Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Friday, May 22, 2026

How was your week? The school children are out as of today at 3:20 around these parts. What about in your neck of the woods? Let’s link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites!

It’s been a busy and social week around here despite the rain! I hear we have more coming this weekend!

Monday Jack came over to learn some kitchen stuff and to meal prep together. We made spaghetti and taco meat and then I sent him home with meals. It was nice. Jack is not as interested in cooking as Mason is but he’s trying.

Tuesday my sister Molly completed her 24th year of teaching first grade. She has also taught second grade.

She ended her 14-year streak of having one of her own four kids in her school with the baby of the family. He is moving on to middle school where her husband teaches! Those poor kids can’t escape!

She has 19-year-old boy/girl twins, a 16-year-old girl, and this guy. He won the sportsmanship award for all of the 5th grade!

How cute are they?

I got a sweet DM this week from a former student. He is a senior and I also taught his sis. He works at one of my favorite restaurants, so I have seen him a few times. This is why I love Instagram.

There was no school on primary election day and EO and I went to my old school and walked. He enjoyed it!

My old classroom or in other words where the magic happened:

It’s really crazy that we have now completed a full school year of my retirement as of today at 3:20 when school lets out for summer in my district!

I have been enjoying yogurt this week. I have tiny wild blueberries in my freezer and I put them in a bowl and let them get all juicy, add vanilla Greek yogurt, and top with a little granola.

One afternoon I got to have happy hour with my friend and her daughter who just came back from study abroad in Germany. It was so fun to hear about her experience. We went to a cool place with a piano on the porch…

We did wine flights and it looks crazy!

And, then went to the garden for a German beer…

Aren’t they so cute? And, aren’t I so sweaty? It rained like crazy and we were inside at first and then it was so humid in the garden.

We ended up having appetizers and dinner in the garden, too.

I did press on nails for years and was really happy with them until I wasn’t. That isn’t to say I won’t ever do them again. Then, I got two gel manis and wasn’t pleased with one of them and the second one didn’t last as long as it should have and that isn’t to say I won’t do it again, but I will say my nails are pretty damaged after just two manis.

I decided to try the Dazzle Dry system of regular old polish and ordered a starter kit.

It’s quick drying and was very easy to do. I will let you know how it goes since it’s too early to tell! I only have one color right now, too.

I got some magazines! I am saving them for this weekend!

I pulled all my red, white, and blue clothing out for this weekend. I don’t have any plans yet but you gotta be patriotic, no?

I had a surprising amount of r, w, and b clothing!

A new chain bakery opened right by my house so I had to check it out!

I was so busy at 4:00 in the afternoon that I didn’t buy anything but it’s really pretty!

I had a fun Mexican restaurant dinner with my friend Jessica at a new place with three floors. The third floor is adults only and much quieter so we asked for that.

They have jalapeño ranch dip! Here is a copycat recipe and it’s so good! I might make it this weekend. The surprising ingredient is buttermilk, but remember you can make your own with regular milk and vinegar.

It’s just typical Mexican food but in a really pretty environment!

I came home to this view…

It’s been a nice week!

What about you? Tell me a favorite!

Happy weekend and Happy Memorial Day!

Amy

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Tom and I bought a used boat 12 years ago and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. We got to take our 2026 Maiden Voyage on Sunday and here is how it went…

Tom: We need towels.

Amy: Don’t forget all the boat accessories in the garage.

Tom: I forgot this, this, this, this, this, and this.

Amy:

So, we do forget all about what summer staples we need over the long dark winter, don’t we? It takes a bit to get our footing in the new season.

Here is my advice. I don’t have young kids so those of you with young kids have even more to gather! And you might need to tailor your list to the pool, the lake, or the baseball field.

Step One: Shop your house. See what bug spray you still have, what sunscreens you still have, find and wash your towels, pull out your swimsuits and coverups, etc. I don’t believe that you have to buy new sunscreen before the old is used up – unless your sunscreen is from 1995. I bought a ton of sunscreen last summer and then I just wasn’t outside as much as in previous summers. It was a weird summer. It was either storming or miserably hot every weekend.

