Monday, February 2, 2026

And, just like that…it’s February! Did you like the Sex and the City reboot? I did not. My sister Kate did. What brought that up? It was called And Just Like That. I am linking up with Holly and Sarah to share my weekend.

I learned that I can’t show you a draft post on both Friday and Saturday’s posts. I tried to link the January books I read on both Friday and Saturday and it didn’t work because I only had it saved as a draft. So, tomorrow it will come in its own post!

I got amazing sleep finally on Thursday night. You know how when you are congested and you just don’t sleep soundly? I hadn’t slept well for four nights in a row and it was catching up with me. I woke up Friday morning feeling so much better. I had only been out in my car one time – on Wednesday – and I was ready to get out! It makes you appreciate the ease of getting out and about after having so much snow, you know? I’m happy to report that I am almost back to normal and I slept well the last three nights. A January goal was to get to bed earlier. I feel like if I miss my window I don’t sleep as well.

I lost my anniversary band in my closet or bedroom a week ago and Tom was convinced that it was in Eddie Otis’ belly. I didn’t think so. On Friday I thoroughly cleaned my closet floor and looked in each and every boot on the floor. Then, I started with shoes on the shelves.

It jumped into a clog! I sent this picture to Tom and he replied “toe ring”.

I hate losing things and I was so happy. Tom gave me that for our 10-year wedding anniversary and he is not a jewelry giver, so it was special!

I was jubilant as I got myself out of the house.

I got myself a peppermint tea with honey and it was so good. This is a local place and I like to support them.

I also noticed for the first time all the birds nests and birds that live in their signage. So cute! I talked to the drive thru employee about them and she said they love their birds. It’s not a great picture but there were a few nests and several birds.

I had a Kroger pick up. I went to Target to do an online return. I ordered some spring pants that didn’t work out and I was glad since I had already summed up my January fashion purchases! I was craving a Jimmy John’s sandwich and was tired of cooking. I get a “Little John” at Jimmy John’s and it’s the perfect size.

This was a total impulse purchase. OMG – dangerous. These are so good.

Target has so much stuff for Superbowl. They have aisles and aisles of snack foods in a separate area and then they have all these football themed items.

I thought these were adorable for V Day.

I didn’t buy any of them but I enjoyed looking. I only got a few food items that I needed – Kroger was still out of stock of several things from the winter storm including bananas!

I read my book off and on for a bit and napped a bit. Around 4:00 I knew I could finish it before dinner, and I had a small glass of prosecco with it. This book really picked up for me about halfway through and I ended up loving the story and the message.

I had purchased Bare brand chicken strips and decided to make a dinner of chicken biscuits, truffle fries (I have truffle oil from Trader Joe’s and put it on frozen fries), and a simple salad with homemade dressing. Blog reader Kim gave me the chicken biscuit idea! Tom was thrilled not to be asked what he wanted, to be at home for dinner after a long week for him, and he loved what I had made. I don’t mean this in a Tom is a jerk way. He really just wants me to decide. We watched another episode of His and Hers.

I did my nails. They won’t last all the way to V Day, but I still thought it would be fun to do this leftover heart set of nails:

Saturday the sky was full of more snow! Our road is still so bad!

I had lots of library books to return and needed something lighter to read next. I picked up a few books from the February romance shelf that they had set up.

I started this and it’s so cute! It’s what I needed! I love the premise – set at an arts summer camp in Minnesota and they have adult artists-in-residence mentors to the kids.

I will eat at home on Friday if I know I get to go out on Saturday! It was Mojito Tapas this weekend which never disappoints.

When in Rome…the original mojito:

pescadillo – little lightly fried fish with a really good aioli.

patatas bravas – brave little potatoes

I came home and did my baby foot peeling mask that my sister gave me for Christmas. It feels so weird. Hopefully I will molt in 7-10 days and have feet that could caress a baby.

I woke up to 1 degree on February 1. Oh, Mother Nature, you are so witty.

Please don’t bring the snow moon. We have seen her.

I self-tanned and it helps me to see a little color.

I cleaned, did dishes, did laundry, and piddled.

I still have some snowstorm food to cook so I made cinnamon rolls:

and I soaked beans over night for a pot of beans:

I went to a warehouse sale at a boutique nearby and didn’t buy anything.

I went to Paul’s Fruit Market for a couple of things and to CVS for a couple of things. CVS had really cute pickleball stuff if anyone needs a gift.

