Friday, January 3, 2025

First of all…

Our best friends’ daughters goes to Georgia and they almost went to the game.

Well, there is really no way to segue after that. I just don’t understand these acts.

There’s talk of a big snow coming on Sunday in my neck of the woods. For you, too?

Milk and bread! Milk and bread! You know what you really need if it snows? Alcohol and chips! Alcohol and chips!

In all seriousness, I haven’t had many cocktails over the break and I’ve done pretty well on sugar compared to years past. I had one drink on NYE – an espresso martini, nothing on NYD, and over the break if I did have anything it was probably a glass of prosecco. I did have a mojito at Mojito one afternoon. I feel like perimenopause is changing how it makes me feel and I do not like to drink too much and feel bad. Have you experienced this?

I’ve actually posted all week! Click on the titles below if you missed any:

Hello Monday

2024

Amy’s Happiness Project – Join me! I have had a few say they will.

Fashion Files

So, let’s talk about some favorites from the week…

Tom worked Monday even though he didn’t feel great. So, he left at 7:30 am and returned at 5:45 pm and we walked EO together. We both really enjoy this time and I need to be more intentional about being ready to walk. The barrier to me walking is that I need a break from EO by this time and that I am still cooking dinner. Well, I had picked up Chick Fil A (dinner was done!) and I got Tom a chocolate shake for dessert because I thought it would be good for his cold. I got the peppermint mocha for the first time this year – so good! We watched Bad Sisters while we ate. This is the only show we are watching together right now and we are enjoying it.

Tom went to work Tuesday (NYE) at the normal time but came home around 2:00 and watched games the rest of the day. I made him soup and grilled cheese for a late lunch. We were supposed to go to an early dinner reservation at Malone’s with our friends. Tom didn’t want to be coughing in a restaurant, so I went alone.

The weather was nasty. It was rainy and really windy, but I got a selfie outside the restaurant:

My college besties “The Heathers” and I got espresso martinis and they were good!

We let the guys toast with their bourbon and beer after our girls only toast!

I ordered something out of character for me – mini steak sliders with potato cakes. The steak was too salty. The potato cakes were amazing. I ate one and took the other one home.

Mason had to work but was home by the time I got home and then stayed home on NYE; Jack was out. I brought Mason home some fancy salmon (Tom didn’t want anything) and we watched a movie together.

We sent this photo to Jack. I missed Tom at dinner but I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. And, I was still home by 8:00!

I’ve been wearing my new Koolaburra by Uggs everyday – even in the house!

My library books haven’t really been floating my boat so I took a gift card a student gave me and put it toward a Target book. I had fun wandering around Target but I didn’t go crazy buying up sale items. I bought some food items, though.

I was able to enjoy it with some hot chocolate! Yes, you do need this many mini marshmallows!

I think I want to read this! Have you seen the movie of It Ends With Us?

My sister Kate gave my sister Molly and I late birthday presents at Christmas and this sweater hood thing was part of it. It came in very handy for all the cold dog walks I have been doing while Tom was sick. It’s very funny looking, but it keeps you warm!

Do you have this? Oh my gosh! I used it to buff out the silverware scratches on our white dinner plates and it works!

I found this at Target! Target has some food stuffs that Kroger doesn’t have.

Time to switch out the peppermint for the snowdrop!

Do you like lentils? I made this soup on NYD and I think it’s so good! I added kale to it, but spinach would also be good. You could also add sausage or another protein, I think.

Here is a tip I plan to try for my new Rothy’s that I talked about in Fashion Files yesterday:

Green tea in my England mug!

Patching!

I read the January chapter and took notes. It only took me about 15 minutes if you are wondering about how much time it takes.

I made another batch of Chex Mix to use up all the boxes of cereal from the first batch. Why is this stuff so good? I ate way too much. We enjoyed eating the soup and cornbread and snacking on this on New Year’s Day. It was nice to have Tom off and he got into a really big cleaning kick. It was opposite the usual. I took EO out so Tom could clean. Usually he takes EO and I clean. EO tries to “help” if he stays in the house. He is both fascinated and scared of the vacuum.

Have you tried the Elf lip oil? Look at my collection! I wouldn’t say it stays on that long but the feel is great and you want to re-apply. It’s really pretty!

I got some new mascara and I really like it. I have been going bare for quite some time because it was bothering me.

Cute boy:

The lentil soup was better the next day!

Get this away from me!

Mason was washing kale for kale chips and Eddie Otis said, “I’ll dry!”

Mason gets such a kick out of EO’s personality.

My sister Molly told me about this and I was skeptical. But, if you are going to TJ’s, grab a bottle of the almond sparkling wine.

What have been your favorites this week? I think it was really odd for Tom with him having a day and a half off in the middle of the week.

All our Christmas decor is put away except for twinkle lights on the mantle and the white pre-lit tree in our bedroom. I’m keeping those for January at least. I did look at my Valentine’s decor but it feels too early.

Alright, I better stop writing your ear off now.

Amy

22 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. “Alcohol and chips” – ha ha! Our main drink here is still sangria, never stopped after summer :D. But we have cut down on chips, just one bag a week… Menopause has really affected my sleep in a bad way and drinking more than one glass of wine makes me wake up in the middle of the night tossing and turning. Maybe that’s good?… makes me think before having that second glass!

