Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Monday, April 5, 2021

As you are reading this, I am on my way to school to teach for the first time since March 13, 2020! EEEEEEK! I am linking up today with Heather, Tanya, and more here.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and a happy Easter if you celebrate!

Let’s go back to Friday…Tom was off and he and I went our separate ways to do some errands in the morning. Tom was off Thursday, too, and he got so much done. He did a vet visit (for Ernie, not for him!), went to the DMV to renew registration, and a couple of other things. I did an Amazon return to our UPS store, a Kroger pick up, and an oil change. Then, after I got ready for the day, we went to a movie for the first time in over a year! There isn’t much to see, but we picked Nobody. It was ok, but it was so fun to be back in our theater!

We have been going to this same theater together for 22 years; we started going here when we were dating! We love the movies!

Tom agreed to do a selfie and he took it! This is his excited to be at the movies face!

Then, we went to a nice restaurant called Mesh. Tom had a gift card someone gave him that we have been wanting to use. Movies and dinner felt so 2019!

Their sangria is really good!

I ordered eggplant parmesan and Tom ordered salmon. We had enough leftover to have that for another meal! I can’t remember the last time we had really good restaurant food!

Saturday morning I made a red velvet cake from scratch! It was for Mason being in the play (he loves red velvet) and for Easter. I hadn’t planned on making it from scratch; I had ordered a mix from Kroger but they dissed me. So, I used a Southern Living recipe that called for one cup of buttermilk which I had from making Irish soda bread. I think the buttermilk made it so moist! As Bob Ross would say, it was a “happy accident” because now I know I can make it from scratch! I made a cream cheese frosting from scratch, too.

The boys came home Saturday around noon! I ran to Total Wine to get a few beers I had wanted to try and look what I wore. How did I do this again? Mortified! I didn’t realize it until I put my feet up at home. They are both by the same brand, Reef. Does that make it better? So, yes I am that lady in the liquor store with mismatched shoes.

Sunday morning the Easter bunny came! The Peeps are to share but I forgot to put them between the baskets.

Our weather this weekend was super sunny. It was 60 on Saturday and 70 on Sunday. I spent a lot of time reading this outside. I am pretty into it! It was described as Bridgerton meets Fight Club – lol!

I accidentally got burned sitting outside last Monday, so I am remembering some light sunscreen now. I love this formula.

Easter morning called for a mimosa!

And, I made an egg casserole with Trader Joe’s hashbrown patties on the bottom. It turned out great!

We ate, did Easter baskets, Tom took a bike ride and mowed. Our yard looks so green and nice right now!

I had wanted to attend an outdoor service but I let boys sleep too long.

I made a staging area for school outfits.

Tom hung these canvases in our bedroom. I love seeing them there! They are maybe 11 in the first photo and 14 in the second.

And, that’s a wrap! What was the highlight of your weekend?

I am feeling a bit sad for the end of an era – my WFH (Work From Home) life is over. Well, we will be working from home on Wednesdays for the rest of the year, which is wonderful and generous of my district. They will use that day for deep cleaning. We will use it to tutor, grade, plan, and meet via Zoom. I have said this before, but I really enjoyed/made the best of my virtual teaching experience. I learned so much about myself and teaching during this time, believe it or not. I know it’s time for something different, though.

I am also sad for the boys to go back to school, but they end their final semester of freshman year very, very soon. How did that go by so quickly? The last day of classes is April 17, then they have study days and finals. I am not sure exactly when they are moving home for the summer, but it will be around the end of April. I know I won’t see much of them before then. They will need to focus and I will need to focus.

Thanks so much for reading! I may be slower on my replies to your comments this week and I may not post every day – we will see how things go. Thanks for understanding!

Amy

Friday, April 2, 2021

Happy Friday! How has this week gone by so quickly? I am linking up today with Andrea, etc. here.

Here are some of my favorite things from the week! I hope you had many things that could be your favorites, too!

It was a favorite to get to see Mason as Torvald in A Doll’s House. I wish there weren’t masks and we didn’t have to watch it live streamed, but I guess it’s all o.k.

