Thursday, September 19, 2024

It’s Thursday and time for Fashion Files with Jill and Kellyann.

It’s summer again here! It’s been in the mid-high 80s lately. I feel a bit weird wearing too much white or too summery clothing after Labor Day even though I know it’s no longer taboo. Do you?

I have a student who works at one of my consignment stores and she gave me a $5 coupon so I went in and bought two graphic tees – one that says Paris (J.Crew) and one that says Nashville. I also bought a Target red twist front tee that I thought would be a good solid.

I told you I was going to try to take classroom photos! Here is the Nashville tee and I am holding a cookie to say thank you to a friend for giving it to me. This is my first time breaking out the Matilda Janes and they are so cool (temperature) and comfortable. I don’t love this, but I was comfy.

When I was visiting my mom in my hometown, I went in the cutest boutique and bought a new dress and a new top. I was not planning on it, but I loved them.

Here is the dress:

One day last week I wore this TJ Maxx blouse with my gauzy pants and my Stan Smiths:

Here is what I wore Saturday to shop in the little boutique and to visit my mom:

And, here is the top I bought at the boutique:

The top is bright and cheery and feels very me. Yeah, remember when I said I want more neutrals? The heart wants what it wants.

And, look at my online splurge!

I was trying them out to make sure I got the right size. They are so comfortable! I guess I have learned I’m not a platform shoe girl. I think everyones’ feet are just so different, you know?

Also, my legs are really tan because of Loving Tan. I put on one or two rubber gloves to apply it (I didn’t buy the mitt) and it’s pretty amazing what only a very small amount of the mousse can do. I bought the medium shade.

I like my outfits a lot more this week! Also, I am getting ruthless in my closet. If I didn’t wear it this summer, it is going. It’s hard but I think it is worth it and will make me feel that I have a lot more to choose from and I will be able to see my things!

This is a hard time of year to get dressed. I am looking at my dresses, skirts, and my short sleeve or long sleeve but light weight blouses right now.

What about you? What have you been wearing?

Amy

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

I sure am glad Joyce does this link up because some weeks I am out of blog post ideas! Thanks, Joyce!

A “pencil” that I received at a meeting:

1. Something that’s had you ‘chuffed to bits’ recently? 

Well, meetings that could have and should have been emails would top my list right now at the beginning of the school year. Also, for some reason my admin is all about rotating at meetings. I am not talking about me having to spin around in circles, but it almost feels that way.

So, we had 2 or 3 days before school started where we rotated from classroom to classroom to “get information”. That’s it. There’s nothing creative; you simply move your body to have someone talk at you. So, I totally expect that in those teacher days before students come. They seem unprepared for the stuff teachers really need to know so instead of giving us more time to actually get ready to do our job they pull stuff out of their bums.

But, this week for our faculty meeting we had to rotate to three different classrooms after school to “sit and get”. Isn’t it more efficient to just be in one place and have the three presenters present once each? It feels condescending and it wastes my time. I also feel bad for the presenters that are literally repeating themselves thrice. I really think people should use the word thrice more often.

Do I sound like I have a bad attitude? I don’t about my students and my classes but I do about this kind of stuff. Still, I try to come with positive body language and I keep a poker face.

2. Tell us about an instance recently where you were tempted to ‘throw a wobbly’ (expression used to describe tantrums thrown, usually by adults or people who should know better) 

I guess it would be about the above. I really do not like meetings for meetings’ sake. Just because you can meet doesn’t mean you have to meet. I think when admin protect teachers’ time they will have a better outcome in the classroom.

3. Something everyone seems to love but is not your ‘cuppa tea’? 

Noisy restaurants. I feel so stressed out. Friday night we went to a pizza place with four friends. One of the friends is always the one who spearheads the dinners when we go out and always picks super noisy places and noisy times. Oftentimes it is a newer restaurant where everyone else is.

4. Fish and chips, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding…which entree would you choose? Yes, you have to choose. 

