August. I am having a hard time comprehending that it is the eight month of the year and more than halfway through Summer. I thought it would be fun today to share a peak into what’s been going through my mind this week as I’ve kicked off the month.

• For some reason, even though we have more than 20 flowering plants in our backyard, I never thought to cut any of the flowers and bring them inside. A few weeks ago Bo’s mom reminded me last week that flowers are to be enjoyed, and when left outside they aren’t enjoyed nearly as much as they would be inside our home. Since then I’ve been putting a fresh bouquet on our kitchen island every few days.
• When I started blogging, there were two primary platforms I managed – Twitter and my blog. These days there are countless platforms and each week I feel as if another layer is added leaving me feeling more and more behind. I know I can’t do it all so for now, I am doing my best to interact with you all on both Snapchat and Instagram Stories until I figure out which platform I prefer. I love that I am able to see more followers and friends on Instagram Stories since I wasn’t following them or they weren’t active on Snapchat but I also find that I’m not going through the traditional Instagram content in the same way I was before.  What are your thoughts so far?
• In an effort to enjoy the gorgeous August weather we are experiencing, I am filling my schedule in the best way possible with outdoor activities. Last night Bo and I saw The Lumineers live in Prospect Park and I have added Yoga in Prospect Park to the calendar for August 25th.
• Speaking of The Lumineers, I have been listening to them on Spotify non-stop this week and love this Lumineers radio station on Spotify for a mellow work playlist.  Though I love their hits Stubborn Love and Ho Hey, since last night my new favorite is Ophelia, one of the songs on their new album, Cleopatra.
• I have been working from a local coffee shop this week for a change of pace and have found that getting out of the house has really helped my productivity and mood. My perfect coffee shop combination is strong coffee, a delicious lunch menu, fast wi-fi and a cute atmosphere. So far my favorite Brooklyn spots are Swallow Cafe and Tekoa. Any Manhattan or BK suggestions? 
• I am considering dropping down from the half marathon distance to the 10k distance for the Rock’n’Roll Montreal race. Bo and I are both really enjoying doing the workouts we crave versus the structure of required running and while I know I could finish the half marathon course, I think we’d both enjoy a 10k more at this point. Since this race isn’t sold out yet, Bo and I are going to wait until closer to the race to make a final decision.
• Don’t worry – I am still ready for a training plan I just want to make sure I am building a quality training plan which provides enough time to get back in half marathon shape. Luckily, I already have plans to join my friends on their training runs this week and next week meaning that I’ll have a quality 7 and 8 mile long run done before vacation as well as shorter, faster runs. Thank you Zoe, Katie and Theodora for motivating me!
• It hasn’t been easy but somehow I’ve avoided shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this year. While there were more than 20 things in my shopping care at certain points, this year Bo and I have decided to focus our Summer spending on our trip to Canada. If you shopped the Nordstrom sale, what was your best investment? 
• Mornings that we don’t go into the city together for workouts, Bo and I have a new morning routine that has really helped me start each day in a wonderful mood. We take 15-20 minutes to sit together in our kitchen while sipping coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, reading the newspaper and eating freshly sliced fruit together before he heads to work.
• As I think about our upcoming vacation, I continue to go back and forth on whether I want to blog during our trip or fully disconnect. The more I think about it, the more I think I want to focus on being present in the trip and limiting my time on a computer. During the week of August 12th-20th you can expect 1-2 pre-written posts on the blog (Friday Favorites and a few recipes) in addition to lots of gorgeous images capturing our adventures in Banff and Jasper.