jgalvinwhite

Friday Favorites {#52}

Posted on January 22, 2021August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday! We’ve had a pretty good week around here! Of course, it helps that we started the week off with no school on Monday 😉 That being said, the week was pretty routine with school, work, and kids’ activities.

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

I decided to format my post a bit differently and share a favorite thing (or two) from each day this week. I thought it would be nice to appreciate the big and little things of our daily life.

Sunday

I started Sunday paying tribute to the Queen’s birthday with my favorite mug. Happy birthday to Betty White #99!

Then, we were all excited to see the Chiefs pull out a division win despite Mahomes getting injured.

Homer had his game face on as well as his Chiefs swag!

Monday

On Monday, we enjoyed the extra day off of the three day weekend. We were LAZY all morning. Finally, around 11:30 we got moving but still didn’t do much!

Hadley decided to start her cross stitch craft which was a blast from the past for me. I used to love cross stitching as a kid.

Tuesday

While I miss being at school, I do love having more time to eat lunch. While home for lunch, I tend to put together a variety of snack plates! Tuesdays are my low carb eating days, and I love loading up on cheese, and …

these Marcona Almonds from Trader Joe’s. Y’all, they are SO good!

Wednesday

On Wednesday, Hadley was excited to wear her new sweatshirt. She had a Valentine’s Day sweatshirt that she wore for almost four years! Finally, last year, I told her it was time to retire it. I found this one on Etsy from MelandMae’s shop! I got her a women’s small, so she will be able to wear it for a couple of years 😉

Thursday

This week was a big week around here! Teachers in our area started getting the first dose of the vaccine. I scheduled my appointment for yesterday morning. The vaccine clinic was being held at Kroger Field.

I was in and out in 25 minutes (and that’s only because they had us wait 15 minutes after the vaccine to make sure we didn’t have a reaction). I was so impressed with the efficiency of the appointment! One of my friends joked that the people at Chick-fil-a must have been in charge of organizing the distributions!

I arrived home after going to school and checked the mail. Hadley received two post cards from her principals praising her for her good work and great grades. She made the Principal’s List. After reading the postcards, she immediately burst into tears, and said, “I just want to go back to school!” My heart broke for her. She loves school and being with her peers and teachers.

I did tell her today was the first day I felt cautiously optimistic about a return to in person school in the somewhat near future.

Favorite Kid Quote(s):

On Monday, Hadley told me she was going out to ride her bike. I said, “Wearing your pajama pants?” Her response was, “Hey! Don’t come at me!” 😂

Then, on Tuesday, Hayden was watching the Missouri basketball game with me. He’s mentioned before that some of the players seem to have “been there forever.” (Since we live in the land of ‘one and done,’ four years must feel like forever.) Anyway, he said the Mizzou team is “loyal to the soil.” I couldn’t help but laugh.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Trrrruuuueeee!

Favorite Funny:

I was in the middle of my workout on Tuesday morning, so I asked Travis to wake up the kids. He did so by blaring some kind of Run DMC remix while walking into each kid’s room! When they didn’t get moving after a few minutes, I think he started playing the UK fight song! Needless to say, they kids were annoyed! Tuesday night, they made sure to ask me to wake them up on Wednesday morning! 😆

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

I love this snow pic from January 2016! The kids wore those froggy hats for a couple of years, and I love them so much!

While we’ve been fortunate to have some snow on the ground this year (We even had a white Christmas!), I sure hope we get a good snow or two that’s deep enough for some sledding fun and snowman building!

I love January because it’s a fresh start, and I enjoy being cozy in my house. By mid-February, I’m ready for spring!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from this week in case you missed one!

Monday Meals: SLoppy Joes

Tuesday Talk: Word of the Year

Thursday Thoughts: 3 month Surgery Update

So that’s a little bit about what’s been going on around here. How was your week? Do you have any big weekend plans? Hayden has a couple of basketball games, and then Sunday we’ll go to church and then cheer for the Chiefs!

