Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Today I am linking up with two separate (and very different) link ups; the first is Let’s Look – Coffee Bar Area here and the second is The Style Six here, where I share what I have worn over the last week and recommend recent style purchases.

Let’s Look! – Coffee Bar Area

First, let me show you my coffee bar area – it is practically non-existent now or should we say in a state of transition. I am patiently awaiting my kitchen remodel and then hope to have a dedicated space or at least get a movable bar cart situation. So, why link up, you ask? Because I have a life-changing gadget to share. You may not want to give up the big monster coffee pot; you may just want to add this for your weekend coffee. It would also be great to travel with?

I have an 8 year old original Keurig. I have taken it apart and cleaned all the parts many times and this really helps. I did the vinegar rinse thing a few times, too. But, I think it is on its last leg. I have also been bothered by the k cups situation – the waste, I mean. And, I cannot for the life of me get a good cup of coffee with the reusable k cup and ground coffee.

So, I went to Facebook a week ago and asked about coffee makers. I have had my eye on the Nespresso, especially.

One of my friends told me about this $12 gadget on Amazon here. It comes with 100 filters, too. So, I thought I would try it for the price of two lattes, you know?

You slowly pour boiled water that has been allowed to cool for 2 minutes over the grounds in the filter and it comes out in your cup with not a single ground in your coffee.

I really like it! I am working on the amount of coffee and what type I like the best but I have tried a local blend and Peets Cafe Domingo so far. I have been doing 2 tablespoons of coffee. My only issue is it makes a very small amount. I have tried doubling it and it tastes bitter. Also, this is the best creamer. Dunkin Donuts Extra Extra.

Clothing with The Style Six

I have continued to wear comfortable on the bottom and a top on bottom.

I love this sweater that I purchased from Amazon. I have been pleased with the softness, the length (great for leggings), and the way it washes. I do line dry it.

I ordered this sweater in my usual size and I was so excited because I got a lightning deal and saved $7. But, I think it is too big. I am sending it back. If you order it, I would go down one size and possibly two sizes, depending on how you want it to fit. It is really soft. I think the quality is pretty good, too. I have found if you spend a little more on Amazon clothes – like $30 instead of $15, you get a much better article of clothing. I guess that was a pretty obvious conclusion!

I realized I had not shown my consignment purse that I use my fun guitar strap with.

This is by The Sak and I found it years ago at a consignment shop. It has been my go-to travel cross body, when I used to travel – ha!

I popped into Target and they had a nice Knox Rose display. My two favorite Target brands are Knox Rose and Universal Thread. I have tried to steer away from fast fashion, but I feel like the quality has gone up along with the price point.

This star jacket is widely talked about among the fashion bloggers.

This week I have been doing a wardrobe challenge to help me feel more content with my closet.

Monday was blouse and long necklace. This is a great material from TJ Maxx a couple of seasons ago and this is my original Kendra Scott Rayne necklace. I also have white. I have my old Pioneer Woman earrings – I originally saw them on her; they are by Stella and Dot and I found them at a consignment store! I sterilized them with alcohol and saved myself a lot of cash.

Tuesday was jeans day, Wednesday(today) is scarf day, Thursday is t-shirt and cardigan, and Friday is plaid. They are very easy themes and they help me get dressed and have a productive day!

I had a very bad blue laundry pod incident. The pods stained my clothes! I have switched to this for my clothes. I am using up the blue pods and making sure I put the pod in before the clothing so that it gets broken up quickly, but I will be looking for a clear pod after these are gone.

And, for our final topic….

Quick and Delicious Chicken

I made a pretty bold claim on Monday that I could make this chicken quicker than I could pull the meat from a rotisserie. I do it sometimes, but I find it so gross.

I use cooked, cut up chicken for so many things – salads, nachos, quesadillas, tortilla soup, and the list goes on.

Trigger Warning: You will see raw chicken…

Put a very small amount of EVOO – extra virgin olive oil in a pan

I like to use my basting brush to spread it around.

I heat the pan on medium high.

Now, buy the tenders – they cook much more quickly.

Do not remove from package – simply do your seasonings right there – salt, pepper, garlic powder, and I added the elote seasoning from Trader Joes because this was for tortilla soup.

Now put in the pan seasoned side down and season the other side the same way but in the pan.

Now, you want the heat to be high enough to get a nice brown on them. Do not try to turn them too quickly – I think I needed about 2-3 minutes on the first side. Flip to the other side and do the same.

Now, put a lid on the chicken and keep on the hot burner, but turn the burner off. I let sit for about 5 more minutes. It keeps cooking and the lid I think is the secret to moist chicken.

Here is what one looks like – I took it out to test doneness.

And, then cut up.

So, this process takes me around 10 minutes and I find it much more flavorful than rotisseries. I know that you can buy the meat off of the rotisserie at some stores, but the price is usually higher than my method. I can usually get this pack of chicken for about $4 or less.

So, what a random post today about coffee, clothing, and chicken! What is your coffee method? What have you been wearing? What are your chicken tips? He, he!

Thanks for reading!

Amy

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

For our first installment of “Fashionable Friends” (and maybe our last – just kidding!), we have my friend Beth. How did we meet? We met about 23 years ago in the halls of a high school where we both worked. In fact, I probably was drawn to her because of her style – at first! And, the rest is history!

I have always thought Beth had great style!

Here is Beth with me when we did a distillery tour.

And, here is Beth when we ate at a speakeasy. We took pictures of each other on this stage.

By the way, Beth has been one of my faithful happy hour buddies over the last year!

Now, in the words of Beth…. Amy’s thoughts will be in italics. Beth’s words will be in standard font.

Let me just say, to start, that I have not had this much fun with clothes in almost a year. A pandemic really does reduce the need for outfit creation. So, it was fun to dust the clothes off, style some outfits, and take photos. So, thank you, Amy, for the invitation. Awww, you’re welcome. It was also really fun for me to collaborate with you!

