Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Feeling blue like this tree?

There are lots of reasons why you may not be feeling very festive this year – changing traditions, family dynamics, the stress of the holidays on your finances, adult kids adulting and moving on, divorce, custody arrangements, illness, loss of family members, family feuds, etc.

I was reflecting the other day on some hard family holidays my family has been through. Some of these were in my pre-blogging days. I think there were two Christmases where my sister in Columbus, Ohio couldn’t travel to my parents’ town in Indiana, and we all went to her. Her husband was in the hospital with leukemia, and she had a new baby. Yup, she had a 9 month old baby. The next year his leukemia came back, and he had to have a stem cell transplant. Yeah, my sister has been through it. We laughed our heads off at the depressing Christmas decorations in the waiting room I remember. That’s how we dealt with it – inappropriate humor.

There was also the year we had Chick Fil A for a late Friday Thanksgiving in my Dad’s hospital waiting room. Gosh, that was so sad. I wanted to find some joy for the kids (my nieces and nephews) and gave out money for the candy in the depressing hospital gift shop that had bins of penny candy. We trashed that waiting room, but we did clean it up!

First, know that you are not alone. There are others who are in the same boat. There are so many people who dread a holiday for one reason or another.

-Remember that Thanksgiving is just one day. Remember that Christmas is just one day. The clock will strike midnight and the expectations for a magical time will be lowered again.

-Volunteer. Look for a way to give back or serve on the actual holiday.

-Offer to work your job if it is a job that stays open.

-Stay off of social media. It’s fake news. You see those photos, but those photos are just a mirage. I bet Aunt Karen was drunk and slurring her words and saying all kinds of inappropriate things. That cute kid in the cute outfit is a spoiled brat whose voice is so annoying I bet. Don’t compare your situation.

-Think of all the good things that you can enjoy. Think of the upside to your current situation. At least you won’t have as many dishes. At least you will have more peace. At least you can wear your favorite pajamas and have a hygiene-free day.

-Band together with others who might be in the same situation.

-Do something totally unorthodox or unexpected. Travel if you can, go somewhere different. Eat an unorthodox meal that won’t have you thinking of the feasts of past.

– If it your first empty nester holiday with just you and your spouse or significant other, think back to your first holiday pre-kids. This could actually be a romantic and cozy holiday for you.

Here is what Gretchen Rubin said on Instagram:

This may seem so silly, but I do enjoy seeing the holiday products in the grocery store. I really like this one! I am not a big soda drinker, but I love the little glass bottles of Coca-cola and I love the cranberry added to the beverages. I usually buy stuff to make Shirley Temples. Who doesn’t like a red drink?

I replace daily things like my hand soap, kitchen cleaner, candle, placemat, tablecloth, etc. These little festive touches work for me and make it feel like the season.

Read Fiona Ferris’ book! This really inspired me last year.

This year both Thanksgiving and Christmas are different for me. Also, I am missing the holiday excitement of working in a school. I stopped and thought about how many holiday things I did in my classes recently – I gave them Thanksgiving vocabulary and winter holiday vocabulary (can’t really just call it Christmas) and we had round table discussions about both holidays, we wrote thank you letters in Spanish, we decorated a turkey and wrote what we were thankful for…

The excitement about school breaks was in the air and it was so much fun and anticipation.

Survival Tips:

-If you are scared of small talk/awkward family interactions – arrive later and leave earlier. Small doses.

-If you don’t like the food/have a special diet or goals, eat something healthy first and then just pick a few things to eat. Most people are not going to be paying attention to what’s on your plate. Keep in mind that it is just one meal.

-If someone forces leftovers on you don’t argue. It’s not that big of a deal. My friend got so bent out of shape that her mother-in-law brought too many desserts and then wouldn’t take the leftovers home. I told her to put them in our faculty lounge. Teachers will eat anything! This is not the stuff to worry about.

-Stick to the positive. Try to think of a compliment for anyone you have to interact with. When said mother-in-law brings too many desserts, “Oh, you are so generous!”

-Bring a small gift to the hostess. It starts things off on the right foot. A kitchen towel, handsoap, hand lotion, a candle – something small.

-Avoid talking about politics or anything controversial. It’s really not the time or place.

-Try open-ended, positive questions like “So, tell me something good in your life right now” or “What good things have happened to you since I saw you last?” You might have to start and say – for example, “I recently got to talk to an old friend!”

-Bring old family photos. Your family may only have one thing in common – shared history or shared family members. Think of a photo like a visual aid that will help your conversation.

-Many people think alcohol is the only thing that can help a family gathering but drink lots of water and avoid over serving yourself. You will say something you regret and feel like crap the next day for more than one reason.

-You don’t owe anyone anything. I guess what I mean by that is that you can be sad, you can be quiet, you can be struggling this year, and you can even bow out. You can feel your feelings. Someone said to me this year that they hope I “can be happy on Thanksgiving”.

