Friday, September 5, 2025

Today is my twins’ 23rd birthday! It’s hard to believe they are 23! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites of the week.

I know many of us get a little nostalgic when Labor Day has come and gone. I liked this…

I feel differently about it this year. I have had 31 super busy Septembers – it’s seriously so crazy in teacher land – and now I don’t. I think I will be doing a fall bucket list.

In addition to turning 23 today…

This short week had a big impact on our lives/my life – Jack moved into an apartment on Tuesday and Mason started a new job (last week) where he has to leave the house by 6:45. He is planning on subbing at my high school, too, because this job is flexible but starts early!

They asked for stuff for the apartment (Jack) and succulents and a nail care kit (Mason) so we are definitely growing up. Mason also had his roommate from college stay here one night after they went out for birthdays together. Their birthdays are two days apart.

I also really liked this graphic from Mix and Match Mama:

I agree with many of these things!

And, I saved this outfit because it spoke to me and I have many of the pieces:

There’s just a nice sweet spot when you can wear jeans and a blouse and be done. No jacket required.

Over Labor Day weekend, I put away my lemon patio decor and told Tom I was doing so. He asked if there was a “no lemon after Labor Day” rule and I chuckled lightly.

I’m so proud of myself. I donated so much old Halloween decor on Monday. I then kept basically just this:

In October, I will add a couple of more colorful Halloween specific pieces that I kept and then after Halloween I have a few Thanksgiving specific pieces I will trade out the Halloween stuff for.

Mason and I went to Bamboo coffee shop on Monday and I got to see a student who just graduated and it was such a treat!

Tom mentioned this movie so we went to the theater on Labor Day with Mason because he was off work. We all really enjoyed this! It’s so funny because it only had one showing and wasn’t really advertised but it was really good with some bigger name actors.

I described this as “baller”. I ordered our popcorn when I ordered our tickets and it was ready when we got there. It was nice because there was a long line at the concession stand. We were the only 3 in the showing of the movie! Have you ever ordered your snacks along with your tickets? I thought it was great!

I have enjoyed some patio reading time this week and this is what I’ve been reading:

Monday night we did Taco Luchador because I was craving it again. But, we got takeout because no one felt like going out out.

Other favorites this week…

It’s always fun when Preppy Empty Nester comes back to blogland after Labor Day!

Screenshot

I received my Halara stripes and again, I am taking them to the tailor. They are petite in length and even at least four inches longer than my other petite flares. So frustrating!

Storytime/Reminder to always call about dental and medical bills: I was super proud of myself because I got a $331 dental bill in the mail (well I would rather not get any bills in the mail). I thought I paid in full at the dentist for my fillings as I paid $204 on the day of service. I called their office and they said they showed I had a $222 balance remaining and the dental insurance rejected the claim. Ok, so first off, that does not match $331 so I would have paid $109 too much had I just sent the money in.

I then called the dental insurance and asked why they refused the claim. They said I needed a 3 month waiting period because my insurance was new. It was not new; I just retired so I am paying slightly more and have a new insurance card. The lady on the phone said she would fill something out to waive the waiting period since she could also see that it wasn’t a new new policy.

I then called the dental office back and they were wondering why I even paid $204 at the time of service. But, the insurance company only covers silver fillings and not the nicer tooth colored ones. They also don’t cover the desensitizing thing they put on your teeth, so that stuff would be out of pocket.

So, they are resubmitting the claim and we shall see what I now owe.

So, this was confusing and boring but the moral is to always call about all dental and medical bills. I at least saved myself $331 with only about 20 minutes of time.

Girl math: On the same day I called about the $331, I went to the Coin Star with our loose change and “made” $110 so I told Tom that I “made” $441 that day! Girl math rocks!

I wanted a pedicure that didn’t look either too summery or too fall-ish so I chose UK blue. I only did a polish change this time. Remember that is an option if you are short on time!

It’s bright but I like it!

I am in love with the smell of my new shampoo and conditioner. Should I use a more expensive brand? Probably. I have been curious about Redken Soft I think it is.

And, I love the smell and feel of my new body wash. Look at me trying new things!

I want to go outside and read in the evenings more but the darn mosquitoes. I have found that long sleeves and long pants really do help a lot.

Zero mosquitoes!

Thank you for being here and staying here for this long post! There will be a test to see if you read it all! Just kidding! I did Hello Monday, A Re-Introduction, Hodgepodge, and Fashion Files this week if you missed anything.

Thank you for all my comments this week! It’s been so fun engaging with you!

Happy Friday to you and wishing you the best weekend whatever that means for you – a little bit of fun, a little bit of relaxation, a little bit of productivity?

Amy

21 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  3. Not possible that you are the mother of 23 year olds! You are too young 🙂 Wishing you a fabulous weekend full of coffee and cocktails 🙂

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  4. I hope that your boys have a great birthday! It’s quite an odd feeling when your kids are catapulted into actual adulthood. We knew them as tiny and dependent on us for so long that it’s definitely jarring when they start doing adulting on a regular basis. Good for you for following up on the dental bill by asking questions. I know I don’t do enough questioning about things like that. My eyes and brain glaze over when looking at insurance information and doctor bills. I need to do better… Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thank you! It really is. It seems like yesterday and a lifetime ago that they would sit on my lap – awww. Now that would be weird.
      I am happy to have the time to delve into the bills now – before I did not! Or I felt that I didn’t.

