Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Happy Hump Day! I am linking up with Joyce for her Wednesday Hodgepodge today!

1. It’s officially fall y’all…in the northern hemisphere anyway. What are three of your favorite things about this particular season of the year? 

The clothes – It’s a little too soon for sweaters around here, but a light cardigan over a top is about right. I love that sweet spot when you don’t need a jacket yet. But, I do love jackets. I probably need an upgrade in that department.

The fall foods – I am excited to have a pot of soup or chili simmering away. I love pumpkin foods, too.

Mother Nature – I love seeing how she shows off in the fall. It’s such a great time for taking walks and being outside.

2. Your favorite fall fabric-denim, flannel, tweed, corduroy, tartan, polar fleece, leather? Do you own something made with your favorite fall fabric? 

Gosh, all of these sound very hot right now. I am very picky about my fabrics. I won’t wear anything that isn’t breathable. I will have to say denim. I love worn in, soft denim. I do have my two beloved pairs of faux leather pants from Chico’s too. I won’t wear anything scratchy and I am trying to get away from cheaper pieces that are synthetic, I guess.

3. According to Everyday Health here are ten healthy fall foods- apples (flavonoids may improve brain health), pears (for heart friendly fiber), cranberries (helps your body fight oxidative stress) winter squash (for eye health), pumpkin (another great source of Vitamin A), leeks (an anti-inflammatory food), brussel sprouts (full of fiber and anti-oxidants), sweet potatoes (loaded with Vit A and C), parsnips (keep your bones healthy with Vit K), and broccoli (may help prevent cancer). 

How many on the list do you eat on a regular basis? Which one is your favorite? Which one gets a big no thanks from you? 

I eat broccoli and brussels sprouts on a regular basis and need to do better with all the other things on the list. I do love them all. I am more likely to eat an apple that is cut up. I want to cook with leeks and parsnips more. I think I will snap a pic of this list and look for recipes!

4. Tell us about the last time (or a recent time) you experienced a wave of nostalgia? 

I would say probably when a Facebook memory pops up. I have a love/hate relationship with these memories! I love them but they also make me nostalgic. They also made me glad I posted them.

5. Sept. 22nd was National Daughter’s Day. Like mother, like daughter…does this idiom ring true for you? You may answer in terms of your own role as a daughter or, if you have daughters, then your role as a mother of daughters. 

I think it’s hard not to be like your parents in some ways! I always think it’s fun to meet students’ parents and I usually think “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”. Also, I never know when it’s these “national ___ day”.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am really in a cooking rut, so I think it will be nice to make some fall foods soon. I will definitely make chili and maybe lasagna soup? I love roasted vegetables, too!

What about you? Anything from the Hodgepodge you would share?

Amy

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

I know so many of you out there are like me and want to offer your friends support when they are going through a rough time.

I have a couple of friends going through it right now and thus this post was born.

My best advice is to not overthink it. Just do something. For years I overthought it.

I have always thought I was awkward in these moments. I say too much. I say the wrong thing.

I try to think of the things people have done for me and how special and loved I felt.

Here are some suggestions and I would love to hear yours, too.

A text – it can be as simple as “I’m thinking of you” and “Don’t feel like you have to respond, but just wanted to reach out”

A card in the mail – it is so rare to get mail like this and I think this can be a great thing

A card and a candle – most of us love a candle

A plant – same!

A breakfast basket or bag – sometimes breakfast food is overlooked but your people still need to eat breakfast. No place is better than Trader Joe’s for this. A pack of croissants, crumpets, a breakfast pastry like a kringle, and some fruit.

If they have school age kids, I think some individually packaged breakfast, lunch, or snack items would be very thoughtful.

A lunch basket or bag – If you know someone is there to answer the door and not have it sit out for too long – a loaf of bread (maybe a nicer deli loaf), some deli meats and cheeses, some chips, and some fruit (this can get pricey with the meats and cheeses)

Warm cookies

Cold cookies

Crumbl cookies – my friend wrote a sweet message in Sharpie on the outside of the box

Really can you go wrong with cookies?

