Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Hello October! I am linking up with Joyce for Hodgepodge today.

1. What’s your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now? 

I got to smell lots of fall smells in this cute store in my hometown and I am excited to go back and see what else they have. I love pumpkin, vanilla, apple, cinnamon, and any combinations of those smells. I really love the Mrs. Meyer’s acorn spice hand soap. I love the smell of a fire. There’s nothing like smelling a fire in the distance in the crisp fall air.

I have the trio of little glass jar candles from Trader Joe’s in my house along with the acorn spice hand soap. I have a couple of candles on the patio that are a bit stronger and better for outside. I have become more sensitive to artificial smells in the last couple of years, so I am quite picky.

2. October is Country Music Month…are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle are you more country mouse or city mouse? 

I am not really a country music fan but I like most live music of any genre. I just don’t fan girl or really know anyone or their songs very well.

We took a little family trip to Nashville a few summers ago. We stayed at The Graduate which was so cool. This was the trip I discovered boutique hotel means “small rooms” and that I realized that we had outgrown one hotel room for our family of four.

This photo makes me laugh!

I would say I am a suburban mouse. I can do a bit of country and a bit of city but I am most comfortable in suburbia!

3. How about ‘country cooking’? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)? 

My mom’s family was from Chicago so no country cookin’ there. My Dad’s family loved their fried chicken, mashed potatoes, apple pie (Southern Indiana). We didn’t really eat fried foods growing up, though. The fried chicken was a treat at Grandma’s house. My Dad was health conscious from my childhood. We didn’t even eat much red meat except for ground beef. We had a lot of chicken. My mom made this bone in chicken breast with powdered parmesan on it with canned or frozen vegetables. She also didn’t like to cook potatoes. We had a lot of corn.

Nashville hot chicken in Nashville:

chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-‘barbecue’-gumbo-banana pudding 

We did have deviled eggs once a year after Easter. Tom loves collard greens and gumbo. I have not yet attempted either.

Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you haven’t tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered?

I only eat it about once a year but I love biscuits and gravy. I probably had it for the first time in my 30s. Growing up, I only knew canned biscuits!

4. What’s something that always has a positive impact on your mood? 

Being around water! A sunny day! A bright blue sky! New shoes! A good hair day!

5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells us something about how that month looked for you. 

Noun – sun

Verb – reflecting/to reflect

Adjective – slow

We had a truly gorgeous September with so much sun and very little rain. August still felt like summer but September really had me feeling like I was retired. It was a gift to have a September at home without the pressure of school.

I spent much of the month reflecting on where my life is now and how much it’s changed in a year. I am a reflective person so this was a good thing. I miss certain aspects of school life, of course. I had a former student send me a message to ask if I would be at Prom. He is a senior now. Awwwww.

It was slow in many regards (and fast in other) and I wasn’t in a hurry. I mean slow in the best of ways…as in relaxed. Sometimes being too relaxed isn’t a good thing so I am trying to find that balance.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I feel happy in this photo. It’s good to feel happy after feeling sad!

What would you say to any of these questions? Thanks for reading my deep thoughts!

Amy

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Have y’all seen the “Unfortunately I do love” trend on social media? My blog friend Jen beat me to this but I swear I had already started this post! I got to thinking this would be a fun link up or I would just like to hear my favorite bloggers share theirs, so have at it!

Here is the trend explained according to Cosmo:

A new TikTok trend called “Unfortunately I Do Love” has users listing out their guilty pleasures.

What are you most ashamed of? Is it your perpetual lateness? An overreliance on Uber Eats orders? A tendency to Like every Instagram story you see after one cocktail? Instead of allowing that shame to consume you, consider using your worst qualities as fodder for a potentially viral TikTok.

Here are some of mine:

Unfortunately I do love…

Wine from a can! Wine without a cork!

Buying new sneakers! They are so fun!

Jeans without any zippers or buttons, baby! Sponsor me, Halara!

Press on nails! I have made my bestie promise to tell me if they look tacky!

Ordering fries at restaurants to share with everyone! Bonus points if they are loaded!

