Wednesday, May 6, 2020

I am calling this pandemic products even though most of us have probably been almost product free during this time. But, this is not the time to take chances on products when we cannot easily return them or we cannot browse the aisles, you know? So, I am relying on recommendations from my friends and favorite bloggers. And, you may start going more places in the near future and you need to be ready!

First of all, have you heard of Lipsense? If you need a hook up, Heather of My Glittery Heart is a rep. This stuff really works and is really worth the money in my opinion. If you need your lipstick to last for a party or for a special occasion, this really works. I save it for those times and I do not use it all the time. Maybe no one will see my lipstick because of my mask? This does not come off on your glass. It is pretty amazing. You use the middle color for 2-3 coats, then add the gloss. You have to have the remover to take it off. I have a trick. I use one coat of the color and then a normal lipstick sometimes. It lasts pretty long that way, too.

Do you suffer from allergies? I keep this in my shower (I buy it in a 3 pack at Costco but you can find it at any drug store or grocery store) and use it every day whether I am experiencing symptoms or not. It keeps those nasal passages moist and I swear it helps my seasonal allergies.

I get my hair highlighted. This seems to help me wait a bit in between salon visits so I only go every 3-4 months now. I have been using this during quarantine and it has been a lifesaver. It may not work for everyone but I really like it. I get this on Amazon now because I cannot find it where I used to – at my Kroger.

I usually just spray a bit at night and then sleep on it but lately I have been going into the sun to activate it a bit more and I am trying to get more to the roots. You can also spray it and then blow dry. Here is an up close shot of me doing my own highlights in the sun.

The best hairspray is below. It smells nice, has a great price point, and works great for my fine but thick hair! I have to get this on Amazon now because I cannot find it in stores. This used to be at my Kroger. Notice a pattern? My bff and I swear that Kroger takes away all of our favorite products.

Nancy, my reader, recommended this heat protectant. I love the smell and the price. I will buy it again. Thanks, Nancy!

I love the texture of this light feeling makeup. I will wear a CC cream under but it feels great and blends nicely. Lindsay of Lindsays Sweet World blog recommended it. She says to order off Amazon because it is hard to find in stores and has limited shades when you can find it.

Where has cream eye shadow been all my life? I love the consistency of this Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize. I got it in the shade Bette but I really want to buy another shade, too, since I like it so much. It looks so nice on and really lasts. I apply it with a small brush. This is a bit pricey but it lasts forever. That is what I find with more expensive makeup by the way. It is highly pigmented, you do not need to use much, and it ends up being a better bang for your buck in the end.

Where has cream blush been all my life? I love this little stick that I found on Amazon and I want to buy more shades. I think I like the moisture that the cream eye and cheek products give and the fact that they do not settle into fine lines like a powder? This again is a bit pricey at $18 but it seems like it will last a long time, too. I like that you can build up color. You can do one layer or more.

I will never go without mascara primer. It helps so much. I really like this Voluminous.

What are the products that you would buy again?

I swear I get my best products from the blogs I read and from my readers!

Amy

Monday, May 4, 2020

My blog friend Kristen alerted me that my post disappeared again! Ugh! I think it has something to do with my WordPress app which has acted glitchy lately.

I will give you the Cliff Notes (showing my age) version!

Friday morning successful Trader Joe’s and Target runs. I am feeling more bold with my mask. That is not a good thing: I need to continue to stay home!

I hurried home for a faculty meeting. I set up shop in the dining room to see the sunlight.

One of the main reasons I went to Target again was to get my second Bromance series book!

Breaks were spent getting Vitamin D and around 4, I tried my Paloma. I am buying more Q soda. It is so good!

Went to a friend’s patio to sit 6 feet away. We did not enter the house, nor did we share food or drink.

Coffee on my deck.

River swim for Ernie. The river is so high from the recent rain!

My generous SIL is letting me borrow her air fryer. Anyone have one? Fave foods?

