What's Up Wednesday: August 2024

 

Wow August! What a month. So much happened this month and so much has changed in the Good Better Best household since August 1st. To recap the month, I am linking up with Shay and Shaeffer for What's Up Wednesday. Are you ready? Let's do this!

What We're Eating This Week

Monday-Egg Roll in a Bowl

Tuesday-Tacos, black beans, salad

Wednesday-Ranch chicken, noodles, salad

Thursday-Sausage, pepper pasta

Friday-Some type of take-out after his and hers acupuncture

What I'm Reminiscing About

With Hockey Guy leaving for college, I am reminiscing about all of the back-to-school years. Here he is on his first day of kindergarten.

I have also been thinking about this time last year when he was starting senior year and we had no idea what the year would hold for him. Where he is currently going to school wasn't even on the radar screen this time last year and it is looking like the perfect fit.

I have never been a "time slow down" person. I want him to move through his life exactly like he should. 

What I'm Loving

Frankly, I love my friends. I love my friends who have checked on us during college drop off, especially the ones who have had their own first-time college drop-offs to focus on. We are truly, truly blessed.

I am also loving watching so many kids that we love, whom we have known since they were little go off on their own adventures. Each unique, each excited and hopefully all of them will find their place.

On a way less deep note, I am loving these organic sheet masks from Orgaid. I grabbed one at a lovely day spa in Chattanooga and it is one of the Best sheet masks I have ever used. The Vitamin C mask is 73% organic and my skin was newborn-like after using it.

What We've Been Up To

Settle in, because this one is going to be a lot! Running Daddy and I were busy at work in the beginning of the month, while Hockey Guy finished up work, started packing for college and then visited with friends before they all left for college.

Then one Friday morning, Hockey Guy turned 18 years old and we left on the adventure to take him to school. Because it was a very big birthday for him, we drove a little further than we thought we would so that we could spend the night in Nashville. 

What a place! We were there on a Friday night and it definitely lived up to the nickname of Nash-Vegas. While we wanted to eat at Rodney Scott's Whole Hog at Chief's , Eric Church's bar. Unfortunately, because it was a Friday night, Hockey Guy couldn't even go to the restaurant because he was under 21. On to Plan B! We end up at The Lookout at Ole Red owned by Blake Shelton. It was a beautiful night and we were on the rooftop which was a fun experience. The food was decent and it was a fun way to spend Hockey Guy's 18th birthday.

The next morning, we were headed to his college town for move-in. Everything went very smoothly and his roommate's family is delightful.

Hockey Guy had a big hand in the design of his room. He actually cares a lot about this stuff. That's my parenting advice on a pillow and I love this bathroom art.

We didn't linger. We wanted him to get launched as quickly as possible and hanging around wasn't going to make it any easier.

Did I tear up when I left him? Yes, but I have to say that I wasn't a mess. How can I be sad when he is so happy? I also keep reminding myself that he is going to college, to have new experiences and learn things. He is going to become the person he is supposed to be. I did way Better than I thought I would. 

One side note, there was no busier business that night that the liquor stores right by campus. There was a steady stream of parents in and out there! Oh the stories that the gal who was working there had about move in day!

Running Daddy and I then spent two lovely nights in Chattanooga. A few weeks before we left for drop off he mentioned that we should take a few nights on the way back from College Town and go somewhere and just chill.

We stayed at the beautiful Chattanoogan Hotel and it had a Good location with walkable food (a must for me) and then it was a short drive to a lot of other places. 

We ate at Urban Stack the first night as we were tired and it was walking distance from the hotel. I love a unique burger and this place really fit the bill.

The next morning we went to Big Bad Breakfast. They have several locations in the South but we had never been there before. We both had the Yard Work skillet and it was amazing. So much so that we are working to recreate it at home. More on that below.

