Happy Friday! I have had a week and you all don’t even know what I am getting ready to tell you! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for the happiest post of the week – Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from my camera roll…
So. let’s start out with a food/meal recommendation..
This is restaurant quality soup, but it’s pricey. Remember that I am frougie. This ain’t your momma’s Campbell’s tomato soup, but I will pay for this.
Heat it up, add a few of these:
and a little bit of cheese and I clocked it in as only 4 WW points. I had a half baked potato and other vegetables for my Sunday night meal while Tom ate more.bean.soup and then texted me Monday from work that he was not feeling too good in the tummy after eating the bean soup coupled with way too much buttered movie popcorn.
Sunday late afternoon it was my turn to pick the movie (we hadn’t been in a long time) and I picked this:
I still make my own popcorn at home and use my Winona butter spray. I bring a dum dum for dessert. Hey, I like my movie routine!
Did you read this?
The movie was based on this book.
Honestly, I forgot how melancholy and dark it was (in addition to being sweet and precious) and Tom told me I never get to pick again. I cried multiple times during the movie and even cried during the previews. You know how they show you similar previews to the movie you are preparing to see?
So, I am not saying it wasn’t good, but it left me feeling melancholy. I also had a case of The Sunday Scaries facing my first 5 day week after so long.
At home, I found out I could watch this for free on Peacock, where Amazon wanted me to pay $20!
I’m not even finished with it – it was predictable and I guess I just wasn’t in the mood. I will give it another try…maybe?
The zucchini lasagna bowls were absolutely delish! I had it for one lunch and one dinner this week. Tom was kinda meh about it. Please make this! You don’t even miss the noodles! I made one of them with turkey meatballs and the other with just cooked ground beef.
My other lunch at school was Mexican lasagna. Two lasagnas, baby! I used La Banderita low carb tortillas.
Erica made creamy jalapeño chicken and it was to.die.for.
Chasing that sun after school:
It helps so much!
This is the best pen – fight me! Just kidding – tell me your favorite pen. I prefer a clickable so I don’t have to keep up with a lid.
Getting back on the Wed. or Thurs. grocery pick up routine. Things have been all topsy turvy with my grocery schedule.
Ok, I am cringing as I am getting ready to tell you this…
I have made up silly things through the years with little sayings, jingles, chants, and dances. My students have been telling me for a few years to become a TikTok teacher – what even is that? I decided to put myself out there and try it as a 2023 goal.
On TikTok, my name is just Señora Spanish and my user name is @sraspanish. I posted my first video on Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning I had “gone viral”. I had kids coming up to me that I don’t know saying they saw me. As I am writing this post on Thursday afternoon, I have now had 3.3 million views. I thought maybe 50 people would watch it at most.
Eeek – what have I done? Ultimately, I felt there was a need for short lessons on Spanish grammar topics, or in the case of my first video, simple pronunciation rules. And, where are the kids? They are on TikTok. What has been most surprising and really nice is that my former students are reaching out and saying sweet things like “I miss this class”.
So, I guess I went viral at age 51. So, I don’t know how long I will do this but for now I think it’s engaging my students because they are telling me what videos to make.
Did anything crazy happen to you this week? Did you have any favorites?
I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files!
This month, I am doing Jeans January. I only have 19 school days in January, believe it or not. Erica (my meal prep partner at work) is doing it most days, too. She said, “This is painful”. Yup, it is. Both of us have tight jeans. Sad. Tight jeans feel bad.
Another challenge I am doing is 23 in 2023. I feel like we are almost halfway through the month and so far, so good. I am really trying not to add more winter stuff, but stuff that can be worn in the spring, at least. I have a feeling I am going to eat my words and be super tempted by some amazing deals.
I also plan to look at what I have and see how I can spruce it up, if needed. Does anything need to be hemmed, do I need to use a sweater shaver to make something look better, can I feel like I have new sneakers by changing out the laces? Anything got a good sweater shaver rec? Also, I have ordered new laces for a pair of sneakers that I will show you at the end of my post.
Unfortunately I did not get a full body picture, but this is what I wore to go out to eat last Saturday:
I wore a last season Loft 3/4 length sleeve blouse with my brown Chico’s faux leather pants, and my Hush Puppies nude suede pumps. I am really trying to wear both pairs of pants when I go out since they really aren’t school pants.
