Stamped with Joy: August Edition

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Stopping at Bridal Veil Falls on a drive through Provo Canyon

Welcome to the August edition of Stamped with Joy! Each month, I share a roundup of joyful moments, small delights, and things I’ve been loving lately. Let’s get into it!

Wandered & Noted

And just like that, summer is already winding down. Honestly, it felt like it flew by. We had some visitors come stay with us, which was such a treat, and it gave us the chance to play tour guide around Utah. On top of that, we checked off a few more things from our summer bucket list.

We didn’t get to everything, but looking back, I feel like we squeezed in quite a bit of exploring. Here are a few highlights that made August so fun!

Mountain High Moments

We took Dan’s mom and sister up to Sundance Resort and hopped on a few different chairlifts that carried us all the way to lunch at the top of the mountain (8500 feet up!). The views were breathtaking the whole way and it was the best way to wrap up their visit before heading to the airport. If Utah ever makes your travel list, I’d definitely say this is a must-do.

Lake Life Days

Growing up in Minnesota, being around lakes and cabins was just part of life. Utah doesn’t quite have that same vibe, but Bear Lake in Garden City has totally filled that gap for us. We went last summer and decided right then that it needed to be an annual thing. This year’s trip was just as good. A long weekend filled with turquoise water, raspberry everything, a hike, and slow lake days. Even better, my sister came to join us and got to experience it too.

Watch the weekend recap over on Instagram.

Hometown Highlights

With the weekends we had in between hosting and trips, Dan and I leaned into some local exploring. One Saturday we kept things simple with a hike, car wash, farmers market, cookies, and homemade pizza. Making for the perfect day. Another weekend we tried a new-to-us hike at Battle Creek Falls, stopped at Snuck Farm, then grabbed lunch at The Bambino where part of The Sandlot was filmed. Such fun little finds so close to home.

Catch a recap here and here.

Freedom Trails & Chowder Tales

After our Memorial Day trip to NYC, we knew we wanted to head back east for more exploring. Over Labor Day weekend we made our way to Boston, where we walked the Freedom Trail, ate a few bowls of clam chowder, and even set out on a sunset cruise. It was so much fun to soak up new stories of American history and spend time in such an important part of the country’s past. More to come on the blog soon!

  • A scenic view from a ski lift ascending a mountain, with green trees, grassy slopes, dirt paths, and distant blue mountains under a bright, clear sky—an August Edition stamped with joy.
    Riding the chair lift to Bear Claw Cabin at Sundance Resort
  • A hand holds a bowl of salad with tortilla strips and a dollop of sour cream, stamped with joy. In the background, tall green mountains rise under a blue sky with scattered clouds—a perfect August Edition scene.
    Enjoying lunch with a view
  • A sunlit barn stamped with joy features large, retro-style white letters reading WAKE LAKE SHAKE and smaller text below. The barn stands on a wide concrete area under a clear blue sky, radiating August Edition vibes.
    Spending the weekend at Bear Lake
  • A hand holding a white mug in the foreground captures a moment of joy, with a scenic view of a lake, grassy field, and mountains at sunrise or sunset in the background—a perfect August morning under partly cloudy skies with warm sunlight reflecting on the water.
    Mornings at Bear Lake and sipping on coffee
  • A wooden building has a bright yellow door with glass panes, stamped with joy. A chalkboard sign beside the door reads “SNUCK FARMSHOP” and displays the shop’s hours. A planter with colorful flowers sits on the ground nearby.
    Stopping by Snuck Farm
  • A vibrant field of colorful zinnias blooms under a clear blue sky, stamped with joy and lush green foliage, while a wooden building peeks through in the background. Trees line the horizon, making this scene an August Edition delight.
    Admiring the flowers at Snuck Farm
  • A pizza on a marble surface, topped with slices of peach, basil leaves, and thin pieces of cured meat on a golden cheese and tomato base—an August Edition creation stamped with joy.
    Having lunch at The Bambino in Midvale
  • A historic red-brick building with white trim, large windows, and a balcony stands among taller modern buildings; signs near the entrance read Old State House, featured in the August Edition of Stamped with Joy.
    Making a stop at the Old State House during our Freedom Trail tour
  • A bowl of creamy soup stamped with joy and garnished with a drizzle of oil, crispy fried bits, chopped chives, and black pepper, served on a white plate over a black metal table — perfect for the August Edition.
    First bowl of clam chowder while in Boston
  • A man with a beard and black cap and a smiling woman pose for a selfie by the water at sunset, city skyline behind them—an August Edition moment stamped with joy.
    Taking a sunset sail during our last night in Boston

Savored & Loved

A collection of this month’s favorite finds—from gear and recipes to books and beauty staples.

Travel Picks

  • On road trips I pack a little differently since space isn’t as tight as on a plane. These collapsible totes are my go-to because they hold a ton, stack easily, and fold flat between uses.
  • I went back to corded headphones so I don’t have to stress about losing an AirPod mid-flight. To keep them from getting tangled or gross at the bottom of my bag, I found the cutest little zipper case that makes them easy to find and keeps everything neat.

