Thursday, April 9, 2020

I have kept it pretty positive on the old blog since this pandemic reached our shores, but I want you to know that I have been on an emtional roller coaster as I am sure you have, also.

Right after my Dad passed away in 2018, I told my son Mason that I felt guilty for my intense grief. I knew that I was so lucky to have gotten to have 47 years of a close relationship with my Dad. Heck, one of my best friends only got to have twenty years with her Dad. My wise son told me that my feelings were still valid and that I needed to let myself grieve without feelings of guilt. I keep coming back to that quote. So, friends, it is o.k. to grieve for your losses during this Pandemic, too.

Staying at home, clearing the calendar, homeschooling our kids, limiting our shopping trips and making do with what is in our pantry – all of these are minor first world problems. I think we can all agree that we are being taught a big lesson that was maybe much needed in modern 2020 life. I keep thinking about people in hospitals fighting for their lives without family by their side, health care workers making the ultimate sacrifice, grocery store, liquor store, gas station, food service workers who don’t earn nearly enough right now for the services they are providing – and the list goes on.

Even though we realize this, we are only human and it’s o.k. for us to feel our feelings of loss. Those seemingly little things on our calendar are what makes life worth living. The little things are the big things. I don’t think we will take those for granted after this.

2020 was always going to be a big year. I got married in the year 2000 and that already seemed so futuristic! I remember realizing that in 2020 I would have been married for 20 years! Fast forward to 2002 when I got pregnant with twins. These twins would graduate from high school in 2020! We would celebrate two big, wonderful milestones this year.

So, I have been teaching at my current school since 2000. It was always in the plan that my sons would come to my school. It was a unique gift that my friends were their teachers and that the three of us could do school together. It seems like freshman year was just a minute ago. It is a big enough school that they had different schedules for the most part and they didn’t see much of me, either. I was so proud of how they handled themselves. They didn’t use me as an excuse for being late to class. They didn’t interrupt my classes. They didn’t ask for any special treatment. In fact, I remember once freshman year before they had cell phones, Mason went to the office and asked to call me because he was sick. He simply left a message on my cell phone because he knew I was teaching and didn’t want to bother me!

This year, senior year, we have had the privilege/challenge of me being their AP Spanish teacher. They are in two different sections and not in the same class. This was hard some days but most days I think it was really cool. I took a couple of photos of just ordinary days with them sitting in my room during class and I am glad I did now since they may not get to sit in my classroom again.

We have not had an official cancellation of the school year YET. We are currently planning for 6 weeks of distance learning. But, with Indiana, Michigan, and many other nearby states calling it, I think we could follow suit.

As a twin mom with no other children, I always felt like I only had one shot at each “mom experience”. I know moms of only children must feel the same. I only had one chance to do kindergarten, one chance to do the elementary years and be room mom, one chance to take prom pictures, and the list goes on.

So…

I am grieving for the last two months of getting to be my boys’ teacher.

I am grieving so many things for my boys – they may not get a prom, the senior ride on The Belle of Louisville, a senior walk (the seniors walk the halls one last time to say good-bye to underclassmen and teachers), a full graduation ceremony, senior honors night, senior choir concert, Mason’s last academic competition ever, Jack’s Shakespeare festival, and so much more.

I am also grieving for those of you that have kindergartners, 5th graders, 8th graders, seniors in college – all of these milestones that we look forward to.

And yet, we will sacrifice all of these moments in life if we can keep our loves ones safe and healthy.

I always tell my students that you get to know a person’s true character during the harder moments in life. Everyone can be their best self when the skies are sunny, but it is in those darker moments in life that show you who you are and what you are truly capable of.

I have learned a great deal about my precious sons during this time period. They have not complained a single time. They have done what needed to be done. They have made the best of the situation. They have now both made decisions for their future.

So, while I am grieving for the lost special moments of their senior year, I am seeing the young adults they are becoming despite or maybe in spite of these setbacks.

