Friday, July 7, 2023

You guys! The calendar is scaring me! It just keeps moving along and it is now July 7th! I dare not go to Target right now. You know what one will see, right? My love for school supplies runs deep but your girl is not ready to see them. Also, my school district gives each teacher an Amazon business account and a budget of $250 to spend now. How cool is that?

I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites if it is happening today! It’s so funny that the blogging world slows down so much in the summer, but I feel like I write more in the summer because I have more time. I also have more time to read blogs, so come on bloggers – I need your content! Just beware that you are going to see Prime Days and then the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale pushed here soon!

I thought I would start with a silly photo of me. My sister brought giant “noodles” to the river, and I could fit my cup in the hole of the “noodle” so I was able to “drink from my noodle”. My brother-in-law caught this flattering photo of me doing that.

Sister time is so rare these days with the ages of the kids, so It’s always a favorite.

The amount of stuff to go boating is comical! I snapped this picture before loading up.

We had a simple and cheap meal Monday night and then ordered pizza Tuesday night after being at the river all day. I have maybe 2 hot dogs a year, but boy are they good when I do.

One of my Summer List items was to make pickles. I did it, but they weren’t that good. I think I will continue buying my pickles unless anyone has a good recipe.

I’m still wearing my fun earrings. I wore these Topo Chico ones last week to hang with my friend at the new boutique hotel’s rooftop bar.

This rainwater scent is still making me happy every time I wash my hands.

One of our foods of summer has been naan pizzas in the air fryer. You buy the naan bread in the deli section of your grocery, and they come in various sizes. I put pizza sauce or just marinara and whatever toppings and then add fresh mozzarella. I bake it in the air fryer at a pretty high heat and they come out great. This one maybe was a bit overdone. Seriously, naan makes a great crust.

If you like sweet drinks, these are really good. A friend brought them to the pool party I attended recently and I forgot to share.

I also created a new drink with my hibiscus flowers and syrup, lemonade, vodka, and Fresca. Yum! I am calling it spiked hibiscus lemonade.

My twin niece and nephew turned 16 in March. They tried to get their license Monday in their city, but they were closed for the holiday. So, when they were at my mom’s house, they took the opportunity to get it there in my hometown. I got to go, too! How are they this old? Now we have my kids, my niece Samira, and Mia and Miles all driving.

I can’t even – Mia is so grown up. I have been helping her with summer school Spanish over the phone and it’s been so fun.

Wednesday, I went to hang out with everyone visiting my mom. The nieces drove themselves to Walmart for press on nails and junk food.

My mom took her three girls (my sisters and I) to lunch and she drove. I can’t remember the last time the four of us were all in a car together that my mom drove. I was maybe 15! It’s probably been more recent than that, but I can’t remember.

I got a mushroom panini and it was so good.

And, I got a cold brew after lunch. Yum!

I got to spend time with my newest nephew, Ezra. He is so chill for a puppy. He is obsessed with his mom, my sister Kate, and has to be in sight of her.

Ezra with Aunt Molly:

Ezra wanted my cold brew!

I made an easy chicken parmesan this week for dinner. I used whole wheat linguine and did my own chicken breasts with some jarred marinara, fresh mozz, and roasted broccoli. It’s starting to get hot now and hot dinners like this will not be the norm!

One of you may be wondering about the follow up from my Literal Coffee Talk post. For now, I am going to keep on with my original Keurig. The coffee is so much better than a pot of brewed. I am still loving Kuai brand and I like all the flavors. For now, I am going to use this until it goes kaput.

I use a bit of liquid stevia frothed with fat free half and half.

It was raining again yesterday morning, but it was already so muggy I didn’t go out and enjoy my covered patio.

I had some errands to run so I wore all Aerie. My Sunday shorts are amazing and I wish I could still find them. I got them last year. I got my Shell Yeah shirt this year. Am I too old? I don’t care. I usually get fixed up more to run errands, but I was feeling casual.

I picked up a small stack of book requests at the library!

I ran by my consignment store Sassy Fox and I had earned $40 on my items I sold and I found and bought this J.Crew blouse for $13 so still up $27 – woohoo!

I am trying to get back to healthier eating and made buffalo chicken, cauliflower rice, and Greek yogurt ranch for lunch yesterday.

Sadly, I had no celery.

What a hodgepodge! What were your favorites this week?

