Thursday, April 9, 2026

Hello there! How has your fashion been lately? We had cool temps again to start our week but we had super bright sun so it’s hard to be too upset.

I wore this first outfit last Thursday to a Derby event at a shopping center. This is one of my four identical Old Navy blouses, my Halara jeans, and a pair of very old Target sandals that I have worn to death. They have a buckle and I think each year Target does a variation of them.

I just had a friend text and say she was going to go to Old Navy for my blouses. I highly recommend going online and ordering. The deals are often better and the sizing and selection is better. Also, you can order tall if it is a cropped blouse and you want a little more fabric. I have this floral, a white one, a dark blue that looks denimy, and my favorite – a light blue pinstripe.

OMG! One design is still $17.49 but the denimy one is now $10.99, the pinstripe is now $13 and change, and the white one is now $15 and change!

I also really recommend my Old Navy “set”. I put their sweat shorts and their hoodie sweatshirt together and I just love it.

I’m going to try to get another with my Old Navy cash in another color, I think.

I really don’t find much in Marshall’s or TJ Maxx anymore. I am extremely picky about pattern and fabric. I did find one diamond in the rough at Marshall’s last week and zero at TJ Maxx last week. A girl has got to look, you know? I found this embroidered blouse for $20 and have already worn it twice.

I wore the denimy Old Navy blouse to dinner Saturday. I wore my gauzy Umgee pants and my red Free People espadrille Mary Janes.

I also recommend this Old Navy blouse. It’s very lightweight for the heat that is coming. I wore this to Monday night Mah Jong and added a sweater at the last minute. I wore my Amazon jeans and changed to my gold Mary Janes at the last minute, too. By the way, my sister loves her new jeans that I got her that are the same as mine. I picked pecan brown for her, but they look a little pink which she loves and is perfect for spring.

My sister:

She will be mad but she doesn’t read my blog so what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her but could help you, my loyal readers. She had a cute blouse on, but it was so cold that she had to add the sweatshirt.

Here are the Amazon jeans. I am 5’4 and she is 5’5 and they hit perfectly for us.

And, to end the week’s fashion, I wore this to a happy hour at a new to me place with my friend Beth. This is the ON pinstripe blouse with Halara side stripe jeans, and my gold kitten heels – MEOW! I almost tripped going down some stairs in them, but we suffer for our fashion.

It was cool so I added the trench.

I am wishing I got the long length of the blouse for a little more “tuckability”, but the jeans are high rise.

What have you been wearing lately?

I still need to improve my athletic clothing and my lounge at home clothing. Where do you like to shop for these categories?

Amy

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

It’s Hodgepodge Day with Joyce!

1. Egg on your face, putting all your eggs in one basket, a good egg, walk on eggshells, nest egg, or a tough egg to crack…which eggy idiom currently applies to your life in some way? Explain

Good egg – I hope I am one and I try to surround myself with other good eggs. I get very tickled when someone calls me “a good egg”. I think my buddy Dan has called me that before. I am going to look up the history of that idiom:

The term “good egg” likely originated in 19th century Britain, where it was used to describe a decent and trustworthy person. The metaphor compares a “good” egg, which is fresh and healthy, to a “bad” egg, which is rotten or spoiled, symbolizing a person’s character. The phrase became more popular in the 1920s to denote someone likable and reliable.

Love it!

2. April 7th is National Beer Day…are you a beer drinker? If so do you have a favorite? Beer battered fish, beer bread, beer can chicken, beer brats…which one sounds good to you? Have you made any of these? 

I will choose a beer on occasion – mostly likely in the summer. I like a Michelob Ultra-Light or a Blue Moon with an orange slice or a Radler – a combo of beer and lemon juice that I believe originated in Germany or a Clara which is the same from Spain. I first had it in Germany, though. I have recently been introduced to “sour” beer and I like those. Mango Cart is also good.

Beer makes me think of my Dad. Neither of my parents were big drinkers and they only had probably 6-12 beers in the house at a time. My Dad would mow the lawn and then announce it was time for a “brewsky”. He was a corporate pilot after retiring from the military and he regularly had to fly to a brewery called Straub. He loved that beer and the boxes it came in and always had that on hand. What I wouldn’t give to sit with him again with a coffee, beer, or other drink. He always tapped his wedding ring on the beer bottle – ha!

I love beer battered fish! The others I haven’t had much of. I made beer bread once and it was good.

3. Do you have siblings? What’s the best thing about being your sibling? If you don’t have siblings, what would you say are the pros and cons of being an only child? 

I have two younger sisters. The best thing about being my sibling (if I am interpreting the question correctly) is that I usually do the organizing, communicating and logistics. I text them reminders about birthdays. I try not to be bossy as the oldest but sometimes I can’t help it. In this stage of life I try not to say, “well I did this” since I hit milestones with my kids first since I also have the oldest kids. I try to listen. I try to know when they want to vent or when they want advice.

4. How do you feel about floral scents in products? Do you have a favorite?

I really can’t handle floral scents. I like a masculine scent but even so, I am becoming more averse to any scented things. I am using my essential oil diffuser lately. I recently went to someone’s home and could smell their cleaning products, and it was not a good smell. It was artificial lemony, you know? I love the smell of bleach, though! I have moved away from people due to their perfume (not moved houses but moved my body). I had a dental hygienist with a cloying scent this month. I was trapped! Help!

5. What’s one thing in your home that begins with the letter G that you would say is a keeper, something you’ll hold on to? Tell us why. 

When we moved in our house it didn’t have a fence or a garage and Tom built both. The garage is not attached to the house, and it has cedar shingle siding and just looks aesthetically pleasing to me. The house I grew up in did have an attached garage. Pros and cons.

I have a couple of friends who don’t have a garage – they live in a more urban area of Louisville in The Highlands.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My sister Kate made the most beautiful Easter charcuterie a few days before Easter. She was invited to a cabin with some friends and this was her contribution. Isn’t it professional?

Happy Hump Day!

Amy

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

You all – these lists are really helping me! Not only do I type it up here on the blog, but I hand write one (you could just print it out) and keep it visible on my memo board. It helps me to be intentional and really take advantage of the season. My friends say that I always know about events and new places around town. My sources are Facebook, Instagram, the free local magazine type things, and just talking to people. I go ahead and write them in on my paper agenda and if I can go, I go. I keep a list of new places in my phone memo, too.

I did really well in March on my list and it just made life more fun.

Adult Easter basket/bag – check – I got these cute little 49 cent carrot bags at Kroger and made one for my kids and their roommates – mostly food stuff. I didn’t go crazy. I work hard to find ways to show my adult kids love because it gets harder. I try to send positive texts and buy little treats for them when I see something. My mom was always getting me little gifts. She loved to send me home with food or things she didn’t want anymore.

Do an April Fool’s Day prank on Tom -check. I wrapped up small green grapes in Hershey’s kiss wrappers and switched his regular soft drink for diet. I had fun with it!

Cook an Easter meal – check – whew! It was a lot of work!

Switch out minimal Easter decor for minimal Derby decor

Keep playing Mah jong – try to go to Monday night Mah Jong at a local restaurant

Look for appropriate places to play Mah jong at local businesses (bonus if it’s a patio)

Continue spring clean out list – try to do one area per day in April

Wrap up Spanish tutoring with my student – it’s been a great experience!

Go to one new place a week – a coffee shop, a store, or a restaurant, or walking trail

Walk outside in different places/Walk EO in different locales

Go through spring and summer clothing (curating my style) – Words I identify with or want to identify with this season – classic, prep, Nantucket, blues, pinks, greens, yellows, whites, creams – quality over quantity, only things I love and “feel” like me – I feel like my summer style is more classic or maybe it’s more of an age thing. I am curating my spring/summer shoes, too.

Listen to live music – outside if possible – I have a couple dates on my calendar of opportunities for this

Read outside

Visit a farmer’s market

Attend some spring events going on in town

Watch steamboat race (part of Derby)

Watch airshow (part of Derby)

Attend Churchill Downs racing day for locals (5 days before actual Derby) with college friends

Plan Mother’s Day – not sure my kids will be off work

Host on my patio

Teach Tom and kids how to play mah jong – check! It was comical

I’m sure I will think of some other things I want to do!

