Wednesday, August 13, 2025

I told myself I wouldn’t mention anyone’s birthday on the blog because I wouldn’t want to leave anyone from my IRL out and have them be mad at me, but it’s my baby sister’s birthday! I still remember the day she came home from the hospital. I was so excited! She is next to me in this photo so you can see our age difference of 7 years. I’m in the Snoopy bathing suit. We were always buddies. She fought with the middle sister but I don’t think she and I ever fought. We had a little dance routine we did together where I would hold her and swing her around.

I sent her a gift and I hope she will be surprised and really like it!

1. August is National Golf month…do you play? Do you enjoy following golf? Have you ever been to a professional tournament? 

I do not. I do not. I have been to Valhalla once here in Louisville for some significant tournament with Tom.

Can I talk about Top Golf? We went there for a work event and it is terrifying. We were on the third floor and I could have so easily tripped and fallen into the net and then plummeted to the ground.

2. Astronaut Jim Lovell of Apollo 13 fame passed away this past Thursday. Are you interested in outer space and what’s happening today in terms of space exploration? If space travel became common in your lifetime would you go? How do you personally relate to the idea of exploring something vast and mysterious…does the idea excite you, intimidate you, or something else? 

I am not really. I don’t understand how planes work let alone how a space ship works. I did take a bit of interest in the rich and famous people that flew to the edge of space recently for a crazy sum of money. No thank you. I was also very invested in the poor astronauts who only prepared to be in space for a week at the space station but then had to stay for months. The poor female astronaut went gray in space and people talked about how much she aged. Come on now! That’s just mean! She only planned to be in space for a week. I told my students they thought they had a bad day; think about those two.

3. Describe your communication style in three words. 

Honest, blunt, direct

I used to say I could express my feelings better in writing but I have gotten better with my verbal abilities. I hope that I express my feelings with kindness and understanding but if you ask for my opinion you are going to get it. I also realize the older that I get that I may not have the answer. When you are younger you feel that you have it all figured out. I know now that I do not.

4. Do you have a favorite cookbook? A favorite celebrity chef? Do you watch any cooking shows on TV? 

I used to have a small tv in the corner of my kitchen counter and I loved watching cooking shows while I cooked. Pioneer Woman was always my favorite but I wouldn’t say it was healthy cooking so I moved away from her recipes. Damaris Phillips is a local celebrity chef who is on Food Network.

My favorite cookbooks are the church cookbooks or cookbooks where people submit their best recipes. They are seriously the best!

5. As a child did you have any back to school traditions? If so, did you carry on those same traditions with your own children? Do you have any back to school traditions you’ve started on your own? 

I don’t remember having any traditions other than buying a new lunch box – the metal kind with a character on it. We had LLBean backpacks before they were trendy and those lasted us for years. I guess we went to Kmart to get school supplies. It just didn’t seem to be as big of a production back then. I was always excited, though! I loved school!

I always took my kids back to school shopping at Target and sometimes we also had to hit Office Max or Depot. They came to my classroom with me to “help” me, too. We always got new tennis shoes for them and Tom was usually involved in that.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I chatted at a coffee shop with Madeleine for two hours on Monday! She is my former student that was an assistant teacher in Madrid last year. She is doing it again this year from September through June at the same school. We had so much to talk about that the two hours just flew by.

As we were finishing up, we noticed two big tables of ladies playing cards. It was around 2:30 at this point. I thought it was so lovely to see this!

What would you say about any of the Hodgepodge topics today?

Amy

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

I feel like I have done it all – shopping in store, pick up, delivery and have been everywhere – Kroger (like any big supermarket), Walmart, Walmart Neighborhood Market (just the grocery part of a Walmart), Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and Fresh Market.

I don’t want to even think about how much of my time and mental energy I have used on the task of grocery shopping.

We buy almost all of our gas and groceries on our US Bank Kroger credit card. Kroger is the king supermarket around here and the credit card gives us really good gas discounts. Last month it was ugly. I spent at least $1500 on groceries. That may not even be all of it since sometimes I don’t use the credit card. Since my salary has gone down in retirement, I have been doing a spending audit.

What I am trying now is to buy less. That’s it. It’s that simple. I’m trying to use up what I have before buying more even if it isn’t what I would ideally pick. In order to use it up, buying less is helping me.

I need a less crowded fridge so I don’t waste food. We need to eat what is going to spoil first, too.

Tom likes to take 2 cuties, one banana, and one Oikos Pro yogurt to work so I literally count out how many he needs a week for my list.