Door Dash! What a time to be alive! We can get so many things delivered to our homes!

My Amazon frother! I have never been happier with my at home coffee (or tea). Starbucks who?

My iphone! It can do so much! I do try to avoid being on it too much!

Early music start times! Who decided music should start at my bedtime?

Small hole in the wall places instead of large places and chains!

Happy hours and happy hour bargains – $5 margs!

Cookbooks – especially the ones where people submit their best recipes!

Cheap floral assortments more than a dozen perfect red roses!

Boxed desserts that taste like homemade!

Self tanner!

A baked potato for dinner! Is there are more perfect food?

That was fun!

Tell me one of yours! Is there anything that surprises you about me?

Amy

Monday, September 29, 2025

How was your weekend? Your last one of September??? Let’s link up with both Sarah and Holly to share!

I am having a bit of a probem with my computer and I am trying to think of synonyms when I can. The character that comes between K and M is not aways working for me. So, this post wi be both a bog post and a fun puzze for you! Yippee! Won’t that be fun?

I am still weird in that I don’t tell the internet when I/we/someone is out of town so I didn’t state to you ahead of time that Tom was out of town most of last week for a work conference and Eddie Otis and I were both missing him. This is the first time EO has sat in Daddy’s chair, in fact. Ernie used to do it, though!

He returned home Thursday night and we were both so happy!

Nothing says “welcome home like a pot of sloppy joes!

They don’t photograph well – sorry. But, Tom was happy!

Friday I took myself shopping and to lunch. It was kinda my reward for being a singe dog mom. I found a cute leopard blouse and the lunch place I went to was celebrating its 2nd birthday and that was my reason for going to lunch there.

Free champagne! Don’t mind if I do!

Birthday cake! Don’t mind if I do!

I ordered a wedge salad and it was delish. I later told my sister Molly what I had and asked if she liked wedge salads and she said she doesn’t like to eat a head of iceberg. Well, ok.

Their bread is amazing…

I sat on the pretty patio in the gorgeous weather and I was delightful company. I ended up taking the cake and the bread home.

I rallied for dinner at a Cuban place with our friends. Champagne at lunch makes one very sleep, fyi. I kept it to water after that.

I didn’t really like what I ordered for dinner.

Saturday I did some chores and didn’t go anywhere before afternoon/evening. Tom did his annua trying on of the ederhosen.

Then we went to a beer garden’s Oktoberfest!

Our friends met us and it was so nice!

I’m not super into this…

So I started this…

Sunday I went to the gym and then it was a boat day!

We had three friends join us. We had brunch on the boat at Captain’s Quarters.

On the way home I picked up a Kroger order – really would rather do grocery pick up during the week but you know how it goes. We needed some things before Monday. Eddie Otis got a big carrot!

And, that’s a wrap on a nice weekend!

This week’s dinner menu – Sunday eftovers, Monday samon, Tuesday chicken with mushrooms and bacon (copycat Outback), Wednesday tiapia

What did you do?

Amy

Saturday, September 27, 2025

I’m coming to you on a Saturday to link up with Jenn for her Share 4 Somethings.

So many of my things relate to my new retirement life and my loss of my last remaining parent. I also had a kid move out this month. I am a half empty nester, I guess.

Loved – What I have loved this month…

We have had some gorgeous weather! I have loved learning to slow down. I do feel a bit out of sorts some days but I am also embracing not rushing and having more time at home and with my pup. I had so much fun at a music festival in my hometown with just Tom. It was nice to go there for fun instead of business.

I have also enjoyed lots of time to read and several good and memorable books. I feel that I have finally gotten my house to a good place regarding keeping it clean and organized -ish. I mean, I still have dog toys strewn about but they make my pup happy.

I think Tom has benefitted from me being home and has a more relaxed wife now. I have taken some things off of his plate.

Learned – What I have learned this month…

I think I am learning to be softer with myself and with everyone. I am learning to slow down.

I think my visit to the Salt Cave was good for me this month!