Step Two: Make your list and shop! Have fun with it and enjoy the season. Maybe start out slowly and don’t buy everything at once but gradually add a couple of things to your online order each week.

Here are the must haves in my opinion:

Bug spray – the mosquitoes freaking love me. I am also trying the original Jergens this season to see if that keeps them away. I have heard it does!

No matter how hard you try to avoid it, flies will come in the house. I stand behind my Zevo! It really works. It’s a device you plug into the wall and then you replace the filter thingy. I have bought mine on Amazon and at Target.

Fans – I bought a little fan for my patio and it really helps!

Spray bottle for water – this is a trick my SIL taught me for the boat. Spraying some water cools you down really well. I have already used mine on my patio this year.

Insulated big cup for water – treat yourself to a new one or dig out your options and keep one everywhere. I have one or two in my car that I keep filled, Tom has two in his car, I keep one next to my coffee pot, etc. I especially love the ones that keep ice intact for a long time.

Sunscreen that smells like summer – for me that is good old Coppertone. I usually buy one like this and then do store brand for the rest. Pro Tip: Apply sunscreen at home in front of a mirror. Use lotion – not spray – it really works better. Then, when you get to your destination you can reapply with the spray. You don’t want to spray inside your house anyway. Do not get burned. It is extremely painful and it happens quickly. Keep a t-shirt if you have had too much sun and need to cover up.

Soft sided cooler – We take it on the boat but I feel like it’s good to have one in the car for groceries (if you have another errand you need to run and worry about your food getting too hot), for any outdoor event like concerts, for taking things to someone’s house, etc. Keep it in your car!

I think mine must have been totally too far gone by the end of last summer because I couldn’t find any around my garage or my house.

I ordered two to see which one I liked better. I picked these up at Target and I like both and might keep both. They were less than $20 each!

Car sunshade – I keep my car in my garage but when I go places in the summer the car gets so hot and these really help. I am going to purchase a new one for this season.

Beach towels and a drying rack/clothesline for wet towels – I think we have had our Costco towels for 10 years and they still look brand new. They are bigger and really good quality. They might be Tommy Bahama brand. I don’t think you have to wash towels every single time. They are big and that wastes a lot of energy. Put them on a clothesline or on a drying rack. Give each person a dedicated towel so they are using their own. Exception would be our river towels or lake towels. Those need to be washed each time.

Swim cover up – you can also use a button up and look chic

Hat or ballcaps

Flip flops

Swimsuit

babypool, sprinkler toys, pool toys, etc.

Coconut scented lotion – change up your scent for the new season. It’s fun! I have orange scented body wash in my shower now, too, and it smells all summer citrusy!

Summer candle – a citronella one for outside, too

Folding chairs for outdoor concerts, reunions, and picnics

Summer canned cocktails if you partake – I love the skinny cans. Anyone have a favorite? I am over Truly and White Claw and would like to try something new. Surfside maybe?

Skinny can insulator – I love mine! I found it at Target several years ago. Sadly, I had a pink monogrammed one that accidentally got thrown away so I had to replace it.

Summer cocktail ingredients like my skinny marg – 1/2 stick Crystal light lemonade, one shot white tequila, squirt some lime juice from a real lime or from a plastic lime shaped bottle with lime juice, mix all up, add ice, top with Fresca – gonna try this with my Wild Strawberry, too for a skinny strawberry marg!

I tell you what – you can start any cocktail with a half stick of Crystal Light, vodka or white tequila and top with Fresca! Why half a stick? I feel like a whole stick is too much for me. Add a bit of fresh lemon juice or lime juice, too.

I am sure I have forgotten some things! What else would you include? Give brand recommendations if you have them!

In addition…

Write out your summer bucket list

Print out blank calendars of the summer months so you can record community events and see the summer laid out

List of outdoor summer concerts where you can see it (or other summer community activities), list of summer farmer’s markets and locations, etc.

What better time than this weekend (as the unofficial start of summer) to have fun with this? Memorial Day is also a time to honor our fallen, don’t forget.

Happy weekend and start of summer!

Amy

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Let’s link up with Joyce for Hodgepodge!

