Author: jgalvinwhite

Posted in Amazon

Prime Purchases

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Did you catch my post yesterday? It published a bit late, but I’ve enjoyed starting a new month with a few reminders!

Honestly, this time of the year makes more so thankful for Amazon. It’s so nice to be able to order things (and make easy returns if needed) during the hustle and bustle of May.

Here are my purchases from the month:

In another post, I shared about this travel sound machine, and I want to also include it in this post. This little thing is amazing. There are settings for length of sound and various sounds. I keep it on the “infinity” setting, and it’s been the perfect addition to my bedside table. I’ve also taken it with us when we’ve been out of town, and it’s so easy to pack, and even Hadley approves of the sound machine noise, so she didn’t pack hers.

Screenshot

This is the 18th time I’ve ordered these eye masks as they are my “go to” every morning. I keep the jar in the fridge, and they are the perfect way to start my day. I still keep a pack of these in my bathroom closet to take a few packs when we travel.

Travis ordered this Under Armour bag for overnight travel. Really, he can pack for quite a few days in a duffle. I wish I could be that good of a packer.

I shared before that I needed to get a new lunch tote for next year. Well, I’ve had this one for a couple of years, and I ended up spilling in it again! I just couldn’t handle the stains anymore, so I went ahead and ordered a new one. It’s the perfect size (and comes in a few patterns). I appreciate the pockets on the outside too.

After Labor Day, I’d made a note in my calendar to order some bunting/ banners for the front porch for Memorial Day. (Does anyone else make notes in their phones for things for later?) I knew whatever I purchased I could use for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

It’s a three pack, and I only needed two, but I love how it turned out.

I have this set in gray, and I wear it so much. It’s so comfy, the fabric is so soft, and I always get compliments when I wear it. So, now I own it in army green too!

I needed more facial sponges, so I purchased a pack. I still love the towels I’ve been using too!

I had a gift card, so I purchased another bottle of this whitening gel. I’ve ordered it for my dad as his dentist suggested it, and it works so well. It’s a bit pricey, so when I’ve ordered it, I’ve just purchased the single two ounce bottle, but a little goes a long way. I just add the gel to my toothpaste at least once, sometimes twice a day, and it really helps whiten my teeth. I can be really sensitive to teeth whitening, but this gel has been fine. I do use Sensodyn toothpaste, so I think that helps as well.

Full disclosure, we returned this top but…

It was so cute…just not Hadley’s vision for what she was looking for. She ordered a couple of things from Amazon to prep for an outdoor music festival, and she’d hoped this one would work. Honestly, I thought it did….but what do I know? lol

She wanted a little tighter fit, but I still wanted to share it because it was so cute, and it didn’t even show her midsection like in this picture.

Last week, I shared some favorite Summer Staples.

In that post, I shared these Turkish towels. I’m a big fan of Turkish towels, and we’ve had two for a couple of years. Those weren’t available, so I tried two of these, and they’ve already passed the pool test!

Have a great day!

{This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog.}

Posted in Inspiration, Seasonal

Hello, June!

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was busy with errands, house chores, and activities. Well, that’s a pretty normal weekend these days, I guess. Did you catch my post yesterday? I recapped May; it was a good month of all the things.

Now it’s time to usher in a new month.

Honestly, June has always been one of my favorite months. It’s the start of summer which typically means having a little more downtime. I think that’s why I’m struggling so much with still being in school this week. July will now be the only month with no school. Anyway, just like always, I want to make the most of my summer.

Here are a few good reminders:

…and a checklist…

  • Refresh your space: June and January tend to be the months I set aside some time to declutter. I can’t wait. My closet needs a good purge!
  • Drink more water: I think I already do a good job with this, but I’m sure I can always drink more water. My trusty tumbler is my sidekick year round.
  • Try something new: I love making summer lunches and incorporating new lunch ideas since I have more time.
  • Plan one fun summer memory: Hopefully, we’ll have a few summer memories.
  • Update your goals: Summer is always a good time to reset. I sure hope to get back to working out regularly and getting more steps in again.
  • Get outside and soak up the sunshine: I can’t wait for pool time and sipping my morning coffee on my front porch.
  • Practice gratitude daily: I’m going to start with being thankful for not setting an alarm when that time comes. haha! Truly, I’m grateful for a little downtime soon.
  • Set social media boundaries: For sure!
  • Romanticize your routine: I think that’s easier to do when I have a little more time, which summer provides. Also, it will be nice to go for walks when I want, take more time for my skincare, have a second iced coffee, etc.
  • Take care of your mental health: This is such an important focus. For me, getting more sleep and having some downtime are instrumental.