I hope you have a great weekend.

Me, Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts: 3 month surgery update

Posted on January 21, 2021January 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Today, I’m sharing my three month update after having my total hysterectomy in October. The short version is that all is well, I’m so happy I did it, and the recovery was a bit quicker than I thought it would be.

That being said, I love this quote from Brene Brown:

First, here’s my original post from October.

And… here are a few details about my recovery process and easing into a new normal:

I stayed one night in the hospital and came home about 24 hours after my surgery. My recovery was slow and steady. It was difficult for me to slow down and give myself some time to rest, but I knew that’s what I needed to do. So, that meant asking for help, accepting help, taking some time off work, and reminding myself to take it day by day.

My abdomen with three small incisions was the main issue with soreness for the first 10 days or so. Walking around actually felt good, but sitting or lying down made me realize how much I use those abdominal muscles. The first couple of nights, I slept propped up, but then I was able to sleep on my side with a few pillows for support. I’m a side sleeper, so that was of great relief for me when I was able to get comfortable on my side.

I didn’t really need pain medication. As I mentioned in my first post, I followed doctor’s orders with taking them for the first couple days, but then Tylenol/Ibuprofen did the trick.

I had follow up appointments with my doctor at two weeks and seven weeks. (I was supposed to see her at six weeks, but they called me to reschedule it.) My annual exam (yes, you still go to those even minus some lady parts) was also scheduled for that day, so it all worked out. After that appointment, I was cleared to start working out again, and I felt ready to get back doing so. Up until that point, I had just been walking to get some steps in and burn a few calories. I was happy to start doing more cardio and weights!

I wasn’t supposed to drive for the first two weeks, so that was an adjustment. Travis was basically a super star Uber driver!

I was very tired the first 3-4 weeks. Very tired. After about three weeks, I definitely took a turn for the better with my energy level and stamina. That being said, I did over do it a few times. I just would wake up feeling pretty normal and kind of plug along with my day at a regular pace until late afternoon when I would feel a little achy and exhausted.

By six weeks, I felt so much better. I’m just a tired person. I can take a nap most any day! So, now I’m back to my normal tired rather and exhausted tired… 😆

Prior to my surgery, I was having daily cramping, lower back pain, abdominal discomfort and bloat. All of those issues are gone now. I’m still looking for my abs, but I’m glad to be able to do some crunches w/o having pain, bloat, and exhaustion afterwards!

For hormone replacement, I use an Estrogen patch to delay menopause. I change the patch once a week, so that’s just another alarm I set on my phone as a reminder 😂 I haven’t had any night sweats or whatever else comes with menopause, so I guess the patch is working!

While it took some time to come to peace with the decision to have the surgery, I am very glad I did it. I continue to be thankful to have been able to make the decision on my own and at my own time. While I feel at peace, I still have some lingering sadness about my journey and struggles through the years. It feels odd to have closed that chapter of my life. My struggles with infertility, miscarriage, and endometriosis were a part of my life for so long, that some of the “I wish I could have..” or “What might have been..” still linger. I know some people can just move on, but I also had so many share with me to take the time to “grieve” that chapter of my life.

So that’s my update! Again, I just know I learned so much when Shay shared her experience and updates, and writing these posts has been a form of journaling for me which is an added bonus in recovery and therapeutic as well.

Let me know if you have any questions. I hope you are having a great week!

Me, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk

Posted on January 19, 2021January 18, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

I can’t believe it’s already the third week of January! This month is definitely flying by. I believe Erika and Ashley are still doing their Tuesday Talk link up this year, so today is the day.

I’ve seen people share about their Word of the Year, and then I saw this on the good ol’ gram…

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a 5w6, so “embody” and “yes” would be the words for my Enneagram type. To be honest, while these words are fine, I’m feeling more like a 1 (progress over perfection), or a 7 (quality over quantity). Honestly, I could embrace a 5’s embody (a daily practice) because I’m pretty good at that. Consistency and routine are strong suits of mine, so embodying a daily practice would certainly be in my nature. As far as saying “yes,” to new experiences, well, I probably should do that but already feel overwhelmed from the “yes” I say to every day experiences 😉

When I started this year, I shared my 2021 goals in a blog post, but choosing a word for the year is something I’d like to do as well.

