August recap
In the Glow of August. Love, Growth, and New Beginnings
August always feels like a turning point, but this one was especially sweet. It began with my 37th birthday, and honestly, it was one of those days that just wrapped me in joy from start to finish. I was spoiled with presents, love, and laughter, and then ended the night in the warm, golden glow of a French restaurant and Jazz Bar.. The music felt like it was playing just for me, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful that life keeps getting better the older I get.
Only a week later, it was time to celebrate my daughter turning 11. I can’t quite explain how strange it feels. The older she gets, the smaller the age gap between us seems. It’s like we’re meeting in the middle, as friends as much as mother and daughter. She’s wonderful. Funny, kind, dedicated, sharp, and so full of life. I feel lucky every day that she’s mine. We talk for hours, and those moments when she still wants to lay her head on my lap, or sink into a deeper cuddle are getting fewer and more precious.
This month has also been filled with long stretches on the couch, watching so much Smallville. It’s been a joy to watch my son discover his first inspiration, his eyes lighting up at Superman, aiming high for his own version of strength and goodness. There’s something magical about witnessing that kind of discovery, the first sparks of who he might want to be. Watching the movies and shows I grew up with, now through my kids' eyes, feels like magic all over again. Their laughter, questions, and wide-eyed wonder make these old favorites feel brand new and somehow even more special than before. Tom Welling as Clark Kent is undeniably easy on the eyes.
Whenever the sun broke through the last of winter’s chill, we spent the day outside in the garden breathing in fresh air, soaking up the light, and dreaming and planning what spring will bring. There’s a quiet anticipation in the soil, a promise of growth. We’re all looking forward to a season of abundance, not just in the garden, but in life itself. My husband and I are knee-deep in soil (well, mostly him. I'll admit I take my role as companion and chief entertainer very seriously). The first signs of spring are beginning to show, with snowdrops, daffodils and grape muscari gently dotting the flower beds, promising beauty and growth ahead
August, for me, was a month of celebration. Celebrating my life, my children, the beauty of growing older, the first promises of Spring and the simple luxury of being present for it all. As winter comes to a close, I feel ready to bloom alongside the season ahead.
Things I loved this month:
My Birthday morning
Hubert dinner and Jazz
Spring planting: Snowdrops, Grape Muscari, and Ranunculus in the garden
Aurora’s 11th birthday celebrations
Days at the nursery
Bookshelf/ bar cart lamps (Birthday presents)
Farmers markets
Riddles at Chowder Bay
Ares finals for soccer
So much cake this season - strawberry matcha for me, pistachio and raspberry for Aurora and tres leches cake for my little brother.
Cats at the Theatre Royal
My daughter performing at the Acacia concert with her recorder, dance Eisteddfod competitions & at the Hills Performing arts festival both as a dancer and presenter. She shines so bright.
Books I finished reading
This month, I definitely felt like I didn’t have much time to read, so seeing how many books I still managed to finish amidst all the celebrations is a fun surprise.
Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair, Book 1 of Blood of Lilith series- SO GOOD!
Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin, Book 1 of Serpent and Dove series.
Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin, Book 2 of Serpent and Dove series.
Gods and Monsters by Shelby Mahurin, Book 3 of Serpent and Dove series- This series was fun and often funny, but I found the main male character frustrating. His constant hot-and-cold behavior and emotional immaturity made him hard to connect with. Definitely a young adult read.
A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne, Book 1 of Dushwalker Brides series. UMMMM, this was a very interesting read, and I still don’t know how I feel about it. IYKYK!
Ruthless Creatures J.T. Geissinger Book 1 of A Queens and Monsters Novel - My first mafia book, really good twist.
Pain in the Axe by Daphne Elliott, Book 2 of the Maine Lumberjacks series - sweet easy read to end a fabulous month.
Shows and movies I am watching/have watched:
Freakier Friday
Wednesday Season 2, part 1.
Smallville season 1-6 so far. My children say it is their favourite show ever.
Habits I formed/ kept:
Daily meditation
Workouts 3x a week
Daily supplements (Zinc, magnesium, B12, omega 3s and iron)
dry brushing x3 a week
Daily Eyelash and Brow Serum.
Monthly hair treatments and blowouts.
Weekly facemasks, including hydrating and detoxifying.
Spiritual downloads for the month of August regarding celebration:
To celebrate is to pause and recognize the miracle of existence itself. It is a way of saying, “I see this moment, I honor it, and I receive it fully.” Every celebration, big or small, is a form of prayer that sanctifies life.
True celebration is never about excess but about thankfulness. When you celebrate, you are offering thanks for what already is, for what has been, and for what is to come. Gratitude magnified through joy becomes a magnetic force for more blessings.
Celebration reminds us that life is not only about survival or striving but also about delight. Dancing, feasting, or gathering in joy loosens the heaviness we carry and reconnects us to our wholeness.
When we celebrate together, we weave bonds of belonging. Spiritually, this echoes the truth that we are never separate we are part of the same great song of life.
Every season, birthday, or milestone is a reminder of cycles, the eternal rhythm of beginnings, growth, endings, and renewal. To celebrate these moments is to harmonize ourselves with the flow of time and spirit.
I hope you always remember to celebrate all the seasons of your life.
Love Z.