These 2 ingredient WW bagels turned out great!

Saturday was supposed to be Derby so I had a mint julep. They are nasty!

I shopped my house to spruce up the patio.

And, I made Tom and I a snack board lunch.

After dinner of many air fryed experiments, we had a fire on the patio.

The Happy Ever Playlist – I can’t put it down. I am finally able to read again! I think it was a combo of a busy mind and not great books.

And, Sunday bacon in the air fryer.

And, hash browns.

I started a brunch board for Sunday.

One of the highlights was my former student bringing me masks she made and bringing her new puppy. We caught up from a distance. Don’t worry – I zoomed in for the photo.

And, nachos and leftovers for dinner.

How was your weekend?

Amy

Saturday, May 2, 2020

I originally thought I would do Kentucky Derby recipes today because the Derby is always the first Saturday in May. But, it doesn’t feel like Derby because it has been moved to September 5 (Jack and Mason’s 18th birthday!). There is talk that it will be held without spectators. Anyway, I changed course after making this recipe this week. It is too good not to share immediately.

You may have everything needed for this recipe except the strawberries. Run, don’t walk, while wearing your mask of course, to buy strawberries today and make this recipe. If your state is opening up this would be an excellent Mother’s Day recipe.

I usually am a chocolate is for dessert person, by the way. This won me over!

It comes from the May issue of Southern Living.

You need:

2 quarts fresh strawberries, hulled and halved with the larger ones quartered – about 2 lbs. strawberries

2 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon lemon zest (I left the zest out and used the juice from the bottle)

1 cup sugar

1 stick butter

1 cup flour

1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (I’m sure regular would be fine)

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup whole buttermilk (I used skim and did the vinegar trick)

1 teaspoon vanilla

You will do:

Preheat oven to 350

Gently stir sliced strawberries with juice, zest and 1/4 cup of the sugar until combined well and let stand for 15 minutes until juicy (this would be a good time to do the buttermilk replacement trick because it has to stand, too)

Place butter in 13 by 9 pan and put in oven to melt

Remove dish from oven after 8-10 minutes when melted

Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, remaining 3/4 cup of sugar.

Whisk vanilla into your buttermilk

Now add buttermilk mixture to your flour mixture and whisk until smooth

Pour evenly over melted butter

Do not stir

Now use slotted spoon to scatter strawberry mixture over the top of batter

Drizzle 3 tablespoons of the juice and discard the rest

Bake 40-45 minutes until puffed and slightly golden around edges.

I served with a scoop of ice cream on top.

Let me know if you make it! I cannot wait to make it again!

Amy

Friday, May 1, 2020

The fact that I was able to type May made me feel just a bit more positive. April was hard, you guys. I think we can all agree on that. But I did learn some lessons and I hope I am a better person for the last 7 weeks.

This week went by really fast for me. I guess I was busier with more live classes and a training and a couple more errands outside of the house?

I am linking up today with Andrea, etc. so go right here to see more Friday Favorites. I am so glad so many are still blogging. It is a ray of light in all of this and I like to hear first hand what life looks like in other states. I feel like my state (Kentucky) has been one of the most strict? We had some medical services open up this week – chiropractors, some dentists, and more. We got word this week that some other businesses would open May 10 with certain guidelines, retail could open May 20 with limits on numbers of people and mask requirements, and May 25 – wait for it…. social gatherings of 10 and some beauty services like hair salons. Would love to hear what has already opened in your state and how it is going! I am currently determining who my favorite 10 people are for May 25th – Just kidding!

So here are some highlights from the week…

We had really nice weather Monday and Tuesday and Ernie and I benefited from a walk. Wednesday and Thursday the weather turned rainy and cold – sorry Ernie.

Bravo re-played a show called Gallery Girls that I enjoyed. New York City art gallery employees and their drama was the theme. If I watched it when it aired originally I really cannot remember it!

I made a spiked Limoncello lemonade for a virtual cocktail hour with my sister Molly on Tuesday.

