Friday, October 7, 2022

Did someone say Friday? It’s time to link up with the ladies to share what made us smile this week. It’s always such a happy post and I get so many good ideas!

I finished this and despite the ghost in the story, it was probably one of my favorites of hers. Also, in the back of the book, Elin includes her recommendations for a visit to Nantucket. I thought that was a nice touch.

And, then I started this. I think I picked it up on a whim at my library and I am really enjoying it! I loved having time to read outside over my fall break and after school with our wonderful weather. Real question: what am I gonna do when I can’t read outside anymore? I am looking for an armchair for my bedroom but have not had any luck. I really want to use it and not just throw clothes on it or have a place for Tom to put his hideous Tour de Tom biking costume.

I didn’t get a great picture of the beautiful bride and her groom from last weekend, so I stole this one to show you.

Monday I was able to meet my friends for brunch at our new First Watch near my house.

It was really nice and a fun thing to do on my last day of break.

I got back to meal prep and am enjoying breakfast burritos this week. I use a La Banderita brand low carb tortilla, some scrambled eggs, some shredded cheese, one Amylu chicken sausage breakfast link, and a few pieces of microwaved and diced potato. I wrap them up and put them in the freezer and pull one out each morning to take to school.

I had a spontaneous happy hour Tuesday after school to hear about Erica’s fall break trip upstate New York where she visited family and toured lakes and wineries.

I hadn’t eaten much for lunch that day and was starving. We had their homemade potato chips with dips and…

pretzel sticks and beer cheese.

on a cute patio. Ok Amy, time to get back to normal!

My face has been so dry and painful. I finally slathered this on one night before bed and saw immediate results and relief the next day. I have never had such a dry face so I am trying to figure it out. Any recommendations?

Over break, I used my Bath and Body coupons (usually I can’t make this work – I forget them or they have expired!)

I got this for free:

And, the 3 wick candles were on sale for $13.50 and I had a 20% off.

I got this:

And cinnamon pumpkin. I’m enjoying burning one inside and one outside. I am not into “saving” things. I want to use them now and enjoy them.

One of our lunches this week made by me was this Doritos taco salad. We each only use 5 Doritos and it has iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, a tiny bit of cheese, fat free sour cream, and taco sauce, along with taco meat made with Laura’s lean ground beef.

Super simple and super delicious!

So, what were your faves this week?

Amy

Thursday, October 6, 2022

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

I am kinda excited about this week because I have some outfits from fall break not taken in my classroom!

First off, I have Thursday, my first day of break. I had a hair appointment and lunch outside with a friend. I wore skinny jeans tucked into last year’s suede Western-ish Target boots, my white button down and a consignment vest that is suede-ish that I bought new with tags!

After lunch, I went to my favorite consignment store and found these Kut from the Kloth jeans for $18! I paired them with my new Loft horse sweater! I feel in love at first sight and had to make this sweater mine.

The detail on the jeans and they are the perfect length for me:

I told you in my Prime Purchases yesterday that I bought this sweater vest. I have not worn it out yet. I need to play around with it and see if I like the fit for sure.

I had my faux pearl necklace shortened and have been wearing it like this:

I wore my Nordstrom Wit and Wisdoms for errands and breakfast out. I paired them with my green Target blouse from last spring.

And, for the wedding Saturday I wore my trusty black consignment dress originally from Kohl’s, I think. I topped it with a floral kimono from Target. I wanted to buy a new dress, but I never found just what I wanted. I didn’t look that hard because I knew I had back up!

And, for back to school Tuesday, I wasn’t feeling inspired so I went with palazzo pants and a black top with my new Shu Shop sneakers.

What have you been wearing lately? Do you have a favorite outfit from above? Also, did you notice how many consignment items are in my outfits this week? It does take a bit of a learning curve, but see what you have available. You will walk out empty handed sometimes, but I have found so many good things.

Amy

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

I am linking up with Jennifer for Currently today! She gives us present participles (I just taught these in Spanish! #languagenerdalert!) and we will fill in the blanks!

