August just texted me with a nice little heads up message… on my way.
And, although it’s always nice to get a text telling you your expected guest is on their way, nobody really likes to get this text from August. Because we know what August is all about. If August is invited to your party, it won’t bring brownies or fruit salad.
August will show up at your door (five minutes early) with a platter of school supplies it bought at Walmart on the way to your house. And maybe even throw in some 4th of July party decorations it found on clearance, and hand them over saying, “Wow, doesn’t the 4th seem like a million years ago? Where did the time go?”
Yes, August is that guest you didn’t want to invite, but had to because… August is part of the family.
But, do you know who likes August?
People living in places like Europe, where August conjures of visions of going on holiday. There, August doesn’t come bearing gifts of Trapper Keepers and pencils, August says, “I got a cabana for us. Meet me at the beach.”
Or
“Even if you can’t get away to the beach or the mountains, at least take some time off, man. This is summer.”
That August reminds us that even though the season is winding down…
We can still do fun things.
Take time for ourselves.
Nap. Take the afternoon off.
Call in sick and take our parents to lunch.
Go to the beach. Or the pool. Or run through your spinkler like it’s 1990. (Remember, 90’s summers are trending.)
Go for a walk in the park.
August doesn’t care what you do with it, it just wants you to do something to celebrate it a bit.
Whatever you choose, just make sure you do less, enjoy life more, and take advantage of this last month of summer.
Are we good?
Now go enjoy your own version of an August holiday.
And with that, I’m leaving you with this week’s links.
XO,
Abbey
summer eats & what-not
Not a recipe, but rather a special episode of Somebody Feed Phil. If you’ve followed the show you know that host, Phil Rosenthal travels the world to try food at various restaurants and meet the people behind the food and culture. At the end of each early episode, Phil would Facetime with his parents, Max & Helen Rosenthal. Sadly, over the course of the show, both of his parents passed. In this special episode of the show, Phil introduces us to the diner he built in honor of his parents.
Speaking of food, diners, and… grocery stores, can you tell me where America’s favorite grocery store is located? Texas, of course. Click the link to learn why H*E*B has earned top honors. It’s not what you think.
Looking for healthy snacks? Five ideas here: easy sweet treats that are good for you and high protein too, Naturopathic-doctor-recommended snacks from Costco, and healthy snacks/mini-meals you can take on a flight to save money and eat well.
And, a recipe for two (cold) tomato-based soups from Spain that are perfect for August heat. They might look similar, but they’re very different - take a look at the difference between salmorejo and gazpacho.
Both are delicious, and easy to make!
New snack follow-up: Last week I told you I’d rate my recently purchased FLOURA bars - mint chocolate chip, to be exact- that I tried for their fiber and clean ingredients. Taste-wise, they delivered, and the fact that they weren’t covered in chocolate made them taste healthier to me.
The nutrition facts are below, and you can buy them on Amazon here.
Calories: 150–160
Fat: 6–7 g
Saturated Fat: 1.5–3.5 g
Carbohydrates: 28–30 g
Dietary Fiber: 15 g (about 54% of the Daily Value)
Total Sugars: 7 g
Added Sugars: 0–5 g (varies by flavor)
Protein: 3 g
Sodium: 55–210 mg (varies by flavor)
Highlights
Very high in fiber: 15 g per bar from a blend of fruit fibers, inulin, chia, seeds, and other plant ingredients.
Plant-based ingredients: Made from a variety of fruits, seeds, and whole-food ingredients.
Gluten-free and dairy-free.
Not a protein bar: With only 3 g of protein, it’s intended as a fiber-rich snack rather than a meal replacement.
summer sales
Starting with a question based on shoes… is it unreasonable to want every pair of sandals on this page? Asking for a friend.
Obsessed with these skirts and would like one in each color, please. I think they’re perfect for travel, bopping around town, or wearing to summer dinners and parties.
Because we also need tops, I’m sharing these hits that have definite “I may not always feel it, but this shirt makes it look like I have my act together.”
health.
A lot of influencers talk about their morning routines being the best way to start the day out right. But, in this episode of The Everyday Girl, the host gives a good case for how a rock-solid nighttime routine can actually be a better way to have a good night and start the next day out right. Check out The Hot Girl Nighttime Routine Checklist.
Next let’s talk longevity, health, and the best way to work out. Hint: Hans & Frans would support this.
Practices I’m trying to stick to every day and night:
Sauna - at least 3-4 times per week. Liz Plosser of Best Case Scenario tells why saunas are trending and important here.
Dry brushing - trying to do it at least nightly (morning a bonus) to exfoliate my skin, boost circulation, get my glow on, and help with lymphatic drainage. Plus, it’s invigorating.
Tongue scraping - because, ugh, so much bacteria gathers in our mouths when we sleep.
Wear my infrared Freddy Kreuger mask at least three times a week to reduce inflammation, make my skin look better, and help increase the production of collagen.
Water- more of it. All day long.
More whole foods over processed ones.
Quit coffee.Ha, that’s a good one! I’ll do a lot, but I will not quit coffee.
What wellness practices are in your routine?
