Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Welcome to my first link up ever! After Currently, you will find my Hodgepodge with Joyce responses.

I will keep the link open for a week so you can link up at any time and read the other entries at your leisure.

Thanks for linking up with me! Try to meet some new bloggers today!

Loving

To be honest, I am loving so many things. I feel that a weight has been lifted and I am ready to focus on the positive.

This is the first time I haven’t gone back to school after the holidays! I am loving the freedom but also, I’m craving a routine. I have made Mondays my “admin day” where I do some bill paying, scheduling, laundry, grocery ordering, and things like that.

I’m loving seeing 50s in the forecast and I will take advantage of that! I actually sat outside to read on Monday with that bright orb shining in the sky for the first time in a long time!

I’m loving seeing the Valentine’s Day stuff in the stores. I love red, hearts, and all the things. I’m a bit nostalgic about classroom Valentine’s parties of my own and of my kids. I also am thinking about my V Day activities that I did in my high school classroom as a teacher.

I love my library stack – I won’t read all of them. I like having choices. I also am going to try to do a better job with recording what I read for you all.

Resolving

I chose this photo because I look like someone who is not taking any BS. I am out in the rain looking like a fool but my face says “step off”.

I don’t really do resolutions, but I want to be the best version of myself I can be. I want to be a good wife, mother, sister, friend, citizen, etc. I want to stop wasting energy overanalyzing relationships and situations. I want to match energy. If someone doesn’t put much toward me, I should match that. I want to say YES when it’s a HECK YES and say NO when I am not sure it’s how I want to spend my time and energy. A YES to one thing is a NO to another, no? I want to open my circle to new friends that might come my way and let some of my friendships be more occasional friendships.

I am resolving to do the things that help me feel my best – getting outside each day, continuing strength training and walking, going to bed no later than 10, drinking enough water, feeding myself good healthy foods, limiting myself from social media and silly internet stuff, choosing to do things in person rather than online to keep community and connection.

Planning

I think we are finally planning the rest of our house renovation stuff. We are replacing flooring and painting the rest of our main floor of our ranch house, renovating the kitchen, and adding cabinetry to the mudroom. It’s going to stink to have the chaos but it will be worth it, and this is a good time to do it.

Eating/Drinking

All the vegetables! I love roasted vegetables.

I eat eggs for breakfast most days but I would like to mix it up with Greek yogurt and oatmeal, too.

I read how beneficial beans are so I added beans to this breakfast:

I also plan to put some beans atop my salads.

I want to eat more fish, too.

I have been drinking electrolytes, water, and tea after my morning coffee.

It matters greatly to me the vessel from which I drink! I love drinking out of a wine glass, mason jar, these hefty icon glasses, my pretty hobnail glasses, etc. I keep a giant Tervis Tumbler with water and drink from it all day without a straw. I rarely use a straw. I find I can drink tons more water if it is room temperature and straw-less. Some food for thought if you are a struggling water drinker. I love sparkling water and just bought Saratoga brand. I plan to put it in a wine glass!

Watching/Reading

There are so many Netflix shows starting tomorrow or Friday that I am interested in! I am still watching my Bravo shows! I love Bravo! I also really, really love the podcast Watch What Crappens that makes fun of all the shows.

I am loving Below Deck Mediterranean. It is a show about the crew of a luxury yacht. It finished filming in Barcelona a week before we arrived in October of 2024. They are docked in the marina where we walked around and took our sunset catamaran ride. They also show the America’s Cup Red Bull Racing building and team. The team lawyer (who knew they needed one?) came out of the building and talked to Tom and I about the boat and the race. She came out to smoke a cig and just chatted us up.

Here are some of my photos…

They show this hotel in every shot. This is the W Hotel.

The catamaran sunset cruise:

The America’s Cup sailboat:

It’s just so fun to be able to say I was there!

I am excited to watch the Olympics starting with the opening ceremonies on February 6th! I love the opening ceremonies because I am so interested in other countries and cultures. I always talked about it in class and told the kids to watch. Then, I showed some of the Spanish speaking countries’ outfits. He he or should I say je je.

I started Ripple on Netflix and it’s really good but pretty deep. I found myself crying pretty hard in one of the scenes.

I am reading:

I’m having a good reading spell which is a big deal because I always called myself a “fair weather reader” only being able to read outside and mostly in summer. My sister said the same thing when we were together. She was telling me she just can’t read when it’s not summer. Part of that is the “teacher brain” I think.

Scroll down after Hodgepodge to link up with me for your Currently responses! Thank you for linking up with me! I will announce the February date and present participles soon!

Hodgepodge

1. What are three words you would use to describe your 2025? 

hard, transitional, bittersweet

For anyone new around here, I lost my mother suddenly in January 2025 and I retired from 31 years of teaching high school Spanish at the end of the school year. I managed my mom’s estate and the sale of her house.