Amy

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Are you a coffee drinker? I drink less than 2 cups in the morning – I usually let one or both cups get a little cold and then I dump it out. I also sometimes like to have an afternoon cup of coffee.

When the weather warms up, I love iced coffee.

Have you heard of the whipped coffee trend?

It is made by combining 2 tablespoons each of instant coffee granules, sugar, and hot water. You then use your hand mixer to whip it until it becomes the consistency of whipped cream.

You then pour it in to 1 cup of any kind of milk and you can mix it up at this point if you desire.

Look how pretty the whipped coffee of my sister turned out!

Even tastier in my opinion is my short cut iced coffee. I take one stick of instant coffee granules – by the way, I bought decaf so if you are worried about the caffeine this is an option. Mix the granules with about 2 tablespoons of hot water – less water if you like it stronger. Stir up really good with a spoon, add ice, and pour in a half of a vanilla Premier Protein. I tried this with caramel last summer, but I love the vanilla and think it is the best.

It tastes better than Starbucks but it has been so long I do not remember what Starbucks tastes like!

I know it may be hard to get out to get instant coffee or Premier Protein right now, but maybe you can try this someday soon!

What type of coffee do you drink? Any recipes for me?

Amy

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

If you celebrate Easter, I know this is not a typical holiday for you and it is so sad to not be able to share this day with loved ones. But, we have to hope that we will get to celebrate at a later date. It is more important now to protect our loved ones.

I thought I would post some ideas in enough time for you if you are needing some help. Leave me any ideas in the comments, too!

My husband and I decided to order a Honey Baked ham. We like to get one at Christmas and at Easter and then he makes his famous 15 bean soup with the bone. This is a big deal because it is the only thing he makes. The trademarked Honey Baked ham makes his soup spectacular!

So the menu will be (and I have already ordered everything from Kroger for my next pick up):

ham

deviled eggs (I might boil and decorate eggs and try to talk 17 year old boys into helping?)

Sister Schubert’s rolls

potato casserole*

the most amazing green beans ever in the crockpot*

maybe roasted carrots?

cake (I ordered new small round cake pans and I am anxious to make homemade icing – but I will still use a cake mix and add an extra egg because I think it tastes better than homemade!)

*recipe to follow

It’s not too late to plan a menu for your small or large quarantine party.

The best green beans you will ever have recipe from Mix and Match Mama blog:

4 cans of cut green beans drained

3 pieces of bacon cut into small pieces raw

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 onion diced

Throw everything in a crockpot and cook on low from 2-4 hours

I am going to halve the recipe for the four of us.

Potato Casserole: (can assesmble the day before)

Preheat oven to 350

Fully thawed out bag of frozen hash browns

1 pint sour cream

1 can cream of celery soup

2 cups shredded cheddar

salt and pepper

Mix all together in big bowl and then spread into 9×13 Pyrex dish

Some people top with corn flakes and butter but I have never done that.

What are your plans if you celebrate?

Ideas:

-Many of our restaurants are doing carry out meals with traditional Easter foods.

-If you are too sad, maybe go the non-traditional food route and have something totally out of the ordinary.

-Since it is hard to do Easter basket shopping, you could do white elephant gifts in Easter baskets for older kids or adults and look around the house and give used items. It could be really funny.

-I was able to include Easter candy in my Kroger online order.

-Watch an online service in your pj’s.

-Go for an early morning drive with some Easter music.

Stay well,

Amy

P.S. – What do you think of my photos? I didn’t want today’s post to be without any so I tried some photography of my Easter decor and my flowering tree – lol!

Monday, April 6, 2020

Hi everybody! How was your weekend? I will be linking up today with Heather, Tanya, and more so go right here!

I start working today. We have a day full of meetings and we are going to try this distance learning thing out. I will let you know how it goes!

Friday morning I had crescent rolls to use up so I made the sausage squares that I have posted about before.