I have always enjoyed following fashion trends (although I usually don’t leap on board with most of them), and I love to look at pretty things. I would describe my style as fairly classic and simple, but I often like to add a little something to give off a bit of a boho vibe. When I look back at old photographs of myself and compare them to ones taken today, I am always amazed that my general sense of style really has not changed that much. The only factor that appears to change is the general shape or silhouette of the clothing. Of course, my body shape and silhouette has changed over the year,s, too, but that goes without saying. 🙂 The other day I stumbled upon a photo taken in the late 80s. I had the big 80s hair going on, and I was wearing white jeans and a chambray shirt. White jeans and a chambray shirt are still wardrobe basics for me. I was even wearing camo pants back in the day, and I still am now. I have always gadded about in jeans and tees, button ups and tailored pants, easy-to-wear jackets and blazers. Mostly, my wardrobe colors are neutrals, and when I do add some color, it is generally soft pinks and muted purples, like eggplant and raisin. My wardrobe is simple, but I do like to add some interest with shoes and scarves. I don’t like to wear much jewelry, and when I do, I generally only wear one type.

For example, if I wear earrings, I usually won’t be wearing necklaces and bracelets, too. Lately, I developed a fondness for bracelets, and I like stacking several together, sometimes on both wrists. Yes, it is all fairly boring; but people have complimented me on my style over the years, and I think that is because I always feel comfortable; and if you feel comfortable, you are confident.

Lately, I am trying to add style by combining laid back pieces with dressier pieces. There is something about the juxtaposition that seems to ramp up an outfit. Dressing up a pair of jeans with a lace or silk shirt and heels and a cool blazer is my jam. Wearing a rumpled, casual button up with a pair of tailored pants and a fancy belt works for me, too. The Europeans are really good at this vibe, and I try to model some of that sytle more in my choices lately. Also, I have a very limited wardrobe; and my mantra is always “quality over quantity”. Perhaps this is why I don’t have many clothes…I can’t afford quality sometimes, so that affects the quantity! 🙂

Lately my go-to shopping sites are: The names of the sites are clickable; if you click on the name, it will take you to each site.

J. Crew

Madewell

Everlane

Alex Mill

Sezane

Emerson Fry

I must admit that I had not heard of all of these! I had to do my own research! I am also a big fan of Madewell!

So, without further adieu, here are a few of my outfits that show some of my style choices:

One of the best things I have bought in the last few years is my leather moto jacket. It just makes everything more cool. I like styling it with a dark floral flowy top, jeans, and clogs (I love clogs!).

When Beth told me she bought this jacket I knew she would look so cool! I have these clogs, too! And, you all know how I feel about clogs!

Here are some examples of contrasting the feel of the pieces to get something a bit more interesting. In the first, the shirt is casual and cotton with a military vibe. I styled it with tailored wool pants, a fancy belt, and lady-like kitten heels. In the second, black silk shirt, tailored pants, but topped with a faded vintage denim blazer.

Love the olive and black combo and I would also put this with the cognac booties! I used to have a denim blazer. That would be a really versatile piece and we are seeing lots of blazers again.

I have always been a jeans girl/woman; and have not really bought into the athleisure craze. I am very active and exercise a lot, but I prefer to keep my exercise clothes separate from my everyday look, you know? However, the pandemic and resulting at-home life has resulted in the embracing of some of this look. I bought two pairs of leggings and two tops from Prana. Here, I have the outfit styled with my super-comfy fuzzy Birks, and a lightweight scarf.

I was surprised when Beth told me about her Birk purchase! I bet these have been her go-to shoe of the pandemic. They look so comfy but with enough foot/arch support to wear at home all day everyday with no foot issues.

This outfit shows how I like to add a little boho flair from time to time. Because I am petite, I like to keep a long line going with similar colors on the top and bottom; so, here, I have black jeans with a black sweater, and it is broken up with a flowy poncho type-thingy. Love my new ankle boots from Kork-Ease, too.

I think this is my favorite outfit or it is tied with the moto jacket ensemble. I love the modern look of the brown with the black and you know that I am a vest/poncho gal.

Also, we are talking winter clothes here, but I am the one to talk Beth into taking the leap and buying white jeans! She loves them and wears them often in the summer. While brunching together in June, she did the white jeans, white t-shirt look and it looked really chic.

Wasn’t that fun and doesn’t Beth have great style? The style lesson here for me is that you don’t have to have a ton of clothes. Be you. Pick a few things that fit great, make you feel great, and that you can mix and match. Beth is a much smarter shopper than I am. She buys pieces that last and needs fewer of them and she keeps them multiple seasons. Beth, teach me your ways!

Amy

Monday, January 11, 2021

Hello to you and hello to Monday! I hope I can keep this post from being too long as I am linking up with Hello Monday here and Not Just a Mom here.

I want to apologize for being a bit down last week. I am feeling more positive now for a couple of reasons. January is flying by and it is my least favorite month and I am seeing real progress in our days staying light out later. Also, I think it was probably good for me to get back in my routine and I had a pretty good first virtual school week back after break.

Also, you know you aren’t dressed yet, right?

Participate in my wardrobe challenge!

Today – blouse and long necklace – I know it’s Monday but dress the way you want to feel, right?

Tuesday – jeans that you haven’t worn in a while

Wednesday – scarf

Thursday -t- shirt with cardigan

Friday – plaid

Do one; do all. The point is to wear what you have in your closet and to help you get dressed to be productive each day. I will show you what I wore after the week is over.

Friday morning is one of my days that I start teaching early (so I wasn’t able to go out in it right away) but it was still nice to wake up to a bit of snow!

You can tell that it started getting lighter out in the later photos. So pretty!

Friday called for my favorite top of the winter I would say… the Aerie pullover.

Ernie got a little lunch time snow walk. He had already had a morning snow walk with his Dad.

And, then I stopped taking photos for the day on Friday! The kids had a Covid test that was mandatory for moving in on campus – both were negative. Mason went ahead and moved in on Friday afternoon because he is in a play(that will be recorded) and had rehearsal Friday night from 6-10, Saturday 10-10 (ended up getting done much earlier), and Sunday 10-10. Wow!

Tom, Jack, and I had pizza for dinner and watched some t.v. Jack is still at home with us because he is changing dorms. I am very happy about this; he will be in a single room in the same dorm as Mason for this semester. The dorm is a little nicer and the rooms are a little larger. So, the room had to be sanitized from the student who moved out. I am guessing that student is commuting now or moving to another dorm, too. So, I think his new room will be ready today or tomorrow. He still has his old room if needed. But, classes are online for the first week.

