Happy Halloween! I am wearing all black to school today for our Thriller flashmob! More to come!
I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files today.
My birthday is this weekend and I love having a fall birthday. I have always used it as an excuse to add a few fall items to my wardrobe.
I bought myself a trench! It’s from Walmart! Can you believe it?
For $30 I am impressed with the fabric and quality.
I had a mini consignment haul where I found black jeans that I needed, a gorgeous magenta velvet blazer, and an Anthropologie skirt new with tags that read $130 as the original price. I came home with all three for $40.
The jeans:
Sorry you can’t see much of them, but they are the perfect length and fit like a glove.
The skirt;
I will show you the blazer soon!
I wore this to the country arts fest;
this to dinner out;
this to Tom’s work event;
this to school on Friday:
this to school on Thursday. These new Amazon pants do nothing for me. I think they are too big. I needed this size for my waist, but they just look too big everywhere else.
I want to do more graphic tees with sweaters and I love her hair! This is the sister Morgan from Nobody Wants This on Netflix:
She is wearing a shirt, not a sweater, but the vibe is the same.
This is going to be crazy! I am linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for one and Joyce for the other! It’s gonna be crazy! Just kidding – I will keep it brief-ish.
What We’re Eating
Well, I made chili Friday night and then tomato bisque soup for Tom on Sunday for my Soup Sunday. He loves a certain restaurant’s tomato bisque and I am trying to re-create it for him. That’s love.
Monday night I made salmon, roasted broccoli, and mashed potatoes. Why don’t I make mashed potatoes more often. They are probably my favorite food and remind me of my Dad’s mom.
Halloween will be chili from the freezer and mummy dogs – hot dogs wrapped in crescent roll dough.
I ran out of these and really missed them. I chew two before bed.
Erica my colleague and meal prep partner made acorn stuffed squash one day for lunch last week – yum!
What I’m Loving
I finally got to do a fall activity! My weekend was packed but I really enjoyed this fall arts festival with my work buddy and former work buddy.
I never get tired of the colors this season. I need to drive down the street where my favorite reds are.
What I’ve Been Up To
This time of year I do as much outside stuff as I can because I know it will be too cold soon.
I’ve been working, cooking, cleaning, and trying to say yes to any fun opportunities that come my way. I also try to find any pockets for quality time with my people. We are all going going going in this season and it’s rare when we are all home at the same time.
What I’m Dreading
I guess just the cold of winter and the let down after the holidays. I plan to put together a December List and a January List, though. Join me!
What I’m Watching/Reading
I honestly am not getting a lot of reading time lately. This is cute, though.
For tv., I am watching Real Housewives of Everywhere, The Golden Bachelorette, Below Deck, and trying to get more interested in Tell Me Lies on HULU.
What I’m Listening To
The sounds of my wind chimes. Honestly, when I am at home, I usually listen to the sounds of silence after being in a school all day.
What I’m Wearing
Some things are tight and I am definitely not at my best weight right now, but I am enjoying my fall stuff. I know I give off park ranger vibes, but I was happy to wear this hat with my fall vibes blouse, my Kut from the Kloth jeans, and my newly stretched perfectly Sambas. I love my buttery soft Barcelona bag, too.
I took advantage of a fun house mirror in a bathroom at the arts festival!
I haven’t shown you all yet, but I had a mini consignment haul recently and found this Anthropologie Maeve brand skirt new with tags and the tag read $130! I got it for $12!
I also got myself a trench and enjoyed this outfit for school.
I am being ruthless in my closet and bagging up anything that looks dated, old, and that doesn’t make me feel like a million pesos. I am asking would I still buy it today and would I be sad if Eddie Otis pooped on it.
What has resulted from this exercise? I have a small selection of things I love to reach for. Feeling good about my fall closet right now and it makes me happy! Yes, it is shallow of me.
My birthday, Thanksgiving and seeing family, but NOT the time change that is happening this weekend!
Now, if you are still here, let’s hodgepodge!
1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like.
My college kids are living at home after graduating in May. They are working and deciding on grad school or possibly teaching English or doing something abroad. The house is full, messy, and I’m back to cooking for four. When someone isn’t home at dinner, I just make them a portion for later or the next day.
I am just living in this season. I want to spend as much time with them and I want them to feel comfortable this year so we are navigating this stage.
Honestly, we could not have gotten this puppy without them here to help. Tom and I have very non-flexible jobs that require us to leave at 7:30 or 8:00 and be gone until 4:00 (me) and 5:30 (him).
2. What’s one thing you wish you had more of?
Time at home during the day during the week.
3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year?
We don’t have a party we go to or anything. We buy and hand out candy but don’t get a lot of kids because we live on a short street and they tend to go on the longer streets in our neighborhood for more band for their buck.
We don’t have any special plans this year. I’m not sure who will be home that night.
4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate?
My kids like chocolate chip pancakes and I made them for dinner last week along with other breakfast foods. We almost always have a dark chocolate bar around. Tom loves his chocolate. He will just eat chocolate chips if he is desperate.
5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend… which was it?
This weekend was too full for me. I like to have a mix of laid back time and plans.
I am lucky this year that mine falls on a Saturday!
You know how I feel – if you can take off work on your birthday you absolutely should!
I sometimes overthink what I should want to do/do want to do, so I thought I would ask you!
Are you a birthday diva?
Do you sleep in?
Do you ask for a special breakfast?
I love getting sort of dressed up and doing dinner but sometimes don’t put much thought into the rest of the day.
