Friday, July 17, 2020
Happy Friday to all! I am linking up today with Andrea, etc. right here.
How is everyone doing? I will be honest – I had a couple of really down weeks, but this week was better for some reason. I was down for the last couple of weeks because people I knew of (friends of friends) were testing positive, I saw lots of photos of people not even trying to social distance on social media, the talk about will we or won’t we go back to school – it was all too much for me. I still have those same feelings and the fear that we are back to where we were in March – but worse.
Alas, I have decided that I can’t control any of that. I do know that I report back to work – on a computer or in a classroom – with or without students – August 10 and I plan to bring my best to whatever that looks like. I want to enjoy my remaining time off. I plan to focus on preparing the boys for college. We haven’t bought a single thing yet for their dorm rooms but I hope to make it fun by taking each shopping. I will be referring to my list of Pandemic Fun and my list of what I still want to do. And, probably most importantly, I will do my part to re-flatten the curve by wearing my mask, reducing time out of the house or choosing wisely and spending time in prayer for my job, my students, my college boys, my family, and my country and the world we live in.
So, let’s get to my favorites this week…
I have a new ceiling fan! I have never had a ceiling fan! I have slept so much better with this bad boy. I swear – I have not woken up much at all and have slept from about 10-11 p.m. until 5 a.m. (and usually going back to sleep) the last couple of nights because I wasn’t kicking covers off. And, isn’t it pretty? Tom installed it and it took him quite a while last weekend. It has a remote control. Now we have three remotes in our bed – one for the tv, one for the cable, and one for the fan. Lol!
Sophie of Boo Mama and The Big Boo Cast podcast talked about this Gain detergent and I purchased some. I have been using it for my laundry and the towels and I really like it. Orange and energetic grapefruit? I have never met an energetic grapefruit, but o.k.!
I’m still using my Sally Hansen Instadry in Make it Snappy!
2020 is the year of the rug. I updated my rug between my unrenovated kitchen and newly renovated mudroom. It’s amazing how much of a difference a new rug can make.
I also decided to replace my three mismatched runners from my hardwood hallways so that they all match now with this new pattern.
You guys – this face wash smells kind of like if orange juice and energetic grapefruit and the Volcano candle had a baby! You must get this if you aren’t picky about your brands. I keep this in the shower.
I got a super quick haircut this week. I told my stylist I would come with clean wet hair and I was seriously out of there in 15 minutes. I didn’t want her to dry or style it. I got about 1.5 inches off the bottom and long layers. It feels so much better. I styled it myself later in the day.
One thing I did for Pandemic Fun this week was have a high school friend over to my patio for a Paloma! She moved really close by a few years ago and we reconnected. We talked until it got dark and it was really fun. I am kicking myself for forgetting I had lights to plug in, though! Oops! Or, I could have used my new little lanterns. Oh well.
I don’t know if you are interested and I don’t know if I really care but I signed up at USPS.com for the daily email that tells me what mail is coming. Anyone else do this?
This cracked me up! I bought new bird seed this week but just left the bag out instead of filling it up right away – well… those evil squirrels who were probably working for the birds ripped open the bag and had quite a buffet.
What were the highlights of your week? How are you doing mentally at this stage?
Happy Friday to you!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I am glad you had a better week, things do seem to be getting worse and I honestly thought this would all be behind us by now. My boys have all of their classes online this fall – which is such a bummer for them. Oh well.
Love your new rugs and isn’t that nail polish the best? I swear it wears so well!
xo,
Kellyann
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Thank you. I did, too. I’m so sorry for your boys. They will still go to campus? So far, mine are moving in and doing smaller groups. The ratio is one professor to 11 students at their college so I’m hopeful that they can do classes safely.
I’m so happy with the rugs and polish. It’s the little things!
Happy weekend!
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Happy Friday!! Energetic grapefruit made me lol….. hope you are doing better this week. I hear you re: the ups and downs in mental energy!!
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You too Sarita! Ha! Thank you – it’s an emotional rollercoaster inside my brain but yes, I feel better. Happy Friday and thanks for commenting!
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Love reading your blog. Lots of useful tips and info. Have you given the recipe for the Paloma before and I missed it? Thanks
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Thank you Meg! I have but I don’t have a fancy blog with things organized into categories. If you google “coffee and cocktails at the casa Paloma” it will come up but it’s about a 1/3 stick crystal light lemonade powder, 1 shot white tequila, 1/2 shot lime juice, about 2 shots of Q grapefruit soda (found at Fresh Market), stir, add ice and then fill Fresca to top. It’s soooo good!