-Take a break. Go outside or to the bathroom to give yourself a time out. Let them think you smoke or have IBS.

-Bring stickers. Who doesn’t love to put a sticker on their shirt whether they are 6 or 86? Have you ever seen someone sad around stickers?

-If you need a laugh…read this off color McSweeney’s article entitled “Thanksgiving or Perimenopause”!

What other suggestions do you have?

Amy

Monday, November 24, 2025

It’s Monday and link up with Sarah and Holly day – to talk about our weekends.

If I were still teaching, I would be headed into a two day week before the holiday. Those short weeks often felt the longest! Also, I am not contributing to two meals like I normally would. We always went to Tom’s sister’s house on Thursday and my mom’s house on Friday and I always made 2-3 dishes for each. So, I am not trying to get through the last two days until break and I am not food shopping, which is actually kind of nice, but odd, of course!

This year we are eating at a state park buffet and the forecast looks to be super cold for the holiday.

I think I’ve decided I will do my own Thanksgiving-esque meal sometime over the weekend. Maybe all the foods will be on sale!

Friday was another gloomy day and Eddie Otis and I did our playground walk while the kids were inside learning.

I stayed home and did chores and then at 4:00 I met Erica at Grassa Gramma for their happy hour special at the bar.

It fit the vibe of the moody, gloomy weather.

I had the $7 happy hour old fashioned:

Italy is imprinted on the ice cube:

Before happy hour I had pre-ordered pizza for dinner for Tom, Mason, and I. Did you know you can do that? I went to bed around 9 and slept in until 7:15!

Saturday morning Tom took EO out of the house so I Swiffered, mopped, dusted, did laundry, and decided to go ahead and take down the fall decor, including the few Thanksgiving pieces. I got out the Christmas decor to assess. I ran to Paul’s Fruit Market to get a few things. Now that I think about it, I accomplished a lot between 9 and 11 Saturday morning!

We met our friends at the German American Club (where we went for the cooking lesson last week) for their Chriskindlmrkt or Christmas market. It’s pretty small and quaint, but still fun!

I got some Gluhwein and a mug to take home. It has the recipe on the back of the mug – it’s red wine with spices served hot.

It was fun to be outside and to visit with our friends. On the way home we stopped at a Nordic bakery, and it was so cute! Yup, we went to Germany and Norway all in one day.

We came home and it was time to cuddle and watch sports…

Yesterday morning I used my new mug for my coffee and enjoyed some…

Nordic bread!

I cleaned my closet and gathered my Chirstmas accessories. I have just enough. I don’t want to go overboard. I pulled out my Christmas clothing, too.

I went to the basement and sorted some of the Christmas decor and went to Target to get some new twinkle lights and just see what they had.

I like this (all of it is old):

But I’m not really happy with the mantel yet:

Tom and I went downtown to walk around and see some new businesses that I was curious about…

And then we stopped at an outdoor store for some new socks for Tom.

We came home and I read on the patio for a bit:

And then….

Raw meat alert

Can you take it?

Are you sure?

It was time to recreate the schnitzel!

Cheating:

I bought this special seasoning at the market; they used it on their schnitzel. It’s really fun to say “schnitzel” instead of a cuss word.

Anyway, I will let you know know how it turned out later in the week!

Tell me a highlight of your weekend?

Amy

Friday, November 21, 2025

It’s Friday and time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share our favorites from the week. How was your week? Ours has been cooler and rainy. We haven’t really seen much sun.

We have really been tossed around with the closing of my mom’s house. About a week ago they said they thought we could close today, then they said no, but maybe the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, then they said nothing, then they said they can do it today at 1:00 and we made all the plans, then they said no they can’t get the paperwork together but maybe next Wednesday but wait then the realtor called yesterday afternoon and said that they could do today after all but at that point it was too late in the day for Molly to get a sub! Yes, I did intend for that all to be a run on! Who does business like that?

Molly is the only one who has to be there as the first trustee (because she is the only one who lives in the same state and my mom talked about how that would be the easiest potentially when she was drawing this up), but I told Molly I would go with her since I’m only an hour away. Anyway…I don’t have confidence that it will be Wednesday.

Here are some favorites from my camera roll this week…

I started my week by finishing this book:

I loved it! I loved the Germany references, the house swap premise, and more. There were some goofy parts but I really enjoyed it.

I got to pick up:

Yup, I have started my seasonal reading!

It’s getting ridiculous at this point but when I was in Kroger for one or two things I perused the holiday offerings and they have a Santa lambie! Raise your hand if you do a stocking for your doggy! Tom has named all of Eddie Otis’ toys and here is his list of lambie stuffed animals:

Lambie Pequeño (small lambie)

Lambie Gigante (giant lambie) – it is so big that he looks hilarious walking around with it in his mouth

Lambie Halloweenie (lambie with a witches hat on)

And, look at you, Kroger! They had my peppermint! I have been looking for this flavor everywhere!

