Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Today is my mom’s birthday and she has been hosting her college friends at her house, ironically enough. She hosts quite a bit! Happy birthday, mom! This post came about, though, because I just finished hosting and the topic has been on my mind! I thought with holidays coming up that others might be hosting guests, as well.

Also, check out my friend’s new blog for great and easy ideas for hosting people!

Discuss the hosting situation and make sure you know your limits. Had it been more than a week for me, I would have had to make arrangements for our guests after week one.

Discuss with your family the arrangements and delegate prep work.

Provide a guest room (if you can) with a night table, lamp, and available plugs for chargers. Remove some of the decor if it is cluttered because they need space to put their things.

Buy new pillows if your pillows have seen better days.

Provide space in the closet for their things.

Lay out their towels and show which bathroom will be theirs. Make sure you have shower products they can use in case they don’t have their own.

Provide the WIFI password – extra points if you put it on a cute dry erase board or chalkboard.

Ask ahead of time what they would like you to plan (if anything).

Keep the plans fairly loose and flexible and share the plans with the guests.

Do not plan to cook every night –

Our guests were arriving on a Monday afternoon so I made a pasta bake on Sunday and then on Monday when I got home I only had to assemble a salad and bread and this worked out well.

Plan for breakfast food – I did sliced cucumber, tomatoes, good bread, and cheese, and had butter, jam, and honey laid out on the first morning they woke up in our home. I also had a few other breakfast items they could choose like English muffins.

Since I had a nicer meal Monday night, Tuesday night was gourmet grilled cheese, green beans, and potatoes. Food does not have to be fancy. They seemed to really like this meal.

We ate out Wednesday night and Thursday we had a late lunch so no dinner was needed.

Show the guests how to use the coffee maker and show where all food is kept so you don’t feel that you are waiting on them and they don’t feel they are being waited on. One of our guests always made an afternoon coffee, too, and sometimes I had one with her.

Since I had to work most days, I made Trader Joe’s frozen croissants two days before I left for work and an egg casserole a couple of days. One day I also did a coffee cake and one day I did cinnamon rolls. They also enjoyed these sweet things in the afternoon with a coffee. I was happy to get up a bit earlier so they would have something to wake up to.

What I have learned about Germans is that they eat a very big breakfast and then one more meal each day is enough for them, so my breakfast plan worked out well.

Let the guests help you – I know that I always want to help when I go to someone’s home.

One night we ordered pizza, and I asked a guest to make the salad and she was happy to do so. Pizza makes everyone happy!

Know yourself – I need some alone time each day. I got up early to do my quiet time and this worked out one day, but our guests were early birds, and I missed my alone time some of the days – ha! I don’t talk until I have had my coffee.

When we were at home, our guests seemed to enjoy both of our patios and each of us would read our own books. Don’t feel like you have to fill the silence because everyone needs down time.

Let your guests go to their room to rest or just to be alone. Do not hover!

I know I have forgotten a ton of stuff! What else do you recommend when hosting?

This visit went really well, and I think we had a good mix of activity and down time. I think I handled having houseguests better than I have ever handled it in the past. August is the worst time for a teacher to have guests, so I think the prep I did ahead of time – thinking it out, shopping for supplies, communicating with Tom, etc. really helped me to work and host and be able to enjoy myself. I took off one day so that I had a Wednesday night with no worries, a Thursday free, and then just had to go back to work on Friday while Tom was traveling out of town with the guests.

Amy

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

August was a weird month! I started work on August 7th and kids came on August 9th, then I had a couple of bonus days off with the bus fiasco and I had some extra days to prepare for coming back to school with kids on August 21st. I decided to embrace that extra time at home with a mix of fun and productivity. I also spent some time sprucing up the house for our German houseguests who came from August 28-September 5. I decluttered and took things to Goodwill, too.

Let’s see how I did…

August 1 – $57 Trader Joe’s – stocking up on some easy things to help as I start work, $0 Martini’s happy hour with Beth to talk blogging and Beth treated even though I tried to pay!