Jack played some guitar on the deck last weekend. He looks like he is in the zone!

I decided to do the deck in lemon decor and then got to enjoy it on two gorgeous weather days Monday and Tuesday!

I didn’t go too overboard. I would like to add a faux lemon tree where the palm tree-ish plant is. Then, I can move that down to the patio. I also have faux lemons that I need to find.

I kept the patio palm leaf decor from last year.

The only things new this year are the pillows on either side of the palm print.

I finished up Easter baskets. I have had these cute metal buckets since the boys were maybe 8? Do you buy new baskets every year? I think my kids have only been through a couple of baskets. One year I did sand pails because we were at the beach.

Because it was Spring Break, I treated myself to my first dip manicure in over a year. I had gotten a pedicure a couple of weeks ago so I didn’t need that. I found a pretty exact match to my toe color. I have been so tired of my manicures that I do at home only lasting for 2-3 days with all the dish washing I do. So, it was fun to get this done!

I had a fun lunch one day with my friend Elizabeth and discovered a delicious new beer – Rhinegeist Slamgria. It really tastes like sangria! It is from a brewery in Cincinnati and Elizabeth said you can buy it in the can at Total Wine. I need to do that and get some of the wonderful Grand MImosa by Ciderboys. Oh, and Stiegl Radler. I guess I need to put this errand on my list for today. Grand Mimosa really tastes like a mimosa and Stiegl Radler was the grapefruit beer I was introduced to in Germany. I was telling my friend about Slamgria and she asked why I don’t just have a sangria. Sometimes you just want a beer, right?

We split this pretzel – well we didn’t make it very far into it…

Elizabeth got a burger and mac and cheese

and I got chicken sliders with truffle fries.

We went to World of Beer. It is a chain, I think.

Both of my kids got their first vaccine! I was so grateful that their college held a vaccination clinic. And, Tom got his second this week, too! I told them to send me a photo and I got one!

I forgot to mention that my new deck and patio decor came from World Market and Hobby Lobby. While in Hobby Lobby, I saw these rubber faux Birkenstock sandals for $5 and got my sister and I both a pair.

Tom got to take off work yesterday and today! We went to lunch at Gracious Plenty.

Tom got a meatloaf sandwich that he loves and a salad and I got

benedictine – a Kentucky cucumber cream cheese spread that is dyed green. It often comes with bacon and lettuce.

And, a crazy thing happened on April Fool’s Day this week – it snowed! You can’t really see the snow in this photo so you will just have to believe me!

I also had a fun happy hour with my friend Beth at a new Irish pub called The Raven. We chose to sit in this cute little area. I took this photo off of the website because mine wasn’t good.

We both ordered Irish whiskey cocktails.

and we had some curry fries.

And, my last favorite was my sister’s visit!

What was the highlight of your week?

Thanks for reading!

Amy

Thursday, April 1, 2021

How is it April? Or, how is it not April already? I am not sure how I feel? I am on Spring Break this week!

One of the things I was most looking forward to on my first empty nester break was a visit from my sister. We don’t often have the same break (she is a teacher, too!) and I invited her to come for a couple of days. It is rare when husbands and kids aren’t around, so this was something different. She arrived around 4:00 on Monday afternoon and I had a small charcuterie plate and lemondrop martinis ready to go.

We sat outside on the deck in the awesome weather and chatted. We talk on the phone maybe 5 times a week but we hadn’t talked in a few days so there were lots of things to get caught up on.

Tom came home from work and the three of us had dinner at the dining room table inside. I made spinach salad, hasselback potatoes, and chicken.

Then, Kate tried on this jumpsuit that was our great aunt’s. I guess she would have worn it in the 60s or 70s? She was super fashionable and glamorous and she and her husband never had children. This was given to me by my third cousin last Saturday. She had several pieces of clothing that she had inherited and showed them to my mom, aunt, and I. She offered a piece and I picked this for Kate.

