Monday, April 2020

Well, if you read my post before it somehow crashed, thank you! I can’t seem to find where it went so I assume it is floating in the cloud.

I will leave you with my weekend photos.

Sorry about that!

Hope to see you back here tomorrow for a post that hopefully won’t disappear!

Amy

Friday, April 17, 2020

I alternate between thinking the weeks go by fast and thinking the weeks go by slowly. This week the weather turned cold and it made it a little harder to get that vitamin D that helps me so much. But, on the brighter side, I got more into my groove with distance teaching. I had more of a set routine and kept my work in one place of the house and that helped. I have a post planned for next week on more specifics about distance learning/teaching and tips if you are interested. I will probably write it anyway as a way for me to document and write out how I felt.

O.k., so my favorites are kind of a recap of the week, too! I will be linking up with Andrea, etc. at http://www.momfessionals.com here. I am not really buying much. I do have a couple of things coming from Amazon every now and then that are necessities, but nothing too exciting to share.

Ernie gets a walk every morning around 7:30 from his favorite – Tom – and then I (his second favorite) take a break and give him a walk around 12. It is good for both of us. I always let him off leash for a bit. Can you see him by the big trees? He gets another walk when Tom gets home and sometimes the boys and I accompany him. I am usually still cooking dinner, though, but it is good to get another little walk in. I want to start taking after dinner bike rides, too.

I did not drive anywhere Sunday or Monday so on Tuesday I decided it was time. Around 3, I went to the drive through liquor store to replenish some of my stock. This is nice to have right now. I have only used this maybe once or twice because under normal circumstances I would prefer going in and browsing, but I remember once when the boys were maybe 6, I drove up to this window and they asked for chicken nuggets. Ha!

I held class three times this week. I was able to record it and post for those who could not make the live class. I had one faculty meeting online, too.

Business on top, comfort on bottom. My bottom half is adorned with leggings and slippers but I have done my hair, a bit of makeup, and a decent shirt each day for my classes.

I have been enjoying my iced coffees this week.

This is my little basement office. I also have a laptop but there is something to be said for keeping your work contained to one area.

I treated the boys to bagels and I got tomato soup and sandwich from Panera on Wednesday. It was a nice treat and the first time we have gotten lunch delivered.

I am starting this new show on regular t.v. It is about a Cuban family that runs a bakery in Miami and the son meets a famous actress. I love the Spanish music and language featured in the show.

I also started watching Listen to Your Heart – It is kind of like Bachelor in Paradise with people coupling up but it involves singing. I was kind of hooked after the first episode. Anyone else watching it?

I had a very disappointing Kroger pick up this week. They did not have several items I requested and I can live without all of them except there was not a single egg to be found. Also, Ernie would like his dog treats but those were not to be found either. Are people still hoarding or overbuying eggs, chicken, ground beef, toilet paper? I am leaving most non-perishables in the car for a while. I feel like a crazy person. If we need it, I go out and wipe it down. The bottles you see are due to my husband. It is a soft drink called Ale 8 and he cannot run out. He is weird.

I started this book – free with Prime – and I was really liking it but now I am getting annoyed by the main character. I will see it through, though. Has anyone read it? I have not been reading much because I just have not found anything I am really into.

Even though it has been cold, I still try to get some fresh air by walking and by sitting outside each day.

And that is about all I have for this week.

This weekend I think we will pick some take out to have. I have cooked every night this week per usual. Last week we had Mexican so it might be time for pizza? We are still watching Community with the boys and really enjoying it. I would like to go on a family walk or hike. I thought it might be fun to go on an urban walk downtown just to see some different scenery.

What were your favorites this week? Will your weekend look different than the week?

Stay healthy at home,

Amy

Thursday, April 16, 2020

How is it already Thursday? Distance learning/teaching is going much better this week and I have a post planned for next week to talk about it.

Today I want to talk about the struggle bus that is cooking every night. I love to cook, but if even I am getting tired of cooking – I feel bad for those who truly don’t enjoy it.

I read a blog from time to time called “The Frugal Girl”. She mentioned a meal delivery service – they send you the ingredients and recipes and you cook it – that I had never heard of called “Dinnerly”. Come to find out it is a Martha Stewart company. Love her or hate her – the girl can cook!

