August! How is it August? Here’s to enjoying and loving the last full month of summer!
A beautiful Painted Lady butterfly at the Pittsburgh Zoo!
Here’s a look at what’s current in my life lately. Let me know in the comments what August is looking like for you!
Current books I recently finished A Walk Along the Beach, which was a bit of a tearjerker! Sadie and I are reading Unicorns and Germs and The Princess in Black series together each night. During school time, we’ve been reading all about birds because Sadie has taken an interest in them. I’m learning just as much as she is! 🐦
Current food Totally obsessed with salmon, as per usual. Also loving sloppy joes! In the cereal department, I’ve been enjoying blueberry Chex. 🫐
Current baked good Peanut butter pretzel chocolate chunk cookies (recipe coming soon!), strawberry rhubarb pie, apple pie, and granola for Etsy orders.
Current kid product All of our kids enjoy this magnetic puzzle. Not going to lie, it’s satisfying for adults, too! Sadie is very into slime and stencils.
Current song THANKFUL by Forrest Frank.
Current drink Prime! I probably drink too much of this. 😂
Current blessing Our family friend, Bernadette. She came to the farmer’s market with me and helped out with the kids while I shopped for produce and meat. She is truly a gem of a woman!
Current scripture Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7
Current goal Writing, writing, and more writing! My second children’s book is in the illustration phase (!) and I’ll be focusing on a Bible study next. 📖
Current fun Doing crafts with the kids! Sadie and Mordecai have been interested in painting lately, so we’ve been doing a lot of that. We discovered a few of Jimmy’s grandpa’s old woodworking projects (tiny chairs, a mini fence, a table, etc.) and Sadie has been painting them for dollhouse play!
Current joy I feel like I say this each month, but the season of life we’re in. It’s so sweet!
Current laugh I have two this month! First, Niva escaped our house and guess who brought her home? The police! She hopped right out of the cruiser. 🤣 The second laugh was this conversation with Mordecai after I showed him a picture of me when I was pregnant with him.
Mordecai: I thought I was in dad’s belly.
Me: No, only girls carry babies in their bellies.
Mordecai: So I’ll go in Dakota’s belly?
Toddler logic is the funniest!
Current cuteness Dakota and Mordecai holding hands as we walked into the library.
Current craving There’s a stationery store near our house that I’d love to pop into and wander around.
Current win Decluttering! I’ve been sifting through the kids’ old clothes, toys, and books and selling or donating them. It feels so much better to have extra space in our tiny home. It’s also incredibly bittersweet to say goodbye to their little Paw Patrol toys. I just remind myself that we’re always moving into a new phase. Now we’ll have space to make new memories, and others can enjoy the things we no longer use.
Current beauty product My mom got me hooked on this body wash. It lathers so nicely and smells great!
Current home products Our battery-powered scrub brush! I keep this in the bathroom and it’s so useful for tackling the grout. I also use mini whisks and a (cute!!) plastic bag holder daily.
A look back:
August 2017
August 2018
August 2019
August 2020
August 2021
August 2022
August 2023
August 2024
August 2025
Living My Full Life 
It’s great that Sadie has an interest in birds. Do you have any nature reserves or bird sanctuaries near you, where you could go and spot different species?
I’m laughing at Niva having a ride home in the police car 😂 She sounds like a real escape artist. I’m glad she got home safely!
A browse around a stationery store sounds right up my street. I’ve been thinking that I want to start journalling again. I hope you get to visit that store!
Currently in August: I’m reading The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard, cooking lots of summery dishes and salads as the UK has its fifth heatwave of the year, and making the final preparations for my wedding, which I can now say is next month!!
We have an Aviary in our city! I keep wanting to take the kids!! Last time we went, they had a blast. I think if we keep studying different birds over the next few weeks, she will really love seeing them “for real” at the Aviary!
Niva had zero shame, too! She just hopped right now! Oh to be a dog, haha.
Ahhh, I hope you start to journal again. It’s so rewarding and relaxing.
I will check out the book right now. I always love hearing what you’re reading! I can’t believe the UK is having so many heat waves. Hopefully it cools off before your big day! Was the date September 16th? I am forgetting which date you told me. It’s getting sooo close!
That sounds wonderful! I think I remember one of your posts about visiting the Aviary.
I’ve almost finished The Light Years now and will have a break to read something else before carrying on with the series. There are 5 books in the series – the Cazalet Chronicles – and they’re all 500+ pages! I’d recommend if you’re looking for a historical family saga about a wealthy English family around the time of World War II.
Next up: Whistler by Ann Patchett. My mum recommended this one and I’m really looking forward to it. And I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I love the horse illustration!
I hope you’ve got some good reads this summer 🙂
I know! It’s crazy how hot and dry the summer has been here. I’ve been growing tomatoes and it really does feel like being in the Mediterranean. Today it’s 34 C / 93 F!
Close – it’s September 12th 🙂
Hope you’re having a lovely week.