August Favorites

Wow, August flew by!

It’s never been my favorite month of the year, what with the usually-oppressive heat and back-to-school busyness, but I was digging August this year. It was cool enough that I was getting impatient for fall, and since it’s Husband’s last year of school, it’s been more nostalgic and celebratory than anything else.

Here’s a round up of things I’ve been into this August.

First up, the notebook. I love a good floral. I got this notebook for recipe writing, since my system before was to grab whatever paper was closest to me (envelopes, Kroger adds, the back of a former grocery list, etc.) and scribble all over. So after about a year of having chicken scratch recipes on pieces of paper that had a special way of never making it into my binder of recipes, I figured it was time to try a different system. And this notebook has been perfect for that! I now write, edit, re-edit, and finalize recipes all in this notebook. I love having them all in one place, and the cuteness factor never hurts, either. I’m thinking about also getting one solely for grocery lists. I figure since my purse is 90% full of old grocery lists at all times (how does this happen? I clean it out faster than I thought they could accumulate…), I’d rather them be organized and in a pretty notebook.

Also, cute notebooks these days usually have a lot going on inside of them (checklists, inspiring quotes…). I like that this one doesn’t. Just blank pages on blank pages.

Essie Flowerista nail polish. For a long time I’ve been firmly on the OPI side of the OPI vs Essie debate, but this Flowerista nail polish is making me rethink my allegiance (sorry, OPI!). I’ve always had a hard time working with Essie formulas – they’ve either been thick and goopy and take my whole life to dry, or ultra thin and require 5 coats and take my whole life to dry. This one though, is spot on. It could be a 1 coater if you really wanted it to be, but it’s better with 2. Flowerista applies very easily, and has lasted me a week each time I’ve used it (and I take darker nail polish off as soon as it starts chipping, so this is really good!!). Also, the color. It is one of my favorites ever: Fun and surprisingly professional. Even if you’re not a purple fan, you might want to check this out. If you’re looking for something transitional you can wear into Fall, this fits the bill. I’m convinced it would be good for any season, and on all skin tones.

Now I guess I’ll need to try out a lot more Essie polish to figure out if I really like it more than OPI. Any suggestions??

Diptyque Baies Candle. I love candles but am quite picky when it comes to choosing one. I like white candles because they give off the best light. I like glass containers because otherwise you can’t see the candlelight as well and – as cute as candle packaging can be – I always prefer the candlelight. And scent is either hit or a big miss for me. What I’m trying to tell you is, don’t ever go candle shopping with me. It will take a while.

I’m also trying to tell you that this is the perfect candle. My mom had received it as a gift, and since she keeps a fully stocked arsenal of candles at all times, gave it to me as a housewarming gift. I lit it for myself as I was unpacking dishes the day we moved into our current house, and loved it so much that I burned through the first half in about a week. My mom came over once while it was burning and I could tell she regretted not keeping it.

Wanting an immediate backup for when the first candle burned out, I looked up how much they cost. Cue sticker shock. But there’s a reason pictures of these candles are all over Pinterest — They’re actually the best. I now receive them as gifts because I tell pretty much everyone who comes into my house how much I love them. Would I spend this much on a candle for myself? It feels indulgent, but YES. Maybe only as a once-a-year splurge, but I would savor that baby all year long.

Did I mention they have holiday scents?? Need to start dropping more hints…

I guess I could buy one for my mom…

Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo. I’m a long time user of dry shampoo. As an infrequent hair-washer, it has become a staple for me. I’ve always felt like washing my hair was just the biggest chore, and often found myself doing it not because my hair was dirty, but because I wanted that freshly blown-out look (ya know, to look like I’d showered recently). I’ve bounced around from lots of different brands, but found them to be either way too strongly scented, or to leave behind a dull residue – even after brushing. Not Your Mother’s is a clear winner for me. I love that it is unscented, and doesn’t weigh your hair down with residue.

Blogging has taught me that an embarrassing amount of my life decisions stem from not having air conditioning, and shed light on all the work-arounds I do to try to maintain a comfortable temperature, so please don’t roll your eyes at me but… I used a LOT of dry shampoo this summer because blow drying hair in a 95 degree house just seemed dangerous. And honestly the air was so sweaty and sticky that nothing ever really felt dry, and getting wet seemed counterproductive. So whether you’re too hot to get your blow dryer out, or you just want fresh volume without the hassle of a wash, I highly recommend this dry shampoo!!

And here’s what we’ve been eating:

So much of this Cajun Chicken Pasta!! We just can’t stop.

All the Homemade Boursin.

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili. I love chili in the summer, and this has been hitting the spot. Getting excited for all the comfort foods this fall!

*This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click on one and make a purchase, I get a small percentage of the cost, at no additional cost to you. If you’ve read the post, you know that these are all products I own and thoroughly enjoy. If you’ve used any of these things or would like to use any of these things, I would love to hear about it!