Happy Thursday, friends!
It’s 10 RANDOM THINGS: AUGUST EDITION!
You know the drill, I have a few random categories and am sharing random tidbits about each one.
I hope you are having the best, best Thursday!
I hope wherever you are today…that it’s cooler than it is in Texas…
And this is where we’re starting today.
Here are…
10 Random Texas Summer Memes…
I feel each and every one of these in my core.
10 Random Thoughts So Far from this School Year:
#1: I’M EXCITED!
Truly, truly, truly, I am so so excited for my senior kiddo that it alleviates a lot of sadness. She is so ready for this next chapter which gives my heart so much peace.
#2: I SHOULD HAVE SLEPT IN MORE OVER THE SUMMER
I know that one cannot “bank sleep” in July to use during the school year, but I think to myself at least once a day “why didn’t I sleep in more over the summer”?
#3: LET THE “YOUNGER” MAMAS DO IT
I don’t know about your schools/activities volunteer life, but there are so many “things” to be done as a parent that when you add on all the “senior things” as well, it’s WAY TOO MANY THINGS. Right now, in this season, I’m going to focus on more of the senior specific things and let those younger mamas handle the rest.
#4: FIND YOUR PEOPLE (YOU CAN’T DO THIS ALONE)
I am so thankful for my “people” at these different schools. Multiple times a day, someone will ask on one of the various text threads I’m on a really good question about something that I either a) also needed help with or b) had no clue about, so thank goodness they brought it up or c) I know the answer and can help! Just Tuesday night, Kensington brought home this packet that is new to the district that we need to sign and for the love, it was complicated. I was thrilled when another mama asked about it and collectively, nine women figured out how to complete it. It takes a village to get your kids through school.
#5: I HAVE TO GIVE IT TO JESUS.
I love to be in charge/micromanage/be the boss/handle all the things, but I’m trying really hard to just trust that the Lord has a plan for Kensington’s next chapter (Jeremiah 29:11). There are so many new/changing/unknown things as you transition from senior year to college, and I’m just trusting the Lord is going to handle it all.
#6: GOSH, MY HOUSE IS QUIET.
You guys, my house is oh so quiet. As much as I love working in a quiet space, I miss all that noise. No one has come in and asked me what’s for lunch or shown me their new juggling skill…and it kind of makes my heart sad.
That being said…
#7: GOSH, MY HOUSE IS CLEANER.
All of those kiddos are at school all day and then come home too tired to make a mess. I’m not hating how clean the place looks 😉 .
#8: WHY DON’T MORE DOCTORS AND DENTISTS OFFER LATER HOURS?
I’m not trying to get up on a soapbox here but…there are some professions who are geared more towards school aged children than adults, so it always kind of boggles my mind when their latest appointment is at 3:30. I mean, could you at least have appointments until 5:00? There are all those routine appointments children must attend (like the orthodontist!) and for some reason, they’re always right smack in the middle of the school day.
#9: I DON’T UNDERSTAND COMPOSITION NOTEBOOKS
I don’t understand the composition notebook. All four of my kids (6th through 12th grade) needed multiple for school (between four different schools). I much much much prefer a spiral notebook because they lay flat. Who wants to constantly fight a composition notebook? Why are these so popular? I don’t understand why I just bought 10 of them.
#10: WHEN CAN I PUT OUT MY PUMPKINS?
Not quite yet…but almost.
10 Things I Wear When It’s 105 Out:
#1 and #2: SWEATSHIRTS + TENNIS SKIRTS
It’s so hot outside but then it’s cold everywhere you go inside. My house, the grocery store, the kids’ schools…the AC is blasting. It was so cold in our church on Sunday that the AC was LITERALLY blowing the pages of my open Bible. This is my comfy combination (layered with a tank underneath should I get warm!).
It’s basically like wearing an oversized tee everywhere.
#4 and #5: CUTE ATHLETIC SHORTS + TANK
Yes, yes, it’s athleticwear but it’s “cuter” than normal athleticwear and keeps me from getting sweaty (or camouflages it!).
#6: COMFY SKIRT
It’s a skirt that feels like baggie shorts. Brilliant.
#7 and #8: BEACH SWEATER AND DENIM SHORTS
I bought these shorts back in April and wore them all spring and summer long. They went to Nantucket with me and back home to McKinney. They’re extra, extra comfy because of the banding around the middle. I love them. I love them with a beach sweater to avoid that whole “frigid air conditioning” thing we have going on right now.
#9 and #10: JUST STAY IN YOUR ATHLETICWEAR
And some days when it’s 106 outside, I just stay in my athleticwear and survive.
10 Delicious Bites From Nantucket:
#1: THE FARAWAY MERMAID
It’s a spicy margarita you can find at the Sister Ship restaurant.
#2: THE JUICE BAR
The very best place to get ice cream on Nantucket. The line out the door says it all.
#3: SUMMER HOUSE
The Shull family unanimously voted that our best, most surprising meal of the year came from Summer House out in Sconset.
