Friday, November 21, 2025
It’s Friday and time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share our favorites from the week. How was your week? Ours has been cooler and rainy. We haven’t really seen much sun.
We have really been tossed around with the closing of my mom’s house. About a week ago they said they thought we could close today, then they said no, but maybe the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, then they said nothing, then they said they can do it today at 1:00 and we made all the plans, then they said no they can’t get the paperwork together but maybe next Wednesday but wait then the realtor called yesterday afternoon and said that they could do today after all but at that point it was too late in the day for Molly to get a sub! Yes, I did intend for that all to be a run on! Who does business like that?
Molly is the only one who has to be there as the first trustee (because she is the only one who lives in the same state and my mom talked about how that would be the easiest potentially when she was drawing this up), but I told Molly I would go with her since I’m only an hour away. Anyway…I don’t have confidence that it will be Wednesday.
Here are some favorites from my camera roll this week…
I started my week by finishing this book:
I loved it! I loved the Germany references, the house swap premise, and more. There were some goofy parts but I really enjoyed it.
I got to pick up:
Yup, I have started my seasonal reading!
It’s getting ridiculous at this point but when I was in Kroger for one or two things I perused the holiday offerings and they have a Santa lambie! Raise your hand if you do a stocking for your doggy! Tom has named all of Eddie Otis’ toys and here is his list of lambie stuffed animals:
Lambie Pequeño (small lambie)
Lambie Gigante (giant lambie) – it is so big that he looks hilarious walking around with it in his mouth
Lambie Halloweenie (lambie with a witches hat on)
And, look at you, Kroger! They had my peppermint! I have been looking for this flavor everywhere!
For my birthday, Blonde Heather gave me this wonderful spray (that Tom hates apparently – he asked what that awful smell was). It really smells like a Christmas tree, and it is strong. I am making myself wait to use it but I have tested it out, obviously. I love it and that’s all that matters.
I think I will save this bottle when it’s gone.
Tuesday morning (and really all day) I was so thankful to be able to stay home. It rained and I opened a window near me. I love the sound and that fresh rain air. I stayed home all day until about 4:00 when I met Beth and Becky at a holiday fair where different vendors had their wares on display. It was fun to get out and look around!
I had simmered a pot of soup all day and had that when I got home.
Chicken Tortilla Soup:
Wednesday I picked up pants from my tailor. I hemmed the leopard barrel leg (still not sure I can pull it off but they are in my first photo) and my original first pair of Halara jeans. A hole developed toward the bottom cuff of one leg so I cut them off and they looked bad so I had a professional hemming done. I love repairing clothes. It makes me feel very pioneer woman and resourceful woman. I act like I did the repairs!
I have been using this lotion on my body but it says you can use it on your face…hmmm…should I? This lotion lasts through a couple of showers, even. It makes your skin so soft. I can feel the collagen just pumping through my skin.
I’m still going to get the tub of Cerave lotion for winter, though. It’s so good.
This is really good mascara! It is tubing. I realized how important mascara primer is several years ago (for me). This has the primer on one end and the mascara on the other and it won’t break the bank. I am really loving it.
Did you read my Dinner Queue post on Tuesday? We had spaghetti one night this week. Everyone loved it and it hit the spot. We like angel hair!
Here is a statement I never thought I would utter. I have a new favorite lettuce. It is butter lettuce with “immune supporting mix of lettuces, pea shoots, and lemony sorrel”. I don’t know what any of that means but trust me when I say that this combined with some grated fresh parm and my simple salad dressing – a little bit of EVOO, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and minced garlic – was delicious. It’s only about $3 a container.
I am trying to perfect a winter white cosmo. It’s impossible to find white cranberry juice so I ordered it on Amazon.
I like my cocktails to have a fizzy element so I am adding cranberry Sprite.
Blah, blah, blah Trader Joe’s. Let me tell you that your regular grocery probably has really good cheese, too. They even have a little basket of tiny little cheeses that are like $2. It’s a good way to try out a new to you cheese.
I got an enormous hunk of dill havarti at Kroger and it is so good. It was triple the size of what you see below for $6.
Cute little napping boy on top of Vaca Frita (Tom named it “fried cow” because that is on the menu at the Cuban restaurant) and an emotional support cloth napkin.
