Monday, January 2, 2022
It’s 2023! Did you eat your good luck foods yesterday? Today is going to be crazy here at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa. I am linking up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday and Tanya for Prime Purchases. Hold on to your coffee mugs!
I am super happy to have today off. Tom is still off, too, and the college kids move back tomorrow or Wednesday with classes starting Thursday for their junior year spring semester. You all – how is this even possible?
Tomorrow we have a teacher day and then our students ease back in with just a 3 day week. I need to remember that short weeks always seem longer, though. I miss my students. I am excited to see them – truly!
What did I do this weekend? What even is a weekend? What day was any day over break? I was really lost most days. Thursday I finally got my Chick Fil A peppermint shake and it was wonderful!
Friday I used my birthday pedicure gift card and it was amazing. I don’t think I had been to the salon for at least 9 months.
I chose a dark metallic blue.
Then, we went to our friends’ house to meet their new yellow lab puppy named Willow. We brought her a “Heinekennel” beer. She was so cute!
Tom did his one cooking stint of the year and did the whole soaking of the dry beans in preparation for Friday’s bean soup.
I made cornbread to go with it and this is what we had for dinner Friday night. Our kids went out so it was just us.
Saturday we tried out Tom’s new Solo Stove Mesa. It is so cute! It puts out a good amount of heat.
I needed a couple of things from the grocery to get us through the next few days and picked up the Truly Holiday Pack.
Pear Martini, Holiday Sangria, Cran Orange Sparkle, and Berry Bramble are the flavors. They are good! I haven’t tried all of the flavors yet, but the ones I have are really good!
The grocery wants you to organize and eat Valentine’s candy, apparently.
Tom’s team is the University of Kentucky and the happened to be playing both basketball and football at 12 noon. So, he parked himself in his big chair with his bean soup for most of Saturday.
For our NYE plans, we went to our friends’ house and got I got a smoked bourbon old fashioned.
Their cat liked my new party purse.
We showed up twinning! We both knew we were gonna get out the sparkles and I don’t have that much stuff, but my friend has lots and this is what she decided on.
We had a reservation at The Pine Room and Heather and I had the best Paloma I have ever had.
I had a delicious salad:
and their fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and a really unique square biscuit. Everything was so good!
We declined dessert and went back to their house for a little bit of the Georgia game because that is where their daughter attends college.
It was a low key NYE for me! That is just how I like it.
Now, let’s talk Amazon. I didn’t use Amazon as much for Christmas gifts this year, so December was actually a light month for me.
First of all, I ordered myself a present. I saw these clogs on a “Best of 2022” list on a blog I read. I have struggled with black shoes. I need and want something comfortable that I can just throw on. These are like if Dansko and Crocs had a baby but you really can’t tell they aren’t leather unless you look closely. I wear a 38 in my brown Danskos, but I had to return and re-order these in a 39. So far, I am thrilled with them.
Then, I needed a little bag that had silver in it. You saw above that the cat really liked it. It basically only holds an ibuprofen. It doesn’t even hold my phone!
Next up, are two really nice Amazon Essentials sweaters that I got for my boys. I am super impressed with the quality. I got red for Mason and eggplant for Jack. I will show you photos later on in the post. Amazon Essentials does it again.
Ernie likes his Rachael Ray burger treats!
I have to have my butter spray!
Jennifer recommended the Qibest brand liquid lipstick set. The lipsticks are all matte but it comes with a gloss that goes over. I am super happy with this set and have been wearing it any day I have put on makeup. I layer Burt’s Bees or other things over it usually, too. It smells slightly like chocolate, too!
The Dansko clogs in action:
The Qibest in action:
The Amazon Essentials sweater in checkmate – lol:
Another sweater in action:
You’re welcome for the action shots! Ha!
If I had to sum up my entire break from December 16 until today I would use the words HOME and SLOW. I would also include the words COOKING and DISHWASHER. I stayed home a lot due to the cold and snow. I didn’t run around just to be running around to all the stores.
I was so thankful we didn’t lose power or have our pipes freeze. I cooked all the meals and was like a short order cook sometimes and I wouldn’t change a thing. I love making whatever my college kids want and that is definitely my love language. I loaded and unloaded the dishwasher with a happy heart because of all the meals that I was cooking.
