Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Today we have a twofer – Currently with Jenn and Hodgepodge with Joyce!

currently loving

I feel like I am on a retirement tour! So, I still haven’t figured out a party – if I should have one, when to have one, how big it will be, etc. I just don’t feel like I have the energy and I have a bit of a mental block.

Instead, several friends are taking me out or celebrating me and I have been spoiled!

currently savoring

I love a slow morning. I love mornings and enjoy them so much and that makes me reluctant to plan to do things too early. I drink coffee and tons of water and then like to make my breakfast around 9-10. This is mushrooms, onions, potato, shredded cheese, one egg and some Bob Evans egg whites.

I miss being able to start my day outside. It’s just been too humid.

currently celebrating

Myself! Ha! I told you I am on a retirement tour! Today I need to go to the store and get my red, white, and blue candy and some 4th of July traditional foods. I think I will actually go in store to see what they have on display!

Tom is off Friday and I am hoping to do something fun to celebrate the good ol’ USA.

currently remembering

I am trying to remember to look at my bucket list! I have it on the kitchen memo board. If you missed that post, here it is.

currently trying

I am trying to figure out a better routine/structure. I am trying to eat more protein and healthier and lighter meals. I made tuna salad with a hard boiled egg and had some saltines this week. I made my Tostitos queso and jarred salsa mixture but I had run out of the Tostitos bite sized which are my preferred.

1. What does freedom mean to you? 

Freedom means the ability to speak freely, worship freely, work the job you want, and live the way you want. We take freedom for granted in this country I think.

2. How will you celebrate Independence Day this year? If you live outside the USA answer this question as it relates to your own country’s patriotic holiday, wherever that may land on the calendar. 

It’s always weather dependent. We usually don’t go anywhere for fireworks anymore. There are people who set them off behind our house in the school playground. Eddie Otis wasn’t bothered by them last year but he was only 5 months old. I think they could bother him this year.

I would like to go out on the boat with some festive boat friendly foods. That would be fun!

3. This or that…red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Watermelon, home made ice cream, or blueberry pie? How do you feel about fireworks?  

I am having a blue moment. I love all the shades of it. I love stars. I would like some star earrings. I rarely have pie and I would like to try blueberry. I love to make a red, white, blue fruit pizza and maybe I will do that!

4. What have you purchased recently that made you excited? 

My new Aerie sweatshirts that are so soft and cozy!

5. I’m thankful to live in America (or fill in whatever country you call home) because____________.

It’s home and it feels comfortable and familiar to me. I have dreams of living in another country but it would have to be short term, I think. I miss the little things when I travel. Even with our problems, it’s the best place to live! I love the USA!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This salad is so good. It has a big chunk of feta in the middle, sweet beets, blueberries, strawberries, and a lemon vinaigrette. I picked salmon to go on top. I would love to try to make this myself!

Do you ever successfully make restaurant meals you have had?

What would you say to any of the currently or hodgepodge topics today?

Amy

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Well, it’s been a long time since I have talked about The Happiness Project. My last post was here in April! Is anyone else doing it with me? I must admit that I am not as excited about it this go ’round. I honestly do think many of its principles have stuck with me and have become part of me!

May’s theme was about leisure and being serious about play. Find more fun, take time to be silly, go off the path, and start a collection were the goals.

So, May was a busy and long month. I was finishing up my teaching career, of course! I was silly in class with my students but I didn’t do a lot outside of school. I didn’t start a collection that I can think of but I do consider my coffee mugs to be a collection. So, I didn’t really do a lot of playing in May, but I made up for it in June!

June’s theme was make time for friends! I did that after a month of not much time for friends and it was so great to catch up with people. Anyone that asked to hang out I had to put off until I get school finished! Friendship, remember birthdays, be generous, show up, don’t gossip, and make three new friends were all part of the month’s goals. I talked to three new people at the teacher pool day last week so maybe that counts? It’s really hard to make new friends at this stage, isn’t it?