I do think by going in you can find some deals and discounts and adjust your meal plan possibly based on what you find. I have been buying some bagged salads that are discounted, for example. It often means that they are expiring that very day or the next. No big deal.

Recently we have eaten:

blackened tilapia sandwiches

BLTs

hot dogs

spaghetti

Doritos Tacos Locos Taco Salad – you make a taco salad and then put Taco Bell mild sauce (bottle from the Mexican aisle at the grocery) and crushed up original Doritos on top

Loaded baked potato and salad

Salmon, broccoli, and potatoes (Tom says he needs a break from the salmon!)

A couple of things I have realized…

It’s ok to have a sandwich for dinner.

It’s ok to not all eat the same thing as the other family members. Use up or repurpose leftovers one night.

You don’t need two sides. You can just have one.

I have more energy in the morning so I made my taco meat in the morning. It’s wonderful to have the bulk of the work done when 5:00 rolls around!

I am trying to embrace the summer meals and foods but looking forward to what I consider to be more fall foods! That bowl of chili at the beginning of my post looks good to me!

If you are a teacher or have kid starting school, I would say plan super simple meals for the first week.

It’s not joke that our groceries are super expensive right now. I do think by sticking to real food and not as much packaged and processed food I can save money. That’s the goal.

So, I used to think that buying more and going in the store/ordering/getting delivery less often (but buying more at a time) saved money but now I feel like buying less at a time is going to save money. I am excited to compare this month’s amount to last month’s of $1500ish.

What grocery epiphanies have you had recently?

What meals have you been cooking or craving?

Amy

Monday, August 11, 2025

How was your weekend? Mine was good! Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday!

Thursday was our district’s first day back to school so I did some self-care and had some fun and if you read my post Friday you saw this:

And, I kept my fun day going by NOT cooking dinner, either! We went to a new to us sushi drive-thru – yes I said sushi drive-thru for take out and I was impressed! Mason is usually home at dinner time with us so we have started the new season of The Bear.

I love their ginger dressing!

I did a white press on mani that would work/go with my pink pedi.

Friday I did chores around the house – trying to feel out the back to school traffic and didn’t want to be on either end of it and I did mention it, but there is tons of road construction near my house. But, around 2:30, Mason agreed to go with me to a new wine tasting room from a Washington state vineyard.

Sadly, it was closed for a private event that was happening later, but the chef had us come in and look around and poured us two wines to taste. He did not have to do that! So nice! So, if you are local, check out The Wine Room by J.Bell Wines. I asked him what the Louisville/Washington state connection was and he said the owner of the vineyard is from Louisville. So, now I really want to support a business that was so nice to me!

Mason and I couldn’t think of another place we wanted to go and the traffic was getting bad so we went home. I made salmon and over cooked potato wedges and Trader Joe’s vegetable nests.

Eddie Otis slept in on Saturday morning and I thought this photo was so funny!

He’s so long when he stretches out!

Tom took EO out for a couple of hours and mama had some peace. I am loving this book!

More eggs with chives…

I went to the library and their themed bookshelf was “dog days of summer”…

I got this:

and this…

The second one is written by “Messie Condo”. I’m pretty sure that’s a pen name.

I also went in to Kroger and I did in person shopping again.

I am obsessed with Cobb salads lately and had one for lunch.

I had to make the smart, adult decision later in the afternoon, guys. I could hardly stand in these shoes, let alone walk. Does someone not test out a shoe? I’d like to see the person that can walk in these. So, I am returning them.

I went with my old consignment shoes that I bought to be in my friend’s wedding a few years ago. So, this dress is consignment for $12 and the shoes were consignment for about the same amount. I did decide to wear my rosé earrings to add a little spice.

We were off to our friends’ daughter’s wedding at a botanical garden about 20 minutes away called Yew Dell. Tom said, “this is inside, right?” to which I replied yes. Oops. It was not inside.

Also, we had to walk a long way from the parking lot to the field where the wedding was held so I was so glad about my shoe decision!

Everyone staying in the shade as long as possible:

Some moved chairs to the shade and some stood in the shade.

The reception was outside but it was in an open air pavilion that had a roof and fans.

It was a lovely wedding!

Sunday was going to be another hot day so Tom and I went out on the boat early to beat the heat.

It was lovely and we had the river to ourselves! We had McDonald’s and I had a…

mimosa (when it got a little later)!

I took a shower and then read outside and it wasn’t too bad with my fans going.

I made a late afternoon trip to Target and found some Swedish candy I wanted to try. It wasn’t very sweet, but it was good.

