June 15, 2026

Hello Monday and hello to all of you! How was your weekend? Ours was mostly about Tom! Tom’s birthday fell on a Saturday this year so that was really nice for him. I did have some struggle getting him to tell me what he wanted to do!

Let’s go back a bit, first…

I did something whimsical on Thursday. I was shopping at The Dollar Tree and next to it is a Pizza Hut. I already knew I was going to do it sometime this summer but thought I would go ahead since I was right by one. I treated myself to a personal pan pizza for reading 10 summer books. I think I read 6 in May, and I have read 4 in June so that counts. Anyone remember the Bookit! program? I didn’t get mine for free, but it was only $7 and it was tasty!

Haha! I feel like I need to do more fun child-like things.

I finished this book this week and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the throwback dial up internet and lack of cell phones.

I started this next and it’s cute so far!

I made a personal pan egg bite for my breakfast on Friday. I did two eggs, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, bacon bits, and a sprinkling of shredded cheese and microwaved it in a glass Pyrex.

Friday I visited the library:

And played mah jong with two friends. After that, I picked up dinner for Tom and I at a little place called Gracious Plenty.

Saturday was Tom’s birthday and he requested chocolate cake with chocolate frosting so I got to work:

He took a bike ride while I was working on his cake:

I made him bacon, eggs, and toast after he got out of the shower:

We were going to take the boat out but I think the bike ride did him in so he watched some movies while I ran a couple of errands and piddled around the house.

A family dinner came together! Mason suggested a new seafood restaurant by his house, and we stopped by to see some changes he has made. I was tickled by his kitchen shelf that houses his tea collection:

Mason and his roommate have shopped some flea markets.

I dropped off the cake, there, too, as we were going to have the cake after dinner. Jack met us at the restaurant; I can’t remember the last time all four of us could eat at a restaurant together.

It was delicious and reasonably priced. Mason got horseradish salmon, Jack got fish and chips, and Tom and I split a crab smash burger and fish and chips.

I think Tom was really touched.

We went back to Mason’s after dinner for the cake. It was really nice!

Sunday, we did make it out on the river! Eddie Otis did well once again!

We cruised around a little bit and let EO swim a little bit.

I met a former student at Haymarket, and we sat in the lovely garden. She did semester abroad in Spain last semester. It was so nice to hear about her experience!

I bought a baguette and brought some purse butter (butter that was in my purse). Lol.

Don’t forget that tomorrow is Fashion Files! I’d love to have you join us with one outfit, multiple outfits, new summer clothing – whatever!

Also, because June seems to be flying, I will go ahead and announce the July Currently topics. It will be Wednesday, July 1. I hope my topics aren’t too out there but I was trying to be July-themed!

They are:

Sparkling – What is currently “sparkling” in your life?

Grilling/Cooking –

Heating up –

Using –

Celebrating –

Tell me a highlight of your weekend?

Amy

29 thoughts on “Hello Monday”

  1. A highlight of my weekend was definitely celebrating Evan’s graduation and (finally) remembering to give him his diploma.

    Like

    Reply

  2. BookIt- heavens yes!! I remember getting those little pizzas and loving them. Your weekend looks nice and I hope that Tom felt loved on his birthday and the whole weekend. How great to be able to meet the boys at a restaurant. Your food all looks really good as does that chocolate cake you baked. I like the Currently prompts (which isn’t to say that I won’t struggle with them, lol) but I like them. Have a great Monday!

    Like

    Reply

    1. It was a fun thing to do and gave me a break from making my lunch!
      I think Tom did feel the love.
      My cake was a bit dry this time, sadly.
      Thank you – they are a little different and I could struggle, too.

      Like

      Reply

  3. I hope this comment goes through – I think some of mine are not for some reason – wordpress must be upset with me for stopping my blog.

    It sounds like Tom had a great birthday! I would love to have both of my boys at dinner with us!

    I do remember the Book It program! I have not had a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza in years! What a fun idea!

    xo,

    Kellyann

    Like

    Reply

  4. We loved the reading challenges and getting the free personal pizzas. That was fun. Our library always had fun little prizes each week too and a free slurpee was the favorite. Happy birthday to your hubs! Your cake looks good and how nice to have a family dinner with all present and accounted for. I know how challenging that can be. Glad you got the boat out. Do you swim in the river? Have a nice week!

    Like

    Reply

    1. So fun! My kids did a used bookstore reading challenge, library reading challenge, and Barnes and Noble I think.
      Thank you! The cake was a little too dry compared to my usual cakes – sad.
      Yes!
      I do get in when it gets really hot. We have those “diaper” floats that are fun.

      Like

      Reply

  5. What a great weekend, and happy belated birthday to Tom! I’m glad y’all were able to celebrate him together as a family. I can’t wait to see you this weekend! A highlight for me was Saturday night and dancing in the rain with Chris. I’ve never done that before and I’m a huge fan. I felt like I was living in a movie for minute.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you! It was really nice! I’m excited, too. I have to rest up to have the stamina as I have only done one activity per day in retirement – lol.
      Awww – love that you have your own personal rom com now.

      Like

      Reply

  6. Happy Birthday to Tom!! His chocolate cake looked so good!!! Glad you could go out on your boat. We are getting lots of rain today and tomorrow. No complaints because we need it!

    Like

    Reply

  10. Aww hope Tom enjoyed his birthday weekend! Looks and sounds so fun and delicious. Yeah for boat time again!

    Like

    Reply

  11. Worked all weekend, but no big stressors and not all that busy! (: I think you are on the right track, rewarding yourself for reading so much – your pizza looked delish.

    Like

    Reply

  12. That personal pan pizza looks delicious. I know how special that was to get together all 4 of you for T’s birthday!

    Like

    Reply

    1. I think I am going to go back and get one for both of us for dinner one night. Tom would chuckle because we both worked there. It was! That’s about all I can get right now is a dinner!

      Like

      Reply

  13. Happy birthday to Tom! I love that he enjoys being celebrated. Mike hates it. That seafood restaurant looks delicious. I had Gallery Conversations at the museum on Saturday and spent Sunday trying to figure out my Style Imitating Art post! That pretty much summed up my weekend. It was a good one…oh, and we watched “Michael,” the new movie about Michael Jackson. I am so torn about him.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you! I wouldn’t say he enjoys it and he said please do not take that cake in the restaurant. I also didn’t tell Open Table it was his bday.
      That sounds like a nice full weekend! I am not really interested in the Michael movie or doc. I liked him ok but wasn’t a huge fan.

      Like

      Reply

  15. What a fabulous weekend! Looks like tom had a great birthday! So nice fish the four of you were able to go out to eat. We rarely even do that at our house too with everyone going every which way. Your Sunday on the river looks fab.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment