Author: jgalvinwhite

Posted in Amazon

January 2021: Prime Purchases

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Well, it’s the first Tuesday of the month (and of 2021), and I’m so happy that Tanya is still hosting her Prime Purchases link up. I love looking at what others purchase, and sharing my purchases as well.

In December, I bought a few odds and ends, some clothes (per usual), and a few gifts. So, I’m sharing those with you today!

Notes and Note pads:

I purchased some lunch box notes at the beginning of the school year, and they lasted me until the end of the semester. My kids take their lunches on the two days they go to the pod. I’m guessing next year in middle school they won’t want lunchbox notes, so I will embrace this last semester of elementary school!

I needed some magnetic pads of paper for our grocery lists, and I thought this pack was cute!

Clothing:

I’d seen this sweater swirling around IG Stories and thought it looked just my style. I ordered it in this navy blue in a large…It’s very soft, cozy and great quality. I will say I wouldn’t call this navy blue. It has more of a green coloring to it. I love the color either way. I’ve seen some style it as a sweater dress, so that’s why I got the large. That being said, I still only would feel comfortable wearing it with leggings.

I did order it in a size medium in the pink color, and it’s more of a perfect fit and still works with leggings. I’m keeping both sizes and colors because I love it and the fit is meant to be oversized anyway.

{Affiliate linked photo)

Now that I’m focused on getting back on track with working out, I purchased this zip up in blue and love it for a lightweight option to put over workout tops. I’ve seen the price fluctuate on it, but I did get it for under $20.

{affiliate linked photo}

Gifts:

As always, Amazon came in clutch for Christmas presents. I ordered quite a few things for family members and the kids, but here are a few of the items.

Travis is a runner. When I saw this beanie with the built in light, I knew it would be perfect for him on morning runs. The price was great when I bought it, but it looks like it’s even cheaper now!

{affiliate link}

TAGVO USB Rechargeable LED Beanie Cap, Lighting and Flashing Alarm Modes 8 LED Hands Free Flashlight, Easy Install Quick Release Headlamp Beanie, Unisex Winter Warmer Knit Cap Hat

I asked for this meat chopper last year for Christmas, and loved it so much that I purchased a couple for family members. It’s life changing. Seriously…it’s such a handy kitchen gadget.

Hadley has taken an interest in skincare lately, and I thought this facial spin brush would be perfect for her to use since she’s started washing her face. I swear she knows more about skincare, beauty and hair products than I ever will!

This purchase was a last minute gift. After purging Hayden’s closet, we found an ink cartridge box full of cash! Hayden quit using his piggy bank because he lost the cork that holds the money in the bank. So, he’d been hoarding his cash in the random box! It almost got thrown out! Travis suggested I look for a KC Chiefs piggy bank, but I didn’t see any options. So I put two and two together, and bought this bank…

and these stickers….

to make Hayden a KC Chiefs piggy bank. He was so excited!

the other stickers are on the back…

So…that’s a peek at what I Primed this month! What purchases did you make?

My “dry” January typically consists of not making any Amazon purchases, but I have purchased a few organizational items because January also means purging and organizing around here. Those items haven’t arrived yet, but I can share those next month. Otherwise, I’m pausing Amazon purchases for the rest of this month. My debit card needs a break.

Check out Tanya’s Prime Purchases schedule and join us next month!

Thanks so much for reading, and happy Priming!

Posted in Holidays, Me

NYE 2020 and 2021 Goals

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! It’s the first Monday of 2021! Of course, I feel like our two week break flew by, but it was a good one. Technically, my kids are off until Thursday! Teachers start back today though (virtually).

To kick off 2021, I thought I’d recap our New Year’s Eve and share a few goals I have for 2021.

I saw this graphic on Instagram Stories, filled it out and shared to my stories! It’s one form of reflection 😉

I also always think it’s fun to see the Top 9 posts on Instagram. This was my Top 9 of 2020 on Insta:

New Year’s Eve:

NYE 2020: (and most years, actually)…

I kind of miss the years when we could “trick” the kids with a countdown at 9 PM. haha That being said, we had a great evening at home. Truth be told, I’ve never been a big fan of NYE. I’m not big on dressing up, going out in the cold…or staying up late 😂That being said, we’ve spent some fun New Year’s Eves with friends sharing dinner and drinks at someone’s house, and we’ve also had some fun years at home. This, of course, was an “at home” year.

Both kids were adamant about staying up…Hayden said he was going to stay up until 3! I could barely commit to midnight, but glad that I did.

We got carry out from a local favorite: OBC Kitchen. I set the table using wrapping paper as a runner, used our winter dishes for place settings, and gathered a few decorations from around the house for the centerpiece.

The kids love cranberry Ginger ale while Travis and I had adult beverages. We had bacon and peanut butter for an appetizer, and then had dinner of salmon, steak, gnocchi, bread and salad. So good.

Hadley was ready to party!

After dinner, the kids did their own thing for a while, and then we played Emoji Uno for almost two hours. At one point I couldn’t find Homer, but found him in our bed. Apparently, he wasn’t going to stay up until midnight!

Around 11:30, we turned on the countdown, poured the Ginger ale and champs and celebrated with the countdown. We were in bed by about 12:30. I think Hayden watched TV until about 1:30. We figured with it being NYE and break almost over, we’d let him stay up. Both kids have been sleeping so late…but they slept until almost 11 on Friday and Saturday!

As I mentioned in Friday’s post, 2020 had highs and lows, but I’m still thankful for this most random year and certainly continue to count my blessings.

2021 Goals:

I’m going to start with these goals:

and focus on…

  • Allowing for “me” time: This has always been of importance to me which is why I’ve always started my day solo with my cup of coffee, favorite blogs, and scrolling social media. With having the kids home most of the time since March, “me time” has been hard to find. I still get up before them, of course, but it’s still difficult to take some time for myself. I hope to carve out a little bit of time in the evening too.
  • Drinking more water: This is usually an easy goal for me in the summer, but I need to drink more daily all year long. While being home so much, I’ve been drinking more coffee than I should, so I need to cut that off at a certain time and drink water the rest of the day.
  • Eating whole food nutrition: For January, I plan on eating healthy but also limiting fried foods and sugar. I don’t eat tons of fried food, but even on Fridays I usually pick up Chick-fil-A for the kids and indulge myself. I do have a sweet tooth and zero willpower, so I’m going to try to cut out sweets as well…except for some birthday cookie cake mid-January for my birthday.
  • Working out: While I’ve never been one to bounce right out of bed to workout, I do enjoy working out. I feel better physically, mentally and emotionally when that’s a part of my regular routine. I’ve shared a bit before, but I struggled with endometriosis prior to my October hysterectomy which really affected my being able to work out for the past couple of years. I didn’t make excuses and tried to continue to work out, but I still could never give it 100% and couldn’t work out daily. For the past month, I’ve eased back into working out, and will now continue to kick it up a notch and do so almost daily.
  • Keep reading: I love to read and have made it a part of my daily life. I usually average around 40 books per year, and I hope to read that many or more in 2021. Also, I think last year was the first year I started using Goodreads, and I hope to get more organized with my book lists on there this year!
  • Blogging: I love that I’ve been able to blog a bit more this year. I was blogging three days a week, and then was able to write 4-5 posts a week in the past six months. I think four posts a week for me is usually manageable, so I hope to continue doing that. I’d like to branch out and join some other link ups. I’d love to know of link ups you read or join, so let me know, and I can add them to my list!

and then there’s this:

I want to work on owning my time, setting boundaries, and not be so critical of myself. As far as crying and showing emotions…I’ve always been ok with that…but sometimes I let things build up (due to lack of time to deal with it) rather than process what I’m feeling in the moment. I’m reflective enough to know I’m forever a work in progress over here! 😆

What goals do you have for 2021? I’m so hopeful it will be a great year!

Have a great week (and a great year!)

Posted in Everyday Life

2020: Year in Review

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy January 1st! 1/1/21! Can you believe it?

Who knew when we started 2020, that after only a few months in, we’d be in the midst of a worldwide pandemic?

Just when I think I could sum up 2020 with “it sucked,” I scroll through my photos and blog posts and see that our normal experiences like holidays, sports, and vacations looked different, but they mostly still happened. Also, we took the time to cherish the small things like going for family bike rides, watching movies, and reading books. We adjusted. (PIVOT!) What choice did we have?

We had some…

highs: We were forced to slow down, spend quality time with family, and simplify our lives.

There were also some…

lows: We missed family. We couldn’t have traditions and holidays like normal. We had to be careful and think about every decision. We lived in fear of the virus.

I still decided to go ahead an recap this year because I do want to be able to look back on it and remember ups and downs of it all. And, as my blogging friend Amy said, “Reflection helps with gratitude.” I love that. I am so very grateful for my family, our health, and this time together.

That being said…Warning: lots of photos coming your way! Apparently, my love language is pictures! 😂

January:

In January, we kicked off the year with my 40th birthday!

Travis threw a surprise party for me. It was so much fun.

A few days later, Hadley and I had the flu…and it kicked my tail! I missed a week of school.

The kids had fun playing basketball!

February:

In February, Travis and Hadley went to the father/daughter dance with some friends.

We went snow tubing with friends which is something we do every February.

The kids had a snow day.

We all enjoyed Hadley’s performance in the school musical.

Our Chiefs won the Super Bowl!

March:

In March, I went with Hadley and her troop on an overnight field trip in a museum.

My dad visited right as we learned school would be moving to virtual learning.

The world officially shut down. We started spending lots of time at home baking, crafting, having fun with sidewalk chalk, reading, and bingeing Netflix.

We came together as a community, as a state, and as a country.

April:

In April, we celebrated Easter at home.

We went on lots of family bike rides.

We updated our sun room.

We admired sidewalk chalk artwork in the neighborhood.

May:

In May, we celebrated Mother’s Day.

The kids had good old fashion fun with the Slip n Slide.

We ate out for the first time in a couple of months at The Stave.

The kids wrapped up 4th grade with virtual learning.

June:

In June, we headed to Florida for a week.

Thankfully, the beach was perfect for social distancing.

I felt rejuvenated by the beach sunsets.

Once we returned home, I sought out some outdoor activities for us to do to to fill our summer days.