Amy

24 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. I agree summer is going by too fast, and I saw the items you are speaking of in the weekly Target flyer, and it scared me too! Who needs to see that right now?! Florida normally gives teachers $250-300 a school year, but we have to apply for it, sign paperwork, get it approved by our principal, and then in late September, we can start submitting receipts to get reimbursed. It’s a process, but I do it. We can only get items students use or consumable items like dry erase markers or pencils. No “technology” like wireless keyboards, lol. I love the Mrs. Meyer’s Rain Water scent; I used to buy the body wash. Now I’m working my way through 9 bottles of Dove body wash that was on sale at Costco, plus Fetch and/or iBotta made it a really great deal. It’s going to take a while! I loved The Soulmate and gave it 5/5 stars on GoodReads. I hope you like it too!

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  2. Alec once made us homemade naan for flatbread pizzas and they really were incredible. I’ll have to keep an eye out for them in our local stores. Congrats to your niece and nephew on their new licenses– it’s a huge production in our state for 16 & 17 year olds to get theirs…. which reminds me I need to make an appointment for my youngest to get his permit this fall!

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  3. About running around without getting more fixed up, I did the same thing this week. I really wanted to get my nails done by Wednesday, so after dinner, I went and did just that. I wore ZERO MAKEUP and the clothes I’d been lounging in that day. That’s so unheard of for me! I used to do it all the time, but I rarely never do anymore. Also, when it’s hot outside like it is right now, I really just don’t feel like getting too dressed up. Jewelry feels hot and heavy, and so does makeup, so I tend to go very minimal there. All the rain we’ve had lately have made it extremely humid here. Yuck!

    On another note, I love hot dogs! I never eat them, except for maybe once or twice a year, but YUM. Your simple and cheap meal looked delicious! All your meals do, actually. I’ve never thought of all that you’d have to take to spend a day on the boat, but it doesn’t surprise me. I’m sure you’ve both perfected all that you take now. That picture of you and your sister CRACKS ME UP. I had to laugh when I saw it! Noodles that hold drinks?! Sign me up!

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    1. I know – I just really get “fixed up” for myself, but one easy way to fake it is to throw on a dress. You have sunglasses on anyway so no one can see lack of makeup!
      We are just getting to the hot point of summer. Sorry – but June has been so nice and tolerable. I have forgotten that jewelry and makeup are just no gos when it gets hot!
      I need to find a decent turkey dog with keto bun! Thank you! Jack loves the frozen skinny green beans roasted but I know they look kinda weird on the plate. He is picky so I am going with whatever he compliments!
      We had to take more on the 4th since it was a longer day. But, we always take more than we need.
      I was proud of myself that I discovered the noodle held my boat drink! Ha!

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  4. Your river photo with your sister made me Lol. So fun. Your niece and nephew are gorgeous! Congrats to them! I know I still have a couple of years, but I did have the thought recently about sending the kids on some of my errands lol
    Looks like you had lots of fun family time! That’s awesome. Hayden and I were in target this week, and I steered clear of the back to school section. I can’t deal with that. Haha

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    1. Ha! I kinda can’t believe I posted that. I can’t believe they are that old! I wish I could see them more. Yes, it’s going to change my sister’s life! Did you tell Hayden why you couldn’t go to the back of the store?

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  5. It’s the same over here with the big back-to-school push right after New Year’s day. The new school year starts in early February and the school supplies commercials are on nonstop during January. I always turn them off the minute they come on Tv! On a brighter note, it looks like you are having a wonderful summer break!

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  6. It seems like the minute 4th of July is over it’s back to you know what!!! How nice that your district gives you $250 to spend on on school stuff at Amazon. We used to get a debit card for purchases and that was really nice. Anyway, you had a fun week and how nice to be with your sisters and mom. Ezra is so cute!
    Hope you have a great weekend!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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  8. If you have clothes you love (like your shorts) but they are no longer made, check eBay, Mercari or Poshmark. I have found so many things for great prices at online resale sites.
    I am currently loving my San Francisco Bay Keurig coffee pods from Costco. I will have to try naan bread air fryer pizza!

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  9. I’m so opposite. I do NOT get dressed up to run errands. I used to care who I might see but as i get closer to 60…. Nope i just do not care! I’ve been at the beach house since last Thursday and sadly I’m going home today. Tony survived 3 nights without me !! Ha! I’ll be back over July 24 for 10 days – counting down! It’s hot at home but i think we may be only in the 90’s but it shoots back up to the 105-108 soon. Bleh. Happy Friday!!

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    1. I’m not talking that dressed up, but I wear something decent most of the time. Good for Tony and yes to more time at the beach to beat the heat.

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  10. As the material buyer for a library, YAY for using your library!
    Also, I need the large, hold your drink noodle! (seriously, where’s it from?)

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