It’s time to link up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files. I am sorry I didn’t post yesterday – I was wiped out and hadn’t planned ahead with a topic, so I just let it go. Sometimes that is the right call!
I wore this outfit last week – old Matilda Janes, old Old Navy floral tank, old consignment cardigan.
I also wore this last week – new skort from Costco (have worn it two or three times already) and an old blouse.
Cinco de mayo outfit – Target cut offs, Coconuts by Matisse sandals, old tank, and an Umgee Mexican looking kimono.
I believe this will be my third season with these:
Derby party outfit – consignment sandals, Versona clearance pants, Old Navy gauzy top that I got at a consignment shop new with tags.
Sunday’s walking the dog outfit was my new “Shell Yeah” t-shirt.
This week at school has been Teacher Appreciation Week including a theme week. Monday was “Summer Vibes”. Erica did European traveler and I did tropical.
And, in real fashion news…
My niece had a stunning prom dress!
And, my sister Kate looks awfully stylish, too!
What kind of fashion have you been sporting lately?
Even though I am not finished until June 2, I counted that I only have 11 more school outfits to create! I am still doing well at not repeating any items. I need to pull the things I haven’t worn yet and move them to one section of my closet.
I am happy with how I did last month. I cleaned out my closet and took inventory and intentionally replaced a few things that needed replacing.
I hate returns, so I am trying to read reviews and be thoughful about my purchases. I rarely click buy right away, but let things hang out in my cart for a bit.
Ok, it’s Monday and it’s a 5 day week and I am trying to mentally prepare myself. My big AP Spanish exam is Wednesday and I don’t get to see my kids today because most of them have AP Calculus, so tomorrow is it. I call it my Blitz Day!
I am linking up with Sarah and Holly to talk about my weekend. Let’s go!
I had Friday off because it is a Flex PD day – I already worked it over the summer or in one of my after school sessions. They did that because too many teachers took it off to go to The Kentucky Oaks – the day before Derby races.
It was seriously hot out! I finished up my book:
I started this:
I put on my most Cinco de Mayo looking thing – a kimono to run my errands.
I had to change out of the long sleeve underneath to a tank to wear it out to dinner later:
I went to Trader Joe’s and got this:
and the famed Chablis from Cheese Gal:
And, it is amazing! I need to go get more before it sells out.
I got a few British things for the coronation:
M and I decided we love crumpets! You need to toast them and the butter seeps into the cool little holes.
I also went to World Market and got tea and a couple other little things:
I finally made the Ted Lasso biscuits with the boss shortbread recipe. It’s very easy and delish! We are watching Ted Lasso’s current season with our kids.
M is directing a Shakepeare play at the nature center and has practice many evenings and then the performace starts this week. Tom, J, and I went to the new Condado Tacos at the mall next to Top Golf.
Not impressed. The chips were thick and tasted whole wheat? It was so noisy we couldn’t hear ourselves think but now we know.
I went to bed pretty early and got up at 5 a.m. to watch the coronation:
My favorite part:
I did a Homegoods return and bought Tom’s beer cheese at Liquor Barn and then I came home and made hot brown dip:
It was pretty cloudy and a bit breezy so I decided to wear this with my jockey earrings and white fascinator to the Derby party we were invited to:
What a gorgeous area and look how cute the horse floats were!
We had a great time!
Sunday morning I finished this book and I will never be the same. It was so good and I got an education about a world I didn’t know much about.
I’m glad I got some outdoor time because we could tell a storm was coming. Ernie looks very concerned, right?
Happy Cinco de mayo! We don’t capitalize months in Spanish, but I am not sure about capitalizing it in the phrase “Cinco de mayo”!
Are you having Mexican food tonight? This day really just commemorates the battle at Puebla and we make a bigger deal out of it in the U.S. than they do in Mexico.
It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites!
A couple of favorite recipes I tried last weekend that I want to share. Also, as some of you moms are getting excited/nervous about all the free time stretching out in front of you this summer, I think these would be great to do with kids.
The Yummiest Banana Bread – I found myself with 6 very over ripe bananas and I think that is what contributed to this being the best (I know I have said it before, but I really mean it now) banana bread I have ever made. I gave a loaf to my friend Elizabeth and she immediately texted me asking how I made it so moist. She had to have the recipe.
Buttermilk Pancakes – I like to treat my college kids sometimes and made these on Saturday. I put mini chocolate chips on top – I don’t mix it in with the batter because I think they sink or the ratio turns out wrong. These were the most delicious pancakes I have ever made. I also love my electric non-stick griddle that enables me to make 4-6 at a time depending on size.
But, wait you say – you have found really good box mixes. Nope! Don’t even go there. These recipes take maybe 5 more minutes but you control the ingredients and you know there are things you cannot pronounce on the ingredients list of the box mix. With the leftover buttermilk, make mashed potatoes for my KFC Copycat Bowl that I got from Andrea, I think. I couldn’t find her post about it.
Reminders:
Tomorrow is The Kentucky Derby and the big race occurs at 6:57 p.m.
King Charles’ Coronation can be watched starting at 6:00 a.m. Eastern time. Will you be sipping tea and eating scones in your p.j.’s with a big hat as your accessory?
I am so happy to have my favorite hairspray again from Amazon! It wasn’t available for a while and I settled but then I checked and it’s back!
And, trying a new detangler and I really like it and the smell.
I figured out how to dust my decorative rocks… I dumped them out on a towel and rubbed. I cleaned the vases, too. They look so much better.
Tuesday was a favorite this week because I took one of my two remaining personal days! I got very cheap tickets to the horse races at Churchill Downs and Erica and I took a personal day and I invited my niece Brooke. We started the day with brunch at Gralehaus, which is the absolute cutest and has great food.
Soon to be college graduate and RN starting in June – so lovely and fun to be with!
We all got a breakfast sandwich on a homemade biscuit and it was delish. I am so glad we ate before the track because food was super expensive and many of the food and drink stands were cash only? So weird.
The garden behind Gralehaus:
The weather forecast was looking dicey – more clouds and wind than preferable. I ended up sticking with my original outfit and the only thing new was my $11 Amazon fascinator. I did take a sweater but only needed it at the very end. We really lucked out as it was super sunny and I was appropriately dressed all day. I was also very comfy in last year’s Amazon sandals. I do look like I’m wearing Granny’s nightgown, but whatever.
Some outfits as we headed in:
There was everything from jeans to a full on Derby Day ‘fit with pretty heels, dresses, and hats.
Our first drink was the Oaks Lily:
We were able to snag a box on the railing at the finish line! I guess there are advantages to getting there early in the day. I have never had such good seats!
I picked a winner in every single race until the last one. I didn’t bet a lot of money but I won anywhere from $2-6 each race! But, I have to tell you this or I am a bad person. In the last race we stayed for (the second to last of the day), we were walking out to cash out our tickets and we saw a horse lying down on the track. So, something happened after the race was over – the horse may have had a heart condition or hurt his leg. They immediately brought out a big tarp like tent thing and a truck came on the track and of course that only meant one thing. We later heard that another horse died after the 5th race. Two horses died! We felt like such bad people for betting after that. This is why Tom is not a fan of horse racing or really anything that involves humans taking advantage of animals. He hates the circus. So I know this is controversial, but I had to share that. I know people will come back and say that thoroughbred horses are treated like kings, but to me it sounds like they were pushed too hard and I used this as a form of diversion.
Anyway, it was a great day until the end when that happened.
Wednesday night was the great steamboat race down at Marine Sales and Service where we keep our boat. Tom, Ernie, and I went.
Ernie waiting on Tom to drop a scrap:
It was so nice to be out in the sun on a weeknight and we saw lots of people we hadn’t seen in a while, so that was really nice.
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week and they have us dressing in themes like the kids do at Spirit Week. Monday is “Dress like you are in summer mode”. I will try to do them all because it will make deciding what to wear easy.
Remember that my favorite thing to get as a teacher is a handwritten heartfelt note from a parent or a student. I save them all. As far as gifts go, I think I most appreciate a gift card. I spend my own money throughout the year on little things that are just not worth trying to get reimbursed for so if you do go the gift route, don’t think a gift card is lame. But, again, a card or note is really my favorite.
Happy, happy Friday and did I mention I am off today? This is a day we worked in the summer to have today off – a flexible PD day. It is Oaks so many teachers were taking it off years ago and that is why they decided to make it one of our flex PD days. Also, it’s college move out day so I will be going to campus to help provide more space with my car and then trying to get a couple of people who shall not be named to unpack and organize when they get home now that finals are over.
It’s time once again to link up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files…
First, we have my Thursday night Honors Night outfit. I did not wear this to school. This is a Knox Rose Target dress from last year and Target shoes new with tags from one of my consignment stores. They are surprisingly comfortable and I hope to wear them to a wedding this month.
Friday I wore jeans, sneakers, my Costco white Lucky brand sweater with jockey earrings because we were getting closer to Derby.
Saturday for brunch at Wild Eggs with Elizabeth I wore my MIA clog sandals with very old Versona pants that I got for maybe $8 and my Old Navy gauzy blouse that I got new with tags at my consignment store. I have on the same jockey earrings.
Monday for school it turned cold again – imagine that! I wore my horse sweater (another opportunity!), Matilda Jane pants that matched one of the horses – yay!, and my Olukai mules.
Now, let’s talk about a recent Aerie order I placed. I saw a deal where you could use the app and get 30% off, so I did. I believe everything was already on sale to begin with. I ordered three items.
I got this “Shell Yeah” t-shirt that I thought was funny and I am trying it on with the original reason for my order – cream denim cut offs. I thought cream would be great to have. they have elastic in the back just like toddler shorts. Yippee!
And, finally hot pink lounge shorts. I had just gotten a spray tan the day before.
The shorts were a little big but I rolled down the waist and I love the seams and the vibrant color.
I have just been so impressed with Aerie’s quality and how things wash. All 3 are keepers.
I have my eye on these after several Vionic recommendations from you all!
What have you been wearing lately? Purchasing lately?
I promise that after today I will try not to talk about my new bathroom! I know you are tired of hearing about it! I am tired of hearing myself talk about it! I always say this in class: “I know you are tired of me review this, but believe me when I say, that I am more tired of reviewing this than you are of hearing me review it”.
The back story: I had a house with three bathrooms. When we first bought it, it only had two bathrooms on the main floor. One was added about 12 years ago in our basement. It was the best one in the house and we seriously had guests go down and use it because it was the best. The two main floor bathrooms were sad, sad, sad.
The main bathroom/hall bathroom of the house:
Notice the bottom of the pedestal sink was no longer attached because of some plumbing issues before we demo’ed it. This bathroom is so small I could hardly take a photo.
The other bathroom was really only used by Tom and sometimes it was my nocturnal bathroom. It was even smaller than the hall bath and I really couldn’t take a photo of it:
I just got cold chills looking at this pic. It was part of our primary bedroom which is now the new primary bathroom.
We combined both bathrooms to make the new hall bath:
Tom hung a hook and a towel bar Sunday:
I put this stool in here for now and it might have a plant on it, but there is no window and therefore no light.
Tom ordered another backlit mirror like in the primary and hung it on Sunday:
I found the blush feathers at Hobby Lobby and the glass vessel at HomeGoods:
It is not “done”. We need to hang some wall art – and I would like to use a personal photography for some of the wall decor – and we are possibly going to add a small piece of furniture for storage but I kind of don’t want to because I like the open space. I am going to add a cool looking basket for towels when I can find one I like. I have not bought towels yet, either, because I haven’t found what I want yet. I also want to add a patterned rug in front of the vanity.
Tom is super picky about house stuff. He cares deeply about everything like tile, grout color, vanity, toilet, baseboards, fixtures, doors, etc. He lets me pick paint color and decor. This bathroom is my bougie dreams come to life. He thinks I am “moving in” to this bathroom and leaving him to the primary all by himself. Nope! I still love the primary, but it definitely has a different vibe.
Another month has come and gone and I recorded my spending again. This will be my fourth month – wow! I am sure I missed a few odds and ends and I know I didn’t record all of my Amazon purchases. That is due to the fact that some of them were returned and I didn’t do a great job with tallying. I will do an Amazon Lately post soon.
This includes some Spring Break spending from April 1 – 9 so we “treated ourselves” a bit, but still did pretty well.
April 1 – $117 Trader Joe’s , $59.99 Sun Tan City month of April (ended up spray tanning 4 times)
April 2 – $34 Tickets to college play (I always give my kids money for this and I went along, too. I like to support the college theatre program. They weren’t in it, but wanted to support it and they invited me!, $55 dinner at Upland Brewing Company with friends
April 3 – $18 Derby earrings, $20 movie tickets – Tom and I saw Champions on Spring Break
April 4 – $40 Clothes Mentor (two pairs of shoes and a blouse), $0 Dinner at La Bodeguita (our friend picked up the tab and we bought his baseball game ticket), $61 baseball tickets
April 5 – $60 Lunch at Bardstown Bourbon Company
April 6 – $233 Kroger (Easter and out of a lot of staples)
April 7 – $30 HH with Elizabeth at Kaelin’s 80/20
Lots of fun was had at Keeneland for only about $30!
April 8 – $30 Keeneland, $30 pizza (Domino’s delivery)
April 9 – $0 Spend Day
April 10 – $69 Walgreen’s toiletries that college kids needed before heading back – probably spent too much but they wait until the last minute and say “oh yeah, I need” and we still buy these things for them because their jobs are student right now.
April 11 – $0 Spend Day
April 12 – $15 Happy Hour with Beth at Boombozz – discovered they have a great and cheap happy hour!
April 13 – $111 Kroger, $120 hair, $36 pedicure, $26 Dollar Tree (stuff for school)
April 14-$25 Mojito Happy Hour with Heather, $39 Jasmine Asian take out for dinner (had not had Chinese food in forever!)
It’s not really about the mojitos at Mojito – it’s about the company!
April 15 – $48 Silvio’s Italian before Prom
April 16 – $12 coffee shop (I was on my own and read a book and it was lovely!)
April 17 – $110 Kroger pick up (pretty close to my last pick up but needed lots of staples that I didn’t account for)
April 18 – $0 Spend Day
April 19 – $0 Spend Day
April 20 – $40 Derby open house boutique purchases (some were impulse but I was supporting a friend’s boutique and her Derby event), $40 Louvino happy hour and dinner with Heather
April 21 – $4 emergency breakfast for Amy (out of meal prep and out of energy!), Tom and I had to eat a quick meal before Jack’s guitar gig. We chose a taqueria called Panchito’s and it was $24.33
April 22 – $150 Target (bathroom decor and re-stocking toiletries), $51 Hobby Lobby, $59 TJ Maxx, $77 Kroger pick up (ended up returning about $50 of this – decor for bathroom)
April 23 – $20 Pauls’ Fruit Market, $30 Kroger (a few forgotten things), $33 Rooster’s Sunday Funday with Tom
April 24 – $0 Spend Day
April 25 – $0 Spend Day
April 26 – $0 Sun Tan City, $0 Sassy Fox Consignment (dropped off a few more items and found out I made $34 already – + $34, $107 Kroger
April 27 – $0 Spend Day
April 28 – $24 Happy Hour at Boombozz
April 29 – $24 Brunch with Elizabeth, $60 market at shopping center where we had brunch (bought macaroons, a candle, and two cocktail shrubs)
April 30 – did $150 in returns at UPS, Target, and TJ Maxx (lots from bathroom design) and spent $150 at Homegoods, $65 gas
Summary: April was a fast and busy month and included Spring Break and the completion of our hall bath. It was also a very social month for me.
But, I continue to meal prep all of my breakfasts during the week and to cook almost every night. I am surprised that I was able to have 7 No Spend Days this month. I continue to do most of my Kroger pick ups during the week to free up the weekends. I have really been working on less food waste and getting creative with what needs to be used up in the fridge. I have also been working hard on contentment in my closet.