I’m soooo ready to wrap up this week and get summer started.

What’s your favorite thing about the month of June?

Posted in Everyday Life, Monthly Moments

Monthly Moments: May 2026

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Sunday!

How has your weekend been? This weekend sure has felt more like summer Memorial Day weekend. The sun has been shining and the temps are warm. It’s truly almost summer.

Since today’s the last day of May, I’m taking a look back on all we did this month.

The first of May started with the Derby…and Golden Tempo being the first female trained horse to win! We watched from home, but it was an exciting race as he came from the back to win.

Major came to visit for a few days. He was able to see one of Hayden’s baseball games as well as a couple of my nephew’s baseball games. We took the traditional front porch pic…

Travis decided to ask Chat GPT for help with some front yard inspo and got started on that project…

Mother’s Day Sunday Hadley had a volleyball tournament in town, so we had a busy day, but Travis planted flowers, Hadley bought me some flowers, and I got front porch ferns from the kids. Oh, and bonus–I didn’t have to cook dinner!

I felt the love during Teacher Appreciation Week…I received a few sweets (and sours) as well as a few cards and notes from students.

Hayden had lots of baseball games in May, and the season wrapped up on a high note. He was the starting pitcher for the last JV game of the season; he pitched four the the five innings, and they won!

His development over the season was really good considering he hadn’t played in four years. His coaches and teammates were so supportive of him. As parents, we appreciated the he got many opportunities to pitch in both high and low stakes situations. Also, he went from pitching one to two to three and then even four innings as he got better and better with each pitching opportunity. He had two starts which was also an accomplishment. He’s not playing summer baseball, but he’ll keep working out and working on those fundamentals. I wasn’t sure what this season would hold for him, but it really was just what he needed.

Hadley’s club volleyball continued this month. She had three tournaments overall in Lexington, Indianapolis and Louisville. Club season is a lot…and her goal was to play with some different girls and grow as a player…and she’s been doing just that…

….while juggling track as well. Hadley has been going to track at least three days a week since November and then going to volleyball two days a week since December. I don’t think there’s really been a day where she’s just come home from school and stayed home. Time management is still a skill she’s working on, but juggling two sports for over six months will help you figure out time management.

The state track meet was last weekend in Lexington. While it rained for most of the weekend, there were a few breaks in the rain. Unfortunately, two minutes before her 4×200 race, it started to downpour. The first two heats didn’t have to deal with the elements, and the third heat, the fastest did. Of course, the girls did their best, and they placed 9th overall. It was a bummer as they were .03 from making the podium, but that’s part of athletics. You win some and you literally lose some…by a raindrop. I’m excited to see what Hadley and the relay team accomplishes junior year.

photo: Brian Simms at Herald Leader

Even though the JV season wrapped up, we still had lots of baseball to watch. Our school had two district games and won the championship, and then they had two regional games. Unfortunately, they lost in the regional semifinal game, but the rainbow was a sight to see.

Memorial Day provided pretty good weather, and Hadley had pool time and a cook out with friends. She made the most of the weekend.

Now, we’re wrapping up the school year…It’s hard to believe that this May post doesn’t include last day of school photos…for the first time ever in my kids’ school years. Honestly, this will only be the second time I’m still in school in June. I know that’s the norm for some areas, but not us…and I’ll head back to school on August 5th, so needless to say, I’m ready for some downtime.

We survived Maycember, y’all.

I hope you have a great Sunday.

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: May 2026

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

I feel like I’m limping to the finish line of this week! It’s been a good but busy week. Actually, it’s been a good but busy month of May, but with the busyness means I didn’t have a ton of time to read this month.

Here’s what I’ve been reading lately…

The two books I read this month were:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Meet the Newmans:

Summary:

For two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America’s Favorite Family. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play flawless, black-and-white versions of themselves. But now it’s 1964, and the Newmans’ idealized apple-pie perfection suddenly feels woefully out of touch. Ratings are in free fall, as are the Newmans themselves. Del is keeping an explosive secret from his wife, and Dinah is slowly going numb—literally. Steady, stable Guy is hiding the truth about his love life, and the charmed luck of rock ‘n roll idol Shep may have finally run out.

