Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

I didn’t start my blog until my twins were 16 and they were no longer funny. Just kidding! They were still funny when they weren’t being angsty teens.

For years, our Christmas card was a photo with a typed up sheet of the funny things our twins had said over the past year. We did this from maybe kindergarten until 7th grade and then the following year I did a “best of”. You wouldn’t believe how many comments I got about this. People said they read it to friends and that they waited for it to come in the mail!

So, I thought you might like to hear some of their quotes, too! I might do this a few times because I have so many. They played off of each other, too, as identical twins.

Safety Patrol in 5th grade – I can’t believe they were keeping people safe!

I decided not to attribute names and ages but to just list some quotes:

“If I never learn to tie my shoes, I’ll just let my wife do it.”

While grocery shopping together, “Mom, you know these prices like an owl knows its prey.”

“You’re the best mom ever. I can’t imagine cuddling with those thin moms.”

“You smell like a mom. It smells like mustard and roses.”

“Why does this show need a girl? For the sarcasm. Girls are good at dishing out sarcasm.”

“There are two kinds of people to stay away from – immature and crazy.”

I was taking pictures for the last day of school… “You are half mother half paparazzi.”

I went on circus field trip with their school and I was worried about the safety of the trapeze artists…”Remember this is for the kids.”

While driving by a windmill…”that’s a run of the mill windmill.”

A salesman came to our door…”Ah, khaki pants. The working man’s uniform.”

After shopping at store, I told them to put hand sanitizer on for all the germs from the store from people who touched everything…”especially the blind people germs since they rely on touch.”

Out of the blue…”I feel so sorry for Indians missing out on bacon.”

“I think that guy over there is a school principal based on the bags under his eyes and his receding hair line.”

“Dad’s level of anger has gone up and his hair quality has gone down. I think they are directly related.”

Tom listing all of his teenage jobs…”Wow, Dad, you really couldn’t hold a job.”

Upon arriving at Great Wolf Lodge water park…”I wonder what their water bill is.”

“No offense, Mom, but the left side of your face looks like one of the before pictures of a Neutrogena ad.”

Driving downtown…”So, here we are in the concrete jungle.”

Writing thank you notes…”Dear Aunt Kate, Thank you for the 3D puzzle. My Dad and I already tried it and unfortunately is has an abundance of pieces and minimal instructions. I’m sure we will figure it out eventually.”

“The Bachelor should boot anyone immediately who has their job listed as free spirit because he will have to pay for her.”

Describing a new school friend…”He is a Jehovah’s Witness and he talks about it so much I think he’s trying to convert me.”

Tom takes computer away as a punishment…”Now I’m not going to achieve my dreams. I will just have an office job.”

“Watching Dad work is like watching those lifeguard scenes in movies.”

“That lady has the Jon and Kate Plus 8 rooster haircut circa 2005.”

I said we needed to update their fall wardrobes…”Mom, men don’t have wardrobes.”

Upon arriving at a vacation rental and seeing the front porch…”this is the porch of my dreams but in my dreams it was a little less feminine.”

The bathroom of the vacation rental had fake rock tile…”I guess we’ve really hit rock bottom.”

On circus field trip…”Wow, mom you look younger than the other circus moms.”

“Could you not be a helicopter parent?”

A restaurant hostess sat us next to an aquarium full of live fish at a seafood restaurant…”It’s really cruel that we are sitting here eating their brethren.”

I hope you enjoyed these!

Amy

Monday, October 13, 2025

It’s Monday and time to link up with Sarah and Holly to share the weekend…

After our rain on Monday and Tuesday we have had some gorgeous weather and it looks like it will continue – 50s in the morning and 70s and sunny during the day. I don’t remember a fall this beautiful and a fall where we get a true fall and not go straight from hot to cold. Is this our reward for such a rainy and hot summer?

My kids agreed to happy hour with me on Thursday! It was just the three of us and we went to an Italian place.

I went home and did dinner with Tom while they hung out for longer.