For my birthday, Blonde Heather gave me this wonderful spray (that Tom hates apparently – he asked what that awful smell was). It really smells like a Christmas tree, and it is strong. I am making myself wait to use it but I have tested it out, obviously. I love it and that’s all that matters.

I think I will save this bottle when it’s gone.

Tuesday morning (and really all day) I was so thankful to be able to stay home. It rained and I opened a window near me. I love the sound and that fresh rain air. I stayed home all day until about 4:00 when I met Beth and Becky at a holiday fair where different vendors had their wares on display. It was fun to get out and look around!

I had simmered a pot of soup all day and had that when I got home.

Chicken Tortilla Soup:

Wednesday I picked up pants from my tailor. I hemmed the leopard barrel leg (still not sure I can pull it off but they are in my first photo) and my original first pair of Halara jeans. A hole developed toward the bottom cuff of one leg so I cut them off and they looked bad so I had a professional hemming done. I love repairing clothes. It makes me feel very pioneer woman and resourceful woman. I act like I did the repairs!

I have been using this lotion on my body but it says you can use it on your face…hmmm…should I? This lotion lasts through a couple of showers, even. It makes your skin so soft. I can feel the collagen just pumping through my skin.

I’m still going to get the tub of Cerave lotion for winter, though. It’s so good.

This is really good mascara! It is tubing. I realized how important mascara primer is several years ago (for me). This has the primer on one end and the mascara on the other and it won’t break the bank. I am really loving it.

Did you read my Dinner Queue post on Tuesday? We had spaghetti one night this week. Everyone loved it and it hit the spot. We like angel hair!

Here is a statement I never thought I would utter. I have a new favorite lettuce. It is butter lettuce with “immune supporting mix of lettuces, pea shoots, and lemony sorrel”. I don’t know what any of that means but trust me when I say that this combined with some grated fresh parm and my simple salad dressing – a little bit of EVOO, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and minced garlic – was delicious. It’s only about $3 a container.

I am trying to perfect a winter white cosmo. It’s impossible to find white cranberry juice so I ordered it on Amazon.

I like my cocktails to have a fizzy element so I am adding cranberry Sprite.

Blah, blah, blah Trader Joe’s. Let me tell you that your regular grocery probably has really good cheese, too. They even have a little basket of tiny little cheeses that are like $2. It’s a good way to try out a new to you cheese.

I got an enormous hunk of dill havarti at Kroger and it is so good. It was triple the size of what you see below for $6.

Cute little napping boy on top of Vaca Frita (Tom named it “fried cow” because that is on the menu at the Cuban restaurant) and an emotional support cloth napkin.

Tom doesn’t speak Spanish, but I guess I have rubbed off on him due to all the Spanish involved in Eddie Otis’ toy box.

I enjoyed my fun leggings at the gym one day this week.

Mason and I had a fun lunch one day this week. We went to Blue Dog Bakery.

Pretty coffee in a mug:

I don’t think I have ever had a wheatberry salad but I really liked it:

I had a French jambon sandwich:

We actually sat outside with heater and it was vibey!

This is the book I started next and it’s cute so far:

It was a good week!

I am not sure of when I will post next week but it will probably be most if not all of the week, so come see me!

Happy Friday!

Amy

Thursday, November 20, 2025

It’s already Thursday! That means that Thanksgiving is exactly one week away. I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files and Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings today.

I have been on a bit of a shopping spree. I usually buy some things for my November 2nd birthday and then I have opened the floodgates. I am going to try to stop now.

I have been buying brown! I bought American Eagle classic sweatpants in brown and Quince wide leg lounge pants in brown. Brown is the “it” color apparently.

Let’s see what I’ve been wearing in the 50s and 60s degree weather we have been having.

I wore this to take lunch to my friend Elizabeth at her office. I am wearing black Halara jeans, an old green Walmart sweater, and a no wrinkle button up underneath. I think I should have tucked in the shirt and not left it hanging.

My shoes are new. I bought Dansko black Mary Jane clogs. Amazon had the best price I could find.

I wore this for some errands. I have on my Target cow mules, my striped Halara jeans, and my white button up from Aerie. I have two of these and I love them.

For a birthday dinner out I wore my new Old Navy black skirt (I got it in burgundy, too), my boutique blouse that you have seen a lot of, and my scalloped black cardigan. I have on my old suede boots from Target that have a bit of a country vibe.

For Saturday things I wore my Land’s End striped track pants, my exercise sneakers, a white tee and I think I put a jacket over.

For the German cooking class later that day I put on my boutique blouse, and….my extra petite medium wash Halaras came in that I pre-ordered a couple of months ago. They are perfect. I love them so much. I think my collection is complete now. I have 6 pairs of Halara jeans! I am wearing brown mule/clogs from last season.

Here I am in the new brown sweats (sorry for the sun glare), a brown shirt, and my leopard vest.

The brown sweats are a bit long but I can roll the waistband. They are so cozy. Why did we ever stop wearing sweats? By the way, they call them a “jogger” but to me a jogger has a pretty big band at the bottom. A sweat has an elastic bottom.