Tom doesn’t speak Spanish, but I guess I have rubbed off on him due to all the Spanish involved in Eddie Otis’ toy box.
I enjoyed my fun leggings at the gym one day this week.
Mason and I had a fun lunch one day this week. We went to Blue Dog Bakery.
Pretty coffee in a mug:
I don’t think I have ever had a wheatberry salad but I really liked it:
I had a French jambon sandwich:
We actually sat outside with heater and it was vibey!
This is the book I started next and it’s cute so far:
It was a good week!
I am not sure of when I will post next week but it will probably be most if not all of the week, so come see me!
Happy Friday!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I have heard so many stories about closings going like that! I sure hope you get to close before Thanksgiving so you can get that metal load off. All your books look and sound so cute!
LikeLike
Shoot! All of your comments have been going to spam and I don’t check there very often!
Thank you – yes the mental load is a good way to put it!
LikeLike
It looks like a really good week! We had weather that would have been nice to have been inside the house for, for sure, on a couple of the days. There´s no rest for the weary or for the want to be at home-ers like me right now :(. Your meals all look really good. I´m intrigued by the cleaner that smells like Frasier fir- do you know the brand of it? I think I want some to try to get me in the cleaning mood :). Have a great weekend!
LikeLike
Yes! It’s called Thimes Frasier Fir All Purpose Cleaner if you have any little boutiques they might carry it and you can get on Amazon. Apparently Amazon can have fakes of things like this?
LikeLike
The closing drama is crazy, really who are these people??? UGH
Looks like you had a nice week! I am always grateful to work from home on rainy days since I always had car duty and ended up soaked.
I used that mascara but had such a hard time washing it off I switched to Tarte.
Hope you have a great weekend!
xo,
Kellyann
LikeLike
Right? Who does business like that?
I did – it was kind of boring at times but I will take boring after the hectic job I had.
I have heard to use simply hot water on a washcloth, but since I use coconut oil on my face, it is coming off pretty well with that.
You too!
LikeLike
Happy Friday! So EO is getting Santa Lambie for Christmas, right? I’m going to do gifts for all the dogs this year since I never have before. It feels right. I love the look of that wheatberry salad! It does look delicious. You’ve had a great week, and you’re making me want to read some Christmas books! Maybe I’ll drop by the library today after work and take a peak at what they have on their shelves. I hope you have the best day, my friend! I’ll be around all next week, too. I’m taking my laptop with me to McKinney this weekend so I can do some writing while I’m alone at night in the hotel. I’ve never done that before…booked and stayed in a hotel by myself! Eek. I feel like a badass. Ha! Sorry to cuss on your blog. Maybe we can chat on my drive tomorrow at some point?? I’ll reach out later today about that.
XOXO
LikeLike
Yes he is! As their grandma, I love that!
I could feel all the wheatberry fiber going in! Ha!
You should check out the library – get it? The seasonal books might be the ticket.
I bet you will love that hotel experience. I haven’t either! You are a bad donkey and you can cuss on my blog!
I can talk tomorrow until about 12 my time so do call!
LikeLike
So many festive faves! Love that sounds and look of that cocktail and your soup looks delish too!
LikeLike
Thank you! I have to get the proportions right for the cocktail. It was too strong the first time I made it. Thanks!
LikeLike
why not use that cream on your face? We all need soft skin at our age, right? I think you were the one who got me started on the Cerave lotion for the winter – that stuff is amazing!
That is just nuts about the closing on your mother‘s house. I’m sorry that it is so incredibly difficult. You just never know what goes into all of this stuff… I’m sure the new owners are feeling the same frustration.
glad you will be blogging next week! Holiday weeks are so hard for the blogger to find time, but as a reader, I enjoy my routine of catching up with you all 🙂
LikeLike
I did – tried it yesterday! It was great! Yes, we do! Love that Cerave and might get the kind with a built in pump this year. Fancy!
I know – thank you!
Thanks! I already have two posts mostly written.
Me too! I’m so sad when blogs go dormant.
LikeLike
The whole closing issue and inability to commit to a date would drive me crazy!! I hope you don’t show up to a closing where they fail to show! 😬 I love the Edie Otis picture with the “fried cow”! 😂 Tom is funny!! Have a good weekend!
