Peaches & Slight Panic
August. The Sunday Scaries of Summer.
August is... complicated.
It’s half joy, half dread. Too hot to function but too close to Fall to ignore.
You haven’t even had a peach this summer, and somehow you’re already supposed to be getting ready for... nope. Not saying it. Not yet.
And did I mention someone (no names) is already playing Christmas music?
You know what? Maybe they’re onto something. We all need more joy, and if Christmas music in August brings it? Why not?
I mean…
The Good Stuff
Absurd joy, creative inspiration, and chocolate gravy.
The NEW Ralph Lauren Oak Bluffs Collection: This collection is incredible. You can feel the history, the story, and the care in every detail. James M. Jeter is so talented! Please watch the video if you haven’t already. More of this, please.
Peruvian Apple Cactus: It blooms once a year at midnight, and honestly, that kind of quiet magic is exactly what I need right now.
Chocolate Gravy Sundays: My dad sent me a TikTok (as dads do), and somehow I ended up making chocolate gravy for the first time. I was skeptical; gravy can be lumpy, and lumpy is not worth the commitment. But something told me to make the gravy. My dad took one bite and said,
“When I was a kid, the neighbors had chocolate gravy. I asked my mom to make it, but I never did get it.”
His middle child problems. That smile on his face? Worth every second.
And no lumps. I consider this a personal victory.
The Overlooked
Shopping for Vintage Ornaments in August: Before you judge me, look at what I found.
*The good stuff disappears by October, and the prices triple by November.*
Actually Unplugging on Sundays: We all know we should do it, but hear me out from someone who has also rolled their eyes at this advice. I’ve started turning off my phone on Sunday mornings. As a sensitive person drowning in the chaos of everything, I really had to try something.
The improvement is real. That, and getting sunlight first thing in the morning.
It works for plants, so why not me?
I’m thinking about taking on a few Christmas decorating projects this year. If you’ve been thinking about getting help with your holiday decorating, sign up and let me know.
Current Obsessions
Peaches from the freezer, dragonflies, and cookie butter coffee
Shaved frozen peaches with honey: Thank you, Hanna Zettling, for this revelation that’s getting me through August.
Ankarsrum Stand Mixer: A 7-year warranty and a “forever” reputation among bakers. Added it to the buy-once list.
BR Home Lofty Velvet Quilt: For when regular bedding isn’t doing enough emotional heavy lifting.
Fake dragonflies that scare wasps: Wasps are apparently terrified of dragonflies, so now my porch looks like a fairy garden with psychological warfare vibes.
Oh, and a spoonful of cookie butter in my coffee (just try it).
“What’s for dinner?”
“Where are their shoes?”
“How is it almost September?”
August starts on Thursday, and I’m spiraling. Summer disappeared in a haze of “we’ll deal with it later,” and now school supply lists are everywhere. The back-to-school ads feel personal. Someone said the word “routine,” and I dissociated for ten minutes.
Here’s what needs solving before September arrives:
The 5:47 PM dinner panic.
The daily shoe hunt.
The scheduling chaos.
Last month, I hit my breaking point.
Standing in the kitchen at 5:47 PM, stepping over toys, staring into an empty fridge while everyone asked “what’s for dinner” for the third time.
I realized I had two choices: keep pretending this was normal, or actually fix it.
So I spent three weeks testing every system, every hack, every “life-changing” method I could find.
Here’s what happened…