What's Up Wednesday ~ August Edition

Hey y'all!  It's that time for the What's Up Wednesday post, which I love doing each month.  It is for sure my re-cap of the month these days :).

What we're eating this week..........

Monday - Chicken alfredo pasta

Tuesday - chicken fingers and tater tots from Trader Joe's

Wednesday - church

Thursday - slow cooker King Ranch Chicken

Friday - fundraiser event

Saturday - out for hamburgers

What I'm reminiscing about......

I officially have a college student and we moved her in a few weeks ago.  Move in weekend was actually very smooth.  It hasn't been all smooth since then, but overall good.  

Brook drew this sweet picture of she and Isabella when they were kids as a going away present before she left. 

This is one car packed.  We drove 2 cars packed with stuff! 

Breakfast on move-in day

Dorm rooms have a come a long way in 31 years....this one has a full kitchen! 

Her bedroom 

Saying so long...before some tears were shed

While we were off moving her big sister, Brook stayed in town and got to spend some time with this cute great of mine :)

What I'm loving......

We got a new dishwasher!  When we moved back to the USA 2 1/2 years ago, I swore I would get all new appliances.  Well, other things took priority and it has been a slow process.  The dishwasher that came with our house had not been working well for a few months.  We finally bought a new one and I am so thankful.

Before 

After!

What we've been up to..........

Transitions

August was a month of transitions for our family. My husband started a new job, I began working from home 3 days a week (& I still go in the office the other 2), my oldest daughter started college (so we facetime a lot these days) and my youngest daughter started the new school year.  

This was after the first day of class, so her first day of college photo :)

First day for my youngest

What I'm dreading........

The first thing that comes to my mind is heat for another month.  Oh, please let it begin to cool down soon!

What I'm working on..........

I am working on just a few little things like cleaning out drawers/cabinets in our house, planning a meal for our Sunday School class to serve to a local college ministry, thinking ahead of small trips this fall, and the normal stuff like home and work.

What I'm excited about.......

Our daughter is coming home from college this weekend!!!

One of many facetime pictures!

What I'm reading/watching........

The newest show I've added this month is Cash Pad.  It features JoJo and Jordan from the Bachelorette who remodel random spaces to rent as an Air BNB.  

What I'm listening to.........

I am not watching Bachelor in Paradise this season, but I have listened to a podcast on an episode and that was enough this season!  I have been listening to some random music lately, but nothing in particular.

What I'm wearing.........

I am basically wearing jeans and a top to work these days and days I am home, I could be found in lounge pants and a t-shirt :).

What I'm doing this weekend........

We are attending a fundraiser, going to a college football game, and enjoying a long weekend with our family since our daughter will be home.

What I'm looking forward to next month........

September brings the official beginning of fall, so even if the temperatures don't show it, mentally, it is still a good thing!

I am also looking forward to a weekend trip we will take to visit our college girl, which includes a day off work for me...Yay!

What else is new..........

3 random things from this month..

I made brisket for the first time, which turned out so tender and delicious!  I bought it at Trader Joe's and basically just followed the instructions exactly on the package.  I covered the meat with chicken broth and baked in a pot for several hours.  Yum!

We went to see Jim Gaffigan, who is one of our favorites, and as you would guess, he is hilarious.  It was fun to finally see him in person after watching all of his specials.  

Back to food, we went to a Japanese steakhouse last weekend.  We have wanted to do that with our youngest for a while now.  We declared it her back to school celebration and it was a fun experience.  We had soo much food and it was very good and fun to see it cooked before your eyes.

Underneath the first plate of veggies on the bottom shelf, was a plate of rice, noodles, then a plate of meat. 

We made it through August! September and fall are coming!!!

Thanks for reading and have a great Wednesday!

What's Up Wednesday ~ July Edition

Hi!  I am linking up today for the fun What's Up Wednesday post.

What we're eating this week.........

Monday - baked chicken, green beans, roasted veggies, sweet potatoes

Tuesday - fajita salad

Wednesday - roast

Thursday - ?

Friday - out

What I'm reminiscing about...........

I had a college reunion with my sorority roommate and suitemates last weekend.  We met 31 years ago and it had been 22 years since we had all been together.  It was so, so fun!

What I'm loving...........

Because I haven't said it in a while, I love these two little people :).  

What we've been up to............

