Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Friday, April 26, 2024

It’s Friday! I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites from this week. I hope you had a good week, too!

My first favorite is that I’ve gotten more sleep this week! I think Eddie Otis is learning the night time drill and his bathroom breaks might be getting more regular now? He goes to bed in our bed around 8:30-9 and stays in the bed until 6:15. We take him out once or twice from our bedroom and then he goes back to sleep-ish. He does have a few chew toys in our bed.

I got my hair highlighted and it looks so much better. I debated getting it chopped off and wearing it straight, but for now I’m keeping my current routine.

I’m loving my new replenished Seint makeup and my Lipsense lipstick this week, too. If you are curious, I would recommend finding some follows on IG to see what they are all about.

Ok – yum! I can’t find this at my Kroger, but I did find it at Target and I’m going back to get more. There is nothing “yucky” in this creamer. I have to have some creamer. I cut out any type of sweetener in my coffee years ago, but I like some frothy cream, you know?

Eddie Otis is a biter! Look at my arms!

I do see some improvement in his biting and I do think he is realizing what “no bite” means now.

I love prom season and promposals. Look at the cute Crumbl promposal my senior niece got:

Catching himself in the mirror!

In things that make me laugh at school…we have a goose that has laid her egg in our school courtyard – in one of our raised planter boxes. They put caution tape around her and I heard they gave the counselors shifts of “goose duty”.

I am the last to leave the house these days around 8:00. I don’t have to be at school until 8:30 but I like to be early. I actually spent most of the year arriving between 7:30-7:45. I come home during planning period at 10:30 so EO has been crated for 2.5 hours. I take him out, walk him, play with him, and then he gets another hour and a half crated before Tom comes home for lunch. I have been leaving Tom a lunch:

He finds it hard to make his lunch and deal with the excitement of a puppy, so this is a little thing I can do for him.

These are really good rice cakes. I spread a Laughing Cow cheese on top for a snack:

I come home at 3:30 and EO and I pretty much stay outside until 5:30. We play and he gets sleepy toward the end of that time so I can take him in to make dinner and he naps a bit.

Our front flowers look so pretty right now!

This week was pretty slow – work, home, work, home, and didn’t involve much else other than a Kroger pick up on Tuesday after school.

I made taco wraps, Boursin and tomato pasta, chicken teriyaki bowls, and that’s about it for our dinners.

What were your faves this week?

Amy

Thursday, April 25, 2024

It’s Thursday already – yes I said already! It’s link up day with Kellyann and Jill.

Let’s go back to last Wednesday or Thursday when it was a rainy morning. Eddie Otis is learning the drill. This picture really makes me laugh. Look at my blogger puppy! I wore my patterned pants (very old), pink consignment blouse (very old), my white Madewells, and my rain jacket. Eddie Otis wore nothing. He does not even have a collar on!

The next day I wore another pair of patterned pants. My students said they looked like Alani pants – the energy drink, you know?

And, I think I forgot to take a photo Friday so this was Saturday:

And, later Saturday when I wanted to change:

Sunday:

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

I got my hair done and did my Seint makeup and used my Lipsense and here it is:

I hardly ever take selfies and I’m super awkward.

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

It’s hard to believe it’s the last Wednesday of April but so it is. It’s a fun link up with Shay and Sheaffer today!

What We’re Eating…

I’ve had a fun semester with my kids! Jack took a chemistry of cooking class and we made a cake, bread, meat, and finally cookies. He had to take photos, record results, and have us taste them. For all of the cooking projects except one Mason and I helped and we had a really fun time doing it.

This past Sunday we got to eat these cookies!

On Sunday, I went ahead and made most of dinner early because I knew I had something to do late afternoon and I also made taco meat for the next night’s dinner. Honestly, this trick saves me in the summer, too. I know that my energy is greatest in the morning and I sometimes get a jump on it.

Mason and I made egg in the hole with sourdough bread for breakfast:

And, a highlight of our eating lately was these truffle dusted steak fries. OMG!

