Friday, November 8, 2024

It’s been a weird week, which I knew would be the case. We had a teacher workday Monday which was fine – we had a lot of time to watch video trainings and get some work done – then we were off totally on Tuesday, and then came back with kids the rest of the week from Wednesday through today. I need to not pack in this weekend and do some prep to have a smooth week next week.

I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites today!

In addition to voting, I made a Trader Joe’s run on Election Day. It was nice to have fewer people there when I shopped!

Have you heard of all of Trader Joe’s beauty dupes? I am sure I have mentioned hearing about them before on the blog.

I bought this leave in conditioner and it is amazing! It smells great, leaves my hair so soft, and I think helps with my tangles.

This will be a re-purchase. I also love their lip mask that I have in vanilla and the facial moisturizer.

While I was at work Wednesday, I got this photo from Mason. He had made himself lunch for the patio:

See his cup of tea?

I have neglected some cleaning lately in favor of getting outside in our very warm for fall weather.

The sunlight and the leaves just look so pretty.

And, I am turning my porch lights on in both the mornings and evenings to help me not feel so bad about it getting dark early.

We have moments of Eddie Otis acting like a big boy and being my calm companion.

Then, we have other moments of…

mom dropped her computer mouse; let’s play chase.

mom dropped the entire bottle of red pepper flakes; it belongs in my mouth.

mom opened the baggie drawer; I also have food storage needs.

mom opened the towel drawer; the towels shall be mine.

mom moved slightly; this means I must get up.

mom opened the fridge; the bottle of sauvignon blanc looks mighty appealing and it’s on the bottom shelf.

I’m tired!

I have only read a bit so far so I don’t have an epic small life yet, but I’m working on it! Some people might scoff at her books, but I always feel inspired or validated in some things I already do. I mean, look at me.. middle aged Spanish teacher in a suburban area. Can you get more basic than that? That doesn’t sound very exciting, does it? But, I really love my life most of the time.

Mason continues to be the biggest help with EO. We walked him to the polls and were going to take turns, but the lines were really long so Mason took him back home. He still got his walk in.

Remember how much I complained about my new schedule last year? Now I can’t imagine having to go to work at such a crazy hour like I did for 23 years! I left my house at 6:45! Now on top of the fact that I don’t have to be there until 8:30 I also have first period planning so I am the most chill I’ve ever been. I get up between 5:45 and 6:00 and then I do Eddie Otis and kitchen stuff while making coffee and then have until 7:30 or 7:45 until I have to think about getting ready. My morning time feels like a luxury and a necessity.

On Tanya’s rec, I ordered the same color phone case and it’s gorgeous! I don’t think to get new phone cases that often. I’ve only had pop sockets, but this loopy thing does the same – always me to hold it or prop it.

And, let’s leave with another Eddie Otis photo because he is always with me when I am blogging. We think he is about 75 pounds now. He loves catching falling leaves and he loves eating leaves, too.

What were your favorites this week?

Amy

Thursday, November 7, 2024

It’s time for another Fashion Files with Kellyann and Jill! It’s been really warm here – like 70s warm. What about where you are? I hate to wish it away because once the cold comes it will be here to stay!

I wanted to try a graphic tee and sweater combo – nothing earth-shattering, I realize…

I wore this for a happy hour after school last week. I am wearing my Matilda Jane jeans, Deff Leopard tee, and a very old burgundy/black cocoon type sweater. I don’t even remember where I got it.

On Saturday for brunch out I was ready to take my new-to-me consignment blazer out. It is by the boutique brand Skies Are Blue and I paired it with a summery tee and my Target black silk slip skirt, my Stan Smiths with the gold back, and my gold Lily Pulitzer purse.

Saturday late afternoon I decided to wear this dress. I got it off the Loft sale rack several years ago for either $5.99 or $9.99 and I think there was only one and it was an online return or something! I really love it! I decided to wear my Jack Rogers booties that I found a long time ago at TJ Maxx.

