Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

O.k., I’m tired now of all the browns, cognacs, mustards and “fall” colors that I’ve been wearing.  I don’t have a capsule wardrobe per se, but I do like to rotate groups of clothing so I don’t get tired of them. 

Now, I will be wearing more black, grey, red, plaid, and I will continue wearing wine/burgundy because I am not tired of it and I think it is beautiful in the winter.  My sister and I were discussing what a great neutral grey is.  It looks good with black, wine, plaid, and many other colors.  I wore my grey jeans to the hospital and we started talking about it.  Do you own a lot of grey?  I have charcoal grey pants and grey jeans.  I have maybe one or two grey tops and a grey swing dress. 

I love all plaid and buffalo is one of them.  Guess where I got this kimono?  The hospital gift store for $26.  My mom convinced me to get it.  It is flannel and I’ve worn it twice.  

This Old Navy plaid is super soft and I think it’s a keeper!

Here is my swing dress with my half of a blanket scarf – I cut them all in half!  See here!

I also like to change up my polish.  These are three old OPI faves.  From left to right:  The Spy who loved me, Lucerne that look awesome, Comet Closer.  

Do you change your color palette?  What are your favorite colors to wear now?  

Amy 

Monday, November 26, 2018

How was your weekend?  Mine was filled with family at the hospital and at my house.  This little guy is my nephew eating a cupcake!

This little fashionista wanted to make the blog. 

I call her sister “Sporty Spice” because she doesn’t like to dress like her little sis. 

This guy was tuckered out from all of the excitement!

I had a tomato caprese sandwich that wasn’t too bad from the hospital sandwich shop.  

I’m always grateful for online grocery shopping and pick up, but I cannot tell you how nice it was to sit in the hospital by my dad’s bed and order.  I have done this 3 times sine we’ve been in the hospital. 

This catalog has some really cute things!  Look at the buffalo plaid dinnerware!  Look at the chocolate lab pillow!

I did some minimal Christmas decorations.  I can’t muster energy for a tree yet. 

I have a meal plan and the stuff for it thanks to my Kroger pick up.  

I finished this and I do recommend it.

I stopped by my consignment store on the way to the hospital and found another pair of Matilda Janes!  $17! It was Small Business Saturday and I had to support my locally owned boutique. 

This weekend was hard and emotional.  My Dad is still in the ICU and is still very sick.  I am trying to get better at balancing life between home, work, and hospital.  I did some normal things this weekend that helped me.  My mom also got a break from the hospital because of my sisters’ help.  

I’m not sure I’m ready for a 5 day week – it’s always rough after a holiday, isn’t it?  Alright, let’s see if we can do this!

Amy 

Friday, November 23, 2018

How was your Thanksgiving?  It went by fast!  This year didn’t feel like Thanksgiving for me because normally we would do my side of the family today but we are on day 17 in the hospital for my dad and it seems like we take one step forward only to take two steps back.  

Wednesday morning I got out the door early for a Trader Joe’s run and saw these adorable olive oil bowls for $5.99.  Add a bottle of olive oil and that would make a great hostess gift!

I picked up a few necessities and some easy meals to have on hand because I didn’t know what the weekend would hold. 

Then, I picked my mom up at my house (she is staying with me because my parents live an hour away and my dad was transported to my big city hospital from their hometown hospital after one day) and took her to a hair appointment.  I did my nails in the car while waiting.  

I took my mom to the hospital after her hair appointment and then met this lovely coworker at her suggestion for some stress relief.  We may have taken advantage of their $10 bottomless sangria, ham and chicken croquettes, and patatas bravas.  Yum.  I highly recommend this restaurant if you are local.  

Wednesday night my family of four went to Royals Hot Chicken before the hospital.  Again, I highly recommend!

Thanksgiving morning and my mom and I did a Starbuck’s run before the hospital.  I so appreciate all of the hospital workers that keep things going on a holiday.  It’s not easy I know.  