Friday morning I did a grocery pick up bright and early. I am having luck doing two grocery pick ups a week. I have not been inside the store for a bit now.

Then, I attempted the nature preserve by myself for the first time with EO. Eddie Otis is pretty hard to walk on the leash (we are working on it) but off leash he is an angel.

Cutie boy!

He did so well and it was so good for both of us!

I came home and made my breakfast and he was worn out so he was super chill the rest of the day. Mason and I had some lovely patio reading time together for a couple of hours.

EO seemed to love us both being on the patio.

I finished this! I loved it! You can tell they have left it open for the next book because they didn’t tie up an important loose end.

We ordered dinner Friday and just stayed home.

Saturday Tom and I went on a fairly country Kentucky drive to a distillery opening. I grew up on a lake in a close knit neighborhood of kids my age and one of the kids has opened his own distillery. He has been master distiller of Maker’s Mark, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam and some big names in the bourbon industry.

We got to visit with one of his sisters:

And his mom and dad. This is his mom with her famous punch in her car!

We had a really nice time and drove home through Bardstown and visited a bourbon themed hotel that Tom’s construction company did.

When we got home I started a pot of soup for a dinner of soup and grilled cheese and then read on the patio.

Sunday was Punkin’ Chunkin’ at Captain’s Quarters which is a breast cancer fundraiser. They catapult pumpkins into the river to try to hit targets.

Boats were decorated for Halloween this year!

And new this year, they tried to hit some targets from dropping pumpkins from a helicopter…

It was so nice to be outside! We came home and I read outside, talked to my sisters on the phone (as a 3 way call), and heated up soup and made the Hawaiian ham and swiss sliders for dinner.

Oh…Diane Keaton…you were the best!

I want to go watch all her movies. You know what movie I really like? Baby Boom.

Someone asked to see my mom’s miniatures/shadow boxes.

Here are a couple of Halloween themed shadowboxes:

And, here are some of the Christmas ones:

Tell me something about your weekend!

Amy

Friday, October 10, 2025

It’s been a week around here! Let’s link up with both Andrea and Erika to share our happenings!

Here are some of my favorites from the week…

Monday brought a lot of excitement for Mr. Eddie Otis. He was guarding our house from some tree men. There were no women or I would have said tree people.

We had three ugly trees removed and one ugly tree encroaching from a neighbor’s yard removed. We are excited to get the stumps taken out and new trees and landscaping. It rained all morning and we didn’t know if they would come but they worked in the rain for about 3 hours and EO was pretty on edge. He wasn’t able to do his daily napping routine since he was on high alert to guard his family.

We are happy for a clean slate and a chance to make the front of our house look better!

I got a wild hair in the rain and made some bread in my bread machine. My Dad gave me this for a gift over 20 years ago I think. Rain makes me want to bake.

It turned out great and this is what I had for lunch.

After the tree people left I was able to enjoy some light rain while reading…ah…

Let’s talk about Taylor Swift…I am not a Swiftie. I missed the boat on all that and didn’t have tween or teen girls. But, who doesn’t like Shake it Off, you know?

I actually listened to a few songs from the new album – they all sound the same to me – sorry! I heard two funny quotes:

1. It sounds like someone put into Chat GPT: “Make an album that Taylor would make”.
2. It sounds like Travis wrote the lyrics in crayon.

Even if you like the album, you have to admit that those are funny!

My own thoughts: Taylor Swift adults also Disney adults?

Sunday night was much anticipated. Tom and I had a date night that had been on the calendar since last winter. We went to a brew pub for dinner and then walked down to the KFC Yum Center which is our big area where University of Louisville plays basketball and there are other events.

The downtown was hopping!

We had tickets for comedian Nate Bargatze and you guys, we had the second worst seats in the house. We could have only been one more row closer to the ceiling. You just have to laugh when you end up in this type of situation. Our tickets and fees were still really expensive for the second worst seats in the joint!

Let me paint you a picture…

I feared for my life. I needed a seatbelt. I was so vertical I really thought I would roll down the seats in front of me. I hung on to the back of Tom’s seat like my life depended on it (because it did). I am not used to being around so many people – 19,000 – and it set a new record for most people at a comedy show in Louisville, I think is what they announced.

