Monthly Round-Up | July ‘25

A curated collection of the standout moments, meals, and little highs and lows that made this past month one to remember.

Seester Spotlight:

We had the chance to attend an Up in Arms campaign in Times Square this week (Penny’s first rally 🥹🥲). The event featured a powerful public art installation in collaboration with @insideoutproject, where anyone could take and print massive photo booth portraits and paste them right in the middle of Father Duffy Square. This art installation served as a call to action: urging Congress to stop overfunding the Pentagon and start investing in what actually keeps us safe — housing, healthcare, childcare, and education.

The event was part of a national movement spearheaded by Ben Cohen (yes, the Ben from Ben & Jerry’s) alongside retired military officers, peace advocates, and national security experts. Their message was loud and clear: the nearly $900 billion Pentagon budget — and the $100 billion allocated annually to nuclear weapons — comes at the direct expense of Americans’ basic needs.

As Cohen said at a past event, “There will be no peace, there will be no security, until we start using our resources to provide for the needs of our people at home and around the world. And we have the money to do it, at no additional taxpayer expense.”

Up in Arms lays out a compelling path forward: by redirecting even half of the Pentagon’s budget, the U.S. could afford universal childcare, safer infrastructure, better public schools, and more — without raising taxes.

It was really powerful to see such a bold statement in the middle of Times Square. Because real safety isn’t measured in bombs — it’s measured in how well we care for each other.

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Ashley’s Recap:

Did this month feel like a year to anyone else? Damn! I’ve been trying to enjoy this Summer the best I can after losing Jacky but whew it’s been hard. So thankful for Penny who makes every single day so bright and happy! How are y’all coping this Summer?

High: Can I just say our St. Louis trip in general? I have to say that I’ve been telling everyone that will listen that this trip has really made me rethink the way we vacation or take trips. We always tend to go for beachy locations or somewhere out of the country but this trip was so easy and fun. Not to mention that the food was delicious. Watching Penny’s face at the zoo (which is free btw what the heck?) or during Frozen at The Muny was so special. We might have to make this an annual trip!