Friday, September 19, 2025

It’s Friday and link up day with Andrea and Erika – let’s share some favorites from the week.

I have stayed home a lot this week. The heat is back and I have just really tried to tend to the home fires with everything that happened last week. I have spent lots of time with Eddie Otis and lots of time reading. I have tried to stay off of social media.

First off, I was pretty happy to have a meal plan. I want to do Soup Sundays and did it this week.

Meal plan:

Sunday – spinach and artichoke stew – I changed it from chicken to mild italian sausage. I loved it but Tom and Mason did not. You win some, you lose some.

Monday – turkey sausage, roasted zucchini and potatoes on a sheet pan

Tuesday – spaghetti – I use Prego Chunky garden and add cooked ground beef and it must be angel hair (Tom’s rules – lol)

Wednesday – paprika chicken and potatoes with broccoli

Thursday – leftovers/on your own since Tom had a work thing called “Porktoberfest” they do every year after work. They have a locally owned butcher shop come and grill them up some stuff.

This is my creamer this week and I really like it, but Trader Joe’s is better. I just really like this brown sugar flavor! My friend Victoria told me to put regular brown sugar in my coffee a long time ago and I never listened – lol.

I took a break from the press ons this week and decided to do a nail strengthener followed by white, followed by a top coat.

Um, this is why press ons are better for me. Look how messy!

If you aren’t following mirabellecreations and you love the enneagram, follow her now!

Isn’t that good? Things to squash this fall!

On Netflix this week. I finished Love is Blind US and then I watched this and it’s surprisingly cute! I mean, it is definitely cheesy, but sometimes that is just want you need.

I remember trying to read Redeeming Love but not getting into it; this movie had me riveted even though it ended super abruptly in my opinion and it’s hard to watch for the content and things that happen. Be warned. You could watch The Wrong Paris with your teenage daughter, but I wouldn’t with Redeeming Love.

I was scared to start this book because I thought it would be sad and it is but it is making it hard for me to put down.

I loved this and recommend it! It was a fun read! I do try to go back and forth between a more difficult read and a more light-hearted read.

This is my new reusable produce bag. I forgot to include the photo in my Euro Style post this week!

Eddie Otis got an E.T. toy from Marshall’s and he loves it!

I think Tom and I enjoy his toys as much as he does! I could be making this up but I feel like Eddie Otis is more calm since I’ve become a stay at home dog mom.

Oh crap!

A neighbor has put up what appears to be a permanent lawn decoration – a chrome dragon. My kids found this hilarious.

I managed to get to The Fresh Market on Tuesday this week for their meat sale. I got my ground beef for spaghetti and my chicken for my paprika chicken and potatoes.

I had a strange Facebook memory pop up. Honestly, I could probably do a whole post on the crazy things that happened during my 31 years of teaching.

We had “open house” where the parents walked their kid’s schedule and we did a song and dance about our classes – not really – it’s just an expression – we told expectations and what the kids should learn. We had to go through a mock school day with bells and all and hold each class for like 8 minutes.

I was so distracted when this family came, brought their sugar glider (I didn’t even know what that was) and then proceeded to feed it a sugar glider danish (their words, not mine). I couldn’t look away from his tiny little hands. Look at his “fingers”! I literally forgot my presentation.

I did take a trip to Trader Joe’s this week and bought this Woodlands candle – it’s very masculine, not unlike Mahogany Teakwood.

And, this trio that Jen shared!

I also brought home two “snowball” pumpkins. I am a sucker for a white pumpkin.

I rarely go through a drive thru but I decided to try a doppio with cold foam in a venti cup and then I add my pumpkin spice. Yum! It was delish!

Grab one of these when you see one. I found this one in a shop in my hometown but I see them in boutiques and specialty markets.

There are some great recipes on the back or you can just mix it with red wine.

I’ve got my fall plates out!

I also made the easiest recipe of mini pumpkin muffins. You can add chocolate chips if you want.

Use a spice cake mix, a can of pumpkin can up with about 1/3 of water and mix all together. Don’t follow package directions on the cake mix.

I did 350 for about 12 minutes.

