Author: jgalvinwhite

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Well…another day…that’s an online learning day for us. We had three traditional snow days in December (which is unheard of), and today is our third NTI day. We’re making the most of it!

It’s been forever since I’ve done so, but today I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for What’s Up Wednesday...on this last Wednesday of the month.

What We’re Eating This Week:

Before the bad weather hit, I knew we had snacks, lunch and breakfast items, but I wanted to make sure we had a few dinner options. Trav went to the store, and he picked up some dinner items to get us through a few days. We rarely cook at home on the weekend, but we did this past weekend. We’re still kind of at the mercy of what’s in stock, so we’re just piecing it together this week.

  • Saturday: Hadley made Trav’s “famous pasta” which is turkey sausage, green and red peppers and marinara sauce with pasta. He makes it pretty often, and the kids request it. She whipped that up on Saturday night. Did I tell you she’s in “Adv. Foods” this year? Obviously, she’s earning an A. 😉
  • Sunday: I made Shay‘s Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup, and it hit the spot on a cold Sunday evening.
  • Monday: The kids requested tacos, and Trav bought what we needed for that. (I’d already secured the ground beef thanks to a random Aldi run)
  • Tuesday: I went to Aldi again yesterday just to see what they had in stock. When I saw pork chops, I grabbed them and made oven baked chops last night. Aldi also had Bob Evans mashed potatoes, and that’s how last night’s dinner was born.
  • Wednesday: Tonight, we’ll probably have a frozen lasagna and fresh green beans (thanks to Aldi)
  • Thursday: At this point, I’ll either make pancakes or we’ll have leftovers.
  • Friday/Saturday: I assume we’ll be back to eating out for dinner.

One other thing we had to eat this week was my snow day pancakes! I had the stuff to make them in December but never did. Even this week, Hadley was at a friend’s house Monday morning, so I waited to make them yesterday. While I like to make these on the first official snow day, at least the tradition continues…(although, I didn’t have any bacon for a scarf!)

What I’m Reminiscing About:

Snow days when the kids were younger…Of course, there was lots of energy spent bundling them up and helping them get outside or sled, but now they don’t do those outside activities like they used to. This week, it’s been too cold!

What I’m Loving:

I was influenced by Jen Reed to purchase this de-puffing mask (when it was 50% off). I’ve used it a few times, and I do really like it!

I’m also still loving my new gingham ruffle sheets that my Gma got me for my birthday. They just look like such an “upgrade” to the jersey ones we’ve had for years. I love that the ruffle is on the top sheet and pillow cases…just a cute detail!

I know the days are starting to run together, but I’ve really loved having these slow mornings. Of course, I’m staying up a bit later, but I’ve been sleeping until 8! I rarely even did that on break.

What We’ve Been Up To:

We’ve mostly been at home playing games, watching shows, and I’ve been reading.

Hadley spent the night at a friend’s house on Sunday, and look at all the girls playing Mahjong! Precious.

Hadley and friends have ask me to play games, and who am I to say no? We’ve mostly played Racko and Play Nine.

What I’m Dreading:

Nothing really…but I guess if we continue to be out this week, it will be a hassle to get students caught up. I do understand why some students can’t get their work completed online, and some of my assignments are paper copies, but when we miss a string of days, I typically spend a class period making sure everyone gets caught up and I adjust the attendance participation (Students get three days after we return to school for each day to complete their assignments)

What I’m Excited About:

Honestly, I was excited about January being a slower month, and it’s pretty much been just that. I’m also savoring the winter weather while we have it.

My “Let it Snow” flag was frozen Monday morning!

I am very thankful that we have power and have been able to get out a bit.

What I’m Watching/Reading:

Yesterday, I shared the three books I read in January…

Screenshot

I’m currently reading The Correspondent, and I’m loving it.

I just finished Season 2 of Nobody Wants This…

…and Trav and I started His and Hers. I didn’t realize it was a book, and now I wish that I would have read it first.

What I’m Listening To:

I started listening to this book this week. It’s the sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me. I loved the series on Apple TV, and I think they are making this one into a series as well.

Honestly, I will probably have the book and the audio book finished by the end of the week which means I will have had a great January of reading.

