Tuesday, October 3, 2023

September 1 – $20 snacks at football game

September 2 – $40 black pants at boutique while shopping for souvenirs for our guests to take back to Germany

September 3 – $0 Spend Day – Tom’s sister treated us to late lunch/early dinner after boat

September 4 – $85 Birthday supplies at Kroger including cookie cake

September 5 – $51 Chinese food takeout for birthday

September 6 – $0 Spend Day

September 7 – $166 Aldi – who am I?

September 8 – $33 Carraba’s happy hour with Erica and Elizabeth

September 9 – $250 Target (stuff for England), $85 Drake’s, $40 Tatziki’s

September 10 – Varaese 21st bday dinner $144

September 11 – $10 Amazon portable charger for Mason

September 12 – $41 second hand shopping with Mason

September 13 – $50 birthday gift

September 14 – $120 Aldi, $51 French lunch

September 15 – $66 Mojito, $28 Felipe’s, $20 for 2 Amazon books

September 16 – $40 birthday gift, $60 Shiraz, $56 Kroger

September 17 – $100 Delta, $5 parking

September 18 – $0 Spend day

September 19 – $0 Spend day

September 20 – $0 Spend day

September 21 – $0 Spend day

September 22 – $50 birthday gift, $83 birthday dinner out for a friend

September 23- Remember all those zero spend days? Well, here we go! $124 Aldi (4th week of making it my main grocery), $85 Walmart Neighborhood market. I went in for Velveeta and found lots of staples cheaper than at Kroger, $91 Kroger, $0 UPS store for two returns or should I say the “girl math” would be +$!55 – returned the Hoka Transports – too small, and some Amazon earrings that were not what I wanted for a gift, $0 library

September 24-$20 Captain’s Quarters lunch plus tip for Tom, Ernie, and I, $17 Felipe’s mexican for Jack, $5 Amy shoebooties at Goodwill to replace the ones I need to replace – score!

September 25- $0 Spend Day

September 26-$0 Spend Day

September 27-$20 Kroger tampon run (Wow! They have gotten expensive!), $6 McDonald’s egg mcmuffin and small pumpkin spice latte

September 28- $0 Spend Day

September 29-$27 Happy Hour including tip, $0 dinner – went home and whipped up angel hair alfredo and added sauteed mushrooms for Tom and I.

September 30- $80 Trader Joe’s, $0 library, $73 dinner out at Venezuelan place

This was a big month! We had the Germans until September 4, our kids 21st birthday, Mason leaving for England, and a few other birthdays thrown in. I just can’t spend any money during the week unless it’s an online order! I go to work and the traffic is so bad by 4:00 that I just come straight home – I also come straight home because I’m freaking exhausted and I have to get home to Ernie. I guess this is as good of a budget strategy as any!

$0 Spend Days: 9! Not bad!

Clothing: $40 Umgee black plants, $5 Goodwill shoebooties

Groceries: The Germans picked up our tab for groceries on September 2 for boat snacks and staples which was very nice. I did a huge shop before they came, of course, but we ran out of some things and wanted them to pick out things for the boat day. Then, I really tried to do the bulk of my shopping at Aldi this month. I had to go on Thursday after school or Saturday mornings, mostly. Are you ready for it?

$807! If you look back at August, this is a reduction. Of course, I have had 3 in the house instead of 4 plus since early and mid-September, but still. I did have four plus Germans for the first few days of September.

Meals Out/Happy Hour/Take Out: This was a big month for meals out. And, is it just me or are restaurants just getting more and more expensive?

$798! So that is way too high, but we made memories and spent quality time, too. Maybe that correlates with a lower grocery bill, too? We did really well about less food waste, taking leftovers home, and eating them this month, too.

I can’t believe I have tracked since January. Stay tuned and you will find out why I have been more budget conscious!

How did you do in September?

Amy

Monday, October 2, 2023

And, just like that it is October! I am happy to link up today with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday and with Tanya for Prime Purchases!

Did you see my Share 4 Somethings on Saturday? If not, click here for four random things I shared!

This is one of the things I shared, but I had a delightful happy hour Friday after school at a new Italian seafood place near school. They have half priced wines from 3-6, $5 wells drinks, and a reasonable appetizer menu. The patio is lovely!

Erica and I had a lemondrop martini and a glass of wine.

I made leftover sheet pan lasagna and angel hair alfredo with mushrooms for the fam when I got home.