Saturday morning I read a bit of this. I had read it before but I remembered it and requested it again. I am kind of skimming it. It is kind of along the lines of The Happiness Project about making the most of what you have and being content and grateful. I love this kind of stuff.

Then, I went to Kroger at 8:00 a.m. I had not been inside in weeks. I did not get a big load because I had already done a pick up earlier in the week; I just needed a few things.

Not only is the Valentine stuff out in full force, but there is also Easter stuff! Hold the phone!

I picked up some 97 cent bobby pins and some little clips for $2.99.

Also, I am not really married to a particular shampoo right now and I saw these for $2.99 each and thought I would try them out. I am a fan so far!

Trigger Alert:

Cooked chicken coming your way…

I prepped chicken for a couple of recipes – blog post coming soon. This chicken is way better than rotisserie with way more flavor and I think I can cook it faster than I can get the meat off of the rotisserie chicken. That gel on the bottom of the rotisserie wigs me out. What is that? I have made some big claims here, I know, but I will show you my way very soon…stay tuned.

I made some Chex Mix.

I did some Zumba. I discovered that there are some free workout shows on Amazon Prime Video.

And, I learned something amazing. I asked my friends on Facebook for coffee maker suggestions earlier in the week because I think my Keurig is on its last leg. I have thought this before, too. It is 8 years old and the original model. One of my friends told me about this $12 gadget on Amazon by Melitta. It is super easy and I think I really like it! You put this little filter think on top of your cup, insert a paper filter, put 2 T. of finely ground coffee, then pour boiling water that has been left to sit for 2 minutes into the cone slowly while swirling it around the whole filter and then you have a cup of coffee. I decided to try this before investing in another Keurig or a Nespresso. Any thoughts on coffee makers? I am the only coffee drinker in the house and I drink 2 cups every morning and sometimes do an afternoon cup.

A wonderful surprise happened in the afternoon – Mason texted and said he was done with rehearsal and he would like to eat with us. He loves his roommate but his roommate was gone for the weekend and I think maybe Mason wanted to take advantage of home life a little longer.

We picked up Joella’s Chicken and had one last family of four meal for awhile.

Ernie also likes Joella’s chicken.

I watched a bit of The Proposal after dinner and then we watched a bit of Gilmore Girls. Now Jack is getting Mason into it and telling him how good the acting and the dialogue is. I may have two actors in the family. They talk about camera angles and stuff like that, too.

Sunday morning Mason had rehearsal again. I went to The Dollar Tree and Target but didn’t buy much. I realized Valentine’s is only a month away and I need to do my decor soon. There is a lot of good stuff at The Dollar Tree, by the way.

O.k, folks, the next strange pandemic shortage is chopped green chilies. I am sorry to be the one to tell you this. I use them in my breakfast casserole and in my soups and a few other things. First was the toilet paper and now is the green chilies. They were not to be found at Kroger and Target was my second and final stop. Kroger had a dramatic sign up telling us about their absence.

Target has a Black History Month section which I thought was cool.

The rest of Sunday I did meal prep for the week, tv show watching, blog work, and school work. I also did laundry and cleaning both days.

Now, for the Not Just a Mom link up. This month the topic relates to being cozy and small comforts. I am big on this and talk about this often. I learned about Hygge a few years ago and it really made sense and helped me embrace winter. I love having four distinct seasons but there is something I don’t like about each of them and something I love about each of them.

My ultimate goal for my home is for it to be cozy and a place of comfort. Have you ever been to someone’s home and thought, “how do they lay on this couch and eat chips?” I have.

I think so many things can make a home cozy and the people in them cozy. “Cozy” is a very funny word. How many times can I say “cozy”?

I love twinkle lights. Lighting can really create a comforting vibe.

I love warm drinks to make me feel cozy. This was a hot toddy at a restaurant but I have made bourbon hot chocolate at home. I would like to learn some more hot beverages.

I even think smells can make you feel cozy. When I made apple butter in the crockpot this fall it was such a comforting homey smell.

I prefer natural smells, but I don’t find Glad Cashmere Woods to smell artificial at all. In fact, I took a break from this scent from last winter/spring until this winter and when I recently plugged this puppy in I got the best feeling. It is currently in my closet and that is it for now. I also have the candle I will start lighting soon.

A fire indoors or outdoors is the ultimate in feeling cozy. We love our Solo Stove and have used it at least 20 times since we got it.

I think a sectional is the bee’s knees in cozy furniture.

Last winter we bought a new “winter” bedspread at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Did you know they carry Ugg for home? This comforter is by Ugg and the underlayer is faux sheepskin. OMG! It is wonderful! We liked it so much we used it in the summer, too. Ernie also likes it. Yes, we are dog on the bed type of people. And, that in and of itself is cozy! Have you ever had your feet warmed by a 90 pound chocolate lab? There is a “dog sheet” on top but as you can see Ernie doesn’t let little things like that affect his comfort.

This fall I started “Soup Sundays”. I make a bowl of soup on Sunday and we have it for dinner that night; then I eat it for lunch a few more days.

Last week we had cabbage vegetable soup with kielbasa.

Yesterday I made tortilla soup.

I am also very big on nice feeling fabrics. If something is itchy or not soft enough I won’t buy it. Slippers and robes are also a way to give yourself a small comfort at home. Many small comforts don’t have to cost much money, either. There is nothing like taking a shower at night and getting into a bed with clean sheets.

How was your weekend? What are your favorite small comforts?

Amy

Monday, January 4, 2021

I put a question mark because I am not sure I am ready to say “hello”. I guess all breaks must come to an end but today seems heavy to me for a few different reasons. I am linking up today with Heather, Lindsay, Tanya, and many more here.

Last week was really nice. I like the week after Christmas and I like it when Christmas falls on a Friday, you know? Monday, December 28th Tom went back to work and I had some weekdays at home to myself (and the boys) and it’s just nice to chill without the hustle and bustle of Christmas tasks. Gosh, I love a week day off, you know? It just feels different.

I did OPI Alpine White on my nails. I am getting better every time I do a home manicure.

