Airing My Laundry, One Post At A Time...

He Went To Canada

2026-05-25T20:57:32.348-06:00

"I have something to tell you, but I'm nervous," Tommy said at brunch a few weeks ago. He sat across from me and twisted a paper napkin in his hand. His eyes darted all over the place.

I'm one of those over-dramatic people so I immediately thought, "Oh God, he's failing college. He's not graduating after all. " Still, I forced a smile on my face because I needed to be supportive. No matter what.

"Tell me," I said as kindly as I could muster. Even though I wanted to flip my plate full of eggs, bacon, and tater tots in the air dramatically while shrieking, "WHAT IS GOING ONNNNNNNN?"

Tommy still seemed worried, but he cleared his throat and went, "I'm going to Canada. I already booked the plane tickets and hotel."

My first thought? Relief. He wasn't failing a class! Huzzah! The second? Wait. Canada? What? As in way up north Canada? And then, a third..

"This isn't, um, a 90 Day Fiance thing, is it?" I wondered. Because I watch all those shows and I know, I KNOW how they all end up.

Tommy gave me a Look. "No. It's my vacation."

And then he proceeded to tell me that he researched everything and the entire trip was inspired by that video they show in the Canada area in Epcot at Walt Disney World.

Tommy packed, and by packed, I mean he kind threw and stuffed things in the suitcase.

So I kinda cleaned it up a bit.

And then, on travel day, he woke up at 3 AM to catch a 6 AM flight. His connected in Chicago and had a long layover (he picked the cheapest flight, and the cheapest flight meant a 10 hour layover) so he got to explore the city.

He saw the Bean:

He got some pizza:

And walked around the water a bit before heading back to the airport:

Then he was on his way to Canada! He made it safely and has a full schedule of events. One of his first stops was the aquarium.

I am grateful that he's sending me photos and I know he's going to have the best time in Canada.

Deux par Deux Has The Cutest Kid Clothes

2026-05-20T18:44:17.838-06:00

I always loved dressing my kids in adorable outfits, complete with matching accessories. I heard about Deux par Deux and was transported back to when my children were tiny. They have high quality matching looks and I love all the styles. They've been around for 40 years, so they know what they are doing.

We were sent a gorgeous butterfly umbrella, and if you love the pattern, yes, there are clothes with it as well. This is perfect for blocking out the harsh sun as well as protecting you from the rain.

Deux par Deux has clothes for boys and girls with sizes from 3 months to 14 years.

Have a special occasion coming up? Check them out! There are the sweetest dresses and suits.

I mean, look! This is just one of the many dresses that they have. I love the details.

If you're looking for a gift idea for a young child or have a summer wedding, Deux par Deux has you covered. PLUS you can save 15% with the code AMBER24846

Let me know what you order!

Learn more about Deux par Deux at the following:

Hey, It's Okay

2026-05-18T20:46:31.432-06:00

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. You can link up any day of the week. All you have to do is make a list of what you're okay about. Simple! Please do not link up a post that has nothing to do with Hey, It's Okay. It's rude and I'll delete the link.

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

......to be proud of my son for graduating college over the weekend. My heart swelled when I saw him cross that stage. He did it!

......to hope Tommy has the best time in Canada. He let me know that he planned his own trip to Canada with his own money. Am I worried? A little. But I am proud of him for organizing everything. He'll be spending nearly a week in the Vancouver area. He was inspired to go from the video that plays in the Canada area at Epcot.

......to be glad Natalie passed her swim test. She wants to be a lifeguard at SeaWorld and had to go through various exercises to be sure she could handle it. She goes to HR this week and then training!

......to be going to see The Devil Wears Prada 2 on Wednesday with my Mom and kids. We recently watched the first one so all the characters will be fresh in our minds. (I quote "That's all," often.)

......to keep this in mind if I'm ever tempted to use AI. I see it everywhere these days and I can't help but feel for actual artists.

Graduating From UTSA

2026-05-17T20:53:53.453-06:00

We got the graduation program and the first thing I noticed was how thick it was.

There were over 50 pages. 50!

I flipped through it, marveling at all the names of the people graduating from college.

"We are going to be here for a long time," I surmised.

