Monday, September 8, 2025

Linking up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday!

Well, my twins turned 23 on Friday! They each got a cookie cake like this and we gave them actual gifts and some money, too. Jack got a Trader Joe’s gift card and money for a Costco membership – lol. They were thrilled with their adult gifts and then went to a bar with video games together – still got some kid in them, for sure! I love when they spend time together and try to encourage it without Tom and I in the way sometimes!

But, the day before that I gave myself a gray mani. Exciting!

And, I had a girls dinner out on the most gorgeous patio and in the most gorgeous evening weather. I ordered a fancy burger and grit cakes.

Friday we did our birthday celebrations early because Tom and I had a little road trip around 2:00.

We drove to my hometown of Madison, Indiana but for fun this time. We checked into this old factory that is now a Fairfield Inn right on the river.

We had tickets for a music festival and they were for both Friday and Saturday.

You guys – Tom is beaming!

We listened to music for a few hours without our chairs and then went back to the hotel and changed and got our chairs. The view from our room was amazing!

We lasted until about 11 pm!

The next morning Tom dropped me off at the farmer’s market and he went to buy protein shakes and go to the gym.

I bought a couple of things from an Amish girl (at the farmer’s market – she wasn’t ust a random Amish girl on the street) and then went to a coffee shop and got a maple cold brew.

Stars Hollow vibes on Main Street for sure. It was nice to have it to myself because it was so early.

I walked all down Main Street and then walked by the river and sat on a bench and called my sisters. It started raining on me so I went back to the room and Tom got back about the same time.

This little town is just such a part of my history. I actually won a speech contest about the town and had to give it on a stage over the river a long, long time ago. Nerd alert.

We checked out of the room and then Tom and I went together to a few little shops. We both loved this one and both found treasures. I found a candle, marble salt keeper, produce bag, and Tom found jam, jelly, and pickles.

We ate lunch at The Red Pepperoni pizza place.

Then, back for more music from about 2-8. It’s such a nice venue right on the river and we really enjoyed ourselves. We saw a teacher from my school so that was fun and we met up with a couple of friends Saturday afternoon, too.

The hotel was just a straight shot down the river from the festival and it was awesome to be so close.

Tom had suggested sleeping on the floor of my mom’s empty house. I vetoed that idea.

Did I tell you that I accidentally booked a hotel in Madison, Wisconsin instead of Madison, Indiana for the night of my mom’s funeral? Oops. I was able to get my money back after explaining what I did.

Also, there was a house showing at 10 am, so I don’t think that would have been a good look to present!

Ok, I will say one negative thing about the experience. Everything was perfect – the venue, the weather, the stage, the music, but…

The 80s called and they want your cigarettes back! There was so much smoking! Like real cigarettes smoking! Have you not gotten the memo?

And, we also smelled the devil’s lettuce A LOT. This is not legal in the state of Indiana.

Our eyes were burning from all the smoke. I also hate the smell of both kinds of smoke. HATE.

Honestly, my life had started to seem a bit Groundhog Day so it was a great little 28 hour getaway and it was important time for Tom and I to be just us doing something we enjoy. I’m hoping to do more of this. Mason was our dog sitter and we so appreciate him.

The drive home was beautiful.

It’s exactly an hour drive so it’s not too bad.

Sunday morning the temps were chilly!

I think it’s really nice to get a mug or a candle or something small that helps you remember a special time or place. My candle is called “Autumn in Madison” and smells of apple cider!

The striped jeans were ready for me on Friday and I took them for a test drive yesterday!

Tom and I went to Tom’s cousin’s daughter’s soccer game for about half of it yesterday afternoon. They were in town for a tournament.

And, I will leave you with the cutest view. Eddie Otis liked to mow with Daddy.

What filled your cup this weekend? Let me know!

Amy

32 thoughts on “Hello Monday”

  1. Your trip to Madison sounds nice. Impressed that you sat for a few hours without chairs on Friday. My tuckas hurts just thinking about that! Regarding your Madison, IN vs. WI snafu, it reminded me of something similar that happened to me. Once for dance, I need to book a room in the Gayland Opryland and I thought there was just one of them? So I googled Opryland and selected “call business” and made the reservation. I was puzzled when I received an email stating how sorry the Gaylord was but they were going to have to close during our stay and we couldn’t stay there. Then I noticed the hotel’s addy was in MARYLAND. I hadn’t noticed that I’d book the Orpyland in Maryland. If they hadn’t had to close during our reservation, I would have sauntered into the Opryland in Nashville thinking I was going to stay there only to be told I had no reservation there. Anyway, back to you, I’m glad you got away with your husband. And glad that your boys had good birthday!

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  4. Other than the smoke ( I also hate the smell of both cigarettes and weed) it sounds like a wonderful little getaway. It sounds like the boys had great birthday celebrations too.

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  6. Oh, what a lovely weekend trip. I would have enjoyed it too.