I have learned to make a really good shepherd’s pie (that is also pretty light and not too caloric) and Yorkshire pudding or popovers in my special popover pan. I would pick fish and chips because I can’t make it at home. It’s classic and yummy!

5. Something you want for your birthday this year? 

I really just want quality time with people who fill my cup. I love sitting around chatting and laughing.

I think sometimes you have to be really intentional and make your own plans, invite the people, etc. I had so much fun a couple of years ago when I planned a Cuban restaurant dinner followed by a private karaoke room. I think everyone else had fun, too!

I think I told everyone to wear black leather? This was the first time I put something together like this and this is me telling you to go for it!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I really think the best coffee is probably just your traditional classic pot of coffee from a Mr. Coffee machine or something similar. I have had my Nespresso Vertuo and it’s nice but the pods are very expensive and the coffee does not come out hot enough for me. It’s nice to have when you just want one cup but I think the traditional coffee pot makes the most sense and the best coffee for two or more cups. If you are a regular reader, you know how many words I have devoted to coffee!

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

Amy

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

This tip actually comes from my sister Kate! Even though the first 6 weeks of school are exhausting, I have been doing a really good job with this personally.

My instinct is to go home on Friday and hibernate. Well, I do enjoy going to happy hour first. And, that may be enough for me on many Fridays. This is also a nice compromise for me wanting to be social and Tom being fine with going home after he gets off work.

I will either go to happy hour right after school and bring food home for dinner or we order something. We have also used Friday night as a good night to clean out leftovers. And, if I have a snack at happy hour I sometimes don’t even need anything or much of anything.

Another idea is to happy hour with the girls and then have the husbands meet up for dinner at the same place. I have done that, too.

But the point is to maximize your weekend!

My sister says that she feels that she makes more of the weekend if she does something on Friday night. I have to agree with her. I think it sets a tone for “my weekend is not just about productivity and recovering from the week”.

I also like to think of the weekend as 5 parts:

Friday afternoon/evening

Saturday morning until afternoon

Saturday afternoon/evening

Sunday morning until afternoon

Sunday afternoon/evening

If you plan one thing in each of the 5 parts you will feel like you made more of the weekend!

I’m always glad I do something on Sunday, too. It helps you not to just focus on the week ahead.

What do you think? Do you do this?

Amy

Monday, September 16, 2024

Well that went by quickly! I am linking up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday as I lament the weekend gone too quickly.

It felt like summer again here. How about where you are? We had high 80s. We only had rain on Friday and it cleared up before the end of the school day.

Thursday evening I did a new press on mani in this blush color:

Friday was a good day and afterwards Erica and I went to Osteria for just one drink. We also had their skinny little fries. We sat on their lovely enclosed patio and watched it fill up with people ready to start the weekend! They have a great happy hour . I had an old fashioned for $8 and Erica had a half price glass of wine.

While I was there I got a call that our friends wanted us to meet them for dinner at a pizza place so Tom picked me up at home and we went there. I didn’t take a single photo. I got a single slice of pizza which is a nice option and only ate half of it (spoiler – I had the other half for dinner the next night). We got home around 8:00 and I watched a bit of The Perfect Couple and a bit of Mormon wives. I finished Mormon wives and was relieved. I’m taking my time with The Perfect Couple.

Saturday I went to my hometown to take my mom to lunch for her birthday. We ate at a cute little rock and roll themed restaurant that was new to me.

I went in a few boutiques and I walked out of this one with a new dress and a new blouse.

It was a nice day.

I told my mom about my book The Women (about an army nurse in Vietname) and asked her about my dad’s time in Vietnam. Did you know Vietnam lasted from 1955-1975? I didn’t. She couldn’t remember his exact time, but then I found the information…

We found my dad’s diary from his time there which was June of 1969 until June of 1970 according to the front cover. I had read it before but I asked my Mom if I could re-read it after I finish The Women so I brought it home with me.

I think it will be interesting to read it again.