I didn't mind. Too much. After all, my son was graduating with his Bachelor's in Film & Media. (He also has an Associates in Video Cinematography.) It was a great day! An exciting day.

A long day.

Whew. I shifted in my seat, ignoring the slight pain in my left butt cheek.

Still, at least the Air Conditioning was strong.

When that familiar song came on and the graduates started emerging, my heart lifted.

It took about 30 minutes for everyone to filter in. I am not joking.

But I did find Tommy in that sea of navy blue and orange, so we waved and hooted and hollered at him. I pictured him as a little boy, having meltdowns, teachers calling me frequently. I promised--I swore to Tommy that everything would be okay, that he'd succeed. No matter what anyone said. I studied all I could about autism.

And look. Look. He was graduating college.

When his name was called, he did the dab and 67 move. He was jubilant as he crossed the stage. Maybe he was thinking about all the struggles he went through. And he persevered.

I won't even lie when I say I was thrilled when Tommy said we could go soon after he received his degree. Many other graduates were doing the same thing because if not, they'd have been waiting for another three hours.

We met him outside, and I was so proud. He did it!

And I don't think anyone will be shocked to know the spot that he picked to eat dinner.

The love for McDonald's runs in the family. What can we say? We adore the fries.

Tommy says he's slowly realizing what graduating means. No more papers. No more finals.

The REAL real world. Finding a job. His dream is to edit movies. And I know he can do it, as his resume is impressive. He's worked on countless projects.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

The Mandalorian & Grogu Collection At Bath & Body Works

2026-05-13T20:46:45.129-06:00

I cannot wait for The Mandalorian & Grogu to come to theaters. I know it'll be awesome since I've seen The Mandalorian. I am thrilled that companies are releasing special collections in anticipation for the movie. (I tried the meal from Burger King last week!)

The latest release is from Bath & Body Works and naturally, I had to check it out.

What was my fave items?

Well, this Pocketbac holder, for one. Not only is it adorable, but when you press the button, you hear Grogu's sounds. And naturally he's gripping his favorite blue cookie.

I thought this Wallflower PlugIn was fabulous. The details were gorgeous and I loved the colors. Behind this, you'll see the adorable tin.

And this scent was pleasant, but I have enough body wash. The scents are apple, sage, and salted lavender.

Finally, I thought this coin purse was precious. Look at that face! And in the back, another tin, and it was full of that cologne bottle. The cologne was pleasing, but I think I liked the bottle and tin better than the scent. If it goes on sale, I'll pick it up, because Grogu doing the Force, is the sweetest.

There were also candles, body sprays, soaps, and creams, but I just went for the Pocketbac holder. However, if there is a sale, I will be back.

Everything is available online and in stores!

Hey, It's Okay

2026-05-11T20:48:00.000-06:00

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

.......to have celebrated my Mom for Mother's Day and her birthday the next day. I'm so happy I get to live close to her to celebrate.

......to have enjoyed my Mother's Day with both my kids. Natalie is home for the summer from college, and Tommy is nearly finished.

......to know I'll tear up with Tommy graduates this Saturday. He'll have his Bachelor's in Film & Media so if anyone is hiring, let him know! He's been sending his resume out.

.....to be taking the kids to see Fried Green Tomatoes on Wednesday at Flix Brewhouse. It's back in theaters for the 30th anniversary I think? But I love the movie and they've never seen it, so I'm excited to share it with them.

......to have loved this sticker at Nowhere Bookshop. They have a lot of hilarious ones. If you need stickers, go here!

Moving A Packrat From The College Dorm

2026-05-10T21:06:00.001-06:00

"This is worse than my anxiety ridden dream," my Mom gasped as she took in all the stuff gathered haphazardly in Natalie's dorm room.

At lunch, prior to this, Mom had said she had frequent dreams where she had too much stuff to move out of her dorm back when she was in college.

And suddenly, her nightmare was smacking her in the face in the form of her granddaughter's belongings.

There seemed to be bags of things everywhere. Natalie had packed, kind of, and was shoving things randomly into containers.

We walked in the room and I suddenly was fully of aware of what those therapists in the Hoarders show must've felt like. Claustrophobic, for starters. And then the alarming urge to shout, "What the fu*k?"