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  6. This was such a fun read! So many good things to comment on, but happy birthday to Mason and Jack! I love that they asked for such grown up things. I want a pedicure too now that my nails are darker, but I want this same navy color. I love dark colors for pedicures! I’ve had on white all summer long, so I’m ready for a color. As far as your shampoo and conditioner, that seems like it would smell amazing. I’ve recently started using a more expensive brand to help my very dry hair, and it made a world of difference. I’m using Biolage ultra hydration or something like that. The bottles are huge, and there is no pump, which is my preference. It’ll last forever! I hope you have a great weekend. I’m looking forward to mine!

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    1. Thank you! I wanted a darker toe but then I thought I would wait til next time. I love blue on me for some reason. I have a gray on my fingernails right now so they do work together. It really smells amazing to me. I have been putting coco oil on my scalp before showering. I don’t think my hair is dry but my scalp seems dry.

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  7. Wishing your boys a fabulous 23rd birthday! I can’t even remember the last time we went to the movies but when we did ordering snacks ahead of time wasn’t an option. Weirdly I rarely get snacks at the movies anyway since I don’t like candy or popcorn.

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    1. Thank you! I know – we don’t go as much now. I think movies are starting to get better again but I could be wrong. I love popcorn and usually make and take my own healthier. Tom requires popcorn and loves it so much!

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  8. I like the pedicure polish color! I have not heard of the ordering snacks for a movie with a ticket. Very smart. I agree with ShayShull’s list too! And a super big week for your boys and happy birthday to them! Y’all have fun celebrating!

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  9. Happy birthday to your boys! Love the pedicure, and I have always wondered about how ordering the movie snacks works. Thanks for the tip. So true about making the calls/inquiries about billing stuff. It is frustrating but worth it. Sometimes I worry about my kids picking up this habit since their entire world is electronic – no paper statements etc. I guess it is just a lesson they will have to learn on their own. I just switched to the Costco kirkland shampoo and I love it. The smell is good, but the lather is seriously like what you get at the salon. I’ve heard it is a dupe for the Purology brand. Hope you have a good weekend.

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  10. Happy Birthday to the boys!! My youngest (gulp!) turned 22 this week but didn’t want the day acknowledged. . .he’s been going through a rough patch and we honored that although I still left him a HB note and when he called to say that his lunch plans fell through I went out of my way to join him. We *are* having a celebration this weekend b/c he and his dad are two weeks apart and we are not NOT celebrating milestones as a family!! It sounds like 3/4 of your family are going through major changes right now – it will be fun to look back a year from now and see where you were and where you are 🙂

    I’m struggling not only with the seasonal transitional “look” but also with this hybrid work situation – I don’t want to lounge around in leggings all day but jeans/pants are “heavy” and a tennis skirt is like leggings. . .just too “active” when I have to have a WORK brain on. Do other people feel that way? I’ve always been a “dress for your life” kind of person – what does “work a professional job from home” look like? Hmmmmm. . .I did look at those Halara striped jeans and I was tempted. . .that might be my answer. We’ll see.

    Good for you on the donations! I did pack up my summer stuff yesterday and think I put 1/3 of my wardrobe in the donation pile. I hate that I’m not better at doing it at the beginning of the season when others can actually use it. Oh well. . .hopefully enough is transitional enough that the donation centers can still get a little profit out of the pieces.

    I’ve never gone in for a color change – will have to try that! And I think you only need the more expensive shampoos if you are struggling with having “life” in your hair. I notice a difference using my more expensive stuff, but it’s worth it to me since I don’t do much else with my hair. Have you tried a fan for mosquitos? I read {somewhere} that putting a fan outside blowing away from you will keep them at bay – I think it’s helped me!

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  11. Happy birthday to your twins!! It sounds like a big week for them both! Good luck to them to Jack in his apartment and Mason in his new job!
    I love that outfit, the green does go really well with the jeans.
    Paying for medical bills sounds so complicated. I love your Girl math! lol

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  12. Happy birthday to your boys! They are really adulting at this point with an apartment and new job. You’ve raised them right! Love your pedi color. I hate dealing with medical bills…ugh. So glad you called and I can appreciate the girl math. No lemons after Labor Day made me chuckle 🤣

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  13. Happy 23rd birthday to your boys! My daughter turned…gasp…43 on Labor Day! I can’t believe all my kids are in their 40s! Except for my oldest, the other two have returned home to live on various occasions. It makes it almost harder when they leave the next time. I am getting ready for maximalist seasons in decor. I love pumpkins and have so many. My kids are gonna hate me when I die! Actually, I think my daughter might claim some of them. I don’t really decorate for Thanksgiving other than to take the few Halloween things down. Isn’t it great when insurance pays for stuff? I just found out my insurance paid for my last eye appointment because they coded it medical! So, I made a couple hundred that day, too, with girl math! I need a new pedicure, but gosh, I hate picking out the colors. Would you believe I’ve only seen one mosquito this year? Even the Japanese beetles were few and far between. Hope I’m not jinxing mysel.f

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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