1. What do you make more complicated than it needs to be? 

The better question is what don’t I make more complicated? I am really working on this. I think some of it stems from anxiety and some from perfectionism. You know those memes about the type A, high achieving, first born daughter? Yeah, that’s me. I wouldn’t say I was a high achiever after high school, but I held my own before I was 18.

I overthink things as little as when I should go to the grocery store. I overcomplicate what we are having for dinner. Argh. I second guess the smallest decisions.

In the words of Michael Scott, “why am I the way that I am?”

2. What impresses you? 

I am not really impressed by material things. I am impressed by people who have done a lot with a little, who have traveled, who have lived life experiences, that kind of thing.

3. On a scale of 1-10 how picky of an eater are you?  (1=extremely and 10=not at all) If you had to eat a meal made entirely of one color what color would you choose? 

I would say I’m a 7. I don’t like nuts. I don’t like peas or lima beans. I don’t want to eat weird meats and seafood like rabbit, oysters, clams, chicken livers.

I can, however, go to any restaurant and find something to eat. I would never say if I didn’t like something at someone’s home.

WHITE – bread, potatoes, eggs, frosting, creamer, lol.

4. What does balance in life mean to you? Does your life currently feel ‘balanced’? 

Balance in life means margin. I didn’t overschedule myself when I was working. I had time at home, took days off when needed, and made sure to have open space in my calendar for spontaneity. Balance means a good mix of alone time, spouse time, family time, too.

My life currently is probably lopsided on the side of time at home and unscheduled time, but I made myself a promise to take this first year of retirement slowly and not overcommit or commit to anything before I was ready.

I have always made time for hobbies, though. How sad would it be if one didn’t have time to sit on the patio with a glass of wine and a book? I think everyone should do a “time audit” and see where their time is taken up on a normal day.

5. If you could travel the world for a year what would be your first destination? 

What a good question! I would probably start in Scandinavia and work my way down through Europe? I would linger and spend time in the smaller towns and not just visit the big cities. Also, can Tom and Eddie Otis go?

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The story of the wedding dresses being saved made national news! Well, People.com news, at least. , so maybe it was more of national pop culture news.

What would you say to one or more of these questions?

Amy

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Fashion Files is chugging right along! Thank you so much for reading and linking up. We all have to get dressed, right? Marsha is my co-host so be sure to check her out as well.

In 2026, I have purchased clothing at Target, Old Navy, Aerie, my little boutiques (I always think of Little Bo Peep when I say that), and my consignment stores. I also had one successful Amazon clothing purchase of the jeans. I have a weird little theory that you have to spend $30 for decent Amazon pieces. I tend not to buy Amazon clothing because I just loathe returns back to Amazon. Returning to Old Navy, Target, etc. doesn’t seem as bad. I don’t know.

Have you heard of The Lazy Genius’ Decide Once rule? It could be “we always eat ham on Easter” or “we always order pizza on Fridays”. It’s so obvious but so helpful, you know? I was talking to my sister about the number of decisions a teacher makes in a day and it’s freaking exhausting! She was saying she didn’t want to have to decide on something and I said that I totally understood.

A decide once for me for a few seasons has been a black tank suit. Now, last year, I bought the navy version of the black suit I had and ended up loving that.

I ordered this suit and it was a size too big but I am waiting on the smaller size to come in. Oftentimes with suits you do have to go up a size. The quality is great and I love the thicker straps. I think it looks much more than the sale price of $23.

Do you have any Decide Once rules in your wardrobe?

I bought this gauze top in yellow and have already worn it a few times. I really think I need the white to replace a couple of other white blouses that are past their prime.

It is now in store. I couldn’t find the swimsuit in store, by the way.

So, far I have resisted the other colors and the pants. Like I said, I think I might get the white. The brown might be really nice for early fall. Uh oh, Amy…

Do you have a fun strap or a fun purse? It becomes part of the outfit with a solid top. I had a return at Nordstrom Rack and snapped this photo. I could have worn some sandals and made it a true outfit.

Here I am in the yellow gauze with my crocheted cardigan over it.

Yellow is a happy color for me.

I broke out last year’s fruit salad shirt! I found this at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s last year and have loved it. It’s a light linen fabric. It works with my red shoes! I have actually seen a fruit print in several expensive dresses and tops at my boutiques.

