Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Not only is today 9/11 and you better believe I will tell my students where I was and how things happened on this day 23 years ago – that doesn’t seem possible, does it? – but it’s a birthday, too…

It doesn’t seem possible that we have been missing my Dad for almost 6 years. Today would have been his 82nd birthday.

My Dad proudly wearing his Air Force cap while frying curly fries in the fried turkey oil at Thanksgiving – ha! He would make this as an appetizer?

He has been on my mind a lot lately. I still find pennies so often! I hear myself in his sayings that I use in class or with my friends and family. I would like to think I offer his type of sage advice to friends and family, too?

When my mom was sick this summer, my sister Kate got the strongest hit of his cologne. Do you believe in things like that? I do.

In another weird timing story…

My Dad was really close with his cousins and I got to see one of them last October at a wedding. I had texted the cousin a photo I took of he and his wife and just got a response thanking me for it and saying it was good to see me. This text came in literally like 10 months after the wedding but it came in on my Dad’s birthday week. Here is what he wrote:

Isn’t that the nicest thing to receive? Do you believe in timing?

And, now I finally started The Women (on his birthday week) which reminds me so much of my Dad. They even use some of his expressions in the book! My Dad was a forward air controller in Vietnam before I was born.

If you are on a grief journey, I would say that I laugh more than I cry now. I like him to be talked about (and sometimes get upset when people don’t) and it makes me happy. I can tell funny stories. I’m happy that I had such a great Dad!

So, in honor of his birthday today, I would ask this of you and me:

Get excited about the little things! Laugh at a funny name or something funny! Don’t take yourself too seriously. Remember that there are 3 sides to every story – yours, mine, and the truth – one my Dad’s favorite proverbs. I would like to think that I have some of his best qualities.

And now for Hodgepodge with Joyce…

1. When the Hodgepodge lands on September 11th I want to acknowledge that. Will you purposely pause to remember, pray, or attend any sort of ceremony on 9/11? Share any thoughts or memories you’d like to share about this day. 

I will talk about it at the beginning of each class. I hope that my principal will have a moment of silence in the morning announcements but I am not sure.

2. Growing up, did you spend a lot of time with your grandparents? What’s something you learned from a grandparent? 

I didn’t get to live in the same city as any grandparent. I also didn’t have any Grandpas. One passed away before I was born and one was estranged and I really only saw him/met him once or twice?

I learned how to make mashed potatoes from my Dad’s mom and she was the one I was closest to as a child.

3. What’s your go-to breakfast? 

I love eggs! Right now, it’s my Amy McMuffins that I can grab and go with. In the summer I love scrambled eggs with vegetables. I am definitely not a sweet breakfast person. Ok, I can have a bite of something sweet after my savory.

4. Tell us the story behind one of your favorite photos. 

There’s so much joy in this photo! I had a mini van (Marty!) from the time my twins were 3 until they were in 8th grade. I loved it! It had so many road trip memories and Tom became a total van convert, too. He used it to go to Home Depot! So.much.space!

Anyway, they figured out they could sit in the back bench seat rather than the captain’s chairs in the middle and as I was driving they released the seat and flipped backwards. When we stopped I snapped a picture.

It was summer! They have their cute little tan lines! They are in their rash guards and trunks! They are the best of friends and I can still hear their cute laughter! I guess we were on the way home from the pool or to the pool. They were at that sweet spot where I could lounge and read and they could swim! Ha!

5. This week Friday lands on the 13th. Are you superstitious in any way? Do you like scary movies, and if so what’s your favorite? 

I am not into scary movies. My real life is scary enough. I teach high school. I am superstitious and try not to purposely walk under a ladder or let a black cat cross me.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I feel like I used up all my random thoughts.

Thanks for reading!

Amy

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

I really encourage you to do this, too! It’s really fun! It makes a person be more intentional. Also, this is fun stuff for me. It’s not really a dreaded chore list.

-Decorate for fall. In the last few years, most of my stuff is just pumpkin (white pumpkins!) so it isn’t Halloween specific. This lets me have it out from September through Christmas. I do have a couple of specific Thanksgiving things that I add right after Halloween. My decor is now more nature based, neutral, and minimal I would say.

As I decorate for fall, declutter the decor that no longer makes me happy.

-Celebrate fall birthdays – my twins’, my mom’s, besties Heather and Heather, and mine

-Buy Mrs. Meyer’s acorn spice and fall leaves cleaners – possibly a candle, too

-Buy a new apple and pumpkin candle

-Find and cook apple recipes in September

-Find and cook pumpkin recipes in October

-Enjoy my patio in what is possibly our best weather!

