Holy cow, August was a whirlwind. Honestly, I think it’s the month we’ve been home the most since January. And even with that, the month went faster than usual. Is that weird? That time feels slower on the road? I think that’s definitely the case for me. I am soaking up more, I have fewer responsibilities living in a smaller space and plan out my time more specifically to what’s around me to see. Not that it’s always easier, but I think it is sweeter in its own ways.
Travel Planning This Month
We’ve officially decided that Matt is coming to Peru with me! Next summer, I’m hosting a trip to trek the Salkantay Trek in Peru and my parents offered to watch the kids so that we can do it together! It’ll be the longest we’ve both been away from the kids since CJ was born. So, we’re very excited about that. Plus, Matt has never been to Peru, so I’m excited to visit another new country with him! Guess what?! YOU CAN COME TOO! This trip is open to anyone and everyone! Check out the trip details here!
Kate and I finalized all our plans for Ecuador! We’re staying a couple days after the tour ends to go to the cloud forest and try to see as many bird species as possible, and maybe a waterfall or two. I’m so stoked for this trip and exploring with a really cool group of women! Plus, I have some extra time there with two of my favorite women: Kate and Stacey! I am truly so excited to see how this trip blossoms! We’re less than two weeks out!
Travel This Month
I had a really lovely weekend trip with my Mama to St. Charles, Missouri. It’s such a darling town along the Missouri River which was also the destination of Missouri’s First Capital, and it was an event in the Missouri’s First Capitol brought us there: a basket weaving class. Honestly, it was the best time! I’d been wanting to take a basket weaving class for a couple of years, and I finally talked my mama into it! I’m obsessed with this new hobby. She and I had so much fun and got to do something we both love: crafting and creating!
In addition to taking the class, we ate some incredible food, I made the loveliest connection with the Happy Camper Clothing Co. shop owner who has the cutest little shop and is unbelievably sweet, and I got to spend three amazing days with my mama. Truly, she’s one of my very best friends (lucky me) and I love that we’ve started making time for these weekend or long weekend trips. Also, soup dumplings. Have you had them?! We fell hard for the restaurant Tiger Soup Dumplings.
Travel Laughs and Mishaps
When my mom and I signed up for this basketweaving class, we thought it was a 2 day class. So, we booked the whole weekend. It was so silly, but honestly, I’m so glad that we made the mistake.
Blog Posts from August
July 2026 – A Monthly Roundup – This is a monthly roundup post, just like this one, but from last month! Check out what we got into our last full month of summer.
Camper Diaries: Nomad Summer 2026 – What Experienced, What We Saw and More – This post is a bit of a roundup of everything we did, how we tackled this 5 week trip and what we learned about traveling this long in our camper.
Quote of the Month
Stop caring about being judged by the most basic, lame human beings on earth.
What I Read in August
PHYSICAL BOOKS I READ
A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
This book is taking me a bit longer to get into, but I think it’s also a lack of time I’m able to give it at the moment. I want to dive in, but there’s a lot of backstory and building that have me unable to jump in as I’m seeking a vicarious adventure right this second.
To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins
This book is hitting that feeling faster, so I’ve gotten farther along in this book than A Walk in the Park. While this is a little more religious in tone than I was expecting, it’s not like being beaten over the head with it. This adventure feels really beautiful and I’m so excited to see where it belongs.
AUDIO BOOKS I LISTENED TO
Verity by Coleen Hoover – Obviously, I’m late to the game on this one, but it was really, really good. Very suspenseful and I also loved that it was like two books in one book eventually. It was one that I tried very hard to stay awake for, or sat in the car a minute longer to listen to.
I’ve been re-listening to the ACOTAR series because the next book comes out in October and I want to refresh my memory before that.
Most Popular Post in August
Things to Know Before Visiting Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky – I love this “Things to Know” national park series. This post for Mammoth Cave has been my most-viewed for the past few months.
Wild Motherhood Journey
Dude, August in the Ozarks in brutal. The feels like temp is over 100 degrees almost every single day! So, we haven’t been outside all day quite as much, but we have been getting out on a local greenway in the evenings to let them walk or ride their bikes while we walk with them. But even in the last hour or two of the day, it’s brutally hot. Plus, the kids started back to school the first week of August, so our time with them is a bit more limited, which I hate. I miss them so much! But, I also loved this little cuteness of what cleaning out the car of wild children looks like. (photo on the left)
Local Adventures
Local adventures always include greenway and hiking trails! This month was no exception. We walked as a family, with friends, and, of course, I walked solo. I had a couple of hikes with my local Women’s Hiking Club that have been a lot of fun and so very rewarding. We did the South Creek Trail in town and then walked the loop road of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield later in the month! It was my first time doing that and I loved it!
We also went to the Ozarks Empire Fair. It’s an annual tradition to go with my parents, my brother’s family and my family. I love watching the cousins ride the rides together! Liam is still a little short for a few of the kid’s rides, but I think next year all the kids will be tall enough for those.
Near the end of the month, we went to Branson to hang out with some of Matt’s family members, which was so lovely! We all went to the Boardwalk Aquarium which was pretty nice. There was a scavenger hunt, play areas, and lots of really beautiful sea creatures. Then, the family pitched going to the butterfly palace. Fun fact about me, I’m terrified of butterflied. I know it’s super irrational, but there it is. However, I faced my irrational fears and decided to go in with my family. I was really proud of myself. I made huge progress in this fear, but I will say, I don’t like them touching my skin still. Also, this outing produced one of the most hilarious photos of me, ever. So I can’t be mad about that.
Taking Care of Myself in 2026
I’m putting my phone down a lot more. I’ve been trying to be more intentional with my time. I know that time goes so quickly and I also know that my kids are growing unbelievably fast. I don’t want to blink and have missed the whole thing. Also, with them back in school, that time can be used to write and focus on parts of my business that I need to focus on more, but haven’t had as much time to. I have big goals for the next year or so, and I’m excited to watch myself grow and see how it supports the life we want to live.
I’ve had some changes happen with my job that I have mixed feelings about, but I’m prioritizing looking at the positives about it. I have more time each week that I can focus on blogging and making jewelry (something I did in my early 20s that I’ve been trying to do more of again), and the universe gave me some really beautiful feedback of making a few sponsored partnerships the day after my marketing position I had was completely eliminated.
Home and Life in August
Charlotte had quite the month. She started kindergarten and she lost her first tooth! So, she’s feeling very grown! She also is killing it with reading and math and I love seeing her bloom in her education.
Liam is back at school this month too! He has a new teacher this year and he’s handling the transition beautifully. This year, he’s exploded socially and that makes my mama heart happy to see him talking with friends more.
Matt had his first two solo music gigs this month! He killed it! I am so unbelievably proud of him. He’s so bold in the way he’s chases his dreams and I hope that he’s as proud of himself as I am of him.
I was on our local news this month to promote my Women’s Hiking Club! I randomly received an email asking me to come on and the very next day I was on the news! I was thrilled to have been asked and promote my hiking club because I’m so unbelievably proud of this group of women.
What’s Coming in September
In September, I’m hosting my first group trip! I love this new journey that I’m embarking on, and I have a group of amazing women taking this trip. Plus, it’ll be my 40th country, Ecuador, which checks off my goal of visiting 40 countries before I turn 40 (with 4 years to spare!)! Two of my best friends are coming on this trip, too! So, I am just really, really, excited about this trip!
Matt finally joins me in the age of 36 near the end of the month. I love getting to celebrate him, and I can’t wait to see what 36 brings for him.
Fall starts. It’s my favorite season. Cozier clothes, perfect hiking weather, tasty treats, soups, all the festivities start. I can’t wait to see what sort of fall fun we get into.
I hope August was so good to you and that September ushers in the last third of the year with coziness, beauty and wonder.
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