I made a strawberry cobbler from Southern Living Tuesday night and it was to die for. I halved the recipe and used too big of a dish but it was probably the best dessert I have had in months. We put a little scoop of vanilla ice cream on it. I will share the recipe soon if you are interested.

I took a silly photo to send to my friend when I was getting ready for one of my live classes. There is one of my black tops I told you about on Wednesday!

I got fixed Monday-Wednesday this week. Thursday I took a morning shower but just left it at that because there were no video meetings. It really made a difference to get ready this week.

Wednesday night we had a surprise delivery of these signs for the boys. I cut out most of it but you get the idea. I will tell you our school but it feels a bit weird putting too much out there, you know? (She says, entirely too late!) Anyway, it says our school name and Congratulations Class of 2020.

Evidence of Thursday hair below – I tried to go to Trader Joes at 9:30 thinking Thursday may not be a popular day to shop and thinking that the opening rush might be over. Think again, Amy – the line was longer than the last time I tried to go. We are talking 40 people standing 6 feet apart with masks on.

So, I drove to Fresh Market and was happy to see only about 8 cars in the parking lot. I wore my new cloth mask for the first time. Um, it does not work with glasses. I will wear contacts next time. I read that you can put shaving cream on your glasses and wipe clean and they will not fog up. I guess I should buy some and try it. It feels so weird to wear a mask and I cannot fathom trying to teach in one next school year. I pray that will not be our reality. Our governor asks that we wear masks starting May 11, but people have already been doing it. I feel like I have aged 10 years lately – the lines on my face!

And, the sign asks that you wear one.

I got two $5 chickens, fresh chicken to put in the freezer (butcher says they are running low?), elote corn salad for Mexican tomorrow night, Q grapefruit soda to make a paloma cocktail, and gourmet tater tots that Melanie Shankle recommended.

So, my two outings for the week were to buy face masks and to go to Fresh Market.

Today I have a virtual faculty meeting and then a Kroger pick up and I am going to try to get my lessons ready for Monday so I can avoid so much Sunday work. We will see if that works out.

Our family is still eating dinner together every night and I cooked all but Wednesday when we got pizza. We are still watching Community together on Netflix and really enjoying it. The boys are working second shift on school work or getting up a bit earlier when they have live classes.

How was your week? Any faves?

Have a great weekend!

Amy

Thursday, April 30, 2020

It is the last day of April! Good riddance, I say! What a weird month. In some respects it went by quickly and it other respects it lasted 724, 000 days.

I thought I would document my day this past Monday.

I am still an early bird. I get up around 6 and start my day with coffee, a devotional, and my favorite blogs!

At the end of my blog reading, I pouf the pillows, open all the blinds, and do a bit of straightening in the family room.

I head into the kitchen and deal with any dishes from the night before that need to be put away. I turn on the news while I am doing this.

Hub leaves for work around 7:30 after walking Ernie. Yay – I can turn on Bravo and eat bon bons without anyone judging. Just kidding! Yes, my boys are here, but they work second shift, as I am calling it.

I do a bit of list making/calendar perusing upstairs in the kitchen while I watch some news and eat breakfast.

Mondays are the busiest days of distance teaching. My Google Classroom tells me that all of my assignments for the week have been released. After this happens, I send a message to each class about what I expect for the week and when our live classes will happen.

A mom of a student gave me a jar of jam that I did not open until Quarantine. It is low sugar mixed berry and it is delicious.

Around 9, after I did some emails and school things I went to fix the hair.

My hair is getting really long. Notice the white Amazon top from my post yesterday?

I went to my basement desk and worked for an hour grading the work from last week and entering it in our grade system and then came outside to enjoy an iced coffee and read.

During the break, I texted with a lady I wanted to buy cloth masks from and I made a plan to go pick them up later.

I went back down to work some more and then I drove about 10 minutes to get the masks from the porch of the lady who makes them.

