Friday, July 18, 2025

It’s Friday and it’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites!

How was your week?

I’m still in this weird state where I would normally be getting a pit in my stomach about summer going by too quickly and not feeling like I “did enough”. I have so many teachers in my life that are feeling that way right now and now I’m not. Does that make sense? It’s still surreal that I don’t have to watch fourteen training videos on things like blood borne pathogens. Do you know how many times I touched blood in 31 years? Zero.

Instagram liked my Tom story…

Doesn’t he look sad on this sailboat for one in Michigan? My brother in law Jason made a video of this, too! Do you get the What About Bob? reference?

IG has a cool new font called Rosalia which is what I used there. You can follow me at amscott2 if you so desire.

I’m still riding a high from last weekend and how special it was to be in Michigan. I honestly want another trip to Michigan before the end of summer. The weather is just divine. Ahhhhhhh.

We came home to a happy dog and a house that was pretty darn clean. Mason even picked up this coffee at Kroger that he thought I would enjoy and I do! It’s really good!

I seriously burned my face in Michigan on a cloudy day! I should know better. It was really cloudy on Friday and it drizzled for most of the morning. My forehead and cheeks got burned.

Crazy Eyes was so happy to have us back!

My aunt Sally said she takes leftover coffee, adds milk, and puts it in the freezer in the summer. I did that, too, upon arriving home, and it was so good as an afternoon treat.

I was excited to come home to several library books that had come in for me. Here is my library haul. Hey – let’s make library hauls a thing instead of Amazon hauls!

I started the new Emily Henry book and yes, I abandoned the book I was reading before. I feel no shame or guilt!

My sister Molly brought me a retirement gift of this set of four appetizer plates. Aren’t they so cute and so me? Now I just need to host a happy hour!

And, she gave me this Joanna Gaines candle that smells amazing. I haven’t gotten a new candle in a long time.

After having a white Funny Bunny pedi for quite awhile I was ready for a color. I chose an orangey red.

Ok, I was reading one of those “favorite Trader Joe’s products” articles online and one person said this cheese. New favorite!

I started following a beauty influencer on IG named Kat James. Well, she also does lentil recipes! Lol. I couldn’t find the pack of already cooked lentils at TJ’s but I bought a can and now I have a new obsession. I had some naan bread with hummus on the side. No worries if you don’t have a TJ’s – just buy a can of lentils. It’s a can of lentils, a can of diced tomatoes, red onion cooked in some olive oil, a tablespoon each of yellow mustard, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Then, add a bit of salt and pepper. It’s super weird and I would love to know who came up with it, but it’s delish! I will cut down on the brown sugar next time because it really doesn’t need to be as sweet as it is.

My favorite family meal I made this week was both chicken and salmon with teriyaki sauce. My piece of salmon from my Kroger pickup was pitifully small so I did chicken, too. I bought one of those stir fry veg bags (fresh) and added more chopped broccoli and cooked them in a skillet. The fam had rice and I had cauli rice.

This sauce is really good!

I had a spontaneous happy hour at a local favorite with one of my Heathers. This place has a 3-6 happy hour every day. I got a raspberry lemon drop and Heath got a Hugo Spritz. Her spritz had dry ice in the bottom and we were googling if it’s safe to drink dry ice.

They have this appetizer that is a baguette (still warm) with a bowl of goat cheese and a bowl of strawberry jam. You spread the goat cheese and then the jam and it’s basically one of the best things ever.

Even though our anniversary fell on a Tuesday we had to go out. Tom met me straight from work at a new to us restaurant called Ata which means “eat” in Swedish I think but probably has some dots over the vowels.

I got a shrub mocktail and it was so tart I couldn’t drink it. My friend just made the best strawberry basil shrub. Do you know what shrubs are? Tom is on an Arnold Palmer kick. He doesn’t drink any alcohol.

We both ordered their special – fried chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, succotash and a watermelon salad. All that was $25!

And, we split a strawberry shortcake that was the star of the meal.

We took so much food home and Mason ate it!

I had a pool day! It was touch and go with rain and storms in the forecast for each and every day. Someone said we live in Florida now. Ha!

This is Erica’s country club pool and it’s really nice.

I got a salad with grilled chicken…

and we split some tots.

Erica went out to her car and brought me the neatest retirement gift. She was waiting til I had a party and I haven’t had a party so she wanted me to enjoy it now.

Each of the letters of RETIRE had a gift associated with it. R – Relax, E – Eat, T – Travel, I – Indulge, R – Read, and E – Enjoy.

It was such a nice and creative gift!