#4: TUNA POKE
Millie’s out in Madaket has a lot of yummy bites, but hands down, my fave is the tuna poke bowl.
#5: BREAKFAST SANDWICH
After years and years of only eating breakfast sandwiches at The Hub (which we do still love!), this summer, we started grabbing them from Fresh and never looked back.
#6: CLAM CHOWDER
The two best places to have clam chowder on Nantucket are Slip 14 (pictured here) or The Tavern. You can get a lot of great chowder on that little island, but those two spots are my personal faves.
#7: BUCK A SHUCK
The Sandbar is a dive bar and restaurant at Jettie’s beach…and their afternoon “buck a shuck” always brings me joy.
#8: SUSHI
My favorite place to eat sushi on Nantucket is Bar Yoshi. They have the best rolls AND they have some delicious appetizers too.
#9: NANTUCKET TAP ROOM
I feel like this restaurant is often overlooked. The location is perfect (it legit sits outdoors right on Broad Street), and the food is delicious.
#10: FOOD TRUCKS AT THE BREWERY
Cisco Brewery not only makes their own beverages, but they host a very wide variety of food trucks each day for great snacks too.
10 Ways I’m Like My Mama:
#1: DON’T MESS WITH OUR MORNING TIME
My mom and I prioritize our morning routine. We like our coffee, we like our Bible studies, we like our inspirational books and magazines, we like a quiet spot to enjoy all the things each morning. It’s our favorite time of day.
#2: WE’RE NOT GOING TO CRY ABOUT IT
I was the kid who grew up with the dad who was a crier and the mom who was the stoic one. Ha! My mom is also an enneagram 8 (like Andrew and me) and though we do have feelings (I’m pretty sure?), we are not super emotional or very sensitive. We’re the ones you want in an emergency. We’ll stay calm and get it handled. My dad will be the one crying, holding your hand, and praying over you. We need those people in our lives too 😉 .
#3: WE WILL THROW IT AWAY
And because we’re not super emotional or sensitive, we are really good at not being sentimental. We appreciate things and love fond memories…but we’re not going to hang on to “all the things”.
#4: BAGS, BAGS, AND MORE BAGS
I am a collector of handbags…and I blame my mom.
#5: OUR FAVORITE HOBBY IS “PIDDLING”
We both LOVE to “piddle”. I know this word means other things in other parts of the world, but in Texas, it equates to sipping your Starbucks while walking through Hobby Lobby smelling candles. We don’t need to buy anything, we just really like the “looking”. We both find it so relaxing and it gives both of us a little boost of energy just to pop into a home store and explore. It fills our cups.
#6: BOOKS PLEASE!
We love all the books. Give us a novel. Give us a coffee table book. A cookbook. Heck, the latest issue of Southern Living, and we are quite happy.
#7: WE LOVE OUR HOMES
We both love to be at home. We love our yards, we love to be in our kitchens, we love our patios…we love to make things cozy and inviting. We just really love being home.
#8: DOGS PLEASE!
My mom loves her pups! She currently has two…Caroline and Fenway. (If you know, you know 😉 ) .
#9: MUSIC ALWAYS SETS THE TONE
One time, a kiddo came into my house and told me my house always “sounded like a fancy hotel”. Yes, yes! I loved that way of describing the music I play at home. I PROMISE you, if you walked into my mom’s house right this minute, it too sounds like a fancy hotel.
#10: WE LIKE TO LOOK FOR QUIET BLESSINGS
My mama taught me to look for “quiet blessings”. Those simple, little, everyday moments that really bless your heart.
10 Best Back To School Recipes:
Make ’em, bake ’em, freeze ’em, heat ’em…the easiest weekday morning breakfast bite!
We make this on repeat at our house! I pop it in the slow cooker early in the morning and bam, at dinner, we have delicious brisket. You can eat it alone or on top of a baked potato, as a taco, over rice…the sky is the limit. It’s delicious!
#3: EASY WEEKNIGHT SLOW COOKER TACOS
The name says it all!
#4: FLOURLESS PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
Only FOUR ingredients, y’all!
The #1 breakfast bite at our house!
#6: EASY EGG BITES
You can make these in advance and just heat them up in the morning. They’re easy to mix and match too!
#7: BUTTERSCOTCH MAPLE NO BAKE COOKIES
I have a big batch in my freezer right now! My kids love, love these cookies. I make them and freeze them and my kids enjoy them cold. So simple!
#8: SIMPLE SAUSAGE, PEPPERS, & ONIONS
You guys, this is the easiest weeknight supper! We make this one on repeat!
These muffins are great for breakfast, in the lunchbox or as a snack too!
#10: MY BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
After many, many batches, I finally figured out my version of the “best” chocolate chip cookie. The recipe only calls for one bowl because…who wants to dirty a bunch of dishes? Not me! Based on the comments, you ladies love these too!
And that is August’s edition of 10 RANDOM THINGS!
Whew! Stay cool out there, friends! I’ll see you tomorrow. xx
Leave a Reply