July’s theme is money – buy some happiness. Oh no! Don’t tell Tom! Indulge in a modest splurge, buy needful things, spend out, and give something up are the goals that I will work on this month. You don’t have to tell me twice! I don’t really have a problem with this!

I bought two pairs of clearance earrings from a little boutique and have worn both a bunch! That fits my mission of helping local businesses and using what I have. I am into smaller gold earrings right now. I have bought some clothes to wear around the house because that is what I am wearing the most of, some consignment things, and have shopped a little and buy something if it fits my style, new flip flops, and several summer beauty and skincare products. I’m not doing a lot of shopping for entertainment or online shopping.

In the household, I am trying to use up cleaning products before buying new, not waste food and look to what I have before I meal plan, eat up leftovers, and things like that.

I am taking some loads to donate as I go through different areas. I am trying to be a better shopper and return what isn’t perfect and only buy what fits me and my lifestyle.

Any thoughts on any of these themes?

Amy

Monday, June 30, 2025

Well, it is the final day of June. Can you even believe it? Also, I posted on Saturday here if you missed it!

So, the thing I teased about at the end of my Saturday post is…a podcast! I guest hosted on Dan’s podcast Fortyish about 8 years ago and soon after it ended. No, I am not responsible for its termination! But, also since then we have talked I have bugged him about us doing a podcast. We are no longer fortyish, of course. So the podcast would be about life in our 50s and we would have a man’s perspective (Dan’s) and a woman’s perspective (mine and better – lol).

Are you a podcast person? Would you give Dan and I a listen if it comes to fruition? What do you like in a podcast?

Nora and I had two Spanish tapas to do this week as part of our challenge. Here is my gambas (garlic shrimp):

spicy potatoes:

It was fun and not too hard to make Thursday evening. I am really enjoying doing the challenge with her. I am curious what she will come up with next.

I had a really fun day Friday! It started with meeting my friend Beth (new to the consignment scene) at Clothes Mentor. She majorly scored and I am hoping to show you her finds on Thursday. She got 7 items for $80 something!

I found two items and this is one. I had been wanting a shirt dress!

Then we went to Sassy Fox where we also both found a couple of things.

We then had some whipped feta with honey at Taziki’s and got a cookie to go from Penny and Pearl’s!

Then it was time for my hair appointment…

She got a chop! I haven’t had my hair this short in quite some time!

My new hair got to go out…

Heather and Heather were taking me out to celebrate my retirement!

We went to the downtown Steak and Bourbon. It was my first time.

We got espresso martinis with their logo!

THE butter candle!

We did the TikTok/IG gallop thing and this is how it turned out…

They spoiled me with some earrings I have been wanting (they both have them so we will be triplets) and a gift card. It was too much.

Saturday morning was kind of a fail. I cleaned as fast as I could with EO out of the house on his Saturday morning routine with Tom and I wanted to go to the farmer’s market. Well, I was too late and it was so crowded and I couldn’t find parking so I left. Oh well. I went to Buff City Soap for the first time because it was nearby. I don’t get it. What am I missing? I wanted to buy some laundry detergent but it didn’t even hardly smell and it was expensive. Please tell me if you have a favorite or if the smell is good after you use the detergent?

I want to recommend this Kroger hummus and these pita chips. The pita thins are way better than the pita chips in my opinion. I also cut up some carrots and celery. Yum.

I watched some tv and vegged out after my Saturday errands along with Tom and then we finally got motivated to go to dinner at Harry’s. I was craving chicken fingers and honey mustard. Tom love their salmon spinach salad. We both took at least half home.

I started Gilded Age! It’s so good!

And, I started this book! It has While You Were Sleeping vibes!

We couldn’t figure out what the weather was going to do either day this weekend and both days held rain and storms. But yesterday we took our chances and Scott and Heather met us to go out on the boat around 4:00.

We tooled around for about an hour and then the sky looked like this:

We pulled up to Captain’s Quarters and ordered some food and it started raining pretty hard.

Hugo Spritz!

We almost got off the boat and went in the restaurant to eat but it stopped.

