Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

It’s Thursday which is the most fashionable day of the week in blog land! I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill to share some recent ‘fits and talk a little fall shopping.

I love fall clothes! I have also always loved having a fall birthday and using it to justify a little closet refresh, you know? My birthday isn’t until November 2, but by that time I have a feel for what I feel like wearing for that current fall season. Also, sales have usually started by then.

I really don’t need many clothes now! I am still figuring out my retirement wardrobe but I think it will be lots of jeans.

I received a super sweet gift card from my college besties for my retirement gift. It was for a local boutique and they have Umgee and Entro and some other boutique brands that I like. I finally made my decision a few weeks ago and picked this fall blouse but notice the short sleeves so women of a certain age don’t get overheated. I wore it out to breakfast with my former student. I have on the blouse, my light Halaras, and my Kork Ease sandals that have proven to have been a good purchase. I thought they would be good as we go into fall.

I wore the next outfit to go hear music Thursday night. The fruit seemed a little summery so it is probably going to be put in the back of my closet now. I have on my darker denim Halaras and the Kork Ease sandals again.

What a nerd! I wore this to my pool day! I should lose the chin strap. I really do look like a park ranger.

Saturday walk, library, and farmer’s market outfit is up next. I have on my Old Navy tennis skirt, an Old Navy graphic tee, and my JC Penney SOHO ball cap.

I had the hardest time picking a dress to wear to dinner Saturday night. It was very hot but the calendar said September 20th. I finally settled on the green gauzy J.Crew consignment dress.

Sunday Girlmore Girls brunch that was a bust – it was raining but still pretty warm out. I wore my straight legged Halaras, my new Marshall’s blouse, and my Rothy’s flats that I bought last winter.

Let me tell you about a local business called Bonhomia. The founder uses textiles from Guatemala to make handbags, wallets, etc. She was having design week this week where you could pick your textile on Facebook and which item you wanted. I have been thinking about one and looking at them for maybe 3 years at this point so I decided to finally go for it!

I picked this textile:

This item and leather color:

I’m pretty excited!

It’s boot season. Short boots are so much easier to put on. This was my dog walking ensemble:

I received my Frye & Co boots that I told you about last week. I tried them on with my swim cover up so please excuse. I measured my calves and purchased the wide calf and I was correct to do so; they are pull on and not zipper boots. They have some cool little elastic pulls inside the boot to help you pull them on. They hit at the right place on my leg I think. I have had boots that come up too high. The other colors are pretty, too.

They will require a bit of wearing in or stretching out but I think I like them. I have never had this color boot but again, I think I like it. They are vegan leather so not real leather. I picture them with a dress and my denim skirt and I might try them with a wide leg jean.

I want to find a cute Halloween graphic tee to wear with a cardigan.

Gosh, I am excited for cardigan weather! Are you?

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

It’s Hodgepodge with Joyce day!

1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)…what’s your favorite thing about fall? 

We had some fall rain to start the season. I was super happy. Rainy days and Mondays have no power to get me down anymore!

Eddie Otis is so good off leash and I took advantage of the rain and lack of people to let him off leash on the playground behind our house.

We also took a leash walk in the neighborhood and I marveled at how quickly it went from looking like the height of summer to looking like fall!

I needed just a couple of things from Kroger and thought I would take a look at the pumpkins and mums. I didn’t purchase anything yet.

So, I would say my favorite things about fall are the weather, pumpkins, mums, candles outside and the ability to sit outside, the clothing, and the food. I love it all!

2. What’s one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list? 

I published my list yesterday! After being on a school schedule for 48 years, I was most looking forward to a slowed down fall season. September and October are just crazy in the school setting.

I love being outside in the fall especially after the first frost when the Satanic mosquitoes go bye-bye. I hate bug spray but have to use it.

It feels so nice to wear pants and a top without needing a jacket. I love that sweet spot.

I love being able to sit outside with friends and visiting with a drink in my hand. Bonus points if there’s a fire. Bonus points if there is a pretty view.

3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don’t eat? Which one have you had most recently? 

I really like them all! I like cranberry juice more than the actual cranberries.

4. ‘Fall is proof that change is beautiful’ is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate. 