Thursday was rainy and overcast and I turned on the patio lights. I am loving these!

And, Thursday our plumber came back! See the red, white, and blue?

Now, it is time for drywall to go over this! Drywall makes a big mess. But, this is such a smaller space than the drywall project we had a year ago.

Also, on Thursday I went to Target for a couple of things for NYE that I needed – food supplies – instead of to Kroger. The Valentine’s Day stuff is out in full force! No, I did not buy anything!

Then, I wanted to have a day time fire and have everyone join me, but everyone didn’t want to join me. I sat out and read for a bit.

Fire and….

ice… in the rain chain. I thought that looked cool.

I had been craving lasagna for some time – I think I am the only one in the family, though, so I decided NYE would be the night. I used the real lasagna noodles but soaked them in a bowl of cold water instead of boiling them and dealing with hot noodles. I had seen this somewhere. You guys, it was so easy! Anyway, it turned out great and I froze several pieces for later.

AT 7:00 on NYE, my cousin April had put together some games to play on Zoom. It was really fun and we stayed on until 8:30. Then, I am embarrassed to say that I only made it awake until about 10! The boys ended up staying home and talking to friends online.

I drank my prosecco from my SIL. I am becoming a big fan!

New Year’s Day came and I made a different breakfast casserole with bread this time instead of biscuit dough.

And, I had one more can of Grands biscuits – the bigger ones – and I decided to do a monkey bread in just a little round cake pan and it worked! This time I left off the butter on accident and it didn’t matter! So, sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar in a baggie with the biscuit pieces and then dump them in the pan and bake and pour the cinnamon glaze on top when it comes out of the oven.

I started prepping my good luck foods – did you think I was joking? I am not messing around! I did cabbage and saved some of it plain and used the rest of a veggie soup with kielbasa – so not a veggie soup after all!

We did a little football watching/Amy reading.

Then, I went outside when the sun came out and got hot enough to put shorts on! It was so warm!

Tom and I went for a drive. The river is really high.

We drove along the river and downtown and it was pretty quiet and empty because a lot of businesses were closed for NY Day. We parked and walked around a bit and it was a good time to check out some new to us places.

This has a lot of potential – a new brewery marketplace with room for more businesses. You kind of go down an alley and would never know this was tucked away!

This is a new karaoke bar with a filipino food truck permanently housed here? And, I learned that karaoke is Japanese but in Korea they have something called “norae” and it is a private karaoke room for just you and a few friends. Apparently there is one of these norae bars on every street. I think we are talking South Korea, not North Korea, by the way. Chuckle.

And, this has been here for a long time – Garage Bar – it’s a former filling station/gas station that is now a restaurant with lots of outdoor space.

There is so much fun stuff to do and I miss being around people!

New Year’s Day Dinner: black eyed peas from a can, cabbage, corn bread, pork, potatoes, and oranges.

The boys were not really excited about my dinner or my superstitions.

Come back tomorrow and I will talk about my decluttering plan for the month of January and I would love to have you join me!

I tackled medicines and

spices. It’s not how I want it to be because I am awaiting a kitchen remodel, but I did the best I could.

Tom and I did the Costco run together. We really only go to Costco once every two months or so. We get our dog food, paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent (still mad about my blue pods!), dishwasher detergent, trash bags, some toiletries like toothpaste and lotion, and then some food items every now and then. I feel like you have to be really careful at Costco. You get really excited about an item but then things can go to waste if you don’t need that much, you know? Yesterday we got dog food, batteries, chips, lettuce, and paper towels. We did well with resisting temptations and Tom didn’t stray to the electronics like he usually does.

Mason went to a friend’s house and Jack and I watched an episode of Gilmore Girls. No one is more surprised than I am that he was interested. He thinks the acting is really good. Then, we ate dinner and watched a show as a family.

Sunday was the day the kids had to get a Covid test at their college. Mason had been randomly selected back in October but Jack had never had one yet.

Friday, January 8, 2021

How was your week? I am linking up today with Andrea, etc. right here for some favorites and more!

This week has been a lot. It was a full week of back to virtual teaching for me and the last week with my boys home. And, of course, the strife in our country is unsettling – not to mention that we are dealing with a global pandemic.

I have a few goals for this year and one of them involves streamlining my house cleaning. When I run out of current cleaning products I want to replace them with better for the environment supplies, too. My mom gave me this Scrub Daddy for Christmas (among other things!) and it works really well. You simply wet it and it works like a charm. It won’t scratch your pans. Here is the Scrub Daddy on Amazon. Also, he smiles at you while you are scrubbing, so what’s not to love? Who’s your Daddy? Scrub Daddy!

I had a Kroger pick up during my lunch break one day. It’s working really well for me. Their app now has a feature where you tell them you are on your way so they are ready for you. Then, when you get there you open the app again and say what spot you are in. No joke that I pulled in and my groceries were out to my car in less than a minute. I have some friends that complain about the grocery but refuse to learn to use this service. So. frustrating. I have offered to help! It is wonderful! This is definitely a favorite.

Love this brand of hand soap I picked up and lemon is such a good smell for me. It is so kitchen-y and my Dad loved the smell of lemon. With washing my hands so often, a nice soap in the kitchen and bathrooms is super important to me. I am big on smells and having a nice one really affects me.

I also picked up some bird seed so I could watch birds again – I hope! That was one of my spring hobbies!

While walking Ernie I saw something shiny in the grass. I thought it was a penny and it was 3 pennies, a dime, and a nickel! Special day for me – many of you know that I see coins as signs from my Dad. Even if you think my belief is silly look at it this way – I made 18 cents on my walk!

So, we got rid of ATT Uverse and got Youtube tv. Therefore, we lost the small kitchen t.v. that wasn’t a smart t.v. (I know we could have gotten another fire stick but we didn’t) and the cable box that was taking up counter space. I have been using this photo frame holder that I have had forever as my ipad stand for streaming shows while I cook and clean the kitchen. I decided it is also nice to read blogs like this. It is always a favorite to fill a need with something I already owned.

So, another goal this year is financial.