It was my turn for a salmon spinach salad! Awww!

And, that’s a wrap. It was a fun weekend!

How about you? Did you have a good one?

Amy

Saturday, June 28, 2025

I am here on a Saturday so that I can link up with Jenn for her monthly post when we talk about some things we loved, some things we learned, some things that went well, and some things we let go of this month. 

Some Things I Loved

I had lots of time at home with my people and my pup, but I was social, too! I had a wonderful lunch with Beth where she celebrated my retirement.

I went to the pool with Erica and Elizabeth and had this wonderful aperol spritz…

and another time with Victoria where we had a great time catching up!

I had Victoria over for lunch on my patio, too, and that was lovely and she gave me the most thoughtful retirement gift of a necklace.

I met Elizabeth at Haymarket and Erica at the mall, and I met Jessica for dinner. I learned to play mah jong, and I got to see my high school friends at a pool party!

I would say I had a good mix of home and social time this month. I feel lucky and blessed.

Some Things I Learned

Most of the things I learned this month have to do with me slowing down. I was so wired the first week of June and the wise words of Mason were…”Mom, chill out. You don’t have to accomplish everything in one day” and boy is he right.

I have learned to cook homemade stromboli and black bean burgers, and this week’s was two tapas from Spain! I learned patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) and gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp). This has been a fun connector with niece Nora who is a talented cook. My sister Kate lets her in her kitchen and has given her the freedom to explore this talent. My mom didn’t want me in the kitchen making messes so I really didn’t learn to cook until I was much older than Nora.

I have taken over all the bill paying. I usually do this in the summer, anyway, but I have learned more about what kind of system I want to have in taking over the bills.

I have been the main point person with the realtor for the sale of my mom’s house and have learned a lot in regards to that.

Some Things that went well

This could also go with the above, but I have learned about estate sales and how they work and how the sales of a home work, too. I have never sold a house. This is my one and only house that I currently live in!

A dear friend now owns these player piano rolls and I love seeing GREASE in my Dad’s handwriting.

Some Things I let go of

I’m in a season where there will be dog toys lying around and there will be dog hair. I try my best to sweep it up but it’s more important that I have this wonderful pup than that I have a pristine home. There will always been dishes in the dishwasher, drainer, and probably the sink. Some days I make food three times a day and that means I didn’t go out and I fed myself and my people. The recycling bin will always be full and the trash will almost always be full. There will always be clothes in some laundry rotation, too, right?

I am trying not to get upset about these things but just know it’s all a part of doing life.

I let go of many of my parents’ possessions in the estate sale but we have so much stuff to remember them by. I have bins to go through.

I let go of their final earthly home and handed the sale of it to the realtor. It was hard to see it empty, of course. I am glad I had the privilege of getting to do so, though. I walked the rooms and thanked them out loud for the wonderful childhood they gave me. I asked that they understand how we have handled it. I hope and pray that I have the best of them that lives on in me.

I have a piece of advice for you. If you have parents that have so much stuff and it is causing you anxiety…let it go for now. It is much more important that you enjoy the time you have left with your parents without stressing about their stuff. They find it overwhelming, too, I’m sure. When they pass on, it will be yours to deal with and then you can deal with it. Now, if you have a parent that wants you to help them downsize, you can do that. You just have to let them lead the way if you are lucky enough to still have them here.

I want to end on a fun note…I am so excited about something that might be in the works involving my best guy friend Dan. He is coming over next week to discuss it with me. Dan is my only male blog reader that has come forth – lol!

Everybody loves Dan and he just makes you feel special. He is so sweet and funny. He loves Tom and that takes a special person.

Can you guess what might be in the works?

Happy Saturday to you! As you read this I am trying to go to my first farmer’s market of the season!

Amy

Friday, June 27, 2025

First of all, how are we already at the end of June? Can someone explain how January felt so long and June felt so short?

I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some faves from my week.

“I carried a watermelon.” Name that movie…

Dirty Dancing! I went to Trader Joe’s and bought a whole watermelon and told Tom to take this picture and he thought I was weird, which I am.

