Monday, August 17, 2026

Do you feel like this today?

It’s Monday and I’m retired so I love a Monday! I’m linking up with Sarah and Holly to share my weekend. How was yours? We had a heat advisory, and the river is a mess due to the storms last week. It was so hot on Saturday, but yesterday I could hardly breathe when I went outside!

Friday morning was a nice treat. I went to Con Huevos with two friends. We had a nice chat over breakfast/brunch/lunch – it was 11:00!

Breakfast tacos:

My other friend and I were boring and just did eggs, potatoes, and toast, but it hit the spot.

After that, I went home and got Eddie Otis, and we dropped off a bag at my friend’s house. I didn’t expect her to come out but she did, and we got to chat and that was nice. I overthought it and questioned my offerings multiple times, but I made strawberry muffins and truffle popcorn and bought from our bougie little market: cinnamon rolls, sourdough bread, plantain chips, guacamole, and shortbread cookies. It was random but I called it “weekend treats”. I have known this friend for 26 years and we taught together for some of those. I adore her and my heart breaks for what her family is going through.

Eddie Otis and I went home and enjoyed the air conditioning!

For dinner, I got Fazoli’s take out. Tom and I used to get that a bit and then we used to take our kids there because it was kid friendly. We always got the sampler platter which had spaghetti, lasagna, and alfredo. Well, I am a better cook now and Fazoli’s is not. Anyway, it was fun to re-visit this old favorite.

We finished The Hawk and it was silly but entertaining.

Saturday was cleaning day for me. I also worked on my plants which almost all live in the mudroom. They love the light in there. I managed to get all the floors done with EO out of the house walking with Tom.

I made bagel sandwiches for brunch.

I tried to go to a coffee/tiramisu pop up at a nearby shopping center with Mason, but the line was crazy long and like I said, there was a heat advisory. Several people were holding umbrellas.

We pivoted and went to Bamboo (coffee and donuts).

Tom was outside mowing and Eddie Otis and I watched Sterling Point and I read my book.

I worked in my closet a bit and pulled out things I don’t plan to wear again this season and just shuffled some things around. This is one of my favorite things to do!

We watched some Top Gun on tv and then the new Top Gun came on and then our friends called to see if we wanted to meet at the nearby pizza place and we did.

I had been curious about this canned cocktail and they were $3. I really liked the peach flavor.

I watched some of My Brilliant Career on Netflix when we got home.

Sunday, I opened the door and it was already miserable out. I needed some Target things and didn’t need some Target things if you know what I mean.

Ulta and Target have broken up, by the way. I asked an employee what happened to Ulta and he told me. It’s going to be Target Beauty or something like that.

Tom went to another room and closed the door and EO came back and took Tom’s seat and then was very dramatic. Then, he grabbed the remote and ran off.

This week…

I want to make this dish and these rolls. I have discovered a new blog and sometimes that’s all it takes to bring back some cooking inspo. I also plan to make this 80s recipe from my aunt. She has a version of this. I could not find Russian dressing or apricot preserves. I got Kosher Lipton soup mix. Is Russian dressing no longer PC?

I am missing salad as I have been cautious about it for the last month. I am going to get my salad greens from the farmer’s market or my permanent farmer’s market and make my olive oil, dijon, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup dressing. I’m going to throw in pumpkin seeds and a soft cheese like goat and maybe some craisins.

I told you last Monday that I was sad for some friends. It helped me to “do” last week. I sent some things, I prepared a care package of weekend treats, like I said, and I texted. Thank you all for your comments on this. Also, my sisters and I are learning that our kids’ lives are not ours to control and parenting adult kids can be more challenging. Goodness, this is a hard thing to accept.

I’m thinking of so many parents sending kids off to a first year of college, another year of college, to the “real world” for their first big boy/girl job and transitioning to a new stage of life.

Amy

33 thoughts on “Hello Monday”

  1. I feel like I pray more now for my kids than I did when they were little. Part of it is due to as you said, we don’t control their lives. Also, the decisions they make now can be really far reaching, ergo PRAYER!! On a lighter note, I couldn’t help but notice that some of those Fazoli’s (I literally spelled “those” as “thoze” when I first wrote it- my brain was anticipating the “z” I guess in Fazoli’s?) containers look like good containers to keep when the contents are out of them and reuse them? I have only had Fazoli’s once many years ago. There isn’t one super near us so it was never one of our go to places when the kids were younger or now for that matter. It’s great not to cook sometimes and it’s also great to realize that you’re a better cook than some restaurant food tastes :). Your weekend sounds really nice minus the heat. It rained here on and off all day Saturday and then Sunday was hot and super humid.

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  2. It sounds like you had a pretty yummy weekend. My girlfriend called me Saturday afternoon just to catch up and we were talking about this letting go stage as her oldest just started online college classes and his first job and she asked me how I did it. I’ve done pretty great so far but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I woke up in cold sweat part way through the night realizing Evan has just 3 more days at home! Yikes I am really not ready for this big change this time around. I’m going to miss my hiking buddy.

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    1. I did! It’s so hard. Mason was in England for 3 months and that was hard. He is getting ready to have another adventure. We are happy for them but also it’s hard for us!

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      1. Well Alec has been warning us for years that he’s moving overseas after graduation. And it’s not like a loose plan but a pretty specific one… so I’m trying to “plan” for that.

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  3. What a nice weekend. It was so hot. Ugh. This week the weather looks more reasonable. Your breakfast out looks fab. I love the photo of EO . Homer sometimes has his butt on the couch and his head on the coffee table. Haha
    I hope you have a great Monday!

