Friday, February 27, 2026
How was your week? I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites of mine this week. I’m double posting today – my other post will be my February book recap. Also, I am posting tomorrow for Share Four Somethings. Look at all this content! Woohoo! You’re gonna get sick of me!
Thank you for all the comments you left Eddie Otis for his first post on his 2nd birthday! He had a great week. He was spoiled. He got a pedicure, his first bandana (chili peppers), and a trip to stock up on his favorite treats and to pick out his next stuffie. Yes, folks, I have become a crazy dog mom.
On Sunday, Tom and I tried gumbo again. I am wondering if it’s my pot. We used a stainless steel pot because we don’t have a Dutch Oven. We first browned the sausage, and it left some black burny bits. We were supposed to leave the sausage flavorings in the pot per the recipe. Then, we stirred that dang roux for an hour! I thought it turned out pretty good except for the burny bits but Tom was not a fan. He didn’t even want to save the leftovers.
I was a bit perturbed as gumbo is not anything I would ever order on a menu! Oh well.
I made another Tom request – sheet pan pot pie with puff pastry. It turned out beautifully, but the pot pie mixture below the puff should be thicker. Or, I could have used a smaller sheet pan.
I finished this early in the week and wow – this is a book that will stay with me.
I started this and whoa – I hope I can see it through but it’s going to be a bit rough I have a feeling. I am worried about the mom and oldest girl in the family.
I will need a fluffy chick lit book next.
I had my Spanish tutoring at Starbuck’s on Monday. I feel like I have to buy something to use their space, but I only drank about 1/4 of it. Meh. I should pre-plan what I am going to order instead of looking like a deer in headlights at the register.
One of our dinners this week was sub in a tub. Yum! I love this meal!
I have been a bit down this week – the cold and a couple of other things that have upset me – so I turned to Fiona for her wisdom. I have been reading a bit with breakfast this week.
I anxiously await the next episodes of both Love is Blind 10 and Love Story – JFK, Jr. and Carolyn – lol.
I was looking through old photos and found my twins in their JFK, Jr. backwards ball cap era.
Jack is hugging Mason from behind:
I think Mason was mad about something:
This was on the ferry from Key West to Fort Jefferson and it was about 2.5 hours. We sat on the front of the boat and I was in heaven. It was an amazing day touring the fort and snorkeling there.
I had a fun morning one day this week. I checked out some shops with my friend Beth. I had gone to this little strip center’s holiday open house but it was super crowded. I discovered the cutest little plant store within a bigger decor store and I discovered a gourmet provisions store with salads, soups, prepared foods, and baked goods. If you are local, Petals is inside Digs and the food shop is called Elderberry Provisions. I can’t wait to support both businesses!
I only bought one thing that day – these tiny pink and green candlesticks and tiny taper candles. I thought they would be so cute on my Easter/Spring mantel. The candlesticks were only $5 each and the tapers were only $1 each.
Then, we ate lunch at Cheddar Box and I think I had the sandwich of my life. It was listed as one of their specialties and it was turkey and brie. I had a cup of tomato artichoke soup and that was excellent, too. Beth had their hot brown which is of Louisville fame!
Here is Eddie Otis bringing home his new stuffie. He picked out a Highland cow. When I say picked out, I took him down the toy aisle and this is the only one he nosed.
I am not a good steak cooker/maker! Our friends brought Tom steaks to thank him for something and I think I successfully cooked them. They were ribeyes and I made a horseradish sauce to accompany.
I couldn’t believe EO wasn’t bothered by his bandana:
He crates himself:
It makes me feel better that he randomly goes in his crate with the door open all day long.
Mason subbed at my school and I offered to drive him because the traffic and parking is just a nightmare. It was a fun blast from the past to be in the “carpool line”.
He was going to walk but Mother Nature is menopausal. What on Earth? It said rain and high of almost 60 and sunny by afternoon and she decided to sleet/snow.
This made me pretty darn sure I am an Enneagram Two. I am feeling all of these things in this current season of life:
What filled your cup this week?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
It looks like a good week except for being down and out for a bit. That little shop looks cute- I love pretty things displayed prettily! Sorry about your gumbo. I´ve never tried to make it. I recently made a sauce with peanut butter in it (Thai inspired meal). Donnie was like, oh no, sorry, I can´t eat this! He NEVER complains about what I make but this is the second peanut butter fail for me (the first one was YEARS ago). It happens! Your sandwich out looks good! Have a great weekend!
