Whew. July was a lot. From Broadway dreams to romance nightmares and a whole lifestyle section finally waking up from its slumber, the blog was busy in the best possible way. If you missed a post, this wrap up is your cheat sheet. And if you’re new here, welcome to the chaos.
Let’s get into what hit the blog this month
Dream by the Shadows by Logan Karlie
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance
This ARC had the bones of something beautiful. Gothic flair, glimmers of mythology, a brutal world. But the execution didn’t fully land. The full review covers both the hits and the stumbles, with no spoilers but plenty of honesty
Read the Review → ARC Review: Dream By The Shadows by Logan Karlie
Hotel Riu Plaza Times Square NYC
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed under the Booked and Boarding category
A location win with Times Square right outside your door. There were some cons including sticky floors, late housekeeping, and a bland breakfast, but overall it served its purpose. Bonus points for accessibility and helpful bellmen
Read the full review → Hotel Riu Plaza New York Times Square – Midlife Meets Manhattan
Madame Tussauds NYC Experience
When wax meets wow. Stephen’s first time, Gramps’ favorite, and the perfect indoor day for tourists trying to dodge the heatwave. This post covers who we saw, what we loved, and the moments that surprised us including our Marvel-loving crew getting that Stan Lee snap
Go behind the scenes → Lights, Legends, and a Splash of Marvel: Madame Tussauds NYC
MJ The Musical – A Midlife Fan’s Emotional Spiral
Spoiler alert. I cried. And not just because my feet hurt from waiting outside with my 80-something grandpa. This one hit hard for the music, the nostalgia, and the fact that Michael’s story was handled with more care than I expected. Elijah Rhea Johnson had moments of real magic, especially in Act Two
Read the review and full breakdown →MJ The Musical on Broadway: A Die-Hard Fan’s Deep Dive
Sacred Spaces: How to Create a Cozy Corner That Feels Like You
From purple bedrooms to ritual-worthy teacups, this post walks through how to build your own sanctuary even if all you have is a chair and a candle
Read more here → Sacred Spaces (Even If You Share a Bathroom with Teen Boys)
The Midlife Manifesto: 45 Things I Know for Sure at 45
Bold truths, chicken coops, and fierce boundaries. This listicle hit hard and hit home, especially with readers walking the same crooked beautiful path through midlife
Check out the manifesto → The Midlife Manifesto: The 45 Truths I’m Living By Now
Behind the scenes we made some solid progress too. SEO got a long overdue refresh. We tightened up headings, restructured formatting, and broke our bad habits. Everything is now cleaner, easier to read, and far more searchable. The Booked and Boarding travel section officially took off with its own full structure. Destination Diaries, Stays and Sleeps, Literary Escapes, and Travel Tips and Tools are all live and growing.
Coming in August you can expect Zodiac book recs for Leo Season, ARC reviews, a spotlight on Gulf Coast gems and road trip guides, plus fresh drops across the lifestyle section in Midlife Mojo, The Real AF Files, and Soul Searching.
See you in August
🫶🏼 – Ali