We watched some t.v. and talked some more after dinner. I had not had an overnight guest for over a year so it was new and different. Kate is fully vaccinated, too.

Tuesday morning I made mimosas, everything breakfast potatoes (potatoes with everything but the bagel seasoning), sausage squares, and low carb egg casserole with green chilies. And, we also had some Trader Joe’s raspberry kringle. Breakfast dessert, you know?

Outfit of the day for me.

Outfit of the day for Kate. Check out her fashion here if you didn’t see it before.

She splurged on these booties this winter. They are a sister brand of Birkenstock she thinks, called Papillio. She absolutely loves them. She has really high arches and needs a bit of a heel for comfort. I think my best heel height is slightly lower. I think this is important to keep in mind when finding your perfect comfort level – arches.

We went to Dollar Tree to get some Easter basket stuff mainly for her and then to two consignment stores. I have a post planned to show you what we found. Kate majorly scored and I found one thing!

I offered to sit on a patio somewhere because it was another beautiful and perfect spring day, but Kate is happy with my patio and my cooking, which is nice.

I made caprese sandwiches and we had goat cheese spread, guacamole and plantain chips (remember I got all of this for my friends the weekend before, too?), and Kate said it was just as good as if not better than a restaurant. That compliment will get you anything, friends! Lol!

We rested on the patio for a bit because the shopping took it out of us. Then, around 4:00, we went to take a tour of Jack and Mason’s college. Mason has class until 5:45, so only Jack was available. The sun was really bright here.

Kate enjoyed seeing it because she had never been there before.

Then, we met Tom for Cuban food! I only got a photo of some of the food, but I had shrimp and

some yucca.

We came home, sat on the patio again for a bit, and then went in to watch some tv. I think I got Kate hooked on New Girl. She had never seen it before.

Kate left early Wednesday morning because she needed to be home to pick up her daughter.

It was a great visit! I had a long list of places to go, but we ran out of time!

Thanks for reading,

Amy

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Linking up today with Erika and many more here for What’s Up Wednesday!

What We’re eating

I am on Spring Break this week, but I have been doing some cooking!

I made this small charcuterie platter before dinner.

Dinner was this wonderful salad of spinach, red onion, cheddar, green apple, and homemade dressing and grilled chicken and hasselback potatoes.

Another night was copycat Alice Springs chicken from Outback and the same-ish potatoes.

Caprese sandwiches have been a recent thing I have tried and they are delish. I added chicken for Tom’s.

I am ready to have someone else cook for me soon!

What I’m reminiscing about

I’m always loving the memories that pop up on Facebook.

This was when my boys academic team won big. It was so fun to watch them do this together. They are on the right. They used to look so, so identical, and as the years go on they look more and more different.

What I’m loving

The trees started blooming and they are so pretty! It seemed to happen all of a sudden.

We have had some gorgeous days. We do have some cold snaps but I feel like those make me appreciate the warmer days even more!

What I’ve been up to

I have been finishing up Easter baskets and shopping to refresh my patio and deck. I have decided to call my upper one my deck and my lower one my patio. I know you were all on the edge of your seats about that decision.

I went in World Market. It is such a cool store. I also have gone to Hobby Lobby, Home Goods, and TJ Maxx. I love having the time to leisurely peruse these stores on a weekday.

What I’m dreading

I am dreading trying to teach in a mask. I hate the mask. I know it’s necessary, but I talk a lot to teach Spanish. I am going to have to figure this out. My favorite masks are Pomchies brand, so I do plan to wear those.

What I’m working on

In addition to doing some spring cleaning and sprucing of my outdoor spaces, I am working on a few more things to be ready to return to school April 5.

What I’m watching

I can’t find much I want to watch on any of the streaming services. I am watching Bravo shows and that’s about it.

What I’m reading

I just finished this and it is cute but a bit cheesy. It makes a good summer read!

I just started this and I am only about 60 pages in but I like it so far. I am interested to see what will happen.

What I’m listening to

I may like this podcast that makes fun of my Bravo shows even more than the shows themselves!

