Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time to link up with Joyce for Hodgepodge!

1. Do you think you’re driven more by curiosity or comfort? Explain. 

Hmmmm, Joyce. That is a tough question! I think I am a pretty curious person. I have dreams of being a private investigator! I try to solve mini mysteries in my neighborhood. Why does my neighbor’s ex come over every afternoon? Why does he blow leaves so much? What is their relationship? Sometimes Tom is in the mood for my Nancy Drew shenanigans and sometimes he is over it.

With that said, I am always thinking of my comfort, too. I am a horrible person when I’m hot or hungry or wearing uncomfortable clothes. I started watching the new Amazing Race and I just don’t think I could be that dirty, sweaty, hot, etc.

2. What non-food item is in your refrigerator or freezer? 

The only thing I can think of is frozen eye patches for under your eyes that my mom got me that say “chill out”. They feel great if you have sinus pain. I also have a headache cold cap that Mason got me. I always forget about it. It feels really good but looks really weird!

3. Are you comfortable with silence? If you’re home alone, do you like silence or do you need regular background noise? Do you seek out times and places to be silent? What’s your favorite place to find silence/be silent? 

I love the sound of silence! I have been enjoying the soft sound of my essential oil diffuser, the hum of my washer or dryer – my dishwasher is totally silent so I can’t count that – and I have been enjoying having Alexa play soft classical. I don’t think I could live in a big city. I think honking is so rude. I hate that sound. I do seek out silence. With my teaching job I needed to come home and have some silence. My twin boys were not loud and rambunctious. They were able to enjoy quiet hobbies quite well but when they were laughing or talking it never bothered me, either.

I also love a library! I think it’s so comforting! I don’t think they are as quiet as they used to be, though.

I love a quiet morning. I think that’s one reason why I like getting up early.

4. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, landscaping…which skill would you most like to possess and how would you put that skill to use today?

None! I would be bad at all of them! I did help my dad with lots of projects, though, and he rarely hired anything out. I even helped him change the oil on my childhood driveway. Tom is much the same way and can do a lot of things. My Dad helped Tom build our first fence. My Dad once almost lost a finger trying to fix a car issue on his own and he also fell off the roof onto his driveway and was totally fine. He was ice skating and fell through the ice on our lake and skated home and told us. He had some good stories to tell!

5. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others? 

I probably lean toward being too independent. I have a funny story about getting my first period. I hope it’s ok to talk about it in this company. I had sent away for a free “starter pack” and pouch and I was ready to go for when the time came. I had a book called “Free Stuff for Kids” and I got all kinds of stuff sent to me – lol. On the day it happened I was riding my bike with my friends in the neighborhood, and I came in to use the bathroom. I didn’t tell my mom until several hours later because I just handled it. When I told her, she said, “Why didn’t you tell me? Are you ok? What do you need?” I told her I was good and that I had it covered. I also remember that I was wearing a burgundy striped shirt and shorts. Isn’t it funny what we remember?

Also, my 4th grade teacher had a signup list to hold her hand to walk to the cafeteria to lunch and she told my mom that I didn’t sign up. I said I didn’t feel the need to hold a hand for that purpose.

I would hate anyone to call me “needy” by the way! I don’t like “neediness” in others, either, but I feel mean saying that. As a teacher, I tried to give students tools to do things on their own and sometimes it’s just having someone tell them they can do it. I do think sometimes it’s smart to accept when you need help, though. I think it’s foolish to think that you can do everything on your own. Ahem, men – sometimes.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

I went off on some tangents today so I will stop here!

Amy

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

I heard that today is National No Bra Day fyi! Ha! Do you participate? I am joining my co-hostess Marsha and hopefully several of you for this week’s Fashion Files. Isn’t it fun to start wearing fall clothes? We will be back in the 80s most of this week until the weekend, unfortunately.

Last week I talked about my struggle with how and when to switch from my exercise/dog walking clothes into a “real outfit”. I did a better job of getting dressed this week!

I am trying to wear my three Halloween/Fall graphic tees since it is now October. I have the pumpkin one below (last year from Old Navy) that I wore with a green cardigan (old from Target), my new New Balance 471s, and…

These jeans are the ones from Amazon that I talked about last winter, recommended by Tanya. The ones I have on are my bigger size and too big so I have put them in the sell/donate pile. I have them in a different wash in a size smaller and they fit in a more flattering way. I bought my sister the pecan brown ones and she absolutely loves them and the color. It makes me wonder if the different colors/washes fit differently.

