Friday, February 2, 2024

Welcome to the first faves of Feb! Yay! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some happies from the week. 

Well, I can’t say I did much other than go to school, come home, go to school, come home, but one day I went to the grocery and Jack came with me! I tried a mid-week shop and I tried Walmart Neighborhood grocery this week. Not to be dramatic, but it stunk. It was fun to be with Jack but it was very close to 5:00 and super crowded. 

Let’s talk about food favorites from the week first.

I told you all about Slender Kitchen on Tuesday and this is one of her recipes – the Beef Kofta Bowl. It’s like a Greek bowl but with beef. I had a brown rice and quinoa blend to put under this. We all loved it! 

Also, Sarah told me about Clean Food Crush and let’s just say I have a new crush! Thanks, Sarah!

Erica made a cilantro shrimp bowl over brown rice for one of our school lunches and it was really yummy! I guess I’ve never really thought about shrimp as a food you can re-heat, but it did just fine. 

I am making each of my recipes for dinner one night and for two lunches the next day for Erica and I. If Jack eats with us, that is only 4 servings so sometimes I bow out and eat leftovers or something else because I know I’m going to have it for lunch the next day. It’s working out just fine to do it this way!

My oven is a favorite again. My air fryer (giant Caphalon sitting on the counter and taking up all kinds of space) is 2 years old (I think) and it started giving me an error message. Tom and I both Googled and tried to fix it and then I said,” you know what?” I’m gonna reclaim this counter space and use my oven. I am happy to report that the air fryer setting works like a charm. 

Mason loves the taste of coffee, but it started bothering his stomach so he switched to tea long before England. We aren’t sure why it bothered him so send me your suggestions if you have a coffee that might be ok. I ordered his favorite tea from Amazon and he is so excited! He lived in Ormskirk which is in Lancashire, but Yorkshire was pretty close. 

I’m also excited to drink more tea!

I made a total impulse purchase at the grocery this week – Mean Girls pink frosting flavored creamer. I love it! 

My classroom got a little glow up! Many of our teachers have been ordering these light cover panels and you can get clouds, beach, stars, etc. We have an Amazon allowance we can spend each year now. I picked this forest canopy design. 

I also had my aides put heart window clings on my windows and they did this door design: 

High school kids appreciate this stuff more than you would think! I need to add an accent mark to the word day – oops- they forgot it!

And, at home I did my very minimal but special to me V Day decor. 

Why didn’t I put them in red? They were 5 months old in this photo for their first V Day!

I’ve been trying to use the candles I have and I found this one and at least it’s red!

My mom’s gift from England was these beautiful placemats that have a cork back on them. My mom found them on Amazon and ordered even more. She has a really long table and it’s beautiful. Don’t they look so nice the way she arranged them here? Here they are on Amazon if you are interested. 

I did a white mani (Impress press ons) for the beginning of February and then the next one I will do has heart designs. Yup, still impressed with Impress press ons! I am having the best luck when I remove the old set one day and then the next night I do a new set. I press them on, wait a bit, then I cut and file. I go to bed and do not put my hands in water until the next day. 

I really enjoy my second piercing and need to get more little earrings! Any suggestions send them my way! I really like the sets from Loft but haven’t been there in a long time!

Did you all know that Subway has footlong chocolate chip cookies, pretzels, and churros? I have a student who works there and the topic came up. This would be a fun V Day gift!

This weekend, I want to try Tanya’s scones. I happen to have all of the ingredients, including the heavy cream, right now. I had a really good scone with clotted cream and jam in Scotland. 

So, yeah, I am tempted by many foods right now! And, those little devils are going to start selling their wares in front of my Kroger soon – I just know it! Girl Scouts! 

Well, those were this weeks’ random favorites! 

If you had a busy week like me…

Monday was Hello Monday on the blog

Tuesday was my favorite website

Wednesday was my January 2024 purchases

Yesterday was Fashion Files

What were your faves this week? 

I hope you had many and I wish you a wonderful first weekend of February! 

Amy

23 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. I recently stopped drinking coffee because I think it was bothering my stomach. Of course part of the problem was that I was drinking a holiday blend from Starbucks and it threw me off. I did a bit of research and found a low acid coffee, ordered it a week ago and it supposed to come tonight (Amazon). So we’ll see! I’ll definitely let you know how it goes. I like tea fine but I miss coffee. Does that creamer taste like frosting? Just super sweet? I am intrigued!!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. Oh no! Please do let me know about the low acid coffee. The creamer is not too sweet in my opinion. I wouldn’t say it tastes exactly like frosting. It’s hard to say, but I like it! I am quite picky about flavors and after taste and this is enjoyable to me!