Love this! I am not into entertaining at my house recently but I like this idea!

I also bought some new silverware. Where do all the forks go?

I am very happy with the look and quality. Here it is!

And, last night I went back to press ons:

This shape is out of the norm for me. We shall see!

Tell me a favorite of yours this week! How are you doing?

Amy

Thursday, September 18, 2025

It’s Thursday and Fashion Files day with Kellyann and Jill.

Well, the weather was perfect for jeans and tops but then it turned hot again. I knew it would happen and that’s ok. So, I had to put on my tanning mitt and apply some Loving Tan. I swapped the jeans for the cut offs mostly!

I have been perusing my closet and rearranging things. I looked for anything linen, gauzy, tropical, or too summery and put it in one section because it feels weird to wear that now to me.

I looked for early fall stuff and realized it was slim pickins.

So, I took myself to my tiny Marshall’s next to Whole Foods because I wanted to go to Whole Foods and I like to bundle my errands.

I brought home three new blouses and I will now show them to you in my home mirror:

I thought that if you squinted and had bad vision you might think this was from Anthropologie. It’s just a simple button up in a lightweight silky material and I have been drawn more to blues as of late. I’ve already worn it twice, so that’s a good sign. None of the blouses were more than $19.99 and one said it was originally $118!

This is a striped tunic and I believe the stripe is a gray or charcoal gray. I liked the front placket and I think this will be easy to throw on and look better with something other than cut offs, of course.

I’ve been wanting a red/white striped button up or a burgundy/white stripe. This is red/white and has pretty little buttons and is a super soft material.

Saturday night I decided to wear this:

I have a new fall blouse using the gift card the Heathers got me for retirement that I am excited to wear, too:

Saturday day I wore this top but the same on the bottom as Saturday night. I had gotten sweaty and needed a change.

This is what I wore to shop at Marshall’s. I have a cropped t-shirt from Aerie and with my high waisted wide legged jeans nothing shows. I think it would look better with a long cardigan over it but it was too hot for that.

And, I wore the blouse again for a quick errand:

Some outfit inspo I really like:

Those sandals are fabulous! I could not walk in them, however. I like the patterned cardigan with the graphic tee.

It has been years since I have bought a pair of tall boots. I have been working with my Target black and tan suede-like tall boots from years ago when I have desired a tall boot situation. I really like them. They hit at the right place on my leg and they have a bit of a western vibe to them.

Here is last winter:

The tan:

The black:

Well, I got a wild hair that I wanted something like this:

I didn’t want to shell out for Frye so I discovered Frye & Co. and ordered vegan leather.

I was thinking I could wear them with my denim mini skirt, dresses, or maybe even wide legged pants.

Inspo from their website:

To be honest, I kind of got tired of tall boots in favor of the bootie. Sometimes the tall boot made my legs hot. I definitely couldn’t get through a full school day in a tall boot – lol!

So, we shall see.

Do you have any thought on blouses and boots?

Maybe I could write a country song called Blouses and Boots – “She was a force in her blouses and boots. She’d smile sweetly but watch your back cuz she’d kick you with her boot – steel toe like her heart. She’d drink whiskey from a tea cup and toast your demise while locking eyes…”

I better go now…

Amy

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

This might be my favorite set of questions ever from Joyce! Let’s go!

1.  Are you more life of the party or more party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle which side of the middle do you lean towards more? 

I am more of the life of the party until I’m not. My sisters make fun of me for having grand ideas and thinking I can do all this stuff socially and then I get tired. So, I would say I can be the life of the party until my social battery runs out and I get tired and in the right setting. I always say I am the life of the party at brunch. I just get tired at 8:00 pm. I don’t think retirement is going to make me a night owl. Who said parties need to start so late anyway? The young kids do day parties or “darties” I have heard. They need to workshop that term but I also love day drinking and then going to bed early. Don’t judge.

Birthday party, beach party, cocktail party, dinner party, charity fundraiser, surprise party, costume party, garden party, Christmas party, reunion...what’s your favorite kind of party? 