August 2 – $50 birthday gift, $12 Paul’s breakfast sandwiches – Mason helped me set up my room and this was our treat

August 3 – $20 Francesca’s. $137 DSW shoes for school, $20 Tzatziki’s, $17 cookies from bakery – more time with Mason at lunch and he wanted to give some cookies to friends

August 4 – $16 Bath and Body – new signature scent – Into the Night

August 5 – $8 coffee shop with Mason (soaking up all the time with Mason)

August 6 – $80 dinner out after Jack’s opera

August 7 – $50 dinner out at Mason’s work – we finally made it there to see him and did the meal deal

August 8 – $12 Lunch out on teacher work day – Mexican with Erica

August 9 – $0 Spend Day! – First day of school and no time/energy to spend

August 10 – $20 Erica’s pool – admission and a drink – we found out school was cancelled due to bus fiasco

August 11 – $44 dinner in Columbus, OH with bestie Heather and my sister

August 12 – $20 Starbuck’s for my sister and I, $120 Eddie B Comedy parking, dinner, one drink (Erica bought my ticket so I paid for everything else)

August 13 – $50 birthday gift, $116 Kroger pick up

August 14 – $64 Trader Joe’s, $44 Walgreen’s

August 15 – $0 Spend day

August 16 – $31 Pretty Decent Bar

August 17 – $0 Spend Day

August 18 – +44 Walmart Return, $10 Walmart, $131 Aldi

August 19 – $36 Big Lots (new doormats), $25 Waldo’s for dinner, $12 Commonwealth Tap, $12 ice cream truck at outdoor concert

August 20 – $10 Mcdonalds for the boat – bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits for a 10:30 boat ride!

August 21 – $0 Spend day

August 22 – $0 Spend day

August 23 – $0 Spend day – woohoo! See what happens when I am busy working?

August 24 – $0 Spend day – I just can’t go anywhere after school because of getting out so late and because of the traffic at that time! I also haven’t been shopping online.

August 25 -$44 Dominos – Friday night and worked a 5 day week so pizza it was!

August 26- $55 Kroger, $95 TJ maxx (house stuff for German houseguests – new pillows, etc.), $44chick Fila for dinner

August 27- $225 Kroger – German supplies! Ha!

August 28 – $0 Spend day

August 29- $0 Spend day

August 30- $260 Captain’s Quarters dinner out with our German visitors – We aren’t sure how we spent that much. It must have been the bottle of wine a German ordered – lol

August 31 – $140 Angels Envy

Totals:

Zero Spend Days: 10! This means nothing ordered, either!

Groceries: $998 – I think this is correct? I am kind of surprised I did so well with so much going on.

ClothingAccessories: $157 unless I missed something

Meals Out: $772 – This includes a very expensive dinner out while the Germans were here – Maybe this is why the groceries were less this month? Ha!

I have not started September’s Spending Diary so I think I might take a break, but I might try to figure out what we’ve spent so far. I’m not sure.

The summer months tend to be pricey with more time on my hands and less routine.

How did you do in August?

Amy

Monday, September 11, 2023

Today is my Dad’s birthday (He would have been 81!) and of course, it’s the anniversary of 9/11. I’m linking up with Holly and Sarah and honestly, I took mostly food photos this weekend, so you will see a lot of food. Guess what, I have a lot of food boxes in my fridge right now, too.

Friday was a good day at school and after, I had plans to go to Carraba’s with Erica and Elizabeth. We had not seen Elizabeth since June!

I was so tired after happy hour and went home and whipped up a really quick dinner for everyone else but me. I was too full from happy hour.

I finished this:

I really liked it! It is one of my favorite books of the year, I think.

After I finished the above book, I started this:

Saturday was just what I needed. Tom went to spend one last day with the Germans who are staying with his parents, and I stayed home and did my breakfast prep for the week, 5 loads of laundry (we still had sheets and towels from the houseguests), dishes, fridge organization, and mopping.

In between tasks, I read on the patio and it was so nice. I seriously needed it!

Mason and I had some tea because the weather was pretty cool. I had Cinnamon Sunset and he had English Breakfast and he loved it!

Around 2:00, we went out to shop for a few clothing items and toiletries for England. We went to Drake’s for lunch and had BLT tots and sushi.

We went home and rested and then went out again to the mall – ugh – the mall!

We didn’t buy anything else and by that time Tom was back in town so he met us for dinner at Tatziki’s. I wasn’t very hungry and just had a bowl of lemon orzo soup:

We got some whipped feta, too:

It was a nice day and then we watched some Gilmore Girls together.

Sunday morning was another cool morning:

I read outside and enjoyed the weather, then we had early boat plans with our friends and went out at 10:00. We cruised around and ate lunch.

I stopped at Kroger for a few things (I had done my big grocery shop Thursday after school at Aldi) and then I showered and rested.

We were finally celebrating the 21st birthday the right way!

We chose Varanese, which I think is probably the best restaurant in Louisville if you want a variety – burger, pasta, salmon, etc. It is in a building that used to be a gas station and it is half open air.