I also had meetings on Friday but I took a break to take Ernie on a walk. I think it will be so important to take breaks. I am not used to sitting at a computer for so long.

I hope no one bought these – they have a really bad after taste. I like the lemonade one but maybe it is because it gets mixed well, but these are not good. Sorry if I influenced anyone negatively.

Saturday morning I made my iced coffee with instant coffee granules and half of a vanilla Premier Protein. It is so good! I will do the recipe on here soon. We took Ernie to swim in the river where we keep our boat. People are itching to go boating. It can be a good social distancing activity if it is just your family!

I did curbside pick up at the local hardware store to get birdseed. I am so happy seeing the birds visit my yard.

My nails are still a mess but that is o.k. I did them in white again.

It is a weird feeling. I feel so calm and unhurried. The neighborhood is so quiet. I love this little spot and enjoyed it so much this weekend. We have been blessed with just the best spring weather.

We supported a local pizza restaurant Friday night and a local Italian place Saturday night for Tom and I while the boys had something I cooked. I am not that worried about take out food, but I do immediately take it out of their containers and put it on plates and wash my hands really well.

Tom and I watched another livestream concert Saturday night.

Sunday it was time to get my act together and I spent about 3 hours doing lesson plans, parent communication, setting up Quizlets and Conjuguemos.com – that sort of thing. I was done around lunch and needed some Vitamin D. Our deck is still drying from the stain we put on it and so I have to find sun where I can.

I spent the rest of Sunday reading, watching just a bit of t.v., straightening up, cooking dinner, and now as I am typing this Sunday evening I am getting ready to do a Zoom call with all the cousins on one side of the family. There are nine of us! I hope everyone remembers. I prepared some fun questions – the teacher in me!

Hope you had a good one!

Amy

Saturday, April 4, 2020

I promised to try to share more recipes on the weekends so here you go…

This dip or bean burrito filling was something I learned from a former colleague. I believe she said it was an old Weight Watchers recipe? I do have more recipes that don’t involve beans, but you will have to wait for those! Ha!

Use a can of refried beans – there are traditional that have animal fat and vegetarian. I usually use the vegetarian but I think I picked up the wrong ones this time. Add about a 1/2 cup of salsa and about a 1/3 packet of taco seasoning. Mix together and heat. You can vary the amounts of salsa and taco packet as your taste buds dictate. As you can see below, I also shredded some cheese to put on top.

I have also used flour tortillas and made bean burritos out of this mixture and some shredded cheese. These freeze well and I would take one out of the freezer to take in my lunches for school.

I don’t think you can find a cheaper meal or snack, either!

A typical can of beans is usually 79 cents, the taco packet is 49 cents, and the salsa I buy is usually $1.89. You would also have to buy the tortilla chips or flour tortillas or both.

With these uncertain times, many of us are trying to be frugal and this would definitely be something to add to your frugal list of foods – without sacrificing taste.

I really think you will like this bean mixture BETTER than the beans at your favorite Mexican place that you can’t go to right now!

Please also make my margarita!

one shot white tequila

half a packet of Crystal light lemonade powder or True Lemon powder (regular lemonade just isn’t the same – I have tried it)

A splash of lime juice

Stir all together, fill with ice, and add Fresca soft drink to the top.

Let me know what you think!

Amy

Friday, April 3, 2020

How was your week? How was your “now normal”? I heard that term and liked it. I hope you and yours are continuing to stay healthy at home as our Kentucky governor keeps saying.

This week went by quickly even though I only left the house in the car a couple of times for pick up of essential items.

I am linking up with Andrea, etc. to share some favorites from the week.

I got out my spring plates from Target a few years ago. I really like using these seasonally. I have a fall set and a Christmas set.

I lit this candle that I have had for at least a year. I don’t like the smell so it will go back to being decor in my pink and white closet.

