This is a hard time of year to get dressed! It feels one way in the morning and another in the afternoon, no?
I am happy to link up today with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files.
I pulled all my fall blouses, sweaters, and anything in my fall palette to one area of my closet. Some of the things need to go, but I tend to find those things as I am trying to get dressed in the morning when I don’t like the fit or how it looks currently. I keep a bag in my closet for when this happens. It’s been really nice having all of these fall colored tops in one place. I am just cycling through them and pairing them with whatever pants.
I wore this to meet Victoria for happy hour and stopped on the way at my fave consignment store where I took this picture. I am still loving these old MIA clogs and the jeans recommended by Jenn from Dillards Westbound brand. They are pull on with a bit of a tummy control panel.
I wore this Friday for all black for the senior class. Each class had to wear their class color. I am a senior. The sleeves of the top from TJ Maxx are a little fancy and I felt kinda ridiculous. I did successfully stretch my Sambas in the freezer with baggies of water. I also hairdryed the backs to make them more pliable. Ha! I AM ridiculous!
In other fashion-related news;
Overheard in class on Friday…
“He always has his dogs out in his Chacos. He needs to put them away.” They were talking about a teacher who I had also just noticed was still wearing Chacos without socks. The kids really hate feet. What have feet done to them?
Then, later that day at the pep rally…
This is a student teacher, so maybe 22 years old?
Is this what it’s come to?
And, literally the funniest Halloween costume if I were going to a party this year! The blue coats! Where does one find that shade of blue in a long coat? I guess Utah?
I bought Jen’s Amazon pants. I ordered my usual size in green and orange and they were too big so I sized down in the pink for comparison and I still think I could go down a size, but I kept them. I was fickle about the color but didn’t have anything in the pink color, so I kept it. Length was an issue for me at 5’4. They are a light waffle material. They look more like sweatpant material in the Amazon photo, fyi. I think they will be handy to pull on this winter even at home, too.
Also, I have let the Skechers Mary Janes go. They have no support and make my feet sweat something fierce. I am mad at myself, but sometimes you just don’t know.
This week, I wore some new pants recommended by Mid Life Posh Closet on IG. They are really great! They are yoga pants that look like a dress pant (ish) and they come in short! They are still a bit long on me, but I like the look. They are soft as butter, super warm, and have pockets! I am pretty sure I will be living in these this winter.
I forgot to tell y’all, but I bought a watch a couple of months ago. I love not relying on my phone at school, especially when I am a stickler for phones being kept put away.
1. Monday was National Apple Day…did you eat an apple or enjoy something made with apples on Monday? Do you like apples? Do you prefer your apples raw, baked, or in cider? Do you have a favorite variety of apple?
Shoot! I did not! I meant to bring cut up apples and caramel dip to school but I forgot. I like my apples cut up and I prefer a light red variety – fuji, honeycrisp, something like that. I want to add more apples to my diet. I really do love them. I love cider and I love my apple cider sangria!
2. Do you think there’s any truth to the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’. Of the following healthy habits which do you find easiest to incorporate into your life and which is the most difficult for you to adopt-
adequate sleep, a balanced diet, plenty of water, eat breakfast, don’t smoke, exercise, limit alcohol, include fruits and vegetables in your diet, manage stress, limit screen time
I do. I think our food is medicine. I think as a high school teacher it’s hardest for me to get enough sleep and water and exercise.
3. Who taught you how to drive? Do you enjoy driving? Would you rather be the driver or the passenger? Do you have a favorite scenic drive near you?
My Dad taught me at 14 on an automatic. My first car at 16 was a stick and that was a whole other story. I finally had to put in the practice and “teach myself” on country roads with my sister Kate (younger and no help – just along for the ride). I remember us rolling backwards on a hill. I also remember getting stuck in my dear neighbor Terry’s (Terry is such a special person to my adolescence – she moved in as a 22 year old new mom with her husband and son and was 12 years old than me. I babysat all of her kids and she loved me and doted on me) driveway and she having to back up the car. Lol!
4. What small habit has had a big impact on your life?
I guess getting up early before my kids since they were little. This quiet time has made me a better mom and a better person. I don’t have to rush into my day, but I can ease in calmly.