I just think we have to have the fall and winter to appreciate our re-birth of nature in the spring. It’s a powerful metaphor, too.

5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping…of those listed which would you most like to visit? 

I live in the Ohio River valley and we have lots of woods and hills near by. Any daily drive can take me by beautiful leaves changing. With that said, I know that some of the places listed below are even more stunning. I have been to West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina in the fall before.

Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tom made our twins’ first Halloween costumes – Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble. It seems another lifetime ago. I pulled these out of the Halloween decor bin recently. Yes, they are holding dog bones. Look at those chubby baby legs and feet. I love baby legs and feet but not in a weird way. This is actually right after their first birthday because they were in the NICU until they were 6 weeks old October 20th or so.

Thanks for the fun questions this week, Joyce!

Amy

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Do you make a seasonal goals list? I have tried to make one most seasons in the recent past because I find it helps me be more intentional about having fun! Yes, this list is primarily about having fun and squeezing the joy out of a certain season.

The above photo is from last year. Can I be honest? I don’t love a raked yard. Leave all the leaves for me to enjoy! They don’t bother me at all! I have also heard it’s good for the environment to leave them. I’m scared. It’s leaf blowing season and I have a next door neighbor-ish person (long story) that blows for hours in all seasons but this is the season that he lives for. He goes to Home Depot and says, “give me the loudest model you’ve got”. And, I’m pretty sure he times his blowing for right when I go outside to read or enjoy the weather. Yeah, I guess we have to take the good with the bad, right? Anyway, he really blows.

-Make apple recipes and enjoy apple smells

-Make pumpkin recipes and enjoy pumpkin flavors and smells

-Attend anything fall-themed in my community

-Make a full German meal

-Go Fall boating and look at changing leaves

-Have a fire in my Solo Stove

-Use my minimal fall decor. Add Halloween October 1. Add Thanksgiving November 1.

-Go to an Oktoberfest

-Go to a Fall festival

-Buy pumpkins and mums for my back patio and I would like to do the front this year, as well. Put up my Fall flag.

-Buy a new Halloween graphic tee to wear under a cardigan

-Do a fun Halloween mani

-Break out the seasonal cocktails – my fall sangria and red wine

-It’s bourbon season! Enjoy it in an old fashioned or in a bourbon punch.

-Do Soup Sunday where I make a soup most Sundays

-Celebrate my birthday – one birthday is pictured below

-Make mummy dogs and chili for Halloween dinner. I think I have decided I like a hot dog wrapped in Crescent Roll dough more than on a bun. I would love to have Halloween plans but we usually just stay home.

-Celebrate Thanksgiving

-Read fall books, watch fall movies, watch fall tv

-Read outside

-Take lots of walks and try to do some hikes, too

-Embrace the time change and it getting dark earlier by getting cozy and embracing fall hygge practices

I found this list:

What are you looking forward to doing this fall? Do you have a favorite fall movie? Fall food?

Amy

Monday, September 22, 2025

Well, fall is officially upon us. I have my fall bucket list coming out tomorrow. Are you making one?

Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly to hear about our weekends!

I joke that I don’t know what day of the week it is, but I do. Since Tom is working five days a week and leaves the house at 7:30 not to return until 6:00 pm I feel his contributions and very much know when it’s the weekend! Let’s just say Eddie Otis and I are very happy!

I had the realization that the school district that I retired from is approaching the end of the first 6 weeks grading period. It’s surprisingly how little I care about what is going on now. I have a sense that it could be part of the boundary/wall I put up to not get lost in my feelings of not being a teacher anymore. I plan to do a “how it’s going” post soon with more detail.

I like to think the weekend starts on Thursday and I had a wonderful start to my day this past Thursday. I met Madeleine (former student going back to Spain for another year and leaving tomorrow) at Con Huevos for breakfast and we spoke Spanish and conjugated some verbs casually, as one does.

I can’t tell you how enjoyable this was – again. It feels like just chatting with a friend. My heart is full. She told me she had just been with her college besties on a lake weekend and they went around and all set intentions for what they need to work on for the rest of the year. I asked her for advice on what I should be doing now. What she told me was in line with what I had also thought for myself. It’s so nice to hear a younger person’s perspective.