I like celebrating birthdays quite a lot. I also like Christmas parties. Beach parties – I live in Kentucky, plus sand is really annoying. Costume parties can be fun but also a lot of pressure and sometimes you don’t know if people are really going to dress up. I would be like Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde and be the only one who went all out.

I have learned that you have to say what you want to do on your birthday or you could be disappointed. I have learned you also sometimes have to just plan your own and there’s no shame. Tom never thinks to get me a cake so sometimes I even do that myself.

Speaking of Christmas parties…

My friend Beth made her basement so cool last year for her Christmas party! I wonder if she will do this again? Beth?

2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list? 

Oh, I don’t know. I love cheese and wine and I love balsamic glaze to put on things.

I planned and did all the work for my 50th birthday in my backyard. It was still Covid-ish times. Here is my drink set up:

It was Day of the Dead themed and I made lots of apps and ordered a taco bar. I started questioning why I was doing so much work but then it turned out to be really fun with lots of good memories.

This was a really fun birthday. We ate dinner and then went to a private karaoke room place to sing. Look at my mouth open and they were hogging the microphones!

This year we picked our college kids up and went to a nearby Mexican restaurant in an old church:

3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don’t you? 

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I love my birthday! I love everyones’ birthdays and love to celebrate people, by the way. I am usually asking people what they plan to do to celebrate.

4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily your same birth year, just the same date/month. 

I was born on Tuesday Election Day. My birthday is November 2, 1971. That’s all I’ve got.

5. Share two good things about your life right now. 

I’m enjoying having more time to read! I’ve read some really good books over the last month.

This has been my favorite:

I’m doing pretty well with cooking dinner and not overthinking it.

I made my first batch of chili a couple of weeks ago:

Then, we had turkey sausage, potatoes, zucchini on a sheet pan, spaghetti, and tilapia and broccoli with potatoes. For lunch I have soup or salad usually.

I keep a memo on my phone of what I have ingredients for and then just pick:

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tom eats out for lunch every.single.day and brings home leftovers at least 3 times a week. I took his leftover chicken salad, pickle, and delicious little cookie from Chicken Salad Chick and made egg salad and added crackers along with some pita chips and hummus and had myself a nice little lunch one day.

Mason usually eats Tom’s lunch leftovers which is great!

Ok, wrapping up the Hodgepodge, what would you say to any of today’s topics?

Amy

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

I am a bit enamored with the European lifestyle. I already knew this but I got giddy and embraced Fiona Ferris’ book. I love her books – they are just tiny little things – we aren’t talking War and Peace. But, I do find them inspirational and fun.

I think I could live in Europe but then I remember I love my car and my washer and dryer. Lol.

No, but really we do tend to romanticize life in Europe and I am a realist and know the grass is not greener. I do, however, think we can learn from some of their ways of life. I am also generalizing the term “European” and just thinking about life in the UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, and the other countries I have visited.

-Bundle my errands and park once in a neighborhood/shopping center and walk when I can

-Buy less food in bulk and buy less at a time – feel like this helps reduce food waste which is a goal of mine

-Buy more real food and less processed food – I really like buying food that I have to chop and I have the time to chop

-Tie a scarf on my bag – ooo la la! Try to incorporate scarves into my outfits without looking like a flight attendant

-Use real cups, plates, silverware and cloth napkins

-Buy less drive thru food; I rarely use a drive thru

-Buy less fast fashion and think more quality over quantity in my closet

-Drink more tea – have a tea or coffee in the afternoon

-Wear more stripes!

-Actually get dressed when I leave the house to do errands – no athletic or lounge clothing

-Wear pants instead of shorts

-Take a cloth tote bag with me on errands and use my new re-usable produce bag

-Don’t take phone calls in public or be on my phone in public – chat with people that I see and be present

-Use British style cork backed placemats on my tables. I gave these to my mom and she loved them and now I have a daily reminder since they are mine now. I like practical sentimental things I think.

