipe for my friend’s pie party
For White Lotus Fans
If you watched the latest (Season 3) of the show White Lotus in Thailand, you’ll like this Variety interview with Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood, who played Rick and Chelsea. It’s an insightful revelation in how actors develop and embody their characters and feel great sadness when it’s over.
Labubus
Labubus are one of the latest doll trends people can’t get enough of. If you’re not familiar, think Beanie Babies and Pokemon cards. As this article analyzes, the obsession with these “ugly” dolls is driven by limited quality and exclusivity. Last year, it was Sonny Angels, and next year it will be something else. I can appreciate the joy that people get from these toys, but in 5 years, what will become of these trends?
Summer Reading Challenge
I loved summer reading as a kid. Sticker charts at my public library were my favorite, and I read so much. Do you need a summer reading challenge? Check out this one from The Everygirl. Need book recommendations? Check out my book lists here.
Stolen Adoptees
This article from the New Yorker shares about the heartbreaking time in the ‘90s when Chinese infants were adopted, though secretly stolen and sold, by families in the U.S. under the premise that they were orphans or unwanted. DNA tests and searches by the Chinese families and adoptees have revealed the truth about over 160,000 children.
Vampire Dilemma
When you’re faced with a big decision, it’s sometimes hard to rationally understand the weight of the decision. It’s like if you’re trying to decide to become a vampire; there are pros and cons you can’t comprehend until you’re there. In short, each decision is the “right” decision because it paves the path for who we will become. This post explains this more.
Envy
What do you envy, and what does it reveal about your life? This article reminds us that comparison can become resentment, and when it comes to envying your friends, it can damage your relationships.
5 Things I Love Lately
- Sunflowers
- Eating pie
- When friends surprise me with snacks
- Using my Bookshop link to buy books 🙂
- Surprise flowers in the yard (pictured above)
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