I tried Baked by Melissa’s Life Changing Lettuce and I added feta, cucumbers, and chicken. I made paprika potatoes, too. This was a nice light Sunday dinner.

Everyone loved the salad and I got to thinking that it’s why I loved the salad in Spain during my semester abroad. It was simple and dressed with olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Anyway, I have since made the salad three more times!

It’s not too fun to run around when your car reads 101! Have you all had super hot temps, too?

Despite the heat, I did some baking Monday morning…

My inspiration was from the coffee house I visited last week.

I made…

cheddar chive scones and they turned out great. I will reduce the baking time next time because they didn’t need the full 25 minutes. They were a little too done but they were a success and I enjoyed adding the leftover chives to my eggs in the morning!

Tom and I had a Monday night adventure! He came home at 4:30 and quickly changed and we were off. We went to a Cincinnati Reds game! It’s about an hour and a half drive.

We parked in Kentucky and walked across the bridge into Ohio in 93 degree full sun! So, I was already quite hot when we got to our seats.

We had really good seats in the shade behind home plate. But, it was so high up it made me feel a little weird. The stadium is right on the river and across the river is Kentucky.

I had anxiety the whole day leading up to the game because of the heat. Here is what I did… I took a shower as late as I possible could – like 30 minutes before we left.

I went with wet hair and used my water spray bottle in the car to spray again before we walked to the game. I brought my neck fan. I drank zero alcohol and drank 3 bottles of water during the game.

I brought a golf towel per my friend Kara’s advice. I used it to put on the plastic seat so my legs didn’t get too sweaty and slide on the plastic. The game started at 7:10 and by about 9:00 it felt pretty good. There was a breeze and it had gone down to 86. But, you can tell how hot I am and how normal Tom is.

I had a hot dog and Tom had a brat. I mean, isn’t that a baseball requirement?

The game was against the NY Yankees and it was awesome! We saw two or three homeruns and the Reds won. The atmosphere is really great and festive!

Tom wanted to stay until the very end! Who is he? He goes to bed at 8:30. We had a long walk back across the bridge to our car and the traffic leaving the stadium was crazy so we were glad not to be stuck in it. We rolled into our driveway at 12:15 a.m. Tom went to work the next day and Amy had a day totally at home in the AC with daytime tv. It was just what I needed.

I made myself a great lunch and it included avocado. I tried this hack. This works best for when you are spreading your avo on toast. You only cut the tip and then you scoop what is needed with a spoon so the majority stays fresh. It really does work!

I’m still loving this color!

Wednesday was a weird day. I met Victoria for the free teacher day at the Myriad Swim Club. You might remember I went to the first one they had. My teacher ID is good for another week! First of all, it was so hot. Second of all, there was a long line to get in and you could tell it was a teacher line. There’s just something about us.

There were no loungers left and we got there at opening time! No big deal because we were going to be standing in pool chatting anyway.

Well, Victoria had about 8 people from her school there unexpectedly! And, the talk turned to teacher stuff. I mean, of course it did.

I also saw a Math teacher from my school and she bought me a retirement drink! How sweet!

We ordered a chicken sandwich and a veggie sandwich for lunch. Their food is really good.

Anyway, we stayed from about 11 until about 2 when it got so crowded.

Let’s talk products. I have a couple that I found at Kroger that I would totally buy again and would highly recommend.

This is a Kristin Ess leave in conditioner and detangler:

Wow – the texture is so nice and cooling on this product:

Burned lips are the worst. This is really a nice feel with a nice smell:

My order of new press ons:

I ordered another set of the red I am wearing because I like it so much. I ordered a highlighter yellow, and for the 4th of July I ordered French but with royal blue tips. This one will be hard for me because I won’t be able to cut them down and will have to have longer nails.

Tom and I didn’t share a bathroom for the first 20 years of our marriage. Now we do and in the recent episode of shower wars, Tom has removed all of my products and taken over all three shelves.

