Posted in Clothes, What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Well, I feel like March is really chugging along. This time next week, it will be April.

I’m trying to do better about joining in on the What’s Up Wednesday fun!

It’s the last Wednesday of the month, so I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer.

Here’s a look back on the month:

What We’re Eating This Week:

This is one of those weeks were I’m winging it, but not really. I *finally* got a dinner plan for the week, but it’s flexible. Usually, I write down what we’re having every night for dinner, but this time, I have the groceries for a few meals but I’m deciding night to night what to make. I’m really living on the edge over here!

  • Sunday: I knew we’d be gone most of the day at Hadley’s volleyball tournament and then be home in time for the Kentucky basketball game. Anyway, I made dinner very easy with Trader Joe’s salsa verde chicken burritos and a side of jasmine rice, chips and salsa. (On Saturday, Hadley and I went to Trader Joe’s, and I’d never seen the burritos before, and I’m so glad that I picked them up. You just put them in the oven for twenty-ish minutes and they’re ready to eat!)
  • Monday: I did my bigger Kroger grocery pick up, so I was ready to roll with my options. We had baked chicken and baked potatoes for dinner. Whenever I make this chicken, that is a family favorite, I always want enough to leftovers the next day, and I did make enough for leftovers.
  • Tuesday: Last night the kids had a track meet, so we had leftover chicken and Bob Evans mashed potatoes once we got home.
  • Wednesday: Tonight, I’m making this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake. I’ve made it before, but it’s been a while. I’m hoping there’s leftovers for my lunch on Thursday.
  • Thursday: Chili...one more time this season! I actually made it last week, but I just didn’t know what to make this week and thought I’d make it one more time since the temps are cool this week.. I might suggest that if the kids want to change it up a bit, they can have a chili dog or put some fries in the air fryer for chili cheese fries.
  • Friday/Saturday: no plans but I do have what I need for shrimp Alfredo (thanks to Trader Joe’s)

What I’m Reminiscing About:

Nobody was more excited than UK winning on Sunday to make it to the sweet 16 than Hayden!

My mom texted and reminded us of the time a few years ago when Hayden was so mad when the CATS lost in the first round of the tournament that he stripped off his UK shirt and threw it in our front yard bushes! That shirt was in the yard for a couple of days because I forgot about it.

While that was a funny memory, here’s a sweet one:

In 2014, we went to Indy for the Elite 8. I can’t remember who we played (I’m sure Trav does!), but we won, and the CATS moved on to the Final Four.

UK fans from day one. (I’m just along for the ride!)

Hadley would shake that bell and yell, “Go CATS!”…and an opposing fan was next to us, and Hadley would look at her and jingle her bell. haha

What I’m Loving:

I shared these ric rac placemats that I picked up at the Target dollar spot…and they are perfect for our dinner table…

…and I couldn’t resist these cute Easter hand towels. My kids know that I put the cute towels on the oven, and they are to be looked at not used. haha

Ugh…it’s the time of the year when I’m running out of supplies, and realized I needed more of my larger sized paper clips. (Fun fact about me, I don’t like little paper clips! What’s the point? They are too tiny to hold much.) When I saw these colorful ones, I ordered them…and I’m placing a lot of pressure on these to help me get through the rest of the school year. hahaha!!

What We’ve Been Up To:

We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, and my brother’s family joined us for dinner.

Hadley’s had a couple of volleyball tournaments this month including one in Louisville/Indiana last weekend. The girls played well and made it to the gold bracket on Sunday.

Of course, it’s March Madness, and Hayden is glued to the games and is updating his brackets! I like watching the games, but I didn’t fill out a bracket this year.

What I’m Dreading:

As a teacher, I feel the time crunch this time of the year…and it seems like my students have tests quite a bit. This week, my English 1 students had a district benchmark assessment, next week they have MAP testing, and then once we get back from spring break, they’ll have a unit test.

I’m trying to space the testing out for them as much as I can, but I don’t control all of the deadlines.

What I’m Excited About:

It’s outdoor track season. They kids had their first meet last night, and they ran great. I will say that I don’t love sitting out in the cold. Thankfully, last night wasn’t too bad, but the season typically starts with colder temps…and then rain sometimes.

I don’t know if I should be excited or scared, but Kentucky just passed House Bill 15 which means that 15 year olds can get their learner’s permit. In Kentucky, you get your permit at 16 and then your driver’s license at 16 and a half after completing sixty hours of driving.

Now, kids can get their permit at 15 giving them more time to practice driving before being sixteen and a half to get their license (with a few restrictions).

Not sure if it’s still that way, but when I was growing up, in Missouri, you could get your permit at fifteen and a half and driver’s license at sixteen.

Truth be told, both of my kids, especially Hayden, don’t seem to sure about all this. I think I feel the same way!

What I’m Watching/Reading:

I’m still chipping away at Younger, and am still loving it.

The Rookie started back in February, and I missed the memo. So, now I’m playing “catch up” on this season’s episodes. It’s one of my favorite shows.

You know I’m always watching something on Netflix, and I did watch a couple of episodes of With Love, Meghan, and I’m intrigued. I know people either love it or hate it, and my interest is piqued.

I shared my March books post yesterday.

Screenshot

What I’m Listening To:

I think this is technically a “young adult” book, but I’ve seen the title for a couple of years, and there’s a series on Netflix, so I decided to listen to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. There’s more than one narrator and a few voices for a few characters, so it has my interest.

I haven’t listened to a ton of episodes, but The Coop with Kit Hoover has some good interviews. I’ve listened to the ones with Chelsea Handler and Natalie Morales.

What I’m Wearing:

I’m a broken record wearing my Old Navy kick flare pants and SSYS shacket. Both pieces are perfect for this time of the year.

I wore this Target jacket last weekend, and it’s so comfy and perfect to wear with leggings.

