Monday, January 13, 2025
So, it’s Monday and time to link up with Sarah and Holly. I got an extra week of winter break, essentially. I did have to work from home Friday and had to attend a couple of Zoom meetings, do a survey, fill out some forms, and make sure I had my ducks in a row for the first day back with students.
I found myself really appreciative of being a teacher and not having to get out or even try to work from home most of the days last week.
It was good timing with my cold, too. I didn’t really feel bad enough to stay home from school if we had had school but I wasn’t sleeping well and I was low energy.
I cooked my brains out and really tried to use up things we had on hand. Well, sometimes it would just be called heating up or assembling foods .
My kids had their work cancelled or they weren’t scheduled except for one evening each so we had a lot of time with the three of us at home. Tom worked from home Monday and then left each day and came home each day at the normal time.
Eddie Otis and I had a lot of togetherness. He has a wild streak in the mornings where I about think I will lose it with him, but then he spends most of the day calmly napping, changing napping locations, getting up when I get up, and that sort of thing. He puts himself in his crate a few times a day, which is so funny.
This snow was hard to walk in. It snowed, then it iced over, then it snowed again. So, your feet crunched down with each step you took. I like that many neighbors still have their lights up and it looks just so gorgeous with the snow. I really think all these footprints are from my family alone. We haven’t seen many people out.
This is us walking Eddie Otis one evening:
I did a left over snow mani Thursday night – shiny navy blue with silver glitter accent nails and nail art. I bought this last year and saved the remaining nails. I can get two manis out of each box and they do keep their stickability after a year. I exclusively use impress brand and here is how I do it. These last me 7-10 days and I shower twice a day and wash a ton of dishes. I am not careful with my nails at all but I don’t open cans or anything with my nails.
I finished this over the weekend and I do recommend! I can’t believe how little I know about Sicily or Italy and it caused me to do some research. I have only been to Venice once.
My work from home at the dining room table on Friday:
Friday night Tom called and said he was on his way home from work but would stop at Kroger. He picked up Jack (he wanted to go) and they brought home some new provisions. I managed to make a really yummy dinner. We have a new rice cooker and I made Thai jasmine rice, teriyaki chicken and green beans.
Tom started his once a year cooking project. He makes this bean soup.
Did y’all even know there were 15 types of beans?
Saturday morning I piddled around and then I was ready to get my car out after a week of being on vacation in my garage. My neighborhood was still really bad but the main roads were fine and I felt like a 16 year old girl with a fresh license!
I went into a boutique nearby and bought a pullover thing off the clearance rack. It reminded me of a lot of the SSYS stuff that Jen loves. It’s super soft and I thought I could wear it over white or black.
Did I need it? No, but it was my duty to put money back into the local economy after many had to close and didn’t get much business this week.
For lunch I made avo toast and here is how you do it in the most delicious way:
I wanted to go out again and go shopping after lunch but the laziness won over shopping. I just laid on the couch and binged more Younger. Tom was home to be the point person for Eddie Otis and after 5 days of our “togetherness” I was happy to get a break. He really is doing pretty well, but he’s a 10 month old puppy so he is doing puppy things.
We got to go out for dinner! We met our friends at Mojito and I had a mojito!
I ordered the most delicious salad and Tom helped me with it and then the rioja short ribs.
Piles and piles of snow in the parking lot:
I wore my “Sweater Weather” sweater because it definitely was sweater weather with my Heathers. We ate with Heather, Heather, Scott, and Eric. Lol. Then, everyone wanted to hurry home to watch the UK game.
I couldn’t keep my eyes open for very long!
Sunday morning Mason and I had the opportunity to go to breakfast!
And, then we browsed in a local bookstore. I thought this was cool – a cocktail recipe book based on video games.
After our breakfast and shopping I did some cleaning and piddling around the house to get ready to go back to work today. Later in the afternoon I went to Kroger and shopped in store for a few things for the week. Then, I found out we had a two hour delay today – so I have to be at work at 9:30 and the students will start at 10:40 and we get done at 3:20 like usual.
And, I’ve had my fill of winter! I’m good now!
What about you? How was your weekend? Tired of winter?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
It sounds like you had a lovely weekend! Best of luck getting back to routine/school today.
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I did! I can’t believe January is flying by like this!
I will need it – thank you!
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Ok- I could live with the amount of snow you get down south- looks so pretty- especially in the pics walking EO at night- also your nails are on point as always!
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Yes, you could! This is so rare to still have snow on the ground this much past the snowfall, but the temps are so low and not getting high enough to really melt.
Thank you!
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I hope the students aren’t too crazy today coming in from a long break and a two hour delay! Your nails look so good! One reason that I don’t do my nails is that I feel like I use my hands so much plus I feel like my hands are under water a lot. But with the amount of time you’re hands are in/under water, they look amazing. I should look into using what you’re using… Happy Monday!!