People were coughing and hacking around me. When I looked down, my neck hurt.

Nate was supposed to start at 7 and he came on at maybe 8:45.

There were 5(!) comedians that opened for him. There was an MC comedian and then comedian friends. They were not funny. I am not being mean. They were supposed to warm me up but they warmed me down. Also, the sound system stopped working well after the second one and we struggled to hear.

Yes, you can call me Debbie Downer. Now, I didn’t complain online or do anything Karen-like. I am just sharing with you guys cuz you’re my friends. And, I probably should have known some of these things ahead of time but your girl misses details a lot.

I got a new keyboard to put on top of my laptop? Now I can use many L words! I can use words that start with L or contain many Ls. Love, life, liberty, luck, lucky, ludicrous. I am so totally jolly, silly, and really full of folly.

I got my Southern Living! Now, I am subscribed to Southern Living, Magnolia, and Garden & Gun – more for the garden part and less for the gun – don’t @ me as the kids say.

I love my new Pavoi earrings and have worn them every day!

I watched this show all this week! It was so good in my opinion and it made me see making dinner in a whole different light. If this young chef can make that I can make dinner! Harrumph! I got my butt up and I chopped my onion, carrot, and potato and put them on my sheet pan for dinner like I was a new woman.

I got a much needed pedicure and got rid of the royal blue!

I picked this without looking at the name but then the name made me laugh – “I knead sour-dough”.

And, I messed one toe up trying to get the toe separator out. Ugh.

I had a library pick up!

This is a series of 5 and they might be too cheesy for me but my sister talked about Tessa Bailey books this summer.

And, this….

I abandoned my current book to start it and I can’t put it down! I am loving it!

I went in Target to get a few things one afternoon this week and saw these decorative books that are really boxes. I got NY, Paris, and London and gave London to Mason.

They also had Bahamas, Hawaii, and maybe one more. They were $5 and would make great gifts. You could put money in it for a teen or young adult. You can hide your remotes from your dogs.

I got this at Target and it is also excellent like the brown sugar shaken.

Cute scene:

Eddie Otis has such an expressive face! He is getting so filled out and looks like a big solid boy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is our biggest lab yet. I know he is more than 79 pounds now. That was his last official weight.

Happy Friday and tell me one of your favorites!

Amy

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Well, last week was way too hot and this week started out so rainy!

I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files!

Last Wednesday I wore this first outfit to breakfast with my friend Victoria. This is my Marshall’s blouse, striped Halaras, and Kork Ease sandals. My shirt gaped a bit when I sat down. Should I try fashion tape or one of those tag guns to hold it in place.

Let me tell you about Vic – she can sew and she offered to move the button over. Say what? You can do that? Her son is an aspiring fashion designer and she taught him to sew. He repurposes thrift stuff, too. She and I always talk consignment. We have done a lot of consignment shopping together and we have offered each other stuff when we are done with it.

Later in the day I changed to this shirt for happy hour. This is also Marshall’s and the tag said it was originally $118.

I wore this to hear music Thursday night. Same jeans in all three photos, by the way. They fit me perfectly with the hemming I had done and I just decided not to overthink the stripe. Meaning, I am not too worried about it matching anything.

Meh – the weather threw me off Friday for my friend’s birthday lunch. I had a better dress option but we were going to be outside and it was very hot that day. I felt I was a little too casual and the other dress would have been better but was lined and had long sleeves.

First time wearing my black jeans this season – I wore this on a rare Sunday night outing. This is my new Umgee blouse, Adidas, and my black Halaras. I wore sneakers because I thought we would be walking a fair amount and I was right.

This is a rainy day home outfit. My new grey leggings were recommended by Jenn with pockets on both sides, my new Birks dupes from TJ Maxx and the best button up from Aerie. I threw on my rain jacket to run errands. By the way, I have the best rain jacket if you need one. I took the belt off. It went with me to England and Scotland.