-Drink from a wine glass or a pretty glass even if it’s only water or electrolytes

-Walk outside and walk my dog – I love having him off leash especially and he loves it, too

-Go to coffee shops and not drive thru coffee joints

-Slow down – Try to keep the busy “American” lifestyle at bay

I like to follow IG accounts of people who live in Europe. I just saw that a tradition in Spain when it is your birthday is for you to cook for your friends and treat them to a meal at your house. I like that!

I also embraced a simpler Christmas last year and one that I considered to be more European in style, even if it wasn’t exactly that.

I really hate the consumerism culture we live in and I don’t want people to keep telling me to buy more off of Amazon. I respect fixing things and using what you have. I want to get better at that.

I re-read my little collection of Fiona books when I need to stop and appreciate my simple little life and when I need to feel inspiration and gratitude.

Obviously I am not saying Fiona is a substitute for the Bible and its teachings, but her little books have helped me!

Do you have any ways of life that you consider to be European in nature? Is there a practice that has made you live life fuller?

What can you do today to add a little European flair?

Amy

Monday, September 15, 2025

Whew – last week was a week, wasn’t it? I am grateful for some quality time and conversations with people I care about and people that care about me. Isn’t that what we need when the world and our world seems dark? Thank you for Sarah and Holly for providing this link up. I read that in times of anxiety we should pray and give thanks so that is what I’m trying to do.

My Dad’s birthday was Thursday (9/11) and my mom’s was Saturday so I did like all modern women do and did a photo collage on Facebook. I received some nice messages through this social media platform so I am grateful for this technology that helps keep me connected with people that I might not otherwise connect with.

The original fam is one picture I posted. I’m the oldest – the one in the 80s sweater like my mom’s. I’m lucky to have had such a nice family, not that we were perfect by any means.

Books are my form of escapism now and I have fallen into a Love is Blind habit on Netflix, too. I have watched some of Sweden, some of France, and I’m excited about Germany. But, I am finishing US first! USA! USA! It is all people from Minneapolis, Minnesota right now. Their northern accents, northern-ness, and their love of a hot dish comes through. I actually think it’s really smart to do a dating show with people from the same geographical area. The premise is that you date behind a wall and have to fall in love without seeing the other people, so just going off of voice and conversation. Well, you know they aren’t going to have a bunch of junkyard dogs on it, right? The people are all fairly physically attractive and around the same age, too.

So, back to the books. Here is my request haul from the library. I’m not sure if I will get to all of them but a girl has got to have choices.

Friday was a lovely afternoon. Blonde Heather has a pool and I had been requesting a pool day so she invited Brunette Heather and I over around 3:00.

It’s back up into the mid to high 80s so it was a perfect day to do this – we had some charcuterie and I brought old pictures to look at. I was always the main photographer/historian in college. Then, we sat in the pool and chatted.

Later the husbands came to a Mexican place to eat dinner with us.

I ordered a chimichanga and it was a super weird version. It was tiny, very brown, and looked like a piece of fish. No comprendo as they say. Our waiter Homero loved me, though.

Saturday morning was lovely. I enjoyed my early fall decor on the patio.

I made restaurant quality bagel sandwiches (if I do say so myself) and then Tom wanted to go to my mom’s house to look at some house stuff.

Eddie Otis got to go this time and meet the neighbor doggies.

We had some house/realtor drama last week so that is what this trip was about. There were no showings Saturday so it was a good day for us to be there. I was able to change an HVAC filter all by myself and to turn off the notification on the thermostat.

It’s still very hard to go to my mom’s house and see it empty. I have been there three times now with it empty. My sisters haven’t seen it like that. It still has the same smell, but there is nothing in it.

I am trying to be kind to myself with a kid’s moveout two weeks ago, my mom and dad’s birthdays, the weight of selling the house, dealing with the responsibility of the house and its bills to keep it running for the showings, and a couple of other things on my heart.

Also, I have started worrying about what the holidays will look like this year. So, that’s fun!

With the weight of all those things, I am grateful for Tom’s steady but sometimes annoying presence. He is still the person that makes me laugh the most and usually it’s about really stupid things that we both think are hilarious. He’s also the person that I butt heads with the most. We fought about phone chargers in the car.