I have now had two deliveries and I am really pleased. FYI – I did Hello Fresh and Blue Apron once each and chose the meals for 2 people – my boys were maybe 11 when I did it. It was too expensive to do for a family of four and I was cooking extra food so it was a bad idea.

Dinnerly, on the other hand, claims to only cost $4 something a person so I am doing 3 meals a week for 4 people to the tune of about $55 a week. We can’t really get one take out meal for 4 for less than $40-50. So, I find this super affordable and I think it will cut my grocery bill a bit. But, that is not reallymy motivation right now. My motivation is that grocery shopping is not easy now.

So, they send you the suggested 3 meals based on your preferences that you filled out and then you can deny one or all of the meals an choose from maybe 5 other options. The meals are simple and real life meals that my family would like.

BBQ Chicken

broccoli

Everything but the bagel seasoned potatoes

I added the corn because it was leftover (By the way, I ordered a pack of already shucked corn on the cob from the produce section on my last Kroger order and it was delicious!)

Here is an example from their website of quesadilas but I didn’t choose that because I make them all the time and already have the ingredients on hand.

Here is another example of lemon pepper chicken and fresh green beans. I added the roasted cauliflower and banana bread.

And, cheeseburgers with potato wedges and I added the corn again.

All of the meat seems great quality and it has been hard to find the chicken and ground beef I normally buy. All of the vegetables are super fresh. They sent giant baking potatoes to make the wedges. They sent nice bags of red potatoes for another side dish. They gave me a whole head of garlic when I only needed a tsp. They also send all the spices needed. They do asssume you will have olive oil, salt, pepper, milk, butter.

Anyway, whether you follow the recipes to a T or kind of use it as a jumping off point for dinner/grocery delivery like I have been doing, I think you might really like it.

Have you ever tried one of these services? Would you?

Amy

P.S. – One of my favorite things about it is that I am out of dinner ideas and this takes the thinking about what we will have out of the equation. Hallelujah!

P.S.S.- I can send a free box to two people – the first two to respond with Name and Email address get it. But there is a catch – I believe you have to give your credit card info to get the box and then you can cancel but you have to cancel quickly so you don’t get charged.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

I have a fun cocktail recipe for you and a recipe to k,eep the kids busy while you sip it! Lol! Kentucky lemonade is called such because it has bourbon in it! I read that a local brewpub was selling bottles of this for carryout. I did some digging to find out what this was all about.

Extremely closeup of Kentucky lemonade in a Mason jar:

You need half a stick of Crystal light lemonade, a shot of lemon juice (I may reduce to half a shot next time), a shot of bourbon, a tsp. of simple syrup (I had some made but I could probably leave this out if I didn’t have any). Mix all of that together really well, add ice, and then top with diet ginger ale – I probably used 1/4 cup of ginger ale. It was very lemony which I liked but you could reduce the lemon juice for less lemony flavor.

It was delicious! I enjoyed this on a sunny day on the patio while listening to country music.

And to keep the kids busy while you sip, make this cloud dough! It only requires two ingredients which you may have on hand or could probably order easy enough at your next grocery pick up. My sister sent this screenshot.

Let me know if you try one or both recipes!

Amy

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Well, I don’t think we are doing as much laundry as usual! But, dishes are another story. Wow! We are constantly loading and unloading it seems. I hear this from my friends and fellow bloggers, too. I guess to put a positive spin on it – we are cooking and eating at home more than ever!

Anyway, back to laundry… ,I wanted to share what is working for us right now.

I bought four of these tall hampers. I have one in my new closet, hub has one in his new closet, and each boy has one in their room. I don’t know why it is, but this seems much easier to lug around than the traditional laundry basket. When our hamper gets full we each do our own laundry. I have been pleasantly surprised by the fact that I don’t have to nag the boys and I am not involved in their laundry anymore. Hallelujah! But, seriously, I taught them to do laundry when they were 10 maybe but I still had to ask them to transfer from washer to dryer and put things away. And, for the past 7 years I have done lots of telling them what to do in regards to laundry.

