Friday, September 12, 2025
It’s been a hard week for our country and for me personally. I let some emotions get the best of me on Tuesday and then Wednesday we heard about more shootings. Plural. I am talking about another school shooting and the murder of Charlie Kirk. And, then yesterday would have been my Dad’s 83rd birthday and tomorrow would have been my mom’s 83rd birthday.
This makes Friday Favorites seem quite frivolous, doesn’t it? But, maybe we have to find joy where we can right now.
If you read my Hello Monday, you read that Tom and I got to get away for one night to go to a music festival. My pattern lately has been to go to the library and Trader Joe’s on Thursdays before the weekend and this is what I did last Thursday. I bought some fun snacks for the hotel.
TJ’s had such cute Halloween cards. I am trying to be a person who sends more cards in the mail.
I also packed a small cooler with these easy to open little prosecco bottles and the cans of wine. I got white, peach, and this one. They are pretty good!
Do you ever visit farmer’s markets when you travel? Most go until the end of October, I think. I so enjoyed doing this last Saturday and bought sourdough (No, I can’t make my own, Karen! I tried! I spent a week of my life trying to keep the starter alive. One loaf is like a 48-72 hour process, Karen) and a bag of puppy chow/muddy buddies from a sweet little Amish girl. I am not profiling. She had on the garb and I think the name of the business had Amish in it.
I also walked the length of Main Street and got a maple cold brew.
I saw this cute Airbnb in person and took a photo. I had seen it on the website but wanted to check it out. It was featured on Joanna Gaines Magnolia network I think.
Tom and I found a new favorite store. Tom loved the jams, pickles, and food items and I loved the decor items.
From that shop, I’m loving my new little marble salt keeper and my little gold spoon. I have Maldon sea salt in it.
I finished this book and found it very cute. Now I want to go to Amsterdam. I have been once when I was 25. My sister lived 45 minutes outside of Amsterdam for her study abroad in college, by the way.
Then, I went back to the WWII reads…
Oh gosh – I have a book hangover in the best way. I loved this story sooooo much.
I want to share a passage from the book that won’t give anything away:
“…there is a difference between a life that honors the past and a life dictated by it. When you let history shape your future, you relinquish the ability to choose a better way forward.”
This spoke to me in the season I am in. I don’t want to be bitter and I don’t want to be a know-it-all. I don’t want to tell teachers that I did it for 31 years and bIah, blah, blah. want to be someone that people want to be around and not one that brings people down.
Cute little boy on our walk…
I think this is where he was alarmed about a lady Windexing her front door.
Candle weather! This was another find from that shop!
And, I made my first batch of chili of the season. Here is my chili recipe. I think it’s the best chili I’ve ever had and it’s really simple.
Many years ago I had a student who worked at Salt Cave Louisville. She gave me a gift card and I went alone. The salt is supposed to be good for you and it’s called halotherapy. They were having a BOGO so I asked my friend Beth to go and it was only about $22 each. We did add on a weighted heated shoulder pillow for $8. You go in the cave and it’s dark with some twinkle lights and light music playing for 45 minutes.
Here is what it looks like before you go in and it’s dark:
We were allowed to pick a mantra from a bowl and mine was “I choose softness today”. I fully relaxed and cried (just tears not blubbering) for some of the time in da cave. I processed some things happening in my life and I guess I just had a release. There is no talking allowed in the cave so after our time was up we went to lunch at the French restaurant nearby and split a croque monsieur. Beth thought the fact that I cried meant that healing was happening. Have you ever done a salt cave? Do you have one in your town?
I feel like this is me to a T!
I don’t like this…
Have you watched Mormon Wives? I couldn’t with the second season. I really dislike these women. Choosing her for The Bachelorette defeats the whole purpose of the show I think. I don’t have to watch but I kind of want to just to see how it goes.
I started this…
I’ve enjoyed some outside reading time this week that really fills my cup.
Lap dog:
I love seeing this bond.
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Goodness, Amy- so much heavy for you this week but it sounds like your week had a good number of bright spots in it as well. The salt cave experience sounds like it must have been a bit therapeutic. Maybe between that and the lunch with your friend after? No salt caves in my town or the area that I know of. Salt was a bit of a theme for you- that salt holder and little spoon is fancy and darling. The quote from the book you shared is really good and I can see how it was especially poignant after a week with tragedies as well as the birthdays of your late parents. Thank you for sharing your week- the ups and the downs. You deserve nothing short of a wonderful weekend :).
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I didn’t even make that salt connection! How cool! Thank you – I hope I am on the right track.
