Friday, April 18, 2025
It’s Friday! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites. Today’s post is short and sweet because I just worked and got ready for my houseguests coming this weekend.
My first favorite is the comment section of my Tuesday post about cleaning out my mom’s house and the lessons I’m learning. Thank you for your kind words and your stories shared with me. I am going to go back and read them again this weekend.
Last weekend was a lot and then I went into a very busy week and I needed this…
One of our counselors sends a Wednesday Wellness slide show each week.
So, to do this for myself, I ordered take out for dinner one night and I decided my houseguests would rather me be relaxed and able to talk to them so I am making Spanish tapas when they arrive and a salad to go with pizza we will order. I am making the salad with romaine, goat cheese, sunflower seeds, strawberries and Brianna’s blush dressing. It’s delicious.
I brought home my mom’s vintage mah jong set and then I got a notice that an acquaintance that I have only met once or twice but I am Facebook friends with is now a certified mah jong instructor. I am going to learn how to play in a few weeks and then maybe that will become a new hobby if I like it.
I sent my niece some lip stuff and she and her boyfriend tried it – lol – and sent me a video review. I couldn’t figure out how to flip this around. I used to know how to edit in WordPress and now they have changed everything. It’s on my list to learn.
Aren’t they cute? It makes my day to get texts and videos from my nieces and nephews. Isn’t it great to be an aunt?
Speaking of aunts… my mom’s sister has been so helpful and we have called and talked to her several times about family furniture pieces and to get advice on the estate sale. Aunts are great!
I brought this for lunch one day and it was so good! Coleslaw mix, rotisserie chicken, Skinnygirl poppyseed dressing, blue cheese crumbles, apple pieces – the flavors are so good in my opinion!
The other day I brought “sub in a tub” using my snackle box. Erica had to to the other lunches – one was a salad with grilled chicken. We are really eating a lot of salads this year.
My best dinner this week involved three sheet pans. Easy! Roasted peeled Yukon gold potatoes – I boiled them a bit first, salmon, broccoli – all cooked on air fryer setting at 400. I need to get more 1/4 sheet pans. The size is great. I only have one right now.
I know it’s over, but this Master’s cocktail sounds good.
I bought another Fiona Ferris. This one is 10 years old and it’s not my favorite. Many of her points are repeated in the newer books I have. But, still – she has nice reminders of ways to live well.
I checked this out from the library and took some study hall time to read it this week. It’s a bit different than the title suggests – “Die with Zero” – you do need to read the subtitle. He talks about finding that balance between working just enough to have rich life experiences and not working too much for money you will never get to use. This is going on in my brain a lot as I prepare to retire and think about what work I will do next and as I clean out the possessions that my parents spent a lifetime accumulating.
So, what tops your list of favorites this week? I hope you had many! Thank you for being here! You are always a favorite of mine.
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
For some reason I cannot leave a comment – it says Reader Version. Anyway – GOOD for you for ordering pizza! Your guests are there to visit you not eat homemade meals. Die with zero sounds like a good plan. So many people scrimp and save and leave money behind. I would much rather see my mom live a full and happy life having great experiences instead of being handed a check after she passes.Money is not everything. I hope you have the very best weekend!!! Kindest regards, Kellyann
Kellyann Rohr, MA, LMHC Licensed Mental Health Counselor Professional Blogger Blog http://www.thisblondesshoppingbag.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thisblondesshoppingbag/ Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/kellyrohr
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I don’t know what is going on! I have no comments and feel very unloved! Will check settings!
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This is the first blog I’ve been able to comment on so something must be going on with WordPress. I love to play mahjong on my iPad, but I don’t know how different it is from the real thing. I think you should write a cookbook! You always have delicious food!
https://marshainthemiddle.com
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I tried commenting earlier and no box would pop up but we are back in business, lol. Yay on sheet pan dinners! Die with zero is brilliant. Happy Easter weekend!
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My mom is learning how to play mah jong and it sounds fun. I love your mom’s vintage set! Aunts can be so wonderful and we are lucky when we have close ones! I was hoping to make an azalea to go with my pimento cheese sandwich but I never got around to it. It does seem like it would be great for Easter and spring, too! Way to go making choices that allow you to enjoy your guests. They are there to see you not just enjoy the food you spent a long time cooking. Happy Easter!
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That is really great advice from the counselors slide show!
How wonderful to have the mah jong set and someone teach you how to play.
Your lunches look so good!
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So.. weirdly I couldn’t comment this morning as all the comment boxes were missing on all the WP blogs but I’m glad they’re back up and running! Your salmon dinner looks yummy (and much like the one I made for myself last night– the guys had pork chops).
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Glad to know I wasn’t the only one when I was trying to comment on several blogs this am… thought it might be me! The “enough” quote you shared is so good and so needed… a great motto to live by! Enjoy your time with your guests and Happy Easter to you and your family!
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I love the quarter sheet pans. Our oven has a big oven and then a slim size oven. The small pans fit perfectly in it. I’m going on a trip with family in May, and my cousin is bringing a travel mah jong set. I’m looking forward to learning. Happy Easter!
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Sounds like a full week going into a busy weekend! You will get through it. . .I’m sure you cannot even imagine what mid-April is going to look like for you next year :). Enjoy your guests.
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The salad looks great and that’s a perfect use for the snackle box. The text from your niece is so sweet. I love being an aunt. Many of my friends play mahjong…one asked if I wanted to learn and I said no 🤣it seems complicated…that being said, I told her that it seemed like a summer things for me …maybe. I hope you’re having a great weekend with your guests!
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