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

Pride Section At Michaels

2026-06-17T18:14:54.459-06:00

First of all, check out this adorable duck! I love him.

I was in Michaels the other day and stumbled upon their Pride section. I was drawn to all the colors.

Plus, it's amazing when stores have a display. It can help people feel accepted and seen, which is always a win.

Michaels has a little bit of everything. Joining a parade? There are options! Having a Pride party? Check out the decor.

I am a fan of this bouquet. If someone is having a party, bring these as a gift.

Oh, and these buttons are fabulous. I am putting them on my travel backpack.

I need to get this heart for my door.

Need a new tumbler for the summer? Look at this one! It's gorgeous.

So again, if you need some spectacular Pride goodies, check out Michaels. Everything is currently 40% off, so you'll get a great deal.

Hey, It's Okay

2026-06-15T17:34:08.953-06:00

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 excited that it's my birthday week. My birthday is Friday and we are going to The Melting Pot to celebrate. If you've never been, you're missing out. It's CHEESE fondue. It's CHOCOLATE fondue.

......to hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day weekend. If you need gift ideas, I have some.

......to be glad that Natalie survived her first shift as a Lifeguard. She said there were tons of people, and all sorts of things happened: a missing child, a bloody nose...

.....to be sad that Spurs lost to the Knicks, but also be proud of the Knicks. There were some close games.

.....to not understand why people are excited that Kanye is coming to perform in San Antonio next month. Did they forget all the awful things he's said and done?

......to have picked up this green mustard from French's, and yeah, it tastes like regular mustard. Only it's green. I'm amused.

New Appetizer & Sauce At Hu Hot

2026-06-14T17:49:01.628-06:00

Stir fry always makes me happy. I'm even happier when it's ALL YOU CAN EAT stir fry. Over at Hu Hot, you get to create as many stir fry bowls as you wish. Needless to say, we are there quite often, because I feel like I truly get my money's worth over there.

There are locations all over the US, so there could be one near you.

If you pop in for the month of June on Tuesdays, you get triple points on the Hu Hot app, so you'll earn free food much faster.

PLUS, there's a new appetizer called Jalapeno Dragon Rounds. They're battered jalapeños served with a ranch sauce and yup, we were a fan. There was a kick but not to the point where it was too much.

And there's a new sauce called Mongo Loco Fiesta. It's a blend on onions, garlic and red pepper with hints of citrus and ancho chilis. So yes, there is a slight spice. I put it on top of the bowl I put together which was yakisoba noodles, cabbage, tomatoes, baby corn, and green onions.

I'd use the sauce again for sure. All the flavors were fantastic.

And the new appetizer? We gobbled them up.

If you want to try the Mongo Loco Fiesta and Jalapeno Dragon Rounds, hurry into Hu Hot before they go away.

And if spicy foods aren't your thing, it's okay! There are many other sauces that are not spicy at all. There's something for everyone at Hu Hot!

Father's Day Gifts For Under $20

2026-06-10T18:18:17.950-06:00

Father's Day is June 21st and yes, the economy currently sucks. Many don't have the extra funds to purchase gifts. But it's okay, if you're working with less than $20, I have ideas. Of course there's always DIY options, but if you're like me and have NO crafting abilities whatsoever, these gifts are affordable options.

People can be crazy these days, so having a knife on you is a wise option. Seriously, have you seen the headlines? Folks are losing their minds. My Sign Center has a bunch of personalized gifts available, and I was drawn to the knife. The style is sleek, and it's small enough to fit into a pocket. Even better, it's under $20. They can personalize the name of Dad! Pick up the knife HERE.

Need a unique frame? Is Dad proud of his mow lines? This was at Walmart for under $10.

Folks will tell you NOT to go for mugs as a gift idea, but some of them are fun. If Dad is cranky in the morning, this is the perfect mug for him. (And it's under $10 at Walmart!)

Did you know The Rock has a skincare line for men at Target called Papatui? He had everything. Moisturizers, deodorant, cologne...I thought these pimple patches could come in handy. Sometimes pimples pop up in grown adults, so having these on hand would help. All items I saw were less than $20, and most were below $10.

If Dad loves his sweets, these funnel cake popcorn caught my eye. It's the perfect addition to movie night. I also found these at Target, along with a plethora of other goodies.