5. Tell us about something nice that happened to you recently.
I guess it would be a sweet kid telling me my class is his favorite and how funny he thinks I am. I guess I still got it – lol. But, seriously, it’s hard to be the older and not so cool teacher sometimes.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I ran into a former student on Sunday who is now a new teacher and I gave her the advice to keep a work/life balance, limit when you check emails, enjoy your weekends, and all the things that it took me way too long to learn!
With about a month left until Thanksgiving , I thought it was time for a good old -fashioned check in. I don’t feel like I have done much, to be honest. It was all about getting ready for Spain before Spain happened, you know?
Usually I am very good about writing community things down in my agenda and then actually doing some of them. This year it seems like I just haven’t had the time or energy to go to much!
-Decorate for fall. In the last few years, most of my stuff is just pumpkin (white pumpkins!) so it isn’t Halloween specific. This lets me have it out from September through Christmas. I do have a couple of specific Thanksgiving things that I add right after Halloween. My decor is now more nature based, neutral, and minimal I would say. – I did minimally decorate but don’t feel that I can put much out because of puppy. He is literally into everything. Oh well. I also have no fall patio decor this year. I haven’t even bought any pumpkins or mums! The weather has been weird and our ferns are still going strong.
As I decorate for fall, declutter the decor that no longer makes me happy. – I really need to go through boxes in the basement storage room.
-Celebrate fall birthdays – my twins’, my mom’s, besties Heather and Heather, and mine – We had a nice day with my kids and I went to my hometown to take my mom to lunch. I have not gotten to celebrate the September 25th and October 16th birthdays of my Heathers. I have their gifts but we have not coordinated a date yet. And, mine is in November. It’s hard enough to coordinate with one couple and two couples is even harder!
-Buy Mrs. Meyer’s acorn spice and fall leaves cleaners – possibly a candle, too – Yes, I have been enjoying my MM handsoap. I didn’t buy a new cleaner or a new candle from MM but I bought an Autumn Sangria candle from a local candle maker.
-Buy a new apple and pumpkin candle – I bought the autumn sangria candle.
-Find and cook apple recipes in September – I bought a can of apple pie filling and tried to make an apple crisp and it flopped. I cut up green apples and dipped them in caramel sauce, though.
-Find and cook pumpkin recipes in October – not yet!
-Enjoy my patio in what is possibly our best weather! – yes! I try to take advantage when I have time and when the neighbor’s ex-husband is not making noise. They’ve been divorced for 15 years and he never lived there. Some of you asked!
-Use Solo Stove – not yet!
-Buy pumpkin Premier Protein for iced coffee – yes! I ordered off Amazon and it’s yummy!
-Get a Starbuck’s PSL once – no and not sure will. I bought one from Bamboo Donuts on twins’ bday and theirs was so much better!
-Celebrate my birthday – not yet. It falls on a Saturday and I am trying to decide what to plan.
-Get my Kendra Scott piece – this might be part of my Saturday bday plan.
-Attend Ocktoberfest(s) around town – they were either when I was in Spain or busy. I would still like to find one.
-Attend the Punkin’ Chunkin’ (pumpkins catapulted into river) – yes – this past Sunday!
-Do a fall boat ride(s) to leaf peep and just enjoy boat until time to winterize – the leaves really hadn’t started to turn yet, but we do love fall boating.
-Buy good apple cider from local orchard – bought $8.99 cider from Kroger! I guess it is from a fairly local orchard.
-Make my apple cider sangria-once, yes.
-Make soup! – made potato soup and enchilada soup
-Make chili! – yes and it turned out so good!
-Go to boutique pool before it closes for the season. I have some dates reserved. It has gotten really popular and you have to make reservations on Open Table. They told me it would be open at least through September but I am hoping it will also stay open in October. – went on twins’ bday!
How was your weekend? Mine went by quickly again! Why do they do this? Ha! And, October is flying by for me. I need to do my Fall List check in soon! I am happy to link up with Sarah and Holly to share what I did.
I worked to get caught up on comments this weekend and then I realized so many legit comments went to my spam folder on my blog! Eek! I am so sorry if you haven’t gotten a response from me yet.
The highlight was definitely that Tom came home! He got home at 10:15 Thursday night after being gone since 5 am on Tuesday. Did I miss him or his Eddie Otis routine? Both! I am spoiled that he literally never has to travel for work. He was pretty tired Friday morning, but EO and I got him up and then he went to work after doing his walk so I didn’t have to get out in the cold. Yes! Single puppy momhood is hard!