What I’m wearing

I wore these fun pants to work last week.I have several pairs of printed palazzo pants that I wear with solid color tops.

I am also trying to wear my long sleeve spring tops before it gets too hot to wear long sleeves. I love this old tie-dye that is Chaps brand from Kohl’s.

What I’m doing this weekend

My kids are coming home from college! They have a four day weekend and I am sure they will have homework, but I am hoping they have time to do a couple of things in addition to celebrating Easter. I need to plan my menu and order the food before it’s too late.

Also, I’m sure I won’t sleep great Sunday night with back to school jitters! In April! Crazy, but exciting, too!

What’s up with you this Wednesday?

Amy

March 30, 2021

I’m on Spring Break, so I am bringing back a yummy recipe that I posted last year!

You need:

ice cream sandwiches – I did the mini this time but I really think the big work better. You need a very soft crust on the sandwiches so that this dessert all melds together.

Cool Whip

Heath pieces

Using an 8×8 (I highly recommend using the aluminum disposable if you are going to take this somewhere – and this would be a great dessert to take to a bbq – with a very small number of people, of course), spread a bit of Cool Whip on the bottom of the pan.

Now do one layer of your ice cream sandwiches.

Now do another thicker layer of Cool Whip and half of the Heath bag.

Repeat and this is what it will look like.

Put in freezer for several hours so that it will re-freeze together well. Cut in slices and serve.

Disclaimer: One son was mad that I “ruined” the ice cream sandwiches and said “So you mean you took something great on its own and did this to it?” Husband does not like Cool Whip so I said I would do vanilla ice cream instead of Cool Whip next time.

You can’t please everyone, right?

Let me know if you make it!

Amy

Monday, March 29, 2021

Hello Monday of Spring Break! I am linking up today with Heather, Tanya, and many more here!

I am tired! I don’t think it is just physical, either. I am mentally, emotionally, and physically tired and I don’t think I could have added travel to my plate.

This marks a milestone for me – my first spring break without my boys home with me! We traveled about half of the time over the years. Tom took off all our part of spring break most years, too. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic, but I do have some fun plans and a long list of things I want to accomplish.

Let’s back up to Thursday…

This is my school’s Fine Arts Center. Our entire faculty was back in this space at 8:00 after over a year of being in the building together. We have about 120 teachers. It was weird and kind of like a family reunion! I have been there for 21 years so to say this has been a big part of my life is an understatement!

We had meetings in this space both Thursday and Friday and alumni donated our breakfast and lunch both days, and gave us a really nice pullover with our school logo. How awesome is that!

Most of both days we had to continue getting our rooms ready. I made copies for the first time in over year! Makin’ copies! I made 12 seating charts. Yes, 12. I teach 6 in person classes Monday and Tuesday and then teach 6 in person classes Thursday and Friday with a different group. The seating charts are super important for contact tracing. I think I am almost ready to go for April 5, but I will have to do some work over the break. I am also teaching 4 virtual classes a week without students in the room.

Friday after work, I needed to be in my anti-gravity lounger on my porch. If you don’t have one of these, get one now. Make it your Mother’s Day present if you must. I face my bedroom doors because I don’t want to face the neighbor on the other side of my house.

I am going to have to figure out my new routine to be out of the house by 7:00. I will of course do my night routine of shower, then do my 10 minute hair and face routine in the morning, and use one of my outfit formulas – post coming this week, I hope!

I finished reading my Friday blogs and Ernie is a big star! He was featured on Preppy Empty Nester! Katie features a reader’s dog at the end of each post. If you don’t already read Katie’s blog, you must start now! She is hilarious and has beautiful taste in clothing, homes and home decor, and Amazon products!

We are trying to make sure the fame doesn’t go to Ernie’s head. Have I told you I make boiled chicken for him, along with canned green beans and carrots. He requested filet mignon Friday night.