Oh man – I finished this. I don’t know what to say about it. I didn’t really like the main character. It was a heavy read for me. I am glad I read it, though. See – I don’t know what to say!

Thursday evening I said “yes” to going out by myself because Tom had to stay after work for a work event called “Porktoberfest”. They eat pork and talk is what I am guessing.

I went to a hole in the wall on the river and met my friend Beth to hear a singer that she and her husband really like. The singer is from Australia originally and moved to Nashville. She drives to Louisville twice a month to sing. I need to get the rest of that story, but that is all I know.

She was so sweet and talented, too! She’s got that special something where she connects with her audience.

Beth’s husband Mike sings, too, and you may remember me going to listen to him just a week ago. He arrived and then got to sing a duet.

I stayed out for a couple of hours and was really glad I said yes.

Speaking of Australia, did you see Robert Irwin dance on Dancing with the Stars?

Then, Friday was a day I was really looking forward to as the season of day passes is coming to a close at Myriad Swim Club hotel pool.

I met my other friend Beth and we split a chicken ceasar wrap and fries and chatted for a few hours mostly while standing in the pool. We had it gloriously to ourselves most of the time.

I had a nice day and came home and took a little nap as much as EO would allow.

Tom was happy to have frozen pizza for dinner!

His:

Mason and I had this:

It was time to go back to WWII…

Saturday I was happy to sit outside. The heat is breaking and the mornings and evenings are feeling better again.

Look at that foam!

I decided I needed a good old fashioned Saturday of a library run and farmer’s market as they are coming to an end for the season soon.

This was all I found at the library because my requests hadn’t come in yet like I thought. My app said “shipped” but I guess they are in transit.

It’s time for something more light-hearted next anyway!

The farmer’s market was lovely…

I got an Amish angel food cake, kettle corn for Tom, one tomato, and Alaskan sourdough. The family that sold the sourdough is from Alaska and I did some research and apparently there is an Alaskan sourdough starter like there is a San Fran sourdough starter.

Also, I had been meaning to do this. I went to Jimmy John’s for day old bread for 50 cents. It’s still very soft. I put it in the freezer for future faux Jimmy John’s sammies made by Amy John. That’s me. True story – I went to college with a guy named Jimmy John.

I read my book and was super lazy for a bit on Saturday while Tom watched sports ball. I laid on the couch and read in the same room. Togetherness.

I received a photo of sophomore niece Lena all ready for Homecoming:

She went with a group of girls and not a date which seems to be pretty common. She’s so grown up!

We had no dinner plans but I did tell Tom that after my Friday night frozen pizza that I wanted to go sit somewhere and eat. We got an invite to do dinner with our friends and said “yes”. We went super casual to Waldo’s Chicken and Beer which made Tom very happy. He gets fried chicken, collard greens, and white beans with ham for $12.

I got some wine and…

discovered they have really good queso that I shared…

and a salad.

Their bathroom wallpaper is funny if you take the time to read the cans!

It’s all chicken centered.

Then we walked to get gelato. I saw a former student when we were on the sidewalk eating!

We had a really nice evening.

Sunday morning I mopped, put laundry away, did dishes, but also got to read outside and…

I finished! Ahhh – her books are so good. I still think this one is my favorite, though:

I almost am happy to end a good book because it consumes me so much. Are you like that?

This is kind of comical. I found out a local place called World of Beer was having a Gilmore Girls brunch this weekend – both days from 11-2 that also involved a book swap. I was expecting some GG decor or swag, but it was just like normal…

except this special additional menu and…

a book swap table. I swapped for this:

My friend was going to go but then came down sick so Mason went. We laughed since it was so low key.

I did some reading in the light rain. Finally we got some rain yesterday!

And that’s about it for me!

Tell me the highlight of your weekend and not to shock anyone but we only have one more September weekend left!

Amy

Friday, September 19, 2025

It’s Friday and link up day with Andrea and Erika – let’s share some favorites from the week.

I have stayed home a lot this week. The heat is back and I have just really tried to tend to the home fires with everything that happened last week. I have spent lots of time with Eddie Otis and lots of time reading. I have tried to stay off of social media.