One day was pretty cool so I got out my last season Target fish sweater! I just put a white tee under and wore my light wide legs with my new NBs again.

Here is my witch hat/black cat ON graphic tee. I wore it with black leggings and a favorite very old Target rust colored cardigan. I was worried I donated this cardigan, but I was so happy when I realized I didn’t! It’s so old that it’s the old Mossimo Target brand.

I wore my third graphic tee that you can’t really see with my new Athleta rain jacket. I got some new shoes, too. I thought these were so cute and I am very happy with them! They remind me of an old timey football for some reason.

Now you can see the tee better. I wore it again with my Matilda Janes.

I told you that I placed a J.Crew Factory online order and one piece was this barn jacket:

The other piece was this ruffle shirt that I picture wearing with crewnecks and cardigans.

I wore this on Friday for a patio happy hour. I feel like the brown polka dot makes the linen material ok. I really can’t walk in these clogs anymore but I didn’t know what shoes to wear.

Here is some outfit inspo I want to copy. I have a very similar navy sweater and a ballcap.

I have a chambray button down and can try this look with my above fish sweater.

What have you been wearing lately? It’s all so weather dependent right now!

Join here if you have a Fashion Files post!

Amy

Monday, October 12, 2026

I had a mild freak out typing the date above; are we halfway through October? Eek! How was your weekend? We had Hurricane Isaias visit us way up here in Kentucky, I believe. We just got the rain part of it on both Saturday and Sunday. Several things were cancelled around here in anticipation of bad weather. I hope there was not too much destruction for all those affected.

I am linking up with Holly and Sarah for Hello Monday.

Friday afternoon I had a happy hour with my friend Elizabeth. We enjoyed the most delicious blackberry mocktails on a patio.

They have homemade potato chip nachos with queso and bacon and garlic dipping sauce and green chili jam.

You can buy a jar of the jam in a couple of different sizes so we both did that and after we each took food home to our hubs.

I went ahead and put some of the jam on some cream cheese with Wheat Thins for Tom, too. I was full but needed some vegetables so I had the delicious salad.

Saturday morning vibes…

Tom took EO out for his Saturday morning walk and I tried to do all the things that are impossible to do with EO home. I can’t even unload the dishwasher easily when he is home. He is a dish thief! He loves stealing a lid. He likes stealing small bowls. Sheets become a game. He loves a washcloth. I hope you’re laughing because I’m not!

I had a much-anticipated hold ready for me at the library! I loved The Academy and waited patiently for the second book to come out.

I was happy to have some fall weather to read outside for a bit.

I made Tom some cinnamon toast…

I baked some bread…

I made my first apple cider sangria of the season…

We walked in the rain…

It was a very fall feeling day and I check a few things off my fall bucket list and several chores off my list, too.

We got Mediterranean for dinner. There is salmon there, but you can’t see it.

UK played at 7:30 and I think I prefer afternoon games. They won by one point again!

It rained a bunch Sunday morning and look how full our trough was!

Starting to look like fall…

I made a delicious brunch bowl for me and then frozen biscuits, bacon, and eggs for Tom…

I spent some time outside…

Tired boy…

Eddie, Tom, and I went to Home Depot to get some things for some little nagging tasks…

I feel like all of a sudden the leaves are changing!

The harness Tom got for EO really makes him look like a service dog. He is not providing any services I can assure you!

I did a fun ChatGPT thing my friend shared. You say, “decorate these cake pops with things you know about me”…

I feel that I need to add more than EO, books, cooking, and champagne to Chat’s knowledge of me and I promise you there is more!

And I will leave you with the weekend’s most ridiculous chore and photo. We have taken EO to get his nails trimmed and it’s very expensive and he needs the “behavioral specialist” groomer. Tom found this device on Amazon. Super Eddie!

You dangle your dog and trim while he is in his “suit”.

What was a highlight of your weekend?

Amy

Friday, October 9, 2026

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

I had a really good week! I enjoyed the weather and lots of porch reading, dog walks, a few nice phone calls – my cousin Kelly was one of them, a boutique shopping trip to look for a birthday gift, a library trip, and cooking some yummy food for myself and some dinners for Tom.

I loved this fall display in one of my favorite boutiques:

I didn’t buy anything, but I enjoyed looking!

