Well, just like that summer is over. I know not technically, but it is now September which means that summer is over in my book. I would be upset, but I actually love this time of year. The time when all of the big kids go back to school and the parks go back to being preschool paradise. It’s still plenty hot outside for pools, splash pads and sunshine without having to worry as much about Mara and Bellamy getting plowed over. Earlier this summer Mara had to take a trip to the ER after being knocked back on her head at the splash pad by a kid over twice her size, which isn’t something I care to repeat. Hence why I’m excited for big kids to go back to school haha.
Here’s my August 2019 favorites!
It wouldn’t be a monthly favorites post if I didn’t include a TV show that I’m really into. I started watching Four Weddings and a Funeral on Hulu a few weeks ago and I’m obsessed. It’s a dramedy, very loosely based on the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral from the 90’s. It’s been so funny, with plenty of drama to keep things interesting. It’s definitely one of my new favorite shows! If you like Younger (one of my June faves) or other dramedies like Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, Jane the Virgin, etc. then you’ll love Four Weddings and a Funeral.
I made one of high school Ashley’s dreams come true this month and saw the Jonas Brothers live. It was absolutely amazing! They played a blend of their older songs, plus a ton from their new album. It was so much fun to scream all of the words to my favorite songs with thousands of others. Going to this show was a huge leap out of my comfort zone because I didn’t have anyone to go with me, but I went any way. It was so worth it! And has now given me the courage and motivation to pursue concerts that I’d be interested in seeing. I definitely don’t plan on driving through the night after a show anymore though! It took me days to recover. #old 
Jesse and I have been making it a point to have a date night each week for the past month. Our first date was reliving our dating days and playing Monopoly. We didn’t want to resort to playing board games each week, but that’s what we’ve been doing. We tried out an Oregon Trail game that was terrible, but then Jesse found Splendor on the clearance rack at Target. It’s a strategy card game and we’ve been loving it. We’ve actually been playing randomly throughout the week after the kids go to bed. Just a quick game or two, but it’s fun and great bonding time.
This month Mara and I got some fantastic mother-daughter time when we attended an Edible Education cooking class together. I wasn’t sure how the class would go, to be completely honest. Mara is only 3, and the class is usually for kids that are at least 5. She knocked it OUT. OF. THE. PARK. She was so attentive and excited to help out (for the first hour). The teaching chef helped the kids measure out ingredients for baking cupcakes, the got to use safety knives and chop cauliflower, mushrooms and strawberries, plus they made meatballs and mac and cheese. Mara did get a little bored after we did the meatballs, but she thought it was so cool to *not* eat the food that she made. We’re in a picky preschooler stage, so she wouldn’t touch anything but the cupcakes. It was still a lot of fun and I had a great time spending dedicated time with just my big girl. 
I know that I’m currently cutting back on the Starbucks, which is made even more difficult by my new favorite drink. It’s a cold brew with salted cream cold foam. The name gives most of the ingredients away, except that there’s caramel in there too! I don’t like most of the specialty drinks at Starbucks because they are too sweet for me, this drink is not like that. The cold brew is nice and strong, caramel is delicious, the sweet and salty cream and foam on top is the perfect touch. I will say that this is a finicky drink and every person makes it a little different. I’ve had amazing ones, and less amazing ones, but when they get it right it is SO FREAKING GOOD.
