Friday, December 5, 2025

It’s Friday and link up day with Andrea and Erika! Let’s share some favorites from the week!

Monday marked December first and it was time to start advent calendars…

This is the tea advent calendar I found at Aldi for like $8 as opposed to $40 from World Market. Mason was so tickled! He gets two tea bags each day. He has had fun opening to see what type it is and then having them that day. He is 23 going on 65. He has always been an old soul. Did I ever tell you that he did a break-dancing routine to a Ray Charles song in kindergarten?

I had my second week of tutoring a high school boy in Spanish this week. We meet at a Starbucks. I get there a bit early, get a coffee in a real mug, and get prepared.

He drives himself so I texted his mom afterward to tell her how it went. Her response made me feel good.

Driving home Monday evening there was brine on the road which only means one thing..

Snow Day! Just kidding – every day is a snow day for me! But this is a significant amount of snow for us and on December first, no less!

Tom came back in the house before he left for work and shut Eddie Otis in the bedroom on accident. I couldn’t find him and opened the door, and little boy was just chilling.

Can you spot Tom’s spine device? He lays on it for back pain. Ouch! Can you spot EO’s alligator? Her name is “Ally-Gator”.

My two Christmas magazines arrived on the snowy day! How fun is that?

All of our labs have loved snow. It’s so fun to see EO frolic in the snow!

I’m weird about snow. I only like it on the first day and then it gets ugly and a pain in the butt. It has been so cold this week that there has been no melting of any kind. We have rain and higher temps in the forecast in a few days so it will be gone soon enough.

Do you remember I found these rolls at Walmart? Why would you? Well, they have them at Kroger now, too. They are so good – too good.

This is really good salmon rub – use it sparingly.

The complete meal:

Good old comfort food – spaghetti:

I also made chicken cordon bleu and then after three nights of a pretty decent meal I was done. I decided to order our favorite mediterranean last night.

Sadly, Tom and I finished A Man on the Inside this week – it was so cute! I think I liked the second season more than the first, but they were both heartwarming.

I went to the mall this week and it looked pretty!

I went in Anthropologie. I usually just look and rarely buy.

I went in Sephora where I easily get overwhelmed. But I found a new fave product. Well, I found two new fave products. The Ilia Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon is amazing. I bought it in the color Untitled. It is a liner and a color, I think. I think I will buy an Ilia sharpener (for its bigger size than a standard one could sharpen) and another color. I am very picky about my lip products – texture and smell. I have recently gone through old lip products – I save them way too long – and thrown several old and mediocre ones away.

And this Selena Gomez Rare Beauty gloss has the perfect texture and smells amazing. I am putting mine over a dark lip and you can see it has stained the applicator, but that’s ok. I love buying lip products but… fun fact… Since I started using coconut oil twice a day on my face which encompasses my lips, I don’t need Chapstick of any kind. I don’t even need my Laneige.

While I was in Sephora, I also bought the iconic Clique Black Honey. My cousin Julie, the makeup guru, will be glad I finally got it! It’s a great everyday color and works on everyone apparently and it’s called “Almost Lipstick” so it’s a very light formula.

Here is Black Honey:

Here is Black Honey with Selena Gomez Rare Beauty gloss:

“Honey Gomez”, “Selena Honey”, “Black Beauty”, “Rare Black Honey Beauty”, Rare Selena Honey” – Anyway, Clinique and Selena, call me. By the way, it’s hard to take a lip photo and even harder to look at it.

This all started because I wanted a nice red lip for the holidays. If you give a mouse a cookie…

Did you notice that I purchased nothing red?

Let’s talk Black Friday/Cyber Monday! My kids still haven’t given me their wishlist so I am kind of at a stand still for gift purchasing. I do have a few ideas for each of them, but I’m still thinking.

I have had New Balance 530s on my wishlist for quite a while. I still had some birthday money to use, too. I went to Dick’s and tried them on, but they didn’t have the color I wanted. I went to my car, googled the model I wanted, and a Macy’s ad came up for half off the price of what I thought I would have to pay.

The 90s called!

I’m in love and I’m also loving wearing longer socks. They are so much warmer than the little socks.

I’m still reading this and it’s cute.

Tell me a favorite of yours from the week!

Amy

Thursday, December 4, 2025

I am happy to be back today linking up with Kellyann and Jill to share a bit of what I have worn this week.