First off, I was pretty happy to have a meal plan. I want to do Soup Sundays and did it this week.

Meal plan:

Sunday – spinach and artichoke stew – I changed it from chicken to mild italian sausage. I loved it but Tom and Mason did not. You win some, you lose some.

Monday – turkey sausage, roasted zucchini and potatoes on a sheet pan

Tuesday – spaghetti – I use Prego Chunky garden and add cooked ground beef and it must be angel hair (Tom’s rules – lol)

Wednesday – paprika chicken and potatoes with broccoli

Thursday – leftovers/on your own since Tom had a work thing called “Porktoberfest” they do every year after work. They have a locally owned butcher shop come and grill them up some stuff.

This is my creamer this week and I really like it, but Trader Joe’s is better. I just really like this brown sugar flavor! My friend Victoria told me to put regular brown sugar in my coffee a long time ago and I never listened – lol.

I took a break from the press ons this week and decided to do a nail strengthener followed by white, followed by a top coat.

Um, this is why press ons are better for me. Look how messy!

If you aren’t following mirabellecreations and you love the enneagram, follow her now!

Isn’t that good? Things to squash this fall!

On Netflix this week. I finished Love is Blind US and then I watched this and it’s surprisingly cute! I mean, it is definitely cheesy, but sometimes that is just want you need.

I remember trying to read Redeeming Love but not getting into it; this movie had me riveted even though it ended super abruptly in my opinion and it’s hard to watch for the content and things that happen. Be warned. You could watch The Wrong Paris with your teenage daughter, but I wouldn’t with Redeeming Love.

I was scared to start this book because I thought it would be sad and it is but it is making it hard for me to put down.

I loved this and recommend it! It was a fun read! I do try to go back and forth between a more difficult read and a more light-hearted read.

This is my new reusable produce bag. I forgot to include the photo in my Euro Style post this week!

Eddie Otis got an E.T. toy from Marshall’s and he loves it!

I think Tom and I enjoy his toys as much as he does! I could be making this up but I feel like Eddie Otis is more calm since I’ve become a stay at home dog mom.

Oh crap!

A neighbor has put up what appears to be a permanent lawn decoration – a chrome dragon. My kids found this hilarious.

I managed to get to The Fresh Market on Tuesday this week for their meat sale. I got my ground beef for spaghetti and my chicken for my paprika chicken and potatoes.

I had a strange Facebook memory pop up. Honestly, I could probably do a whole post on the crazy things that happened during my 31 years of teaching.

We had “open house” where the parents walked their kid’s schedule and we did a song and dance about our classes – not really – it’s just an expression – we told expectations and what the kids should learn. We had to go through a mock school day with bells and all and hold each class for like 8 minutes.

I was so distracted when this family came, brought their sugar glider (I didn’t even know what that was) and then proceeded to feed it a sugar glider danish (their words, not mine). I couldn’t look away from his tiny little hands. Look at his “fingers”! I literally forgot my presentation.

I did take a trip to Trader Joe’s this week and bought this Woodlands candle – it’s very masculine, not unlike Mahogany Teakwood.

And, this trio that Jen shared!

I also brought home two “snowball” pumpkins. I am a sucker for a white pumpkin.

I rarely go through a drive thru but I decided to try a doppio with cold foam in a venti cup and then I add my pumpkin spice. Yum! It was delish!

Grab one of these when you see one. I found this one in a shop in my hometown but I see them in boutiques and specialty markets.

There are some great recipes on the back or you can just mix it with red wine.

I’ve got my fall plates out!

I also made the easiest recipe of mini pumpkin muffins. You can add chocolate chips if you want.

Use a spice cake mix, a can of pumpkin can up with about 1/3 of water and mix all together. Don’t follow package directions on the cake mix.

I did 350 for about 12 minutes.

Love this! I am not into entertaining at my house recently but I like this idea!

I also bought some new silverware. Where do all the forks go?

I am very happy with the look and quality. Here it is!

And, last night I went back to press ons:

This shape is out of the norm for me. We shall see!

Tell me a favorite of yours this week! How are you doing?