Totals:
$0 Spend Days: 7
Kroger: $558 (Wow- way down, but did have a big Costco run that I didn’t include – oops)
Trader Joe’s: $117
Paul’s Fruit Market: $20
Amy’s Happy Hours: $94 – not bad, but I would like to have people come to my patio more in May
Meals Out: Spring Break: $55 Upland Brewing Co. with our friends, $60 Bardstown Bourbon Company, $0 La Bodeguita de Mima (our friend picked up tab), $40 Silvio’s before Prom, $24 Taqueria Panchiol’s, $33 Rooster’s Sunday Funday, $40 LouVino, $24 Wild Eggs (8 times eating out and that includes breakfast, lunch, or dinner and these are Amy with Tom or Amy with a friend) Do not feel bad for Tom as he eats lunch out 5 days a week and we don’t even want to talk about that. I gave up on trying to get him to bring his lunch!
Take Out: $30 Domino’s Pizza, $39 Jasmine Asian Bistro (two times!)
Well, that’s a wrap on April! I didn’t tally clothing and accessories, but I think I’m still doing really well on that front, too. A post will be coming soon on a few things that I have snagged!
Let’s go back to Thursday as I link up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday…
So, do you know who Jack Harlow is? If you have a teen they know who he is! He is from Louisville but didn’t go to my high school – he went to a high school where one of my besties teaches. His brother, however, did go to my school and was an amazing Spanish student that I got to teach for 2 years!
Anyway, I had just gotten a text from my friend with a picture of her with him so I knew he was in town and guess what…had a new album dropping the next day.
I’m teaching away (or trying to) and I hear a stampede of kids running and screaming outisde my door. Then, actually thankfully for social media my students started telling me theat they were getting messages that Jack was at my school walking through the courtyard during 3rd lunch! My class and I have 1st lunch. Sadly, my class didn’t get to see him, but as you can imagine the rest of the day that was all the kids could talk about.
I had to come back that night for Senior Honors Night and wore this:
My view:
I didn’t eat dinner until I got home and it was a zucchini lasagna bowl. Tom had to eat it alone.
Friday after school Erica and I went to the little shopping center nearby with the cute beaded jockey earrings. She didn’t get the ones below but loved them. I already have two pairs so I had to stop there. She found two other pairs to match her outfits for next week.
Then, we headed over to Boombozz for happy hour.
You can buy the green chili jam that comes with the nachos so I did!
I made cream cheese with green chili jam for Tom for a little before dinner snack.
One college kid came home to study for finals in a more quiet environment. Classes are done and now they just have finals, projects, and papers to turn in.
Saturday morning I got up pretty early because I had gone to bed so early. And, I had a list a mile long of things I had to accomplish and errands I had to run. I got some of them done that could be done at home and then I chose fun because I already had plans to meet Elizabeth for brunch at Wild Eggs. She has her throat polyp surgery Wednesday so I wanted to see her before then. I made her a little care package of some tea and soups and soft foods and I baked two loaves of banana bread and gave her one.
I just always get the farmer’s market skillet!
Then, we walked around a little market and I gor macarons, a candle I had been wanting, and some cocktail or mocktail shrubs. Do you know what that is? It is a fruit juice and vinegar combo that you add to cocktails or mocktails and the vinegar is really good for you. It tastes a little like kombucha. I got a blueberry lemon shrub and a cranberry apple shrub. It is a bottle of liquid – not a plant!
Then, Tom had charged the boat battery and washed the boat and we did a trial run.
It was pretty cold. I had on pants and a sweatshirt. The above photo is pretty special to me. When the vet told us in January that Ernie had internal bleeding, was anemic and most likely had tumors on his spleen one of my first thoughts was that he wouldn’t get to see another summer of doing what he loves. I am tearing up again thinking about it. I am sorry I keep talking about it lately but I think I get emotional with the changing of the seasons and the milestones that come wtih each of them.
Like I said recently, Ernie continues to be the same ol’ guy with just showing the signs of aging – stiffness sometimes after exercise. He continues to eat kibble, Arthrisoothe pellets (4 a day), chicken, green beans, carrots, and pumpkin.
My favorite house on the river:
We only stayed out about an hour. When we got home I made this:
I took my new candle and my shrub’tail to the patio.
I relaxed for a bit and then made myself go do a couple of the errands while putting off the rest until yesterday.
Jack then came home and brought much of his dorm stuff. We ate dinner and watched Ted Lasso. I attempted steamed cod with cajun, broccoli, and steak fries (homemade). I think the fish was not very cod because it was frozen and I probably rushed the defrosting process.