I wore this to the German Christmas Market as it was pretty warm out. I have on Halaras, my TJ Maxx faux Birk clogs, a fun graphic tee that I found in store at Old Navy a few weeks ago – it has stars, bows, cherries, wine glasses, etc. and I thought it was a bit Christmasey so let’s pretend it is – and the best cardigan for the best price. I have always loved Amazon Essentials brand and I wanted a red cardigan. It was $17 and it’s the pretty heft and length.

I wore this outfit – Halara jeans, beige Adidas, black tank, star cardigan on the Monday before Thanksgiving.

A shoutout to my sister Molly on our closing day and adventure in our hometown. She is wearing the Nikes I gave her for her birthday, really cute jeans (can’t remember where she found them) and the cutest $12 TJ Maxx sweater with a crocheted-looking collar.

I forgot to get my photo this day, but I ended up spilling coffee on my shirt so that was not cute.

Sunday, I wore my “North Pole Cocktail Club” sweatshirt, red Matilda Jane pants, Adidas, and red/green barrette to do some shopping.

Hair:

Monday I wore Halaras, barefeet apparently! (No, I put on the faux Birks), a white t-shirt, and my Christmas tree button sweater that is 3 years old maybe.

Tuesday, I wore my other red Matilda Jane pants, my short Koolaburra by Ugg boots, my Prosecc Ho Ho Ho shirt, a red/green headband, and my fuzzy vest. I look kinda crazy but I was warm and comfy.

Yesterday I wore my “Merry and Bright” sweater with light Halara jeans and sneakers.

My Black Friday 40% off Impress nails order came in! I may have gone too much in on the reds and burgundies. I have a red with sparkle, burgundy, burgundy with some white accents (I probably won’t use), a holiday set, a milky white, a navy, a blush pink, and a blue French mani. The blue French will have to stay a bit longer than I prefer or I would cut off the blue tips.

My niece Brooke came over Tuesday for a tutorial! How fun! Here is my blog post where I explain my method.

My new lifestyle is very casual, but I am trying to dress each day/get out of workout clothes and actually put on an outfit, albeit a casual one.

It’s fun to move the stuff in your closet to one section – all your reds, greens, holiday attire – and it’s often shocking how much you have. I think it helps me get into the spirit. And, then I turn more to my blues, blacks, whites, greys in January. It just mixes up my winter clothing for me, you know?

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Today is Hodgepodge with Joyce and Currently with Jenn!

1. What does it mean to have the ‘holiday spirit’? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

I don’t like the idea of only having a “holiday spirit” at Christmas or the major holidays. I want to have that spirit most of the time. Life should be celebrated, and the little things are the big things – deep thoughts, but celebrate it all. Maybe I am getting away from the question, but the holiday spirit means that you have a generous heart, and you are open to all the gifts of the Christmas season that are not material or tangible. But, shouldn’t we always have a generous heart?

I feel like I am getting some holiday spirit now! I would say I am currently at a 7. I am going to take what I learned at Thanksgiving this year and apply it to my planning for Christmas.

This photo is from last year, but I am starting to wear my Christmas sweaters, clothing, headband, and earrings. That helps!

2. What’s your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why. 

I like the mom from Christmas with the Kranks and think it’s such a cute movie! I am definitely putting it on my list to watch!

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

It’s just ok for me. I’m not a big fan. No – I find them frustrating. I am not an architect. We did them with the boys a couple of years but it was never a big tradition.

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

Since I consider myself a language person, I find this an interesting topic. My mom was born and raised in Chicago and my Dad in Southern Indiana at the far other end of the state from my hometown. My cousins in the Chicago area said some words that my sisters and I found funny. My cousins in Southern Indiana sounded normal to us.

sprinkles or jimmies? sprinkles! I had never heard “jimmies” until recently. “Jimmies” means my two besties named Jim for forever probably since 7th grade – Jim W. and Jim G. – we used to call both of them “Jimmy” but as they got older they wanted to be called “Jim”. Love these two guys so much!

lightning bugs or fireflies? lightning bugs! Yes, I did catch them in a glass jar and put Saran Wrap on top.

soda or pop? neither – what feels most natural to me is to say “soft drink”. Or, I think I have been known to call everything a Coke.

sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? tennis shoes – I grew up using that term. Now I say sneakers sometimes, too.

sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? sandwich? If I say one, it’s sub but it’s followed by sandwich as in “sub sandwich”

freeway, highway, or motorway? highway

frosting or icing? frosting

sauce or gravy? sauce for anything tomato based and gravy for anything meat based

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

We loved Christmas Eve. We would attend church and then have neighbors and friends over to play our player piano and eat appetizers many years. We especially loved it when it snowed.

We also loved Christmas morning, of course. My mom went all out and would often stage our new gifts under the tree with something we already had – like put an old doll into a new doll stroller.