I also am trying to say YES to fun when I can, so our Saturday night was really fun. Our friend was playing guitar and singing at a cute little old general store turned tap room from 5-8 and we invited our friend Elizabeth to join us.

Look how cute!

We got to meet the guitar player’s new puppy Ruby Sue the cavapoo who was with Beth, his wife. I just realized I talk about two Elizabeths and two Beths and two Heathers and two Jessicas. Call me Noah.

The food was typical bar food and we got loaded tots and hot dogs, but they were fancy with prosecco on tap!

My prosecco from the tap!

And, they have a little ice cream shop on the corner of the general store.

Beautiful sky on the way home…

Eddie Otis has become better at just chilling…

It rained over night Saturday into Sunday but the morning was still beautiful and I decided to start this cute book; it’s a mystery which isn’t my usual genre but I’m loving it so far!

How are you doing? How was your weekend?

Amy

Friday, September 12, 2025

It’s been a hard week for our country and for me personally. I let some emotions get the best of me on Tuesday and then Wednesday we heard about more shootings. Plural. I am talking about another school shooting and the murder of Charlie Kirk. And, then yesterday would have been my Dad’s 83rd birthday and tomorrow would have been my mom’s 83rd birthday.

This makes Friday Favorites seem quite frivolous, doesn’t it? But, maybe we have to find joy where we can right now.

If you read my Hello Monday, you read that Tom and I got to get away for one night to go to a music festival. My pattern lately has been to go to the library and Trader Joe’s on Thursdays before the weekend and this is what I did last Thursday. I bought some fun snacks for the hotel.

TJ’s had such cute Halloween cards. I am trying to be a person who sends more cards in the mail.

I also packed a small cooler with these easy to open little prosecco bottles and the cans of wine. I got white, peach, and this one. They are pretty good!

Do you ever visit farmer’s markets when you travel? Most go until the end of October, I think. I so enjoyed doing this last Saturday and bought sourdough (No, I can’t make my own, Karen! I tried! I spent a week of my life trying to keep the starter alive. One loaf is like a 48-72 hour process, Karen) and a bag of puppy chow/muddy buddies from a sweet little Amish girl. I am not profiling. She had on the garb and I think the name of the business had Amish in it.

I also walked the length of Main Street and got a maple cold brew.

I saw this cute Airbnb in person and took a photo. I had seen it on the website but wanted to check it out. It was featured on Joanna Gaines Magnolia network I think.

Tom and I found a new favorite store. Tom loved the jams, pickles, and food items and I loved the decor items.

From that shop, I’m loving my new little marble salt keeper and my little gold spoon. I have Maldon sea salt in it.

I finished this book and found it very cute. Now I want to go to Amsterdam. I have been once when I was 25. My sister lived 45 minutes outside of Amsterdam for her study abroad in college, by the way.

Then, I went back to the WWII reads…

Oh gosh – I have a book hangover in the best way. I loved this story sooooo much.

I want to share a passage from the book that won’t give anything away:

“…there is a difference between a life that honors the past and a life dictated by it. When you let history shape your future, you relinquish the ability to choose a better way forward.”

This spoke to me in the season I am in. I don’t want to be bitter and I don’t want to be a know-it-all. I don’t want to tell teachers that I did it for 31 years and bIah, blah, blah. want to be someone that people want to be around and not one that brings people down.

Cute little boy on our walk…

I think this is where he was alarmed about a lady Windexing her front door.

Candle weather! This was another find from that shop!

And, I made my first batch of chili of the season. Here is my chili recipe. I think it’s the best chili I’ve ever had and it’s really simple.

Many years ago I had a student who worked at Salt Cave Louisville. She gave me a gift card and I went alone. The salt is supposed to be good for you and it’s called halotherapy. They were having a BOGO so I asked my friend Beth to go and it was only about $22 each. We did add on a weighted heated shoulder pillow for $8. You go in the cave and it’s dark with some twinkle lights and light music playing for 45 minutes.