Went Well – What went well this month…

Having a kid move out for real and not just for college has gone better than expected. He doesn’t have an in unit laundry and I have offered for him to come home and do laundry on a day off from work, so I have gotten to lay eyes on my kid once a week. I try to send him back with some food and it’s been much appreciated. I think our relationship has benefitted.

Let Go – What I have let go this month…

We are still trying to sell my mom’s house. It’s been a hard time to sell a house. I think that when it does finally sell we will be ready to let go of it and will be relieved and maybe if it had sold too soon we wouldn’t have been as ready? I do know I can’t control when the right buyer comes along.

Being in my hometown twice this month and my parents’ birthdays falling this month hit me harder than I thought. I also had already started worrying about what the holidays would look like. I think I am more at peace now with whatever we decide to do.

My sisters are very appreciative that I am handling the business end of this. Since I am a words of affirmation person it is nice that they thank me regularly. They are both in the thick of the school year with very difficult students and classes this year.

When I look back over the month of September, I really did a lot!

What about you? Do you have anything you would share this Saturday?

Amy

Friday, September 26, 2025

It’s Friday and it’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites. I cannot believe we are at the end of September! I thought it would slow down now that I am retired from a school job, but it really seemed to fly for me, too.

I finished this cute little book this week; I did pretty much pick it for the London setting. This makes me mad, though – the main character was described as having dirty blonde hair and the cover shows a brunette. Come on! Does lack of attention to detail upset you in a book?

I do recommend it for a cute little read, though. It was a break from WW2 for me!

What says fall more than fall magazines? I subscribed to some magazines as a treat to myself – Southern Living, Magnolia, and Garden and Gun (don’t freak out; it’s mostly just a southern design magazine).

Magazines are skimpy and mostly ads these days but I still enjoy them.

I got to pick up some requested books from the library this week.

Finally!

Have you read this? The jury is still out for me and I am only about halfway through the book.

And:

Can I say again how much I love the library? If I don’t feel a book I just return it and there is no guilt at all. I like to have options and I would rather have too many books than not enough. When do I read? It is usually in the afternoons now. I will often read while I eat lunch and then keep reading for a couple of hours. I don’t turn on the tv at all during the day most days.

Eddie Otis is a big baby about having his nails trimmed. We have found a place near our house that has an angel that manages to do his nails without it being too big of an ordeal. Tom is upset that he can’t do it himself but it just doesn’t go well.

Eddie Otis was so good about getting in the car and did so well overall that I wanted to associate it with a treat. He got a Starbuck’s pup cup and I got a London Fog tea latte.

A Trader Joe’s find. So cute!

These are amazing! Kristin recommended them and I put them in my Kroger order. To combat the dog hair, I use an old fashioned broom and dustpan, these, and the vacuum. We have a Dyson Animal and a Dyson stick.

I am getting ready to change my royal blue toe color – don’t worry. I did a navy shiny press on mani:

I wanted to get a couple of Halloween or Fall graphic tees so I went to Old Navy where I have had great luck with t-shirts lately. I was picturing something to wear with a cardigan over it over the next month.

Ok, so soft and such good quality, Old Navy!

I brought this v-neck pumpkin home:

And, I brought this witching hour cocktail one home. I will wear this one with my new black scalloped cardigan.

I thought I would share this:

And, this is a good follow if you like seasonal books:

I wrote my fall list out so I could see it on my memo board. This was a suggestion from my former student.

I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, but I looked up the London Fog latte recipe and I made a pretty darn good one myself at home this week! It’s Earl Grey tea, vanilla syrup, and foamy skim milk.

We had an authentic German restaurant near our house and sadly they retired in 2022. I was part of their Facebook group and they announced their cookbook was ready to go. I ordered it and it arrived this week. It’s got tons of photos so I think it’s more of a scrapbook/cookbook. It tells their stories from Germany to the US and it is really well done!

I am going to attempt Tom’s favorite dish:

And, that’s a wrap on my favorites this week! How about you?

Amy

It’s Thursday which is the most fashionable day of the week in blog land! I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill to share some recent ‘fits and talk a little fall shopping.

I love fall clothes! I have also always loved having a fall birthday and using it to justify a little closet refresh, you know? My birthday isn’t until November 2, but by that time I have a feel for what I feel like wearing for that current fall season. Also, sales have usually started by then.