Amy

Monday, April 6, 2026

How was your Easter? We had highs of 56 after 80s on Saturday but it was so sunny. Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly to share about our weekends.

Thursday afternoon has been a time that both of my Heathers can play mah jong. We asked another gal and she offered to host and it was a lot of fun. Her accessories are so pretty!

She had a cute little snack spread:

She got out her coupe glasses – fancy!

I wore my new Marshall’s embroidered blouse:

Her house is gorgeous and she said I could take photos, but I didn’t want to be weird and take too many…

I had a dentist appointment and picked up library books that day, too. I requested:

I finished this:

It was cute!

I got to start my Friday with patio devotional and coffee in the light rain…

EO likes the foam on top…

Friday I only had to get Easter basket stuff. I had some but needed to finish the project. I went to Kroger and Walgreen’s and didn’t go overboard. I thought this carrot bags were perfect for an adult “basket”. I did not do Valentine’s gifts this year but I did do this. I come by it honestly; my mom made a big deal of all the holidays both the religious and the secular parts.

There’s a young cheese guy at Kroger who likes to hand out samples. He is very passionate about cheese. He made me taste this and it’s so good.

I wasn’t even looking at the cheese. I walked by the bakery bread and a lady wanted my opinion on which round bread boule to get for her Easter dip. I swear to you that everyone talks to me! I helped her decide to go with an oval loaf and call it an “egg”. She was tickled.

EO! I love petting him from this angle and taking his photo from this angle.

We spent the rest of Friday cleaning, reading on the porch, talking walks on the playground (no school), and waiting for Tom to get home. I ordered us some dinner and we just chilled at home.

Ahhhh when it’s warm enough to start the day outside, right?

Saturday I took this many donation bags to the donation center:

I got bagel sandwiches for Tom and I and we had a picnic at the river while EO swam a bit.

My gel nail story…

I still love press ons, but I thought I would try gel again for a little break from press ons. I had not had gel in 6 or 7 years maybe?

Here is my first gel two weeks ago:

One nail chipped in two days and I went back and got it fixed. They added another topcoat, then the topcoat peeled off, then another nail chipped – it was bad. I went to my friend’s preferred salon (a different one) on Saturday and had it removed and got this gel mani:

It looks so much better! The quality is just night and day. And, my friend’s salon was cheaper!

I spent some time on Saturday reading and it rained for a bit. You all know I love to be on my covered patio in the rain. Add in a book and maybe an “accidental nap” and… chef’s kiss.

Then, Tom and I went to Waldo’s Chicken and Beer and got some queso:

And chicken. Cheat day! It was really good and it’s nice that their prices haven’t gone up. The queso is $5.98 and the chicken meals are $8.98. We ate for $32. That’s unheard of now.

Of course, we left a big tip.

We came home and I had to catch up on Real Housewives of Rhode Island – omg. They might be worse than New Jersey!

Sunday turned out to be a really sweet day. If you have big extended family in town with you don’t take that for granted. Both of my adult sons were off work and came for an afternoon meal. They liked what I got them and I said, “It’s not anything big” and they told me it wasn’t ever anything big and I was glad because I didn’t want to have spoiled them. I think I usually put toothbrushes, goggles, and practical things in them.

Tom got a little basket, too. Actually, it was for both of us. I put two candies for myself in his basket. My mom used to do a joint basket for she and my dad, too.

I bought a ham that wasn’t cut and that was a disaster! Also, I thought it was a small ham for $6.99 and it was a big old ham for $6.99 a pound. In that case, I should have gone in to Kroger and not done pick up! I made asparagus, asparagus orzo, Sister Schubert’s rolls,

bacon, mushroom, and onion quiche,

brown sugar carrots,

deviled eggs,

au gratin potatoes, ham, and chicken schnitzel tenders (I think I made that up!) because one of my kids doesn’t eat ham.

We ate and then I taught the three guys how to play Mah jong. It’s hard to teach! It was comical!

We played two games. It hurt our brains – it hurt mine to try to teach it and it hurt Tom’s to try to learn it. The young ones were pretty quick to catch on and already knew Japanese Mah jong. Yes, there is American, Chinese, and Japanese.