Pretty crazy, right? I would have no problem adding to cart in the amount of $27.40 each day. I am really trying to put things in my cart and have a holding period where I wait a few days and see if I still “need” it. I am paying for two college kids this semester, we are trying to renovate, I would like to take a trip, and I just don’t want to look back on this year and have Amazon boxes and clothes I don’t need to show for it. So, if you are also in the same boat, I will be talking about some things I am doing. Now, I do want to say that I recognize my privilege in being able to choose how I spend my money. I know there are so many people in our country really struggling. I will still spend a bit on myself and on helping local restaurants by getting take out or enjoying their patios, but I am being more intentional with my discretionary money.

So, my 30 Bags in 30 Days project ties into my financial goals. I could have easily bought gloves because I was disorganized and didn’t realize how many pairs we already own!

I tackled the hall coat closet one afternoon this week. What a mess! The floor was the main problem. I had tote bags, cooler bags, and so many scarves, hats, and gloves.

I also found my wooden beads that I thought I had and my blue January decor garland! Why did I put it there?

Being disorganized costs money and I hope to improve this situation! So far I have done hall closet, nail polishes, spices, and medicines. I am a little behind but I can take some time this weekend to knock out several areas. This is a favorite and I hope you will join me in your own project!

And, finally, I am doing a wardrobe challenge that I hope you will participate in with me. Every season I want to wear all of my clothes for that season if I can. If there is a reason that I don’t want to wear it – fit, style, out of date, etc. I need to let it go. Also, about half way through each season I get bored with my clothes so this really helps to breathe new life into my closet.

Here is my plan for next week – it is very low key and easy to do:

Monday – blouse and long necklace

Tuesday – jeans that I haven’t worn in a while – it’s time to gauge the holiday treats, gals. It’s gonna hurt

Wednesday – scarf – a scarf serves as a necklace and it keeps you so warm and cozy

Thursday – t-shirt with cardigan

Friday – plaid

Easy, right?

Happy Friday!

Amy

Thursday, January 7, 2021

This post was a reader request – Hi Gaby! Plus, I thought maybe this would appeal to others, as well. In my pre-pandemic life, I loved getting shellac and dipped nails but at the same time I thought about all the time and money I put into the maintenance, you know? Also, a little factoid about me: I got really tired of the color after about a week. You, too may have given up the nail salon right now in favor of going bare of DIY.

I am not really an expert, but I have polished my nails all of my life practically. I just like the look. Plus, I am not very crafty so this is kind of my little art project. Mom and Kate, does it count? My mom is a retired art teacher and my sister is a current art teacher. I did not get the artsy crafty gene.

Find a time to do this. You will need about 45 minutes minimum to be still and not use your hands. Or, you can divide it up in 4 steps with maybe 15 minutes of time blocks, but you deserve the self-care, you know?

I recently discovered that sitting at my virtual teaching desk while waiting to tutor students works well. But, normally I do this in the evening while I am watching a deliciously shallow show like one of the Bravo Housewives franchises.

Take care of your trimming and filing a different day if you can. I do not really have cuticle issues, but you may also need to do that. If you can do it a different day, take care of that and wash your hands really well.

By the way, this also gave me the push to do one of my 30 Bags in 30 Days areas that I talked about here.

Look how out of hand my polish collection was:

I am happy to say I got it down to a more manageable size that all fits in my caddy.

As you can see above, my favorite brand is OPI, but Essie has some really cool colors in my opinion. How many times in your life have you finished a bottle of polish? I have actually used entire bottles of OPI colors so that tells me that quality saves me money in the long run. If I buy a cheapie for $4 I may only use it twice, but my OPI that costs $8=9 gets used up. Here is Alpine Snow on Amazon, which is a favorite of mine.

Let us compare the brushes, though. I hate Essie brushes. I love OPI brushes and think that helps me get a better manicure. If you have small nails you may prefer Essie. You may have to experiment. And, if you can get a cheaper brand to work for you that is great. I find that the consistency is not as smooth, the colors are not as saturated, and they just don’t give me the salon-ish quality I am after.

I got a wild hair and thought – what if I use an OPI brush from a top coat I am not using with my Essie…. it fits! This is my new plan! I did wipe the brush clean with remover before putting it in the Essie bottle. REVOLUTIONARY!!!!!!!

Many of the things I have learned from the nail professionals. If your polish is a bit gummy or old, put a drop or two of remover in the bottle. Then, shake and roll, shake and roll. Have you ever watched how many times the nail techs do this? It is very important.

Now it is time to begin. Take a paper towel and swipe all nails with a bit of remover even though you think they are clean.

Now, do your base coat and I cannot stress this enough. Do a very light coat. Light coats will be the name of the game throughout our process. Let it dry. This will dry very quickly.

And, here is our process before we get to the photos:

1. Light base coat.
2. Light first layer of color – does not need to be perfect edge to edge this time.
3. Light second layer of color – does need to be perfect this time. Take your time.
4. Light top coat.

You will need at least 10-15 minutes between each of the steps.

This is my favorite base of all time and it dries really quickly. I have already had it for 6 months and have hardly used any. It may seem pricey but remember how long it will last and remember the going rate for a mani is like $20 every week if it is just normal polish, right?

Step Two: Do a very light first coat of color. It does not have to be perfect.

After letting the first coat dry, it is time to get serious. Maybe pause The Real Housewives of Orange County? Do your second coat more meticulously and make sure you go edge to edge. By the way this is an Essie color called “Bikini so Teeny” but I am using an OPI brush.

Let fully dry.

Now, end with your top coat – remember make it a light layer. I am loving this top coat right now.

Sorry for my shadows, but it gives a nice professional looking shine like you would get from shellac, almost. You may remember me using my OPI top coat and going to bed 3 hours later and getting hair marks all over my mani? I do not have that problem anymore with this top coat.

I can get about 5 days out of this process. That is with washing a ton of dishes lately and not being careful at all.

I will say that I think keeping your nails a bit shorter helps the manicure last longer.

What do you think? Any tips for me?

Amy

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

I didn’t do a great job with outfit photos over the break despite my best intentions! I apologize! I am linking up with The Style Six here, though.

First off, I want to tell you how much I have been wearing these. I realized back in March that working from home should not mean barefoot at home. So, many days I wear these even in the house. I wish I had gone down a half size but they are o.k. I can’t remember where I got them now – sorry. They were around $30!

I kind of did a splurge over the break on a pair of Target boots. A student gave me a gift card so I felt like it was o.k. I say “splurge” because I pretty much stopped buying shoes from Target in favor of spending a little more on footwear as I got older.

These are super cute and Universal Thread (you know I love this line!) and while they won’t be teaching boots or walking boots, they will be sitting on patio boots. You don’t have that category of footwear? Lol!

Aren’t they cute?

I have a new lip obsession and I did include it in my Prime post yesterday. I love the texture, the smell, the longevity – everything. I want more colors. It is called the Maybelline Superstay Ink Crayon. This is a great product for under your mask.

Right now I have Lead the Way – the lightest of my colors – kind of a nude.

Run the World – a medium pink

Make it Happen – a dark berry

I mix them all together, too! Love this product. Find them in most grocery and drug stores and on Amazon.

Here are the two bottom ones mixed.

My mother in law gave me a makeup set for Christmas and it included this mascara which I have been wanting to try. It was time to say goodbye to my last mascara so the timing was great. I really like this!

My work from home outfits are so different. When I was in school I was all about the rule of 3 – a top, a vest, pants. Now, I am just a top and earrings (I do have on clothing on the bottom half but it’s not noteworthy and sometimes it doesn’t even match!) I have plenty to get me through winter and I have done a great job so far of resisting winter sales.

I am not going to rule new stuff out, but I am really trying to just wear what I have. I am going to do some wardrobe challenges coming soon! Join me! Let’s wear what we have and at the same time weed out some things that no longer work.

I polish my nails at least once a week. OPI Alpine Snow is a fave. I just prefer the OPI and Essie polish for my nails. I wish the cheaper ones worked well, but they don’t and I end up wasting money.

Normally over winter break I would go to the mall, TJ Maxx, my consignment stores – it’s so fun to look at the after Christmas sales. This year I didn’t feel like doing that, but I did go in my local boutique once that has my new favorite brand – Savanna Jane.

This top below caught my eye! It’s $62 which is a bit more than I normally spend, but I am really trying to have less but stop buying things just because they are cheap. I need a piece to speak to me.

What do you think of this?

Case in point: This top was $54 by the same brand and I have worn it at least 20 times since purchasing it in September. So, therefore this was a better buy than a top that cost $10 and I only wore once. This is a real struggle for a life long bargain hunter!

My sister doesn’t like the snakeskin nearly as much as the leopard floral so she told me not to get it.

And, I showed you these yesterday in my prime post but I am loving my new Amazon slippers here. We need arch support even in our slippers, gals.

What have you been wearing?

Are you shopping for winter clothing?

Amy

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Linking up with Tanya to share a few of my recent Amazon Prime purchases you might like. Then, I am also sharing my 30 bags in 30 days project so keep reading!

It was time to say goodbye to my 8 year old Ugg Scuffette slippers. I had asked for them one Christmas and boy did they do their job. I picked these randomly on Amazon and I am super happy! I like letting the ol’ pigs breathe, too, you know? The price point was good. I started having a little foot pain over the break and I think I need support when I am working from home or walking around the house all day. I am wearing shoes more of the day now, but these will give me more support than the worn in Ugg slippers did, too.

A sweet student gave me an Amazon gift card and I purchased this live plant.

I also purchased a four pack of fairy lights that come with remote control and different settings for the lights – blinking, etc. Beware that each set of fairy lights requires 3 AA batteries.

And, you know I am a sucker for lip products. I love everything about this lip crayon and now have 3 colors. I am layering the different colors for different effects, too.

Mason wants more color in his wardrobe and really likes this one. I ordered this for one of his gifts and he and I are both super impressed with the quality and the feel. We are both big on things being nice fabrics. This is a men’s but I think it could also work for women.

And, I want to mention my purse strap again. Mine is camo and it appears they don’t have my exact one anymore. For $14, this gave me a new purse. It works on two of my bags but I have been using it most on my small off white cross body. These sell for $31 in my favorite little boutique and I do want to support small businesses and I do, but $14 just seems more appropriate for what this is. Look at the two I am considering below! So cute, right?

I just love breathing new life into something I already owned. It feels so good!

30 Bags in 30 Days:

Who has decluttering listed as a goal for 2021? I feel like I have to constantly keep up with clutter or it will overwhelm me. For inspiration, I watch a little Marie Kondo or Home Edit. I will never really understand it, but less is more. I feel like I have MORE to wear when my closet is less full. If I have too much clutter in any one area I just can’t seem to function.

This idea is not original to me. It came from The Larson Lingo Blog (no longer a blog but you can follow Mel Larson on Instagram) a long time ago and she called it “40 Bags in 40 days” and I believe it was during Lent. So, her plan had her finished by Easter. The idea was that she fill a bag of stuff to donate, sell, or throw away for each of her 40 spaces she identified. Tip: She said to use black garbage bags if you have kids so that they don’t see what you are donating!

I decided to declutter a space for every day of January. And, I may double up and do multiple spaces one day. Also, it doesn’t really matter when you start, just that you do start! You can also do it in January and maybe just pick 25 areas.

1. Medicines – Go through all of our over the counter medicines, check for expiration dates, and organize – did this over the weekend.
2. Spices – did this over the weekend.
3. China cabinet in dining room
4. Office supply drawer under microwave
5. Nailpolish
6. Makeup other than nailpolish
7. Bathroom linen closet
8. Cabinets above microwave – this space is poorly utilized but I did a big clean out a year ago so it is not bad
9. mudroom – masks not wearing, dog towels, buy bins
10. basement storage room shelves
11. Amy closet drawers – especially jewlery and accessories
12. tupperware drawer
13. plastic wrap, baggies, foil drawer – have accumulated too many takeout silverware sets
14. Game closet in basement
15. hall closet – gloves, hats, etc. – do this before boys go back because they will need this stuff
16. undersink cleaning supplies
17. drawer by back door
18. dishtowel drawer
19. pantry
20. cups – too many free plastic cups accumulated
21. Amy car
22. Amy lotions, hair products
23. DVDS – keep or donate?
24. pots and pans and baking dishes
25. Amy school stuff – take some back to classroom
26. freezer – January is eat from freezer month
27. fridge – time to check for expired condiments
28. Amy socks
29. silverware drawer – wash the plastic organizer
30. blankets – weed out and wash all blankets

So, here is my list! Instead of saying “kitchen”, I am being specific and tackling one small thing a day.