2. I ask this question every January, and I always get comments about how we shouldn’t be banning words. This is fun and games so just play along : ) 

Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they’d like to see banished from the Queen’s English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse, or just general uselessness (go here to read about how the words are chosen). Here’s the list for 2026- 

67 • demure • cooked • massive • incentivize • full stop • perfect • gift/gifted  • my bad • reach out 

Well, when I was a high school Spanish teacher, I used the kids’ words to get their attention or make them laugh. I translated what I could into Spanish for giggles. I am so glad I missed the “67” phase! I think it is so dumb. I liked “demure” and was glad the kids were learning that word based on a Tik Tok video. “Cooked” was fun to translate in Spanish and use in class – “cocinado”! The other ones I didn’t hear much, or they don’t bother me. I don’t use them much if at all.

Which one (if any) do you use most often? Which one of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word you think should have made the list? 

I guess I do say “my bad” sometimes. Tom and I are both bothered by what we have noticed… many people on podcasts, the radio, and television have dropped the “r” in the word important so that it sounds like “impoant”.

Tom has said he would prefer that I don’t say: “low key” or “vibe”. I told him I would try to work on losing the teen vernacular. He also wanted me to say he hates “OG”, “back in the day”, and “it is what it is” when I consulted him on this question.

3. What are your nightly rituals? Is that different from your ‘ideal’ nightly ritual? If so what’s your ideal? 

I take a shower after dinner and that is when I wash my face and do some creams. I am trying to do a dark spot corrector from Korea and I do an all over night cream. I’m open to suggestions! Anyone have any? I really don’t know what I am doing in the skin care department. Also, how is it fair that I am dealing with pimples and wrinkles right now?

4. January 6th is/was National Bean Day. Do you like beans? Which one is your favorite? Last thing you ate made with beans? 

I did not know! I do like beans. I think I like pinto and black the best. I just watched an IG that we should be eating two cups of beans a day and you should have some for breakfast (see above photo in my Currently). I like making sweet potato cubes and having them with black beans.

5. Are you easily embarrassed? Elaborate. 

Nope! I was always the one who raised my hand and wanted to get in front of the class. I have volunteered to go on stages and gotten picked. I don’t blush easily or at all.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This might win for most random. Bo Duke lives in my little hometown of Madison, Indiana! Raise your hand if you played Dukes of Hazard on your bikes with your neighborhood posse. I am raising mine. John Schneider and his wife moved to Madison from Hazard, I guess. I follow him on social media, and he is eating dinner at the place where we went two weekends ago. He is getting wine at the place where we went. Also, Kat Von D lives in a nearby town to Madison called Vevay. Sorry for the name dropping.

Now link up for Currently:

You are invited to the InLinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Mission to enjoy January… In the past, January has been a month to just “get through”. The only light was the hope of a snow day. I am already enjoying the post-Christmas slow down and low-level goals of January so maybe that is changing.

Hygge up my house – add a new cozy blanket, pillows, small soft lamps

Find a January vibes candle

Decorate for Valentine’s Day – oops – did it!

Plan a Valentine’s meal to make at home – no way, no how I am going out on a Saturday Valentine’s Day!

Spend out and buy a lamp/candle warmer

Try to continue to choose reading over scrolling

Think about all the good things about winter – no leaf blowers/lawnmowers, can leave groceries and Chapstick in car because they won’t get too hot

Declutter – maybe make a list of all the areas and check them off

Drink more tea

Continue with my social media limit – seriously I am not missing out on seeing that my classmate from 9th grade is selling some tires.

Get outside everyday – there is no bad weather – only bad clothing. Tom bought me a D-Robe for Christmas, and it is life-changing.

Find some new healthy but delicious recipes – Stop complicating dinner

Less food waste – shop more frequently for better/easier planning. Buy real food – not processed food stuffs. Have an “ingredients house” (which I pretty much already do)
Eat out less/cook at home more/less take-out

Rotate through all my winter clothing and whatever I don’t want to wear/doesn’t fit me or my style gets donated so someone can use it now

Buy fewer things but higher quality things. I really don’t need winter clothes at all and would like to wait until spring. I want to wear crew neck sweaters with a white tee or button up underneath. I also want to wear my long sleeve tees with my vests. Done. I have plenty.

Work on sleep and skin care

Go to library cooking classes – the German chef is the January featured chef so that is exciting. She is the one who wrote the cookbook we bought and led the class we took. These are free which is a nice bonus. A nearby branch of the library is doing 3 cooking classes a month with a different local chef each month.

Low spend January – less online and more in person might help with impulse control

Plan a game night with friends (NOT mah jong)

Plan a trip or trips

Go to coffee shop once a week to read, enjoy, and get out in the winter

Go to a movie by myself

Go to a nice lunch by myself

Last reminder:

Tomorrow is the big day – Currently link up – the categories are:

loving, resolving, planning, eating/drinking, and watching/reading. If you also do Joyce’s Hodgepodge like me, feel free to do them in the same post! I will open the link up at 4:00 EST and keep it open for a week.