Did you buy anything from the Prime sale or any of the competitors also having sales? I didn’t. I guess if I had my ducks more in a row I should have stocked up on products I use regularly. Oh well.

I picked up some requested library books and enjoyed their Halloween shelf:

And they had an orange and purple shelf:

Here is what I got:

I wanted to add lights to my mantel, and I thought about just ordering new ones, but I made myself go dig in the Christmas bins and use what I had – I realized I had purchased new lights last year so I’m glad I looked!

I especially love them in the mornings when it’s still so dark outside!

I thought this was so cute when I was sitting inside reading. It looks like EO was jealous of my book!

Last year I bought two Anthropologie cups – this one and a coffee mug. I love them both and they have been making me happy. This is a frothy protein coffee. Is it weird that I care deeply about my drinkware?

This is delicious. I use about a tablespoon of decaf espresso powder and froth it up with some water, add ice, and then add in this. Sometimes I only use half. It’s better than Starbucks. Starbucks who?

I started really counting my protein grams last week and measuring and recording and I was not getting the protein I thought I was.

I shared this on Wednesday, but this is a delicious breakfast casserole if that’s your thing. I counted mine to be 39 grams of protein.

This is sometimes my snack or my lunch. The Kroger brand Greek vanilla yogurt is really good. I can’t do plain Greek yogurt. It is 13 grams of protein. If I had the measuring cup’s worth of Nature Valley High Protein granola it would be another 13 grams but that’s too much granola for me. I used half so that equaled 20 grams roughly. I like to use frozen blueberries and let them sit out and defrost for a bit.

Protein recording one day this week:

Now, one thing I realized is that the Brami Protein pasta is 9 grams a serving, but our normal angel hair is 7 grams. So, that’s not a big boost and if you like the angel hair better you should use that. It’s about 1/3 of the price of the protein pasta, too. I feel like everyone is slapping “protein” on their products today.

I love our little Paul’s Fruit Market and I can buy a piece of grilled lemon chicken for about $4 and I love this pulled chicken for around $5, too.

What are your favorite sources of protein? Do you get enough? Anyone want to go on a protein-maxxing journey with me? Jenni is on board! We have been messaging about it!

Chilling outside together:

I finished this book this week and I really enjoyed the story!

I started this but I’m trying to take a break. It’s hard when I’ve got the next two Emma books already waiting for me.

I started this in hopes to try to wait on Emma…

Midwest Living named my hometown as having one of the 10 Most Charming Main Streets…

I love it in the fall!

I’m really loving having this simple pedometer. I started keeping it on my coffee pot because that is one of the first things I do in the morning and I don’t want to miss out on any step credit! I don’t know how long it will last but I also like that it’s the color gold of most of my bracelets and jewelry so it coordinates.

What were your favorites this week? I hope you had many!

Amy

Thursday, October 8, 2026

It’s time for another Global Writing Challenge and I picked this topic – birthdays! I chose this topic because mine is next month and I love my birthday and I also love all birthdays! I also love to hear how others choose to spend their day!

Of course, my birthday has changed in adulthood from when I was a child, but I can remember enjoying having a fall birthday. I liked being in school and getting the attention. My birthday is November 2nd. I never felt like it was that close to Halloween as a child but obviously it was! I never had a Halloween themed birthday party, either.

As an adult, I tried to take off work if I could. I was a high school Spanish teacher and knew I would be mad if someone was rude to me on my birthday. How dare they? IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!

Other rules as an adult:

-no housework – I work hard to get all the housework done the day before so I could be a diva

-something pampering or self-care planned like a pedicure

-shopping perhaps

-breakfast, lunch, and dinner out if I could – no cooking

-wear something new that makes me feel good

*I used to go around and collect birthday freebies from retailers but then realized they were all food related and I didn’t need them. I still do the Kendra Scott 50% off piece most years.

I like to go out with Tom and my friends if possible but sometimes my birthday falls on a weeknight, so I just go out with Tom on that night. I try to do a friends night as close to the actual day as possible.

Some birthday photos:

Last year we went to Malone’s with friends and they already had Christmas decor up:

They have a fabulous chocolate layer cake that you can choose!

The year before that we did girls shopping and met the guys at a rooftop bar and then went to dinner. It was so fun!

Nice dinner with just Tom:

This was really fun and a funny picture of me. I rented a private karaoke room for 8 people and we sang after dinner next door!