Saturday I did my medicines – got all of them out, looked for expiration dates and organized.

I also did my spices. Where do you keep your medicines? Is it weird that I have my spices next to my medicines?

I am not touching anything of Tom’s, Jack’s, or Mason’s in my plan. I am doing the things that are kind of my domain or spaces that I use the most.

So, join me! Or, give me some tips!

Amy

Friday, January 1, 2021

It felt weird to type 2021! I am going to treat 2021 like I would a cat. I am going to not expect too much and I am going to tread lightly. Sorry to any cat lovers out there – this has been my experience!

I mentioned earlier this week that I am feeling a bit out of sorts with all of the uncertainty that 2021 holds. Will things really get better? Can I be an effective virtual teacher? Will I go back to teaching in person in a couple of months? Will my kids be able to stay on campus for the second semester? How will the vaccinations go? So many unknowns… Are you feeling this way, too?

I am going to eat my lucky foods today and take it one day at a time or one week at a time, I guess.

I took my Christmas decor down on the 28th. I love it for about a month, but then I crave minimalism, you know?

A student gave me an Amazon gift card so I ordered this pothos plant(upon many of my readers’ suggestions for an easy to care for plant; yes, Amazon truly does have everything, including live plants. I think I will need to play around with locations so that it gets the right amount of sunlight. Also, I am doing Thirsty Thursday where I water on Thursdays if needed.

Tip for your mantel: Look around in other rooms of the house for books and Knick knacks that fit your color scheme. It’s amazing what you can find just from shopping other rooms of the house. It’s good to see all of your rooms with fresh eyes and moving things around can be really good!

I chose these books that are light green and blue with gold lettering. I am pretty sure these were purchased at a used book sale by my boys many years ago. They were big into educational books.

I decided to keep my faux greenery up along with my twinkle lights. The wine glass does not stay there. Don’t be afraid to mix real and faux. I think it works.

I also decided to keep up my rustic sparkly antlers for a woodsy look. I love this little piece of decor that I found at my school’s craft fair a few years ago. My friend got one, too.

Monday morning at 8:00 I went to Trader Joe’s on a mission – to get plants (and a few other needed items). I think they were in between seasons with their plants and I need to go back. They still had poinsettias and evergreens. I am thinking they will get new plants in soon.

I did pick up these three small plants for $7.99 each. I also should check my Kroger’s plant selection. I’m trying to become a plant lady!

I am not sure about this space yet. I am still thinking… For now I have the giant monogram pallet I made with my friend Beth at one of those DIY workshops and this little plant.

I also ordered some tiny little battery powered lights from Amazon that I plan to incorporate with some plants. You can find them here.

I have really only spruced up my living room with this decor. The combination of greenery and twinkle lights is making me feel calm and happy.

I have a lot of Valentine’s decor so I am sure I will add that in and take some stuff away come mid to late January.

2021 Rules for Amy:

I am cautious about resolutions so will call these “rules” or “guidelines”.

-Get outside every day. If it is a sunny day, I especially need to get outside before it gets dark. Record/write down the official time of sunset. We have already made progress! The shortest day of the year/day with least amount of sunlight is December 20 and we are already almost two weeks out from that date! For example, last night the sunset was 5:32 and just a few days ago it was 5:28!

We keep the patio furninture covered, but it is easy enough to take the cover off. We typically have some warm days thrown in here and there in January and February so that will help.

-Try new recipes and maybe do Hello Fresh or other meal service again for 2 people instead of 4. I think it may be much more affordable that way and we are in a rut. I have been making all the old favorites with the boys home. I plan to do more salads and soups and low carb when the boys return to school and it’s just Tom and I. I also plan to go back down to a $500 a month grocery limit.

-Plan a social outing with a friend at least 2 times a month on a heated patio. I have a list of some new heated patios I would like to try.

-Build winter fires outside a few times. My friend said she had a fire in the snow on Christmas Day! How cool is that?

-Read some good books. I started this. But, re-start my spend no money on books plan that I have had for years. I made an exception during March-May before my library re-opened.

And, I put in several library requests. I looked at books at Target and snapped some pics of ones I thought looked good. Bonus, my weekly library curbside pickup gets me out of the house in a safe way.

-Watch some t.v. shows I missed. Over break I watched Bridgerton and Country Ever After on Netflix and The Spanish Princess on Prime. Give me suggestions! I don’t like anything sci-fi, too dark or scary, or too cheesy.

-Declutter and organize. I plan to make a list of spaces to work through – maybe one space a day during January. I will explain more in a dedicated post. Some of these spaces will seriously only take 5 minutes. It’s really fun and rewarding. Nothing makes me more angry than buying something I already have because I am disorganized.

-Really try to avoid winter clothing sales. I do not need anything to get me through winter. I find that sales are really a trap for me. I buy things just because they are cheap. These tend to be my bad purchases that I end up selling or donating. I am really working harder to buy less but spend a bit more.

-Do my traditional wear every piece of winter clothing and if I don’t want to wear it for some reason – no longer fits, doesn’t fit my style, etc. put it in donate pile.

-Keep a running list on my phone of clothing pieces I would like to add. Hopefully these will be spring pieces!

-Think about planning a trip. I find the research to be really fun. I don’t know what spring break will look like. The boys have a spring break weekend from college – so a three day weekend in early March. I have a week in April.

I have a few more ideas but that’s enough for now!

Happy New Year! Come on, 2021 – we are counting on you!

Amy

Thursday, December 31, 2020

I have been reflecting a lot lately on my 2020. I have told many people that I feel like a different person in some ways. I have learned so much and grown so much. To read over this is a bit surreal.

Grab a coffee and read if you are able! What are your takeaways from 2020? Do you feel like the same person?

January – the year turned to 2020 and I couldn’t believe my senior twins’ graduation year had already arrived. That’s all I really remember!