Last year:

Rainy day outfit of the “set” I created from Old Navy separates.

Floral blouse wtih my Aerie cut offs. You have seen these in several of the photos. I love them! I am wearing my gold Aerie flip flops, too.

Do you have short rain boots? I need to replace these. I wear them almost every day; right now, I wear them in the dewy grass. Let me know if you have a brand recommendation. These are from Costco and I might just have to wait until they put boots out again.

I am going to try to challenge myself to wear some pants and other shorts besides cut offs for next week.

What outfits do you like and tell me your thoughts on my topics today!

Amy

Link up here!

Monday, May 18, 2026

How was your weekend? Let’s link up with Holly and Sarah to share. Also, Fashion Files is tomorrow and we’d love for you to join us!

Thursday was a fun day spent with Mason and then Jack popped in later, too!

I made Hot Browns for dinner and they turned out pretty good!

I started this…

I finished this and posted on Instagram and Sally Hepworth shared my post!

This is a great story; I read it in three days or so. Sally does it again. Theo of Golden was also a great story but it could have been cut by at least 1/3. Sally does it right.

I picked up Mexican for our Friday night dinner. We split a meal and had no leftovers just like I like it!

Saturday at the river, River was manning the counter at the boat supply store.

It poured rain and it stormed Saturday morning, then got hot and sunny and muggy, then it rained and stormed more around dinner. The day was a wash.

I made myself a Wild Strawberry Crystal Light. Pretty good.

I started this. The author repeats herself and I don’t love her writing style but I do like the story.

I made a skinny margarita for the sunny part of the day…

Tom wanted to go shoe shopping and I wanted to go with him. This guy is a slooowwwwwww shopper. 1.5 hours later.

I made him test the “moutain”.

Update: look at this aerial church photo I saw on Saturday. Thank you so much for your sweet words.

Something that filled my cup, though…I taught most of these dudes who are all traveling through Europe together. They are in Barcelona in this photo. Some of them have been sending me messages.

I have another girl coming home from her semester in Spain soon and we are going to get together!

It was warm Sunday morning so I was able to sit outside.

Then, it finally happened…Maiden Voyage 2026 with…

First Mate Eddie Otis!

He kept jumping in and swimming after we got his ladder out.

He did so well!

It was really a treat!

Tell me something about your weekend!

Amy

Friday, May 15, 2026

Let’s link up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites…

It was a hard week around here. Mother’s Day was hard and I woke up Monday wondering when these “Hallmark holidays” will get easier. Not only is my mom gone, but we don’t have a big extended family locally to do things like this with. I did cook chicken alfredo for my kids who were able to come over after work for dinner so that was nice. Tom and Eddie Otis went to visit Tom’s mom and EO’s grandmother and they got home in time to see the kids, too.

Monday, we comforted our friend who had to say goodbye to her sweet dog. Heather made her a photo plaque at Walgreen’s that turned out beautifully and I brought comfort foods – farmer’s market Amish sourdough, jam, chocolate chip cookies, and a quiche. We sat and talked and all three of us cried for her loss.

Then, Monday night I started seeing photos and videos on social media of my hometown church on fire. Hometown friends were sending me notices, too. This is the most special place in my hometown besides the house I grew up in and it was brutal to see. By end of the day on Tuesday, it was determined that the fire was started by an electric golf cart plugged in next to the church. The sanctuary was destroyed. My parents are weeping, I know.

This is the fall view of the church:

The steeple still stands but behind it is the sanctuary:

Look at this cool photo captured by a friend of mine that lives there:

Do you see it?

My ex-boyfriend is the deputy mayor (I’m not flexing; it’s true) and he says that the city will help them rebuild. They have insurance and a fund to help has been started, as well.

The beautiful thing is how the community came together. No lives were lost. There is a coffee shop across the street that fed the first responders and kept their restrooms open.

Next to the church is a bridal store (that used to be a funeral home) and I found these photos hauntingly beautiful; a call was made for trucks to transport the dresses out to save them and the community showed up. They are now being stored in a nearby church basement, and they saved them all – including dresses for brides getting married very soon.