But what else can you do but start grabbing stuff and getting it OUT? Especially when there is a deadline to be all the way GONE or else fees will be administered.

But truly, where did everything come from?

Oh and Natalie's face is like that because she had a stage makeup final in the morning. (She got an A.) But she didn't feel like taking it all off. So we moved her out like that and I think people in the building understand her antics at this point (she once walked around in a full face of Pennywise makeup) so no one even blinked an eye. (Though some parents did. I heard one mutter, "What kinda dorm is this?")

Anyhow, I knew where all the stuff had come from. Natalie would come home frequently and be like, "I forgot this," and she'd leave with a bag full of things. And this happened at least 5 times, and, well, those things remained in her dorm so when it came time to move out? Yeah. Hoarders Village.

PLUS she gets attached to inanimate objects, so she had like half her stuffies with her, because if she left Snoopy at home, his feelings would get hurt, and of COURSE Foofa had to join, because Foofa had been around since she was tiny.

It took several trips to get everything out. Thank goodness for this cart and a wagon we had brought. And thank goodness the elevator was working. The day before it BROKE and I had nightmares of us lugging the bins down the stairs. Natalie is one the top floor, naturally.

And on that top floor, she had this Pennywise looking out the window, and as we passed other families, one kid was like, "That was YOUR dorm? Cool!" because I guess Pennywise had lots of fans.

In the end we got it done. With 15 minutes to spare. Natalie promised that next year she wouldn't have this much stuff.

(I'm not sure I believe her.)

But it's finished. And she's home for the summer. She already has her new dorm room for Fall Semester. She's with the same roommate she had before because they got along so well. It's always a wonderful thing when that happens.

She's going to miss her school. Not finals or studying though. But she loves the area, the people, the professors..

And I still have one kid in college, and he moves out Tuesday, but thankfully (THANKFULLY) he does not have nearly as many things.

The Mandalorian & Grogu Meal At Burger King

2026-05-06T18:25:00.000-06:00

I have always loved Grogu. He's the cute little character in The Mandalorian. He's sometimes referred to as Baby Yoda, but his name is GROGU. And The Mandalorian & Grogu have a movie coming out later this month in theaters, and of course I'm going to see it.

In celebration of that movie, Burger King has released different meals.

I got the Grogu's Garlic Chicken Fries Meal.

Oh, and did you know I got to MEET Grogu and The Mandalorian? They wander Galaxy's Edge, and I totally stalked them. I was stopping at all the shopping booths and being like, "Where is The Mandalorian?" and I'd be told, "Oh, he's probably off planet," and I'd be like, "But when will he be on THIS ONE?" And finally, there he was with Grogu!

But anyway, back to the meal. Was it any good?

As I mentioned, I got the garlic chicken fries, the garlic sauce, fries, the special collectible cup (there's 4 different designs), and Grogu's Cookie Shake.

The chicken fries were potent. They were good, but do not kiss anyone after consuming these. If you like garlic, you'll be a fan. If you are not, avoid them.

And the sauce? It reminded of the Papa John's garlic butter sauce.

And you might be like, oh, Grogu is at your house! No. That's not Grogu. That's Grogu's cousin Steve.

If garlic fries aren't for you, there were other meal options. If you prefer the Whopper, there is a special one for the movie. If you want to try it all, there's a Bounty Bundle.

And there are CROWNS. I think the lady behind the counter was startled when I asked for a crown. But...but..Grogu is on it. They are free. Just ask for one.

And naturally I got the cup with Grogu on it. They aren't flimsy. Look at Grogu using the force.

And what about Grogu's Cookie Shake? I liked it! It's blue and it does taste like a cookie. Plus there were cookie crumbles on top. I probably should have had a Lactaid before drinking it. I paid for that a few hours later, but you know, WORTH IT.

I would totally get the shake again. I'd just have a Lactaid first.

If you want your own The Mandalorian & Grogu in, hurry over to Burger King. They are only available for a limited time. If you don't want any of the food and simply want the cup, I believe they are $2.

Will you be watching The Mandalorian & Grogu?

Hey, It's Okay

2026-05-04T17:49:00.002-06:00

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

......to be excited to spend Mother's Day with my mom and kids on Sunday. We're having a delicious brunch.