When Del—the creative motor behind the show—is in a mysterious car accident, Dinah decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires Juliet Dunne, an outspoken, impassioned young reporter, to help her write the final episode. But Dinah and Juliet have wildly different perspectives about what it means to be a woman, and a family, in 1964. Can the Newmans hold it together to change television history? Or will they be canceled before they ever have the chance?

Quick Thoughts:

This book was such an interesting read. I’m kind of an “old soul” when it comes to TV shows, and I remember growing up loving watching reruns of shows like Leave it to Beaver, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, and I Love Lucy.

The Meet the Newmans show is very similar to those family shows with the perfect family…but of course looks can be deceiving. This book had family drama, deception, romance and more. In today’s world, we know that social media portrays the perfect, and in this book, the show portrayed perfection, but the Newmans had a very different life behind the scenes.

Rating:

The Last Book Shop in London:

Summary:

August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and blackout curtains that she finds on her arrival were not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.

Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.

Quick Thoughts:

I chose this audio book based on it being available on the Libby app, it was historical fiction and less than 8 hours listening time. Anyway, this was a pleasant surprise. I love reading about WW 2, and the setting of London is always one I’m drawn to.

I loved all the characters in the book, especially Grace. She was as strong woman who carved a life out for herself. So many other characters were the perfect fit as friends, confidantes and mentors. Grace’s involvement and growth as she works in the bookshop is beautiful as is the relationships that come because of her work there. This was a lovely read, and I highly recommend it!

After reading the Goodreads summary, I learned that the book was “inspired by the true World War II history of the few bookshops to survive the Blitz.”

Rating:

Soon, I’m going to compile my summer reading list, and I can’t wait!

Usually, I save Fridays for a Friday Favorites post, but this week I’m just blogging about what I can when I can. Since I usually do a “recap” of posts, here are the other posts I had this week:

Weekly Recap:

May Memes
Monthly Musings

I hope you have a great weekend. I hope to be back with a post on Sunday to recap May!

Posted in Monthly Musings, Seasonal

Monthly Musings

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How’s your week going? It’s like March Madness over here…survive and advance!

Y’all I’m so glad it’s Thursday…that just means we’re one day closer to the weekend. Speaking of which…how in the world is it the last Thursday of the month?!

I’m linking up with Patty for this month’s edition of Monthly Musings.

This month’s topic is…summer 2026 preview. Now, this is a topic I’m excited to write about!

1. Tell us about your Memorial Day weekend.

Well, to sum it up in one word: Rain. It rained and rained and then rained some more! We did spend Saturday morning (in the rain) at the state track meet; Hadley ran the 4×200 relay. Sunday, I took TWO naps. I was so tired. I guess a long week at school (at the end of the school year) along with a few late nights last week caught up with me. I gave myself permission to just be lazy. Monday, we went to the quarter final regional high school baseball game, and our school won with a walk off home run! It was an exciting finish.

I always joke that there are two types of people on Memorial Day weekend…pool people and productive people. Not that you can’t be both, but the pool tends to be crowded, so that’s not usually a weekend we prioritize going to the pool. Typically, Trav does yard work, and there’s usually some kind of kid activity. I guess I know that I’m about to have somewhat unlimited pool time once school is out, so I’m fine to wait until the crowds die down. That being said, we didn’t really have great pool weather this weekend anyway. Hadley did go to the pool for a couple of hours on Monday.

2. What were your summer jobs when you were younger?

Once I turned 16, I got a job at a local dental and ortho office. I worked year round, but I picked up more hours in the summer.

3. Ice cream or popsicles? Favorite flavor?

When I saw this topic, the first thing I thought of was orange sherbet push pops when I was a kid. Those were the best. Now, I’m probably more of a ice cream girl…mint chocolate chip is my fave. I still love the little mini cones from Trader Joe’s as a sweet treat.

4. What do you like on your burgers and hot dogs?

I only like cheeseburgers, and I typically put pickles and onion on if there are those options. For both hot dogs and burgers, I like both ketchup and mustard which seems to be controversial?