A very specific offer:

“Can I let your dog out/walk your dog?”

“Can I pick up kid for you?”

I think sometimes “let me know if you need anything” can be too vague so picking a specific thing can be really helpful.

Other things I think are helpful:

“I’m here if you feel like talking”

“I can take you out for a happy hour if you need to get out”

I gave one friend a card and a fall candle and the other a bag of fall goodies/snacks from Trader Joe’s and Target. I had a Mrs. Meyer’s soap and breakfast things from Trader Joe’s along with some maple kettle corn. I had the really good popcorn from Target. She was going to have her daughter and her college friends and I thought they could use the snacks and breakfast foods. I left it on her porch and left and then texted her husband.

Anyway, my best advice is to just say something and do something and not overthink it!

What are your tips?

Amy

Monday, September 23, 2024

How was your weekend? Oh summer did not want to let go around here. It was hot, hot, hot Friday and especially Saturday! Yesterday felt a little better for the first day of fall. Can you believe it’s officially fall now?

I am linking up with Holly and Sarah for Hello Monday!

We need to get the boat trailer fixed so Tom I borrowing a slip in this marina from his bro-in-law. He picked me up after work (without letting EO know – haha) and we went down to check on the vessel.

He said let’s go out so I purchased some chips and queso from the little restaurant along with an Arnold Palmer (no alcohol) for Tom and a couple of seltzers for me.

We never do evening boating and we really should do it. Look how pretty!

I was also getting messages from one student in Spain who is at a wine festival! How fun!

You have to wear a white shirt, red bandana, and drink your wine out of the weird bag! I will be talking about my girls Ali, Madeleine, and Avery. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see Avery before she left but we have messaged.

Saturday morning was get the house in order time and it included a closet cleanout, a Goodwill drop off, and a Target and Trader Joe’s stop.

Target had a cute Hispanic Heritage Month display. I will show my students, of course!

I got home and call me Kevin McCallister (that is not how I thought it was spelled; had to look it up!) because I was home alone! I can’t remember the last time that happened! There was not even a chocolate lab puppy! Tom and EO were at the river and the 22 year olds had plans to hang with friends (one) and work (the other).

We had plans to take friends out on the boat from the marina around 4:00 so I had a little time for a little siesta in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, of course.

Well, womp womp. The boat was overheating so we just sat on it and sweat. I think it was the hottest I was all summer on the last official day of summer. Finally we gave up the ghost (is that the term?) and went to the little restaurant.

We had a lot of fun catching up with my number one male reader (Dan!) and wife Kara. After we said bye, Tom and I went back down to secure the boat.

Sunday I was both lazy and productive. I changed out my tropical placemats for my leaf placemats that still don’t look super fall-ish.

I have decided to just be even more minimalist because this weekend, Eddie Otis ate a stick of butter, my women’s gummy multivitamins, a Tul gel pen, and the Fire Stick remote. Well, we managed to get the remote before he could actually swallow it.

We have never had dogs that do this. I was so smug.

I had lots of reading time yesterday. It felt nice on the patio and I can never put an Elin down.

I did a Kroger pick up:

The face of someone who ate a stick of butter but got his multivitamin in…

I couldn’t take my fading Funny Bunny pedicure any longer and took myself to the nail salon Sunday afternoon. I was looking for a navy or a burgundy and I picked this one up and low and behold…

It is a dark purple/mauve with a nice iridescence to it. It looks way different in person than in photos, I think.

I picked up Thai food after because it was just too late to cook!

And, that’s a wrap. It was a nice weekend. I found some time to re-charge my batteries. It was a hard week!

Tell me the highlight of yours!

Amy

Friday, September 20, 2024

Wow! September literally flew, did it not? I am happy to link up with Andrea and Erika to share some things that made me happy this week.

First off, I finished this on Sunday. I would say it dragged a bit about 3/4 of the way in and I think it could have been shorter. But, I really liked the story and I feel like I learned and became curious about something I really hadn’t known about before.

