Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Do you regularly schedule family photos?  I wish I would’ve hired a professional photographer sooner.  Our first session was when our boys were 10.  Before that we just did the walk in studio places.  I feel that there is a big difference in what you get. 

I love to put the finished product on these canvases that I order from Costco.  

This photo totally captured their personalities at the time.  

This is our most recent from two years ago.  Be still my heart.  

I have a motto (I have many mottos, but here is one of them):  “You will never regret paying for professional photographs; you will only regret not paying for professional photographs.”

Seriously, I treasure these photos.  

When my husband asked what I wanted for my birthday this year I told him I wanted a photo session.  My boys got their braces off this year and it’s been two years since our last one.  We didn’t send a Christmas card last year, sadly, because I didn’t have a good photo.  I’m still sad about it, because I frame all of our Christmas card photos for a little vignette I display on our hall table.  

Reasons to schedule a session:  

–You have your holiday cards done

-You can give grandparents photo gifts

-You will treasure these photos

-A professional will capture your family way better than most can do on their own

Tips for Family Photos:  

The above photos were captured by my very talented former student Laura Coppelman of Laura Coppelman Photography.  She is now located in Asheville but makes regular photography trips to Kentucky and to Miami, where she used to live.  Some of my advice comes from her.

-Think solids rather than bold prints or patterns.  You want the focus to be on the subjects’ faces and not on their clothing.  

-Don’t worry about being too matchy matchy as a family.  We went with fall colors of orange, green, mustard the first time and we went with burgundy and grey the second time, but we didn’t over think it.  I don’t even think I bought anything new.  

-Choose a spot that means something to your family.  The first photos are from a historic home where we often visited and did hiking.  We wanted a country feel.

-The second photo is from a urban area in our city.  It has cool murals and we thought it would be a cool background.  

-Laura loves the early morning or early evening light.  Lighting is important.  But, the most important is to take your kids when they are rested and not hungry.  I would say schedule trumps lighting.  So, don’t take teens out at 8 a.m. and don’t take babies out at nap time.

What have I forgotten?  Thoughts? 

Thanks for reading!

Amy 

Monday, October 29 2018

How was your weekend?  Ours was low key and now that we have kids this old, we really don’t have any Halloween activities anymore, but I remember how busy the weekend before the holiday was! 

On Friday at school, two of my classes had their “cultural experience” which is my educational term for food day.  They have to make something authentic from a Spanish speaking country.  Look at this spread!  

I talked about Pioneer Woman Barbie on Friday in my post so here is my Spanish teacher Barbie still in package that is on display in my classroom.  I swear I wore this exact outfit in the 90s!  Maybe it really is modeled after me!  

I was exhausted Friday after school, but one son had a chili supper for his theater.  The other son and I did the Frankfort Ave. Hop and sampled some things at Bourbon Barrel Foods.  This would be a great place to do your holiday shopping.  We also went in Carmichael’s Bookstore and ate at The Caspian Grill.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time with him and we went back and picked the other son up and headed home around 8:45.

My husband was supposed to come but our dog got sprayed by a skunk Friday morning. I bathed him twice after school to no avail and my husband was bathing him again with special shampoo after he got home from work. I tried Dawn and baking soda which helped a bit. I felt so bad that he had to stay outside all day in the rain. He had a covered patio, but still. He was shivering during his baths. That skunk smell is no joke!

I finished this book on Saturday.  I really liked it.  It wasn’t what I expected.  My boys had friends over from 1-7 so one of us felt like we had to be home all day to supervise.  It was kind of nice to sit on the patio and not be out running around. When the friends left, we had Mexican take out.  

I decided the scent is a little strong for indoors, so I’m burning this outside.  Love it for outdoors!

I love this jacket and needed it for a walk with pup on Sunday morning.  I love my hat and these 99cents gloves from Target, too.  

I read the Sunday paper on the patio later.  

While boys did homework, our Sunday Funday activity (hub and I) was to go to restuarant on river for “pumpkin chunkin'” for charity.  They slung pumpkins at targets in the river.  

Some people came by boat and you can see the targets which were inflatable rafts in the water.  The people who could come by boat were the ones with heaters and inside areas on their boats!  

We sat by the fire and listened to some music.  It was very relaxing.  

You can see pieces of pumpkin in this photo.

