Summer is unofficially over, and I am okay with that. It was a wonderful summer, filled with life-changing events, vacation, friends, and family. After all of that, I am ready to move on to fall with its cooler temperatures, football, and a more regular schedule. Besides, as difficult as it is to still fathom the idea that Connor is at college, it has been a lot of fun having only Holly at home. She is a treasure.
Good memories:
- Florida vacation
- My grandmother’s 90th birthday
- My dad’s birthday
- Holly making the elite competition team at her new studio
- Holly’s 13th birthday
- Our friend’s wedding
- Dropping Connor off at Iowa State
- Connor making the ISU marching band
- Holly’s school pictures
- Holly’s dance photo shoot
- The Dance Team pig roast
- Adjusting to life with one less child at home
Bookish stuff:
- Total number of books read: 13
- Total number of pages: 3,664 plus 11 hours and 10 minutes on audio
- Favorite book(s) read: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera – I remain blown away by his premise, his characters, and his life lessons.
Favorites:
- Recipes: I feel like I didn’t cook this month. If I did cook, it was very unmemorable. I think I am out of practice.
- Song:
- Since finding out Holly had a solo for the competition season this year, we have been trying to find a song for her to use. I stumbled on this one a few weekends ago and haven’t gotten it out of mind. Can’t you see this making a great tap solo?
- Makeup:
- I stumbled upon the Makeup Monsters brand in my quest to find new long-lasting lipsticks. They just released their line of highlighters, and I am in love. Cruelty-free and vegan, they provide the right amount of shimmer and shine without going overboard. Their lipsticks are even better.
How did I persevere?
- Meditation/Healthy Habits/Political Activism: Grade IC – There are no excuses here. I got lazy, stopped meditating, stopped making phone calls. I did stop exercising only because I have Achilles tendinitis and can’t really do much these days other than the stretches and strengthening exercises my physical therapist has me doing. I have not been eating as much and have made a conscious effort to make better choices, but I started doing that only within the past few weeks. So, I give myself an incomplete and will start fresh in September.
Again, this was such a great summer. I feel like we didn’t do much, but then I look at the calendar and realize just how many things we did. The school year is busy as well, but it is a different type of busy. This summer was fun with cookouts and parties and weddings and vacation. For the first time in years, I am entering the school year fairly relaxed and ready to go. Bring it on!
So many wonderful things this summer! And still managed to fit in some reading time.
Always!
That really was one busy August! As time passes, I always think, “where the hell did August/the summer/this past year/whatever go?!!” but when I sit and think about all I’ve actually done during that time it always somehow makes me feel better realizing that I didn’t really just waste all that time–I was actually busy living. Hope your autumn is full of wonderful delights, Michelle!
Exactly! I always think I spend too much time at home on the weekends, especially when I see friends on IG out at lakes, hiking, visiting farmers’ markets, etc. Then I make lists like this and feel better that I did not waste that time. Plus, it helps to remember that we aren’t in a place where we can do some of those things right now. We have to stay pretty close to home on the weekends thanks to Holly’s schedule. This is the life we chose, and I have no complaints. Still, there is that FOMO every once in a while, so this list made me happy to see.
Wow so much has happened! It sounds like August was good (other than the tendon stuff…) – I’m sorry I missed it all as it happened. And so excited to hear that Conner got off to a great start at school!
Some of it happened in July, but I never did a wrap-up post for July so I included the good memories. You had your own stuff to deal with, and now that I know some of what was happening, I totally get why you were not online. Your strength is a marvel, Amanda!
Dang – 13 books is pretty good!
I was surprised it was that high, but I’m not complaining. If I keep reading at that pace, I might finish all of my September review copies sometime in October. 😉