I got it in my head that I “needed” a hot pink sweater and I found one for 40% off at Old Navy in store. I have now worn it 3 times since Sunday!

It matches my new bag, too!

I also bought the cutest graphic tee while in ON that I will show you soon. I need to back off the shopping now!

I have no idea what I am wearing for Thanksgiving. I will have to look at the weather and look at my options.

1. I love mashed potatoes! I really like the whole combo of the meal together, though.
2. My sister in law’s mother in law makes the best stuffing/dressing. It doesn’t go in the bird cavity so I guess that is dressing. It is made with Stovetop cornbread box mix but with added sausage and things. It’s so good. I need to ask for the recipe.
3. I am not. Our Christmas will be small and just the four of us but since Jack is out of the house I guess I will feel that I am kind of hosting this year. I want to make it special.
4. Probably neither this year. I have never done or gone to a Turkey Trot on actual Thanksgiving day. We have almost always walked our dog at the nature preserve or done some exercise before eating the meal, though.
5. The earliest I would do is the Wednesday before. I kind of like that. You come home (since we never host) and poof – it’s Christmas!
6. Sit down.
7. I am a pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving person because it’s really the only time I eat it!
8. We are doing a day trip only I think.
9. No! I do not want to be in that mess!
10. I am most looking forward to some time with our family of four and then seeing my side of the family in a happy occasion and not a sad one – I hope.

Whew! That was a lot!

What are you wearing/buying right now?

What would you answer to one of the questions?

Amy

Wednesday, November 19. 2025

1. Let’s do our gratitude question first this week…what’s the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? 

You guys might not believe this. I lived in my childhood home, went to college and lived in dorm/sorority house all four years, lived in three apartments (two with my bestie Heather and one alone), then bought my current home with Tom. So, I have only ever lived in two homes! I feel like that is kind of rare when one is mid-fifties. We bought a modest ranch when I was 28 and Tom was 33. It had four bedrooms and two baths so it was a house we could grow into. One bedroom was in the basement, so it is kind of cheating. We built a garage, added a bathroom, renovated the basement, two bathrooms, added 600 square feet on the back to become our primary bedroom, mudroom, and patio.

It feels like home. It’s comfortable. No space is wasted. I have a basement with a huge storage space. I love my outdoor spaces. Tom had the idea to create a side patio on the garage with an overhang? It’s nice to have a covered space and something I wouldn’t have thought of.

I love my garage and side patio so much and you hear about it often! I would love a new table but there is nothing technically wrong with my old table.

Tom also replaced all the doors and door hardware and now they are beautiful paneled doors and bronze handles.

As you can see the door trim needs a re-paint which is part of the plan.

I grew up in a house that didn’t feel comfortable. The furniture wasn’t comfortable. I didn’t feel like I could set a drink down.

Mason keeps asking for coasters but Eddie Otis eats them so they are put away and you have to go get one.

I don’t really have enough indoor space to entertain so I like to only do that in patio weather. But then I think of people making NYC tiny apartments work or people in Europe entertaining.

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one’s your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

I love squash! I think I like yellow the best but I also like it mixed with zucchini and I really like spaghetti squash, too. The other ones I have only had rarely or not at all.

We had yellow squash casserole one year that Tom’s brother in law’s sister brought. That is the only time she came to Thanksgiving, but her squash casserole made an impression on me. I can’t remember her name, though.

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

3. Last time you were ‘squashed in’ somewhere, or felt squashed? 

I felt squashed in a booth for 6 people last Friday night. Tom’s coat was on the seat next to me and was making me hot, too. He did not need to bring it in. It was 70 degrees.

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other ‘racquet sports’ such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy? 

I don’t think I have ever played squash. We used to set up a badminton net in my childhood backyard. I took tennis in college as one of my PE requirements. I like ping pong on occasion. I just rarely have the thought that I’d like to have a paddle in my hand.

5. Something in today’s society or culture that feels like a ‘racket’ to you? If you don’t like that one, tell us about a place you’ve been recently where there was a lot of ‘racket’. 

Fancy manicures with doodads and designs. Drive thru food. Drive thru coffee everyday. Some restaurants like steakhouses. Tattoos. Some beauty treatments and beauty devices like red light masks. Makeup – especially extensive regimens. But it’s a person’s choice to do these things. People have free will to spend as they like.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Tom’s new fence:

He’s got a little bit more to go but he is taking a break to visit the chiropractor. Womp. womp.

Thanks for visiting me today!

Amy

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Dinner! Why do they need it every night? For many of you, this is such a busy time of year. It’s not the time for gourmet meals. It’s the time for simplicity. I think most women I talk to are just exhausted by decision making. They can google recipes, but they just need the ideas.

Here I have a list of 20 plus meals that can get you through the holidays when you are just at home for normal dinners. This can save you having to use the drive thru and you can have many of these things on the table more quickly than you can order Door Dash.