I was desperate for any hand soap at all and this was a nice surprise from my Kroger pick up. It smells really good in my opinion if you need some, too. I will try to find more of this scent.

I thought this was a small bottle, but it turns out I ordered a 2 liter and I am not mad. I love this for cocktails or for adding to lemonade or a Crystal light stick. I love a little fizz.

Kroger pick up has been awesome. They don’t even come to your window anymore. They simply open the back or you open for them and they even put your receipt back with the groceries. I would say we are at least 6 feet apart.

I learned how to write on photos – above is my process for unloading. I feel like a crazy person!

Ernie continues to be such a good boy. He loves us being home!

I threw my old planner out the window – who can look at all those crossed out events?

I found this from our local bookstore – called and bought it over the phone and did curbside pick up. Guess what is in my new planner? Nothing! Just kidding – it is full of Zoom meeting appointments!

The boys and I love to have a sucker for after meals. I got these from my Kroger online order, too.

What were your favorites this week? I am going to try to post some recipes this weekend if you care to check back here tomorrow!

Stay well,

Amy

Thursday, April 2, 2020

I keep hearing from friends and family that they are cooking more than ever! Some are doing so out of necessity – they have never been home so much and these people that live with them require three meals a day! And, some are fearful of delivery or carryout right now. I am cooking a lot but I am also allowing myself to order carry out a couple of times a week. I am a member of a Facebook group to support locally owned restaurants. I thought I would order more, but I am trying to use what I have at home. If you are trying to work from home and homeschool kids, there may be more need to meal plan than ever before.

I like the idea of themes and I have talked about this before:

Sunday – leftovers from weekend, soup and sandwich

Monday – pasta

Tuesday – Mexican food

Wednesday – chicken

Thursday – fish

Friday – pizza

Saturday – carry out

Something like this works for many families

Another thing that I think is helpful is to make a list of all the breakfast and lunch possibilities so you don’t have to constantly repeat them and so you don’t have to wrack your brain for ideas on the daily.

Several years ago, I tried Blue Apron and Hello Fresh – one time each I think. I only ordered enough for two and then I thought I would supplement for the boys. It was just too expensive to order the meal for four. Well, I was reading The Frugal Girl blog a few weeks ago and she talked about a meal plan service called Dinnerly that advertised as being half the cost of the others. She also included a $10 coupon code. The earliest I could get a box scheduled was for this coming week but I figured I would be ready for some fresh recipes by then.

Here is what I chose:

I will let you know what we think!

I made Bacon Alfredo this week. It is a really easy and yummy dish. Boil angel hair or whatever type of pasta you want and mix with a jar of alfredo sauce, cooked bacon, 1/2 cup of sour cream. Put in a dish and then top with mozzarella and parmesan if desired. Bake for about 20 minutes at 350.

The final product served with Texas Toast (my boys love) and broccoli:

We also had Mexican lasagna this week. Instead of noodles you use flour tortillas and you layer a mixture of cooked chicken, black beans, corn, salsa, sour cream, and shredded mexican cheese.

I bought a few of these packets and I have been making these for the boys for lunch a couple of days if they don’t make their own sandwich or Ramen.

What have you been making?

Stay well,

Amy

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Happy April Fool’s Day! It’s not too late to plan some fun and innocent little pranks! Google them or check out my post from yesterday for a few little ideas. I haven’t decided if I will pull any pranks yet; life itself seems like a giant prank right now so I might not need to add to it for the other adult and the almost adults in my household.

I thought today I would do a chatty post just telling you what is up. I did not drive my car anywhere on Monday or Tuesday and I guess it’s starting to feel kind of normalish now not to drive much? Today I have a Kroger pick up. Yes, I just did one on Friday and then I went to the store early Sunday morning for a few items. With all four of us eating all of our meals at home, I need to plan better and we simply require more food, I guess.