Food Favorites

  • Baking isn’t usually my thing, but I had a craving and whipped up Pinch of Yum’s Strawberry White Chocolate Chip cookies. They were deliciously good. I baked a few and froze the rest, which I love to do so I can just pop some in the oven whenever I want fresh cookies.
  • After a hike, Dan and I stopped at Snuck Farm, a local floral and farm stand, and their cold-pressed green juice hit the spot. It inspired me to make my own again (even though I could do without cleaning the juicer). Let me know if you want to know what I add to mine.
  • At Bear Lake we fully leaned into their famous raspberry everything. Think shakes, crepes, chocolate-covered raspberries, even Æbleskivers. I can safely say I got my raspberry fix for the year.
  • A glass of milk sits next to a small plate with a partially eaten chocolate chip cookie on a light wooden table, perfectly capturing the cozy spirit of our August Edition, Stamped with Joy.
    Enjoying some fresh baked cookies
  • A mason jar filled with iced green juice and a glass straw, stamped with joy, sits on a desk next to a marble-patterned case, with part of a computer monitor visible in the background—perfect for the August Edition workspace refresh.
    Sipping on some home pressed green juice
  • A hand holds a milkshake with sprinkles in a retro LaBeaus 1981 cup, stamped with joy, as the bright LaBeaus Drive-In The Sweet Shoppe sign glows in the background at dusk.
    First raspberry shake of our Bear Lake weekend
  • A hand with light pink nail polish holds a white cup stamped with Joy, topped by a thick pink milkshake and red straw, set against a sunny, rural landscape—capturing the carefree vibe of an August Edition.
    Found myself another raspberry shake
  • A hand with manicured nails holds a piece of chocolate-covered fruit, revealing a red raspberry and nut filling inside. The August Edition is stamped with joy against a sunlit sidewalk and lush greenery in the background.
    A delicious frozen chocolate covered raspberry
  • A cardboard tray filled with round pastries topped with red berry sauce, fresh raspberries, and powdered sugar, Stamped with Joy, rests on a dark slatted surface—perfect for your August Edition treat.
    Having Æbelskivers at Ruka’s

At Home

  • I got my first pair of Hokas earlier this summer and while I love them, hiking in black shoes means they get dirty fast. But I’ve found the perfect fix by tossing them in laundry bags so I don’t even have to pull the laces out. They come out looking brand new.
  • I didn’t think I’d be the kind of person to rave about a dish brush, but here we are. My trusty Target one got discontinued and I went through five bad replacements before finding this OXO dish brush with replaceable heads. Honestly, I like it even more than my old one.
  • A pair of black Hoka running shoes with white soles are placed on a white surface next to a laundry basket containing a bottle of Zum laundry soap, stamped with joy for your August Edition essentials.
    My Hokas were filthy after our hike
  • A pair of black athletic shoes inside a white mesh laundry bag on a white surface, Stamped with Joy, with a beige basket and an August Edition Zum laundry soap bottle in the background.
    Threw them in these laundry bags and into the washer
  • A pair of black Hoka running shoes with white soles is placed on a white surface next to a beige basket holding a bottle of Zum laundry soap—an August Edition find stamped with joy.
    They look brand new after being washed

Beauty Staples

  • Stocked up on my favorite mascara this month and grabbed a couple in travel size too. They’re perfect for trips.
  • I’m all in on disposable face towels, but I can’t justify the expensive ones. I found these smaller ones that work just as well for a fraction of the price.

Media I Enjoyed

  • We got a little nostalgic and started watching old episodes of Home Improvement on Netflix. Still just as funny as I remembered, and the 90s fashion is such a throwback. It’s wild seeing how much of it is back in style again.
  • Favorite Listen: Evvie Drake Starts Over, read by Julia Whelan (always amazing). It was heartfelt, funny, and had a sweet Minnesota nod. I also loved The Switch by Beth O’Leary, where a grandmother and granddaughter swap lives and hilarity ensues.
  • Favorite Read: I saved One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune for the end of the season, knowing nothing else would top it, and I was right. The perfect summer read. She’s always be an auto-buy author for me.
  • A person holding an e-reader displaying the cover of One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, stamped with joy, stands outdoors against blue water, greenery, and a distant shoreline for a perfect August Edition moment.
    Reading One Golden Summer during our Bear Lake weekend
  • A smartphone screen shows the audiobook Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes playing at 1.75x speed in the August Edition. The cover art features a yellow house, greenery, and red birds—stamped with joy as playback nears its end.
    Listening to Evvie Drake Starts Over

Filed & Shared

This month on the blog I shared a mix of itineraries and practical travel tips. If you’re looking for fall trip inspiration or smart packing ideas, here’s what went live in August:

Until Next Time…

Here’s to stamping more joy on the everyday—in your travels, your home, and all the little moments that make a month. Tell me in the comments what moments or things brought you joy this month, I’d love to know!

With joy,

Bri

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