Hello Sweet Friends!

July, where did you go?

Seriously…how is it already August?

Every year I tell myself I’m going to slow down and soak up every bit of summer. Longer mornings. Patio chats. Lemonade in hand. Sunshine on my face. Time that feels unhurried.

And then somehow…it’s back-to-school displays before I’ve even convinced myself summer has really started.

Can we not?

I know it’s coming. I know it’s part of the season. But I’m just not ready. I want to linger here a little longer.

Funny enough, this summer has felt both incredibly fast and incredibly long at the same time. Anyone else?

One of my hopes heading into the season was to be more intentional. To slow my pace. To be present. I’m not sure I’ve mastered that quite yet…but I love that little word: yet.

There is still time.

Still time for patio evenings, fresh garden dinners, neighborhood walks, lemonade on the porch, and those golden sunsets that remind us why summer is so special in the first place.

I’m holding onto every bit of it.

Speaking of holding on…

Has anyone else been incredibly nostalgic lately?

Maybe it’s a Gen X thing, but I have found myself longing for pieces of my childhood in a way I never really have before. The ESPRIT x Costco collection was all the proof I needed. Those sweatshirts practically flew off the tables and straight into the hearts of every Gen Xer who remembered them the first time around.

Yes…I tried to get one.

No…I wasn’t fast enough.

Sold out.

It made me laugh because it isn’t really about the sweatshirt. It’s about what it represents.

I’ve found myself revisiting favorite music from the ’80s and ’90s, wanting to watch all the classic teen movies, and remembering places that once felt so ordinary but somehow became extraordinary simply because they were ours.

One place that always comes to mind is Lane Avenue Mall.

If you grew up in Columbus, you know.

Today it’s the Shops on Lane Avenue, beautiful in its own way, but so different from the mall I remember. I miss the mirrored walls, the food court with the bright red stools, wandering through the stores, the little kiosks, and just…being there.

Seeing people.

Being seen.

Who knew those everyday moments would become some of the memories I’d treasure most?

Maybe that’s what nostalgia really is.

It’s not wishing we could go backward.

It’s appreciating what those moments gave us.

In a world that often feels loud and uncertain, I think so many of us are reaching for what once felt familiar. The music. The movies. The fashion. The memories.

They remind us who we were.

And I absolutely love seeing younger generations embracing that era alongside us. It’s fun sharing those pieces of our childhood and watching them become cool all over again.

This summer has also been wonderfully full for our family.

Marin has been busy with her summer internship, and it has been such an incredible experience to watch her grow professionally.

Tucker has been everywhere running his landscaping business, and Marc recently started a new job.

And then…

There’s the Jeep.

What started as a small oil leak on Tucker’s 2020 Wrangler somehow turned into, “You need a new engine.”

Wait…what?

The Jeep has around 63,000 miles and, of course, it’s just outside the warranty.

Because isn’t that always how it goes?

We’re currently waiting to hear whether Jeep will approve a goodwill assistance request to help with the repair. The process has been unbelievably slow, and the Wrangler has now been sitting at the dealership for nearly two months.

In the meantime, Tucker has been driving my Nissan Armada for work since he needs the tow package.

Which means…

I’ve officially spent the summer as a passenger princess.

I never realized how attached I was to my car until I wasn’t driving it anymore.

It’s more than transportation.

It’s independence.

It’s windows down, sunroof open, music way too loud, singing every word without a care in the world.

It’s hopping into that big mama SUV and feeling like I can conquer whatever the day has in store.

I miss that.

More than I expected.

The silver lining?

This whole experience has actually brought our family together in a different way.

We’ve had to communicate more, coordinate schedules, share vehicles, keep gas tanks full, and make sure we’re leaving each car better than we found it.

It hasn’t always been convenient, but it has reminded us that flexibility, patience, and teamwork really do matter.

Not exactly my strongest qualities…

But apparently this season thought I could use the practice.

Hopefully the Jeep saga wraps up soon so we can all get back to cruising in our own cars.

One thing that has brought me so much joy this month has been our gardens.

With temperatures climbing into the triple digits, watering has become part of my morning routine.

Earbuds in.

Podcast on.

Coffee finished.

Hose in hand.

Honestly…it’s become one of my favorite parts of the day.

There’s something incredibly calming about caring for something every single morning and watching it flourish because of your consistency.

Our flowers have never looked better this far into summer.

Normally by mid-July they’re looking a little crispy.

Not this year.

This year they’ve stayed colorful, vibrant, and full of life.

Maybe there’s a lesson in that.

The things we consistently care for tend to bloom.

Whether it’s a garden.

A relationship.

Our health.

Or ourselves.

As August begins, I’m reminding myself that there is still plenty of summer left.

Still time to slow down.

Still time to make memories.

Still time to sit on the patio a little longer, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy this beautiful season before we trade sandals for sweaters.

And that’s exactly what I plan to do.