What I’m Wearing:

I had some Amazon gift cards, so I purchased this coat, and I love it. It’s wool, and I love that it has a hood and deep pockets.

I have a couple winter coats, but I like that this is a mix of nice with casual.

I’ve worn it quite a few times over the past few weeks. (These 7/8 length leggings are buttery soft and still a fave too)

What I’m Doing This Weekend:

Unless I get to it sooner, I’m decorating for Valentine’s Day, but here’s one little spot that’s feeling the love!

What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month:

Honestly, I’m not sure?! We don’t have a ton planned, and I should probably savor that before things get busier in the spring.

Also, it’s almost time for the Winter Olympics…and I can’t wait.

What’s Up Wednesday is always a fun one that I should do more often.

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: January 2026

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday!

I can’t believe I already have a month of reading under my belt in the new year. Today, I’m sharing the three books I read this month.

This month, I read two books and listened to one.

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Wedding People:

Summary:

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe’s plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.

Quick Thoughts:

My mom gave me this book as one of my Christmas gifts. She said how much she enjoyed it, and my sister-in-law said it was one of her favorite books too.

This is a pretty popular book, and I’d heard about it…but that one of the main topics was about suicide…so I just never put it high on my list. This book also references infertility, so there are two sensitive topics. That being said, I really loved this book. Phoebe was a great main character, but the “wedding people” really were an ensemble cast. I was rooting for Phoebe, and I loved how the wedding people were all so different and provided various layers to the plot development. The ending was wonderful and while I guess maybe I knew how it would end, there were some special moments leading up to the final page.

Rating:

I’d say it’s 4.5 stars!

Before Dorothy:

Summary:

The greatest journey is the one you least expect…Kansas 1932

When news reaches Kansas that her beloved sister has tragically died, Emily Gale must become a mother overnight. Her sister’s orphaned child, Dorothy, desperately needs a home.

But Emily doubts her ability to fill her sister’s shoes; her life on the barren Kansas prairies is no place for a child.

On the unforgiving plains, Emily’s courage is endlessly tested. The prolonged drought and relentless dust storms threaten to destroy everything – including her home and her marriage.

Can Emily overcome her grief and let Dorothy heal her heart?

Quick Thoughts:

This is the third book I read by Hazel Gaynor (The Last Life Boat and last month I read Christmas with the Queen) I can’t remember if Tanya orSarah mentioned this book which is why I added it to my TBR list, but they both always have wonderful reading recommendations.

I absolutely loved this book. I felt so nostalgic while reading it, and the subtle references to The Wizard of Oz were perfect. My heart ached for Dorothy and Emily for different reasons. This book also had a reference to miscarriage and then of course, they were living through the Great Depression.

I’m a Missouri girl, but Kansas is right next door, and just reading about the Kansas prairie and that time period kept my interest.

The characters had a connection to the original story, and the historical note was so interesting providing background but also where Gaynor found inspiration for characters. Authors note was lovely too as she shared why she wrote the book and came up with the idea for the story.

I’m sure this book will be in my top five reads for 2026!

Fave quotes: (so many wonderful and meaningful quotes!)

  • “I’m quite sure if you tapped his chest there would be an echo where his heart should be.”
  • “We make room, don’t we. Find space for the things we treasure.”
  • “We must never forget our first home. Even when we leave to go in search of another, we must never forget the places that shaped us.”
  • “We wouldn’t have the wonderful if we’d never had the wicked. It’s all part of the same story…all connected.”
  • “She said there are some things you can’t take with you on life’s journey. No matter how much they mean, or how precious they are, or how painful the parting…and she said that she was never a day without him, that a heart is the very best home of all.”
  • “I had to let go, start again, with nothing but hope in my heart and a single grain of wheat in my pocket. That was when I began to understand who I really was.”
  • “Home is, quite simply, wherever there is love.”

Rating:

The Windsor Knot:

Summary:

The morning after a dinner party at Windsor Castle, eighty-nine-year-old Queen Elizabeth is shocked to discover that one of her guests has been found murdered in his room, with a rope around his neck.

When the police begin to suspect her loyal servants, Her Majesty knows they’re looking in the wrong place.

For the Queen has been living an extraordinary double life since her coronation. Away from the public eye, she has a brilliant knack for solving crimes.