It was nice to have all four of us together since it’s so rare now. They headed home and Tom commented that it’s just like we were with our parents – ready to go not long after we got there! Ha!

The schools in my city are on spring break this week, so I am hoping for lighter traffic and EO and I are happy to have the school playground to ourselves all day long!

Amy

Friday, April 3, 2026

Happy Friday! How was your week? Let’s link up with Andrea and Erika to share!

Your girl is a mess this week; let’s pretend it was an April Fool’s joke when I posted Currently a day early because I was all discombobulated! I think I just tried to post too much! You can see Hello Monday, March Books, March Spending Diary, Currently, and Hodgepodge by clicking on any of the titles. Whew!

The elementary school behind our house starts and ends school quite early. They start playing on the playground around 9 am and it goes on with different grade levels until almost 2:00. When do these kids learn? Ha! So, Eddie Otis and I have been getting out to do walk number 2 (Tom walks him in the dark at 6:15) around 8:30. We have the whole place to ourselves and say hi to our neighbor dog friends. Walking so early is really good for us. Then, we do another walk around 10:30 or 11 and this one is a leash walk in the neighborhood.

I like to take time to appreciate the beauty of spring…

We’ve also been going on more errands together and we have a field across from our neighborhood and have been going there at the end of an errand.

New gate! Tom finished our fence with new gate project and it’s so nice!

I picked up these carrot bags and got one for each of my kids’ roommates, too. They will contain mostly food stuffs.

I finished this sweet little book this week.

I started this book next.

I have had lots of patio reading time this week. It’s been super windy but it’s still so nice. I do not take this for granted!

Tom usually just does our taxes on Turbo Tax and this year we hired it out and did our whole family plus my mom’s final taxes. She was alive for 28 days of 2025.

Group text when I told Jack and Mason they were done:

I made schnitzel Sunday to lure them home and only Jack was able to come but it was nice. Mason came for dinner Tuesday.

I made Polish Haluski and Tom really liked it. It’s cabbage and onion with egg noodles. I added turkey sausage.

I had heard about the Whole Foods family meals. Many youths are using them as “meal prep” and dividing them up in portions. I got the rosemary chicken, green bean, and lemon potatoes. It was $26.99 and made 6 meals for us. I sent a portion home with Mason and Tom and I had it for dinner twice and I had it for lunch once. They also had a salmon, broccoli, and sweet potato version but it was a few more dollars. My friend is taking one to a person who had surgery.

I tried a glass of Sancerre Rosé this week. Elin Hildebrand always talks about Sancerre in her books. I will buy this again!

I pranked Tom on Wednesday by changing his beloved soft drink to diet.

And, some of these Hershey’s kisses are small green grapes.

It was a short sleeve blouse week!

I loved my new navy ruffle from Old Navy,

my checked from Target,

and a new Marshall’s embroidered blouse.

I got my 2026 mah jong card in the mail! Not everyone has one yet, so some will still use the 2025 for a bit.

I made a really good iced coffee. I put 1 T. sugar in a mason jar with 2 t. instant coffee granules and 1/4 cup cold water. Shake vigorously for about 1 minute. Pour over ice and then add 1/4 cup cold water and milk to the top. I used a bit of creamer with the milk. It was really good!

Have you put yourself on a social media diet? I unfollowed anyone who was trying to make me buy stuff I don’t need. I unfollowed anyone that made me “compare” or anything that I just didn’t think was healthy. I am inspired by most that I follow on Instagram now. I love getting to interact with a former student who just had a baby or a former student that also loves to read. For me, Instagram is a happy place. Now, Facebook is another story but there are some connections there that I still want to have.

Isn’t this a nice thought?

Happy Easter! I made my menu: ham, Sister Schubert’s rolls, bacon quiche, au gratin potatoes (I love using my mandolin!), asparagus orzo (new recipe), spring mix green salad, and deviled eggs. I am not inspired by any dessert ideas. Anyone have one?

Amy

Thursday, April 2, 2026

So, we have gone from 50s to 80s in the last week.

Here is what I wore on a cold day. These are my Halara straight legs, New Balances, and my Target fish sweater. I was having a bad hair day but my hat looks wonky.