I had a glass of prosecco, and they give you complimentary bruschetta:

Mason ordered pinot grigio but Jack stuck to water. That is kind of what I thought would happen!

Tom and I both had the salmon over cream cheese grits:

Mason had beef tip tortellini:

Jack had the roasted chicken:

They had music playing, too!

It was a lovely meal and a really nice weekend.

What was the highlight of yours?

Amy

Friday, September 8, 2023

Today’s edition of Friday Favorites with Andrea and Erika is going to be short and sweet. Why are short weeks so long? I was in the hole all week sleep-wise. I didn’t sleep great Monday night or Wednesday night and it really affected everything. Ugh!

But, here are some favorites from the week…

Beth and Bob came over for pizza on Saturday night and Beth brought some flowers from her yard. I have been enjoying them all week:

Tuesday, on Jack and Mason’s birthday, I found a penny at school in a very odd place. I believe that all the pennies I have found since my Dad passed in 2018 are from him. It’s comforting to me and I save them all! He was so excited about their birth and they made him a Grandpa which he treasured.

Tom got donuts in the morning for their birthday and then got the Chinese in the evening for them. I was busy working a double with our open house, but I came home at 8:00 and joined in.

I grabbed this at Kroger the day before and they each had a bit and Jack hated it! Mason said it could be an acquired taste.

And, we had a cookie cake:

I am hoping to finish this book this weekend as I have had zero reading time:

I am excited to start this after:

I plan to listen to some Jimmy this weekend…

I did my nails in this color again:

Tom’s friend went to Vermont and brought him back some amazing Vermont white cheddar that we enjoyed before dinner one night this week…

Cheese is always a favorite!

These pant made me happy this week. They are gauzy and so comfy, but I also like the look of them. See more details from Fashion Files yesterday!

I like to start my day outside during the week, too, when the weather cooperates. It just puts me in a different mindset before I feel trapped inside a building for 8 hours!

Ok, look at this forecast and I apologize in advance to all the Texans…

Now if only the mosquitoes would go away…

What were your favorites this week?

Amy

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Even though I was really busy last week with our houseguests, I still managed to get several outfit photos. I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files.

Wednesday I wore my J.Crew Factory green linen skirt with a Target blouse from last spring. I also wore my new Crocs Brooklyn sandals.

Wednesday night I changed into this dress to go to the sailboat race and to dinner. The dress is old Target Knox Rose with my Target sandals from this season.

Thursday, I wore my Target black gauzy dress and Birkenstocks to go to the distillery tour and shopping.

Friday, I wore this to school because the football game theme was Barbie pink. These are my Target Universal Thread straight leg jeans, a consignment blouse, a consignment light sweater, and my Crocs Brooklyn sandals.

Saturday night we had our friends over to meet the Germans and have pizza on the patio. I wore a TJ Maxx Cynthia Rowley skirt, an Old Navy top, and my Target sandals.

Sunday I decided to wear my very old Old Navy white linen pants that I had not worn in ages. I Paired them with my J.Crew Factory blouse.

Tuesday for back to school I wore my Old Navy black and white blouse (I have it in orange and pink and blue and white, too!) with my new pants. I found these pants for $40 at a little boutique on Sunday while we were shopping for souvenirs for our Germans to take back home. They are Umgee and they are divine. I also found them on Amazon here. They are gauzy and lightweight and they hit more like a full length pant than a cropped pant on me. I am tempted to get another color, but the boutique only had black, so I would have to pay a little more on Amazon.

For open house later that night, I wore them again, but paired them with a Loft animal print blouse with gold threads and my new pair of $5 shoes from Vintage 7 Eight from Shoe Carnival.

The photos are not great, but you get the idea of what I’ve been wearing!

I think I am getting tired of dresses and skirts for school and I’m ready for pants.

I am really trying to shop my closet and wear what I have.

Do you have a favorite?

What have you been wearing?

Amy

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Happy Wednesday all! I am so behind on responding to comments and I apologize. I feel like I’ve run a marathon. Moritz, our 24 year old German, left yesterday afternoon to go on a few more adventures before returning to Germany. He is meeting a friend in California for a road trip. He is an absolute doll and easy to host. We feel like we know him really well because he stayed with us for 3 weeks when he was 17, we went to stay with them when he was 18, and then we have spent time with him this past week. His mom and dad left Monday. Now, we do still have two Germans at Tom’s parents’ house and we will see them once more this weekend.