We returned home and I watched two episodes of The Romanoffs.  Is anyone watching this?  It’s on Amazon Instant video that comes with prime membership.  It’s very interesting and I plan to keep watching!  

That’s about it other than a couple of trips to the grocery and some laundry and cleaning.  I have a personal day on Friday so I’m excited about having a four day week.  But, those four days will be busy and a little crazy I’m sure.

Hope you have a great Monday!

Amy 

Friday, October 26, 2018

Happy Friday all!  I’m linking up with Andrea, etc.  for Friday Favorites.  Click here to explore some of the others!  

Here are just a few favorites!

Pioneer Woman Barbie is coming out!  Would kids know who she is?  Is it true that you have made it in life when you have a Barbie made of yourself?  Guess what, I have a Spanish teacher Barbie that I bought 20 years ago – o.k., so it’s not me per se, but still!  I will show you soon!  It just cracks me up that they made a Spanish teacher Barbie.  I’m probably the only one who bought one!

My body does not really allow for a jumper, but I saw this and thought some of you could rock this for the hoiidays!  What do we think?  My only advice is, stay dehydrated.  Do not have to use the restroom or you will have to uncomfortably strip all the way down to potty.  

I took 71 well dressed kids on a field trip Wednesday.  It was a fun day!

I splurged and bought a book last weekend.  Have you read Colleen Hoover?  I’m liking this newest book by her so far.  

If you are local to Louisville, there is a Fat Friday Hop where all the stores are open late on Frankfort Avenue.  Go in Bourbon Barrel Food and The Wine Rack.  Bourbon Barrel will have Old Forester punch and The Wine Rack will have a Samuels Family representative – they are the Maker’s Mark people.  These are so fun, especially if the weather is nice.  I’m hoping to stop by on our way to a chili supper. 

While in the bookstore last weekend, I also saw this book.  Last winter I was all about hygge. Is this Finnish Way the new hygge?  If so, you heard it here first.  I love books like this.  I didn’t buy it, but it is on my list.  

So, that’s it!  I have not done any clothes shopping since my Old Navy order here and my consignment finds here.

Wishing you a wonderful Halloween weekend!

Amy 

Thursday, October 25, 2018

So, I talk often about shopping at the wonderful consignment stores in my city.  We are lucky to have some really great ones in Louisville.  I have two favorites that I stop into regularly.  One is a chain called Clothes Mentor.  The other is a locally owned shop called Sassy Fox.  If you are local it is in the heart of St. Matthews on Chenoweth Lane.  They have great stuff!  They regularly have Lululemon, Tory Burch brand new shoes, like new handbags, lots of clothes with tags still on, and I could go on and on.  

They have great sales, too.  As the season goes on, they mark particular color tags down.  I stopped in a week ago on Thursday afternoon when they also had a ladies night additional 10% off and I had a $5 off a purchase of $25 coupon from them. I found two great things that ended up being 35% off each.  

Did I need anything?  No, probably not, but I am building my fall and winter wardrobe and I will be selling and donating a few things that no longer fit my taste.  Also, when shopping consignment you have to jump when you find good things… or so I tell my husband.

First up I found a new with tags wine colored poncho with sleeve-type holes sewn in.  If you can find a wrap with sleeves, they are much more wearable.  The front is a suede like material and the back is a sweater material.  They had a second one on the rack.  Original price $97.  I got it for $21.  I thought this would look nice with my new black floppy hat for when I am frolicking in the leaves this fall with a Starbuck’s PSL in hand!  Or, maybe that is a vision for my fake life!  

Second up I found these Lysse brand (original price $77)new with tags black pull on jeans.  I got these for $16.  

I wore these together to school the very next day! You might remember it from yesterday’s post here! 

Yesterday I took 71 of my students on a field trip and they had to dress up because we went to a nice performance.  Many of my senior girls know about my blog so I wanted to show you teen girl fashion.  There were a lot of skirts with buttons up the front that have a seventies vibe.  Aren’t they cute? 

Hope you have a great Thursday!  

Amy 

Monday, October 22, 2018

How was your weekend?  I did very little this weekend!  It was cold and we didn’t have much we had to do so we took advantage of it.  So, it was nice to relax, but I would have liked to meet up with friends.  Hopefully we will be able to make that happen in the next couple of weekends.  