I posted about my church on Instagram and so many former students reached out. One even said that she would like to donate. Awwww! I was very active in my church youth group and those were my best friends. I also brought other friends to join the group. We had amazing leaders and did so many cool things. My parents were super active and they became even more active in their retirement. My Dad was a trustee and treasurer and was there several days a week. My mom led the women’s tea fundraiser and the Jesus Clothes closet and was there all the time, too.

My Dad was so proud of the organ, and it was going to be the highlight of his three daughters’ weddings, he always said. Their funerals were there and the church fed our people. Anyway, it’s one of those special places that you think will always be there.

I went looking at my photos of the sanctuary.

My Dad walking me down the aisle:

The kiss:

The formal posed photo:

Even though I started my favorites with a solemn tone, I got to cook for my kids, my friend who lost her dog, and I saw the beauty of people coming together this week.

Jack gave me this cool horse serving platter for Mother’s Day. He even went to a shop that I like to shop for me.

Mason got me this book:

So fun!

I started and finished this book this week and I liked it. I enjoyed the 70s setting. Has anyone read it?

I picked up these library holds. I have “book anxiety” if I don’t have books waiting for me.

These are some recommendations I have gotten from either IG or other bloggers.

But I started Mad Mabel! It is a story that sucks you in. I am really enjoying it so far.

With all the sadness and melancholy I have been feeling this week, I found solace in nature with Eddie Otis. Look how beautiful!

We have had some gorgeous weather this week!

If you read Fashion Files on Tuesday, I talked about gauze. Old Navy now has more gauze in the store. I had to kill some time waiting for another store to open and walked in and saw new merch:

I have this shirt in yellow that you see in white and brown. I ordered two dresses that didn’t work from Nordstrom Rack which is right next door to this Old Navy, so I returned those in person.

I am sorry if I haven’t commented on your Fashion Files link up yet – or your comments, for that matter. It’s been hard to be on the computer for too long this week.

Eddie Otis got a pedicure and they gave him a handsome bandana.

I talked about this in Hodgepodge, but I watched the movie and it’s so well done. I recommend it for this weekend if you haven’t watched it yet.

I got a new hand soap this week and really love this scent!

And it was a favorite to get to go to a patio for lunch this week!

My companion was Mason!

We split the fish sandwich and the beet salad and I was too excited to remember to take photos of the food!

Happy Friday to you and thank you for your sweet comments on my church on Wednesday.

Amy

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Wow! May is really chugging right along, isn’t it?

Do you ever feel like your life is really basic, really boring, really average? I had the thought that several little things I do make me really happy because they feel a little “fancy”. I have always liked that word. I don’t think it’s used enough anymore! Right?

I am not ashamed to say that I love glassware. I like certain glasses due to their look, their heft, their size. I will definitely judge a restaurant on their drinking vessels! I do not want to drink from styrofoam (unless it’s cute on very rare occasion), or plastic, or old red Pizza Hut cups that I had to wash by hand on a weird cup washer device.

I put my water in a wine glass sometimes and it feels fancy. I don’t love a slice of fruit in my water but that’s even fancier.

I was a big dill buying fresh herbs. Fresh herbs feel a little fancy.

I put some in my eggs.

I like my croissant spoon rest. It feels a little fancy.

I put my food on a real plate. These are our wedding china plates. We didn’t go super formal but I still love this simple design and the color yellow.

Fresh flowers feel a little fancy.

Walking my dog feels fancy some days if I imagine I’m in another country.

Breakfast out feels fancy to me.

Sometimes taking a drink with me to a hair appointment or to run errands makes it feel like more of an outing. I love my glass iced coffee cup but I also do like these plastic to go cups I bought and the TJ Maxx disposable coffee cups I bought in January (I looked back) that I use on rare occasion. On my last hair appointment, I made a drink to take and it really did add to my enjoyment of getting a beauty service done. I felt fancy.

Fiona Ferris books make you think of how to eek the most out of your life.

If I like how a product smells, I will clean more! I feel a little fancy using this cleaner and it makes me happy.

Sitting on a patio feels fancy. I have started a “patios I want to visit” list.

Getting dressed feels fancy. I loved this recent IG post.

I feel like putting on an “outfit” can help your enjoyment of what could have just been an errand. Looking at my errands as an outing or an adventure is fun for me.