So, self-care was a word that popped into my mind almost immediately. Through the years, I’d gotten to where I felt guilty putting myself first. #andallthemomssaidamen That being said, about four years ago, I turned a corner and made my physical health a priority with a focus on whole food nutrition and exercise. I also started getting monthly facials (or other treatments) and buying quality skincare products to include in my daily routine.

As I’ve previously shared, my endometriosis was an issue for the past few years, and really interfered with my physical health. I’m feeling so much better post-hysterectomy, so I’ve started working out again. Whole food nutrition is a priority again as well as I try to get back on track with healthy eating and working out. I will continue to have my “me” time in the morning which is paramount for my mental health as well.

So, while I will get back on track and continue with self-care, I also want to just start (from where I am). To me, start is the perfect word for where I am currently in my life. I want to start over with my fitness and nutrition. Also, time is absolutely flying by, and I want to start being more intentional with my time with Travis and the kids. I also have other goals that I want to start working on in regards to this blog.

I want to continue to grow as a mom, as a wife, as a teacher, as a friend, and so on. To do that, self-care and starting from where I am, are perfect words for me to focus on in 2021.

What about you? What’s your word for 2021?

Make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts too, and thanks so much for reading!

Meals and Recipes

Monday Meals

Posted on January 18, 2021January 17, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! How was your weekend? We had a good one. Hayden had a basketball game Friday night. On Saturday, I had lunch out with a couple friends and then got a massage; yesterday, we went to church. We ended the weekend cheering for our KC Chiefs. I think Hayden’s blood pressure may still be off the charts! 😆 We were very excited for the win. Now, today is a bonus day off!

It’s been a minute since I’ve shared a recipe (or two) that my family loves, so that’s what I’m doing today. Again, I don’t really create recipes; I’m just really good at following directions.

One of my kids’ favorite dinners is Sloppy Joes.

Fun fact: Growing up, we had a big fish tank in our living room with a few fish. We named our two Oscar fish “Sloppy” and “Joe,” because that’s what we were eating for dinner the day we got them!

Of course, the recipe on the can is easy enough, but after I bought Shay’s Simmers cookbook, I started using her recipe, and we all love it. I’m team “dinner in the slow cooker” as much as possible. I think my favorite part of her recipe is the yellow mustard.

Then, Andrea shared her Sloppy Joe Biscuit Cup recipe, and now that recipe is a staple at our house too.

Sloppy Joe Biscuit Cups:

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 can Sloppy Joe sauce
I can biscuits
shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions:

I turn the biscuits on their side and cut them in half, so they are thinner, and then put them into a lightly greased muffin tin. (The first time I made them and didn’t grease the pan, they seemed to stick!)
Brown the ground beef and drain.
Add in the sauce and let simmer for a few minutes.
Then, I spoon a bit of the beef sauce into each biscuit and top with a sprinkle of shredded cheese.
I bake them for about 12-15 minutes at 375 degrees.
Enjoy!

Also for dinner this week:

Here’s our dinner menu this week:

Sunday: Taco soup (I will share the recipe soon)
Monday: Baked chicken thighs, Bob Evans mashed potatoes, fruit
Tuesday: Leftover chicken, bagged Caesar salad
Wednesday: Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna, roasted broccoli
Thursday: Leftover lasagna and green beans
Friday and Saturday: take out, I’m sure!

I love these two Sloppy Joe recipes that are a spin on a classic! What are you having for dinner this week?

Take care,

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#51}

Posted on January 15, 2021August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! This week seemed to take forever, so I’m definitely ready for the weekend. Overall, we had a great week of school, work, activities, and (my) birthday dinner + cookie cake.

I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites post.