With her household’s happiness on the line, her secret must not get out. Can the Queen and her trusted secretary Rozie catch the killer, without getting caught themselves?

Quick Thoughts:

My aunt knows how much I love the British Royal Family, so she told me about this series. Since the first one was available on audiobook, I decided to list to it. I hadn’t read a mystery in a while, and this one was so fun. I loved that the narrator was British, but it did take me a bit to get used to listening. How fun that the Queen plays a part in solving the mysteries?! I certainly hope to listen to book #2 soon.

Rating:

I’m actually listening to a book and have a book I’m reading on my Kindle. Odds are that I will finish at least one of them this week, but I’ll share them next month.

We have another NTI day tomorrow, so this week is off to an odd start!

Posted in Memes

Monday Memes

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

We’re waking up to snow covered roads as well as some ice. We were supposed to get more snow out of this system, but we ended up with more ice.

Did you catch my posts on Saturday and Sunday? They were fun to write…emojis and a weekly reflection.

It’s hard to believe but this time next week it will be February! Since it’s the last Monday of the month, I’m sharing some of my favorite memes.

I’ve kind of arranged these in a bit of an order starting with some that might have applied more to the end of December but are still funny…

I try not to “drop the ball,” but when I do, I know I’m in good company…

How has 2026 started off for you?!

What is it about January 1st vs. January 2nd? I always have good intentions. That being said, it’s easier for me to regroup whenever I head back to school.

This one literally made me LOL. This week, my goal is four workouts…Last week, I only got in two, so that would be a great improvement.

I loathe changing the bedding, but I’m still loving my new sheets that my Gma got me for my birthday.

I lived for the personal pan pizza coupons when I was in elementary school!

Listen up, Trav!

Really, I’m ok…but this one made me chuckle. Check back with me if we have more than a couple of NTI days/days off.

So, I guess I still have a couple more days to get my life together?!

Have a great Monday!

Posted in Inspiration, Me, Blog challenge

Bloganuary: 1.25.26 – Sunday Prompts

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Happy Sunday!

How are you faring with the winter weather? It is wild how expansive this storm has been. We were supposed to get more snow than anything else, but the freezing rain moved more our way. So, we’re waking up to snow that has fallen overnight and some freezing rain too. Bitterly cold temps follow, so we’ll see how many days of school we have this week?

I’m not sure the source, but I found this “Sunday Prompts” via Pinterest, and I thought it would be a good look back on the week.

  • What made you the happiest this week? We finally found a car for the kids. Trav went to Louisville on Friday, and we were able to surprise them Friday evening. They were genuinely surprised and also, even better, genuinely grateful. They’ve only had their licenses for a couple of months, but they never once asked when we were getting them a car. They knew we were looking, but they understood it might take a bit. Of course, they drove it Friday night and a bit yesterday morning, but now none of us are driving anywhere thanks to the weather!
  • What are your three biggest wins from the week? I left school on Friday pretty caught up on grading and with a decent plan for NTI (online learning) days if we have them this week. A third “win” probably is getting the kids a car. Trav spent lots of time and energy the past few months trying to find them one in our parameters.
  • How did you spend most of your time this week? At school…but also thinking about/hearing about the upcoming snow. Wednesday and Thursday were actually pretty slick mornings with other districts out or delayed, but we weren’t. So, it just felt like Tuesday was our only “normal” day of school because Monday we didn’t have school, and then Wednesday-Friday, I felt like we were talking about the weather and prepping accordingly.
  • What drained your energy this week? Worrying about the weather. I wasn’t actually worried, but more than it was on my mind. I just knew we should get a few groceries. We had snack, lunch and breakfast items, but I just figured we should have a couple of dinners on hand. Trav tackled the grocery store for me Thursday evening, and he did get most of what we needed. Also, we were supposed to travel to Indy for Hadley’s volleyball, and even through Thursday, most of the parents felt like it was a good idea to still go. I felt like us and a couple other parents were the only “rational” ones. Thankfully, the club directors met Thursday evening and decided to pull out of the tournament as a club.
  • What did you do for yourself this week? I had my monthly facial on Wednesday, and it was lovely!
  • What is the greatest lesson you learned this week? Patience pays off. We stuck with our parameters for type of car and price, and found something good for the kids. Also, I already know this, but with major winter weather on the way, I remind my own kids what a blessing it is that we can just go to the store and get what we need…and that some kids would much rather be at school than at home for an extended amount of time.
  • What do you want to do better next week? Get back on track with working out. If you are a regular reader, you know I mention getting “back on track” sometimes. haha Anyway, I did great in December working out and even for the start of January, but last week, I only worked out twice, and I just didn’t feel like myself.
  • What would you like to accomplish next week? This answer is probably the same as what I want to do better next week.
  • What can I do to work towards a long term goal? I want to spend more time reading this week. Assuming we are home a bit, it will be easy to scroll my phone or watch a show when I could spend a bit more time reading. I read three books in January, and I have started a fourth, so I did read a lot, but I know I could find pockets of time to read more.
  • I love the reminder: This is your Sunday reminder that you can handle whatever this week throws your way.