What goals do you have?

Amy

Monday, January 5, 2026

It’s back to school and back to work time. We have warmer weather this week – 50s in January! I feel like these little warm respites help me get through winter.

I’m linking up with Sarah and Holly to share my weekend – even if I hardly knew it was the weekend.

It was so nice to have Tom home for so long. I slept in until about 7-8 which is really late for me. Eddie Otis is amenable to that. He is either in our bed or in Mason’s bed. I let Tom sleep in most days, and I think he went as late as 9:30 one day. He has given Eddie Otis a really good walk on these super cold days, and I have enjoyed some time alone.

I am a bit sad that the holidays are over. I am not sure when my family (sisters and kids or just sisters and I) will get together again.

Friday morning I took the good luck cabbage and onion mixture and the zucchini and made a vegetable soup with beef bone broth (so not vegetarian) and some other vegetables I had that were a combo of fresh, frozen, and canned. I added cajun spice and it had quite a zing to it. Look at all that fiber!

The good luck meal:

Note to self – work on food photography!

The mantel looked so bare after Christmas was down!

Every time I type “mantel” I have to look it up and check my positioning of the “e” and the “l”.

Mantel = fireplace mantel

Mantle = the Earth’s mantle and a whole bunch of other meanings that I didn’t know

This book was just delightful. I’m glad I didn’t let the word “Christmas” deter me since I couldn’t start it until December 30th – lol. I do have one problem with reading. I feel that if I have a good book that it becomes a singular obsession to read it and finish it. When I finish, I have a “book hangover”. Are you like that?

One of Mason’s Christmas gifts was a winter pack of tea by Twining’s. We have tried Christmas spice and Winter spice and they are both so good. I love having an afternoon tea.

I felt so British walking the dog in the cold and then having a tea.

Mason has a favorite lunch spot and wanted to go so Tom, Mason, and I went for lunch on Friday. They serve coffee with a Bischoff cookie.

Belgian frites

Tom and I split a panini that comes with a little salad.

I’m not sure how Tom heard about the brand Delta Roam but he did and he ordered me a D-Robe and it is the warmest thing ever.

Has anyone tried Jones Road Miracle Balm? I am super curious. I feel like my skin looks so dull. I need a miracle.

I was in a shopping center with a Target Saturday and remembered that they were giving away “Wellness Boxes” so I got one. It has electrolytes, gummy vitamins, protein powder, and things like that.

I got a few things and I thought I finally taught EO how to help me with bags but I think he thought this bag contained something for him.

I didn’t even look at the price tag. I have been wanting a cream vest and this seriously looks like Free People or a more expensive brand. It is so soft. I now know it was $45 so pretty high for Target. I really love it!

I bought one of the icon glasses in store and I have 3 more coming in the mail. I got lobsters and bows, and this one is hearts. I almost got the croissants and the avocados, but I decided to stick with a kind of Valentine’s theme in my “set” of four. I wanted the Halloween ones and the Christmas ones but V Day is finally my time!

Here is what is in my glass. I had heard Melanie Shankle talk about lemonade salt multiple times but didn’t think much about it. I didn’t get lemonade salt in my pack but I tried citrus salt. I literally felt like I was drinking a margarita, but it tasted better than many. If you are trying to do a dry January, damp January, or just like that flavor, you need these. I am thinking the grapefruit will taste like a paloma!

I decided to start this book from my big stack next and it’s so good!

Here is my library stack (requested by Sarah):

All my requests came in at once!

This is a really easy lunch I had on Saturday – rotisserie chicken, homemade ranch, hot sauce, celery and carrots, and a light string cheese.

I went to pick up dinner for us and it happened to be next to Buff City Soap so I am trying a sample of their narcissist scent.

The sky was beautiful and it’s already staying light noticeably later since that shortest day of the year December 21st. It reminded me of my mom because last January she was really excited as the days got longer and would text us photos. The remembering is good, I think. I think of both of my parents daily and it means the love is still here.

I got a text that my Spanish tutoring client wants to continue with our tutoring sessions. I am happy to do that.

We ate dinner and watched the third of the Knives Out movies. Tom and I enjoyed this.

I tried beans for breakfast. It isn’t bad. These are pinto beans with some spices and green chilies and I had two eggs and some potato.

I did it! I decorated my mantel – remember?

These signs are from a shop in my hometown that is now out of business. My sisters, my mom, and I always went there on our visits home.

Molly has our smurf collection but I managed to keep the V Day smurf. Molly was the biggest into the smurfs and she had a big stuffed animal smurf she named “Johnboy”.

My sister Kate is the elementary art teacher and she made these mice with her kids.

I read my book on Sunday and then went out to a boutique and this market. I love seeing the V Day stuff but I don’t need any more!