When I asked him about it he said that it wasn’t fair that I had two shelves and he only had one and that I had put one thing on his shelf, too. Waaahhhhhhh…ok Tom.

In social media news this week, I posted these things on IG…

My Kroger has a rodent infestation. I am not ok. I went in on Saturday and noticed things were rearranged. Now I know why!

It’s a good thing I went to Trader Joe’s Sunday and I haven’t been to Kroger since Saturday. It’s 2025! How does this happen? Like are they behind the boxes of pasta just living their best lives? I would think they would prefer the cheese section but maybe it’s too cold.

And, I guess times are really tough because GEICO is sending their best guys to drum up business…

What made you smile this week? I guess these were supposed to be favorites and I ended up with a few rants! Oh well!

Amy

Thursday, June 26, 2025

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

I was not sad but I just don’t know how to selfie! I love my new hat. My old fedora didn’t feel right and my straw cowboy-ish style hat didn’t feel right, but this new hat is perfect. Here is the link if you want one. I think Mix and Match Mama recommended it.

This dress is turning out to be the steal of the season. It’s J.Crew, not Factory, so I think it retailed for quite a bit. I have worn it as a dress and here I am wearing it as a coverup for the pool party last weekend. I noticed Sheaffer Told Me Too featured it in pink from the Factory website here. You know my love for gauze and it’s just the perfect style to throw on for almost any event.

I wore this to run errands one day. I have on my Old Navy gauzy white button up and my Old Navy lime and white linen shorts with my new sandals. I also have this style of shorts in a tropical print. They are the same size and the tropical fit like at least a whole size bigger. Old Navy’s sizing is so off I have found. So, my advice is that it’s not you; it’s them. You might need to try on even a couple of pairs labelled the same size to get it right!

I am still waiting for my Aerie order to come in with a size down in the blue and lobsta sweatshirts.

I think I am going to keep the size blue I have but I am being very patient while I wait. Your comments made me feel sad about the lobsta so I re-ordered it! And, this was a reminder that when ordering online that it might be good to order two sizes in each item.

I really want these:

I know they aren’t that practical because they will look too summery and not work into fall. Aren’t they pretty, though? This is the most comfortable of the Birkenstock styles for me. I had a pair like this but not big buckle and I sold them.

Since I have been wearing my Target brown flip flops so much this summer I splurged on a pair of Hari Mari brown leather flip flops. They are so supportive and I love them. You won’t think they look any different than my Target ones in a photo! I got a nice discount code and they are very well made. I was wearing them with the green dress. I have lotion on my mirror and a streak, too. I just don’t ever want my blog to be too professional and scare y’all away, you know?

I’ve been wearing my new retirement gift necklace from my friend Victoria:

And these earrings I picked up from the clearance table at the cute little boutique called Scout.

Summer calls for smaller jewelry or simpler jewelry maybe?

I mixed it up for the pool and wore my long gauzy skirt, button up and my hat.

And, that’s all I’ve got for you this week!

What have you been wearing?

I feel like when it’s either extreme I just don’t care! When it’s really hot or really cold who can care about fashion?

Amy

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

It’s Wednesday and hodgepodge day with Joyce!

1. What does adventure mean to you? 

I don’t think adventure has to mean bungee jumping or anything dare-devilish like that. I think adventure means breaking from your daily routine or saying yes to new experiences. Teaching high school was an adventure, for sure! You never knew what would happen – you think I’m joking, but I’m not!

2.  What are your thoughts on tipping? What businesses or service providers do you regularly tip? Do you resent being asked if you’d like to add a tip? What about when a suggested amount is presented? 

Ok, I am a big tipper in a restaurant. I was a waitress at both Pizza Hut in my college town and in my hometown and at a floating restaurant on the river in my hometown. I loved those jobs and I think everyone should work in a restaurant at some point. I tip at least 20% and usually more. I tip my hairstylist. I carry cash for pedicure tips because you can’t add it on their machine for some reason. When the person simply punches in something on an i pad and spins it around I do not tip like that and I stopped feeling guilty. Sometimes I put some cash in the jar. The spinning of the i pad for a tip has gotten out of hand!

