Monday, March 4, 2024

I don’t want this to be a sad post, but rather a celebration post of a wonderful furry boy who brought us 11 years of loyalty, fun, laughs, fresh air, and licks.

We truly don’t deserve dogs. We are not worthy.

So, I want to start by saying that everything happened in the best possible timing. I first told you about our boy’s cancer diagnosis in January 2023. We got an extra year plus with him. We feel so lucky for that. And it was a great year where you would hardly know he was sick. I was so scared he would pass while Mason was doing study abroad and I was scared that it also might happen in the 9 days while we were gone to pick Mason up.

Over the last month things really started declining. He wasn’t really eating and had gotten so skinny. When you saw the photo of us having a picnic on the lawn Monday it was because Ernie just couldn’t walk anymore and plopped down but seemed happy and content to be there.

We made the decision a week ago to say goodbye on Saturday. I wasn’t ready to talk about it on the blog.

Our kids were both home all week due to spring break and while that stinks for their break, it was also a gift to have them here.

Just Tom and I went, and our vet was so compassionate, and it was very peaceful and a privilege to be with our boy who brought us so much happiness.

The teeth in this position always made me laugh! I probably have at least 50 photos of this on my camera roll!

So serious sometimes:

When we went to pick Ernie out there were only two chocolates in the litter. The rest were yellow. Ernie was the calmer and the more blocky-headed of the two chocolates. We knew he was meant to be ours.

A pup cup:

Ernie was a great car rider. When he first came home with us, he walked with me to “pick up” the kids from elementary school every day. I got out of school at 2:20 and the kids at 3:50 so it was our routine. He rode with us to piano lessons once a week and I walked him while the kids were in the lesson. He went a lot of places! He was always welcome at family gatherings and he went to a few state parks for those and he vacationed at Lake Michigan a few times and at Dauhpin Island, Alabama once.

He loved the school playground behind our house and always found things to recycle and would bring them home to our recycle bin. Then he found balls to “play” with on the playground. No ball was safe!

Swimming was a big hobby and even better if best friend “Daddy” was in the water!

So Ernie’s spot was always by the back door to the house. we had a tiny little patio before the renovation, but he loved it.

Ernie was a very polite boy and would bark just once if he wanted back in the house.

This cracks me up seeing him after we ripped out the small porch. He was like, “What the heck? Where is my porch?” He made do. Ha! He didn’t have to wait long before a makeshift wooden porch was put up before the permanent one was in.

Then, he got a really good spot after the renovation where he could watch out over his backyard and school playground.

He wouldn’t let me put away the Halloween doormat that he liked so it just stayed and became faded.

He wouldn’t let me put the indoor Christmas rug away this year. Finally I gave up and put it back where it was!

He was a dog with the finer tastes in doormats.

Over the last week he seemed to want to “guard” his “brothers” at night:

Sometimes he was so close to their doors they couldn’t get out.

A very wet dewy puppy picture:

If Ernie could get wet, we would!

A snow lover for sure. This was this winter as Ernie made snow angels. I am so happy he got a good snow!

Christmas stocking gift from this year:

Of course he was in the family photos!

One of his two favorite furniture spots:

This fall was so fun watching him rolling in the leaves and taking leafy walks:

His spot:

Doing yoga with the fam:

Any time the cheese drawer opened or we opened a string cheese, Ernie came running. I probably shared 1000 string cheeses with him, one string at a time!

Boat boy:

Lake Michigan waves:

Our boy loved Christmas and his stocking, but I think he just loved the family all together in the living room, too.

His final playground walk. This is a really sad but beautiful photo to me. Tom had the idea to wheel him around and then he lifted him out to sniff around a bit.

What a face that I will never forget:

We love you so much, Ernie. Thank you for making us all better people.

Amy

Friday, March 1, 2024

Well, my first favorite is that it is March! No offense to January or February, but I just don’t like y’all much. Maybe if I weren’t a teacher I would like you more? March has its own challenges, but mentally it helps me. Daylight Savings time starts and we have had added light at night. Spring clothing abounds, I love St. Patrick’s Day and the parade, and a few more things!

