Checking In | Summer 2026

A chic poolside summer scene featuring a pink and green striped towel, straw sun hat, pink tumbler, sunglasses, a novel, cherries, watermelon slices, and woven beach accessories beside sparkling blue water.

hey, hi, hello!

just checking in – currently enjoying summer and all it has to offer.

i haven’t been posting as frequently this season. i’ve kind of just been going with the flow of living and loving, staying centered and allowing everything to breathe.

in other words, i’ve just been enjoying all of the moments! floating like a butterfly and busying like a bee!

i relocated from my hometown to a major city last year and it definitely took some adjusting. i feel like last summer was me testing the waters and getting a feel for the new chapters in life.

back then it felt like i was experiencing every emotion all at once. the highs, the challenges, and everything in between.

summer ’26 feels different though. it feels like a summer of love and freedom. it has a soft airiness to it that feels very… calm, light and refreshing.


i’ve spent some time with close friends and family celebrating birthdays, graduations, Father’s Day, all of the things. and actually, my family had a lovely reunion this weekend! i was able to connect/reconnect with relatives i hadn’t seen in several years, relatives i’d met for the first time, and of course my lovely immediates.

i prepared two dishes: a pasta salad and a cake that i haven’t found a name for yet, lol.

it started out as a strawberry shortcake, per my aunts request, butttt i wouldn’t be me if i didn’t sprinkle a little razzle dazzle, haha! i added a cherry filling to the mix, a nice cookie crumble topping and a sweet drizzle on top.

i’m already thinking about when i’m going to make this again! i didn’t get to bring any home with me so i will definitely make this again soon.


and if you’re wondering, it only lasted about an hour before it was gone! i’m going to continue playing with the recipe until i create something more signatured.

i feel like having a signature baking recipe is very much chic womanhood. cultivating and curating your own signature style in any aspect is highly valued in my world. so, we’ll see what this recipe looks like by end of summer!

anyway – life is good, love is good, and romance is forever.

if you’ve read this far, i hope all is well with you and let’s see where the rest of summer takes us!

Love,

AD

*P.S.: i’m currently reading KING, which is book number two of The Alliance series by S.J. Tilly. so for my dark romance lovers, stay tuned for the review!


If my words have lingered with you, or you feel compelled to leave a note—or a rose of appreciation—you may reach me here.

Thank you for reading, and for crossing into the world of Romance & Reality.


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