I prioritized my sleep and getting better this weekend and went to bed at 9:00 both nights! Do you ever do that? I think it helps so much. I also made myself “sleep in” until 6:00 or 6:30 each morning and then still enjoyed my dark patio – ahhhhh!

Around 9:30, I got myself together after showering to run my errands. I went to Trader Joe’s, the library, and Kroger. I was open to all the new products and fall favorites at Trader Joe’s, but I didn’t go crazy!

These are my frozen goodies. Jack loves the mini croissants, I love the baguette breadsticks and the shredded hashbrowns. I am going to try to make little muffin cups with them. I heard I needed to get the double chocolate croissants! I got the pumpkin cheesecakes croissants on an impulse and the fried cheese curds on an impulse. I put the cheese curds in the airfryer and they are to die for!

These will just be fun weekend foods, I guess!

At Kroger, I picked out some pumpkins and mums.

I spent most of the rest of the day reading and resting. It was much needed.

Around 5:00, Tom and I went to a new Venezuelan restaurant that has been really popular. We tried once before!

I was shocked when my drink arrived in a fish!

I had an arepa and yucca fries and I didn’t love the cheese or the flavor really.

Tom got a corn pancake with pork and I thought it was too sweet.

Anyway, we are glad we tried it and surprisingly, Tom liked it more than I did. We both agreed it was overpriced.

We stopped at Kroger on the way home because Tom wanted to buy a lottery ticket and Lysol. Ok…..

I watched a cute movie when we got home:

Love at First Sight on Netflix

Have you seen it?

I need some not too cheesy fall movie recs!

I got up and read this cute book on the patio. Of course they are predictable, but they are one step up from a Hallmark movie in book form – they are well written and funny.

I made a veggie scramble breakfast later in the morning…

And, then I set about to do cleaning, organizing and some chores.

Recent Amazon purchases:

Since I couldn’t find these two Sarah Adams books at my library, I decided to treat myself because Mason was leaving. I don’t let myself buy many books because it saves money and keeps the clutter at bay. This is why I love my library so much. Also, I read actual books and don’t read on a Kindle.

I ordered adapters, a portable charger, and a desk mirror for Mason, but that’s all I have used Amazon for this month!

What was the highlight or your weekend?

Have you been shopping Amazon much?

Amy

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Happy Saturday and here I am with a Share 4 Somethings post with Jennifer and others!

ONE

This first thing is a little story about my shower or really it’s about 23 years of marriage. Since Monday, I think, Tom and I have been silently pranking each other without saying a word. We have 3 shelves in our primary bathroom shower and I have felt entitled to two of the three. You agree with me, right?

Tom kept moving my stuff off of the second shelf and putting his stuff. Each day I would move one of his things and he would move one of mine. It finally hit a head yesterday morning when I woke up to…

all of my products outside of the shower! Yes, I currently have a lot because I am using up certain things and because I like to have choices!

I hid all of his stuff and then heard the shower running. He had just opened his new bottles. I came in the bathroom and we just both started laughing. This is marriage!

TWO

Golden Bachelor! I’ve only watched a bit of the first episode but I found it so refreshing! He is a 70 year old sweet widower and is delightfully nerdy. The women look seriously good for 60-70 plus and they are inspirations. I thought the interactions between the women in the house – so far – were also so much more kind than those of the younger women.

Did anyone else watch?

Ernie thought it was a snooze fest:

THREE

Leaves are starting to fall!

FOUR

A nearby restaurant just changed concepts from California chic to Italian seafood but they kept their great happy hour, so Erica and I celebrated yesterday after school!

lemondrop martinis:

Frites and Monekybread:

and a glass of wine…

Delightful start to the weekend!

What is something you would share?

Amy

Friday, September 29. 2023

It’s Friday and that means it’s time to link up here for Friday Favorites!

What a week! I started having allergy symptoms on Saturday night, felt ok on Sunday, didn’t sleep well Sunday night, and then Monday through the rest of the week just felt a little crappy as I went through the motions of my normal week.

These eye patches feel really good when you have sinus pain and I need to buy more. Are you a patch person?

I also will tell anyone and everyone about my love of the neti pot and I swear it cuts my congestion time in half. This is not scientific, but I will stand firm in my belief.

I have enjoyed reading after school every day and have been reading a more serious book than my usual fun chick lit. I finished it Wednesday evening and I loved it! Now, I think I will read another Sarah Adams or a Colleen Hoover.

Sweet boy! I love seeing him curled up in the big chair! Of course, he’s allowed here!

I love seeing his tooth hanging out when he lays like this on his bed.