My tripod photos just aren’t that clear. I wore this on Monday. It is a hot pink sweater I got from an online boutique, jeans, my brown Danskos, and my new hot pink Gucci-esque bee earrings. The students really complimented my sweater.
Tuesday I wore jeans, brown Jack Rogers booties, an old suede kimono with a burgundy tank underneath.
And, yesterday I wore jeans, my new consignment Cabi blouse, and my New Balance. I wore the New Balance because a girl wanted to know if I liked them so I wore them to show her.
I saw an IG ad and it sent me shopping on the Old Navy website. Remember that I have $100 from Christmas to spend in addition to my 23 in 2023 challenge.
I ordered a cream blouse which I have been needing/wanting to wear with my brown faux leather pants. I couldn’t pass up the Vive Feliz (Live Happy) t-shirt for only $3, and the piece that sent me there in the first place…
was this…
I thought I could wear it now and into the spring.
I got the idea from Things I Bought and Liked on IG to order some green laces to put in my white leather Madewells. I wanted the laces to be shorter so I don’t have to tie them, but I think they look kinda cool.
So, that’s my fashion for the week!
What have you been wearing? Do you have any favorites of mine?
My French Baguette candle makes me think I’m in a French bakery!
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
What is “bougie”? I think we kinda use it incorrectly in society according to this definition. My students basically say bougie for anything fancy.
I am trying to live fabulously frugal this month as I am doing a challenge called “Uber Frugal January”. I try to live this way all the time, but I needed a re-set after the excess of November-December. I try to put my money towards things that matter to me and save on things that don’t.
So I am trying to be FROUGIE!
My weaknesses:
Clothing and shoes – I really like fashion and putting outfits together!
Earrings – they always fit!
Good writing utensils – Sharpie S Gel, amiright?
Amazon – it’s just so easy and so good.
Candles – I’m basic, ok?
Lipsticks – After being masked, my lips need to show off.
Happy hours and Bougie cocktails – I’m a teacher, ok?
I don’t really feel tempted to buy:
Books – I love my library!
Drive Thru coffees or any drive thru things – I would rather spend money to drink a coffee inside the shop and I just don’t have the time to wait in lines or I don’t want to.
Housewares – I am trying to only have what I love and minimize “stuff” to make cleaning easier. I wish I was more into home decor in a way.
Some Things I’m doing:
I am keeping all my candles in one place and rotating them so they feel “new”.
I am paring down to my fave lipsticks and making sure I love them all.
I am organizing my earrings and getting rid of medicocre ones and ones I don’t wear.
I am rotating through winter clothes and getting rid of what no longer suits me. I am starting a donation bag and a re-sell bag.
I am cooking at home more than going out. What makes going out so special besides the lack of work you have to do? I like to get bread and make a dish of olive oil and seasonings like they do at some restaurants. I can use my nice plates and glasses.
I recently had a happy hour at my house with truffle fries and garlic aioli, croissants, and truffle popcorn. I really enjoy re-creating what I might get in a restaurant.
I can take a little more time for self-care. Put on those great smelling lotions, use my eye patches to de-puff, do a face mask – that kind of thing. Spa at home, you know?
I plate my food. I try to not eat standing up. I arrange my breakfast and lunch in a pleasing way.
I use cloth napkins at home. I really prefer cloth to paper and it feels nicer to me.
I am doing WW and have been since April of 2021. I had lost almost 50 pounds and have gained about 20 back because I started slacking and stopped tracking over the summer and into the fall, even though I did continue to make better choices most of the time. I don’t want to live and die by the WW points system and I don’t want to be obsessed, but I think it’s a great system. I am trying to get motivated again.
I just want to say that the hardest part is starting or starting over with tracking and eating healthier. I already feel better in one week. My sister Kate already has loose jeans! You guys! We can do this – together. Let me know in the comments if you are also doing WW.
It starts in the home and at the grocery.
I do not feel one bit bad about tossing the holiday junk. My body is not a trash can. I have a trash can. Or, send it to work with your hub. One teacher brought a big bag of holiday chocolate to pass around at our teacher work day.
