one // two // three // four // five
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If you follow along with me on Instagram then you know I have been mourning the end of summer all month long. It brings tears to my eyes saying goodbye to afternoons at the pool, a slower schedule and a glass of prosecco on the back deck after the day is finished. I have been savoring every second of August and these are some of the things that have helped.
one: Tennis
I joined a tennis league this month. Like a for real, we have practice and matches with a tennis pro kinda league. Mind you it is only a C league but I have quickly become obsessed and loving it! I have played tennis on and off since I was little with my dad, nothing too serious but I always loved it. Then in my senior year of high school, I decided to join the team on a whim after not running my last year for various reasons. I HAD A BLAST! Now I haven't played seriously since then so it has been a bit of a learning curve but we are getting there and it has been so fun to bust out my skirts and dust off the racket. It has been the greatest doing something new! It has challenged me and been oh so good. When was the last time you picked something new up that scared you a bit? I highly encourage you to do so!
two: Made for More Movie by Rachel Hollis
If you remember from my March Favorites I raved about Rachel's book, Girl Wash Your Face. I had to keep myself from reading it in 1 day due to the fact it was the only book I brought on my trip. I since then have become obsessed with Rachel. I say, Rachel, like we are actually BFF's....nope, a girl can dream though. She also puts on this big women's conference every year and they made it into a documentary and it was shown in movie theatres around the country. Obviously, I was totally pumped and made it a girls night with 3 of my close friends here. Dinner before and pump 'em up girl-Jesus-loving-motivational-business-life-inspired-movie night was just what I needed. I highly recommend you read this book, following all her socials and becoming just as obsessed with her as I am. She will change your life.
Nothing that lasts is accomplished quickly. Nobody’s entire legacy is based on a single moment, but rather the collection of one’s experiences. If you’re lucky, your legacy will be a lifetime in the making.
Rachel Hollis, Girl Wash Your Face
three: LeMoo
Ok, if you know me and my husband then you know how much we love brunch at LeMoo. It is one of our most favorite things IN THE WORLD and I have gotten to enjoy it twice this month! We got to enjoy it's greatest with my parents one Sunday (which I am happy to repot they loved it!) and then going there this weekend for an ultimate girls weekend here in Lou to celebrate my lifetime BFF's 30th birthday. If you are in the Lousiville area and have not been here for brunch.....WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?! Get there now! You will not be sorry. And really the greatest thing there of all is the wine glass size $3 mimosa. Yeah, it's amazing and you literally can't beat it. Hands down the best brunch IN TOWN!
four: Two by Two
This summer has been one of the mindless beach reads. They are just good for your soul ya know? Turn your brain off and get lost in a good non-fiction book. I talked about last month how I have been obsessed and loving Charles Martin's books this summer I have read 5 of them and getting ready to start #6, but this month I went back to one of my favorite authors of all time -- Nicholas Sparks. I don't care what you think. I love a good chick flick and romance and he writes incredible books. Yes, I love all of his movies, but his books are unreal. Easy reads that suck you into such a good love story with a happy ending (most of the time). I am almost finished with Two by Two and literally wish I could just spend all day tomorrow reading the rest of it that I have left. If you need a good beach read, Nicholas Sparks never disappoints.
five: bone broth
This is a recent fav. Like as of this week favorite. I tried my hand at making my own bone broth this week and I don't know why I have done it before now. (UPDATE: finally have a recipe for this here!) I have been wanting to do it for a while and just haven't made time. I called ahead to Lucky's Market and asked if they had any beef bones, which he kindly responded: "I just put some beef femurs in the freezer." Hmmmmm. I will admit, it's strange, BUT bone broth is SO GOOD for you, and why I really wanted to make it! There are numerous many benefits to bone broth
- helps with gut health
- full of collagen and amnio acids (did you know that 30% of your body's protein is collagen? And most people are severely deficient in this)
- helps your skin and hair
- reducing joint pain and inflammation
- Read this great article for more information
Justin and I have been wanting to consume this in our daily diets for the health benefits, extra protein, collagen, and support in joint inflammation. I had my first cup today and it was absolutely delicious! I added a touch of sea salt and drank out of a coffee mug. It was basically like eating veggie soup but just the broth. Warm, comforting, flavorful and even better knowing how many good things there are for me in it. I will be sharing my slow cooker recipe for it soon so be on the lookout.
extra favorite: our deck
I thought only appropriate to add my most favorite this month till the very end. While this project is about 90%-ish finished we are obsessed and live out there as much as we can.
We have been planning/wanting/dreaming to add a screened in porch to our already existing 2 level deck in our backyard. Justin gets eaten alive with big bites -- me, not so much. However, we love being outside in the summer 24/7. Eating and relaxing on the deck is one of my most favorite things in life. So a screened in porch became a thought that is now a reality and man o man do I love it even more than I thought I would!
Now it has been a major construction project. Much bigger than we expected and took much longer than we thought. For a week or so we had a lovely port-a-pot by our mailbox (yes. yes. you read that correctly. By our mailbox....) that a neighbor even decided to use one day.......
However, all of "experiences" make for very entertaining stories now, and it doesn't matter anymore because it is usable! I have had the best time decorating and living in my hammock swing (um, hello.....i had no idea about Wayfair until furnishing the porch. What have I been missing out on?!).
So we love it. Obsessed. Live out there. Rex has gotten used to him being confined, and it has been properly broken in with a deck party! Justin started on phase 2 this week of getting the bottom finished out and the man he is getting it up in record deck building time thanks to the greatest woodworker & carpenter in the world advice....my dad 🙂 Here are just a couple pictures to see the process!
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Deck Before -
Demo day! -
Mid way through -
WE HAVE A DECK! -
Time to party!
What were some of your faves this month? Are you a summer lover like me or crazy about fall and you've already busted out your boots and drinking PSL's (I am eye rolling right now). I will enjoy this Labor Day weekend with my best friends at the Omni Louisville with all the girl time, nourishing conversations, delicious food, spa day and cabanas by the pool that my heart can get!
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