I am really trying to treat myself when I can. I recently had a nice lunch next to my hair place. I ordered a spinach salmon salad that was sooooo good!

And, here is what I did with the taco meat. I made like taco wraps or burritos with a side bagged southwestern salad. Tom proclaimed it “better than Taco Bell”.

What I’m Reminiscing About…

I don’t know. I haven’t let myself go too deeply into this yet, but of course school and summer is on my mind. I have mothered my twins from kindergarten until senior year of college and loved every minute of it. They are my life’s work and have made it so much fun and so rewarding. Oh no… here I go down that path. I am also going to be completing my 30th year of teaching high school Spanish. I have lots of emotions tied into that as well. The three of us have been on the school schedule together for so long! Sometimes I think Tom feels left out when we talk school stuff!

What I’m Loving…

Just loving having a dog again. We miss Ernie and Eddie Otis is definitely not a replacement for him. I’m slowing down and focusing on family, home, work, and puppy needs. We are spending a lot of time outside just enjoying nature. Just like babies, puppies force you to slow down and focus on the things that are important in that moment.

What We’ve Been up to…

Sunday we went to another church to hear Jack sing. We’ve been going to anything they invite us to go to, of course.

I have been joking that Tom gets EO when he is most docile. Tom is really happy.

What I’m dreading…

Even though we have very little school left, this time is hard. Kids are pulled out for so many tests and I have mixed classes of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors within the same classes. It’s hard to plan for these last weeks and end on a good note. I am working on that right now.

What I’m excited about…

I’m excited for all things summer, really. I hate being sticky hot, but I’m excited for shorts, flip flops, summer drinks, summer foods, more time outside, more unscheduled time, farmer’s markets, seeing friends, more time with my kids, and so much!

What I’m watching/reading…

Not much! My tv and reading time has decreased for now. I am still finishing a Cara Bastone book when I can sit outside with puppy asleep or being watched by someone else.

I have a couple of library holds to pick up but haven’t had time to do that, yet.

What I’m Wearing…

Weekend Fit:

School Fit:

Weekend Fit:

Trying to wear my Adidas a lot and just trying to wear what I have. I’m starting to cycle through my dresses and trying to wear all my fun patterned pants to school. When I’m home, my collection of rubber Birkenstocks are great for taking the puppy out in the wet grass. I have white ones and black ones and then some pink and blush ones from Target and Hobby Lobby. I am definitely set for pool and boat shoes for summer, but they are so fun to buy!

What I’m looking forward to next month…

I think we are doing one Derby activity, Mason moves home, school ends for college and then for me a few weeks later, taking Eddie Otis places, new flowers and plants for outside, and so much more!

What’s up with you on this last Wednesday of the month?

Amy

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

This is going to be a really short post because we have no routine! Just kidding – I guess we do!

So, Tom has tried to still go to the gym in the mornings but has not made it every day depending on how much we are up with Eddie Otis. Sadly, I cannot figure out how to do this and still make it to work on time. In the summer, I plan to leave immediately when Tom gets home. In planning for summer, I am keeping Eddie Otis in bed until 6:15. Ernie got up at 5:00!

So, I take Eddie Otis out at 6:15 and then we do his breakfast. He doesn’t want to eat right away but he is so thirsty. I should say he has giardia, unfortunately. It is a parasite and we have had to give him powder on his food and a little pill. This could be affecting his thirst levels, his eating, and his bathroom business. We are hoping to get rid of it ASAP.

So, I have moved my morning devotional reading, blog reading, and writing to the living room floor and coffee table. I also have my coffee there for now. I sit on the floor and play toys with EO before I even think about doing anything on my own. I am also trying to work on him playing independently – lol.

He plays for quite a bit and then he is worn out!

Tom takes over and I go get ready and this guy is figuring out what we do after that:

After I’m ready, Tom leaves for work and then i play or walk EO again.