We picked strawberries,

and visited the Cincinnati Zoo.

Baseball started back for Hayden.

We celebrated Father’s Day with Travis.

Then, Travis and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.

July:

In July, we celebrated the 4th of July.

We went canoeing with friends.

We celebrated Trav’s birthday.

The kids and Homer enjoyed pool time (I did too!)

We went to Kansas City to see family.

August:

Hayden and Travis played a few rounds of golf during the summer.

As a family, we went on a hike.

Then, school started back virtually. We started the year off with our tradition Back to School Breakfast.

First day of virtual school…

at the pod…

Hadley had her dance recital with no audience. We we received the DVD of the performances a couple months later.

September:

In September, online school continued, we got in the 2020 school groove knowing this may be our reality for quite some time.

Oaks and Derby were finally celebrated over Labor Day weekend with very few fans in attendance which broke a piece of Trav’s heart.

Thankfully, cross country was able to start for the kids with Travis as their coach.

Hayden was able to play fall baseball.

October:

In October, we traveled to Asheville, NC for fall break.

The perfect place to hike and eat outside.

Hadley started playing the flute.

Hayden got braces.

Per tradition, we visited the pumpkin patch.

I took the time to make myself a priority and had my total hysterectomy with an overnight stay at the hospital.

The kids were an M &M, and Patrick Mahomes for Halloween.

November:

In November, we enjoyed the beautiful fall leaves and mild weather.

The kids turned 11!

My runners wrapped up their elementary cross country season.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my brother and his family.

December:

In December, my mom visited and we baked cookies.

The kids were able to visit Santa.

As a family, we continued traditions like decorating a gingerbread house and seeing lights at the horse park.

Mustard Seed Hill was a new outdoor holiday activity for us.

We took Christmas card photos…

and sent those cards out later than usual…

We celebrated Christmas Eve at home after watching church service online,

and woke up to a white Christmas.

We’ve spent the last week of the year with family, moving at a slow pace, enjoying a few more days of the twinkle of the tree lights, and preparing for the new year.

Final 2020 Thoughts:

While this year has been filled with stress and uncertainty, I still feel very blessed. I never knew how much we needed to slow down until we were forced to do so. I treasure the time with my family and the slower pace.

Of course, all these pictures remind me that there were times that we were still busy even in the midst of “the great pause,” but kids keep you busy. We were blessed that they were able to be safe while doing their activities. We never would have gone on vacation if we didn’t have a family house to stay in. We adjusted our thinking and allowed the kids to go to a pod a couple days a week to maximize their virtual learning experience, and more.

These photos literally are snapshots of reality. At sporting events, there should have been family members besides immediate ones in attendance. Hand sanitizer doesn’t belong at the beach. Holiday decisions shouldn’t be stressful ones (or more stressful than usual 😉) The list goes on and on…and on.

I feel like in 2020, no decision was made without my over-thinking it…😅

Honestly, though, that has taken its toll on me. I, at times, have felt mentally and emotionally exhausted.

This year has been one to remember. It’s brought times of stress, worry, and sadness. There have been times of uncertainty and times of strength. I hope that 2021 can bring us a sense of peace…and relief. I know we are all ready for a fresh start which is exactly what the new year always brings.

2020 is also the first full year I’ve had this blog. I continue to be grateful for this community.

Weekly Recap:

In case you missed a post this week:

Christmas Recap
December Books
Top 5 Books of 2020

Happy New Year and prayers for a blessed (and less stressful!) 2021!

Take care,

Posted in Books and Shows

Top 5 Books of 2020

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Happy New Year’s Eve! I can’t believe it’s the end of 2020. Even in this crazy year, reading has still been an important part of my life and one of my favorite hobbies.

Truthfully, with quarantine and more time at home, I didn’t necessarily read more because I took the time to binge shows on Netflix. 😂 I did read 39 books this year which is as many as I read in 2019 as well.

Today, I’m recapping the books I read this year as well as sharing my Top FIVE reads of 2020.

I saw Tanya’s link up, and it’s perfect timing for today’s post.

Before I get to what I read in 2020, here’s my Top 5 books post from 2019.

My 2020 Reads:

January:

  • A Woman is No Man
  • The Wives
  • The Hate U Give

February:

I had the flu in January, and I think I got behind on reading and didn’t post in February…

March:

  • American Royals
  • The Broken Girls
  • Small Great Things
  • The Secret to Southern Charm

April:

  • Regretting You
  • Our New Normal
  • The Matchmaker

May:

  • Two Girls Down
  • The Southern Side of Paradise
  • Defending Jacob

June:

  • Little Fires Everywhere
  • Paper Ghosts
  • The Unhoneymooners
  • The Simple Wild
  • One in a Million

July:

  • Our Little Lies
  • Ugly Love
  • Feels like Falling

August:

  • The Family Upstairs
  • Maid
  • 28 Summers

September:

  • Wild at Heart
  • In Five Years
  • Two Can Keep a Secret

October:

  • The Flatshare
  • November 9
  • The Guest List

November:

  • The Jetsetters
  • Louisiana Lucky
  • Winter in Paradise

December:

