Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Happy Halloween!  It does not mean much to me anymore now that my kids are teens and it falls on a school night.  It is business as usual around here, but we will put the boys in charge of handing out candy and I will make chili and mummy dogs (hot dogs wrapped in crescent roll dough).  Ha!  It looks like the weather will be cold and make it a perfect chili night.  

When my boys were in elementary school I got my first pair of tall Target rain boots.  I loved them.  They lasted for a year or so and I bought another pair.  I was surprised by how much I wore them.  I wore them to walk the boys to and from school and to walk the dog.  I wore them when it was not even raining due to the wet dew on the grass or because it had rained the day before.  I wore the heck out of both pairs of $20ish boots!  

After the second pair of cheap boots bit the dust, I decided to splurge on the black matte Hunter boots I coveted.  I have them 7 years later and they still look great!  

Tip:  I bought mine at Von Maur and they are the wide calf version.  I never usuaally buy wide calf boots but the sales lady told me they were slightly shorter for shorter people or people with shorter legs.  They hit me at the perfect place.  

Tip:  Costco currently has navy and green for $89.99!  

I won a $500 Nordstrom gift card from Mix and Match Mama and Sheaffer Told Me To last December and decided to get the shorter in a fun color with part of my winnings.  

I wear them in the light snow, too.  I wear them in all 4 seasons!  

They came in super handy for the wet Derby party last year!  

So, buy the boots!  There are plenty of good brands besides Hunter, but I can definitely speak to the quality of Hunter.  You will be surprised by how much wear you get out of them and then the price per wear makes them super affordable!  

My perspective on rain most definitely changed after I had my first pair.  I was no longer upset when it rained and I almost looked forward to the rain so I could wear them.  I loved to style them with my outfits.  

I almost think this can be a metaphor for life.  If you are prepared or if you look for the silver lining, most things are not so bad.  It is all about perspective.  

Whoa – getting deep! You thought this was merely a post about rain boots!  

Thanks for reading!

Amy 

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

I’m linking up with The Style Six so click right here to check out some fall fashions!

My necklace is messed up but here is the Versona ruffle vest that is so soft once again.  I told you I would wear this a bunch!  Matilda Jane pants and a TJ Maxx top that is too long with my MIA Sofia clogs complete the outfit for school.  

My one of two Free People tops, MJ pants, consignment necklace and consignment Tieks were the next day school outfit for me.  

I made a trip to Target and my black monochromatic base topped by my new super soft leopard duster was my outfit of choice.  I looked at the clothing section but did not buy!  

This has been my two Saturdays in a row outfit.  Black leggings, black long top, new this season Target A New Day poncho (it is seriously a great quality) and my older leopard scarf.  My hair looked bad – sorry!  The last Saturday I wore flats and no rain jacket but this past Saturday it was a cold and rainy day.  

Saturday night out outfit:  I wore my MIA Abba Clogs (slightly higher heel and not work worthy for my feet), my Hue jeggings, my short sleeve leopard with an old Target wrap.  I was mixing seasons a bit with the light top but I tend to get overheated in crowded restaurants so it was very comfortable.  I really need a couple of nice night out blouses with jeans and some new shoes for this purpose, too.  

This past Monday after school I got a text from hub saying his work chili cook off was that day and he wanted me to go with him around 4:30.  This girl likes to plan ahead but I decided to be spontaneous and go out on a Monday!  What???  Who am I?  The weather was gorgeous.  I wore my short sleeve poncho, black capris, and open toe slides.  

There was a band and each construction company had their chili and most booths had a signature cocktail, too.  You were supposed to vote on best chili and best theme.  

His company theme was ¨Netflix and Chili¨.  It was the best theme for sure!  

Hub sat in his display.  I got a jello shot from one of the booths.  It was literally a jello shot in a shot!  

It was a lot of fun!  I am glad I said yes and we were still home by 6:30 to eat dinner with our boys!  

What have you worn lately?  Where have you been hanging out?  Ha!

Thanks for visiting me!

Amy 

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

I have a problem.  I really like buying lip colors.  I am trying to use what I have and be content with what I have – because I have plenty.  And, I always like to have something on my lips.  This fall I was wanting a fall rust/brown color but I went the drug store route to see if I really liked this color on me.  

I found Maybelline Spice For Me.  

I can top it with NYX butter gloss in Creme Brulee if I want to tone it down a bit.  