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Thank you! I know what he means – Thai needs so little peanut butter.
It was a nice little lunch!
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I just ordered Culpable from my library, hope it comes soon! I started Love Story yesterday. The whole time I’m watching I feel sad though since we know how it ends. Also? They’re such beautiful people. I had to take my mom for cataract surgery yesterday and figured we’d watch that. We only got one and half episodes in and she fell asleep.
The soup and sandwich you had this week sounded so good! Love the photos of the boys! How did the subbing go? Will he go back? I remember subbing when I was in my 20s at my old high school and it felt so weird!
Have a great weekend!
xo,
Kellyann
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I am really into Culpability now!
I agree on that issue with Love Story – so tragic.
He did well – he has done my school several times! Thank you for asking! You too!
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What a full circle moment of Mason subbing at your school! I love that. I also love that EO picked out his birthday stuffie. I wish our dogs could have stuffies! They eat the stuffing out of everything. The store you visited was so cute! I haven’t done that in a while, and I need to soon…I mean going into cute and different stores. You are fully embracing your life at this time, aren’t you? I think it’s great and I’m so happy for you. I love that you’re enjoying a good mix of being at home and doing things on week days when the crowds are less. Isn’t that fun? I’m sorry you’ve had some struggles this week, friend. I hope everything is okay. I hope you enjoy the day and your weekend!
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Maybe I haven’t talked about it but Mason has subbed at my school several times now. He is very tender with his stuffies. I have really enjoyed the weekdays! You are correct! I tend to be lazy, clean, and stay home on the weekends now but need to do some fun stuff with Tom. He has been content to be at home, too. It’s just been sooo cold on the weekends! Ha!
I’m ok – I think it was lack of sun!
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EO is so cute and I love that he picked out his stuffie! Sub in a tub is a cute name for a salad, lol!
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I love gumbo but I can never seem to get it right either. I guess I should stick to restaurant gumbo 😬 That plant shop is adorable! I always wonde why I don’t buy houseplants or flowers more often. They just really bring some cheer to my home. I like the flowers at Trader Joe’s because they are cheap and last a long time.
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I have to add a comment! I bought my neighbors and myself the Trader Joe’s amaryllis that are wrapped in red wax. You don’t need to water them at all. The wax base isn’t the prettiest so I put mine in a cute pot and covered it with green moss. That amaryllis is amazing!! It has not stopped blooming! It’s on its 5th bloom I believe. My neighbor texted me and asked where I got that amazing amaryllis!
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What a fab birthday Eddie Otis had! That is a shame the gumbo wasn’t the best but that pie looks good! Ahh! I always panic at Starbucks! I never know what to order, there is just too many options! Sending love and hugs. I hope you are feeling better soon. What a great shopping trip! Those flowers are so pretty and that sandwich sounds delicious!
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I just finished posting on your book review post about The Correspondent and then read this post and saw that you are reading Culpability now. That was the other book I was discussing with friends this week as well as Theo of Golden. All three are now on my “to read” list! Have a great weekend!
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A cute plant store may be the inspiration I need once I get my new place. I am an enneagram 2 with you, my sorority sister :)! The gumbo seems like it is hard to make and it could be the pot. There are some decent roux sold in jars and then you can add your own things from there. My former MIL makes a good gumbo, but they all grew up in Louisiana. I hope it is a cheery weekend for you!
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Yes! I hope you have lots of light. It’s hard to be a 2 and AOT! I think it might be my pot. Oh, I didn’t know you could buy the roux!
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Your shopping and lunch outing looks so fun. I love the candles …perfect for spring. So glad EO had a great birthday…love the bandana. Homer always gets one at grooming and he tolerates it, but is usually ready to take it off when he gets home. So fun that you took Mason to school. lol
Some of my first subbing jobs were at the middle school my mom taught at which was fun.
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Thank you! I couldn’t believe how long EO left it on. I think Tom finally took it off. Such a fun memory for you!
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