Friday was a quick day! We had shortened classes (but still enough time for me to give my Spanish 3 their quiz – ha!) and then ended the day with a pep rally.
It had gotten really nice out and Erica and I wanted a sunny patio for our almost weekly Friday happy hour. We picked Boombozz and I got hot in my all black ensemble.
I took an emo selfie…
We ordered cheese sticks and I think my stomach paid for it for the next 24 hours.
I went home and the fam had leftovers and I didn’t eat anything else. I have started Nobody Wants This with Mason. I watched it on the plane but kept falling asleep so I have re-watched it. Mason is really enjoying it. It’s so well-written! Have you watched it?
You better believe I was so happy for Saturday morning! The sun was shining! I went out and did the library, Trader Joe’s, and my Kroger pick up and then I let myself relax and read in my fave spot! There were no power tools going!
Finally around 3:00, Tom and I decided to take the boat out to see the leaves…
And that’s as far as we got…
Tom turned the key and we heard a snap. Ugh – this is right after getting something else repaired. Owning a boat is the gift that keeps on giving.
So, we went home and were both in a bad mood. I went back out to read and then we Door Dashed with the kid who was home and the other one was at work. We got some Chinese food. Tom watched football and I started Tell Me Lies on Hulu.
Sunday around 12:30 we went by car to Captain’s Quarters for the Pumpkin Chunkin’ into the river.
It was beautiful out and we enjoyed being there for a couple of hours.
I got all of my Spain pictures printed out at Walgreen’s and I started printing the UK trip pics but I have more to go.
We have these horses all over Louisville and I thought this one looked so pretty on my way to Walgreen’s so I pulled over and took a photo.
The red trees are definitely my fave!
Menu for the Week:
Sunday – made low carb egg casserole to have with Amylu chicken breakfast sausage this week – 6 eggs, one cup any kind of cottage cheese, one can green chilies, and a bit of cajun, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Bake at 350 for 35 – 40 minutes.
Starting Soup Sunday! Already did chili once this fall and this week I did potato soup. Yesterday I did my friend Beth from Host It Notes chicken enchilada soup and this will be one of my lunches for Erica and I, too. I added frozen corn. This is a great jumping off point and you can add so many things. I cut down on the cream of chicken and use chicken broth, too. I cut down on the Velveeta, too. Again, it’s a great jumping off point and you can customize it.
I did a major grocery shop. We were out of everything basically! I am hoping to get by with just a tiny shop before Halloween and then be done with groceries for October. I am doing well with planning around what we have and what needs to be used up, too.
For Halloween, I will probably do chili again along with mummy dogs. I don’t like to buy candy too early so I will need that, too. It’s blowing my mind that Halloween is next week.
Happy Friday! I am linking up with Andrea and Erica for the favorite post of the week – Friday Favorites.
How was your week? I hope it was great! We had pretty fall-like weather here and some really cold mornings!
Here are some things that made me smile, made my life easier, or made me happy this week!
I made my breakfast sandwiches and it really helped. I don’t teach until 9:30 so my routine is to put it on a paper plate and microwave it while I do some work.
I discovered a new flavor and a new cracker and I must share. This is a great little after school snack.
I don’t like nuts but I do like these crackers!
One night I made a piece of salmon in the oven and it turned out great.
After Spain, I was happy to visit the library and get a book on hold and find a free magazine in the magazine bin.
And, then I picked up this book because I love to add a little non-fiction to my reading repertoire and these kinds of books inspire me.
I have been keeping my new Barcelona leather purse inside my backpack for school and then taking it out when I go somewhere that isn’t school. I am really glad I bought it. I wish I had gotten myself a coffee mug. Would it be weird to just order one now that I am home?
All things pumpkin! I am really enjoying my brewed coffee pot coffee with this in it. I only have Nespresso pods that are decaf right now and I enjoyed having one in the afternoon after school one or two days this week!
This week it finally happened. It was so cold one morning I had to stay inside. I have had my coffee outside every single day since school started until this week. I think we have just had a very cold week, but it should get a little warmer before this cold stays.
And, turning on the lights makes it more appealing! I also did it one evening this week.
The reason I have been so adamant about being outside is because of this guy:
Look at the teeth!