I think I was 7 or 8, Kate was 4, and Molly was 1 in this photo.

I was always the first one awake and then I would wake up Kate (the middle) and she was a big late sleeper so it was hard, and then we would wake up Molly (the youngest) and tell her she had to wake Mom and Dad since she was the cutest. I changed the clocks a couple of times, too!

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

We always left our house on Christmas Day to head to my Dad’s side (all of them lived in Evansville, Indiana except for us) and then we would go directly to Chicago to my mom’s side. I think we were gone a week total, but we had so much fun and we felt like most of our gifts were new again when we got home!

Now for Currently with Jenn!

Loving

My Christmas clothes! I have two cardigans, one sweater, one sweatshirt, one long sleeved tee, and two short sleeved tees. I have earrings, a headband, and a barrette. I think that’s enough, right? I hope I can not be tempted to add more!

This sweater has Christmas trees as buttons and I wore it on Monday:

I wore this in my hair on Sunday:

Hoping

I am hoping I can plan a nice Eve, Day, trip to Tom’s parents, and a…

stay in my hometown with my sisters and their families and my family. This is the Airbnb that I booked. It’s the entire third floor of a building on Main Street. You better believe there will be a Google Doc that I will be sharing with my sisters.

Doing

finishing decor and deciding what to donate, planning to shop for gifts, shopping for gifts, and planning which Christmas markets and events to attend.

Wearing

Oops – I jumped the gun on this one!

See above! But, I am wearing Halara jeans most days or my red Matilda Jane pants along with my Christmas capsule.

Seeing

The four walls of my house! I’m missing my outdoor time, but I feel pretty sure it will get mild again before it stays cold.

When I go out I am seeing all the decor! I feel like businesses have really gotten into the spirit this year!

Look at sweet Tom under the Christmas tree!

Tom and my boys were blondies as chidren. Do you see the resemblance? I think Tom has a narrower face as a child. Tom has blue eyes (a really pretty dark navy blue) and they got my brown eyes. I would love to go back and squeeze these little guys!

Thanks for reading!

Amy

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

This is merely a list! I am including my favorite gifts I have received and gifts that I have given others that were well received.

I am team “Shop between Thanksgiving and Christmas” and somehow it always gets done. Of course, I don’t buy for that many people anymore. Some of you might be done or almost done so I apologize if my ideas are coming to you too late!

If you missed it, you might want to go back to my Saturday post – I shared 4 Somethings that are all holiday related!

Try to shop locally if you can and have that choice to make. We have a hardware store that also has some unique gift ideas – Brownsboro Hardware. They have had road construction affecting the entry to their parking lot so I really want to push them among my local friends. Think outside of the box – a boating store might have a cool gift for someone to anticipate for next summer – Marine Sales and Service if you are local. We bought Molly a float one year and she loved it and it was like she got a gift again when summer rolled around! Or, just go big and buy someone a boat!

A hair salon – they have curling irons, rollers, fancy shampoos and conditioners – J. Estell Salon for example, which is my salon and has great products and even hair styling tools. My mom always used to buy us Aveda products from her salon. What a treat! I have heard that some hair products from Amazon are fake or watered down. Eek!

A local restaurant gift card would be a treat!

Playthings Toy Store has unique toys that kids love! I am seeing more and more small businesses close up shop, you all. Let’s all vow to at least shop small for one gift.

I also think you can shop second hand for some gifts – toys for sure. Sometimes you can find clothes with tags that also fit the person you are shopping for.

Listen, I also really don’t think it’s about the gifts. If you have traditionally gotten gifts for friends, why not say “let’s just make a reservation for January and enjoy each others’ company and have something to look forward to”. It might be awkward, but I bet they would love this idea.

People love homemade food gifts especially. You can make spice blends, Chex Mix, cookies, simmer pot mixes, etc.

coffee maker/accessories to create a coffee bar (could be good for a teen or young adult)

coffee frother – handheld or the small appliance kind that you have to plug in (I love mine!)

bread maker

automatic trashcan

photo calendar

grandchildren birthstone necklace or ring

technology that makes life easier for an older person – just be careful that it isn’t too complicated to work

monogrammed things – Marley Lilly, Etsy – notepads, bracelet, tote bag

winter cozy things – heated vest, gloves, spa socks, fuzzy blanket

spa things – hair towel, silk pillowcase, good smelling bath products

sunglasses

really nice laundry detergent like Diva

good olive oil or a set – I love Graza

good balsamic vinegar – to to a specialty market if the person is a foodie and you might find all kinds of inspo

think outside the season – what do they love to do in the summer?

car accessories – phone stands, mats, good smelling things, vacuum kit

grilling stuff

kit to make your own smoked cocktails

leather dopp kit

leather handbag – Clayton and Crume, Bonhomia

pickle ball set

When I think of my favorite gifts over the years, it wasn’t just about the gift. It was about the giver really “seeing” me or “knowing me”. It wasn’t about the amount they spent, but the fact that they paid attention. Does that make sense?

