Friday, May 24, 2024

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

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Today is the last day of the 2023-2024 school year! I still have to work a full day on Tuesday, but I shouldn’t have much to do by then. We will have a meeting and a program to say farewell to retiring teachers and a lunch donated by the alumni association. I can’t believe we’re here and I also can’t believe it took so long to get here. Ha! That’s how it always goes, I think.

Here are some favorites from my week. Did you have a good week? I hope you also had many favorites.

Wednesday was “senior walk” where the seniors are led by a drumline and can give notes, flowers, and candy to their teachers and the underclassmen. I taught about 60 seniors this year and got some really sweet notes (my fave!). The notes are what I save and what mean so much to me at the end of the day. I also got a really cool Swig cup that looks very Mexican art-inspired and a cute little vase of flowers, and a pouch with beauty products. So cute!

I was glad the walk happened during my planning period. I got to sit and read all of my notes and think back on the memories made with this group.

It was a weird week, too. We had school on Monday (without seniors), then Tuesday was a teacher day because it was primary election day. I went home for lunch and went to the library and to Target before I had to be back. I got a Starbuck’s passion tea lemonade and hadn’t had one in years.

At the end of the work day, I went home and got Eddie Otis because several staff had wanted to meet him. He was a total ham and then got to see where the magic happens. He sat in Paco’s desk because Paco has been making fun of his long tongue and telling me that my puppy was abnormal.

The students were made that he came in on a non-student day.

Aunt Molly (my sis) sent a funny toy that EO loves!

On the food front this week – I did my last two meal prep lunches Monday and Wednesday! So.tired.of.packing.lunch! Ha! Erica requested sub in a tub and pizza bowls – easy. The pizza bowl was also a dinner. By the way, I am going to make a lunch list for summer of easy go to meals.

One night for dinner we had Greek bowls with Greek potatoes.

My breakfast has been some variation of eggs and Amylu chicken breakfast sausage links from Costco. This day I added spinach and cottage cheese. By the way, Good Culture is the most delicious cottage cheese. Have you tried it?

I am happy to report that my beloved Donna Karan Cashmere Mist deodorant is working as the temps heat up. I was in Ulta last weekend and I wanted to share that they have an aluminum free. This stick smells divine and lasts forever, in my opinion. Also, do you know about Ulta’s incredible return policy? I returned three items that I didn’t like and got my money back. You just have to have your phone number on file with them. I know some love Sephora, but Ulta is easier for me. It’s located in my favorite outdoor mall and easier to get to and less overwhelming than Sephora in my opinion.

Ok, my reading life has improved. I’m usually able to read for a bit after school after I play with my puppy. He sits and stares at the backyard happenings or falls asleep and I read a bit before starting dinner.

This is so cute! It would be a great summer read!

And, look what was ready for me at the library!

Sarah Adams would be a great summer reading author if you have yet to discover her.

I personally don’t like super scary books, science fiction, fantasy, dystopian novels, and I had my fill of historical fiction for awhile with all the books I read about WWII. I did love The Hunger Games and I love Sally Hepworth, but I wouldn’t call her books super scary. I like good stories, romance, funny dialogue, and good chick lit. If you are like me, the above books will probably fit the bill for you. I also love non-fiction books about finance, self-help, life hacks, and stuff like that.

Eddie Otis helped me do the Kroger pick up one day this week.

Hi Mom!

He doesn’t really “swim” in his baby pool. He walks in circles and drinks.

Cute boy:

Yes, my camera roll is now mostly my puppy!

I really need to get to Trader Joe’s this weekend! I want to get some of these:

And, some of these products! Did you know these are supposed to be a dupe for Bum Bum cream?

I hear it sells out quickly!

I have hardly shopped at all in 2024! For me! Seriously!

I ordered some things that I hope work out:

I finally ordered the Aerie set of gauzy shorts and button up called the Pool-to-Party short and the Pool-to-Party coverup shirt. I wasn’t sure about sizing and one size I considered was sold out. I picked this fun melony pink color.

And, I think this is going to work. The fabric is fabulous!