This was a contender, but I felt like it was too springy.

Monday for our teacher work day, I threw this on – nothing to write home about…

My Kendra Scott 50% off birthday purchase arrived! It’s the Quinn bracelet from the Yellow Rose collection and it’s actually three separate bracelets. I have always loved mixed metals and my wedding rings are platinum so I like this. My sister in law has the most gorgeous mixed metal wedding and engagement ring set.

So, I was maybe going to buy the Birkenstock Boston clog and I still might, but I ordered these to try on the recommendation of Wardrobe Oxygen’s blog post. You should read this if you are trying to figure out your cold weather shoe wardrobe! Her style is not my style, but I appreciate her research and writing on topics that some of us are interested in at this age.

I got mine for $89 and can return to my local Macy’s. I had never heard of SoftWalk, but it’s worth checking out. They have some really cute styles and they look to be comfortable, too.

I treated myself to this book and there is a section on fashion. This and the motivation to help hurricane victims had me doing a ruthless closet clean out on my day off on election day. Tom’s work is doing a clothing and blanket drive and I found three bags of stuff that are in great shape but were never closet 10s for me – didn’t fit right, I bought because on sale, etc.

I want to have an epic small life! Ha!

So, I am continuing to enjoy a smaller selection of fall clothes that feel like me.

I am shopping very little and making sure that anything I keep is perfect, not just okay.

What have you been wearing this week? As always, I would love to hear your brand recommendations, store recommendations, shoe recommendations – anything you have to share!

Amy

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

It’s time for Currently with Jennifer!

Loving

That our boat is still out and not winterized yet!

We had an opportunity to take the boat out for leaf peeping on Sunday and used our extra hour!

The colors aren’t as vibrant this year due to the dry weather, I think?

Our friends were able to come and brought us Waldo’s chicken and we floated and enjoyed eating lunch on the boat. We were so relaxed and mellow and the weather could not have been more picture perfect.

Some new slippers!

I went in Target to do an online return and I couldn’t remember the last time I had gone in. I really think it might have been before school started?

Anyway, I walked around and these slippers caught my eye. They are like a Birkenstock Boston Clog and have nice support on the bottom.

Looking Forward To

I did enjoy seeing the holiday stuff out! I still don’t think I will do Christmas decor until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but it made me excited. It will be very minimal with Eddie Otis.

I’m also looking forward to all the holiday open houses, too. I feel like they started early!

I went to this on Saturday:

And I hope to attend more!

Smelling

Heather gave me a Capri Volcano candle for my birthday and it matches my bathroom perfectly!

Preparing For

My sister sent me this beautiful polish so I am going to get a pedicure with it.

Thankful For

Tom and friends who celebrated me. All three guys were wearing vests (didn’t get a photo – shoot!) and I thanked them for being “invested’ in my birthday.

Did you know Tom actually does have the muscles required to smile?

Now for this week’s Hodgepodge with Joyce!

1. What is one good thing you often take for granted? 

I am usually ready to get up in the morning and start my day. I love mornings. I’m excited about my coffee, for sure, but I love my morning routine, too. I think I take this time for granted and know so many people who get up at the last minute and rush out the door. That is not the life for me.

2. What’s the boldest piece of clothing in your wardrobe? 

I’m not afraid of color, but I would say my silver sequin pants that I found at TJ Maxx. Maybe now it’s my new magenta velvet blazer, too?

3. Do you think common interests or common values are the key to people getting along? Elaborate. 

Yes, that can bring people together but then a shared history might keep them together. I guess the common values are the most important.

4. November 6 is National Nacho Day…do you like nachos? How do you like yours? Do you make them at home or only order out? 