My mom gave me so many gifts – she was really big on gift giving! My Dad gave me a few things that really stand out (or I found out they were his idea) my first Keurig, my Kindle, and my breadmaker.

Have I given you any ideas today?

Leave your ideas in the comments, please!

Amy

Monday, December 1, 2025

Can you believe it’s December? Wow! How was your Thanksgiving weekend?

I am linking up with Sarah and Holly to share mine, although I posted on Friday and already talked about part of it. I participated in Share 4 Somethings on Saturday and I made it all holiday themed, so go back and check that out. I shared some things I am doing that might also help you?

I had a couple of hard days this past week – I actually think the anticipation of them was harder than the actual days. Are you like that, too? Wednesday was the closing of my mom’s house with my sister Molly. Read about that here if you care to. I actually did post all last week after all, so you could have some catching up to do if you so desire! I also was dreading Thanksgiving because I didn’t get to see my side of the family and it would be the first without my mom. And, my sisters and I had decided to not do anything this year, sadly. Maybe we should have?

I did my nails Tuesday in this dark red, kind of cat eye:

I really like it! I have a big Black Friday order from Impress nails coming in soon. I think I got 40% off and it had been a long time since I had ordered. Here is my tutorial on my press ons. I’m just giving you all kinds of reading assignments!

We got home Thursday night from Natural Bridge State Park around 7:30. Tom’s parents live close to this park, so we decided to try this – come to them instead of them coming to us. We had Tom’s sister’s family of four plus a boyfriend of one of my nieces, plus Tom’s sister’s mother-in-law, and then my family – so we had a group of 12. We arrived about an hour and a half before the reservation for the buffet and the lobby/seating area was tiny and it wasn’t very conducive to visiting, but it was fine. Our table was ready, and we ate from the buffet. It gave my sister-in-law a break from hosting, so that was good.

Friday morning, I woke up pretty early and had a couple of cups of coffee and had done my morning routine when I heard a pop! The power went out! Tom was still in bed, but he had heard it, too, and had seen a flash. Eddie was with me, and he had heard it, too. His little ears were on high alert. Tom called the power company, and I was grateful that our water heater is run on gas because I took a shower and put on my new track pants, my new Santa shirt, and my Dad’s old green Old Navy vest. I should show you the label – I don’t ever remember Old Navy having this type of label it’s so old.

I went up to Heine Brothers coffee shop with my phone charger and my book, and I had a lovely little morning, and it reminded me I need to do this more often.

I got a sugar cookie latte. I really am on a sugar cookie kick. Their cups are so cute!

Tom texted me before I even started eating my breakfast sandwich that the power had been restored. It was so cold out, so I felt really lucky that we didn’t have to be without for too long.

Since I was out, I went to Kroger for a few things.

I was looking for brioche, but they were out. I had heard of this croissant bread and wanted to try it and it is really good. Wouldn’t this be great for a breakfast casserole, too?

I also decided to get red and green sprinkles to make my own coffee shop style lattes for the season and to sprinkle on anything and everything this month! Who doesn’t like sprinkles?

Leaving the house early Friday threw me off with the chores I had planned to do before going out so when I got home from the store, I did a few things, but I was just not motivated. I think I was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted from the week of hard things.

I talked to both sisters on the phone and read my book and napped a little. Tom and Mason were both here and they went to the gym together and I was going to order take out food but I decided to be the mom who says “we have food at home”. I guess this is a bit of a “girl dinner” because it was delicious to me. I poured a decent glass of wine (not like the wine from the tasting that tasted like feet), made a simple salad with my new favorite lettuce (still laughing that I have a favorite lettuce), made blackened chicken on the stovetop, roasted broccoli in the oven, and made frozen French fries with garlic aioli. There’s a little baguette action there, too.

This was really sweet – Tom said he loved the meal and was so glad I didn’t order anything.

Since the pumpkin pie left a lot to be desired at the state park, I picked up a two pack at Kroger – two pieces of pumpkin pie. Lol.

Did you do any Black Friday shopping? I ordered Revant eyeliner and some Amazon things for myself.