Then, use the mindset of “look at all the wonderful things I can eat and should eat and that I love and that my body needs”.
This week I ordered:
spaghetti squash – I can make this a mexican dish or an alfredo dish or simply top it with traditional spaghetti sauce
grape tomatoes – I always keep these now because I use them in my Greek and Burrito bowls. I use them on salads, too.
sweet potatoes – I love to cube and roast these
celery – I plan to put laughing cow and everything but the bagel seasoning on this for a snack
*cuties/clementines- trying to use these as my something sweet after each meal
*bananas – my morning snack
avocado – I have found that avocado toast on Keto bread makes a great after school snack if I come home ravenous.
cucumbers – I use these in my Greek bowl to make tzatziki and to have cut up in the bowl. I use them in salads.
iceberg lettuce – this is just my go to for my honey mustard salad, for my Boca burgers or Impossible burgers, and for my Big Mac salad
Greek non-fat yogurt – I make all my sauces with this and a bit of real mayo, I use this in skinny pizza dough, I use this when I make my cake that only has yogurt and water combined with a mix
reduced fat string cheese – I must eat one a day I love it so much.
*I am so happy that the new WW plan gives you all fruit for free. I knew for a long time that I needed to eat more fruit.
I think you can tell I am craving all the comfort foods in a healthier form! I haven’t gotten back to Soup Sunday, probably because Tom has a giant pot of soup in my fridge that needs to be portioned out, frozen, or something. He is sensitive about his soup (the only thing he ever makes once a year), so I am staying out of it.
I am still turning to Slender Kitchen as my go to for inspiration and recipes.
The Slender Kitchen Lasagna Cupcakes made from wonton wrappers.
Desserts and snacks are my weakness. Send me any suggestions! I think I will make my Funfetti Cake Mix and freeze some of it.
I am still trying to get 30 grams of protein at each meal which I know fills me up and helps me with those sweet cravings.
I still use Jordan’s Skinny Syrup and fat free half and half in my two cups of coffee.
I still drink my Premier or Fairlife iced coffee drink.
I am trying to drink so.much.water in my Stanley Cup!
So, in case you didn’t know, WW has a “new” plan. It is very similar to the old blue plan. I think it’s really the healthiest plan because it focuses on lean proteins, vegetables, and fruits. I get 23 points a day and 28 extra weeklies that I try to save for Saturdays.
Another thing that really helps me is changing what I see in my IG feed. I follow lots of WW and Healthy living people instead of decadent food accounts. I get ideas and inspiration on the daily.
Tom is also eating the way I am for the most part. He even likes cauliflower rice. Protein is important to him, too, so I think he has been pretty happy.
Get a food scale! This is how I know how many ounces I have.
I hope this was helpful? Now, give me all of your best tips!
Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday and with Jen and lots of ladies here for Not Just a Mom – Introductions.
How was your weekend? We saw the sun and had some pretty mild temps for January on Saturday and I’m not gonna lie, it helped my soul!
Let’s go back to Friday’s lunch. Erica made “my” Doritos Tacos Locos salad. It’s a very small amount of Doritos crushed up (she was smart and bought a small bag instead of a giant bag of triangular temptation), Taco Bell taco sauce, good ol’ iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, and taco meat. We both feel that 20 minutes for lunch and potty break makes it a bit hard to eat a salad, but this one is worth it. You know what I mean? Salads take some time commitment.
I had Elizabeth and Erica over for a Frugally Fabulous Friday Happy Hour.
I made a bourbon cocktail that they agreed was worth $15 in a bar, Trader Joe’s frozen fries in my air fryer with truffle oil and sea salt and with a homemade garlic aioli dipping sauce, Trader Joe’s mini croissants, and popcorn with truffle oil. I also “made” them try the Truly hard seltzer holiday pack.
Elizabeth brought us homemade apple butter.
Her grandmother called her “Barefoot Bessie”. We used the napkins my mom gave me for Christmas:
J and M were home to get the rest of their junk and Tom and I had some random leftovers for dinner and J and M had Door Dashed a super late lunch.
Saturday morning I got up and made old fashioned rolled oats with cinnamon.
I read that this is the cinnamon that has health benefits so I had ordered some from Amazon.