…but how cute is this outfit? This light-weight “puff sleeve” sweater was only $15 when I ordered it last week. As I type this, it’s $11! I promptly ordered it in black as well. I bought these flowy linen pants in gray last summer, and I wear them quite a bit. So, I ordered them in navy. I can’t wait for sandal weather.

What I’m Doing This Weekend:

I don’t put out much, but I’m hoping to have time to put out my Easter decorations this weekend.

What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month:

Spring break!

Last year, we went to Washington, D.C. We really loved that trip; I’d go back again in a heartbeat.

I’m ready for break and some time off to prep for the last stretch of the school year.

Posted in Kids, What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Wow! It’s already the last Wednesday of the month! February sure has flown by!

It’s been a minute since I’ve linked up with Sheaffer and Shay, but that’s what I’m doing today for…

What We’re Eating This Week:

Here’s what we’re eating this week:

  • Sunday: We had frozen pizza and leftover Fazolis from the night before. We got home late from Louisville after Hadley’s volleyball tournament, so we just worked with what we had at home.
  • Monday: I made the Bubble Up Pizza again. This time, I added sausage to the pepperoni. This was a hit when I made it last week, and I just needed another quick meal on Monday. We had bagged salad and Cuties along with our pizza.
  • Tuesday: I tried this new Mexican Chicken Casserole recipe, and it was delish. The kids gave it two thumbs up. I served it over rice.
  • Wednesday: A tried and true fave is this Sausage Tortellini soup.
  • Thursday: We’ll see what we have leftover. If I need to make something, we’ll have a quick breakfast for dinner.
  • Friday and Saturday: We’ll probably eat out or order out.

And , apparently, lots of bananas this week…long story short is that I placed a delivery order for Sunday, so we’d have a few things to start the week. We were in Louisville for volleyball, so Hayden put the groceries away. When we got back, he said, “Mom, why did you buy so many bananas?” I turned around to see quite the banana haul!

When Hadley added bananas to the order, she didn’t choose six single bananas…Instead, we got six bundles of bananas! Of course, we’ll use some breakfast, snacks and smoothies, but this is still quite a lot of bananas.

So, I took some to school and shared the wealth! Maybe someone will be banana bread and share a slice with me?!

Tuesday night dinner:

What I’m Reminiscing About:

Well, I’m not reminiscing too far back, but my kids are already choosing their classes for their sophomore year. I feel like they were just picking their freshman, and now they only have three months left of their freshman year!

They’ve really thrived this year, and it’s been so fun to watch.

What I’m Loving:

I always snag the body butter at Trader Joe’s in the summer, and then the candy cane one during the holiday months. When I was at TJ last week, I saw this one, and picked it up. It’s so good! I guess I’ll use body butter year round now.

What We’ve Been Up To:

Well, we had more snow, but not as much as in January!

I was fighting a sinus infection over Valentine’s Day, but the night before we had heart shaped chicken nuggets for dinner, and then we gave the kids a few things for Valentine’s Day.

Unfortunately, Hayden had the flu last week, but we had a couple of NTI days due to snow. So, while I hated that he was sick, he missed two online days and one day of school rather than three full days of school.

Last weekend, Hadley was a busy girl. Friday night, she ran her first race of the track season. Due to volleyball obligations, she missed the first couple of indoor meets, but she ran the 400m Friday night. She was so nervous leading up to the race….so nervous! This was her first 400m race of her high school career, and she won her heat!!…and came in 4th overall. When she was finished, she was so happy!

Saturday and Sunday we were in Louisville for her volleyball tournament. On Saturday, the girls played ok, but they did awesome on Sunday. They are a fun team to watch, and I’m glad they ended the tournament on a high note.

I’ve had “closet purge” on my to do list since after Christmas…and on a whim last week when I had a little bit of time at home, I purged enough to donate five bags of clothes! It was such a good feeling to get rid of what I haven’t been wearing and have a bit more space and organization in my closet.

What I’m Dreading:

Honestly, nothing comes to mind as something I dread. I guess that’s a good thing!

Actually, I take that back….I have an Old Navy return…and that place makes my blood boil. I swear it doesn’t matter if there are ten people in line or two, I’m always in line for twenty minutes.

What I’m Excited About:

Spring! This week, the sun has been shining, and we’ve had temps in the upper 50’s. I think today’s high is close to 70! It’s been so nice!

What I’m Watching/Reading:

Thanks to Amy‘s recommendation, I started watching Younger on Netflix. I’d heard of the show when it was originally on, but never watched it. I’m on season 3, and I really like it! The episodes are short, and it’s an easy show to binge.

I’m late sharing about the books I read in February, and I hope to share them next week. I’m currently reading The Underground Library, and I’m really enjoying it!

What I’m Listening To:

Three of the books I read in February were actually audio books. Again, I will share more next week.

This week, I did start listening to Brooke Shields’ latest book…and I’m not sure if I will continue. I guess I knew the book was about aging, but I don’t know…she’s already thrown a lot of stats my way, and I’m just not into math at the moment. haha

What I’m Wearing:

My favorite place to get my clothes continues to be SSYS. Amazon typically rounds out my closet these days.

The SSYS “shacket” is a popular piece that is an SSYS label piece and it’s been sold on and off the past couple of years. I purchased one, and when it first arrived, I wasn’t sure if it was for me. Well, I wore it once, and now it’s a “go to” item for me. I’ve worn it plenty with leggings, but I’ve also worn it to school with a black pants and a cute blouse.

Last week, I wore it with my favorite over-sized Amazon shirt…I have it in gray and blue!

What I’m Doing This Weekend:

This weekend, Hadley has another volleyball tournament, so that will take up most of our weekend.

I do hope to finish out my clothing purge as I need to go through my dresser drawers and make one more donate pile.