I was out of witch hazel so I ordered that, Lumi glotion (I accidentally ordered two), Korean skin care dark spot corrector, and another set of the nails I am wearing for my niece Brooke. She wants a lesson and is coming over!

I received an order I had placed before Black Friday – Molly has been using electrolytes for years before they were cool. She told me she likes these so I ordered them. I loved the apple – the only one I have tried so far.

And, my beloved Donna Karan. I decided this will be my winter scent (unless I find a perfume I like and that works with this) and I put it on and realized how much I missed it! I love you, Donna!

Today is the day to give your people their advent calendars. I bought the chocolate for Jack and his roommate just to be fun and silly. Jack loves candy.

Mason is getting his tea advent calendar today!

Saturday I had a Target pick up order of just a few things and then I decided to get wings for the noon University of Kentucky/University of Louisville game. Basically, if you were born and raised in Louisville you are a Lou fan. If you are from another place in Kentucky, you are a UK fan. It’s a big rivalry and it’s a great day to go shopping in Louisville since everyone is watching the game. Lol. Wingstop had these little fried corn things and Tom really liked them.

The game was great for U of L fans and horrible for UK fans. Tom had to turn it off since he is a UK fan.

I enjoyed this cider.

Tom put up my white pencil tree in our bedroom.

And, for dinner we did a Thanksgiving meal! I did ham and chicken schnitzel instead of turkey. Chicken is a yummier schnitzel than the pork I did last time. The pork just isn’t as moist.

Sunday, we awoke to some snow/sleet.

Festive coffee!

We’ve/I’ve watched some tv this weekend. Tom and I area watching Man on the Inside Season 2 on Netflix. It’s so cute! I think I like Season 2 better.

I watched Champagne Problems on Netflix. I really like Minka Kelly. She was in Ransom Canyon.

I watched Crazy Rich Asians on my Echo Show while cooking. I hadn’t turned it on in months but it’s great for background entertainment when I’m in the kitchen.

Let me know what else I should watch!

I am going to use my own Meal List to come up with some easy meals for this week. Is your calendar full this month? Take it one week at a time or even one day at a time! I always took one personal day in December to do shopping or errands. It was a big help!

Amy

It’s Share 4 Somethings with Jenn day so here I am!

ONE

I plan to shop locally at small businesses when possible. In past years I have relied a lot on online shopping because of time limitations with my job, but this year I want to shop in person at locally owned small businesses first. I have noticed so many restaurants and shops go out of business in my area in just the last two months. It’s shocking and sad! I might even go out today for “Small Business Saturday”.

If you are local:

Work the Metal, Red Tree, Revelry, Darling State of Mind, Tunie’s, Brownsboro Hardware, Marine Sales and Service, Haymarket, Paul’s Fruit Market (lots of gifts here!), Dolfinger’s, Quest, Swag’s Shoes, Playthings are some of my favorites.

TWO

I try to encourage friends and maybe family to spend time together rather than exchange gifts – “hey, let’s just make a reservation this year and enjoy each other’s company” or better yet, “let’s put something on the calendar for January when we need something to look forward to”. Would this idea help you? You could even go ahead and buy gift cards for the local restaurant that you plan to visit in January. Did you know Costco has really good deals on local restaurant gift cards? Tom’s work Christmas party has permanently been moved to January, and I think that’s so smart. My friend might change her Christmas party to a January winter wonderland theme.

THREE

I have already put so many community events on my calendar and attended some. These are so fun! They really help me to get in the spirit. I invite friends sometimes and that also makes it a fun friend outing!

Last year, we attended a couple of cute little markets…

FOUR

I try to see my holiday errands as fun I get to do these things rather than I have to. So, first you have to think about your values and what is important to you. You might need a conversation with your spouse, kids, and family. I got dressed for my errands and made them fun last year. This is the time to pull out my festive attire and my red and green! Why not?

I recently listened to a podcast about adult friendship, and they made the point to invite people to do things that you might not normally think about as a friend activity – “hey, do you want to go stocking stuffer shopping at a couple of places with me?” or “hey, do you want to get a coffee and bring our shopping lists and maybe we can bounce ideas off of each other?”

By the way, I don’t like impractical stocking stuffers that just fill a big sock! As my kids have gotten older, they have gotten more consumables – toiletries, food items, phone chargers – think outside the box. Go to hardware stores, Auto Zone, sports equipment stores, music stores (guitar picks), etc. Think about their hobbies and go to specialty stores (locally owned small businesses!) that fit them. I think food gift cards to their faves can be really good in a stocking, too!