When one of us does our laundry, we simply leave the empty hamper in the mudroom to tote the clean laundry back to our room or closet. These days I do one once a week. My husband can usually wait two weeks and the boys maybe once every week and a half?

The person takes the clean laundry back to their room to fold. I like not mixing each other’s clothes together because that seems like an added step.

I mostly have the job of washing the towels but Tom helps with sheets and he will help with anything else that needs to be done. The boys are responsible for their own sheets, too.

This has really been working for us. How do you handle laundry in your home?

Amy

Monday, April 13, 2020

How was your weekend? Ours was pretty good. I was ready for a weekend after learning the ropes of distance learning last week. It wasn’t bad but I was really tired of staring at screens and my brain hurt from learning new things. Much of what I had to do was record keeping for my 146 students. It was tedious and time consuming. This week will be even busier but I think I have figured a few things out.

Friday night I decided to get the local Mexican. I used Door Dash instead of picking it up because I figure the driver is local and needs money.

I made my own margarita while I waited!

Saturday morning I took a nice walk by my school and saw some geese enjoying the grounds.

I need to do a better job of having vegetables cut up and ready to go so that is what I did for lunch Saturday. Everybody could grab what they wanted. Did you see my post Saturday? These are my brownie cookies made from a brownie mix. Check it out if you didn’t see it!

I only boiled 6 eggs and I tried a vinegar and food color dying method. It was cool.

I made another whipped coffee.

I was so happy to take it out to the patio and I had been waiting since Tuesday to be able to make one. Kroger failed and didn’t put it in my order so I ordered it off of Amazon. It came around 11 and I was so happy to receive this pack of 80.

After the eggs dried this is what they looked like. I should’ve rolled them around in the paper towels more.

I will probably always do Easter baskets. They were pretty light this year because one item did not arrive on time. The boys really laughed at the t-shirts – funny references to a show they like and they really liked their blue light blocking glasses for this new online school life.

Then, we had a Zoom with my sisters and mom and all the kids.

It was rainy Sunday. We watched online church, some other t.v., I did school work, boys did school work, and I cooked a lot of stuff.

Here is how our Easter dinner turned out. We have lots of leftovers.

How was your weekend? Are you ready for another week?

Take care!

Amy

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Welcome to your weekend recipe! This is a super fun and easy one for you – or, maybe, hand it over to the kids? By the looks of my grocery store shelves almost a month ago, people stocked up on brownie mix! There were only a couple left on the shelves! I personally have at least 3 boxes right now. I usually keep one on hand during normal times. There is something really comforting about a brownie made from a mix, don’t you think?

Did you know that you can make cookies out of a mix? You probably do, but this was big news when I learned this from a student several years ago. She did this for her demonstration speech – they had to teach a skill all in Spanish and demonstrate it on video or live in class. Lots of kids did cooking demos and the students were not hating it when they got to eat the final product in class!

Here is what you need:

Brownie Mix – simply follow the package directions but it will call for the following items:

water

vegetable oil

eggs

1/4 cup flour

Simply add 1/4 cup flour and then drop onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes – watch because your oven might be hotter than mine.

The result seen at top is a chewy delicious cookie! You could make ice cream sandwiches out of these, too!

Happy Easter tomorrow!

Amy

Friday, April 10, 2020

Now I kind of know what day of the week it is! I am linking up today with Andrea, etc., so go right here to see some more Friday Favorites posts.

How was your week? In a weird way the weeks go by quickly after Monday. Do you feel that way, too? You guys, we started this basically a month ago. We found out March 12 that we would be out of school and it is already April 10. On one hand, it is hard to believe and on the other it feels like the new normal or the now normal. Our governor pretty much asked us to stay at home from the beginning so we have been doing this since the get go. By the way, Kentucky is getting national recognition for response to the pandemic. Our governor is getting high praise and we are flattening the curve according to reports. The teachers had a big hand in voting in our new governor.

So, my Friday Favorites aren’t really typical Friday Favorites, but more like highlights or things I want to share from my week. I will try to do one recipe per weekend and then on Monday I will share the weekend as usual. Tuesday – Thursday are a hodgepodge of tips, recipes, thoughts, things that might help somebody out there?

