Monday, November 9, 2026

Well, Tom did not want to see Monday arrive today after being off for a week and it was a nice break for me, too! Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly to share the weekend.

I really enjoyed having Tom at home. He took the dog off my hands several days and I had time in the house alone. We did errands together, we did some house/car projects, we boated, we ate out, we went shopping, and we watched some football and tv. I only cooked two dinners and we ate leftovers.

I was off my little routine I’ve created but that is good! It’s always good to break up the routine every now and then.

Thursday afternoon I went to a holiday open house at a shopping center that I frequent often. They had a Halloween one that was rainy, so it was nice to have nice weather this time! I love to go to little events like this, and I love to support small businesses.

I wore red to be a bit festive. I tell you what – the holiday decor and offerings got me ready to start thinking about Christmas. I guess that’s the idea! I went with my friend Jessica and we had a good time together as usual. Jessica came into my life because of our kids; they went to a clay camp in the summer before second grade, I think. How cool is that?

I had a “Drunken Santa”:

Ok, Santa… does this mean Santa is from Spain. I almost typed “Satan”. Gotta be careful with this letter combo.

I bought a match box:

Friday I put out my small amount of Thanksgiving decor including my turkey flag:

I just wish the pilgrims had arrived maybe a couple of months sooner, you know? It’s just so close to Jesus’ birth. I like Thanksgiving to get its due but it’s just not happening much anymore. Does anyone need to see their family twice in the span of only one month?

I finished this – oh my! This book will stay with me. It wasn’t an easy read – touching on the topics of 9/11, Covid, postpartum depression and psychosis, and the NICU for preemies. Still, I would say it will be one of my top books of 2026. Maybe? I need to start looking at my contenders.

I had some requests to pick up:

I may have already read this, but it sounded cute:

Can’t remember who recommended this:

Or this:

I just enjoy reading self-help and time management books – not sure why.

I had a really nice phone chat with my mom’s sister on Friday. I love my aunts and uncles and feel lucky that my parents made visiting them often such a priority.

I got a fun Facebook message from a teacher I taught with at my second school in 1998! She asked if I was watching Amazing Race and I am and she said this player looks like me. She doesn’t really look like me from the front but wow – the side profile looks like Amy in her 20s (me).

Can you see it?

I am going to have to dig out a photo of me to compare.

I re-visited this solid breakfast/brunch/lunch. Doesn’t that look good?

I made these for Tom:

I think I like the lil smokies version more than the big hot dog version. It’s Crescent Roll dough. This would be a great holiday app or something to take somewhere.

Friday afternoon my friend picked me up for another holiday open house. We met two other friends there. Again, it was festive and made you want to decorate for Christmas. It was so crowded you could hardly walk in the stores, though.

Free festive drinks:

Then we met the hubs at Mojito in Havana Cuban restaurant nearby to celebrate my birthday – again but now with friends.

I got fish tacos:

I got this beautiful arrangement and planter from one of my friends. We are seeing if Eddie Otis can leave it alone!

We interrupt this blog post for a PSA…

Do not buy this:

When I originally showed it back in September, one of my blog readers commented that it burned and gave her a rash.

It gave me burning and itchy pits. No one wants itchy pits.

I splurged and am back to Donna Karan for the fall/winter. Love you, Donna!

Saturday morning, I went to the first week of the winter farmer’s market. I was impressed with the offerings.

They had our French restaurant making croque monsieurs on the spot and selling a few other foods. They also had baguettes and quiches for sale. Ooh la la!

I also used my birthday gift card at a local boutique and bought some new mules:

This little boy loves his lap sitting time:

I caught an especially cute face!

Now I’d like to update you on the “Leaf Wars”. Do you remember on Halloween how the neighbor’s EX left a tiny strip of leaves on our property rather than just blowing them since it’s their tree anyway?

This is the tiny strip:

Tiny strip again:

It’s seriously comical. Most people would just add that, right? Well, this guy ain’t most people. We know this from the 20 years that he has been blowing in all four seasons at all times of day and night. He goes to Home Depot and says, “Gimme the loudest thing you’ve got”.

Well, ol’ Tom returned his leaves Saturday:

See that clean strip? That’s our property. Tom knew they weren’t home (or EX would have been blowing) so he just wanted to give back what is rightfully theirs.

I got to read outside while the sun was out. This book is so cute:

An American goes to England to work for a football club. It’s set in Liverpool and I’ve been there! That makes it really fun, too.

Tom worked on a project outside and I morally supported him then we came in and watched tv and I made a skinny margarita. Tom found a puzzle competition on ESPN The Ocho and we were both quite amused. The commentators made it so funny!

We watched the UK football game and ate leftovers.

Sunday morning, I made my own sugar cookie creamer:

I went to Kroger and saw Texas Roadhouse butter! This might be just what the Thanksgiving table needs?

I went to the mall and used my Sephora gift card and got my birthday freebie, too:

We were going to do one last boat ride but it was too cold and windy and Tom reported that the river was choppy. So, we took a country drive instead:

I made potato broccoli soup for dinner and we started to wind down.

What was the highlight of your weekend?

December’s Currently will be on Wednesday, December 2. The prompts for December are: celebrating, decorating, wearing, preparing, and loving.

I am still considering when to host this fun link party in 2027 – Wednesday or Thursday. Monday is Hello Monday, Tuesday is Fashion Files and Joanne’s link up, Wednesday is Hodgepodge, Thursday is Share Your Shelf and Monthly Musings once a month, and Friday is Favorites. Thursday is the best day for me since I don’t do Share Your Shelf (not organized enough and don’t ever know when it is!) and I don’t do Monthly Musings very often (again never know when it is!).

Anyway, it’s a fun problemita to have, no? The blogging world is so fun and brings me joy! Did you know that in Spanish if you add “ito” or “ita” to a word it makes it small? A dude named Juan might be called “Juanito” as a child. I called my son Mason “Masonito” for many years. Jaja (that’s laughing in Spanish)

Don’t forget that Fashion Files is tomorrow; we hope to see you!

Amy