Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Exciting Announcement: The Fashion Files link up with be starting back up but on Tuesdays. We will start next Tuesday, April 21. I will open the link up at 4 am and keep it open until the following Monday at midnight. Gosh, I hope I don’t forget! Ha!

You can show one outfit you’ve worn or multiple outfits you’ve worn. You can talk about clothing, shoes, accessories, undergarments, swimwear, brands you stand by, thrifting, online shopping, in person shopping – whatever you want to talk about that involves fashion.

The credit goes to Marsha who will be hosting with me. She had the idea and approached Kellyann and Jill, former hosts. They were ok with the resurrection of the link up. Thanks, gals!

The why: We all have to get dressed and we all should feel good about it! We don’t all have the same style but sharing what we’ve worn might inspire others. Even if you don’t consider yourself fashionable, you should consider linking up. Taking outfit pictures daily (or on the days I put an outfit on) has helped me to become a better dresser and shopper!

I would love to see some of my blogger friends link up who don’t normally talk fashion. Come on!

My schedule will still be: Hello Monday, Wednesday Hodgepodge, and Friday Favorites. Now I will do Fashion Files on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be my “wild card” day where I talk about whatever floats my boat that week.

After lots of outfits and going out last week, I don’t have as many outfits this week.

I am still trying to figure out my retirement wardrobe. So far that has meant more jeans and less pants. I have more freedom in my footwear!

I wore this last week for an early morning errand. You can’t see from the photo, but these are my Land’s End track pants. I sized down and should have sized down another. I wore my Adidas Sambas (I have gotten my money’s worth), an Old Navy plain white tee, and my Aerie white button up.

I wore this for mah jong on my patio followed by a casual pizza dinner out. I have on my straight leg Halaras, Kork-Ease sandals, and my Umgee yellow and green floral blouse.

This week I checked out two little boutiques and left empty handed. One wasn’t really my style and the other had mostly accessories. Yes, I love to shop, but I have definitely become a more discerning shopper!

I need to try on my dresses and my two fascinators. I have a peach fascinator and a white fascinator. I am going to Churchill Downs in a couple of weeks. I have a long sleeve dress option if it’s cooler out and some short sleeve options.

Churchill Downs in the 90s when we didn’t worry so much about headgear:

These are my Heather besties from college. I’m in the middle and I think I got my dress from Kohl’s. I loved the mod print of the dress.

I’m also choosing flat sandals for the day because comfort, you know?

Back to everyday wear, I am still loving my Old Navy blouses and it’s time to use my Old Navy cash on Sunday. I think I will order the green “set” like my magenta set and another blouse.

The magenta set:

This runs big. I sized down one in the shorts. I think I will size down in the hoodie with my next set.

I’m thinking about getting the peach version of this navy blouse:

I need to wear my new espadrille wedges from Spain (via TJ Maxx – lol!) but they do look a bit too summery for now maybe?

And I’m excited to carry my new farmer’s market bag:

I am a bit intrigued by the Old Navy Devil Wears Prada collab but I probably won’t get anything:

I still want gold flip flops, and I think I know what I will get. I’m loving jeans, blouse, metallic shoes. You can change up the jeans for jean shorts or a jean skirt. Easy. Done.

What have you been wearing lately?

Anything on your fashion wish list?

I hope you will link up in just four days time – next Tuesday, April 21. Just look at my amateur mirror photos. That’s about all I can manage!

Amy

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s the day to link up with Joyce!

1. Big week in the US of A…do you do your own taxes? What’s something you’ve found ‘taxing’ lately? 

This is the only year we haven’t done our own. Tom does them on Turbo Tax usually, but this year we offered to do my mom’s personal (she lived for 28 days in 2025) and her estate taxes to help my sisters out. It has been a bit taxing! I have had to make several phone calls and send several texts and emails with the accountant we hired. Glad to have that done!

2. When it comes to travel are you a last minute packer or a lay it all out a week in advance type? Do you struggle to pack light? Share a packing tip that has worked for you. 