Favorite Moment:

There’s nothing like Facebook on your birthday. I also received so many texts and a few phone calls, so I appreciated the birthday love. I’ve always been a big birthday person, and try to make those days special for others. It’s nice to feel the love in return.

The four of us went to dinner last night, and it was so nice. We went to one of my favorite places. Typically, it’s a place just Travis and I that would probably go, but Travis and I went out last Saturday, so I let the kids tag along last night. Obviously, eating out is a luxury these days, but I’m thankful for that experience.

Also, Hadley took it upon herself to text my friends and family asking for birthday wishes. She put the clips together, and the final product video left me teary eyed. I definitely feel blessed.

Favorite Pic:

Dinner with Trav and the kids last night!

Favorite Kid Quote:

I was just telling a friend this story recently, and then it popped up on Facebook. January 13, 2013, and Hadley was tossing folded clean clothes out of the laundry basket. I asked her what she was doing, and she said, “I’m looking for my damn pants.”

That story has always reminded me of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird when, at dinner, she says,”Pass the damn ham, please!” 😂

Also, this week, Hadley got braces (for the second, and final time!), and she continuously asks me if she has something in her teeth which cracks me up.

Favorite Food:

The week started off strong with Shay’s Easy Skillet Enchiladas! We all loved them!

Then, of course, I’d say last night’s dinner was amazing followed by cookie cake!

Favoriting Clothing item:

I’ve had these leopard flats from Nordstrom saved in my favorites on the app for over a year. They’ve been on sale before but previously haven’t had my size. I so happened to click around in the app before Christmas, and saw they had my size, and they were on sale! I went ahead and purchased them. I really like them! (I wear a 9, and sized up to a 9.5 since the toe is pointy, and they fit perfectly)

Other faves:

Our church has remained closed for now, but Hadley and I went to a nearby church on Sunday. It felt good to go to an in person service.

*the people in this row are not as close as they appear 😉

I’d mentioned that I’d like a Dutch oven, and my Gma came through with one for me as my birthday present this year! I’ve been using it since Christmas and love it so much.

Another favorite gift was from one of my friends who left a present on my porch! My skin has been so dry, and I love this whipped body butter. I’d never tried Buff City Soap products, and this body butter is heavenly!

I guess I can’t call them a favorite just yet since I haven’t tried them, but my Mani Me custom fit stick on gel nails arrived this week. My gel manicure from a couple weeks ago is still looking pretty good, but I can’t wait to try these.

Mom meme:

I feel this deeply, y’all!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

Thanks to Facebook Memories…January 2010. The kids were about six weeks old. I’m a sucker for a black and white photo of itty bitty babies.

Weekly Recap:

Here are this week’s posts in case you missed one!

Not Just a Mom

Let’s Look

Day in the Life

Thanks so much for reading! Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts.

I hope you have a great weekend! I know that I’m excited to not set an alarm on Monday!

Take care,

Day in the Life

Posted on January 14, 2021January 13, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How’s it going? This week has seemed to last a lifetime for some reason. I’m so tired….and the kids are too. I guess we are still adjusting to back to school life.

The good news is…today is my birthday! Hadley is trying to convince me to let us all take the day off, but I told her we’d power through and celebrate later.

Today I’m sharing a Day in the Life post. I love when others do these posts, and I haven’t done one in a long time. I chose Monday, January 11th when planning out my January blogs, and I assumed that it should be just a typical day…and it pretty much was!

That being said, it’s surprisingly difficult to remember to take pictures throughout the day….at least for me it is! Anyway, here’s how I spent this past Monday.

Monday, January 11, 2021

I woke up around 6:30. When I’m tired and struggle to get out of bed in the morning, I remind myself that during a normal school year, I get up twice a week at 5:20 to work out or get up at 6:00 otherwise! I do think I’m going to start aiming for a 6:15 wakeup call to start moving back towards reality.

From 6:40-7:20 I drank my coffee, scrolled Instagram, and read my favorite blogs. I love my quiet time in the morning. Homer usually joins me!