Amy

Thursday, September 18, 2025

It’s Thursday and Fashion Files day with Kellyann and Jill.

Well, the weather was perfect for jeans and tops but then it turned hot again. I knew it would happen and that’s ok. So, I had to put on my tanning mitt and apply some Loving Tan. I swapped the jeans for the cut offs mostly!

I have been perusing my closet and rearranging things. I looked for anything linen, gauzy, tropical, or too summery and put it in one section because it feels weird to wear that now to me.

I looked for early fall stuff and realized it was slim pickins.

So, I took myself to my tiny Marshall’s next to Whole Foods because I wanted to go to Whole Foods and I like to bundle my errands.

I brought home three new blouses and I will now show them to you in my home mirror:

I thought that if you squinted and had bad vision you might think this was from Anthropologie. It’s just a simple button up in a lightweight silky material and I have been drawn more to blues as of late. I’ve already worn it twice, so that’s a good sign. None of the blouses were more than $19.99 and one said it was originally $118!

This is a striped tunic and I believe the stripe is a gray or charcoal gray. I liked the front placket and I think this will be easy to throw on and look better with something other than cut offs, of course.

I’ve been wanting a red/white striped button up or a burgundy/white stripe. This is red/white and has pretty little buttons and is a super soft material.

Saturday night I decided to wear this:

I have a new fall blouse using the gift card the Heathers got me for retirement that I am excited to wear, too:

Saturday day I wore this top but the same on the bottom as Saturday night. I had gotten sweaty and needed a change.

This is what I wore to shop at Marshall’s. I have a cropped t-shirt from Aerie and with my high waisted wide legged jeans nothing shows. I think it would look better with a long cardigan over it but it was too hot for that.

And, I wore the blouse again for a quick errand:

Some outfit inspo I really like:

Those sandals are fabulous! I could not walk in them, however. I like the patterned cardigan with the graphic tee.

It has been years since I have bought a pair of tall boots. I have been working with my Target black and tan suede-like tall boots from years ago when I have desired a tall boot situation. I really like them. They hit at the right place on my leg and they have a bit of a western vibe to them.

Here is last winter:

The tan:

The black:

Well, I got a wild hair that I wanted something like this:

I didn’t want to shell out for Frye so I discovered Frye & Co. and ordered vegan leather.

I was thinking I could wear them with my denim mini skirt, dresses, or maybe even wide legged pants.

Inspo from their website:

To be honest, I kind of got tired of tall boots in favor of the bootie. Sometimes the tall boot made my legs hot. I definitely couldn’t get through a full school day in a tall boot – lol!

So, we shall see.

Do you have any thought on blouses and boots?

Maybe I could write a country song called Blouses and Boots – “She was a force in her blouses and boots. She’d smile sweetly but watch your back cuz she’d kick you with her boot – steel toe like her heart. She’d drink whiskey from a tea cup and toast your demise while locking eyes…”

I better go now…

Amy

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

This might be my favorite set of questions ever from Joyce! Let’s go!

1.  Are you more life of the party or more party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle which side of the middle do you lean towards more? 

I am more of the life of the party until I’m not. My sisters make fun of me for having grand ideas and thinking I can do all this stuff socially and then I get tired. So, I would say I can be the life of the party until my social battery runs out and I get tired and in the right setting. I always say I am the life of the party at brunch. I just get tired at 8:00 pm. I don’t think retirement is going to make me a night owl. Who said parties need to start so late anyway? The young kids do day parties or “darties” I have heard. They need to workshop that term but I also love day drinking and then going to bed early. Don’t judge.

Birthday party, beach party, cocktail party, dinner party, charity fundraiser, surprise party, costume party, garden party, Christmas party, reunion...what’s your favorite kind of party? 

I like celebrating birthdays quite a lot. I also like Christmas parties. Beach parties – I live in Kentucky, plus sand is really annoying. Costume parties can be fun but also a lot of pressure and sometimes you don’t know if people are really going to dress up. I would be like Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde and be the only one who went all out.

I have learned that you have to say what you want to do on your birthday or you could be disappointed. I have learned you also sometimes have to just plan your own and there’s no shame. Tom never thinks to get me a cake so sometimes I even do that myself.