3. I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream…do we? Is ice cream a favorite treat at your house? What’s your favorite flavor? Regular, soft serve, gelato, sherbet, or some sort of non-dairy version of ice cream…what’s your pleasure? 

We don’t always have ice cream in the house but this summer we have had Tillamook brand vanilla bean and neopolitan. Tom loves ice cream. He has it several nights a week after dinner. I have it maybe once a week. My favorite would be vanilla with toppings probably. It’s all about the toppings for me! I love caramel sauce the most I would say.

4. What’s your ‘back in my day, we____________________ ‘ story or saying? 

wrote notes instead of texting, wrote cards instead of texting, made phone calls instead of texting, read books instead of reading online, had to use the card catalog to find books – ha! That was fun explaining to high school kids…”so you had these little drawers you had to pull out…”

I am having a lot of nostalgic moments this summer of realizing I won’t have these fun little moments with my students anymore. Who will listen to my drivel? I will miss having a captive audience and almost like a stand up routine.

5. Somehow this is our last Hodgepodge in the month of June. Next week’s Hodgepodge lands in July. Wow. Sum up your June using three adjectives. 

I can’t believe it! My June has been full of rain, reading, cooking, and lots of time at home. I have had lots of social moments, too. I feel that June has been restorative for me. I am coming down off of the school year, which was really good one for me, but I knew it was probably my last one. The school year did not allow much work/life balance so I felt pretty depleted much of the time and then 2025 was hard with the loss of my mom, of course. I have had time to process and it’s nice that I can talk to my sisters most days and process with them. They’ve never said “I don’t want to talk about it” to me.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I realized last week how much the lack of sun affected me. The sun came out and my mood shifted!

Why does it seem like I go to the grocery so much more in the summer? I did a Kroger delivery Saturday and then went back to Kroger a few hours later for a few things. Then, Sunday I went to Trader Joe’s! Eek! Are you like this, too?

What would you tell me about any of these questions?

Amy

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

I have had my list written for quite some time, but it never made it to the blog! I tend to only put my fun things on my list and of course, I have another list of productivity type things.

I printed this sheet out and my friends Erica, Elizabeth and I did this during a happy hour on my patio back in May!

I can add to it or take things away any time. This isn’t super strict!

-Find a summer scent – I think I have done this with my Ouai hair and body mist paired with my Trader Joe’s brazilian nut body wash and body butter. It’s a coconuty beachy scent.

-Go to Waterfront Wednesday to see my favorite and only cellist – lol – He is the Dad of my student of two years and I followed him and liked him and saw him in concert even before he was a Dad. So, it was a cool connection that I got to teach his kid! His name is Ben Sollee.

-Go to an outdoor concert at a nearby neighborhood

-Visit the botanical gardens for the first time

-Watch White Lotus

-Go to the adult pool

-Go to the boutique hotel pool – Wednesdays free for teachers

-Go to Erica’s country club pool

-Go to new steakhouse at a downtown hotel

-Make strawberry freezer jam again

-Farmer’s Market

-Pool party for the class of 90

-Boat

-Buy a grill – I really want a Blackstone! Help!

-Go to Penny and Pearl’s cookie shop with Elizabeth (she has never been)

-Buy elderflower syrup and do my spritzes again

-Go to Regatta in my hometown (hydroplane race)

-Go to Ribberfest in my hometown (ribs and blues)

-Go to Unbroken Circle music festival in my hometown

-Chautauqua in my hometown (arts festival in September)

-35th class reunion

I have already done many of these things and I keep my list on my kitchen memo board to look at from time to time.

What’s something you put on your list?

Amy

Monday, June 23, 2025

Well, we have August weather now! What a weird year; June is typically the perfect summer weather and I feel a bit ripped off!

Anyway, what are you gonna do? Let’s link up with Holly and Sarah to share our weekends!

My cooking challenge with niece Nora is going well! The first week we did stromboli with homemade dough and the second week was last week and Thursday I did her pick of homemade black bean burgers.