I have a gift idea post coming next week!

What would you share today?

Amy

Friday, November 28, 2025

Happy Black Friday to those who celebrate! Ha! I am not sure what’s going on in the blog world but I decided to post today so you all don’t miss me too much! Just kidding, of course!

I am not planning to shop today but boy are there so many sale emails and texts coming through.

Some stuff from the week…

Eddie Otis needed a vaccination on Monday and he was a little angel. He was a good boy.

We got home and then he wouldn’t get out of the car for quite a while.

Do you spot his dolphin he took with him on the ride?

It was a treat to go to a Starbuck’s and be asked if I wanted my “for here coffee” in a real mug. I got a sugar cookie latte and I was tickled by the sprinkles, too.

I hadn’t had much lunch so I ordered the potato chive bake – recommend!

I am loving my short boots for our wet morning walks. I am on my second pair of Costco $20 boots in maybe 10 years and these are the ones I reach for the most. They are so easy to slip on. I really enjoy walking through the wet or dry leaves.

I feel like Eddie Otis looks at me to make sure I’m having a good time, too.

My Christmas library book requests are coming in… how fun is that? Yes, yes I do judge a book by its cover.

I had plans to get a pedicure on Tuesday but it was cold and rainy all day and it just didn’t seem like a good time. I piddled around the house and stayed in much of the day because I knew Wednesday would be a long day.

Wednesday morning I left my house around 9:00 am and it was blustery cold and super windy for the drive to my hometown. We finally got a closing date on my mom’s house and it happened to be the day before Thanksgiving. Molly was the only one who had to sign but I had told her I would accompany her.

We met at a cute coffee shop and I got a really good brown sugar flavored coffee and some egg bites.

I told Molly I hadn’t claimed my Dad’s wedding ring but that I had been wearing it on my middle finger since the day of the offer back in early October and look at this…

She had on my mom’s wedding ring! We didn’t even discuss this and I honestly didn’t know which sister had my mom’s rings. We haven’t divided up jewelry yet.

Kate didn’t come for the closing because she is 3.5 hours away and we understood. We want to do an overnight with all of us when it’s a better time.

I don’t know how to describe the closing rather than it was a really special time. We met and sat across from the buyers – the wife was actually a student of my mom’s in the early 80s and the husband lived in China for his job for a bit and my mom loved China. They are grandparents of 8 and my parents were grandparents of 9. They talked about the layout of the house and how it would be nice for their big family and we told them how our parents used the space. They offered for us to come by anytime and we exchanged phone numbers. It was a closing, and it was a sweet closure. We left the office and cried a bit and hugged and then called Kate and shared the experience with her.

We drove to the Airbnb that we rented for Christmas to check it out in person and then we went to this cute store:

We ate lunch:

We tried to go to a few shops and they were closed until Friday.

We went to a winery and had the weirdest tasting with a gentleman who works there. It was like a Seinfeld episode. I got in trouble multiple times. I yawned and he asked if he was “keeping me awake”. He told me I didn’t taste correctly, and I had to cover my tongue for 15 seconds. I had no idea what that meant.

A group of four came in and he told us he was going to start from the beginning for them so we had to listen about the first few wines again. It was a tasting with a side of lecture. He told us one wine would pair well with ostrich. Someone from the other group asked what would be a good palate cleanser in between wines and he said “roast beef” and my sister asked if anyone had any in their pocket.

Anyway…it gave us lots of laughs!

We went to another winery and it was a Christmas wonderland…

It was a nice day with my sister after a hard thing.

I am still processing what this means. My parents moved to this town in 1975 and owned a house until 2025 which makes that a 50-year run.

Thanksgiving came and we drove a couple of hours to meet Tom’s family at a state park. This was different than the usual tradition.

Someone in the lobby started a fire in the fireplace for us.

It was sooooo cold so these were the photos I got from the lodge balcony.

They had a buffet and we ate.

Former student dog sitter sent us a pic of our boy:

I am wrapping up acorn spice just in time to use peppermint and Iowa pine!

And, now I will let myself use this:

Tell me a favorite of yours from the week!

Amy

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just want to say how thankful I am for my loyal blog readers. I really feel like we are friends! The amount of support and encouragement you give me is insane and I really don’t know that I deserve it. I am grateful for this space. If you are struggling today, maybe my post from yesterday will help you.

I had a really good November – boy did it pass quickly. I guess being stuck in a school all day made time slow down because time seems to be moving much more quickly now.
I am still trying to be the best version of myself and figuring out my new routine!