At 7:25, I woke the kids up and made their breakfast…waffle for Hayden (he likes to dip it in syrup), and English muffin with peanut butter for Hadley.

I finished packing lunches,

Homer wondered what he was having for breakfast, and …

I found Hayden back in bed…The Monday struggle was real!

I washed my face, made my bed and got dressed.

While the kids finished getting ready, I sorted the their clean laundry, so they could put it away after school.

Then, it was time to take the kids to the school pod.

I came back home, checked and responded to emails, and finished getting ready for the day.

I went to school from 9:30 to around 2:00. I was so productive at school which is always a good feeling!

Then, I had a quick errand for an Amazon return at the UPS store before heading home.

Homer was excited to see me!

I ate lunch around 2:15, checked emails, and then

picked the kids up from school!

Once we got home and settled, I checked and responded to more emails, had Zoom appointments with students and finished up at around 4:15.

Then, I ordered this sweatshirt for Hadley. She had a Valentine’s Day sweatshirt that she wore for four years before finally outgrowing it last year. So, this one will probably last her a few years as well!

Then, I took some time to respond to blog comments and read other posts since it was the first Not Just a Mom link up of 2021!

Then, I took some photos to prep for Wednesday’s Let’s Look post.

After that, I had Hadley answer questions, so I could submit them for Dance Spotlight at her studio.

I finally got to do my workout at 5:15.

Then, I took Hadley to dance because Travis was working late.

I came home and made dinner. Shay’s Easy Skillet Enchiladas were a hit! I’d never made this recipe of hers before, and it’s definitely going into the dinner rotation!

Then, I caught up with Travis about our day and finally completed the Amazon Associate info and figured out how to share links (I think!)

Around 8:00, it was time to pick up Hadley. Before doing so, I stopped by Walgreens to pick up Ibuprofen because Hadley was getting braces next day.

After picking up Hadley, I warmed up her dinner, and she showed us the dances her competition team is working on. (post-dance class tradition!) haha

Finally, it was time for a shower and PM skin care routine.

I was so tired! It was definitely a busy Monday. The kids went to bed around 9:15, and by 9:30 I was reading my book.

I could barely keep my eyes open, so I didn’t read for long. I decided to watch an episode of my favorite show with my favorite ladies before falling asleep around 10:15.

So, that was my Monday! Overall, it was a pretty average and good day…for a Monday!

See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Take care,

Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on January 13, 2021January 12, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! It’s already the second Wednesday of the month which means that Shay and Erika are hosting their Let’s Look link up.

Let’s Look is a post where bloggers share a peek and their thoughts on a certain topic.

Today’s topic is…Let’s look at your…coffee bar area.

Well, y’all, this is it: This is my coffee bar area. 😂

The cabinet above, holds the coffee and filters…and that’s it.

Cream, No Sugar:

I quit sugar and Splenda years ago. Now, I just add a splash of creamer to the bottom of my coffee mug, pour the coffee, and I don’t even have to stir! Stirring is just to much of an extra step when I’m tired and just need my first sip!

We are basic with our creamers around here. Basically, year round, I use Sugar Free Hazelnut. In the fall, I use that creamer, and add a dash of pumpkin spice (and stir) for more of a fall flavor. Then, in December (and January if I can still find it), I use a splash of Peppermint creamer during those months.

Favorite Mugs:

Since my coffee bar is ~~underwhelming~~ non-existent, I thought I’d share some of my favorite coffee mugs!

Through the years, we’ve collected many mugs and they range from sentimental to funny to practical and more.

My most used mug since this summer is this one from Amazon. I love it so much that I’ve taken it on vacation with me, and I’ve given it to a few friends for birthday presents! I don’t use the lid often as it’s the one I use at home most mornings, but it definitely keeps my coffee warm the longest which is a must!

{Affiliate linked photo}

Here it is this fall with my pumpkin spice concoction.

This mug was a Christmas gift this year, and I use it frequently as well.