I am linking up with Jennifer for her fun Currently!

Loving

In addition to all of the time with family, Ernie has felt good enough to jump up on the chaise part of the basement couch:

He has also jumped up on our bed at night! His eating is still a little weird, but now I’m wondering if the extreme heat just had an adverse effect on him?

Anyway, we are loving that our sweet Ernie seems to be more himself. We do not take this lightly at all!

Experiencing

Just time with our international family…

After the parents of Moritz left on Monday, we took the boat out again. Mason was able to come and it was a really nice day on the river!

I am looking forward to boaters putting their boats up now so we can have more of it to ourselves! We love fall boating and put our boat up as late as possible.

Dreaming

Of crunching leaves beneath my feet…

Are you ready for fall?

Eating

I definitely have not been snacking with school and company, but I also have not been eating great. I hope to have lots more of this…

I plan to make some good entree salads. I would like to throw some roasted vegetables in. I’m also excited to eat soup!

Using to Decorate

I planned to get my early fall decor items out on Monday, but just didn’t have time. Maybe this weekend?

I have a full week off for Fall Break this year and man am I going to need it., and I don’t think I will be bothered to be home for it and not travel, either. Mason leaves September 17 and fall break is September 29. Everything from now until September 17 will be focused on making sure he has what he needs.

What are you up to Currently?

Amy

Monday, September 5, 2023

How is this even possible? I’m honestly not sure if I’ve ever told their birth story here on the blog, but they were born at 30 weeks and just under 3 pounds each…

They quickly grew into chubby little babies that slept great and ate well as you can see…

Tom made their Halloween costumes out of felt this year – Barney and Fred Flinstone…

They laughed and laughed at us and each other. I would tickle one and the other would laugh – it’s a twin thing!

Once they could start talking, they were hilarious. I have all of their funny quotes recorded.

Quick Recall Academic Team was always so fun to watch:

They love each other so much and enjoy being together. They laugh and laugh when they are together even now!

They figured out how to sit in the back seat of the van and flip the seat back together – in the garage – not while we were driving!

Starting high school at my school with me:

Leaving for college:

I absolutely love the “look” on Ernie’s face as we are loading up the cars!

Jack has an extremely long day today – classes and an audition from about 8:00 a.m. until about 8:00 p.m. and I also have my school’s open house (as well as a normal school day) from 5:45 until about 8:00 p.m. We are doing take out Chinese food tonight at home and then I think we are doing a nice restaurant reservation on the weekend. In typical form they are fine with whatever, but I want to celebrate them and this milestone!

Amy

Monday, September 4, 2023

Hello Monday and Happy Labor Day!

I am linking up with Sarah and Holly for a recap of my weekend. I know it’s not over yet, but let’s see what we’ve done so far!

Before I left for work Friday morning, I popped an egg casserole and a Krusteaz coffee cake in the oven:

I worked all day and Tom took the three German guests to his hometown to visit with his parents. They returned around 7:00 and we walked over to see an American football game!

They really enjoyed it!

Saturday morning, we went to Kroger for them to see the grocery store and to pick out some boat snacks!

Ernie got to go! He’s doing very well, you guys!

I don’t know that I have ever seen so many people in the cove. I counted at least 60 boats lined up in just this line right here:

After we had our fill of the sun, we headed home for showers and salad making and then had friends over for dinner to meet our guests.

We went with Boombozz pizza and we have the perfect structure next to our patio for a pizza buffet:

We ended the night with some chocolate ice cream!

Our friends left and then Jack did some guitar playing for us:

Sunday morning coffee:

I love this book and I’m almost finished:

Sunday we did some souvenir shopping and then I did a much-anticipated library pick up:

Sunday afternoon we headed to Tom’s sister’s house for some visiting and dinner:

Moritz and Mason deep in conversation. Jack had to sing in a mass at college and came late so I didn’t get any photos of him.

We had added two more Germans because the two sisters of the man staying with us had arrived (pure coincidence on the timing) to stay with Tom’s mom. The reason for the visit of our guests was their son’s graduation from an MIT Master’s program and the two sisters were finally re-doing their trip plan from April of 2020. So, it was nice that during the overlap of the two sets of German visitors that we were all able to be together. I know Tom values greatly the time he gets to see his cousins. We have only been there twice, but they have come here a few times each since I have known Tom.

What have you done so far?

I hope it’s been a great holiday weekend and that you have fun plans today! Two of our Germans leave today and one leaves tomorrow. The other two that are at Tom’s parents’ house leave next weekend. If you have lost count, as you are reading this, we have 5 Germans! Guten morgen!