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    1. It was the hottest of the summer, I think! Yes to 80s! It was yummy! They get themselves in funny positions. I hope you do, too. We had storms all night so there will be some tired teachers.

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  4. Thank you for sending me the book you did! I’m going to take it to work with me and read it while M does inside recess today. I love it when we have that, because her little friends come over and join her for that. How sweet that you took your friend all of that kind of stuff? I love that gesture and have been on the receiving end of it many times in the last week; it’s going on still, even as I write. So many people wanted to bring me food, so I’m letting them. It’s what people take when they want to help, and I confess that it’s so nice to not have to worry about dinner.

    I laughed when I read of EO pouting and running off with the remote. A dog here did that yesterday, and I was so irritated. I’d only gotten up for a second! Ha. I hope you enjoy your Monday, my friend. I’m excited to get dressed and go to work!

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    1. You are so welcome and good idea to take it to school.
      I love how you are sharing your food and that’s a great way for fellowship when you want it.
      You don’t need to worry about dinner right now.
      Lol- it’s funny but it isn’t!
      I will be thinking about you today!

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  5. We used to go to Fazoli’s with our kids too! Oh the memories!

    That chicken recipe with the Russian dressing – I used to make that all the time! It was my go to recipe if I was taking dinner to someone too. When I couldn’t find Russian dressing I started using Catalina – I don’t know if that is even a dressing anymore. How sad that I haven’t made that recipe in so long!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. It was a great kid option!
      I am going to make my own Russian! It looks pretty easy with ketchup and worchestershire. https://www.littlehouseliving.com/russian-salad-dressing-recipe.html
      I wasn’t sure how close Catalina would be. I couldn’t find that either!
      Also, I am using orange marmalade instead of apricot. I figure orange chicken is a thing so why not. I am cooking my rice with bone broth for more protein. Lol. I haven’t either!

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  6. I’m right there with you, trying to navigate this new stage with my own daughters. Nobody warns you how hard it is to turn off the “mom control” switch once they grow up! Thanks for reminding me I’m not the only one figuring it out as I go… Sending you a big hug—we’ve got this! ❤️

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  7. That picture of EO made me laugh! In the midst of the heat, the outings sound nice. I haven’t been to Target in probably a month now. That’s a good indoor activity! I did a little walking outside here, but in small doses. So true words about having young adult kids. Parenting is always about transitioning for sure. Hope it is a good Monday for you!

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  8. EO is my fave-ha! It has been muggy here too- I don’t mind the heat but the mugginess does get to me- Target sounds like the perfect solution on those days 😉 Ah yes parenting adult children- I am bracing myself!

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    1. He is a DIVA! That’s me, too. It was so humid you couldn’t breathe. I spent too much, but hadn’t been in a long time. Girl, buckle up. It’s the years after college that have been taxing.

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  9. We’re in the land of thick air too and it’s icky. I know the recipe you mentioned with the Russian dressing and looked it up, because I never see it either. Apparently Wish Bone and Kens both still make it as a lot of people use it on a reuben. Thousand Island is a sub for it, but I used Catalina in the recipe you mention and it worked. It’s more the color of Russian dressing. Those breakfast tacos look so good. I need to get my cooking mojo back but it’s too hot. We have company the next two weekends so I’m going to have to up my game a bit from it’s current state. Have a great week-stay cool! Yay for air conditioning!

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    1. There are two types of Russian and the orange one is still available but the more red one is the one I want. I found an easy recipe that has ketchup and Worcestershire and I’m happy to not have a bottle in my fridge!

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  10. You are a very sweet and thoughtful friend 😊❤️ That picture of EO just kills me🤣I have to vacuum and mop when my dog is out of the house or in his crate. Otheryhe will attack the vacuum. I know it’s harder to parent young adults because they have to make their own decisions and suffer the consequences.😕 We can’t rescue them like when they were 5! My 2 young adult daughters were home this weekend. Made my heart happy!

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  12. I agree with whoever said EO is their fave, lol!! I am constantly showing hubs pics of him…Parenting adult kids is HARD!! And you are so right, it is 1000% harder than when they were little. Keeping your friends in my prayers, what a great friend you are. 🙂

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    1. Awww, thank you! That’s so funny. He’s like, “who is this? Your internet friend?” It is so hard! Thank you; I appreciate that. I try but don’t always hit the mark.

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  14. When I was at Costco yesterday I noticed that they were selling a trio planter of organic lettuce! I think everyone’s missing their lettuce these days! I agree – parenting young adults is a whole new ballgame and I definitely went through some grieving of my own! It was hard releasing control and it was also hard not being intimately aware of all that was happening in my kids’ lives! What’s the saying – “once a parent, always a parent”? So true, but the expectations sure change! Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

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    1. Ha – I bet that will sell!
      It’s so hard and there are so many stages to the leaving of the nest and parenting them.
      That is so true – you no longer know all the details. That can be a good thing if you tend to worry about all the details.
      Same to you!

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  15. Yes, sent my first to college yesterday. I don’t know why I didn’t give much thought to how much little sister would miss big sister, and vice versa. I feel a little heartbroken knowing that things at home will never be quite the same. The loss of control is scary, but I know it’s important to step back. On another note, I always enjoy looking at all of the food you post.

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    1. Awww – thinking of you. I was the oldest so I didn’t see it first hand but it changes the family dynamic in a way. I had twins so – poof – I had an immediately empty nest. That’s hard, too! The breaks will be nice and then you have summer. It will become your new normal. Just make sure little sister has normal routines and plenty of attention because I had students say that their parents stopped cooking dinner and eating together when one left!
      Thank you!

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