I want to be home most nights at dinner time. It’s important to me to cook and spend time with Tom. I like to have no more than one week night out and by out I mean still probably home by 7 or 8.

I am working on decluttering and organizing and being more minimalist and using space more wisely in my house.

November was a good month.

I completed my 9th week of going to the gym in the mornings.

I felt comfortable taking EO to the dog park by myself.

I enjoyed as much outdoor time as I could.

I celebrated my birthday – multiple times with different groups.

I enjoyed my new fall additions to my wardrobe.

Tom took a week off to do some house things – we got a dumpster and he ditched old fencing and old patio, we ripped up carpet, and he worked on the new fence. Wow! I couldn’t believe what he accomplished and I so appreciated his hard work.

I enjoyed some patio snacks and read some good books.

We did our final boat ride of 2025 before winterizing.

We enjoyed a concert; Tom really loved it and that made me happy.

We did a German cooking class and again Tom probably wasn’t that excited to go, but he ended up really loving it.

We went to the German Christmas market.

I had a nice lunch with Mason. We both love discovering new places and trying new to us foods so this really filled our cups!

I had a nice happy hour with Erica at one of my favorite bars in town.

I am excited to head into December, and I’ve already done some Christmas events and enjoyed some decor!

I hope you also had a good month.

What are you thankful for today? I hope that you have a cornucopia of blessings.

Amy

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

1. Do you feel like you have a ‘full plate’ at the moment? In what way? 

I feel like I finally have a manageable plate. I don’t want to fill my plate up again too full!

I did tutor a kid in Spanish this week at Starbuck’s and they have asked me to do that weekly. I committed for a bit – not forever.

I got there early, and the barista asked if I wanted a real mug for my sugar cookie latte. It was a treat! I went early to avoid traffic, but it turned out to be nice time to read my book before the lesson started.

I felt like I really help the student. That was a good feeling.

2. How did you learn to cook? If you have children did you teach or encourage them to cook? Do you like to follow a recipe or is your cooking style more ‘let’s wing it’.  

I really didn’t learn to cook until I was married at 28. I liked to bake as a child and did that a little bit. My grandma taught me how to make her mashed potatoes. My mom didn’t want me in the kitchen “making messes”. I had my kids in the kitchen quite a bit to make cookies or fun things. Mason likes to cook and is pretty good. I usually start with a recipe but then I go a bit rogue.

Cooking is fun to me (most of the time) and I love when someone likes my cooking. I get joy from cooking for others. I brought my friend Elizabeth quiche, salad, and some other goodies to her office. I think she really liked the food and the company since I stayed for a whole hour to chat with her even though I hadn’t planned to stay that long.

3. Last time you bit off more than you could chew? Elaborate. 

I tend to get really excited about a project and then fizzle when I realize how much work it will entail.

But, with that said I was good about saying NO to committees and extra obligations at work. I did a lot but those who do a lot are asked to do a lot more.

4. When did you last say ‘the more the merrier’ and mean it? 

I always feel this way when I go to festivals, events, etc. When I go to restaurants I don’t really enjoy shouting over a huge table. I think restaurants are most comfortable with 2-4 people.

5. Write an acrostic using the word T-H-A-N-K-S. 

T – time to reflect and just be

H – home – where I’ve spent most of my time and poured my energy into

A – attitude – I get to have this life now

N – “no” in November – being able to say this and respect my boundaries

K – keep – what to keep and what to toss

S – stay – true to myself and my values

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

This came across my Facebook feed:

My Aunt Judy made these and so many good appetizers and desserts, so I texted her this photo. They are so good! You could probably just do ground beef or ground pork and not the mixture. It’s kind of hard to find the cocktail rye, but usually it comes out at the holidays. I might make them!

Thank you, Joyce! I’m glad to link up today!

I hope everyone is ready for whatever your plans are for tomorrow and thanks for reading!

Amy

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Feeling blue like this tree?

There are lots of reasons why you may not be feeling very festive this year – changing traditions, family dynamics, the stress of the holidays on your finances, adult kids adulting and moving on, divorce, custody arrangements, illness, loss of family members, family feuds, etc.

I was reflecting the other day on some hard family holidays my family has been through. Some of these were in my pre-blogging days. I think there were two Christmases where my sister in Columbus, Ohio couldn’t travel to my parents’ town in Indiana, and we all went to her. Her husband was in the hospital with leukemia, and she had a new baby. Yup, she had a 9 month old baby. The next year his leukemia came back, and he had to have a stem cell transplant. Yeah, my sister has been through it. We laughed our heads off at the depressing Christmas decorations in the waiting room I remember. That’s how we dealt with it – inappropriate humor.

