Wednesday, March 27, 2024
It’s Wednesday and the last one of the month! I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay to do a little What’s Up with me right now.
What We’re Eating
This weekend I experimented with a frozen Caulipower brand cauliflower crust and made a pizza. It was delish but the bottom was not crisp enough. You could not tell it wasn’t a normal thin crust. The package came with two so I will try it again.
We are NOT eating any more Irish food. I had my fill! Ha!
I am still craving this pizza bowl. I have done it with cauliflower rice and quinoa and both work great. If you haven’t tried it, put it on your list!
Honestly, I have no cooking inspo right now. I am trying to just survive until spring break. I can tell I need a break from meal prep, thinking about meal prep, grocery shopping, and all aspects of normal feeding myself and anyone else. I always get this way before a break and then I get inspired again after some time off the grind.
We need a new grill! Tom and I are talking about what type to get this time. I think that will help me get into all the spring and summer meals I can make. Let me know if you have a recommendation.
What I’m Reminiscing About
Tom and I have been hiking/walking in the woods and it’s really sad without Ernie with us. But, it’s also good because we are talking A LOT. I am Tom’s Ernie right now and that’s kind of sweet, too.
Get ready…here comes a horrible photo, but you won’t be able to stand the cuteness of Baby Ernie…
Are you ready?
So, we have two names picked out for our next baby or babies. I can’t believe Tom is actually entertaining my crazy idea. The names are hilarious, and we might be going to look at a litter this weekend. There is no “looking” by the way. I fully know that it wouldn’t just be looking.
What I’m Loving
A student gave me these tulips to cheer me up. After my post about Does a Social Media Comment Count? this really touched me. I told her that she was more thoughtful than many adults twice her age, including me. I also need to work on little happies for the people in my life. Gosh, you guys, the job of a high school teacher is so emotional. You feel beat down, but then you have something like this and you are so touched. I also got a hug from a kid who I thought would be a problem at the beginning of the year who has turned out to be so sweet. I really need to take some time and call home for compliments.
I’m loving the outdoor live music opportunities coming now that the weather is warming. Did you see my Fun post? I take screenshots and put these in my calendar and then try to make it work to go.
I’m also loving a glass of wine in the sun…
I have been doing some stress/sadness cleaning. One day I cleaned both bathrooms and I still love them both so much!
Hall bath:
Primary bath:
Tom did a great job picking the construction elements and I really like what I picked for decor.
What We’ve Been Up To
I bet you aren’t expecting this…
Tom and I went to a local circus because I had a student who was in it. Tom is a good sport – let the record state that. We sat on the most uncomfortable bleachers from the 60s that didn’t even have a way to climb up them. I feared for my life every time a butt shifted. We lived to tell about it, though.
What I’m Dreading
Mosquitos! They love me! Tom sent me this planter idea and I want to try it.
What I’m Excited About
Boating season!
We are usually able to get our boat out around the beginning of May depending on if the river is cooperative. If we have a lot of rain sometimes, we have to plan around that because the river can get too high. Sunday on the way to the circus which was also on the river we stopped and looked at some boats. More seemed to have their winter wrapping off so that was nice to see.
What I’m Watching/Reading
I am watching The Bachelor finale – I haven’t seen it yet as of writing this. I am watching all the Bravo shows that I love and I am hoping to start this series based off of a Liane Moriarity book.
And, this is so embarrassing…
This will be the first book I am able to complete of 2024. I am almost done and I have a couple other books ready by this author. It’s a little deeper than your average romance novel. I know it’s a Harlequin Forever Yours novel, but it’s also been a sweet story. One big problem, though… the love interest male is a furniture maker who also is a lunchroom monitor at a school – yeah, right. He is required to be at the staff/faculty meetings. Nope. Lunchroom monitors are not hot. (No offense) Also, they would not have to come to staff meetings with the teachers and counselors. Come on!
What I’m Listening To
Silence as much as possible. Your girl is overstimulated at school.
What I’m Wearing
This was my Monday outfit – bleh. I like the top but I wore some chocolate brown pants and New Balance.
Sunday outfit, but my bra is showing and I should have added a cami under.
In words I never thought I would say…I wore this to a Western themed Shakespeare play with Mason.
And, this was an outfit I already had on when I found out I would be arriving at school to a bomb threat with all the students and faculty in the football stadium until we got the all clear to go inside the building. We lost about an hour of instruction that day and I was glad I was comfortable and casual. Oh, and many kids went home, so it was a low attendance day.
What I’m Doing This Weekend
You never know with me!
What I’m Looking Forward To Next Month
All kinds of crazy! Spring break will start the month and then there will be a solar eclipse. Who knows what else? Ha!
What’s up with you on this last Wednesday of March?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I too am completely uninspired when it comes to cooking lately! Those tulips are lovely and it was such a sweet gesture. I am dreading both pollen and mosquito season since they tend to do me in. I get bug bites year round but they are definitely far worse in spring and summer.
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I am trying to think of warm weather foods? Thank you – I agree! Yes! Pollen has already hit us. My friend swears by a lemongrass lotion but it didn’t work for me.
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It’s so nice that you and Tom are walking together and talking, I’m sure that is helping with the grief. I’m also excited about your new puppies – I TOTALLY believe you will get two! We aren’t getting a new dog for a few reasons but mostly because we will be traveling. With one son up north and another who is unsure where he’ll end up, we know we will be out and about. I’ll live vicariously through you!!
xo,
Kellyann
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I think so! We should have been doing more of this but you know, life! You do? I still don’t know if I am crazy? I’m trying to let Tom lead on this and I’m not sure he has set up the appointment for us to go visit. Yes, I get that. But, I bet you could change your mind after some time! I don’t know where mine will end up either, but I plan to have a good dog sitter on call! I have always had lots of options because of my students.