I love packing! First, I make sure everything is clean. Then, I won’t let myself wear what I think I am packing starting about a week before if it’s a big trip. I lay everything out on the guest bed that could be a possibility and then usually end up putting some things back. I try to pick a color scheme so that everything can be mixed and matched. I pack more tops than bottoms because you can re-wear bottoms. I think I can pack fairly lightly. I have learned that travel me doesn’t wear as much makeup or jewelry or want to fuss with it.

I have started packing a lightweight tote bag and this has been great to have. You can fold it up in your purse and use it if needed.

Here is me in Spain with my little cloth tote along with my crossbody bag – another must:

We are a carry on only family. Here we are waiting on the train to Barcelona. We do happen to have a Spanish guitar plus its case because we purchased it in Madrid.

3. April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Hmmm…who knew it got its own month? Do you like a grilled cheese sandwich? What ingredient do you add to take yours to the next level? 

Honestly, I have made too many grilled cheeses and I am over them! I hardly ever partook of them, but my boys loved them. Most recently we added fig jam with Havarti. Now, that being said, I love a croque monsieur on occasion.

4. There’s a well known quote that says-

‘A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” John A. Shedd  

Is constant growth necessary or do you think it’s more important to prioritize stability and peace in your life? 

I think growth is necessary but maybe it doesn’t need to be constant. Why can’t you have growth along with stability and peace?

5. Let’s wrap this up with a fun spring this or that-

• daffodils or tulips – I choose daffodils since they are usually the first sign that winter is over. We have them growing wild right outside our fence line and they make me happy.
• lemonade or iced tea – A couple of times a year I will order a non-sweet iced tea and put a little sweetener in myself. Sweet tea is too sweet for me. Lemonade works well in a cocktail but oftentimes straight up is too sweet for me, too.
• gardening or hiking – I wish I was a gardener but I’m just not. I love hiking and being one with nature. I used to do it a lot. We took our kids hiking so much when they were little. We had backpacks to carry them in and then they had their own hiking backpacks with a water tube attached that they loved. We also camped a lot with them.
• ladybugs or butterflies – I feel like I see ladybugs more so a butterfly is more special. Our zoo has a butterfly garden. I would love to attract more to my yard!
• umbrella or raincoat – Usually I am fine with a hood up. I don’t get too freaked out by rain. I’m ok with getting a little wet.
• floral patterns or polka dots – I don’t think I currently own a polka dot, but I would like one. I don’t want to look like Minnie Mouse so it would have to be the perfect polka. I love a floral.

A couple of my favorite florals…

A J.Crew Factory clearance rack find:

A TJ Maxx find from a few years ago:

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Wow! Our grass is so, so green and I was admiring the bright pink with the green this week.

Happy Hump Day to you!

Amy

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

I’m kinda laughing at myself as I type this title because I am the least qualified person to do this, but maybe that’s a good thing because it’s like “beauty for the average Joe”.

The face:

It’s got dark spots, wrinkles, melasma, asymmetry, but it’s mine. It’s seen some things. It’s conjugated lots of Spanish verbs.

In the above photo, I am wearing sunscreen, glotion, a bit of bronzer, blush, eye liner, eyebrow pencil, and lip product. I have no foundation or mascara. Mascara bugs me. I feel like I can see it and then I hate the removal process. I will get more detailed in a moment.

I have never had a facial or anything done. I would like to get some of my spots treated. I have no idea what is even possible. My face has been put on the back burner while I was working and raising my kids, then putting said kids through college. Mama’s face was not the priority.

With makeup, I want a 5-minute face and that is what I have here.

Here is what I used:

Jenn sang the praises of the Sun Bum and Loreal Lumi Glotion combo. I put both products in my palm and combine them, then apply with my hands. I use a bit of the e.l.f. halo glow for contour along my hairline and on my cheeks. It gives me a bit more color. I picked up this gorgeous pink Laura Geller blush stick at TJ Maxx a few months ago and I ordered the Violette French bisou blush. I use both of them together.

