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The Best Bits: My July 2025 Favorites

The Best Bits is a monthly series where I tell you what I’ve been up to! What I’m doing, media I’m loving, and products I recommend! Here’s a fresh batch of favorites for your reading pleasure!

READING | Be Ready When The Luck Happens by Ina Garten

I started this book on audible a while ago but got quickly distracted by a number of other things and set it down for a spell. Earlier this month, in a bit of a reading slump, I hit play again, determined to finish something after abandoning a few books. Ina is a delight to listen to and I really enjoyed hearing her tell her life story. Ina’s passion for good food and sharing it with people has always drawn me in, and though she may be just a hair unrelatable, I really admire her dedication to quality and simplicity. If you enjoy Ina I’d highly recommend the book. How easy is that?

WATCHING | Too Much

This show was fun, kooky, and both more heartwarming and heartbreaking than I expected an Emily in Paris adjacent comedy to be. I have been familliar with Meg Stalter’s work for years, and it was great to see in a lead role! The show is directed by Lena Dunham, and was very true to form for her, hairless dog and all. While I loved Meg, Will Sharpe stole the show for me! His character was such a departure from his role in The White Lotus that it was hard to believe they were played by the same actor. This is one of my favorite shows of the year so far!

LISTENING | Snark Bait Podcast

This is a fun, guilty pleasure podcast where the hosts dive deep on “snarkworthy” topics from Reality TV, scam artists and convicts, and good old-fashioned celebrity gossip.

WEARING | Tevas Olowahu Flip Flops

I bought these strappy flip flops when I was shopping for my trip up to the Catskills with my friends last month and I’ve practically been living in them ever since. They’re super comfortable and very cute!

EATING | Wedding Cake Samples

We’ve been trying to narrow down bakeries and flavors for our wedding cake, and this month we did just that! We got some family and friends together to taste a bunch of cakes and we pretty much unanimously agreed on one, which was fantastic! Getting the cakes to the finish line was a bit harrowing, but between a nonresponsive baker, cupcakes with missing frosting, and some truly offputting fillings, we still managed to land on something we’d all be happy with!

INDULGING | Dazzle Dry Manicure Kit

I’ve been singing the praises of Dazzle Dry for a while now, and I finally decided to go all in on the full sized manicure system for myself. Dazzle Dry lasts so much longer than conventional polish, doesn’t damage my nails like gel, and is something I can do at home so it saves so much time and money compared to the salon. I can’t get enough of the stuff.

OBSESSING | New Furniture

We hit the JACKPOT this month on secondhand furniture! With one trip to the ReStore and another to a Facebook Marketplace pickup, we ended up with four pieces of solid wood furniture for under $300! We found a hutch and matching buffet, an art deco curio cabinet, and a gorgeous bed frame. A bit of murphy’s oil soap, some pledge, and a little elbow grease has spiffed everything up so nicely!

CELEBRATING | Bridal Luncheon, Engagement Anniversary, + My Birthday!

July has been packed full of reasons to smile this year! Early in the month my mom hosted a luncheon and a bunch of family and friends showed up to celebrate with me! It was the sweetest thing, and I felt so spoiled (AND embarassed when they got all the patrons in the winery to cheer for me! 😭) Then David and I celebrated being one year engaged by having dinner and drinks at the same restaurant we went to the same night he popped the question. It was also my birthday this month, and I got to enjoy a relaxing weekend at home after all the July hubbub!

What are your favorite things this month? Check out other monthly favorites posts here!

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Hi! I'm Jess!

welcome to thyme + butter, a food and lifestyle blog dedicated to seasonal living and making everyday magic!