Sunday I make 8 breakfast burritos, lunch for Erica and I for Monday, did the dishes, laundry, floors, gathered up all the returns I needed to make – ugh – my friend Heather always has a car full of returns and I could not live like that. I hate returns but when doing house decor it is a necessary evil I guess.
I started a new email account this weekend with gmail and have changed my blog email to that address, too. I actually really liked “declaring email bankruptcy” since every time you make a purchase you are forever on someone’s email list! I guess I am a little worried that one of my “lost emails” will be important but I feel that they would have another way to get ahold of me.
Happy Saturday! Happy second to the last day of April! Today I am here for a rare Saturday post to link up with Jennifer for her “Share 4 Somethings”. If you are a regular reader, there will be some repeats of thoughts and photos!
Loved
This month I have loved my view from my little deck outside of my mudroom. I love my Amazon anti-gravity lounger with sunshade and this almost immediately relaxes me. I have watched less tv and read more books from this spot.
When it rains and when I need more shade, I come down to my covered patio with ceiling fans. I have not spruced up either space yet with pillows, candles, and decor. I need to get on that.
Learned
I learned how important it is to immediately come home and love on my Ernie. At the end of our after school walks I let him off lease in our yard and he does the best roll and back scratch in the grass. We had such a scare with him on January 26 when the vet told us he would not be long for this world. We brought him home and loved on him even more and that is still our plan. He seems back to normal but stiff from age from time to time.
I am continuing to learn to be content and happy with my closet. I am wearing mostly old things with a few consignment or new finds thrown in.
I am learning to be a better shopper and continuing to return things that aren’t a 10/10 for me.
If you have multiple returns, you can edit your photo with your return code to say what the item is.
Read
I read these books this month. Marlowe Banks was my least favorite and moved a bit slow. But, I liked them all!
Ate
I ate mostly at home.
Burrito bowl:
Zucchini lasagna bowl:
Big Mac Bowl:
Greek bowl with Greek potatoes:
And, for lunch I bring the same as the dinner for Erica and I and she does the same.
Doritos Tacos Loco Salad:
Erica’s Slender Kitchen Beef Bulgogi Bowl:
I am eating pretty well from Monday to Friday…unless there is cake, donuts, cookies, offered to me at school. Darned sweet tooth!
Can you share 4 somethings? Can you share 1 something?
Happy Friday! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share our favorites from the week.
But, first, I have a confession. I have been locked out/haven’t had my personal email for a week. I have my school email, of course, and that’s quite enough. Here is the long and short of it…I have kept my bellsouth.net email for far too long. Apparently it is part of yahoo, or Currently by AT&T and I also no longer have AT&T internet, cable, or cell phones in my home. So, I have not figured out how to get access back! I have actually been thinking it was time to switch email accounts and to really just declare “email bankruptcy” due to all the junk email I get. If you have suggestions, let me know!
I love a mimosa and I wanted to include this as a favorite. They are just so good and I think you can order one any time of day!
That face is a favorite! This was our Sunday Funday. He really does go along with most of my schemes.
I did it! I ordered a Lume trial kit and I really like it! I didn’t choose the best scents, maybe? I chose toasted coconut, baby powder (I smell like a bit of a diaper change – albeit a clean one), tangerine and cool cucumber. Has anyone else used it? Erica used it in Panama (the country) and said she never once stunk.
Some meals were favorites this week…
Big Mac bowl!
Burrito bowl!
A Greek bowl for lunch!
My new Urban Outfitters egg spoon rest!
My new Urban Outfitters shower curtain!
Here is how I boil eggs. I boil them, then I put ice cubes in the pan and shake, shake, shake.
I immediately peel and it works like a charm!
I ordered an $11 Amazon fascinator and I love it. A fascinator is much easier to wear than a giant Derby hat. It is on a headband.
This scent is to die for and I wish I hadn’t waited so long. There is really nothing “masculine” about it. You can find it at Target.
I also still love this one from Target! It smells so good!
Trying out Native face wash and I think I really like it!
And, this smells amazing.
Boujie new products for my new bathroom is the name of the game here…
So, sorry for the material goods being my faves this week!
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 