Friday, May 22, 2026
How was your week? The school children are out as of today at 3:20 around these parts. What about in your neck of the woods? Let’s link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites!
It’s been a busy and social week around here despite the rain! I hear we have more coming this weekend!
Monday Jack came over to learn some kitchen stuff and to meal prep together. We made spaghetti and taco meat and then I sent him home with meals. It was nice. Jack is not as interested in cooking as Mason is but he’s trying.
Tuesday my sister Molly completed her 24th year of teaching first grade. She has also taught second grade.
She ended her 14-year streak of having one of her own four kids in her school with the baby of the family. He is moving on to middle school where her husband teaches! Those poor kids can’t escape!
She has 19-year-old boy/girl twins, a 16-year-old girl, and this guy. He won the sportsmanship award for all of the 5th grade!
How cute are they?
I got a sweet DM this week from a former student. He is a senior and I also taught his sis. He works at one of my favorite restaurants, so I have seen him a few times. This is why I love Instagram.
There was no school on primary election day and EO and I went to my old school and walked. He enjoyed it!
My old classroom or in other words where the magic happened:
It’s really crazy that we have now completed a full school year of my retirement as of today at 3:20 when school lets out for summer in my district!
I have been enjoying yogurt this week. I have tiny wild blueberries in my freezer and I put them in a bowl and let them get all juicy, add vanilla Greek yogurt, and top with a little granola.
One afternoon I got to have happy hour with my friend and her daughter who just came back from study abroad in Germany. It was so fun to hear about her experience. We went to a cool place with a piano on the porch…
We did wine flights and it looks crazy!
And, then went to the garden for a German beer…
Aren’t they so cute? And, aren’t I so sweaty? It rained like crazy and we were inside at first and then it was so humid in the garden.
We ended up having appetizers and dinner in the garden, too.
I did press on nails for years and was really happy with them until I wasn’t. That isn’t to say I won’t ever do them again. Then, I got two gel manis and wasn’t pleased with one of them and the second one didn’t last as long as it should have and that isn’t to say I won’t do it again, but I will say my nails are pretty damaged after just two manis.
I decided to try the Dazzle Dry system of regular old polish and ordered a starter kit.
It’s quick drying and was very easy to do. I will let you know how it goes since it’s too early to tell! I only have one color right now, too.
I got some magazines! I am saving them for this weekend!
I pulled all my red, white, and blue clothing out for this weekend. I don’t have any plans yet but you gotta be patriotic, no?
I had a surprising amount of r, w, and b clothing!
A new chain bakery opened right by my house so I had to check it out!
I was so busy at 4:00 in the afternoon that I didn’t buy anything but it’s really pretty!
I had a fun Mexican restaurant dinner with my friend Jessica at a new place with three floors. The third floor is adults only and much quieter so we asked for that.
They have jalapeño ranch dip! Here is a copycat recipe and it’s so good! I might make it this weekend. The surprising ingredient is buttermilk, but remember you can make your own with regular milk and vinegar.
It’s just typical Mexican food but in a really pretty environment!
I came home to this view…
It’s been a nice week!
What about you? Tell me a favorite!
Happy weekend and Happy Memorial Day!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
A nice list of favorites! I love that you are a family of educators! My mom and her siblings were like that. My mom had been a teacher (in MI before she married my dad), her sister was a teacher and one of her brothers was a teacher. After these past two months, I KNOW that teaching was/is not my calling (I knew it prior to these past two months but they really solidified it)- I’m grateful that God gives people different interests/talents so that a variety of jobs get filled :). The restaurants all look nice but that piano seems exposed to the elements from the side anyway and my heart hurts for the wood of it when it encounters precipitation… I hope your weekend is a great one!
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Thank you! And, I have only scratched the surface – my aunt and uncle, my cousin, my cousin’s kid is almost getting ready to graduate college to become a teacher. It’s in the blood!
It is such a hard job. I do hope you know how much you were and are needed!
I didn’t think about that; I don’t think they ever play it but I have seen a trend where people can walk by a random piano and sit down and play. Not good either due to the elements.
