Author: jgalvinwhite

Posted in Weekend Top 5

Hello Monday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello {Monday!} How was your weekend? I’m telling you…it was either 0 or 100 around here these past few days.

I’m linking up with Holly and Sarah to recap my weekend for Hello Monday!

Let me take you back to Friday…

When I tell you that Friday was crazy busy, it was so busy that it was basically planned hour by hour (sometimes by the minutes!)

Months ago, a friend let us know about a surprise party she was planning for her husband with an afternoon at Keeneland, dinner, and then drinks at a favorite bar. Well, I knew Hayden would probably have track meet in the evening and that Hadley had a dance competition that weekend, but I figured we’d at least be good for the afternoon at Keeneland, but the dance competition threw a wrench in those plans. (more on that in a minute)

I will say that I can’t complain because Friday started with a day off for me.

Once the kids were at school, Travis and I tried out a new place in town for brunch. Biscuit Belly was so good!

Dance competitions start on Fridays, but Hadley has always danced on Saturday or Sunday. Well, her small group was scheduled to dance at 5:25 on Friday…in Louisville!

I almost skipped Keeneland, but we had friends coming in from out of town who we rarely see. So, I decided to go to Keeneland for a bit before getting Hadley from school.

The weather was great, and I got about an hour and a half at the track, and was able to see a few friends from near and far.

Then, I picked up Hadley from school, came home to change and get her dance stuff. We stopped at Chick-fil-A because I wasn’t sure when she would get to eat! We hustled as fast as we could out of town and arrived about 40 minutes before her first group performance. I was a little stressed until we were on the highway, and I knew traffic would be ok.

Meanwhile, back at Keeneland… Travis was on a Zoom call from a kindergarten class in California! I told you…he never stops working 😉 One of his client’s kids had to do a presentation about Kentucky, and Travis reported live from the track, and let them watch the 6th race. How fun is that?

Hadley’s small group jazz performance did an awesome job. Then, there was about two hours in between the two dances, so the moms and I walked to a local bar/restaurant for a bite to eat.

We made it back in time to see the large musical theater routine, and the entire group knocked it out of the park.

The awards weren’t until later, so I headed back to Lexington to catch up with Travis and our friends while Hadley got a ride home later. {Travis had been with Hayden at his track meet, and I arrived back to Lexington around 10:00 which was when Travis and Hayden were finished with track. (No photos, but Hayden ran six seconds faster in the mile this week. He was really pleased with his performance.)}

Hadley was texting me telling me about the awards they’d won. They scored platinum and platinum plus in their two routines and won other awards like best choreography, a golden ticket, and the large musical theater performance earned first place overall.

She was soooo happy. This competition season has had its ups and downs, and they really did finish strong. I was so happy for her!

12:30 am and still smiling

I was bummed to miss out on the awards ceremony, but it was great to hang with our friends for a couple of hours before I picked Hadley up at 12:15. It was 1:00 before we were all in bed. Shew! What a day!

I slept until 8:30, and had a very slow morning. Hayden slept until 10, and I woke Hadley at 11. I know we all needed the extra rest, but Hadley woke up not feeling well (again). I’m assuming the very busy Friday caught up with her and strep really did knock her out earlier in the week.

Around lunchtime, I ran some errands and then went to the gym for a workout. I usually do my workouts at home, but I do love the elliptical, so I’ve tried to make that my Saturday workout when I can.

I came home and had some lunch. Then, I tidied up the house a bit and took a quick nap. Hadley still wasn’t feeling well and napped off and on all day. Honestly, you know Hadley isn’t 100% if she naps! She’s been that way since she was little…hardly slows down, so when she does, you know she must need some rest.

I actually drove to Richmond (about 30 minutes away) to check out a boutique. They handed me a watermelon mimosa upon arrival, and I wasn’t mad about it! I was looking for a dress for Oaks, but didn’t find anything I loved.

Once I got back to Lexington, I made a grocery list while Hadley napped again. Then, I had time to read for a bit and then shower.

Hadley woke up, and I made her a grilled cheese. It was the first thing she’d eaten all day. We got carryout dinner for the rest of us from Drakes.

I ordered the Teriyaki Chicken Rice bowl, and it hit the spot.

Then, we all watched our “April family movie” #forcedfamilyfun

We chose (the newer) Adventures in Babysitting, and it was cute.

Everyone was in bed around 10!

Travis was up at 4:00 to head to Churchill Downs to watch Epicenter run. (He’s running in the Derby and is connected to Trav’s farm). Thankfully, I didn’t hear Travis get up that early, and I slept until 8. Then, I placed our Kroger Clicklist order, drank coffee and caught up on some of my blog reading.

Then, I caught up on some of my shows for a bit. Travis got home around 10:30, and I woke the kids up a 11! My kids have always been great sleepers, but I know they were extra tired and needed the rest.

We started laundry and then, I had lunch. This is the second Sunday I’ve made myself a “one eyed sailor” (What do you call it? I know there are other names) and had some apples.

Then, I went to Trader Joe’s to pick up produce items, flowers, and a few other things.

I came home and put the clean sheets on the bed, read my book for a bit with the Royals game on in the background. Well, again, I was tired…I only read a few pages before dozing off.

If you can’t tell, I love naps.

Then, I did all the things for dinner including meal prepping a few lunches and cutting up veggies for the week.

We had dinner outside which was so nice.

After dinner, Hadley iced the Trader Joe’s lemon cake that I made.

Then, it was time for the kids to study for their vocab test, I took a shower, and we ended the weekend watching American Idol.

It was such a great weekend.

{Before I go…a random note to my blogger friends…I read most of my blogs on my phone. For some reason, right now, I can’t comment using my Google account…even when I’ve logged off and back on. Then, if I try to comment using my URL, it says “invalid.” That only leaves me with commenting “anonymously,” and I don’t want to do that. So, I’m still reading so many of my favorite blogs…I’m just unable to comment unless I’m on my home computer which is rare. (If you have a Word Press blog, I read and comment on that app no problem) Anyway, I just know how much it means when people comment, so I wanted to let y’all know that I’m still reading them.}

Mondays can be hard, but we only have three left in the school year after today! Happy May!

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#111}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! Raise your hand if you are ready for the weekend. {me!}

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

Most of the favorites this week center around my kids’ activities, but that really is my life most days after school.

Some favorites from the week…

How they do middle school track around here is during the week, the meets are A or B meets with certain events for each meet. So, those meets shouldn’t go past 8:30. Then, the Friday night meets are invitationals where there are more schools (and schools out of our district) and they take the top two athletes for each event. These meets run longer (11:30 PM or so!), but provide a fun atmosphere.

Hayden ran in the invitational last Friday night and ran his fastest mile ever! He’s hit his stride (literally and figuratively) this season. Hadley was there to cheer him on.

On Saturday, we watched cousin Wyatt place in his baseball game. He did great.

Saturday night was the long-awaited Chris Stapleton concert at Kroger Field. It was the first ever concert there, and it was a blast. We saw Chris Stapleton in 2018 at a small venue in Cincinnati. When the Kroger Field concert was planned for Lexington, we jumped at the chance to see him again. Well, this was in fall of 2019 for a spring 2020 concert…which got pushed to April 2021…which got pushed to April 2022. We actually declined our original tickets last year, and then purchased some last week because we didn’t want to miss his performance.

We met up with neighbors (friends) for a few drinks before the concert.

There was an opening act that we missed, but we got there right as (Missouri girl!) Sheryl Crow was singing. She is 60 and fabulous. She played so many great songs.

Then, it was Willie Nelson’s turn. Y’all, he’s 88 years old, and he still put on a pretty good performance.

Then, it was time for Stapleton. He was ahhhmazing! The only bonus of having to wait two years to see him was the fact that he had more songs to play! He played for two hours, and the concert ended at 11.

The weather was perfection, we had great seats, and we ran into so many people we know. I’m so glad that we didn’t miss out on these amazing performances.

Another favorite was the kids in their “Sunday best.” It was “Baptism Sunday” at church, so we loved watching so many friends make such an important life decision.

For Monday night’s track meet, the kids were dodging raindrops…but look at that rainbow…

Unfortunately, we found out that Hadley had strep on Tuesday. She wasn’t feeling well on Monday, but still ran in the track meet. On Tuesday, I let her stay home and ended up taking her to the dr. So, she missed a couple of days of school this week, and her Wednesday track meet. She was bummed about that, but she seems to be doing better now.

Again, more track and baseball this week. Hayden did an awesome job pitching on Tuesday night, and had a PR in the 3200 on Wednesday night. Monday night, Hadley ran the 800 and the first leg of a relay, and did awesome despite not feeling well.

Monday meet for both, baseball for Hayden, and meet for Hayden on Wednesday

Homer snuggles are a favorite when you don’t feel well.

Hadley made me a friendship bracelet. How sweet.

Favorite Kid Quote

I told Hayden not to give in to Homer’s begging. He still fed him a chip. When I looked at him, he said, “Well, at least they are healthy.” 🤣

Favorite Mom Meme:

This meme was made for my kids 😂

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

There’s nothing better than sleeping littles in pjs. This is from 2013, and so sweet.

Weekly Recap:

This week’s posts started with some laughs, followed by a few outfit ideas in my new white jeans, and then all about vacation planning.

Monday Memes
White Jeans
Monthly Musings: Vacay Planning

What are your weekend plans? We literally have nothing going on this weekend, but we are triple booked for today with day and evening activities.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Posted in Monthly Musings, Travel

Monthly Musings: Vacation Planning and Prep

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Happy Friday Eve! Well, it’s the last Thursday of the month. Isn’t that so hard to believe?!

That means that I’m linking up with Patty and Holly for this month’s Monthly Musings.

This month’s topic:

1. What trips/vacations do you have planned for the rest of the year?

We will take a summer vacation like usual. Since Hayden won’t be playing summer baseball, we decided to treat ourselves and splurge a bit on a vacay. We’re headed somewhere that needs a passport, and the kids are excited 😉

Then, we will go to KC to see my family at the end of the summer. I’d love to plan another quick getaway in the summer, but we’ll see.

We get a week long fall break this year, so we are thinking about going to Florida in October.

2. Best packing tips?

I’d love to say pack ahead of time, but that’s a great packing tip that I never follow. You would think my “type A” personality would shine while packing for a trip, but that’s definitely not the case.

I always have to have all the laundry finished before I start packing. As we put the clean clothes away, I hold out what we’d like to pack for a trip.

I do use packing cubes (more on that with #3), and I do think they are a great way to keep your clothes together, organized, and sorted by person.

As the kids have gotten older, I’ve started making them a list of what they need to pack, and have them do so. Then, I go through and give approval on what’s in their suitcases.

Leading up to a trip, I start a note on my phone of the random things I want to remember: book, Kindle, charger, sound machine, Melatonin, etc. I keep meaning to create a standard packing list to have on hand when we pack, but I’ve never done it. It would be nice to have a “beach” list, “overnight one night somewhere” list, and “KC” list, etc. Maybe this summer I will get to it!

3. Packing cubes. Yes or no?

Heck yes! I started using these cubes (affiliate link) from Amazon a few years ago and haven’t looked back.

Depending on how long we will be gone depends on how I divide these up. If each kid is bringing their own suitcase, I usually just give them a smaller one to hold their underwear, swimsuit, etc. Hadley has used a smaller one for hair stuff and other odds and ends.

If the kids are sharing a suitcase, they each get a color. I actually only have a gray and a teal set, but as I was working on this post, I made a calendar notification to order another set before our summer trip.

When I use them, I typically use a smaller one for undergarments. Then, I use another for workout clothes and swimsuit and cover-up. I will also use one for pjs and shorts, etc. Because I am an over-packer (more on that with #10), these do help condense what I pack. I still usually have a few things like sweaters if it’s the winter, that don’t go in a packing cube.

Travis doesn’t use packing cubes…not because he’s opposed to them but because he’s just a very efficient packer!

4. Favorite travel outfit?

I guess it may depend on the mode of travel. On an airplane, I like to wear a dress with a cardigan or denim jacket. I typically will also wear sneakers rather than pack those since I tend to have a suitcase that’s always pushing the weight limit!

In the car, I love leggings and a sweatshirt with flip flops.

5. Favorite vacation destination? Why?

I shared this post recently on some of the favorite trips we’ve been on. It’s not that we are world travelers, but it is hard for me to choose a favorite destination. If I’m going for comfort and familiarity, I love our trips to Siesta Key beach. We’ve been many times through the years, and it’s a place my entire family loves.

2020
2015

My heart belongs in Charleston! I love SC.

2018
2021

Of course, other family trips like our trek to AZ and then Cali provide such special memories.

2018
2018

If I could get to San Diego (Del Mar) easily and regularly, then hands down that would be my favorite place.

6. Have you flown since March 2020?

We have. As a family, we flew to Florida in the summer of 2020. Then, Travis and I flew to California last summer. I feel like I’ve flown another time as well, but I can’t remember off the top of my head.

7. Beach or mountain vacation?

As you can probably tell from all of the photos above…I’m a beach girl. I don’t necessarily need to get in the ocean, but I love sitting on the beach (preferably covered by an umbrella), listening to the waves crash, and reading a book.

photo cred: hadley

That being said, we love going to Asheville when we can.

8. Do you prefer to sightsee or relax on vacation?

Well, growing up with the Major provided early wake-up times when we traveled. He’d open the hotel curtains and say, “What?! I let you sleep until 7!?” haha

I always swore when I was an adult that I would just relax on vacation, and at the beach, that’s what we do. Places like Charleston have so much to offer in regards to sightseeing and the beach which I enjoy. Having kids “forced” us to sightsee a bit more. For example, Hayden’s desire to see the Grand Canyon prompted us to plan that trip…and then added on the California beach part as a compromise.

We still hope to take the kids to NYC and DC in the next couple of years as well.

9. Hotel, camping, Airbnb?

We’ve done it all, but to me, vacation means a hotel or a nice house. To be honest, we’ve been so spoiled with being able to stay at Trav’s aunt’s house in Florida, that when we stay at a hotel, even a nice one with a decent size room, I feel so on top of each other that I just wish we had more space. I guess that’s become more of a thought as the kids have gotten older.

Travis always “does his research,” and we’ve always had good Airbnb experiences.

As far as camping goes, well…I’ve only “glamped” for a few nights in Asheville. It was a great experience, and I would do it again, but that’s about as rustic as I get.

10. Overpacker? Underpacker?

I am an overpacker to a fault! I want to have all the options. To be honest, through the years, I’ve gotten really good at packing “just” a couple of pjs, workout options, etc. I still tend to overpack sweaters and dresses depending on the time of the year. I want to do better. Not to psycho-analyze myself, but I guess the fact that I’m a homebody by nature means that I want whatever it takes to make myself feel at home on vacay?

Making a list and the packing cubes both really help me at least try to rein it in.

One more thought…

This wasn’t on the list, but are you the type to unpack as soon as you get home from a trip, or do you let your suitcase sit on the floor for a while?!

Honestly, depending on the time of the year or how we traveled (car/plane), etc. determines where I fall on this. There have been times that my suitcase hasn’t been unpacked for a week. I know, it’s ridiculous. That being said, once we get home from a trip, we always make sure everything is out of the car and in the correct room. The kids tend to get their clothes put up almost immediately (per my suggestion), and I put away snacks (if it’s been a road trip), and always put away my toiletries. So that just means I’m about 90% unpacked once we return home and then my suitcase might linger for a day or two depending on if I have time. (I will say this is a character flaw that Travis wishes I would re-evalute! haha)

Shew! This post has me thinking about summer. I can’t wait for summer travel.

See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Posted in Clothes

WIWW: White Denim

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How is your week going? We had a busy Monday with school and a track meet. Then, life slowed down a bit when Hadley tested positive for strep! Ugh. I feel so bad for her. She’s on the mend though!

Listen, I’m no fashion blogger, but I have a new favorite pair of pants (white jeans), and I had to tell you about them.

Here is my first ever (and maybe last? haha) ….

I love a pair of white jeans. I had a pair that I wore for years…and then I spilled coffee on them, and they just weren’t the same. Seriously–that was 2019. In 2020, I didn’t care to replace them, and then last spring I bought a random pair of white jeans from Amazon. They were ok, and I made do, but decided to purchase a couple of pairs this spring when Old Navy had a sale.

I purchased the High Waist Super Skinny Ankle Jean…

…and returned them. I still don’t love high-waisted jeans…and while I almost kept them just because I’d gotten them for such a good price, I went ahead and returned them.

I also purchased the Mid Rise Rockstar Super Skinny and these are what this post is all about.

Mid-rise jeans are my jam. Low rise, no ma’am. High rise, apparently not. Mid-rise, yes ma’am!

I wanted frayed look, so I ended up cutting the bottoms off after I wore them a couple of times….like Travis walked in the room when I had the scissors in my hand…and I said, “Don’t ask annnnyyy questions…I know what I’m doing.”

I wore this outfit to church on Sunday. I will repeat it for school and wear sandals.

black tank // white jeans // espadrilles // cardigan

This is one of my favorite spring/summer blouses. It’s lightweight and so comfortable. Pairing it with white jeans and sandals is a great casual but put together outfit option.

blue blouse // white jeans // similar sandals

This lightweight sweater with wedge sandals give a more elevated look for a date night or night out with friends.

(Sometimes, even with the frayed hem, I cuff the jeans just a bit. It’s always good to show the thinnest part of your body…ankles and wrists, ladies! Ankles and wrists.)

Peep homer 🤣

summer sweater // white jeans // old wedges (but these are on my wish list)

A black sweater, white jeans, and leopard flats provide a perfect outfit for work.

(old) black sweater // white jeans // (old) leopard flats from Walmart (but this pair is cute from DSW)

I cuffed the jeans again here to wear with sneakers. When I snapped this photo, I meant to throw on a baseball cap! On the weekend, you will definitely find me in something like this to run errands or go out to lunch. #momiform

Short sleeve sweatshirt (various size/color combos) // white jeans // GG

Ugh, as I went to finish up this post, I realized how limited the stock is on this particular pair of white jeans, but the in stock sizes seem to come and go. That being said, if high-rise are your thing, then the pair I returned may be for you!

Here are some other white denim options at Old Navy:

Also, a few of my clothing items are old/unlinkable….but they are great basics! Can’t go wrong with a lightweight black sweater, leopard flats, and black tank top in your closet.

Nothing says “spring/summer” like a pair of white denim, so I’m hoping you found some outfit inspiration! It was nice to “shop my closet” to round up a few spring outfits.

Also, Old Navy has 25% off with code: BONUS, so now may be a great time to pick up a few things for the warmer weather.

I’m sure fashion bloggers take better photos and clean their mirror, but thanks for sticking with me!

See you back here tomorrow for Monthly Musings.

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Memes

Monday Memes

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your weekend? Ours was really good. We had a late night Friday night watching Hayden run at an invitational track meet, and another late night on Saturday at the Chris Stapleton concert at Kroger Field.

Y’all- we were up until midnight two nights in a row. I couldn’t complain on Sunday because Travis actually got up at 4am to head to Louisville to meet clients and watch Derby horses workout.

Thankfully, yesterday provided some time to get ready for the week as well as a quick nap! The weather was beautiful for the entire weekend which was such a bonus.

With the month of April wrapping up, it’s time to look at some favorite memes that are both relatable and funny.

1.

Nothing says Monday (especially this Monday) like this meme:

2.

To go along with meme #1…

3.

Y’all! I do thisssss! 😬

4.

Hadley had a candy necklace recently and then I saw this meme 🤣

5.

Kroger pharmacy has changed the process for refilling prescriptions when you call…Instead of pressing 1 or 2 or whatever, I have to say what I want…and I hate it. This is who I am now…

That being said, if I can actually speak to a person, you better believe I’m saying “representative.” 🤣

6.

Pro tip. When Homer wakes up in the middle of the night, I lightly nudge Trav and tell him I “heard something.” It’s not a lie. What I heard was Homer, but hey, while he’s up, he can let Homer out 😉

7.

Relatable.

8.

I definitely do this! Even the first thing I jot down on our running grocery list goes on the list according to where it is in the store. (Produce up top, etc)

9.

My worst nightmare is replying all by accident!

10.

I’m embarrassed to admit to how bad I am at following GPS instructions…

I hope to post pretty regularly this week! We do have lots going on, so I will just take it day by day.

I hope you have a great one!

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#110}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday. How was your week? Ours had some ups and some downs, and I think we are all looking forward to the weekend…that’s for sure.

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Favorite Photo(s):

The kids on Easter is a favorite. The tree was blooming so beautifully and the sun was shining. These two really are growing up on me!

The kids had two track meets this week (and one more tonight), and I’m having the best time watching them do this together. It’s super sweet that they will have these memories!

Favorite Moment(s):

We had so much fun at Keeneland on Saturday. It was just so nice to catch up with some great friends and hang out.

I’m so thankful that the egg dyeing tradition has continued. I’m also very thankful that they can do most of it on their own 🙂 Kind of like pumpkin carving…I’m happy to just sit back and relax!

Favorite Food:

Well, what does one do when they have a dozen hard boiled eggs and is the only one who eats them?! They make a week’s worth of chef’s salads!

I packed them in my handy dandy salad lunch container that my mom got me.…

Easy lunch!

Favorite Clothing Item:

I have a darker denim jacket that I’ve had for a few years. When I saw this distressed one that was on sale (for $15) at Old Navy, I jumped on it. It doesn’t seem to be on sale now, but it’s perfect for the days when I need an extra layer but don’t want to wear my heavy winter coat.

I already have this cardigan in “cadet gray”…

…but I purchased it again in this hot pink color. It’s the perfect cardigan for spring. This was my outfit on Wednesday and so many people complimented me on the color. 💓

9,000 4.5 ⭐️ reviews, affiliate link above

Favorite Kid Quote:

Well, I don’t have a kid quote this week…but Hadley’s school chorus had a performance on Wednesday, and I loved hearing the two songs they’d been working on.

Favorite Mom Meme:

The number of times that I come home to find that they’ve left lights on for hours are too many to count.

Other Faves:

I picked up these tulips from Trader Joe’s, and they were showing off in the morning sunlight.

Besides two track meets, Hayden has also had two baseball games. He did an awesome job pitching on Tuesday night.

At Wednesday’s meet, the coaches had the kids run different events. Both of my kids ran the 100m dash which was fun to watch. They’ll admit they are more distance (Hayden) and mid-distance (Hadley) runners, but I love seeing them push themselves and try something new.

Who do you think ran the 100 m race quicker?

By the fourth track meet of the season, I finally figured out exactly what I needed to pack for the two to three hour meet…including my Kindle.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

Do you ever see a photo from the past that you clearly remember taking? This is one of them from me. During a very difficult season of life in 2013, I remember asking the kids to sit on the porch and smile, snapping the photo, and counting my blessings. #pinchycheekcute

Weekly Recap:

This week I blogged about a little bit of everything. I recapped the weekend and Easter on Monday, wrote about Keeneland (and what Travis does for a living) on Tuesday, and then shared favorite spring shoes and sandals yesterday.

Weekend/Easter Recap
Tues Talk: Keeneland
Spring Shoes and Sandals

What are your weekend plans? We have a track meet, baseball practice, church and a few other things on tap. See you back here Monday.

Thanks so much for reading.

Posted in Clothes

Spring Shoes and Sandals

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Happy Friday Eve! Our weather started off soooo cold this week, but it’s turning the corner with highs in the 70’s and low 80’s this weekend. The warmer weather combined some recent shoe shopping got me thinking about spring shoes and sandals.

I always treat myself to a pedicure over Spring Break, and then I’m annoyed with the cold weather we have off and on in April and May which means I can’t wear my favorite flip flops and sandals.

Today, I’m sharing some recent shoe and sandal finds that are perfect for spring, and some of my tried and true faves as well.

DSW:

Every spring, Hadley’s foot has typically grown enough (she now wears a women’s 7.5) that she needs a new pair of flats for church and Easter. Our Target was picked over, so we ended up at DSW. I always forget how many shoes they have!

After only a few minutes in the store, Hadley chose these ballet flats in the beige color. They are cute and comfy.

Once I knew we were going to Keeneland last weekend and the weather was on the cooler side, I wanted a pair of close toe wedges. I have a variety of booties and a favorite pair of open toed wedges, but thought I’d check out DSW again. I found these and love them. I tried on my regular size 9, and they fit. Well, I compared them to the 9.5, and actually did purchase the 9.5 because they seemed to fit the best.

I wore them to Keeneland on Saturday and church on Sunday, and they are so comfortable. I know they will look great with jeans or white pants too.

I’ve had these Nine West wedges forever…I’m talking at least six or seven years. They are my “go to” dressier sandal option. They’ve been through it all, and when I went to take the pic really noticed how much they’ve been worn.

Here I am wearing them…

So, I have my eyes on this pair at DSW for a replacement. I will see what I may need for spring before buying them, but I saw them in the store and took note!

Target:

Hadley saw these on one of our Target trips, and we picked them up for her to have as a summer option with dresses. She usually has a pair of ballet flats and sandal flip flops, but I thought these were very age appropriate for her. She got them in the cognac color, and she loves them.

She wore them for Easter and gave them rave reviews.

I saw these when we were at Target, but they didn’t have my size. I’m having flashbacks to the 80’s, and I’m sure my mom had a similar pair of these. I’m definitely going to keep them in mind once summer is in full swing.

Amazon:

{Amazon affiliate links…}

While I’m sharing sandals, I figured it’s a great time to share some of my faves from Amazon.

I wear these rose gold faux Birks whenever I can! I bought them last summer because Hadley had them in white from the previous summer. She still wears hers often and they’ve held up beautifully. I did size up to a 10 in these, and that’s a better fit.

40,000 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️rating

Here are Hadley’s white faux Birks and then comfort slides that I have in both white and pink. I purchased both pairs last summer (and sized up to a 10), and they are perfect for the pool or sitting out the ball fields.

Comfort slides 47,000 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️rating

These sandals were the purchase of summer 2021, and I didn’t even buy them until the end of the summer!

It looks like my exact pair isn’t currently on Amazon, but here is a similar option. (with almost 3,000 four star ratings)

I’ve seen so many share the braided heels, and Target has a cute option that goes in and out of stock. I have my eyes on these from Amazon. The memory foam insoles are a selling point for me 😉

I need to go through my shoe sitch ASAP before adding more to the mix. That being said, I know there are some shoes and sandals in my closet that haven’t been worn since before the pandemic!

Hopefully, warmer days are ahead because I’m ready to wear my spring sandals.

See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Posted in Other, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! I hope your week is off to a great start!

Whenever I go to Keeneland, I always think about what a special place it is. When I’ve shared about about our Keeneland outings, I’ve gotten a few questions and same about Trav’s job in the horse industry. So, today I’m sharing a bit about both of those things.

Travis made his way into the horse industry after a few years working in college athletics. He met me when he worked at Mizzou, but after a few years he wanted to move back home to work in the horse industry.

His job has evolved through the years but his primary role is as a “Stallions Nominations Manager.” That means that he’s basically a match maker for horses. 😂Really, what he does is his farm stands stallions for breeding. Owners submit requests for their mares breed to the stallions, and Travis has the final say on the request to breed. He looks at the mare’s pedigree and decides if it’s a good match for the stallion. They want the mares to produce the best horses, so he finds the right fit for the stallion or denies the request if there isn’t a good fit.

Then, he keeps up with the offspring of the stallions and promotes the race results on social media. During the various horse sales throughout the year, he also follows up with the offspring to look at their track performances and confirmation (physical structure). The past few years, he’s also started buying and selling horses for clients as well.

Travis is always working. Always. He loves what he does. I have never met anyone who looks forward to going to work every single day more than he does.

Did you know?

  • All horses turn one on January 1st. So, you want a horse to be born in January if possible. (There is breeding season to ensure that they are born in January/February)
  • Three year olds run the Kentucky Derby hence why it’s important to have an “older” three-year-old by May.
  • The Triple Crown of racing starts with the Kentucky Derby (in Louisville on the first Saturday in May), followed by the Preakness Stakes (in Maryland), and the Belmont Stakes (in New York).

I’ve learned a lot through the years, but still always have many questions for Trav!

Keeneland:

Now, on to a more exciting topic: Keeneland.

When people think of Kentucky, they often think of horse racing and Churchill Down because of the Derby. When my family would visit after I first moved here, they’d want to visit Churchill, but I will tell anyone who will listen that Keeneland is the place to be. Churchill is much more commercialized, whereas Keeneland is picturesque and just so special.

A few facts about Keeneland:

  • It’s located in the Horse Capital of the World, Keeneland.
  • The horses only run twice a year: the fall meet in October and the spring meet in April.
  • They have tours and people also come to watch the horses’ morning workouts.
  • There’s a Keeneland Kids Club with various events like Easter egg hunt and Sunrise Trackside with activities and breakfast.
  • Their corned beef sandwich is my favorite!
  • No racing on Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Keeneland’s mascot is Buckles.

When visiting Keeneland:

  • You often need to buy tickets in advance, especially on Friday and Saturdays.
  • Keeneland is family friendly, and many bring their kids out especially on Sundays.
  • “The hill” is the hotspot for tailgating. There’s a jumbo tv, food trucks, and betting. (Some people hang on the hill and never even enter the track)

Seating:

As far as the different seating areas…well, I think I’ve experienced close to all of them. Of course, I’m lucky to have Travis who can get his hands on some pretty great tickets somewhat easily, but we always have fun wherever we sit.

General Admission:

General admission and reserved Grandstand tickets are where most people sit.

General admission is fun if you can get close to track. We’ve been bringing the kids since they were little.

April 2011

Hayden’s horse lost by a nose!

October 2015

Keeneland is always a fun place to hang with friends: both big and small!

Grandstand tickets are under cover which is a bonus.

Also, in the Grandstand, many companies and farms have reserved boxes. If it’s sunny, a parasol can be provided! (hashtag: how southern!)

When your dad picks you up from school but needs to watch a couple of races….you get to hang out in the box!

We typically get Clubhouse tickets through Trav’s work, and it does seem like you have to “know someone” to get those tickets or be a club member.

There is a dress code for the Clubhouse: coat and tie for guys and no denim.

ready for the races in 2018

Clubhouse tickets are nice because it’s less crowded which means shorter lines for food, drinks, and the restroom. The Clubhouse has multiple levels and passes, and I feel like we’ve “done it all” through the years.

On the main floor, there are tables that aren’t reserved, both inside and outside. Once someone claims one, it’s probably theirs for the day.

(Forgive the photo quality – 2012 pic!), but the white tables and chairs options for outside seating if you can snag one!

Last spring, Travis and I had a great day hanging out in the sunshine on a Friday afternoon. (Spring 2021 had very limited ticket availability for the spring meet due to Covid)

You always need a racing form

More Clubhouse pics through the years…

2015
April 2018
October 2018
April 2021
October 2021

The 4th floor has suites…

October 2010

The 4th floor also has other dining rooms like the Phoenix room, Lexington room and Equestrian room where there are full dining menus and betting.

On Saturday, we were blessed to hang out in the Stakes Lounge on the 4th floor. Travis has been everywhere in Keeneland and he even said, “I didn’t know this room existed.”

A horse trainer couldn’t use his tickets and gave them to Trav. It was actually a smaller room with a couch and chairs as well as some high top tables and about ten tables of four seats. There was a buffet of food and a private bar and restrooms.

The roof top view was so pretty!

We had some friends who were available to go with us which was such an added bonus. As busy as everyone is, the Saturday before Easter apparently means no kids sports!

The Keeneland Bloody Mary can’t be beat!

We stayed until the second to last race, and it was a great day!

Through the years, as Travis has gained more responsibility at work, he really does end up at Keeneland a bit more than he used to. Sometimes, he gets an eyeroll from me 😆,but he has clients who have horses running or may be interested in buying a horse. Also, the stallions at his farm have horses running as well. How those horses perform certainly impacts the stud fee of the stallions who stand at the farm.

It’s not lost on me what a privilege it is to get to experience Keeneland whether it’s from the green benches in general admission or on the top floor with a view of the entire track. It’s always a magical experience spending the day at Keeneland.

While I’m sharing about Keeneland, it’s also worth sharing about the Horse Country farm tours. Much like the Bourbon Trail tours, there are so many farms you can tour as well. There’s actually a Horse Country passport to collect stamps from all the farms you visit. You’d think all horse farms are alike, but they aren’t. There’s so much history, and each one provides such a unique experience.

I hope you’ve enjoyed a little peek at one of the best things Kentucky has to offer: Keeneland. Let me know if you have any questions!

See you back here on Thursday.

Posted in Holidays, Weekend Top 5

Hello Monday + {Easter Recap}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday. How was your weekend? We had such an amazing one! Both Saturday and Sunday were super busy but in the best way!

I’m linking up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday.

Here’s what we were up to this weekend:

Friday, right after school I took the kids to their annual checkups! Hayden has caught up to Hadley on height, but was still disappointed that she’s officially half an inch taller than him still. haha I keep telling him he will pass her one day!

After their appointment, we got ice cream, per tradition! Then, we picked one of Hadley’s friends who came over before I took both girls to a sleepover.

Then, I went to Target, Ulta and Oldy Navy while Hayden and Trav went to my school’s Varsity baseball game. After my errands, I picked up Jason’s Deli for dinner and watched an episode of Real Housewives OC. I enjoyed a little “me time” before they got home and then it was time for bed.

I actually slept in a bit on Saturday. Hadley was picked up pretty early from the sleepover (after getting only a few hours of sleep!) and then went to church to help with the pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt for the younger kids. With the lack of sleep, I will give her credit for following through with her commitment to helping out.

After enjoying my coffee, I went to the gym to work out while Hayden had baseball practice.

Then, Travis and I went to Keeneland with some friends.

More on that tomorrow, but it ended up being a beautiful day, and we had the best time.

After the track, we came home and ordered carryout dinner. While Travis went to pick it up, I got everything set up for the kids to dye Easter eggs. I told them I will carry on this tradition until they are 18. Hadley said, “Well, what happens while we’re 19?!” I told her I’d be happy to have her dye eggs then too!

They did a great job, but always seem to end up fighting about who has dyed more eggs. You’d think it would be six each, but somehow one of them tends to end up dyeing one more! I’d make more eggs to dye, but I’m the only one who eats hardboiled eggs. 😉

They turned out so pretty.

Then, we watched some TV before bed. Guess who was the first in bed by 9:00….hint: the one who had two hours of sleep the night before!

Sunday, was, of course, Easter.

I woke up around 7:30, and then woke the kids around 9:00. I knew they needed to sleep in, but I also wanted to get in our Easter family time in the morning.

When they woke up, they found their Easter gifts and candy.

They each received clothes and a book. Hayden got another Gatorade bottle, and Hadley received some bracelets. Both seemed to love everything.

Then, it was time to find the eggs that were hidden (by the Easter Bunny?!)…which took two minutes!

Then, I made breakfast. I was going to make the cinnamon roll bunnies that I’d seen so many make, but that was a fail. Every time I tried to unroll the cinnamon roll, it fell apart. So, I pieced everything back together and just baked them in a pie plate like usual. I also scrambled some eggs and cut up some fruit.

Then it was time for church.

We enjoyed the lovely service, and then snapped a few photos. They looked so grown!

I always appreciate a family photo when we can get one.

Then, we went home to quickly change our clothes before heading to Elizabethtown to celebrate Easter with Trav’s extended family. It was good catching up with everyone, some of whom we hadn’t seen since Easter 2019.

We got back to Lexington around 6:00, and it was time to make a grocery list (because, again, I didn’t get my Clicklist order in for earlier in the weekend), do laundry and finish up this blog post. We had leftovers from Saturday night and wrapped up the weekend watching American Idol.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter. See you back here tomorrow.

Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#109}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! How was your week? Per usual, we had a good one, but I will say I felt like we (ME!) had to manage our time wisely and plan for every second. Besides baseball or track in the evenings most nights, both kids had tests to study for, I had some errands to run, and more.

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

I’m rewinding all the way back to the weekend.

I’ve been loving the Beachbody workouts, and I’m so glad that I purchased this subscription last summer. With so much going on, I’m still not perfect about getting workouts in, but it’s so nice to just head to the basement when I have thirty minutes to spare.

I completed the Morning Meltdown 100 program on Saturday. I very rarely did these workouts in the morning, but I really enjoyed them. Like most programs, Jericho (the head instructor) provides a mix of cardio, weights, yoga, and more.

This is the second program I’ve completed (also, Muscle Burns Fat) where it is the instructor’s first program with Beachbody. I know it may seem silly, but the last workout is always so special; they often tear up with gratitude for those who’ve joined them on their journey. I sure did get used to Jericho and her cast and I enjoyed this program.

With my mom and Gma visiting, we we out to a late lunch with my brother’s family on Saturday. I got the New Mexican Breakfast, and it was delish.

Saturday night, Travis and I went to see Black Jacket Symphony with some friends. They covered songs by Police, and it was a good time.

Hadley after church with the cherry blossoms in bloom are a favorite, for sure.

The kids loved all the Easter goodies they got from my mom and Gma. The kids thought it was fun that the baskets (that my mom made!) included edible grass.

On Monday, I tagged along with the Criminal Justice class to EKU. We toured the College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science, and it was so interesting. We ate in the food court on campus which of course high school kids thought was so cool. Chick-fil-A and Moe’s in the middle of the day was so fun for them. I love a college campus.

Hayden had two baseball games this week, and thankfully they were the earlier games.

Lucky #7

He touched an awesome game last night which was fun.

The kids had a track meet on Wednesday. Hayden ran his first ever 3200 and then turned around and ran the 800. Hadley ran the first leg of the 4×200, and did great. It’s always so fun seeing friends from other school as well.

Favorite Kid Quote:

Due to the storms we had on Wednesday, the kids’ school didn’t have power all day yesterday. When we asked how school was, Hadley said, “It was fine. We just did paper/pencil work. Back to 2019, baby!” 🤣

Favorite Mom Meme:

This! haha Why is it so hard to open a box correctly?!

Friday Fun:

Well, I guess “fun” is all relative, but have you heard of the website http://www.typingtest.com? Someone mentioned it recently, and I checked it out.

In high school, two of my favorite classes were Keyboarding 1 and Keyboarding 2. I can’t believe those were classes, but I loved typing.

Actually, when I was in middle school, I asked for a typewriter…and it was the kind that could go back and white out errors. I swear I had friends. Why do you ask? 😆

There are one minute timed tests. I don’t want to brag, but my highest WPM score was 80 WPM on the medium test. If you try it, let me know your score!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

In honor of their first track season that is currently underway, here is a pic from October 2015 which is when they ran their first ever mile for a districtwide PTA run.

They crossed the finish line together.

{Real talk: I remember at the start of the race legitimately being worried that my two kindergarteners were going to get lost during this race! I mean we just let them go! I was like, “STAY TOGETHER!” and was worried until they crossed the finish line…

…which they did…together!

This pic of them made the local Lexington magazine which is too precious!

Weekly Recap:

This week we had our Not Just a Mom link up, I shared all about my trip to Aldi, Let’s Look at date night, and then my easy Easter table for our dinner last weekend.

Here they are:

NJAM
Aldi Recap
Let’s Look
Easter Table

Y’all, the Aldi post was so popular on my Facebook feed. I honestly neglect that space and mostly just have it set up to share my blog posts. Anyway, that post had probably triple the number views and tons of comments that day. Who knew Aldi was so popular?!

What are your weekend plans? I’m honestly not sure what we are up to tonight and tomorrow, but we’ll celebrate Easter with family on Sunday.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and thanks so much for reading.