    The Pink stuff is the best! My oldest introduced it (when did she become an expert at cleaning?) and we used it to clean the tile joints (is that what you call it?).

    My favorites this week have been sunny weather (haven’t seen the sun for weeks) and a lot of quality time with family. Daughter leaves tonight! I’m sad!

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  2. My husband only had work yesterday and today so I’m still screwing up what day of the week it is.. but it was nice having everyone home for a few extra days to get all the cleaning and chores done. I walked around Target the other day and picked up a few books to mail to my mom for her birthday.

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  3. Love the pic of Mason and EO- so cute! Yes! Alcohol and chips- let’s be real 😉 So many great beauty product shares too- thanks so much 🙂

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    1. He was so cute trying to help us! He loves stealing our kitchen towels and running around with them in his mouth. It’s too cute to be too mad. Yes to salty snacks when you are stuck at home! Thank you!

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  4. I haven’t tried the pink stuff but a going to look for it now. I could get excited about a snowfall but it won’t happen here. Some years we get one snow and I enjoy that but it’s not like the mountains of snow we got in NJ. Hubs is thrilled, but I miss it a little. Not in March or April, but in January I do. Get the chex mix away from me too. It’s irresistible. Have a nice weekend!

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  5. I was glued to the TV when I woke up on new year’s day over the footage of what went on in the early hours of that morning. It’s heartbreaking! I can’t wrap my mind around what that must feel like to experience something like that happening near you, or to people you love.

    On a lighter note, yes, you do want to read It Starts With Us. I liked it better than It Ends With Us! What are the UGG shoes you mentioned? Are they the ones with the platform? I like the ones you have on; they look great with those jeans! I love that you and Mason watched a movie on NYE. That’s what Drew and I did on Christmas Eve! I appreciated that he hung out with me when he caught me crying that night when he walked into the room. I just told someone that I’ve never had an espresso martini and would like to try one someday. But I don’t really drink a lot either because it makes me feel so flushed; I know it’s a menopause thing! I hope you enjoy your day and do something fun today!

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  6. I saw on the news about what happened in New Orleans. So sad.
    We are forcast snow too and lots of icy weather! Eek! Stay safe!
    I hope Tom is feeling better now.
    The Pink Stuff is amazing! I have found it cleans anything and everything!
    What a great bunch of favourites! Happy new year and wishing you all the best for 2025.

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  7. You had quite the week! Bummer that Tom was sick. Random – but even when Kroger would say they have the peppermint chobani, they would cancel it on my order. In KC, I went to the grocery store for a few things and saw the peppermint Chobani. We iced it down in a cooler and I brought it back to lex 😂
    Enjoy your weekend!

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  8. My girls gave me some Elf lip oil in my stocking. I love that stuff! Cute ballet flats from Walmart. I could really use new ones so I might check those out. Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  9. While I was off from work for the break (I started back up yesterday) I wasn’t reading any of my blogs, so it was so nice to catch up with you yesterday! Just wanted to say I’m so glad you post so often! I love your blog.

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  10. Great post – I browsed around Target too – the Christmas section was pretty well picked over, but I didn’t need anything. I did snag a couple of tins of Marks & Spencer Jaffa Cakes – they are a soft sponge topped with orange jelly with a coating of dark chocolate. Maybe you tried them when you were in England? The tin looks like Big Ben and it’s actually a working clock. Best of all, they were $6 down from $20. I love the lentil soup, it looks delicious, especially on a cold winter day. I hope Tom is feeling better.

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  11. Happy New Year! I’m going to try The Pink Stuff on our ivory Pottery Barn plates, they are a mess!
    I completely agree with there having to be some connection between peri menopause/menopause and alcohol. I am 56 and stopped any alcohol altogether as an experiment last year, and it’s crazy how much better I sleep without it! The most I would drink is 2 drinks, and only once or twice a month-and I feel like it would disrupt my sleep for 2-3 nights. Why isn’t this being shouted from the rooftops??? I appreciate your content!

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    1. My plates are the PB diner plates and they are 25 years old and I thought they were done for. They are so well made, though. you will love the pink stuff!
      I think I am going to have to go that route too and I have always known I like the idea of a cocktail or wine more than the actual thing itself!

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  12. My body definitely changed in my late 40’s and 50’s with regards to alcohol. For awhile, I would get so flushed and hot when I drank. Now that has passed, but I just don’t enjoy it as much as I used to. I will usually get one cocktail to be social. I love the pink stuff for my white sink. YES to mini marshmallows! Hope Tom is feeling better!

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  13. Like you, I don’t understand the violence and hatred…nuff said.

    Ice cream…blizzard = ice cream! That comes from the Blizzard of 78. We were all snowed in, but one of the neighbors had just gotten several containers of ice cream from the Schwann’s guy. So, now, I always equate big snowfalls with ice cream.

    We didn’t do a thing on NYE or NYD. I think I may have stayed in my pajamas all day on NYD. I love my big fluffy robe! I miss just strolling the aisles of Target, but they’ve remodeled so many times it’s just not the same. It’s better for my wallet, but I miss those old Target layouts.

    I did read both of those books by Colleen Hoover. I can never remember which comes first. We watched the movie. It has so much bad press right now, but there was a bit of controversy when it first came out. I’m guessing there won’t be a movie for the second book which is OK because I thought the books were just kinda meh. I think most soup is better the next day.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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