  • Seven Days of Us
  • Mr. Dickens and His Carol
  • In a Holidaze
  • 25 Days ’til Christmas
  • Let it Snow
  • Jingle All the Way

Top 5 of 2020:

Before I share my Top 5 reads of 2020, these deserve honorable mention recognition 😉…

November 9 #crazylovestory

The Jetsetters #forcedfamilyfun

Little Fires Everywhere #likeditbetterthantheseries

and…

The Matchmaker #anotherEHfave

Here are my 5 favorite reads of 2020 in no particular order…

A Woman is No Man:

I started off 2020 with this powerful read…and I mentioned it would probably be a to pick for this year…and it is. This novel about arranged marriages, early motherhood, and silenced voices was a book that opened my eyes to other cultures and left me feeling grateful for the choices I have as a woman.

In Five Years

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle was the last book I read in 2018, and it’s one of my favorite books of all time. I was so excited to read In Five Years by Serle after being on the library wait list for a few months. This was definitely a page turner for me, I loved the characters, and it tugged at my heartstrings. The ending almost lost me with labeling this a fave as I thought, “Huh?!” when I neared the end. Then, as the story wrapped up, I thought, “Ohhhh!!” and those final pages redeemed this book for me as a favorite.

Ugly Love:

I love Colleen Hoover books, and Ugly Love is another fave for me written by her! Miles and Tate had a very complicated relationship with baggage to sort through as they grew as individuals and as a couple. You know I love a book when I share favorite quotes from the story like:

“…that God gives us the ugliness so we don’t take the beautiful things in life for granted.”

I loved this (R-rated at times) book a lot!

August was a great reading month for me with these last two books.

28 Summers:

Y’all know I love Elin Hilderbrand. I was so excited to read 28 Summers. As I mentioned in my August recap, while I’m not about the idea of “28 summers/same time, next year” in real life, I couldn’t stop rooting for Mallory and Jake. I know, I know. BUT…I just kept reading wanting to know how things would end up for them. Also, I loved the structure of the text with a recap of events from that year. It was amazing how time flies for them as well as how they navigated life the other 51 weeks of each year without each other.

Since The Matchmaker was another hit for me this year, Hilderbrand continues to be a favorite author of mine…and I love following her on Instagram!

Maid:

Maid had been on my reading list for quite some time. I was out for a walk this summer and saw it in a neighborhood library. I grabbed it and was excited to dive right in.

This book forever opened my eyes to poverty in America especially as it pertains to single income families. Land’s tenacity to make a better life for herself and her daughter while working at low paying jobs, putting herself through school, and navigating government assistance was inspiring. I literally re-read certain parts to try to fully understand what it must have been like for her choosing jobs based on proximity to where she lived, buying certain foods at the grocery store, and completing paperwork and applications for opportunities all seemed so overwhelming. I was so inspired by her story and amazed by her journey!

So, those are my thoughts on my favorite books from this year. Looking back at my monthly posts, I was really on with my guesses of top reads as I read throughout the year.

Maybe in 2021 I can read 40 books? That’s a good goal, I think!

What have you read this year that you have loved? I’d love to add more books to my ever growing list!

I hope you have a great last day of 2020…I know we all would like to end on a high note, right?

Happy reading!

Posted in Books and Shows

December: What I’ve Been Reading

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

I read 6 Christmas themed books this month, and I’m sharing them with you today!

Honestly, for the sake of time, I’m sharing the Good Reads summary and just a few quick thoughts.

Long story short, I enjoyed all of the books, and they were perfect reads leading up to Christmas. Not that you can’t read these books at any time of the year, but I will make sure to share this post next November leading into Christmas 2021. Next year, I may try to read a few holiday books in November in order to share titles sooner!

Seven Days of Us:

It’s Christmas, and for the first time in years the entire Birch family will be under one roof. Even Emma and Andrew’s elder daughter—who is usually off saving the world—will be joining them at Weyfield Hall, their aging country estate. But Olivia, a doctor, is only coming home because she has to. Having just returned from treating an epidemic abroad, she’s been told she must stay in quarantine for a week…and so too should her family.

For the next seven days, the Birches are locked down, cut off from the rest of humanity—and even decent Wi-Fi—and forced into each other’s orbits. Younger, unabashedly frivolous daughter Phoebe is fixated on her upcoming wedding, while Olivia deals with the culture shock of being immersed in first-world problems.

As Andrew sequesters himself in his study writing scathing restaurant reviews and remembering his glory days as a war correspondent, Emma hides a secret that will turn the whole family upside down.

In close proximity, not much can stay hidden for long, and as revelations and long-held tensions come to light, nothing is more shocking than the unexpected guest who’s about to arrive…

My thoughts:

I mentioned this book in a previous post about how odd the timing was to read while currently living through a pandemic. The family is in quarantine together at Christmastime because the daughter has just returned home after treating patients in Liberia who are experiencing a virus. This book was probably my least favorite to read and not necessarily because of the pandemic terminology. It was just kind of slow for me, but I did finish it and liked it.

