Hello, Adventures in Polishland readers! Today I am embarking on a new adventure, and I’m excited to share it with all of you. This blog first began while I was a student, and now that it’s been fourteen (!!!) years, and I am working full time, I have found it challenging to keep up with blogging in the way I would like. Despite my best intentions, I often do not spend much time creating, and that certainly includes keeping up with this website. Lately, I have felt disgruntled and disgusted by the rise of generative AI. I can no longer simply scroll on Instagram without AI slop being thrown in my face, whether through the plethora of advertisements or in the photos being shared by those I follow. I certainly feel a desire to get offline, but I also want to get back to sharing in the “good old-fashioned way” by blogging. While I can’t commit to the multi-weekly posts and reviews I used to share, I think it is sustainable to focus on one big post a month that is written in a newsletter style. In these posts, I plan to share a wrap up of my month, my favorites, my flops, and anything else on my mind. I hope this will be a fun way to re-connect with those of you who have been following my blog over the years!
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH
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August itself has been a great month! I’ve been spending a lot of time with my family, both near and far. My nephew thought it was hilarious that we had a 2-hour FaceTime call (he lives on the opposite side of the country from me), and my parents and I have enjoyed many local adventures around New England on the weekends including antiquing and thrifting, going out to eat, and some shopping as well. I especially loved going to Memories Ice Cream in Kingston, NH, where they offer a handful of delicious vegan flavors (I got a dark chocolate and black raspberry soft serve twist!). We also went to Mack’s Apples in Londonderry, NH, to get some fresh and locally grown produce since we’ve been very choosy with all of the recalls and food safety issues in the country lately.
Moreover, I was also very excited this month to see SIX The Musical LIVE! at the movie theater. SIX! is my favorite Broadway musical (I’ve seen it five times…so far!), and this pro-shot featured the original West End cast. I talked my dad into going with me, and was pleasantly surprised at how much he enjoyed it! I obviously loved seeing the OG Queens, and had a giant smile on my face for the entire movie. I really hope the film gets released on DVD or Blu-ray so I can watch the show as often as I desire. That is especially true since it was announced that SIX! is closing on Broadway on January 3, 2027. Thankfully we have the the SIX: Live on Opening Night Original Broadway Cast Recording, which I will continue listening to in the interim.
Another benefit of August is that the weather is slowly starting to cool down, so I’ve been able to take more walks outside. I find it challenging to get my steps in when the outdoors provides less than optimal walking temperatures, but lately I’ve been strapping on my new leopard print sneakers and lapping the neighborhood hoping to spot some wildlife. My other big focus for the month has been my new project on Instagram, which is to complete my Panini *NSYNC Photocard Collection from 1999. I really enjoyed watching Sam of Violet.Hollow work on the Panini World Cup Sticker Book, and it inspired me to complete my childhood collection of *NSYNC photographs. I bought a bundle on eBay, and I have been sharing videos on Instagram of me opening packs and adding them to the photo album. It has been so much fun, and the series seems to be resonating with people, as I have gained some new followers. I would love it if you stopped by my account and joined in the fun!
FLOPS AND FAVORITES
👎 Flops
- Let’s get my few flops of the month out of the way first, starting with a snack I hoped would be delicious but was just too sweet for me (and that’s saying something). Although the Purely Elizabeth Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola sounded great, it wasn’t for me.
- I reread the book Attachments by Rainbow Rowell this month. I originally loved this book the first time I read it, but this (third) time around, it felt very dated and full of cringeworthy comments about a variety of topics.
- My one beauty flop of the month is the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. I purchased this at TJ Maxx, as I do enjoy trying new-to-me cleansers now and then. Unfortunately, I felt like the physical exfoliant left some dry flaky skin behind, and it had an odd smell. I much prefer chemical exfoliants, and will be returning to my tried and true favorite from Derma E.
👍 Favorites
- I was recommended the August issue of The Atlantic for its cover article “The Age of Reading is Over” by Rose Horowitch. This is an incredibly thought-provoking article discussing the history of the written world, and how we are now in a post-literate society.
- Speaking of reading, my favorite books of the month were The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. The former is a young adult novel following a girl whose religious aunt sends her to conversion camp after discovering she is a lesbian. The latter is a Pulitzer Prize Finalist chronicling the lives of a brother and sister who grew up wealthy in an ornate mansion before being ousted by their stepmother after their father’s death. Both were so captivating!
- While at Barnes and Noble to pick up The Atlantic, I also grabbed Flow Stop the Scroll Journal. This journal provides a year’s worth of crafty prompts designed to get you off your phone and in the “flow” of creating. I’m loving it so far!
- As for beauty products, my nail polish favorite is Zoya Nail Polish Winona. This is a muted berry cream nail polish with an excellent formula. While the color is stunning, I was mostly impressed that my manicure lasted two weeks with little to no wear!
- I don’t often wear lip products, but this month I found myself reaching for the r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm in Juice Box. I got this as a free gift with purchase at Ulta, and thought the purple shade would be unwearable. On the contrary, this is a very lightweight and comfortable lip gloss that I find very hydrating.
- I saw a post online that the Mi Niña Pico de Gallo Tortilla Chips are a good vegan alternative to Doritos, so I had to buy a bag. Although not the same as Doritos, these chips are quite delicious, and I’m so glad I tried them!
- I rounded out the month by listening to the RENT Original Broadway Cast Recording after seeing many clips of the cast’s 30th Anniversary Concert at BroadwayFest. This show remains impactful and relevant all these years later. I mean, the title song opens with the line, “How do you document real life when real life’s getting more like fiction each day?” Broadway revival, when?!
Thus concludes August in Polishland! I hope you enjoyed this newsletter-like blog post recapping all that’s been going on in my life this month. I would love to hear from you in the comments if you have any feedback regarding what you would like to read about in these posts in the future. Please also share with me what you have been up to as the summer nears its end.