Speaking of Christmas parties…

My friend Beth made her basement so cool last year for her Christmas party! I wonder if she will do this again? Beth?

2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list? 

Oh, I don’t know. I love cheese and wine and I love balsamic glaze to put on things.

I planned and did all the work for my 50th birthday in my backyard. It was still Covid-ish times. Here is my drink set up:

It was Day of the Dead themed and I made lots of apps and ordered a taco bar. I started questioning why I was doing so much work but then it turned out to be really fun with lots of good memories.

This was a really fun birthday. We ate dinner and then went to a private karaoke room place to sing. Look at my mouth open and they were hogging the microphones!

This year we picked our college kids up and went to a nearby Mexican restaurant in an old church:

3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don’t you? 

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I love my birthday! I love everyones’ birthdays and love to celebrate people, by the way. I am usually asking people what they plan to do to celebrate.

4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily your same birth year, just the same date/month. 

I was born on Tuesday Election Day. My birthday is November 2, 1971. That’s all I’ve got.

5. Share two good things about your life right now. 

I’m enjoying having more time to read! I’ve read some really good books over the last month.

This has been my favorite:

I’m doing pretty well with cooking dinner and not overthinking it.

I made my first batch of chili a couple of weeks ago:

Then, we had turkey sausage, potatoes, zucchini on a sheet pan, spaghetti, and tilapia and broccoli with potatoes. For lunch I have soup or salad usually.

I keep a memo on my phone of what I have ingredients for and then just pick:

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tom eats out for lunch every.single.day and brings home leftovers at least 3 times a week. I took his leftover chicken salad, pickle, and delicious little cookie from Chicken Salad Chick and made egg salad and added crackers along with some pita chips and hummus and had myself a nice little lunch one day.

Mason usually eats Tom’s lunch leftovers which is great!

Ok, wrapping up the Hodgepodge, what would you say to any of today’s topics?

Amy

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

I am a bit enamored with the European lifestyle. I already knew this but I got giddy and embraced Fiona Ferris’ book. I love her books – they are just tiny little things – we aren’t talking War and Peace. But, I do find them inspirational and fun.

I think I could live in Europe but then I remember I love my car and my washer and dryer. Lol.

No, but really we do tend to romanticize life in Europe and I am a realist and know the grass is not greener. I do, however, think we can learn from some of their ways of life. I am also generalizing the term “European” and just thinking about life in the UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, and the other countries I have visited.

-Bundle my errands and park once in a neighborhood/shopping center and walk when I can

-Buy less food in bulk and buy less at a time – feel like this helps reduce food waste which is a goal of mine

-Buy more real food and less processed food – I really like buying food that I have to chop and I have the time to chop

-Tie a scarf on my bag – ooo la la! Try to incorporate scarves into my outfits without looking like a flight attendant

-Use real cups, plates, silverware and cloth napkins

-Buy less drive thru food; I rarely use a drive thru

-Buy less fast fashion and think more quality over quantity in my closet

-Drink more tea – have a tea or coffee in the afternoon

-Wear more stripes!

-Actually get dressed when I leave the house to do errands – no athletic or lounge clothing

-Wear pants instead of shorts

-Take a cloth tote bag with me on errands and use my new re-usable produce bag

-Don’t take phone calls in public or be on my phone in public – chat with people that I see and be present

-Use British style cork backed placemats on my tables. I gave these to my mom and she loved them and now I have a daily reminder since they are mine now. I like practical sentimental things I think.

-Drink from a wine glass or a pretty glass even if it’s only water or electrolytes

-Walk outside and walk my dog – I love having him off leash especially and he loves it, too

-Go to coffee shops and not drive thru coffee joints

-Slow down – Try to keep the busy “American” lifestyle at bay

I like to follow IG accounts of people who live in Europe. I just saw that a tradition in Spain when it is your birthday is for you to cook for your friends and treat them to a meal at your house. I like that!

I also embraced a simpler Christmas last year and one that I considered to be more European in style, even if it wasn’t exactly that.

I really hate the consumerism culture we live in and I don’t want people to keep telling me to buy more off of Amazon. I respect fixing things and using what you have. I want to get better at that.