The youths are talking about “side quests” and “microadventures”:

When they use these terms, I think they are just saying to look for a little fun in your average, ordinary days and weeks.

Reading a magazine feels fancy to me.

Adding a piece of jewelry or pair of shoes with my outfit can feel really nice and fancy, I think. I have a ring that I love that adds some bling and my gold kitten heels feel real fancy!

What is something fancy that you do or could do?

Amy

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

It’s Wednesday which means Hodgepodge with Joyce!

1. What’s one piece of advice you would you give a recent or soon-to-be graduate? 

You don’t have it all figured out and you don’t have to. Be open to opportunities and the lessons you will learn. I had a goal to leave the country at least once a year and did that from age 21 until age 28. I was single for much of this time, and it allowed me to see what I wanted for my future and to figure out how to support myself. That gave me loads of confidence.

When I look at my young face I think of all the things I am going to experience. Learn from the people around you and the lessons you are being taught. Accept help. I remember veteran teachers that were so kind to me. I didn’t have a classroom for my first 3 years, and a veteran English teacher let me use their computer and grade recording program.

The young face below would start her high school Spanish teacher career in just three months but first she got an opportunity to chaperone a mission trip to Mexico for two weeks for basically free! While in Mexico, my mom accepted a job interview for me and that’s the job I got and where I stayed for four years. I tried to stay with my college boyfriend who was still in college, but our lives became very different and we broke up.

Here I am with my college and beyond roommate Heather. We had an outdoor ceremony, and it started raining so we had to run in the chapel to finish! We lived in two different apartments together after graduation for 4 years! It really was our Friends era. We watched the show and had lots of other friends in apartments and would hang out at ours or theirs. She started dating her husband who was friends with my husband and that’s how we met!

My kids in their college graduation regalia – they didn’t get a high school graduation because the year was 2020.

2. May 15th marks the birth date of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. At this point in time are you more in need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain. 

I think I need a trip back home.

My hometown is really special to me. I am doing my best to keep those ties without a parent or a home base there anymore.

After going there so much for the packing and preparing to sell of my mom’s house from January 2025 until June 2025…

I had the best time in September with Tom for a music festival and have already booked our hotel for this year – still need to buy our tickets. The house still wasn’t sold at this time and we did go there to check on it but we finally got to go just for fun in September.

Molly and I made a fun day out of the closing of our mom’s house in November. After shedding our tears, we did a comical wine tasting and enjoyed the Christmas decorations…

and in December the whole fam had so much fun there together – we played games, ate, laughed, and bowled.

But, Monday night I watched as this unfolded…

My church since I was five years old where I spent to much of my childhood and youth, where I got married, where Kate and Molly got married, where we had my parents’ funerals… caught on fire.

My heart hurts. As I type this, I don’t know the extent of the damage.

3.  “There’s no place like home” is an oft repeated line from Baum’s book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement? 

Every time I travel, I am so happy to come back home. My house is far from perfect, but it’s mine and I feel happy and contented here. Even though my hometown is super special to me, my adopted city where I live now is super special to me, too.

4. May is National BBQ Month…do you own a grill? Who does the grilling at your house? What’s your favorite thing to throw on the grill? What’s the last thing you grilled? 

We still have not replaced our grill! Tom is not blessed with the grilling gene, the desire to grill, or is he home early enough during the week to get the grilling done for when we like to eat. So, we will maybe get a grill this year when they have some sales? Any grill recommendations out there?

5. What’s a memory you replay in your head when you need a little joy? 

Gosh, this is a hard one. Laughing with my little family of four, my extended family, or friends probably.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I read this book a few years ago but like with many books, I had forgotten all the details. No one was more surprised than I was that I liked a book that involved an octopus.

I started the movie on Netflix this past weekend and wasn’t sure I could do it because again, the octopus, the fear of it being too sad, etc. Watch this and stick with it. It is so well done. I also think you could tie in the themes of home and community, being open to learning and opportunities, and so much more that is relevant to today’s Hodgepodge themes.

Watch it!

Amy

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Hello and welcome to another edition of Fashion Files with myself and Marsha.