And, then it was warm. I tried out my new Old Navy navy blouse for the first time and I loved it! I returned the white version because I thought it was too sheer but I would like the salmon color. I have been adding more navy to my closet. I wore it with my Dillard’s Westbound jeans that Jenn told me about and my Kork Ease sandals in this photo. I have had the jeans for several years and the Kork Ease are from last summer.

Then my Birkenstocks to see if I liked them with this…

I can’t remember what shoes I ended up wearing. I think I switched to my Adidas Sambas.

I wore my Target blouse for the first time with my gauzy black pants to go tutor. I forgot to get a photo but I love the hem detail and took a photo of it while I was reading after my tutoring.

I wore a TJ Maxx blouse with light wide legged Halaras and my Mary Janes to go shopping. My mission was short sleeved blouses at Marshall’s and a few food items at Whole Foods which is right next door.

I found an embroidered blouse to bring home with me. I also found some Easter basket things.

I do try to get out of exercise clothes and “get dressed” each day because it makes me feel good to wear my clothes! I find myself changing sometimes 3 or 4 times a day with the changing weather and activities. Oh well. I can. I’m an adult.

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

It’s Wednesday with Joyce!

Also, I opened my Currently link up yesterday and posted my own early; I had good intentions but then kind of flubbed it up. Oh, well – check it out and link up if you wish!

1. March is rolling on out of here. Sum up your March in ten words or less. 

I had a good March! Some highlights for me were: walking more, reading outside, making an Irish meal for St. Patrick’s Day, plant BINGO, some patio hangs, new spring shoes, new spring blouses and clothes, new fence completed, quality time with my dog Eddie Otis, and learning mah jong better.

2. Are you afraid of heights? When was the last time you found yourself dealing with a height, and did it make you nervous?

I am not super afraid of heights. With that being said, I do feel weird looking down once I get to the height. I can’t remember the last time I was nervous about heights, though.

3. What’s a word you struggle to spell on a regular basis, and sometimes need to double check before writing it down? Use the word in a sentence that tells us something about your April calendar. 

Occasion – see I just had to look it up. The double cc’s don’t seem right. I want to put double ss’s. But fun fact…I have five spelling bee trophies in my basement. I won in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades and then I won an advanced round and something else. We had a high school “spellbowl” team and I did that one year, too. I have always prided myself on my spelling. I used to study the dictionary.

“I have many occasions to look forward to in April.”

4. Love ’em or hate ’em, with Easter comes the sweet treat known as Peeps. So… do you love ’em or hate ’em? Speaking of peeps, what’s your favorite way to have chicken? 

Love them! My mom would put them naked in our Easter baskets and they would have Easter grass stuck to them. Try putting a Peep on a S’more and your life will change!

I love grilled chicken the most I would say. I also love a perfect chicken tender on occasion – see, I must use this word a bunch!

5. This week’s Hodgepodge lands on the first day of April, which happens to be National Poetry Month. Do you like poetry?  Share a favorite line or two from one of your favorite poems. What makes this one a favorite? 

I am not a big poem person unless it’s a limerick or funny or it rhymes. I did enjoy teaching AP Spanish the poetry unit in their book because we had some good discussions and I got to “go deep”. This might be a generic answer but Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken has been a favorite since I was in late elementary school and read it.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

I see it as do your own thing, be your own person, and don’t just be a follower. In my own life, I completed all the steps to be a high school administrator when I was only 28. I did a Master’s in Administration and Supervision, completed the portfolio, and passed the 6 hour test, and then got married. Just a year and a half later I was pregnant with twins. I chose to remain a teacher and not jump on the assistant principal track because I wanted to be home with my kids after school. As time went on, I considered if I would regret it, but I was still enjoying teaching so much. No regrets.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I decided to freeze my Amish friendship bread starter. I just wasn’t excited to bake this cycle.

Amy

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

I started this again this month just like in February to keep myself in check not thinking I would publish it. It’s like airing your dirty laundry!

I recorded everything to the best of my ability but I could have missed a couple of things.

To note: this was our first full month as empty nesters.