I don’t like nachos – I love them! Tom and I love to order them at restaurants. I have also learned to make some good ones at home. We like them with pork or chicken and one restaurant has bbq sauce on theirs. But, don’t make them with the cheap round tortilla chips like I’m at a high school sporting event. I want the good chips. I want them to be built on a nice horizontal foundation, ok? We also have a place near our house that has them with homemade potato chips. They are next level!

5. Have you spent any time in Washington D.C.?  If so what did you think? If not, is that a place you’d like to visit? What do you think about politics as a career choice? 

My parents took us there several times as kids because (I think if I remember correctly) my dad had to be there around spring break for his military position. Then, when our kids were in 2nd grade, Tom and I took our kids for spring break. Tom was worried about safety and the big city, but we had an amazing time and ended up feeling quite safe. We loved using the metro and our kids loved it! The museums are amazing. We loved it so much and our kids were at a fun age to experience it. We also went to Fallingwater (Frank Lloyd Wright home) on the drive home. While we were there we went to Mount Vernon, Monticello, and one other historic home, too, I think. I really should do some trip posts from our younger years.

I minored in political science and now I really dislike politics. I cannot stand the opportunists and users that I am now aware of at the local, state, and federal level. The greed and corruption makes me sick. I am sure there are still some public servants in it for the right reasons, but that seems to be a rarity now. Is the problem our system or the people attracted to politics? Maybe both.

I also don’t like when acquaintances are just interested in what people can do for them or when they are attracted to people because of their wealth and connections. I don’t have wealth or connections and I am just fine with that. Tom is also like me in this regard and it might even bother him more.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I’m still not used to it getting dark so early, but I am enjoying the lighter mornings. How about you?

Amy

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Well, it’s Election Day and many are biting their nails, so why not do a press on nail post? This is a reader request and I kind of failed on the photo department but I will do my best to explain.

A recent order:

Not sure I can handle this oval because they will be a tad longer but I thought they were so pretty.

I cannot honestly say much about other brands. I love Impress brand and I stuck with them. I order from their website and they have amazing deals and promotions where a pack of 30 nails can be as low as $3 and without the sales they are around $7 or $8. You can generally get two manis out of one box. I guess you can say I’m “impressed”.

I always order short length and still need to trim with nail clippers and file down a bit. They are a bit rough on the edges if you don’t at least file. I type a lot and I need “active length”.

There is no glue involved. They have the glue already on the back of the nail and it works like a sticker.

There is a learning curve. I have gotten better over time. The learning curve really just involves picking the right size.

Plan to do this when you will not have your hands in water for several hours.

My best bet is to do it after my shower in the evening.

Sit at a table. The hardest part is picking the correct size nail for each of your fingers. Lay them out in order. I like to have cut my natural nails down pretty short, by the way.

You want to go with as close to your natural nail size without going over. If some of the nail is on your skin, they won’t last and it will be very uncomfortable.

Use the alcohol pad that comes with the set. When I do a second mani from the box, I just use my own alcohol on a paper towel.

Each nail has a sticker on the back. I do both pinky fingers, both ring, both middle, etc. That is the easiest for peeling the stickers off as you go. Peel off the sticker and place the nail as close to the cuticle and hold it down to stick.

I do all the nails and wait about 10-15 minutes to trim and file. Sometimes I even wait until morning to trim and file.

Before trimming:

After:

The shorter they are, the longer they stay on for me. I am getting up to 10 days or so with each time. After 10 days, they really just come off easily, but you can take a piece of dental floss and wiggle it off from the cuticle. Honestly, I usually don’t have to use the floss trick because they are ready to come off when I am ready to be done with a color.

There is glue residue left on your nails but it comes off after a few hand washings or a shower. I try to leave my nails natural for a couple of days in between press on manis, but I have not had any nail damage.

Why I love these?

They seriously look like dip or gel.

I hate my natural nails. Some people have pretty ones. Mine are not those.

These do not bother me at all. Sometimes I get my hair stuck in a nail and that’s annoying, but it’s not that big of a deal.

I don’t have to go to a salon. For me it’s more about the time and the commitment. No can do.