I did a rare Saturday morning Kroger pick up and Mason wanted to go to a coffee shop and read. We picked a coffee/donut shop – North Lime in Westport Village if you are local – and had a really nice time.
Look at that foam!
I was reading my paperback while Mason had a little light Plato to read.
We each got a donut and took one home to Jack.
The venue was so quiet and peaceful with only about 3 people there. We kept talking instead of reading and then a playgroup of some sort showed up. There were toe curling screams, trucks going 90 mph across the floor, a boy named Gentry who really liked us, and it was crazy. It made us laugh, though.
Mason went out in the sun to read and I popped into two shops in the center. I brought these home with me!
Jen gave me the idea to do the Big Mac salad with the addition of potatoes and you don’t have to tell me twice to eat a potato. So this was my lunch:
It was only 50 degrees, but the sun was intense and I got to say hello to my old friend. You know how much I love my chair. Gosh, these mild days really help me to get through the long winter months.
I did a brownish burgundy gel nail mani from the new set of polishes I got for Christmas. I feel like I’m getting better. I still need to learn to neatly polish along the edge to “seal” in the manicure.
I went for a library pick up:
The above two were requests I had made and the one below is something I saw on the shelf. I love cookbooks. This one is like for bougie campers or glampers. I plan on using some of them inside, though.
Here’s one that I didn’t check out:
This is very specific – “Carrying Her Boss’s Christmas Baby”. Were they trying to make this a Christmas book?
While I was out going to the library, I also stopped in to Sun Tan City. I don’t know if I told you this, but I bought a spray tan package in November for unlimited sprays until the end of February. It was $80 and I used birthday money. Yeah, it’s kinda silly, but I have been going every other week or so just to get some color.
Then, it was time to get ready for a night on the town. We had reservations for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants that I have only been to maybe three times in my life – Varanese.
It was the usual six plus Faye and Brett. Faye is one of the Heather’s high school friends, but we all became friends when we all lived in Lexington. In fact, Faye credits me for her starting to date Brett. She says I am the one that said she should go out with him.
This is the type of place that brings you an amuse bouche. But, their prices are really reasonable for how good their food is. The last time we were here the waiter brought this (he was probably only 17 years old) and I said, “Oh, is this an amuse bouche?” He replied, “I think it’s just bruschetta.”
I ordered a burnt lemon old fashioned for my cocktail:
I split a goat cheese salad with Heather:
And I ate an open faced burger with potato gratin:
The restaurant is housed inside an old gas station:
Sunday morning and it was meal prep time! I spent about 2 hours doing this, but it will pay off this week.
My breakfasts will be low carb egg casserole and Amy Lu chicken breakfast sausage links.
My two lunches for Erica and I are zucchini lasagna bowls and Mexican lasagna.
A zero point homemade marinara for the bowls:
I really do enjoy doing this and I have the time. Morning is my high energy time, but I know some people would do well with this in the evening.
If you are interested in the bourbon drink I made for the Friday happy hour, here it is. I got this from Austen on Southern Charm on Bravo and tweaked it a bit:
1 shot of bourbon
a splash of orange juice
a half shot of cranberry juice (I used diet)
a half shot of pomegranate juice
a big splash of diet ginger ale
a big splash of prosecco
You may think this has too many ingredients and it does have a lot, but I had all of this leftover from the holidays. I am also trying to learn more about putting bitters in cocktails so I put some cardamom bitters in this drink. My mom gave me a set of cocktail bitters for Christmas.
I feel like I’ve been talking for a long time, but I guess now I need to do my introduction!
Hi. My name is Amy. (Hi Amy!) I live in Louisville, Kentucky, but I am originally from Indiana. I am 51 years old. I have been married for almost 22.5 years. My husband and I have twins who are juniors in college. They go to a small liberal arts college about 20 minutes from our house and live on campus but not in the same dorm room. I am in my 29th year of teaching high school Spanish at a public high school really close to my house. This is the school where my twins went, too. I have been at this school for 22 years. I love to be outside and on the water when I can. I love to read, watch tv, cook, chat with friends, and try out new places around town for food, drink, and shopping. I enjoy consignment shopping but not really antiques or thrifting, as much. I love fashion and putting together outfits.