Saturday night both Tom and I were beat from our days – he had taken a 30 mile bike ride, taken EO swimming in the river, and done some chores and I had taken a little road trip and picked up groceries on the way back. So, we both ate our leftovers and just stayed in. I also started Emily in Paris or should I say Emily in Rome? Someone told me she goes to Rome in these latest released episodes so now I am telling you.

Sunday morning I got up and did some meal prepping for the week and did my laundry and some closet organization.

Then, Tom, EO and I went out on the boat. EO is starting to get very hard to handle on the boat so I wouldn’t say it’s very relaxing and I also told Tom that I want to leave him at home next time. I know that he needs to keep going to get better, but also he is in his teenager stage. I have to hold him on a leash and he tries to eat the leash, eat the boat ropes, eat the boat fenders, open the cooler, chew on the cooler, chew on me, my boat bag, my towel. We parked at Captain’s Quarters and he did settle down pretty well while we ordered and ate.

We didn’t stay out long because Tom’s grass was calling to him. He needed to mow it and not do anything else is what I mean!

I read on the patio for a bit before continuing to tidy and ready for the week.

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Amy

Friday, September 13, 2024

Today is my mom’s birthday! Happy birthday, mom!

I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to talk about some things that made me happy this week.

First up, some new tv…

I actually started both over the weekend, but came back to them during the week.

This is crazy:

Is anyone watching it? The wives are so, so, so young and they all look alike. It is literally like watching clones. I can’t look away. I don’t like it, but I feel like I am an anthropologist studying this strange species. Also, they really need to cut down on their soda consumption.

I also started this:

I love the choreographed dance the characters do in the intro. I totally forgot what the book was about so it’s all new to me again!

Little/Big Stinker:

He is “helping with dishes”. Look at that big ol’ paw. He needs a nail trim badly. Tom has always done our dogs’ nails but this guy is too much for Tom. He is going to try one more time before we call in a professional.

Monday morning and he was waiting to be crated at 7:30…He’s learning the routine. He gets crated for a bit before Mason gets up. He’s been up since 5:30 by this time and is ready for a little morning nap. He looks so little in this picture compared to the above photo.

I wanted to share these:

I plan to treat myself to a coffee this morning because I have walked to and fro’ work all week long. The mornings have just been amazing. The afternoons are fine, but my back sweats a little bit under my backpack and I am dragging on the way home. Lol!

What’s your coffee order?

Erica and I have killed it in the lunch department this week.

I made zucchini lasagna bowls:

You really don’t miss the noodles!

And, I made Asian ground turkey bowls that were both family dinner one night and our lunch one day. The family got regular rice and E and I got cauliflower rice for lunch.

Erica made buffalo chicken bowls with quinoa, zoodles with marinara and shrimp, and Mediterranean couscous bowls.

I also prepped for the week with my Mcmuffins and put them in the freezer.

Honestly, I am still finding my groove with all the food planning and prep. It’s important to me and it’s too expensive to get take out so I want to do it.

We had a meeting and were gifted a “pencil”:

If you give me something I will feel a little better about your meeting that could have and should have been an email.

Letting my natural nails breathe this week:

So ugly, but I am thankful that I am not damaging my nails with press ons like I did with dip and gel. I think it was mainly the removal process.

I am intrigued by this apple salsa recipe that came in the Kroger flyer:

I was thinking about doing a whole post on things I was wrong about, but I will go ahead and say this one.

I think I was wrong about Merit. I bought this last November. It’s really great for travel. I have the bronzer stick, the foundation stick and the blush and the brush that came with the starter set. I don’t love the blush color so I am thinking about getting a new one at Sephora. Yes, Merit is sold at Sephora. If you are looking for a very quick face routine, it’s pretty good. I still love my Seint, but it does take a bit longer.

It’s still the same general concept of applying and blending with your brush. I tried to put on full face foundation the other day and threw it away. It was so thick and gross.

What are you all doing for makeup? I love when I find a product that I really love!

Well, I cannot express to you how happy I am that it is Friday! I think we have a rainy weekend coming, but we really do need the rain.

