Tuesday, November 20, 2018

We are out of school today at 2:20 until next Monday!  I’ve often thought we should just have the whole week off, because a two day week is kind of hard and many people pull their kids out because it’s just two days!  What do you think?  

I don’t know how many words of wisdom I will have for you today, but here goes.  In the midst of the holiday season, take time to slow down and relax.  It’s easy to fall into the trap of running from house to house and activity to activity and that’s just exhausting.  Also, people tend to get sick when they go too hard.  

This year may look a little different for me, but here are things I have done in the past.  

–If you are buying groceries for the holiday, do online shopping and curbside pickup or go to the store early.  Do not go on Wednesday unless you can go very early. It is a mad house.  And, the things you want may be gone already.  

-Stock up on butter, baking supplies, seasonal products because they are usually on sale.

-Because you will be with extended family for much of the time, try to do something with just your family first.  We sometimes go out to eat on Wednesday or to a movie.  

-Sleep in on Thursday if you can.

-Plan a fun fall hike Thanksgiving morning.  It will really make you feel good to get some Vitamin D and exercise before eating a heavy meal.  

-Simplify.  Simplify the schedule, the food, your outfits, etc.  

What are your tips?

Amy

Monday, November 19, 2018

How was your weekend? So, we are going on day 15 of my dad in the hospital.  He has had trouble recuperating from surgery and complications from first chemo treatment. Friday one of my sisters arrived and Saturday the other arrived. We spent the weekend together – mainly at the hospital.  My sisters were great.  We even had lots of laughs in the midst of everything.  I’m so grateful to my parents for having two more kids after me!  If you are struggling with your kids fighting right now, it won’t always be that way, hopefully.  Please continue to keep my dad in your prayers.  Thank you.  

This sister looked cute in her step hem Stitch Fix jeans, last season Target mustard sweater and crocheted scarf. She is an art teacher and has a cute and funky style. She is not doing Stitch Fix anymore but splurged on these $80 jeans and has worn them a bunch.  She thinks the price point is too high for her to do it regularly, but I know many people who think they actually save money by doing it.  It’s that theory of having fewer things but things you truly love and that fit you well.  Hmmmm, I’m still doing research on that!  

I bought this spiced cider a couple of weeks ago and just tried it this weekend with my spiked cider.  Yum!  Trader Joe’s has tons of products that will make Thanksgiving simpler if you can get there today or tomorrow.  Wednesday will be crazy I think!

These Target plates from last year make me so happy.  I bought 8 of them and just love them.  Four are like this and four just have leaves.  

A friend gave me this Swig wine cup for my birthday and I really like it.  I think I will order a monogram from Etsy, because if it stands still, we stick a monogram on it in the south.  

I finally was able to focus on a book after not being able to for almost two weeks.  She is the author of How to Walk Away so I took a chance on this and it’s cute so far.  

One of the things we were laughing about it this slogan on all of the white boards in my dad’s hospital.  It says “here we provide you with VERY GOOD care”.  Why not excellent care?  My husband said they don’t want to set the bar too high!  But, in all seriousness, the people have been wonderful from the doctors and nurses to the nutrition and cleaning people.  

I hope you have a great Monday!

Thanks for reading!

Amy 

P.S. Somehow everything I typed and all of my editing was lost from my Friday post – oops!

Friday, November 16, 2018

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Hello! Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Unless you are a blogger or a blog reader, you cannot understand how supportive people in the blog community are.  Your messages this week have truly lifted my spirits.  My Dad is still in the hospital but he started his first round of chemo last night. 

Our Thanksgiving tradition is usually Thursday with my husband’s family here in town.  His sister lives here and she hosts our meal around 3 p.m.  We spend the morning trying to get some exercise, cooking, watching the parade, and usually cleaning and doing laundry. 

We are lucky to have off on Wednesday, too.  Last year I tried something different.  I went ahead and decorated for Christmas on Wednesday. 

On Friday, we usually travel just an hour to my parents’ house with my side of the family and we do it all again.  When I come home, my house is ready for Christmas.  That’s kind of how I am.  I am a Thanksgiving purist but as soon as it’s over, bring on Christmas! 