I put this on to run errands and tried my black Mary Janes with my wide legs and they worked out ok.

I added to my Pavoi earring collection and I have worn them every day since they arrived!

This is The Big Boo Cast business coach and I started following her for her amazing coffee recipes. Look how cute her outfit is. I have that shirt from Aerie!

And, I have red Matilda Janes. Boo – I hate how it looks on me. Oh well – you gotta try sometimes!

Did you see my fall shoe post? You guys talked a lot about my cow print driving mocs and look at the Target Mary Janes! Now, don’t take this the wrong way, but I generally don’t let myself buy Target shoes anymore because it got me in trouble. I was buying too many lesser quality shoes that weren’t working for me. They were uncomfortable and I was donating them. I make some exceptions, but I had to be pretty hard on myself. I also am not buying many Target clothing items anymore. It was a problem, so again, I had to be hard core.

You guys… look what came across my IG…

A red stripe! Swoon!

I’m not going to get them, but is this the trend going forward?

And, I love how she styled her burgundy velvet Mary Janes like the ones I have in my fall shoes post.

I love trying to “copy” looks and it’s so satisfying when I have similar wardrobe components!

Oopsie…

I wasn’t going to shop in October except for consignment. But, I went in a boutique and accidentally found two blouses by Umgee.

I loved the pattern and mustard color of this first one:

And, this is just a basic black blouse with an interesting fabric:

Do you have a favorite outfit of mine this week?

What have you been wearing?

Amy

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s Hodgepodge day with Joyce. If you have a blog, you should join in and if you don’t, it would be fun to answer these in your head or leave me an answer in the comments. She comes up with the best questions!

1. ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’ How does this saying ring true in your own family, either the one you grew up in or the one you made? 

First of all, I love sayings! I had my Spanish students translate and talk about sayings in Spanish – do they have equivalent ones to us and do they agree with those sayings? We had some good discussions. I do miss that part of teaching so much! One favorite of mine is “No todo lo que brilla es oro” which means “not everything that shines is gold”. I like this one because I think it appeals to the teen mindset about appearances and things they see online looking perfect or shiny.

As a teacher, meeting a kid’s parent really enlightened me most of the time. Oh, that’s why they are the way they are! It all makes so much sense now. Lol.

I am noticing more and more things about myself that come from my parents. My sisters and I talk about this often – how one of us said or did something just like one of our parents. They live on through us. It’s sometimes hard to acknowledge this if it is seen as a negative behavior. I am also noticing so much about Tom that is like my Dad as he ages. Is that weird? My Dad went to bed at 8:30, too, and prioritized exercise first thing in the morning. Also, Tom has been using his middle finger to tap the car control panel and I have been noticing how that was how my Dad did it, too.

2. Something you’re nuts about these days? How about something that’s driving you nuts? 

I am nuts about my little pumpkin tee and I am going to start wearing the witches one now, too. I love a graphic tee and cardigan combo. I don’t want to look like an elementary teacher (no offense) but I think this is just an ok amount of holiday spirit?

I am tired of the mosquitoes and yard work noise! That is how I know I am ready for the changing of the season!

3. What does abundance mean to you? 

Hmmm…I guess I am in a place of privilege because I don’t think of this much. It is also not lost on me that I am “grocery store rich” meaning I can pretty much buy what I want at the grocery. Have you heard that term? I worry about people affording food and affording all the stuff that comes with having kids in today’s world.

Abundance means to me that I have everything I need and just enough to be comfortable. I am not a hoarder. I don’t want to have stacks on stacks of canned goods or laundry detergent. I do want to have a nice stash of toilet paper, paper towels, and Kleenex, though.

Abundance in life means that I have purpose and people to care about and that care about me.

I think I need to think on that word some more!

4. Caramel apple-caramel cake-caramel corn-caramel sundae-caramel macchiatto…what’s your caramel treat of choice? 

I love caramel. I think I would say caramel popcorn.

I make a homemade caramel icing for a yellow cake. I use a box mix for the cake and then make homemade icing. It is so delicious!