The boys were up a couple of hours before I left (remember they work second shift) and I offered to get Chick Fil A as a treat. Mason was bummed about the workload he was facing this week and felt a bit discouraged. He has 5 AP classes. This was the first time I had been through a drive through since Quarantine, can you believe that? I got very emotional seeing all the workers in masks and gloves in the hot sun. It is such a weird feeling. I felt kind of normal driving to do my errand but then I realized my errand of retrieving masks was not normal. Then, a drive through would be normal, but it was anything but normal. I miss normal.

I brought the food home and they were happy. I went back to work and talked on the phone to two of my department members. Then, all of a sudden it was like 4:00! This particular day went by so fast. I took Ernie on a walk, then sat outside for a bit more.

My Dinnerly box arrived but I had already decided to do BLTs for dinner. The Dinnerly box comes on Mondays any time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. This is the latest it has ever arrived because usually I have it by noon. This is everything from the box.

Tom came home and walked Ernie. Ernie gets at least 3 walks a day now.

We ate dinner as a family and watched two episodes of Community. Jack and Tom are playing guitar together a bit and they messed around with those for awhile. Mason did the dishes by himself because of this but he did not complain.

Tom went out to mow while I piddled around straightening some things and then I sat outside.

I started this even though my last book is not complete. This is cute and I am going through it too quickly!

Then I checked school emails and did a little more work and settled in to watch Below Deck Sailing Yacht by myself. Some nights Tom and I watch a show but he is not interested in my Bravo shows! I went to bed around 10.

If you are still here, thanks for reading!

Amy

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

But I sure want it to be in my closet these days!

I am gravitating toward black and white tops right now.

Disclaimer: Remember that your white might not last as many seasons as your black. And, black can be worn more of the year, in my opinion.

Here we go…

I did an Old Navy order the first week of Quarantine. I got this top for around $16 with the promotion that was going on at the time. The online prices seem so much better, by the way, which works out great for us since we cannot go inside anyway.

It is a 3/4 lightweight top with boho details and ties with tassels. I leave them untied. This has been my number one top for virtual work meetings and virtual classes I am teaching. I think it runs true to size or a bit large. I wanted it to be a bit oversized. This works now and it will work in the fall. I have lots of patterned pants and skirts and I love black tops with interesting details.

Now let us talk about white. This was another Old Navy $16 top from my same order. This will require a cami underneath but I thought it had a Madewell or J.Crew vibe. White tops like this only feel right to me from about April through August. After Labor Day, they just seem too summery in a locale that has four distinct seasons like we have. This will look great with bright colored statement earrings.

Now this next top is knit and so, so soft. I ordered this – just this one item – from Loft at the beginning of Quarantine. It was under $20. This is my second most worn top for my virtual life. This is a bit oversized and you do not have to unbutton it to take it off or to put it on. Again, I think this will work with all of my printed skirts and pants and also with denim shorts, olive shorts, white shorts, and so much more this summer.

Back to the same Old Navy order as the black and white tops at the beginning of the post, this is very similar to the Loft knit button down, but in a different material. It is a bit of a dressier fabric. It was also around $16.

This next white top is from Costco last year. I was thrilled to find it and this is perfect for our spring weather. It is starting to look a bit worn in the armpit area. Remember that white tops may not last as many seasons. I am o.k. with that. I kind of wish I had bought a second one of these last year – at only $14 I think that would have been smart. This is by Gloria Vanderbilt. I will probably only wear this through May and then it will be too hot.

And, this is the Amazon $16 top from my Friday Favorites post. I wore it on Monday even though it was a bit cool for these sleeves.

This is my Target Knox Rose top that I bought way back in February. The collar comes up a bit higher than I would like but it is such a cute top. You will never believe this – the Target top is the most expensive of this post coming in at $29. Knox Rose seems to be one of the pricier brands at Target.

So, you can see why I want everything to be black and white right now, true? I think I am set!

