Thursday, May 2, 2024

This is my second post of today so that I could link up with Jennifer for her new Share Your Shelf link up!

So, I almost exclusively use library books that are real books! My Kindle broke several years ago and I just went back to real books. I have saved so much money by using my library. I put in requests on the app on my phone and then go pick them up. Sometimes I browse the new releases while I’m there. I also love to have a non-fiction going at the same time as fiction. The money saved goes for new clothes and shoes!

I think we don’t change much as we get older. I still have the same hobbies that I did as a child. I loved to read, bake, be in nature, be creative and make up skits and songs. Hello – that is still me! I’ve always had that giddy feeling when I leave the library with a fresh stack of books.

I don’t worry about reading super intellectual books because reading is enjoyment and escape for me. With that said, I can’t read bad books or books that are written in short choppy sentences or that keep repeating details like I’m dumb. There are several popular authors that I just cannot read. I’m sorry to those of you that enjoy some of these authors.

My sweet spot is a chick lit book that is also funny. Sarah Adams is a new favorite author. Cara Bastone is new to me, too. I just finished this:

I just started this:

In my last library pick up:

I have quite an eclectic mix here!

I love to check out cookbooks because I don’t want the clutter and I would want to check it out before committing!

I read all year long, but I usually read 20-30 books in the summer. I also would call myself a “fair weather reader” because I read more outside than inside for some reason. I just love reading outside!

I read on every car trip my family took and my family knew that I was in my own world and wouldn’t respond if I was reading. They had to really get my attention to pull me away from the story. I love that I am a reader. My Dad also took a book everywhere and said that he could never be bored if he had a book. Awww!

What’s on your shelf?

Amy

Thursday, May 2, 2024

It’s Thursday and time to link up with Kellyann and Jill. I’m actually doing two posts today so I can be part of two link ups – so check out my other post, too!

This was a school outfit. I’m wearing my last year Target blouse (Tanya’s rec!), my new Umgee pants, and just white Madewell sneakers. Eddie Otis is trying to play with my pants!

Friday was senior awards and I had to dress up. I wore this old Target Knox Rose dress and consignment Target heels that are a dupe for a more expensive brand. They are pretty comfortable, but I did bring a change of shoes for after the ceremony.

Saturday errands and spray tan day called for all black. This photo was taken in J.Crew Factory where I did not purchase anything! I’m wearing Walmart cut offs that are a couple of years old, a very old Target knit top, and my very old Birks.

I wanted to wear my few years old gold lace up sandals, but I think this looks weird. I wore the same cut offs and put on my Old Navy blue and white stripe button up. I ended up half tucking and not knotting the shirt. I wore this to dinner on a patio.

Sunday I wore this to the farmer’s market. These pink cut offs are the same as the black from Walmart a few years ago. The top is very old from Costco and is starting to yellow a bit.

Monday for school I wore this dress so I could wear matching Derby earrings. This week is a four day week and I have four pairs of Derby earrings now! Ha!

The next day I wore this with my pink Derby earrings! I wore this Old Navy top that I also have in black and blue with my Amazon pink pants that I cut off and left frayed. They have remained frayed without getting ratty.

And, I have been wearing my new silver faux Birks from Target!

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

A few years ago I noticed my brows were changing. I’ve never really had to worry about my brows. They’ve always been thick (not quite Brooke Shields thick, but pretty thick), and honestly, I didn’t know I was supposed to worry about them. In the 90s I got them waxed. I guess I did that for some time. I never plucked them to death and I never got them waxed super thin except one time when I went to a really bad waxer.

I can’t believe what a difference brows make in your overall face. They make you look younger, more awake, and just all around better, in my opinion.

Exhibit A:

What is going on? One is higher than the other. One is thicker than the other. These are definitely not identical twins and I’m not even sure they are fraternal twins. They are a hot mess.

Exhibit B:

Better?

I’m really not great at makeup but if I can use these low brow (won’t break the bank) products, anyone can.

They are both by elf:

First I start with the pencil end:

I follow that with the spooly end and just brush them out and make them look more natural. I end with the black brow mascara product.