I did something nice for my friend Heather and she reciprocated with this bag of popcorn left on my porch. Have you all tried it? It is the best bagged popcorn I have ever tried! It makes Simply Pop taste like packing peanuts.

Monday at school was rough. We found out we had had a gun threat and we would be on a level 3 security level. Our attendance was very low that day but only a handful of teachers stayed at home and the students that were there were wonderful and we did business as usual but did not let students out of class as much.

Ugh – I thought incorrectly that metal detectors would keep this from happening, I guess. I literally sat in my dark classroom during my planning that day because I was just kind of depressed about it.

And, I don’t blame parents for keeping their kids at home. I probably would, too.

Look what came in for me at the library! I fought traffic to go pick it up after school on Wednesday!

I ordered the classic Sambas! I love them! The sizing is super weird and I’m hoping they stretch out just a bit. If you order them, I am normally an 8 and I got a 6.5. I did not find the platforms to be comfortable at all and my heel slipped out.

I wore these to school one day this week. I can’t believe how much the kids love them. I have students that I don’t know stop me.

I saw little milk like England has in the store recently!

Take the time to send that text. Look at the sweet text from my friend Dan:

I’m pretty sure he only talked to one person. It made my day!

Oh my gosh! Does my city know I just finished Mormon Wives? We are getting a Swig dirty soda place.

I ordered a fall candle from local Lendenwood Goods. Love it!

I ordered a new Donna Karan that came with a perfume of the same scent for the same price as just the deodorant. I dated my last stick and it’s still going. Actually, it was $4 less!

My co-worker told me that these were really good and she was so right! I heated in the oven on my air fryer setting and we had them with a burrito bowl this week.

Tom’s co-worker had a happy hour after work and I met Tom. What a lovely setting!

Erica sent this to me. This may be the fall bucket list you’ve been looking for!

Haha!

I hope you have many favorites from this week!

Amy

Thursday, September 19, 2024

It’s Thursday and time for Fashion Files with Jill and Kellyann.

It’s summer again here! It’s been in the mid-high 80s lately. I feel a bit weird wearing too much white or too summery clothing after Labor Day even though I know it’s no longer taboo. Do you?

I have a student who works at one of my consignment stores and she gave me a $5 coupon so I went in and bought two graphic tees – one that says Paris (J.Crew) and one that says Nashville. I also bought a Target red twist front tee that I thought would be a good solid.

I told you I was going to try to take classroom photos! Here is the Nashville tee and I am holding a cookie to say thank you to a friend for giving it to me. This is my first time breaking out the Matilda Janes and they are so cool (temperature) and comfortable. I don’t love this, but I was comfy.

When I was visiting my mom in my hometown, I went in the cutest boutique and bought a new dress and a new top. I was not planning on it, but I loved them.

Here is the dress:

One day last week I wore this TJ Maxx blouse with my gauzy pants and my Stan Smiths:

Here is what I wore Saturday to shop in the little boutique and to visit my mom:

And, here is the top I bought at the boutique:

The top is bright and cheery and feels very me. Yeah, remember when I said I want more neutrals? The heart wants what it wants.

And, look at my online splurge!

I was trying them out to make sure I got the right size. They are so comfortable! I guess I have learned I’m not a platform shoe girl. I think everyones’ feet are just so different, you know?

Also, my legs are really tan because of Loving Tan. I put on one or two rubber gloves to apply it (I didn’t buy the mitt) and it’s pretty amazing what only a very small amount of the mousse can do. I bought the medium shade.

I like my outfits a lot more this week! Also, I am getting ruthless in my closet. If I didn’t wear it this summer, it is going. It’s hard but I think it is worth it and will make me feel that I have a lot more to choose from and I will be able to see my things!

This is a hard time of year to get dressed. I am looking at my dresses, skirts, and my short sleeve or long sleeve but light weight blouses right now.

What about you? What have you been wearing?

Amy

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

I sure am glad Joyce does this link up because some weeks I am out of blog post ideas! Thanks, Joyce!