I took this fan to Michigan and it was a lifesaver. It’s super lightweight. Our room was really stuffy and I went to sleep cuddling with this fan.

I tried a Strawberry strato matcha from Starbucks and not only is it pink and green and so pretty but it was also good!

And, this is our forecast. What in the world?

What were your faves this week?

Amy

26 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. I can’t wait to try that lentils recipe! Your forecast looks a lot like ours has. Though I do think it’s supposed to be sunny today. What a fabulous retirement gift basket!

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  2. Your Michigan trip makes me wanna go asap! That picture of Tom is hilarious!

    It looks like you had a fun week with some great social time. I think it takes awhile to get over the feelings of school starting back, etc.- it’s a little like PTSD. You have to adjust to it not having any impact on your life anymore – it’s wonderful!

    The retirement gift from Erica was so thoughtful and sweet! I am amazed at creative gift giving – I stink at that stuff! Ha!

    Have the very best weekend!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. Saugatuck is the bougiest place and you would fly into Chicago and then rent a car I think? I know you would love it. Did you read Show Me and Sweet Tea’s account of MIchigan? It looks divine.
      It really was!
      You too!

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  3. Congratulations on your retirement, Amy! You gave me a good laugh with the training videosā€”haha! Wishing you all the best for this new chapter!

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  4. I took a screenshot of our forecast as well because it was so bad. I was like, this can’t be summer!! I love your retirement gifts- so incredibly thoughtful and generous. Your dinner out looks great! My employer (or prolly the state) makes subs take online courses (and then a test) on things like hepatitis B and reporting suspected sexual and physical child abuse. Like I’m a sub- short of a student coming up to me and telling me about abuse, I’m not going to see any signs. I’m there for a day, maybe in rare circumstances, two or three. Enjoy not being stressed about the summer ending!!

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    1. It is the craziest summer weather! I feel like I lost my wonderful June weather, too!
      Right?
      The dinner was good but heavy!
      That is so crazy but I am not surprised.

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  5. I’m laughing about your blood born pathogens videos! šŸ¤£ That is just crazy!! Those books look interesting. I’m going to have to check them out. I’m on a decluttering journey of body and bath products, household products, food, makeup, books etc! My goal is not to be a minimalist but to be more mindful with my purchases. How many body lotions does a person need?!! Have a great weekend!

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    1. Right? I love a good book haul! Yes! So satisfying. But, I don’t feel any guilt throwing things away that I don’t want to use. I chalk it up to a mistake. Or, you could donate those! I think it makes me more mindful for sure. One lotion at a time. You too!

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  6. That goat cheese app looks delish! And I love your retirement mug : ) I love lentils and will have to try your recipe. Have a great weekend!

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    1. It really is! I totally think you should try the lentils. I was going to soak and cook my own, but the can is just so easy and delicious. I did dump it into a colander.

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  7. It must be so strange for you not thinking about going back to school.
    Aww! Tom does look ever so sad on his boat.
    It sounds like you had a great time in Michigan apart from the sun burn.
    Those appetizer plates are so cute.
    Oh wow! The pool looks amazing!

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  8. I love Michigan and would go anytime! Your surprise retirement gift truly was so thoughtful. That journal with the compass? So perfect for your next journey! We have had hot weather and lots of evening pop up storms. Crab grass and mushrooms anyone?

    https://marshainthemiddle.com

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  9. We cruised to alaska this week and itā€™s been best week!! Iā€™ve eaten my weight in salmon and halibut. Drank more fun drinks then i can count and had amazing desserts and coffee all week. Will i have to repent all next week? Yes. Happy Friday!!

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  10. Your friend put so much thought into that gift…so special! I want to go to Lake Michigan someday. I saw that United has non stop flights to Traverse City in the summer. You weather looks rather gloomy! Hope you have a good weekend!

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    1. She did! I think you should – Traverse City is supposed to be one of the nicest lake towns. I can’t believe there is a non stop flight. It is so gloomy!

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  11. I look forward to trying both your lentil and your goat cheese recipes. Both sound so yummy! Your reference to the district emails that multiple this time of year (including those blood born pathogen ones) had me nodding vigorously! One of the tings I miss least!!! Have a wonderful weekend dreaming of Michigan!

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    1. The lentil recipe was posted – just click the link. It’s not my goat cheese recipe but the restaurant’s. Yup! Same! Thank you and you have a wonderful one, too.

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  13. Summer of Songbirds is one of my favorite books. Your gifts from your sister and Erica are so thoughtful! Love the appetizer plates. Your food for anniversary dinners amazing! Congrats!! Im currently working my way through those videos šŸ«  it does feel like we live in Florida!

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