Don’t forget that my Currently link up is Wednesday! Don’t let me feel like the only kid at the table for my first link up!

Here are the categories:

loving, resolving, planning, eating/drinking, and watching/reading. If you also do Joyce’s Hodgepodge like me, feel free to do them in the same post!

Are you dancing in your jammies today or are you in your “hard pants” feeling blue at work?

Amy

Friday, January 2, 2026

It’s Friday – I think? I am not sure if Andrea and Erika are doing their regular link up and that’s ok!

You all were so sweet in responding to my 2025 wrap ups this week on Wednesday with Hodgepodge and yesterday with my own post. I guess I am just sick of my own self talking about my year!

I was out of town for two nights from Saturday until Monday and then I received a text from a former student asking me for coffee Tuesday morning. We sat in this cute little coffee shop by my house that I go to often and chatted for two hours. It filled my cup!

It was nice to be home! And it was nice that Tom has been off work since end of day on the 23rd! He goes back January 5th.

Tom has admitted to me that he likes having an 80-pound lap dog. We are at the point where if Tom is in this chair, Eddie Otis is in his lap. It’s both adorable and strange!

I did a fresh and clean press on mani and I’m loving it!

I decided to start this even though it was after Christmas based on so many of my blog friends recommending it. I’m loving it! I don’t think it’s too Christmasy. I think it really good be read any time of year.

Look at this stack of library books along with my cup of winter spiced tea!

I had a super lazy day on Wednesday, and it felt so good. It was the first day I just let myself lay around and read in a really long time.

I did make Chex Mix!

We have lots of holiday leftovers and one of them is the cream cheese/red pepper jelly thing with Wheat Thins. This is so delish.

I’m loving my Glitter Mimosa. I just put a bit in with prosecco on NYE and it was super sparkly.

Speaking of super sparkly, I bought these sequined pull on pants at TJ Maxx a few years ago and they are so fun. My besties bought me this clutch for my birthday a few years ago and I love it so much.

It’s good to have a few sparkle pieces in your wardrobe. They don’t go out of style!

We had a nice dinner out on NYE and we were back home by 9.

I ordered a beet salad with salmon. The balls are goat cheese. It was so good.

We didn’t get a great picture but this is the girls’ side of the table. I do not know what is going on with my hair, but I don’t like it.

I didn’t shop for clothing for myself between Thanksgiving and Christmas even though I was tempted. I am very easy to shop for. Lol. I didn’t buy any more Christmas sweaters and made do with what I had which was quite a bit. I ended up wearing all of my holiday themed pieces at least once. Now I am excited to wear the V Day stuff like the sweater below (picture from last year).

I want to wear crew neck sweaters with a white tee peeking out or a button up collar peeking out. I want to be content with my winter clothing that I have and not shop much until spring or only shop with spring in mind. Winter clothing is my least favorite to buy.

I have my planner ready!

We don’t want to mess around on NY Day – I made black-eyed peas, cornbread, cabbage, and andouille sausage (pork means progress).

V Day is out!

I had a fun happy hour on NYDay with my friend Elizabeth. We got these $4 champagne cocktails and they were fancy and delish.

We also got some fried pickles.

The dinner – I did add zucchini, too.

Don’t forget about Currently coming up on Wednesday! The idea is that you “fill in the blank” of the following present participles and include a photo if you can. You can even highlight my -ings below and paste onto your blog post if you wish.

Loving

Resolving

Planning

Eating/Drinking

Watching/Reading

I’m excited to see what you all have to say!

What were your favorites this week? Are you ready for more structure? Are you still enjoying eating copious amounts of cheese and chocolate?

Amy

Thursday, January 1, 2026

2025 brought some big life changes for me and I plan to stop talking about them in 2026!

My mom passed away suddenly January 28th and I retired July 1st. I lost my last living parent and my beloved career of 31 years (by choice, but it’s still been an adjustment).

January brought so much snow and snow days! I got to work from home several times in January!

It was so fun to get to see The Bachelor that we had spotted being filmed while in Madrid in September! We saw him playing soccer with his date in a plaza in Madrid while we were eating!

And, then the wheels fell off. We had such a nice Christmas 2024 with my mom, and she was doing really well health-wise. She was living alone, driving, going to lunch, playing bridge, making her crafts, making plans for trips, and then she was gone.

So many people supported me through the loss of my mom at the end of January and into the spring and I am so grateful for the love and support that I was shown. Even a text meant so much to me. I then had friends continue to text me on significant days like Mother’s Day.

Look at these beautiful flower cupcakes from my friend Beth:

My sisters and I made several weekends happen to work together on my mom’s estate. We didn’t fight once. That is a testament to my parents. We looked at each of our strengths and divided the work accordingly. Then, I offered to do all the business of the house and the sale since I was retiring. I had known all year in the back of my mind it might be my last year but made the decision firm shortly after my mom’s passing. I cried when I told my principal. I was there 25 years; it would be weird if I didn’t cry! I made him super uncomfortable. Maybe that was payback for all of his Sunday morning emails.