I made mine Thursday morning to serve Thursday night for dinner.

Thank you for your feedback on my Aerie order. I returned the lobster sweatshirt and the jeans and looked around in the store but didn’t find anything.

Later I decided to place another online order to try the blue in one size down, the lobster in one size down, and I saw a graphic tee so I added that.

I received a super sweet Crumbl gift card and decided to see what they had. I got Heath…

a sugar cookie with vanilla and raspberry frosting. I made these last a few days cutting them in pieces.

I don’t think I would get either of these flavors again.

I brought home a Tropical Smoothie Cafe thai chicken salad. I love this salad! This is only half of it. Mason ate the other half.

So, Thursday night I had a black bean burger with roasted sweet potato. I made Tom a BLT because he didn’t look excited when I told him Nora picked black bean burgers and he wants meat (I guess bacon counts?) at every meal.

They were really good with avocado, tomato and a mayo/siracha spread. I am going to freeze the rest and pull one out for lunch when the mood strikes!

I did a fun summer red press on after letting my nails breathe for a couple of days. Peep the blue Aerie that I was trying on to see if it was too big or just right.

This is a great breakfast combo – roasted sweet potatoes again, egg, and Amylu chicken sausage.

Mason and I went to a coffee shop Friday morning. Ntaba Coffee Haus is a local shop that is super cute inside.

Mason got a grilled ham and cheese and really liked it and I had a cheddar chive scone. This ended up being my lunch. I would like to try to make these. Maybe this will be one of my picks for Nora and I!

I am reading this; I feel like it’s moving pretty slow and of course, it’s predictable, I think.

Here is my outdoor reading setup:

This OFF! Clean Feel bug spray is really good. I purchased a Thermacell based on many of your recommendations, and I have a dedicated fan based on many of your tips. This has helped quite a bit! I’m trying to go back outside after dinner to enjoy the summer evenings!

I need to buy more Rioja Tempranillo – my favorite red wine to make a tinto de verano with. I do about half and half – half wine and half Fresca. You can use any lemon lime soda. And, it looks nice with a lemon slice. This is such a good summer drink!

Speaking of tinto de verano and Spain… my pick for our cooking challenge this week comes from Spain! Nora is really excited and that makes me happy. We show each other the pictures of our final product and then pretty soon after the person whose turn it is gives the next recipe. Maybe she will get bored with it and that’s ok. It’s been a bonding thing and I am really enjoying it.

We are making gambas al ajillo and patatas bravas.

I fell into a DCC rabbit hole on Thursday and Friday afternoon and finished season 2. It made me sad. I didn’t like it as much as the first season.

Friday night I made Tik Tok pasta and blackened fish sandwiches. I know it didn’t go together. We were using up stuff!

I kind of wanted to go out but I knew Saturday was going to be a social day so I did the adult thing and cooked. Tom was super happy with his food!

Saturday morning Eddie Otis and I filled our bird feeders and cut some hydrangea blooms that were in the back of the bush and wouldn’t be noticed too much if they were gone. This is just three blooms!

I got a Kroger delivery early Saturday morning. I am trying the Boost membership for one month. I think I will cancel it for sure because I just don’t want to pay. It’s been great though! It was nice when my car was in the shop last week.

I was making three things for a pool party after my delivery came…

Classic chip dip:

A cup of sour cream mixed with a cup of mayo, 1 T. lemon juice, 2 t. garlic powder, 1 t. onion powder, 1 t. dried parsley, 1 t. dried dill, and 1/2 t. of salt and pepper. It was really good and this is a keeper!

Taco dip:

Mix a block of softened cream cheese with about half a pint of sour cream and then mix in a packet of taco seasoning. Spread in a dish and add shredded cheddar, green onions, tomatoes, olives, whatever you like.

Peanut butter Rice Krispies Treats

My friend Beth’s beautiful pool! Beth and her husband Mike were both in my high school class and they have an annual Class of 90 pool party. Several of us live in this area now but a few come from out of town. One couple came from Cincinnati and one couple came from Indianapolis.