Here my sisters, my mom, and I are celebrating my 50th birthday:

What traditions do you have for your birthday?

Please go here to read other entries!

Amy

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

It’s time for this month’s Currently and I wanted to make it a bit of a Halloween theme with my prompts.

Falling for

I’m really enjoying my little fall touches, and I keep meaning to add some twinkle lights to the mantel as it gets dark earlier. I will have to dig those out of my Christmas decor box.

The wooden sign was a gift from my mom: “Sweet cider, cozy blankets, perfect pumpkins, etc.” I love my leaf garland made from felt that is really old and I love my Scrabble letters that spell out “AUTUMN”.

We still can’t really trust Eddie Otis with stuff on the coffee table, so I keep the candle and matches up high and then bring them down when I want to use them…

Look at those blondies in their barn jackets in the second photo! By mid-elementary their hair had darkened as you can see in the first family photo on the left.

I am enjoying my diffuser that my sister Kate gave me many years ago. I have been using a combo of nutmeg, clove, orange, and peppermint. I especially love it when I’ve been gone and come back in to the fall smells it emits.

Scaring (me)

How quickly the months pass! How quickly 2026 is coming to a close! It’s crazy, right? I can’t be the only one that thinks this year has gone by quickly.

Working on

I am working on getting more protein over the last two weeks. I thought I was doing well but it took me actually reading labels, looking things up, and measuring. Whoa! It’s like a part-time job. I am going to share more on Friday but here is a 39 gram breakfast casserole for one. It’s a lot of food and I have had to save some for lunch on days that I wasn’t as hungry. Or I will set it aside and not eat it all at once.

2 eggs = 12 g

3 T egg whites = 5 g

1/2 cup cottage cheese = 13 g

1/2 cup Jimmy Dean turkey sausage crumbles = 9 g (really delicious!)

green chilies = 0 g but they add some nice flavor

You can either microwave it or bake it, and you could double it/triple it for multiple days. I find that the cottage cheese makes it so creamy that I don’t miss any additional cheese, but you could add that for more protein. I have been baking it at 350 for 25 minutes because I think the oven makes it taste better. I won’t eat anything that tastes artificial or bad. I am pretty picky that it must be good.

I’m realizing that I need some form of turkey sausage and some form of protein drink to get the amount needed.

Loving

I’m still loving Emma M. Lion!

I also love how I’m reading her… I am reading 2-3 volumes and then taking a break and reading something else. It’s helping me to really savor the journals. I recommend you give yourself about 45 minutes to an hour to really get into volume 1 if you are interested. You will be hooked if you are like me!

Entertaining (me)

Alexa playing classical music in the morning for Eddie Otis and I. He is a very reactive dog and the music takes the edge off of the sounds of cars and movement in the morning. I especially love when it’s songs like Pink Pony Club but as a violin instrumental. I’ve realized the music is good for me, too.

Bravo shows like Below Deck, Real Housewives of New York, and more recently Netflix Love is Blind Netherlands. I still don’t watch any tv until after dinner.

Tom – he said some really funny things this weekend. The nieces think he’s hilarious and that makes me enjoy it more!

Eddie Otis and his silly antics. He is a nervous but funny boy. I think he’s really smart, too. Doesn’t every parent think their human or canine is really smart?

Instagram reels – I give myself a limit but boy are some people so creative and I get so tickled and laugh out loud.

Look at this face:

And, now for Hodgepodge with Joyce!

1. Let’s embrace it shall we? What’s something you recently forgot to do? Is your memory these days more like a sieve or an elephant? 

I recently forget to do the links for Fashion Files and Currently! Marsha helped me out. I usually spend some time on the blog on Sundays but this past Sunday was gorgeous out and I just totally forgot.

2. Share a trick/strategy you have to help you remember things you need to remember. 

I write everything down! I love a list! I don’t know how people exist without one.

3. What’s your favorite fall vegetable to cook with? Do you prefer your fall veggies roasted, blended into a warm soup, or fresh in a crisp autumn salad? 

I love a roasted vegetable. I love the combo of carrots, onions, potatoes. I love mushrooms. I also love a warm soup and a crisp autumn salad.

I have been inspired to cook lately! I’m trying to save money on food since it’s just the two of us, reduce food waste, and cook healthy but delicious dinners.

4. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. Did you? If so tell us about it. Or maybe someone did something nice for you, and if that’s the case please share. 

I try to do something nice every day. I think and hope I do nice things for Tom every day and then I try to text a friend, remember an important date of a friend’s, make something for a friend like a cookie, or something like that. I recently dropped off a Sissy Cake for my friend’s birthday on the actual day. I am big on doing something on the friend’s actual birthday if I can.

5.  Nathaniel Hawthorne is credited with the quote “I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.”  

Do you tend to spend more time outside this time of year? 

Yes! Yes! Now if we can get the bugs to go away, that would be great. I know it’s going to take the first frost for that to happen. I love sitting on both of my patios and reading. I also talk on the phone outside.

Do you actively pause to soak in fleeting moments of beauty in your daily routine? Elaborate. 

Yes! I try to take a photo to help me remember but I also just try to slow down and enjoy.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Since I did Currently today, I am out of random thoughts!

Please link up for Currently here!

Amy

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Boy, Tuesdays come around quickly, don’t they? What have you been wearing lately? Marsha and I are glad you are here and hope you link up!

Last week I was still in shorts and tees during the day but I did manage to take a few outfit photos to share. I forgot to take a couple – doh!

I have short sleeved blouses in fall colors and long sleeved blouses in fall colors. I like to wear these with jeans and whatever shoe I think works. It couldn’t be an easier formula! But I am struggling with getting out of exercise/dog walking clothes if I don’t have plans for the day. I was good about “getting dressed” every day last year. Help! I need suggestions. I also probably need to improve my exercise clothing wardrobe. I’m also giving myself grace to still figure out my retirement style!

I wore this outfit on a cooler morning last week to walk the dog. These are my only Halaras that button and zip and I love the piping detail on them. I wore my new New Balance 471 and a boutique blouse from a couple of years ago that is probably more spring than fall but I love this blouse and it makes me feel happy.

I wore this for our rainy-day shopping on Friday. The humidity was 90% so I didn’t want to have too much on. I chose my simple pull-on lightweight skirt from Old Navy last year. I have it in burgundy, too. I am wearing a boutique blouse, my new rain boots, and I added my black rain jacket, too.

I didn’t let myself shop for a new dress for my niece’s wedding because I knew I had several dresses to choose from and it wasn’t a formal affair. I ended up choosing this salmon dress and wore my gold heels and carried my gold Lily Pulitzer bag. I have on my new Amazon necklace but it’s hard to see. I still love these gold Aerosoles that I bought last year.

I wore this on Sunday for a casual day date with Tom. I have on my Aerie cut offs, my Old Navy witch/black cat tee, and I wore my silver Birkenstocks.

I think I’m set for fall – famous last words. I do want to get some new earrings. I would love some brown suede booties, too. I need some small second hole earrings for sure. I bought these as part of Heather’s birthday gift and I would like them, too! Aren’t they pretty and unique? Pavoi is my favorite Amazon jewelry brand.

I did order two jackets – long rain from Athleta:

It’s really quite long!

Here it is on their model:

and a barn jacket from J.Crew Factory.

I also ordered a long-sleeved white blouse with some ruffle trim from J.Crew Factory. I thought I could wear it under a sweater or maybe with a cardigan or wrap.

Have you been shopping for fall yet? I had so much fun recently! My friend said she needs help updating her fall wardrobe and talked about how she didn’t like anything she saw in stores. I found her several things to order from Banana Republic Factory. Now, we are going to go in person shopping and go through her closet to find her some fall outfit options so she feels beautiful and confident.

Please link up with us here!

Amy

Monday, October 5, 2026

We had a very full weekend – for us! What about you?

I’m linking up with Sarah and Holly to share.

Don’t forget that tomorrow is Fashion Files and Wednesday is October’s Currently. See Friday’s post if you need the details!

Friday was a rainy day, but we really needed it. I was so happy to have my clear umbrella and my new rain boots!

I try to make Fridays my day not to do any chores which means Thursday is all the chores. I treated myself to a morning candle and reading session while it rained.

I had a fun afternoon to celebrate blonde Heather’s birthday. We met at a little neighborhood and shopped with cocktail in hand. My two best college friends are both named Heather so it’s easy to say “blonde Heather” and “brunette Heather”.

It was still raining but it didn’t stop us!

We took a break to go in this cute little wine bar and have a Hugo Spritz and potato chips!