Other mugs in the rotation:

My Magnolia mug which I purchased a few years ago, the green mug that my mom brought me back from Ireland, and the “J”mug that a friend gave me as a birthday present a few years ago.

I’ve had the Starbucks KC mug for years, and then my dad gave me the KC Royals handcrafted one after the Royals won the World Series in 2015, and then my mom gave me the KC Chiefs one after last year’s Super Bowl win!

**My Royals mug is chipped, but I still drink out of it occasionally!

My “going back to bed” mug was my take away from a family white elephant exchange, and the “Hey, Y’all” mug was a purchase when we stopped in Paula Deen’s store while in Savannah, GA a couple years ago.

I love my Golden Girls mug…

As far as sentimental mugs go, Travis and the kids gave me the “Thank you for being the greatest mom” for Mother’s Day 2020. The mug is black, and when you pour the hot coffee in it, the photo and saying magically appear!

The pink handprint mug from 2015 was the sweetest gift that the kids’ sitter helped them make. It’s seen better days, but I still use it. There’s one with Hayden’s handprint too…but I can’t find it! (Don’t tell him!). I’m wondering if it’s in Trav’s car…he tends to wander off with our mugs!

So, while my coffee bar sitch is lacking, my mug collection is thriving!

Next month’s topic is: Love Language. So interesting! I need to research this one…off the top of my head, I think my love language is “putting the dishes away” and “doing the laundry!” 😆

Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts, and thanks so much for reading!

Not Just a Mom

Posted on January 11, 2021January 9, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday. I’m so excited for today’s post! It’s the first Not Just a Mom link up of 2021, and I get to be a co-host with these lovely ladies:

Today’s topic is “getting cozy and small comforts.” Cozy is my love language. I love nothing more than being snuggled under a blanket or wearing an over-sized sweatshirt to feel cozy and comforted.

I think the reason that fall and winter are my favorite seasons is because the temperatures are cooler, leggings and sweaters are a clothing staple, and an overcast cold day is the perfect excuse to lounge around, read, and sip on some coffee..

Well, I’ve already touched on a few things that are cozy, small comforts for me, but here are the details.

Cozy/Comforts:

First of all, I just like being at home. I’m the most comfortable at home, and I like to make my house feel like home. I also love when everyone is home. It doesn’t mean we are all together doing something (that is nice though!), it just means all my people are accounted for, I have nothing to worry about, and I just feel settled.

I start every morning with a cup(s) of coffee! Whether it’s 25 degrees out or 75 degrees, I feel comforted by the warmth of a cup of coffee.

Saturday provided the perfect cozy morning with cloudy skies and cold temps. I lit a candle, got a blanket and finished a book on my Kindle.

We use our fireplace quite a bit in the winter, and I love that it’s double sided, so we can feel the warmth at our kitchen table and in the living room. A fire definitely provides comfort and coziness during the winter.

I love an over-sized sweater, and I shared this Amazon one a couple times last week. It’s perfect because you can dress it up or down, and I’ve worn it with workout tights, leggings, and skinny jeans with booties.

Seriously, cozy could be my middle name 😉 What are your “must haves” for cozy comforts?

Next month’s topic is “Healthy Habits and Staying Motivated.” I’m glad I looked at this topic in advance, so I can try use it as incentive to continue working out and eating healthy! 11 days into the new year, and I’m off to a pretty good start.

Grab this graphic, link back to one or all of us, and share your Not Just a Mom post!

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you have a great week!

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#50}

Posted on January 8, 2021August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hey there and Happy Friday! How was your week? We certainly are trying to get back in the school routine. Setting an alarm has been a struggle! The kids just started back yesterday, so I know they are thankful for the short week!

I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Favorite Pic:

These pics from the holidays got lost in my camera roll, so I thought I’d share it today.

We visited the “Magic Tree” over break which is always a fun experience.

Favorite Kid Quote:

Hadley’s new thing is to say, “Yass Queen!” when talking to me…and it makes me laugh every time.