What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month:

It’s March which means spring break is right around the corner which leads to the downhill slide to summer!! Also, I’m looking forward to the outdoor track season for the kids. It will be fun to see what they accomplish!

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Hello and happy last day of January!

I’ve seen lots of memes, like this one, suggesting that January feels like the longest month, and while I agree, I still think it’s one of my favorite months. January provides a bit slower pace, it’s my birthday month, and we usually have a snow day (or five!)

Y’all, I did it. I blogged for the entire month of January for the WordPress Bloganuary challenge. While I knew I’d continue with my regular content, I did end up finding other things to write about, but I didn’t use many of the WordPress prompts. That’s ok though…I still liked writing about a little bit of everything this month.

Thanks for reading my posts…including the weekend ones!

I don’t do it often, but today I’m linking up with Shaeffer and Shay for What’s Up Wednesday.

What we are eating this week:

This week we are having:

  • Sunday: Chicken tetrazzini and green beans. (I got the recipe thanks to @myteacherface on Insta)
  • Monday: Sunday leftovers and bagged Caesar salad
  • Tuesday: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Muffins, Bob Evans potatoes and fruit (Please note: Hadley said the meatloaf muffins were “bussin” (and that’s a compliment from my picky eater!)…Also, next time, I will double the recipe to make more)
  • Wednesday: Beefy cheese soup
  • Thursday: I’m having dinner out with a friend!
  • Friday and Saturday: Mama doesn’t cook on the weekend!

What I’m reminiscing about:

Valentine’s Day pics through the years. Since the kids were babies, I always got a Valentine’s Day or snow day pic to use for Valentine’s Day cards for family. It’s getting harder and harder to get one of these pics with kids going in opposite directions, but I’m hoping to get a pic of them this week, so I can order my cards.

What we’ve been up to:

Snow days and sports!

Middle school basketball for Hayden and club volleyball for Hadley are how we are spending most of our time lately…and I love it.

What I’m dreading:

I’m currently working on our week of after school credit recovery…and it’s just overwhelming sometimes. There are a lot of moving parts and pieces of the puzzle to get into place.

What I’m excited about:

I’m loving watching Hadley play on her club volleyball team, and I can’t believe it’s Hayden’s 8th grade basketball season. I’m always excited to watch them do what they love.

I think I’ll put out my Valentine’s Day decorations this weekend.

I’m excited about finishing up Hadley’s room soon. The wallpaper arrived, so I’m hoping to get that put up soon.

We’re excited for our Chiefs to go to the Super Bowl (again!) this year.

What I’m watching/reading:

I have a couple more episodes left of both Fool Me Once and The Crown. Maybe I can finish them this weekend?!

Also, Travis and I loved The Night Agent.

Yesterday, I shared the books I read this month. Although I only read two, I’ve started off 2024 with two books that I enjoyed reading.

What I’m listening to:

I haven’t been listening to much of anything – besides whatever is on the car radio. I did catch a couple of episodes of the “Amy and T.J”…and basically I was just being nosy.

What I’m wearing:

I haven’t taken any pics of school outfits, but I’m slaying my casual outfits.

I’m still loving my cardigan from Walmart that I wear around the house.

My mirror is dirty, but I’ve loved wearing my favorite cardigan with leggings and over-sized t-shirt for long days watching the kids play sports.

I’m still loving my new zip-up sweater/sweatshirt jacket from Amazon. I like that my regular size large works with jeans or leggings, but I also think a medium would have worked.

I’ve worn it out to dinner, to school, and out running errands, so it’s definitely a win in my book.

As you can tell from the photos above, I’m really loving the Air Maxes that Travis got me for Christmas.

And…I’m still loving my new Lululemon bag!

What I’m doing this weekend:

I’m looking forward to a low-key weekend. I’m having dinner with a friend, using a gift card for a massage, planning on getting the house in order, and hopefully finishing The Crown and Fool Me Once.

What I’m looking forward to next month:

More possible snow days?! haha

Then, once it’s March, I’m ready for spring and the countdown to summer!

What’s up with you lately?

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Hello and happy Wednesday.

Well, November sure has flown by!

Today I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for What’s Up Wednesday.

What we are eating this week:

  • Sunday – On our drive home on Saturday, I was scrolling Tiktok and saw an easy baked chicken and rice recipe, so I made that on Sunday. It was really good.
  • Monday – We had dinner at a local Mexican restaurant for a fundraiser for Hadley’s volleyball team. The food was delish, and I was happy not to cook!
  • Tuesday– We had a busy night last night, so I decided we’d just use up some food we had in the freezer. We had leftover chili and dinner from Sunday night.
  • Wednesday – Tonight, we’re having one of our favorite soups: Crockpot Cheese Tortellini and Sausage soup
  • Thursday – Tomorrow, I’m trying a new recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole. I will let you know what we think!
  • Friday/Saturday– As you know, I don’t cook on the weekends. We’ll see what sounds good!

What I’m reminiscing about:

All the Santa years with the kids.

Last year, after Christmas, Shutterfly was still having a sale on ornaments, so I made a couple with the kids for a few years when they were little – either our card pic that year or them with Santa – and added them to cart. Well, when I went to check out, the shipping cost was $30 at the cheapest…which infuriated me. So, I gave up.

On Monday, almost a year later, I got on Shutterfly to click around and saw that those ornaments were still in my cart. I decided to finish up the order since the ornaments were still half-price and ended up with free shipping thanks to the total amount of my order. I ended up with seven ornaments because I put two years on most of them (front/back). I can’t wait for them to arrive and to put them on my tree for the years to come.

What we’ve been up to:

Sports…

Birthday fun…

and…Thanksgiving in KC.

What I’m dreading:

I’m really not dreading anything right now. Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed this time of the year, but I’m not currently feeling that way…and am just trying to enjoy this season.