Sunday, March 1 – $0 in person purchases but did order 3 pairs of shoes – BOGO 50% at DSW and Dr. Scholls – gold mary janes and gold Aerosoles and Sperries. I may not keep all of them. This has been a purchase(s) I have been sitting with for about a month. I have waited and waited to pull the trigger on some shoes I feel will “complete” my spring wardrobe.

Note: I returned the Sperrys. I just wasn’t sure they fit my vibe and after a couple of weeks I hadn’t worn them yet, so that told me to return them!

Monday, March 2 – +$40 tutoring, $3 in drip coffee at Starbuck’s, $13 consignment button down shirt for Mason for work – stopped on way to tutor at Starbuck’s. Ate all meals at home.

Tuesday, March 3 – invited to eat tomato soup with puff pastry by friend Elizabeth for $5 at Osteria – well, I spent $23 with tip! Kroger pick up $108 and Costco $191

Wednesday, March 4 -Publix $50

March 5 – Boutique grand opening, Lucias cafecito coffee shop – $14, French bakery $4, Fresh Market $21

March 6 – Pedicure $38 + $10 tip and Cultured $32 with Elizabeth. Cultured was closing/moving that location so it was the last day.

March 7 – Kroger with Mason $132 (most was for Mason to help him get started) let’s say $30 was for Tom and Amy, Martini’s $91, Old Navy order $78

March 8 – $7 beer with $1 tip after walking on a path right next to a brewery. I was going to make it a total no spend day but that’s ok. It was worth it!

March 9 – mah jong $15 gift for the mah jong teacher

March 10 – woohoo! No spend day! Went on a hike with Heather and Eddie Otis and ate all meals at home!

March 11 – It was bake the Amish Friendship bread day and I didn’t have enough flour or sugar or bread pans. Lucky day because bread pans were buy one get one free! $22

March 12 – $139 Kroger pick up

March 13 – Trader Joe’s wine store $35, Trader Joe’s Grocery $75, plant and candle purchases at plant BINGO $51

March 14 – Liquor Barn beer cheese for Tom and to take to party, chips, pretzels, chocolate $46, DSW Return +84 (decided to return Sperry boat shoes), cocktail bar $25, Pizza order $50

March 15 – Sister Kate bday present $42, gym $0, car wash $14

March 16 – Cold day! Amazon return $0, looked in a hardware shop/gift shop, looked in a new to me gift shop $0 NO SPEND DAY

March 17 – I made money this day! +$20 Facebook Marketplace sale of TB sandals, $3 at Starbuck’s for a drip coffee while tutoring, +$80 Tieks sale on FBM, +$40 for TB flats sale on FBM, +$40 for tutoring – up $177

March 18 – Amazon Return – I swear I didn’t order a replacement and it came anyway from my Monday return! $0, paid taxes on the boat and trailer but I am not counting that because this is my grocery and variables spending record. Ate breakfast, lunch and dinner at home $0

March 19 – afternoon mah jong game, did place an order for $50 for a mat for myself and walls/pushers for myself so that now I can host at my house and have a complete set. I also placed a LMNT replacement order and an eyeliner, brow pencil replacement order $37, – Paul’s Fruit Market $6, Gracious Plenty $10, Old Navy +22 and -$70 oopsie, Panera $9

March 20- Library $0, Bagel sandwich $10, Mexican for dinner $55 on a patio with friends

March 21 – Haymarket $6, Bagel place $20, ate leftovers at home for dinner on a Saturday – what?

March 22 – $111 Kroger pick up, $58 inside, $35 on drinks and food at free premiere event. Lol. The food hall was too tempting – I got a cocktail and Spanish patatas bravas.

March 23 – Gifts for four nieces/nephews approx $40 each, $43 nails for myself (gel), $10 tip

March 24 – small Kroger run $40, Michael’s $14 (Mah Jong tile bag), Rainbow Blossom $12, Jones Road Beauty $84 (finally clicked buy and bought Miracle Balm and What the Foundation)

March 25 – $11 Captain’s Quarters happy hour, $50 Feeder’s Supply

March 26 – nail fixed $0, Fresh Market $21, Kroger $16 – Tom’s baseball themed dinner, Derby event $0 (my friend treated me to my cocktail and we shared spinach artichoke dip)

March 27 – Trader Joe’s $35, Trader Joe’s Wine $40, Mexican take out $35

March 28 – Target $22

March 29 – coffee shop $13, Kroger $62

March 30 – +$40 tutoring, no other expenditures. I didn’t leave the house til tutoring! I made dinner in the morning and EO and I took two walks and read on the porch.