Favorite Moment:

We went roller skating on Monday afternoon with the kids’ pod. It was a fun activity to get everyone back together and excited about the new semester. We are still learning virtually, and while it makes my heart hurt for my kids and my students, I’m thankful my kids get to have this pod experience with their friends.

I picked right back up where I left off in 1991…and the kids were impressed that “I’ve still got it!” They had no clue what I was talking about with the Limbo and couples skate. 😂

Favorite Clothing Item:

I’ve been wearing my favorite Amazon sweater on repeat! I have it in two colors (pink and navy blue) and have worn them over workout clothes as well as skinny jeans and leggings.

{affiliate linked photo}

Favorite Food:

No favorite food, but it’s been nice to get back on track eating healthy! I’ve made that a priority ( as well as drinking more water) over the past week, and I hope to keep it up!

Favorite Gifts:

Here area few of our favorite Christmas gifts:

Kids:

My grandma gave Hadley some jacks, and both kids have been loving playing. My mom, brother, and sister-in-law all got in on the fun too. My kids have played for hours and hours…with minimal fighting 😉

Hadley:

I ordered Hadley this bracelet, and I was so excited to give it to her. I’m hoping it’s something that will last for years.

Hadley also loved her new slippers and…

A few “vintage” shirts from my aunt.

Hayden:

Hayden loved his new golf book and golf clubs.

Trav:

We got Travis some new joggers.

And…I purchased this beanie with head lamp for him to use when jogging.

He was also very appreciative of the Snicker Doodle cookies my mom made for him as well as the beer that my dad gifted him as well.

Me:

Per usual, I felt very spoiled with gifts. I loved the Kendra Scott necklace, earrings, and bracelet that Travis and the kids gave me. The necklace and earrings match and are a mix of pink and blue—a nod to my boy and my girl. Very thoughtful. I also loved the jewelry dish they got me. I needed ones of those!

Hadley gave Travis and I each a rolled up piece of paper tied with pretty ribbon. When we opened them, we found this collage of pictures from the night before that she’d organized and printed. She’s a sweetheart. I’m going to take mine to school to put on the wall near my desk.

Lastly, my mom gave me Air Pods. I wasn’t expecting those, and hadn’t even asked for them, but she said I’d been a good girl! 😆

Homer:

Homer received a new bowl, this new collar, and he also had a bone in his stocking! Santa must have forgotten all of the things that were #homered this year.

I do love the new collar…Travis has a similar belt that’s like a horse halter with name plate. Homer looks super handsome in his upgraded collar.

Favorite Mom Meme:

I saw this meme and laughed. Y’all, it’s so true!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the past week in case you missed one!

So many awesome bloggers take the time to link up every Friday, so don’t forget to check out their posts too!

Speaking of link ups, we have our first Not Just a Mom post of 2021 coming up on Monday!

The topic is “Getting Cozy and Small Comforts,” so feel free to join us!

Thanks so much for reading, and have a great weekend!

This and That

This and That Thursday

Posted on January 7, 2021January 6, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday….Did you know Thursday is my favorite day of the week? It’s a great day to be productive, but I like knowing that the weekend is thisclose while wrapping up my work week.

I’ve been back to work since Monday, but the kids start back to school today. It was actually nice having these few extra days off for them as we could really use the extra time to ease back into reality.

Today I’m sharing a few odds and ends about what’s been going on.

Blog:

I decided to try a new blog idea for January – A sentence a day. I’ve seen Joanne share her monthly posts, and I thought it would fun to capture the “little” things of each day. That being said, I’ve had to set a reminder on my phone to add to the post each day. Kind of like those “day in the life” posts…It’s easier said than done!

Fresh Start to the New Year:

January 1st started off lazily for me, but then I kicked it into high gear putting up all of the Christmas decorations. (Travis helped too!)