There was also the year we had Chick Fil A for a late Friday Thanksgiving in my Dad’s hospital waiting room. Gosh, that was so sad. I wanted to find some joy for the kids (my nieces and nephews) and gave out money for the candy in the depressing hospital gift shop that had bins of penny candy. We trashed that waiting room, but we did clean it up!

First, know that you are not alone. There are others who are in the same boat. There are so many people who dread a holiday for one reason or another.

-Remember that Thanksgiving is just one day. Remember that Christmas is just one day. The clock will strike midnight and the expectations for a magical time will be lowered again.

-Volunteer. Look for a way to give back or serve on the actual holiday.

-Offer to work your job if it is a job that stays open.

-Stay off of social media. It’s fake news. You see those photos, but those photos are just a mirage. I bet Aunt Karen was drunk and slurring her words and saying all kinds of inappropriate things. That cute kid in the cute outfit is a spoiled brat whose voice is so annoying I bet. Don’t compare your situation.

-Think of all the good things that you can enjoy. Think of the upside to your current situation. At least you won’t have as many dishes. At least you will have more peace. At least you can wear your favorite pajamas and have a hygiene-free day.

-Band together with others who might be in the same situation.

-Do something totally unorthodox or unexpected. Travel if you can, go somewhere different. Eat an unorthodox meal that won’t have you thinking of the feasts of past.

– If it your first empty nester holiday with just you and your spouse or significant other, think back to your first holiday pre-kids. This could actually be a romantic and cozy holiday for you.

Here is what Gretchen Rubin said on Instagram:

This may seem so silly, but I do enjoy seeing the holiday products in the grocery store. I really like this one! I am not a big soda drinker, but I love the little glass bottles of Coca-cola and I love the cranberry added to the beverages. I usually buy stuff to make Shirley Temples. Who doesn’t like a red drink?

I replace daily things like my hand soap, kitchen cleaner, candle, placemat, tablecloth, etc. These little festive touches work for me and make it feel like the season.

Read Fiona Ferris’ book! This really inspired me last year.

This year both Thanksgiving and Christmas are different for me. Also, I am missing the holiday excitement of working in a school. I stopped and thought about how many holiday things I did in my classes recently – I gave them Thanksgiving vocabulary and winter holiday vocabulary (can’t really just call it Christmas) and we had round table discussions about both holidays, we wrote thank you letters in Spanish, we decorated a turkey and wrote what we were thankful for…

The excitement about school breaks was in the air and it was so much fun and anticipation.

Survival Tips:

-If you are scared of small talk/awkward family interactions – arrive later and leave earlier. Small doses.

-If you don’t like the food/have a special diet or goals, eat something healthy first and then just pick a few things to eat. Most people are not going to be paying attention to what’s on your plate. Keep in mind that it is just one meal.

-If someone forces leftovers on you don’t argue. It’s not that big of a deal. My friend got so bent out of shape that her mother-in-law brought too many desserts and then wouldn’t take the leftovers home. I told her to put them in our faculty lounge. Teachers will eat anything! This is not the stuff to worry about.

-Stick to the positive. Try to think of a compliment for anyone you have to interact with. When said mother-in-law brings too many desserts, “Oh, you are so generous!”

-Bring a small gift to the hostess. It starts things off on the right foot. A kitchen towel, handsoap, hand lotion, a candle – something small.

-Avoid talking about politics or anything controversial. It’s really not the time or place.

-Try open-ended, positive questions like “So, tell me something good in your life right now” or “What good things have happened to you since I saw you last?” You might have to start and say – for example, “I recently got to talk to an old friend!”

-Bring old family photos. Your family may only have one thing in common – shared history or shared family members. Think of a photo like a visual aid that will help your conversation.

-Many people think alcohol is the only thing that can help a family gathering but drink lots of water and avoid over serving yourself. You will say something you regret and feel like crap the next day for more than one reason.

-You don’t owe anyone anything. I guess what I mean by that is that you can be sad, you can be quiet, you can be struggling this year, and you can even bow out. You can feel your feelings. Someone said to me this year that they hope I “can be happy on Thanksgiving”.

-Take a break. Go outside or to the bathroom to give yourself a time out. Let them think you smoke or have IBS.

-Bring stickers. Who doesn’t love to put a sticker on their shirt whether they are 6 or 86? Have you ever seen someone sad around stickers?

-If you need a laugh…read this off color McSweeney’s article entitled “Thanksgiving or Perimenopause”!

What other suggestions do you have?

Amy