Finally, if you want to make Dad laugh, there are Spongebob fugglers. They are keychains, so if Dad has a work backpack, he can clip it on. We ended up getting the Squidward one for Tom. Order Spongebob HERE. (If you want all 5, they are available for $29 HERE.)

I hope there's something here that can be a useful gift. If anything, make a card or offer to make breakfast. (But clean up afterwards!) So are you ready for Father's Day?

Hey, It's Okay

2026-06-09T07:30:08.324-06:00

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

......to have gone and seen Scary Movie 6. Some people said it wasn't funny at all, but I laughed. Scary Movie 2 is still my favorite though.

.....to be proud of Natalie for passing all her lifeguard tests. She had to do some crazy swim tests, plus written tests, and she made it through!

......to be proud of the Spurs for winning Game 3 of the NBA finals against the Knicks. They are still down by 2, but I think they can pull off the win.

.......to hope the kids have fun watching Backrooms. I did not have the urge to sit through that, but they know all the lore and such, so they are watching the movie this week.

.....to love this bag from HEB. I had to pick it up because it's so true.

Ridiculous Comments About Pride Month

2026-06-07T16:59:39.752-06:00

June is Pride Month. And for some reason, being accepting upsets certain people. I'll never understand it because didn't they learn the lesson to be kind in Kindergarten? Or were they asleep during that part? My daughter is in the LGBTQIA+ community, so I am an ally, and I tend to take it personally when someone tells me they are against Pride.

There are all sorts of comments being made about June. The same ones tend to be recycled, so I figured it might be helpful to clear up some ridiculous misconceptions about the month.

These are some real comments I have received on my blog and on social media accounts. (Seriously, I had a reel on Instagram hit 102K views and over 1000 comments, and yup, some ignorant folks flooded in.)

1. "June should be for the military." I get this so often on my page, it's comical at this point. My Mom was in the military. I was married to someone in the military. Neither of them are offended that June is Pride Month. And here's a shocker for those people: NOVEMBER is National Veterans and Military Families month. Furthermore, May is National Military Appreciation Month. If people just did a little research, they'd know this.

2. "Keep Pride out of schools." How is being accepting a BAD thing? I'm in Texas, and they are trying to force the Ten Commandments to be in classrooms. But heaven forbid there's a rainbow. I know many teens feel welcome and safe when they have spotted Pride flags. Several have even stated they didn't take their lives because they felt UNDERSTOOD.

3. "Pride is shoved in my face!" It's truly not. If a man and a woman can kiss and hold hands openly in public, so can a man and a man or a woman and a woman and...WHOEVER. It's not a big deal.

4. "Pride is indoctrination for kids." I got a comment saying that children are being forced to watch drag queens. Uh, no they are not. The person was like, "What about the drag queens reading to the kids?" I had to remind the moron it's the PARENT who brings kids to that. And honestly, I'd rather my kid be in the presence of a drag queen than a person in Washington any day. Drag queens are fun. And some of the kindest humans you'll ever meet.

5. "There should be straight Pride." Every day is straight Pride. Please show me where it's illegal for being a heterosexual. Having a month were others feel visible should never be considered a bad thing.

6. "God says it's an abomination." Well, that's your religion, not mine. I'm all for people being able to believe what they wish. Life is tough! If believing in god makes someone happy, yay! But do not tell me I'm going to hell or some other nonsense, because it's simply not true. I believe in a higher being, and who that higher being is, I do not know. But what I do believe is that we should not judge others and tell them they are going to hell if they happen to love a person of the same sex. I am so proud of the churches who have pride flags in front of their buildings. There's one down the street from me, and I can almost bet it has made someone feel acknowledged and recognized.

So here's the thing about Pride Month: it's a month of celebration. It's a month of remembering and honoring those who have lost their lives simply for living their truths. It's a month when a teen who might not feel accepted at home, can feel at peace. They realize they are not wrong or an abomination. There's color and laughter and glitter...lots and lots of glitter.

And that can never be a bad thing.

Pride Picks At Target

2026-06-03T18:12:44.135-06:00

Okay, I know, some people hate Target. A while back they had said they were rolling back DEI initiatives and trust me, I was disappointed in them. Many were. But then they announced they were wanting to do better. Plus, they've always been kind to military families, so it was tough for me to completely hate the corporation.