Here is what it looks like before you go in and it’s dark:

We were allowed to pick a mantra from a bowl and mine was “I choose softness today”. I fully relaxed and cried (just tears not blubbering) for some of the time in da cave. I processed some things happening in my life and I guess I just had a release. There is no talking allowed in the cave so after our time was up we went to lunch at the French restaurant nearby and split a croque monsieur. Beth thought the fact that I cried meant that healing was happening. Have you ever done a salt cave? Do you have one in your town?

I feel like this is me to a T!

I don’t like this…

Have you watched Mormon Wives? I couldn’t with the second season. I really dislike these women. Choosing her for The Bachelorette defeats the whole purpose of the show I think. I don’t have to watch but I kind of want to just to see how it goes.

I started this…

I’ve enjoyed some outside reading time this week that really fills my cup.

Lap dog:

I love seeing this bond.

Amy

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Today is 9/11 of course but it’s also my Dad’s birthday. He would have been 83. I plan to use his expressions, make and eat some good food and tell people it’s good, and spread positive affirmations to people I care about in honor of my Dad.

I am not a big Amazon clothes shopper these days, but I do have to tell you that I got the cutest little scalloped cardigan that runs true to size I would say. You can find it here for under $15 in the color black like I got.

Also, Tanya said Loving Tan is 50% off at Ulta today if you need some. I do! I bought my bottle a year ago July and I still have some left but I will need a new bottle soon. That plus my tanning mitt is the best at home self-tanner I have done. I did quit my Sun Tan City membership in June, by the way.

I feel semi-set for early fall clothing as we have definitely had a tease. It’s going back to mid-80s now but without the humidity I think. So, I have been wearing long pants but will be wearing shorts and maybe dresses again.

So, I am now the owner of 5 pairs of Halaras gathered since maybe October of 2024. I had 3 pairs – medium denim, light denim, and black – of the high rise, wide leg, pull on in petite – until just recently. I can’t tell you how many times I wore and washed each of them but it is probably in the 50 times range? Now I have a pair of light straight leg and the striped wide leg below. Both of these I had to have hemmed but I was ok with that.

I took my striped legs for a test drive Sunday. I paired them with my Adidas and my Old Navy striped button up.

Side view:

Now, look at this…Target has a Halara dupe!

If you don’t know what Halaras are, here is the site to check them out. I know several people who also love them. But, I wouldn’t mess around with zippers and buttons. I think where they shine is in their pull on styles.

Here are my straight legs and I am standing in a very unflattering pose – sorry:

I wore the above to the second day of a music festival.

I wore this to the first day of the festival – old Target cut offs, my fruit blouse from TJ Maxx (no fruit after Labor Day?), and my Free People Mary Janes. Legs by Loving Tan.

For a girls dinner out I wore my medium denim Halaras, my cork Aerosoles, and my TJ Maxx blouse.

For rainy errands, I wore my new retro Nikes, my straight leg Halaras, and an old Target blouse. I like a black blouse with light jeans.

For the Salt Cave and lunch I wore my consignment Target button down, my striped Halaras, and my Adidas. I will tell you about the Salt Cave tomorrow.

So, as you can see…I’m reaching for jeans most days over the last week. I expect that now that it’s getting hotter for the next week or so that I will reach for shorts and dresses again. But, I think this gave me a taste of early fall and what I will want to reach for. I do plan on putting aside the linen, gauze, tropical prints, and anything that feels too summery in September.

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

It’s Hodgepodge with Joyce day!

1. What gives you energy? What takes it away? 

Laughing with people I love and deep conversation and connection with people gives me energy. Toxic people take my energy away. Stupid stuff takes my energy away. People that make things more difficult than they have to be truly drain me. You know those “you had ONE job” memes? I think I am a fixer and I look at a situation and want to do it a better way. This was the problem I started having with how my school was run. It was frustrating that the higher ups didn’t do things the way I would have done them. Are you like that, too? Sometimes I wish I could just chill.

2. How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear? 

I am doing really well with not surfing online or shopping for recreation. If I see an ad or someone recommends something I do think about it and shop if it fits my needs. I do like to shop in person as the season changes and just see what trends are out there, see what I have in my closet, and go from there.

I am realizing that I just don’t need as many clothes now.