I think the more time outside the better for him. He has more to look at and more to chew on. He’s still not very independent and wants us outside with him. We spend about an hour outside in the morning and about an hour outside after school.
I walked to school a couple of days this week…
I was so happy to bring out this favorite jacket, too.
Bahahaha! I will let you know how it works for me as mine are currently in the freezer. I just need a little more toe room. Less than half a size! We will see!
Eddie Otis and I saw some decor in the neighborhood that was very seasonal and the neighbor’s ex-husband who doesn’t live there has started using his leaf blower for hours on end and is still blowing in the dark as I type this on Thursday night. Have I told you my theory? He goes in to Home Depot and says, “give me the loudest one you’ve got”.
I just thought of a positive to January! There won’t be any leaf blower noise!
And, I had to take over the early morning walk but I was treated to a sky full of stars!
Tom was gone from Tuesday early morning until late Thursday night for a work training. I know that doesn’t seem like much, but I missed him and his contributions/help with Eddie Otis! Luckily the kids helped a lot!
I got to have happy hour with my friend Victoria yesterday, too, and we hadn’t seen each other since summer!
I cut up a green apple and enjoyed it with these little caramel packs.
Erica made us chili for lunch one day at school and I made us potato soup one day. Soup season!
I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files today!
There’s nothing like going on a trip with a small capsule wardrobe and then coming home to see your closet bounty, right?
Also, I took late summer stuff and when I got home it definitely felt like fall here.
So, I have pulled all my fall colors out and have created a fall capsule. I plan to wear all the oranges, mustards, greens, browns until Thanksgiving. Then, I will switch to black, wine, red, blue, grey, and other non-fall colors.
Here are some recent outfits:
This blouse is from a boutique and the brand Entro. I have had it for maybe four years? I really love it and have worn it a ton. Obviously, the sneakers aren’t the best choice, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
Another school ‘fit;
I was glad to hear the leopard is back in a big way because I really like this short sleeved cardigan and I don’t think I wore it last season because leopard felt weird to me then. In both of the above photos I have on Matilda Jane flares. They are the perfect length for me and they are a very of the moment silhouette, I think. I am so glad I have these. Also, for teaching, non-fussy clothes help you to be able to get to the restroom and back in four minutes! Can you do that? Ha!
Another one;
I love this blouse from Target maybe three or four years ago? It looks great with black pants, too. The jeans I am wearing are also Matilda Jane and I didn’t even know they did jeans. I found them at my consignment store and then I cut and frayed them myself being the fashion designer that I am. The mules – love the look but they hard to keep on.
I have also switched to my fall lipstick;
I keep lipsticks longer than I should but I really love this color.
And another one…
this is a fall like blouse from TJ Maxx a few years ago.
And with a cardigan;
Don’t you love the time of year that you can just throw on a cardigan and a jacket isn’t required?
And, my funeral outfit from last Saturday:
I don’t really think people are strict about black anymore, but you still see a lot of people in black.
And, that is a little of what I have been wearing!
I am going to really go through my fall and winter stuff soon and see what I would still buy today and what I would be mad at if it got dog poop on it. Lol! I haven’t bought anything new for this season, really. I really do try to inventory first!
1. How did you meet your significant other? If you don’t have a significant other, tell us how you met your best friend.
I was 25 and my roommate and bestie Heather had just started dating a guy from Louisville. We lived in Lexington (about an hour away). We were convinced it was time to date a guy who was 30 because 20 something guys were too immature. Lol! Heather invited me to go on a boat with her boyfriend’s friends (which turned out to be a brand new 53 foot yacht that Tom’s now brother in law was allowed to use because it was for sale) and meet this 30 year old lawyer who was friends with her new boyfriend who was also 30. This is so ridiculous! I showed up at the boat and Tom was also there and I got in trouble for talking to Tom instead of the lawyer. Heather kept saying, ‘”go talk to the lawyer”. The rest is history! I didn’t talk to the lawyer much but kept migrating back to Tom and Tom was 30. And, Heather is also married to the friend of Tom’s!
2. It’s Department Store Day (October 16)…do you still shop in department stores? If not do you miss that kind of shopping experience? Do you have a favorite department store? Any fun memories of department store shopping when you were a child?
I go in Macy’s and Von Maur because those are the two we have. I am from a small town so we didn’t have one. They are a bit overwhelming for me. I prefer small shops. I really feel weird shopping in person now. I like to go do it once in a while, but online shopping has changed me, I think.