And then I saw the Pride area, and was proud of Target for still having one. Some stores do not since they are worried about offending people and it's like, hello, if someone doesn't like rainbows, they can just avoid the section. Simple.

Here are the items that caught my eye.

I picked up these pins to put on my travel backpack:

There were also clothes. I loved these rainbow pants. They are also comfy, which is a win for me.

I always love the birds. Check out this dapper one! I have always been a fan of top hats.

And this bird is colorful and looks like a mythical goddess:

There are even cat toys! I need to get these for my kitties. (Yes, there are dog toys as well!)

My favorite find was this skirt. I loved all the bright colors. Just staring at it made me feel joy.

There are so many more things, so pop in the store to check them out.

I was happy to see the section out and yes, Target has a lot of growing to do, but I feel like they are on the right track.

Hey, It's Okay

2026-06-01T17:19:34.424-06:00

HEY, IT'S OKAY....

......to be proud of the San Antonio Spurs for winning the Western Conference. They'll be playing against the Knicks now for the championship. I don't really follow sports, but my daughter got me watching.

.....to be so happy Tommy had the best time in Canada. He was gone for nearly week on a solo trip where he explored Vancouver. He brought us back some Canadian goodies!

.....to hope Natalie's lifeguarding job with SeaWorld goes well. She's been in training, so she hasn't officially started, but she passed the written and swim tests.

......to finally be seeing The Mandalorian & Grogu this week with the kids and my Mom. I hear it's a fun adventure.

.....to love the Pride merch that Disney has out. There are also special photo spots and magic shots for June in the parks.

He's Back From Vancouver

2026-05-31T17:49:13.014-06:00

He'd send photos daily from Canada and I was grateful. Whenever I received those photos, I knew he was alive and not deceased in a Canadian ditch.

As I mentioned last week, my son Tommy went to Canada on a solo trip. Vancouver to be exact. He planned everything. He paid for everything.

And he did sent texts daily.

He sent me this, and asked if I recognized it. I did. If you've seen Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix (based on the book with the same name by Shelby Van Pelt) you might recall it's the pier from the movie. A poignant scene occurs there.

When I watched the movie, I thought the scenery and location was breathtaking. I looked it up and sure enough, it was Vancouver. The same area Tommy would be at, a spot called Deep Cove.

And that's not the only area he was in. He did all sorts of fun activities. A boat ride.

He got to see this IN PERSON.

He went to a botanical garden:

Crossed a suspension bridge:

He made all sorts of memories. He did so many activities per day. Grouse mountain was one of his fave spots, he said.

He'd love to go back one day.

He came back Saturday evening, and I was so excited to see him. I spotted him standing there with his neck pillow and pink suitcase.

"Tommy!" I shouted, and he saw me, and hooray, my boy was back home.

He'd love to find work in Canada one day. He has an Associate's degree in Video Cinematography and a Bachelor's in Film & Media. There's a huge movie industry in Canada, as it tends to be cheaper to film there. So he says he'll be keeping his eyes open for work. I'd miss him if he moved to Canada, but I'd be happy to know he was in a place that he truly loved.

Next up?

Our family trip to Walt Disney World in August!

Save On Formal Dresses At ChicSew

2026-05-27T20:01:19.832-06:00

It's almost wedding season. And graduations are occurring. Family reunions. A revenge body photo session after a break up...

If you need a beautiful dress, ChicSew has you covered. They have a plethora of styles in a variety of colors. And even better? Most are under $200. And in this economy? It's what is needed.

We were sent a dress, and it is stunning.

We loved the button details down the front.

And if this color isn't your jam, well, you can get it in another one.

There are options for prom, for kids, plus sizes...the possibilities are endless.

Plus, you can even get the dress custom sized if you're worried about how it will fit. You can also get accessories to go with the gorgeous gown.

ChicSew has been around for over 15 years, so you will get a quality gown.

My daughter loved how comfortable her dress was. Plus, it fit her wonderfully. She just followed the size guide to find what would work the best.

You can save 10% with the code AIRINGMYLAUNDRY10

If you get a dress, let me know which one.

To learn more about ChicSew, check them out at the following:

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

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.