You know I have been on a white wine journey this summer? Did you know there is white Bordeaux? It’s good! I know I need to switch to red soon, but I’m still loving a crisp chilled white with a screw top! Seriously! I have been picking based on this lately because I don’t drink much at a time. I know some of you gals have no need for a way to save your wine – ha!

Right now I am picking Sauvignon Blanc the most. I also have found a pinot gris I like. Pinot grigio seems too sweet for me right now?

And, I have been using these tiny jam jars. Love!

So, I guess I am an Aldi shopper now. I tried Maple Pecan Pie and it’s also delicious, but Pumpkin Spice remains my favorite. I bought two boxes last Saturday.

And, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but these are even better than the Costco pre-cooked strips. They also come in Southwestern which would be great for a burrito bowl.

I am thinking about doing an Aldi Favorites post.

I made breakfast for dinner Wednesday night and had a mimosa with my food. We had potatoes, eggs, bacon, and a biscuit.

I am so glad I purchased this inexpensive but nice quality zip up hoodie. I put it on every morning. I had a full photo of me but my face and my neck looked bad, so enjoy this image of the material! But, there is also a photo of me wearing it in my eye patch photo. I chose heather grey because it’s a classic, I guess!

One benefit to my later work start time is that I can go to Kroger before school more easily if I need to. I had an emergency – I had no tampons situation this week. So, yeah, add that to being sick! Fun!

I don’t know why this made me laugh so hard this week. It might also have something to do with Tom putting mayonnaise on my “grocery list” last week.

How much you want to bet that she has a “Bump It” in her hair?

So, what were your favorites this week?

I hope you had many!

If you missed any posts this week, I talked about my weekend here, my jeans collection here, What’ s Up Wednesday here, and finally Fashion Files here.

As always, thank you so much for being here. I’m struggling a bit to respond to comments, but I will get there. I appreciate you taking the time to leave them for me and they make my day!

Happy Weekend,

Amy

Thursday, September 28, 2023

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

So, let’s go back to the end of Spirit Week last week…

This is Adam Sandler day and I just phoned it in. I guess it meant baggie clothes, but I interpreted it as a flannel shirt over a t-shirt and I was too hot to keep the flannel on so I just looked like nothing. Oh well.

Friday was class color day and seniors are black and I guess I am a senior..

Friday night dinner outfit:

Monday school outift:

Tuesday school outfit:

Yesterday school outift:

And, that’s what I’ve been wearing!

Do you have a favorite? It is Adam Sandler day? Just kidding!

What have you been wearing?

Amy

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

It’s the last Wednesday of the month – wow, September went by so quickly! – and I am joining Sheaffer and Shay for this fun link up.

What we’re eating…

I tried the viral (I think?) sheet pan lasagna and it has all the great flavor of a lasagna without the tedious layering. You break the noodles, boil them, then mix them with your cooked meat and sauce, dollop with your ricotta and mozz and then bake!

An easy meal was turkey sausage, green beans, taters and onions, and corn!

And, we also had carnitas nachos one night along with traditional tacos that I had made a couple of days before.

We haven’t had these yet, but I bought them because I thought they would make Tom and Jack laugh!

What I’m reminiscing about…

I don’t know? Maybe the elementary school years since I hear the school playground noises behind my house after school.

‘what I’m loving…

I am continuing to start my days outside and I just love these mornings. I know it will soon be too cool to do this, so I am taking advantage of it right now!

I am getting more texts and pictures than I thought I would. Mason sent me this hiking photo from a trail near the campus in England.

You know what else makes my mornings on the patio so special? I almost always get a text from Mason to start my day. I have not usually had to be the first to text. It’s about 10-11 a.m. for him when I first get up, so I guess that’s an optimum time. He is still in orientation and starts class next week so it could change.

I overhead Jack talking to Mason online and they were laughing so hard the other night!

What we’ve been up to…

I’m continuing on the school grind. Tom is continuing on the work grind. Jack is really busy with classes and he is living at home this semester. Unfortunately, when we showed up at the dorm room he thought he was going to have, it was not what he thought he was going to have. So, he is a commuter and hopefully he will be back on campus in the spring.

What I’m dreading…

I think I will be sad to not have Mason at home for Thanksgiving.

What I’m excited about..

Just talking to Mason on Facetime and texting with him!

What I’m watching/reading…

I am really enjoying this. I had said I wouldn’t read another WWII book, but this struck me. I will need a palate cleanser!

What I’m listening to…

Most of my day I am listening to the chatter of teenagers. They seem more like 2019 teens! I listen to podcasts when I clean or cook, usually.