I am so thankful for my winter break!
Re-entry will be hard, my friends. Maybe that Amazon truck will make it sting a little less – Ha! Let’s do this!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Wow, I love it all! Happy New Year!
Oh glorious winter break! I’m so happy that you had a good time! I wasn’t happy to start the break so late, but I’m happy now with a full week left!
How nice with a pedicure and new shoes! My feet and legs are in hibernation, I just can’t be bothered…
How nice with those canned drinks! But dangerous when they taste so good…
Fun with your sparkly trousers on NYE! You looked smashing btw!
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Thank you so much! Happy 2023 to you! Yup, now you and my sister will be basking in another week off. The pedicure felt so good. Mine are too, but with the milder weather I had to look at my nasty feet. Yup – nice to have a canned drink on hand.
Thank you so much!
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You looked beautiful on NYE! How funny that you and your friend were twinning. I love it when that happens! I LOVE those clogs and have them as well. They come in other colors too! I bought mine as a gift for my birthday in December of 2021 and have loved them ever since. I wear them when it rains and I don’t want my feet to be wet, and I wear mine with those little invisible socks. They make my feet sweat and then it makes a squeaking sound, which I cannot have, so I use socks. Are the Truly drinks low in sugar? I’d like to try one. I love Cayman Jack’s margaritas, but don’t partake often because of the amount of sugar and carbs.
Best wishes on re-entry this week…those weeks were always hard for me too when I worked in a school!
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Thank you! It was funny! She offered to go change and I said absolutely not!
Oh, you do? You should do a post on shoes since you know comfy! Yeah, I was wondering about socks v. no socks. I have only worn them without socks so far. I will have to look at other colors, but that is my weakness thinking I need multiples of one thing.
The Trulys are only 100 calories. They are great if you like a seltzer but they have more flavor than a non-alcoholic seltzer in my opinion. You should also try the Truly Margarita pack. That was my drink of choice this summer.
Thank you – I will need it!
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Your sequin pants were amazing. Fun twinning too. I need to get some clogs. I got my first pair in 5th grade and they are still my favorite. Mr. Nine is still off today too. We are not big sleep in people but man we’ve enjoyed it these past couple weeks. Happy New Year!
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Aww, thank you! Would you believe I found the pants at TJ Maxx for $29? I love a clog, but to be honest, the wooden bottom is not as slip proof or comfortable as the rubber one. I have “slept in” until about 7 and that has been crazy late for me! It’s been awesome, though!
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Sounds like a relaxing break – so good for the soul! LOVE your NYE outfit- on point! Wishing you a successful re-entry that’s not too challenging 🙂
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Wishing you health, wealth, and new blessings to count each day in 2023. Happy New Year! May this one be your best year yet.
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I am not looking forward to reentry tomorrow either; it has been wonderful relaxing at home (most days!) and just enjoying these slow, quiet, winter days.
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How funny that you and Heather were twinning on NYE! Love the sequins on both of you. I start back to work tomorrow and I am not looking forward to it – it means up bright and early to get my work out in. I have been enjoying sleeping in and walking whenever I feel like it! Oh well.
Totally forgot about Amazon purchases today. Taking a break from blogging was so nice but now I feel like I have no idea what I am doing – ha!
Happy New Year!!!
xo,
Kellyann
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So glad it has been a good break! You look so cute for NYE! I also got that lipstick set and am enjoying trying the different colors. Isn’t in crazy how fast college years go by??
I am a day late and am making my New Years food today instead. Hope the day back tomorrow goes well.
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Looks like a great NYE! I love your outfit. Those clogs are super cute too. I survived today 😂 will be ready to see students tomorrow 🙂
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It sounds like the perfect mix of festivities and relaxing for your winter break. The sweaters from Amazon Essentials look really nice! I hope you have a good short week. Re-entry without the college kids will be hard. Mine both leave on Sunday – driving together back to Atlanta and Auburn. Thanks so much for linking up with Prime Purchases! Tanya – The Other Side of the Road
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