Summer is coming to an end, It's almost time to go back to school… |
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I can't believe July is over. Cue…"salt air, rust on your door, I never needed anything more…" (Of course, it's the national anthem of August, “August” by Taylor Swift) August is here, and it's already filled with the Back to School ads, sales and cute displays at Target and department stores (do those actually still exist?). It's been a busy month of traveling for a digital media conference, housesitting for friends, soaking up the sun (for a few minutes before ducking right back inside), reading, leaning into the free time and enjoying the simplicity of July. It was filled with the loud booms of fireworks and dogs barking (mostly mine), hot dogs, iced tea, ink bleeding on the pages of my journal, acrylic markers squeaking on the outlines of artwork as I fill in characters and cozy scenes, countless social media posts (for work and personal), afternoon naps, growth and professional development and a time of letting my brain breathe a bit. Now, we look ahead to another month. |
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August. The last few weeks in that blissful state of freedom. That period where everything is still golden by the longer 'bouts of sunlight. Where it feels like we have more time and aren't ruled by our alarm clocks and reminder notifications on our calendars. It's a time that gives us a hint of what our childhood used to be and be evoked by the memories; late night sitcoms reruns on TV, dad staying up until the wee morning hours, me following in his footsteps. Early mornings, but slower paced - talk shows to start us off, pancakes or bagels, maybe a swim in the pool, a trip to Borders Bookstore…Oh, how good we had it. Even as adults, we find those glimpses – A road trip, a day off from work, a late dinner with the gals, catching that new flick at the theaters, like you're 13 again and running up against your curfew. It's all of the summers you've lived in one. That book you can't put down, a family BBQ, fireworks on the 4th of July. A sun-kissed tan after a day at the beach, cool sheets on your sunburn as you crawl into bed, after a full day, feeling good about your company and the way your time was spent. Because you carry all of those golden moments and flashes of nostalgia into August. It sums up the days of summer you anticipate during the school year. When you can feel a little more like yourself, outside of the classroom, outside of the office. Here's to you, August…May you be filled with toasts to new beginnings, healing old wounds, protecting your peace and your life and pursuing those dreams that it's time to take off the shelf. Shall we do it? -SNP- |
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- Sullivan's Crossing
- The Wizard of Oz (re-watch, of course)
- (started) Casablanca on the plane (another rewatch)
- Back to the Future I and II
- Good Hang with Amy Poehler Video Podcast (guests: Quinta Brunson, Rashida Jones)
- Disney's Snow White Live Action Remake
- Summer I Turned Pretty: Third and final season (first few episodes that have been released)
- One Tree Hill (because it's a comfort show - I've been going through my 4th or 5th full rewatch)
- Happy Gilmore (first time watching)
- Happy Gilmore 2
- Blended (another rewatch because it's ridiculously funny)
- Kpop Demon Hunters
- Amy Bradley is Missing doc. miniseries
- Freaky Friday (in preparation for the sequel, as if I needed help)
- Princess Diaries 2 (just because I love it)
- The Materialists
- Big Daddy
- The Great Outdoors
- Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross
- Reba (watching more episodes here and there)
- Marvel's: The Fantastic 4
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- You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
- Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
- Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
- Go-to Dinners by Ina Garten
- Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino
- The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (reread, special edition)
- Jilted by Vi Keeland
- Only Magic in the Building Book #1: The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair
- How Freaking Romantic by Emily Harding
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- Word search books (a lot of great ones from the Dollar Store)
- Bought a ticket for Reese Witherspoon's Shiny Away Conference in October
- Lifeline's Flow Art Activity Pad (dot art)
- Taking online classes with Masterclass (George W. Bush, Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, George Stephonpoulos)
- Writing more - blogs, podcast scripts, journals, Substack essays, etc.
- Drafting out my potential novel with my “Novel from Nothing: The Ultimate Fiction Writer's Organizer" book I bought in Portland, Maine
- Recording voice memos for podcast episodes
- Seeking inspiration from life - all aspects of it - work, nature, family and friendships
- Joined D23 - the Official Disney Fan Club again
- Had major FOMO about not being at the Freakier Friday World Premiere in Hollywood - I tried so hard to get tickets; tweeting and emailing Disney execs, but it was a super exclusive thing for a lot of Disney influencers and other digital content creators
- Counting down the days until Freakier Friday is out, bought tickets to see it at the El Capitan on Hollywood Blvd.
- Coloring as a stress reliever
- Trying to keep up with the minute-by-minute changes of social media to create content, analyze data and do everything else that a social media manager can possibly TRY to do.
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- I WANT MY LOVED ONES TO GO WITH ME | Noah Cyrus
- King of Hearts | Brandon Lake
- Songs for a New Moon | Charles Kelley
- Pod Meets World
- When the Stars Come Out | Chris Stapleton
- Crying in the Night (remastered) | Buckingham Nicks (Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham)
- Greetings from Your Hometown | Jonas Brothers (songs that are released so far)
- Ultimate | Lindsay Lohan (from the “Freaky Friday” soundtrack, 2003)
- Freakier Friday soundtrack
- George Strait Essentials
- Little Big Town Essentials
- KPop Demon Hunters (soundtrack from the Netflix film)
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Lessons & Highlights from the month: |
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- When you know what you're good at and where you excel, you can start to lean into that more, rather than pushing yourself into someone you weren't created to be. It's good to challenge yourself and push yourself to new levels, but know your limits;
- The 2000s are back in a big way, with the fashion, sequels to films, Chad Michael Murray (who is always in style) and I am here for it;
- I need to spend more time on the East Coast and explore more of Maine because there's so much to see;
- It's important to invest in your growth, personally and professionally, whether that's taking a Masterclass, using a CALM app or doing something that helps you get closer to your goals and meet more people around this incredible world we live in;
- So much of true friendship is lived out in the uncomfortable, hardships - the inconvenience of things. Yes, the dinner dates and road trips are amazing, but when you can be there for one another in less than ideal situations, I think that speaks volumes;
- Whether you're married or single, we all have our hardships. It's easy to look at someone who is married and think they have it all, and vice versa, but each of us has a different set of struggles we're facing.
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Some favorite moments captured from the month: |
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My life craves routines and having things on the calendar. While a bit more craziness ensues during the fall semester, I like getting back to the normal schedule - a more regular sleeping pattern, more certainty with plans for the weekend, and of course, the season of Gilmore Girls. August is the weird in-between month, where it isn't really one season - it's still a bit of summer, but kids are back in school and you're longing for fall. It's like living in limbo, but we're getting closer to the best months of the year. |
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What I'm looking forward to in August… |
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There's a lot to look forward to this month! It's shaping up to be busier than I thought, and with plenty of good reasons. - I'm off this week and taking full advantage of that: Getting my first massage, will try to squeeze in some friend time, going to do some crafts, unplug, get organized a bit and do some other things I've been putting off;
- I'm going to learn to make candles;
- Freakier Friday is out on Aug. 8 (and I'm going to see it Aug. 9 with my parents and one of my best friends) and I feel like a kid again;
- The Jonas Brothers' new album also comes out on Aug. 8; and
- Going to a taping of Tim Allen's latest show, “Shifting Gears” with my aunt
The university will start classes up again at the end of the month and life will be in full swing until the end of the year — photos to take, captions to write, reels to edit. Have to get the rest and relaxation in now. What are you looking forward to most this month? |
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Stars Hollow Ct.
Bakersfield , CA 93311, USA |
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