......to wish luck to everyone taking college finals this week--my kids are included in this. Natalie moves back home Friday and Tommy returns next week.

.....to have loved the movie Michael. Jaafar Jackson did an incredible job. It reminded me of what a kind soul Michael was.

.....to eventually plan to see The Devil Wears Prada 2. I enjoyed the first one and people have been saying the sequel is entertaining.

.....to have had to pick these Nilla Wafers up at Walmart because Grogu is the cutest.

Bookish Gift Ideas

2026-05-03T18:01:00.000-06:00

Reading is the best. I do it daily. Instead of scrolling on social media, I'll pick up a book. (Mind you, I still pop over to TikTok and such, but only after I've read a few chapters.)

Many others love reading as well, so I have a list of fabulous bookish gift ideas. Mother's Day is coming up, so perhaps Mom would like one of these picks? Or if a birthday is approaching? Graduation?

I found all of these at Target, but I imagine they can be found elsewhere as well.

This bag was from Reese's Book Club, and I found it to be adorable. It's the perfect way to carry library books.

This is the cutest journal to keep track of the books you've read, and the ones you'd like to read.

Need a fabulous hat for the next book club meeting? This one caught my eye.

And here's another bag to add to the collection. I have so many tote bags that I switch up.

Finally, here's another hat. I love the color.

And of course, an actual book is always a smart gift choice. I have a list of my fave books if you need recommendations.

Do you love to read?

College Graduation Pics Ideas

2026-04-29T18:52:00.000-06:00

"Wow, there are...one, two, three, four, FIVE other people taking pictures right now," my son Tommy observed as we walked his college campus for graduation photos.

He was correct.

Others had the same idea we did: come on a Sunday. Earlier in the day. When it was overcast.

Tommy was the only boy. The rest were all girls, all in white dresses, some with professional photographers.

Tommy? Well, he had his Mama and her iPhone 12 ProMax.

Boys can be easier to photograph. They aren't as picky. Heck, when I asked what he wanted to wear under the gown, I was met with a blank stare.

(In the end I brought a Disney button down top since Tommy is a proud Disney Adult.)

Anyhow, one of Tommy's favorite things to do is eat, so he wanted a photo in front of the cafe. He has an unlimited meal plan, so he frequents the spot.

We also snapped a pic in front of his dorm building. So he can look back and remember how it felt to lug his crap up two stories.

Oh, and, a poignant shot is them walking into to the student union. They might remember how frightened and nervous they were as a freshman, and now they walk in as a senior, confident, shoulders back, determined.

Most colleges have poles with their logo on them, so have the graduate step up and make the college sign. Tommy's college mascot is a Roadrunner, and this is their sign.

And don't be afraid to let them get silly! The photos don't all have to be serious---those are boring. I found these glasses at Walmart.

Take a shot with the gown draped over the shoulder, with the college visible. And yes, that's the Disney top Tommy went with.

If the campus has a mascot statue, get some photos. Mind you, there might be a line, but be patient.

Does the campus have a beautiful area? Grab some shots there. Tommy's college has this lovely waterfall spot.

Stair shots are always a fun idea!

And finally, try to incorporate items that have to do with their major. Tommy is hoping to work in film with his Film & Media degree (he has a Video Cinematography Associate's Degree), so I found this clapboard.

I was happy with how the photos turned out. I am ordering graduation announcements, so these will be perfect for those. (Snapfish usually has 70% off photo card deals!) Did I tear up snapping these? Yes. But I am glad I have a bunch of pics I remember this time in Tommy's life.

Did you get graduation shots?

Hey, It's Okay

2026-04-27T17:53:00.001-06:00

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

.....to have had the best time taking graduation photos of Tommy at his college over the weekend. We got some good shots in. And yes, as I figured I would last week when I mentioned this, I did tear up. I'm so proud of him!

......to be hoping to see the Michael movie over the weekend. Natalie is aching to see it.

......to be reading Count My Lies by Sophie Stava. It's about Sloane, who has always been a liar. She stretches the truth often to make her life seem more exciting. She goes a bit too far when she discovered Jay and his daughter at a park--she lies and says she's a nurse when she helps the little girl with a bee sting. Soon after, she's hired as their nanny, and Sloane begins to worry her lies will get out of control. The book is also about Violet, who is the mother of the little girl--and she has some lies of her own. I figured it would end in an explosive way, and I was correct. It did keep me guessing!