These products last me a really long time because I don’t use that much at a time.

I hate to browbeat this topic. I finished this post by the sweat of my brows. Please don’t knit your brows and trust me on this.

Where do you stand on brows?

Amy

Monday, April 29. 2024

It’s Monday and that means link up day with Holly and Sarah!

Let’s go back to Thursday evening because I usually finish my Friday post Thursday morning, so this didn’t make my Friday Favorites!

We took Eddie Otis to Waldo’s Chicken and Beer and he slept in our friends’ arms the whole dinner! They fought over him, to be clear. We told them we promised he was an active puppy most of the day!

Models leaving the dinner:

Like father like son. Tom was wearing his Barbour jacket from England and we thought it looked like an ad. No, it was not that cold, but Tom apparently thought it was.

Friday I had to be on stage for senior awards day.

I got a Class of 2024 cookie!

For dinner I made breakfast foods and we went to bed early. Both of us were worn out. Can we please go to a 4 day work week?

Saturday morning Tom went hiking with a friend and I single puppy mommed it from 8-4. We spent a lot of time on the upper and lower patios.

I was even able to read during morning nap!

My latest press on mani lasted 8 days:

I was so tired I couldn’t count, but it was 8 days.

Later in the day I went to Trader Joe’s, the library, and to use my last spray tan of the month,

I got this:

Tin-Tin (my Swedish blog reader and friend), this book is so cool! I can imagine you going to all of these places.

I was able to read while EO napped and it was wonderful.

Daddy came home and EO needed a bath:

Another night, another patio for EO.

We went to Limestone Yacht Club where the nice owner brought him his first big boy dog bowl of really cool square ice. He thought it was his job to get all the ice out of the bowl.

This guy has now doubled in size in just 3 weeks. Tom took this picture after dinner and he just looks so big!

And, yesterday for Sunday Funday, we went to the opening of the afternoon farmer’s market.

We had some friends come and meet EO and we sat and talked for a bit. Tom and Eddie Otis got really tired.

On the way home we picked up our Kroger order and then Tom got some tv time and I got some patio reading time while this guy kept on napping.

We had a really lovely weather weekend – 80s! It was a really nice one.

What about you?

Amy

Friday, April 26, 2024

It’s Friday! I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites from this week. I hope you had a good week, too!

My first favorite is that I’ve gotten more sleep this week! I think Eddie Otis is learning the night time drill and his bathroom breaks might be getting more regular now? He goes to bed in our bed around 8:30-9 and stays in the bed until 6:15. We take him out once or twice from our bedroom and then he goes back to sleep-ish. He does have a few chew toys in our bed.

I got my hair highlighted and it looks so much better. I debated getting it chopped off and wearing it straight, but for now I’m keeping my current routine.

I’m loving my new replenished Seint makeup and my Lipsense lipstick this week, too. If you are curious, I would recommend finding some follows on IG to see what they are all about.

Ok – yum! I can’t find this at my Kroger, but I did find it at Target and I’m going back to get more. There is nothing “yucky” in this creamer. I have to have some creamer. I cut out any type of sweetener in my coffee years ago, but I like some frothy cream, you know?

Eddie Otis is a biter! Look at my arms!

I do see some improvement in his biting and I do think he is realizing what “no bite” means now.

I love prom season and promposals. Look at the cute Crumbl promposal my senior niece got:

Catching himself in the mirror!

In things that make me laugh at school…we have a goose that has laid her egg in our school courtyard – in one of our raised planter boxes. They put caution tape around her and I heard they gave the counselors shifts of “goose duty”.

I am the last to leave the house these days around 8:00. I don’t have to be at school until 8:30 but I like to be early. I actually spent most of the year arriving between 7:30-7:45. I come home during planning period at 10:30 so EO has been crated for 2.5 hours. I take him out, walk him, play with him, and then he gets another hour and a half crated before Tom comes home for lunch. I have been leaving Tom a lunch:

He finds it hard to make his lunch and deal with the excitement of a puppy, so this is a little thing I can do for him.

These are really good rice cakes. I spread a Laughing Cow cheese on top for a snack:

I come home at 3:30 and EO and I pretty much stay outside until 5:30. We play and he gets sleepy toward the end of that time so I can take him in to make dinner and he naps a bit.

Our front flowers look so pretty right now!

This week was pretty slow – work, home, work, home, and didn’t involve much else other than a Kroger pick up on Tuesday after school.

I made taco wraps, Boursin and tomato pasta, chicken teriyaki bowls, and that’s about it for our dinners.

What were your faves this week?

Amy

Thursday, April 25, 2024

It’s Thursday already – yes I said already! It’s link up day with Kellyann and Jill.

Let’s go back to last Wednesday or Thursday when it was a rainy morning. Eddie Otis is learning the drill. This picture really makes me laugh. Look at my blogger puppy! I wore my patterned pants (very old), pink consignment blouse (very old), my white Madewells, and my rain jacket. Eddie Otis wore nothing. He does not even have a collar on!

The next day I wore another pair of patterned pants. My students said they looked like Alani pants – the energy drink, you know?

And, I think I forgot to take a photo Friday so this was Saturday:

And, later Saturday when I wanted to change:

Sunday:

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

I got my hair done and did my Seint makeup and used my Lipsense and here it is:

I hardly ever take selfies and I’m super awkward.

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

It’s hard to believe it’s the last Wednesday of April but so it is. It’s a fun link up with Shay and Sheaffer today!

What We’re Eating…

I’ve had a fun semester with my kids! Jack took a chemistry of cooking class and we made a cake, bread, meat, and finally cookies. He had to take photos, record results, and have us taste them. For all of the cooking projects except one Mason and I helped and we had a really fun time doing it.

This past Sunday we got to eat these cookies!

On Sunday, I went ahead and made most of dinner early because I knew I had something to do late afternoon and I also made taco meat for the next night’s dinner. Honestly, this trick saves me in the summer, too. I know that my energy is greatest in the morning and I sometimes get a jump on it.

Mason and I made egg in the hole with sourdough bread for breakfast:

And, a highlight of our eating lately was these truffle dusted steak fries. OMG!

I am really trying to treat myself when I can. I recently had a nice lunch next to my hair place. I ordered a spinach salmon salad that was sooooo good!

And, here is what I did with the taco meat. I made like taco wraps or burritos with a side bagged southwestern salad. Tom proclaimed it “better than Taco Bell”.

What I’m Reminiscing About…

I don’t know. I haven’t let myself go too deeply into this yet, but of course school and summer is on my mind. I have mothered my twins from kindergarten until senior year of college and loved every minute of it. They are my life’s work and have made it so much fun and so rewarding. Oh no… here I go down that path. I am also going to be completing my 30th year of teaching high school Spanish. I have lots of emotions tied into that as well. The three of us have been on the school schedule together for so long! Sometimes I think Tom feels left out when we talk school stuff!

What I’m Loving…

Just loving having a dog again. We miss Ernie and Eddie Otis is definitely not a replacement for him. I’m slowing down and focusing on family, home, work, and puppy needs. We are spending a lot of time outside just enjoying nature. Just like babies, puppies force you to slow down and focus on the things that are important in that moment.

What We’ve Been up to…

Sunday we went to another church to hear Jack sing. We’ve been going to anything they invite us to go to, of course.

I have been joking that Tom gets EO when he is most docile. Tom is really happy.

What I’m dreading…

Even though we have very little school left, this time is hard. Kids are pulled out for so many tests and I have mixed classes of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors within the same classes. It’s hard to plan for these last weeks and end on a good note. I am working on that right now.

What I’m excited about…

I’m excited for all things summer, really. I hate being sticky hot, but I’m excited for shorts, flip flops, summer drinks, summer foods, more time outside, more unscheduled time, farmer’s markets, seeing friends, more time with my kids, and so much!

What I’m watching/reading…

Not much! My tv and reading time has decreased for now. I am still finishing a Cara Bastone book when I can sit outside with puppy asleep or being watched by someone else.

