What 's Up Wednesday: August 2025

 

Wait, whoa whoa whoa. When did it get to be the end of August? I feel like it was just August 1st about five days ago. Since I need to face reality that it is the last Wednesday of the month and share August 2025 with you by linking up for What's Up Wednesday with Shay and Shaeffer.

What We're Eating This Week

Monday-Chicken and vegetable stir-fry with rice noodles

Tuesday-Running Daddy will be at a work training all day in West Virginia so I think we will just figure out dinner on our own

Wednesday-Probably steak tips with rice and salad

Thursday-Taco bowls with salad

Friday-Take-out of some kind

What I'm Reminiscing About

With all of the back-to-school photos on social media and the photos popping up on memories, I am reminiscing about our own first day of school years when Hockey Guy was little.

I am also reminiscing about college drop-off last year. Even though I did pretty well last year, year two was way easier once Hockey Guy and his roommates/teammates got their long drive out of the way.

What I'm Loving

I am always struggling with my hair. My hair is fine but the last year of so it now has a wave. I think it is because I hit a certain age. This summer my hair has been really frizzy and it's driving my crazy. Since I spent a lot of time in the South this month, I decided to try the L'ange Le Vite Straightening Brush. I am really bad at using a flat iron, so this option is so much easier.

I dry my hair as usual and then run this brush through my hair. I pay attention to my hair underneath as that is where it starts to curl up. It is also helpful for days when I am going to Barre3 and I want to smooth my hair up before putting it in a ponytail.

If you want to try any L'ange products directly through their website, they are having a sale right now. You can save $25 off your first purchase with my code: http://rwrd.io/ref_E7VFTUB?c

I am also loving the weather right now. Good heavens the weather at this moment is just beautiful after the crazy hot summer we had. 

What We've Been Up To

We started the first week of August in Hilton Head, SC for our family vacation. The only tough thing was that we were all sick at different points. This was a fever virus that came on strong and fast. Running Daddy was "patient zero" the week before we left and Hockey Guy and I got it at the same time the beginning of the week. I actually ended up in urgent care because I was so sick, but the Best they could do for me was to tell me to take Tylenol. 

I finally rallied to see these beautiful sights and have some of my favorite meals of the year. 

Harbor Town Lighthouse

We had some wild storms that week but somehow even a thunderstorm is beautiful in lowcountry.

While we were away, we found out that Hockey Guy would not be able to move into his apartment early, which was necessary for hockey. We had to pivot and his teammates/roommates came up with an alternative plan. They headed back to school early with their hockey bags and necessities and a friend let them crash on their floor. Then we headed down last week with everything he needed for his apartment. Three nights, three different states but we got it done.

On the way back, Running Daddy and I took a little excursion to Covington, GA which has been used as filming locations for a bunch of shows and movies.

Running Daddy was excited because the early episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard were filmed there and Covington serves as Serenity in Sweet Magnolias. 

This beautiful law firm is The Corner Spa that Maddie, Helen and Dana Sue own.

We also had dinner at The Mystic Grill which is Sullivan's on Sweet Magnolia's and their food is fantastic.

So much has happened at Sullivans!

Covington has the sweetest town square and I think we may use this in the future as an overnight spot.

If you were a Vampire Diaries fan, they have quite a tourist industry for this show. Can't tell you much about that because your girl is not into vampires.  

Our final stop was the Home Team Barbeque location in Columbia, SC. We always go to the ones in Charleston, but couldn't resist making this our lunch spot.

I attacked that pulled pork platter.

What I'm Dreading

The heat and rain we have had made the weeds out of control, so I need to attack those this weekend. Not my favorite task.

I also need to organize my closet and that is not something I am looking forward to either.

What I'm Working On

I am working on dorm/apartment returns. Everyone focuses on the summer dorm shopping but no one talks about the stuff you have to return that may not work. I am working on my returns this weekend.

Piece of advice to those that have kids going to college soon. Try to focus your shopping on as few stores as possible. If I can I try to buy as many items through Walmart and Amazon as possible. It makes returns easier and also finding the receipts/order confirmations quicker to find.

I am also working on putting the hockey games and football games on the calendar. I think there is a weekend where home hockey games overlap with a football game and if that is the case I need to get working on a trip for that.

I am also working on finding new bras (apologies to the gentlemen readers). It's been a struggle and I have a new brand to me coming today that I am hoping will work. I will take any recommendations in the comments or via email at goodbetterbestfood@gmail.co.

What I'm Excited About

I am excited about college football season starting this weekend.  Seriously...who am I? 

I am also super excited to see Hockey Guy play again this season. It was so fun to live-stream the games last year.

What I'm Watching

Did anyone else watch Fit for TV, the documentary about The Biggest Loser? I caught that a few weeks ago and it was really sad and disturbing what these people were put through.

I am also obsessively watching The Summer I Turned Pretty. Before we go any further, I am Team Conrad and always have been. Since the moment he put that blanket on his mom Susannah, in I believe episode 1 of season 1, I knew there was more to him than meets the eye. It's the boy mom in me. Remember, no matter how bad your day is, Conrad is having a worse day.

Running Daddy and I may or may not have gotten up in the four o'clock hour to see this week's episode. I was tired of it getting spoiled on social media.

What I'm Listening To

I am listening to curated The Summer I Turned Pretty playlists, but I am really looking for one that has the songs in order per episode for season three. If you know of one, please put it in the comments for me.

We also listened to the Better With Glasses podcast for most of our drive. Vicky and her husband Casey do a deep dive on The Summer I Turned Pretty and have very similar takes to Running Daddy and me. A male perspective on this show is fascinating.

What I'm Wearing

I am not wearing anything really new and was either on vacation, sick, didn't have to dress up because it is Congressional recess, or was wearing clothes suitable to move your college-age son into his apartment in the deep South heat.  

This week at work, even though it is still Congressional recess, I am trying to wear things like linen and eyelet that I typically don't wear after Labor Day. White jeans do not apply to this rule as I wear them longer into September.

What I'm Doing This Weekend

Not a ton is planned this weekend. I am going to church, probably Barre3, getting together with friends and watching the first college football game of the season.  

What I am Looking Forward to Next Month

I am looking forward to the start of college hockey season, real fall and The Summer I Turned Pretty finale. Go get your girl Conrad!

What Else is New

Two things! First, Monthly Musings is coming up tomorrow and the theme for August is Back to School/Fall Prep.

Join Holly and me tomorrow as we host our monthly link-up. I love talking about fall!

Two, I hope you will follow me on my newish Instagram account for this site.  My newish site is @pcricheyGBB. I have some fun content that I am working on over there. I also do a lot of product reviews there that are not on this site and a few new partnerships coming this fall.

See you tomorrow for Monthly Musings!