A “pencil” that I received at a meeting:

1. Something that’s had you ‘chuffed to bits’ recently? 

Well, meetings that could have and should have been emails would top my list right now at the beginning of the school year. Also, for some reason my admin is all about rotating at meetings. I am not talking about me having to spin around in circles, but it almost feels that way.

So, we had 2 or 3 days before school started where we rotated from classroom to classroom to “get information”. That’s it. There’s nothing creative; you simply move your body to have someone talk at you. So, I totally expect that in those teacher days before students come. They seem unprepared for the stuff teachers really need to know so instead of giving us more time to actually get ready to do our job they pull stuff out of their bums.

But, this week for our faculty meeting we had to rotate to three different classrooms after school to “sit and get”. Isn’t it more efficient to just be in one place and have the three presenters present once each? It feels condescending and it wastes my time. I also feel bad for the presenters that are literally repeating themselves thrice. I really think people should use the word thrice more often.

Do I sound like I have a bad attitude? I don’t about my students and my classes but I do about this kind of stuff. Still, I try to come with positive body language and I keep a poker face.

2. Tell us about an instance recently where you were tempted to ‘throw a wobbly’ (expression used to describe tantrums thrown, usually by adults or people who should know better) 

I guess it would be about the above. I really do not like meetings for meetings’ sake. Just because you can meet doesn’t mean you have to meet. I think when admin protect teachers’ time they will have a better outcome in the classroom.

3. Something everyone seems to love but is not your ‘cuppa tea’? 

Noisy restaurants. I feel so stressed out. Friday night we went to a pizza place with four friends. One of the friends is always the one who spearheads the dinners when we go out and always picks super noisy places and noisy times. Oftentimes it is a newer restaurant where everyone else is.

4. Fish and chips, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding…which entree would you choose? Yes, you have to choose. 

I have learned to make a really good shepherd’s pie (that is also pretty light and not too caloric) and Yorkshire pudding or popovers in my special popover pan. I would pick fish and chips because I can’t make it at home. It’s classic and yummy!

5. Something you want for your birthday this year? 

I really just want quality time with people who fill my cup. I love sitting around chatting and laughing.

I think sometimes you have to be really intentional and make your own plans, invite the people, etc. I had so much fun a couple of years ago when I planned a Cuban restaurant dinner followed by a private karaoke room. I think everyone else had fun, too!

I think I told everyone to wear black leather? This was the first time I put something together like this and this is me telling you to go for it!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I really think the best coffee is probably just your traditional classic pot of coffee from a Mr. Coffee machine or something similar. I have had my Nespresso Vertuo and it’s nice but the pods are very expensive and the coffee does not come out hot enough for me. It’s nice to have when you just want one cup but I think the traditional coffee pot makes the most sense and the best coffee for two or more cups. If you are a regular reader, you know how many words I have devoted to coffee!

What would you say about any of the hodgepodge topics today?

Amy

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

This tip actually comes from my sister Kate! Even though the first 6 weeks of school are exhausting, I have been doing a really good job with this personally.

My instinct is to go home on Friday and hibernate. Well, I do enjoy going to happy hour first. And, that may be enough for me on many Fridays. This is also a nice compromise for me wanting to be social and Tom being fine with going home after he gets off work.

I will either go to happy hour right after school and bring food home for dinner or we order something. We have also used Friday night as a good night to clean out leftovers. And, if I have a snack at happy hour I sometimes don’t even need anything or much of anything.

Another idea is to happy hour with the girls and then have the husbands meet up for dinner at the same place. I have done that, too.

But the point is to maximize your weekend!

My sister says that she feels that she makes more of the weekend if she does something on Friday night. I have to agree with her. I think it sets a tone for “my weekend is not just about productivity and recovering from the week”.

I also like to think of the weekend as 5 parts:

Friday afternoon/evening

Saturday morning until afternoon

Saturday afternoon/evening

Sunday morning until afternoon

Sunday afternoon/evening

If you plan one thing in each of the 5 parts you will feel like you made more of the weekend!

I’m always glad I do something on Sunday, too. It helps you not to just focus on the week ahead.

What do you think? Do you do this?