I learned of the importance of brows a few years ago. I love the combo of this elf pencil with spoolie and the elf liquid brow together. I did have my brows waxed and tinted in January and am going back soon. I used the Ilia stick as my lipliner and my all over color. I love the Ilia stick. It is a great product. I used the bisou balm by Violette, too – love! – and then ended with the Selena Gomez Rare Beauty gloss – obsessed! This pencil eyeliner is still new to me, and I am still trying to get better. I read to start in the middle above the pupil and do tiny strokes instead of trying to draw one continuous line. I did use powder liner and a tiny brush, but I have switched to pencil. Like I said, mascara bugs me. I left it off. I do think eyeliner really makes your eyes pop, though.

I ordered WTF foundation and Miracle Balm from Jones Road. I’m not impressed. I opened the WTF and said, “WTF is that smell?” I hate the smell and I hate the thick soupy texture. It’s thick and soupy but then has no coverage. Now, I do not have the Jones Road brush. That could be the problem. I have been using my old Merit brush and it has hairs coming out of it. I miss my Merit products to be honest. I love a stick makeup and it was really good stuff. It took me awhile to appreciate Merit, but I would buy their foundation stick, bronzer, and blush again.

The Miracle Balm doesn’t even show up. I picked pinky bronze.

My friend Faye has several Jones Road products that she let me try. The only ones I would buy are the Hippie Stick – smells great and can be used for hair flyaways, elbow moisture, cuticles, and more – and the blush stick.

She also gave me this lip product and I love it!

If I buy a beauty product more than once it says something. I do like to try new things and think that the perfect product might just be out there for me.

I get so sucked in by the ads and demos. They look so convincing, no?

I tend to prefer the more expensive brands of beauty products because they are more highly pigmented and a little goes a long way. I can get them to last a long time. I try to look in the small size bins of Ulta or Sephora to save some money. With that said, I do think I have a good mix of drug store and higher end in my current toolkit.

My friend Victoria told me about this product that she found at Kroger. I tried this Australian brand last summer and wasn’t super impressed.

She bought this color:

I bought this color:

It really is bouncy and jelly consistency! I tried it on both my cheeks and my lips. I think you must super moisturize your cheeks before using because I looked like I had a rash.

I really liked it on my lips, though.

The product costs about $10. I think Kroger only had the two colors. I would like to see the other color on me.

What is your holy grale product?

Amy

Monday, April 13, 2026

How was your weekend? Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly to share!

Thursday I took Eddie Otis to a new to him park and it was gorgeous out and I think he enjoyed it -as evidenced by the three hour nap he took after we got home! One of my goals is to go to new places and last week I did four new places!

I have a dog walking belt bag that has treats, waste bags, leash, etc. so I can grab and go. This has worked well for me!

Thursday night I had dinner out with my friend Kara and we had a delicious martini – can’t remember what all it included but it was good.

I had my favorite meal of 2026 I do believe. I ordered a salad that had pumpkin seeds, green apples, blue cheese, and a maple bourbon vinaigrette. I added salmon. It was so good.

Kara loved hers, too. She got catfish, cheese grits, and kale.

We split some bread pudding and the sauce was so good.

Friday, I made myself an iced coffee. I ordered cups so that I feel like I spent $8! I have been using espresso powder, water, brown or white sugar, skim milk, and a touch of creamer.

Mason is working at a gorgeous leather goods store along with subbing. I have mentioned this store before because my former student started this business in his college dorm room. He now has stores in Charleston and Nashville, too. I am so proud! Mason didn’t use my connections (lol) to get the job, but he got the job a few months ago and is really enjoying it. They sell leather bags, shoes, coasters, bookmarks, sunglass straps, cookware (that isn’t leather), and so much more. The store is lovely. They also have a speakeasy/bar within the store.

I went down to their happy hour to meet Mason and we had a drink together after he finished his shift.