Just the Spice for Me:

Spice for Me with the butter gloss on top:  

I still love Revlon Goldpearl Plum but I was really wanting this new color and I wore it all weekend!  

Do you have any Fall colors to recommend?  Do you change it up for the seasons?  I really love a red lip with leopard print and I need to find a perfect red for me!  Any suggestions?  

Amy 

Monday, October 28, 2019

Hello!  I am linking up today with Heather, etc. so go right here for more weekend recap posts!  

I finished my cute “Waiting for Tom Hanks” novel on Friday after school and then got into this cute book.  I am loving it so far.  If you like the type of books I like – chick lit, not too heavy, cute stories, but decently written – I have been hitting the jackpot lately.  I took some time to sit outside and enjoy the fall weather before the rain hit us on Saturday.  

Also, I realized I hit 400 posts on Friday!  I have only been blogging for a year and a half but I have almost always posted 5 a week.  Who knew I had that much to say?  Ha!
But, seriously, this is my creative outlet.  I don’t spend as much time as I know other bloggers spend.  You can tell by my real life, non-professional photos.  I like it this way.  I do not want this to feel like a job nor do I have more than the 30 minutes or so a day to devote to my hobby.  

Our boys were super busy and social this weekend and this left hub and I to our own devices.  I picked up Taco Luchador Friday night and enjoyed my chicken taco.  The boys went to the theatre haunted house.  Jack acted in it and Mason went to support him and to enjoy the festivities.  Apparently Mason was a big hit with Jack’s theatre friends and I thought it was sweet that Mason wanted to go.  

Do I look like an Instagrammer or what?  Black Hunter boots (at least 7 years old!) in the wet leaves on Saturday morning.  The boys went to theatre and play rehearsal (Jack) and to help a friend study for the ACT (Mason) and Tom and I went out for breakfast.  Well, we tried but Biscuit Belly had a line out the door in the rain!  

So, Tom showed me his company’s project in a high rise hotel.  Look at that view!  

We walked around in the rain downtown for a bit.  This is a giant whiskey barrel that I hadn’t noticed before.  Don’t you love exploring your city?  

I had been dying to see our new Omni hotel and its market on the first floor.  It is so cool!  

Saturday night Mason turned his pope costume from a school project into a Greek God with a laurel headpiece, an empty bottle of wine and a baggie of grapes and Jack was Pac Man which he has had for years.  

And, we finally got to try the new restaurant with our friends that sadly replaced my old tapas restaurant that I loved called Artesano.  

Sunday morning was work, work, work.  I did school work for a couple of hours, did meal prep, laundry, cleaned – it was all much needed!  

But, then we were able to take the boat out and it just worked out that our friends could come, too!  

This was a fundraiser for breast cancer where you tried to catapult a pumpkin into a target.  It was interesting to watch!  

These floaties were the targets.  

I mean, I just wanted to bottle up today’s weather!  

I reluctantly came home and came back to reality.  I ordered dinner from Door Dash because my meal prep had not included dinner!  Oops!  

Here is my referral code for you and I to get $10 if you have Door Dash in your area.  It’s pretty cool.  You can order from tons of different restaurants.  I think you just need to highlight the link and copy and paste into your browser and it will take you there.  Thank you in advance if you use it!  

https://drd.sh/EX38Vn/

How was your weekend?  Hope you had a great one!  Thanks for reading and hope you will come back tomorrow! 

Amy 

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Life lately has been busy.  It’s mostly all good, but this is a busy season of life.  

I have not been good about a regular grocery day, nor have I done grocery pick up since this summer when my order went terribly wrong.  I have been visiting the grocery more than I would like due to poor planning on my part!  

So, this week I ordered from Instacart in the morning before school and my groceries were delivered that day after school!  I had a meeting after school and set my time up for between 4:00 and 5:00 and  think it came at 4:15.  I think it was only 50 cents more than pick up, you guys!  Life changing!  I did tip, but still!  I think I could’ve gotten the groceries as soon as 3 hours after placing the order.  I will definitely use this service again.

Unfortunately, I still had to put the groceries away and then cook the food.  

My sister made “feetloaf” this week and I thought it was so cute.  I thought I would show you in case you have small kids that would like this!  

The night before the Instacart delivery, I got take out for the family from McAllister’s because I had no dinner foods.  I sat outside and read my book while I waited.  I always look for little pockets of time for things that bring me joy like reading.  This book is really cute!  