I ate chili for lunch:

And, we spent most of the afternoon in front of the fire being lazy.

I texted about 5 friends to make plans for the next couple of weeks, so I have some social things on my calendar to help me in the doldrums of winter. I tutor my Spanish student this week and I am taking lunch to Elizabeth one day, too. They haven’t posted the library cooking classes for February yet, but I will keep checking.

I will be posting my January books and my February goals tomorrow! It’s a two-fer day!

Don’t forget this Wednesday is Currently along with Hodgepodge. I will open up the link at 4:00 am EST. The prompts are loving, baking/cooking, watching/reading, planning, and savoring. Feel free to interpret those any way you like. I’m so excited for my second Currently! Send me any suggestions for March!

Our district has a two-hour delay today. Are you back to normal schedule? Tell me something you did this weekend!

Amy

41 thoughts on “Hello Monday”

  1. Other than grocery shopping I didn’t do anything this weekend. It was another super cold one with freezing temps and I just had zero desire to go anywhere at all. I’m hoping to get out to the gym and Target today.

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  2. Even though I’m the one doing the cooking, I’m like Tom and just want someone else to decide. I got several cookbooks from the library and I challenged myself to make 2 new recipes each week for February.

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    1. I get that! I may copy off of you. That’s a great idea. When I can’t decide I go back to basics like spaghetti, tacos, stuff like that. This week I am doing cod one night and salmon one night – not back to back.

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  3. Your nails are so cute! So the freeze dried caramel M&M’s are just as good? I am glad you are feeling better and have slept better. That is game changer. The pickleball stuff looks cute. My daughter would like that. Public schools are still closed here today and private schools are a mixed bag of closed/delayed starts and open.

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    1. Thank you! They are fun. I don’t know that I have had the regular caramel. Sleep makes all the difference. I was impressed by CVS quality. Our public are on a 2 hour delay.

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  4. I am so glad you’re feeling better!

    We had such cold weather on Sunday and today. On Saturday I went to a KD Alum thing and everyone was talking about how they were staying all day on Sunday and eating comfort food since it would be so cold. I laughed!! It wasn’t snowing it was cold – why stay in? Hahahahaha!!! We did go to the movies on Sunday and tons of people were out and about. The temps were in the low 30s and so many people weren’t wearing jackets. I’m assuming they don’t own them. Seriously, no one here knows how to act when it gets cold!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. Thank you! I can go out in the cold but the snow and ice is what keeps me in. What movie did you see? I want to see Wuthering Heights.
      Florida is a different world. I bet some love your weather.

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  5. We were ‘snowed in’ which sounds ridiculous given there was only a couple of inches, but they’re just not equipped to deal with ice and snow here and we’ve had both. I’m ready for spring! I think we might hit 50 on Wednesday which will be a nice change from two weeks of below freezing temps. Your nails are pretty! I’m curious about the foot thing. My daughter gave me a foot mask I haven’t done yet and need to try. Glad you’re feeling better!

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    1. Oh I get that! I think we will really be ready for spring this year! We have 50 coming in a week and I am giddy! Thank you – enjoying looking down at the little hearts.
      I did the Baby Foot brand once and oh my – this is the time to do it because your dead skin molts off.
      This was a different brand but one sister has already done it and said her feet are amazing now. It said to leave on 60-90 minutes and I only did 60 so I hope it worked. You need to do it before you start wearing sandals!

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  6. Your weekend looks so nice- cooking, baking, reading, hanging out in front of the fireplace- that is my kind of winter weekend. I love the glass shape that your mojito was in- so different and cute. And I’m not sure I knew about a Little John from JJ’s. A smaller version would be ideal for occasions when you’re not super hungry. Your nails are cute! Have a great Monday!

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    1. Mine too! I would like to do more sometimes, but I want to spend time with Tom and he is tired from the week. It is a pretty glass. Their mojito is just so delicious. You can’t taste the rum at all. The Little John is actually pretty big. I should have taken a picture. It’s like how kid’s meals are plenty. Thank you! They are fun to have on right now! You too! I missed your blog the last couple of days. All good?

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  7. Your dinner out looks amazing and the cocktail superb! Gotta love Target- they always suck me in with their seasonal decor and accessories- ha!

