August Faves
The fast-paced new card game the kids are loving, more skincare favorites, and a wear-everywhere Amazon sweater that’s perfect for pre-fall.
Hi friends! Well, we officially made it through August, one of the muggiest months here in Charleston. We are back in school and getting back into routine. This month, there were so many things I loved (I’m finally weighing in with my favorite sunscreen of the summer!) and I can’t wait to tell you about all of them. However, there’s truly nothing I’m more excited about sharing with you all than drumroll…MY BOOK! I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen officially hit bookshelves (and audible) on August 26, and I still can’t get over seeing it in your hands. You can order one on Amazon or at your favorite local bookseller or most anywhere books are sold. I’ll share more in the next Power Nap, but suffice it to say, this week was one of the best, most memorable weeks of my life, and was capped off by a party my parents threw for me. It’s ironic because my “I just wish…” book is on the shelves, but in this moment I am really feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.
Without further ado, here’s some favorites from August.
Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50: This sunscreen from Colorscience is amazing! I’ve been trying lots of different sunscreens this summer, and I really thought I was going to crown EltaMD the winner. It seemed to be the one I reached for the most—until I opened this Colorscience one. It comes out white, and then as it’s activated by your hands, it blends to matches your skin tone. It’s not greasy at all. It’s fabulous, and I’m planning to reorder whenever I run out. I wear shade medium but because it color matches it’s very forgiving. I think I could order light or medium and be fine with either.
The Ordinary’s Squalane Face Oil: I was introduced to this $10 acne-safe face oil when I was treating my own adult acne. I’m a big fan of face oils, and this one is just such a good price point. It’s also super hydrating and makes you look dewy and fresh. How I use it: I wash my face before bed and then gently rub a small amount of the oil all over my face. If I’m super dry, I’ll put my moisturizer on over it, but in the summer humidity, the face oil is usually enough for me. I’ll also use a tiny bit in the morning before I do my sunscreen (teeny tiny, but I find the smallest amount hydrates my face and helps for a dewy look).
Flip 7: This addictive card game is so much fun to play with the kids. Our friends Seth and Callie introduced it to us when they came to visit us in Maine. It’s great for kids because they can easily understand the concepts, but they also have to do a little low-level math. You can do the math for them if they’re really young—it just requires tallying up your points at the end of each round. But Millie, Scout, and Johnny are doing the math themselves. It’s fast paced and super easy to play, and it’s just a deck of cards, which makes it great for travel. You can play with as few as two people or as many as ten. Since we’ve been home, I’ve introduced it to tons of friends, and it’s currently making its way around our neighborhood.
Sweater Weather: As August fades to September, my favorite sweaters and pullovers are starting to make their way out of storage. There are two that I’ve owned for over a year and absolutely love I want to share. The first is a cropped crewneck sweater from Amazon (pictured above). It comes in a ton of colors and is one of my favorite sweaters to layer over dresses. I almost always pack it when I travel (of course, it made the recent trip to Nashville with me) because I prefer to travel in a dress or skirt—it’s just more comfortable to me—and I hate to be cold on planes. The second is another Amazon find, a half-zip cropped pullover, that’s a solid Lululemon dupe. It’s thick and cropped but not too cropped and comes in a bunch of different shades. There’s a hoodie version and a version without a hood.
Simek Meatballs: I’ve mentioned this brand before, but these grocery store meatballs are a staple at our house. We get the Angus beef, original beef, or the kids’ meatballs, and I’ll cook them in barbecue sauce with side of rice and corn on the cob or broccoli. Sometimes, I’ll use Bachan’s Japanese-style barbecue sauce for an Asian twist, and of course, I’ll serve them in marinara to put in sub rolls or spaghetti. A lot of meatballs have a weird chewy texture that feels overly processed, but not these. I still love a from scratch meatball, but if I need quick and easy, this is the brand I’m reaching for every time. They’re carried at most grocery stores I have been so recently (Whole Foods, Publix, and Hanover’s in Maine).
Kirkland Brand Sous Vide Egg Bites: these babies are a less expensive version of the Starbucks bacon and greyere egg bites and my goodness I love them! I pop them in the air fryer for 5-8 minutes and they are perfection. I do not love eating breakfast and these make getting some solid protein in me so much easier.
Sunday Candy (Cinematic Pop version): This is an older song by Nico Segal and Chance the Rapper that he wrote about his grandmother and it’s delightful. You gotta listen to the lyrics. Recently I was listening to this version by Cinematic in the car, and I was reminded just how great of a song it is. It’s such a feel-good, happy song. When the choir comes in — GAH! So good!!
Trainwreck Poop Cruise: This wild Netflix documentary is about a 2013 incident where a Carnival cruise ship, carrying 4,000 passengers, suffers an engine fire and loses power. Eventually, the toilets began backing up and started overflowing onto the ship. It’s almost comical, but don’t watch it if you’re about to go on the cruise. Otherwise, it’s a must watch. My college besties were in town this weekend and I had them watch it with me (I happily watched a second time) and we cackled. Whoever made this documentary did an excellent job. It’s worth the hour-long watch. I couldn’t look away!
Table for Two: I loved this collection of short stories by Amor Towles after my friend Cali told me it was one of her favorite books. The first half of the book is a series of shorter stories, and the second half is one longer narrative. But they’re all excellent. Each story is so well written and unique with strong endings that leave you with things to think about. Nate and my mom both love Amor Towles, and after reading this collection, I can’t wait to pick-up more of his work. What should I start with?!
Alrighty! That’s it for August faves. I have so enjoyed keeping an apple note where I jot down the things I am loving and then getting to share them with you here.
Rules of Civility is a delightful read (majority of the time). Fabulous writing throughout. I’d recommend! And I found it much easier to get into than Gentleman in Moscow. But looking at these comments, I’m eager to read or listen to Lincoln Highway!
ps- You likely know this, but when searching your name on Amazon, I discovered someone else has written a book entitled, “The Naptime Kitchen Effect: An Unofficial Kate Strickler Guide.” So curious to hear your thoughts!
Lincoln Highway is my favorite from Amor Towles! And of course Gentleman in Moscow.