August has now come and gone. This month marked the beginning of the 2020-21 school year and a new storm, Hurricane Laura. Although I evacuated to Austin for Hurricane Laura, I’m very thankful we didn’t end up in her path and everything was alright at home. I am praying for all those affected and I hope that they can recover as quickly as possible.When narrowing down my 5 favorite things for the month, I included some from the evacuation and a couple of others as well. The first 3 were the first things I added to my packing list when preparing to evacuate.
Number 1 on my list of favorites this month is my Aitere document system. I had created this system at the beginning of the pandemic. It took a bit of time to gather all of the important documents we might need at a moment’s notice if we had an emergency but it is so well worth the time spent now that I have everything in one place. The Aitere fireproof and waterproof bag is a secure bag with a zipper, a handle and a shoulder strap. I keep it in a place where I can grab it quickly in the event of a fire or quick exit, like a hurricane threat. It contains all of our most important documents.
Located inside this bag are 12 document sleeves that contain: passports, birth certificates, marriage license, auto titles and registrations, insurances, military records, financial papers, banking information, medical records, Social Security information, financial records and income tax records for the past three years. It is so convenient to be able to grab this bag knowing that all the information inside is up-to-date and handy should I need it.
The second favorite thing on my list for August is actually 2 things I use in tandem every morning. I simply cannot function without my morning quiet time. I get up extra early just to start my day this way. My morning reading includes Simple Abundance: 365 Days to a Balanced and Joyful Life by Sarah Ban Breathnach and my Write the Word journal from Cultivate What Matters. They both set a great start to my day and prepare me for whatever the day holds.
My third August favorite is my Daily Duo planner from Erin Condren. I have been using an EC Weekly Lifeplanner in combination with the Daily Duo since July 1. The reason I’ve been using both is that going from a weekly (the system I have used for years) to only a daily was too scary. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the daily style so I am using both simultaneously. I have found that I really like the daily planner. There’s so much room for everything I need to include, for both work and home. It also has plenty of room for lists that come up last minute, which always happens. Having everything on paper frees my mind for more important things, like impromptu visits from family or friends.
Number 4 on my list is my August book selection. I have truly enjoyed reading Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist this month. I have found that the content in these pages relate to my life in so many ways. Constantly driven by the schedule and literally having to learn how to bend and move has been so hard for me. I used to be completely inflexible when I was younger and learning to live more freely and to “throw candy around” is something I have missed without even realizing it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels like they are drowning.
My final selection for August is Every Plate. I have been very impressed by this meal delivery service. The meals are very tasty and easy to prepare. After making meals nearly every night for more years than I care to admit, meal planning was getting harder and harder. I like having new ideas and these recipes are really delicious. I get to choose from several different menu choices each week and I receive my deliveries on Fridays. This sets me up for the following week’s menu. It saves me time and money to use this service and I am thrilled about it.
That is my Fave 5 list for the month of August. Drop me a comment if you have also found any of these helpful to you or if you have a favorite thing that I need to know about. Thanks for reading and Happy September!
Leave a Reply