Monday, March 17, 2025
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Are you wearing green? Also, it’s my sister Kate’s 50th! Happy birthday, Kate!
I am linking up with Sarah and Holly to share my weekend…
By Thursday, it was feeling like Groundhog Day. Go to school, come home, go to school, come home. I guess that is a luxury that some would covet? But, I was happy to have plans immediately after school on Thursday with my friend Beth. The weather was gorgeous and we went to what is probably my current happy hour fave Osteria. It was the first time I have sat outside this season!
Beth spoils me with little gifts and I love this card she gave me.
After we left Osteria, we went in Tunie’s Boutique outlet. I had bought orange gauzy shorts and they worked out great so I wanted to see if they had other colors. I came home with this turquoise – only $15!
Friday was another green blouse – lol. I have realized that I have a lot of green.
I have kind of gotten into a Friday Starbuck’s routine.
When I got home from school my oven reminded me that it was Pi Day.
Mason was the only one who wanted to go out Friday night so we went to my former student’s new restaurant Adelita’s. Mason hadn’t been yet and he loved it! Mason prides himself in picking out good dishes on a menu and he did it again!
Saturday morning it was mild enough to sit outside. Oh, have I missed this. I guess November or December was the last time I could drink my coffee outside?
I am so grateful for reading this winter. I have really read a lot and it’s so much better for me than scrolling or tv. I still scroll and I still watch tv, but I have cut back on both.
I finished these in time to take them back to my library Saturday morning:
I kept this to read over the weekend:
And, I added these three. Tin-Tin, my Swedish reader and friend, told me about The One Thing. I love to have a non-fiction at all times.
I had a great Saturday morning! I hadn’t been to Trader Joe’s since the Christmas holidays if I remember correctly. I went to TJ’s, the library, and I used my Sun Tan City spray membership. I am doing medium clear about once a week if you are interested in trying it.
I had my best kind of Saturday – I read on the patio for quite awhile and then I moved into the living room with Tom and he watched tv while I kept reading.
Is She Really Going Out with Him by Sophie Cousens is so cute and I am almost done!
We spend a lot of time talking about how cute our Eddie Otis is.
I did a shamrock mani:
It rained all day long so I got dressed for dinner in my short rain boots:
Our friends picked us up for the British pub Pints & Union – these are not our friends – was just trying to get a photo of the cute atmosphere:
I mean – no offense – they look like really nice people.
We split some scotch eggs…
Sunday morning was rainy again but colder and I thought my boy looked so big standing guard.
I set my alarm for 8:00 to start Jen’s Irish meal!
You add the cabbage at the end but I chopped it while my cutting board was out.
A little more patio time…
A little meal prep – my week was rough last week with lack of meal prep!
I only left the house once yesterday to do a donation drop off. I did the first pass over my spring and summer closet! I packed up 4 bags.
All day Saturday I was so excited because my sister’s boyfriend surprised her with a little getaway to Cincinnati and I couldn’t wait to hear how it went down! She loves art so I suggested 21 C art hotel and the art museum there. I hope she felt special and had so much fun. I will hear today after school, I hope! I wanted to leave her alone yesterday to enjoy the rest of her getaway.
It was a good weekend. I needed it. What about you?
We have a 5 day week and then a 4 day week and then it will be spring break. I have a half day one day this week so that will help. I’m pretty happy at school with my students when we are on normal routine. I just struggle with not having a little more time at home and to myself if that makes sense.
Also, when my Dad passed away it was right before winter break so I had that time to grieve or start grieving. This has been different. I felt like I needed to get back and it’s been hard to not really have that time. Especially since I am retiring, I felt it was right to get back. Maybe it’s even better for your mental health to be amongst people?
Here is our current struggle…the students have been forgiven 5 school days for the snow and don’t have to make them up, but teachers have not because they are not going to pay us for not working. So, currently, teachers are going to have to work 5 days at the end of the school year without students until June 2. The work will be done, grades will be turned in, etc. I really can’t think what they would have us do for 5 days and with me retiring I am not into creating for next year – lol. I wrote up a proposal about letting teachers work the time or some of the time in a flexible manner from now until May 23 when we need the time. Erica is a union big wig so she presented it and the president is meeting with district officials.
You thought I was just a complainer, but I am trying to be the change. Ha! While going through the change. I think my students are tired of me saying, “do you all think it’s hot in here?”