I have not done too well with outfits over the past week! I have not been “getting dressed” some days like I would prefer.

On Monday, I threw this on for an errand. I have on my new Aerie cut offs, my last year’s Aerie Maine lobsta sweatshirt and my old gold Birks. I am not Aerie’s demographic, but I am so pleased with the quality of their stuff. It washes well and feels good on.

I wore this for a rainy afternoon of Mah Jong at my friend’s house. I can’t decide if I should capitalize the name of the game and if I need more h’s or more g’s. Lol. These are my Amazon jeans, my Hari Mari flip flops from last year and an Aerie button up! This post is not sponsored by Aerie.

Let’s talk about the Hari Mari flip flops. I wanted a good quality tan flip flop and I considered several different brands. These are such good quality and so comfortable. I can’t remember where I heard about them. I wear them every single day for at least part of the day.

I didn’t put on another real outfit until Friday when I was headed to the mall for Chicken Salad Chick and a couple of other stores. I wore my Free People red Mary Janes, my striped Halaras, and my Old Navy striped blouse.

I wore this to the Saturday farmer’s market. I thought it was going to rain but it never did. I have on my new Crocs Miami flip flops, old Umgee gauzy pants, new this season Target checked blouse, Amazon scalloped cardigan and a hat from Michigan that was Mason’s.

The Crocs Miami are fabulous!

Let’s talk about gauze. I like it better than linen because it doesn’t wrinkle like linen. I have a “camp” shirt up from Old Navy a few years ago in black, white, and hot pink. Here is the black:

I am wearing it with very old Target Universal thread olive drawstring shorts that are fabulous.

Remember when we talked about fast fashion? It ain’t fast when you keep something for 10 years!

I will say that your white pieces just usually don’t last as long because the get the pit stains and such. So, I usually have to say bye to white sooner.

I added another gauzy piece from Old Navy. I couldn’t find it in store; I ordered this online. Here I put it with the same olive shorts.

I also wore it with my Aerie cut offs:

I thought these graphic flat lays from The Good State on IG were so cute:

Let’s talk a little more about gauze! I have turquoise and orange gauze shorts with pockets from a local boutique. They were on sale! I have a green J.Crew dress from a consignment store that I wore a ton last summer!

The J.Crew kelly green gauze dress:

The white gauzy “camp” shirt:

The shorts are also Old Navy. They were on major clearance a few years ago and I love lime green.

Here are the gauzy boutique shorts that I also have in orange:

I introduced my friend Beth to gauze last year and she is a gauzy girl now, too!

What have you been wearing lately?

Link up here!

Amy

Monday, May 11, 2026

How was your weekend?

Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly for a recap and then with the ladies at Monthly Musings for “Go to Lunches on the Go”.

Friday morning, I went to the gym and then a couple of hours later walked Eddie Otis in the neighborhood and it was a gorgeous day!

Chicken Salad Chick was having a Mother’s Day BOGO deal and I had been wanting it for a bit, so I went to the one at the mall and saw these ladies playing Mah Jong – so cute! Also, after a week of not really getting dressed, I put on a cute outfit to go do this!

I got Classic Carol for me and Fancy Nancy for Tom (I don’t like nuts) and the cookie for me and the red velvet for Tom. I thought we would have this on Saturday and I also ate it for lunch on Friday.

We have WAY TOO MUCH chicken salad now! I didn’t realize how big these were!

I wandered in Anthro with my chicken salads – weird. I love the vibe and the aesthetic but never buy anything!

Then, I had felt a strong need for black flip flops as of late. I wandered down to Von Maur because I always like their flip flop selection. They have Reef and some good brands. They also have a piano player and it feels nice in there. Things are spread out. Do you have a Von Maur?

I ended up with the Crocs Miami and wore them all day long. They are so comfortable! I have never had a big toe entrapment to my knowledge and I was fine with it.

I had myself a nice little lunch of chicken salad and read my book on the patio. I think the playground screaming has become white noise but just so you know the screamers were out in full force on a Friday and there was screaming from 8:00 am until that final bell at 2:10!

Tom and I ordered pizza for dinner and watched Shrinking.

I went to the first Farmer’s Market Saturday morning. It was already packed at 8:30!