My sister and her family were at the hospital so I went home and had an apple cider mimosa while cooking for hub’s side of the family here in town.  

The sun was bright and it was a super nice day.  This is what I ended up wearing.  

Two of my beautiful nieces.  

Their beautiful mama, my sister in law, in her cute outfit.  Tom Petty t-shirt she found on Etsy and her leopard flats.  I felt it was blog worthy!  

It was a nice day.

Are you participating in Black Friday Sales?  I’m more of a Cyber Monday girl!

Have a great weekend!
Amy 

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Strange post title, right?  I wanted to get your attention! So for this two day week, I wore my Thanksgiving colors.

Monday I wore my Old Navy mustard boho shirt, Hue consignment jeggings, best clogs in the world – the MIA Sofia, and a vest from Loft.

On Tuesday I wore my American Eagle bootlegs, clogs again, Old Navy mustard velour, Target cardigan from last season, and my funky necklace.  

My two Old Navy plaid tops are due to arrive today- Woohoo!  I still haven’t decided what to wear on Thursday.  I will do a final check of the weather and that will be the decision maker.  

The Monday nurses changed my dad’s “very good” care to “excellent”.  If you read Monday’s post you will understand this better.  

Look at this cute outfit from our local Tunie’s boutique.  I think they have online if you want to check them out!

You can’t go wrong with Cracker Barrel recipes!

This is Grace and Love Blog’s winning recipe from Mix and Match Mama’s party last year.  Go easy on the ranch powder in my opinion – I don’t use the whole packet.

For the traditionalists, Pioneer Woman mashed potatoes are the best!  The cream cheese sounds weird, but it works!

What is your potato preference?  

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

Amy 

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

We are out of school today at 2:20 until next Monday!  I’ve often thought we should just have the whole week off, because a two day week is kind of hard and many people pull their kids out because it’s just two days!  What do you think?  

I don’t know how many words of wisdom I will have for you today, but here goes.  In the midst of the holiday season, take time to slow down and relax.  It’s easy to fall into the trap of running from house to house and activity to activity and that’s just exhausting.  Also, people tend to get sick when they go too hard.  

This year may look a little different for me, but here are things I have done in the past.  

–If you are buying groceries for the holiday, do online shopping and curbside pickup or go to the store early.  Do not go on Wednesday unless you can go very early. It is a mad house.  And, the things you want may be gone already.  

-Stock up on butter, baking supplies, seasonal products because they are usually on sale.

-Because you will be with extended family for much of the time, try to do something with just your family first.  We sometimes go out to eat on Wednesday or to a movie.  

-Sleep in on Thursday if you can.

-Plan a fun fall hike Thanksgiving morning.  It will really make you feel good to get some Vitamin D and exercise before eating a heavy meal.  

-Simplify.  Simplify the schedule, the food, your outfits, etc.  

What are your tips?

Amy

Monday, November 19, 2018

How was your weekend? So, we are going on day 15 of my dad in the hospital.  He has had trouble recuperating from surgery and complications from first chemo treatment. Friday one of my sisters arrived and Saturday the other arrived. We spent the weekend together – mainly at the hospital.  My sisters were great.  We even had lots of laughs in the midst of everything.  I’m so grateful to my parents for having two more kids after me!  If you are struggling with your kids fighting right now, it won’t always be that way, hopefully.  Please continue to keep my dad in your prayers.  Thank you.  

This sister looked cute in her step hem Stitch Fix jeans, last season Target mustard sweater and crocheted scarf. She is an art teacher and has a cute and funky style. She is not doing Stitch Fix anymore but splurged on these $80 jeans and has worn them a bunch.  She thinks the price point is too high for her to do it regularly, but I know many people who think they actually save money by doing it.  It’s that theory of having fewer things but things you truly love and that fit you well.  Hmmmm, I’m still doing research on that!  