What I’m wearing…

You will find out tomorrow if you come back for Fashion Files! So, it’s been in the 80s again and I think we can expect 80s for a while. I like to have short sleeves in fall colors for this time of year.

What I’m doing this weekend…

I have been under the weather with what I hope is just fall allergies, so I hope to feel better this weekend and get caught up on my rest.

I have no trouble sleeping in the summer, so I guess my job really is the problem!

So, what’s up with you on this Wednesday?

Amy

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

I’ve been trying to get this post to come together for some time, but I hadn’t worn all of the jeans this season (still haven’t worn one).

These are the current jeans I am working with and only one is new this year – from back in the summer.

My advice is to order a big order in a few different styles and sizes from a store that you also have locally – makes returns so much easier.

There are so many choices – low rise, mid rise, high rise, straight leg, wide leg, etc. You just really have to try them on as much as that pains many of us.

The other point I want to make is that some different color washes do not fit the same. Maybe this is just a fast fashion thing, but my Target Universal Thread that I have in black, dark denim, and light denim all fit differently!

And, one more thing – do not be afraid to cut your own hem. We are lucky that the frayed or undone hem is popular now.

I also like when a retailer has varying lengths for varying heights.

Here is the light Universal Thread that I cut and frayed:

Here is the same pair, but darker that I left alone:

Darker ones on me:

Lighter ones on me:

I found these at Old Navy and was really surprised that I liked them. The length is perfect and they are button fly. These are called the O.G. straight leg:

Here they are on me:

I think they are my weekend jeans?

Here is my only new pair this season so far. These are the Dillard’s Westbound jean:

Here they are on me:

These are Kut from the Kloth from my consignment store last year:

I love the detail on the inside of the leg:

Here they are on me:

And, finally, here are my Nordstrom Wit and Wisdom Itty Bitty Boot Cut jeans with absolution technology:

And, here I am wearing them:

Are you a jeans person?

How many pairs are in your rotation?

Any new styles for this year you are trying?

Favorite jeans retailer?

So much to talk about!

Amy

Monday, September 25, 2023

Well, it’s Monday again…I am linking up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday!

Friday was a good, but crazy day at school because we had a pep rally. But, I was happy with my productivity and got things ready for today. I hate leaving school if I don’t have everything ready for the next day/week. I left school at 3:45 and went to a boutique to shop for a gift for my friend. I didn’t find anything and then got stuck in the worst traffic. I made my way finally to other boutiques where I did find a gift. By the time I got home, it was 5:00 and we needed to leave for dinner around 6:15. But, I didn’t have to cook so it was all good.

I had a delightful rosé sangria with so much fruit at the restaurant.

Tom deep in conversation…

We split a really good wedge salad:

I ordered homemade pappardelle but when it came it was not homemade pappardelle…

We were celebrating Heather’s birthday!

I was so tired by 8:30 I could hardly keep my eyes open. We got home around 9 and I watched a little tv but kept falling asleep. I really prefer going out on Saturday, but this time Friday was the night that worked for our friends.

Saturday morning was gorgeous and I ran out of fat free half and half so I have been doing vanilla Premier as my creamer. It froths up really well.

I had a list of errands a mile long! I did Aldi,

the library,

Walmart Neighborhood Market, the UPS store, and then finally Kroger. I was done with everything by about 12 and then didn’t leave the house the rest of the day! Jack wanted to do Kroger with me and that was nice. We decided to get Kroger sushi for lunch.

I read outside most of the day and it was amazing!

For dinner, I made a salad with homemade balsamic, green apples, cucumbers, and goat cheese, and

we ate the rest of Tom’s Thursday work event leftovers.

I started feeling kind of stuffy and run down Saturday night so I did my neti pot and went to bed early. I didn’t sleep great.

Sunday morning I couldn’t tell if I was better, but I put nice cooling eye patches under my eyes where my sinuses ached.

I made two dinners that would also be two lunches – sheet pan lasaga and green beans, potatoes, and sausage.

Tom, Ernie, and I went for a boat ride…

I had an extra pumpkin spice coffee on the boat…

I finished this and it was cute but toward the end it got predictable – well, it was predictable most of the time but cute and enjoyable!

I started this and it is a WWII book, so I will need a light hearted book after!

We got home from the boat around 2 and I read some more on the lower patio and then on the upper patio once the sun had moved away.

I got a cute text from Mason saying he found a little Italian cafe I would like :

He ordered pasta carbonara.