What I’m excited about:

The Christmas season and all that comes with it: Christmas movies, baking cookies, Christmas traditions, and winter break!

My house has looked like a disaster the past couple of days, but I’m happy to have my Christmas decor put up.

On Sunday, Hadley helped me drag the Christmas tubs out of the attic, and I put up a few things. She was excited to put up the Christmas village…

…and I was excited to make the mantle look pretty. (We were out running errands on Sunday, and I stopped in Kirklands for new garland, and the pre-lit one I found was perfect!)

I also went to Trader Joe’s on Sunday and was excited to see some of their seasonal goodies were out:

What I’m watching/reading:

Y’all…I’m still working my way through Demon Copperhead. It really does have my attention, but lack of time and the length of the book means it’s taking me forever to finish it!

I’m ready to dive into this stack of books though!

My mom sent me this, and I thought it looked like a fun way to keep track of reading:

I’m currently watching holiday baking shows whenever I get the chance.

What I’m listening to:

At school, sometimes I have Christmas music quietly playing on Pandora at my desk. If we’re in the car, Hadley always has the “Holly” station on.

What I’m wearing:

I’ve been loving my new Walmart pjs. I saw this same pair last year, but they quickly sold out. I was able to snag them this year. The fabric is so soft, and they are less than $13! I do think they run a little big.

What I’m doing this weekend:

Actually, I’m not sure! It’s a pretty low key weekend. Hadley and I had hoped to go see the Taylor Swift movie, but it looks like we were one week too late…and it’s out of the theaters now. (I see where it can be streamed starting December 13th — Taylor’s birthday, so I guess we’ll have to wait.)

Maybe we’ll bake some cookies and watch a movie at home?

What I’m looking forward to next month:

Christmas fun in December and then January is always one of my favorite months. It’s time for a fresh start, it’s my birthday month, life slows down a bit, and there’s always a chance of a snow day!

So, that’s what’s up lately.

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Y’all, it has been a MINUTE since I’ve done a WUW post!

Today, I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for What’s Up Wednesday.

What we are eating this week:

  • Sunday– We had BBQ chicken sandwiches, corn casserole, mac and cheese and more for my mother-in-law’s birthday.
  • Monday-I made this Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken, and it was a hit. It was a new recipe, so easy to put together, and delish. I pulled two green peppers from my garden to use for the dish. I served it with Trader Joe’s Jasmine Rice mixed with black beans, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. That rice side dish is another family favorite.
  • Tuesday-We grilled out hamburgers, and I made Bev’s Asian Cucumber Salad, and it was a great side dish.
  • Wednesday-I’m trying another new recipe- Ham and Cheese Tortellini. It’s one pot, so that seems like a win, and I feel like it will be a family favorite too.
  • Thursday-Leftovers, I hope!
  • Friday/Saturday –I’m sure we’ll eat out or eat at the pool.

Peppers from the garden to use for Monday night’s dinner!

What I’m reminiscing about:

With school starting in a few weeks, and the kids being 8th graders, I ‘m reminiscing about the first day of 6th grade.

Look at these littles…

What I’m working on:

I’m working on a presentation for one of our back to school Professional Development days…Honestly, I’m not too excited about it…back to school and presenting…ugh.

What we’ve been up to:

We’ve had a great couple of weeks. Hadley and I went on vacation.

Hayden went to running camp, and loved every minute.

Meanwhile, Travis tackled a project that’s been on our to do list for a while…a new retaining wall out front. He got the project started, had a high school boy put the previous pavers in the dumpster, and then a couple of guys (who know what they are doing), built the new wall.

I’m so glad the dirt stayed put when Travis started to remove the original pavers.

What I’m dreading:

Besides that professional development presentations??…Hot temps are headed our way this week. We’ve been lucky so far this summer with really mild temps, so I guess if we made it to the end of July before hitting the upper 90’s that’s pretty good.

What I’m excited about:

We have a few more fun things planned before heading back to school in a few weeks.

What I’m watching/reading:

This summer, I’ve done a good job watching mindless tv…haha

Travis got the Peacock app to watch something…Yellowstone? So, I took full advantage and have been watching the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip seasons.

I also caught up on Rookie his week and just have a few more episodes of NCIS Hawaii, and I’ll be caught up on season 2.

We’ve also been watching Quarterback on Netflix. It’s been fun following Mahomes, Cousins, and Mariota through their seasons.

I’ve been reading at my regular pace, but it’s been nice staying up later to read if I want in the summer.

The best place to read is at the beach!

While in Florida last week, I finished Lessons in Chemistry and read most of this book. I finished it last night, and it was a good summer read.

What I’m listening to:

I still listen to podcasts when I can. Unfortunately, that’s usually only when I find time for a walk or go to the gym. I usually workout at home, so I end up having very little gym time.

Through the years, I’ve become more of anxious flyer —and I can’t really concentrate and read on the plane….so before flying to Florida, I downloaded some podcast episodes.

To and from Florida, I listened to a couple of episodes of I’ve Had It (so funny!), Hey, Dude the 90’s Called ( Jason Priestley and Jennie Garth episodes) along with a few Absolutely Not (Heather McMahan) episodes.

It’s nice to just close my eyes, listen and relax as best as I can.

What I’m wearing:

Last week, I was wearing lost of swimsuits and summer dresses while in Florida.

I’m also still loving my new top from Amazon…

…and this set from Shop Style Your Senses. I wore this set a couple of times while on vacay.

…a

What I’m doing this weekend:

This week, I forced myself to make a daily list mixed with productivity and downtime. I need to continue chipping away at the list this weekend.

