Friday, December 8, 2023

It’s Friday! I am linking up with Erika and Andrea for Friday Favorites!

I write my Hello Monday blog posts fairly early in the day and then I save anything that I do afterwards for Friday (if it indeed was a favorite). Sunday afternoon around 4:30, Tom and I went to dinner. He came out wearing a nice pants, shirt, and nice zipper sweater and I say, “well, I guess I must improve my look, too” and wore this:

I had a plan for us; I wanted to visit Holy Grale. You have heard me talk about the biergarten and Grale Haus before. Grale Haus is a breakfast place with some bed and breakfast rooms on the top floor and out back is a biergarten that leads to Holy Grale, which I believe used to be a church?

It is tiny and quaint and they serve German inspired food.

I had a wine from the tap! They have wine on tap!

Tom and I split the pork schnitzel and frites with dipping sauces:

It was so good!

I just really love the amazing places our city has to offer! We are so lucky!

Then, we headed to campus for the beautiful lessons and carols service.

Here is a sneaky steal of an Instagram photo from the college with Jack singing from the loft:

I have been on a bit of an ordering kick with beauty, skin, and hair products. After almost a year of using up old beauty products and makeup, an Ipsy subscription and then cancelling said Ipsy subscription, it was time. I really have been making do for a long time.

I ordered these to put with my daily face lotion and I think a little color allows me to use less makeup.

I ordered a new detangler. I have a lot of fine hair that gets tangled easily so I really like a detangler. I have no curl in my hair so maybe I got the wrong formula, but it’s working for me.

I have been using a new to me hairspray that really holds (at least in the winter):

Did you read my Dry Skin post? There are some great suggestions in the comments and I ordered this and love it for my nighttime cream.

I have so been missing this! My family uses pods, but I use All or Tide liquid (I hate the smell of the pods and I feel like sometimes they don’t fully dissolve in cold water which is what I exclusively use with my clothing) and I love to add a tiny capful of this. I had run out months ago, but remember I have had a low spend year and I was doing without. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone!

It was cold and rainy Monday and I had this going all day long – the kids thought it was funny. I turned the crackling sound up at the start of class and then turned it down to teach.

You want an easy meal? Take a boneless skinless chicken breast (I like to cut mine in half horizontally so they aren’t so thick), spread any flavor of Boursin cheese and then wrap in one to two pieces of bacon. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or so and then broil to crisp the bacon at the end. It’s impressive and super yummy and easy enough to make on a Monday night!

I bought compression packing cubes and I have been “practicing”. I really can be such a nerd.

If you read Fashion Files yesterday, you know I’m taking this packing thing seriously!

I love lists like this – holiday episodes of The Office!

I started class with this photo one day this week and we talked about the car coffee culture here versus the coffee culture in most other countries. I challenged them to sit at a coffee shop this winter and drink out of a real mug and not a disposable wasteful cup! One girl pulls a ceramic mug out of her backpack and says, “I’m already one step ahead, Sra.!” Kids are so funny!

My Christmas tree jewels fell off on the middle fingers so I replaced with plain nails that were left in the set:

Self-care! My toes looked so bad so I took myself out on Wednesday around 5:00 and then also picked up McAllister’s take out on the way home. It felt like a real treat!

And, I will leave you with my favorite part of my Christmas decor:

All of our Christmas cards through the years!

What were your faves this week? I hope you had many!

Amy

24 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. I need to look for some detangler; I have lots of fine hairs near the nape of my neck that get caught on the edges of my sweater and are one giant knot by bedtime. I’ve already started packing for our trip next month.. I figure I don’t need any of those summer clothes now anyway!

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  2. I love the outfit you wore on Sunday night! We did something fun last night and dressed up as well. It’s fun to do that sometimes! (It’s my Instagram post from last night.) I love it when the venue is fun! I think it’s smart to “practice” packing when carrying on. I was shocked at how well the packing cubes worked after I bought some. I love them and use them every time I travel now! Something about me you may not know: I never ever get coffee from drive through places. In fact, I rarely drink coffee outside of my home, because mine is the best, in my opinion. If I get coffee away from home, it’s only at a place that is local and that I can sit in and enjoy, like the adorable Square Beans on our town square. I think Starbucks is ridiculous and hate their coffee!

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    1. Thank you! I loved your outfit – so perfect for the season and the venue. I am also shocked about these cubes! They are magic! I rarely do, either. I agree – mine is better, too!

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  4. I love that you are practicing packing – so smart! Also, you cannot go wrong with Cerave, I swear anything they make is so good. The Holy Grale looks like a great place to eat, y’all do have some great spots!
    Have a super weekend!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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  5. The Holy Grale looks like a place we would love! We are actually going to the actual Oktoberfest in Munich Germany next year, so we should come down and go there. I love your nails and spying those cute family pictures! Have a great weekend!

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  6. I am definitely trying your chicken recipe! Looks so good and quick. Hope you like that Cerave. It’s very thick but makes my skin feel great the next day. I tried a sample of Charlotte Tilbury’s magic cream and that is just too thick for me. Interesting discussion about coffee drinkers in the US vs other countries. I really prefer a sit down cafe to have my coffee in a real cup vs. disposable.

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    1. Please let me know what you think! I love the Cerave and trying to decide how to take it on the trip in a smaller container. Yes, the cafe culture is just so much better!

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  7. Holy Grale sounds so good, I mean wine from a tap?! You looked great too, I never think of putting a pair of heels on just for us, I need to step up my going out to dinner game. It’s a good idea to practice with the packing cubes, they are amazing. I love to go for coffee, better yet at a European cafe! Have a good weekend, it’s getting closer to your trip so relax whenever you have a moment.

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    1. Right? What’s not to love about that! Thank you – you are kind. I just love these Hush Puppies pumps and need to get them in black. I love the contrast of the wooden heel, too. The height is just right. I know! I am getting so excited/nervous!

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  8. totally agree with the coffee discussion. mug or cup and saucer is the way to go. i love the white sweater and i think it will arrive here for me today!!
    i always love your nails. do you recommend a brand you are currently using?
    and packing cubes rock! have a great weekend!!

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    1. It just tastes so much better and I love my mug warmer! It can also be a candle warmer so you don’t have to light a candle!
      I do recommed Impress brand and the website has lots of choices. I filter by short length nails.

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  9. The coffee drive through made me laugh. I just don’t get waiting in line (and there are some LONG lines) in your car for a coffee. Hope you have a great weekend!

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  10. You live near some really wonderful places to shop and eat! I may try that hairspray. I’m always on the lookout for something that holds…like through a hurricane holds! You have such an amazing relationship with your students! I’m sure you’re one of those teachers they talk about for years. Love the coffee challenge. I don’t drink coffee at all so Starbucks has never had any appeal to me, but I’d love to sit at a little outdoor cafe like the one in your picture.

    We went to our oldest granddaughter’s Christmas choir show. It was amazingly good which was wonderful given the week! I’m making real progress on my Christmas shopping so I count that as a win!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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  11. Thanks for sharing that chicken recipe. It looks really good and I just bought the 3 pack of Bousin cheese from Costco. Also, what is that festive red color on your toes. Perfect for the season.

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