I have a couple of library holds to pick up but haven’t had time to do that, yet.

What I’m Wearing…

Weekend Fit:

School Fit:

Weekend Fit:

Trying to wear my Adidas a lot and just trying to wear what I have. I’m starting to cycle through my dresses and trying to wear all my fun patterned pants to school. When I’m home, my collection of rubber Birkenstocks are great for taking the puppy out in the wet grass. I have white ones and black ones and then some pink and blush ones from Target and Hobby Lobby. I am definitely set for pool and boat shoes for summer, but they are so fun to buy!

What I’m looking forward to next month…

I think we are doing one Derby activity, Mason moves home, school ends for college and then for me a few weeks later, taking Eddie Otis places, new flowers and plants for outside, and so much more!

What’s up with you on this last Wednesday of the month?

Amy

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

This is going to be a really short post because we have no routine! Just kidding – I guess we do!

So, Tom has tried to still go to the gym in the mornings but has not made it every day depending on how much we are up with Eddie Otis. Sadly, I cannot figure out how to do this and still make it to work on time. In the summer, I plan to leave immediately when Tom gets home. In planning for summer, I am keeping Eddie Otis in bed until 6:15. Ernie got up at 5:00!

So, I take Eddie Otis out at 6:15 and then we do his breakfast. He doesn’t want to eat right away but he is so thirsty. I should say he has giardia, unfortunately. It is a parasite and we have had to give him powder on his food and a little pill. This could be affecting his thirst levels, his eating, and his bathroom business. We are hoping to get rid of it ASAP.

So, I have moved my morning devotional reading, blog reading, and writing to the living room floor and coffee table. I also have my coffee there for now. I sit on the floor and play toys with EO before I even think about doing anything on my own. I am also trying to work on him playing independently – lol.

He plays for quite a bit and then he is worn out!

Tom takes over and I go get ready and this guy is figuring out what we do after that:

After I’m ready, Tom leaves for work and then i play or walk EO again.

He gets crated for 2.5 – 3 hours now and depending on the day Jack helps out or I come home during planning to let him out. Tom has also been coming home for lunch everyday. We are saving lots on Tom’s lunches out! Ha! Also, I think Tom misses him and just wants to see him mid-day.

After school around 3:35 – yes, I have been rushing home – he has again been crated from about 1-3:30 and then it’s outdoor play time. I think EO really likes the yard.

We sometimes have visitors and we end up playing until around 5:00 and then get sleepy, again.

We’ve been trying to take him in the car every few days or so to get used to car rides.

I make dinner usually with EO watching me. He seems to really like laying in the kitchen. Then, we do living room playtime again.

A couple of evenings I have taken a blanket out and a few toys and we’ve sat in the yard.

For now, EO can fit on the arm of the most popular chair in the house:

Tom is still going to bed at 8:30ish and tries to take EO with him. I usually follow around 9:00-9:30.

EO sleeps on our bed and thank goodness for our bedroom French doors. We take him out directly from our room. We’ve had a couple of nights where we each only take him a couple of times but usually it’s between 4 and 4000 times each. We lay a sheet down over the comforter and provide a few chew toys. We have the fan on and have noticed EO seems to get hot easily. He seems awfully young to already get hot.

In addition, we keep all the doors closed to bedrooms and bathrooms and my closet – my shoes are not going to be your snack! If he is awake, we are constantly watching him.

So, that’s the routine for now. I thought Tom was the puppy whisperer, but now I think we are too old for this. We literally forgot everything about having a puppy!

But, this face, amiright?

Amy

Friday, April 19, 2024

Whew! It’s Friday and time to link up with Andrea and Erika!

My first favorite is that it’s Friday! I think I only have one 45 minute commitment this weekend so that feels great!

Honestly, I didn’t take any photos except for Eddie Otis photos until yesterday! Just like a new mom, right?

You’re welcome!

He seems to really be growing! I don’t remember our other two labs biting so much. That’s really the biggest thing we are working on right now.