I might try adding post, or something similar, into my blogging rotation.

Stay safe and warm!

Posted in Blog challenge, Me

Bloganuary 1.24.26 – My Life in GIFS

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Saturday!

We’re waking up to a little sunshine, but winter weather is definitely on the way. I might run a couple of errands this morning before travel becomes unlikely for a couple of days.

Today’s post is quick and fun…

I love seeing these graphics and thinking about my answers…

This one is “My Life in GIFS”…but I’m using emojis…

Favorite color: I actually had to think about this one for a second…Overall, I’m a pretty neutral girl, but I didn’t want to say that my favorite color is black. haha

I lean towards navy and gray. I like a pop of blue…especially light blue as an accent for home decor.

Favorite hobby: Reading! I just finished an audiobook yesterday, and I’m going to finish the book on my Kindle after I publish this post. Then, I’m going to make sure I have a couple more downloaded to hopefully read the next couple of days.

Dream career: I’m doing it! I put the money as a joke for two reasons…since I’ve never won the lottery, I’ve continued my teaching career. ha! And, as you know, teachers aren’t in this profession for the money. That being said, sticking with teaching for over twenty years has provided a good income for my family. I always wanted to be a teacher. I always had great English teachers, and my mom was a middle school Language Arts teacher. Being a teacher, has been very rewarding in many ways, and I’m thankful that I’ve stuck with it through some hard years. Of course, I appreciate the time off in the summer (and the occasional snow day!). I’m extremely grateful to be having one of the best years of my career. I also love seeing my own kids and their friends at school.

Favorite food: I love Mexican food (have you ever seen anyone mad while eating chips and queso?) and sushi…not together, obviously.

I’d like to travel to: England. You all know I love anything to do with the British Royal Family, and I know how exciting London can be. I did go on a European trip when I was in high school, and I loved London. I’d love to go back.

Current mood: Excited/happy for the impending snow…as long as we don’t lose power!

Makes me happy: Self-care. I look forward to my monthly facials, and I like my quiet time in the morning. I get my nails done every three to four weeks, and while sometimes I feel guilty doing so, it’s my treat to myself. I enjoy working out and going for walks. I used to feel guilty about self-care, but I think it’s important.

Can’t live without: (Obviously besides family, friends, and Homer as an answer)…coffee! …which I’m going to go make myself a cup right now.

How would you answer these prompts?

Stay safe and warm!

Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#289}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

TGIF! I swear, the short weeks feel the longest. No school on Monday is always a fave, but then it threw my week off. Also, we have lots of hype right now about the storm headed our way this weekend, and let’s just say the students have been a little crazy this week.

As always, I’m linking up with Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Here are five faves from the week….

  1. Volleyball

Hadley and I went to Ohio last weekend for the first volleyball tournament of club season. Since she didn’t play until the afternoon, we were able to leave around lunch time on Saturday to drive two hours to the tournament. It was nice having Saturday morning at home before leaving.

Her team played three games in pool play on Saturday and made it to the gold bracket on Sunday.

We got “lucky” that her Saturday games were over around 7:00, so we had Chipolte for dinner and were in the hotel room by 8:00. Since they made the gold bracket, she didn’t have to be back to the facility until 11:30 on Sunday. It was just nice having some down time, and not being up too late or too early…that doesn’t always happen at a tournament.