Amy

Monday, September 16, 2024

Well that went by quickly! I am linking up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday as I lament the weekend gone too quickly.

It felt like summer again here. How about where you are? We had high 80s. We only had rain on Friday and it cleared up before the end of the school day.

Thursday evening I did a new press on mani in this blush color:

Friday was a good day and afterwards Erica and I went to Osteria for just one drink. We also had their skinny little fries. We sat on their lovely enclosed patio and watched it fill up with people ready to start the weekend! They have a great happy hour . I had an old fashioned for $8 and Erica had a half price glass of wine.

While I was there I got a call that our friends wanted us to meet them for dinner at a pizza place so Tom picked me up at home and we went there. I didn’t take a single photo. I got a single slice of pizza which is a nice option and only ate half of it (spoiler – I had the other half for dinner the next night). We got home around 8:00 and I watched a bit of The Perfect Couple and a bit of Mormon wives. I finished Mormon wives and was relieved. I’m taking my time with The Perfect Couple.

Saturday I went to my hometown to take my mom to lunch for her birthday. We ate at a cute little rock and roll themed restaurant that was new to me.

I went in a few boutiques and I walked out of this one with a new dress and a new blouse.

It was a nice day.

I told my mom about my book The Women (about an army nurse in Vietname) and asked her about my dad’s time in Vietnam. Did you know Vietnam lasted from 1955-1975? I didn’t. She couldn’t remember his exact time, but then I found the information…

We found my dad’s diary from his time there which was June of 1969 until June of 1970 according to the front cover. I had read it before but I asked my Mom if I could re-read it after I finish The Women so I brought it home with me.

I think it will be interesting to read it again.

Saturday night both Tom and I were beat from our days – he had taken a 30 mile bike ride, taken EO swimming in the river, and done some chores and I had taken a little road trip and picked up groceries on the way back. So, we both ate our leftovers and just stayed in. I also started Emily in Paris or should I say Emily in Rome? Someone told me she goes to Rome in these latest released episodes so now I am telling you.

Sunday morning I got up and did some meal prepping for the week and did my laundry and some closet organization.

Then, Tom, EO and I went out on the boat. EO is starting to get very hard to handle on the boat so I wouldn’t say it’s very relaxing and I also told Tom that I want to leave him at home next time. I know that he needs to keep going to get better, but also he is in his teenager stage. I have to hold him on a leash and he tries to eat the leash, eat the boat ropes, eat the boat fenders, open the cooler, chew on the cooler, chew on me, my boat bag, my towel. We parked at Captain’s Quarters and he did settle down pretty well while we ordered and ate.

We didn’t stay out long because Tom’s grass was calling to him. He needed to mow it and not do anything else is what I mean!

I read on the patio for a bit before continuing to tidy and ready for the week.

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Amy

Friday, September 13, 2024

Today is my mom’s birthday! Happy birthday, mom!

I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to talk about some things that made me happy this week.

First up, some new tv…

I actually started both over the weekend, but came back to them during the week.

This is crazy:

Is anyone watching it? The wives are so, so, so young and they all look alike. It is literally like watching clones. I can’t look away. I don’t like it, but I feel like I am an anthropologist studying this strange species. Also, they really need to cut down on their soda consumption.

I also started this:

I love the choreographed dance the characters do in the intro. I totally forgot what the book was about so it’s all new to me again!

Little/Big Stinker:

He is “helping with dishes”. Look at that big ol’ paw. He needs a nail trim badly. Tom has always done our dogs’ nails but this guy is too much for Tom. He is going to try one more time before we call in a professional.

Monday morning and he was waiting to be crated at 7:30…He’s learning the routine. He gets crated for a bit before Mason gets up. He’s been up since 5:30 by this time and is ready for a little morning nap. He looks so little in this picture compared to the above photo.

I wanted to share these:

I plan to treat myself to a coffee this morning because I have walked to and fro’ work all week long. The mornings have just been amazing. The afternoons are fine, but my back sweats a little bit under my backpack and I am dragging on the way home. Lol!

What’s your coffee order?