I really don’t need many clothes now! I am still figuring out my retirement wardrobe but I think it will be lots of jeans.

I received a super sweet gift card from my college besties for my retirement gift. It was for a local boutique and they have Umgee and Entro and some other boutique brands that I like. I finally made my decision a few weeks ago and picked this fall blouse but notice the short sleeves so women of a certain age don’t get overheated. I wore it out to breakfast with my former student. I have on the blouse, my light Halaras, and my Kork Ease sandals that have proven to have been a good purchase. I thought they would be good as we go into fall.

I wore the next outfit to go hear music Thursday night. The fruit seemed a little summery so it is probably going to be put in the back of my closet now. I have on my darker denim Halaras and the Kork Ease sandals again.

What a nerd! I wore this to my pool day! I should lose the chin strap. I really do look like a park ranger.

Saturday walk, library, and farmer’s market outfit is up next. I have on my Old Navy tennis skirt, an Old Navy graphic tee, and my JC Penney SOHO ball cap.

I had the hardest time picking a dress to wear to dinner Saturday night. It was very hot but the calendar said September 20th. I finally settled on the green gauzy J.Crew consignment dress.

Sunday Girlmore Girls brunch that was a bust – it was raining but still pretty warm out. I wore my straight legged Halaras, my new Marshall’s blouse, and my Rothy’s flats that I bought last winter.

Let me tell you about a local business called Bonhomia. The founder uses textiles from Guatemala to make handbags, wallets, etc. She was having design week this week where you could pick your textile on Facebook and which item you wanted. I have been thinking about one and looking at them for maybe 3 years at this point so I decided to finally go for it!

I picked this textile:

This item and leather color:

I’m pretty excited!

It’s boot season. Short boots are so much easier to put on. This was my dog walking ensemble:

I received my Frye & Co boots that I told you about last week. I tried them on with my swim cover up so please excuse. I measured my calves and purchased the wide calf and I was correct to do so; they are pull on and not zipper boots. They have some cool little elastic pulls inside the boot to help you pull them on. They hit at the right place on my leg I think. I have had boots that come up too high. The other colors are pretty, too.

They will require a bit of wearing in or stretching out but I think I like them. I have never had this color boot but again, I think I like it. They are vegan leather so not real leather. I picture them with a dress and my denim skirt and I might try them with a wide leg jean.

I want to find a cute Halloween graphic tee to wear with a cardigan.

Gosh, I am excited for cardigan weather! Are you?

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

It’s Hodgepodge with Joyce day!

1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)…what’s your favorite thing about fall? 

We had some fall rain to start the season. I was super happy. Rainy days and Mondays have no power to get me down anymore!

Eddie Otis is so good off leash and I took advantage of the rain and lack of people to let him off leash on the playground behind our house.

We also took a leash walk in the neighborhood and I marveled at how quickly it went from looking like the height of summer to looking like fall!

I needed just a couple of things from Kroger and thought I would take a look at the pumpkins and mums. I didn’t purchase anything yet.

So, I would say my favorite things about fall are the weather, pumpkins, mums, candles outside and the ability to sit outside, the clothing, and the food. I love it all!

2. What’s one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list? 

I published my list yesterday! After being on a school schedule for 48 years, I was most looking forward to a slowed down fall season. September and October are just crazy in the school setting.

I love being outside in the fall especially after the first frost when the Satanic mosquitoes go bye-bye. I hate bug spray but have to use it.

It feels so nice to wear pants and a top without needing a jacket. I love that sweet spot.

I love being able to sit outside with friends and visiting with a drink in my hand. Bonus points if there’s a fire. Bonus points if there is a pretty view.

3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don’t eat? Which one have you had most recently? 

I really like them all! I like cranberry juice more than the actual cranberries.

4. ‘Fall is proof that change is beautiful’ is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate. 

I just think we have to have the fall and winter to appreciate our re-birth of nature in the spring. It’s a powerful metaphor, too.

5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping…of those listed which would you most like to visit? 