Mason is learning their new belt bar. You come in, pick your leather, pick your color stitching, and pick your hardware. This would be a great Father’s Day gift if you are local.

Check out Clayton and Crume’s website. My student was Clayton. I called him “Leo” because that was his Spanish name he chose. And, yes, he was an excellent Spanish student. I have the classic tote with my monogram. Tom got it for me for Christmas a couple of years ago and I love it. Tom has a belt and he loves it.

I went home for dinner and ordered bowls for Tom and I for dinner. We have a place called Currito and I had wanted to try it. I loved it! I could make this myself for sure. Tom got the Bangkok bowl and I got the Harvest.

We watched the Artemis II coverage. So interesting!

Saturday morning Tom went on a hike and I went to a small art fair with my friend Victoria.

We saw this guy – Fitzgerald – he works at his mom’s rug store where the fair was held.

I went home to Eddie Otis and cleaned and prepared and then had some time for some reading and a nap.

Then, my friends came over for patio mah jong. I had the Master’s on the outdoor tv and made pimento and egg salad sandwiches and had jelly beans, pistachios, cut up donuts, plantain chips, and guacamole and I made the Master’s Azalea drink – lemonade, vodka, and grenadine.

One of my friends can’t come empty handed and gave me these adorable mah jong napkins with holder!

Tom got home from hiking and we grabbed the husbands and went to Diorio’s Pizza. Tom was talking here and we were waiting on the third couple.

You can order by the slice which most of us did.

It was a nice day.

Sunday was lazy. I went to Kroger for just a few things and spent most of the day reading outside. I had a good old fashioned peanut butter and jelly for lunch.

That’s about it!

We had some nice weather, too.

Tell me the highlight of your weekend!

Amy

Friday, April 10, 2026

How was your week? It flew, right?

Let’s link up with Andrea and Erika to share…

It was spring break here for all the public and private schools and I loved the quiet and the lighter traffic (since I live by an elementary, middle, and high school), and I guess I made it kind of feel like spring break for myself, too.

The week started off so chilly! Eddie Otis and I enjoyed our walk on Monday but were shocked by the cold!

Unprepared:

I played Monday night Mah Jong! It was so nice. You just show up to the restaurant on the river and you can order drinks and food. I met some new ladies that we played with.

There was one gentleman there, too.

More chilly walks…

Eddie Otis’ friend Skyler:

Eddie Otis got to run errands with mom. He got gas, treats at Feeder’s Supply (he also helped himself to a biscuit on a low shelf – lol), and then got to walk in a neighboring field.

Look at this tongue; he woudn’t get out of the car when we got home.

I had a drink Tuesday afternoon at a new to me place called Tartan House with my friend Beth. Their decor was lovely…

I had a drink called a Como Spritz and I loved it.

Then, we walked down a couple of doors to a new place called Chica’s Cantina and had some chips and dip…

I enjoyed a Mel Robbins podcast featuring fashion stylist Erin Walsh. She wrote a book called “The Art of Intentional Dressing” and she says to approach your closet with this question “How do I want to feel today?” I think I like my Halara jeans so much because I like how they make me feel. Same with my new gold kitten heels. Have you looked at your closet this way?

I had a brunch out with my friend Faye. She also brought her Jones Road products to let me try! How nice is that?

This week I finished this cute book:

and started this…

I found and ordered some espadrilles from Spain through TJMaxx.com!

We have a new Wednesday evening farmer’s market nearby and I checked it out. It was lovely!

I found a lady selling handwoven bags and I actually bought two!

This one was $20:

This one was $30:

I’m already hitting some of the things on my Spring Bucket List!

I took down Easter and put up Derby decor.

My mom gave me this horse out of recycled scrap metal:

She also gave me this vintage KY ash tray:

Old Navy has Devil Wears Prada 2 merch! The movie comes out at the end of April so I need to re-watch the first.

Nate Bargatze has a movie coming out at the end of May!

And, Louisville is getting a Tupelo Honey!

Happy Friday to you and thanks for reading!

Amy

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