While in my hometown working on my mom’s house, we always got coffee together (chai for one sister) and we developed a love for Culver’s grilled chicken sandwiches for lunch. We did a scavenger hunt one night that we were together for my sister’s 50th birthday and that was really fun! I will forever remember that time as a beautiful blessing to get to have with my sisters.

The surprising thing that happened during that time is that we re-opened the wound from our dad’s death, too. We weren’t just clearing out our mom’s things.

I am so proud of the work we did together and how we handled it. Maybe it’s wrong to be proud? I have learned so much about myself. I have learned that you can love or see someone more clearly after their death.

I was super busy at work and tried to do my best. My students were so sweet. I finally told them I would be retiring at the end of the year right after spring break. One boy said, “the other teachers who are retiring have been phoning it in all year. You aren’t acting like that at all!”

That made my day because I have always taken pride in my work. My Dad told my sisters and I that our 75% is other peoples’ 100% because we are not your average teachers. He was such a cheerleader and supporter of us. He loved that we all became teachers!

I got to host my friends from Spain in April, and it was really special! I hadn’t seen my buddy Rafa for 18 years! It was like no time had passed and his wife and I were instant friends, and his son became besties with Eddie Otis!

I really enjoy hosting on my patio!

I also enjoyed making things for the blog ladies. I brought wine and appetizers for Friday night and some breakfast items for Saturday.

My department celebrated me at the end of the school year with a surprise lunch! They should have told me to dress up a bit!

I had so much fun this summer seeing various friends! But it was a hot one! We didn’t boat as much as usual because of the crazy weather but I visited my share of pools.

I’ve had a really good reading year!

I think my favorite books were by Kristin Harmel…

and The Academy.

Goodness – I loved having time off in the fall when we have such gorgeous weather! I was on my patio or a patio and I soaked it all up!

I fell into a Love is Blind hole and loved Gilded Age for my tv viewing!

I’ve been learning to slow down, be thoughtful, figure out my new schedule, and more. Thanksgiving was hard but I got through it, and it helped me craft what I wanted and needed for Christmas, if that makes sense.

Most of the kids at Christmas:

I am definitely blessed. Thanks for being on this ride with me! I’ve really enjoyed my blogging life this year and that is because of you!

Amy

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Well, it’s the last day of 2025 and I’m here with Joyce for Hodgepodge. Joyce comes up with great questions that are both thought provoking and fun!

1. Did you make resolutions or set goals for the year we’re waving goodbye? How did that work out for you? Will you set any goals for this new year, new season, or new month? Share one or two if you’d like to share. 

So, here is the thing… I have always lived my life on school year calendars and not traditional calendars! So, I generally set goals in August. I guess since I am no longer living by a school calendar that I could adapt. I do have a winter bucket list coming and I believe in making seasonal lists. I find it easier to look at smaller chunks of time.

2. When did you have the most fun this year? 

Well, this is a hard one. This year has been difficult. I found ways to make fun during the hard, for sure. Isn’t that life for you? There is always the beautiful in the ugly and the good among the bad.

My sisters and I laughed and cried while clearing out my parents’ house. We had so many laughs finding our videos!

That only scratches the surface! Boat outings, pool days, breakfasts, lunches, happy hours, and dinners with friends were so much fun this year!

3. What’s a song or song lyric you’ll associate with 2025? Tell us why. 

“Take this Job and Shove It” – bahahahahaha – self-explanatory!

4. Best (or a favorite) bite of something delicious you tasted this year? 

This queso with chorizo!

This salmon salad!

This goat cheese with strawberry jam!

5. What do you want to do more of in the new year? Less of? 

I want to say YES more if it’s a “heck yes”. I want to spend less time worrying, overanalyzing, and expending mental energy on stupid things and people that don’t exert that energy on me.

I had two big things happen this year – my mother’s death and my retirement and when big things happen you kind of see things clearly. I have let go of the fake work friendships and I also see my circle getting smaller in my real life. I am open to meeting new friends and hope to in 2026!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I want to slow down and take more careful and thoughtful photos in 2026. There’s a resolution! I love looking at my camera roll as a way to reflect and savor experiences and memories.

My sister has a newer iphone and took this beautiful photo out of our Airbnb window.

Look at the beams in the Airbnb!

I look naked, but I had on a tank top and shorts and got hot in my sweatshirt. Playing this game was so fun and one of the best memories I will keep. The youngest boy got so giggly when he picked a funny card. The oldest boy laughed a lot during this game.

My parents created this. How cool is that?

What would you say to any of the questions?