LikeLike
It’s so crazy! My sister has to get a sub! I know! I will be double checking with them the day before. It’s not that big of a deal for me since I’m retired, but it is for my sister. Thank you!
LikeLike
Loved reading all your updates from the week! I have so many random updates I need to do in blog world. Maybe I can get caught up on some of these next week. I hope closing happens for you soon. Pray mine can happen by Monday. Happy Friday friend!
LikeLike
Thank you! Why don’t you do a coffee talk or for you an energy drink talk? Lol.
I pray that we both get our closings next week! Wouldn’t that be a Thanksgiving miracle?
LikeLike
love the leopard barrel jeans!!! I love barrel jeans. I don’t care about trends. I wear what i want. lol being 61 means that i don’t care what others think! I need to check out Halara black Friday sales and quince just sent out a Black Friday sale and those wide leg cropped soft pants are on it! I will probably order a pair of navy! Good luck with the house closing. Always a pain but how do you go back and forth like that? Happy weekend!
LikeLike
Thank you! I was not a big fan when they came out. Kellyann told me your ankles had to show for the most flattering look and she is right in that hemming them to about that length and maybe a bit longer really did help. I also think some barrels are stouter than others – lol. Oh gosh – the Black Friday sales are so good! I really am trying to not shop for myself. I have plenty!
LikeLike
It sounds like the other realtor is not very professional! How frustrating. I have used that mascara before and really like it. Glad you liked Far and Away. The salad lettuce looks really good. I will probably blog a few days next week too.
LikeLike
It’s ok! I am really liking this mascara. It isn’t going on too thick and clumpy which is my main pet peeve. I loved Far and Away. I accidentally typed “Fat and Away” first and that would be a whole different kind of story.
Great! I would love that!
LikeLike
Oh no, sure the closing chaos is making you crazy (I love alliteration). Deep breaths! Your colorful leggings are so cute and your nails always look great. May have requested this before, but could you do a press-on nail tutorial? You seem to have mastered it. Happy Thanksgiving! (And EOs lambie toy list had me LOLing.)
LikeLike
Me too! Oh well! Thank you! Yes! I will try to link to my old post. I think his lambie collection and names are funny, too!
LikeLike
I’m glad you’ll be posting as I always wonder if I should pause the Hodgepodge the day before a holiday. I’m not because I enjoy the chatter here at holiday time especially. Real estate closings are so stressful. Hoping all goes smoothly and you get it done. Our across the street neighbors in Maryland had builders who literally got into a fight and broke up their partnership at our neighbor’s close. Thankfully everything was signed first lol. I will check out the collagen lotion. My skin needs help, this time of year especially. Have a great weekend!
LikeLike
Oh good! We are still hodgepodging! I kind of thought you weren’t with last week’s topics. I really enjoy the holiday chatter normally – trying to get there this year.
I haven’t been involved in many closings. I just keep thinking it has to be even more frustrating for the buyers. Thank you! Oh my gosh – that is horrible.
The best things I did for my winter skin were coconut oil before washing my face (as a makeup remover) or just as moisture before showering and then Cerave lotion after showering. You too!
LikeLike
Keeping my fingers crossed for you that the closing happens sooner than later… they’ve really had your family on a rollercoaster with it all! UGH! I love dill havarti and I can’t wait to try your winter white cosmo! Thanks for reminding me of the cranberry Sprite! I just added a box of it to my cart before it disappears!
LikeLike
I went to TJ’s last week and I can’t even speak about how crowded it was. I’m still traumatized.
I don’t buy the fun holiday soda anymore bc of the red dye. Yeah I’ll drink it but my kids will want it and I’m not going down that road if I don’t have to. I swear, they literally detox for a day after we splurge on things.
Hoping the closing happens on time! I feel like the day before a major holiday is a weird time for it?
LikeLike
It does sound like you have been messed around with your mom’s house. I am so sorry. Fingers crossed it happens soon.
Aww! It did make me smile reading about Eddie Otis’ toys.
The holiday fair sounds like fun and nice to get out after being home all day. What a treat to have that soup to come home to!
I didn’t even know white cranberry juice was a thing, but that winter white cosmo sounds so good!
LikeLike