Here is the recipe:

Caramel Icing

5. What’s a childhood memory that always comes to mind as the leaves start to fall? 

For some reason, I picture myself with shorts and long sleeves on riding my bike in my neighborhood. The neighborhood had lots of trees. I lived in a great neighborhood around a small lake and had lots of kids to play with. We played Dukes of Hazard on bikes. I’m still in touch with many of them! One of them has opened a bourbon distillery about an hour away.

I picture trick or treating in my neighborhood and a really cool haunted house we got to make in my church basement.

6. Insert. your own random thought here. 

My mom’s hobby was miniatures. She had them all my life, really. After retiring, she really got into making shadow boxes of miniature scenes. Every October there was a miniature show here in Louisville (the closest big city to my hometown) and Molly would bring my mom here and we would have a day of it.

One year I made this miniature charcuterie box for each of us – bahahahaha. That is a tiny fork. Look at my hand for reference.

Lena was probably 10 when I made this and she laughed and laughed. I love making Lena laugh!

Lena and I a couple of summers ago:

Amy

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Today we are going to tak about fall shoes – not winter but strictly fall. I have more than this but these are the ones that I am most excited to wear. I am leaving out rainboots and exercise sneakers.

I talked about my new boots. It has not been cool enough to wear them but I picture them with my denim skirt and a couple of other skirts and some fall dresses. These are by Frye & Co.

These are not new but I still get excited about my Hush Puppies driving mocs in cow print. No cows were harmed in the making of this shoe.

I am counting my Kork Ease for fall since I will be wearing them for at least another month.

These are from last season and they are from Macy’s I believe.

I got these Rothy’s flat on sale last winter

I love these heels. I think they look like J.Crew but they are Hush Puppies and I bought them at DSW I think. They come in black as well and I think I need them in black.

I have the burgundy Mary Janes from Spain, the black from Target, and the red/orange from this season Free People. I feel like I can wear the Free Peope for a bit longer but then they will start looking too summery.

These Birk dupes

Fashion sneakers

Cassic white. I love the Adidas Stan Smith with the gold and they are really comfortable for my foot.

The Dr. Scholl’s is nice, too. I mainly bought those for teacher shoes.

I really want leopard Mary Janes! I just love this trend but I am worried about some of my jeans being too long – I guess I woud just wear the jeans that work.

I also feel like I need some black shoes. I do have black lucky short boots. Ever since I heard a stylist say she hates black shoes because nude is better and doesn’t cut off your leg I have struggled with wearing them.

Do you have any favorites here?

What new pairs have you bought?

What are you wishing to add to your repertoire?

Amy

Monday, October 6, 2025

It’s Monday and it’s link up day with Sarah and Holly to share our weekends!

Let’s go back to Thursday – trying to make Thirsty Thursday a thing where I water and care for my plants!

I made Thursday an errand day – Kroger pick up and library – so not too bad – then it was a day doing home chores before the weekend.

I took my new Birk dupes out for a test run…

I am not a big scary book/mystery book person but I grabbed this on a whim with my other library requests…

Thursday night Tom came straight from work and met me and our friends Mike and Beth to hear our new Australian/Nashville singer at the tavern…

Friday was a birthday lunch for Heather and her neighborhood group of girlfriends (and the other Heather and I) and we had a lovely table in a lovely outdoor area. I can’t wait to go back. It was held at an old Louisville institution 211 Clover Lane.

This cake is a classic from another Louisville staple Plehn’s Bakery.

It is the best cake!

Do you remember on Friday when I showed my brow products?

Here is my before…

After…

And, no I don’t think I dare risk the more permanent brow situations. I am fine with my products.

Friday night we got take out and it was a bit of a disaster because I picked it up and then had to go back and get the part that was missing. Better than cooking! Ha!

Saturday was a big day for both Eddie Otis and I. I knew Tom was going hiking with his friend Rob two hours away but I didn’t know he had invited EO! EO turned out to be a great hiker boy and Mommy (me) had a quiet house from 8-4. Is that mean to say? I was super happy to see him when he returned, though!

