August always seems to pack a LOT into a few short weeks, and Life Lately August 2026 was no exception! We celebrated birthdays, enjoyed the last bits of summer, and cheered Claire on as she completed her second 3K swim. Then it was straight into back-to-school mode with Claire starting 8th grade, Avie beginning 3rd, and me returning to the same high school for my third year. I’m so happy to be back!
Now fall activities are kicking into gear with cross country for Claire and soccer starting for Avie, so our calendar is filling up quickly. Meanwhile, Matt and I have apparently reached the age where solar panels and new windows qualify as exciting purchases. Nothing says romance like improved energy efficiency! 😂Thankfully, we still managed some actual birthday gifts, too. Here’s what else we’ve been reading, eating, trying, and doing lately!
Books I’ve Read
- King of Duels by pirateaba– The King of Destruction continues his campaign as war spreads across Innworld, while assassins, the Stitch Witch, and other growing threats pull familiar characters into increasingly dangerous conflicts.
- Lady of Fire by pirateaba– In the aftermath of the King of Duels’ battle with the King of Destruction, the story follows Niers’ students at sea, the Horns of Hammerad trying to earn respect in Invrisil, and a mysterious Lady beginning her final journey as the Wandering Inn’s magical door once again draws attention.
Recipes I’ve Made
- Jerk Chicken and Mango Slaw Bowls– These were really good. I would recommend not mixing the mango into the slaw. It makes the slaw last longer.
- Dreamy Canoli Cheesecake Bars– I actually make these as a cheesecake and used a premade graham crust. It cut a lot of time off. I also added a ganache for the top which was delicious.
- Korean Ground Beef Tacos– Love that these are slow cooker. Very easy to make up. I quick pickled some carrots and red onions to add instead of cucumber (my cucumber went bad) and it added a nice crunch. If you want more vegetables, bell pepper works well in the meat.
- Baked Cajun Salmon with Avocado Lime Sauce– Last time, I wanted to wait until Matt was home to make this. It was delicious! The flavor was so good. I will definitely be making again.
- Peach and Bacon Salad– I made this as a side salad to go with the salmon. We had some peaches to use up. I didn’t end up grilling the peaches, but it was still really good! I liked the balsamic dressing with it, too.
- Alabama Chopped Chicken Sandwich– Although this required a bit of effort with all the chopping and making the sauce, they were worth it! The filling is really good as a wrap or on a bed of lettuce, too.
- Raspberry Lemonade Bars– I made a double batch of these and I am glad I did. They are so fresh tasting and a perfect summer dessert.
- Key Lime Pie Dump Cake– You can make these as a dump cake (what I did) or as a layered bar. My family enjoyed these with whipped cream on top.
Products I’ve Tried
- Foot massager– I received this as a gift for my birthday and it is heavenly. It has heat, compression, vibration, and massage. You can alter the intensity of each as well. It felt so good on my feet and I swear it helps with my plantar fasciitis.
- Glimmer Goddess Skincare– Glimmer Goddess is a Texas-based skincare brand focused on handcrafted products made with organic ingredients and plant-based actives. I received four of their products to try and have been using them for about two weeks, so I wanted to share my first impressions!
- Apple Stem Cell Duo (Serum and Moisturizer)- I’ve been using the serum and moisturizer together and really enjoy how they feel on my skin. Both absorb nicely without irritation, and the moisturizer leaves my skin soft and hydrated without feeling heavy. My skin seems a little brighter and more refreshed, but I’m excited to keep using the duo to see how it affects fine lines and firmness over time.
- Organic Vitamin C Serum – I haven’t had a vitamin C serum in my routine for a while, and I’ve definitely missed it! I always feel like my skin has more of a glow when I use vitamin C, and after a summer of extra sun exposure, this felt like the perfect time to add it back in. It absorbs quickly, feels lightweight, and hasn’t caused any irritation. After two weeks, my skin does seem brighter, and I’m excited to see the results with continued use.
- Vitamin C Cleanser – This cleanser has been really gentle and non-irritating but still does a great job removing my makeup. I especially like that my skin feels soft and clean afterward without that tight, stripped feeling some cleansers can leave behind. It’s been an easy one to use every day!
- Apple Stem Cell Duo (Serum and Moisturizer)- I’ve been using the serum and moisturizer together and really enjoy how they feel on my skin. Both absorb nicely without irritation, and the moisturizer leaves my skin soft and hydrated without feeling heavy. My skin seems a little brighter and more refreshed, but I’m excited to keep using the duo to see how it affects fine lines and firmness over time.
Currently
- Baking/Cooking- I am constantly baking and cooking, but I think if I had to pick one thing from this past month to recommend it would be the Alabama Chopped Chicken Sandwich. It was so good!
- Decorating- My lemon themed decor is getting switched to fall once September 1 arrives. I love general fall decor and tend to not do much for specific fall holidays.
- Balancing- Is it possible to have balance when you have children? Probably not. I’m just holding on for dear life most days especially in the fall when we are attempting to balance soccer, cross country, swim, Girl Scouts, and church activities.
- Learning- At work we have quite a few new staff in the administrative roles so we are all in a learning stage right now.
- Family Update
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- Avie- Avie got the teacher she wanted for 3rd grade (same one Claire had) and I think it will be a good fit. She is excited to begin her gifted English Language Arts class and Accelerated math. She is excited for swimming to begin in September, especially since she moved up a level.
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- Claire- Claire started Cross Country the week school began. She has some great goals for herself and I think she will achieve them. She really likes her science teacher even though she isn’t in many classes with friends this year.
- Me- I’m back for my third year doing speech therapy part time at a local high school. I never thought I would work with high schoolers when I started, but I do love it. The .5 position is just perfect and the staff and students are amazing! I finally got to wear my thrifted, vintage Lily Pulitzer halter this month, too!
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- Matt- Matt got roped into being an assistant coach for Avie’s soccer team (sorry Matt). It will be an interesting experience for sure! He is used to silently standing poolside and writing DQ slips, haha!
August Goals
- Do something for myself- I did not do this. Hopefully this weekend or next weekend.
- Make an eye appointment- Done! Got new sunglasses and love them.
- Plan a movie night– We hosted one this past weekend.
- Get started on Redwood album– It is started!
September Goals
- Girl Scout dates- I want to schedule dates for my Cadette and Brownie troop for the school year.
- Hang shelf in bathroom- I got an antique shelf at Goodwill and really want to find a place for it. It will replace some smaller ones we have in our bathroom that aren’t our style.
- Plan craft night- My friends and I had discussed having a fall wreath-making night. I have the supplies and need to get a date on the calendar.
- Treat spruces for disease– If you have a blue spruce you know what I am talking about. They often get needle cast and quite a few of our mature ones could look better. We were quoted $150 a tree (we have 7 spruces) and I’d like to at least try it ourselves.
Favorite August Posts
Wrap-Up
And that wraps up Life Lately August 2026! It was a month of birthdays, back-to-school beginnings, big accomplishments, and the start of another very busy fall season. September already looks full with sports, activities, and hopefully a couple of big home projects, but I’m excited to settle into our new routines and see what the month brings—solar panels, new windows, soccer games, cross country meets, and all!
LINKING UP WITH WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY, Currently