Overall, they had a great weekend, and she said it “exceeded her expectations.” We got home around 6:00 on Sunday, and I was very thankful for no school on Monday.

2. New sheets!

My Gma gave me my wrapped birthday present when we went to KC for Thanksgiving. I showed restraint and actually didn’t open it until my birthday. One of my gift ideas for Christmas/birthday were these sheets. I’d forgotten about them, and I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the gift. I love the gingham print, the ruffle detail is so cute, and they are so soft. Mine are the gray gingham, and they are perfect.

3. Book trackers!

I know January is almost over but I never shared my book trackers. Here are a couple of them.

I’m almost finished with two books, and I’m off to a solid start reading in 2026! (I keep the book trackers in a highlight on my Instagram; if you use them, feel free to tag me. I always love seeing what others are reading!)

4. Bookstore

Speaking of books, I went to one of my favorite bookstores on Monday to look around. I always look at the cute stickers, and I bought this one to add to my Kindle cover….

I didn’t get this one, but it made me laugh. I immediately thought of the movie Teen Witch that I used to watch on repeat as a kid!

5. Homer!

Homer has been extra snuggly on these recent cold mornings. I always think he looks like a little fox when he curls up like this.

Hayden loves saying goodnight to Homer, and Homer loves the extra attention.

Friday Funny:

Monday, I was at Target, and saw this mug. It made me laugh…but I didn’t buy it.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Wow…why do I relate to this one so much?!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday…

PJ day at school in 2017. So sweet! They don’t seem to participate in pj day in high school like they did in elementary school.

Weekly Recap:

My blogging streak continues!

Birthday Gifts
Keep 3
Monday Memo
Tuesday Talk
Wednesday HodgePodge
House Refresh

Well, if you need me, I will be prepping NTI assignments for my students. It seems we could get 10-16 inches of snow, and the ice is just south of us. I can deal with snow, I hope the ice stays south of us (Sorry to my southern readers!).

I hope to blog over the weekend, so I will see you back here then.

Posted in Home Decor

House Refresh

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

With no school on Monday, I’ve had trouble keeping up with what day it is, but you know I love Thursdays.

I also love getting the house back in order after the holidays which is what I’ve been doing over the past few weeks.

I’ve done a little “house refresh” in a few spots, and I’m sharing those updates today.

Trav and the kids surprised me with these pictures a couple of years ago for Christmas, and one of the frames broke. So, I went to Michael’s and got two new (and bigger) frames to put them in. I have this same frame in the hall bathroom, and it’s my favorite.

We moved a couple of pictures around, and I put the new frames on this wall in our office. I see them every time I’m headed to the kitchen, and I love seeing them on this wall.

I also updated a few frames over the past couple of weeks. I’ve always loved this pic of the kids, but I didn’t like the frame. When I went to TJ Maxx right after Christmas, they didn’t have anything I liked. When I went back a week later, I found not one…

…but two frames that I liked and I updated the pic on the kitchen buffet as well. I also added in these new candle sticks from Target.

Another family pic that I love, but I wanted to change up the frame is on our entry table. I guess I’m into gold frames these days.

My Gma gave Trav this gold horse, and I displayed it in our kitchen cabinet with some Derby cups and an American Pharaoh painting that we had painted for Trav years ago.

I asked for these Sherpa blankets for the two ottomans in our living room, and my mom got them for me for Christmas. The ones we had before we had for years, and they needed a refresh.

I also updated the pillow covers on the living room couch. Thanks to Homer, I don’t do fancy pillows, and I always get neutral color, so it blends in with the Homer hair. The past few years, I’ve picked pillow covers that I wash every once in a while, but then given the low price, I just update once a year or so.

Like Target, I let Home Goods “tell me what I need” when I go in there. After Christmas, I got new canisters for our flour, sugar, and salt. Trav said he never liked our other ones…and I said, “Trav, they were on our wedding registry…which means we had them for twenty years!” haha

These white ceramic ones are perfect.

Every week, I buy a few muffins as a breakfast option for the kids, and I wanted a spot to keep them rather than have the package on the counter all week. How cute is this cloche?! TJ Maxx to the rescue!

While at Michael’s, I picked up some new candles, and put this votive on a cute ceramic pedestal, and I added a mini boxwood wreath that I already had. (I use these on many of my candle holders to add a touch of green.)