We got to Facetime yesterday morning, too, and it was great!

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Amy

Friday, September 22, 2023

Happy Friday! This week was a doozy! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites….

Monday I was just happy that my sweet Mason made it to England safely for his study abroad experience. We were able to text that morning and that made me happy. He is 5 hours of ahead of us with the time difference. I was pretty tired from staying up to track his flight, though!

This book has been a fun way to treat myself this week. I have been getting out on my patio either before or after dinner or both in this beautiful weather we are having. It hasn’t rained in quite awhile and it has been in the 70s and low 80s.

In school news, I treated my kids to a taste of my Spanish breakfast. When I lived in Spain, we would have these cookies with some strawberry jam spread on top with our coffee. You can find these cookies in most grocery stores and they taste like a graham cracker and would actually be great with s’mores!

The kids seem to like when I bring them something to taste. I spend my own money, but I feel like it’s worth it because it gets them excited about the culture. I also had a bonus opportunity where they could make an easy recipe at home last week and send me a pic. I buy candy to give out and for prizes sometimes. I buy special Spanish stickers, too. I can’t buy any of this with my Amazon allowance – it’s not allowed. I still have to spend my Amazon money, but I have been waiting to use it wisely. I just don’t think teachers can get around using their own money for some things. If you’ve found a way, let me know!

It was also spirit week:

You can see most of my outfits in Fashion Files here.

This is my AP doing Mesa Redonda, but I did my first Mesa Redonda in Spanish 3 this week and it was amazing! We have a topic and questions and sit in a circle with no English allowed. It really pushes their speaking abilities, and we have jokes and laugh sometimes, too. We talked about food, favorite restaurants, cooking abilities, etc. in Spanish 3. I don’t correct anyone on the spot but keep a list of praises and things to improve. AP is used to this activity but this year they have to come up with the topic, the questions, and take turns leading it.

Mesa Redonda means “round table” – like a round table discussion.

This meal was so simple, but so good. Erica made us corn and BLTs for one of our school lunches. These slimwich buns are really good!

Tuesday after school we had an hour-long meeting and I didn’t get home until 4:30, Wednesday I had Spanish Club until 4:10 and then had to hurry home to jump on a Zoom professional development from 4:30-5:45 – it went 15 minutes late. I did make it more enjoyable with a homemade skinny margarita:

It’s been a week! I know this time is typical for many people, but I used to get home at 2:45!

I decided to start decorating my upper and lower patios.

I continued to get outside every morning this week!

In Mason news, some cute texts:

We are mostly using What’s app now, but he bought a sim card from a grocery store because that was what we decided would be the smartest. He has an unlocked phone that this will work on.

And, finally , in Tom news…

He came home for lunch and wanted to make a sandwich, but this was all we had. Tom has strong feelings about mayo and prefers light Miracle Whip. He sent me this photo to share his dismay:

I told him to put it on a piece of paper so I would remember to get what he wanted.

I came home to this:

Did you read my Mental Health post on Wednesday? Mine hasn’t been the best this week, to be honest.

What were your favorites this week?

Amy

Thursday, September 21, 2023

It’s time to link up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files and I don’t have much this week!

First up is my favorite outfit. Remember my black Umgee pants? Well, this blouse is also by Umgee. I saw it at a local boutique this summer and gasped. I’ve been waiting for it to get cool enough to wear it. Friday I had happy hour plans after school so I thought I would do it.

These shoes are the Shoe Carnival Vintage 7 Eight that Kristin recommended. I got these for $5 in the store this summer. They stood the test of a full day. Click the red font and it will show you all the offerings in this brand.

My Saturday outfit was an old Costco top, my favorite cut offs, and my sandals of this summer from Target:

Ok, now here’s where things get crazy. It was spirit week for homecoming and Monday was Zoom Day. Dress comfy on the bottom and business-like on top for a Zoom meeting I wore my new Walmart leggings from this summer with my classic New Balances and on top I wore my Chico’s silk blouse, pearls you can’t see, and my Walmart Scoop blazer.

The blazer came off because I was hot!

Erica and I in our spirit attire:

The next day was Soccer Mom/BBQ Dad day. I was cold in the morning and added my new Walmart Free Assembly jacket.

I wore my fall graphic tee, my Lululemon bag, a skort, a hat, and my Hokas.

And, I will leave you with Barbieheimer day. I tried to do both Barbie and Oppenheimer.

So, it was a silly week, but I think the kids really like when the teachers get into it and so many kids participated this year!

What have you been wearing?

Amy