My field trip was Monday.  It was really fun!  But, it is so much work to plan and execute a field trip.  I think the kids really enjoyed and appreciated it so that made it worthwhile.  We saw a performance called “Latin American Fiesta” which had singing, dancing, costumes, and history of the Spanish speaking world.  

I forgot to mention that over the weekend I finished this book.  I really liked the story.  The intimate scenes are pretty detailed, but I highly recommend this book if you need an easy chick lit read.  

Here is a picture from the Ironman a couple of weeks ago.  This is my college roommate and her husband was the one who participated in it.  

My husband watched him cross the finish line around 8:00 p.m. but I was home getting ready for the week ahead because it was on Sunday.  

Mason has a college visit today and gets to attend a class and meet a professor again!  I am really excited for him.  

Jack is getting ready to do a play called “45 Plays for 45 Presidents” in November with school and “Pride and Prejudice” in January with his community theatre.  He is going to be busy from now until January and then hopefully he will make the school musical.  

Both boys are doing great in school.  One son has 5 AP classes and the other has 4.  

Mason is back on the quick recall team which is our academic team.  I watched his matches yesterday and last week.  Both boys did this in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.  I guess Mason has come full circle and finishing out high school with this again.  

Jack is going to guitar club after school some weeks.  How fun is that?  

Mason retired from debate team after last year.  He learned a lot but it had run its course. 

What has life been like lately for you?  

Amy 

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Happy Hump Day!  I’m going to go out of order chronologically, o.k.?  This is just how my photos loaded for me.  What have you been wearing lately?  It’s been fun to dust off last year’s fall clothes I think! But, I am not in love with any of these outfits.  It is real life, though, and I have to get dressed.  These photos help me to do better next time and maybe they will help you, too!  Maybe this is a What Not to Wear Wednesday?  

I am linking up with the style six, too, today.  Please go here to check out some other style posts!  

Here we go……

So, this is my field trip outfit from Monday and I don’t love it.  The forecast was bad and called for rain and wind but then none of that happened and I was overheated!  And, it just doesn’t look good together!  Oh well.  

Saturday errand outfit. 

Friday night art museum outfit – photo taken in museum bathroom.  I cannot stop wearing this leopard duster. That’s when you know you have made a good purchase.  I spent $26 and have already worn it three times!  

For school one day, I wore Hue black jeggings, Nordstrom top that just isn’t long enough and has constricting sleeves.  I do love my vest which came from Versona and is soooo soft.  I also have an oatmeal colored one (this one is light grey).  You will be seeing those vests a great deal, I think.  And, I love my consignment Tieks.  

And, finally another school outfit.  This is a last season mustard Old Navy top and MJ pants with Jack Rogers cognac booties.  I don’t love the booties with these pants.  I think flats or clogs look better with them.  

I don’t love any of these outfits.  There is something wrong with all of them and in addition, I need a hair cut!  You know when your hair becomes hard to style and you know it’s time? I am there.  Luckily I get to go see my wonderful stylist very soon!  

This photo below is what I want to be wearing!  I love to peruse Pinterest and get ideas.  I have only broken out the lighter scarves.  It still isn’t quite cold enough for my favorite blanket scarves.  I really need a mustard long cardigan.  Oh man, my fall wish list is long!  

What are you wearing lately?  

I would love to know!

Amy 

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The title of my blog is “Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa”, right?  I owe you some recipes!  My sweet blog friend Kellyann mentioned me on Instastories and told about this recipe (and also said some really nice things about my blog – thank you!) so I thought it was high time that I feature it again on the old blog.  

I actually think this is better if you make it one glass at a time, but I was making a portable batch for the boat.  I also make this every year for Thanksgiving and have been making it for several years now.  It is always a huge hit and like Kellyann said, it really does taste like fall in a cup.

Ingredients:

Real apple cider (splurge a bit and don’t use preschool apple juice, o.k.?)

Fireball

Bourbon (I have used Trader Joe’s before and it is really good.  This time I had Evan Williams)

1-2 apples

Ice Sparkling beverage in apple flavor

So, it should be 1 part Fireball, 1 part bourbon, and 2 parts apple cider.  
Shake well, pour in a glass with ice, and top with the Ice apple drink.  