Mr. Dickens and His Carol:

Charles Dickens should be looking forward to Christmas. But when his latest book, ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’, is a flop, his publishers give him an ultimatum. Either he writes a Christmas book in a month or they will call in his debts and he could lose everything. Dickens has no choice but to grudgingly accept …

My thoughts:

This charming take on how A Christmas Carol came about was such a fun read. Perfect read for the holidays.

In a Holidaze:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

My thoughts:

I’d seen many people share this book as a great holiday read, and it was. I loved the plot of Mae reliving Christmas over and over in a groundhog day like plot. This was such a cute read.

25 Days ’til Christmas:

Kate Potter used to love Christmas. A few years ago, she would have been wrapping her presents in September and baking mince pies on Halloween, counting down the days and hours to Christmas. But that was before Kate’s husband left for the army and never came home. Now she can hardly stand December at all.

Kate can’t deny she’s lonely, yet she doesn’t think she’s ready for romance. She knows that her son, Jack, needs a Christmas to remember—just like Kate needs a miracle to help her finally move forward with her life. So she’s decided if there isn’t a miracle on its way, she’ll just have to make her own.

As Kate’s advent countdown to the best Christmas ever begins, she soon realizes that even with the best laid plans, you can’t plan for the unexpected. For when the path of the loneliest woman in town crosses with that of the loneliest man, these two destined hearts might find a way to save the holiday for both of them.

My thoughts:

Of the six books I read this month, 25 Days ’til Christmas was my fave! This was a heartwarming book about a mother doing whatever it takes to make the holidays special for her son. I loved the British references and and setting. This was such a sweet little read!

Let It Snow:

Christina Antonioni is preparing for the holidays at her Nantucket toy shop, unpacking last-minute shipments and decorating for her loyal Christmas shoppers. But when her Scrooge of a landlord, Oscar Bittlesman, raises her rent, it seems nearly impossible for Christina to continue business on the wharf.

Even so, Christina hopes there is a warm heart underneath Oscar’s steely exterior. When she bonds with Wink, his sweet, young granddaughter who frequents the shop, it becomes clear that perhaps he isn’t so cold after all. And with the help of Wink’s uncle, who happens to be a charming and very handsome bachelor, this may be the best Christmas any of them could have ever imagined. Nancy Thayer’s enchanting Nantucket setting provides the perfect backdrop for this holiday love story. 

My thoughts:

I love Nancy Thayer books, but I don’t know that I’ve read a holiday book by her. The Nantucket setting at Christmas always hooks me! The plot moved right along, and I loved the characters.

Jingle All the Way:

Trapped in the middle of five siblings, Everly Lancaster always had big dreams. Now a top real-estate executive, Everly finds her work is her life, leaving no space for anything (or anyone) else. Sensing her stress, Everly’s boss insists she take December off. At first, a month away seems crazy–how will the company survive without her? But Everly’s mother convinces her otherwise. She deserves a vacation–plus, when she returns, she’ll have no excuse to skip family Christmas like she did last year.

But after her vengeful assistant books a guided cruise in the Amazon instead of the luxury beach vacation she expected, Everly is horrified to realize that she’s about to spend the next two weeks trapped–with no Wi-Fi!–in the rain forest. Not even Asher Adams, the ship’s charming naturalist, can convince Everly that the trip will be unforgettable. Slowly but surely, she realizes he is right: the sights are spectacular. And with each passing day, Everly’s relationship with Asher deepens, forcing her to take a long, hard look at her priorities.

Everly and Asher begin to see magic in the possibility of a life together. But as the cruise nears its end, and Everly’s family Christmas approaches, both must decide if love is worth the risk. A merry surprise may be in store in Debbie Macomber’s newest holiday delight.

My thoughts:

Macomber seems to be the queen of Christmas themed books, but I think this may be the first one I’ve read written by her. Like the other books I read this month, a sweet plot, a hint of romance, and the December setting made for a perfect reading selection this time of the year.

That being said, the first half of this book wasn’t very “Christmasy,” but it was short read which also made it appealing as I finished up my reading list of the month.

There are so many great holiday themed books that I do think I will try to read a couple in November next year in order to enjoy them leading up to the holidays. I’ve even thought about reading a couple in July for a “Christmas in July” themed book list!

I plan on sharing my top 5 books that I read in 2020 either tomorrow or Thursday.

Happy Reading!

Posted in Holidays

Christmas Recap

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! There’s nothing better than a Monday while still on break! I love that feeling; I only wish these Christmas decorations would put themselves away!

Anyway, to wrap up all the holiday posts over the past couple of months, I’m sharing how we spent Christmas Eve and day.

Our elf, Red, of course stuck around until the 25th. We found him hanging out after getting into our wrapping supplies!

Then, he brought the kids some reindeer food to sprinkle in the yard on the 24th.

Lastly, he was in the tree to watch us open gifts on Christmas morning. Santa left the kids some cookies to find Christmas morning. Hayden said, “I bet Mrs. Claus made these!”

We had a nice dinner on Christmas Eve after watching Christmas Eve service from home.

Hadley helped me set the table on Thursday afternoon.

My grandma gave me these Christmas dishes a few years ago, and then I always add candles and a few decorations from around the house for the centerpiece. This year, I added trees and red and green candles to the kitchen table tray.

For dinner, I made lasagna and we had salad and rolls as well.