-Use Solo Stove

-Buy pumpkin Premier Protein for iced coffee

-Get a Starbuck’s PSL once

-Celebrate my birthday

-Get my Kendra Scott piece

-Attend Ocktoberfest(s) around town

-Attend the Punkin’ Chunkin’ (pumpkins catapulted into river)

-Do a fall boat ride(s) to leaf peep and just enjoy boat until time to winterize

-Buy good apple cider from local orchard

-Make my apple cider sangria

-Make soup!

-Make chili!

-Go to boutique pool before it closes for the season. I have some dates reserved. It has gotten really popular and you have to make reservations on Open Table. They told me it would be open at least through September but I am hoping it will also stay open in October.

-Make an Octoberfest meal at home

-Make fall margarita

–Take fall break trip

-Celebrate Thanksgiving with both sides of family

I’m sure I forgot many things!

But, it’s definitely a good list to start with!

Amy

Monday, September 9, 2024

How was your weekend? Mine was great! I am linking up with Sarah and Holly to share!

Let’s go back to Thursday and my twins’ 22nd birthday!

I grabbed some donuts to leave on the kitchen table before I went to work…

Ok, I grabbed a pumpkin spice coffee for me, too. If you are local, Bamboo Donuts does not disappoint!

I was off for a half day and from 1:00-4:00 this was our view! We enjoyed Myriad Swim Club – just the three of us.

Then, we went to Steak and Bourbon for dinner and Tom joined us. The butter candle!

I made a cake!

We had a nice day and evening!

Friday was fine and Erica and I went back to Grassa Gramma for happy hour after school. I had an aperol spritz and the next day I wore an aperol spritz!

Saturday and my new clearance TJ Maxx shirt:

I swear it was Erica’s idea to get the Tuscan potatoes again!

This is so romantic…

I called Tom after happy hour and he was on his way home but stopping at Kroger first and I was in that same shopping center so we met and shopped together and ended up with Kroger sushi for dinner for all four of us.

That was a joke; it was not romantic.

It was scary to see all the Halloween stuff out already, though, and the bill was scary, too, when we checked out with very little.

This weekend I finished this:

I really liked it!

And, I marveled at how big EO has gotten.

Saturday afternoon I went to Trader Joe’s for a few things…

We had Zoe’s Kitchen take out for dinner and it was good!

I made Amy McMuffins for the week:

And, I started and finished this:

Oh my goodness! I laughed out loud so many times. But, it was also deep, bittersweet, and relatable. Have you read it?

Sunday Tom and I went to hear some live music at an arts festival. We mostly went for the music but we did look at the art, too. The walk to and from was lovely and we had such early fall weather this weekend!

It was a lovely weekend!

How was yours?

Amy

Friday, September 6, 2024

It’s Friday! Woohoo! This four day week didn’t feel longer (sometimes they trick you like that!) and for that I am very thankful. It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites! I don’t have as much this week, though, but here we go!

I received the most thoughtful gift this week. My co-worker Sarah had asked for a photo of Ernie last spring after he passed and honestly, I was having a hard time looking through pictures. She asked again recently and I found one. Look what she did! She made a nightlight that automatically comes on and look at his sweet face. I put it in our bathroom for our nightly visits. It puts out a lot of light, too.

I guess I need to switch out my patio placemats – ha! But, this scent is really nice. Tip – if a candle is too strong/artificial/cloying take it outside. I actually don’t really burn any candles inside right now. I light this each morning and sometimes after school or after dinner, too.

On Sunday I treated myself to a little prosecco and potato chip snack. I felt very European. Ha! I am really enjoying my two new Target sweatshirts. The blue one is Florence, Italy (a scene from there).

Sometimes the most simple snacks are the best. I also made pan con tomate but with ham for a snack later in the week.

I have flown through this book but I am ready to say bye to summer themed books soon! Where are the fall themed books! Come on!

Tuesday morning gave me a taste of fall and I kinda liked it!

And, here is my other Target sweatshirt:

They are both so cozy on the inside. I want to put one or the other on in the mornings and evenings after my shower.

So, you might remember my former student Ali who came over this summer? She made it to the north of Spain for her one year teaching assignment!

This is Madeleine, another former student, who is getting ready to leave mid-month to teach in Madrid. I brought verb notes and we went over all the tenses and I made tinto de verano (Spanish Rioja with some Sprite), truffle popcorn, Spanish cheese and meat and pan con tomate. We spent a couple of hours chatting in English and Spanish and it was like no time had passed. I’ve kept in touch with her and seen her twice since graduation?

I am so proud of these girls!