......to love this graduation cap topper. Tommy loves Bob Ross, so it's perfect. AdvbelleArtsShop makes a bunch of wonderful ones on Etsy.

Affordable Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2026-04-26T20:10:00.000-06:00

Mother's Day is May 10th. Sometimes figuring out what to give a Mom or mother figure can be difficult. I mean, they do so much. You want to give them the world. But in this economy, it isn't exactly possible. Still, I have many ideas that won't break the bank.

To start with, if Mom loves Diet Coke as I do, this hat is a win. It's less than $20. Get it here.

Cozy slippers are always a fabulous choice. These are especially pretty. And fuzzy, and soft. Perfect for a relaxing morning. Pick them up here.

If the sweatshirt is out of the price range, these fuzzy socks are under $10. Most stores have various inexpensive socks with fun designs that always make an amusing gift.

This Mom candle smells amazing and it's pretty! You can't see, but the top looks like a flower.

I know mugs are overdone, but they can also be used to hold pens and such. So perhaps this would come in handy on Mom's workspace if she doesn't need another mug. Find it here.

I happen to love reading and I know many others do as well. If the Mom in your life is also a bookish fan, this tote bag is a wonderful choice.

Your Mom can proclaim she's a Mama with this beautiful sweatshirt. It is available here.

Have you finished Mother's Day shopping yet?

New Treats I Tried In The Spring

2026-04-22T16:59:00.000-06:00

Yes! It's a new season which generally means companies release new snacks. And of course I need to try them. They are all available in most grocery stores now.

Reese's loves to bring out different flavors, and I always try them, so when I saw this, I was like, yes! You cannot go wrong with chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallow.

We are so excited for the Doctor Doom movie, so I had to get these Oreos. Even better, the creme changes color!

Butterfingers are delicious, so when I spotted a French Toast flavor, it was immediately added to my cart. I prefer the original flavor, but this was a fun change.

It's going to get extremely hot soon, so these dippin dots sundaes will be a nice treat. I am a sucker for cotton candy flavors.

Searching for a scrumptious dip for your next get together? This chocolate chip cookie dough dip was amazing! I paired it with vanilla pita chips.

Finally, another fantastic treat for the summer will be these ice cream sandwiches from Chipwich. If you love mint chocolate chip as I do, these will be a hit! Even better, they were inspired by Thin Mints.

Which one of these do you want to try first?

Hey, It's Okay

2026-04-20T17:21:00.001-06:00

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

.....to be going to Tommy's college so I can take his graduation pics this weekend. I'll probably cry.

......to have submitted a recipe to win free HuHot for a year. Check this post out here to see how you can win!

.....to be tired of all the rain we have been getting. I mean, yes, we needed it, but it keeps coming, and I feel for the people at the Fiesta celebrations. It's this event that happens in San Antonio every April for 10 days. There's music and tasty food.

......to have been enjoying the show Rooster on HBO Max. It's about a divorced bestselling author who goes to a college where his daughter works to support her after her husband cheats. And gets the other woman pregnant. Oops.

.....to have really enjoyed the book Michael Without Apology by Catherine Ryan Hyde. It's about Michael, who nearly died in a fireworks accident when he was a child. Michael goes to college and meets Professor Dunning, who also had an accident and wears his scars proudly. Michael is still working on this. In film class, Michael decides to do his project on other people with scars, including himself. Will he learn to embrace his imperfections? This was such a moving read and I think many will be touched by the book.

Win Free HuHot For A Year

2026-04-19T20:24:00.000-06:00

Yum.

HuHot. It's the spot where you can build your own Mongolian stir fry. As much as you want. Seriously. No cut off. AS MUCH AS YOU WANT.

It's why we go often. You truly get your money's worth and in this economy, this is an important thing.

And even better, right now there is a recipe contest going on where you can win FREE HUHOT FOR A YEAR!

Local restaurants are picking weekly winners and they get a $25 gift card. Your recipe will appear on a board like this.