Anticipating

A fire in my Solo Stove and a bowl of chili! I need a weekend night at home to make this happen. Mason loves my chili so much so I hope he will be here. My college kids have a little fall break coming up, too. I really want the cute little Solo Stove Mesa – it’s a table top version. It is the cutest little thing. I might ask Tom to get me that for my birthday. I would also like to re-create my S’mores charcuterie that I made a couple of years ago. It had the traditional S’mores making stuff and Fudge Stripe cookies and Reese’s. Maybe it needs something with caramel? I am also anticipating making soups and more comfort food meals. I can’t wait to make lasagna soup!

I think one thing that stops me from making a fire is that I just want it for an hour or two. It seems like our fires last for hours and someone has to babysit it.

Admiring

Sorry to keep saying this, but my tricolor mums! I am also admiring other peoples’ Halloween and Fall decor as I drive or walk by.

Spending/Consuming

Too much on groceries! I spent $400 the first month we were empty nesters in the fall of 2020. I spent $800 on groceries last month. So, what does that tell me? I am eating healthier, so that does cost a bit more, but groceries have almost doubled. I am consuming what I have in my freezer, though. I am really trying to continue to cut down on food waste and shop smarter. It’s hard!

Wanting

Another pair of boots or booties, I think. I want them to be easy to slip on/put on. I am thinking more of a Western vibe. If not a full cowboy boot, I think I would like some Western details. If you have a rec, let me know!

Purging/Deleting

Some of my older fall clothes and shoes! I keep a bag in my closet and as a new season rolls around, if an item no longer fits me or my style, I put it in the bag to either be donated or sold. Most of my fall clothes were new last season and I still like them, thankfully! I am constantly deleting emails and texts. I don’t like a full inbox or text stream. I can’t stand the visual clutter. I also desperately need to go through some spaces in my house and purge. I clean out the fridge and freezer on a weekly basis, too, before I decide what to add to my Kroger pick up order.

What about you? Any of these you want to comment on? Thanks for the fun link up, Jennifer!

Amy

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

It is the first Tuesday of the month and that means it is time to link up with Tanya for Prime Purchases.

I did not buy much in the month of September! But, what I did buy is really, really good.

One of my best friends, Heather, turned 50 and I did a “Favorites” theme. I typed up 50 favorite things about her/memories we share, too.

I bought her the Donna Karan cashmere mist deoderant because she also really appreciates nice smells like I do. Also, this is something that many won’t buy for themselves. I was not implying that she stinks at all! Also, I bought mine at the end of May and I still have some product left. I think that makes it way less per wear than some other ones I have used.

She loves Tyler candles and the Diva laundry soap, so I got her a 3 pack of the air freshener.

And, I got her the beaded champagne earrings like I have.

I think she really liked my kinda hodgepodge gift!

And, I have been wanting a sweater vest…

I ordered this one and it is super soft and not scratchy at all. I am deciding if I need to go down a size because it is kinda long.

I plan to wear it just as she is with one of my button downs under it!

What have you purchased this month?

Amy

Monday, October 3, 2022

My weekend started last Wednesday after school and it’s not over yet! Today is my last day of my little fall break and then I will have a 4 day week. I am linking up with Holly and Sarah to share a bit about what I’ve been up to.

At first, I thought a fall break from September 29-October 3 seemed a bit early, but it occurred right after our first grading period ended and during what I think of as probably our best weather around here!

I am always trying to do better at achieving work/life balance and it has been so nice. What is it about having a weekday off that just feels different?

Let’s go back to Wednesday evening…I was feeling a bit celebratory but Tom had a long day at work, so my buddy Heather met me for the sailboat race at Captain’s Quarters. It was beautiful sitting at an outdoor table and watching the sailboats go out to the course and then come back in as the sun was setting. Ah…. I just love being around water. It is so calming.

We split some onion rings and a spinach salmon salad and then Heath loves dessert (as do I) and picked this to share and we could not believe it when it arrived!