Some of these things are not that healthy, but again, I think they might be better than fast food.

You will riff off of these ideas and remember things your family likes, I think. Open your phone memo and type what you like or get out your pad and pen.

Also, try to think of one meat but used two ways.

I have more energy in the morning so I sometimes will brown the ground beef or do some element of the dinner. I literally will set a timer on my phone to start dinner some days. Some late afternoons I am in a bad mood because I have to execute the dinner plan. I try to turn on a podcast or talk on the phone to make it more enjoyable on those days I just don’t feel like it.

American tacos – hard shells, lettuce, tomato, cheese, Taco Bell taco sauce, add rice as a side if you want

Spaghetti – make the meat at the same time you make the taco meat, add to a jar of Prego Chunky Garden or your favorite jarred sauce, use the good ol’ green powdered parmesan, and serve with Texas Toast

Fish sticks or filets, Kraft mac and cheese, can of peas

BLTs, frozen french fries, fruit – If you aren’t making your bacon in the oven on a sheet pan, start now.

Breakfast for dinner – can even make extra bacon and use for BLT night – pancakes, fruit, scrambled eggs

Rotisserie chicken, ready-made mashed potatoes or 90 second packet rice, green beans

Chicken Caesar wraps with the leftover chicken – buy a bag of Caesar salad mix. Frozen fries or frozen tater tots on the side. This was Kristin’s idea I stole this summer!

Salmon, baby potatoes, broccoli – can put this all on one sheet pan

Taco salad (can even freeze the taco meat from taco night) – iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, Taco Bell mild sauce, crushed up original Doritos

Quiche or crustless quiche and side salad

Baked cod or tilapia (use cajun spice), frozen broccoli, baby potatoes

Burger bowls

Hot dogs, baked beans, bagged salad

Sheet pan turkey sausage or kielbasa, onions, green peppers

Hot subs, chips, fruit

Grilled cheese, everyone’s soup of choice (get some fun ones with characters?)

Fake Thanksgiving (Pre-Gaming)- Stove Top stuffing, Ready-made mashed potatoes, can of green beans (we like Allen’s Italian green beans), and some slices of thick cut turkey from the deli counter – did you know you can do that? Add Sister Schubert’s or Texas Roadhouse rolls, too – if you want more carbs!

Loaded baked potatoes – you can make a bar and offer chili, chicken, shredded cheese, broccoli – great way to use up leftovers. Can make the baked potatoes in your crock pot!

Sandwich bar

Pasta bar – just boil two shapes of noodles and call it a bar?

Ready-made bbq, buns, beans or another side

I think my favorite thing in my kitchen right now is my sheet pan – I have three big ones and one small one. I love roasting vegetables on it and I daresay it might be the easiest cooking method. You chop and toss with some olive or avocado oil and use some seasonings and then forget about it. You’re done. You can chop the veg in the morning if that works best for you.

Tom said something to me early in our marriage. I was making complicated recipes (for me at the time) and he said I didn’t need to work that hard and he is fine with “meat and two veg”. Isn’t that simple? I think about that often when I don’t feel inspired.

Sound off in the comments on your easiest go to meals. What do you always have on hand that you can make? What are your strategies for dinner when life gets hectic?

Amy

Monday, November 17, 2025

How was your weekend? Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly to talk about it!

Let’s start with Thursday! EO and I did a walk and enjoyed it not being so cold anymore!

I have used press on nails for maybe 3 years now. I give my natural nails a break in between sets and this is what my natural nails look like. Gel and dip destroyed my nails, but my nails are staying healthy with press ons. I use the type with adhesive on already (no nail glue required) and I get about 10 days out of a set. I exclusively use Impress brand.

I did a gray/green at the end of the day Thursday.

I went to Whole Foods for one thing that they didn’t end up having but I found this peppermint bark creamer.

I made a delicious iced coffee.

I loved this blackberry acai. I think you can buy Whole Foods 365 brand on Amazon now since Amazon owns Whole Foods.

Thursday night for dinner I made lasagna cupcakes in my popover pan. I couldn’t find my muffin tin. I think I got rid of it because it was in bad shape and then forgot to replace it.

Friday, I went to Work the Metal and enjoyed seeing their holiday decor. I missed their holiday open house a week ago because I had something else going on.

My custom handbag was in! The shop is in the same building. The shop is gorgeous!

Here she is:

The business is called Bonhomia and you can buy ready made pieces or you can design your own. This would be such a great gift. They use recycled Guatemalan handcrafted textiles.

There is a Facebook group, and I was able to pick my own fabric, leather color, and bag style through a super easy process on Facebook messenger. The owner/founder had the goal of 75 custom bags, and she exceeded that and used the extra profits to send the kids of the artisans they employ to school for a year.

My bag was $139, and I think that is reasonable for the quality of the bag. Reach out to me if you want one and need more help than the website can give you.

I came home with my bag and the weather was amazing!