I’m not very artsy, but this is my art. lol.

It’s super affordable.

I do a lot of dishes and I shower twice a day and they last through that.

Impress has great colors and I like looking/shopping for new sets.

If you have not tried press ons for years I would say try them again. These new modern technology press on nails are really, really good. There is even a petite size for a shorter nail than short. I have used that size, too, and I really like them.

They are great for travel. Replacement nails or a new set take up very little room.

Let me know if you have any tips, recommendations, or questions that I didn’t answer!

Press on,

Amy

Monday, November 4, 2024

Well, it’s Monday but it’s a different kind of week for me. We have a teacher work day today from 8:30-3:30 and no wait for traffic to clear – lol- and we get to go out to lunch! And, we are off tomorrow for Election Day. Then, we will have a Wednesday through Friday with students. And, you guys, the speed at which Thanksgiving is coming is crazy!

I am happy to link up with Sarah and Holly to share my birthday weekend! Yes, I love my birthday, but I love everyone else’s, too, so don’t sue me.

The funniest thing I read this weekend – check out this account of a bad visit to DryBar. It had me in stitches. I have never been to Dry Bar, but I have been to a similar place and my hair was not my favorite. Ha!

I took a shower and actually blow dried my hair on Saturday, which was my actual birthday. I wore it straight to try it out. This is my brunch ‘fit. This is my new consignment velvet blazer.

I went to brunch with the fam at The House of Marigold and then after we were looking for shoes at Von Maur for me and got a bit distracted by this Australian unisex cologne called Who is Elijah. We also got distracted by the piano player. High school teachers do not use the word “pianist” just so you know.

I left empty handed; I am thinking about Birkenstocks Boston clogs and I was looking at the boot selection. What are we doing for boots? I feel like what is already in my closet is better than what I saw. During lunch Mason thought I said I wanted “birthday socks” instead of “Birkenstocks”.

We went home and I was in a carb coma. The sun got hot and my Loving Tan mousse had developed!

proof;

Why did I show that? Weird. I read on the patio for a bit and then had to get ready for friend time. We went to a holiday open house at Work the Metal and had espresso martinis while we shopped:

Then we went to NULU and in another shop and then we headed to Hotel Genevieve’s rooftop bar where we met the husbands…

Then, we went to our dinner reservation at Bar Vetti and I was having too much fun to take photos…

It was a really lovely day! I will tell you about the rest of the weekend in my Currently post!

Thank you for my birthday wishes! I really appreciate it! This is 53! Eek!

Amy

Friday, November 1, 2024

it’s Friday! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites. Do you have a candy hangover?

Do you feel like this…

Remember my 3 hay rides over the weekend? Achoo! I didn’t feel great. I didn’t sleep great. I was busier than I wanted to be, too.

I have decided I have a heckler in my last period class. I was being silly and talked about how I guess I’m allergic to hay and this girl told me I probably shouldn’t have taken so many hayrides and that she takes about 10 a week. Ok, “Ms. Hay Wagon” with your hay ride flex. Then another day a kid in her class said that he was going to record me singing and I jokingly told him I hadn’t signed a waiver. The heckler cites some public spectacle clause that you can be recorded without a waiver if you are creating a public spectacle. Does it count if it’s your job?

So, yeah, that’s fun.

But, alas, here are some favorites along with more thoughts from the week…

I am not a huge Starbucks fan at all. I want to give my money to the local guy when I buy coffee. I really don’t even think their coffee is that good. I have gotten to the point where my home coffee with my frothed cream is my favorite (if I can’t have the wonderful coffee from Spain!).

But, I love my Starbucks mug collection. This mug is the perfect size and heft. This France one is so special because my Dad found it in France and brought it back. My Prague one is also so special because Mason went to Prague and all I got was the mug – ha! Just kidding! I was so touched that he did that for me as a 17 year old high school kid on a school trip. I also have Munich and Kentucky. If one is not available for my morning coffee, I am sad girl.