We shopped some more and then ended our afternoon with dinner. I split a chicken wrap with brunette Heather and it was delicious.

I took home birria tacos for Tom from this place, too.

I made this little doc for our birthday plans:

Saturday, we made the trek to Columbus, Ohio. My sister Kate’s daughter was getting married. We arrived at the church at the same time as my cousin Bryan, his wife Jen, and their kids Ben and Ellie. We have gotten closer to them in the last two years because of our Lake Michigan long weekends in the summer and that’s so cool. They live in Columbus and Kate sees them quite a bit. It was a very small wedding, so they were the only extended family that was invited.

Rare photo:

My niece Lena and cousin Ellie wanted a photo, and we knew Tom was up to something…

He doesn’t smile that big for a camera unless he is turning the camera on himself…

Molly has my mom’s jewelry and brought some pieces for the bride Nora to choose from which was really sweet.

My brother-in-law Jason and sister Molly:

Nora with Kate’s ex-husband Aaron (Nora’s dad):

Married:

Between the wedding and the reception, we went to my cousin’s house for mimosas and that was nice to get to see where they live…

This is my nephew Lincoln and BIL Jason. Jason and Molly have four kids.

Kate put this wedding together in like two months and she did an amazing job while also being a full-time elementary art teacher. She found all of the centerpieces on Facebook Marketplace for $200, and she bought the tablecloths and chair coverings from Amazon and plans to sell it all as a package later – lol. It was held at a really lovely little event center that can only hold 50 overlooking a little river where the OSU rowing team practices.

Even though there was a wedding cake, Kate ordered fall themed cupcakes from a home baker…

Kate made all the fancy ice for the two flavors of water and raspberry lemonade…

Nora is in school and works for a coffee/ice cream shop, so they had a make your own cold brew concoction station, too, with coffee from her place of employment.

Kate ordered the finger food from Whole Foods, and it was really nice and not that expensive. She had two servers that were just friends that kept the food table up.

My sister Molly and her two girls Mia and Lena – we were together when Molly bought this cute dress in our hometown:

Kate’s boyfriend and Kate, the MOB:

Nora and all the girl cousins:

It’s always nice to be around family and my mom and dad’s absence is always felt at times like this, too.

I got some sun yesterday and got a much needed…

car wash!

Tom and I went to the bar at the marina near our house and I tried my first Sarti spritz. I have been trying to find it around town and discovered this little place has it.

So good and so pretty!

We walked around the marina and looked at boats which is something we both enjoy!

Whew! It went by too fast!

Tell me something you did this weekend! After the rain on Friday, we had two gorgeous days in the 70s!

Amy

Friday, October 2, 2026

It’s October!

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

Eddie Otis and I have had a quiet week. It’s been fall break for our district so we haven’t had the traffic noises and commotion around 8:30 and 3:20. We have been more leisurely on “our” playground since the kiddies are not using it. We’ve also walked at the high school since we can and EO has enjoyed some new sniffs. Our first walk of the day is off leash, and I just let EO tell me where he wants to head. Getting outside so early is good for both of us, to be honest.

On Wednesday morning, the light outside looked really cool so I said, “let’s go”! We went out a bit earlier than normal and were rewarded with a gorgeous sky!

Aren’t we lucky?

I read about “pet nat” wine in a book and then my friend mentioned it all in one week – last week – so I went about finding it – not easy. Petillant Naturel means it’s a naturally sparkling wine by the way they bottle it. I really liked it! I love bubbles and any cocktail that is “sparkling” like my personality. Just kidding!

The young kids would call this a “side quest” and it’s fun to have time to go on these now!

I got some new New Balance 471s for fall and I love them. They are nubby and comfy!

I have heard many women say they like Old Spice Fiji so I got some and love it, too! I think I once had the Fiji body wash? It doesn’t really give palm tree or coconut to my nose but it’s a pleasing light scent.

I got some new self-tanner and it has a nice light scent. I love a mousse but you have to use…

mitts! I am not looking to be super tan but just have a little bit of color as we go into fall. It gives a really nice bit of color, I think.

I needed new hairspray – I like one that I can comb or brush through easily and one that is not too stiff and found this in the clearance section at Kroger.

Like everything else, hairspray is so expensive now, so I was happy to get this deal! It smells very nice, too.

I’m trying to get more protein, and I have enjoyed my protein shake/instant coffee combo this week.