And since we're in Texas, our restaurant is decorated for Fiesta--it's a colorful & exciting 10 day event that celebrates culture & heritage. (Plus, there's chicken on a stick!)

But back to HuHot. If you've never been, it's simple. You grab a bowl, go up to the line, and fill it with noodles, meats, veggies, sauces..there is so much to choose from. Vegetarians are welcome! Vegans are welcome! Anyone can put together their own special concoction.

Come up with a fabulous recipe, submit it, and you could WIN.

I call mine Hangry Happens.

Hurry though. The contest only goes on until April 31st. So get to your local HuHot and create a masterpiece.

All you do is go to the HuHot website and input the recipe you created with a photo. That's it! Perhaps you'll be grand prize winner.

Good luck!

The Grim Bakers In San Antonio

2026-04-15T16:30:00.000-06:00

I like horror.

I like sweets.

The Grim Bakers puts those two things together, so I knew I'd be a fan.

It's located in the Wonderland of the Americas mall in the food court. Their goodies change often, so it's cool to stop in and see what new treats they have.

For example, I had to try this cake that was inspired by Killer Klowns of Outer Space.

And yes, it was good. I like how they have shovels as spoons.

I also liked this Happy Face pie. What a creepy treat! And I bet it is delicious.

Check out all their cupcakes. Which yes, are amazing. We've purchased some before. I can almost bet I'd love the Sour Boo Tart. I tend to enjoy lemon desserts.

Love Beetlejuice? Check out these eclairs!

Plus they have coffees and other beverages. And ice cream.

We had to get this Frankenstein ice cream. It had vanilla and chocolate soft serve, a ganache topping, and pink whipped cream, plus nuts. And yes, you get to keep the mug.

It was incredible and we'd order it again. I shared one with my daughter. Yes, they have cones as well if it's too much for you.

Be sure to stop in! If you know someone who loves spooky movies, a treat from The Grim Bakers would be the perfect gift idea for them.

It is open 10 AM-7PM Tues-Saturday and 10AM-6PM on Sunday.

Hey, It's Okay

2026-04-13T18:05:00.002-06:00

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

.....to have gone to a clowns event with Natalie over the weekend. She dressed as Pennywise and won 2nd place in the costume contest.

.....to be enjoying the new series on Hulu called The Testaments. It's the continuation of The Handmaid's Tale and is based off the book with the same name. HOWEVER, there are many changes, so don't expect the show to be exactly like the book.

......to have watched Coachella videos on TikTok and was reminded that I could have never done it. Even when I was young. Too many people. I'd be overstimulated so quickly.

.......to be going to see Bridesmaids with Mom and Natalie on Sunday. It's back in theaters for the 15th anniversary I think it is? So if you want to re-watch, check to see if it's showing at your local theater. The movie is hilarious!

.......to have ordered this Frankenstein ice cream at The Grim Bakers. The pink whipped cream is supposed to be the brains. It was tasty. I shared with Natalie because there was A LOT of ice cream packed in the cup. And yes, we get to keep the cup.

Clown Costume Contest As Pennywise

2026-04-12T18:29:00.001-06:00

Over the weekend there was a clown event.

And when there's a clown event, there is Natalie.

She has loved Pennywise the Clown from the It movies for years.

Kings Of Horror, who have put on so many cool events, had a Clowns, Clowns, Clowns one over the weekend at the Wonderland of Americas mall. Natalie was like, heck yes! She'd have loved if actors from It or Welcome To Derry was there (Casey Hartnett and Sarah Voight from Terrifier 2 were though!), but she was still thrilled to attend.

There are fabulous small businesses set up. If you know this movie, you are cool.

We also were amused by this Elmo.

Natalie wants to collect all the It Funko Pops and was thrilled to add Ben & Mike to her collection. She's aching for Richie but he's the most difficult to find.

Natalie also decided to enter the costume contest. She had made her Pennywise costume bloodier this time.

And yes, she does her makeup. I wouldn't know how to do it.

There wasn't a lot of competition on a Sunday. There was 4 total.

She got 2nd place! She got an autographed photo from the Terrifier movie, a t-shirt, and a free poster. She was so happy.

For Mother's Day weekend, Kings of Horror will be having a Queens Of Horror event, and the guests will be announced soon. It'll be held at the Wonderland of Americas mall, so stay tuned. We cannot wait.