I am doing WW and have been since April of 2021. I had lost almost 50 pounds and have gained about 20 back because I started slacking and stopped tracking over the summer and into the fall, even though I did continue to make better choices most of the time. I don’t want to live and die by the WW points system and I don’t want to be obsessed, but I think it’s a great system. I am trying to get motivated again.
If you are new to my blog, I talk about all of my interests above, plus my ongoing house projects, frugality, products I love, life hacks, and more.
This is a totally amateur blog, but I do have a search bar, so depending on how you read this blog it will be at the bottom when you can’t scroll anymore or in the top right hand. You might get lucky and find what you’re looking for.
I post 5 days a week and my posts go live at 4:00 a.m. Eastern, unless I mess something up or take a short blog break. I think this year will be my 5th anniversary of blogging! I also want to say that if you have ever thought about having a blog, just do it! I have been so blessed by the friendships I have made in this community.
Ok, hope your Monday doesn’t suck. I hope you aren’t offended by my teen lingo from time to time.
Ah, Friday…I love you! I am linking up here for Friday Favorites.
First of all, one of my favorites is that my district had teachers start on Tuesday and students on Wednesday. It gave us a little time to ease back in and I think 3 days is a good start for the students, as well.
Here are some other random favorites for the week…
I am trying to eat more oatmeal. This is old fashioned rolled oats cooked with skim milk and some cinnamon. Wow! It tastes so good to me! Are you an oatmeal person?
If you try the Impress press on nails (or any other brand), one of my blog readers said to remove them with dental floss. Genius! It was hard to get a picture, but this is me removing the nails I had on for part of break. You put the floss at the cuticle and gently lift both sides of the floss.
Operation Cure Amy’s Dry Face is in full force. Here is what happened. I bought a new The Ordinary serum and a new The Ordinary mask. I think they were just too strong and created a really dry patch on one cheek that became red and even puffy. I used Aquaphor and it took a few days for the situation to improve. Now, I am applying some coconut oil in the morning and at night (using this to melt off my makeup) and then getting in the shower and using Cerave cleanser to wash my face. Then, I am using Cerave lotion on my face twice a day.
If you can get over smelling like a baked good, I think this is putting moisture back in my face.
I am using this in the shower and I love it. You turn off the water and apply this, then dry off. My skin is feeling really good so far this winter.
The Cerave lotion I am using on my face (and everywhere else):
I am most definitely open to other suggestions. This is the first time my combination skin on my face has gotten this dry.
I placed a big Target order for some of the above items and some other things and it came in trickles. It has arrived in at least 5 boxes over the course of almost a week. So weird!
I love this scent if you can find it. Mrs. Meyer’s does it again, right? I think Snowdrop scent is perfect for my January wishes for a snow day. I am not sure what a snowdrop smells like, but this is good!
I am trying to get back on the healthier eating plan. I did not go out to lunch when I could on our teacher day, but came home and made the Big Mac salad with a Boca burger. I made a breakfast bowl for one lunch and a taco bowl for another lunch for Erica and I.
Mason helped me prep 6 Egg McMuffins – I guess I am on a McDonald’s kick! It was so good to have this ready to go on my first student day. I let Mason take half of them back to school. He said he and his roommate would eat them.
This weekend’s breakfast meal prep will either be breakfast burritos or low carb egg casserole with vegetables and turkey sausage. I like to rotate every so often so I don’t get too bored.
If you are looking for entertainment this weekend, I did a lot of tv viewing over break. I watched About Fate, Something from Tiffany’s, Glass Onion, Harry and Meghan, Emily in Paris 3, Wednesday (with my family), and a show you might not like because it was in Spanish called I am Georgina about Cristiano Ronaldo’s (soccer player) partner.
There isn’t a whole lot of fashion in my files this week because I just didn’t dress in real clothing that much during break this year! Linking up with Kellyann and Jill anyway!
I had a good first day at school yesterday. It was good to see my students and I hope they were happy to be back.
Here is what I wore for NYE. I am wearing my Sassy Fox Consignment Marc Fisher heels, TJ Maxx pants, and my black silk Chico’s blouse. Heather has amazing clothes and I am considering asking her to be on the blog showcasing her duds.