This is so good! It tastes like a melted vanilla milkshake. I used this in my proffee above and drank some alone.

I also made a really good egg casserole with Jimmy Dean turkey sausage crumbles.

Do you know this trick if you have an iPhone? I use it a lot. After choosing who you are texting at the top, you go down to the message space and hit “+” and it allows you to choose “send later”. I will schedule a text while I am thinking about it. Sometimes it’s too early/late and sometimes you know the person will be busy so it’s a great option. You can also schedule a birthday text for the future if you think you will forget. Isn’t that cool?

This always makes me think of my mom who would text my sisters and I all hours of the day and night. She would text while we were teaching or at 3 am. I would often wake to group texts from her. I miss that even though it annoyed me often. Sometimes the question was only for one of us, and we would get “stuck” in a group text. Lol. I was proud of how well she embraced new technology, though.

I used my dishwasher “delay” button for the first time this week – so easy! This is a reminder to me and to everyone to learn the technology you have at your fingertips!

I finished Emma M. Lion Volume 4 and I like seeing my cute little stack on the mantel.

I started this and it’s fun so far. It’s set in Canada and I often think when I watch shows or read books in Canada how different we are between the US and Canada.

Some other things to note this week…

My nephew Miles passed the ground school portion of his pilot’s license! He started the process back in January and has been working hard!

I loved receiving texts from two nieces this week, too. One was asking fashion advice, and one was asking how to talk to her parents about a small issue.

Sunbather:

Walking at mom’s old school:

Kinda gross but kinda pretty:

And I had a nice happy hour with a friend yesterday afternoon with a refreshing sangria…

We tried a ricotta focaccia…

and some fries that taste just like McDonald’s – lol.

Don’t forget Fashion Files on Tuesday!

Don’t forget that October’s Currently is next Wednesday! October’s Currently will be on Wednesday, October 7 and the prompts are: Falling for, Scaring (me), Working on, Loving, and Entertaining (me)

What were some of your favorites this week?

Amy

Thursday, October 1, 2026

How is it October? September was a full month of reading where I had to read inside in the AC for the better part of the month because this September was hot!

I really enjoyed The Shippers and the premise. I think you could read this any time of year. I think this would make a really cute Netflix movie.

Oh, gosh, this book was sad but I also liked it. How is that for a review? I love any book with a Paris setting so I am a sucker for “Paris” in a title.

This was cute! I have enjoyed all of Emily Giffin’s books.

I ordered this off of Amazon and while some might find the advice to be common sense or something they have heard before, I really enjoyed reading it. I read it the same week Dolly Parton died and I felt very empowered by this book and by my deep dive into Dollyisms. I also got to attend the book launch party. The author is the mom of Jack Harlow, rapper, but more importantly, Clay his brother and my former student and I got to see him and another former student.

I didn’t end up finishing this book because I knew where it was going. It was ok.

This book was cute and had its moments but it’s not one that will stand out.

STOP EVERYTHING! STOP SCROLLING!

These are the books I didn’t know I needed. Beth Brower wrote them in 2019 so I am not sure why all of a sudden I started seeing them on many different platforms. She is also the writer of The Queen’s Gambit which was made into a show and I watched the show without knowing it was first a book.

There are 8 volumes written in journal style by the main character Emma M. Lion. Emma is hilarious and a single lady in 1883 London. The ninth volume is set to come out in February. I don’t often buy books but I ordered the first four volumes off of Amazon and requested the rest from the library. I may have to break down and order more since they are on major waiting lists at my library, too. See their new popularity?

After reading three, I started worrying about going too fast so I read this cute book about a Korean matchmaking family. I really liked it and read it in about 3 days.

How did I miss this Fiona Ferris book? I ordered it to get ready for fall!

I can’t believe I have finally recorded my reading here. I still don’t have any sort of rating system but I will be excited to have an official count by end of year. I also plan to name my favorites. Reading is one of my favorite hobbies and I have loved reading since I was a child. My mom would make fun of me not hearing anything else if my “nose was in a book”. I was the first to read in my kindergarten class and read “Go Dog Go” to my classmates. My favorite childhood series was The Boxcar Children.

If I had to say my favorites from the year right now I would say:

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

Calamity Club

Mad Mabel

This Book Made Me Think of You

Have you read any of the same books I read? Anything you are excited to read?

Amy