I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share a few more faves from the week!

Sunday Tom and I drove down to the river. It was really sunny but still pretty chilly so we just stayed in the car. We love living by the river, though. Any body of water is good and calms my soul!

I got a spray tan Sunday morning. I was able to unfreeze my account and pay only $10 because the month was almost over. I’m debating doing the monthly fee for March. It really helps to give me a bit of color and I was able to wear a dress to school on Monday when it was 70 degrees.

Sunday evening was fun. Jack is taking an online biochemistry of cooking class for a science grad requirement and had to do a “meat lab”. He chose chicken and had to tenderize half and not tenderize the other half. We ate it for our dinner that night after giving our test subject opinions. I stayed out of the way and let Mason help. They were talking about enjoying cooking (music to my ears) and that they want to make a whole Mediterranean meal this week. That might be happening tonight?

I have involved my kids in the kitchen since a really young age but it’s just now that they seem to be enjoying it more. Never too late!

Here is our weather from Monday!

I hurried home and Mason and I sat on the lawn with Ernie for a good two hours enjoying it.

We had a little picnic snack:

I made an Asian salmon bowl for dinner one night this week:

I gave myself a white press on mani one night:

I made pizza bowls again this week with cauliflower rice, turkey pepperoni, pizza sauce, veg and this time I added the blended cottage cheese mixture and it was really good!

My breakfast this week has been organic instant brown sugar oatmeal. Yum!

I don’t know if I’ve ever told you all of my love of cloth napkins. Love seeing them stacked up after washing:

This week has been our college kids’ spring break – so early. It’s been nice to have them home with Ernie and just nice to have them home. We have had lots of family dinners and Mason wants to re-watch New Girl, so we have done that! As a family, we are watching Sneaky Pete.

Tuesday, Mason wanted to go hiking with Tom. Tom took off and they went to Red River Gorge. Here are some photos:

I was so happy they did this. They were home by dinner and Tom was craving pizza so we ordered it. It was a nice break for me from cooking, too!

Wednesday, I took off to spend time with them after an appointment and we went to lunch at Caffee Classico, one of my faves.

We got Belgian pommes frites with dipping sauces as a starter:

And, we got paninis we couldn’t finish so we took a lot home.

It’s like an Argentinian/European cafe and it was hopping. Mason said that the old people knew what was up but the young people would like it if they knew about it. Mason was thrilled because he is a foodie.

After that, we shopped at World Market, a guitar store, a little boutique, and came home. Jack had to go teach his music lessons. It was such a nice day!

And, those are my faves from the week!

What was one of yours?

Amy

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Hi! I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill to share this week’s fashion.

Last Thursday I wore this to school:

I have on my Marshall’s bird shirt, Matilda Janes, and New Balance that I am saying bye to. They seem a bit narrow for my feet. I’ve had them for 6 years I think?

On Sunday, I finally made the decision to keep the pink Gazelles and that they were the right size. It was like 70 degrees so I wore this Target gauzy black dress with a cardigan and the new sneaks with no-show socks.

And, on Tuesday I wore them again with this outfit:

They felt great on my feet! I got lots of comments on them, too.

What have you been wearing lately?

Lots of fashion on the blog this week – February Fashion Purchases here and Spring Trends here!

Amy

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

I always get excited about a new season! I’m sure I will wear sweaters again before spring officially makes its arrival next month, but boy have we been getting a tease and that helps me know and see what I will want to be wearing.

Jo lynne Shane blog does a great job of showing up new trends so click on the red font to see what she has to say.

I like to read about trends, but then think about my lifestyle, my body type, my comfort zone, and how that trend would work for me. That is the nice thing about getting some age of you – you know yourself better.

So here are the spring trends I am embracing or planning to embrace…

Stripes – I couldn’t believe I had next to zero striped clothing when I bought this back in the late summer. It was a travel piece for the UK and it’s easy to throw on with black pants for school.

This was the one piece I had from last season. This Loft green and white stripe really spoke to me. I really like the thinner striped green and white oversized that Old Navy has, but I think I am going to be content with this.