And, I needed more coffee for the week and I couldn’t leave Eddie Otis on the shelf. Doesn’t it look like him?

For reference:

They even have the same collar! I will become Eddie Otis’ agent and he will make us lots of money from his modeling career!

Tell me a highlight from your weekend!

Amy

Friday, August 8, 2025

Hi and happy Friday! How are you all? How was your week? I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites of mine.

Stay tuned until the end because it was my first day of NOT going back to school! That would be the biggest thing that didn’t happen this week, but I will be sharing some mundane things that made me happy.

First favorite – fresh chives. Yup, guys, this is how exciting my blog is becoming. We shall celebrate herbs.

Why does this make such a difference? I bought them for potatoes and I have been putting them in my eggs. I use two eggs, about a half cup of cottage cheese (I never measure), and then some chives.

I eat breakfast around 9:00 or so and I love that I can do this now. I truly wait until I’m hungry most days. This feels like a luxury. I’m trying to eat slower, too.

I ran out of this and my other brand (rhymes with “shutter”) just didn’t work as well. I highly recommend this for the “clean feel” and I think it works. I do make sure to always shower it off at the end of the day.

Poor Tom – he has a really bad case of poison ivy on his ankles. He went hiking Saturday and he saw the poison ivy and he avoided it – he thought. He wore tennis shoes and short socks. I remember telling him to wear pants before he left. It is unlike him to not be outdoorsy prepared so I know he is kicking himself. He is miserable. I bought more bug spray while buying him every type of anti-itch cream on the market. We already had most types and calamine lotion. I found a Benadryl brand anti-itch and added that. His ankles are even swollen.

We had this taco salad one night this week and it hit the spot. I have a grocery post coming next week about an epiphany I am having. Chives and grocery epiphanies. Are you on the edge of your seat? I used original Doritos and they slapped. You could do Cool Ranch and they would equally have the ability to slap.

I bought a Reese’s pumpkin! Oh, the ratio of peanut butter to chocolate is so much better, right? And, that is the danger of going into the grocery store! I have a posse of former students that work at Kroger and a big group of them are all guys who go to University of Kentucky. It’s always fun to see them. They keep asking me about retirement and it’s the cutest.

I love going through the car wash and I treated myself to one this week. Tell me you don’t sing , “Car Wash” like me. I know you do! I wish the car wash took longer because I really enjoy it. What does that say about me?

My fruit flies/gnats are gone! My two plug in Zevos are working to get them and the occassional fly that enters, but this tip is also interesting…

I guess you better start drinking some wine…are you willing to put in the work?

I’m gonna tell you what I think the root of the problem was with my personal fruit flies and it’s pretty gross. Eddie Otis has food and water bowls on a plastic stand up off the floor. It’s better for big dogs to digest their food we have heard. He is the most vigorous eater and moves his bowl around while eating. Well, some of his food got trapped below the bowl and that created the perfect environment.

We are now more diligent about washing his bowl and lifting it up off the stand after every meal, too. Oh, Eddie!

So, just in case you aren’t taking notes – chives, grocery epiphanies, fruit flies…

I made the best cold foam coffee with my instant espresso and my new frother. I think the frother is a great gift or great investment. It makes home coffee so much better!

I think this is an old phone of my mom’s. I found it while going through some stuff! I didn’t even remember phones like this! I had this type of Nokia (I think we all did), but I don’t remember the designs?

A couple of updates…

Finished this – I really, really liked the story. Anyone else? It was a quick read for me. And, now I want to go to Maine.

I couldn’t finish this. But, now I am curious about the ending based on what someone on the interwebs said. Did you watch it? It is muy mature fyi.

My niece Nora and I have not continued our cooking project, sadly. She got busy. We did stromboli, black bean burgers, Spanish shrimp and potatoes. I realized it doesn’t have to just be a summer thing so if she wants to pick it back up we can! Also, I want to invite Lena to do it with me next summer. She is a sophomore this year.

I picked up this drink at Trader Joe’s and it is good. You must like ginger because the ginger juice is pretty strong.

Loved this! I don’t like a matching mani/pedi anymore. I want it to go but I like the contrast.

Do you like the combos?

Ok, to wrap up the favorites…

Yesterday was the first day of school in my district and I joined in the fun with my first day photo:

It’s just orange juice! I got some really sweet messages yesterday about NOT going to school. I got a sweet email from reader Sally! Hi Sally!

Then, I took myself to Con Huevos which is a fabulous Mexican breakfast place. My former student waited on me! She knew what day it was and was so sweet to me!

She talked me into their new hibiscus mimosa…

And I ordered chilaquiles which are basically breakfast nachos – lol.