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  9. I’m so glad you found you found your ring! I hate losing things, too. So did that force you to clean your closet any, or was it already clean? Those little plates are cute, but don’t forget about the Dollar Tree! They have great Super Bowl and Valentine’s day themed things right now. So does Hobby Lobby, but you can’t beat the Dollar Tree prices.

    Will you remind me what self tanner and mitt you use?

    Here are some March prompt ideas: cleaning/purging, loving, planning (trip wise), taking a break from (since it’s Spring break) month.

    I love talking to you this morning! It’s always great to catch up.

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    1. Yes, I did clean some things because of this. My closet stays pretty clean.
      Not all Dollar Trees are equal – I wasn’t happy with the plates and such at mine.
      I love the Loving Tan mousse as I sent you. I am thinking about trying the more natural Nature’s Beauty, but it’s not a mousse and I think the mousse is what makes it so easy and natural looking. The mitt – any mitt is a game changer.
      I love your prompt ideas!

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  10. I’m laughing about the ring in your shoe 😂 I have done that before. I have a hanging jewelry thing with clear pockets. Sometimes I miss the opening when I drop earrings in and one ends up in a boot! I got alot done on Saturday. Cleaned a very messy spot

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  11. It was a very dull weekend! Not as cold here but this is the point of winter I start to lose it. February is challenging.

    There are many things I assume Mav has eaten and…there’s not much I can do about that. I do think he’d leave jewelry alone. He likes to chew things up, not just gobble them down.

    I did lose one of my wedding earrings in a closet once and never found it :/

    The chicken biscuit sandwiches look tasty!

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    1. Feb. was always challenging in the school setting because it’s still very much winter but we are over it.
      I know – if we were to do a tummy x-ray on EO – Lordy!
      Sad!
      They were. Now I have more strips and need to get another type of bun to put them on or do a ceasar wrap?

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  12. I keep wanting to try those baby feet things. I don’t want to get a pedicure, but my feet are bad! I had an amazing weekend! Friday night, the art museum hosted college students in the Contemporary Art Gallery, and I took my granddaughter. We both had fun talking to college kids. Saturday, I had another round of gallery conversations and talked art for two hours. That night was my youngest son’s birthday, and his partner threw him a Wild West mystery murder party. Bet you can’t guess who the culprit was!

    Looking forward to Wednesday!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com

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    1. You should do the baby feet soon before sandals season!
      How fun! I have been reading since before you became a docent and I love what this has done to change your life – literally!
      I have always wanted to go to a murder mystery party!
      Yay!

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  13. Whenever I read And Just Like That, I think of Sex and the City.
    I am glad you are feeling better now and that is great you found your anniversary band. That is so cute seeing the birds in the sign. They are amazing creatures, making their nests in the strangest of places.
    Ohh! Those M&M’s look good and your nails too. I haven’t done one of those foot mask things in ages, they are amazing. I love it when the skin starts falling off.

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  17. I worked most of the weekend, but I got out to a concert on Saturday night. It was cold as a polar bear’s nose, but our weather this week is going to feel like very early spring. (:

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  18. So good to hear you’re better and finally got a good night’s sleep. Hooray for finding your ring! I put my mum’s special gold chains in a safe place in January last year, and I can’t for the life of me remember where this safe place is. I’m too scared to look in case I don’t find them.

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  19. All this looked so fun! You are a great shopper; what was the outlet sale? We are about an hour away from you, but the girls and I love to travel a bit for any shopping event. We’ve driven down to Tunie’s sale before- would love to know about this. I’m ‘retiring’ next year and my baby is going to be a Senior in high school, so I’m ready to figure out what I’m going to do. You look like you’re having a great time in retirement!

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    1. Thank you! The warehouse sale could hardly be called that – it was about 4 racks. It’s a boutique out of Nashville, I think – Jones & Daughters. They carry high end brands of clothing but home accessories and gifts, too. You should follow Tunie’s on IG to know about the sale for next year. They have a permanent outlet store in Westport Village. You should do the consignment with the girls – Sassy Fox, Clothes Mentor, and there are others but those are my favorite.
      Congrats on your approaching retirement!

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  20. So glad you are feeling better/sleeping better. Not being able to sleep is the worst. Love your nails! Hadley and I were at TJ Maxx yesterday and she picked up cute nails. Love the chicken biscuit idea. I will have to remember that because I think my family would love it. Your ring story…yay for finding the ring (& it not being in EO’s belly!) Tom’s comment 🤣🤣

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