Speaking of Old Navy, I am really happy with the blue and white and pink and white striped button ups I bought in January and have already worn them several times. I believe they are now on sale for $14!

I made my first Carly Jean Los Angeles purchase and it included this striped tee.

And, I bought this Walmart Free Assembly classic breton tee and this

Walmart Free Assembly feminine striped sweater.

So, I would say I dove right in with the striped trend!

Rattan – I love rattan!

My Coconuts by Matisse get worn quite a bit and my Target Universal Thread flat sandals were the most worn of summer 2023.

I mean I think this is what they are talking about by rattan. I could see a tote or a handbag being useful this summer, too.

Metallics – I think my fave way to do metallics is in my footwear. I’m really jumping over to silver – I have a new pair of clog/mules and some new to me silver jewelry I’m incorporating I am definitely not over my love of gold shoes; maybe I can find sandals that I like with both silver and gold!

Light gold Eurosoft on the left, new Gap silver clogs in the middle, and old Swedish gold clogs on the right:

A mid-calf denim skirt with a front slit – this is going to be hard to find the right length with my height of 5’4. I don’t want to go into Duggar territory. I mean no offense, but that’s not the look I’m going for. I have a light denim mini skirt, but I want to try the more modern longer skirts I am seeing.

Wide leg white jeans – I have straight leg and flowy white linen pants with a drawstring, but I would like a modern wide leg or maybe a cropped wider leg. This is going to be tricky because I don’t want too much fabric in the legs.

Sweater over the shoulders or my striped breton over my shoulders – Doesn’t she look so cool? She is like, “I got a text, but it can wait. I am pondering life’s mysteries while looking elegant.”

Platform sneakers – I can see myself needing, yes I said needing, white, but I did the crazy fun thing and pulled the trigger on Adidas Gazelle Platforms in pink and green. I did the 8 hour teacher test and the platform is really comfortable. I liked the added height a lot.

What trends are you ready to try? What have I forgotten?

Amy

P.S. – If you want to see what I purchased in January, click here. If you want to see what I purchased in February, click here.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Yes, I am a couple of days shy of the end of February, but I am an optimist and hoping not to buy anything else!

I bought a lot in January – let’s blame it on the long, cold month and the longing for spring?

This month, I did pretty well. I ordered and returned two things that I won’t include here.

I ordered and kept…

Two Amazon blouses recommended by Tanya:

Amazon bright color blouse ($17 at the time I bought it but now it is $25)

and Lily P. dupe pattern which was $22 after clickable coupon.

I would say both run true to size.

Walmart striped top from Free Assembly – whoa – the quality is on par with Land’s End – seriously. $18.

Walmart navy ruffle swimsuit – I started with the hot pink as I am still in love with Barbiecore. Heck, I loved it before Barbiecore was a thing. I had a hot pink swimsuit and still do but it’s really faded. It made me so happy. Rediscovering tank suits was life-changing and the hot pink worked with almost all of my coverups and just made me smile. When I received the hot pink, it was too big and I went back to get the smaller size and there was no pink. I thought navy might be nice since I usually go for black. $27.

Adidas Gazelles Platforms – First I ordered the yellow and they were so big. I have been looking at the pink/green since end of December or beginning of January and loved them so much I had an email alert set for when they came back in stock. That never happened that I know of, so I ordered the yellow because I also love yellow. When I went to re-order a full size down, they did have the pink, so I ordered it instead.

I got free shipping and $20 off for signing up for text alerts so I paid $105.

They passed the school test and I was giddy every time I looked at my feet.

The grand total:

$189 for the month

I think I did really well. I really just didn’t have much time to shop!

I would like to think I will be content for a while, but now I have to buy things to match my new shoes! Ha!

No, I am rediscovering my warmer weather stuff and that is quite fun. My old friends!

What have you bought this month?

Amy

Monday, February 26, 2023

It’s Monday and that means it’s time to link up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday.

How was your weekend?