Amy

Thursday, September 12, 2024

I will fully admit that some days I am having a hard time deciding what to wear. I think this is a combination of my style changing, my need to wear sneakers, some things not fitting, and I don’t know – general malaise? I’m so dramatic!

I would also like to take better outfit photos from my classroom, but I haven’t gotten there yet. Maybe soon?

So, I am relunctantly linking up with Jill and Kellyann to show you the good, the bad, and the ugly! You all know this is what I am really wearing. I am not just putting something on for a photo! I am also in this bad head space where I am like, “I’m a middle aged teacher; no one cares what I wear to school!”

Last week I wore my black gauzy pants (Umgee and I have light blue, too – love!) with my new this summer TJ Maxx cornflower blue short sleeve and my very old soft knit Liz Claiborne from JC Penney cardigan. I have on a scarf headband to add some pattern and I wore my Tieks. They rub on my big toe bone by the end of the day. Boo! My Tieks (3 pairs) were one of my best consignment scores ever. They were brand new and in my size and I bought grey, gold, and black. They retail at $200.

On Friday I wore my Kut from the Kloth jeans, my new Vejas shoes, and an old TJ Maxx blouse that I still love. It felt a little summery for the weather.

One day last week I wore jeans, a striped Old Navy button up, and my Danskos without socks and they hurt my feet so bad that I couldn’t get them back on at the end of the day after giving my feet a rest in some flip flops. I bought some little socks to try with them. They hurt the top of my foot. Are you a Dansko fan? What am I doing wrong?

Birthday dinner out – I wore my yellow Walmart dress with my Coconuts by Matisse sandals.

Over the weekend I went to my consignment store and came home with this Nashville tee and I wore it with my blue Umgee gauzy pants.

For school this week I wore my Target Knox Rose dress, Vejas, and my Old Navy cardigan. I applied Loving Tan to just my legs in this photo.

Over the weekend I wore my Aerie fit with my new Aperol Spritz tee.

Nothing looks great. I’m tired. I just want to be comfortable and dressed for the right temperature. I am walking to school and it’s pretty cool when I walk to school. It is hot in my classroom. My neighbor teacher’s room is literally 20 degrees colder than mine. He is not a perimenopausal woman. Make that make sense.

Wow! What a post!

I am open to shoe suggestions, retailer suggestions, comments (but please don’t be too mean), and more!

Amy

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Not only is today 9/11 and you better believe I will tell my students where I was and how things happened on this day 23 years ago – that doesn’t seem possible, does it? – but it’s a birthday, too…

It doesn’t seem possible that we have been missing my Dad for almost 6 years. Today would have been his 82nd birthday.

My Dad proudly wearing his Air Force cap while frying curly fries in the fried turkey oil at Thanksgiving – ha! He would make this as an appetizer?

He has been on my mind a lot lately. I still find pennies so often! I hear myself in his sayings that I use in class or with my friends and family. I would like to think I offer his type of sage advice to friends and family, too?

When my mom was sick this summer, my sister Kate got the strongest hit of his cologne. Do you believe in things like that? I do.

In another weird timing story…

My Dad was really close with his cousins and I got to see one of them last October at a wedding. I had texted the cousin a photo I took of he and his wife and just got a response thanking me for it and saying it was good to see me. This text came in literally like 10 months after the wedding but it came in on my Dad’s birthday week. Here is what he wrote:

Isn’t that the nicest thing to receive? Do you believe in timing?

And, now I finally started The Women (on his birthday week) which reminds me so much of my Dad. They even use some of his expressions in the book! My Dad was a forward air controller in Vietnam before I was born.

If you are on a grief journey, I would say that I laugh more than I cry now. I like him to be talked about (and sometimes get upset when people don’t) and it makes me happy. I can tell funny stories. I’m happy that I had such a great Dad!