For dessert, I made a chocolate peppermint bundt cake which is what I’ve made the past few years using Shay’s recipe. It’s sooo good.

Before dinner, we snapped a few family photos. I asked the kids to get dressed for online church and dinner. Also, Hadley is pretty distinguished using the camera timer on my phone, so she set it up, and we just kept smiling!

Selfie with my fave…

After Christmas Eve dinner, the kids sprinkled the reindeer food on the SNOWY! front lawn before exchanging their gifts to each other. Usually, we take an evening and all go out, with Travis taking one kid, and I take the other to choose gifts. Then, we typically meet up for dinner (last year, we did Sunday brunch) as a tradition. This year, I just took each kid out one afternoon to choose gifts for each other.

It’s always fun to see what they pick for each other.

We played Uno before setting out the milk, cookies, and carrots for Santa (and his reindeer) before bedtime.

Hadley woke up twice in the middle of the night to tell me she couldn’t sleep. I’m sure she was excited for Christmas morning, but I bet she could have tried to wake her dad up at least one of those times 😉Anyway, I was shocked to take up at 7:30, and I couldn’t believe the kids weren’t up yet. Through the years, they typically get up around 7:00. I got out of bed and was just about to pour a cup of coffee when Hadley got up and then woke up Hayden and Trav.

After opening gifts and stockings…

Trav’s gift tags to me always make me laugh.

the kids got a pic with Homer who was pretty well-behaved on Christmas morning!

Then, we went outside to check out the snow! It had started snowing Christmas Eve afternoon, and we got even more overnight…probably only a couple of inches but there was some ice as well. The snow was so pretty!

Then, I made a very simple breakfast. I made the muffins from a mix the day before. I picked up some mini quiches from Kroger and while they baked, I fried up some bacon and cut up some strawberries.

Then, Travis and I had a mimosa (or two) and watched Ozark while the kids played video games.

We spent the rest of the day being pretty lazy and calling loved ones to wish them a Merry Christmas.

The kids played in the snow for a bit with the neighborhood friends.

Mid-afternoon, we snacked on a couple apps and took turns taking naps. We had leftover lasagna for dinner and watched A Christmas Story as a family before 10:00 bedtime for everyone!

While it was a different Christmas for sure, we still enjoyed the day and the slower pace this year. That being said, I saw this on Instagram, and can certainly relate and thought of family and friends many times throughout the day.

Well, I guess we’ll enjoy these Christmas decorations for a bit longer because I’m too tired to take them down just yet!

What did Christmas look like for you this year? I hope it was a good day for you.

Have a great week!

Posted in Holidays

Merry Christmas!

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Today, I’m keeping my thoughts (pretty) short, sweet and filled with gratitude. 2020 has been quite a year. It’s been a time for reflection, a time for tears, a time of worry, a time for prayers, a time of generosity, a time of unity, and a time of hope.

Even in the dark times of this year, the spirit of Christmas could be seen and felt through the generosity of others, through the sense of community, and through the unwavering hope for better days ahead.

When I started this blog a year and a half ago, I had no clue what to expect. I’ve “met” new friends, found comfort in writing, and become a part of a community I’d only known from the outside looking in.

Thank you for reading my posts, sharing your thoughts, and supporting me on this blogging journey.

Since I can’t send a card to everyone (geez, I barely got my cards out to anyone this year!), I’d like to share our Christmas card in a very 2020 way…virtually!

Happy Holidays:

Other favorite photos from our Christmas card shoot:

Beautiful weather right after Thanksgiving provided for the perfect day to bribe my kids with ice cream for nice clothes and smiles…

Homer was in the on the action!

Henry Clay Estate

Awe…these kids of mine are getting so big!

A few more faves…

Homer wishes you a Merry Christmas too!

While I know it’s been a difficult year for most, and Christmas may not look the same as in years past, I’m hopeful for more lighter days than dark ahead in 2021!

Truly, thank you for being a part of this community.

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Posted in Holidays, Life Lately

Life Lately and Elf Antics

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hey!…or should I say, “Ho, ho, ho?! because we’ve been having lots of festive fun over here. This post is basically a “Weekend Wrap Up,” but I’m going with “Life Lately: Holiday Fun Edition” as well as a glimpse of what our elf has been up to lately.

Friday:

Friday at 2:45 kicked off Winter Break for us, so I decided to plan a fun outside Christmas activity. In Millersburg, not too far from here, is a place called Mustard Seed Hill. I’ve seen people post about the lights and displays at this historic home, so I thought we’d check it out. The tickets were free, but we had to purchase tickets online beforehand to enter. I did so early in the week, and the whole weekend did end up being sold out by Friday. I appreciate that they were limited numbers due to Covid, and the security officer was turning people away who didn’t have proof of ticket.

We parked on the street, and Mustard Seed Hill was easy to find!

so pretty!

I did pay $5 per person in advance to see the gingerbread house display. We had a time frame of 6-7 to look at the houses. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and these displays were from a competition. I thought maybe there would be houses created by professionals, but instead there were displays of categories (teen, family , businesses, etc). That being said, there were so really cool houses on display! Considering the ones we do at home usually end up imploding, I was amazed at these creations.