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  2. Happy Friday! I was also going to suggest low acid coffee for Mason. I definitely recommend him learning to use creamer in it if he doesn’t already, to help cut back on it even more. My dad has just about given up his coffee as well, because of the same issue. He switched over to hot chocolate! I love your nails this week! White is always a great choice, right? I love your decor, and your mom’s table! I hope you enjoy your weekend, my friend. xoxo

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    1. Yes, I wonder if that would work for him. That’s true, too. He has usually had a vanilla latte when we go out. Aww, hot chocolate is nice for your dad. Thank you! I love the look of white nails in the summer and even right now. I think I did a better job with this set because they really do look like gel. I’m excited to do the hearts mani set but I didn’t want to jump the gun.
      Thank you! I think I want the placemats now!
      I hope you are 100%! You need a shopping Saturday! Hope you are off to do that soon.

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  4. How cool with the light covers! I bet your students love them! (and you!)

    Hm, strange with Mason and the coffee. I believe that instant coffee is a bit milder for the stomach. And just a thought – can it be the milk that bothers him?

    For earrings I always enjoy your Claire’s when I’m overseas – they have a lot!

    This week’s fave hasn’t happened yet: tomorrow I will watch youngest daughter signing in to be one of the king’s guards at the royal castle! Very Old world you know! 😀 Well, actually a great honor, they have had this system of soldiers guarding the castle since 1523!

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    1. I love them!
      I think it could be the acid and we have also talked about the milk – he has never had problems before and he used very little for just a latte.
      Yes, that is a good idea for those sets of tons of small earrings.
      I will look that up – congrats to your daughter!

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  5. The Beef Kofta Bowl sounds so tasty and good thinking about making extra for lunches the next day.
    Yorkshire Tea is my tea of choice! It is one of the best from the UK.
    Those light cover panels are such a great idea for the classroom and the placemats are so pretty.
    Ohh! I am hoping that those footlong churros come to Subway here in England. They look amazing!

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    1. It was really good! That’s what I’m hearing from so many authentic English people – that’s all I need to hear! Ha!
      Aren’t they nice to cut down on the bright lights? I want the placemats now!
      Yes -that would be great for you – but I think they need a chocolate dipping sauce. I might make my own!

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  6. I hope you like the scones…thanks for the shout out! I love the placemats and they have so many pretty patterns. That is so cool that your oven does air frying. And one less thing on the counter! I think I’m about to put my mixer away since I don’t use it very often. Hope you have a good weekend!

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    1. I’ve never really met a bread product I didn’t like! Ha! Now, I think I can get clotted cream at a local specialty market. Now I want the placemats for myself! Right – one less thing on the counter. But, now I have a new tea kettle and a new frother! Priorities! You too!

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  7. Oh the light covers are so cool! I love your door decorations. You are right…high schoolers love those kinds of things. We were at subway a couple of weeks ago, and I saw the foot long cookies and churros. Hayden was tempted haha
    Happy weekend!

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  8. The first time we went to London, I was determined to try clotted cream. I didn’t know what I was expecting (something like cottage cheese, maybe), but I know I loved it! I’m going to have to try this scone recipe, but I’ll have to give some of them to the neighbors as my husband didn’t like them at all. I’m going to try that ground beef recipe this coming week.

    Those light covers are so cool and really change the look of your room. It’s amazing how those little things just make such a difference! 

    I have no ideas for coffee as I don’t like it. But, I do love tea and once spent a small fortune at Teavana (remember that place) because I was dumb and didn’t think to ask just how much I was getting (and spending). I even bought their special sugar…just call me gullible.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. You have me wondering if any of my specialty grocers/markets have it here. I believe I did see it somewhere. Your neighbors would love that! I hope you like the beef bowl. We really did. We also like it with chicken. I love, love, love tzatziki!
      I do remember Teavana. It was so pretty and I wanted to be a tea drinker. I love Harney and Suns hot cinnamon sunset. This brand comes in the prettiest tins and they have it at Target.

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  9. The light covers look great in the classroom. I’ve never seen them before but I like them! I love the Yorkshire tea, I always have this when I visit my friend who is originally from England. She’s a self proclaimed tea snob and she says it’s the best. We usually buy the Tetleys brand but next time I’ll get the good stuff! Wow to those foot long cookies and churros!!

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  10. I can’t drink coffee very often either as it also bothers my stomach. I made the switch to Harney & Sons Hot Sunset Cinnamon Tea many years ago and I haven’t looked back!! It is absolutely divine. I drink at least 2-3 cups a day and I just drink it straight. It’s so delicious that it doesn’t need milk or sugar or creamer. And it’s black tea so it has tons of health benefits. Target has it!

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  11. Love, love, love Yorkshire Tea and any kind of cork-backed placemat. Pimpernel’s Tally Ho is my favorite. I can’t remember where I found it but I have a Yorkshire tea tin that looks like the package and I use it to store my (Yorkshire of course!) tea bags.

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