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?
While I may not exactly be a “fashionista,” I do have a personal sense of style that is constantly changing. Because of that, I’ve found that spending an arm and a leg on clothing just isn’t worth it to me. I also don’t care much when it comes to buying name brands, so I’ve kind of naturally evolved into a bargain-hunter. And, well, who doesn’t love a good bargain?
Sometimes I think that ice cream should be a food group of its own…especially during the Summer. I have absolutely no problem eating ice cream multiple times a week, and I most likely will. While I love a good sundae from time to time, my favorite treat is a simple vanilla cone with rainbow sprinkles.