Then, I got myself a strawberry acai lemonade and took it to my…

pedicure. I tried to get Bubble Bath because I currently have a white mani (see chart above) but the tech wouldn’t let me. She said it was too light. So, this is what I ended up with. Meh. I didn’t feel like fighting it!

I was going to go look at fall decor but it’s just so hot so I will save that for another day! I did get a fall magazine which is a treat! But, they really didn’t have many fall magazines out yet.

The nice thing was that I parked my car and walked to all of these places in the same shopping center. I went to the nail salon, Kroger, Con Huevos, and Starbucks without moving my car. Peachy!

What were your favorites this week? I hope you had many!

Amy

Thursday, August 7, 2025

It’s the first day of school in my district today. I will try to avoid school traffic as best as I can! We have all kinds of road construction going on near me and I am afraid it’s going to be ugly out there.

I am happy to link up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files. Let’s do this!

As a first year retired teacher, I can’t help but reflect on what I normally would be doing with my wardrobe right now…

I would have scoured the stores/online sites for the perfect cute/stylish/comfortable teachers shoes and I would have all my dresses lined up and ready for duty along with my summery printed pants to mix in. I spent a lot of time and money getting my “teacher wardrobe” ready.

I must admit that some of my clothes feel too teachery now. I am trying to find my new style. I want to get dressed each day in an actual outfit!

Saturday night I went out to dinner and I wanted to be cool and comfortable after my overheating blow dryer episode. See exhibit below:

I never blow dry my hair because I wash at night but I had been lazy the night before and found myself needing to wash my hair in the afternoon! Then, I blew dry my hair and got soooo hot. I wore my necklace fan to counteract.

I love this dress although it’s probably not the most flattering. I should have worn a heel but I felt weird from the blow dryer episode. It has pockets! The purse looks real stupid. I guess I can’t make the strap longer. Oh well. You win some and you lose some.

I loved this outfit. I have on my new fruit shirt with my orange gauzy shorts. Do I look fruity? Sorry I am always in my Hari Mari flip flops. I love them.

This needed a front tuck. I love the off white blouse with detail and tried it on with my light Halaras and my new Adidas.

Pool ‘fit:

She’s judging me in her Lilly Pulitzer coverup. Whatever.

My hair is not cooperating. I think I need a new conditioner.

I put this outfit on that I have worn before – gauzy blue Umgee pants and light, light blue consignment button up with my new Adidas.

New Adidas:

New wedding guest shoes. Still waiting for them to arrive – I chose the bottom pattern to go with a solid hot pink dress:

And, I got a wild hair and ordered two more pairs of shoes that I am waiting on and might return if they don’t work out:

I just loved the tan/black combo. I love that they are kinda retro.

In my defense, I have been looking for red espadrilles all summer. I found these on Zappos for less than the price shown here.

So, not a lot of outfits this week, but I sure did make up for it in shoes!

What have you been wearing?

Amy

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Today is a twofer – I am linking up with Jenn’s Currently and Joyce’s Hodgepodge!

Let’s start with Currently!

Currently Loving

In the food department, I am kind of obsessed with a Cobb salad. I made this for lunch on Monday for Erica (my old work friend and meal prep partner) and I. I started with one of those bowl kits (as opposed to bag kit) and then added more lettuce, tomatoes, more egg, more chicken, more bacon, and avocado. I just used the dressing it came with. For some reason, starting with a kit seems easier.

I invited Erica to lunch on my patio for her first teacher work day because she also wanted lesson planning help for a new course she is teaching that I taught. It worked out great. As a side note, I did not feel sad to not be teaching it one bit. In fact, the talk exhausted me. Lol.

We also had loaded baked potatoes. Is there a better lunch? I rubbed them in olive oil, pricked them, and then rubbed them in Maldon sea salt, wrapped them in foil and baked them the old fashioned way in the oven for a long time. They were perfect. They had butter, sour cream, chives, cheese, and bacon. I am constantly reminded that the simplest foods can be the best foods.

And, you guys…two eggs, a half cup of cottage cheese, and fresh chives – This is delicious for your breakfast!

So, I am loving the food I can cook for myself and for my people and I also love that I enjoy the act of cooking.

I love my library and I am on my second really good book in a row!

Currently Looking Forward To

I am starting to really think about fall and fall weather! We had a sneak preview of early fall temperatures this weekend and it was glorious!

My task is to go through my fall decor and to be ruthless in donating what I don’t still love/wouldn’t buy. Then, I will let myself go buy a few new fall things.