Have cow print Mary Janes and lounge chair – will read.

Friday night was the long-awaited birthday dinner with my two besties and their husbands. One birthday was October 16 and mine was November 2nd, and we were only just able to go out together because of conflicting schedules!

We went to Malone’s, which is always good, but they had us in that booth for 3 hours. The service was slow and drawn out. Do they think we are Europeans? They had festive holiday decor that I enjoyed seeing!

They give you the most basic salad that is really good! Sometimes you just want good old iceberg.

I ordered a chicken sandwich just to get a smaller piece of chicken (left the bun) and the potato croquettes, which are amazing. I was able to take one home and have it the next day.

They have a colossal chocolate cake (it’s 1/4 of a cake) and we got that complimentary for our two birthdays.

Silly photos:

This is like one of those photos that shows you what it is like to have an astigmatism, which I do have.

Joint blowing out of the candles:

I got really thoughtful gifts for my birthday, too. We had already given the other birthday girl her gifts when we went to brunch on her birthday. Yes, there is lots of celebrating because why not?

Saturday was another really nice mild day! I went out to a boutique to spend my birthday gift card that one friend gave me and I went to Paul’s Fruit Market to get a couple of things we needed.

I went home and Tom and EO were using Tom’s new backpack leaf blower. He bought this “toy” last weekend.

I gave up on:

I only had about 50 pages left, but it was just painful to keep reading it. I knew what was going to happen. I don’t even know how motivated I am to grab it and read the last page.

I started this and I love the premise so far! Someone in Dallas does a home swap with someone in Germany! And, you might say I had a German-themed day all around on Saturday because after reading for a bit with my lunch I had to get ready for…

A “day date” to the German American Club!

We ordered this cookbook from the people who owned the German restaurant that is now closed and I brought it to get it signed…

during our German cooking class!

Mom and daughter who wrote the cookbook demonstrated how to make pork schnitzel and spaetzle (egg noodles).

Peep Tom helping with the noodles:

We were told we would get a generous taste, but it turned out to be a full dinner!

It was so fun to talk to the mom and daughter, and the mom told us her stories of coming here. She also talked a lot about avoiding food waste and foods they prepared when they didn’t have much food to go around in Germany. She is 82 and raised 5 kids who all worked in the restaurant when they moved here in 1993.

We came home and I read outside and then I remembered we had our tv out on the patio, so I watched a show for a bit in the dark. I wanted to have a fire, but it was really windy. My windchimes were really noisy and made it a bit hard to focus. Lol. I went to bed at 9 after staying up too late Friday night.

Sunday morning, I got up early because I had gone to sleep early and made my coffee. I placed a grocery order that would be ready for pick up at 9!

This week I am keeping it simple with

Chicken tortilla soup (will make extra chicken for burrito bowls)

Classic spaghetti (meat is already made in the freezer from the lasagna cupcakes)

Frozen fish, mac and cheese, peas

Burrito bowls

That’s only four things but we will do leftovers or sandwiches or order take out one night I think.

My post tomorrow is a list of easy dinners to get you through this busy holiday season. It’s nothing mind blowing but I hope it helps!

I did housework and errands for a bit on Sunday mixed in with some sunny reading time.

Tell me something about your weekend, too.

Amy

Friday, November 14, 2025

This week flew by! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some things that made me smile.

It turned so cold Sunday through Tuesday and my body was not prepared. Wednesday became nice again! Yay! Don’t you know I rushed out to the sun! That was just a winter dress rehearsal, thankfully. I did learn I would need some cozier pants.

Tom went back to work this week and while that is sad for him…I was kind of glad to be back to my “new normal”.

Here we go…

The winter weather really prompted our leaves to come down!

I am so happy that I have a heated steering wheel! It feels so good! Who needs gloves?

Remember when I said I didn’t need Starbucks? What is it about cold weather that makes me want Starbucks? I love the holiday cups and the holiday drinks and it’s fun to have one for running errands. I’m so basic.

I cannot wait to renovate our kitchen and now you are going to look more closely because I said something. I am making this sacrifice to show you how cute Eddie Otis is with a taco in his mouth getting some scratches from brother Mason!

I am still loving the newly exposed wood floors and the fact that I got my house cleaned this week!

I saw a Boom Boom stick at Walgreen’s and bought it. You put it in each nostril to open your passageways. It’s supposed to be all natural – essential oils. I like my new Boom Boom stick for congestion.

I also got a French butter bell. You put a bit of cold water in the base, and you can leave your butter out and it stays spreadable. You have to change your water every couple of days, and you are supposed to use salted butter. I bought a really good butter this week – Vital Farms. Kerrygold was $10! This was half the price.

Mrs. Meyer’s Rain Water could basically be my perfume I like it that much. She makes me want to clean counters.

I got one more Acorn Spice to get me through November.

Do you listen to The Savvy Cast podcast? It’s a new one for me, but I loved her quick episode on dips. I love a dip! She also has a blog post with all the dip recipes on Family Savvy website.