Tuesday night he went to college:

We tried to switch out and see Mason’s theatre showcase but it didn’t work very well. It got started late and Tom and I tried to take turns. At least we tried. We are very proud of Mason for putting together a cool event with another theatre student. That’s Mason on the right.

Yesterday I got to sit at a bar and have a wonderful salmon salad and a glass of wine by myself.

After that, Eddie Otis and I hung out and I got such a laugh out of this photo. He is so small!

Beth got to meet him for the first time. They both happen to have their tongues out in this photo. Sorry, Beth, but it is pretty funny!

And, last night I got to go support my school’s theatre production of Legally Blonde, the Musical.

It was so cute!

Did you catch all my posts this week?

Weekend Top Five, March/April Clothing Purchases, Lipstick Love, and Fashion Files can be yours with a simple click on the red font.

How was your week?

What do you want to see from me in the coming days?

And, don’t forget that YOU are always my favorite on Friday!

Happy weekend!

Amy

Thursday, April 18, 2024

I have a lot of photos this week, but no one said they were going to be good photos. I have been taking them when there is too much light coming in my bathroom window. I will try to do better, but this is real life. I snap what I am really wearing and I only take one picture, usually!

With that said, if Kellyann and Jill will have me, I am happy to link up today for Fashion Files!

Here we go…

I threw this on at some point this past weekend. This is also a testament to how much I’m wearing the Target A New Day extended shoulder tees. I wear one several times a week. The hot pink shorts are from Aerie last year. I really love their stuff even though I am not their demographic. Their stuff runs one size big on me and I should have gone down a size in the shorts. I usually roll the waistband over.

I wore this to a choir event. It is my Umgee gauzy pants with a new TJ Maxx top and my Crocs Brooklyn platform sandals from last year.

Saturday outfit:

This was what I put on to go to a restaurant happy hour with one of my 21 year old kids:

I wore my bourbon earrings because I was going to order bourbon. The pants are super old, the top is from TJ Maxx last year and the shoes are kind of a fun bronzey color from the brand Vintage Seven 8 from Shoe Carnival.

Dinner out Friday night:

I wore my Wit and Wisdom pants, Hush Puppies pumps, TJ Maxx colorful blouse from fall.

Friday school outfit:

Another pair of really old palazzo pants, Target blouse, and I chose silver accessories. Yes, I wore shoes. I can’t remember now what I wore!

Monday school outfit:

I wore a fun orange print (there are oranges and flowers) skirt from LuLaRoe, the lime green Target tee, a white Carly Jean Los Angeles kimono, and my Madewell leather sneakers.

I bought these pre-pandemic inside the Madewell store in my mall and lately they are the ones I’m reaching for. They are a bit wider in the toe box and seem to be the most comfortable for school.

Up close:

Tuesday school outfit:

I wore a really old Chico’s skirt that I got for $5 on their clearance rack, my new ON Malibu tee, my gold Birkenstocks (oh man they hurt by the end of the day – do you think Birks are comfortable?), and my new ON cardigan. I tied the t-shirt with a ponytail holder to give myself more of a waist.

Did you see my post about my March/first half of April clothing purchases? I think I did really well and I am definitely becoming a more discerning shopper.

I mentioned a while ago that I saw these shoes in TJ Maxx when I bought my two new floral sleeve tees:

I went back and got them! I have a side by side of my original ones. I have worn the heck out of them and have gotten maybe three or four seasons out of them? I like the darker color and feel that it is more on trend with the raffia thing for this season. I think I will still wear the lighter ones depending on the outfit. I think this is a good purchase based on my history of wearing the lighter ones so much. The brand is Beach by Coconuts by Matisse. Is that long enough? If you click on the link, there are some really cute styles by this brand! Also, I think you can get these on Amazon for not much more than what I paid at TJ.

I think most teachers can agree that the things we wear at school would never be something we would wear out in the wild. Ha!

So, I think my favorite outfit to wear this week was the Malibu tee outfit, but it definitely was not the most flattering on me. The most flattering was probably the black Wit and Wisdom pants with the colorful blouse that I wore on Friday night. Maybe I needed a bit of a front tuck, though?

Do you have a favorite outfit?

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy