It’s that time again! With August coming to a close in a few days, here are some of my favorite things from this last full month of summer.
food.
Three words: Frozen. Nut. Butter!
HEAB introduced me to this life changing snack, and I’m never turning back.
Another favorite snack/dessert is also of the nut-butter-category: almond butter mousse.
And lastly, the batter bowl.
Kind of like overnight oats, but kind of not!
exercise move.
Jumping jacks! No surprise there. Combine with a some full-body strength moves, and you’ve got a pretty decent workout on your hands.
To add intensity to your basic jumping jack, when bringing your legs together and arms down, pause for 2 seconds in a squatting position.
beauty product.
Sometimes people ask me if I’m wearing false eyelashes. Nope – just Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara. True story.
I swear there are magical lengthening properties in this mascara. Go get it!
fashion.
Denim button-down boyfriend shirts. Yes, I said denim.
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Since everyone and their mom adopted the flannel trend (which, I haven’t given up on just yet), I decided to move on to denim. The best part? My version was bought at WalMart. Keep sulking, Urban Outfitters model. It’s not my fault you spent $60 when I only spent $7.
band.
Arcade Fire has been a favorite band of mine for a while, and their new album The Suburbs pushes all the right buttons.
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workout song.
Moving on to a completely different genre of music, Taio Cruz’ Dynamite has all the fixin’s for a great workout song.
And when I say workout song, I really mean dance all night song.
television show.
Oh, 30 Rock, where have you been all my life?
I don’t think I’ve ever literally LOL’ed at a television show until I finally started watching 30 Rock. Better late than never, right? Kenneth is quite possibly my favorite sitcom character ever.
movie.
I hadn’t even heard of Repo Men while it was in theaters. It was a risk paying to watch this On Demand – especially because I’m not usually a fan of action films. But Repo Men was definitely worth the $4.99…and no, not just because Jude Law is in it.
current event.
The Ground Zero Mosque controversy is one that I find incredibly fascinating.
Without going into my political views (which I most likely will never do on GMH), I find it very interesting to witness how this issue has caused Americans (myself included) to wrestle with the relationship between their morals, politics, and concept of democracy.
blogs.
Health for the Whole Self. I love visiting Katie’s blog because I know that I’ll come away feeling like I learned something or was challenged in some way. What more can I ask for in a blog?
Rhodey Girl Tests. After Sabrina’s session about healthy entertaining at the Healthy Living Summit, I can’t wait to host dinner parties of my own. Her recipes and ideas make entertaining seem a lot less intimidating than I once thought.
quotes/verses.
“I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands.” – Psalm 119:176
“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.” – I Corinthians 9: 24-27
“If you’re feeling frightened about what comes next, don’t be. Embrace the uncertainty. Allow it to lead you places. Be brave as it challenges you to exercise both your heart and your mind as you create your own path towards happiness, don’t waste time with regret. Spin wildly into your next action. Enjoy the present, each moment, as it comes; because you’ll never get another one quite like it. And if you should ever look up and find yourself lost, simply take a breath and start over. Retrace your steps and go back to the purest place in your heart… where your hope lives. You’ll find your way again.”
- What were your August favorites?
I listened to Dynamite quite a few times this month, too : )
I am definitely trying frozen nut butter this weekend!
LOVE 30 Rock. Have you seen Modern Family? Do It.
& I love trying new mascara’s… here I come lash stiletto!
Well, I trust your taste in style and beauty so I’ll have to grab that mascara.
I haven’t seen RepoMen, but if you insist!
I love these recs, fantastic picks!
I really want to try the frozen nut butter! Looks delicious!
Cool post!
I really love the Sephora brand mascara and as for television show? Pretty Little Liars. Hands down.
I <3 your $7 shirt! Adorable. My August faves – pasta dishes, bananas 3x a day, homemade chickpea dip (not quite a hummus) and mini Larabars – thank you HLS.
Love this post and your denim shirt! I seriously need to make frozen nut butter…or maybe frozen coconut peanut butter. Yes that was my favorite thing this month.
Gracie – Love THIS …my favorite is your quote section. Just what I needed to hear!
You look so cute in your denim shirt! I love it. And the Arcade Fire is the shiz.
Your blog makes me so sad to be allergic to nuts haha you eat so many wonderful nut products.
I’ve been wearing flannel since 2005 and am kind of over it. I love the denim look though and your shirt is so cute.
The mosque controversy is nuts. My BF and I talk about it almost every night. One thing that I think is getting lost is the fact that there is already a mosque a few blocks away. Also there is a strip bar within two blocks. I understand both sides, but I am actually okay with it.
My favorite thing this month was probably sunflower butter. Its amazing.
Cool post today – u look way better than
The pouty model in the denim shirt – I am not a fan of Wally world but LOVE a deal!!
This month I’m loving…. Cover girl lash blast volume mascara in the orange tube, high plank/low plank holds (killer ab move), listening to OLD jams while working out like: beasty boys – brass monkey (haha), oh that movie the back up plan (gross at times but FUNNY!!!), TOP Chef reruns, political talk radio in the mornings ( but won’t share my opinions here
other than I think it should NOT be that close to grnd zero and I Love your scripture choices – I have been reading more in psalms and proverbs and Romans lately!
Super thought provoking post today!
30 Rock is one of my favorite sitcoms!
I just finished watching season 4 last week, can’t wait for the new one to start.
I heart 30 rock…
I love the denim shirt look! Also I definitely took a page from your book this month and started doing mini workouts like jumping jacks while watching tv.
My August faves are beets, Glee, Eat Pray Love, braids, and granola!
so many great things on here!!! we have a lot of overlapping favorites… i have been living in a denim shirt that my sister bought me from the gap – so comfy and i can toss it over anything! i also really love jumping jacks! while i was in south africa for a month, i didnt really have access to a gym or anything, so my go-to move was jumping jacks! it’s so great as a travel workout, haha. and finally SUBURBIA!!! THAT IS MY FAVORITE ALBUM RIGHT NOW!! i had been kind of in a music rut for awhile but that album was my saving grace!!!! im obsessed with it and it’s been on repeat for the past few weeks…. so glad you love it too!!
Best part of my August:
BOOK: Mockingjay (the final book of the Hunger Games series)
MOVIE: Inception.
Both were so so so good.
LOVE AF. “Suburbs” has been rocking my iTunes quite a bit this week. And denim shirts. I’m still looking for the perfect one that doesn’t call attention my flattish chest…meh!
August faves?
Food: local blackberries
Music: Mumford & Sons
Beauty: Eminence Pear and Poppyseed scrub
Frozen nut butter… how have I STILL not tried this? I have a feeling I could eat my weight in it.
I marathoned 30 Rock hardcore this summer to catch up before the next season starts in October. It has become my new favorite show
Frozen nut butter is a new favorite of mine too, though I’ve only made it once!! I’m telling you, the blog world is awesome, but sometimes there are just TOO MANY new things to try!! And Dynamite is on permanent play on my iPod recently as well. Other August faves include the HLS, raw chocolate cake, love the way you lie, and Operation Beautiful
I am with you on 30 Rock. That show is ah-freakin-mazing.
looove 30 rock!! my best friend recently turned me on to Mad Men and its also fabulous. im not so into denim shirts, simply because i don’t like the way they make me feel (maybe its too stiff or thick and i just need to find a really good soft denim shirt haha).
about the mosque near ground zero–i think the debate is a tad REDONC:
1. its a muslim community center being built in an old burlington coat factory.
2. if two blocks is too close, then what’s the ‘appropriate’ distance?
3. mosque, church, synagogue–its all the same
4. i love america the way it is. no need to go around changing things like the first amendment.
xoxo, love your blog!
I really liked this post – what a great reflection on your month!!! I loooove Dynamite too! It’s the great song to run to!
I love this post.
What a great month. Great eats, awesome music, stunning fashion style & perfect music
One more variation on the jumping jacks: instead of squatting when your feet are together, do it while they’re apart so that you kind of jump into the squat.
Great post!
Hey, I wear lash stiletto too! I agree with it’s awesomeness and I also get asked if I’m wearing false lashes.