Another Mirabelle Creations graphic that spoke to me:

This is something we really stink at as Americans. The Spaniards definitely do this better!

Then, my devotional was about rest! I guess I must do this!

I think I am doing better with my schedule this year because I just don’t expect to be productive from 3:45-bedtime. I hang with Eddie Otis and my family, cook or assemble dinner and that’s it. I don’t try to run errands anymore. I am happy to have people over after school sometimes or to meet someone if EO has a person home.

My struggle last year was mindset. I think our mindset counts for so much. If I frame something as “I get to do this” rather than “I have to do this” it really helps me. Now that we are grown adults we really don’t have to do anything we don’t want to do. Well, you know what I mean!

How was your week?

Did you have a good mindset this week?

Happy Friday!

Amy

Thursday, September 5, 2024

I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill to share what I have been putting on lately.

But, it’s my twins’ 22nd birthday! It’s hard to believe! I will let you know what we do in my Hello Monday post!

I now have three of these gauzy button ups from Old Navy – hot pink, black, and white. I am not sure they are the most flattering on me but they are so comfy! I paired the pink with my fun pants for school one day last week.

This outfit is so bad and I am donating the dress. But, I was told I would be proctoring in a non-air-conditioned small gym (it’s 2024 – seriously?) and I knew I would be standing for at least two hours and needed sleeveless. It was 98 plus degrees that day. Well, they changed my location to an AC space so I was fine, but this is what I wore for better or worse – worse!

Friday I wore jeans with my J.Crew blouse and J.Crew sweater.

Saturday wet hair errand fit. Saturday comes around and I throw on this skort!

Later for the whisky fest I changed tops and went with it.

Sunday boat outfit. I really did get my money’s worth from the above skort and the below swim cover up.

I got new Rachel Zoe pants at TJ Maxx. They are so comfy! This was my Tuesday after Labor Day fit. I have on my Manchester City t-shirt.

I bought Vejas!

Oh my gosh! They are so comfortable! Yes, they look very similar to my New Balances, but that’s ok. I think that the nylon is more breathable than the leather sneakers so I have been gravitating to nylon more lately.

What have you been wearing?

Amy

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

And, just like that it’s already Wednesday! Since it’s the first of the month, I am linking up with Jennifer for Currently and at the end I am participating in another link up, too.

Things I’m Currently Loving…

This is going to sound super nerdy, but I am loving being more into a routine again. I just don’t like that awkward figuring out my life and my routine that I have to do from school year to summer and summer to school year. I had a great routine this summer but it’s always tough to switch back. I think I am in a good routine now. Who would have thought that the schedule I hated last year is working out great this year?

I woke up yesterday to this! Yes, I still sat outside on the patio. It was perfectly cool with my sweatshirt and fleece pants and my hot coffee!

Looking Forward To…

I saw this graphic and thought it was cute. I don’t want all of this to come too quickly but I really do love fall so much and look forward to it!

I think some of us use September as a time to start the year rather than January. I really liked this graphic and I think this serves me any time of the year! I am a work in progress and love reminders like this. I look forward to embracing all of these things!

Smelling…

Are there any better smells than fall smells? I haven’t seen Mrs. Meyer’s acorn spice in the store yet. I dug this out (it was one of the candles that I kept when I did my summer purge) and I am so happy I kept it!

Watching…

Ladies of London on Peacock. I already watched it but I was looking for something and started it again. It’s so good and London is absolutely my favorite character!

Admiring…

I am admiring the beauty on my way to work and thankful that I have the ability to walk. I loved carrying my new cup yesterday and walking in the crisp almost fall air! My walk home was almost as nice. It was still fairly cool out and very pleasant. I will say that I walk slower on the way home because ain’t no tired like teacher tired! Ok, I will stop saying that I guess!

And, now I am linking up with Joyce for Hodgepodge!

1. Something you’re working on currently? 

I booked flights and lodgings quite a while back and train tickets this past weekend but now I am having fun researching what exactly to do and when it makes sense to do it. I still need to book a couple of entrance tickets once I decide when the best time to do them would be. I like planning on a legal pad but I also have my Google doc. The two shall merge soon. I am saving things I see on Instagram and going back to those, too. I really enjoy this!

2. Tell us something about your first job? Was it a positive or negative experience for you? Did your parents insist you work while in school (either high school or college) or did you work because you wanted to? 

I guess my first job was babysitting and I absolutely loved it! My parents did not want me to work during the school year, but I got away with it a bit. I loved to work. I got a job designing ads at our local newspaper in town and I was a lifeguard. Those were my first official jobs. The ad job was problematic because my direct supervisor smelled like Spaghettios, but I wanted a job in journalism after college at that time. I loved being a lifeguard and did it for several years, then became a pool manager, and then I actually was a pool supervisor the summer I was pregnant with twins. I still love working and pride myself in being a good employee.