We did end up going in the house. Again, I wasn’t sure what we were in line to see, but there was a really sweet greeter at the door who let only a few people in and out and shared the history of the home. Once we were inside, we just toured the main level, and then stopped to listen to another volunteer who shared more history about the family. Hayden loves this kind of stuff!

On the back porch of the home…

There was a little line to see this huge ornament, and it was the perfect spot for people to take photos….so, of course that’s what we did.

Hadley really wanted to have her photo taken in the glowing carriage!

Then, we stopped by the outdoor market for a treat. Everyone got hot chocolate, and both kids got a cookie. Mid-bite, I saw Hayden laughing, and asked him what was so funny. Travis had asked Hayden what he got to eat…Travis heard, “Big a$$ cookie,” when Hayden said, “Big iced cookie.” His mask must have muffled his response! 😂

Then, we headed home. We were probably there a little over an hour. The property was beautiful, and apparently this is only the second year they’ve put on this display. While it may not be a yearly tradition, I’m glad that we checked it out!

We got home a little after 8:00, got carry out for dinner, and I started break off with a glass of wine in festive cups I got from @cupsoncochran.

Saturday:

We had a low key Saturday morning, and then Hadley and some friends volunteered at dance for the Christmas Tea Party for the younger dancers. She had a lot of fun.

After that, Hadley and I stopped by our friend’s house who was hosting an outdoor hot chocolate bar for her daughters and friends. It was nice to see some friends, enjoy the hot chocolate, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

My friend had so many toppings and different flavors of whipped cream. We also brought a gift to take a gift, and girls always love to do those kinds of things. Hadley came home with some pretty bracelets.

We were there for about an hour and everyone wore their masks which actually came in handy in the cold weather!

Saturday night Travis and I watched Safety with Hayden. It was a really inspiring movie, and fun to watch.

Sunday:

On Sunday, we baked cookies…lots of cookies!

Hayden said he wanted to help with the peanut butter blossoms, and Hadley helped me with the rest of the cookies.

We made sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, chocolate crinkle cookies (my fave) and peppermint chocolate chip cookies which came from a Trader Joe’s mix.

I know we can have sugar cookies anytime during the year, but we usually make them at Christmas because we have fun decorating them…even Travis!

Finished products!

For dinner Sunday night, I made Amy’s potato soup. It was so delish!

We wrapped up the weekend by watching my favorite Christmas movie…Home Alone.

Elf Antics:

Going along with festive fun and holiday traditions…Red has been very busy while visiting from the North Pole.

He’s made a gingerbread house…

taken a marshmallow bath with a couple of friends, gotten stuck, and hidden 12 candy canes.

He also made (burnt) toast for breakfast one morning…

wore festive socks and put Santa hats on the kids’ heads in my favorite Santa photo.

He even got Santa to take a photo with them (and Homer!)

Speaking of Homer, he got a hold of Red. Red was still struggling from being #homered last year, but this time was even worse.

Y’all, Red is most definitely the 2020 version of an elf. It may be time for him to stay at the North Pole.

The kids were so upset with Homer…and I was too.

hot glue and Bandaids have him somewhat fixed…for now.

Red also brought cocoa bombs and kisses.

as well as some Pez candy. Then, per tradition, he took a selfie on the mantle and put it in one of our favorite frames .

I can’t believe Christmas is only a few days away. I feel like we’ve had to embrace this season more than ever with some traditions and fun to help make this year have some sense of normalcy.

I hope your week is off to a great start.

Take care,

Posted in Memes

December Memes: Holiday Edition

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! I’m going to keep it rather short and sweet today because I’m typing this in between rounds of baking cookies…with the kids!

We had a great weekend filled with Christmas fun. I’ll share more about that tomorrow!

For now, here are some holiday themed memes I’ve seen over the past month that have made me laugh out loud!

Enjoy!

1.

Tis the season…

2.

Y’all, I feel this one deeply. My Christmas cards finally arrived, but I’m still waiting on a few key packages to arrive that I ordered WEEKS ago!

3.

I didn’t even get to the laundry this weekend. Sigh.

4.

Well, I didn’t get out of my pajamas yesterday! That being said, whether it’s warm or cold outside, I’m all about the pj lyfe as soon as I get home.

5.

Bahahaha!

6.

Sometimes Facebook it just too much for me to handle…haha

7.

This one is a classic, and I love it!

8.

This one reminds me of Hadley who always checks “I tried” rather than “naughty” or “nice” on the wish list paper the elf leaves the kids.

9.

This rings true… especially in 2020. We’ve spent a lot of time together this year! Really, I just want to tag someone else in for bedtime. I’m sure I will give up over the next two weeks, and they will be tucking ME into bed!

10.

Oh 2020…you’ve been a doozy!

I hope these memes started your week off right with a laugh or two!

We are thankful to not be setting an alarm for the next few weeks and have less to do. I’m finished buying gifts, I but still need to make myself wrap everything which feels like such a chore. While it’s nice to have a break from school, we still have a few errands and appointments this week which makes it hard for me to feel like I can just relax and chill. The second week of break tends to be more relaxing for me.