Switching back to first person… I just read outside most of the day! I did keep doors open and shoes strewn about – FREEDOM! But, around 2 pm, I went to Word Market and a boutique.

The Christmas stuff is out big time! There is a bit of autumn stuff, too, but it there Christmas stuff is out and I adore so much of it.

Did I buy this top? Come back Thursday!

My baby got home!

He hung out on the porch with me for a bit and then we ordered Thai food.

I finished this Saturday night! Whoa! I don’t know what I think. Did anyone read it?

Then, I started this even though it had summer in the name…

And, I started this series that Jenn raves about…

I made two new recipes for Sunday breakfast…

British sausage in puff pastry – wow!

Hawaiian cinnamon buns… wow!

This week dinners –

Monday – weekend food – anything remaining

Tuesday – chicken  enchiladas with Spanish rice

Wednesday – roast with carrots, onion, potato (temps are supposed to drop)

Thursday – baked fish and not sure about sides yet – might need a quick grocery trip

What was the high point of your weekend?

Amy

P.S. – I am waiting on my new keyboard and my issues are making it hard to respond to your wonderfu comments. I am out of synonyms for words that have a certain etter in them. It’s exhausting, but I am continuousy ooking for brain chaenges now that I am not teaching. So, I guess this is good for me.

Friday, October 3, 2025

It’s so weird to write “October”! It’s everyones’ favorite day in the blog world – Friday Favorites with Andrea and Erika.

Here are mine…

It’s been Fall Break this week in our pubic school district so we have had a lot less traffic noise in the mornings and afternoons this week. It’s been so nice. Since I live within spitting distance of three schools – elementary behind my house, middle in front and about a block away, and high school just past the middle – we do get people parking near my house for pick up and slamming car doors, honking, and I do have to watch my outings if they are around 8:30 or 3:30. Eddie Otis is very sensitive to outside noises and gets very scared and anxious. Anyway, we have enjoyed a week of quiet around here!

I rarely get fast food or any food that isn’t home food for lunch but this week I wanted to try Cane’s naked chicken fingers. They ain’t pretty but they were delish especially with the sauce. Recommend!

This is so good I would consider getting rid of my coffee pot. I just bought it in decaf so a girl has options. It is excellent for iced coffee, too. I use my tea kettle for the hot water. It continues to shock me just how good this coffee is! It ain’t your Grandma’s instant, ok?

If you aren’t a beer drinker, there are some really good ciders. I tried a jam berry cider at the Oktoberfest last weekend. Many places let you try a taste before you commit, which is so nice.

Let’s talk about tv this week. I am watching Dancing with the Stars but I do like to fast forward past all the scores and talking and just watch the dancing. I love Robert Irwin. He’s a doll!

I am watching The Golden Bachelor but I have only watched the first episode as of the writing of this blog post. I don’t love the guy. I get the vibe that he was always big man on campus and thinks he is hotter than he is and that his beep don’t stink. He told one lady that he planned to work all the time when she said she is looking for someone that has time for her. He’s a lawyer and played some amount of professional football I think. Also, he has two very young sons for a 63 year old man – like 18 and 20 year old sons. So, there’s still some heavy duty parenting duties happening (ask me how I know!) and who knows what his relationship with his ex is like. Sorry I’m taking this so seriously!

The ladies are inspiring but I just don’t see him as a catch.

I went in hard on Love is Blind UK this week on Netflix. It’s so good!

I am trying a new shampoo/conditioner based on an Instagram of good and bad drugstore shampoos. This smells very nice. I don’t love the conditioner as much as I love the shampoo. Do yours have to match? Like same brand?

Mason lives at home but is working and pretty busy so we haven’t done much together to be honest. He had a day off and we decided to try a new coffee shop. It was so cute and he loved his ube coffee drink.

