Friday, September 25, 2026

How was your week? Mine was good! It was pretty crazy at the start of the week because Monday felt like summer and then – boom – Tuesday, the official start of fall, called for a cardigan! I celebrated by wearing my pumpkin t-shirt with it!

I just realized both of these pieces are Old Navy!

As usual, I have a bunch of random (usually little) favorites. I hope my favorites help you look at the little things in your life and feel happy, too. I am linking up with Andrea and Erika today, per usual.

Let’s go back to Sunday first at Tom’s side of the family gathering. There was a beautiful pool and it was so sticky hot. I got in – alone. I have no regrets. We had to get on the road back to Eddie Otis and Tom commented, “You didn’t stay in the pool for long” and I said that I had zero regrets. I cooled down and was happy on the ride home. I think I would have regretted NOT getting in! Would you have gotten in alone? Disclaimer to say that the hostess told us to bring our suits and I was invited to use the pool!

I am so thankful that this wasn’t a catastrophe. On the way to the family gathering, a car in front of us swerved and we didn’t know why. We were unfortunately unable to swerve in time to avoid hitting this rotor hub that had flown off of a truck ahead of the car. It made the loudest noise but we kept driving and Tom got under the car when we got home, and it must have just bounced up on the undercarriage of the car and didn’t appear to do any damage.

This is what it looked like:

So scary!

The new short Costco Hunter boots are great! I’m so happy to have new boots that keep my feet dry!

I had tall Hunter boots that lasted about 10 years. I finally donated them. I know this brand (unless they have gone to cheaper materials) lasts.

Eddie Otis and I did a new walk for him that included this pretty water feature:

He looks so wistful and longing but I think he is just being cautious before he gets out.

I visited a boutique that moved into a new space this week. It had lots of great stuff! Shop local!

I tried the “viral” Starbuck’s grilled cheese for myself this week. It’s really about method. Did you know that grated (freshly grated by you) cheese is the way to go? You mix your cheese with butter and garlic powder and then spread it on the inside of your sandwich and then grill. It was really good!

Ah, Emma M. Lion and I have been really close this week. It’s just delightful.

I am enjoying using my Anthropologie mug from last year! It’s so cute!

This is kind of silly and not the best for the environment, but I ordered some plastic cups with lids and straws and some tiny condiment containers. I have enjoyed using them this week for my iced coffees and electrolytes and the little cups for hummus for Tom or as you see here a few chocolate chips for him.

I don’t really care about sports. I said it. This year, I am actually enjoying watching University of Kentucky football games with Tom. I’m reading at the same time but I like this time together. There is a new young coach and he is infusing a lot of new energy so that’s fun.

Also, his mom has a cake business called “Sissy Cakes”. Her cakes were sold at my Paul’s Fruit Market and I met her at a Christmas fair last year (before he was announced to be the new coach) but now she has gotten so popular because of her son (and because the cakes are really good, but her son brought a lot of publicity) that she only sells from her own storefront now. So, that’s kind of fun! They are super moist (sorry!) bundt cakes. They come in lots of sizes.

So, maybe we shall eat the coach’s mom’s cake during the games? Heather dropped off a couple of pieces of the orange juice flavor that she had leftover from an event and I kept telling Tom to eat “Will Stein’s mom’s cake”.

I bought a mum! Eddie Otis sniffed it and then look dubious about whether his mom will keep it alive.

I am so charmed by the pumpkins with acne. They are called “knucklehead” apparently and I don’t think that’s very nice. I bought one and a white one.

Look at these weird guys – they look like they have leprosy. They are kind of cool. I didn’t get their name.

I love stalks of corn. They remind me of my Indiana roots.

Ok, I don’t want this to become a problem but hear me out…the Diet Dr. Pepper in the football can is really crispy. The plastic bottle I bought last week was meh. I have been craving a soft drink a bit and I don’t want to get in the habit. I can buy just one at Paul’s Fruit Market, a fave little market by my house.

Tom and I had a rare weeknight out to see a jazz trio. Tom originally wanted to take the whole family but Mason would be in Santa Fe and Jack works late and closes on Wednesdays so that was a little sad but we enjoyed it just the two of us.

Not sure they will stay here but they made me happy:

And I wanted to announce that it’s now been a year of “Scandinavian sleeping”. We each have our own duvet with comforter inside. It looks a bit odd but we love the complete control and ownership this arrangement has allowed! We really have glädje and lagom!

This has been a weird Friday Favorites but do you expect anything different from me?

I want to remind you to join in for Fashion Files on Tuesday and that Currently is coming up soon, too: October’s Currently will be on Wednesday, October 7 and the prompts are: Falling for, Scaring (me), Working on, Loving, and Entertaining (me).

What was a favorite of yours this week?

Amy

38 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. Glad there was no damage to the car! I would not have jumped in the pool but one of my goals is often to not have to actually wear any of my bathing suits. LOL I just find them so uncomfortable and as much as I used to love the water I really hate the simmers ear I seem to always end up with.

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  2. I would not have gotten in the pool if no one else was in it but good for you for doing so since you felt like it! (I much prefer to blend in in a crowd and being the only one in a pool is not blending in, lol). Our weather turned cool on Monday. It’s been pretty great though I’m literally sitting in front of the fireplace that I turned on (it’s gas) as I just got back from a chilly run! Kroger has some unique pumpkins! I guess I’m still partial to regular ol’ pumpkins but different looking ones sure are unique. I like how you’re sort of kind of turning into a sports fan (at least one sport!). Have a great weekend!