Amy

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Hello! I feel like I am just stepping off a holiday marathon. I have been holidaying it up since December 24th and had something each day until I got home yesterday.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were just our family of four. For Eve I made chicken schnitzel with Rahm sauce, spaetzle, green beans, Sister Schubert’s rolls and au gratin potatoes in muffin cups.

We continued the pajama tradition on Eve along with our new as of last year Icelandic tradition of giving a book and chocolate.

Christmas Day was warm!

It was really nice with egg casserole, mini cinnamon rolls with green and red sprinkles, and gifts just with our family of four again.

In late afternoon, we went to a movie and saw…

I did not read the book, so I went in blindly. It was just ok in my opinion. We invited Jack’s roommate along, too, and Tom wanted to make sure we had enough popcorn – we did. Tom eyeing the butter machine to decide if he should add more…

The day after Christmas we went to Tom’s parents’ house and this is their sweet dog Watson.

He tried to teach his nephew Eddie Otis some manners.

I brought ham, buns, salad, egg casserole, and potato casserole.

The next day Tom and I left for my hometown (Mason came for the day the following day and Jack had to work).

We met both of my sisters and their kids at a little lunch place and then walked a bit downtown and went in a couple of stores. Our Airbnb wasn’t ready yet. Then, we had a really cool experience. My Dad was a pilot in the Air Force and when he retired, he flew a plane for a local company and had so much fun in his second career. The pilot that started flying when he lost his medical (they still let him co-pilot) had been in touch with me since my mom’s funeral because she had some of my dad’s flight logbooks and things from his desk. It turned out they would be landing from a holiday trip that the owner of the company had taken, and she invited us to watch them land, see the plane, and obtain the box of my dad’s belongings.

The little airport:

watching the plane land:

Sisters and I didn’t realize how emotional this would make us! The pilot let us all climb in the cockpit and showed us that they affixed my dad’s silver flight wings with his name to the dash. They told us stories and how they feel that he is with them. I think we stayed for an hour. What a truly meaningful experience.

The pilot handing nephew Miles the box:

How cool was that? My dad passed away in 2018 and my mom in January of this year but my mom didn’t want to talk much about my dad with us. Most of you all know that we sold their house a month ago and no longer have a home base in my hometown, so I found us an Airbnb right on Main Street.

We had the entire third floor loft of an old building that has been restored.

This is how you entered:

Our loft:

It was decorated for Christmas and we just had to add the presents!

It was perfect! It had 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.

We got settled after the airport experience and started assembling some appetizers.

My brother-in-law loves my Mexican layer dip and it looks Christmasy!

We ordered from a local pizzeria and ate in the Airbnb the first night.

Sisters and I had some gifts for each other with some sentimental nods in memory of my mom that we did with just the three of us and then we did a silly White Elephant exchange with the whole group.

Then, many of us played a game from the White Elephant called Horrible Therapist. It caused lots of laughter.

I never sleep well the first night in a new place, but surprisingly I slept great and slept until 7:30! Molly and I are the early birds who like coffee and Kate likes to sleep late and doesn’t like coffee.

The view from the Airbnb:

We had a starter cup of coffee but then Molly and I walked to the coffee shop and the market.

It was nice to get out and walk first thing!

Then, we went back to the Airbnb and it is like herding cats with that many people! We laid out breakfast options – yogurt, bananas, crumpets, egg casserole, potato casserole – and then anyone that wanted to shop along Main Street could. It was nice that so many shops are open on Sundays but unfortunately many of the restaurants are not.

We took a break, and Molly made a Grinch mocktail:

Then we did a scavenger hunt of all Grandma’s favorites.

Mason had arrived so that was great!

Then, it happened to be my friend Dan’s mom’s 80th birthday party so Tom, Mason, Kate, and I crashed. Kate was a close friend of my friend’s brother! Small town, small town. We saw our realtor there and several other people we knew!

The weather was just wonderful for walking up and down Main Street. I clocked 10K steps this day!

Then, we had a reservation for duck pin bowling. You use a smaller ball with no holes and you don’t have to wear the fashionable bowling shoes.

It’s in the cutest little venue that has a wine bar, speakeasy, and rooftop bar.

It was really fun and the kids got into it!

Look how cute the town looked!

We ordered Mexican food and had it in the Airbnb and then played another game called Relative Insanity. I will say both games are pretty off color. I think we laughed even more at this game.

The kid ages range from 11-23 and the kids stayed in the main room with the adults most of the time. We did have two teen girls pining for boyfriends left at home and they would go lay on beds and moon from time to time. Lol.

It went better than expected and my heart is full but I am tired!

I gave a lot of details for my memories and I will be ok if you skimmed much of my text. I might test you on it, though. Just kidding!

Unfortunately, our Airbnb was not dog friendly so this guy had some friends come over and hang out with him when Mason was with us or otherwise busy:

Hosting my first link up ever –

Currently will be 1/7 so I would love you to join me as this will be my first time hosting! Jenn is passing the torch and I’m flattered that she asked me. It will be the first Wednesday of every month. Each month I will give you 5 present participles (-ings) for you to talk about. In January it will be loving, resolving, planning, eating/drinking, and watching/reading. I will open the link at 4:00 am EST.