Both kids purged their rooms over break which made more space for all the things…and Hadley’s new scallop tray has been perfect for holding a few odds and ends.

There’s something about the start of a new year, purging, organizing, rearranging and putting things back in order that just feels like a nice, fresh start.

Posted in This and That

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday! I’m linking up with Joyce for the first time in 2026 for Wednesday Hodgepodge.

Here are my answers to her prompts this week:

1. Ice skating, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, playing in the snow, or a snowy walk…which winter activity do you choose? Have you done any of these activities so far this winter?

I haven’t done any of these activities so far this winter. We had a bit of snow in December, but I wasn’t really out and about in it. It looks like we have some snow headed our way this weekend?!

Ice skating is fun, but not something we do often. I remember ice skating as a kid at Crown Center in KC. Almost ten years ago, we took the kids to that same rink which was their first time skating.

Hadley has ice skated a few more times through the years as Lexington has a little outdoor rink downtown during the holiday season.

One activity that isn’t listed, but that I always think is fun is snow tubing. We used to go every year with a group of friends, and the kids and the adults enjoyed it.

2. Everyone is posting pictures from ten years ago on their social media sites, so let’s jump on the bandwagon too. Share one photo and one thought to go with the photo from the year 2016.

We got quite a bit of snow in January 2016. I loved the frog hats that the kids wore for quite a few years.

I know the prompt calls for one pic, but here’s a family photo from our Siesta Key, Florida vacation in the summer of 2016. I actually remember that we were walking on the beach after dinner, and someone offered to take our photo after I took theirs.

3. What’s a trend you hope disappears in the new year.

Kids and teens saying “6-7.” Ugh.

4. They say there’s a day for everything and January 21st proves it. National Granola Bar Day. Do you like granola bars? How about regular granola? do you like bars of other kinds?

I do like granola bars, but overall, the only ones I eat are the Quaker Oats chocolate chips ones. They are just the ones I tend to buy as the kids like them, and I will eat them too if I need a snack.

I like granola, but it’s not something I eat regularly. We always have some on hand as Trav and the kids sometimes add some to yogurt. Occasionally, I will put peanut butter, sliced banana, honey and granola on a low carb tortilla for a snack.

The only other bars I eat are the Barebells ones that I get at Trader Joe’s.

They seem to be harder to find now, but I do love the Grab the Gold bars that I can sometimes find at Kroger.

5. A frozen lake, a trickling stream, a raging river, or a deep well….which one describes something about your life right now?

I’m not sure. I’m definitely not a raging river, so that’s good. haha

I guess I could be a frozen lake since it’s so cold outside right now…but I guess I’m also a trickling stream just carrying on with the school year and the start of a new semester.

6. Insert your random thought here.

I usually don’t decorate for Valentine’s Day until February 1st, but I feel like putting out some decor sooner. Maybe I can do that one evening this week? I don’t do much, but I do have a few items…and I picked up a couple more while at Target recently including two of these little plates and this two pack of tea towels.

I hope you are staying warm and having a great week!

Posted in Day in the Life, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk: Evening Routine

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Let me tell you that I knew I was thankful to have yesterday off, but I really did need the day to get my life together. Thankfully, I started the day by sleeping in a bit, but then I placed my Kroger order, ran a few errands, did laundry and more.

One of the WordPress suggested topics was night time routine, and I love seeing how people spend their day and routines that they have. That being said, I decided to focus my evening routine as well.

Once I get home from school, I always check the mail, let Homer out, and unpack my lunch bag.

If I can, I try to give myself a few minutes to decompress. I usually set a 20-30 minute timer where I let myself scroll social media, read a book or even shut my eyes for a few minutes.

After that, I check on anything I need to do for dinner. Some days, dinner is already in the slow cooker, other times I might chop ingredients or double check that I have what I need for dinner when the time comes.

Then, I typically workout if I’m going to.

Most of the time I workout in the basement, but other times, I go to the gym or go for a walk.

Of course, times look differently now than they did even a couple of months ago. My days of picking up kids isn’t completely over, but most of the time, Hadley is using my car to drive to volleyball and Hayden gets a ride home from track. Some days, they are at track together, and I get a ride home from school from a friend. Who knew the quest of finding a good used car would take so long?