Erica and I have killed it in the lunch department this week.

I made zucchini lasagna bowls:

You really don’t miss the noodles!

And, I made Asian ground turkey bowls that were both family dinner one night and our lunch one day. The family got regular rice and E and I got cauliflower rice for lunch.

Erica made buffalo chicken bowls with quinoa, zoodles with marinara and shrimp, and Mediterranean couscous bowls.

I also prepped for the week with my Mcmuffins and put them in the freezer.

Honestly, I am still finding my groove with all the food planning and prep. It’s important to me and it’s too expensive to get take out so I want to do it.

We had a meeting and were gifted a “pencil”:

If you give me something I will feel a little better about your meeting that could have and should have been an email.

Letting my natural nails breathe this week:

So ugly, but I am thankful that I am not damaging my nails with press ons like I did with dip and gel. I think it was mainly the removal process.

I am intrigued by this apple salsa recipe that came in the Kroger flyer:

I was thinking about doing a whole post on things I was wrong about, but I will go ahead and say this one.

I think I was wrong about Merit. I bought this last November. It’s really great for travel. I have the bronzer stick, the foundation stick and the blush and the brush that came with the starter set. I don’t love the blush color so I am thinking about getting a new one at Sephora. Yes, Merit is sold at Sephora. If you are looking for a very quick face routine, it’s pretty good. I still love my Seint, but it does take a bit longer.

It’s still the same general concept of applying and blending with your brush. I tried to put on full face foundation the other day and threw it away. It was so thick and gross.

What are you all doing for makeup? I love when I find a product that I really love!

Well, I cannot express to you how happy I am that it is Friday! I think we have a rainy weekend coming, but we really do need the rain.

Amy

Thursday, September 12, 2024

I will fully admit that some days I am having a hard time deciding what to wear. I think this is a combination of my style changing, my need to wear sneakers, some things not fitting, and I don’t know – general malaise? I’m so dramatic!

I would also like to take better outfit photos from my classroom, but I haven’t gotten there yet. Maybe soon?

So, I am relunctantly linking up with Jill and Kellyann to show you the good, the bad, and the ugly! You all know this is what I am really wearing. I am not just putting something on for a photo! I am also in this bad head space where I am like, “I’m a middle aged teacher; no one cares what I wear to school!”

Last week I wore my black gauzy pants (Umgee and I have light blue, too – love!) with my new this summer TJ Maxx cornflower blue short sleeve and my very old soft knit Liz Claiborne from JC Penney cardigan. I have on a scarf headband to add some pattern and I wore my Tieks. They rub on my big toe bone by the end of the day. Boo! My Tieks (3 pairs) were one of my best consignment scores ever. They were brand new and in my size and I bought grey, gold, and black. They retail at $200.

On Friday I wore my Kut from the Kloth jeans, my new Vejas shoes, and an old TJ Maxx blouse that I still love. It felt a little summery for the weather.

One day last week I wore jeans, a striped Old Navy button up, and my Danskos without socks and they hurt my feet so bad that I couldn’t get them back on at the end of the day after giving my feet a rest in some flip flops. I bought some little socks to try with them. They hurt the top of my foot. Are you a Dansko fan? What am I doing wrong?

Birthday dinner out – I wore my yellow Walmart dress with my Coconuts by Matisse sandals.

Over the weekend I went to my consignment store and came home with this Nashville tee and I wore it with my blue Umgee gauzy pants.

For school this week I wore my Target Knox Rose dress, Vejas, and my Old Navy cardigan. I applied Loving Tan to just my legs in this photo.

Over the weekend I wore my Aerie fit with my new Aperol Spritz tee.

Nothing looks great. I’m tired. I just want to be comfortable and dressed for the right temperature. I am walking to school and it’s pretty cool when I walk to school. It is hot in my classroom. My neighbor teacher’s room is literally 20 degrees colder than mine. He is not a perimenopausal woman. Make that make sense.

Wow! What a post!

I am open to shoe suggestions, retailer suggestions, comments (but please don’t be too mean), and more!

Amy