And who knows, maybe Pennywise will make another appearance.

Vera Bradley Tumblers At Target

2026-04-08T19:06:00.000-06:00

I do love a pretty tumbler.

Do I need anymore tumblers?

No.

But am I still drawn to them?

Yes.

I mean, LOOK.

How anyone can walk past and not look at this beautiful Vera Bradley tumbler is beyond me. And even better, this is only $24.99. I nearly fell out of my seat when people would tell me how expensive Stanley Cups were.

Oh, and they come in different sizes too. These are the kid tumblers, but honestly, it's the perfect size to pour a cocktail in.

There were Vera Bradly tumblers with handles as well!

And again. The designs! Mother's Day is approaching and these would be a fabulous gift. I forgot to swoon over the toppers!

Oh, and there are also mini totes that you can clip onto purses. I'd shove change or a chapstick in there. I'm forever losing those things.

These are all at Target. In store and online. Some designs are selling out quick, so if you want one, I'd get it.

You can click HERE to shop. Just type in Vera Bradley tumblers and they'll all pop up.

Which design is your fave?

Hey, It's Okay

2026-04-06T17:26:00.000-06:00

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

......to always love having my kids home for the weekend--they were here for Easter, and we had the best time. They did get baskets, and we had brunch with my Mom.

......to have taken them to see Project Hail Mary--I had already seen it, but they hadn't, and I didn't mind watching again. They loved the film as I do! Natalie wants to try and make a mini Rocky one day.

.......to currently be reading The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage. It's about Lexi, who was born into royalty, but broke away from it to live her dreams. She's off in Australia when she hears that her father and brother, who had been heir to the throne, has died. Suddenly she has a choice to make: will she accept being the next heir, or will she give up the crown to her awful Uncle? Reading this reminds me that it would not be easy being a royal. I'd miss my privacy and I'd lose it with all the rules.

......to be going to a Clowns, Clowns, Clowns event with Natalie over the weekend. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. She will be going as Pennywise.

......to have gotten this outfit for Tommy in celebration of the new Spider-Man Brand New Day movie coming out in July. (Get the shirt here and the bottoms here.)

Confused? Well, Tom Holland was pictured in it a few years back:

HUNTRIX KPOP Demon Hunters Happy Meal

2026-04-05T19:44:00.000-06:00

I am a sucker for trying new foods even when I have no idea what movie the new foods come from.

I mean, yes, I have heard of Kpop Demon Hunters--I do not live in a cave. I know that popular song because it plays everywhere. But I've never seen it. Still, when McDonald's announced a collab, I was like, you know what, I'm in!

The box was pretty cool and colorful. I'm not sure who the characters are, but they seem like fun ladies.

Here's what the box contained. I got the 10 piece chicken nugget meal, and it came with the shaker fries, sauces, nuggets, and that shaker bag.

Here are the sauces. The demon sauce was purple and spicy and the hunter sauce is like a spicy sweet & sour.

I am not joking when I say purple. And I like it! I'm a fan of spicy foods, so I thought it was tasty. I preferred it over the hunter sauce.

And the shaker fries? Well, the flavoring did taste like ramen, and I like ramen, so I was happy with them.

I don't think I need this meal again, but I WOULD order nuggets and the demon sauce. I did enjoy the combo.

Oh, and here were the cards that I got. Again, no idea who they are, but the cat creature reminds me of how I look after I guzzle down my crisp Diet Coke from McDonald's.

This meal is available for a limited time, so if you want one, I'd stop in as these kind of meals sell out quickly.

All You Can Eat At JPot San Antonio

2026-04-01T18:21:00.001-06:00

If you tell me a restaurant is All You Can Eat, I'm game.

In this economy, I need to get my money's worth and I feel I can do that when I can keep ordering the food.

JPOT is a spot like this.

And even better, on select days, kids eat free. I think kids to them are 10 and under. If Natalie looked younger, I'd have been all, "You're 10 today." I'm kidding. It's best to be honest. (*Shifty eyes*)

Anyhow, Natalie picked this spot to celebrate her birthday. You create Hot Pots. And for $5 more, you can grill meats and seafood in the center of the table.