5. Beach, lake or mountains?

In the summer, I like the beach or the lake. We don’t get to the lake often, but I love a beach vacation. That being said, since we’ve started going to the beach for fall break (and sometimes spring break), we haven’t had a summer beach vacation in a couple of years.

Last year, Trav and I went to Lake Michigan, and it was truly a highlight of my summer!

6. Share any travel for summer 2026.

We’d tossed a couple of ideas around…rather big ideas actually, but Hadley has a volleyball tournament in Orlando, so I think we’re going to pin bigger travel ideas for the future, and instead try and carve out some beach time before her Orlando tournament.

7. Do you visit amusement parks in the summer? Tell us your favorite.

When I was a kid, we went to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun in KC…truly a highlight of my summer as a kid.

Now, I’m not a big amusement park person. Trav loves a roller coaster, and as I’ve gotten older, that’s just not my thing….especially if the coaster makes me go upside down.

Screenshot

We have some fun memories at Disney World. We’ve taken the kids twice…once when they were five and then again when they were nine. We all enjoyed it, but we’re not Disney fanatics.

8. Do you enjoy dining outside in the summer?

I do enjoy dining outside in the summer if it’s not too hot. If patio seating is available at a restaurant, we’ll usually take it….and we enjoy our back patio in the summer too.

9. Favorite summer beverage?

It depends…if I’m having a beverage in the summer, I will drink a margarita, a White Claw or a glass of white wine.

As far as non-alcoholic beverages, when I think of summer, I think of cherry limeade from Sonic! The kids put Nerds in their cherry limeade, so I do that now too! Hadley just went to Sonic yesterday, so there was a cherry limeade in the fridge waiting for me when I got home from school.

10. Favorite side dish for summer parties? Please feel free to share recipes.

This is my “go to” pasta salad if I’m bringing something to a get together:

I’m soooo ready for summer break!

Posted in Memes

Monthly (Monday) Memes…on Wednesday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

How is the week treating you? We’re hanging in there! Today should have been the last day of school, but we still have a week to go. Don’t even get me started!

I’m a little behind sharing my monthly Monday Memes post as I took Monday off from blogging and then didn’t have time to write the post for Tuesday. Anyway, I hope these memes provided a mid-week laugh or two!

Am I right or what?! (Also, if I could ever work a four day week, Monday would be the day I’d choose to be off for sure!)

I’m not sure there’s ever been a more “me” meme than this one…

Well, this one certainly applies to me too! lol

Field day in the 80’s and 90’s was elite. Kids these days will never understand.

Um…why is saying goodbye to the cashier always this awkward? LOL

Absolutely!

My kids owe me…and I probably owe my mother. Or…does that somehow make us all “even?” haha

I do this too many times to count!

Hi, it’s me!

Have I mentioned that I’m ready for this school year to be over?!

Can you relate to any of these memes?!

Have a great day!

Posted in Amazon, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#301}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

After the past few days with our state testing, I’m definitely ready for the weekend. Actually, I’m also ready for a regular day of school which we have today. Then, I’m definitely ready for the three day weekend.

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

Here are a few favorites from the week…

Last weekend, we were in Indianapolis for Hadley’s volleyball tournament. While they played ok on Saturday, the team locked in on Sunday and won the silver bracket. They really have come a long way this season, and Hadley has had a lot of fun playing with these girls.

Tuesday, we didn’t have school thanks to Election Day. Honestly, after being gone most of the weekend, I was “living” for this day off. It was nice to sleep in a bit and have a slow morning. I treated myself to a Dunkin Donut coffee after running a few errands.

I voted…

We watched lots of baseball this week too. While Hayden’s JV season is over, the varsity team had the district tournament. They played Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The weather was so rainy all of Wednesday, but it held off for most of the game. The craziest thing happened …with only one half inning left to go, the power went out! It was out for over an hour, and it got darker and darker outside. We headed home, but the power finally came back on, and they played the final half inning. We won the district championship game!

Favorite Mom Meme:

This one definitely hits home!

With Memorial Day weekend coming up, it’s the unofficial (or is it the official?!) start to summer. Anyway, I figured it was the perfect time to share some of my favorite summer staples. It seems I share a similar post most years, and some of these items have made the list for many years while others are new finds.

I’ve raved about these sandals more than once, and Hadley and I have each own two pairs through the years. I turn to these more than I do my Birks. I do size up one full size.