He loves to go to coffee shops just like the 20 somethings out there. It has become such a thing to spend money on coffee out. Is it the “third place” for many young adults? You have your home, your work, and your “third place”. I have a coffee shop near me that I love atmosphere-wise and I need to go there more to blog or read and just be out in the world. Maybe that is a winter goal. Even when I was watching Friends religiously and dissecting each episode I didn’t have a Central Perk to hang out in.

I had two social highlights this week with friends. I went to a new place for Mexican breakfast with my friend Victoria. We split chilaquiles and I am going to recreate them at home this weekend, too! It looks like a dog’s breakfast but it tasted good!

Then, I heard that one of my favorite spots in all of my city – Grale Haus (breakfast), Holy Grale (bar and German food), and Bar Grale (wine bar and shop) and they are opening Grale Goods which will be like a breakfast and bakery – was having a German wine fight special just until the end of the week.

I met my friend Beth and we sat in their gorgeous European style garden.

We had house made chips and dip because there was so much wine in the flight that we needed food!

Then we moved into the beer garden area and ordered sauerkraut balls with an amazing horseradish dip.

We spent a nice sunny afternoon and sat there for almost 3 hours chatting!

Brows are so important. Have you worked on yours? Mine used to be full and I never thought much about them except to get them waxed! Now, I have sparse hairs and uneven brows. All of these products are elf or NYX and they are great!

This is the order I do them in (picture has them in the order I do from left to right):

First the pencil, then the elf wand, then the NYX brow glue, then finally the clear. I also spray a tiny bit of hairspray on the clear spooly to hold the brows in place. They really frame your face.

I will get a photo of before and after soon for the one person that might care!

Exactly one year ago this week we were on the high school/college graduation trip for my twins. It might be our last family of four trip, too, which makes me sad but it’s reality.

We went to Spain! We split our time between Madrid and Barcelona. I would have loved to see friends in a couple of other places and to see some smaller towns but this is what made the most sense. It was a dream! If you are new to my blog there is also Spain Part 2, 3, 4, and my packing! I am going to go back and read them!

My phone made me a memory video, though!

Enjoying a little happy hour alone right below our Madrid apartment:

I said why sit in the apartment when I can people watch while my family was resting before our next outing?

A classical guitar lesson and purchase of a new guitar:

Wandering the gothic quarter of Barcelona:

It’s hard to believe it was a year ago!

What were your favorites this week?

Amy

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Say what? October 2nd? It is Thursday and time to link up with Kellyann and Jill to share some fashion (I use that word loosely) from the past week.

I have a decent sized walk in closet but I don’t do well with visual clutter so I decided to physically remove all my summer things and put them in the moved out son’s closet. Yes, I am a closet hog!

Now I can really see what I have and it’s glorious!

Don’t you get so happy when you have made a good clothing or shoe purchase? I love these jeans and these shoes and if you are a regular reader, yes, I am a broken record. I thought that the sandal would be great going into fall due to the darker leather and it has proven true. I do need to get a fall pedicure and I am trying to decide on the color. I have reached for these so much this summer and I think I will wear them until the end of October?

They are Kork Ease and they weren’t cheap but I am working on quality over quantity and no more cheap shoes if I can help it. Also, it is sweet because I got these shoes with a store credit from a shoe store in my hometown from shoes my mom purchased and never go to wear before she passed away.

The jeans are the high waisted wide leg pull on by Halara. I am 5’4 and I ordered the petite. The petite is still a bit long on me but they work with a heeled shoe.

My blouse is new by the brand Umgee from a local boutique called Tunie’s. They do online, as well if you want to click on the link. The blouse was $52 I think but I had a gift card from my besties for a retirement gift.

I wore this to dinner at a Cuban restaurant Friday night.

Tunie’s also has an outlet and I found this leopard print by the brand Entro. I was so happy to find it because I had been wanting a leopard print. It was about $32.

Same jeans, same shoes – you know the drill. I wore this to Oktoberfest on Saturday late afternoon.

What I like about both of these blouses is that they are in fall colors but a perimenopausal/menopausal woman is not gonna over heat. Are you picking up what I am putting down? And if you live in the south or south-ish it can stay quite hot until November or longer.