Summer has been about the same for me....just work.  However, last weekend, we did something fun and different and went to the batting cages.  Brook had not done this before and did pretty good.

What I'm dreading........

Last week we said so long to a friend who moved.

In less than 2 weeks, we move our daughter to college.  This is a dread and an excitement....mixed feelings for sure!

What I'm working on..............

I am working on a checklist before Isabella moves to college.

What I'm excited about.............

While I have some dread about the college experience, I am also very excited for our daughter and praying for us all in the transitions.

What I'm watching/reading...........

I just finished the Bachelorette, minus the Men Tell All, which seemed toxic to me and not like an escape.  Another show we like to watch is Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld.

Meanwhile, I am still working through the book, Winning the War.

What I'm listening to.............

We went to see Hamilton last week and loved it.  I had been listening to the music a lot before going to the play and it helped me enjoy it more.

What I'm wearing..............

Whatever is cool and comfortable these days!  I am ready for fall!

What I'm doing this weekend................

lunch with a friend and some time with family

What I'm looking forward to next month..............

I actually am going to work from 3 days a week and look forward to that.

What else is new.................

I ordered a few things from the Nordstrom sale, Target and Amazon Prime Day.  It looks like more than it is, but a lot of this is college stuff and a few Christmas gifts. 

Here we are at another mid-week, end of the month wondering where did summer go.  I guess it is because I work, but while I do enjoy the break from school for my daughters, I am not sad to see summer begin to fade away.

Have a great day!

Friday Favorites ~ Recently :)

Woo hoo!!  We made it to another Friday and I am doing a Friday Favorite of recent events.

ONE

Last week, my best friend from Colombia came to visit and brought us some of our favorite goodies! 

We had not seen each other in 2 1/2 years, so it was great to catch up with her. 

TWO

We spent 4th of July some of our favorite people....my greats! 

Our girls were out of town, so we had a day with friends and family. 

I had a few simple decorations around the house for the holiday

THREE

I tried a new Southern Living recipe for Shrimp and Grits casserole this week and it was so good!

FOUR

Hallmark in July

I am catching up on Hallmark movies and watching some Christmas movies I had never seen before!

FIVE

Meals with friends

I had dinner with two friends this week and a lunch date with my sister.

All were so refreshing!

Hope you have a good Friday and weekend!

Let's Look At.....June 2019

I am linking up today for the Let's Look At series....this month's focus is your typical day. So lucky for you, this will be a fairly short post :).

I aim to wake up around 6:30 every morning, but it seems like I always wake up earlier.  I try to stay in bed until 6:30 or 7 though.  I will read and check my phone during this time.

I get ready for work and try to do at least one household chore....clean the kitchen, put on a load of clothes or fold clothes, or something else.  If I am cooking dinner that night, I will do some dinner prep.

Shortly after that is done, I leave for work to get there a little early and get a head start on emails that have come in since the day before.  I try to work on these before I log into our phone system to take calls.

For those who are wondering, I am a corporate travel agent.  I am booking airline, hotel, car and train reservations for corporate clients and for lots of conferences.  

Thankfully, I am able to leave every day during my lunch.  I like to do this to feel "human".  Some days I go out to lunch and other days I run errands, like Target, the grocery store, bank, etc. and then will eat at my desk when I get back.  

After work, I am always so ready to be home  Once I get home, dinner is the first thing I do.  Depending on who else is home, I usually will call on the way home and have someone else get dinner started and I do finishing touches when I get there.  On a good day, I am sitting down by 7pm with a clean kitchen!  

I spend the rest of my night being lazy, unless if we have plans.  I watch tv, catch up on phone/computer emails and be mom.  I am just so spent in so many ways after work, I find myself being lazy.  

So there is my fairly boring day.....dinner prep, work, dinner, laziness :).

Senior Year / Graduation

Happy Friday!  

This is a favorite, although it is a belated favorite from last month.

Isabella had a busy month of attending graduation parties and events.

There was a senior banquet at our church for the seniors.  Here is a picture of the girls with some of their leaders too:

The next weekend, was graduation!

My sister in law came with her kids, and this is Isabella with her youngest cousin.

Father and daughter

Grandparents

Family photo

Our graduate

Sisters

Aunt Sara

Grandparents

We talked about afterwards what a blessing it was for Isabella to have all 4 grandparents at her high school graduation.  That was a special treat.

It was a long ceremony, but a good day.

Now on to college prep!