I started making more of an effort to look put together this week, you guys. It really helped me to feel better throughout the whole day.

Where do you stand on black and white tops? Are you gravitating to these neutral basics or do you need color right now?

Amy

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Today we are going to talk about dishes and this might be the most boring post I have ever written, but I seriously am interested in how other people take care of the mundane parts of life. Give me a list of tips and I am a happy girl! My sister Kate told me never to say a post will be boring. Sorry, Kate – this time it really might be!

So, a couple of things. I do not really like paper plates. I despise eating off of them and do not even get me started on plastic cutlery or styrofoam. I am not like this because I am fancy; I think it is just a texture thing. One of my 2020 goals was to start using cloth napkins, for the environment and again because it is just a nicer texture. We are doing better with the bright fun pack of cloth napkins I bought in January from Amazon, but still use paper towels as napkins more often than we should. We do not buy paper napkins, either, but have the select-a-size paper towels from Costco. Is that weird? I only buy paper napkins for parties, which I am definitely not having right now!

So, we go through a lot of dishes in a 24 hour period, not to mention that I am doing more cooking and baking. Everyone I talk to is saying the same! We are all complaining about all the dishes.

Here is my streaky dishwasher. I wish I had a second one right now!

So, the key is an empty dishwasher when you need it empty. Right? The worst part is unloading it. I used to dread it so much but then I decided to time how long it took. You guys, I was stunned. It took me under 5 minutes. Why did I dread this so much? One reason is overstuffed cabinets. When I decluttered and everything had its space, this task became better.

Another thing that helps is to turn on a show, music, or podcast as you do these tasks. I have a really old little tv in the corner of my countertop and it makes me so happy. I like to watch cooking shows while I cook or clean. I sometimes watch the news. It really makes the chore not so bad.

So, here is our routine. I run the dishwasher around 5 p.m. while I am cooking dinner. I did this pre-pandemic, too. At the end of dinner, the boys have to unload it. We then put all of the dinner dishes in the empty dishwasher – they do this, too, but I wash the big things that we wash by hand. Then, the next morning, the dishwasher still has plenty of room for breakfast and lunch stuff and then I start it again at 5 p.m. the next day. Throughout the day, I sometimes leave stuff in the sink to deal with at 5 p.m. It does not bother me to have a few things in the sink to avoid doing dishes all.day.long. I also let things soak, which I know my husband hates but it makes things easier to clean.

So, this is my system. I only think about dishes one time a day really.
What is your system? Are you dealing with way more dishes than normal?

Let’s dish in the comments! Ha!

Amy

Monday, April 27, 2020

How was your weekend? Ours was wet! I am linking up today with Heather, Tanya, and many more so go right here.

Let us start with Friday. I worked for a few hours in the morning and then Ernie and I did our lunch time walk.

I made homemade salsa for the first time from canned diced tomatoes. I had red onion, cilantro, and everything needed. It was pretty good but I might like fresh tomatoes better.

I worked some more and then at 3 my youngest sister and I had a virtual cocktail. I took my slush from last weekend out of the freezer and added Fresca. It was too spicy last weekend and still too spicy this weekend but at least I didn’t let it go to waste! Friday was beautiful.

Friday night I cooked and after dinner Tom and I sat on the patio. It feels like an extra room and when you are home all the time an extra room is so nice.

We have had this propane fire contraption for several years and Tom got it out. It needs a cleaning badly but it was nice.

Saturday I made a layer dip.

And an iced coffee.

And, then the rain came and it rained almost all day Saturday and Sunday until late afternoon.

But, as you can see we still sat outside when it wasn’t a downpour. I love rain, actually. I cannot get through this book, by the way. The cover held so much promise. It is dragging. I am going to try to see it through, but it’s taking me forever. It is supposed to a light chick lit book and nothing is happening!