Anyway, after my workout, I make dinner. The fall and spring tend to be more hectic with evening activities, but right now, we all typically eat dinner together most days. I appreciate that Travis always cleans up dinner since I usually cook it.

After dinner, I usually check on the kids with whatever they need to do…some evenings, they are still at practice but other times, we talk about school things like upcoming tests and even just talking about logistics for the next day.

Then, I usually finish up my blog post for the next day if I’m writing one.

Once I put my computer away, I take a shower and do my evening skincare.

Then, I settle in on the couch for a bit. I try to do my daily word search, watch a show, read blogs, or read a book. During this time, I will also put away laundry, pack my lunch, etc. if needed.

I head to bed around 10:00 most days. After brushing my teeth, I always put on some lip balm and hand cream.

I typically read for a few minutes before going to bed by 10:45.

Obviously, every evening varies in some way, but this is a pretty typical evening routine right now.

What’s a part of your routine that’s important to you?

Posted in Inspiration

Monday Memo

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday! How was your weekend? I spent most of mine in Ohio with Hadley for her first club volleyball tournament of the season. Overall, they played really well and had fun. New team, new season, so they are still getting to know each other and play together, but they did make it to the gold bracket on Sunday.

Did you catch my weekend posts? On Saturday, I blogged about the gifts I received for my birthday, and yesterday, I shared a “fun keep 3” post.

Today, I’m sharing a few of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow.

Many of my favorite accounts are teachers, and a few I actually found on Tik Tok, but then followed them on Instagram last year when there was the possibility of TT going away.

A few years ago, I shared some favorite teachers to follow, and now I’m adding more to the list!

Ashley Jones’s tag line is “teacher by day, server by night, mom of seven 24/7” and I love following along on her school days, Aldi trips, shifts at On the Border, and life with her kids. Her TT account took off last year, and she’s so humbled and appreciative of her followers.

Mrs. Miller is a 4th grade math teacher, and her husband is in the country music band Deltona. I especially love when she shares her Thursday after school videos. That’s the day she stays after to get caught up and plan for the week ahead. She and her husband did just buy a new house, and I love when she shares the updates and how she’s organizing and styling her new home.

Carly Barrett is an interventionist at an elementary school in Louisville. She’s also a colon cancer survivor. Her videos are a little bit of everything from morning routine, iced coffee, skin care, and how she spends her time at school.

Athena is just the sweetest! I believe she’s an admin/instructional coach at an elementary school. She has twin boys who are in college, and their family seems so lovely. She shares her perspective as an “empty nest mom” and has so many cute outfit ideas.

Kristen Friend is a first grade teacher in Arizona, and her “get dressed with me” videos are what usually pop up in my feed. She also shares school stuff as well. She seems fun and spunky!

Gabs and Anna are middle school teacher besties. They always share their “teacher outfit of the day” (that’s their tagline usually), and I bet they are the best middle school teachers.

KK is a new account that I follow. Her “heels in the hall” account popped up in my feed recently. It seems that she had a couple of videos go viral because now she is introducing herself a bit for new followers. She’s a high school principal, and I’m so impressed by her daily outfits….so professional!

Other accounts I’ve been loving even if they aren’t teachers. haha!

Brittany Young is so fun! She has the best personality and always wears such bold and bright colors. You can tell that she dresses to fit her bright and bubbly personality!

I appreciate Carly Heasley’s account because she’s “midsized/curvy,” and it’s so nice seeing clothes on a body type I can relate to. She seems so sweet and genuine as well.

Regan is so sweet, and I just love her house decor and her clothing style. Her daughter sometimes shares her outfits, and she is just too cute too.

Bobbi with the Eye is one that I started to follow about a year and a half ago, and I think she was close to hitting 10,000 followers at that point. Now, she is close to 150,000 followers and quit her day job to focus on being an influencer full time. She has two girls and the cutest dog named Tiny. I love when she shares her “day in the life” reels, and she shares so many great outfits too.

Have you seen Stoop in the City?! This couple decorates their NYC stoop for the holidays, and people can stop by for photos. It’s truly amazing how they decorate from holiday to holiday.

I hope you have a great Monday. After being gone all weekend, my “to do” list is quite long!