What I’m looking forward to next month:

Honestly, it hurts when summer ends, but it is good when we can get back in a routine. So, I’m not necessarily looking forward to going back to school (where has the summer gone?!), but I do love hearing about the kids’ school days, cross country meets, and all the things that come with the new school year…like a new teacher planner and pens. haha

I’m so glad I found the time to do this post. I used to be a faithful “What’s Up Wednesday” girl, but sometimes these posts take longer to put together, I’m afraid I’m repeating myself, or since it’s the end of the month I typically share the books I’ve read for the month.

Anyway, thanks so much for reading!

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Hello! How’s your week going? We’re off to a good, but hectic start!

Today, I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday. I haven’t done this link up in a few months, so I’m excited to share today!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

  • Sunday- We had our neighborhood block party, and we had tacos from a local food truck!
  • Monday- I made Andrea’s Bacon Ranch Penne Pasta recipe and served it with watermelon.
  • Tuesday- Leftover pasta after the cross country meet, served with fruit!
  • Wednesday- Hadley requested salmon, so that’s on the menu for tonight. I’ll serve it with Bob Evans mashed potatoes and green beans.
  • Thursday– The slow cooker will save the day tomorrow, and I will make Shay’s meatballs over rice, and broccoli will be our side dish.
  • Friday and Saturday- We always eat out on the weekends. I love to cook, but Friday and Saturday nights I give myself a break.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Next month will mark 20 years with T-rav. We had our first date in September of 2001!

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I’m just continuing to keep up with our school and activities schedule. We have a mix of old and new activities, so I’m just trying to get in a groove. For example, Hayden is still playing baseball, but has cross country after school. It’s just a new routine of drop off and pick ups! We’ll get the hang of it just in time for some new activity to start.

I’m also working on being intentional with planning my workouts. I could kind of wing it during the summer, and then I eased into the school year where a quick afternoon nap would win out over a sweat sesh. Now, I’m trying to get up a couple of mornings like I did for quite a few years before March of 2020. It’s nice to get those workouts crossed off the “to do” list.

I’m still loving my Happy Planner teacher planner to keep me organized at school as well.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

School. Activities. Repeat.

As I mentioned, Hayden’s baseball team still has a few tournaments left. His cross country has started as well. He had his first meet last night!

Hadley’s ballet, tap and jazz class started this week. Competition classes started last week!

On Sunday, we did go to our pool’s Back to School Bash which was a great way to spend our Sunday afternoon. Of course, the pool is still open a couple more weeks!

WHAT I’M DREADING:

…receiving a quarantine phone call from kids’ school. I mentioned in a previous post about how so many kids are having to quarantine right now if they are near someone who tests positive at school. Hopefully, the kids can remain in school!

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Honestly, I’m excited for the kids’ middle school activities. It will be fun to see what they choose to do as far as sports and clubs. I can tell they are loving having a little more freedom in middle school.

Also, is it too early to say that I’m excited about fall? haha! Now, I just need these 90 degree days to go away!

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I watched Luke Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries documentary over the weekend, and I thought it was really good. I’m a Luke Bryan fan. It was interesting to hear about his career, listen to what other had to say about him, and see him interact with his family. I knew he’d lost so many close loved ones, but to hear him tell his story and share his loss really left an impact on me.

I’m currently reading The Four Winds and can’t put it down.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

I haven’t listened to all the seasons of Even the Rich, but I started listening to the newest season about J Lo and Ben!

I catch most of the episodes of Always Hungry. I’m a big Food Network girl, and I love hearing Bobby Flay interact with his daughter Sophie. I loved their Flay List (TV) series that was on last year.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

My new shirt from Amazon is still a fave. I’ve shared it before, but it’s still getting a lot of wear.

I loved this blue dress so much that I’ve also purchased it in gray.

You might have noticed, I had on these sandals with both outfits. We’ve been in school for two weeks, and I’ve worn these every single day! They are definitely my sandal of the summer!

Shirt // Dress // Sandals

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Well, Hayden has cross country meet on Saturday and baseball on Sunday, so I think that will take up most of our time.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

Being able to say it’s officially fall! Seriously, fall is my most favorite time of the year!

See you back here tomorrow for Monthly Musings and then on Friday for my favorites from the week.

Take care,

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Hey! Happy What’s Up Wednesday! I can’t believe that next week is March! February flew by, and at least this week, we’ve thawed out, the snow has melted, and we’ve had temps in the 50’s! It actually feels like spring…which probably means we’ll get two snow storms in March here in Kentucky.

Today, I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for WUW!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

  • Sunday- Sliders and soup!
  • Monday- Andrea’s Creamy Beef and Rice and broccoli
  • Tuesday- My kids’ school had a fundraiser at Chipolte, so we had a Taco Tuesday where I didn’t have to cook!
  • Wednesday– Shay’s Chicken Tortilla Soupwhich is a family favorite!
  • Thursday– Shay’s Beefy Cornbread Casserole Obviously, this recipe is on Shay’s blog, but it’s also in one of her cookbooks that I hadn’t used in a while. I made it a couple weeks ago, and it was so good! We all loved it, so I wanted to make it again before winter is over.
  • Friday and Saturday– I’m sure we’ll eat out or get carry out per usual on the weekend.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

The first day of school. As I’ve mentioned my kids haven’t stepped foot in their school since March 13, 2020. This year, they’ve been home with me three days a week and have attended school with a pod of kids the other two days. Fingers crossed, one week from today, they will be back in school with only three months left in the 5th grade.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

My Air Fryer…

haha

I received so many awesome suggestions after my Tuesday Talk post last week. (I’d love even more, so let me know some of your favorite Air Fryer recipes!)

Besides using it to reheat items or cook frozen foods, I’ve made veggies for dinner side dishes, donuts, and sliders. Up next: cinnamon rolls…I mean, just the store bought ones, but I’m going to bake them in the Air Fryer. I can’t wait to give them a try!

The donuts were delish!