3. Something you’re currently nuts about?
My two super soft oversized sweatshirts. I want to put them on every morning and every evening after my shower. I don’t like a hood and I don’t want a zipper.
4. What’s your favorite nut and is there a favorite recipe where this nut is used?
I hate nuts! I have never liked nuts! That is a sure way to keep me away from a dessert. I love peanuts and pistachios but I don’t think those are true nuts.
5. On Wednesday we officially reach the ’70 days until Christmas’ mark. Have you purchased any gifts? If you don’t celebrate Christmas then how about Hanukkah presents?
Wow! That’s hard to believe. No! I usually don’t even start until after Thanksgiving and manage to get it all done just fine. We have reduced gift giving in our family and only give to grandparents but some years we do a Secret Santa, too. I will ask my sisters if they want to do this for this year.
I am off the day before Thanksgiving and do like to do my minimal decorating that day so that when I come home from Thanksgiving – poof! It’s Christmas. I will have to be very minimal with a new puppy. But, we are also excited for his first Christmas and his first snow! Hopefully!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I really want to be a person who enjoys January this year. If you enjoy it, how do you do this? I need tips. It’s long and cold and boring and school is hard in January. It try to get all hygge and decorate in blue and white and twinkle lights.
Tuesday is usually my least favorite day of the week because of after school meetings and it just makes for a long day. Tomorrow will be my least fave this week because they are taking my planning period and I have an after school meeting! I usually love Wednesdays!
Also, Tom never has to travel for work but this week he is traveling to Dallas for a training. His bestie Eddie Otis will really miss him. Mason has committed to helping extra with him.
There’s nothing like travel to make you appreciate home. We loved the tap water in Madrid but in Barcelona it was bad. We are very proud of our tap water here in Louisville, KY and it is so nice to have water, water everywhere in the US! Have you seen the memes about how to tell someone is American in Europe by their water bottle? Are we now the most hydrated population?
I’ll say that teens today are super hydrated with their emotional support water bottles. They are constantly asking to go to the restroom. Did you even have a drink of water in high school? I drank nothing in the morning but my Golden Grahams or Honey Nut Cheerios milk, then had a white milk at lunch, and then I think I went to one water fountain by my English class in the afternoon.
I missed my patio for sure. Yes, I know you are tired of hearing about it, but hear me out. For your next birthday, ask for lights to be put up somewhere. I have been asking Alexa to turn these on each morning and it has made me so happy.
Even my students are tired of hearing about my patio. After only four weeks of school, this funny kid commented on how I always say in Spanish I read on my patio when we talk about the weekend. He jokingly asked what was so great about my patio and I showed him a pic and he was indeed impressed.
I also missed cooking!
I made chili last week and we all loved it. Yes, we put macaroni noodles in (keep them on the side and don’t use too many) and we like Fritos corn chips or Scoops.
I also missed my grab and go breakfast sandwiches and made some Sunday morning to help me out during the week.
I am not part of the sourdough sorority. My starter failed. But, I make a mean no knead bread, I think.
I wanted to make this for a friend and used this recipe.
Last week we had another meeting that could have been an email, but at least they bribed us with this candy corn salted peanut combo;
I have been super productive at work lately. I keep a running list of things i need to do and re-write and cross things off to get that high after accomplishing something! We have just a couple of weeks until our next long weekend. The kids are off Monday before Election Day and the Tuesday of Election Day. Teachers have a teacher day on the Monday. This month is really flying.
This week is going to be the coldest we have had! I have salmon, chicken alfredo, and potato soup on the menu.
Are you excited for colder weather? Let’s see how much I can walk to school as it gets colder!
Well, here we are again…it’s a new week. my shift key isn’t working so maybe i will do all lower case. we can’t have it all, people, can we? it only works if i really slam on it, so how ’bout we just forget conventional grammar rules?
thank you for all of your comments on my five (five?) travel posts on Spain. i really can’t believe i had that much in me to write that many posts, but i thoroughly enjoyed re-living it. it wasn’t perfect but it was really special for me and my crew.
also, i want other people to know you can do this. we have house projects waiting and really old cars. the money could have gone to much more practical things. but, there is a sense of urgency with not knowing where our kids will be in a year and what jobs they will hold and sometimes you just have to do it. also, some international vacations are not much more or even less than vacations within the US.