These Havianas from Nordstrom are my absolute favorite, and I have two pairs of them that I’ve had for years.

This one shoulder swimsuit is another one I’ve had a for a few years; I might just pick it up in another color!

I have a couple colors of this lightweight swim cover up. When I wash it, I do let it hang dry as it’s easy to shrink, but I love the cut and pockets. Unfortunately, it seems there is only one color way available now (in size small), but here’s a similar one, and this longer Cupshe version has caught my eye!

If you prefer a sleeve, this cover up that I have could also double as a summer dress!

This longer sleeve cover up is a new find for me, and but I was pleasantly surprised by the style and fabric; it seems easy to dress up or down if needed.

This maxi dress is one of my favorites. I’m honestly surprised I haven’t ordered it in another color. I wear it often in the summer, and then I also wear it with a cardigan during the school year.

I love a good hat to wear at the pool or at the beach, and I have a couple including this one with a strap. I usually tuck the strap up, but it does come in handy on a windy day or while on a boat. I also wear this visor often too; it rolls up and is so easy to pack.

These sunglasses are some of my favorites…so much so that when I lost the gold rimmed pair, I bought them again!

This is my newest pair and the ones that I’ve been wearing the most recently. I love the tortoise pattern and rectangle shape, but there are other options.

I tend to have sunglasses in my car, in my purse, in my house, in my pool bag, etc., so it’s nice to have options.

A few summers ago, I became a Turkish towel girl; we only have two, so I ordered a couple more recently. The original ones I ordered a couple years ago weren’t in stock, but I bought two of these, and they seem to be great quality. I love how quickly Turkish towels dry and they seem easier to pack!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

As we kick off summer, I love this look back at the kids’ first pool days. This plastic pool was the best $30 we ever spent. Our previous house had a screened in porch, so we spent so much time out there. We’d fill that pool up and they’d splash around. Such sweet memories!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week…

Weekly Report
Tuesday Talk
Throwback Thursday: May 2010

I hope you have a great weekend.

It looks like we’re going to have a soggy one! Summer will be here before we know it.

Posted in Kids, Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday: May 2010

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

Well, May sure is moving right along…it’s hard to believe that this weekend is Memorial Day weekend!

What’s also hard to believe is how quickly the years fly by.

I’ve enjoyed taking a look back to 2010 (January, February, March, and April), and today, I’m sharing some snippets of May 2010.

By May 2010, the kids were six months old. I truly remember enjoying this time. They were good sleepers, good nappers, and Hadley’s colic had improved so much. She was a happier baby. They also started sitting up more and were able to have a bit more fun.

Propped up in the bed…what cuties!

They both had little frogs that a friend of mine had given them. Their names were Finn and Fern.

Hadley was very serious during her playtime with Fern.

We celebrated my first Mother’s Day! (Shew! I thought I was tired then. haha!)

Trav’s brother got married, and we traveled a few hours away for the wedding. Hayden wore his onsie with a tie on it, and Hadley dressed up for the occasion too…matching headband and all!

Family photo…

A big milestone was that we started cereal right around Memorial Day weekend. I remember thinking that we had a good routine down, and I didn’t want to really add anything new until school wrapped up. So, we started cereal at the end of the month.

Anyway, cereal and solids were hit or miss for a while.

The kids also had a new fun activity at six months…bouncing around in the jumper.

Oh what fun!

We just had one jumper, so they learned to take turns at an early age 😉

Oh what I wouldn’t give to hold those six month olds one more time!

Posted in Enneagram, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk – Hallelujah

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday! What a great day for a …

Have you heard the Justin Bieber song “Everything Hallelujah”? I feel like it’s all I hear when I’m scrolling Instagram. I’ve shared many Enneagram posts from @mirabellecreations and this one stopped my scroll…(thanks to the song and the content)

As always, these Enneagram lists really did ring true for my 5w6 self…

Type 5:

  • Plans getting canceled: Well, of course that depends on the plans. I do love to hang out with friends and family, but yes, oftentimes if plans are canceled, especially if I’ve had a long day, I’m not mad about it.
  • Being alone in my house: I love a little quiet time to decompress.
  • Learning a random fact: I’m a teacher, so of course I love learning something new (but maybe not necessarily at 1 am. ha!)
  • Noise canceling headphones: After a year of use, I still love these, and use them on my walks. I can definitely still hear around me, but they do quiet the outside noise.
  • Someone texted instead of calling: Definitely my preferred method of communication, but of course, it’s nice to catch up with family and friends via phone call.
  • Having enough social battery to survive the function: Yes.
  • An uninterrupted afternoon to hyperfixate in peace: I’ll take an uninterrupted afternoon anytime!