Thursday morning was hair day! Yay!

Then, I met Elizabeth for lunch at Caffe Classico, which is a Euopean cafe.

Balance – Belgian frites, wine, and salad.

Then, we went to my favorite consignment store and I found Kut From the Kloth jeans for $18. They were the perfect length!

I finished this and it was so cute. I do recommend it! If you read The Authenticity Project, it is the same author.

I started this! I was so excited when my library came through with this request just in time for my break. Why another ghost in your story, Elin?

Thursday night I made a random dinner for Tom and I of some stuff we had around.

Friday morning my college kids agreed to have lunch with me! We tried a new to us Mexican place. Mason had Mexican coffee and we shared chips and queso. We spoke Spanish most of the time and had the sweetest server from Mexico. She was tickled that we were speaking Spanish.

They had Mexican breakfast, too, so I got a breakfast dish that was amazing.

Jack got shrimp tostadas…

and Mason got a salmon spinach salad.

Tom wanted me to teach them Spanish when they were little and I kind of did. I used lots of Spanglish with them and we had lots of books in Spanish around the house. But, I also didn’t want to force what I love onto them. They both chose to take it in high school and took 4 years. I got to teach them in their final year. I am so happy that they truly love the language and they are the ones that start conversations with me in Spanish. They are both really good!

Friday night Tom and I went to dinner and I had a burger (didn’t eat the bun) and green beans. Tom got meatloaf and was in love!

They have an ice cream parlour upstairs and Tom got a milkshake, too! All of his favorites were present!

Saturday we had a road trip to a wedding and stopped halfway for German food! Look how cute their little gift shop is as you enter the restaurant:

We sat down and looked at the wall and Tom was sitting right by his birthplace – Wiesbaden, Germany!

And, this is where his family lives:

I got a German beer:

And some sides! I took much of it home!

We went to my cousin’s daughter’s wedding. Mother of the bride, but she looks too young to be, right?

They did cupcakes and a small wedding cake for the bride and groom to cut.

The bride was beautiful!

Sunday morning I had my coffee on the patio despite the cool morning.

More Hotel Nantucket!

Then, just Tom and I took the boat out and had lunch on the river. It was so beautiful! I just want to bottle up this weather, you know?

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Amy

Friday, September 30, 2022

Happy Friday! It is the day we link up with Erika and Andrea for Friday Favorites.

First, I want to say I am thinking of all of my friends in the path of Hurricane Ian. I know that is not enough to say that, but I hope everyone is safe out there, and I am thinking of you.

Here are some things that were my favorites this week:

Sunday night, we got to help celebrate my friend Heather’s 50th birthday. She had a few of us over and it was really sweet. It is rare to get to celebrate on ones’ actual birthday, so that was really special.

This cake is called a shadow cake from a local bakery and it is to die for!

I brought the cheese and the raspberry brie in puff pastry to put on the board:

Gorgeous setting!

This week our PTA gave us some treats in the lounge and I think this is my new favorite La Croix flavor – Black Razzberry.

And, I tried lime flavored potato chips and they were surprisingly good!

I broke out the Target Universal Thread dress and boots one day. It felt very fall out, so I wanted to break out the fall clothes!

And, another fall outfit:

I bought some Danskos about a month ago and finally got to wear them:

This is really good! I think they changed the label, but it has a tiny bit of sparkling essence to it and it’s a screw top!

I picked this up for Heather at Trader Joe’s because I asked if I could help. It’s really good! Peach Bellini is the flavor. I think you can only get it at TJ’s and I plan to get it again for myself.

I had my faux pearls shortened. I took them to a local jeweler who said they had to all be individually re-tied and that very few people in town do this anymore.

Hall bath has had drywall applied!

This isn’t a favorite, but…

My next door neighbor at school told me about “quiet quitting” your job. You don’t actually quit, but you stop doing anything beyond your workday. You basically do the bare minimum.

