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Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

What I Learned in August

August 31, 2015 by HappyGoStuckey 9 Comments

In August we say farewell to long days with nothing to do but apply sunscreen and pack sandwiches in a pool bag. We trade our swimsuits for actual clothing and we begin clearly observing the reasonable bed time. Still in denial about the complete end of summer, we have enjoyed our first week of homeschooling and routine-building and still had time to learn a few things.

Sharing-4

  • I learned the wonder of UnrollMe.com and I’m pretty sure it’s a game changer. I posted on instagram about how many unread emails I had (Ahem, over 5K– not all new, most just from old things piling up,) and a friend mentioned the unrollme service. If you haven’t heard, UnrollMe is a free service that accesses your email account (with your permission) and then helps clean it up in a matter of moments. Part of my problem was that I had 226 subscriptions, or companies that were regularly emailing me!! A few I wanted to keep, but most I did not. This has dramatically reduced emails coming in and I was able to add all the companies I actually wanted to hear from to a list which UnrollMe uses to send me a single email with all of those emails contained within it. WOW. Game changer, I tell ya!
  • Authentically great musicians sound even better in person. The list of concerts I have attended is very short and somewhat embarrassing– and none of them have been all that memorable. BUT. Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors put on the most fun concert the other night in Greenville, SC and WOW. The outdoor venue was perfect and the night was gorgeous. It was so great that my face hurt from smiling for hours after. If you ever have the chance to see them, definitely go. They sound so amazing in person. They happen to have just begun their tour– so check and see if they are headed your way here.
  • I broadcasted for the first time on Periscope and it wasn’t a total bust! YAY! Periscope makes me nervous because once you begin recording, it is out there and you can’t edit but in a world of instagram filters (which I also love) I think maybe that’s a good thing. In my first post, I shared a minute or two from that super fun concert I mentioned. I’m HappyGoStuckey there if you want to join me!
  • Keeping good, fun, wonderful secrets from my children makes me giddy. We are taking a vacation in a couple weeks and somehow we have managed to keep it all a secret from the girls for SIX months– I’m not even certain how I haven’t let the cat out of the bag all this time, because I tend to get too excited not to tell them, but I haven’t. We only have a few more days of secret-keeping and then we can surprise them with the news and Oh yeah, 4b– Homeschooling is AWESOME because you get to take your vacation when everyone else is in school– Woohoo!!!

What did YOU learn this month??

Things I’m into this month:

Drinks–
Iced Americanos. Yes, please! Because we make Iced Coffee at home regularly, it’s hard to find something that compares to my husband’s level of coffee strength and flavor when I do have coffee out– but an Iced Americano, espresso shots mixed with water, is just the thing. Try it!

Books I’m Reading–
Longing for Paris, My Life in France and Treasure Island (for the 8th Grade Literature Class I am teaching.) And yes, these selections *may* be the same as last month. Ahem. I haven’t quite fit much reading into our new routine. Once I finish one of these I can begin Simply Tuesday— which is still on a great sale over at Amazon–yay!

One more–
Being less than two months away from the Allume Conference!!! One of my favorite times of the year without a doubt is the late October gathering of like-minded artists and writers in Greenville, SC! Being in that fun-filled city this past weekend made me that much more excited. If you are at all interested, there are still tickets available– check it out! 

I’m linking up with Emily Freeman for What I Learned in August and Leigh Kramer for What I’m Into. Come visit!

**Some affiliate links may be present.

 

 

 

Wild in the Hollow
Iced Coffee. Simple & Perfect.

Comments

  1. 1

    hopeful50 says

    August 31, 2015 at 11:55 am

    I must work on my “what I learned” post…Allume! I am going for the first time ever. More than excited! I enjoy your Stitchfix posts and never miss them! xo

    Reply
    • 2

      HappyGoStuckey says

      August 31, 2015 at 5:00 pm

      Hey Susan! So glad you get to attend Allume this year– prepare to be filled and encouraged! AND, you happened to have reminded me to get on writing my newest StitchFix post– thanks for the reminder! 🙂

      Reply
  2. 3

    Sarah @ Sarah on Purpose says

    August 31, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    I so agree with your live music observation! I went to the most amazing back yard concert in August.

    Reply
    • 4

      HappyGoStuckey says

      August 31, 2015 at 5:02 pm

      For sure. It took me from a non-concert goer to a live-music junkie. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Sarah!

      Reply
  3. 5

    greeroharah says

    August 31, 2015 at 4:03 pm

    I am so excited to try UnrollMe. I have 2,500 unread messages and it continues to grow. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • 6

      HappyGoStuckey says

      August 31, 2015 at 5:03 pm

      Oh yes. It will change your life. Well, almost. 🙂 Glad you dropped by today! Enjoy September!

      Reply
  4. 7

    Shaina says

    September 1, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    You are going to LOVE Simply Tuesday. I enjoyed reading your list–thanks for sharing on Emily’s blog 🙂

    Reply
    • 8

      HappyGoStuckey says

      September 1, 2015 at 4:36 pm

      Hi Shaina– Thanks for reading! These link-ups are one of my favorites!