Let’s start with Thursday. School was crazy because the fire alarm went off and we had to go outside, wait for the fire department, and that was only first period!

I took a pic of some senior girls in my class and then showed them!

We have a coffee cart that comes around 2nd period and my class was doing independent research so I offered to let them get some stuff. I got an extra coffee, a Diet Coke, and a bag of chips because I was having a longer day than normal.

It was National Margarita day apparently, so even though it was raining, I had to participate with my Skinny Marg! Ernie participated as well.

I got a surprise! Mason came home Thursday instead of Friday for Spring Break! I thought he would need some time Friday to pack and finish up. Their college spring break is really early because they have to end the semester before Derby due to its proximity to the race track. We ordered Mediterranean and Mason picked it up with me and picked up Kroger with me. So, yes, we had take out Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. This is so abnormal for us, but I was doing my conferences so it’s ok.

Friday I have no photos, but I had a decent day, finished my late hours, came home and visited with my college kids and we ordered pizza.

Saturday morning I made a yummy omelet for myself and piddled around doing laundry, cleaning, and random stuff.

Instead of a coffee shop (which Mason and I hadn’t done in weeks), we decided to do a cheese shop.

It was super cute but pricey!

We came home and Mason and Jack hung out and I made myself go back out to do some returns and errands. Before I left, I put the bread dough that had been rising in the oven.

I asked Tom to take it out when it was done. I am in the blue and Tom is in the grey:

Argh. Anyway, the bread was done! Mason helped me make salad, hot dogs (bougie ones from Fresh Market Tom wanted), broccoli, and potato wedges.

Everyone was home Saturday night so that was really nice.

Sunday morning when I got up Ernie was guarding both of his brothers’ doors:

I did some really low key St. Pat’s decor this weekend:

I was motivated Sunday to get my two meals done for Erica and I – burger bowls and pizza bowls (this time with the added cottage cheese mixture) – and taco meat for a taco and Spanish rice dinner either tonight or tomorrow.

Here’s my secret:

I add a bit to the taco meat along with the taco seasoning packet.

It feels great to have this ready to go. I took a break from meal prep last weekend, too.

Yesterday Tom had to work on a broken toilet in the basement so that involved some trips to Home Depot, phone calls to me, measurements I have to take (I really shouldn’t be trusted to correctly use a tape measure!), and you know the drill.

It was so cold Saturday we couldn’t even be outside – or we have gotten soft and it felt super cold. Yesterday it warmed up and was really sunny. Apparently we are in the 60s this week until Thursday. It is so nice, but I feel like spring fever and senioritis is coming on sooner because of it?

Now, we have 5 five day weeks until my spring break. That seems like a really long stretch!

I’m excited for all the college parents who have kids coming home for all or part of spring break!

Tell me something about your weekend! I apologize for getting behind on comments last week. I do read and appreciate all of them!

Amy

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Here is a bonus post for your Saturday morning! I am linking up with Jennifer for her Share Four Somethings monthly link up!

Something I’ve Loved

I think we have all said a variation of the same thing in the blog world. The sun! When I get home from work, the sun is gone from my little patio off of my mud room, but then around 4:45-5 these days I get a really bright sun beam and I have tried to bask in it every day that I can.

Know yourself and myself loves getting this bit of sun, being outside, and this is my happy place until the neighbor starts his leaf blowing – wish I was kidding.

Something I’ve Accomplished

I finished my hard half of a week of coming in early and staying late for conferences. Friday morning as I arrived the fog was really thick!

Something I’ve Improved Upon

This is going to sound so silly, but I feel like I’ve gotten my Saturdays back. I have started doing grocery pick up on Wednesday or Thursday and this forces me to meal plan for the next week, too. I know I can save money if I go to Aldi rather than Kroger, but I would still need Kroger items. For now, this is what I am continuing to do. Kroger is close and it makes my life easier right now.

It’s a great feeling to wake up Saturday knowing that I don’t have to meal plan, shop, place an order, whatever. I’m fully stocked and can start meal prep if I want to.

Something that Needs Improvement

My sister in law gave me this nice coffee maker but I miss the ability to make just one cup of coffee for myself in the morning or in the afternoon.