Have you heard of this? Is this because employees think they have the power now because so many fields are hurting for people? I am trying to have more work/life balance this year, but I always want to bring my best.

What were your favorites this week?

Amy

Thursday, September 29, 2022

It is time to link up here for Monthly Musings!

This month’s topic is Fall Decor and Halloween!

I gotta admit that I wasn’t feeling it until last weekend. And, even then, I only put out some of my stuff. I just try to go with my gut each year. Some years I am more into it than other years.

I love to decorate a bit on my front porch. I have Jack O’Lantern lanterns from Target years ago and I have a pumpkin flag. I also have a haunted house flag that I may change to in October. I have a very small front porch so I don’t do much at all.

Inside, I always do my mantle. I love the idea to take old Scrabble letters and spell out different things. I have 20 Scrabble boards in my classroom (Spanish version) so I stole a few tiles from these games. It’s ok! I still have plenty for the kids!

I love this little sign from a boutique in my hometown that my mom bought for me.

Pretty glass pumpkin:

I will add candy soon to these little dishes on my long charcuterie board.

Framed fall photos of my family:

The dough bowl I bought looks great with my plastic pumpkins and I love this melamine fall serving dish.

I have Day of the Dead pillows from last year so I decked out both patios with these.

Another flag:

I decided to keep the mums and pumpkins in the back where I will get enjoyment from seeing them.

It’s not much, but my decor is making me happy!

What about you?

For Halloween dinner, I almost always make chili, but I have also made mummy dogs! Yum!

I love chocolate and I loved the variety my kids used to bring home from trick or treating. Fun size all the way! I love Reese’s, Take 5, Milky Way probably the most!

I think it’s a great idea to take pictures of your decor for the next year if you have a lot of decor. I also like to put my leftover napkins, handsoap, candles, and things like that in my Fall/Halloween tub. That way I am sure to use them.

Yes to pumpkin spice! Love it!

Amy

Wednesday, September 28. 2022

It’s time for What’s Up Wednesday with Sheaffer and Shay! I don’t always remember to do this monthly post, but I think it’s really fun to write and I love reading everyone elses’, too!

How is it already the last Wednesday of September? I knew it would go quickly, but wow! We started school on Wednesday, August 10th this year, so we have been in the swing of things for quite a while and today at 2:20 our Fall Break starts! We only have 3 days off, but I will take it.

Eating:

My loyal readers and friends know that I do a weekly breakfast meal prep. This week I did my low carb, low WW point egg casserole with Amylu mini chicken sausage links. I love this combo so much! I do faux egg McMuffins and breakfast burritos on other weeks. I eat my breakfast and lunch at school and doing this little prep on the weekend saves me so much time each day.

I will do a separate post on this, but OMG! I do lunches with my co-worker, Erica and we have been using Slender Kitchen this fall because the recipes are on point. If you can’t wait, here is this recipe for lasagna cupcakes. I mean – how can you go wrong with something with two wonderful things in the title? They are made from wonton wrappers, you guys! And, they are very low calorie – did you know that?

I liked Erica’s so much, I made them for Tom and I and they got the Tom stamp of approval. Erica and I both added Laura’s lean ground beef to the original recipe.

I will talk more about this in my Friday Favorites, but I also have been eating birthday cake! My buddies are all turning 50 this year. I was one of the first to hit this milestone. This cake was to die for!

I am still trucking along trying to eat well Monday through Friday with a few splurges on the weekends.

Reminiscing – not really doing much of this lately just because I have been so darn busy!

Loving – I did my first dark pedicure of the season this weekend and I am loving it. Dark polish pedicures are my fave!

I am also loving these tri-color mums! I didn’t know this was a thing! I got mine at Kroger for $20.

Been Up To – I will talk more about this tomorrow, but it finally felt fall enough that I did my fall decor. I didn’t go crazy. I have a small front porch, so I just did some lanterns on the porch and this flag. I like to put most of my outdoor decor in the back where I sit and enjoy looking at it, you know?

I also did some simple interior decorating for fall – more to come on this tomorrow.