The Best Easy Party Dips: Savory, Sweet, and Baked Fan Favorites

Still reading this and it’s cheesy but I’m enjoying it. It’s set in the 90s and the 90s references are a bit much at times but nostalgic at others.

I’ve been talking about my mom’s Storyworth. This is the finished product. She loved the color teal in the last 10 years of her life so I went with teal. She painted a wall teal, she bought two teal leather couches, She had a craft table made with teal legs. We were getting worried. For her funeral, all the girls painted toes teal. She had already named her “book so I kept her name. She always had to say her name was “Carol with an E”.

She answered 55 questions and even added photos. Here are some examples of the inside of the book:

I am so glad to have this! I am so glad she took the time to answer the questions. This would make a meaningful gift to someone in your life, perhaps.

Wednesday, I took lunch to my friend at her fancy office job. She has a nice lobby area and we sat and talked during her lunch break. I made bacon quiche and a simple salad and she seemed to really like it! Elizabeth used to be a French teacher next door to me. We became fast friends even though we are 20 years apart in age. I was in her wedding. She is the most positive person but has my sense of humor. She is a doll and I am so glad to have her in my life.

I made a salad dressing from olive oil, lemon juice, and honey and it was too tart so I added white wine vinegar. It came out really good and this is gonna sound crazy but I have a new fave lettuce mix. I’m going back to Kroger to get more.

Eddie Otis says, “Mom, you have to stop watching Love is Blind”!

Remember my neighbor’s tree last week?

Look at it now!

I’m so glad I stopped to notice its beauty last week.

I’m sad about the penny! My Dad passed away in 2018 and since then he has left me so many pennies! Dad is gonna have to up the denomination. Does he know what the economy is like? $10 butter? Dad, can you leave me quarters now?

Jen talked about blue leggings and I really like mine. They are fun!

My poor sisters. One is a first grade teacher and one is an elementary art teacher.

Here is what the art teacher posted on Facebook this week…

My poor sister!

I made the grilled peanut butter this week! I talked about it in Wednesday Hodgepodge. It’s really good!

I saw this on the interwebs this week…

Does anyone else think we should never have left the 1800s? I am not interested in lard, but did you know lots of lard (manteca) is used in Mexican cooking? It might be in those refried beans. Everyone is talking about raw milk and fermented foods now. And, see how sourdough is on there – all of you in the sourdough cult?

Tell me a fave of yours this week!

Amy

Thursday, November 13, 2025

I am participating in “a day in the life” with Joyce and Fashion Files with Kellyann and Jill at the end.

I decided to document Tuesday, November 11th.

I have been getting up around 5:45 and I simply put on gym clothes and brush my teeth.

This is me at a red light. Tom gets up at 4:30 and goes to the gym right when it opens at 5. He is part of the 5 am crew and they are chatty. I like arriving as they are leaving and there is a lull and hardly anyone there. I park next to Tom and we say “hi”. Lol. I am on my 7th week of my morning gym routine.

This jacket helps me on these cold days we have had.

I am so happy to have my driveway and garage back. We had a dumpster here for a week. My gate is automatic.

I just got my new to me car in July and I love how I get a little snowflake next to the temp.

I do have a heated steering wheel! I had it on my last car and didn’t think I had it on this one. Love a heated steering wheel!

I start my coffee as it’s now about 6:45.

Tom thankfully walks Eddie Otis and one of us turns on the patio lights. Tom took care of all the leaves over the weekend and now the yard is full again.

Eddie Otis eats and Tom goes back to shower and get ready for work. I read my devotional and open my computer. I talk to Eddie Otis.

This is my own fault, but I put my two multivitamin gummies and my vitamin D gummy in this cute little leaf for me to take after coffee. Eddie is worried about his vitamins and minerals, and I see him put his paws on the kitchen counter and start helping himself to the leaf contents. He got two before I got there.

The dumpster is gone and so is the nasty pile of old wood from April!

We go out to the recycling bin and trash bin together.

After I read blogs and write my next day’s blog, I open up my agenda and see what I need to do. I have ordered my 2026, as well. This is a great size for me – 8.5x 11 – and I write everything. It was like $7 on Amazon!

Elementary school starts at 7:30 and I have a nice window where no one is on the playground so when it gets light out Eddie and I do his second walk of the day. I listen to a podcast usually.

It is usually around 8:30 and I start to do the daily tasks of unloading the dishwasher if I haven’t already done it while my coffee is brewing, putting clean dishes away from the drainer, starting a load of laundry or putting something away, etc.

Sometimes I have phone calls to make. I have been making Monday my day to get admin stuff done and that has been working pretty well.

I make my breakfast and sit and eat it while reading my book.

This day was different because I was trying “Homeaglow” for the first time. I got a $19 voucher for a 3-hour house clean. I have only had my house professionally cleaned three times in my life. This was kind of a birthday treat and Tom suggested it.