Friday night was special because Jack came home to watch his brother live streamed in his play! Mason took a required theatre course in the fall semester at college, tried out for a play and got a role, then tried out for another play and now thinks he might double major in English and Theatre. So, the acting bug has officially bitten both of my kids.

Mason played Torvald in A Doll’s House. It stinks that they had to wear masks and be without an audience. I really miss theatre, concerts, and movies.

Here he is; he cut his hair for this role!

He was wonderful, of course – totally unbiased Mom opinion. So, Tom, Jack, and I had dinner and watched the play together.

Jack is in Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors in May and Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Shakespeare in the Park series this summer. I have not gotten to see Jack act since the month before the pandemic started in Pride and Prejudice.

Saturday morning I got to enter my library! I have so missed this place!

And, I went to Trader Joe’s and there was no line. I needed to replenish some of the staples that I buy there each month – brioche bread, ciabatta bread, bagels, and a few other things. I keep all of these items in my freezer.

After that, I headed out to the country – about 30 minutes away from my house – to do something really cool! My aunt and uncle from Michigan have been in Florida for the winter and they were visiting on their way north. My mom arranged for the three of them and me to meet their cousin’s daughter who has lived near me for years but whom I had never met. My mom and aunt had met her before.

She and her husband have a beautiful home and property that looks quintessentially Kentucky with horses grazing all around the adjoining properties. She has created three cookbooks and is an excellent cook.

Beautiful Easter table setting:

We had chicken salad on croissants, salad, and potato soup. I started eating my soup before I remembered a photo.

And, homemade cream puffs for dessert!

The person who built the house had this Kentucky Derby mural painted in the basement.

The basement bar:

The wine room:

The house is incredible!

We looked at old photos and toured the house after lunch. It was a really great day spent with my mom, aunt, uncle, and third cousin and husband.

I came home and made a pink lemonade cocktail and read a bit before making dinner. I made Jack bowtie pasta chicken alfredo and Tom and I chicken caprese sandwiches.

We watched some shows together and Jack did some homework. We were hoping to see Mason after his final performance Saturday night but he remembered they had a cast party to celebrate. So, we will celebrate him next week. The kids have Good Friday off from classes and Easter Monday off.

Sunday I was pretty lazy. I did go to World Market and Kirkland’s because I am wanting to add a few things to my lower patio and upper deck. Last year I did palm prints and I think I am going to keep that theme going. I did have a thought about doing two different decor schemes – using lemon trees and all things lemon on the upper deck? Anyway, neither place had much. And, it turned pretty cold on Sunday so I didn’t even want to work on it yet. I was very sad about that after such a nice day Saturday. It seems harder to take the cold once you have gotten used to the warmth!

How was your weekend? I hope it was great!

Thanks for reading,

Amy

Friday, March 26, 2021

Happy Friday! I am linking up today with Andrea, etc. right here!

Here are my favorites from this week:

I finished my last book and started this. It is so cute! This would be a great Spring Break read. I would say it is rated R. It is set in Hawaii and involves food trucks. So cute!

Magazine arrival! I am saving these for this weekend.

You know you’re old when you wouldn’t wear any of the styles in a fashion magazine! We will see after I read it this weekend!

I found these K cups that are environmentally friendly and they are really good.

I found them at Target and outside of Target, this goose appeared to be nesting. I would nest at Target, too, sweet goose. I was careful not to scare her.

I think I finally saw the Little House on the Prairie collection at Target. Where was this last year when I was making my own bread and churning my own butter. Just kidding – I never churned my own butter.

I am mad at myself for not trying this cute coffee shop sooner. I really like to support local coffee shops. If you are local it is called Red Hot Roasters. They have Easter drinks but I didn’t see them until I had ordered. I am going to try the Peeptastic Mocha and the Lavender Shortbread Latte.

Speaking of coffee, I was so tired Tuesday after school for some reason and I had errands to do, so that is why I got the coffee. I found out that a 4:00 p.m. small coffee does not keep me from going to sleep at 10:00 p.m. Good to know!