After my cover up post, I realized I don’t really like/aren’t really my style anymore the cover ups I have. I plan to do another closet clean out as school as I have time. I have been wearing all my spring and summer and now it’s time to weed out again, you know? I may just be getting this in another color!

I have also been unhappy with my sandals selection and Jen did a great post that led me to ordering 3 pairs of sandals! I may not keep them all.

Anyway, I am sure I will do a recent purchases post when I see what works out!

Happy Friday! Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Amy

26 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. Congratulations on finishing another school year and now onto some summer fun!! I love the notes your students gave you. Appreciation notes from students are such a boost-because teaching is hard work! Have a lovely weekend!

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  2. I just bought 3 pairs of sandals this month too! That senior walk sounds so neat; and it also reminds me that Alec had planned to make some homemade cookies/treats for all his teachers before school ends. I’ll have to remind of him that with the long weekend coming up.

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    1. Funny! I hardly bought any last year so I guess it’s my year! It is really special. I think that would be so nice for his teachers especially since he is in the culinary program.

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  3. Wow, you’re almost on summer break! I love your batch of sweet notes and gifts from your students! Me, I’m in the middle of crunch time… a lot of correcting to do, grades to be done, blah blah. Three more weeks with students!

    Otis is the cutest! Why do I get a feeling he will be “your boy”…? It seems like you have the best connection!

    I’m looking forward to all your summery posts! SUMMER!

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    1. I am! It was so sweet to read them and save them and I do go back and read my collection from time to time. I feel for you! You are in the home stretch and then Florida! I did look up some bakeries but I will look more now that I have more time.
      I do think he really likes me!
      Thank you!

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  4. I love that your students wrote notes to you – I’d rather have a hand written note than a gift any day!

    I went to the library yesterday and grabbed a few books, our branch is pretty small so the pickings are slim but I did okay.

    Happy Summer break Amy!!!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. It really touches me when the boys write notes! I had the sweetest one from a kid I hadn’t taught in two years but he remembered all my class details!
      I hope you did get some good books! I think you get deliveries so maybe you can request some from that service? I think I will do a summer reading post soon.

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  6. Well done for finishing the school year and on to a marvellous summer! Sooo nice having a good chunk of unstructured time ahead of you. What are your plans for the summer? Do you follow a schedule of sorts? Regarding meal prep: Ever tried cooking a plant-based bolognese sauce? I put lots of finely chopped veggies in mine. Delicious and probably not too unhealthy.

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    1. Thank you! I feel like I ran a marathon to get here. It really is nice. I have no set plans yet but will be on major puppy duty. I do try to have structure. That probably won’t come until my first full week off. We use Prego Chunky Garden because Tom is partial to that. It has tiny veg in it and sometimes I do add more mushrooms and onions. Tom is particular about certain brands and I don’t really care that much or really like spaghetti that much. I do have one kid that wants to do more plant based meals so I want to shoot for that!

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  7. Love all of the Eddie Otis pictures! He is too cute. Happy Memorial Day! We’re having our usual rainy weekend but at least it’s warmer. Enjoy your summer!

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  9. Hooray from the end of the school year.
    The senior walk sounds so special. How lovely to get all of those notes and gifts.
    All of the food looks and sounds so good.

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    1. Thank you! It’s surreal! We think he is approaching 30 pounds. He still won’t go down the deck stairs without “motivation”. He will go down if I place treats on each stair. He is getting harder for me to take out at night! What about Mollie? We do go to vet on Tuesday so I will find out!

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  11. Love that EO went to school.
    The senior walk is such a great idea. I wish my school did that. They do it where they go to their elementary schools which I think is really sweet. Have a great weekend!

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  12. That must be so sweet to read those notes from your seniors and you got some sweet gifts too. EO looks so cute in that desk picture! Girl, enjoy your long weekend and last day of school next week! I am headed to Ulta tomorrow and may go by Trader Joe’s too.

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    1. It is! I save them all! Thank you so much and same to you! I am so behind on blog reading! I think Ulta and TJ’s sounds lovely! Do you have a pool you can go to on opening weekend?

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  13. After I retired, the school corporation started letting seniors go back to their elementary schools to parade through. I wish they’d done that years earlier. EO looks quite cute in Paco’s seat! I still have notes from my very first class.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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