I am trying to do less fast fashion and chose quality over quantity.

My last purchases were shoes and jeans.

I love sunglasses and bracelets the most and want to try a scarf ponytail or half up style with a scarf.

3. What’s something free that you feel grateful for? 

My library!

Sunshine!

Fresh air!

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner…which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What’s your go-to comfort food? 

I love breakfast food. I can eat it at any time of the day. My comfort food is probably mashed potatoes or a baked potato. I also love macaroni noodles with just tomato sauce and that was a fave of my mom’s. She hated breakfast food and often had leftover spaghetti or a typical dinner food for breakfast – lol. My Dad loved breakfast food.

5. This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges? 
9/11 is also my Dad’s birthday and he would have been 83! My mom’s birthday is 9/13 and she would have been 83, too. My sisters and I talked about marking their birthdays by doing something but they are so busy with their teacher jobs and kids so I don’t think it’s going to happen this weekend, but maybe we can do it later.

I was teaching when 9/11 happened. My principal came on the announcements and said “Teachers turn on your tvs to channel 3 (that was back in the day when we had the small tvs mounted high up on the wall near the ceiling and had the universal channel for broadcasting things) as there is something that is happening in our country right now” or something like that. We actually saw the second tower get hit live. The rest of the day was a blur and we did nothing academic, obviously. Students got picked up by their parents and I went home at the end of the day and put a VHS tape into my VCR and recorded the Spanish channel. It was just Tom, me, and our dog Archie. I didn’t get pregnant until February of 2002.

I feel like I keep referencing pre-pandemic things and post-pandemic things now.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I had a calzone last weekend and I can make this better. It wasn’t that good. The dough and the sauce were mediocre. I’m going to use my Budget Bytes stromboli dough recipe and just buy the Kroger brand pizza sauce which is a bit spicy.

It’s both exciting and disappointing when your food at home is better than restaurant food.

Amy

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

I am a packing nerd! Like, I really like to pack! This past weekend I had to pack for just one night away but I wasn’t quite sure what the weather would do. There was a chance of rain and the temps would be from 50-80 degrees!

I packed:

my rain jacket, one sweatshirt, sleep shorts and a tank, only one other bottom (I wore cut off jean shorts and only packed a pair of jeans), three more top options that would work with the jeans or jeans shorts. I wore flip flops but packed two pairs of sneakers, mary janes, a dressier sandal just in case for my foot wear. Shoes always get me in trouble. But, I packed really well, other than my shoes.

I didn’t wear one pair of shoes and I didn’t wear the sweatshirt or one of the top options that would have worked with cut offs or jeans.

TMI: My other tip is to bring more undergarments than you think you need. They don’t take up space and you will be glad to have them.

I thought it would be fun to bring a bunch of Trader Joe’s snacks for the car or the hotel room:

I made us hotel charcuterie!

We stopped for lunch on our way and then we had this around 5:00 and it was perfect to tide us over until we could get situated at the festival. Tom ate dinner at 8:30 and I didn’t even need dinner. You just never know so it’s good to have some back up food. Our room had a little fridge so it was perfect. Also, I brought some wine and prosecco.

I don’t pack shampoo, conditioner, or body wash for just one night. I love how many hotels now have this set up:

I loved these products and plan to look them up – Alice + Co Botanicals. I stayed at The Graduate in Nashville and then ordered their brand of products. So fun!

These sneakers were my walking sneakers and I wore them for my Saturday morning walk.

Friday afternoon festival fit:

Saturday festival fit:

It was a little cooler Saturday and I was happy I chose jeans. I did end up switching to flip flops when it got warmer.

Our hotel room was huge and really nice:

The hotel included breakfast and it was one of the nicer hotel breakfasts I have seen. Their coffee was really good, too. So, Saturday morning Tom and I went down to breakfast before we went to the farmer’s market.

Are you a good packer? I think I am. When my boys got a bit older (maybe 4 or 5), I would have them lay out what they planned to take on their beds. I would sometimes give them a checklist. They liked checking things off. We went on so many little weekend trips back in the day. We had family reunions, weddings, and just met family sometimes. They loved staying in hotels and immediately claimed their bed and got in it. We have so many fun hotel memories with them. One of these days I need to recap some of our family trips.