Currently Scheduling

I am scheduling my Shingles shot and my cavity filling appointment (ugh) and all the things. I am also scheduling fun with old friends!

Currently Buying

Well, I am still waiting on possible wedding guest shoes that I hope will work out because the wedding is Saturday:

The bottom design is what I ordered to go with a solid hot pink dress.

And, I got a wild hair and bought these:

Aren’t they cute?

And, I got another wild hair and ordered these:

Oopsie. Why do I love buying sneakers so much? If they don’t work, I will send them back. I just loved the tan/black combo.

Currently Gearing Up For

I guess going through the totes I have from my mom’s house.

Last week I started the process of kind of seeing where I’m at and how much I need to go through. When we emptied my mom’s house, my sisters and I just divided up the totes of photo albums, papers, and sentimental items. I think we were supposed to go through them on our own and then bring it all back together at one of our houses at some point. I am very daunted by this. I also have my totes of stuff I have saved for my kids to go through and my teaching stuff to go through. Eek!

And now, Hodgepodge time…

1. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year? 

Wow! That is weird since that is the day the school buses start rolling in my city. A perfect summer day involves time outside, some sun, some reading, some water, and some good food or drink or both.

I would start outside with coffee and reading, then go to a pool or lake, then shower and eat on a patio. And, there would be no mosquitoes!

2. What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting high school? 

I guess how short of a period of time that would be in the grand scheme of life. But, even so, it’s such an impactful short period of time. The labels stick with you. The friends stick with you. The teachers – man do they ever – stick with you. I can’t tell you how often I think of a high school teacher and what they said or how they made me feel. I am so lucky to have had some great teachers.

Did I tell you that my beloved journalism teacher (I had her for three years) now works at the funeral home where my mom’s services were? I got to talk to her for about an hour when I picked something up before the visitation day and then she came to the visitation.

I wanted to be a writer/reporter for a long time.

3. What’s something that bothers you if it’s not done perfectly? 

I’m pretty chill about just getting things done/not expecting them to be perfect, but here is something I hate. Tom does this to me sometimes. When my dryer clothes aren’t all the way dry and someone takes them out and stuffs them in my basket. Tom is often deceived by the heat of the clothing when it’s still damp. Don’t touch my laundry! I am very good about folding/hanging it immediately.

Sometimes he will do this with towels and I hate a damp towel!

4. What’s the most overrated food you’re convinced people are just pretending to enjoy? What’s a trendy food you actually do enjoy and would say is definitely not overrated? 

I like sushi, but I’m not obsessed with it. Some people seem to be. I think it’s better as an appetizer – like a few pieces, you know? I feel like cottage cheese is talked about a lot right now but I don’t love it as it is. I do like it mixed in eggs or with a few recipes. The kale marketing team was hired by cottage cheese. Remember when kale was so sexy?

5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or thats…

personal stylist or personal chef?  I actually like both of these things so can I say personal house cleaner?
dance like nobody’s watching or sing like nobody’s listening? dance like nobody’s watching. I need to dance more.
unlimited tacos or free pizza? Pizza but there are some really bad pizzas out there so I can not be tempted by a cheap gross pizza

bookshelf organization-by size or by genre? genre
ten minutes late or ten minutes early? ten minutes early! I get the sweats if I’m late or going to be late. Early bird gets the worm!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have decided how to spend my first day of school as a retiree tomorrow. I plan to have breakfast out with a mimosa and then get a pedicure. I will try not to be on the roads when the school traffic is heavy! I plan to take my first day of school outfit pic, too!

If you are still here (this post was long), what would you say to any of these topics?

Amy

Monday, August 4, 2025

I like to make lists each season of things I want to do because I think it makes me more intentional with my time. I’m excited to write up my fall list! I’m actually really getting excited for fall!

Here is my original summer bucket list post for summer 2025! This year I used a cute little worksheet and shared it with my friends Erica and Elizabeth on my patio during a happy hour in May. I filled it out more later, too.

It’s been a weird and quick summer. The weather was super rainy and then super hot. I literally don’t know where the time has gone! I think I did a lot on my list and really just kind of had low expectations knowing that it would be an emotional summer for me with retiring and with my mom’s estate. I have so much to be thankful for; I do know that!

-Find a summer scent – I think I have done this with my Ouai hair and body mist paired with my Trader Joe’s brazilian nut body wash and body butter. It’s a coconuty beachy scent. – I tried to love Philosophy Amazing Grace but it wasn’t me. I am still open to finding my scent!

