There’s something about being near a body of water that immediately makes me feel about 100x more serene. Regardless of what scheduling snafus or work deadlines or toddler meltdowns are happening in the rest of my life, the ocean (or lake, or heck, even pool!) magically wash it all away, leaving the calmest, most present version of myself. Now to figure out how to channel those vibes when I’m sitting in rush hour and late for a meeting…
Today marks the beginning of July, the middle month of summer and a not-so-subtle reminder to go ahead enjoy it ’cause it’s not gonna last forever! Here at Camille Styles, we’re ringing it in with our very first editorial theme, a structure that we’ll be continuing in the months ahead as we build upon the stories we’re telling on the site and finding innovative ways to weave a narrative thread that connects them; and hopefully, connects you to them in a new way. I hope you enjoy these new monthly themes as much as we’re loving the creative ideas they bring!
July’s theme is water, and in this month’s stories you can expect topics as wide ranging as the foods that flood our bodies with hydration, the chicest water bottles you’ll want to bring everywhere, and hotel pools around the world that have us wanting to book a flight, stat. We’ll also be talking with the author of the fascinating new book Quench to find out more on her theory that fatigue, weight gain, and illness can all be battled with proper hydration.
Water represents both serenity and power, a life-giving force that (come to think of it) has a lot in common with the type of strength we hope to inspire here on CamilleStyles.com. Last month, I became an aunt for the first time, twice! Both my sister and sister-in-law gave birth to baby girls, and as I think about the potential living inside these tiny beings I find myself wanting to model what it means to be a strong and determined female. Just think about it: water can move around any obstacle in its path without losing its essential nature — it stays true to its form and identity and doesn’t let anything get in the way of its mission. In fact, if given enough time it can actually dissolve the hardest rocks and the tallest mountains.
It’s this symbol of water – serene, adaptable, and strong – that I think of when I consider the role model I hope to be for my two nieces. And it’s what I wish for each of you this month: that you’ll approach every challenge with an inner resolve, fresh creativity, and eternal optimism, always staying true to your authentic self.
photos by kristen kilpatrick, collage by jenn rose smith, all images found via pinterest