So, in honor of his birthday today, I would ask this of you and me:

Get excited about the little things! Laugh at a funny name or something funny! Don’t take yourself too seriously. Remember that there are 3 sides to every story – yours, mine, and the truth – one my Dad’s favorite proverbs. I would like to think that I have some of his best qualities.

And now for Hodgepodge with Joyce…

1. When the Hodgepodge lands on September 11th I want to acknowledge that. Will you purposely pause to remember, pray, or attend any sort of ceremony on 9/11? Share any thoughts or memories you’d like to share about this day. 

I will talk about it at the beginning of each class. I hope that my principal will have a moment of silence in the morning announcements but I am not sure.

2. Growing up, did you spend a lot of time with your grandparents? What’s something you learned from a grandparent? 

I didn’t get to live in the same city as any grandparent. I also didn’t have any Grandpas. One passed away before I was born and one was estranged and I really only saw him/met him once or twice?

I learned how to make mashed potatoes from my Dad’s mom and she was the one I was closest to as a child.

3. What’s your go-to breakfast? 

I love eggs! Right now, it’s my Amy McMuffins that I can grab and go with. In the summer I love scrambled eggs with vegetables. I am definitely not a sweet breakfast person. Ok, I can have a bite of something sweet after my savory.

4. Tell us the story behind one of your favorite photos. 

There’s so much joy in this photo! I had a mini van (Marty!) from the time my twins were 3 until they were in 8th grade. I loved it! It had so many road trip memories and Tom became a total van convert, too. He used it to go to Home Depot! So.much.space!

Anyway, they figured out they could sit in the back bench seat rather than the captain’s chairs in the middle and as I was driving they released the seat and flipped backwards. When we stopped I snapped a picture.

It was summer! They have their cute little tan lines! They are in their rash guards and trunks! They are the best of friends and I can still hear their cute laughter! I guess we were on the way home from the pool or to the pool. They were at that sweet spot where I could lounge and read and they could swim! Ha!

5. This week Friday lands on the 13th. Are you superstitious in any way? Do you like scary movies, and if so what’s your favorite? 

I am not into scary movies. My real life is scary enough. I teach high school. I am superstitious and try not to purposely walk under a ladder or let a black cat cross me.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I feel like I used up all my random thoughts.

Thanks for reading!

Amy

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

I really encourage you to do this, too! It’s really fun! It makes a person be more intentional. Also, this is fun stuff for me. It’s not really a dreaded chore list.

-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.

As I decorate for fall, declutter the decor that no longer makes me happy.

-Celebrate fall birthdays – my twins’, my mom’s, besties Heather and Heather, and mine

-Buy Mrs. Meyer’s acorn spice and fall leaves cleaners – possibly a candle, too

-Buy a new apple and pumpkin candle

-Find and cook apple recipes in September

-Find and cook pumpkin recipes in October

-Enjoy my patio in what is possibly our best weather!

-Use Solo Stove

-Buy pumpkin Premier Protein for iced coffee

-Get a Starbuck’s PSL once

-Celebrate my birthday

-Get my Kendra Scott piece

-Attend Ocktoberfest(s) around town

-Attend the Punkin’ Chunkin’ (pumpkins catapulted into river)

-Do a fall boat ride(s) to leaf peep and just enjoy boat until time to winterize

-Buy good apple cider from local orchard

-Make my apple cider sangria

-Make soup!

-Make chili!

-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.

-Make an Octoberfest meal at home

-Make fall margarita

–Take fall break trip

-Celebrate Thanksgiving with both sides of family

I’m sure I forgot many things!

But, it’s definitely a good list to start with!

Amy

Monday, September 9, 2024

How was your weekend? Mine was great! I am linking up with Sarah and Holly to share!

Let’s go back to Thursday and my twins’ 22nd birthday!

I grabbed some donuts to leave on the kitchen table before I went to work…

Ok, I grabbed a pumpkin spice coffee for me, too. If you are local, Bamboo Donuts does not disappoint!

I was off for a half day and from 1:00-4:00 this was our view! We enjoyed Myriad Swim Club – just the three of us.