I told myself I should take my travel coffee mug and just go for a drive one morning. I also love to drive down to the river and just watch it flow. The neighborhood streets seem so quiet. I love seeing all the people walking, riding bikes, etc. with just their family units I hope. We’ve had open windows and we cannot believe how loud the birds are! Ha! But, they give us hope and it’s such a welcome sign of spring and new life?

My husband is still going to work like normal but his building is very empty. Most people are still continuing to work from home. I am a little bit worried about him going, but he only interacts with a few people and he isn’t going out for lunch anymore because he can’t – only carry out now. He has been coming home for lunch and that has been nice.

I’m letting the boys sleep later than I normally would because it’s spring break and I think that sleep is good for the immune system. Next week they will need a more normal schedule because our distance learning starts.

My husband has been so busy and productive when he is home on the weekends – and a bit after work or during his lunch break, too. Here is the photographic proof!

He put our new shutters on the house and they look so much better. They are the same color as before but the old ones had multiple slats and these new ones have cleaner lines.

He stained the deck. We bought reclaimed wood for this project and the stain really brings out the beauty of the wood, in my opinion. We need to do another coat and then seal it, I believe. There will also be railings that will make it look smaller. I am anxious to furnish the deck but I don’t know exactly where to look or even what I want. I think we want two chairs and a table. I am wondering if Adirondack chairs with pillows would look good? I want to save room for some potted plants and it’s not a huge space. I have been looking on Wayfair but I am a little nervous about ordering without seeing it in person. We did have great luck with our covered patio sectional, though. Any suggestions for where to look?

Ernie got his first real bath in his new dog wash last weekend. He swam in the river and he needed it. Unfortunately he didn’t have real dog shampoo and he smells like boy Suave.

I cleaned out my linen closet including my makeup collection and that was so needed.

I feel like I spend a crazy amount of time each day dealing with dishes and cooking even though the boys pretty much always empty the dishwasher after dinner. We are running the dishwasher more than usual, too, I guess.

One of my sons made his college decision! I hope my other one makes his soon, but I think he is dragging his feet because of all of the uncertainty in the world right now.

What is up with you?

Stay well,

Amy

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Well, today is the last day of March. Have you seen the meme that March came in like a lion and out like a T-Rex? Isn’t that the truth? Tomorrow is April 1. We heard that we will continue to socially distance ourselves until the end of April.

Again, if all we are is stuck at home then we have a lot to be thankful for.

I think bloggers are in quite the predicament as to what to write about. For many, this is their living and it is already at stake. But, it seems irresponsible to tell people to go spend money right now on luxuries. Cooking and frugality blogs have a good audience right now talking about pantry staples and budget meals at home. Design blogs can talk about rearranging your nest and making your home an oasis right now.

My strategy right now is to try to find ways to help people who may come across my blog. I like fashion, cooking and creating recipes, drinking coffee, drinking cocktails, reading, watching t.v., being outside in nature, but I am not an expert in anything really.

I am going to try to take it one week at a time, one day at a time, and even one hour at a time. There may come a point when I need to step away from blogging. For now, this is a healthy outlet for me and if I help even one person, I will be happy.

Tip: Celebrate the obscure holidays that you wouldn’t usually have time for!

April 1: April Fool’s Day!

This is tomorrow and this would be great fun for the kids. Google ideas but think about the people in your household. What are their routines and what could be funny but not harmful? You also ask older kids to google the origins of the day.

I have a great memory from childhood where my mom came up with the idea to switch the sugar in the sugarbowl to salt to trick my Dad when he came down to drink his coffee. My two little sisters and I were involved in the process and we thought it was hilarious.

I have a feeling that when we get through this, your children will remember the happy feelings of being home together and the fun moments and memories that you were able to create.

-Switch out the sugar for salt

-Open a pack of Oreos and change out the filling in the first couple of cookies to toothpaste

-Change out their favorite chip or treat to something else (don’t waste the treat of course – just put elsewhere)

All of these are innocent and wouldn’t result in any harm – or much waste!