With paying for a trip, it doesn’t come all at once. you first start with the plane tickets. you can wait a bit for the lodging if you aren’t super particular, then the train tickets, and i was still booking activities up until a week before. this whole trip came together from july 15 and we left september 28.
someone asked what we did with not-so-little anymore eddie otis. he had a dogsitter (and his new best friend) stay at our house. she was wonderful and she is the best friend of ali who watched ernie during our uk trip. she sent us lots of pictures and kept in contact with us so we could enjoy our trip.
so, seriously, if you have any other trip questions or want any help, let me know. i am definitely not a travel agent, but i have learned a few things. we only had a week so that had me questioning this whole idea, but a week was perfect for us. less time means less expense. we have learned as a family that after about 9 days, we are done. our uk trip was pushing that limit and to be honest, we wasted our last couple of days because we were just so travel weary and ready to be home.
so, let’s talk about the weekend…
how was yours? Mine went so quickly! I am linking up with Sarah and Holly, by the way, for hello monday.
friday was a day. no, it was a good day at school. after school, erica and i went to mojito and had a drink and some melted cheese with bread. i went home and then the kids wanted to door dash tacos and i just ate left over vegetables from the week because i wasn’t very hungry. i read a bit and watched a bit of tv and then went to bed at 8:08! And, then I slept like crap.
My drink at mojito which wasn’t a mojito. it had bourbon and some sort of berry.
i got up Saturday morning and had to get ready for the funeral of one of my best friend’s dad. the visitation was right before the funeral so i wanted to be there for a bit of that, too. tom is also good friends with her and her husband so we were going together. tom is very serious about showing up for people like this.
I did this wine colored press on set:
The church food was really good after the funeral and she really wanted us to stay. it was in a small town about 45 minutes away and the church ladies really did a nice spread. No one likes doing this, but I now know how important it is to just go even if you don’t know what to say or if you feel uncomfortable.
On our way back we had to put our boat in the water and make sure it was running well after being repaired and then we had to put it back on our trailer. Our trailer was also repaired. We brought clothes to change into at the marina.
Then, we went home to our baby who had missed us. We had been gone all day. I am pretty sure he acted out because he was upset.
i read a bit of this. i feel like I have read this premise so many times and also some of the book (most of the book) isn’t realistic.
we ordered pizza for dinner and I watched Lonely Planet on Netflix. Zero chemistry between Laura and Liam. Did anyone else think that?
Sunday morning Eddie otis snacked on some leaves. leaves are starting to turn and drop here.
I ordered a bunch of the Premier pumpkin spice to make cold brew with my instant coffee. I really like it!
And, we got the boat out for real but it was really windy and the water was choppy so it wasn’t that enjoyable.
We went to Captain’s Quarters where they were decked out for fall. we ate lunch on the boat and I saw my student who works there.
We had a gorgeous view of a sailboat as we headed home and a…
beautiful blue sky and bridge view.
And, we returned home and did a few things to prepare for the week like changing sheets and mowing and a little bit of meal prep.
I swear I didn’t think I had 5 posts about Spain in me, but that is how it has played out.
We had just left off on Friday at the Picasso museum around 2:00.
After that, we walked through Barcelona’s Parc de la Ciutadella. So many things were named in Catalan, but everyone spoke in Spanish to us and the Catalan was not a problem at all in my opinion.
We stopped at this cute coffee shop to buy a coffee and use their aseos (bathrooms).
The weather could not have been more perfect!
We were headed to the beach. I am fascinated by cities with beaches!
But, first we were hungry. This would be our big meal of the day around 3:00. We found the cutest little plaza close to the beach. I ordered a clara (beer with lemon soda).
And, we had not had paella yet, so it was time!
And, we had not had flan yet, either, but decided to try this region’s version called crema catalana. I like flan better, but was glad to try this.
It was fun to see what we had seen from the catamaran the night before.
Tom and I put our feet in the water so we could say we did!
Then, it was time to make good on Mason’s messenger bag. We also had to work our way back to our Airbnb neighborhood and the luggage storage place.
We found the cutest workshop/shop. Spain is known for their leather goods.
Mason picked the most beautiful bag that was less than half the cost of what we could find here and is way more beautiful.