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

This is so random, but I’m working on deleting photos from my phone. I save all my photos to Shutterfly, so there’s ZERO reason why I need to keep so many on my phone. That being said, I was up to like 9,000 photos and was just waiting for Apple to tell me my storage was full! Anyway, for some reason, deleting so many photos seems overwhelming to me, so I set an alarm on my phone to delete 100 photos a day. I’ve been doing this since January 1st, and I’ve gone from 9,000 to 4,800…now, that’s progress, y’all! I probably should have just called the Home Edit ladies…or given them my phone to return to me when there are 52 photos left on it 😂

We also just finished up sorting and delivering Hadley’s Girl Scout cookie orders. She still has a few more orders that will come in, but 90% of her cookies have been delivered!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

Besides school, work, dance, and basketball, the kids had plenty of fun in the snow over the past two weeks…and have a couple of broken sleds to prove it!

Travis and I made it out to dinner at one of our favorite places last Friday night. I love a 6:30 reservation by the fire…and home by 8:00!

I’m continuing my Beachbody workouts, and finished up Muscle Burns Fat. On Monday, I started Muscle Burns Fat Advanced. It might as well be called Muscle Burns Fat EXTREME because Megan has me cussing half the time…which must mean she knows what she’s doing!

WHAT I’M DREADING:

I’m not technically dreading anything right now, but of course, I continue to feel unsettled with the plans for return to in person learning. I hope once the elementary kids are phased in, we are ready to get a plan for the middle and high school kids. Right now feels very similar to the end of the school year last year when we were living on a two week by two week timeline with such uncertainty about educational plans.

*Edit: After I had this all typed out, we received the email and phone call with a plan to get all grades back in the building by the middle of March. Fingers crossed that Covid cases continue to decline and the plan can be carried out as scheduled. 😊😊

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Hayden and Hadley getting to (hopefully!) finish their last few months of elementary school in the building. Maybe I will have another Back 2 School Breakfast next week??

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

American Idol is back, and we usually watch it as a family.

Recently, we watched The Blindside and Top Gun with Hayden. He loved both movies. I don’t think I have seen either movie in years, and they were fun to watch.

Tomorrow, I will share the books I read in February. I’m currently reading We Were the Lucky Ones. I don’t typically read historical fiction, but this novel has captured my attention!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson have a new podcast called Calm Down. They’ve only had one episode, and Kevin Hart was their guest. Erin and Charissa are smart, funny, and sassy! I’m sure I will tune into this one weekly!

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Apparently, joggers and more joggers.

I a few weeks ago, Old Navy was having a sale, and I picked up these joggers. I love that they are high-waisted and form fitting but loose at the same time.

My Old Navy didn’t have the joggers in black, so I turned to Amazon….because why would I pay for shipping at Old Navy if I could find an option on Amazon where shipping is free! (and fast!)

I’ve dressed both pairs of joggers up and down…sweater, sweatshirt, tennis shoes, leopard flats, etc. The material of both lends to them being versatile.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Well, this weekend is what happens when make up basketball games and tournaments for two teams collide. Hayden has two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday!

Hadley’s talked me into taking her to Target to “look around…” Yikes…I’m scared just typing that out! She wants a few items for her room and maybe couple pairs of leggings or joggers because we’re all hoping pajama pants aren’t going to be a daytime wardrobe option soon!

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

I’m looking forward to spring weather and corned beef and cabbage on the menu. Also, Hadley has her first dance competition in March and baseball will be in full swing next month as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

Take care,

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Hello! It’s already the end of January, so I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for their What’s Up Wednesday post!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

Per usual, I only cook Sunday-Thursdays. Here’s what we are eating this week:

  • Sunday: Shay’s Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Monday: Million dollar spaghetti and roasted broccoli
  • Tuesday: Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan, Trader Joe’s risotto, and fruit
  • Wednesday: Monday/Tuesday leftovers and bagged Caesar salad
  • Thursday: Shay’s Beefy Cornbread Casserole, rice/broccoli side
  • Friday and Saturday: take out!

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

I’m reminiscing about my itty bitty valentines…

Here they are in February 2015.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

I’m loving Hadley’s new Valentine’s Day sweatshirt that I ordered from MelandMae on Etsy. It’s so cute, and she loves wearing it.

I’m loving my new Kendra Scott bracelets. I love jewelry that can be worn with any outfit whether it’s workout clothes or dressed for school. Travis and the kids gave me the silver bracelet from Christmas, and then last week I used my birthday 50% off discount for the gold set of three bracelets. I’d never done that before, so I was excited to find something to go with the silver bracelet.

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I’m working on tomorrow’s Monthly Musings blog post (with Holly and Patty!). It’s the first MM of 2021!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

School for the kids, work/school for me (emails, emails emails, meetings…and Zoom appointments with students)…

Hayden is on two basketball teams, and Hadley attends dance two nights a week.

I finished 21Day Fix Extreme, and have started a new workout program: Muscle Burns Fat.

Also, is anyone else out there buying lottery tickets?! We rarely do, but when the jackpot gets close to $1 billion, I get greedy and tell Travis to pick up a few tickets!

WHAT I’M DREADING:

besides not winning the lottery?! 😂…Honestly, not much. It’s nice that the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over (not that we hustled or bustled as much as usual this year), and we can settle into the new year. I do have days where my Covid anxiety heightens, but I try to keep in mind that hopefully we are moving towards more of a sense of normalcy.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Our KC Chiefs are headed to the Super Bowl!! We are so excited. I’m not a perfect parent, but one of my greatest accomplishments is instilling a love for my KC Royals and KC Chiefs in my kids…well, at least Hayden! That being said, Hadley will dress for any occasion!

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I shared the books I read in January yesterday, so check that post out!

I’ve been watching the new Real Housewives franchise: Salt Lake City! Apparently, it doesn’t matter where you live…there’s always drama 😉

I also started season 4 of The Crown, and I’m loving it! Now that Diana is in the picture, the story line is really moving!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

…the rain as I type this post.