Then, we went to Steak and Bourbon for dinner and Tom joined us. The butter candle!

I made a cake!

We had a nice day and evening!

Friday was fine and Erica and I went back to Grassa Gramma for happy hour after school. I had an aperol spritz and the next day I wore an aperol spritz!

Saturday and my new clearance TJ Maxx shirt:

I swear it was Erica’s idea to get the Tuscan potatoes again!

This is so romantic…

I called Tom after happy hour and he was on his way home but stopping at Kroger first and I was in that same shopping center so we met and shopped together and ended up with Kroger sushi for dinner for all four of us.

That was a joke; it was not romantic.

It was scary to see all the Halloween stuff out already, though, and the bill was scary, too, when we checked out with very little.

This weekend I finished this:

I really liked it!

And, I marveled at how big EO has gotten.

Saturday afternoon I went to Trader Joe’s for a few things…

We had Zoe’s Kitchen take out for dinner and it was good!

I made Amy McMuffins for the week:

And, I started and finished this:

Oh my goodness! I laughed out loud so many times. But, it was also deep, bittersweet, and relatable. Have you read it?

Sunday Tom and I went to hear some live music at an arts festival. We mostly went for the music but we did look at the art, too. The walk to and from was lovely and we had such early fall weather this weekend!

It was a lovely weekend!

How was yours?

Amy

Friday, September 6, 2024

It’s Friday! Woohoo! This four day week didn’t feel longer (sometimes they trick you like that!) and for that I am very thankful. It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites! I don’t have as much this week, though, but here we go!

I received the most thoughtful gift this week. My co-worker Sarah had asked for a photo of Ernie last spring after he passed and honestly, I was having a hard time looking through pictures. She asked again recently and I found one. Look what she did! She made a nightlight that automatically comes on and look at his sweet face. I put it in our bathroom for our nightly visits. It puts out a lot of light, too.

I guess I need to switch out my patio placemats – ha! But, this scent is really nice. Tip – if a candle is too strong/artificial/cloying take it outside. I actually don’t really burn any candles inside right now. I light this each morning and sometimes after school or after dinner, too.

On Sunday I treated myself to a little prosecco and potato chip snack. I felt very European. Ha! I am really enjoying my two new Target sweatshirts. The blue one is Florence, Italy (a scene from there).

Sometimes the most simple snacks are the best. I also made pan con tomate but with ham for a snack later in the week.

I have flown through this book but I am ready to say bye to summer themed books soon! Where are the fall themed books! Come on!

Tuesday morning gave me a taste of fall and I kinda liked it!

And, here is my other Target sweatshirt:

They are both so cozy on the inside. I want to put one or the other on in the mornings and evenings after my shower.

So, you might remember my former student Ali who came over this summer? She made it to the north of Spain for her one year teaching assignment!

This is Madeleine, another former student, who is getting ready to leave mid-month to teach in Madrid. I brought verb notes and we went over all the tenses and I made tinto de verano (Spanish Rioja with some Sprite), truffle popcorn, Spanish cheese and meat and pan con tomate. We spent a couple of hours chatting in English and Spanish and it was like no time had passed. I’ve kept in touch with her and seen her twice since graduation?

I am so proud of these girls!

Another Mirabelle Creations graphic that spoke to me:

This is something we really stink at as Americans. The Spaniards definitely do this better!

Then, my devotional was about rest! I guess I must do this!

I think I am doing better with my schedule this year because I just don’t expect to be productive from 3:45-bedtime. I hang with Eddie Otis and my family, cook or assemble dinner and that’s it. I don’t try to run errands anymore. I am happy to have people over after school sometimes or to meet someone if EO has a person home.

My struggle last year was mindset. I think our mindset counts for so much. If I frame something as “I get to do this” rather than “I have to do this” it really helps me. Now that we are grown adults we really don’t have to do anything we don’t want to do. Well, you know what I mean!

How was your week?

Did you have a good mindset this week?

Happy Friday!

Amy