I don’t know what I’m doing so bear with me!

Amy

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

I just want to say I am thinking about any of my blog world friends who are heading into a different or difficult holiday this season. Be kind to yourself. Go back and read my post if you need it! I wrote it before Thanksgiving and it’s about how to survive the holidays if you don’t feel festive.

My holiday at home will look different with one kid out of the house this year. I hope he spends the night Christmas Eve and I have asked him to, but I’m also keeping my expectations low, and it will be ok if he just comes for Eve and Day, too.

He requested chicken schnitzel for our dinner so I’m happy to do that!

I will be going to my hometown after Christmas with my sisters and their families and that will be a huge trigger as it will be the first year without my mom. She loved Christmas.

Did we use up our White Christmas with all of our early snow this year? I’m dreaming of a mild, balmy Christmas!

Tom proposed to me on Christmas morning 26 years ago! It was a pretty big surprise. I found out later he had talked to my dad the night before when we went to my hometown for Christmas Eve church.

I still love my ring. Ignore the old lady who modeled it for me.

The reason it was a pretty big surprise was that he had already given me ski pants for a Christmas present because we went skiing a couple of weeks before, so I thought that was it.

On Christmas morning, he told me his boss advised him that he couldn’t NOT give me something else on actual Christmas and that he had a little something else. He got down on one knee in my apartment and pulled a ring box out of a pocket and asked me to marry him. It was 1999 so we have no photos, no pop out of the bushes photographer, no video, no social media and I don’t even think anyone had their nails done in anticipation.

Christmas Eve 1999 – a week after getting engaged:

It was fun going to our family Christmas celebrations and showing everyone my new ring. And, that year was New Year’s Eve 1999 – remember the Y2K survival kits? We got to dance to Prince’s 1999! Tom and I haven’t changed much; we made it til midnight, but we partied like it was 1899, I’m sure.

We have had the tradition to put magazines in each other’s stockings and this year it was a challenge. I had to go to the back of Barnes & Noble to find some Tom would like.

If you are looking for a low-key fancy but super easy drink hack – get a jar of wild hibiscus in syrup and plop one in a glass of sparkling wine. I used to be able to find my jar at Fresh Market but they have been out. I found this at Total Wine.

I am taking a week off so I will sign off now and wish you peace, comfort, joy, and a merry Christmas.

Cheers,

Amy

Monday, December 22, 2025

Well, we are so close to the big day now…linking up with Sarah and Holly to share my weekend…

Thursday bright and early I went to Trader Joe’s for a few things. I loved the forest green of this tote and for only $3.99 it was a no brainer! I love having a tote for transporting things to my car like library books and what not. Did you know that Trader Joe’s totes are a fashion statement on the streets of London?

I had a happy hour/late birthday celebration with my friend Victoria at one of our favorite places – Red Hog. Her birthday was last week.

They have excellent fries with curry mayo and lavash with pimento cheese and red pepper jelly.

On the way to meet Victoria, I stopped at Sassy Fox consignment shop and picked up these pink pants for $7.

Friday morning, I got a much, much needed pedicure. I had been having so much trouble finding a time when it wasn’t icy, snowy, rainy, or cold.

I went with OPI Big Apple Red. Then I wore flip flops for several hours to make sure they were fully dry. I messed up my last two professional pedicures!

Friday night I wore this – Halaras, red/white stripe blouse from TJ Maxx a few months ago, and Amazon Essentials cardigan:

And, I wore my tree earrings!

We went to a little hole in the wall pizza place to hear our friend play and sing:

I had a really good raspberry Belgian beer:

The pizza was surprisingly good – very saucy and the sauce had good flavor:

Our passports already came in! It only took like a week! What the what? Again, we took our own horrible photos at home and did the whole renewal process from my phone. So easy. Highly recommend!

Saturday Tom got Eddie Otis out of the house and I did laundry, the floors, piddled, wrapped, and then I was done. Look how nice it was! It got up to about 50.

I finished this and I found it so cute!

Proof that Eddie Otis does everything with Tom – they were replacing batteries in the security camera.

Tom and I got dressed and went down to the river – well, the creek off the river:

We had fish and chips for dinner

Sunday I got a car wash to get all that nasty snow residue off my car.

It was a beautiful sunny day! I went to TJ Maxx and didn’t really find much. I was looking for a couple of last minute things.

After lunch, Tom and I went down to this little Christmas market and walked around.

There’s a little skating rink there.

We saw some cute sheep!

There is a new distillery in this area and we went inside to check it out. So pretty inside!

And, yesterday was our shortest day of the year. That gives me hope to get through winter – ha!

Blogging Break – I will be posting again tomorrow, and then I will take a break and be back 12/30.