    I went for a hike on Saturday afternoon with my friend and my younger dog. We explored a part of the county we had not visited before. Our highlights were a well-stocked road-side “library” where we got a free book each as well as a farm shop we stumbled upon by chance. We also stopped for coffee along the way. The weather was gorgeous. It was nice to walk and deep talk at the same time. Happy Monday!

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  7. Your weekend getaway sounds perfect! What a sweet little town and I spy jackets and sweatshirts! Cool weather!!! I would be in heaven.

    I am with you on smoke, I don’t like any type and I cannot stand that nasty skunk smell. It’s not legal here but you’d never know it because I swear I smell it all the time. YUCK!

    Love the striped Halaras! I’m still considering them!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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  8. It’s great that y’all had this getaway! What a fun weekend, and I love that the hotel is in an old factory. That’s really cool! I laughed over the devil’s lettuce…I have never heard that phrase before. I am like you and hate the smell of smoke…any smoke…and when I smell it now, I smell it in my nose for days since I had Covid the first time in 2020. Bleh! That farmer’s market looked neat! I passed one of those yesterdays as well, and we’re making plans to go back for it next month after Chris moves. It’ll be an early Saturday morning thing on a cool weekend, hopefully! I’m glad you enjoyed your weekend, friend. Happy Monday!

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  10. I once booked a hotel in California for the wrong date and couldn’t figure out why they were emailing me so early about check in, etc. Ugh. Did not get my money back because it was totally my fault. They could have been nice about it, but were not lol. Sounds like a fun weekend with all that live music. I personally notice smoking more now because it’s somewhat rare. Have a great week!

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  11. What a fun weekend! Madison is such a nice town. I remember one summer when I was there for a couple of weeks, your mom taking us all to the store on main that’s a big barn. She let us all pick out beads to make bracelets, and we spent all evening working on them.

    Did you go to The Creperie for breakfast?

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  12. That trip looked like a great little get away minus the cigarette smoke! Happy Birthday to your boys! My youngest daughter who is about your boys age also has a Costco card 😂 She was so excited to get it! What filled my cup? My middle kid came home from grad school this weekend and we had rain!! ❤️🌧️ Also, I won the giveaway from Mix and Match Mama’s blog!

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  13. Happy birthday to your boys! My eldest turns 23 this week and she so much wants to be a true adult so much but still loves video games and childish things. Yum to the cookie cake!
    Wow to that Inn, it looks huge and what a fab location. The festival looks like great fun!

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  14. Sounds like a great weekend!

    As for the Madison, IN vs Madison, WI confusion – there are currently two young American women going viral on social media. They are traveling through Europe and missed their flight from Rome to Nice, France. They got rebooked and were on the plane when they realized that the plane was flying to Tunis, Tunesia. To Nice or Tunis? 🙂

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  15. I am the one who told you on Insta that my husband and I were standing in the exact spot along the river in Madison about a month ago. I have been reading your blog for maybe two years and have never commented. We absolutely loved Madison and my husband still comments about what a great day trip that was. Main Street was fabulous and so quaint and charming. We went into the fabric craft store and the man who I guess was the owner was probably in his nineties and just stood outside near the entrance and watched the activity while we browsed. I was amazed when I went to pay that not only was there no card reader, but no cash register that I could see. He hand wrote out our bill. And luckily between the two of us we had the exact amount. I don’t think I have experienced that in at least 30 years? Also, we ate at a delicious Mexican food restaurant that was near the Walmart. We were bummed that we couldn’t take our leftovers home because then it would be several hours before we would be home and we couldn’t leave it out that long. We had such a nice day.

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  16. Your cup certainly looks like it was overflowing this weekend… a special birthday to celebrate (Happy 23rd to your boys!) and a fun girls night out and a weekend getaway filled with lots of fun! Sounds wonderful in every way!

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  17. What a great getaway! And so awesome to have built in dog-sitters! I feel like that holds us back a little on weekend trips because the dog boarding is $$$. The weekend looks like a perfect mix of shopping, dining, and music. I’m with you on the smoke issue. I haven’t noticed it much recently, but maybe it is making a comeback. Hope your week is off to a good start.

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  18. What a fun weekend! Isn’t it strange going back to your hometown and not feeling it’s yours anymore? Love that they had a farmer’s market at the same time. I did a two hour stint at the museum and met some really cool people, then, we just did nothing the rest of the weekend!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com

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  20. We went wine tasting on Saturday and picked out the wine for Taylor’s wedding! It’s almost here and we are all so excited!! I love the HALARA jeans!! Devils lettuce made me giggle, i too hate that smell SO MUCH! But it’s legal here. Gross!

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  21. Happy birthday to your boys! What a wonderful getaway! Madison sure looks so pretty, I would love to visit a town with Stars Hollow vibes.

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  22. So nice that you had a positive experience after so many hard trips back to Indiana lately.

    Cigarettes are back?!?! Our neighbor took a drag of his vape the other day and I did a double-take. I never understood the vape thing.

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