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Ahhhh yes, what a heavy week. The salt cave sounds like just the place for you to be this week. So relaxing and calm, I can understand why you cried.
That quote from the book is on point and powerful.
I hope you have a nice weekend, We can’t let the darkness of the world dim our light!
xo,
Kellyann
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Thank you! I don’t want to be this sad person. I don’t want to make it my whole personality! Lol! I think that is why the quote spoke to me.
You too!
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I feel bad for not even mentioning the events of this week on my blog, but my heart has felt heavy this week for a lot of reasons. I am glad we have such a fun little place like this to escape to when things feel like that. I loved hearing about your week; the maple latte sounds yummy! I love maple flavored anything at this time of year. I also am intrigued by the salt cave. I’ve never heard of this! The only thing I have to compare to is that when I went to Iceland 15 years ago, I got to swim in the Blue Lagoon. Its waters are supposedly healing, so I took the mud and rubbed it all over my body! I don’t know that it did anything, but it was quite the experience. I’m glad you had some time to sit in the cave and feel the feelings; that’s good for all of us. I feel like I can say that as well about the week I had leading up to today. I hope you have a great weekend, my friend! xoxo
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I think that’s ok because we are all feeling the same things as far as our nation goes.
How cool to rub Icelandic mud! I believe in that sort of stuff and at the very least it can’t hurt.
I hope you feel cleansed and have a great day! Thank you!
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Thinking of you and feeling so much of the same XO
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Thank you Holly. Thinking of you, too.
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I knew Taylor Frankie Paul sounded familiar (I saw a few episodes) but I hadn’t looked into it yet. Seems like they want the ratings boost from this crossover?
I’m putting that book on hold.
Man, I’m just too sad to try with a post today. it’s like I don’t even know what to say. I’ll try again on Monday ❤
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Yeah probably so. People will watch I think because it will be like a train wreck.
Just get ready to not want to put it down…
I know. I had put most of mine together earlier in the week. I am having trouble wanting to be around people, too.
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I have heard of salt caves but we don’t have any around here (that I know of!). It sounds very relaxing though. I do sometimes sit with my salt lamp…but I doubt it’s the same. All 3 of your books look good. I just picked up Atmosphere on Wednesday so I can’t wait to dig into that one.
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Anxious to see what you think of Atmosphere!
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Sending love and hugs. I have been watching the news about what has been happening in the US and it is just awful.
Those cards are so cute and I always buy sourdough loaves ready made, I haven’t the patience to make my own. lol
It certainly is candle weather and I bought a couple of new one’s this week. Oops.
That Salt Cave thing looks interesting, I didn’t even know they existed.
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It was such a heavy week, and yours even more so with the two dates remembering your parents. I love TJ’s cards, and stock up on random ones every time I go. I am not a bread baker and definitely not sourdough. I have tried baking bread several times, and it is good. But I also like the bread I find in the grocery store bakery department. So that is what I go for! I have not watched any of the Mormon wives, but kind of wondered about the new bachelorette having 3 kids. I don’t know if I would make that choice to be on a tv show while being a single mom. I noticed that there are several Mormon wives on the new season of Dancing with the Stars, so that should be interesting. Hope you have a good weekend. PS. Great idea to pick a day for TJ’s and the library! I might copy that.
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I posted a little about 9/11 as I have my own personal story. But, that was it. I don’t have words for what I’m feeling these days. Our town has a salt cave, but I haven’t gone. I think I need to try it after reading about your experience. I also think I need to go to Madison for a little overnighter all by myself. BTW…this is all your doing, Amy! I have ordered my own birthday cake and am planning a small celebration with my new docent friends! I’m actually quite proud of myself, but it took you to get me to realize I needed to celebrate me for once!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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You did have a heavy week and I can only imagine how the emotions were brimming! The salt cave and the “choose softness” quote seem like they might have brought a bit of much needed peace and reflection – at least I hope so! I hope you got some “real” hugs but I also hope you feel lots of love here. It’s one of the things I appreciate most about blogging. I love that salt jar and gold spoon (so cute!) and I’ve added that book by Kristen Markel to my cart. Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead!
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It has been a heavy week friend in so many ways. But you made it!!! That quote was such encouragement to me. I have not done a salt cave, but it seems relaxing and glad you did that for yourself this week. The rose’ cans may be something I look for at Trader Joe’s and girl, your nails look good!
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It has been. It was so nice to talk to you. I think you should find some new self care and do something once a month! I really like the canned wines. Thank you!
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