My friend Jessica is not a coffee drinker, but her husband has this machine:

It is by Hamilton Beach and what I like about it is that you don’t use paper filters or pods. You simply put your coffee grounds in the silver basket and you can make a mug size or a travel cup size single serving. Does anyone have this machine. Thoughts? I was seriously considering switching to Nespresso because I really don’t want to continue making a whole pot that I am wasting. I just want two cups a day! Well, sometimes I would like an afternoon cup.

Something I’ve Noticed

I’ve noticed that I am reaching for sneakers most days because it’s just not worth it to have my feet hurt trying to teach on hard cement floors. I feel that there is a need for a platform sneaker in my life which will be nice with longer pants, jeans, and wide legged crops, maybe.

I ordered these and they were so big on me in my normal size. I love the look, though.

When I went back to size down, they had these in the size I think I need. They did not have them in my regular sized.

I know the colors are less practical, but I love the combo so much!

I already have practical white sneakers, so do I go for fun?

Help! Ha! It’s hard to pay these sneaker prices, but I know they are what I am wearing, you know?

Well, it is Saturday morning and I have a full nest. It’s college spring break so Mason is home – so, so early, right? They end the semester quite early due to the Kentucky Derby. I have the dishwasher waiting to be unloaded and the dryer going. I have my candle burning and my coffee mug on my mug warmer.

I have a list of errands that I want to do and a plan to do a coffee shop later with Mason.

I am feeling very content this Saturday morning!

Hope you have a great weekend,

Amy

Friday, February 23, 2024

It’s Friday and I am at the end of my long week (I will tell you why it was long later in the post! ! I am happy to link up with Andrea and Erika for a happy post!

I did not have off on Monday for President’s Day, but I had the whole day to work at school on catching up. I took time out for a cup of tea with colleagues, and I went to breakfast/lunch at Con Huevos like a real girl with an hour lunch break. Tuesday, we had another teacher day with meetings, but I still had a cup of tea, lunch out at McAllister’s and time to get things done and ready for students on Wednesday.

Do I still have my frustrations and personal problems of the last weeks – yes! But I shifted my mindset this week with the help of a great little book, lots of sunshine, and a pep talk I gave myself!

So, let’s do some happy favorites from the week…

Andrea recommended this and it’s so good! I’ve been struggling to get all of my water in so this has been nice.

I really like my new Duck Plump as a topper.

I bought this in November and just now need a replacement. It’s pricey but it lasts a long time (I think – 4 months for a deodorant is pretty good, no?) and it serves as my fragrance,too. I need to test it in the sweaty summer months. Combined with my Diva laundry capful that I add in with my regular Tide myself smells real nice.

I marveled at my coordination in my Monday outfit. Yes, I wore tequila earrings to school with no students present. I’ve really enjoyed this light yellow/green flourescent press on mani this week!

This was our Mexican breakfast/lunch on Monday:

And, my salad and baked potato on Tuesday:

A couple of teachers skipped lunch or brought the same old boring sandwich, but I felt it was important to make the days “feel different” and I was right. This was one way I was kind to myself this week.

After work on Monday, I met my friend Jessica for a pedicure and a catch up:

I chose a dark teal color and I love it! After, we tried to get a drink and snack at Mojito, but it was closed so I asked her back to my patio and we chatted a bit more. It was so nice!

I had some healthy food faves this week…

Wednesday Erica made ground chicken kofta bowls:

Thursday I made farro, chicken, garbanzo beans with a tahini sauce bowls and it’s on a plate because it was also dinner for my family the night before:

I made a couscous, sweet potato, black bean, red onion meal:

I had a bunless Boca burger on the side:

Ernie and I took a slow sunny walk each day after work:

Puxatawney Phil was right! I kept saying we would get one more winter weather event, but now I’m not so sure.

I chose to go in to work an hour early and stay an hour late Wednesday through today to do my parent teacher conferences – we could do 6 hours however we wanted which was nice – and I was kind to myself by ordering Chinese instead of trying to rush to cook something.