Do you immediately unpack when you get back home? I usually do! This time, I waited until the next morning and also did all my trip laundry. Ahhh there’s nothing like being back home and all organized.

Amy

Monday, September 8, 2025

Linking up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday!

Well, my twins turned 23 on Friday! They each got a cookie cake like this and we gave them actual gifts and some money, too. Jack got a Trader Joe’s gift card and money for a Costco membership – lol. They were thrilled with their adult gifts and then went to a bar with video games together – still got some kid in them, for sure! I love when they spend time together and try to encourage it without Tom and I in the way sometimes!

But, the day before that I gave myself a gray mani. Exciting!

And, I had a girls dinner out on the most gorgeous patio and in the most gorgeous evening weather. I ordered a fancy burger and grit cakes.

Friday we did our birthday celebrations early because Tom and I had a little road trip around 2:00.

We drove to my hometown of Madison, Indiana but for fun this time. We checked into this old factory that is now a Fairfield Inn right on the river.

We had tickets for a music festival and they were for both Friday and Saturday.

You guys – Tom is beaming!

We listened to music for a few hours without our chairs and then went back to the hotel and changed and got our chairs. The view from our room was amazing!

We lasted until about 11 pm!

The next morning Tom dropped me off at the farmer’s market and he went to buy protein shakes and go to the gym.

I bought a couple of things from an Amish girl (at the farmer’s market – she wasn’t ust a random Amish girl on the street) and then went to a coffee shop and got a maple cold brew.

Stars Hollow vibes on Main Street for sure. It was nice to have it to myself because it was so early.

I walked all down Main Street and then walked by the river and sat on a bench and called my sisters. It started raining on me so I went back to the room and Tom got back about the same time.

This little town is just such a part of my history. I actually won a speech contest about the town and had to give it on a stage over the river a long, long time ago. Nerd alert.

We checked out of the room and then Tom and I went together to a few little shops. We both loved this one and both found treasures. I found a candle, marble salt keeper, produce bag, and Tom found jam, jelly, and pickles.

We ate lunch at The Red Pepperoni pizza place.

Then, back for more music from about 2-8. It’s such a nice venue right on the river and we really enjoyed ourselves. We saw a teacher from my school so that was fun and we met up with a couple of friends Saturday afternoon, too.

The hotel was just a straight shot down the river from the festival and it was awesome to be so close.

Tom had suggested sleeping on the floor of my mom’s empty house. I vetoed that idea.

Did I tell you that I accidentally booked a hotel in Madison, Wisconsin instead of Madison, Indiana for the night of my mom’s funeral? Oops. I was able to get my money back after explaining what I did.

Also, there was a house showing at 10 am, so I don’t think that would have been a good look to present!

Ok, I will say one negative thing about the experience. Everything was perfect – the venue, the weather, the stage, the music, but…

The 80s called and they want your cigarettes back! There was so much smoking! Like real cigarettes smoking! Have you not gotten the memo?

And, we also smelled the devil’s lettuce A LOT. This is not legal in the state of Indiana.

Our eyes were burning from all the smoke. I also hate the smell of both kinds of smoke. HATE.

Honestly, my life had started to seem a bit Groundhog Day so it was a great little 28 hour getaway and it was important time for Tom and I to be just us doing something we enjoy. I’m hoping to do more of this. Mason was our dog sitter and we so appreciate him.

The drive home was beautiful.

It’s exactly an hour drive so it’s not too bad.

Sunday morning the temps were chilly!

I think it’s really nice to get a mug or a candle or something small that helps you remember a special time or place. My candle is called “Autumn in Madison” and smells of apple cider!

The striped jeans were ready for me on Friday and I took them for a test drive yesterday!

Tom and I went to Tom’s cousin’s daughter’s soccer game for about half of it yesterday afternoon. They were in town for a tournament.

And, I will leave you with the cutest view. Eddie Otis liked to mow with Daddy.

What filled your cup this weekend? Let me know!

Amy