I don’t know what it was about August, or maybe it’s because I’m hopped up on caffeine as I write this, but there are so many things I want to share in my roundup of favorites!
A lot of the things I’ve been loving aren’t even new—I’ve just been revisiting old things that pretty much feel new again (you’ll understand as you read through a lot of my favorites below).
Also? Among my list this month are three songs I can’t stop listening to. I wanted to share about six-plus, so be happy I made an effort to mix things up and didn’t just share pop song after pop song (because that’s apparently been my jam lately). Stay tuned for more music in next month’s favorites, though, because there’s a good chance I’ll still be obsessing.
August Favorites
Visit to See Family – I finished July and started August on a high note, taking a long-overdue trip to visit family. Though I never get to see as many people as I want to, I got some quality time with the VIPs, and it made my heart happy. This picture is from my grandpa’s, though I can get this view basically anywhere I usually go in Illinois or Indiana. When I think of the Midwest, this is the type of picture-perfect scene I imagine.
Going Through Items from my Childhood – Also known as “throwing away my childhood.” Did anyone have to get rid of or move everything out of their parents’ house after they officially moved out? I’ve had lingering items over the years since the only things I could move had to fit in my car when we drove to San Diego five years ago. Since my childhood bedroom is being turned into a guest room, I had to go through boxes of old stuff. It was fun to reminisce as I was purging and choosing what to save. It was weird to throw away or donate items that used to have sentimental value, but I’ve found the further out I get from the moments, the more I’m willing to just…dump it. Operation “Don’t Become a Hoarder” is in full swing! Top row: my first pair of glasses, one of the best soundtracks ever, and a duffel bag I’d always bring to sleepovers. Middle row: knee pads from volleyball, picture from my freshman homecoming dance (that year when I was blonde and wore makeup), and a patch from my high school nerd days. Bottom row: floppy disc from typing class in middle school, hacky sack, picture from summer camp…in 5th grade I think.
Frozen Stash of Cookies – This is one of those things I’ve been doing for awhile and have never thought was interesting until recently. As you may or may not know, I love to bake—especially sweets. But I don’t like having them sitting around because then I feel the pressure (and temptation) to eat them in excess while they’re still fresh. A couple years ago, I started dividing batches of cookies in half, keeping some to eat right away and freezing the rest in a Ziploc bag for random sweet tooth moments. I made half a batch of my Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies last week, and it’s been an exciting treat when I remember they’re chilling in the freezer.
Kamikaze by WALK THE MOON – I found this song while surfing Spotify a month or so ago. (As I mentioned in my Good Vibes Workout Playlist post, I’m constantly creating new playlists and can’t seem to stop.) It’s being played more on the radio now, and while I’ve almost worn out my obsession with it, I had to share in this month’s favorites. It’s one of those songs that makes me want to dance (which, coincidently, this band is the one that sings “Shut Up and Dance”).
Sriracha Pepper Seasoning – My dad is the king of seasonings and seasoning blends. Though none of us go all out for gift giving anymore (except when it comes to my niece, of course), stockings at Christmas are a MUST. This is a seasoning he put in Matt’s (?) stocking last year, and I hijacked it and brought it to work. Though I don’t think Sriracha has to be refrigerated, I’ve noticed it gets weird when you leave it at room temp. So I keep this dry seasoning as part of my stash of food I keep at my desk. I highly recommend it for a boost of heat and flavor if you want to spruce up savory snacks/meals!
American Money by BØRNS – I could listen to this song over and over again (and you better believe I have). Also worth playing from this artist: “10,000 Emerald Pools.”
Scale with Body Fat % – I’ve always wanted to get a scale that could analyze body fat, but I didn’t actually commit until this past Amazon Prime day. I got this affordable one that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of bluetooth scales, and I love it. Though I usually never weigh myself, I really like being able to monitor my body fat percentage, as well as things like…BMI and muscle mass. (This scale also does weight, water weight, and bone mass.) You can find this one on Amazon here.
Juicer – Juicing intrigues me, but I’ve always been hesitant to buy an actual juicer. I didn’t know if it would be worth the investment. I long-term “borrowed” one from a friend who never uses hers anymore, and it’s been a fun way to mix up how I consume fruits and veggies. While I don’t make juice all the time because it definitely gets pricey (so many veggies and so little juice!), I’ve been trying to make some at least once per week (and have stocked up on things like celery, cucumber, and ginger). It’s made me feel like having a juicer is worth it, and it motivates me to squeeze in more nutrients on days when I haven’t consumed many/any vegetables (because pressed juices can be DELICIOUS).
goodnight n go by Ariana Grande – This tiny woman’s amazing voice is a guilty pleasure of mine. She recently released a new album (Sweetener), and among the songs I really like, I was surprised and stoked to see this cover of Imogen Heap’s “Goodnight and Go.” Sooooo good.
Steel Cut Oatmeal – I’ve started bringing breakfast to work lately (instead of eating it before I leave the house), and if I eat anything other than steel cut oats, I’m sad. Before the start of each week, I’ve been making a big batch of steel cut oats to bring for heating up at the office. I could eat this completely plain and every single day. The texture of what feels like little “oat beads” is ON POINT. And if you cook with at least 1/3rd milk-to-water ratio, it’s extra creamy and divine.
Resuming a Consistent Workout Schedule – And for the cherry on top of everything I’ve been loving: getting back to a frequent workout schedule. After doing my 30-Day Yoga Challenge, I felt inspired to keep up the action and do more weight lifting and yoga on a regular basis. I’ve been especially loving my Total Body Sculpt Workout. Making the time to challenge my body like this has made me feel great, mentally and physically.