I’ve been wearing my Dansko clogs that are more like a Croc a lot, as you know.
For one of my Christmases, I wore my American Eagle velvet leggings (very old) with my Prosecc Ho Ho Ho. Ok, you won’t see this on the blog anymore. I promise.
Every time I did get dressed over break, I think I wore my star sweater.
And, for back to school, I do not like my outfit. I am doing “Jeans January” by myself. It’s not a thing. I wore my Wit and Wisdom flares with my Chico’s silky black top and my faux fur vest. The vest came off immediately because holy heating system. Then, I looked like I forgot to take off my pajama top before coming back to school. So, note to self…do not wear this to school.
See, I don’t have much fashion in my files.
I want to mention one of my blog reads and someone who I have learned quite a bit from – Susan After 60.
Click here on her recent items lookbook. She always looks amazing, in my opinion, and I like how she explains proportions. She knows her stuff!
I also want to mention Cheese Gal on IG. I have been hooked on her “story” she has been telling in parts for like a week now. She is telling about her Dad’s ex and what happened. But, she has the cutest sweater collection, too. Sweater goals!
If you are on IG, follow her for her food content and The Story and her sweaters.
Remember that I am also doing 23 in 2023. Thanks for the support you are showing me. I haven’t bought anything yet! 5 days in! He he! I am starting a list of pieces I think I want. I also have a gift card to spend that won’t count against my total. So many loopholes, right? Just kidding!
I am also trying to wear every.single.winter thing I own but my job is making it difficult. My classroom is just so hot.
What have you been wearing lately? Are you happy with your winter clothing?
I love a good Currently link up! Jennifer is our hostess for this party today! She gives us some present participles and we fill in our responses! Why do I use so many exclamation points?
Some of my responses may be redundant; please forgive me.
Loving
My mom requested a wish list for Christmas and she did really well. She doesn’t like to give money and really likes to give “gift” gifts. I get that and I usually keep some items saved in my cart anyway. I asked for this Amazon star sweater. I can now tell you that I think the quality is amazing and that is is perfect for me. I don’t get too hot. I got it in apricot and I got an extra large. I have worn it many times since I got it! I keep reaching for it! So, I am definitely loving it.
I told you about my Amazon Prime Purchases on Monday and these clogs have been another thing I’m loving. These are the shoes I keep reaching for, too!
I’m loving Tom’s Christmas gift from my mom. It’s easy enough that I can start it on my own, too. It is the Solo Stove Mesa and it would make a great gift for someone in your life, I bet!
Ok, I cannot wait to make this again. I tried to get as many lucky foods on NY Day as possible and this salad included honey and oranges, which are both lucky foods. It is called the Navel Orange Salad with Avocado. I just used a bag salad and left off the red onion. I also used the Cuties clementines I already had. I think it would be great with grilled chicken.
I also discovered Whole Foods pizza by the slice. I got a slice of mushroom. This might be an easy winter meal? I don’t think Whole Foods is as expensive as I used to. You also get your Amazon Prime discout when you shop in Whole Foods. My biggest problem is that it is located next to our malls and traffic can get crazy. I told Tom this might be a Friday night dinner for us this winter.
I am still loving the Truly Holiday Pack!
I enjoyed the pear martini this weekend and now I have tried all four flavors and like them all.
I did my NYE mani with regular polish. I did a taupe/lavender for the base and did a multi color glitter on the top.
I am loving my new and improved feet from my salon pedicure and the navy metallic polish. I apologize for the foot pic. We shouldn’t show our dogs on the internet. There’s a lot we should show, you know? But, people continue to leave messages on Facebook that could have been a text.
Organizing
My closet! I need to get it ready to rotate and wear every.single.winter piece or they must go. I do this each season.
A recent consignment purchase – a Cabi blouse.
Resolving
Just trying to get back to my healthier living – good sleep, lots of water, regular exercise, meal prepping, and eating like I know I should. I have really taken a break and I just don’t feel as good as I know I can.
Eating
As many heatlhy foods as possible. This is a recent Slender Kitchen meal I made for my kids – Honey Soy Glazed Chicken. Mine would be on cauliflower rice. I made this for them when Tom and I were going out. Mason is obsessed with broccoli and always eats it first. In fact, he wanted to bring in broccoli for his second grade class on his birthday.