3. Have you ever had a job that required overnight travel? How did you feel about that? Have you ever had a job that required you to wear a uniform? Do you work better in the morning or at night? 

No! I am so glad that I didn’t, too. I have worn a uniform at the pool (lifeguard suit), a floating restaurant on the river (polo shirt), and at Pizza Hut. I think that’s it? I work better in the morning for sure! I should look for photos of my in my Pizza Hut ‘fit. I got the job in college with my friend Stacy and we had so much fun.

4. What’s something you bake or cook that is labor intensive? Is it worth it? 

I guess it’s probably lasagna or Mexican lasagna because of all the layering. I think it is! Other than that, I wouldn’t call my style of cooking labor intensive at all. If it has more than 8 ingredients I’m probably out!

5. One thing you’re looking forward to in the month of September? 

The start of fall!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I love wearing long sleeves with shorts! It’s always been my favorite. I can still remember fall bike riding as a kid in long sleeves and shorts. Isn’t that weird? I loved my bike and spent so much time on it. I lived in a neighborhood around a lake with lots of kids my age and we biked all over that ‘hood. Tom got me a bike for one of our first anniversaries and I rode it once this summer.

I almost feel like early fall is its own little season fashion wise. I love having warm weatherish stuff in fallish colors. I need to look and see what I still have that fits that bill and that I still like!

Let me know if you have anything to tell me Currently or that is part of the hodgepodge! I would love to hear!

Amy

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Well, it’s September! It’s hard to believe and also not hard to believe. We started school August 8th so we are looking at one month of being in school!

How was your long weekend? It was much needed for me and now we just have a four day week.

Let’s go back to Friday. Last week was the Tomatina (tomato fight) in Spain and I always make pan con tomate for the kids to try. Well, I demonstrate and they get to make it.

I went home and made myself a skinny marg.

That evening we started our weekend out with some fun. We met friends Beth and Bob at Mojito en Havana, a Cuban restaurant, and it never disappoints!

I slept great and Saturday morning I was hoping for cooler temps, but it was so humid!

I did my typical (what have now become typical) errands of library and Trader Joe’s and then was super lazy for a bit. Later that day we tried to go to a whisky festival. It was kind of a bust and was so, so hot and then started storming!

We had friends with us and pivoted for indoor chicken instead of outdoor whisky.

Sunday was really fun. We got to be the guests on a beautiful boat and the weather just couldn’t have been better. We drove around most of the time and the ride was so smooth.

Here is what party cove looked like. I stole this photo off a friend on IG:

I’d say some people had a real good time!

Monday morning dawned and I finally got the temps I craved. I even lit this puppy and it smelled so good!

It looks kinda funny sitting atop my summery palm placemats.

I put out the minimal fall decor…

I love these photos I took of my twins sampling apples at my hometown orchard.

I went to TJ Maxx and did a small Kroger pick up and then spent the rest of the day reading on my patio.

Ahhhh…

Tell me about your holiday weekend!

Amy

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Happy Saturday! I thought I would join in with Jennifer today for her Share Four Somethings link up!

ONE – This week I knew would be a long one, so I picked easy but crowd pleasing dinners – fish sticks, hot dogs, tacos, ziti bake, and salmon with broccoli and taters. My sheet pan makes the salmon, broccoli, taters meal so simple in both prep and clean up. I haven’t done the fish sticks yet, but I have that available for next week. Mason also wanted to do french dip sandwiches so we will do that, too!

I was happy with myself that I picked easy things for the week and I was one day ahead of the first two dinners of the week. On Sunday I made the ziti (ground beef, one jar of alfredo, one jar of marinara, cooked ziti noodles, and then parmesan and mozzarella) and I also made one for a co-worker. Then, on Monday I went ahead and made the taco meat for Tuesday when I would have my late night at school.

TWO – I didn’t let the heat stop me from getting outside after school. Eddie Otis is more and more like a grown up boy and is pretty independent outside. I may not get to read much, but reading a few pages is better than no pages. It is cooling off and we should have some days with highs only in the high 70s next week! Woohoo!

THREE – Pretty soon I will want to switch to more fall like beverages, but for now the white wines are still refreshing.

I bought these Trader Joe’s canned wines. Above is peach which was delicious and below are the rose and the white which are also really good. They were even approved by Loopersomm on IG!

Prosecco also has my heart right now.

Samanthasommelier on IG recommends this one from Trader Joe’s but I have yet to try it.

