Recaps are back! It’s probably been a year since I wrote these updates, and I am ecstatic that they’re back because Coffee with Steph has leveled up, y’all ♥. Welcome to my July recap.
‘Behind-the-scenes’ is a series on my blog where I give you a little peek into the life of the person behind the blog. Call it a not-so-secret diary if you will.
The main theme for the July recap: New beginnings and readjustments.
This post might contain affiliate links, i.e., I will get a small commission if you purchase an item through them. Your support means the world to me ♥.
My July Recap: Diary Entry
The Highlights
Let’s start with the highlights and favorites of my July recap before I rant about my new and exciting ventures, along with the future of Coffee with Steph.
- New Coffee Shop – Our town has gotten an amazing coffee shop! Starbucks could never compare to Plato. Their frappuccinos are my new favorite thing.
- Dog Walks – It is winter in South Africa, which means it is the perfect time for dog walks (I know, it sounds the wrong way around). But our winters aren’t exactly cold, and the tar isn’t hot, so it works perfectly.
- Father’s Day – We spend Father’s Day with family on the farm, which is always a highlight in my recaps.
- The Social Media Revival – I am active on Instagram and TikTok! I try to post three to four times a week, and I am determined to be consistent this time around, lol. I mean, I don’t exactly have a choice, which leads me to the next point…
- 90k & Growing – Some of you may know I am writing my debut novel, and I’ve recently hit 90k words in my first draft! More on that later.
Favorites & Stuff
Let’s do a quick run-through of July favorites, and to be honest, I had to think about this because July felt like a flash and I got left behind somewhere in June.
- Favorite Book: Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter
- Favorite Song: I am currently in my Afrikaans music era, and as someone who practically loathed Afrikaans music, this is a very strange experience, lol! Some of my favorites include (yes, there is a common theme here):
- Singery – Jacques Not Jack
- Lenie Blou – GSTRiNG
- As Die Wereld Eindig – Jacques Not Jack, Marice Na Middernag
- Vergeet My Nou – Henru, Jacques Not Jack
- Kan Nie Kla Nie – Jacques Not Jack, Wolkbrein
- Current Series: We are currently in between series and are watching Proesstraat (Afrikaans improv comedy) as filler.
Let’s Talk Books
So, I’ve been very bad with reading in July. But here are my June and July reads:
- Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion – ⭐⭐ stars. This is one of those cases where the movie was definitely better.
- Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine Cowles – ⭐⭐⭐ stars. It wasn’t bad, but I picked it up because I want to read the sixth book in the Sparrow Falls series. Turns out I might skip the rest to read Secret Haven.
- Every Summer After by Carley Fortune – ⭐⭐,5 stars. I read this because of the hype the series was getting, and I disliked it. Looking back, I should’ve lowered my rating. I wrote a whole review on the book here.
- Trust by Kathy Lockheart – ⭐⭐⭐⭐,5 stars. Honestly, I forgot about this one, lol. But it definitely scratched the Prison Break itch.
- Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi – ⭐⭐⭐,5 stars. I almost DNF’d this magnificent series! Shatter Me started so slow, but I’m glad I pushed through because it only got better.
- Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi – ⭐⭐⭐⭐,25 stars. Four words: Aaron Freaking Warner Anderson.
- Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter – ⭐⭐⭐⭐,75 stars. I had a good time with this book, and I think listening to it as an Audiobook automatically bumped the rating.
- Blood Thirsty Beloved by Ella Fields – ⭐⭐,75 stars. Looking back, I was generous with a 2.75 stars. But I was a little confused about rating this because I started it in April and finished it in July… I went through a reading slump, lol. So the rating isn’t exactly trustworthy given the time gap where it just sat there collecting dust.
Currently Reading: Save The Cat! Writes A Novel by Jessica Brody
I am terrible with TBRs (mood reader), but here are the books I want to read in August:
- Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
- Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi
- Nothing Like The Movies by Lynn Painter
- Beauty and the Bad Boy by Sarah Sutton
- Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Changes & New Ventures
I’ve been thinking about my blog (and all my other numerous ventures) a lot over the past few months. I came to one conclusion: I’m trying way too hard at way too many things. To give you an idea, here are all the things I am balancing (and dropping consistently).
What I am Currently Doing
ETSY SHOP. Constantly listing products on my schedule is next to impossible. Not only do I create each digital product meticulously, but I also have to create mockups, conduct keyword research, write SEO-friendly attribute descriptions, and market everything myself.
BLOG. I know I neglected my blog the past month or two, and that’s what I mean by failing to balance everything. I try to post twice a week on here and bring fresh and new content (also SEO-friendly) every week.
PINTEREST: I pin seven times a day on Pinterest, which I design myself.
SOCIAL MEDIA: I try to shoot videos every second week for Instagram and TikTok to post regularly.
NEWSLETTER: This one is a big flop at this moment… I try to send out a newsletter once a week, but the lack of content on my blog makes it hard to keep up.
WRITING. My newest and most exciting venture. I have decided to take the leap of faith and write a book. I’ve always dreamt of becoming an author, but I had a mental block; quite frankly, I didn’t think I’d be good enough.
Then mix in an active social life and mental health disorders, and the pressure bursts at the seams.
My FAMILY is a huge part of my life, and they take a lot of my time, which I happily give them. After all, family is one of my biggest priorities in life.
This prompted me to consider a new strategy moving forward and realign my goals.
The New Plan Moving Forward
It is okay to change directions in life.
That being said, I am not dropping any of my ‘businesses’. I am simply adjusting the plan to achieve my goal. That goal is my childhood dream: I desperately want to be an author.
I face a plethora of obstacles to reach that dream, and the most daunting one is publishing. I am leaning towards self-publishing, which means I have to fund this dream from start to finish. Aka, editors, cover designers, and the whole shebang.
Unfortunately, money is becoming something I need to take into account. I have to make these ventures as profitable as possible in the least amount of time to make my dream come true.
Therefore, the new plan…
BLOG. My posting schedule is being reduced to once a week. Yes, this sounds counterproductive, but Etsy has the most potential to deliver on the financial front.
ETSY. Of course, most of my time will be going towards creating products and optimizing my shop.
PINTEREST & NEWSLETTER. These will remain untouched.
SOCIAL MEDIA. Instagram and TikTok are becoming a bigger part of the Coffee with Steph universe. For my book to sell (eventually), I have to let the world know about my book, i.e., social media is going to get more attention.
WRITING. Of course, writing is taking over a lot of my time.
All in all, Etsy, writing, and social media are becoming my main priorities, whereas my blog usually enjoyed that spot.
I am doing this to avoid burnout and make actual progress with my dreams. Hopefully, these changes will save time and create a better mental space.
If you want to follow my writing journey, you can check out this post or my socials ♥.
Final Thoughts
That concludes my July recap! Thank you for your support throughout this journey, and I look forward to sharing my debut novel with you soon ♥.
Don’t forget to become part of the family for weekly updates, exclusive access to my resource library, and a 15% discount on my entire Etsy shop.
Have a great day wherever you are in the world!
Love, Steph ♥
