Month in Review: August 2025

August 2025 in Review

August was full of big changes and everyday chaos: a new domain name, a new car(!), endless migraines, and plenty of family moments. Fall crept into the air, school prep began, and I finally hit “publish” on my blog under its new name.

Highlights

Blog relaunch: I bought my new domain on August 1, wrestled with tech frustrations, and finally relaunched on August 20. A fresh start for “Stories by Stephanie.”
Solo movie date: I went to an early morning showing of Weapons by myself, followed by Mexican takeout for lunch.
Car saga: After weeks of noises, stress, and dealership runarounds, I test drove a 2022 Trailblazer and a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. On August 26, I signed for the Trailblazer and picked it up two days later. The boys were thrilled, taking turns in the front seat for trips around the block.
School shuffle: The district tried to change the boys’ schools. After days of calls and emails, everything was finally sorted out. Huge sigh of relief.
Work outings: I went to a breastfeeding event in Corning (about 90 minutes away), had a diner lunch with a coworker, and endured a very hot work picnic — this time with the boys in tow.
Health check: Migraines hit hard (11 total). Meds usually worked, but it was exhausting.
Family fun: A mix of trampoline park runs, Trouble games, bike rides, and outdoor chaos. Holden got his new “Italian Brainrot” backpack, Caleb lost a tooth, and both kids rode Shuffle Carts all over the driveway. We also snuck Halloween cookies before September even began.

📚 Books I Read

The Atonement — Kiersten Modglin ★★★★☆
Missing in Flight — Audrey J. Cole ★★★☆☆
Lovesick — Jon Athan ★★★☆☆

🏅 Favorite Book of the Month: The Atonement by Kiersten Modglin
Books Read: 3
Yearly Progress: 42/100

🎬 What I Watched

Weapons (movie) — Dark but good; I really enjoyed it.
KPop Demon Hunters (movie) — Watched with Holden; silly fun.
Full House, Season 1 (episodes 8 & 9) — Still working through it.
A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read, Ep. 1 — Just dipping in, but already intriguing.

💸 Money Check-In

⬇️ Debt Decreased: $478
Other Notes: Finances took an unexpected hit when I had to buy a car, but I still managed to pay down some debt before that happened.

Extras

Loved: Crumbl’s Dubai Chocolate Brownie cookie (worth multiple trips), the first chilly fall-like day, and finally driving home in the new Trailblazer.
Sucked: Eleven migraines, car repairs and negotiations, and the stress of tech setup before the blog relaunch.
On the Menu: A chip taste test (Brazilian BBQ won), McDonald’s warm cookies, Zarpentine’s apple fritters and pie bites, Amish bakery treats, pizza overload (fried dough, Pizza Hut, Perris’ giant slices), Crookies (twice), a donut ice cream sundae from The Creamery, Mexican takeout, Taco Bell + Staples walk, and of course — McDonald’s Diet Cokes (32!).
Made Me Laugh: Holden’s chaos — from his new backpack obsession to his bike tire falling off mid-ride.

This Month on the Blog

Coming Up Next Month

Birthday boy: Holden’s birthday celebrations.
Back-to-school chaos: Supplies, routines, and early mornings ahead.
Doctor days: Two appointments (general checkup + neurologist for migraines).
Fall fun: Festivals, farms, and cozy evenings on deck.
Countdown begins: Hallmark Christmas movies start October 17th!

What I Learned

Patience is not optional when you’re juggling kids, car drama, tech headaches, and your own health. But August proved that persistence pays off — the domain worked, the car deal came through, and life moves forward, one migraine, one McDonald’s Diet Coke, and one blog post at a time.

So that’s it for me! See you next month!

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