I live in the Ohio River valley and we have lots of woods and hills near by. Any daily drive can take me by beautiful leaves changing. With that said, I know that some of the places listed below are even more stunning. I have been to West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina in the fall before.

Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tom made our twins’ first Halloween costumes – Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble. It seems another lifetime ago. I pulled these out of the Halloween decor bin recently. Yes, they are holding dog bones. Look at those chubby baby legs and feet. I love baby legs and feet but not in a weird way. This is actually right after their first birthday because they were in the NICU until they were 6 weeks old October 20th or so.

Thanks for the fun questions this week, Joyce!

Amy

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Do you make a seasonal goals list? I have tried to make one most seasons in the recent past because I find it helps me be more intentional about having fun! Yes, this list is primarily about having fun and squeezing the joy out of a certain season.

The above photo is from last year. Can I be honest? I don’t love a raked yard. Leave all the leaves for me to enjoy! They don’t bother me at all! I have also heard it’s good for the environment to leave them. I’m scared. It’s leaf blowing season and I have a next door neighbor-ish person (long story) that blows for hours in all seasons but this is the season that he lives for. He goes to Home Depot and says, “give me the loudest model you’ve got”. And, I’m pretty sure he times his blowing for right when I go outside to read or enjoy the weather. Yeah, I guess we have to take the good with the bad, right? Anyway, he really blows.

-Make apple recipes and enjoy apple smells

-Make pumpkin recipes and enjoy pumpkin flavors and smells

-Attend anything fall-themed in my community

-Make a full German meal

-Go Fall boating and look at changing leaves

-Have a fire in my Solo Stove

-Use my minimal fall decor. Add Halloween October 1. Add Thanksgiving November 1.

-Go to an Oktoberfest

-Go to a Fall festival

-Buy pumpkins and mums for my back patio and I would like to do the front this year, as well. Put up my Fall flag.

-Buy a new Halloween graphic tee to wear under a cardigan

-Do a fun Halloween mani

-Break out the seasonal cocktails – my fall sangria and red wine

-It’s bourbon season! Enjoy it in an old fashioned or in a bourbon punch.

-Do Soup Sunday where I make a soup most Sundays

-Celebrate my birthday – one birthday is pictured below

-Make mummy dogs and chili for Halloween dinner. I think I have decided I like a hot dog wrapped in Crescent Roll dough more than on a bun. I would love to have Halloween plans but we usually just stay home.

-Celebrate Thanksgiving

-Read fall books, watch fall movies, watch fall tv

-Read outside

-Take lots of walks and try to do some hikes, too

-Embrace the time change and it getting dark earlier by getting cozy and embracing fall hygge practices

I found this list:

What are you looking forward to doing this fall? Do you have a favorite fall movie? Fall food?

Amy

Monday, September 22, 2025

Well, fall is officially upon us. I have my fall bucket list coming out tomorrow. Are you making one?

Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly to hear about our weekends!

I joke that I don’t know what day of the week it is, but I do. Since Tom is working five days a week and leaves the house at 7:30 not to return until 6:00 pm I feel his contributions and very much know when it’s the weekend! Let’s just say Eddie Otis and I are very happy!

I had the realization that the school district that I retired from is approaching the end of the first 6 weeks grading period. It’s surprisingly how little I care about what is going on now. I have a sense that it could be part of the boundary/wall I put up to not get lost in my feelings of not being a teacher anymore. I plan to do a “how it’s going” post soon with more detail.

I like to think the weekend starts on Thursday and I had a wonderful start to my day this past Thursday. I met Madeleine (former student going back to Spain for another year and leaving tomorrow) at Con Huevos for breakfast and we spoke Spanish and conjugated some verbs casually, as one does.

I can’t tell you how enjoyable this was – again. It feels like just chatting with a friend. My heart is full. She told me she had just been with her college besties on a lake weekend and they went around and all set intentions for what they need to work on for the rest of the year. I asked her for advice on what I should be doing now. What she told me was in line with what I had also thought for myself. It’s so nice to hear a younger person’s perspective.