Also, I haven’t really been listening to podcasts lately, but Instagram stories will suck me in every time! I set a timer on my phone as to not waste too much time on social media.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

I went to Target for dry shampoo and a few things for Hadley, and I somehow left with this top and matching joggers for myself! Things just hop into my cart when I’m at Target!

I love both pieces, but I find that I tend to wear them separately more than together. I’m not a super matchy match person, I guess. Both are so soft and cozy and are perfect for wearing at home or running errands!

I’ve been wearing these three sweaters from Amazon on repeat since November.

{affiliate links for sweaters below}

I have this one in blue.

I have this cozy sweater in “wine red.” It’s so soft, and I love that I can wear it with leggings or jeans.

I wore it to school the other day with my favorite leopard flats.

And, I’ve shared this one before that I have in pink and navy blue. I probably wear this sweater the most of the other three. Of course, I have it in two colors, but I truly do love it. I purchased it in size medium after realizing size large was too big.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

I think I will put up my Valentine’s Day decor. I don’t do much anyway; I just add a few touches here and there.

Here’s a pic of last year’s Valentine’s Day dinner!

Also, Hayden has two basketball games on Saturday, but then we should have a pretty relaxing Sunday.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

I guess I’m looking forward to Valetine’s Day next month. I’ve already bought the kids a couple of things that I know they’ll like, and maybe Travis and I will be able to go out to dinner.

I also keep hoping for a good snowfall. Maybe February will bring that weather to Kentucky?!

I haven’t written a WUW post in a couple of months, so I was happy to join this link up today. Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts as well!

Thanks so much for reading.

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Hello! How is it already the last Wednesday in October? October is my favorite month, and I feel like it needs at least 14 more days! haha Y’all, it’s completely flown by!

As always, I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for their What’s Up Wednesday series.

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

I’m back to cooking this week which has been good for me!

  • Sunday– Chicken chili and cornbread
  • Monday- easy pork loin, Bob Evans mashed potatoes, and veggies
  • Tuesday- leftover chili and cornbread
  • Wednesday – Baked chicken thighs (my dad’s recipe!), Trader Joe’s Risotto, and fruit
  • Thursday– leftover chicken, bagged salad
  • Friday Spooky Halloween dinner (hot dogs, mac and cheese, and grapes)
2019 Spooky dinner
  • Saturday– It’s Halloween. I usually make chili and/or Shay’s Chicken Tortilla Soup and some other family faves.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

This pic of Hadley popped up in my Facebook memories from 2016 when she dressed up for the 50th day of school. I can’t get over how the elementary years have flown by and how fast this crazy school year is going!

WHAT I’M LOVING:

I’m loving this Chex Mix that I whipped up after seeing it on Instagram Stories.

  • Chex cereal
  • Candy Corn
  • Peanuts
  • Reese’s Pieces

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I’m just continuing to rest up and heal from my surgery. I have my two week appointment with my doctor today. This week, I’ve definitely been easing back a bit more into “real life” with cooking, laundry, helping the kids with school and continuing to work from home.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

This week we’ve had a little more down time now that baseball is over. Cross country and dance have continued, but we’ve had a few extra weekend days and weekday evenings just at home rather than running around everywhere.

The kids have been focused on their Pod President campaign. Over the weekend, they worked on their slogans and signs before taking them to their class pod. The election is next Wednesday, I believe. Before then, they will each give a speech and participate in a debate with the other candidate (three kids, total, are running for the position).

Pod President gets to choose the seating chart for the day, bring their favorite snack to share, and choose the recess activity.

Hadley upped her campaign game with buttons! 🤣

WHAT I’M DREADING:

Nothing really at the moment. I’m just always overwhelmed with the school situation (even though we have a great routine going), and now I guess we need to start thinking about the holidays. I’m not sure how all of that will shake out.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

My Missouri Tigers beat Trav’s Kentucky Wildcats in football last Saturday.

They say, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it…” Well, I have an MU garden flag, and it’s flying! 🎉#zerochill Hayden noticed right away, and I’m not sure if Travis has noticed I changed it yet or not.

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

Last week, I binged Million Dollar Beach House on Netflix in a matter of a couple of days. In my defense, there are only six 30 minute episodes.

Then, I moved on to Virgin River which a few people suggested. I just finished episode 7, and I really like it. A perk to be late to watching VR is that I will finish Season 1 and Season 2 will be out next month! (Side note–Travis saw me watching it, and said he’d watched it back when shut down/quarantine started! I had no idea. 😂 )

I’m almost finished with The Guest List. This was definitely a popular read, and I was on the library wait list for quite some time. It’s pretty good. I hope to share about the books I read in October tomorrow or early next week.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

Honestly, I haven’t been listening to my regular podcasts recently since I mostly do that on my walks and while working out. I hope to get back on track with listening to those very soon!

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Landyn shared about this Target robe that she’s had for years. Apparently, Target quit selling it a couple of years ago, but a follower of hers shared that they saw Target was selling it again. #rundontwalk This is the best robe ever. I had a Target gift card, so I felt even better about the purchase.

I was in Walmart recently and saw this lightweight tunic jacket. It comes in a few colors, and I picked up the dark gray. I like that it’s lightweight, so I can wear it in the house or layer it to wear outside.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

It’s Halloween! This is one of our favorite holidays. Cool weather, candy, and costumes. So fun.

Hayden and Hadley’s costumes through the years..

2019: Ghostbuster and nerd

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

The kids’ birthday! Hayden and Hadley will be 11! How is that even possible?!

I think we wrapped up the birthday t-shirt tradition last year. I loved it so much, but I thought 10 was a good age to move on. I’ve said before that Hadley probably would have let me buy a her a b-day t-shirt until she’s 50, and Hayden was over it a couple of years ago.

