A Love Letter To July: The Sweet Spot.
FOUNDER NOTES:
July has always reminded me of a rainbow icy.
Maybe it’s because every color somehow belongs together. Maybe it’s the nostalgia. Maybe it’s the simple joy of holding something cold on a hot summer day for absolutely no reason. A reminder that you’re never too old to enjoy something sweet (in moderation, of course).
Whatever it is, July has always felt like the sweet spot of summer.
There are certain months that ask us to begin again. This is certainly not one of them. Instead, July asks us to look back for just a moment. Not to stay there, but long enough to appreciate how far you’ve come.
Nostalgia has a beautiful way of reminding us where we’ve been, but don’t unpack your bags there. Let it remind you, then come back to the present.
There are still memories waiting to be made.
Although our name is Palace One Eleven, we were actually born in July. I still remember nervously clicking the Publish button on July 7, 2020. I was so nervous I thought I was going to throw up. Who knew one click would become one of the biggest leaps of faith I’ve ever taken?
I remember spending opening weekend completely overwhelmed by the number of orders that came through. But if I’m being honest, that isn’t the part that still amazes me. The greatest gift has never been the number of orders. It’s the number of people who are still here.
Some of you have been walking beside me since day one. You’ve watched me grow, watched Palace One Eleven evolve, celebrated the wins, encouraged me through every pivot, and continued choosing this little dream year after year. For that, I’ll never have enough thank yous.
There is something incredibly special about the window between June and August. Spring subtly closes the door while summer swings it wide open. The days stretch a little longer, the sunsets linger a little later, and life starts asking us to spend more of it outside.
I genuinely live for Julys because they remind me to stop counting the days and start filling them. Call your people. Plan the dinner. Stay outside a little longer. Take the trip. Watch the sunset. Make the memory.
At the same time, July reminds me to protect the things that make me feel alive. Joy doesn’t happen by accident. It asks to be nurtured, just like everything else worth growing.
The J in both June and July stands for joy, but I also think it stands for your journey. Maybe this is your reminder to stop waiting for permission. Let the sun touch your skin. Soak up the free vitamins. Put on your favorite outfit, even if it’s just for yourself.
There is something beautiful happening beneath the surface. Some of the seeds you’ve been planting are finally beginning to bloom. The funny thing about growth is that it doesn’t always happen while you’re watching. Sometimes it simply shows up one day and you’re standing in the middle of everything you’ve been working toward. There’s room for more confidence here. Things become even more savory when you trust yourself enough to enjoy what you’ve worked so hard to bring into full bloom. And I don’t just mean in one area of your life. I mean in everything your hands have touched.
Maybe the missing link was never the timing or even the "how." Maybe it was trust.
Growth has always been written the moment you decided to show up.
Trust your timing. Trust your decisions. Trust that you’ve come this far for a reason. Nature has always known what to do. There are seasons to root, seasons to grow, seasons to bloom, and seasons to harvest. July feels like the season to serve.
Open your heart.
Celebrate the small wins. Laugh a little louder. Love a little deeper.
And don’t forget…
You are not just enjoying the fruits.
You are the cherry on top.
The HEART OF THE HOME.
A Reflection on Cancer Season • Late June through Late July
Home isn’t always a place. Sometimes it’s a person. Sometimes it’s a memory. Sometimes it’s the version of yourself you return to when the world gets loud.
Cancer season reminds us that tenderness isn’t always loud. It’s found in the people who remember birthdays, make sure everyone gets home safely, save you the last slice, and somehow know when something feels off before you ever say a word.
Ruled by the Moon, Cancer embodies emotion with intention. They don’t love halfway. They don’t celebrate halfway. They don’t protect halfway. If you’re lucky enough to be loved by a Cancer, you’ve probably been fed before you realized you were hungry.
They have a way of making people feel safe enough to soften. Safe enough to laugh. Safe enough to cry. Safe enough to be completely themselves. Cancer reminds us that vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s trust. And trust is one of the strongest things we can offer another person.
So here’s your reminder, Cancer. Keep loving with your whole heart. Keep creating spaces that feel like home. But remember that the same comfort you offer everyone else is something you deserve, too.
Let yourself be cared for.
The people who love you want to pour back into you.
THIS MONTH:
Finally make a plate.
Not because the work is over, but because you’ve spent enough time preparing the meal. July reminds us there comes a point where you stop checking the oven every five minutes and finally sit down to enjoy what you’ve made.
There was a time to plant. There was a time to water. There was a time to wait. This month is about noticing what’s blooming instead of immediately asking yourself what’s next.
Life doesn’t always change overnight. Sometimes the biggest transformation is realizing you’ve become the person you were praying to be.
Celebrate that.
You don’t have to wait until you’ve reached the next milestone to acknowledge how far you’ve already come.
MIND & BODY
Your mind is asking you to be present. Keep a notebook close because some of your best ideas won’t arrive while you’re working. They’ll come while you’re living. A conversation, a walk, a sunset, or a quiet moment outside may hold the answer you’ve been searching for.
Your body is asking for sunshine, movement, nourishment, and laughter. Walk after dinner. Go to the beach. Sit in the park. Eat the fruit. Drink more water than you think you need. Stay outside until the sun goes down.
This month isn’t about squeezing more into your schedule. It’s about making sure your life still feels like your life.
The best parts of summer are rarely the ones we plan. Leave a little room to be surprised.
JOURNAL PROMPTS:
If I paused long enough to celebrate myself today, what would I be celebrating?
What seeds have I planted that are finally beginning to bloom?
Where in my life am I being asked to trust instead of control?
What memories do I want to create before this season comes to a close?
What makes me feel most alive, and how can I make more room for it?
How can I celebrate my progress without immediately rushing to the next milestone?
What parts of myself have grown quietly over the past year?
Where have I been waiting for permission to enjoy the life I’ve already built?
What would it look like to trust that I’m exactly where I need to be?
How can I become more present in this season instead of always preparing for the next one?
Until Next Month…
Maybe the sweetest part of this season won’t be the plans you made.
Maybe it’ll be the moment you almost missed. The conversation that ran longer than expected. The sunset, walk, beach day, and friend date you decided to stay for. The afternoon you finally gave yourself permission to rest.
Don’t underestimate ordinary days. They have a funny way of becoming the ones we remember most.
I hope July reminds you to be where your feet are. Trust the timing of your journey. Fill this season with whatever feels like life to you, whether that’s adventure, quiet time, celebration, or simply taking a beat.
The sun won’t wait.
Neither should you. ☀️🤍
With love,
Pepper 🤍
