Currently #68

Hello everyone!

Happy Wednesday!

What a day, week, and month. It felt like summer took forever to get here and now it’s over in the blink of an eye.

May was slow, June was relaxing, July was busy, and August felt like it never even happened.

This was the summer of adventures for me. Whether it was day trips, exploring local places, family time, seeing friends, and enjoying fairs and festivals, my summer was packed. I stayed up wayyyy too late most nights and was up before the sun most mornings. One of my goals this fall is to make sleep a priority once again, but I loved every minute of my summer. 

August was such a busy month by crossing off summer bucket list items, travel, and saying goodbyes. I have a lot to get you all caught up on since my last Currently post. Let’s dive right in!

What I've Been Up to:

I ended July and kicked off August with some personal news, I’m engaged! A few people have picked up on some clues in recent posts that my boyfriend of five and a half years proposed to me on July 31. We have always kept our relationship private and plan to continue that tradition. I may share some details about planning and preparations, but will mostly be keeping it private. But we are both so happy for our next chapter and future together.

One of our first gifts was from my mom and it was the Simplified Wedding planner. There’s nothing else I would rather use to keep myself organized for our big day than a Simplified product.

We spent most of the month basking in our newly engaged time and receiving well wishes from many friends and family. 

August brought lots of time outdoors. From picnics, to flowers, walks, and reading by the pool.

Nothing beats and early sunrise!

Reading by the pool doesn’t get any better than this.

I got a cucumber plant this summer and was surprised with how many cucumbers I got from the harvest. I enjoyed them in a salad and some by themselves. 

Sweet, summer veggies!

It’s all about balance, right?

I made it to two different zoos in the span of a week! I love zoos and seeing all the different animals. Some of my favorite animals included elephants, polar bears, brown bears, and red pandas. I even got to see a baby elephant at the zoo. What a treat!

From giraffes.

Up close with the lions.

The baby elephant.

And big brown bears.

My family and I managed to get away for a long weekend. Between coordinating schedules, and people living in different places, it’s hard to find time to do things together. We enjoyed lots of conversations, amusement parks rides, delicious meals, and sweet treats. Time together is the best!

Before summer wrapped up, my fiance and I took a final day trip to the zoo and to a baseball game. We had great weather and it was a perfect time to spend time together before he went back to school. 

I also got to enjoy some local music and festivals before August came to a close.

I enjoyed lunch at my favorite spot for summer

Summer wouldn’t be complete without S’mores!

We had a boat festival in our city at the end of August, which always is such a fun event!

It was a bittersweet moment dropping my youngest brother off at college, but I know he will be in good hands as he is going to my Alma Mater.

What I'm Wearing:

I can’t stop and won’t stop wearing bold colors in the summertime. 

These pink pants have been a hit!

I love this coral dress for work.

The blue and white dress is perfect for a dinner or date night. 

I love whenever I can break out a bold suit.

What I'm Reading:

I hate to say it, but I have been slipping on my reading due to being so busy. 

So, not the greatest reading month, but here’s what I did read:

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skyes. The Hundred Loves of Juliet follows a young writer who goes to Alaska to work on her first novel, she meets a man on her first night there that she has a connection with. The gentleman notices the connection as well. Their relationship grows as secrets of their past unfolds. I really loved the way this story was told. It was unique and creative and I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I finished it.

The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore The Islanders read like and ELin Hilderbrand novel. It’s all about three different people and the ways they are connected to one another one summer on an island off New England. The book deals with real life situations and drama and harsh realities. I loved how quaint they author made this small community feel. Definitely a summer read!

Happy Wife- Thanks to Read with Jenna, I read Happy Wife by Meredith Lavendar and Kendall Shores. It’s all about a second wife, whose husband dies the night of his birthday party. People immediately think she’s the one who killed him. But, she does her own digging to find out what really happened to her husband and was the killer at the party? I really loved the “Who Done It” aspect of the story and appreciated how the wife did her own detective work. It gets Four Stars from me!

What I'm Watching:

 I’m still making my way through Gilmore Girls. I’m hoping to have it finished by the fall, but I’m not in a rush to finish it. I’m enjoying it as I go.

I finished the final season of And Just Like That, I was sad to see the character of Carrie Bradshaw go, but loved the journey she took us on.

I’m still watching my weekly episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty. I like that it gives me something to look forward to each week. 

What I'm Cooking:

This month I tried a lot of new salad creations. I made a Ramen Chicken Salad from Emily Ley’s cookbook.

I enjoyed homemade milkshakes which are always a treat.

I made a hearty Turkey, Apple, Cheddar cheese sandwich, also from Emily Ley’s cook book.

For dinner, I made Garlic Knot drum sticks from Every Day with Babs and then Loaded Broccoli from Emily Ley’s cookbook.

Sweet treats to end the month

What Inspires Me:

This song came on from a playlist and I can’t stop listening to it. Just a mood booster!

These few quotes also stood out to me.

What I Accomplished: 

I got almost everything checked off my summer bucket list. I got so much quality family time in. I had great catch-ups with friends and have visits planned with friends over the next few weeks which gives me something to look forward to.

I also got in lots of outdoor time which truly makes me heart and soul happy.

This made me smile on a recent walk.

Goals from Last Month: 

My goal over the last few months has been to make the most of my summer and I do believe I have accomplished that.

Goals for this Month: Get back into a routine. This summer has been so busy and packed full in the best way possible, but with people back in school, it’s time to buckle down and get back into a routine myself.

This will help me in the new month

 There you have it, a recap from August! What a month, it has been such a fulfilling month. Although I'm so sad to see summer go, I’m looking forward to what the future has in store. See you back here on Friday for another round of Friday Favorites!