Anyway, I hope you have a great week! I plan on blogging Tuesday and Wednesday this week, so I’ll see you then!

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#49}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

I know I always say, “Hello and Happy Friday,” but today’s “Hello and Happy Friday” comes with the start of Winter Break in only a few hours. I’m so ready to take a break from bugging my kids about school work, checking my email, and staring at my imperfections on a Zoom call. 😆

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

Favorite Kid Quote:

On Sunday, when it was Hayden’s turn to clean out his closet, he kept asking me if certain clothing items were “memorabilia” because he hates getting rid of things…and knows I’m a sucker for holding on to certain nostalgic items. 😂

Also, randomly, Hayden started calling his winter hat a “toboggan” or “boggan.” I know that in the south that’s what many people here call their beanie (or stocking cap as I would say), but I just thought it was funny that he was “looking for my boggan” the other day when I certainly don’t say that phrase, and honestly, neither does Travis.

Where I come from, a toboggan is a fancy sled! This has been a winter conversation ever since I met Travis almost 20 years ago and he called his hat a “toboggan.” I said, “What?! You wear a sled on your head?!”

Favorite Pic:

I took advantage of Narci’s sweet Santa photo opportunity earlier this week. These pics are just precious. This morning, my kids found our elf sitting by this one framed with a note: “Seven more sleeps ’til Santa!”

The magic of Christmas.

Favorite Clothing Item:

I rarely go into Old Navy. While I like the clothes and love their deals, the line to wait to check out is always maddening to me. Through the years, it doesn’t matter if I’m there in June or December, 10:00 am or 8:00 pm, two people in line or twelve…the line just always takes forever. Maybe Chick-fil-A could give them some tips! 😂

So, I usually order online and just hope everything fits! That being said, I did go into Old Navy recently and saw these jogger pajama pants on sale. (looks like stock is limited) I snagged two for myself, and have been living in them. Just my style! I also love their thermal pajama leggings and have a few pairs that I’ve collected through the years as well.

Favorite Food:

I made a quick Trader Joe’s run this week and walked out with a few tins of my favorite snack mix and a couple of boxes of the mini gingerbread people. We plowed through our last box in a day and a half.

Favorite Moment:

The kids wrapped up their club cross country season at a national race last weekend. Before the race, we found out that Hayden made the all-area team and Hadley earned all-area honorable mention honors for their elementary running season (with Trav as their coach!)

On Saturday, they ran in the 11-12 year old races with kids from across the country. They ended the season on a high note with individual performances, and the girls team placed 5th in the nation!

Of course, I’m always proud of their effort, but the competition is fierce in these national races. There are kids who run hundreds of miles a week for training and compete year round. While running will most likely be something they continue to do in the future, we still feel that it’s important for them to be well-rounded and choose their activities. So, for Hadley, she dances, runs, plays volleyball. Hayden still loves baseball and basketball on top of running.

The lessons they learn by playing these sports and engaging in these activities are far more important than their performance. I never want them to get burned out at a young age with one activity, so we’ve continued to let them choose and add or drop sports as the years go on.

Other Favorites:

Jingle Jangle:

This could also have been a “favorite moment” because of the kindness of others. I’d shared on Facebook that I was sad to have missed out on Jingle Jangle at Trader Joe’s this year. Not even a half hour a later, a friend dropped off a tin of it on our front porch with their Christmas card. So sweet. (literally and figuratively!)

Frosty Fern:

I also picked up a couple of these “Frosty Ferns” at Trader Joe’s. They are so festive and fun.

Snacks:

Hadley helped me put out snacks for our mailman and the delivery drivers who frequent our doorstep!

Air Fryer:

No photo, but another favorite of mine is our new air fryer. Travis won one in his work Christmas exchange, and we’ve been using it quite a bit. I’ve only used the “frozen” setting so far, but it’s been the perfect way to make chicken nuggets, pizza rolls, or reheat a day old taco!

Pod Party:

The kids had a sock exchange and cocoa party at their pod this week. They had lots of fun and came home with some festive socks!

Festive Phone Wallpaper:

I’ve shared these phone wallpaper backgrounds before by @ashton.creates. She shares them in her stories to screenshot and use. This one is my current home screen on my phone.

Basketball:

Hayden’s 3 on 3 league wrapped up their short season last night. It was fun to watch them play and have some sense of “normalcy” this winter.

The final game came down to the wire, but they remained undefeated!

Favorite Mom Meme:

While this one made me laugh, I am feeling pretty good about my Christmas present situation. Now, I just need to find the time to wrap!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

Christmas 2009….and barely a month old!

Speaking of flashbacks…Hadley loves finding my old sweatshirts and wearing them. She often wears my 20 year old Mizzou sweatshirt from college, and has now added this cheer coach sweatshirt from my first year teaching in 2002. If you know me, you know I’m the farthest thing you’ll find from a cheer coach!! #nopepinmystep Oh, the things you’ll do to get your first real job!

Weekly Recap:

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

Not Just A Mom: holiday Traditions
Tuesday Talk: holiday Edition
Currently

What are your weekend plans? We are going see some more Christmas lights tonight and hopefully bake some cookies tomorrow or Sunday. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Thanks so much for reading,