So, my first favorite is definitely your response to my post yesterday. It felt a little self-indulgent but at the same time it was therapeutic to express my feelings. I am a senior twin mom and there is so much uncertainty about how this year will end. Your comments were so sweet and I really feel like I have made genuine friends through this blog. Thank you for sharing what you are grieving, too. I will be thinking of you and your losses, too.

Sunday night the Zoom Cousin Chat was a success! This was a screen shot of all 9 of us and some extra visitors! There are 4 girls and 5 boys. We sent this photo to my mom, her sister, and her brother, too. Each of the three – my mom and her siblings – had three kids, too! I am the second oldest cousin on both sides of the family, by the way. My other side of the family has 9 cousins, too! We represented KY, IN, MI, MA, and OH. I don’t think we would have done this is it weren’t for the current situation, but I will say we have done a great job of seeing each other at least once a year for many years. We have always had an April meet up in Indiana at a state park and sometimes a July meet up on Lake Michigan.

So, Monday was our teacher work day and I was really anxious about my plans and how I would do converting everything to Google classroom. I use a lot of technology in my classroom but I still do a lot of things the old school way. I talk, sing, dance, play videoclips and stop and talk about them, use paper, give handouts, give paper quizzes, play games on the white board, and so much more. I spent several hours Sunday getting my first week’s stuff ready and then I felt better. I have learned so many new platforms in the last week alone.

A custodian sent us this photo – a group of students had left us notes of encouragement all over the building and chalk messages on the sidewalks. I was so touched!

So, Monday I had 3 Zoom/virtual meetings. The weather was gorgeous so I set up shop outside. The meetings were at 9, 11, and 1. At the same time, I had 4 technicians in and out of the house changing out our heat pump. They were there from 7-3. It was a pretty crazy day and I am glad for the mute button on Zoom. I figured it would be less noisy outside and I was right.

I also baked some bread for dinner that night and I was loving life thinking the work from home thing could be kind of cool. It gave more structure to my day and honestly, as a high school teacher, I never thought I would ever have the chance to work from home.

My Dinnerly box arrived and I made the roasted broccoli, rosemary pork tenderloin, and potato wedges and we had the homemade bread.

I went out to the patio for a bit after dinner.

I called my husband out and we tried to see the International Space Station but we were unsuccessful.

Tuesday was my first time leading a virtual class. It was so good to see their faces! I set up my laptop to be at a better height.

Tuesday was a big day because after I worked I had a Kroger pick up. My sister told me that these Corona (I know – don’t judge!) Seltzers were better than White Claw or Truly and I do think I agree. I have only tried cherry and mango so far. I was able to get a 12 pack in my Kroger order.

Wednesday morning I started my day as the sun came up on my deck. The stain is dry and I am so happy to have this additional space back.

I made the boys a lunch on a cafeteria tray on Wednesday to make them laugh.

I took my classroom outside Wednesday and it got hot! I am not used to looking at a computer screen for so long. I need to remember to take more breaks.

Wednesday late afternoon I got out to pick up our Honeybaked Ham. They gave me a specific window of time and there were only 2 other people in the store with 6 foot markers on the floor. I was in and out in about 3 minutes. I really wanted to go to Trader Joe’s next door but there was a long line waiting to get in, so Trader Joe’s is a luxury I can’t have right now. I have plenty of groceries and my Dinnerly foods. Last night I made cheeseburgers and tonight I’m making the lemon pepper chicken. I want to support the local restaurants but I am a little bit scared of restaurant food and I also am trying to use what we have and not spend too much money. So, we are doing take out maybe two meals a week total.

Our family started watching the comedy Community. Did anyone watch when that was on t.v.? We are really enjoying it and because it is about a community college it is pretty timely with the stage our boys are in.

And, now Jack has made his college decision! Whew!

Today I know I will be ready to hang up the laptop until Monday. I think it’s very easy to work more at home than in a school or office. I really need a set schedule and more boundaries between home and work but that will come next week I think. I feel lucky to be working and I really can’t complain.

If you are still here, what were your favorites this week?

Stay well,

Amy

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