What are your traditions?  How do you feel about early Christmas decorations?  

So, let’s talk about Thanksgiving outfits.  I like to have two cute and comfortable outfits for my two days.  I also usually spend Saturday in my hometown starting my shopping for small business Saturday.  I love shopping locally in my city and in my hometown.  It’s a great way to buy your gifts, in my opinion.  

This year, I am planning my outfits mostly around my most comfy pair of jeans.  I don’t really like many of my pants now for fall.  I think I’m in desperate need for something other than  leggings.  

I like to wear what I call Thanksgiving colors.  We are pretty casual on both sides of the family.  

Here are my favorite Nordstrom Vigoss jeans, my clogs, and a cute cornflower blue peasant shirt that I bought at consignment.

Here is a leggings option.  I have this cocoa brown lace bottomed tunic and brown leggings.  

I think camo is a good option for Thanksgiving.  

I think I like the second pair of booties better for the camo.

I think camo would look good with burgundy.

This mustard yellow velvet top might be a contender.  

If it warms up I may wear this poncho thing.  I always get hot if I’m in the kitchen!

What do you plan to wear?  I look through my closet and pull out all the colors I like and then go from there!

Thanks for reading!

Amy 

Monday, November 12, 2018

Thank you to all the service men and women of our great country.  My favorite is my Dad, though.  He was a career military man, an Air Force fighter pilot. He then retired and enjoyed being a corporate pilot. He still works for the same company, in fact, but just a few hours a week.

We have had a rough week.  I don’t know if you could tell that I was phoning in my posts last week. They were short and not well edited. This week if I go quiet, it is because he is in the hospital with a new cancer diagnosis as we are await a treatment plan. I may feel that I need this creative outlet, though – we will see.

 I really don’t want to show outfits for wearing to the hospital and my clothes are the last thing on my mind.  I haven’t had any cocktails and I haven’t cooked.  I have kept the coffee coming, though.  

I really appreciate you being my faithful readers.

Amy

Friday, November 9, 2018

ADVdesigns earrings – aren’t they cute? Seriously, check out ADVdesigns on Etsy. Some of her earrings are only $4.80 right now. My sister is the model- I bought them for her for her last birthday. She says she wears this mustard pair all of the time.

I wore my black and white blanket scarf this week and another day I wore my blue flannel plaid with hot pink vest. I seem to get more preppy in the fall. Love me some plaid!

I read this book this week. It’s a cute easy read that gets you in the mood for colder weather!

If you have an Apple Watch, I’m loving this new band. It’s rose gold and it’s good quality for the price.

What are your favorites from the week?

Happy Friday!

Amy

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Monday night a fun co-worker agreed to go to a Thanksgiving big batch cocktail making class with me!  For $15 we learned how to make 5 cocktails and came home with print outs of the recipes.  It was held at a cute local whiskey and wine store.  We also got to drink the cocktails – duh!

I will be honest.  None of the cocktails could top my spiked apple cider.  Again, my recipe for a single serving is 1 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. Fireball, about 1/2 cup apple cider and shake really well.  Pour into glass with ice and top with ginger ale or sparkling apple Ice drink or sparkling apple cider or sprite.  I like a little fizz with my cocktails.  You can also put chunks of apples in the drink.

We both agreed that our favorite of the night was the ginger snap cocktail.  Here is just a single serving:

1 oz. apple vodka

1 oz. ginger liqueur

1 oz. lemon juice

a squirt of agave syrup

peeled and grated fresh ginger

dash of cinnamon

dash of grated nutmeg

lemon peel for garnish

dash of bitters

Shake all together and pour into cocktail glass.

Now, my problem with the recipes we learned is that they are too complicated and require specialty ingredients.  I bet I could recreate this with easier ingredients.  Also, the ginger was a bit strong, so I think I would reduce that a bit.  It really did taste like a ginger snap cookie, though.

He did tell us that you do not want to make these too far in advance because the flavors will meld together in a bad way.

Do you have a signature Thanksgiving cocktail or do you just open a bottle of wine?  I am definitely more of a bourbon cocktail girl at this time of year.

Thanks for reading!

Amy