Between our Yellowstone trip, starting jobs, and school starting, our month has flown by! Here is our life lately August 2024 and what we have been up to.
Book’s I’ve Read
Normally, I read more books than this, but the family has been listening to the Harry Potter series. This month we read books 1 and 2 on our roadtrip, and finished book 3 recently. Most of my reading/listening time has been spent on that!
- Tansy Bloom, Monster Hunter by L. J. Weller– Tansy comes from a family of monster hunters. So when it is believed a werewolf is on the loose in Norfolk, Tansy becomes interested. But is it really a werewolf? This was just a free book I found. I normally don’t read supernatural stories, but this was ok. I liked Tansy’s ethics and character. If there was another about her, I’d probably listen. 4/5
- Open Season by C. J. Box– Joe Pickett is the new game warden in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming, He finds a local hunting outfitter dead, splayed out on the woodpile behind his state-owned home. Joe continues to investigate, uneasy with the easy explanation offered by the local police. After visiting Wyoming so recently, I liked the setting for this story. Joe is a very likable character and I found myself rooting for him and his family. 4/5
- Savage Run by C. J. Box- Joe Pickett is called to the scene of an explosion to help investigate the death of a colorful environmental activist. The case is wrapped up quickly, explained as an environmental publicity stunt gone wrong, but Joe isn’t convinced. He soon discovers clues that suggest a deadly conspiracy. Since I liked the first one, I wanted to continue in the series. This was another suspenseful, interesting story. 4/5
Products I’ve Tried
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Vegamour GRO+ Advanced Hair Care Line
- I have been using the Vegamour GRO+ Advanced Hair Serum, Shampoo, and Conditioner for a few weeks now, and I am genuinely impressed with the results. As someone who values clean, effective beauty products, Vegamour has truly delivered on its promises.
- Hair Serum: The GRO+ Advanced Hair Serum is nothing short of a game-changer. It has a lightweight, non-greasy formula that absorbs quickly and easily into the scalp. After consistent use, I’ve noticed a significant reduction in hair shedding and an improvement in overall hair density. My hair feels thicker, healthier, and more resilient. The serum has helped soothe my scalp, reducing any irritation or dryness I used to experience which used to be an issue for me. This product is designed to nourish the scalp deeply, which in turn promotes healthier hair growth. I’m excited to continue using this into the fall and winter as the air becomes less humid and my hair and scalp feel more dry.
- Shampoo and Conditioner: The GRO+ Advanced Shampoo and Conditioner are a perfect complement to the serum. The shampoo has a gentle yet effective cleansing formula that leaves my hair feeling clean but never stripped. It lathers nicely without any harsh sulfates, making it suitable for my highlighted hair. The conditioner is incredibly hydrating and leaves my hair feeling soft, smooth, and easy to manage. Both products have a subtle, pleasant scent that isn’t overpowering, which I appreciate.
- Together, these products have transformed my hair care routine. My hair feels stronger, looks shinier, and has a noticeable volume that I haven’t experienced with other products. I highly recommend the Vegamour GRO+ Advanced line to anyone looking to improve the health of their hair and scalp. Whether you’re dealing with thinning hair or simply want to boost your hair’s overall vitality, this trio is a must-try. I couldn’t be happier with the results!
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Purple Carrot
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- As a busy mom with two kids, Purple Carrot has been a pleasant surprise for our family’s meal planning. While we’re not a vegan household, I was curious to try something new that could add more plant-based meals to our diet. I received these to make some UGC content, but the entire family loved them so I wanted to share our experience here as well. The convenience of having pre-portioned ingredients delivered right to my door has been a lifesaver during the last few hectic weeks. The recipes are straightforward and easy to follow, which is essential when juggling kids and everything else. Plus, the meals have introduced us to new flavors and ingredients that we wouldn’t have tried otherwise, making dinnertime more exciting.One of the things I appreciate most about Purple Carrot is how filling and satisfying the meals are. Even though we’re not used to eating exclusively plant-based, we’ve never felt like we were missing out. The kids have even enjoyed several of the dishes, which was a pleasant surprise! The variety of recipes has helped me feel more confident in incorporating more plant-based meals into our routine, and I love that I’m making healthier choices for my family without sacrificing taste or time. Purple Carrot has definitely added some much-needed ease and variety to our weekly meals.