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Thank you! There’s a good chance they will be! Thank you! I really do use my hands a lot, too! The key is picking the right size nail to fit your nail. As close as possible to the size – err on the side of a bit smaller than your nail, not larger. Let me know if it works for you.
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There is nothing prettier than snow and lights! I can only imagine what it must feel like walking through all of that.
It must have been so nice to get out on Saturday night with your friends. Your breakfast out looks delish! I barely left the house this weekend!
Hope you have a good day back at school!
xo,
Kellyann
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I agree! It’s a workout!
It was so nice to get out.
That was my really only meal of yesterday because it was so filling and so much. Oops.
Thank you!
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Your mani looks great. I still have my dang tree up. I’m putting it away today. It’s just so petty in the morning and with the snow, I just kept it up through the weekend. Love your new boutique purchase. It looks like what SSYS calls “scuba” material. Your meals – at home and out – look yummy. Does anything else go in did bean soup ? I hope you have a great day back!
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Thanks!
I’m keeping the white one up in my bedroom even though I rarely turn it on. It has looked especially nice with the snow out the windows.
I don’t blame you – enjoy one more morning at home with it!
It is – and remember the blazers from Walmart were also scuba. It is so soft! I wish they had one size larger because I would like it a bit bigger.
The bean soup has tons of tomatoes, onion, and the hamhock and ham from our Honeybaked ham that we have had in the freezer.
Thanks!
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The dirty snow mountains get on my nerves after a while. In NJ we had one in our driveway where the plow pushed the snow that was still a remnant sometimes in June!! We had to move lol! It is nice you were able to rest and get over your cold without worrying about work. Looks like you had some yummy meals too. Enjoy your day!
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My mom used to make 15 bean soup! I might need to make that soon. 😋 I love it when dogs get the zoomies but early morning?! Oh boy! 😂 We have baby deer here in the spring that get the zoomies. They run laps around my yard and house!
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I love that you said you felt like a 16 year old girl with a fresh license; I’m sure that felt amazing to be out on your own! I felt the same going to church yesterday, and out afterward and then again last night. I’m glad you’re easing into the week; I hope you feel better by now! I hope it’s a great day and week, my friend.
p.s. I’m going to buy some Dave’s bread, everything bagel seasoning, and guac today. That looks amazing!
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Thank you!
I will text you something!
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Oh, I loooooove Hurst 15-bean soup. Right now in my freezer, I have a big ol’ ham bone from pre-Christmas. It never gets super-cold here in South Florida, but I’m going to make the soup anyway. Although come to think of it, it’s supposed to be in the upper 68s/low 70s this weekend, so that might count as “winter” here!
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I’m glad you’re getting to ease back with a delayed start! Hope you have a good week!
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it was good – thank you!
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I love the description of how you felt getting out and driving after a week of not! It’s nice to have a break but know you’ve still got wheels! I love ham and beans, but I’ve never tried 15 bean soup. Mike doesn’t like beans so I’d have to eat it all. I don’t think that would be a good idea! I really love how your sons go out with you. My boys don’t live close enough to do that, but I think they would be more than willing to go out to eat with me.
Have a wonderful week back at school!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Thank you! I was so happy! I was looking for errands, to be honest. You should make yourself a small batch of bean soup. My Dad had a really good recipe that he loved using only Great Northern canned beans, ham, carrot, onion. I will try to look for it.
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I am glad you had the extra time to rest and feel better. I imagine it felt so good to get out again after a limited week of snow. I am not ready for the heat at all, but I am good if the snow has passed for the winter!
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Thank you! I feel fortunate about that timing. I was free! You have really bad heat but ours is only bad in August here. Sometimes July is a bit bad, but our spring and early summer is so delightful usually.
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I was tired of winter before it started – ha! The pictures of the parking lots in Louisville look like our parking lot here in Knoxville last year after we had a “once a decade snow”. I think our schools were closed about as long as yours have been and it was slow getting back. We had a big anticipation last Wednesday-Thursday of a “storm“ coming in Friday so everything was shut down… When it started snowing around 11 am Friday even more businesses (including our bank!) closed but we didn’t get as much as was forecasted. Most people were out and about again Saturday evening, and, although many churches were closed Sunday, ours was not, and our life was back to normal. For some reason schools were closed again yesterday but it was beautiful, bright and sunshiny and half the yards in our neighborhood are clear now- I know everyone is ready to get back on schedule!
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I also dread the winter starting! They are so ugly! I heard someone comment that the snow piles lasted until June in the northeast!
I am hoping we get a rain to really wash it all away and melt it soon.
Yours sounds perfect and not debilitating.
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