-Go to Waterfront Wednesday to see my favorite and only cellist – lol – He is the Dad of my student of two years and I followed him and liked him and saw him in concert even before he was a Dad. So, it was a cool connection that I got to teach his kid! His name is Ben Sollee. – I did not go sadly. I didn’t want to mess with the crowds and it was still so hot!

-Go to an outdoor concert at a nearby neighborhood – We have not gone to one yet!

-Visit the botanical gardens for the first time – Not yet. I think it might be really pleasant in early fall.

-Watch White Lotus –Yes and it wasn’t my cup of tea.

-Go to the adult pool – Yes – I went twice!

-Go to the boutique hotel pool – Wednesdays free for teachers – Yes! I went a few times with different friends. I realized that the free for teachers day meant it was too teachery and felt like a professional development.

-Go to Erica’s country club pool – Yes! And, we have plans for me to meet her there another time.

-Go to new steakhouse at a downtown hotel – I had a reservation but we had to go to my hometown and it was going to be a struggle. We will try again.

-Make strawberry freezer jam again –Yes and it was fun!

-Farmer’s Market – Yes – one time and I felt like the shine has worn off. It’s just so busy and crowded and really, really pricey. Maybe I need to find another one.

-Pool party for the class of 90 – Yes and it was so nice. I got to visit with several people and it filled my cup.

-Boat – This has been a weird year for boating! First we had the flood aftermath and the river was in bad shape – high with debris. Then, at the end of June we finally got out but we had so many rainy weekend days. We really can only boat on weekends because of my captain’s work schedule and routine (Tom).

-Buy a grill – I really want a Blackstone! Help! – Nope. We have not bought a grill!

-Go to Penny and Pearl’s cookie shop with Elizabeth (she has never been) – No, but I went with Beth and she loved it.

-Buy elderflower syrup and do my spritzes again – Yes! I still like them but I am not as obsessed with the Hugo or St. Germaine spritz this year. By the way, I have not had much alcohol this summer.

-Go to Regatta in my hometown (hydroplane race) – No. It was hot. The end.

-Go to Ribberfest in my hometown (ribs and blues) – It is in two weeks and we might go.

-Go to Unbroken Circle music festival in my hometown – Hope to!

-Chautauqua in my hometown (arts festival in September)- Hope to!

-35th class reunion – Plan to go! I am also trying to get Tom to go to his 40th. I will go to his if he will go to mine!

Now, I know we still technically have summer weather for a long time, but once school starts in your area, the fall feels come on!

How has your summer gone?

What should I add to my list?

Thoughts?

Amy

Monday, August 4, 2025

It’s Monday link up day with Sarah and Holly!

How was your weekend? One highlight of mine was the weather and all of my reading time outside! You all know that I am a fair weather reader! I did improve my ability to read indoors this year, but I can’t tell you how happy outdoor reading makes me.

Yay for lower humidity! The mosquitoes are still here, unfortunately, but we can’t get everything we want.

Friday morning I finally set a timer for 30 minutes and tackled my basement storage room. I am lucky to have a storage room, but it had gotten out of control with some school boxes I brought home and some of my mom’s things that my sisters and I divided up. And, you can see there is a Christmas tree just hanging out by the door since Christmas.

I donated an entire back of my car’s worth of stuff but I still have lots more to go through. It didn’t spark joy.

I went to lunch with Mason at his favorite Cafe Classico on Friday. I honestly have not gone out to breakfast or lunch much this summer so this was a nice treat.

Ok, guys, I have an announcement. I received a sourdough starter Thursday night from a friend of a friend. I had just listened to Midlife Matters podcast about sourdough and really felt that I could do it.

I don’t think I can do it! Look at baby’s first loaf! She ain’t pretty!

It looked a little better on the inside but it was gummy and not done all the way. Also, I don’t have a Dutch oven. It’s just like me to jump into something without having all the right tools and thinking I can make it work.

Also, if it isn’t going to taste super sourdoughy, I would just prefer to do the delicious and easy no knead bread. I have my hands full with Eddie Otis. Do I need to have to feed something else?

It is now Sunday afternoon as I type this and I am feeding this starter like it’s a freaking pet and I am attempting another recipe to see if I can make it work. But, do I want a loaf of bread that requires over 24 hours of time! I was told that at this age I have to pick sourdough, pickleball, mahjong, or I don’t know! Who decided this?

I have so many library books right now! I picked up three more summer requests!

I read and finished this book this weekend and it took me a bit to get into it but once I was in, I was in. It’s so cute!