March 31 – Posting on this day so hoping no spending!

Groceries Grand Total:

$857 and this does include home supplies like dishwashing detergent, toiletries, and things like that.

This site says that the family of two adults spends $560 for two in 2026. I find that very, very low in this economy!

Clothing:

Clothing: $78 Old Navy haul (returned two blouses for +$22)

DSW: $135 – $84 returned Sperrys = $51 (gold Aerosoles kitten heels)

Dr. Scholls: $34

Old Navy return and bought more + $22 and -$70 spent $48

Take out:

Door Dash $70 Galaxie, $50 Parlour Pizza, $35 Mexican – Pretty proud of reducing Door Dash!

Would like to have more no spend days!

Anyway, I am not too disappointed. I did get out more and did buy more breakfast and lunch out for myself. I think it was so rare in January and February that I was ready for more breaks from making my breakfast and lunch in March. But, on the positive side, Tom has been taking his lunch almost every day!

Whew! I’m tired! How did you do in March?

Amy

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Happy April Fool’s Day! Happy start of April and a new month to you! Can you believe it’s April? As you are reading this, I am hoping Tom has discovered one of his first April Fool’s pranks. I am switching out his Ale 8 for a diet version. Bahahahaha. I hope to think of a couple more pranks.

Ale 8 is a soft drink made near Tom’s hometown. It’s basically ginger ale.

Thank you again to Tanya for my adorable logo!

Planting or hatching (literal or figurative – like planting an idea or hatching a plan)

I wish I were a gardener. I think I might try to do some basil on the upper patio. I need to get a plant holder and I think I can trust Eddie Otis now. I’ve had to be bare bones on both patios due to his shenanigans. So, not literally planting anything. I can’t wait for my hydrangea to bloom! I also hope to finally fill my galvanized tub with some plants.

I am trying to hatch plans for things that are coming up this year. As an overthinker, sometimes it’s hard to pin things down. I question myself and ask “should I do that?” I hate that about myself but I am working on it. Plans can change but if you fail to plan you won’t have anything on the calendar.

Cleaning (spring)

I am trying to keep up with general cleaning with a loose schedule. I am also going to work my list! Yes, a list – finally!

Eating and drinking

Did you catch my “Groceries for Two” post? I am still meal planning for dinners. I think it’s time to change up my breakfast a bit. I’m trying to focus on protein and favorite vegetables for lunch and dinner. I am craving salads, so that’s good!

I’m drinking coffee, water, LMNT electrolytes, and some wine or a cocktail once or twice a week. If I add LMNT to sparkling water, it is such a treat!

I want simple foods right now, too. If I see a meal that looks good on someone else’s blog or on social media, I put it in my notes app on my phone.

Reading and watching

Did you catch my March Books post? I read 8 fiction books in the month of March! I have some good ones, so go back and check that out.

I am watching all the Bravo shows, Bridgerton, Age of Attraction, and Love is Blind Sweden! I also tried Love Overboard on Hulu. Talk about a dumb show! With Tom, we just finished How to get to Heaven from Belfast.

Loving

• that Mason is happy (even though I miss him)
• my spring additions to my closet – my Old Navy blouses are getting lots of wear and my gold kitten heels and my gold Mary Janes are, too.
• that I sold my shoes I wasn’t wearing
• that I finally really learned how to play mah jong!
• that I went to some cool things this month – plant BINGO, the PBS show premiere, a speakeasy, lunch with a friend, charcuterie with a friend, and some new boutiques with friends and by myself, and some happy hours with friends
• that I walked more this month

Looking back at my camera roll is a reminder of my month!

I would love to hear what you are up to Currently!

Click here to join!