The only sign of Christmas left in the house is my favorite pencil tree that’s in our bedroom. If you remember, this guy (girl?) started out in the sun room on Election Day, and then I moved it to our bedroom. It still brings me joy, so I think I will leave it up until around my birthday (January 14th)

Then, I put the house back to “normal” the next day.

I always get a bit anxious trying to remember where things usually go…but then I also like to move items around. Once everything is back in place, I feel better! (which I know sounds silly) I made a trip to Target for a few organizational tubs, and ended up buying this tray for our coffee table. I actually purchased it for the kitchen island, but I knew if I didn’t like it there, it would look great on the coffee table.

So, I played “musical decor” and put the metal tray that was on the table on the island. So, it all worked out.

On Sunday, I finished getting organized by purging the pantry, the spices, the fridge, and the freezer. I even took the time to wipe down the shelves in the fridge.

Do you know what I still haven’t tackled? My closet. Womp. Womp. That’s been my goal for over a month…I will get to it…eventually.

Self-care:

All that hard work of purging and organizing meant I should treat myself to a manicure. I haven’t had a manicure in a salon for close to a year. Hadley received a gift card to our favorite place, so we went there to get manicures. I got a gel manicure while Hadley got a regular one.

Back to School Pod Skate:

To kick off the new semester, my friend (who runs the kids’ school pod) rented out the local skating rink for just our pod kids on Monday afternoon. It was so much fun…for Hadley…and me…but not so much for Hayden. He tried and he tried, but he could barely keep his feet under him. 😂

I skated as well as a couple of other parents too. It was so fun to have the place to ourselves, and there was no keeping us 80s kids off the rink! My kids were impressed with my skating skills, and I was happy to not be sore the next day!

Favorite Apps:

Over the holidays, I discovered this Shop app. I guess it’s synced up with your email and orders because it stores all orders in one place. That way, the tracking info on orders and status updates are all in one place. It came in so handy with Amazon, Etsy and other orders throughout the holidays.

I’ve used MyFitnessPal to track calories and macros for a few years. I haven’t used it much lately, so that’s a 2021 goal for me. I’m back to tracking everything I eat which has actually provided a great reset for me mentally and physically.

Speaking of tracking…I need to drink more water. Since working at home, my coffee drinking tends to linger until 11:00 or so. I always drink water while working out (and after), but I definitely need to drink more. This app has been perfect for tracking the ounces of water per day that I drink.

Exercise:

I’ve mentioned before that I recently subscribed to the Beach Body On Demand app/program. I’ve done 21 Day Fix before, and have turned back to those DVDs throughout the years. Post-surgery, I decided to ease back into working out with 21 Day Fix “Real Time,” on the app since I was familiar with 21 DF. So, leading up to Christmas, I completed that program. With the new year, I’ve now transitioned to 21 Day Fix Extreme and have committed to getting my workouts in most mornings.

When working out, I’ve been the most successful when I work out in the morning. With Covid and being home, I still did an ok job working out, but often times I would bump it to later in the day …or not at all. Now, since I’m still home this is super convenient, and I’m going to take advantage of completing a 30 minute workout at 7:00 am rather than 5:30 AM when I’m in a normal going to school groove. I love that I can just use the app on our basement tv where I have my workout weights, mat, and bands.

I’m really enjoying these programs so far, and there are many other ones to choose from after I complete 21 DF Extreme.

Books:

After reading all the light hearted Christmas books in December, I was ready to read something a little heavier. Well, American Dirt is A LOT heavier, but I can’t put it down. I’m reading it on my Kindle while reading Make Life Beautiful in hardback. My mom got it for me for Christmas.

Shows:

Travis and I just finished watching season 3 of Ozark. Holy moly can that show be intense. I’ve balanced watching that show with more light hearted ones like Dream Home Makeover and Magnolia Table. Hadley started watching On Pointe on Disney +, and I’ve been watching it with her. It’s so interesting and inspiring to watch these dancers at SAB (School of American Ballet).

So, that’s a little bit of what’s been going on around here! See you back here tomorrow for the first Friday Favorites of 2021.

Take care,