I re-read my little collection of Fiona books when I need to stop and appreciate my simple little life and when I need to feel inspiration and gratitude.

Obviously I am not saying Fiona is a substitute for the Bible and its teachings, but her little books have helped me!

Do you have any ways of life that you consider to be European in nature? Is there a practice that has made you live life fuller?

What can you do today to add a little European flair?

Amy

Monday, September 15, 2025

Whew – last week was a week, wasn’t it? I am grateful for some quality time and conversations with people I care about and people that care about me. Isn’t that what we need when the world and our world seems dark? Thank you for Sarah and Holly for providing this link up. I read that in times of anxiety we should pray and give thanks so that is what I’m trying to do.

My Dad’s birthday was Thursday (9/11) and my mom’s was Saturday so I did like all modern women do and did a photo collage on Facebook. I received some nice messages through this social media platform so I am grateful for this technology that helps keep me connected with people that I might not otherwise connect with.

The original fam is one picture I posted. I’m the oldest – the one in the 80s sweater like my mom’s. I’m lucky to have had such a nice family, not that we were perfect by any means.

Books are my form of escapism now and I have fallen into a Love is Blind habit on Netflix, too. I have watched some of Sweden, some of France, and I’m excited about Germany. But, I am finishing US first! USA! USA! It is all people from Minneapolis, Minnesota right now. Their northern accents, northern-ness, and their love of a hot dish comes through. I actually think it’s really smart to do a dating show with people from the same geographical area. The premise is that you date behind a wall and have to fall in love without seeing the other people, so just going off of voice and conversation. Well, you know they aren’t going to have a bunch of junkyard dogs on it, right? The people are all fairly physically attractive and around the same age, too.

So, back to the books. Here is my request haul from the library. I’m not sure if I will get to all of them but a girl has got to have choices.

Friday was a lovely afternoon. Blonde Heather has a pool and I had been requesting a pool day so she invited Brunette Heather and I over around 3:00.

It’s back up into the mid to high 80s so it was a perfect day to do this – we had some charcuterie and I brought old pictures to look at. I was always the main photographer/historian in college. Then, we sat in the pool and chatted.

Later the husbands came to a Mexican place to eat dinner with us.

I ordered a chimichanga and it was a super weird version. It was tiny, very brown, and looked like a piece of fish. No comprendo as they say. Our waiter Homero loved me, though.

Saturday morning was lovely. I enjoyed my early fall decor on the patio.

I made restaurant quality bagel sandwiches (if I do say so myself) and then Tom wanted to go to my mom’s house to look at some house stuff.

Eddie Otis got to go this time and meet the neighbor doggies.

We had some house/realtor drama last week so that is what this trip was about. There were no showings Saturday so it was a good day for us to be there. I was able to change an HVAC filter all by myself and to turn off the notification on the thermostat.

It’s still very hard to go to my mom’s house and see it empty. I have been there three times now with it empty. My sisters haven’t seen it like that. It still has the same smell, but there is nothing in it.

I am trying to be kind to myself with a kid’s moveout two weeks ago, my mom and dad’s birthdays, the weight of selling the house, dealing with the responsibility of the house and its bills to keep it running for the showings, and a couple of other things on my heart.

Also, I have started worrying about what the holidays will look like this year. So, that’s fun!

With the weight of all those things, I am grateful for Tom’s steady but sometimes annoying presence. He is still the person that makes me laugh the most and usually it’s about really stupid things that we both think are hilarious. He’s also the person that I butt heads with the most. We fought about phone chargers in the car.

I also am trying to say YES to fun when I can, so our Saturday night was really fun. Our friend was playing guitar and singing at a cute little old general store turned tap room from 5-8 and we invited our friend Elizabeth to join us.

Look how cute!

We got to meet the guitar player’s new puppy Ruby Sue the cavapoo who was with Beth, his wife. I just realized I talk about two Elizabeths and two Beths and two Heathers and two Jessicas. Call me Noah.

The food was typical bar food and we got loaded tots and hot dogs, but they were fancy with prosecco on tap!

My prosecco from the tap!

And, they have a little ice cream shop on the corner of the general store.