So, I have an England one and a Spain one in my Amazon cart. They are between $50 and $60! These mugs are no longer made. I love them that much and I don’t really collect anything else. Am I basic because I love these mugs? Oh, and this is weird. I like my tea in a smaller mug but I like my coffee in these mugs. So, I think I am going to get them. I know I will love them. Yes, I have overthought this mug decision.

I have a press on tutorial coming, but if you can’t wait. I love Impress brand and buy them on their website or at Ulta or a drug or grocery store. The website has the best variety and really good promotions. I buy short length.

I can’t tell I have them on and I really think they have changed my nail life.

I take my breakfast to school and eat around 8:30 and this week I tried something different that turned out so yummy! I had diced and roasted sweet potatoes over the weekend as part of my meal prep and for breakfast I made a bowl with chicken sausage, egg, and a sprinkle of cheese.

Do you still “use” Pinterest? I do and I also just use Google images for outfit inspiration. I really think this keeps me feeling like I have a lot to wear. I am loving the long tan coat with sneaker look. I have a long tan sweater coat and a light tan trench. So, it’s not exact, but it is close enough to the look here;

Thank you for sharing your birthday traditions and plans with me earlier in the week!

Here is what I am thinking of getting at Kendra Scott. Isn’t she pretty?

I have had a sad state of arm candy in my life lately. I got rid of a lot of bracelets and miss having some I really, really like.

Tip:

It’s the time of year for holiday open houses and all kinds of holiday community events. I take photos and add to my calendar and if I can go, I try to go. I am going to make a post-Thanksgiving until end of year Bucket List and then a Bucket List for January. I was actually kinda shocked to see them starting so early.

How do you feel about “permanent” jewelry? I have been seeing it advertised everywhere! I just think it would bug me. Isn’t it just a really tight bracelet? Can’t you achieve the look without getting it soldered on your wrist? Am I missing something?

Mason is literally in love with Eddie Otis and it’s been so fun to see. Our first lab was 1.5 years old when we had the twins and died when they were 9. Our second lab we had from the time they were 10 until they were 21. There is something about this time or this dog that Mason has really been drawn to and EO loves him, too.

My oven told me it was Halloween yesterday! It changed scenes a few times that I noticed.

The weather has been so warm this week! Halloween morning was perfectly eerie and windy. I loved it!

But, it rained for a good part of the afternoon.

I did make mummy dogs;

And, our group text with my mom and sisters had the cutest thing in it! My youngest nephew dressed up like Grandpa for Halloween or Maverick, whichever you want to say!

Tell me something about your week! Having a blog is weird because I don’t want to be fake (like everything is perfect) and I don’t want to be too negative (or a Debbie Downer) and I ask myself am I telling too much? Also, when I see my friends that read my blog I want to start with, “I don’t want to repeat anything you read on the blog so have you been reading?” but that’s weird, and I also say, “you know there’s a lot I don’t say, right?’ I could probably make a whole post about the weirdness. I would fill it with all the good things that have come from it, too, though! Thank you for continuing to show up here and let me know if you have any suggestions for blog topics or blogs for me to read that I might not already be reading.

I guess I am feeling reflective as this week comes to a close,

Amy

Thursday, October 31, 2024

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.

What have you been wearing?

Amy

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

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.

What I’m Doing this Weekend

I have a birthday!

What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month

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.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am enjoying my Halloween nails!

What’s up with you on this Wednesday?

Amy

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

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!

Tell me what you would do!

Amy

Monday, October 28, 2024

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…

Then, we finally got to celebrate Heather and Heather’s birthdays. We went to The Last Refuge which is owned by Bob Dylan and in a renovated church. I am such a name dropper on this Monday.

I really don’t know what to do with my arm.

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.

I’m tired. I need a Monday to rest I guess.

Tell me something you did!

Amy