He gets crated for 2.5 – 3 hours now and depending on the day Jack helps out or I come home during planning to let him out. Tom has also been coming home for lunch everyday. We are saving lots on Tom’s lunches out! Ha! Also, I think Tom misses him and just wants to see him mid-day.

After school around 3:35 – yes, I have been rushing home – he has again been crated from about 1-3:30 and then it’s outdoor play time. I think EO really likes the yard.

We sometimes have visitors and we end up playing until around 5:00 and then get sleepy, again.

We’ve been trying to take him in the car every few days or so to get used to car rides.

I make dinner usually with EO watching me. He seems to really like laying in the kitchen. Then, we do living room playtime again.

A couple of evenings I have taken a blanket out and a few toys and we’ve sat in the yard.

For now, EO can fit on the arm of the most popular chair in the house:

Tom is still going to bed at 8:30ish and tries to take EO with him. I usually follow around 9:00-9:30.

EO sleeps on our bed and thank goodness for our bedroom French doors. We take him out directly from our room. We’ve had a couple of nights where we each only take him a couple of times but usually it’s between 4 and 4000 times each. We lay a sheet down over the comforter and provide a few chew toys. We have the fan on and have noticed EO seems to get hot easily. He seems awfully young to already get hot.

In addition, we keep all the doors closed to bedrooms and bathrooms and my closet – my shoes are not going to be your snack! If he is awake, we are constantly watching him.

So, that’s the routine for now. I thought Tom was the puppy whisperer, but now I think we are too old for this. We literally forgot everything about having a puppy!

But, this face, amiright?

Amy

Monday, April 22, 2024

Well, we don’t have that many Mondays left of our school year so there’s that! I am linking up with Sarah and Holly to share my weekend.

After taking about a 3 week break, I did this press on mani to start the weekend:

I like it and it’s still going strong!

I had the most relaxing Friday afternoon. Both of my kids were home when I got home around 3:30. Mason told me he didn’t know how I did it – work all day and then be energetic and happy for Eddie Otis. Ha!

All three of us took EO out to the patio and hung out for a bit. After EO got sleepy, he and I were the only ones left and we just sat in silence until Tom got home.

He’s really growing! Not only has he gotten longer, but he has gained two pounds which is a lot when you started at 8 pounds.

Tom came home and we ordered pizza for all four of us nd I think I went to bed at 9:30 and slept all through the night. Spoiler – I slept 9-5 Saturday night, too. Tom did the night puppy potty outings both nights, but I do the early mornings and let Tom sleep another couple of hours. It’s funny because this is how we did our human babies, too. Tom was the night person and I was the starting at like 3:00 a.m. person. In those days, Tom stayed up until midnight and wasn’t a morning gym person.

Saturday morning Mason got up earlyish with me and we decided to cook a Dutch baby!

Dutch Baby or German Pancake

Jack had gone to the eye doctor but waited on me to pick out frames. So, we went to Target. He has an astigmatism like me and has been having trouble driving at night so hopefully these glasses will help.

I picked up a few things while Jack finished the ordering of the glasses without me.

I came home and Eddie Otis and Tom were on an errand so I had the opportunity to clean. I still had the vacuum out when EO got home and apparently Tom had worn him out. Look where he ended up napping:

I mean – it is a Dyson Animal.

I decided to make a fun lunch because we still had everyone home. I made BLT totchos like they have at Drake’s and carnitas nachos.

The BLT totchos:

I had a little time in the afternoon to read in the sun with a High Noon and then our friend Dan came over with his yellow lab Willow.

Tom ran an errand and we had another patio nap. Look at all his toys lined up.

The original plan was to go to dinner with Tom and Mason. Jack went to a music festival. Tom bowed out (too tired. mowed the yard, puppy. doesn’t like to go out that much. blah, blah, blah) so it was just Mason and I and he asked to be introduced to the butter candle so we went to Steak and Bourbon and they had their covered patio open.

Mason had gotten a head shot for theatre taken earlier so was kind of dressed up.

We split steak fries with truffle powder and aioli – OMG…

The famous butter candle…

and I forgot to take a picture of our steak salad we split. It was really good and I’m not a big steak eater. We went home and Mason watched me fall asleep during an episode of New Girl and then he went and did homework and I put myself to bed.

Sunday morning I was up with this guy who apparently had the Sunday Scaries. Look at his face!

We are working on potty training, not biting, and walking on a leash.

The weather turned a bit cooler this weekend. Looks like the best weather is coming again during the week – arrrggghhh!

Louisville is getting crazy. Saturday night was the kick off to the Derby festivities. We have a big air show and fireworks two weeks before the actual Derby horse race. Over the next two weeks there is a parade, a steamboat race, concerts, and lots of things that make it hard to school and work. Ha!

In our world, our college kids only have about 3 more days of official classes, a reading day (no class and no finals), and then they start about a week of finals. Mason will be moving home officially on the first of May, I think. He wants to tutor this summer while looking for a job job. Jack plans to continue teaching lessons and singing in his church where he has a paid position to lead a section. It’s getting real around here.

What was the highlight of your weekend?
Amy

Friday, April 19, 2024

Whew! It’s Friday and time to link up with Andrea and Erika!

My first favorite is that it’s Friday! I think I only have one 45 minute commitment this weekend so that feels great!

Honestly, I didn’t take any photos except for Eddie Otis photos until yesterday! Just like a new mom, right?

You’re welcome!

He seems to really be growing! I don’t remember our other two labs biting so much. That’s really the biggest thing we are working on right now.

Tuesday night he went to college:

We tried to switch out and see Mason’s theatre showcase but it didn’t work very well. It got started late and Tom and I tried to take turns. At least we tried. We are very proud of Mason for putting together a cool event with another theatre student. That’s Mason on the right.

Yesterday I got to sit at a bar and have a wonderful salmon salad and a glass of wine by myself.

After that, Eddie Otis and I hung out and I got such a laugh out of this photo. He is so small!

Beth got to meet him for the first time. They both happen to have their tongues out in this photo. Sorry, Beth, but it is pretty funny!

And, last night I got to go support my school’s theatre production of Legally Blonde, the Musical.

It was so cute!

Did you catch all my posts this week?

Weekend Top Five, March/April Clothing Purchases, Lipstick Love, and Fashion Files can be yours with a simple click on the red font.

How was your week?

What do you want to see from me in the coming days?

And, don’t forget that YOU are always my favorite on Friday!

Happy weekend!

Amy

Thursday, April 18, 2024

I have a lot of photos this week, but no one said they were going to be good photos. I have been taking them when there is too much light coming in my bathroom window. I will try to do better, but this is real life. I snap what I am really wearing and I only take one picture, usually!

With that said, if Kellyann and Jill will have me, I am happy to link up today for Fashion Files!

Here we go…

I threw this on at some point this past weekend. This is also a testament to how much I’m wearing the Target A New Day extended shoulder tees. I wear one several times a week. The hot pink shorts are from Aerie last year. I really love their stuff even though I am not their demographic. Their stuff runs one size big on me and I should have gone down a size in the shorts. I usually roll the waistband over.

I wore this to a choir event. It is my Umgee gauzy pants with a new TJ Maxx top and my Crocs Brooklyn platform sandals from last year.

Saturday outfit:

This was what I put on to go to a restaurant happy hour with one of my 21 year old kids:

I wore my bourbon earrings because I was going to order bourbon. The pants are super old, the top is from TJ Maxx last year and the shoes are kind of a fun bronzey color from the brand Vintage Seven 8 from Shoe Carnival.

Dinner out Friday night:

I wore my Wit and Wisdom pants, Hush Puppies pumps, TJ Maxx colorful blouse from fall.

Friday school outfit:

Another pair of really old palazzo pants, Target blouse, and I chose silver accessories. Yes, I wore shoes. I can’t remember now what I wore!