Anticipating
I am excited to use the Solo Stove when I can. It’s so important to get outside in the winter. Gretchen Rubin is doing a 23 minutes outside each day challenge in 2023.
I want to plan lots of friend gatherings to help me through the winter. I would like to have people over and make my own cocktails:
and go out:
I have figured out that happy hours are even good for my marriage because Tom doesn’t need to go out and be social as much as I do. He gets all the socialization he needs at work and goes out to lunch with a group every day. That being said, he has a good time going out to dinner a couple of times a month. We also go out and watch games with friends during basketball season.
I am excited for all the library requests I have coming up!
I love my library!
Unfortunately, I ran out of books and my library was closed on Monday for the NYDay holiday so I did go to Target and buy a book. I am really into this so far! Apparently she wrote it in 1999, but I never read it. I really like Kristin Hannah’s books.
Well, that was fun! What are you loving, organizing, eating, resolving, and anticpating right now?
Well, I am re-entering the land of the real pants as you are reading this. I have a work day with just teachers so I get to linger at home a bit later than normal. I usually leave my house at 6:45 when I have students, but today I will leave the house around 7:25. Woohoo! But, I am not happy. Teacher days are the worst. They have every minute scheduled for us by the looks of it. Plus, the kids are so much more fun than the teachers. Ha!
So, I think I have come up with a plan. I only want to buy 23 new items this year. I do say “only” because I think I have been adding way more than this. I changed sizes in 2021 so I needed some new stuff. I haven’t tracked purchases in a few years – I tracked fashion purchases for about three years running and it was extremely educational. I learned what ended up being good and bad uses of my money. I am letting myself buy consignment items with no number limit and I am making exceptions for gifts, a dress for a wedding, and undergarments.
So, why the need for this? Well, over the winter break I looked at my closet and thought that I had so many clothes that I love. So, it’s a good thing, right? It was cold and I didn’t really leave the house for 5 days. I had nowhere to wear these clothes. It’s really about contentment and lack of waste, I think you could say.
I love to buy new things when the seasons change. There is usually a trend or two that I am wanting to try. I am also trying to buy better brands and more timeless styles.
A recent new purchase – my Dansko Crocs type clogsA recent consignment purchase – a Cabi blouse.
Do you all think I can do it? In 2022, I showed you my new purchases weekly during Fashion Files posts on Thursdays. When I look back, many of those items were in fact from consignment shops!
My goal is to not add any more winter clothing in January unless I see a really crazy good deal of something I need.
In February, I always get excited about spring stuff! My favorite consignment store Sassy Fox will start accepting spring clothing in February and I plan to try to sell stuff that no longer fits me or my style if I have anything. In 2022, I made around $300 from selling my too big items. I put that money into consignment or new items so that was a win-win!
I want to have a smaller wardrobe of all things I simply love! I want to feel good putting anything on.
If I fail at my 23 in 2023, I will still have done better than I did in 2022, I think.
Another goal:
January Goal – Jeans January
I plan to wear jeans everyday for accountability. When I say accountability, I mean towards my healthy living goals. I need to get back on track. I plan to pare jeans with blazers, nice blouses, and sweaters, but my jeans don’t lie like my leggings and knit pants do. As I am re-dedicating myself to healthier eating and drinking more water and less alcohol, I think these two goals will fit nicely together. Plus, I have a lot of jeans now. When I was heavier, I only had like one pair of jeans that weren’t even that comfortable, so this has been so wonderful to have jeans in my wardrobe. We don’t have a dress code, but I think I can make jeans look very professional. I didn’t wear jeans to teach in for the first 25 years of my career except for the rare Friday spirit day, but now I feel just fine about it.
Example of a jeans outfit – these black jeans are probably my favorites right now.Example of a leggings outfit. I feel like these are the same level of professional looking.
Do you have fashion goals for 2023? Some of you probably are the opposite and really need to invest in your wardrobe! My friend Heather (the blonde) has to be forced to add new things. She keeps things forever and forever and also hasn’t changed sizes, so that is amazing.
It’s 2023! Did you eat your good luck foods yesterday? Today is going to be crazy here at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa. I am linking up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday and Tanya for Prime Purchases. Hold on to your coffee mugs!