Friday after school was busy with grocery pick up and haircuts for the boys but I managed to squeeze in some crisp patio time before making dinner.  

I finished Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg and I recommend it.  This was the book club pick by this month’s hostess. 

If you are local and in need of a boat or boating accessories, go see my husband’s brother in law at Marine Sales and Service.  These little plastic cups are great for outside!

Saturday morning was lazy and included french toast for my boys.  I have perfected it.  You buy the brioche bread from Trader Joe’s and it turns out great!

I used a very old nail polish and it really is past its prime.  Wicked by Essie is the color and I like it so much I may buy a new bottle.  

After a very lazy Saturday morning, I made a Costco run.  I had been out of my all time favorite coffee and it was good to get it again.  

Saturday I also had some patio time but needed a blanket!  

I also finished this and I recommend it, too.  I had to take a break from it to finish my book club book in time for Thursday night.  I will do a post on starting a book club if you all would be interested.  I have started two.  This one has been going for almost a year.  My other one went for 4-5 years before it faded out.  

I did a special “Soup Sunday” post yesterday.  Check it out here to see the recipe for this chicken tortilla soup below.  

We have lived in our home for 18.5 years.  It is a 60s ranch and I love it, but it needed some work and still needs some work.  We have replaced doors, windows, built a free standing carriage house garage with patio off to the side, refinished the basement complete with drywalling over the paneling, added a basement bathroom, built a fence, redone the roof.  Whew!  But, our big goal has always been to build an addition on the back.  This will involve a master bedroom with bigger closets, master bath, new hall bath, mudroom, and new kitchen.  I’m really scared because I don’t like disarray and I’m worried about how long it will take and I am also conservative about the expenses.  We got started with having our back concrete steps removed and our old septic tank that is no longer used dug out.  My sweet dog missed his back porch so he had to lay next to where it was.  I thought it was funny and sent it to my hub with a caption from our dog saying, “Where’s my back porch, daddy?”

My husband built us temporary back steps in just a few hours each weekend day.  I was without back steps for only five days but I learned how much I needed them! Look at that deceiving blue sky.  It was 50 degrees!

Even though I clicklisted Friday, I had to make a run for a few items on Sunday.  I had to get a PSL!

My boys wanted to go to the bookstore and I can’t say no to a bookstore or to buying them books!  

I treated myself to two fall magazines.  

After hub finished the stairs, we went to a movie.  This time it was his pick because I picked a Simple Favor and A Star is Born the last two times we saw movies.  He really liked both of those, too.  So, Bad Times at the El Royale…he really liked this one, but I have three words for you:  slow, long, and disturbing.  It felt like a Quentin Tarantino film maybe?  Take my opinion with a grain of salt because I love comedies and rom coms the most.  My favorite movies are Pitch Perfect 1 and 2, Bridesmaids, Stepbrothers, and the like.  So… there you go!

Are we ready for another week?  I have a five day week with a field trip in the middle.  I’m taking 70 kids on two buses to a performance and to lunch.  I have 7 chaperones, 3 of which are dads which I thought was pretty cool.  

I have some posts planned:  What to wear for Halloween events, What to wear for Thanksgiving, How to start a book club, Fall Bucket List Check in and November goals, What to make for Fall Parties/Thanksgiving.  Hope that sounds good and leave me suggestions in the comments if you have other ideas.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your Monday!

Amy 

Sunday, October 21, 2018

It’s finally soup weather! Have you made your first batch? I have made one batch of chili and one failed attempt at taco soup – I didn’t like the enchilada sauce that the recipe called for. I will look for another recipe.

Yesterday I made this soup and it was delish and even better, super easy!

One carton chicken broth

Half an onion

Salsa verde – I only used half of the jar

2 cans great northern beans

Green chiles – one small can

Can of corn

Cooked, diced chicken (I used rotisserie)

Cumin

Not pictured – about a half cup of salsa in the jar – not fresh

Cook for about 20 minutes or more. I like to bring to a boil and then simmer for awhile. I also sautéed the onions before adding.

Serve with some Mexican blend shredded cheese and sour cream if desired. We also had corn bread with it.

I guess I call this chicken tortilla soup?

Let me know if you try it! I will be eating this again today!

Amy