Welcome to This Awful Awesome Life! We hope you enjoyed our June issue. Many thanks to our talented writers and sponsors for making this magazine possible each month.

I had high hopes of having this issue published by the 4th of July, but as sometimes happens life gets in the way. My 14 year old handicap accessible mini van had to be replaced, and as I mention in an article this month,  purchasing a vehicle requires a lot of research. Add to that determining how much headroom is needed for a particular wheelchair and whether you need a side or rear entry ramp…

Corey Flynn has our feature story this month about July 18, National Hot Dog Day. In the great mustard/ketchup debate I’m a mustard girl, but I do love a good chili cheese dog on occasion.

In honor of the 242nd anniversary of our Declaration of Independence from England, Orlando Bartro takes a look at our city and I take a peek back at the 56 men who risked their lives by signing this document.

Terry Kish is at the beach and she’s having a great time. Gail Neustadt is back to talk about an issue important to us all - clean water and Joy Bufalini shares another inspiring blog for budding entrepreneurs. Linda Cahill has some great tips for delicious Summer dinners and I tackle the world of grilling one plan at a time.

In honor of my major purchase this summer, I’ll be enjoying a staycation, but never fear I have a few tricks to help my fellow “staycationers” do more with less.

Keeping pets safe and healthy during the summer can be a challenge, but I have a few tips and play it safe with sunscreen, shades and a little hydration for you and your family.

Share the magic of July in pictures in this issue and as always we have our quiz, book recommendations, our Author Page and information about becoming a sponsor or a contributor.

Enjoy!

Fran