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In our neck of the woods most kids have another month or so to go before schools let out in mid June. That sounds like a lovely week. We had some rain these past few days and it’s looking like it should be a pretty rainy weekend too but with so many other areas of the country suffering with droughts I’m trying not to complain. We have no plans this weekend anyway and I think most of the boys are working straight through (even on the Monday holiday).
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The northeast gets out so much later! It doesn’t make any sense that the south goes back at the end of July or beginning of August when it’s so hot. I am the same – we do need the rain.
I know Mason’s job is closed on Monday but not sure about Jack’s. I am happy to have Tom home for 3 days. He needs the time off!
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I always chuckle in the difference at our school calendars. I also can’t believe you have already been retired a year- that flew by- for me anyway! 😉 Love the looks of that little French place- just perfect
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I know! It’s so different in the northeast!
I can’t either! It’s crazy how fast that went!
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You had a great list of favorites from the week! That third floor in the Mexican restaurant is so good. What a fabulous idea! I don’t always love dining where a ton of kids are present. I remember in Maine that there was an obnoxious kid whose parents were just letting him have a tantrum in the restaurant, and the bartender ended up asking them to go outside to calm him down. I was kind of shocked that he did that, but I honestly think everyone sighed in relief when they walked out. They didn’t come back, by the way, but it made our night so much more pleasant!
My favorite this week were a couple of date nights with Chris, a couple of nights when I also saw Marilyn, and this whole fun week at school. It’s been a whirlwind, but it’s Friday! I should be leaving around one, and then me and my co-workers and friends are going out for soft serve margaritas! I am so excited. We’re not dressing in school attire so we won’t get busted by anyone!
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So that is the place I was scoping out!
Vibes were 100%!
I’m not sure I told the blog about the table right next to me about a year ago in a very nice restaurant. They had a 6 yo girl with a very load handheld game on my whole dinner. I had to ask the mother/grandmother to turn it down. How about headphones for your little darling? It was really bad. I was less than a foot from her and couldn’t hear my tablemates. It was not a place for a child. I love kids! Time and place!
Soft serve margs and even espresso martinis in that form are the new thing here! I haven’t tried one yet. There are even “flights” you can get!
Happy last day to you! So excited!
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I did the same thing with my nails…I purchased Nail Aid Biotin and used it to repair my nails. It is in a bottle like nail polish
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Is it working for you? My nails don’t look perfect with my new Dazzle Dry but I am happy to let them heal. I think the gel removal process is so bad. It’s 2026 – why can’t we come up with a better solution?
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yes it did, I would let it on 2-3 days and reapply. They are stronger now
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That’s awesome!
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It seems like you wrapped up the first year of retirement in fine fashion [maybe I should have made that comment on Tuesday’s post]. As your other northeast readers noted, school is in session here until mid June but doesn’t resume until after Labor Day.
Nails . . . Mine were looking really shabby a while back (not from polish), and I asked my dermatologist about them. He advised to be more conscientious about keeping them hydrated (polish, polish removal, and washing hands can be dehydrating). He also recommended slugging the nails a couple times a week with Vaseline. I followed his advice and also made sure to use hand cream after washing my hands and to take a multivitamin every day. It took a few weeks, but they appear much healthier and stronger.
Have a great weekend.
Kate
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It’s another month until my youngest finishes college and another month until the school finish here for the summer. How lovely to meal plan with Jack and congrats to your sister with all those years of teaching! Yum to the yoghurt and yes to all of that wine! It looks like you had a great time with your friend and her daughter!
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I think the pic of you at the beer garden is just darling! Your skin looks amazing, and the top or dress that you are wearing is so cute! Just had to tell you that, haha. I love your blog, my favorite, by far. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Well aren’t you sweet? It’s an Old Navy blouse. My hair fell flat! Thank you for taking time to spread kindness!
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Loved the “where the magic happened” comment, too funny. And undoubtedly true! Can’t wait to hear about the dazzle dry experience . Have vowed to never get another gel mani again, just destroys my nails and they take months to recover. I’m hoping this DD kit is the answer, standing by to hear your feedback on this important matter. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
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