Monday school outfit:

I wore a fun orange print (there are oranges and flowers) skirt from LuLaRoe, the lime green Target tee, a white Carly Jean Los Angeles kimono, and my Madewell leather sneakers.

I bought these pre-pandemic inside the Madewell store in my mall and lately they are the ones I’m reaching for. They are a bit wider in the toe box and seem to be the most comfortable for school.

Up close:

Tuesday school outfit:

I wore a really old Chico’s skirt that I got for $5 on their clearance rack, my new ON Malibu tee, my gold Birkenstocks (oh man they hurt by the end of the day – do you think Birks are comfortable?), and my new ON cardigan. I tied the t-shirt with a ponytail holder to give myself more of a waist.

Did you see my post about my March/first half of April clothing purchases? I think I did really well and I am definitely becoming a more discerning shopper.

I mentioned a while ago that I saw these shoes in TJ Maxx when I bought my two new floral sleeve tees:

I went back and got them! I have a side by side of my original ones. I have worn the heck out of them and have gotten maybe three or four seasons out of them? I like the darker color and feel that it is more on trend with the raffia thing for this season. I think I will still wear the lighter ones depending on the outfit. I think this is a good purchase based on my history of wearing the lighter ones so much. The brand is Beach by Coconuts by Matisse. Is that long enough? If you click on the link, there are some really cute styles by this brand! Also, I think you can get these on Amazon for not much more than what I paid at TJ.

I think most teachers can agree that the things we wear at school would never be something we would wear out in the wild. Ha!

So, I think my favorite outfit to wear this week was the Malibu tee outfit, but it definitely was not the most flattering on me. The most flattering was probably the black Wit and Wisdom pants with the colorful blouse that I wore on Friday night. Maybe I needed a bit of a front tuck, though?

Do you have a favorite outfit?

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Have you heard of LipSense? It was first introduced to me at a LuLaRoe leggings party! I guess that was about 10 years ago? You had to buy it through a dealer/seller but the stuff was great. You don’t need a liner, but you can use one and you do 3 coats (waiting in between each one a bit) and then top with their gloss. You also had to have a special remover.

This stuff stays! The colors are gorgeous. I have used it my own way, too. I put one coat and then a normal color from another brand. The product lasts forever, too. I am kind of ashamed to say I have some of the original ones I bought that long ago.

Honestly I have tried so many long wearing lipsticks and so many of every type, too. This is the gold standard for me.

Here is me with one of the pink shades:

One of the coral shades:

If you do the three coats and gloss, it does not come off on your glass and it stays through eating and drinking.

Exhibit A:

I discovered you can buy it on Amazon and I found some new ones for a great price. Again, you might think it pricey for lip stuff, but it really lasts a long time. Also, I really love lip products!

Here are my new ones:

Old ones:

From left to right:

the remover that I don’t usually need to use and two glosses

If you want to try it, I recommend you get the remover, one color, and one gloss.

Has anyone else tried it?

Amy

Tuesday, April 16. 2024

Ok, it’s time to round up what I bought in March and April so far. I’ve done really well! I think being busy combined with re-introducing myself to my spring clothes has helped me keep shopping at bay.

Target muscle tees – I bought the Target A New Day extended shoulder tee in white, black (2), lime green, and yellow and have already worn all of them several times. These are great! They regularly go on sale for $7 a piece! Even so, the regular price of $10 is fair. I have worn these under kimonos and cardigans and alone, too.

If you are also looking for something that doesn’t come down too low in the front, get you one to try! I ordered a couple of different sizes and they both worked.

Pink linens pants – Amazon

These were too long so I cut them. After washing them, I think the fray on the bottom is perfect and they are going to stay without fraying further. I really like the light elastic waistband on these. I think these run true to size.