And, it was even so mild that I was able to do my coffee outside one day this week. It reminded me of most of September through November when I did this and What’s App’ed with Mason in England to start each day.

And, again with the color coordination with the nails and the mug! It makes this color loving lady happy!

I’m buoyed by the time change coming soon! Are you excited?

People are starting to talk about the solar eclipse April 8th, too. We are out of school that day – it’s the Monday after Spring Break. We were IN school for the last eclipse and it was a waste of a day, so this is much better.

I cannot recommend this book enough! I already do some of the things so maybe I am a little Swedish?

I hope you also had many, many favorites this week! Leave me one in the comments!

This week I posted Hello Monday, My Current Blogroll, Pinterest Fun, and Fashion Files if you missed anything!

Happy Weekend,

Amy

Thursday, February 22, 2024

This week’s Fashion Files with Kellyann and Jill is going to be kind of short for me because I just don’t have much fashion in my files!

The way I have this tucked in in the photo is not good, but I think and hope I fixed it. I wore my new Old Navy striped button up with my yellow MJ pants and a scarf-like headband with blue and yellow and a design. I got so many compliments on this blue and yellow combo.

That night for Tom’s builder event, I wore the same top part with jeans and my Hush Puppies pumps. Also, you can’t see in the first picture, but I wore my two Kendra Scott chains that came with a black pendant and I liked how it looked over the shirt. So, at least the top part will be on repeat!

Friday I broke out a Loft top from last year with a black vest, Matilda Janes, and stark white sneakers from Madewell that I bought pre-pandemic.

Saturday was hair day and the roads were wet. I wore a black Amazon top, my Kut from the Kloth jeans, and my rubber Danskos.

Monday for teacher work day I wore this because I had plans after work:

I even wore my tequila earrings because there were no students. Look at the color coordination I have going on here!

Tuesday I wore my fun leggings, a black v neck short sleeve, and a black knit cardigan. I forgot to get an outfit photo!

I did something crazy-ish. Look what I ordered! I will take them back if they aren’t perfect, but with me wearing sneakers almost everyday to work now, I figured I could justify it. I got a $28 discount and free shipping, so that was nice, too. I can return them in person to my Dick’s. I originally wanted the pink with green stripe platforms, but they have not been in stock for a couple of months and I love yellow and this is more neutral.

I am working on my February Fashion Purchases post. I have not bought much in February! The month just flew for me!

What have you been wearing lately? Any favorites of mine?

Amy

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Do you still use Pinterest? It’s such a happy form of social media and I do still use it quite a lot for fashion inspo, ideas on what to wear – even that very day, holiday decor, and interior design ideas.

Recently there was a trend floating around on IG to search for “celebrity, outfit, quote, aesthetic”. I never did figure out if I was supposed to search those separately or all together?

Here’s mine:

Celebrity:

I do want to try tying my sweater around my shoulders and I have seen someone tie a striped Breton shirt and I liked that look. I am still considering some Adidas sneakers.

Outfit:

I do want a blue denim front slit skirt but one that is shorter than pictured here.

Here is my quote:

This really spoke to me. I have been struggling with Ernie, work (and something else happened on Friday) and how long to stay/when to retire, my stage in life changing with soon to be college graduates, work/life balance and a couple of other things.

I am feeling better now and I have a bit more perspective, I think.

My aesthetic:

I think a lot of people got this one, but heck yes! That is the exact color I like my coffee, too! I left the library Saturday with a stack of fiction and non-fiction books and was positively giddy.

I use Pinterest for inspo on how to style a new piece of clothing or an old piece that I need to wear. Here is what I got from “button up shirt outfit”:

I have a green and white stripe and a pink and white stripe!

Even though it sounds lame, I might not have thought to half tuck it or to put a white t-shirt under it. My green and white is a bit snug in the chest so I think I can do the white tee under.

So, yes I still love Pinterest! I don’t pin a lot but I do look around a lot. I don’t really look at anyone elses’ pins anymore either.

What about you? Are you a Pinterest person?

Amy