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Tags

christmas entertaining favorites homemaking knits & reads mindset pets the edit

little summer moments 🌞💕 little summer moments 🌞💕
a few little things that have been on my mind late a few little things that have been on my mind lately 🩷 heading into another trip around the sun, hoping to live deeper with more intention and focus on the things that really matter 🌞💕#lifeintheslowlane
Cherry always looks out for number one, and we wou Cherry always looks out for number one, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! 😂🩷🍒 #portuguesewaterdog #portiesofinstagram
I highly recommend going to summer camp with your I highly recommend going to summer camp with your best friends 🥰
sappy post incoming: I was given the opportunity t sappy post incoming: I was given the opportunity to spend a long weekend in the mountains with some of my most favorite people on the planet. These are the ladies that never fail to remind me of the magic of life. I can’t express how much it means to me that they gathered to spend time in nature and be silly with me. My heart is full and my face hurts still hurts from smiling! And as the song says… it’s in our nature to look out for each other in the heart of the woods 💕🌲
had the most fun photo session with @kellyspaine a had the most fun photo session with @kellyspaine and as expected, Cherry was ready for her close up! 🥰🍒
we took Cherry on her first ever hiking trip and s we took Cherry on her first ever hiking trip and she absolutely loved it! The trail was a bit rockier than we expected, but she climbed them all like a champ! She even made some friends while she enjoyed her breakfast at the summit 🥹🍒🪨🌿
my favorite new spring tradition: making rhubarb j my favorite new spring tradition: making rhubarb jam and strawberry preserves 🍓🫙💕
Portrait of a Woman with Dill, 2025 mixed digital Portrait of a Woman with Dill, 2025
mixed digital media
courtesy of the artist
a few little moments from May 🥹🩷✨ a few little moments from May 🥹🩷✨
had plans to post the fun pillow I thrifted, but a had plans to post the fun pillow I thrifted, but a little someone decided to steal the spotlight 😝🌸🩷
daffodils might just be my favorite part of spring daffodils might just be my favorite part of spring 🌼🧡
this (dare I say) perfect dark chocolate layer cak this (dare I say) perfect dark chocolate layer cake recipe is live on my substack! 🍫 you’ll want to be subscribed because I have a lot of delicious things to share this season! 🍰💕
winter reads + knits ❄️🧶 🌞 The Other Bo winter reads + knits ❄️🧶

🌞 The Other Boleyn Girl by @philippagregorybooks and Stripe Hype Sweater by @kutovakika in Knitting for Olive Merino in Mustard and Powder

🔮 A Fate Inked in Blood by @danielleljensen and #RebelSoulBeanie by Kutovakika in Sandnes Garn Double Sunday and Tynn Silk Mohair in Blackberry

🍯 Down The Drain by Julia Fox and another Rebel Soul Beanie by Kutovakika in #KnittingForOlive Merino and Soft Silk Mohair in Dusty Honey

#knitstagram #bookstagram #wips
wedding dress shopping should be considered an Oly wedding dress shopping should be considered an Olympic level sport 👰‍♀️🤸 but we found the dress! (Not pictured, obviously!) Swipe to slide 3 and tell me your favorite expression of the day 😂
merry christmas and happy new year from our frosty merry christmas and happy new year from our frosty little pup! 🎄🐾
it’s been real weird out here, but there are a f it’s been real weird out here, but there are a few little things bringing me joy recently:
🩵 true blue friends
🍒 cherry, our new little Portuguese Water Dog pup
🍰 celebrating our 6th (dating) and -1st wedding anniversaries (lmao)
🪡 crafting holiday gifts
🍊 making and baking
🎸 live music
💕 family and community

What #glimmers are you finding lately? ✨
your two favorite unlikely heroes (us) climbed cri your two favorite unlikely heroes (us) climbed cringe mountain (took practice engagement photos) and managed to survive unscathed (maybe actually pull it off?) 😂🩷
october reads + knits 🍂🧶 🍋‍🟩 People october reads + knits 🍂🧶

🍋‍🟩 People We Meet on Vacation by @emilyhenrywrites and the #milenabeanie by @karinatimeaknits in Sandnes Garn Sunday + Tynn Silk Mohair in Sunny Lime

💜 Margo’s Got Money Troubles by @rufithorpe and the #rebelsoulbeanie by @kutovakika in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK in Enchanted and KFO Soft Silk Mohair in Artichoke Purple

🌚 Slewfoot by @geraldbrom and another Rebel Soul Beanie in KFO Merino in Deep Petroleum Blue

#bookstagram #knitstagram
lessons from my garden this year🍐🥕🌷 1. Yo lessons from my garden this year🍐🥕🌷
1. You really can’t beat the satisfaction of building something from nothing.
2. When in doubt, choose the most colorful option.
3. A garden really doesn’t cost anything except time, money, blood, sweat, and tears.
4. It pays to plant your rows neatly, even if it takes twice the time.
5. Herbs and tomatoes are always a great start.
6. The juice will be worth the squeeze, especially if you like squeezing!
7. It’s true what they say... hoeing ain’t easy!
8. Pests come in all shapes and sizes. For us this year, it was wind and deer.
9. For a gardener, the saying should be “nothing is certain except death, taxes, ticks, and poison ivy”
10. When it comes to flowers and friends, the best ones are perennial 💐

What are you growing lately? 🩷
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about the author

Jess Buckley is a Pennsylvania-based writer and home cook.

She loves the great outdoors, knitting, astrology, and all things vintage. You can usually find her in the kitchen, tending to her garden, browsing an antique mall, or relaxing with a cup of tea and a book about fairies.

Latest posts

  • The Best Bits: My July 2025 Favorites

  • The Best Bits: My June 2025 Favorites

Latest recipes

  • Two Fresh Picked, Small Batch Jam Recipes (Strawberry + Rhubarb)

  • The BEST Dark Chocolate Cake I've Ever Made

  • about
  • contact
  • disclosure
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© 2025 | Jess Buckley