Do you ask for a cake or order your own? Do you prefer to order a restaurant dessert?
Some thoughts I have this year – go to Kendra Scott in the mall, ask for and pick out some Birkenstock clogs, get a pedicure, get a massage, not to touch a single dish or piece of laundry – ha!
Well, I did a lot this weekend! It was very un-Amy like! I did my grocery pick up (well Mason did it for me) on Thursday and that was taken off my plate for the weekend. I also did my laundry (we all do our own) on Thursday so I think that is what helped me to be more fun. I think I filled up all 5 weekend spots.
I am linking up with Sarah and Holly to share the details.
Erica was busy Friday so I asked my kids if they wanted to happy hour. Only one was available, but it was great! He picked Mojito..
I just ordered a wine because I wasn’t in the mood for a sweet drink. Mason got a passionfruit mojito. I am trying to be in my red wine era now. I like red blends, pinot noir, and this was a tempranillo and it was really good.
We ordered gambas al ajillo.
We went home and I told Mason all the things I could cook for dinner and he picked chili so I went ahead and made the Halloween chili early and I am freezing the rest until Thursday. We weren’t that hungry from our happy hour but two others were.
Saturday Tom’s company rented out an entire camp for a fall event for employees and families. This camp is owned by Jennifer Lawrence’s brothers so Tom thought surely he would get to see her. The drive was beautiful…
We had a meal at the pavilion and Jennifer Lawrence’s brother talked to us about the day.
Tom was practicing to impress Katniss Everdeen and I couldn’t believe how good he was. He reminded me that he is 1/216th Cherokee or something like that.
We stopped by the check on the boat – still not winterizing and holding out as long as the weather lets us – and then I read on the patio for a bit. This is really cute about a chef and his ghostwriter for his cookbook…
The space is gorgeous. We got to sit at these two leather couches with a huge leather ottoman as our table. Guys on one side and girls on the other. We got truffle popcorn, almonds and olives, and pizza.
The outdoor area was super cool, too…
It had been a long time since we had been together so it was really special. We did gifts for them, too.
Sunday I had invited Erica and Elizabeth out to the country. Ranger Amy reporting for duty!
I rode hayrides three times this weekend! Tom’s work event had a hayride from the parking area, but not on the way back – lol and we had to park really far away at this event but they had multiple hay wagons going.
I had a real Little House on the Prairie moment…
Just when you haven’t ridden a hayride for years and all of a sudden you do it thrice in one weekend!
This was an arts and crafts fair on the most beautiful horse farm called The Hermitage. I really want you to click on this red font. You will see moving horses.
I’m not sure why but this guy wanted to take our picture with him and the llama named Hal. The guy was a bourbon rep that we had just met when we got a sample. I think he might have been samplin’, too, if you get my drift. He airdropped us the photo and his contact and now I guess we’re friends. Erica has a newer phone and tried to tap phones with him to get the photo and he about lost it. He thought that was hilarious.
We got a selfie in front of a pile o’gourds.
We returned from the art fair and then I had one last plan. I met Tom at the boat and we took a fall ride and had a late lunch.
Can I just say Friday and be done? Ha! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika today for what will be a pretty short post!
How are you, though? I hope you had a week full of things that made you smile.
It has been a nice weather week here! The sun has been shining in through my classroom windows and the leaves are starting to show their colors.
August, September, and October are hard core in the teaching world. Admin is still asking for extra documentation and extra work and we are still training our classes on routines and procedures. It’s also testing season and our classes were interrupted twice this week for ACT and PSAT. I have lost my planning period 3 times this week and it just makes for a long week.
I finally got over my jet lag after two weeks! I felt normal this week. I have never taken an international trip and gone straight into teaching. I have always had at least a week off after returning. Man, it kicked my butt this time. I am thankful I felt great while there, but after is when I seriously felt so tired at the end of the school day it was like I had been drugged! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here is my Spain post!
Let’s talk about coffee! I am using the traditional coffee pot; it’s a Cuisinart given to me by my sister in law. She has tried them all and this was a reject. It has a grinder, but I don’t grind my beans.
I have been using this Kroger medium roast and it’s really good! I am feeling so happy and seasonal with my pumpkin spice creamer.
It’s “full-bodied and enticing” so I guess I relate.
I still have and use my Nespresso Vertuo and Mason uses it. We think Mason is very sensitive to caffeine so we got some decaf pods on Amazon and I often have one in the afternoon, too. I love having a hot drink in the afternoon or evening!
And, it’s time for my apple cider sangria. I plan to make some this weekend. Here is my staged photo I was kind of proud of!
I need new slippers! This is what I am thinking:
The Bomba Saturday slipper. Anyone have them? Or, I am open to other recs! I have been a slipperless gal since my last ones that weren’t that good died on me. I went from Uggs to Amazon. The Uggs lasted like 10 years and the Amazon like 2 years.
I had the cutest thing happen this week. I am “friends” on Facebook with the kennel where we got Eddie Otis and on Tuesdays they do “Tongue Out Tuesday” where you post a pic of your puppy with their tongue out.
This is Eddie Otis’ brother Rowdy and his mom and I messaged about how each of them are doing!
And, here is Eddie Otis:
I think Eddie Otis has shorter ears? His mom said he is the exact weight as EO!
Look how cute! I have actually already ordered my chili and mummy dog fixings for Halloween, but I might add this.
Did you see my Fall List check in? I hope to do some fall things this weekend!
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!
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 