We haven’t made any solid birthday plans just yet. This year, their birthday falls on a Friday, so we may let them hang with a few friends and keep it kind of simple.

Thanks so much for reading my What’s Up Wednesday post! Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

I hope you are having a great week.

Posted in Kids, What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Happy What’s Up Wednesday! On the last Wednesday of the month, Sheaffer and Shay host a link up to share a bit about what’s going on!

I can’t believe tomorrow is October! It’s no secret that I love fall, but October is my favorite month of the year. By October, we are in a school routine (even for an odd year like this one!), the weather is turning cooler, we have fall break, we visit the pumpkin patch, and of course, there’s Halloween!

Before I get too far into dreaming about October, I first need to wrap up September! Here’s what’s happening with us!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

I’ve been a slacker…and off my meal planning game…

  • Sunday: Subway sandwiches in between baseball games.
  • Monday: Rotisserie chicken, Trader Joe’s mushroom risotto, and broccoli before the kids’ cross country meet.
  • Tuesday: Shay’s Sloppy Joe’s , Bob Evans mashed potatoes, and salad.
  • Wednesday: leftovers
  • Thursday-Saturday: I had hoped to make my favorite Pumpkin Sausage Penne recipe, but I may push that to next week and wing it for meals the rest of the week.

Hadley earned the Red Plate last night because her teacher called and left me a message about how hard Hadley is working in class as well as how she is being a leader and a good classmate. Makes my mama teacher heart very proud.

Also, this week, we’ve enjoyed treats that the kids made in their pod on Monday. They were put into three baking groups for an apple baking challenge. The three groups made one of the following: mini apple pies, apple turnovers, and apple monkey bread bites.

They had such a great time, and the leftovers have been amazing.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Last fall break when we went glamping . It was definitely a fun experience.

I’m also reminiscing about this sweet little troop of girls. They started off as Daisies and are now Junior Girl Scouts. They had their first meeting of the year last Friday.

2017

WHAT I’M LOVING:

My new bar stools for my kitchen. We’d had the previous ones since we moved in six years ago, and it was time for an upgrade. I found these at At Home store, and they are two inches taller and more sturdy. Hopefully, we can get five years (or longer!) out of these too!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

I feel like a broken record, but yes, our lives revolve around our kids’ activities right now. From cross country to dance to baseball to Girl Scouts…that’s where you’ll find us. I do enjoy watching them do the things that they love even if it means early wake ups on the weekend, later bedtimes (for me!) on a weeknight, and miles on put on my car.

I’ve mentioned before that Hadley’s trying competition team this year. There will be three competitions (hopefully!) in the spring. She was excited to find this sign in our yard on Friday.

Friday evening, the kids had a cross country meet. The hosts of the events we’ve gone to have done such a wonderful job following protocols that then allow these kids to compete. I’ve been very impressed.

Hadley finished in 7th place, and Hayden had his first ever first place finish. We are so proud of both of them, and I love that Travis is coaching them.

Real talk: Trav’s family is a running family. My family is not. I always joke if you see me running, you’d better help me because that means someone is chasing me! 😉So, I guess they get their speed and agility from his side!

Friday night Hadley’s Girl Scout troop met for the first time this year. One of their fun activities was roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. It was the perfect evening for an outside meeting.

Saturday and Sunday Hayden had a baseball tournament. He pitched two of the four games over the weekend, and did an amazing job.

This team lost in the championship, but enjoyed their weekend playing ball.

Funny Hayden quote: When we arrived home very late on Sunday night from the championship game, Hayden was excited to see Homer. Homer sniffed Hayden a whole bunch, and Hayden said, “What Homer? Do I smell like a runner-up?” 😂

Then, Monday, some of the area schools put together a cross country meet here in town. We haven’t had rain in over two weeks, but Monday’s weather was the real test for these runners. They ran in wind and a light rain with cooler temps. The cooler temps were perfect for running…not so much the wind and rain. But…they persevered. Hadley placed 6th and Hayden had another 1st place finish. This was their first 3K meet of the year. The other two meets have been 1.2 miles.

WHAT I’M DREADING:

This topic always throws me off each month! I never want to sound negative. Sarcastic, yes. Negative, no. 😉

We’ve been in such a blessed position with the kids going to a pod to learn two days a week, our sitter comes over one day, and I’m with them the other two days. That being said, we haven’t had much clarification for a timeline to at least start with a hyrbid model, and I was really hoping my kids would be able to at least start going to school, even for just a couple days a week, soon. It sounds like November is our earliest option, but unfortunately, we still need the number of Covid cases to decline.

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

Basically, I’m just over here trying to get my life together! So, that’s what I’m working on. I’m also hoping to get a blog post together for this week (hopefully tomorrow!) about the books I read in September.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

I’m excited about having a couple of days off starting tomorrow. It will be nice to relax, unwind…and not set an alarm for a couple of days.

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I’m almost finished reading Two Can Keep a Secret which one of my friends recommended.

Lately, I feel like I haven’t had tons of time to read or watch many shows. If I have a few minutes, I like to watch some mindless shows like Real Housewives. I only have a couple episodes left of The Home Edit on Netflix. I’ve loved watching those ladies purge and organize other people’s closets, kitchens, and homes.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

I’ve been listening to random podcasts here and there, but lately, I turned back to Even the Rich podcast. This season focuses on the Chappaquiddick saga with Ted Kennedy.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Cardigans. On Repeat. I added this Amazon cardigan to my collection recently and love it. It’s so soft and not too heavy.

Also, I’ve continued to wear my Universal Thread cardigans from Target.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

We are taking a break from all the sports action and kids’ activities. I’m hoping for a few days of relaxation and family time.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

All things October.

Thanks so much for reading. Don’t forget to check out Sheaffer and Shay’s posts too!

I hope you are having a great week!