Oh, and it's lovely inside.

We liked the Cherry Blossom decor. I hope to see them live in Washington one day. I know the real things are gorgeous!

Here is one side of the menu. If you want to see the full menu, check it out here with current prices. This is the grill side, and look at all the choices. And yes, they are NEVERENDING.

Plus there's even more choices on the line. Like nuggets and fries for the picky kids, plus other selections.

Plus we found veggies, spices, and ice cream bars. Also all you can eat.

And a bunch of sauces for the Hot Pot and meats and seafood. Yup, there's seafood as well. Natalie tried the octopus and said it was good. Warning: it does arrive with the tentacles. We should have sang Poor Unfortunate Souls with it. Next time, I guess.

I'm not joking when I saw there is A LOT of food. We were surrounded by it. We joked that this was how Henry VIII dined. Every area of the table had some sort of meat on it.

And how did the hot pot come out? I picked a spicy broth, and I liked it. Natalie tried the miso and said it was tasty. I put chicken, pork belly, and veggies in there. Plus other sauces and spices. I can't recall. I felt like a witch making a potion. It was fun.

Would we go back? Yes! We can't afford to go ALL the time, but on special occasions, yes. Because as I mentioned, you will get your money's worth. And yes, they do military discount as well.

Have you ever been to a restaurant like this?

Hey, It's Okay

2026-03-31T09:32:00.000-06:00

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

.....to be excited to have both my kids home for Easter weekend. Yes, the Easter Bunny still visits.

......to have enjoyed Project Hail Mary. I mentioned I was seeing it last week with my Mom, and we highly recommend the film. I want to read the book now.

.......to still have a giveaway for a $20 Amazon eGift card here. It ends on Friday!

.......to have picked up this Strawberry Sando at H-E-B. They make sandwiches like these in Japan and have become popular over here. So what did I think? I was a fan. The strawberries tasted fresh, the whipped cream was delish, and the milk bread finished it all off perfectly. I'd get this again!

Easter Gift Ideas For Twenty-Somethings

2026-03-29T18:09:00.000-06:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I still do Easter baskets for my kids. And they aren't exactly kids anymore. My son is 24 and my daughter is 19. But I enjoy putting baskets together for them and they appreciate the baskets--so I might keep doing it until I'm bedridden.

Oh gosh, I hope I'm never bedridden.

Dang.

ANYHOW.

If you're like me and also do baskets for older people, I have suggestions. And this doesn't include candy, because different candy is a given. Unless you're one of those households who do not do candy. I cannot relate though. We cannot go without Cadbury Cream Eggs.

Onto the basket goodies.

Natalie plays guitar, so I had to get this guitar Bum Bumz. It's from the show Friends, which she also appreciates. Bum Bumz has many adorable options for under $10.

Okay, yes, maybe a face mask is odd, but the flu is going around and I just read that there could be another Covid variant, so yes, I will still wear masks sometimes. Makana Masks are incredibly comfortable and hey, I haven't gotten sick *knocks on wood*

I found these at Target, and I thought they were adorable. Life can be crazy, and these would be cute to have displayed nearby. Who doesn't love chocolate?

Hand sanitizers from Bath & Body Works are an affordable choice. As I mentioned above, there are germs going around, so these are nice to have.

Fugglers are popular, and now you can get a Baby Fuggler, PLUS a car seat that attaches to a car vent. My daughter has him (he's named Gus) in her vehicle and he's an adorable companion.

Okay, so this Gilmore Girls sunshade is bigger than a basket, but it can go beside it. It's perfect for Gilmore Girls fans and under $20 at Boxlunch.

Apparently Nee-Doh is all the rage these days thanks to social media. We always had a few in the house--they are fun to squeeze and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you're stressed, grab the Nee-Doh. If you're mad, chuck the Nee-Doh. Kidding. (Kinda.) But I was lucky to find the egg after they were put on the shelf. If you manage to find one, you might be a hero. I just grabbed one by the way. All the resellers, I hope both sides of your pillow are forever warm. Shame on you.

I hope you were able to find some ideas and if not, well, just stick to the chocolate bunny I guess. I can never say no to a chocolate bunny. (Or, as mentioned before, a Cadbury Cream Egg. Or PEEPS.)