I bought a gift for a friend of Amish bread and jam and strawberries for us. Spoiler – Tom and I thought they were the best we have ever had. I was melancholy much of the weekend because our friends had to say goodbye to their sweet dog. That was why I bought a gift. And, our other friend is going to make a photo ornament so we will give them the gift together.

I met Tom and EO at the river and little EO had a nice swim!

We started the process of cleaning the boat, charging the batter, and getting gas in it. EO “helped”.

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw I finished this book. It was so sweet but then it turned really confusing and I still don’t know if I connected all the dots, then it turned cheesy and unrealistic.

I went out around 4:30 before I started dinner. Yes, we had dinner at home on a Saturday – let the record state!

I liked my outfit and wore my sandals from my mom and my new Aerie cut offs and I got a new piece of gauze for my gauze collection that I will talk about on Tuesday.

For dinner, we had a salad:

Tom had corned beef from the freezer and sauerkraut and we both had asparagus and potatoes. The asparagus was so good – I made it in the airfryer at 400 for 20 minutes or so.

Ok – another niece had prom and I was shocked to find out she had gone back to her natural hair color. She has been dying it really dark. This is a trend these days – did you know that? She is a senior while Lena is only a sophomore. Nora looked stunning! Nora is the one I did the cooking challenge with last summer.

Lena

Nora and Lena are cousins, not sisters. Lena is a mascara expert and I ask her advice.

Saturday night Tom and I started a new show called Vladimir and I kept asking for just one more episode! So good! Then, I started the Hallmark movie “All’s Fair in Love and Mahjong” – lololol. It made me chuckle.

Sunday I had some relaxing time to myself with some magazines and a library book…

I went to a little boutique and took the scenic route…

then I made alfredo for my kids who had to work but they came for a late dinner. It was a treat!

And now for…

Share Our Lives – On the Go Lunches

I don’t really eat on the go anymore. I sit at home with a plate now! But, for a long time I packed my lunch. I did almost always take a break and sit down. I even had a round table in my room so I could sit somewhere besides my desk.

I don’t really eat in my car. I don’t find protein bars very good or satisfying so I rarely eat those. It doesn’t feel like “real food” to me and it has a weird after taste.

I probably go through only 1 or 2 drive thru windows a month and it’s usually for a coffee treat. I have a locally owned coffee shop near my house that I will treat myself to once in a while. I can’t remember the last time I had Chick Fil A but that would be what I get if I do need food.

If I think I will get hungry between breakfast and lunch when I have to go somewhere I take a banana. I think a banana is such a perfect food. It comes in its own biodegradable container.

A sandwich is also such an easy food. I recently saw an IG nutritionist say that people have forgotten that a sandwich is a high protein meal. Duh! I don’t like ham and never have that much – it’s too pink – but I am worried about the lunch meat thing so please tell me turkey if it’s roasted is better?

Homemade egg bites in a mini muffin tin

Recipe I found on the internet:

Mine:

A wrap or a burrito is a great on the go food. I love a breakfast burrito. For years, I made a bunch of English muffin breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos to keep in my freezer and then I would pull one out to take to school.

Another thing to think about is a quick breakfast like a banana or yogurt parfait and then eat your eggs/breakfast food at lunch time.

My Amy McMuffins:

My Amylu sausages and low carb egg casserole – 6 eggs, green chilies can (small), 1/2 cottage cheese and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes – cut in 6 squares.

My burritos:

Let frozen fruit melt, add vanilla yogurt, and a bit of high protein granola. Tastes like dessert.

I find salads take a long time to eat if you are short on time.

I love a “bowl” – build anything really in a to go container – rice, beans, chicken, etc. and you can do any cuisine – Mexican, Asian, BBQ, burger, etc.

A grown up lunchable is a great on the go meal – you can get the containers that have the partitions and put some different items in each one.

Don’t forget leftovers or reconfiguring leftovers. I would pack my lunch for the next day while cleaning up dinner, so it didn’t really take any extra time.

I am packing Tom’s breakfast and lunch now and he eats a yogurt, a banana, 3 Cutie oranges, a sandwich or tuna salad and crackers, some chips, and some chocolate.

I’m excited to see your ideas!

Amy