Ok, thank you for reading and for your comments! I read them all!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
That sounds like such a lovely weekend. I sure hope the district approves the flexible working time… I mean I get where they’re coming from not wanting to pay for teachers not working those 5 days but at the same time it really does not make sense to make up those 5 days at the end of the year when all the schoolwork is done.
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Exactly! I can actually use the time before the kids leave!
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I love it – being the change while going through the change! Way to go, Amy! I hope they consider your proposal seriously!
I know you’ll enjoy spring break and then you’ll be on the countdown for retiring! Leaving your job will be emotional and you’ll have a different kind of grief I think. 2025 will be a year of change for you!
Have a great day!
xo,
Kellyann
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Haha
I will be so ready and then I will grieve in august maybe? Not sure!
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Teachers are paid to teach. If the students won’t be in school due to “forgiveness” why on earth should the teachers? I hear of some head scratching decisions in our district and I am glad that I am only peripherally involved. (Though as a taxpayer, I am involved in a different way!) Anyway, your weekend looks nice with some fun plans and downtime. I’m glad that you’re reading more and scrolling less. I feel like I have been doing that as well recently and it’s so good for me! Have a great Monday!
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Amen.
It was a good balance. I feel so much better staying off social media.
Happy Monday!
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Your Thursday patio meal with Beth looks like such a great atmosphere and it was such a nice day. Love your green for your outfits…subtle and festive. I hope your meal was good last night 🙂 I think it’s great that you are trying to make the change for others with Erica’s help. We haven’t heard our fate yet – I think we owe them 3 days? Maybe 4? I have a half day next week but gotta get through this week. The good news is that I don’t have to think about lunch much – we have a pot luck today and then pizza for a friends birthday for lunch tomorrow and Thursday we have our fave Mexican food truck coming. Somehow not thinking about packing lunches will help get me through the week.
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Isn’t that the truth? I’m doing two meals and Erica is doing two meals- one is your Irish meal! The other I’m doing is a Trader Joe’s arugula salad with their precooked lemon chicken breast.
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Oh that sounds easy and delish!
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Thanks for sharing your books- going to add a few to my list. Your mani is on point for St. Patty’s! Those scotch eggs look interesting- I have never had them. Would you recommend? Loving your spring fashion and green as always!
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I love the Sophie Cousens book!
Thank you!
The scotch egg is sausage wrapped around and then fried – yum!
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Ha, I laughed at “do you think it is hot in here?”. What a great idea for teachers to use their work time before the end of May versus keeping the schools open for another week. I hope meal planning is helpful to you this week. Happy birthday to your sister!
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Hello Amy, Always lovely catching up on your news. I had a chuckle re Eddy Otis: We also spend lots of time discussing how cute and witty the dogs are 😉 Well done you for intervening with the district office. Five extra days without students do sound rather OTT. Fingers crossed.
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I hope they will approve that change. If not, maybe you could use that time to clean out your classroom? Or maybe that will already be done by then. I loved hearing about your weekend. Best wishes to EO for his procedure tomorrow!
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I hope your proposal goes through. It makes so much more sense. Even teachers who are returning probably don’t want five days at the end of the year without students. Looks like you had a good weekend. I am all about sitting outside right now too. The pollen is starting and I will not be out as much in April because it’s ridiculous. Have a nice week! I’m making my Irish meal today…we all love it.
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! ☘️☘️☘️
Happy 50th Birthday to your sister!! 🥳
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Happy birthday to your sister, I hope she has a fab day.
It is lovely to sit outside and eat. I am looking forward to that over the summer.
Well done to Mason picking out some great dishes and I love your shamrock mani!
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Oof, five days would be rough even if you were working on the next year. Hopefully, the district will see the wisdom of your proposal. Your weekend looked lovely. It was cold and rainy here…perfect excuse to stay inside and do nothing. But, I’m ready to be outside and working in my itty bitty gardens.
https://marshainthemiddle.com
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Sounds like a great weekend. My kids lost 3 days when we had a rare ice storm in January but as far as I know, we aren’t making them up, which is weird. Good luck with the proposal.
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Nice post. I wish I had more time to read – what was your favorite brain candy read(s) of the books you read?
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I think you working for BIG district affects how those decisions are made. We are salaried no matter what and the state of MO makes those decisions, not the districts.
I have a proposal too, that I came up with recently, and I really am trying to be a problem solver and solution oriented. It’s hard, I think, when others don’t see it as a glaring problem though.
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