I don’t know why I am standing like this with my mouth open, but that’s the best photo I got. Monday I wore the straight legged Halaras (petite but had to get them hemmed because they were in no way petite length), my Free People espadrilles, and my Marshall’s striped blouse. I wore this to run a couple of errands.

I bought myself a fall purse. It was only $24.99 and that is just the right price since I wasn’t sure if I would like this style. I had it in my head that I wanted olive green and the universe delivered. Well, the TJ Maxx universe delivered.

While in TJ Maxx where I found the purse, I also saw these and had been planning to buy some. These were also $24.

Now, I am trying not to shop in October except for consignment. I really don’t want to shop at all until my birthday in November. My goal is to wear what I have and be content but to make a list of “holes” in my closet. We shall see if I can do that!

What have you been wearing lately? Do you have a favorite outfit? Are you into blouses and jeans outfits?

Amy

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Hello October! I am linking up with Joyce for Hodgepodge today.

1. What’s your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now? 

I got to smell lots of fall smells in this cute store in my hometown and I am excited to go back and see what else they have. I love pumpkin, vanilla, apple, cinnamon, and any combinations of those smells. I really love the Mrs. Meyer’s acorn spice hand soap. I love the smell of a fire. There’s nothing like smelling a fire in the distance in the crisp fall air.

I have the trio of little glass jar candles from Trader Joe’s in my house along with the acorn spice hand soap. I have a couple of candles on the patio that are a bit stronger and better for outside. I have become more sensitive to artificial smells in the last couple of years, so I am quite picky.

2. October is Country Music Month…are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle are you more country mouse or city mouse? 

I am not really a country music fan but I like most live music of any genre. I just don’t fan girl or really know anyone or their songs very well.

We took a little family trip to Nashville a few summers ago. We stayed at The Graduate which was so cool. This was the trip I discovered boutique hotel means “small rooms” and that I realized that we had outgrown one hotel room for our family of four.

This photo makes me laugh!

I would say I am a suburban mouse. I can do a bit of country and a bit of city but I am most comfortable in suburbia!

3. How about ‘country cooking’? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)? 

My mom’s family was from Chicago so no country cookin’ there. My Dad’s family loved their fried chicken, mashed potatoes, apple pie (Southern Indiana). We didn’t really eat fried foods growing up, though. The fried chicken was a treat at Grandma’s house. My Dad was health conscious from my childhood. We didn’t even eat much red meat except for ground beef. We had a lot of chicken. My mom made this bone in chicken breast with powdered parmesan on it with canned or frozen vegetables. She also didn’t like to cook potatoes. We had a lot of corn.

Nashville hot chicken in Nashville:

chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-‘barbecue’-gumbo-banana pudding 

We did have deviled eggs once a year after Easter. Tom loves collard greens and gumbo. I have not yet attempted either.

Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you haven’t tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered?

I only eat it about once a year but I love biscuits and gravy. I probably had it for the first time in my 30s. Growing up, I only knew canned biscuits!

4. What’s something that always has a positive impact on your mood? 

Being around water! A sunny day! A bright blue sky! New shoes! A good hair day!

5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells us something about how that month looked for you. 

Noun – sun

Verb – reflecting/to reflect

Adjective – slow

We had a truly gorgeous September with so much sun and very little rain. August still felt like summer but September really had me feeling like I was retired. It was a gift to have a September at home without the pressure of school.

I spent much of the month reflecting on where my life is now and how much it’s changed in a year. I am a reflective person so this was a good thing. I miss certain aspects of school life, of course. I had a former student send me a message to ask if I would be at Prom. He is a senior now. Awwwww.

It was slow in many regards (and fast in other) and I wasn’t in a hurry. I mean slow in the best of ways…as in relaxed. Sometimes being too relaxed isn’t a good thing so I am trying to find that balance.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I feel happy in this photo. It’s good to feel happy after feeling sad!

What would you say to any of these questions? Thanks for reading my deep thoughts!

Amy