Blue pants Umgee – Amazon

I love these pants! I already had them in black from a local boutique and wore the heck out of them in the late summer. I don’t know if they are the most flattering, but the fabric is divine and they feel like a dream and have pockets. I love this gauzy material. Uh oh – looks like the link I gave you has them in a light green and a hot pink. Amy has issues with buying multiples when she likes something! By the way, I did size down one in these.

2 ON graphic tees

One is a little city scene and one says Malibu. I was so freaking happy to happen upon these for $5 each. I don’t know why I love them so much. These are cropped so I sized up a couple of sizes and they have washed really well. This is a really nice t-shirt material. I also bought one for Erica’s birthday that says “Enjoy the Journey” and is super soft.

Cream summer sweater – Old Navy – shown in photo above with the Malibu tee.

2 knit floral sleeve tops -TJ Maxx

Top One – and I should have stopped with this one as it fits better and it’s my favorite:

Top Two:

They were $16 each. The middle is a t-shirt knit and the sleeves are silky materials. I thought these would look cute with jeans or skirts, too, and can be dressed up, too.

I feel really set for outfits for the last 6 weeks of school. I do need to find a new dress but I haven’t had much luck. I think I am set on jeans, pants, shorts, skirts, and tops. It’s a great feeling to look in your closet and see lots of options, no? I feel like my closet is not overstuffed at this point and I see lots of things I’m excited to wear. They may not all look 10/10, but I feel good in them.

Let’s break it down:

TJ Maxx – 2

Target – 5 (just basics – the 5 muscle tees)

Amazon – 1

Umgee – 1 (via Amazon, but a boutique brand)

Old Navy – 3 – 2 graphic tees, and one summer cardigan

I did not add up the amounts this month, but I did really well. Do you have a favorite purchase or outfit?

Amy

Monday, April 15, 2024

I’m linking up with Sarah and Holly to share my Weekend Top 5 today!

ONE

I’m going to call Thursday night part of the weekend – have I ever shown you my latest in my collection of my lightweight beaded earring collection? My friend gave me a gift card to a local boutique for my birthday back in November and I finally managed to spend it about a month ago. I bought these bourbon earrings:

Jack was finally home early and wanted to hang out. I told him about a 5-7 p.m. happy hour at Steak and Bourbon and bonus that my former student bartends there.

We split a wedge salad and I got a $5 old fashioned (thus the bourbon earrings) and

now Jack is also a convert to the butter candle. The rolls would be great alone with that flaky sea salt on top, but the butter candle takes it to the next level. We even ordered the Maldon sea salt flakes from Amazon to have at home.

It was a nasty, rainy night outside and I left Tom with soup and grilled cheese and he got to hang out with Eddie Otis and was just fine!

TWO

Eddie Otis! We are now just over a week of this little guy being in our lives. Saturday he had his first trip down to the river.

Ok – look at that! He’s so little but he’s already acting like a big dog.

He was not afraid at all and went right down to the water.

Can you even?

THREE

Friday night we got to have a nice dinner at Osteria with Heather, Heather, and their husbands Eric and Scott. Blonde Heather was my college roommate – we actually met in the line at orientation in the summer before college started and decided to room together. Brunette Heather – Heather and I met her day one of college and then I realized she was from just across the river from me.

I split a really good salad and margarita pizza with one Heather and forgot to take many photos!

And, it had been Eric’s birthday that week so we celebrated him!

FOUR

College is winding down and we have been invited on campus for a couple of things. Saturday we had a chance to eat Chinese food as a family of four at Joy Luck.

Boy, four years have gone by so quickly. And, what a ride it’s been starting college in the fall of 2020.

FIVE

After many grey and rainy days, the sun finally came back to us! I filled my bird feeders (remember that I just add bird seed to my Kroger order) and put my patio cushions out. I drank some rosé in a jam jar – love doing this – and sat in my favorite chair and read.

My nails look horrible right now. I’ve been taking a two week break from press ons and it’s also worked out with Eddie Otis and washing my hands so much.

What were your weekend top 5?

Amy