And, I don’t usually worry about something for me, but look what came home with me:
It can be a wristlet or a crossbody. I was looking for something in this color to take on the trip but wasn’t satisfied so I brought my cream and my black and two colorful straps.
I snapped a few more pictures since we were leaving soon…
Everything was just so gorgeous. I get why Tanya said she liked Madrid and loved Barcelona. I loved both but in Madrid I felt like a local and in Barcelona I definitely felt like a tourist.
So, this is kind of crazy, but I picked the latest train back to Madrid for our flight. I looked into just flying out of Barcelona (called a multi-city ticket) but it was going to be significantly more money for four people. We had a really smooth and quick AVE train back to Madrid from 9:25-11:55 pm. We then taxied to our airport hotel called Zleep Madrid. I didn’t think I would be able to zleep because it was now 1:00 am and we had to be up at 6:00 or 7:00 am but zleep I did. The bed was so comfy! We all raved about it. Now, we did have to get two hotel rooms, but it was pretty affordable.
Here is my luggage set up:
We made it to the airport by 8;30 for our 11:00 flight and all went smoothly including needing to carry on a guitar on the plane. All of our flights (four) for this trip were on time or early. The flight from Madrid to Atlanta was 9 hours and 35 minutes but on the way it had only been 7 hours and change. The flight home was much more smooth so for that I was thankful.
Packing:
Travel outfit for both going and coming:
I always take a shower and sometimes just go with wet/unstyled hair because travel is dirty and I want to be as clean as possible for as long as possible.
I changed into a pink dress as soon as we arrived, but no photo.
Day two:
A similar outfit later on in the trip;
Other outfits and really bad photos:
So, I took zero jeans and that was the right call. I would have been too hot walking everywhere in the hot sun.
I only took sneakers and two pairs – the Vejas and the Sambas. I am having shoe issues. The Vejas pinched my toes and the Sambas seem slightly too small and too flat for the streets of Barcelona. I saw tons of people wearing them and the sturdier leather Vejas, though. I also saw a lot of New Balances. And, Spanish women were wearing a suede flat Mary Jane everywhere I turned.
Maybe I have a wide foot and don’t know it?
I took four dresses, two skirts, and one skort. I was not able to wear one dress and one skirt but they didn’t take up much room.
I took three pants not including the travel ‘fit. I took the blue and black gauzy (perfect weight for the weather) and the black and tan palazzo pants. I took two graphic tees (could have used more) and my gauzy black button up (could have used my pink and white, too). I took my long sleeve blue and white button up and wore it over a graphic tee or a white tank that I brought.
I took the two small purses with colorful straps you see in photos and a small cloth tote (everyone uses these in Spain) and it really came in handy.
I would give myself a B in packing, I think.
Toiletries:
I didn’t take a razor, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or face wash. I shaved at home and thought I would be good! Lol! And, I used the hosts products in the Airbnb. I washed my face with body wash. Ha! The horror! I did have to go buy facial sunscreen because my face got burned in that hot sun. Duh – should have thought of that.
I brought my Seint makeup palette and brush and just a few makeup products – all solids.
Deep Thoughts:
Travel is exhausting and planning for travel is also a ton of work. Just know that going in. I had a lot of fun planning but I was also annoyed when people wouldn’t give me input.
As we reflected on the UK trip in 2023 my kids said they didn’t want to move around as much. So, that is how I just picked two cities as home base for this trip. I also asked each person what their non-negotiable was and then planned for those things. Mason’s big thing was art, Jack’s the flamenco and guitar lesson, Tom said everything so I picked the catamaran, the beach, and the Sagrada and Park Guell for him. Erica has been to Spain more than I have and asked me what my non-negotiable was when she looked at my doc for me. I said mine was really just the daily life stuff and all the stuff that we were doing for the other three people in the family.
My family does not like having posed pictures taken of them or really being in photos. They don’t like being on social media or being on the blog. I asked them for a few outfit photos of me for the blog and that is what you see here.
Everything takes double the time you think it will! The hardest part for me was planning things geographically. What makes sense to do with what thing based on location? That was hard for me to wrap my head around. And, how much time to allow for each thing was hard, too.
I may have more thoughts later, but whew…re-entry is rough! I wish I had had a few more days to rest before jumping back into school, but that’s ok! I also have not done an official total amount spent yet. UK cost $9000 and I think this will come in at $7000.
Gracias and let me know if you have any questions in the comments.
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 