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    1. I don’t even think most knew I was in the pool! Oh the fire does sound good, though. They do! For $7 – pretty good! I still like a regular one, too, but I love white pumpkins. Kind of! You too!

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  3. I’m glad you didn’t have any damage to the car. We were beside an 18-wheeler on an interstate one time and a huge piece of his tire flew off and right at our windshield. It was terrifying. Somehow it skipped across the hood of our car and went over it instead of into the windshield. The pool is pretty. I’d have joined you or if it was hot gotten in myself. I love the way mums look in full bloom and even. just before they bloom, but I’m not good about deadheading and I think they need that to stay pretty. I will probably still get a couple and enjoy them while they last. Have a nice weekend!

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    1. The high speeds on the highway and the crazy drivers really scare me. That is so scary! You also got lucky. I also like the look of dead mums – lol. So, we will hope for the best but I know they might not last long.

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  5. I would have gotten in that pool so fast! We’re done with our for the year but I always regretted if I didn’t get in because i just feel better after I do.

    Are those boots like the Costco-type going to not wear well? My hunter boots from there fell apart after about 5 years :/ I do like those a lot and see the appeal. Mav ate one of my chelsea boots from last year….

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    1. You are my people! I do, too. I was so hot and sticky and there was this gorgeous pool waiting.
      I don’t think these boots were made for Costco because I went to a department store and they seemed exactly the same. And, they weren’t cheap. They were $99 as compared to $130, I think. I am liking that I can wear them with or without socks and they are comfortable for walking so I’m happy. I would be good with 5 years but the Costco $20 ones I have had have only lasted one or two seasons.

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  6. I love that you got in the pool, even if you were alone! I have been to parties where me and a friend were the only ones in the pool, but we were together and happily cool. I love the white pumpkins! It’s been so long since I’ve gotten one, though. Maybe I will this year! I love all your little bits of random things. I’m intrigued by the Scandinavian sleeping…what happens with the flat sheet? Or do y’all not use one? I might have to try a Diet Dr. Pepper in the football can! Happy Friday, friend!

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    1. Thank you! Yes! Me too! I decided that pumpkins make me happy and for $14 that is pretty cheap happiness. Lol. Thank you – I am quite random. We ditched the flat sheet and just wash the duvets a lot. I’m sure the football can is no different but it sure tastes good.

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  7. So glad you guys are ok, that sounded very scary! Scandinavian sleeping sounds like a great idea. My husband does this thing where he lifts the doona to cover himself during the night, and then I get a whoosh of cold air on my side. Not a great feeling during winter!

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  8. So glad you and Tom are ok!! That rotor hub could have gone through a windshield too! 😯I thought it was amusing when University of Kentucky beat A&M. The Aggies in my family weren’t happy! My nephew is currently in the Texas A&M corp and marching band. Hope you have a great weekend! I’m starting mine with a cold acquired from my trip to see my daughter. 😬

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  10. It has been quite warm here all week, until today. I was actually cold when I was outside. I love your pumpkin t-shirt. I would have got in the pool alone, I imagine it was so nice to cool off. Eek to the part of the other car hitting yours. It could have been so much worse, I am glad there was no damage. That grilled cheese sounds so good! Those are strange looking pumpkins.

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  11. Wow! I am surpised that big thing did not cause damage to your car. I know you are glad!! I want my Diet Pepsi to make me stand up and notice – totally crispy. I am always sad if I open one and take that first sip . . .and think NOOO! It is like they are sort of “flat” when they aren’t crispy. That makes no sense, yet it does!

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  13. What a great week of favorites. So lovely that you and Tom had a weeknight date night.
    The pool looks refreshing and I love that you got in even if no one else did. Live your life. lol
    Your black and white mug is so fun! Sissy Cakes is all the rage it seems. So cool.

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  14. I’m going to make the SB copycat grilled cheese. It’s totally different than how I do it. I thought I was adventurous when I used two different types of cheese slices! I like the idea of Scandinavian sleeping. My husband and I have separate blankets, but he doesn’t usually use his. He runs hot. Meanwhile I have my electric blanket and a fleece blanket, lol.

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  15. So scary about the road debris. Michael had an incident a few years ago where a piece of rebar stuck into the side of the car. I can’t imagine if it would have gone through the windshield. Are each of the comforters on the bed twin size? I’m intrigued! I try not to use a ton of disposable containers, but sometimes they really fill a need! Hope you have a good weekend.

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    1. Well, that is terrifying! Yes, the comforters are twin sized. You can actually get perfectly sized ones but we had trouble finding them a year ago. I also try not to use a lot of disposable so I feel mildly guilty. I am trying to reuse them when I can.

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  16. I am glad there was no damage to your car. I also would have gotten in the pool, which looks really nice btw. I just love when you post a photo of Eddie Otis, thanks for the many smiles. Have a great weekend.

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  18. Sorry I am so late commenting. I didn’t sleep at all Thursday night until I took a sleeping pill at 3:30 Friday morning so I missed blog reading.

    Anyway…good for you for getting in that beautiful pool to cool off! I still have not gotten in mine ALL YEAR! Ha! Now I can’t because it’s a thing to me.

    We have a new coach at UF this year and we are so excited because he is so energetic! We have always watched but there’s usually a lot of yelling on my part. This year has been good so far and it’s been fun.

    The mums are pretty! Hope they stay alive, I don’t buy them anymore because it’s actual homicide. I honestly have no idea why they even sell them here. Cruel and unusual punishment if you ask me.

    xo,

    Kellyann

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