So, if you have a Trader Joe’s run in your future today, you might want to check those out. I follow two sommeliers on IG now and I have learned a lot!

Also, Erica gave me this cool gadget that really works! It keeps your prosecco bubbly!

What’s that? You never leave a bottle unfinished because you aren’t a quitter? Ha!

FOUR – I’m really thankful for my mornings. I really love to start my day this way. I love hearing all the mornings noises and the world waking up. I’m grateful for my space, my yard, my fence, and my companion Eddie Otis. I love having my coffee outside and it just feels really nice to take this time before work. I really love not having to leave the house until so late now! Who would have thought? My goal is to leave at 8:00 but I can leave as late as 8:20 and still be ok.

And, I will leave you with this…

This is freshman year when my kids started school at my school with me.

This was pre-blog so I am not sure I have ever shared it. I miss that blouse. I really liked it! It didn’t hold up well.

I hope you enjoyed my FOUR somethings today.

I will be back on Tuesday as I’m taking a break on Monday. There will be no Hello Monday, but I will do a Hello Tuesday!

Amy

Friday, August 30, 2024

Where do I start?

I made it through the week while being under the weather and having a 5 day week and our long day with Meet the Teacher night. Also, we had testing this week. It was a lot!

I am thankful that I started feeling better, though. I also am so thankful that I slept like a rock. Ain’t no tired like beginning of year teacher tired. I overslept a couple of mornings, too!

This graphic is a favorite and I know a lot of you feel that way, too!

Sunday we took the boat out and I just didn’t have the energy to enjoy it. This guy was really wild! Don’t let the sweet face fool you! He is becoming really daredevil about jumping into the water. He is swimming really well and wanting to be in the water more.

I continue to use this twice a day in the shower and I swear by it. I use it in all four seasons.

But, I swear this guy – my neti pot- cuts down congestion by half the time at least. I use the saline salt packets and distilled water (and heat the water slightly) and do this in the shower when I am sick.

I realized I forgot to wash my hair after being outside for hours and then I slept on the allergen filled hair and got sick. I always get sick in September and last week felt like September. This week it feels like August or the surface of the sun.

I loved my nail color this week:

I have a student running for student council with his mom’s cookies. Sugarbeam Cookies is their business and this lemon cookie was amazing.

Our best dinner this week was Wednesday night. I did sheet pan British roasted potatoes (boiled them first with some baking soda), broccoli, and salmon.

Our ECE kids get the opportunity to work a coffee cart that goes around the school twice a day. They sell coffee, chips, and soft drinks. I have the cart come to my room and try to buy something. The kids are so sweet and happy to get to say hi to me and my students. This Diet Dr. Pepper hit the spot one afternoon. I am only an occasional soft drink drinker.

Cup of Jo is one of my favorite blogs. This photo and caption hit me this week. It’s a father and daughter out on the water with a bottle of wine. I miss my Dad so much. You just never know when those feelings will hit you. This man looks nothing like my Dad, either. My Dad also did not have a boat. You just have those feelings hit sometimes and there really is no timeline. It’s a favorite that I have my good memories, though.

I will be looking for this!

I really loved this! I am still working on being more minimalist…

This also spoke to me this week…

I will never apologize for being excited for something!

I am going to take Monday off and do “Hello Tuesday” on Tuesday, September 3rd. But, I will be back here tomorrow for Share Four Somethings!

Did you have any favorites this week?

What are you excited about today? This weekend?

Amy

Thursday, August 29, 2024

It’s Thursday and time to link up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files!

I mentioned last week that I am pretty much over my colorful summer clothing and yearning for neutrals. Well, it turned hot again and I have to wear the rest of my summer stuff. But, I will tell you that I am weeding out as I get dressed. If I didn’t wear something in the spring, summer, or I don’t want to wear it now, it’s going in the donation/resell bag. I have to understand that if I wore something for two to three seasons then I got my money’s worth! Do you struggle with that, too?

Here is what I wore on Tuesday of this week. I really love this dress. It keeps you cool in the heat and the colors and print are just really “me”.

Here is what I wore on Monday.

I wore this last Thursday and the red clogs didn’t last long. I switched to white sneakers. This dress is cut pretty much the same as the first pink dress. It is the same cool fabric. Both are Walmart Free Assembly! Both have pockets!

I wore this last Wednesday. It is a very thick material but the temps were really cool that day.

And, for Meet the Teacher Tuesday night I switched to this dress again.

I experimented with longer oval shaped nails and I could barely type. I was able to cut and file them down to “active length”. I love the periwinkle blue shade.

So, that’s what I’ve been wearing lately. How about you?

Amy