Confession:

I use cheap shampoo. There I said it. I ran out and decided to try something more expensive. I was thinking about Olaplex, but they didn’t have it at Target and I wanted something on the spot.

I think I really like this! I do notice my hair gets brassy when it’s close to hair appointment time, so I had been thinking about a purple shampoo. They only had the conditioner so I am using her gentle shampoo and purple conditioner. Anyone use this brand?

Sandal Saga… Remember last week I told you I ordered these Coconuts by Matisse sandals from Tuckernuck but they were on backorder? Well, I wandered into a boutique that sells home decor and clothing and there they were, in my size, and not on backorder. I should have checked because I knew this store carried that brand. So, I cancelled my Tuckernuck!

They are squishy on the footbed and a comfortable height. I like the slight 70s vibe. Now I just need a place to wear them!

My Spring Break officially starts today at 2:30!

What were your favorites this week? I hope you had many!

Thanks for reading!

Amy

Thursday, March 25, 2021

O.k., here is a recipe that Tom really, really liked! I have now made it three times and I am really bad about following recipes so each time I have done it slightly differently! Also, I didn’t really know what to call it! I am no food blogger, so I hope I can explain this well. I know we don’t like back stories with our recipes, but indulge me for just a moment!

I saw a recipe and I thought it said Balsamic Chicken, but it actually said Bruschetta Chicken. So, I basically added the balsamic glaze to the bruschetta chicken recipe. I also decided to employ the Tik Tok pasta method and I added angel hair. So, this is really Tik Tok Balsamic Bruschetta Chicken! Whoa!

You need:

chicken (I like the tenders)

grape tomatoes

red onion

basil (if you want; mine went bad so I left it out this time)

garlic

salt

pepper

angel hair (optional – you could do zucchini noodles or just have the chicken)

olive oil

balsamic glaze

mozzarella (I like fresh and I forgot to picture it)

Trigger warning! Raw chicken!

Preheat oven to 400 and assemble your tomatoes, red onion, garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil. Don’t get mad at me, but just throw in the amounts you want. You really can’t mess it up.

That will go in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Now you will use my “moist method” for chicken on the stove top. Trigger warning! Raw chicken!

Season chicken with s, p, and garlic powder if desired. Use medium high heat and put seasoned side down and then season other side. Cook first side until you see white edges.

Flip to other side and cook for about 3 more minutes. Now cover the pan and keep on heat for another 2 minutes or so. Remove from heat but leave lid on. This magically helps to keep chicken moist.

Now drizzle balsamic glaze.

Here’s where my photos kinda dropped off. Your tomato mixture should be done. Take out and smush the tomatoes and mix all around. Put a piece of fresh mozzarella on top of each chicken piece and put in oven for a couple of minutes.

Serve!

Now, this really opens up lots of possibilities. You could totally leave the balsamic out and add this chicken to the true Tik Tok pasta recipe. You could also leave the pasta out and just add the chicken.

I find myself wondering why I haven’t been doing this to tomatoes all of my life. I really like the flavor!

Also, in the summer I love to do a grape tomato and a tiny mozzarella ball on a toothpick and then drizzle balsamic. The flavors are amazing.

Let me know if you try it!

Amy

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

I am happy to link up today with The Style Six here!

What have you been wearing lately?

On St. Patrick’s Day, I wore this old top from Costco, consignment Matilda Jane pants, my Madewell sneakers, and my consignment necklace that is Kate Spade inspired and looks like shamrocks. I also used my yellow bag. I had a work day at home with no live classes and some meetings via Zoom. But, I ran to the grocery to make my St. Patrick’s Day meal happen!

Saturday I ran to the mall. I wore my Pioneer Woman Umgee kimono from Amazon (it’s not really Pioneer Woman, but I think it looks like her dishes!), my new Etsy red clogs, and some old tan Hue jeggings. I didn’t really like the look of the jeggings when I saw this photo.