Amy

Monday, March 30, 2026

We are preparing to close out another month – crazy, no? We have Currently on Wednesday; don’t forget to join me! Planting or hatching (literal or figurative – like planting an idea or hatching a plan), Cleaning (spring), Eating and drinking, Reading and watching, Loving are the prompts.

You can start linking up at 4 am tomorrow! Set your alarms! Ha!

After you read this, go back and read my March books post which also went live this morning.

Linking up with Sarah and Holly…

Let’s start the weekend with Thursday afternoon! Tom is a big Reds fan and it was opening day. (You might remember how I went to the hottest Reds game ever recorded last summer? I walked a bridge from Kentucky into Ohio in full sun to get there. We sat in full sun. My legs slid on the seat. I wore a fan around my neck. My hair was kept wet. Anyway, you may not remember but I sure do.) I planned a little surprise dinner for him. Out of the photo is a bowl of baked beans and some potato salad just so you know it was a balanced meal. He had a hot dog, peanuts, fake Cracker Jack – I could not find the real deal – and a baseball Hostess cupcake.

I got him the free trial of the Reds streaming service (I think it’s part of the MLB app?) since we can’t get the games here on regular tv – I really don’t understand it. I had the tv on for him set to the game. I left for a plan with a friend. I got an excited text while I was out that it was time for baseball. His college basketball team didn’t do so well this year so he was ready for the change of sports seasons.

I went to a Derby Girls Night event at a nearby shopping center. I met my friend Jessica, and we started with a drink and a snack on an enclosed patio.

I am getting this again! It was a limoncello spritz. Give me all the lemony flavors lately.

And, spinach and artichoke dip.

This is my former student who is now a married mom and sommelier! She is the cutest!

Another student works there, too. It’s so fun to see a student everywhere I go!

My favorite store we visited was a new mostly home goods store called “Gather”:

Each of the shops had specials going on and some had drinks and snacks. Derby is a big deal, obviously, and many had Derby dresses and hats/fascinators on display.

It was a fun evening!

To be honest, I could not have been more pleased to have a rainy Friday morning. I opened the window and had my patio light on and did my morning routine.

Eddie Otis and I took a muddy morning walk when the sun came up…

I went to the library and was met by a goose.

And I went to Trader Joe’s for a couple of things.

Eddie Otis and I had a pretty lazy day. He stole a couch pillow and then looked pretty comfortable!

I had my own happy hour since I am my own bestie…

Tom and I ordered Mexican since I can’t be my own bestie and my own cook, ya know?

This is kind of weird. I realized the fiction book I was reading by Viola Shipman is the pen name of a man and the person teaching me to be my own bestie is also a man.

Anyhow, that doesn’t mean anything but I did think it was interesting.

My niece Lena sent me a thank you video for her sunglasses and bathing suit. She has her boyfriend in the background.

Molly’s four kids all have birthdays in March and I sent them all a swimming costume for their beach trip. It was fun to type “swimming costume”.

Saturday was cleaning day. I did more than just the regular maintenance and was able to check off some items from my newly minted spring cleaning list. That’s all it took was making a list.

I did the cabinet under my sink in the bathroom, the cabinet above the microwave, and I went to the basement and started dealing with some of my parents’ paper work.

I put all my candles away and got out my diffuser.

I went to Target and had a good old fashioned look around. I only bought a couple of food items. I think when you are dealing with clutter you are not interested in bringing in more clutter.

I had seen this and wanted to try it. OMG – it is dangerous.

I had heard of this cleaner brand and bought it and it was decent.

And, my Jones Road came in. I bought the What the Foundation in beige and the Miracle Balm in Pinky Bronze. I will report back about it or show you a before and after photo.

It was cold on Saturday but it was super sunny so I got to read outside and watch Tom finish the fence! He called me over to do the final saw cut in the fence so “I would feel a part of it”.

We watched baseball and were lazy after the fence. I actually cooked dinner on a Saturday night!

Sunday I went to Kroger and got the carrot bags for “Easter baskets”.

I treated myself to a coffee shop coffee and breakfast sandwich while I was out doing my Kroger shopping.

There was a group playing mah jong and I went over and talked to them. Do you talk to strangers?

I started this cute little book.

Tell me something you did this weekend!

Amy