      Reply
  5. 9

    Emily says

    September 1, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    I love that you’re doing a surprise vacation for your kids! They’ll be delighted (Hopefully they won’t read your blog before then!) I really want an Iced Americano now, I love coffee.

    Reply

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Hey There!

I'm Cynthia and I'm so glad you're here. I am an introvert with an extrovert's love of gathering people together. I love good books and capturing moments. Whether you visit me here or on my own front porch, I'll be the one holding the Iced Coffee for us both.

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happygostuckey

Instagram post 2191701631330368631_396980240 This year, the 🍋lemon tree🌿 gave fewer lemons than normal. I asked my Dad and he confirmed, just a slow year.

So we picked (still armfuls,) and I’ll love every one.
If you read #feastingandforaging (have I mentioned I wrote a book? Gosh, that is never not awkward.😅) If you read it, then you know how special this tree is to me.

Again this year, I’m reminded all over again that our sweetest gifts are sometimes cloaked in harder things. Often our ‘unexpected ugh’ makes way for what we truly need.

And I just want you to know that if this December is already more than you wanted or less than you hoped, if you’re sitting at the end of a very long year— take courage.
Take peace.
Take hope and as you pass around the gift of the Advent to those beside you, don’t forget to also take some for yourself.

Don’t forget to remember that the Hope of this season (and every other,) cannot be squelched by sickness, pain, or the general ugh of life in a broken world.

We have this Hope and it is one that won’t be diminished by anything that could land in our laps today.
#prepareHimroom
Instagram post 2191016735687527448_396980240 Sometimes I think I could live in New York but I’m low-key afraid I might eat bagels every day. 🥯🍎☕️ (TB to October when @friar_stuck and I took our Pio Bagels to @devocionusa and pretended we were regulars.) ✨What city would you love to live in if it didn’t mean leaving where you are?✨
Instagram post 2189510127085979732_396980240 Home sweet merry little home.🎄This December will be busier than most for our family, so I’m treasuring every single slow moment we are gifted. Starting today with homemade lattes and little white lights.✨ #merrymerrystuckeys
Instagram post 2187513959237917323_396980240 We can all agree the point of the charcuterie platter is to get as many family members into one room at once, right? The cheese is just a bonus. {yes, second charcuterie pic this week. Because holidays. And family. And the sweet full feeling that comes not from eating too much pie, but seeing almost all of your entire family in one day.} ❤️🦃 Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends. 
#feastingandforaging #charcuterieboard #f52byyou #allthecheese #gratefulforhome #savourtheseasonalshift #simplethingsmadebeautiful #merrymerrystuckeys #almondavenuecrew
Instagram post 2185903851697559572_396980240 🍁Maybe she’s born with it.
Maybe it’s Maple Leaves.🍁 I know that when the clock strikes midnight on Thursday, everyone switches to Christmas— but I’m probably going to be here with leaf spam for just a bit longer... 😏
Instagram post 2183058239117455684_396980240 ✨In a world where you can be anything, be the one who volunteers to bring charcuterie. ✨
🧀🥖🍇🌿
Bonus points if your flannel shirt- wearing husband can hold said charcuterie while you take a million photos of cheese in the golden hour.

#feastingandforaging #charcuterieboard #thanksgivingdinner #onthetable #f52byyou #foodie #savourtheseasonalshift #simplethingsmadebeautiful #chasethelight #bluehousekitchen #merrymerrystuckeys #gratefuldays #cheeseboard #gratefulforhome #iwentlookingforbeauty #ofsimplethings
Instagram post 2181659993774021605_396980240 You’re Kale-ing me, smalls.

Listen. Kale is that self-righteous leafy green that everyone feels like they should eat, meanwhile many of us are secretly not enjoying it and I just need to say— yes, but... have you massaged your kale?

No, don’t go. I promise this is not a joke. Kale is packed with vitamins, but it’s kind of bitter and grass-clipping-like. However. 3-5 minutes of prep work and it’s downright tasty. Here’s my three step process—

Remove the stems and rip your kale in large bite sized pieces.
Add it to a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt. 
Massage it. Really. With your hands. For 3-4 minutes. The kale will darken in color and will release that bitter smell.

And... you’re done. Now build your kale salad with the total certainty that you won’t get tired of chewing before the end of your meal. 
Pictured: Kale Caesar Salad with Ten Minute Croutons from #feastingandforaging 🥖🌿
Instagram post 2179451951070532163_396980240 Another fall.
Here in this city we love.
Here in this BlueHouse where we’ve learned to mark our days in falling leaves & saturday morning pancakes.

I’m not sure where you are and how you feel about tomorrow, or next month even. But before the weekend wears the clothes of Monday preparation, here is your friendly reminder—

Even if the future is obscured by foggy uncertainty, the present can still be shimmering with lovely. 
#feastingandforaging #hopewriters #hopelenses #simplethingsmadebeautiful #savourtheseasonalshift #daysofsmallthings #ofsimplethings #beallthere #weareplacemakers 
#nothingisordinary #lifegivinghome #learntolovewhatmustbedone #chasinglight #everydayfaithfulness #gratefulforhome
Instagram post 2175841201919747949_396980240 There is nothing like a blustery, drizzly day to remind you of all the reasons why November is lovely in all its getting-dark-early glory. ✨
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