Oh man – I finished this. I don’t know what to say about it. I didn’t really like the main character. It was a heavy read for me. I am glad I read it, though. See – I don’t know what to say!

Thursday evening I said “yes” to going out by myself because Tom had to stay after work for a work event called “Porktoberfest”. They eat pork and talk is what I am guessing.

I went to a hole in the wall on the river and met my friend Beth to hear a singer that she and her husband really like. The singer is from Australia originally and moved to Nashville. She drives to Louisville twice a month to sing. I need to get the rest of that story, but that is all I know.

She was so sweet and talented, too! She’s got that special something where she connects with her audience.

Beth’s husband Mike sings, too, and you may remember me going to listen to him just a week ago. He arrived and then got to sing a duet.

I stayed out for a couple of hours and was really glad I said yes.

Speaking of Australia, did you see Robert Irwin dance on Dancing with the Stars?

Then, Friday was a day I was really looking forward to as the season of day passes is coming to a close at Myriad Swim Club hotel pool.

I met my other friend Beth and we split a chicken ceasar wrap and fries and chatted for a few hours mostly while standing in the pool. We had it gloriously to ourselves most of the time.

I had a nice day and came home and took a little nap as much as EO would allow.

Tom was happy to have frozen pizza for dinner!

His:

Mason and I had this:

It was time to go back to WWII…

Saturday I was happy to sit outside. The heat is breaking and the mornings and evenings are feeling better again.

Look at that foam!

I decided I needed a good old fashioned Saturday of a library run and farmer’s market as they are coming to an end for the season soon.

This was all I found at the library because my requests hadn’t come in yet like I thought. My app said “shipped” but I guess they are in transit.

It’s time for something more light-hearted next anyway!

The farmer’s market was lovely…

I got an Amish angel food cake, kettle corn for Tom, one tomato, and Alaskan sourdough. The family that sold the sourdough is from Alaska and I did some research and apparently there is an Alaskan sourdough starter like there is a San Fran sourdough starter.

Also, I had been meaning to do this. I went to Jimmy John’s for day old bread for 50 cents. It’s still very soft. I put it in the freezer for future faux Jimmy John’s sammies made by Amy John. That’s me. True story – I went to college with a guy named Jimmy John.

I read my book and was super lazy for a bit on Saturday while Tom watched sports ball. I laid on the couch and read in the same room. Togetherness.

I received a photo of sophomore niece Lena all ready for Homecoming:

She went with a group of girls and not a date which seems to be pretty common. She’s so grown up!

We had no dinner plans but I did tell Tom that after my Friday night frozen pizza that I wanted to go sit somewhere and eat. We got an invite to do dinner with our friends and said “yes”. We went super casual to Waldo’s Chicken and Beer which made Tom very happy. He gets fried chicken, collard greens, and white beans with ham for $12.

I got some wine and…

discovered they have really good queso that I shared…

and a salad.

Their bathroom wallpaper is funny if you take the time to read the cans!

It’s all chicken centered.

Then we walked to get gelato. I saw a former student when we were on the sidewalk eating!

We had a really nice evening.

Sunday morning I mopped, put laundry away, did dishes, but also got to read outside and…

I finished! Ahhh – her books are so good. I still think this one is my favorite, though:

I almost am happy to end a good book because it consumes me so much. Are you like that?

This is kind of comical. I found out a local place called World of Beer was having a Gilmore Girls brunch this weekend – both days from 11-2 that also involved a book swap. I was expecting some GG decor or swag, but it was just like normal…

except this special additional menu and…

a book swap table. I swapped for this:

My friend was going to go but then came down sick so Mason went. We laughed since it was so low key.

I did some reading in the light rain. Finally we got some rain yesterday!

And that’s about it for me!

Tell me the highlight of your weekend and not to shock anyone but we only have one more September weekend left!

Amy

Friday, September 19, 2025

It’s Friday and link up day with Andrea and Erika – let’s share some favorites from the week.

I have stayed home a lot this week. The heat is back and I have just really tried to tend to the home fires with everything that happened last week. I have spent lots of time with Eddie Otis and lots of time reading. I have tried to stay off of social media.