I bought this spiced cider a couple of weeks ago and just tried it this weekend with my spiked cider.  Yum!  Trader Joe’s has tons of products that will make Thanksgiving simpler if you can get there today or tomorrow.  Wednesday will be crazy I think!

These Target plates from last year make me so happy.  I bought 8 of them and just love them.  Four are like this and four just have leaves.  

A friend gave me this Swig wine cup for my birthday and I really like it.  I think I will order a monogram from Etsy, because if it stands still, we stick a monogram on it in the south.  

I finally was able to focus on a book after not being able to for almost two weeks.  She is the author of How to Walk Away so I took a chance on this and it’s cute so far.  

One of the things we were laughing about it this slogan on all of the white boards in my dad’s hospital.  It says “here we provide you with VERY GOOD care”.  Why not excellent care?  My husband said they don’t want to set the bar too high!  But, in all seriousness, the people have been wonderful from the doctors and nurses to the nutrition and cleaning people.  

I hope you have a great Monday!

Thanks for reading!

Amy 

P.S. Somehow everything I typed and all of my editing was lost from my Friday post – oops!

Friday, November 16, 2018

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Hello! Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Unless you are a blogger or a blog reader, you cannot understand how supportive people in the blog community are.  Your messages this week have truly lifted my spirits.  My Dad is still in the hospital but he started his first round of chemo last night. 

Our Thanksgiving tradition is usually Thursday with my husband’s family here in town.  His sister lives here and she hosts our meal around 3 p.m.  We spend the morning trying to get some exercise, cooking, watching the parade, and usually cleaning and doing laundry. 

We are lucky to have off on Wednesday, too.  Last year I tried something different.  I went ahead and decorated for Christmas on Wednesday. 

On Friday, we usually travel just an hour to my parents’ house with my side of the family and we do it all again.  When I come home, my house is ready for Christmas.  That’s kind of how I am.  I am a Thanksgiving purist but as soon as it’s over, bring on Christmas! 

What are your traditions?  How do you feel about early Christmas decorations?  

So, let’s talk about Thanksgiving outfits.  I like to have two cute and comfortable outfits for my two days.  I also usually spend Saturday in my hometown starting my shopping for small business Saturday.  I love shopping locally in my city and in my hometown.  It’s a great way to buy your gifts, in my opinion.  

This year, I am planning my outfits mostly around my most comfy pair of jeans.  I don’t really like many of my pants now for fall.  I think I’m in desperate need for something other than  leggings.  

I like to wear what I call Thanksgiving colors.  We are pretty casual on both sides of the family.  

Here are my favorite Nordstrom Vigoss jeans, my clogs, and a cute cornflower blue peasant shirt that I bought at consignment.

Here is a leggings option.  I have this cocoa brown lace bottomed tunic and brown leggings.  

I think camo is a good option for Thanksgiving.  

I think I like the second pair of booties better for the camo.

I think camo would look good with burgundy.

This mustard yellow velvet top might be a contender.  

If it warms up I may wear this poncho thing.  I always get hot if I’m in the kitchen!

What do you plan to wear?  I look through my closet and pull out all the colors I like and then go from there!

Thanks for reading!

Amy 

Monday, November 12, 2018

Thank you to all the service men and women of our great country.  My favorite is my Dad, though.  He was a career military man, an Air Force fighter pilot. He then retired and enjoyed being a corporate pilot. He still works for the same company, in fact, but just a few hours a week.

We have had a rough week.  I don’t know if you could tell that I was phoning in my posts last week. They were short and not well edited. This week if I go quiet, it is because he is in the hospital with a new cancer diagnosis as we are await a treatment plan. I may feel that I need this creative outlet, though – we will see.

 I really don’t want to show outfits for wearing to the hospital and my clothes are the last thing on my mind.  I haven’t had any cocktails and I haven’t cooked.  I have kept the coffee coming, though.  

I really appreciate you being my faithful readers.

Amy