Enneagram 6:

  • Having a back up plan for a back up plan: Is there any other way to live?
  • Getting “made it home safe” texts: Well, this certainly hits home these days. I’m very grateful for Life 360 “arrived home” alerts.
  • Knowing exactly what’s going on: I don’t like to live in uncertainty!
  • Someone being reliable for once: That’s always nice. ha!
  • Triple checking and still being correct: This is so me!
  • Group chats that answer quickly: Always appreciated.
  • Realizing the thing I worried about never actually happened: Amen.

That last one reminded me of this quote from Mel Robbins that I recently saw…

Perfect timing to read that. I’m a work in progress in regards to worrying about things I can’t control or even worrying about things that I can control. I do tend to figure it out…so maybe I need to focus on worrying less.

I hope you have a great Tuesday!

Posted in Weekly Report

Weekly Report

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Well, in true end of the school year fashion, I’m holding on for dear life which means sometimes the blog goes to the bottom of the “to do” list.

I shared Friday’s post late, and today I’m finally putting the finishing touches on this post. I’d hoped to finish it last night, but we got home late from a long weekend of volleyball, and then I hit the ground running this morning with state testing!

I haven’t shared a Weekly Report in a bit, and I wanted to start the week off with this post, so here we go…

This is only my second “Weekly Report” post, and I think most use it to capture reading, eating, prioritizing, obsessing, recommending, and treating…

I’m putting my own spin on a few of the letters:

Reading:

I was on the library wait list for Meet the Newmans, and I added it to my Kindle a few weeks ago. I finally started it, and I’m about halfway finished with it. I’m really enjoying it!

I needed a new book to listen to, so I just did a search on the Libby app, and this one popped up…bookshop and London…I’m sold! This has been a great read so far too!

Enjoying:

Spring! I love how the grass is green, and we have pops of colors with flowers.

The front yard refresh is coming along.

I will say that the springlike weather is out the window…It’s been in the 90’s today, and that was too hot too fast! I know it’s almost Memorial Day weekend, but I’m not ready to be hot yet.

Packing:

Over the weekend, when I was drafting this post, I was thinking about how I’ve become a pretty good packer. One thing about me is I hate packing, but now I’ve “mastered” the overnight packing situation since we’ve gone out of town for one night pretty often with Hadley’s volleyball season.

I’ve had these clear travel pouches for years (almost four years to be exact!), and they come in so handy.

I use two of them the most often…one for my skincare…

…and the other for travel size items. I love that they are clear, so I can easily see what’s in them or what’s missing.

The larger one with handles, we’ve used to carry all the family chargers in when traveling, so it seems like there are sizes for all kinds of things.

I’m also still loving this silicone mat/pouch combo for travel. I bought it a couple of months ago, and it’s been so handy. I put my curling iron in it, and then it also sits on the counter to protect the counter from heat.

Screenshot

Ordering:

More phone chargers because Hayden can’t seem to keep up with his!

Screenshot

And…more facial towels. I’m officially hooked on these towels. They are soft, absorbent, and biodegradable. I feel so much better using a fresh new towel after washing my face as opposed to a wash cloth.

Affiliate link

Recommending:

Remarkably Bright Creatures…both the book...

…and the movie! Sally Field was simply amazing (Lewis Pullman was too!), and I love how accurate the movie felt compared to the book. I know it’s one I’ll watch time and time again.

Teaching:

Y’all, we still have ten days left of school, and I’m trying to finish up Macbeth with my English 2 students. I do love this play, and we only have Act 5 left to read, so the end is in sight (for Macbeth and the school year)…

I’m also reading Night with my Adv. English 1 students. We only have a couple of chapters left to go. This is such a powerful memoir, and it certainly fits the unit focus of Survival, but I wish we didn’t end the year on such a serious note.

Pretty soon all my classes are starting their final projects to wrap up the school year. First, we have to get through state testing on Wednesday and Thursday!

I hope your week is off to a great start.