First off, I was pretty happy to have a meal plan. I want to do Soup Sundays and did it this week.

Meal plan:

Sunday – spinach and artichoke stew – I changed it from chicken to mild italian sausage. I loved it but Tom and Mason did not. You win some, you lose some.

Monday – turkey sausage, roasted zucchini and potatoes on a sheet pan

Tuesday – spaghetti – I use Prego Chunky garden and add cooked ground beef and it must be angel hair (Tom’s rules – lol)

Wednesday – paprika chicken and potatoes with broccoli

Thursday – leftovers/on your own since Tom had a work thing called “Porktoberfest” they do every year after work. They have a locally owned butcher shop come and grill them up some stuff.

This is my creamer this week and I really like it, but Trader Joe’s is better. I just really like this brown sugar flavor! My friend Victoria told me to put regular brown sugar in my coffee a long time ago and I never listened – lol.

I took a break from the press ons this week and decided to do a nail strengthener followed by white, followed by a top coat.

Um, this is why press ons are better for me. Look how messy!

If you aren’t following mirabellecreations and you love the enneagram, follow her now!

Isn’t that good? Things to squash this fall!

On Netflix this week. I finished Love is Blind US and then I watched this and it’s surprisingly cute! I mean, it is definitely cheesy, but sometimes that is just want you need.

I remember trying to read Redeeming Love but not getting into it; this movie had me riveted even though it ended super abruptly in my opinion and it’s hard to watch for the content and things that happen. Be warned. You could watch The Wrong Paris with your teenage daughter, but I wouldn’t with Redeeming Love.

I was scared to start this book because I thought it would be sad and it is but it is making it hard for me to put down.

I loved this and recommend it! It was a fun read! I do try to go back and forth between a more difficult read and a more light-hearted read.

This is my new reusable produce bag. I forgot to include the photo in my Euro Style post this week!

Eddie Otis got an E.T. toy from Marshall’s and he loves it!

I think Tom and I enjoy his toys as much as he does! I could be making this up but I feel like Eddie Otis is more calm since I’ve become a stay at home dog mom.

Oh crap!

A neighbor has put up what appears to be a permanent lawn decoration – a chrome dragon. My kids found this hilarious.

I managed to get to The Fresh Market on Tuesday this week for their meat sale. I got my ground beef for spaghetti and my chicken for my paprika chicken and potatoes.

I had a strange Facebook memory pop up. Honestly, I could probably do a whole post on the crazy things that happened during my 31 years of teaching.

We had “open house” where the parents walked their kid’s schedule and we did a song and dance about our classes – not really – it’s just an expression – we told expectations and what the kids should learn. We had to go through a mock school day with bells and all and hold each class for like 8 minutes.

I was so distracted when this family came, brought their sugar glider (I didn’t even know what that was) and then proceeded to feed it a sugar glider danish (their words, not mine). I couldn’t look away from his tiny little hands. Look at his “fingers”! I literally forgot my presentation.

I did take a trip to Trader Joe’s this week and bought this Woodlands candle – it’s very masculine, not unlike Mahogany Teakwood.

And, this trio that Jen shared!

I also brought home two “snowball” pumpkins. I am a sucker for a white pumpkin.

I rarely go through a drive thru but I decided to try a doppio with cold foam in a venti cup and then I add my pumpkin spice. Yum! It was delish!

Grab one of these when you see one. I found this one in a shop in my hometown but I see them in boutiques and specialty markets.

There are some great recipes on the back or you can just mix it with red wine.

I’ve got my fall plates out!

I also made the easiest recipe of mini pumpkin muffins. You can add chocolate chips if you want.

Use a spice cake mix, a can of pumpkin can up with about 1/3 of water and mix all together. Don’t follow package directions on the cake mix.

I did 350 for about 12 minutes.

Love this! I am not into entertaining at my house recently but I like this idea!

I also bought some new silverware. Where do all the forks go?

I am very happy with the look and quality. Here it is!

And, last night I went back to press ons:

This shape is out of the norm for me. We shall see!

Tell me a favorite of yours this week! How are you doing?

Amy