Recipes I’ve Made
- Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches -We served them with curly fries, Arby’s sauce, and we made our own Horsey sauce. It was so good! This would be a great idea for a get together, too because they are a ‘throw and go’ type of meal with very little prep. I highly recommend toasting the buns before eating them and letting them cook as long as possible to really tenderize the meat though.
- BBQ Vegan Pulled Pork Burger with Sweet Potato Chips– I made a version of this from my Purple Carrot box. I was nervous because I don’t care for mushrooms, but it was a hit! Very flavorful and filling. Our favorite was the homemade sweet potato chips. Claire was a particular fan of those.
- Homemade naan– We love naan, but I’ve never made it from scratch. This recipe was very easy and Claire was a HUGE fan.
- Sticky Lemon Tofu- This is the closest recipe I can find to what I made with another Purple Carrot recipe. Matt is very suspicious of anything tofu, but the crispy texture hooked him. I loved the flavorful sauce. Claire went back for seconds!
- No Bake Cake- We made this for a Girl Scout badge. It was very rich, but easy, and tasty. It would be perfect with a cup of coffee or tea!
Currently
- Loving– I’m loving my new job! It’s so nice to be in person and working with teachers to most effectively help students.
- Looking forward to- Matt and the girls booked me a session at AIRE Ancient Baths in Chicago for my birthday in a few weeks. I can’t wait!
- Scheduling- Right now I feel like I am scheduling so many things! I’ve been trying to load up the calendar with future swim meets, dates for Girl Scout meetings, and trying to add in a few races for me.
- Buying– This summer has been the summer of repair and replace! When we got back from our trip we noticed our newer AC wasn’t working. The coil had frozen, then the melted water leaked into our new furnace. So both had to be replaced. So frustrating! But I’m thankful it was done before these few hot days this week.
- Gearing up for- We are gearing up for some fall races. Claire has expressed interest in doing a 5K this fall so I’ve been trying to increase her endurance a bit. Hopefully it will work out for her because I think it will really improve her swim times, too.
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Family Update
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- Avie- Avie started 1st grade last week. She is over the moon to have the same teacher Claire had in 1st grade. Matt and I think it will be a good fit for her personality so we are happy, too. She is excited to be with a friend on soccer which will start soon as well. Now we just need to try and juggle all the activities she is interested in.
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- Claire- Although she was nervous, middle school has started off well for Claire. She is normally fairly quiet with us, but she has been talking nonstop so I think that is a good sign. She has friends in all of her classes and is excited to begin learning the violin.
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- Matt- Matt was home for about a month straight through part of July and most of August. Woohoo! He loved being able to celebrate his recent birthday with Sox tickets. It was Claire’s Avie’s, and my first Sox game and it was a fun time (even though they lost).
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- Me- I felt so blessed on my recent birthday. Thank you so much to my friends and family who made me feel so special! Cheers to 40!
Claire, Avie, and I went with some swim friends to a Taylor Swift cover band in Naperville. We made matching shirts for the moms to wear. It was so fun!
August Goals
- Arrange calendar– Done.
- Sign up for fall races- Halfway done. I signed up for a 5K that Claire wants to do in September. I picked out the other 3 races I’d like to do as well.
- Get a haircut and highlight- Not done.
- Clean chandeliers– Done!
September Goals
- Organize– I have bins with speech therapy materials I’d like to go through and determine what I should keep and what I can get rid of.
- Instagram- I have a bit of upkeep and learning to do with insta. Hopefully I can get it figured out.
- Schedule a haircut and highlight– My ends feel so dry! I hope I can get one scheduled soon.
Favorite Blog Posts
- 5 Ways Busy Moms Can Use AI to Simplify Life
- Cheers to the Years- 40 Facts About Me
- Our Yellowstone Trip Recap
- Fall Loungewear Feels
LINKING UP WITH WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY, OVERFLOWING WITH THANKFULNESS