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Both of your bathrooms are so well done! I am curious on the mosquito plant….that is one of my least favorite things about summer. Every year I feel like I would try almost anything to not have them around so I can still enjoy sitting outside!
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I am going to research things they hate and try to do at least one planter next to where I sit the most!
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Baby Ernie! I love him. I know you’re excited/anxious to look at a litter this weekend! I love that your boating season is around the corner, and that y’all have so many great outdoor things. That’s crazy about the bomb threat one morning! I always had to laugh over mornings/days like that when I worked at an elementary school last year. I think the last two months of the year were nothing but interrupted schedules!
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I’m not sure I’m ready, but Tom seems to be. We would bring him home April 6. I need to ask Tom if we can take a baby on the boat! Right? School during the spring is so crazy! There’s always something!
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I gave up on having a plant on my front porch. The deer were always eating it or mosquitoes were swarming from it! I now have a fake topiary plant on my porch and I love it! I watched The Bachelor finale last night with my girls and their friends. My youngest is away at school so we watched and chatted about it via FaceTime. 😄 I’m so happy you are considering a new puppy! Can’t wait to see pictures!
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You can find some really nice fake ones! Great idea! How fun for you with your girls and their friends and adding the Facetime girl, too! They must think you are really cool!
Thank you!
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I saw a really nice Blackstone grill/flattop combo at Lowe’s, we have a grill and a flattop, wish I’d know they had a combo. Ahh, Baby Ernie was so adorable!
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Great idea! That would be perfect! I used my friend’s Blackstone and freaking loved the ease and how the stuff tasted!
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The mosquitos love me too! Why is it that they love/bite someone a lot and then they stay away from another person? I have only met one person whom the mosquitos loved more than me. I think you should get two dogs so they can have each other for company. We lost our 17.5-year-old dog a year ago. Our remaining dog is almost 14 and we made the decision to not get a second dog at this time because even though Pippa misses another dog, she is too old to put up with a puppy. So, she gets to live out the rest of her time as the reigning queen. I will follow your post because I am also looking for a new grill this year. Have you checked out skinnygirl for recipes, meal inspro? We are still below 32 degrees here and I am looking forward to spring.
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I’ve heard it’s blood type? Maybe it’s what you eat? I really don’t know! That makes sense about your sweet dogs. I think it’s a case by case basis. I will do that! I need new inspo!
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HI,
Your blog is one of my favorites. My heart ached for you when Ernie passed. I just wanted to provide a little food for thought. We went through the whole puppy pick out last year. It was so exciting and now our puppy will be a year old next month and she was the best decision ever but we were told not to get two from the same litter as they will bond to each other and not to you. Supposedly they become incredibly co -dependent on each other and have high anxiety when seperated. We were told to get one and wait a couple of months to get another one. I just wanted to share that. I don’t have any experience on it but may be worth researching. I can’t wait to see how this plays out! So exciting!
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Thank you so much and thank you for the insight. I don’t want co-dependent. I really don’t know myself what we will do! We will see if it feels like a match.
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It’s hard to comment on anything but Ernie, such a doll! Walking and talking is surprisingly therapeutic, hope it’s helping both of you. And love both of your bathrooms, your hall bath shower curtain is FAB! That pattern really speaks to me.
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Puppy Ernie pics are too sweet. I can’t wait for your puppy (puppies?) introduction! The flowers are too sweet. Don’t you love it when students surprise us? (With gifts or just good behavior 😆)
Two more days! We can do it 🙂
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Thank you! I’m not sure it will be this litter, but we will see. Yes, I really do!
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Well, as you can probably tell, I’ve been busy procrastinating! I walked away from the blog and email and social media just after midnight Wednesday morning (or would that be Tuesday night) and didn’t regret it. Except not answering comments, reading blogs, and trying to catch up…that I now regret. I take my blog and my blogs I read very seriously.
I think you have definitely been blessed in the husband department. Mine has come around, but it’s been almost 50 years. He is not a dog person, never was a dog person, and never will be a dog person. But, I have to say he sat and held our last Westie as he breathed his last and takes very good care of our current one. He’d just choose to not have another pet ever again. Mike attended a few school activities with me, but he found them very overstimulating…typical engineer nerd. And, please, if it helps, keep sharing Ernie photos…who doesn’t love a puppy photo?
Before I forget it, I highly recommend the Blackstone griddles! We got one last summer and love it. Our SIL got one, and he says it’s the bomb (too soon) for cooking breakfast. Speaking of bombs, I’m so sorry you went through that. Brownsburg had one several weeks ago, and my daughter had to be on site. She called me just to tell me she loved me because, ya know, we lived through 9/11 together (her dad/my husband was in NYC.on.a.place when the first tower was hit). It was a long, long day. So, I can’t even imagine having school after. They sent all the kids home here.
I could go on and on, but that isn’t writing my Friday monthly recap…see, procrastinating!
Have a fabulous weekend, Amy!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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You needed a break!
Tom is not perfect and annoys the crap out of me often as I’m sure I do him. But, he is a pretty good sport and humors me. I think we complement each other often times.
I really loved using my friend’s Blackstone and one comment was to get the combo Blackstone griddle and grill. Tom seems to want a traditional grill, so maybe this would be a compromise.
I get that – it’s scary and you must always take it seriously!
You too!
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