Amy

Friday, September 1, 2023

Can you even believe it is September? August really flew by and it was a crazy month with trying to start school and then having to wait. Ha! It was a good month, too, though. I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites here.

First of all, Ernie has been able to walk on the playground again and has acted much more like himself. I guess it’s the Chinese herb we have been giving him? We will go with that!

Two Germans arrived Monday afternoon:

Tom’s sister and our nieces came over and we had a pasta bake, breadsticks, and salad. We had red velvet cake for dessert. For the pasta bake, I boiled penne, browned Laura’s Lean ground beef and added a jar of marinara and about a half jar of alfredo. I baked it and then put nice shredded mozzarella on top for the last 10 minutes or so. It also became my school lunch with Erica the next day:

Tuesday Tom took them around town and we had a simple dinner of gourmet grilled cheese, roasted potatoes, roasted green beans, and leftovers.

So, the German visit has also been a favorite!

Our school library is making posters to get kids reading (or scare them away from reading). I did Don Quixote and they made the poster in Spanish with the word “lea” meaning read – well, it’s the formal command to read.

Wednesday morning I made Trader Joe’s croissants before work and…

Chick Fil A style fruit salad – blueberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges, lime juice, and a bit of vanilla pudding powder. It’s delicious!

Erica made us taco salad for one lunch:

Wednesday night we went to watch the sailboat races at Captain’s Quarters…

the weather was perfection!

We got a table and had dinner and then…

our third German arrived by Uber. The couples’ son had a flight cancelled and then they decided since he was late that he would just Uber to the restaurant.

The couple is Tom’s first cousin (the husband) and his wife and the son is 24 and just finished a Business Analytics degree at MIT. He stayed with us when he was 17 so we know him quite well.

We came home and saw the super moon!

The super moon Thursday morning:

I have been making it a point to have my coffee outside during the week this week. I usually only do this on weekends, but it has made me feel great to do it during the week!

Thursday we took them wake surfing on the river and I just rode along:

Let me know if you want to buy a wake surfing boat – I can hook you up!

The 24 year old, Moritz, did great!

Tom:

We also managed a distillery tour – Angel’s Envy. It was great!

This was the first time I had been on a tour with a chocolate pairing!

We walked around NULU after…

And, dinner was Feast BBQ:

What were your favorites this week?

Our guests are here until Monday! Happy Labor Day weekend!

Amy

Thursday, August 31, 2023

It’s Fashion Files day with Kellyann and Jill.

Here are a couple of purchases I have made over the last month.

The first is a jacket by Walmart Free Assembly. I have wanted something like this for a few winters now and I check Free Assembly and Scoop on the Walmart.com site from time to time. Because my Free Assembly dress has been my MVP this summer, I know that I want to add more of that brand to my closet.

This waffle weave tunic caught my eye at TJ Maxx. It’s very soft and not scratchy at all. I really don’t have any stripes in my wardrobe anymore and I think this will be great to throw on with black leggings or pants.

This style of Hoka caught my eye, but I haven’t jumped on them. They aren’t what I would call a “pretty shoe”, but they look like they have more support than the model I have.

Here is what I have worn…

Last Thursday I wore the above mentioned Free Assembly dress. It makes me happy every time I wear it and I get lots of compliments on the colors. Here is proof that I always have at least one change of shoes!

Nope, not wearing jeans on a Friday in 90 degree weather. I wore my Barbie t-shirt with a fun skirt. I threw on an old TJ Maxx light vest because I needed “the rule of three”. This is where adding a third piece pulls an outfit together. I wanted to cover the bum for school if you know what I mean.

I love wearing biker shorts for errands and for cleaning around the house. My phone fits in one pocket, my airpods in the other, and they just make sense.

Monday for school I wore my Old Navy dress. I have the blouse version in this colorway, in blue and white, and in black and white. I kind of wish I had done the dress in all three as well, but even I have limits. That would have been extreme, no?

Tuesday I wore my Target dress because it was a little cooler in the morning and I thought I could handle the sleeves. I was a bit hot at school, though.

And, that’s it for my fashion. I am getting all these dresses in and I am about finished with the ones I am willing to wear to school. Then, I plan to focus in on skirts and palazzo pants. In September, I will start to feel odd about my bright, colorful, tropical summer prints and that will be when I am thankful for lightweight clothing in more fall colors. Plus, I am tired of my summer clothing at this point. I have been wearing it since April! Are you that way, too?

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy