jgalvinwhite

Posted on June 25, 2021June 24, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hey, hey! Happy Friday. How was your week? We had a pretty good one around here. We had a pretty lazy day on Monday due to lots of afternoon rain, and then Tuesday’s weather was sunny and 70 degrees! We enjoyed the “cool front,” and then the rest of the week has been back to regular summer temps.

The kids were busy with Hadley at daily swim team practices and Hayden attended baseball camp this week.

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

Our first favorite is from last Friday. Travis had the day off and joined us at the pool. The kids also got to swim with their cousins which made for a great Friday!

Also, last Friday night, our nephew ran in the 10k Olympic Trials. While he didn’t qualify for the Olympics, it was still exciting to watch, and we are so proud of him.

Summer means baseball on repeat around here. Hayden in his team warm up jacket is a favorite although he looks like such a big kid!

Of course, a championship ring is a favorite.

Hayden’s team had an awesome weekend and Father’s Day winning in the championship game.

We celebrated our favorite dad last Saturday with dinner out followed by…

milkshakes! They were so good…and definitely something to be shared.

Hadley made Amy’s Lemon Freezer Pie which we ate after the baseball games on Sunday. It’s so easy to make, refreshing and delish.

Like Hayden, Hadley sure is looking like quite the tween. She let me take this pic while we waited for our milkshakes on Saturday.

Big girl status!

…and ready for swim team pics on Wednesday…

Hayden attended baseball camp this week with lots of friends. He had so much fun.

I only get a few pedicures a year, and I try to take Hadley with me once in the summer and right before we go back to school. I know she loves a pedicure, so it’s a summer splurge that we do every once in a while.

Homer is always a favorite…and he was trying to take a bite of my favorite kind of summer lunch…a snack plate!

Nothing says summer like a lemonade stand, and these kids had a successful one earlier this week.

…and…nothing says summer like moms drinking White Claws at trivia night at the pool! We are quite the combo and all know a little bit of everything.

Anniversary flowers are definitely a fave…(and bubble letter cards!)

…and dinner out to celebrate!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Thank goodness for Google!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

Since we celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary yesterday, this throwback is timely….

We were in Siesta Key (one of our favorite places) for our 10th wedding anniversary in 2015.

Weekly Recap:

Amazon Prime Days

Day In the Life: On Insta

Father’s Day Recap

Monthly Musings

I hope you have a great weekend. We have a mix of baseball, basketball, birthday parties and more!

See you back here on Monday.

Holidays, Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings

Posted on June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today, Trav and I are celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary. Y’all, S I X T E E N years is hard to believe! Time sure does continue to fly by!

It’s also hard to believe that it’s already almost the end of June which means it’s time for this month’s Monthly Musings post.

As always, I’m linking up with Patty and Holly for this post.

This month’s topic is End of School and Summer Plans. Believe it or not, we’ve been out of school for over a month, so we are definitely in full summer mode over here!

1. Last Day of School Traditions:

While I have lots of traditions to begin the school year like Back to School Breakfast, a book to start the year, first day of school photos, walking to school and more, we don’t have many last day of school traditions. The kids let me take a last day of school pic, and that’s about it. I also get a photo of them in front of school on the first and last day. (I’m not sure they will let me do a photo in front of their middle school next year) 😩

2. Summer List:

We made our Summer Fun list a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve been able to cross a few things off the list!

3. Vacation Plans:

While we typically go to Florida for summer vacation, South Carolina is another favorite summer vacay spot for us. We are heading there soon.

4. Summer Outfits:

If I’m not in workout clothes, I’m usually in a swimsuit and coverup at the pool. I do like to wear light weight dresses as well as…

shorts and a tank or t-shirt.

These shorts from Target are a favorite! I have them in green, pink and black.

And…I’ve shared about my favorite Amazon swimsuit and cover up a couple of times this summer.

Amazon Dress // Target Shorts // Amazon Swimsuit // Amazon Coverup

5. Summer Meals:

I recently shared some quick dinner ideas. During the summer months, we grill out a lot and have baked beans, pasta salad or fruit as side dishes. Quick, easy, and light meals.

6. End of School:

We are usually scheduled to be out of school around Memorial Day. Some years, we go past Memorial Day if we have snow days to make up. That being said, our district seems to do whatever it takes (like adding time to the end of the day) to ensure we are out by May 31st. We occasionally get out rather early, like this year…we were out May 18th which was amazing!

When I was a kid, I feel like we were out around Memorial Day, but didn’t start back until after Labor Day. I wish it was like that now as well!

7. Swimsuit Type:

I used to love a tankini but the past few summers, I’ve really embraced the one piece. I just feel more comfortable in them, and there are so many awesome options in fun patterns and stylish designs.

Amazon One Piece Swimsuit

8. 4th of July Plans:

I’m not sure what our plans will be. I always start the 4th of July off with red, white, and blue waffles for the kids! Sometimes, we go to the pool or the parade downtown. We usually grill out with family or friends or sometimes just our family of four.

We always get a few firecrackers and sparklers for the kids. Then, every year, we make our way to our favorite spot to watch fireworks. The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays.

9. Red, White, and Blue Clothes:

I’ve always put the kids in some kind of red, white, and blue! Sometimes, Travis and I will do so as well.

They usually let me take a photo or two 😉

This is one of my favorite family photos of the four of us…July 2015. We were settling in to watch the fireworks, and we all were dressed in some form of red, white, and blue.

10. Charcoal or Gas Grill:

We have a gas grill, and Travis does all the grilling!

He typically uses this platter for the food that my mom painted for him in 2003! It’s basically an antique!

So, that’s a peak at our end of school and summer plans. Next month’s topic is summer fashion!

I hope your summer is off to a great start! See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Thanks so much for reading,

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Holidays

Father’s Day Recap

Posted on June 23, 2021June 22, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hey! How’s your week going? Ours is off to a good start. We had crazy rain on Monday and then yesterday was crazy cool with only a high of 70. I think the rest of the week looks pretty normal with warmer temps. So, the kids had some lazy afternoon time on Monday, but yesterday I kicked them out of the house and told them to go find their friends!

Anyway, today I’m sharing how we celebrated Travis for Father’s Day. My dad was in town last week, so we grilled out when he was here, and I sent him a CD that he was wanting.

Of course, our Father’s Day weekend was dictated by baseball. Hayden’s Saturday games got rained out, but they scrimmaged another team on our fields for a few hours Saturday afternoon. Once we got the tournament schedule for Sunday, and it seemed like we could be at the ball park all day, we decided to celebrate on Saturday night when we knew we’d have more time to do so.

After we cleaned up from the scrimmage games, we headed out to dinner.

We ate at Agave and Rye where we ordered chips and all the dips. Travis had a margarita and I prickly pear marg with sugar on the rim. Sooo good. We all tried different tacos, and they were delish as well.

Then, we headed to a new milkshake place in town called Cattywampus Station. There’s another location in a town nearby that we’d never been to, so we were excited to try this one that just opened in Lex. Milkshakes are their specialty!

Just look!

We got the cookies and cream as well as a Reese’s cup one! They are quite impressive. Yes, that’s a regular sized cupcake on the milkshake, and then there’s a brownie on top of the other milkshake.

We did take of the cupcake and brownie and put them in a “to go” box to have later. Then, we shared the milkshakes. They were so good.

Afterwards, the kids fed the ducks at the nearby pond, and took a couple of Father’s Day photos with Trav.

We headed home to watch some of the Olympic Track and Field trials! We all love watching the Olympic coverage.

Sunday morning, Travis and Hayden headed out very early for the first game. I hung back to let Hadley sleep in. Since we didn’t know what time we’d be home, we went ahead and set out Trav’s gifts (a couple of shirts, a few Harry’s products (shave cream and hair gel), and a Kova Bluetooth speaker set) for him to open whenever we got home.

Hadley and I made it in time for the 1:30 game. Well, the Crush kept on winning after losing their first game on Sunday. They played three games on Sunday to make it to the championship game against a team they lost to in the Saturday scrimmage and on Sunday morning.

But….the Crush jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning, and ended up winning 9-7!

The boys were so excited to earn their tournament championship rings.

They had a great day full of games, hard work, team work, prayers and popsicles!

Hayden couldn’t quit smiling! Their determination paid off.

After 12+ hours at the ballpark, we were hot, sweaty, and tired, but all the dads agreed that it was the best Father’s Day present to see their boys come out on top!

We didn’t get home until after 9:00, so we picked up Jimmy John’s for dinner followed by the dessert Hadley made: Amy’s Lemon Freezer Pie.

She made it Saturday afternoon because we just weren’t sure what time we’d have on Sunday. It must have sloshed around a bit when we shut the freezer drawer because it looked a little lopsided when we got it out on Sunday night. It still tasted delish. I add a dollop of Cool Whip on top of each slice when serving.

Trav’s the best! The love and support he shows the kids are beyond measure. He’s there for anything from homework help to baseball practices to dance recitals and all the moments in between.

I know he had a great day (weekend!), and we had so much fun celebrating him!

See you back here tomorrow for Monthly Musings.

Everyday Life

Day in the Life…on Insta!

Posted on June 22, 2021June 21, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

I’ve shared some Day in the Life posts on here, but today I’m going to (try to) do so in sort of real time on Instagram!

…so follow along today if you’d like (@showmeandsweettea)!

The rest of the week I hope to share:

Father’s Day recap

Monthly Musings

and…

of course, Friday Favorites!

I hope your week is off to a great start!

See you on the ‘gram today!

Amazon

Amazon Prime Days

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

Hello! How was your weekend? We had a great one filled with baseball, but we were able to take some time to celebrate Travis for Father’s Day with dinner out and milkshakes on Saturday.

I will share more about that later this week. Today, is the start of Amazon Prime Day….but it’s actually two days. Today, June 21st and tomorrow, June 22nd.

Amazon Prime Day is 48 hours of deals for Prime members. The discounts are for everything from tech to fashion to personal care and more.

There are often lightning deals (short-lived discounts) and/or coupons that can be applied to products.

Here are some of my favorite purchases and saved items over the past year!

Electronics:

Paperwhite Kindle: I love my Kindle. Yes, I’m one who loves to hold a book in my hands, but a Kindle is so convenient. I purchased my Kindle two years ago as my end of the school year gift to myself (Yes, I do that! haha), and it’s always in my purse and now my swim bag. I typically have one hardback book and one book on my Kindle that I read.
Mini Massage Gun: I hope Travis isn’t reading this post because this is on the short list for a birthday gift for him next month. Even better is there has been a $20 off coupon to use when ordering.
2-Pack Dual USB Portable Chargers: An ice storm will make you buy things like portable chargers. Now, they come in handy for long weekends at the ballpark or to have just in case on a road trip.
Projector Screen: I saved this screen (and the projector) after several influencers shared them last summer and even recently. The price has even dropped even since I added them to my Amazon list. Also, there’s a 20% off coupon that can be applied as well.
Mini Projector: Like the screen, the price has dropped since I added it to my list a while ago, and there’s a 20 % off coupon as well. I just think the projector and screen would be perfect for movie nights outside. Like the massage gun, the projector and screens are ideas for Travis in the future.

Clothes and Shoes:

7/8 leggings: I have two pairs of the 7/8 leggings. I love them because they are buttery soft, comfy, cute, I love the angled hem, and they have pockets!
Women’s Comfort Slides: I love these slides! I bought them in white last summer and pink this summer. They are perfect for the pool, and I wear them all the time.
Polka Dot Button Down Ruffle Dress: I love this dress so much, have worn it so many times since buying it in April. It’s so comfy, and I always get so many compliments every time I wear it.
One Piece Swimsuit: This is my suit for the summer. It’s supportive and comes in many patterns. I have two, and have said that I’ve never felt more comfortable in a suit!
Boho Midi Dress: This dress has exceeded my expectations. It’s great quality, fashionable, and perfect for dressing up or dressing down.

Kids, Tweens, and Teens:

When I pulled a few ideas that we’ve gifted for the kids, I realized some of these items aren’t just for kids/tweens, teens…adults may like them too!

Automatic Golf Putter: Hayden loves golf, and this automatic putter is perfect for playing indoors.
Garmin Watch: Both of my kids are runners and have these watches. They wear them daily and not just for running.
Light Up Makeup Mirror: Hadley loves this light up mirror…especially because she shares the world’s smallest bathroom with her brother. She uses this mirror in her room to get ready for the day.
Waterproof Facial Cleansing Spin Brush: This brush is perfect for helping Hadley get in the habit of washing her face, and I use it sometimes too!
Training Baseballs: These training balls have been perfect for Hayden to use to practice baseball in the yard. (and ensure he doesn’t break another neighbor’s window…True story! (but with a golf ball!)

Other Faves:

Sipworks Tumbler: I gave this tumbler to Trav last year for his birthday. He used it so much (me too) that when I went back to school in March, I purchased one for myself!
Hardside Spinner Luggage: My mom needed an idea for the kids for Christmas, and I suggested this luggage for the kids. They’d used the same small soft-sided suitcase for ten years, so they were overdue for some luggage. I loved that these were hard-sided and easy to maneuver. Hayden has the 20 inch carry on in navy, and Hadley has the rose gold color. There are a variety of colors and sizes.
Waffle Fleece Blanket: I have two of these blankets in this slate color. They are perfect for getting cozy, and I’ve taken them to the ball park on chilly baseball nights.
Fuzzy Memory Slip on Slippers: I love these slippers so much. I even pack them on vacation or when we visit family. They are so soft and comfy. There’s a 15% off coupon too!
Stainless Steel Coffee Mug: I drink out of this mug most mornings. It does the best job at keeping my coffee hot for as long as possible. The mug comes in so many colors and packaging options (1, 2 pack, 4 pack).

Like the tumbler, I’ve given the slippers and mug for gifts for family and friends.

So many awesome deals can be found on these two days. Happy Shopping!

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Family, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites

Posted on June 18, 2021June 18, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your week? We’ve had a great one. I worked two days, we had some pool time, the kids had dance, baseball, and swim team, and I was able to run some errands and cross some things off my “to do” list.

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

My dad visited for a few days which is always a favorite. He was able to hang with us and my brother’s family, see two of Hayden’s tournament games, take Hayden to the driving range, and we went ahead and celebrated Father’s Day.

For years, we’ve taken a front porch stairs photo (per the Major’s request!), and we always laugh because he’s the hardest one to get to smile. He always says, “I AM smiling!” This visit, he wanted the kids to “smile like Major,” and they nailed it.

Of course, I needed a smiling photo, and then my brother and I hopped in for one.

Seeing Hayden play baseball is always a favorite. He’s having so much fun with his summer team. They are a great group of boys with great coaches.

My favorite flowers, hydrangeas, are starting to bloom…

…but they are showing off at my brother’s house.

My sister-in-law made a couple of pies last weekend, and Layla couldn’t wait to dig in. The pies were delish.

Homer is always a favorite. He loves it that we are home so much in the summer.

Summer nights and just hanging around are a favorite of Hadley’s. My kids kids love to climb this tree in our yard.

Pool time with Layla was another favorite of Hadley’s this week.

Snow cones at the pool are a great way to beat the heat!

Hayden wanted to go to a new restaurant in town, so we ate there on Wednesday after baseball practice. Freddy’s with my fave…

Favorite Mom Meme:

Yep. Summer always magnifies what little control I have around here. 😆

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

Since it’s Father’s Day this weekend, I’m sharing these favorite flashback photos!

In 2013, I had the kids take these pics and framed them for Travis.

And, another flashback…the Major and me in the 80’s…

and in 2005… (Travis and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage next week…which I can’t believe!)

Living away from family can be hard. Luckily, my mom and grandma visited around Mother’s Day, and then we were able to celebrate my dad this past weekend for an early Father’s Day.

Weekly Recap:

Not Just a Mom: Quick Family Dinners

Tuesday Talk: GoodReads

Summer Fun 2021

What are some of your favorites for the week? I hope you have a great weekend. We’ll be at a baseball tournament and celebrating Travis on Sunday!

Amazon Prime Days are Monday and Tuesday, so I will be sharing some Amazon faves on Monday!

Thanks so much for reading.

Activities

Summer Fun 2021

Posted on June 16, 2021June 15, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! I missed last week’s Let’s Look with Shay and Erika where everyone shared their Summer Fun Lists, so I’m sharing ours today.

When the kids were little, we didn’t belong to a pool, so I would plan something each day…and live for their afternoon naps!

Depending on the day we’d go to a park, have a picnic, go to a movie, head to the library, splash in the baby pool in the backyard, or meet friends at the YMCA pool.

A few years ago, we joined a pool, so most of our summer days are spent there. Swim team practice is in the morning, so then we often hang out for a couple of hours afterwards. A couple days a week we’ll grab lunch at the pool, other times, we come home by lunch. The kids love the pool because they are able to see friends (me too!), play basketball and volleyball as well as swim. Also, our pool has various events like snow cones, movie nights, and pool activities a few times throughout the summer.

Last summer “forced” us to find fun outside of the pool since we didn’t join due to Covid. I’d say that last summer was actually a blessing in disguise. We had a lot of time together as a family, and we picked strawberries, had time to bake, went canoeing with friends, rode bikes, and did many other activities.

Also, we have quite the crew of neighborhood kids, so it was fun to see them out and about on their bikes and playing outside most days. All of the parents were nostalgic as it reminded us of summers when we were kids.

This summer, we are back at the pool, but I asked the kids to think of a few things they’d like to do this summer.

Here’s what they came up with:

A few of the activities like going to an MLB game and dance classes have already happened (or are currently happening), so we are off to a good start.

The kids even planned their pool day yesterday to be there for the afternoon snow cones! I’m sure we will have a great summer.

What are some fun things you like to do in the summer? We’d love to add to our list!

Books and Shows, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk: Good Reads

Posted on June 15, 2021June 14, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! It’s Tuesday Talk with Erika and Ashley!

Today, I’m talking about books, reading, and the Goodreads app.

It’s no secret that I love to read. In 2018, I started to keep two different notes on my phone. One note was an ongoing list of books I wanted to read, and the other list was for books I read. The list of books I wanted to read continued to grow and grow. I would typically just read the last few books on the list since they were the most recent additions.

In December 2019 and December 2020, I shared my favorite books that I’d read during those years. I’ve had a few people mention the Goodreads app through the years, but I never really tried it out. I downloaded it and added some books that I’d read, but didn’t really do much more.

Then, a few friends shared about the 2020 Reading Challenge on Goodreads, and for whatever reason, that was enough to make me take some time to use the Goodreads app to set up my 2021 challenge. In January, I created various books shelves other than “Want to Read” and “Read.” I wanted to be able to get book titles based on what I wanted to read and stay organized.

I can honestly say that I’m really enjoying the app. I’m assuming I’m not utilizing all features, so please share on what else I can do besides the reading challenge and shelves.

My bookshelves include:

Bio/auto bio/memoir
Christmas/holiday
Faith based/self-help
Historical
Light reads/chick lit
Mystery/thriller/suspense
Read ASAP
Serious Reads
Summer Reads
Young adult
Started but didn’t finish

How do you organize your Goodreads book shelves? Here are some books I have for a few of these caterogies:

Bio/Auto bio/Memoir: Life in Love (Lauren Akins), He Put My Buddha in the Freezer (Karl), Blood: A Memoir (Moorer)
Lit Reads/Chick Lit: The Friendship List (Mallery), Surprise Me (Kinsella), Talk Bookish to Me (Bromley)
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense: The Night Swim (Goldin), Survive the Night (Sager), Local Woman Missing (Kubica)
Summer Reads: Big Summer (Weiner), Here’s to Us (Hilderbrand), Under the Southern Sky (Woodson Harvey)
Read ASAP: Pack Up the Moon (Higgins), We Were Liars (Lockhart), Are We There Yet? (West)

So, my “Read ASAP” category just means those seem like books I would want to read sooner rather than later, and I wanted to have a way to access that list.

I know you can follow people on Goodreads and even like/comment on what others have read or want to read. Are there any other features that I’m missing?

For the 2021 Reading Challenge, I’ve read 19 of my 40 book goal which means I’m on track since we are halfway through 2021. I’ve read a lot of great books so far this year!

I really am enjoying this app over all, and I wish I started using it sooner. I like having my books organized, and seeing what others are reading. Plus, the app helps me remember what I’ve read!

Speaking of organization, I randomly found a new app over the weekend for my blog reading.

Probably five years ago, Shay’s blog was the first blog I started reading, and now I ready quite a few throughout the week. I used to always read them on my computer, and some I would receive via email. For my blog, I use the WordPress app, and have started a few more bloggers on WP!

Anyway, I found this “My Blogs” app in the App Store, and adding blogs to it is very easy. You just get on the app, search for blogs and add them. Then, the app tells you when that blog has a new post to read. Of course, I’ve only started using it, but I like having blogs in one place to read whenever I have time.

Let me know what else I need to know about Goodreads and what books I should add to my Goodreads book shelves!

I hope your week is off to a great start!

Meals and Recipes, Not Just a Mom

Not Just a Mom: Quick Family Dinners

Posted on June 14, 2021June 14, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your weekend? We had a great one with my dad visiting for few days, Hayden’s baseball tournament, some pool time, and an early Father’s Day (and my brother’s birthday) celebration.

Today, I’m co-hosting with these ladies for our Not Just a Mom series.

This month’s topic is Quick Family Dinners.

I try to meal prep and make my grocery list for pick up most weekends. I like to have a plan for the week ahead. With the kids being pretty busy most evenings, almost anything I make is quick.

I turn to one of my favorite cookbooks a lot for meals all year long:

Some of my favorite recipes from Shay’s Simmers cookbook that I turn to quite often are:

The best “cooking hack” is putting chicken in the slow cooker, cover it with water, and then shred when it’s finished cooking to use for meals.

Also, when I thought of this topic, I immediately thought about sharing a few favorites from each season. Here are some pretty quick recipes my family enjoys!

Winter:

Of course, the winter months are perfect for soups and chilis!

Spring:

In the spring, we start eating lighter meals.

Salmon with roasted Brussel Sprouts or broccoli is a family fave! (I love that our Kroger has salmon that can be baked in the foil packs with spices and herbs that can be added in. The salmon is always flavorful, and the clean up is easy.)
Of course, every March I make Corned beef and cabbage & Irish Soda Bread.

Summer:

During the summer months, we grill out, and I typically make one of these side dishes, during the summer months. Fresh fruit is also an easy side dish when the weather is warm. Watermelon is definitely a summer fave!

I found this recipe on Pinterest for a Sushi Roll Bowl a few years ago. I tweaked the recipe a bit, but it’s such a healthy and refreshing meal in the summer.

Fall:

I start making hearty meals / comfort food once the weather cools down in the fall.

One recipe I always look forward to in the fall is Pumpkin Sausage Penne Pasta. I’ve had this recipe for years, and found it in a Kroger coupon pack. It’s so good.

I also make Turkey Rice soup with Thanksgiving turkey leftovers.

Other Ideas:

Other easy dinner ideas all year long include tacos, grilled cheese and tomato soup, and pork loin with a veggie or Trader Joe’s side. Like the salmon, I love the Smithfield pork that is cooked in the bag. It’s such an easy “go to” although I always forget that it takes about 45 minutes in the oven, but the clean up is easy!

Favorite Trader Joe’s Sides:

Y’all know I’m a faithful Trader Joe’s customer. While I love most everything from TJ’s, their side dishes have been my best “mom cooking hack” through the years. They have so many great options, and they are all so delicious.

Here are some of my faves: {all found in the frozen section}

Mexican Street Corn
Mushroom Risotto
Gnocchi

I love to cook, and I would say that most everything I make is a pretty quick and easy dinner! Also, I’m a big fan of leftovers, so if a recipe takes an extra bit of time to make, I always think it’s worth it for leftovers the next day!

Next month’s topic is Home Tour! I can’t wait to see a sneak peek of everyone’s homes!

Thanks so much for reading, and make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts too! I hope you have a great week.

Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites

Posted on June 11, 2021June 10, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! How was your week? We had a good one! We are definitely in the summer groove. The past couple of weeks have been full on summer mode, but this week was full with more summer activities than summer “down time.”

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

It was a light blogging week for me because I was at school three days, and my kids were very active this week.

Hayden went to basketball camp with a couple of friends.

Hadley has had swim practice, and then Wednesday night, she had her first swim meet of the season. This year, she’s old enough to swim 50’s, so she has had to learn to do the flip turn and work on the endurance it takes to swim down and back.

She swam in the freestyle, the backstroke, the breaststroke, and the freestyle relay. She always has fun with her teammates, and the coaches are awesome.

Hayden has had lots of summer baseball practice. Travis scheduled a hitting lesson, and cousin Wyatt joined them.

I know my kids are getting big, but seeing their little cousins in comparison, gets me every time!

The highlights of my week have been summer school, and I had a hair appointment.

It has been so great to see students this week! Summer school is typically for credit recovery, but our district has a program that includes activities, speakers, social/emotional wellness practices, credit recovery, enrichment, and electives. Some of the electives like creative writing and gardening sound so fun! Students are at school from 9:00-1:00, so it’s been a good mix of work and then being home early afternoon to enjoy my summer.

On Tuesday, I had a hair appointment, and it was much needed. Of course, I need to get my roots touched up (hello, grays!), but my favorite part is a fresh trim!

I shared some favorites on Instagram this week:

It’s been a year since we freshened up our sunroom, and I can say in the past year, we’ve used it more than we did the first five years we lived here. It didn’t get much use in January and February, but otherwise, we spend lots of time here:

Tuesday, was our “Homerversary.” We’ve had Homer for two years. Since we don’t know his actual birthday, we celebrate on June 8th which is the day we adopted him as a pup! To celebrate, he wore his festive bowtie, and we picked him up some vanilla ice cream to enjoy.

For fun: here’s a puppy pic of Homer on the second day we had him!

My Trader Joe’s flowers typically last a couple of weeks, and last weekend, I purchased some fresh ones and put them around our house. Trader Joe’s really does have the best (and most affordable!) flowers around.

Last Saturday, I picked up a couple of candles from Bath and Body Works. Watermelon Lemonade and Fresh Cut Lilacs are perfect for summer.

Travis and I have loved Mare of Easttown. We watched quite a few episodes last weekend, and hope to watch a few more this weekend.

Favorite Clothing Item:

This Amazon dress is a favorite! I saw it on a Facebook ad a few months ago, and purchased it recently knowing we’d have a few “dress up occasions” in May and June. I’ve worn it twice, with wedges and sandals, and it’s so comfy and easy to dress up or down.

It comes in a variety of colors. It is around $40, but I love to wear dresses because I know I will wear them to church, school, and other occasions. Also, I choose dresses I know I can wear on their own, with a cardigan, with tennis shoes or sandals, and this dress definitely fits that criteria.

Boho Midi Dress

Favorite Mom Meme:

I’m forever on a quest to get my kids to throw their wrappers and trash away as well as find their way to the kitchen sink and dishwasher with their dishes!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

I love this 2015 photo of the kids and cousin Wyatt. That summer, I had the flower pallet on our back patio which was a fave! (Hayden lost that top snaggle tooth the next day!)

Weekly Recap:

I only had a couple of posts this week, but they were fun ones. I shared all about Hadley’s dance recital and Hayden’s last spring baseball games. Yesterday, I shared some of my favorite Etsy purchases lately.

Weekend WRap Up

Etsy Lately

Monday is our Not Just a Mom link up. The topic is Quick Family Dinner. We hope you’ll join us!

This weekend, Hayden has a baseball tournament, and I think we will grill out and maybe have time to go to the pool for a bit.

I hope you have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday!

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