Dan made homemade pretzels and they were amazing!

My Rice Krispies above, too!

The taco dip:

The chip dip in a fish bowl and people called it “fish dip”:

Dan’s photo:

Dan of the pretzels and Tom:

We stayed from 1 until about 6 and I was in the pool most of the time with the ladies and Tom was watching the Reds game with the guys. He was super happy because we can’t get a lot of them on our streaming services.

We came home and I was beat! We ordered pizza and we went to bed in the 9 o’clock hour!

I woke up Sunday and the air outside at 7 was already so humid and muggy!

The river is a mess from recent rains – it’s high and there is lots of debris – so there was no boating for us.

What was the highlight of your weekend?

As you can see, I have been cooking a lot lately! This post was heavy on the food pics and recipes!

Amy

Friday, June 20, 2025

It’s Friday and I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites!

Here are a few favorites of mine from this week…

How was your week? I hope it was good!

Your responses to my summer makeup post – wow! There is a wealth of information in the comments if you want to go back and read!

I took a trip to the mall on Tuesday (the day the post went live) and bought an eyelid primer and a setting spray and it really did the trick for keeping my eyeliner in place.

Sunday we made it back to our favorite movie theater. I think it has been 6 months or so?

Wes Anderson movies are different but interesting. This was probably my favorite of his but I’m not sure why. I liked that it was only 1 hour and 45 minutes. I have a hard time with 3 hour long movies!

Get Tom a large bucket of popcorn and he is one happy guy! That’s his happy face!

We had a nice Father’s Day!

On Monday I invited my friend Victoria over for lunch. I set the patio table…

and sent her home with my hydrangeas! I told her the dark purple mason jar was given to me by her a long time ago with other flowers!

I made Caribbean sheet pan bowls. She liked them! I used my mom’s fish bowls and it looked so good in those!

Monday late afternoon I met my friend Elizabeth at Haymarket and we had a glass of wine in this lovely garden area. It is on her way home from work so we decided to do this again! Two social things in one day – who am I?

I am trying Kroger Boost this month for free. I got a delivery on Tuesday morning and it was quite nice!

My car was in the shop from Sunday night until Wednesday afternoon, by the way. That is why I had Victoria over to mine and why I did the delivery. I used Mason’s car a couple of times, though. My car has lots of issues and I think it’s time for an upgrade. Sad.

I have a problem and it’s called lip products. I bought Charlotte Tillbury pillow talk and Polite Society B.I.G. lip plumper last week.

Here is the lip plumper alone:

With the pillow talk over:

Tuesday was a another rainy day and I hadn’t seen Erica in almost two weeks. We met at the mall, got a 10 minute acupressure back massage, drank mall beer and met the owner of the taps, shopped around with our beer, and then ate the lunch special at BJ’s! So fun on a rainy day!

I only had about a half a cup of beer just to see what it was all about. The owner explained his business to us and I shared on social media to try to help him.

This whole area is open container now. I don’t know how I feel about mall beer, but I had heard of it and wanted to see what was up with it. Tipsy shopping is not a great idea. And, don’t people already get in trouble with that at home online?

We went to BJ’s for their lunch special. I loved this wedge salad!

Then, I took most of this personal pan home for my kids.

I had a nice library request pick up!

My friend Victoria gave me the sweetest retirement gift of a necklace. Unfortunately it didn’t fit – it was a choker and it choked me. New favorite store – not sure why I hadn’t been in? It’s called Scout and I loved everything. I posted about them on social media, too. I am not saying I have that big of a following, but I like to try to help local businesses.

I picked another necklace. Thank you, Victoria! That was so thoughtful.

I’ve run into some former students and I have seen some people while out this week and I am getting lots of “how does it feel to be retired?” and honestly, it just feels like summer. Well, it would feel like summer if the weather was better! Be careful what you wish for because we are getting 90s and sun very soon!

Tell me a favorite from your week?

Cheers to the weekend!

Amy