I got the nicest piece of mail. My aunt was telling us stories in Michigan and then took the time to type up more details and send this to my sisters and I. These were stories we had never heard and we were just enthralled. Turns out the my mom’s brother met his wife/my aunt at teacher orientation and they were married by the end of the school year. We counted that we have 12 current or former teachers on my mom’s side of the family. Did I tell you that?

Friday night Tom and I went to some outdoor music mainly to see our friend who invited us. The evening was so pretty but the food trucks were a fail. They said they would have food trucks plural but only had one with food we didn’t want so we ended up driving through McDonald’s on the way home at 8:30 and my stomach paid for it.

Saturday I delivered a birthday gift to my sister in law and then went to Haymarket.

The tomato display was oh so cute!

I had a lazy Saturday but I was on Eddie Otis duty because Tom went hiking with a friend. I was so ready for Tom to be home and handle him. When I have him outside he barks at every little noise and we have never had a dog that barks like this.

I literally never blow dry my hair, but I needed to wash my hair badly before Saturday night out. I got so hot that I had to call in my fan necklace.

This is middle age in a photo:

Also, that’s fun – my nostrils are now lopsided in middle age.

We hadn’t been out with my Heathers and their hubs in a long time and we had this reservation for a new Japanese place for maybe a month. They have only been open for two months and usually it’s good to wait a bit.

The decor was super cool. Some people were eating in these booths that kind of looked like beds and we realized they had to keep their legs and feet out in front of them while eating. Awkward. Can you imagine that on a first date?

Luckily we had a normal table:

I loved that the restaurant was super air conditioned since I still had my blow dryer sweats.

The details were great but the menu was not. It was so small and they were out of like three of the menu items. They only had 4 types of sushi and my friend is a vegetarian and had to make a special request for a vegetarian sushi roll. So, I just did the same that she did.

It was underwhelming. Fresh Market sushi is better especially on Thursdays when it is $5.

Tom is a notoriously bad orderer. He takes forever and then picks odd things. Like, we went to a fried chicken place and he ordered a Sloppy Joe and then didn’t think the restaurant was very good. Plus, who orders a Sloppy Joe at a restaurant? That’s like ordering spaghetti.

He ordered something that had three pieces of raw tuna and caviar and came in a lit up bowl of ice.

We all left hungry. I said, “You get food at home”. It was kind of like a Saturday Night Live skit.

Sunday morning and the air was cool…

Look at that froth!

I started this!

Isn’t the cover pretty?

Am I becoming negative? I hope not. I am just not fake (or I don’t think I am) so I am going to tell it like it is.

Sunday morning I had the house to myself for a couple of hours! Like, no one and no dog. It’s so rare now. I try to balance that time with relaxation and chores.

Today is the first teacher work day in my old district so I am feeling for my friends. I am feeling pretty giddy. How should I mark the first day of school for students on Thursday? I think I should get a massage or a pedicure and do something I could never do as a teacher. Any ideas? Last year I told the students that I would be sitting in a lawn chair heckling all the teachers and students as they pulled in to the parking lot. I also think I should do a first day of school outfit pic!

Tell me what you did this weekend!

Amy

Friday, August 1, 2025

Happy First Day of August!

It’s so weird that it’s August! It’s always been one of my busiest and hardest months and the heat and humidity are usually through the roof. It’s going to feel differently mentally this year for sure and I am hoping Mother Nature owes us some more mild weather. Please? I think I am going to get my wish for the first few days of this month at least.

Forgive me for sounding like a broken record but I am having a bit of an existential crisis – I am not researching comfortable but stylish shoes, shopping for a first day of school dress, buying school supplies, taking things to my classroom, crying in my bowl of ice cream, meal prepping or shopping for school snacks for myself, or any of the things I have done for the past 31 years! I alternate between being giddy about this and being a bit melancholy about this.

Enough of that and now, I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for the happiest post of the week.

Here are some of my favorites and I would love to hear yours in the comments!

Monday was a pool day! My friend Victoria belongs to a club called Lakeside that is really unique. It is a massive pool built into an old quarry right in the thick of a Louisville urbanish neighborhood.

I brought rafts and we stayed in this raft area below the whole time. You can even get sprinkled by the water fountain if you want! See the lime green raft below for context:

It felt so nice to be in the water chatting. I am such a water person! The minute we got out the sweat was pouring down our faces. It was a hot one!

The best meal I made this week was blackened tilapia sandwiches with remoulade sauce and avocado. I have made this a bunch this summer!

I love the skinny frozen haricot verts (that’s green beans for those of you who aren’t cultured – lol – just kidding) cooked in a skillet with some EVOO and soy sauce and various spices. Yum!