Then, we got take out for dinner from Roosters. It is like a BW3s with chicken and wings and bar food. It was o.k. Sometimes that type of food isn’t as good when it has to travel home, you know? They have a really good salad that Tom and I split along with some chicken. Saturday night I watched Legally Blonde for a bit. Then, I started a new show I will tell you about it a minute…

I slept in until 7 Sunday and took my coffee outside with a candle. It was pretty cold in the morning.

Then, I had a big outing. I decided to go to Target at 8:15. I wore a scarf and gloves. I got magazines and a new book and food items. There were only the workers who were all wearing masks and maybe 8 people shopping? I couldn’t believe it and I felt so happy to be in a Target. I don’t have a Kroger pick up scheduled for this week and we should be fine after that trip. I really wanted to go to Trader Joe’s but I drove by and they had a line of 20 people outside.

I made another iced coffee and put on my 15 year old Uggs because it was cold!

Saturday night I started Belgravia. I watched one and a half episodes on my cable on demand. Sunday afternoon I finished the second episode and then there were no more! Come to find out, the show just started April 12 and it airs on Epix channel on Sunday nights? So, I hope I have another episode pop up on on demand tomorrow because we don’t get that channel. Has anyone heard of it or watched it? It is by the creator of Downton Abbey.

Jack and I got do do something fun Sunday afternoon. His friend’s mom asked several of her son’s friends to come to the yard at a certain time – like 2:00, 2:30, etc. and wish the him happy birthday. I got a gift bag and movie candy at Target and Jack decorated the bag. You can’t see it well, but this is Jack walking up to the porch where a chair had been placed because of the rain. Jack stayed until the next friend’s shift. I could tell it really energized Jack and made him feel good that he did something nice.

While Jack was visiting, I walked the street and took pictures of the beautiful houses.

and the flowers.

This is in the Highlands area of Louisville.

When I got home, it was time to pay the piper and do the dreaded Sunday school work. I was better last week about getting some plans ready by the end of the day Friday, but I wasn’t perfect and I had about 2 more hours of work to do.

For dinner, I made a taco bar including tator tots for tator tot tacos! Melanie Shankle who many of you might know mentioned this idea on Instagram and I had a portion of a bag in the freezer. It was a big hit. I used little street taco shells, beef, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, queso, and tator tots.

So, how was your weekend? Any highlights?

Tomorrow some of our medical services are allowed to re-open. Our governor thinks we may have plateaued? I watched some news this weekend and I am happy to see that things seem to be improving in New York and Spain. I didn’t see anything about Italy, but I hope things are much better there, too. I don’t want to talk about the virus but I can’t stop talking about the virus, you know?

Thank you so much for visiting today and I hope you have a decent Monday.

Amy

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Welcome to your Saturday Quarantine recipe! I am trying to do this on the weekend because I know I struggle with what to cook!

Would you like a really good and really easy homemade mac and cheese recipe? This comes from my cousin by way of her family friend.

What you need:

2 cups creamette or macaroni noodles (I also used penne one time)

1/2 cup butter (one stick)

2 tablespoons flour

1 and 1/2 cups milk (I used skim and it was fine)

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper (I am pretty sure I added a bit more and I also added cajun seasoning because I literally add it to everything)

1 cup cheese (I could not believe how little the amount of cheese was – I used some sharp and some mozzarella)

Note: I made a half recipe below in an 8×8 but this calls for a 9×13.

Look at my governor doing his nightly report in my photo below.

Boil your noodles and drain. I like to undercook a bit because it will still go in the oven.

Melt butter over low heat.

Stir in flour and keep stirring until it reaches a smooth paste consistency.

Slowly pour in milk, stirring constantly.

Add salt and pepper and cook until thick.

Place drained noodles in the baking dish and top with prepared sauce. Top with cheese. I did stir because I was scared not to.

The recipe also says to top with tomato slices. That sounds really good, but I did not do that, either.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. This recipes comes together pretty quickly!

Get in your belly, right?

Let me know if you try it. And, you know what, this is easy enough that your kid(s) could do it!

Amy