So, I met my cleaner Leticia, and we talked and then she did both of my upstairs bathrooms while I worked on decluttering the mudroom, the kitchen, the dining room. Then, she came out and did the living room, dining room, and kitchen. I had to crate Eddie Otis because he was a little too “curious” about the bucket of mop water when she came out of the bathrooms. I did make sure she liked dogs!

I did the mudroom because she was going to run out of time. I worked the whole time she worked, and it forced me to get it done, too.

I added my little Thanksgiving touches:

I already had the mantel stuff:

She left at 11 and I went to take my shower and get ready to go out.

I was hungry and tried my peppermint bark Barebell. It’s ok. I’m just not a protein bar person. I only ate half. Barebell and Built are the best ones I’ve tried.

My toaster died and my kitchen trashcan needed an upgrade so I started at Target. I also bought a Method cleaner that Leticia had (she brought all of her own supplies) and batteries for my new trashcan. Yes, I said batteries. It opens automatically when it detects motion. By the way, I bought my mom a trashcan like this at Costco maybe 10 years ago and she loved it so much that she even wrote about it in her Storyworth stories as one of her “best gifts ever received”. Lol.

I had a birthday coupon for Clothes Mentor so I popped in and nothing appealed.

I got Mexican (local place like Qdoba) takeout for our lunch (Mason was home for lunch) because I didn’t want to yuck up the clean kitchen. I rarely get food out during the week – making my breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home most days.

I read my book for a couple of hours and Eddie slept because of all the excitement of the morning.

Then, I listened to a podcast while making dinner around 4:00. I chopped potatoes, yellow squash, and zucchini. I talked on the phone with my sister for about 45 minutes and then I started baked tilapia. I wasn’t feeling fish, so I made myself an open-faced artichoke melt sandwich for dinner.

Tom gets home from work around 6:00 and walks EO. I need to go with him but I’m finishing up dinner and I like some non-EO time in the house to straighten a few things up. And, it’s so cold!

We sit in the living room to eat dinner now and Mason sits with us a couple of nights a week when he is home. We are watching Ludwig when we can. We love having Mason hang out with us and EO loves it, too. We have decided he is really happy when we all sit in the living room.

It was about 7:15 when we finished and I still like my routine of cleaning up the kitchen and then going to shower and put pajamas on. Tom stays up for another hour or so and then he and EO go to bed. I usually come out from my shower and talk to them some more and then I watch tv in the basement on my more comfortable sectional. I come up and go to bed between 9:30-10.

And, now for some fashion…

I wore this Friday for my breakfast with my friend Beth. I have on my black Halaras, leopard Mary Janes, white AE button up and an old black fringe sweater vest.

Friday night I went to a Christmas open house at a shopping center and I wanted something a bit Christmasey. I wore my black Halaras, my black Lucky booties, my black Umgee blouse and then I used my red/green purse strap as my nod to Christmas.

Saturday errands – I have a feeling this will be what I reach for.

Halaras, black long-sleeved tee, and leopard vest.

Whew! That was a lot!

Amy

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

It’s Hodgepodge day with Joyce!

1. What does patriotism mean to you? 

I am embarrassed I forgot to mention Veteran’s Day. I thought it always fell on a Monday, and I guess I didn’t realize we were that far into November. Patriotism means being a good citizen of my community, state, and country. It means understanding that a democracy means not always getting the elected official you wanted and being respectful of who is leading.

When I travel I want to give the US a good name and not be an “ugly American”. Travel makes one more patriotic. We appreciate what we have.

2. September-October-November…your favorite fall month? Tell us why. If you live in the southern hemisphere use these months but sub spring for the word fall. 

September is still pretty hot but you can feel fall coming! I guess I would say October. We have had the nicest October weather.

3. A song you love with the word thanks (or some form of that word)  in the title or lyrics?

The only song I can think of without googling is “Thank you for being a friend” – lol.

After googling, I like Alanis Morisette’s “Thank U”.

4. November is National Peanut Butter Month. Are you a fan? What’s the last peanut butter bite you had? Fill in the blank: peanut butter and _____________________ . Oh, and you can’t say jelly. 

I love peanut butter! My Dad loved peanut butter and made me grilled peanut butter sandwiches when I was little. Have you tried that? I think I will do that in honor of my Dad.

Peanut butter and good old fashioned saltine crackers.

5. This week’s gratitude question-What event from this past year are you most grateful for? 

I guess I am most grateful for the ability to retire and to handle my mom’s estate for my sisters.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am mad that we didn’t pull up the horrible carpet sooner. The floor isn’t perfect but it’s so much better for now. We are putting engineered hardwood on top of the other two bedrooms, hallway, living room, and dining room on our main level. It’s already in our bedroom. It’s darker with wider planks. I bought a cheap and too small rug just for now. I am hoping we get the new flooring laid down within the next couple of months. We have pillows but Eddie Otis steals them so we keep them put away until we are sitting on the couch. He has made us minimalists!

Amy