And, I have now made these twice… you heat oven to 400 and slice baking potatoes in half and cook them face down atop a pat of butter and a small pile of shredded fresh parm and this is what you get:

I think it took me about 45 minutes to get them to this state.

I also made a new Rosie Reisman dessert:

It’s like a way easier and not as bad for you s’more!

Click on the red font and I will let her tell you about it.

But, can I also say that I have such respect for these ladies older than me who are killing it on Instagram.

This is yummy! I still am obsessed with my Trader Joe’s brown sugar oat milk creamer, but I bought this and it’s a sweet treat.

Ok – stop what you are doing and go buy this mix. It is light – not like a heavy pound cake – and the glaze is perfect. I actually spread my glaze all the way out.

I took this to a old friend hang this week.

One of the ladies made sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies – omg!

So, about this hang. I became friends with two ladies during our kids’ elementary years. We were all “walkers” because our kids walked to and fro and we would wait for our kids to come out the “walker door”. There were maybe 20 parents that waited there. Then, our kids would play on the playground for a bit before we headed home. So, I got to know two ladies really well – Cheri and Jasmine. We had some happy hours and then kept up pretty well until all the kids graduated from high school and Cheri moved out of town. The last time I saw them was four years ago when they thanked me for teaching their last kids in my senior AP Spanish class at a happy hour. So, we had a lot to catch up on! We were at Jasmine’s house from 3:30-9! Cheri came to town for it. Jasmine had all kinds of appetizers set up and of course, I was too busy to take any photos.

And, I had a second pool day this week with a friend for her birthday! It was so uncrowded and lovely. We split a burger for lunch and it was next level. They have a fancy restaurant attached and the pool serves really good food.

So, I had a very social week!

Happy Friday! I hope you had lots of favorites!

Amy

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Hi there! How are you? Let’s talk fashion with Kellyann and Jill today.

First, let me update you from last week’s Fashion Files.

Chico’s tanks – I mentioned last week that I was looking for black and white tanks to wear with an open button up or my one and only kimono I kept. The Chico’s tanks were great quality but they were not the looser, flowy, body skimming type I was looking for. I also thought they would be hot. So, the good news is that I saw some at my consignment store that I can now try on since I know these didn’t work. I also can try Amazon Essentials brand since I have been happy with those in the past I returned them promptly and got my $55 back. Please – if you order things online keep up with your returns because there are so many people who waste money that way.

Old Navy order –

I ordered this blouse in two sizes and the material is tragic. Synthetic, weirdly shaped, and bad, bad, bad and so bad you aren’t going to even see a photo of me trying it on. I promptly returned the three colors with two sizes each to my local store. Again, do the returns!

Girl Math = I made $120 on my returns! He, he.

What I wear to a pool –

I only have one dedicated coverup now and it was recommended to me by Jenn last season and she has it in hot pink (and maybe another color?). I sometimes wear a light dress or a button up as a coverup, but I usually just wear this white dress. My sister gave me this Bogg bag she didn’t want. I have two of the exact same one piece swimsuits from Time and True Walmart with flutter sleeves.

I really like this outfit for those really hot days. I wore this Sunday to go to Costco and a couple places with Tom.

I had a TJ Maxx shopping spree the other day. I got this orange and white blouse for $13:

This fruity blouse for $13 and I wore it to the dentist:

And this denim blouse for $19:

I wore this to a happy hour at a neighbor’s house this week:

My friend’s daughter is getting married in a little over a week. I found this dress a few weeks ago at one of my consignment stores and thought it might work. It is a boutique brand called “She and Sky” and it was marked off additionally so I scored it for $12. I thought it would work for the wedding. You can adjust and make it more or less off the shoulder.

Since the dress is a solid, I wanted a fun shoe. Here is what I am waiting on to see if it works – the bottom floral design:

I hope it works and is comfortable enough. I scored them on major sale for about $44.

Let’s end with a little talk about adding some color to your skin…

I dropped my Sun Tan City membership or put it on freeze for now. I finally bought a tanning mitt and it is a game changer. I don’t think the brand matters.

Loving Tan is so good. I got medium and the bottle lasts a long, long time. I checked Amazon and I got mine exactly a year ago. It is a mousse that is tinted brown so you can see where it’s going. I put a very small amount on the mitt and only do my arms, legs, and décolleté. It dries very quickly, has no smell, and develops in 2 hours. It is great if you have an event or something and want a bit of color.

Before:

After two hours:

Oh to have unblemished legs again…

What has your fashion been like this week?

Amy