I also chopped my apples and soaked in Fireball in a baggie for the boat.  I used an orange juice container washed out for my portable apple cider sangria.  

Yum!  

Let me know if you try it!  

Amy 

Monday, October 21, 2019

This weekend in one word was FULL.  How was your weekend?  I am linking up today with Heather, etc. so go right here for more Hello Monday posts.  

We have a beautiful art museum – The Speed Art Museum – on the campus of the University of Louisville.  I have been wanting to go to the once a month  Friday night After Hours for years.  Under 21 is allowed in, too, and I managed to convince everyone to go!  All of the regular exhibits are open plus they have a theme and lots of extras like music and talks.  

It was sponsored by Tito’s Vodka and they had this cute little trailer out front.  

I tried the specialty drink –  “Fall Y’all”.  

My favorite exhibit was this floral garden.  

We had thought we might get food at the museum but it was expensive and a bit weird, so Tom suggested this diner again afterwards.  

It was a fun night and we even ran in to our friend Dan at the museum.  

Saturday morning was errands and while at Costco, I thought this was interesting.  I didn’t get it this time, but for $15 I thought it was a good deal if you are having a party.  

I tried the Pumpkin Cold Brew and liked it better this time.  I think the Starbuck’s closest to me makes subpar drinks.  Have you noticed that not all Starbuck’s are created equally?

I started this cute book.  I am just into the fun books right now.  Life itself is too serious right now and I just cannot read anything too deep.  

I ran into the salon to just get a polish change on my toes.  It had been since August!  

I got a green/grey called “Things I’ve seen in Aber-green” by OPI.  I am still considering a dark green for my next manicure so I think this will coordinate.  

Then, we met our friends at the boat at 4:30 for a boat ride and dinner.  Our boat has been out of commission for a few weeks.  We have not had the best boating season – lots of repairs needed or the weather didn’t cooperate.  

I made my Apple Cider Sangria and the recipe is coming your way tomorrow!  

We were able to dock and walk to the cutest little restaurant in this white house called “The Portage House”.  The chef/owner was a Chopped winner!  

The adorable interior of the restaurant.  

We opted to sit outside because the night was so nice.  We shared the brussels sprouts and hush puppies with our friends and then Tom and I split the Catfish.  I thought it was excellent!  

This was my half – still plenty!  We often split an entree – especially if we get an appetizer.  

The sky was simply gorgeous.  Every time we go out at night I wonder why we don’t do it more often.  We enjoyed the company of our friends and we were still all home by 8:00.  That’s my kind of night!  Lol!  

And, then yesterday, we visited my mom in my hometown.  The boys posed by the veteran’s flag of my Dad overlooking the river there.  I currently live on the same river I grew up on but just an hour away.  I think that’s kind of cool!  

My aunt and uncle were visiting my mom and we all had lunch and chatted for a few hours.  It was a nice visit. 

Today I am on a field trip for most of the day – my only field trip of the year.  I will report back about it later on in the week.  

I hope you have a decent Monday – I’m not going to say wonderful because it is Monday, after all.  

Tell me how your weekend was!

Thanks for reading,

Amy 

Friday, October 18, 2019

Happy Friday!  I am linking up today with Andrea, etc. so go right here!  How was your week?  Mine was busy as I guess they all weeks are in October.  

First up for my faves this week:  Did you see my What I Wore post here?  I couldn’t stop thinking about all the cool things I saw at Dee’s Craft store and I went back and bought this necklace for $12.  

Here is a better photo – I love it!  

And, I also bought this Simply Southern leopard duster.  It is so soft and it was $27.  

My burgundy Malaga Wine by OPI dip manicure is still going strong.  It seems so durable compared to gel.  

I am already thinking about my next color.  Look at this dark olive green.  What do we think? 

If you are a lover of dark chocolate as my son Mason is, this brownie mix is really good.

I also really like these Dole mixes.  First I show you brownies and then I show you salad!  

I took two weeks off of meal prepping because we didn’t have full weeks of school and boy did I miss having my meals prepared.  I had 5 breakfasts ready to go this week and it made such a difference in the morning.  I failed to prep my lunches, though, so that had me scrambling a bit in the morning.  

This blueberry goat cheese log from Trader Joe’s was so good I bought it a second time.  I am hoping to serve this on a charcuterie tray this weekend.  

What were your favorites this week?  

Hope it was a good one and have a wonderful weekend!  

Amy