Beautiful sky on the way home…

Eddie Otis has become better at just chilling…

It rained over night Saturday into Sunday but the morning was still beautiful and I decided to start this cute book; it’s a mystery which isn’t my usual genre but I’m loving it so far!

How are you doing? How was your weekend?

Amy

Friday, September 12, 2025

It’s been a hard week for our country and for me personally. I let some emotions get the best of me on Tuesday and then Wednesday we heard about more shootings. Plural. I am talking about another school shooting and the murder of Charlie Kirk. And, then yesterday would have been my Dad’s 83rd birthday and tomorrow would have been my mom’s 83rd birthday.

This makes Friday Favorites seem quite frivolous, doesn’t it? But, maybe we have to find joy where we can right now.

If you read my Hello Monday, you read that Tom and I got to get away for one night to go to a music festival. My pattern lately has been to go to the library and Trader Joe’s on Thursdays before the weekend and this is what I did last Thursday. I bought some fun snacks for the hotel.

TJ’s had such cute Halloween cards. I am trying to be a person who sends more cards in the mail.

I also packed a small cooler with these easy to open little prosecco bottles and the cans of wine. I got white, peach, and this one. They are pretty good!

Do you ever visit farmer’s markets when you travel? Most go until the end of October, I think. I so enjoyed doing this last Saturday and bought sourdough (No, I can’t make my own, Karen! I tried! I spent a week of my life trying to keep the starter alive. One loaf is like a 48-72 hour process, Karen) and a bag of puppy chow/muddy buddies from a sweet little Amish girl. I am not profiling. She had on the garb and I think the name of the business had Amish in it.

I also walked the length of Main Street and got a maple cold brew.

I saw this cute Airbnb in person and took a photo. I had seen it on the website but wanted to check it out. It was featured on Joanna Gaines Magnolia network I think.

Tom and I found a new favorite store. Tom loved the jams, pickles, and food items and I loved the decor items.

From that shop, I’m loving my new little marble salt keeper and my little gold spoon. I have Maldon sea salt in it.

I finished this book and found it very cute. Now I want to go to Amsterdam. I have been once when I was 25. My sister lived 45 minutes outside of Amsterdam for her study abroad in college, by the way.

Then, I went back to the WWII reads…

Oh gosh – I have a book hangover in the best way. I loved this story sooooo much.

I want to share a passage from the book that won’t give anything away:

“…there is a difference between a life that honors the past and a life dictated by it. When you let history shape your future, you relinquish the ability to choose a better way forward.”

This spoke to me in the season I am in. I don’t want to be bitter and I don’t want to be a know-it-all. I don’t want to tell teachers that I did it for 31 years and bIah, blah, blah. want to be someone that people want to be around and not one that brings people down.

Cute little boy on our walk…

I think this is where he was alarmed about a lady Windexing her front door.

Candle weather! This was another find from that shop!

And, I made my first batch of chili of the season. Here is my chili recipe. I think it’s the best chili I’ve ever had and it’s really simple.

Many years ago I had a student who worked at Salt Cave Louisville. She gave me a gift card and I went alone. The salt is supposed to be good for you and it’s called halotherapy. They were having a BOGO so I asked my friend Beth to go and it was only about $22 each. We did add on a weighted heated shoulder pillow for $8. You go in the cave and it’s dark with some twinkle lights and light music playing for 45 minutes.

Here is what it looks like before you go in and it’s dark:

We were allowed to pick a mantra from a bowl and mine was “I choose softness today”. I fully relaxed and cried (just tears not blubbering) for some of the time in da cave. I processed some things happening in my life and I guess I just had a release. There is no talking allowed in the cave so after our time was up we went to lunch at the French restaurant nearby and split a croque monsieur. Beth thought the fact that I cried meant that healing was happening. Have you ever done a salt cave? Do you have one in your town?

I feel like this is me to a T!

I don’t like this…

Have you watched Mormon Wives? I couldn’t with the second season. I really dislike these women. Choosing her for The Bachelorette defeats the whole purpose of the show I think. I don’t have to watch but I kind of want to just to see how it goes.

I started this…

I’ve enjoyed some outside reading time this week that really fills my cup.

Lap dog:

I love seeing this bond.

Amy