I am super happy to have today off. Tom is still off, too, and the college kids move back tomorrow or Wednesday with classes starting Thursday for their junior year spring semester. You all – how is this even possible?
Tomorrow we have a teacher day and then our students ease back in with just a 3 day week. I need to remember that short weeks always seem longer, though. I miss my students. I am excited to see them – truly!
What did I do this weekend? What even is a weekend? What day was any day over break? I was really lost most days. Thursday I finally got my Chick Fil A peppermint shake and it was wonderful!
Friday I used my birthday pedicure gift card and it was amazing. I don’t think I had been to the salon for at least 9 months.
I chose a dark metallic blue.
Then, we went to our friends’ house to meet their new yellow lab puppy named Willow. We brought her a “Heinekennel” beer. She was so cute!
Tom did his one cooking stint of the year and did the whole soaking of the dry beans in preparation for Friday’s bean soup.
I made cornbread to go with it and this is what we had for dinner Friday night. Our kids went out so it was just us.
Saturday we tried out Tom’s new Solo Stove Mesa. It is so cute! It puts out a good amount of heat.
I needed a couple of things from the grocery to get us through the next few days and picked up the Truly Holiday Pack.
Pear Martini, Holiday Sangria, Cran Orange Sparkle, and Berry Bramble are the flavors. They are good! I haven’t tried all of the flavors yet, but the ones I have are really good!
The grocery wants you to organize and eat Valentine’s candy, apparently.
Tom’s team is the University of Kentucky and the happened to be playing both basketball and football at 12 noon. So, he parked himself in his big chair with his bean soup for most of Saturday.
For our NYE plans, we went to our friends’ house and got I got a smoked bourbon old fashioned.
Their cat liked my new party purse.
We showed up twinning! We both knew we were gonna get out the sparkles and I don’t have that much stuff, but my friend has lots and this is what she decided on.
We had a reservation at The Pine Room and Heather and I had the best Paloma I have ever had.
I had a delicious salad:
and their fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and a really unique square biscuit. Everything was so good!
We declined dessert and went back to their house for a little bit of the Georgia game because that is where their daughter attends college.
It was a low key NYE for me! That is just how I like it.
Now, let’s talk Amazon. I didn’t use Amazon as much for Christmas gifts this year, so December was actually a light month for me.
First of all, I ordered myself a present. I saw these clogs on a “Best of 2022” list on a blog I read. I have struggled with black shoes. I need and want something comfortable that I can just throw on. These are like if Dansko and Crocs had a baby but you really can’t tell they aren’t leather unless you look closely. I wear a 38 in my brown Danskos, but I had to return and re-order these in a 39. So far, I am thrilled with them.
Then, I needed a little bag that had silver in it. You saw above that the cat really liked it. It basically only holds an ibuprofen. It doesn’t even hold my phone!
Next up, are two really nice Amazon Essentials sweaters that I got for my boys. I am super impressed with the quality. I got red for Mason and eggplant for Jack. I will show you photos later on in the post. Amazon Essentials does it again.
Jennifer recommended the Qibest brand liquid lipstick set. The lipsticks are all matte but it comes with a gloss that goes over. I am super happy with this set and have been wearing it any day I have put on makeup. I layer Burt’s Bees or other things over it usually, too. It smells slightly like chocolate, too!
The Dansko clogs in action:
The Qibest in action:
The Amazon Essentials sweater in checkmate – lol:
Another sweater in action:
You’re welcome for the action shots! Ha!
If I had to sum up my entire break from December 16 until today I would use the words HOME and SLOW. I would also include the words COOKING and DISHWASHER. I stayed home a lot due to the cold and snow. I didn’t run around just to be running around to all the stores.
I was so thankful we didn’t lose power or have our pipes freeze. I cooked all the meals and was like a short order cook sometimes and I wouldn’t change a thing. I love making whatever my college kids want and that is definitely my love language. I loaded and unloaded the dishwasher with a happy heart because of all the meals that I was cooking.
I am so thankful for my winter break!
Re-entry will be hard, my friends. Maybe that Amazon truck will make it sting a little less – Ha! Let’s do this!
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 