Saturday night I wore my newish top with black Matilda Janes, black clogs, and I carried my snakeskin clutch that was a birthday present from one of my besties. Better picture to follow…

My friend Kara was happy to show me her “rule of three” Saturday night. If you aren’t familiar with this concept in fashion, it basically says that you look more pulled together with three items. In this case, her outfit is top, kimono, long necklace that serves as her three. She thought it looked like a very Amy outfit. It does!

Kara is a busy mom of three and very frugal. She got to the point a few years ago where she had very little to wear and needed help. I spent two hours with her at my favorite consignment store and she was simply thrilled. She came away with an entire new wardrobe for around $200 including shoes. I had her pick a color palette. I asked her what activities she was dressing for and what she envisioned wearing. I asked her what she was wearing when she got the most compliments. I made her try on things she wouldn’t have picked. I was quite the task master and it was really fun for me!

Katie was wearing jeans on Sunday that she distressed herself. She used scissors and tweezers to achieve this look and washed them and dried them. This is a fun little project if you have a pair of jeans that you could do this to.

I happened upon a 75% off winter sale at a little housewares/clothing boutique last week and picked up these sneakers for $14!

They are a bit big, but I think I can make them work. I think they look very fallish, but I hope to wear them a couple of times before it gets too warm out.

I’ve got a couple of things I’m thinking about:

Old Navy loose luxe v-neck tunic tees look interesting and I could use some solids.

OMG, this bag is everything! But, the short handle may drive me crazy?

And, really considering these clog-like sandals. They are so cute!

Of course, I really need to do a good inventory and clean out and that is on my list for Spring Break!

What have you been wearing?

Have you been shopping for spring and summer?

Amy

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Happy birthday to my twin niece and nephew Mia and Miles today! They are 14 and headed to high school next year – how is that possible? Yes, my sister copied off of me by having twins 5 years after me!

I grew up in the Nancy Reagan “Just Say No” campaign era. Did you? I will be talking about a different topic today, though, than what Nancy was talking about.

I used to say NO a lot of the time…

I was really good about saying no to more than I could handle as a working mom. I wanted to be able to be the best mom I could be and I wanted to be the best teacher I could be, so I can as careful not to take too much on. I did juggle several things and was very busy, but I was good about learning to say, “I appreciate you asking but I am unable to add that to my plate right now” at work. And believe me, teachers are asked to be on committees, sponsor clubs, coach teams, and more. And I did it all for my first four years of teaching and it about killed me!

I also had to say no to social things sometimes by saying, “I would love to, but I just can’t do that right now with my kids at this age and a job that I have to be ready to do!”

Now, I am trying to say YES more…

When my kids got older, I realized it was my time to say “yes” to more things. At work, I became department chair again (I held the position until my boys started kindergarten and I said yes to being room mom and different things at their school) and I said yes to being on the hiring committee for several years. I also started saying yes to more social things like book clubs or spontaneous happy hours and dinners out.

When Coronavirus hit, I knew it was even more important to say yes to anything that I thought was safe! There wasn’t much to say yes to!

In the past, I may have been too rigid about my schedule, but I am learning that saying yes more brings so much happiness to me.

The more you say yes, the more you will be asked. Have you noticed that?

Do you have any friends who always say no and you stop asking? The opposite is true, too!

Saying yes to small things can help you to say yes to bigger things in the future. Maybe we should consider these small yeses as warm ups to bigger ones?

Do any of you always feel like you are the one asking and you never get asked? I think it’s about equal for me. I do half of the asking and get asked the other half of the time. I have talked about this with my sister and a couple of friends. I think there are just naturally those that are the planners in each social circle. Some people just don’t think to invite people but they are happy to be invited. Life is short; don’t get bogged down with who asked whom. Keeping score is exhausting. Put yourself out there and text a friend that you’d like to see them and see what happens.

Also, I should add that we have had different comfort levels during the pandemic. I like to start with, “Are you comfortable going to a patio right now?” or “What is your current comfort level?”

What have you said YES to recently?

What are your thoughts on having a YES mindset?

Do you say NO more often or do you say YES more frequently?

Thank you for saying YES to my blog today!

Amy