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You cheer me up. I love reading your blog because I know I’m not the only one who feels like this about the pandemic. I’m really trying to be positive. My oldest will have to have another surgery in October. My youngest heads back to grad school for in person classes at end of August. I’m worried. I bought some fabric and am planning on trying to make some masks. I’ll let you know how that goes(I am not much of a seamstress!). I am happy the stores are making masks mandatory. I’m heading to Trader Joe’s this weekend! My big outing! Enjoy your anniversary dinner out!
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Oh Sherri! I was worried I was coming off as too melancholy. I’m sorry about another surgery. And, I’m sure you feel a lack of control about your son going back to grad school. Trying to make masks will give you a positive outlet maybe even if they don’t turn out perfect? I need to go to Trader Joe’s! Enjoy your finds! I love the brioche for French toast, the frozen jasmine rice, the ciabatta bread, the kugel, the merlot soaked cheese, and so much more!
Thank you! Hoping weather holds out for the patio!
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I love the ceiling fan and the rugs! When we moved into our house, it wasn’t updated but had a fan with remote in the master! I love it 😂 I always tell the kids not to lose that remote.
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Thank you! Now I don’t think I can handle a room without a fan and remote!
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And…I’m all in my feelings about back to school too. I’m determined to have a good attitude about it for my own kids (& for myself) haha
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It’s so hard! I am kinda relieved to have my kids done with k-12.
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Not doing good mentally (live in AZ, moved from KY last year) hard to keep it happy for the family. Maybe some energizing grapefruit will help 🙂 We have 4 remotes in the bedroom, the 3 you have plus one for the adjustable bed. Your hair looks great!
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I am with you! But AZ is scarier than KY from what I’ve read. Maybe that Gain will help – lol! I don’t have an adjustable bed yet but hub is clamoring for a new bed purchase. I love our bed. Thank you! I will be thinking of you Jennifer and hoping that you get to a better place soon.
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I understand your feelings!! I teach kindergarten and am SUPER nervous about what our plan is for the fall. We did Distance Learning, used Google Classroom, Google Hangouts, SeeSaw and created slideshows for everyday for the lesson plans. It was a TON of work. You get it, because you are a fellow teacher!! 🙂
Where did you get your rugs? I’m really liking the second one! SO PRETTY!!
And…….totally buying that laundry soap today!
I LOVE your blog and all your great ideas!!! Thank you!!
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Oh Michelle! Kindergarten would be so hard! I got the second one – 3 hallway
runners off of Amazon. Send me your email and I can send you the link. I believe the design comes in many sizes. I hope you like the laundry soap!
Thank you for the sweet compliments! Happy Friday!
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michellevfbc@gmail.com
Thank you so much for sending me the link! 🙂
I would love a 5×7 rug for our living room. It needs a rug with some fun colors in it!
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I think I’ve remained really positive through this all and my boys have too because they are taking their lead from me (I think!).
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I think you have! Even teen boys take their lead from mom.
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highlights: lunch with a friend at a cute little sandwich shop in town….they have a lovely garden and we got there early and had a great time catching up. They are our traveling buddies and we didn’t get to do our alaska cruise this year and we are all still sad. first world problems, I know LOL! I was not happy I had to come back to our main home…..I want to go back to the beach ASAP. I have had some really down days too so I get where you are coming from. Its hot here. but thankfully no humidity. I don’t miss that at all. Homemade pizza for Friday night! You know it- Skinny pizza dough! haha I love Fridays! Our governor has said all our schools must start online and I have so many friends who are NOT happy, as well as teacher friends. Its just awful what our country has come to. I think most is all about politics and our governor of California is AWFUL. Gruesome Newsome. Have a great weekend an I hope you have SPD once this weekend!
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Nice! I like catching up with just one friend the older I get. If it’s more than one I sometimes don’t feel like I get caught up. It’s ok to grieve your trip – it’s a loss. We had the pizza Thursday night! There is no easy decision regarding school. It’s sad.
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Great haircut! I desperately need one too… But life is so good out here, and I don’t want to go to the city and sit at a hair stylist for two hours! It will have to wait…
Ceiling fans are a must in Florida! We have them in every room! Most people even have them above their patio. I would like to have one here in the cabin, but they are crazily expensive here… (supply and demand I guess…)
I love that facial cleanser! It’s one of the first things I buy when I come to the us! Fantastic smell!
I hope you feel happy today! There really is nothing we can do about the situation, right!? But this is also an important year in our lives, so let’s try to make the best out of it! We go out on the boat every day, and the weather is still fantastic, I’m so grateful!
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Thank you! It felt good to finally get one! We have two ceiling fans on our patio. You could buy one here and take it back? That’s funny that you buy that cleanser. I’m trying! You will hear about that on Monday! 🙂
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