Dreading – I guess I always dread the cold of winter that follows the fall. But, I try not to dwell on it too much right now.

Watching – Tom and I just started the new season of Amazing Race. On my own, I watch all things Bravo! I am watching Southern Charm, Below Deck, Real Girlfriends of Paris – the star of the show is Paris!

Reading – I am still loving my reading life. I had a real slump at the end of summer. I am an outdoor reader and it was so hot anyway! This is my kind of outdoor reading weather. I am taking the time to read on my patio almost everyday and it is filling my cup.

This is so cute and quirky so far!

Working On – Fall decor, starting to think about holiday gifts, all the stuff at school, and purging some stuff around the house. Why is this so hard?

Excited About – My Early Fall Bucket List, celebrating friends who are turning 50, quality time with my people, the leaves changing, fires, apple cider sangria, chili, and all the fall goodness!

Listening To – My job is so full of people that I enjoy listening to the sounds of silence for a bit when I get home. I also enjoy Lazy Genius, Big Boo, Watch What Crappens podcasts.

Wearing – I am loving my white, blue, and black button downs!

I am pulling out my fall dresses from last season!

I am wearing my early fall blouses – the ones that don’t make me hot, but still have a fall-ish color palette!

Doing this Weekend– Come back Monday and I will tell you! Ha!

Looking Forward to This Month – My Early Fall Bucket List items, quality time with my people, all the fall goodness!

What about you? Anything you want to answer from above?

Thanks for reading,

Amy

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

You seriously won’t believe how easy this is and how delicious it is. It could have been from a restaurant and it got the Tom stamp of approval!

You need:

a container of Boursin cheese

a bag of spinach

mushrooms

grape tomatoes

chicken broth (optional)

grilled chicken

angel hair pasta (or any kind)

Slice up your mushrooms and halve your grape tomatoes. Dump the whole bag of spinach into a stockpot or large skillet or wok and add a bit of chicken broth if you have it. I think I added about half a cup. It you don’t, just add a bit of water and olive oil. Add the mushrooms and tomatoes and let it all cook down for a few minutes. Then, add the Boursin and let it slowly melt into the mixture. Once melted, add your already cooked/grilled chicken.

Serve atop angel hair pasta.

This was posted on Facebook by a high school friend. I already bought the ingredients to make it again! Lighten it up by using whole wheat pasta or it tastes great with no pasta at all!

Let me know if you try it,

Amy

Monday, September 26, 2022

It is time to link up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday!

How was your weekend? Mine was full and the weather was gorgeous! It was the stuff that September dreams are made of!

I took a trip to Trader Joe’s immediately after school Friday and it was full of fall goodness…

I still haven’t found a better moisturizer than this!

I bought a pumpkin kringle – so good…

and these cider donuts…

to take on the boat Saturday…

For dinner Friday night, Tom and I ran up to McAllister’s and this hit the spot.

I fell asleep super early so I was up with the birds Saturday morning. No complaints from me because I love weekend mornings…

It was the weirdest thing – it wasn’t storming, raining, or even very windy and our power went out for about 20 minutes…

We had big plans to travel by boat to my hometown like we did last year. It is about an hour and a half and it was chilly!

We brought our friends Beth and Bob…

Ice cream for the ride back!

The ride back was so bumpy and windy! The way there had been smooth as can be even though it was cold. We arrived back around 6 p.m. tired but happy…

I finished this on the patio Saturday night. It was really good. I usually don’t do darker, mysterious books, but I don’t read right before bed, so I can do more of these.

Sunday morning I started something lighter and pretty quirky!

I sauteed some apples for an experiment…

It rained and I had some hot chocolate after doing my abbreviated meal prep. I only have three days of school this week, so not much is needed.

Then, I went to do a rare Sunday Kroger pick up – had already done one on Tuesday, but needed some more things. I also went to Dollar Tree. The rest of the day was spent cleaning, reading on the patio, getting stuff organized and decorating for fall. Pics coming soon!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Amy