February– thoroughly enjoyed Jack in Pride and Prejudice as Mr. Collins. He was so funny and even got a mention in a local arts review (bragging a bit – but give me that because it would be the only live performance we would get to see of him or anyone in 2020!)! WE also got to watch Mason’s final academic team competition. Both kids did quick recall from 5th-9th grade and then Mason came back to it for senior year and it was so fun to watch. He shined (again, give me this, o.k.?) and our team was good – and coached by one of my teacher friends. It was just fun. February was a fun month for our family.

March – crunch time for college decisions. Acceptances were all in, scholarship offers were on the table, but it was time to decide. I was starting to stress and I know I was annoying my kids. Then, March 13th happened and life as we knew it came to a halt. We were off of school for two weeks and then one more for Spring Break. Those three weeks were stressful – lots of Zoom meetings for me and wondering how? why? when? where? At this point, we thought it would be a short break.

I didn’t have any masks and therefore really only went out in the neighborhood.

I was already doing Kroger Clicklist so I kept doing that. This was the wipe everything down before bringing it in the house stage.

This was the bake homemade bread stage and the Dalgona iced coffee stage. I also started using Dinnerly meal prep for 3 meals a week. I continued this for a couple of months.

April – started back to school virtually for boys and teaching for me. It was weird. Attendance to live classes was not mandated. There was no set schedule. It was b-a-n-a-n-a-s. I was still trying to get my students prepared for the Spanish AP exam. Jack and Mason were falling into bad sleeping patterns. The weather started warming up and I sat outside a lot. I had lots of happy hours while talking on the phone to friends.

May– I couldn’t wait to be done with the school year. I need to get that monkey off of my back as I said repeatedly. I had masks and started going out to some stores. The end of May brought the re-opening of our restaurants! We thought summer would bring normalcy. I really thought the virus would run its course when the heat came.

June – celebrated Tom’s birthday, Father’s Day, visited my mom with one of my sisters in my hometown, lots of boating. The boys mostly hung out together. There was lots of sleeping in. I started saying they were on second shift. I started becoming obsessed with red sandals and bought clogs and sandals.

July – had a fun day with my sister and BIL on the river. They journeyed down river by boat from our hometown. We celebrated our 20th anniversary with take out from Outback. We had a small family grad party in the yard.

August – Lots of Amazon arrivals and shopping for college supplies. I was shocked that the boys were really able to move in on campus. I was sad and dinner and the evenings were hardest at first. But, I worked for two weeks to get ready for real virtual school this time. So, I was really busy and that helped to make the transition to an empty nest easier.

September- busy, busy with school and learning our new schedule. Tried desperately to learn new names and faces – for those who would turn cameras on in live classes! Settled into a new empty nest normal with Tom. Still boating! Lots of socially distant outdoors social time with friends. My sisters and I met in my hometown for a girl’s day with my mom. That was really fun.

I made apple butter in the crockpot! I embraced lots of things apple and made my first apple cider sangria of the season.

October – Still learning routine, still boating, still socializing, kind of liking only being responsible for myself – and Ernie! I embraced all things pumpkin! We went out to eat on a patio a couple of Saturday nights a month.

November – celebrated my 49th birthday at an outdoor restaurant with my two besties and their husbands. Moved my college kids home November 20 and had a small and kinda sad but safe Thanksgiving. Put boat up after a super warm second weekend of November! We lived it up with 3 days in a row of boating one weekend.

December – Boys finished their classes at home and took online finals. I finished with school for 2020 on December 18 (again, I was ready to get that monkey off my back), frantic shopping (mostly online) for Christmas took place, lots of cooking, lots of dishes, visited my mom for our Christmas with her, Tom’s parents did a drive by Christmas. We watched some shows, movies, and played some games. I cooked a ton and there were so. many. dishes. again. I was so happy to have my boys home.

General Thoughts:

I will always be grateful for my home. It truly was as place of refuge. My outdoor space saved me. I gained another outdoor space with our new deck and we ordered furniture online that has worked out great.

I am so grateful for our renovation timing. We were able to move into the new bedroom and mudroom in March. I would’ve been so unhappy had we not been in the place we were.

From March-December I got two pedicures and no manicures. I learned that I don’t need to have those services.

I rarely got take out coffee and again, I love my coffee at home. It seemed like I only was doing the Starbucks because I was already out and it was just easy.

I never wanted to work from home but I have really enjoyed the respite from such a hard core structured school day. I didn’t miss the hall duty, behavior issues – even just asking kids to put phones away was getting really old, the lack of being able to go to the bathroom. I also have liked getting up at a more civilized hour. I do miss all the good things that come with teaching, of course!

My daily walks with Ernie have saved me and him. We had simply the best weather from September – November. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to be outside more.

I feel like I have slowed down. I haven’t been in a rush in I can’t remember how long. This has been so good for me. I have a tendency to be very Type A.

I tried so many homemade recipes – my own salad dressings, enchilada sauce, bread, coffee drinks, cocktails. I know I became a better home cook.

I feel like my friendships have never been better. Life was busy before March and It was hard to even make a phone call happen! At first I did a lot of – “I will call you at 4:00 and we will both sit outside with a cocktail at our own houses.” Then, I did some one on one happy hours on my patio, friends’ patios, restaurants. Almost all of my socializing was one on one – just me and another friend. Sometimes it’s harder to talk when there are more people so I feel that this really enabled us to grow closer. At first no one was eating anyone else’s food so it was very low pressure entertaining. My work friends Erica and Elizabeth, my friends Victoria, Sheila, Beth, and my college besties Heather and Heather helped me so much. I am a pretty social person. One social activity a week was my goal and it usually happened! My sister Kate and I talked on the phone a lot, too. My sister Molly was harder to talk to because she went back in person without missing much of a beat and has a very busy life with 4 kids and a long commute.

I am so grateful for Tom, Jack and Mason. You want to talk about people that adapted well without complaint? It’s them. Jack and Mason have always loved being home and they had each other. I think their bond was strengthened during this time, too.

And, finally, I was so grateful to have this blog. It was a lifeline between me and the friends I have made through blogging.

I know there is so much more I could say, but I think that is enough for now.

Thank you for sticking with me!

Amy