Don’t forget…

Currently will be 1/7 so I would love you to join me as this will be my first time hosting a link up! Jenn is passing the torch, and I’m flattered that she asked me. It will be the first Wednesday of every month. Each month I will give you 5 present participles (-ings) for you to talk about. In January it will be loving, resolving, planning, eating/drinking, and watching/reading. If you also do Joyce’s Hodgepodge like me feel free to do them in the same post!

Amy

Friday, December 19, 2025

Ok, this is crazy! How are we so close to Christmas? I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites and some thoughts. I will post Monday and Tuesday and then I will take a bloggy break until Tuesday, December 30th.

Shoes – I have always loved shoes. Can’t help it. My mom told me that from the minute she put a pair of shoes on me that I was in love. A favorite this week is my new Dr. Scholl’s insoles. I wear an 8 or 8.5 in shoes. I ordered an 8.5 in these shoes and they were a little bit big. I went into Macy’s (where I ordered) and tried on the 8 and they were too tight. The helpful salesperson suggested that an insole might help.

Much better now! But, isn’t that weird that I am probably like an 8.25 in these shoes? Here are the insoles. I didn’t trim mine down at all. I just stuck them in and they worked.

Gym – It’s been hard to go to the gym at 6 am when there is snow and ice. I can do cold, but snow and ice in the dark as I’m trying to get out my back door – nope. By Wednesday it was gone and I was so happy. It’s such a great feeling to get it done and to see the Christmas lights in the dark as I am driving there and back.

My bestie doesn’t understand why I go first thing when I literally do have all day. I can find a million excuses not to go as the day goes on. I also think I get a better workout when I am fresh in the morning.

Reading life – I finished this and I liked it, but it did deal with some tough issues, and I wouldn’t say I really liked any of the family members. I always have trouble recommending books like this. I’m glad I read it and I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to see how it would play out. Anyone else read this?

I started this and it’s such a cute premise – a knitting retreat held at an inn along with a bachelor party. I needed something lighter. No Christmas themed book for me right now.

It got up to 56 and it was sunny on Wednesday and I’m on my patio reading! That was good for the soul! I’m just happy to have a stack of library books to choose from. I love my library so much.

Christmas Music – I have asked Alexa to play “soft classical Christmas music”, Michael Buble Christmas, Diana Krall Christmas, Josh Groban Christmas, and Tom has asked her to play Elvis and Bing Crosby Christmas. She picked a John Legend compilation that I really liked, too. I’m enjoying this music more than I have in many years! Send any other recs my way. We usually play this in the early morning and early evening.

Eddie Otis seems to really like the music. He lays beside me while I write my blog as shown in Example A:

I love his soft snoring and his contented lip licking sounds. I think the music drowns out the school commute noise for my baby. After I blog, we walk around 8:30 after his morning nap.

Spanish Tutoring – It’s going really well! I arrive at Starbuck’s a little early and treat myself to a drink. I tried an iced gingerbread chai this week and it was good.

My student has their midterm today and I’m nervous and hopeful! I hope that I have helped. I think we are continuing next semester, but it might depend on the results of today’s exam – lol. We have only met four times since November 24th.

Cooking/Eating – I’ve been trying to keep the sugar to the minimum and eat more protein and eat cleaner. Amylu chicken sausages from Costco and sweet potatoes are a favorite.

I made egg bites in a mini muffin tin with 6 eggs, 3/4 cup cottage cheese, bacon bits, chives, a bit of shredded cheese. You have to bake them with a 13×9 pan of water in the oven to give them some steam.

Mood/Attitude -Wednesday morning was mild and the sun was peeking out and I was so happy! If you read my Fashion Files post yesterday, the green Christmas tree sweater was the only festive piece I hadn’t worn yet so I put it on for a Trader Joe’s/library run. They are close by each other, so I try to do them at the same time if timing works out.

Still remaining in the TJ’s parking lot. Nasty black snow!

Ahh, the sun!

Current Events – I started getting a daily email of the news called 1440. It is called that because…

“In 1440, the printing press sparked a knowledge revolution. We carry that spirit forward, cutting through the noise and algorithm-driven feeds, to bring fact-driven knowledge to everyone”

I am enjoying getting my news this way because it is straight and to the point. It includes fun news, too, and isn’t only the dark and horrible stuff.

Blogging Break – I will be posting 12/22 and 12/23 (Monday and Tuesday), and then I will take a break and be back 12/30. As much as I love blogging, I do think I need to take a little break. I will miss you!

Hosting my first link up ever –

Currently will be 1/7 so I would love you to join me as this will be my first time hosting! Jenn is passing the torch and I’m flattered that she asked me. It will be the first Wednesday of every month. Each month I will give you 5 present participles (-ings) for you to talk about. In January it will be loving, resolving, planning, eating/drinking, and watching/reading.

Happy Friday,

Amy