Some upcoming obscure holidays:

April 2- Peanut Butter and Jelly Day – Make sandwiches and look up songs about this combo

April 7 – NO housework day

April 10 -National Siblings Day

April 13 – Scrabble Day

April 22 – Jelly Bean Day (get some off clearance from Easter – maybe create art with jelly beans)

April 26 – Pretzel Day (try to make your own soft pretzels?)

April 24 – Arbor Day – plant a new tree

I think you could pick a few of these and have some fun!

Goop Recipe

You may just have these things on hand:

1 cup cornstarch

1 cup water

food coloring (it will stain hands so feel free to leave it out)

You can’t really make anything with this but it has a cool texture and you can squeeze, pull, etc. and it would be fun for kids! I made this with my boys when they were little.

Monday, March 30, 2020

Well, I guess it’s Monday! How are you doing? I will link up with Heather, Tanya, etc. right here.

I don’t have too much to share but here we go!Friday was grocery pick up day. I opened the Kroger app on my phone either Monday or Tuesday of last week and the earliest pick up they had was Friday! I jumped on it and added a few extra things over the week as needed, but we did a good job of using things we had. Again, 2020, I’m listening, it’s a privilege to go to the store on a whim when you just don’t FEEL like eating what is already in your home.

So, this may seem a bit over the top, but I took everything out of the bags and then wiped everything down with a bleach solution I made (I just looked at one of my things of bleach and it expired in 2007 – oops? ) and after I wiped each thing the boys took into the house. I also thought about leaving non-perishables in the garage for 3 days. Is anyone else doing this? I watched a video and I felt like this was worth doing.

All last week hub said he wanted to support our local German restaurant so Friday morning I placed my order and you had to pick it up between 12 and 3, so I went to pick it up and look what they did to their statue.

So, we ate as a family and then hub and I sat on our new furniture on our old patio and listened to music and read magazines. I have a new cocktail recipe I will try to share soon, and some mocktail ideas.

I only left the house in the car three times last week – to pick up groceries, to get take out twice, and to do a curbside bookstore pick up. I treated myself to several magazines by ordering on the phone at the bookstore.

I read some more Saturday morning with an iced coffee.

Saturday lunch for me on the patio – raspberry lemonade, egg salad, salami, cheese, crackers, and some crackers with garden veggie cream cheese.

My friend texted and asked if I wanted to walk in the park after lunch with our other friend, too. I was a little bit worried about too many people but I went and we managed to walk kind of like this the whole time – about 6 feet apart. There were several people but everyone kept their distance. Our parks are open but the playgrounds have tape and signs around them. Our basketball hoops have been taken down.

I went home after walking and it felt good to have done something normalish like that.

We had burrito bowls for dinner as a family.

Sunday hub worked on sanding the deck so we can stain it. I want to help but I think he is afraid I won’t stain it to his standards. The stain doesn’t come in until Wednesday anyway because we had to order it from the local hardware store. Oh, and hub put our new shutters on the house. I was so excited to have shutters again! I didn’t think to do before and after photos.

This would’ve been our spring break. The boys don’t have much homework and I’m not required to work but I need to plan my distance learning lessons and I want to do a couple of video lessons this week – where I tape myself teaching and/or put my voice over a powerpoint. This old dog has a lot of new tricks to learn – for some perspective, I started teaching in 1994 when we were still using the card catalog, the fax machine, and we didn’t have the internet.

This past year the boys have developed different social circles and they have been busy with different social events and extra curriculars. I have noticed that they have really enjoyed having some extra time together. It makes me happy.

I also feel like life has slowed down so much. I am usually in such a hurry and I just feel like I don’t have to hurry anymore. Do you notice this change of pace, too?

Well, this was really boring! Are you still there? LOL! Thanks for reading!

Stay well,

Amy

P.S. – I posted a bean soup recipe yesterday if you find yourself with a bunch of beans in your stockpile.