Several people including my friend Linze recommended Tony's, an Italian restaurant, and said they had a very comprehensive gluten- free menu. It was amazing and I loved the shrimp scampi. Their homemade gluten free flatbread was totally worth the calories.

It was a really delightful night and the weather was perfect for August.

On Monday we took some time at the Good Fortune Soap Company for massages and I even bought some of their products. I bought the sheet mask I mentioned above along with one of their lotion bars for eczema. I really think my shins are less itchy and the fragrance is definitely spa like. 

After the spa Running Daddy and I then headed to the original Lodge cast-iron factory and store. If you are ever in Tennessee and love to cook you should stop there. The outlet part has amazing prices. I didn't need any cast iron basics, I am pretty stocked up, but if you are starting out with cast iron this is the way to do it.

We bought these cast iron mini servers in the slightly larger size to make similar skillet breakfasts as we had at Big Bad Breakfast. We used them this past weekend and made a delightful, healthy breakfast.

We came back from Chattanooga and went back to work and also back to cheering Hockey Guy from the sidelines as he begins his college adventure.

What I'm Dreading

I am not really dreading anything too major. I have a lot of organizing and closet cleanouts to do and I don't really find that fun. I just need to put on a Good movie or a podcast on a rainy weekend and get this done.

What I'm Working On

Earlier in the month I was working on all of the dorm prep planning. My biggest hint, try to keep your shopping to only a few stores. It makes things easier to track and easier for returns. For the most part, we bought most of the dorm items through Home Goods, Amazon and Walmart Plus. Since I only have one child, I mine as well pass along all of this knowledge to you, Besties. 

 What I'm Excited About

The first thing that I am excited about is how well Hockey Guy is adapting to college. He is working out his class schedule, navigating his way around campus, meeting new people and signing up for clubs.

I am also super excited that Hockey Guy will be continuing his hockey career in college. These tryouts were hard and he put in a ton of work and we are just so proud that he will be continuing his hockey journey. 

We are also really excited for real college football. Running Daddy and I didn't go to football schools so it will be fun to have a real team to cheer for.

What I'm Watching/Reading

I am hoping to have more time to read this fall, so stay tuned on that topic.

I finished watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Not really sure where they go from here. I can tell you that I think that Louie ruined the New Jersey franchise. This is why we can't have nice things.

I am also back on Orange County. I really only like Gina and Emily at this point, but I like them enough to keep watching. I have super mixed emotions about Shannon. She made a very big mistake that there is no excuse for and she cries victim all the time, but the way that Tamara is treating her is just downright cruel.

I also watch Presumed Innocent on Apple TV.  I am old enough to have seen the original movie with Harrison Ford. This is definitely worth a watch. A big heads up that this is not for young audiences.

What I'm Listening To

For music, I am listening to a lot of Brett Young and Taylor Swift. For podcasts, I always feel Better when I am listening That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs. 

What I'm Wearing

I really like the wide-leg jeans in the photo above that I got earlier this month. They were great for travel and I think I will be wearing them into the fall quite a bit.

I also am wearing my Tretorns a lot. They are super comfortable and were the perfect shoes for college move-in.

What I'm Doing This Weekend

This weekend I have an acupuncture session scheduled and I am going to return some items we didn't use for college drop off. I looking forward to attending church on Saturday and then grilling a great dinner with Running Daddy. We are also getting together with friends on Sunday night.

What I Am Looking Forward to Next Month

I think September is going to be very fun. The college hockey season will kick off in a few weeks and I think we can livestream the game. We are also going to our first real college football game in quite a long time. We are looking forward to parents' weekend and Running Daddy and I are going to see Kristin Chenoweth. I love her and this has been a dream of mine to see her for a long time. 

What Else is New

The only other thing that is new is that tomorrow is Monthly Musings, the link-up that Holly and I host. Our focus for August will be Summer's End/Back to School. We would love to have you join us as a writer or reader.

That's a wrap for August.  Thanks for joining me today and I hope to see you back here tomorrow.