jgalvinwhite

Friday Favorites {#229}: Vacay Recap

Posted on October 18, 2024October 18, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

TGIF! After being sick at the end of last week, this full week of school sure did feel like a long one. That being said, it was nice to get back into a routine!

Thanks to being sick and just life being busy, I haven’t recapped our trip to 30A for fall break.

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

…for a little…

This is our third year of having a full week for fall break…and it’s also our third year traveling to the 30A area with our same group of friends. This vacay is definitely one of our favorites.

We weren’t sure if this trip would happen until we saw the fall sports schedule. Thankfully, for us, cross country and volleyball didn’t have anything scheduled, so we were able to take this vacay.

By the end of this post, you might be sick of pics of sunsets and me reading my Kindle. haha

Here are the details of our trip:

Saturday:

We left our house around 8:30 on Saturday morning, and had a very smooth ten hour ride to 30A.

Two families left the night before, so they were getting the house settled right as us and another family arrived.

After we got unpacked, everyone scattered, but my friend and I went to the beach for sunset which is my favorite part of a beach vacation.

We had about thirty minutes on the beach.

Once we got back to the house, again, people kind of did whatever they wanted. The dads/husbands ordered pizza and wings and stayed home to watch football.

The moms went to Seaside where most of the kids were, and we enjoyed our dinner before going back to the house for the night.

Sunday:

We had a lazy morning with breakfast at home.

Eventually, we made it to the beach around noon. Because Hurricane Helene had just blown through, the flags were red, and the water was murky and choppy. The water reminded me more of the Atlantic Ocean as opposed to the Gulf of Mexico. We could still get in the water if needed, but no swimming or playing around. So, the kids mostly hung on the beach.

I read most of the afternoon.

The kids played on the beach. The girls mostly laid out, and the boys played bocce ball. Eventually the kids left and went to Seaside.

It was such a beautiful day.

In the late afternoon, the guys went for oysters and the girls went back to the house.

My friend Megan and I stayed all day until sunset.

This crew joined us at the beach for sunset. They are such a sweet group!

Sunsets never get old…

That night, we grilled out for dinner, played “Play 9” and had s’mores.

It was a great first full day at the beach.

Monday:

Monday morning, we took our time getting started with the day. The girls had gotten up early for the sunrise, and shared their pretty photos

We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast, but the girls wanted muffins, so I took them on the golf cart to Seaside.

This view is always so pretty:

Then, we went back to the house. Some of our friends also had a house in our neighborhood, and they suggested Black Bear for breakfast. We’d never been, and it’s now a few fave for breakfast!

This bagel hit the spot:

Then, we went to the beach for the day. The water was calmer, but we still had a red flag.

I stayed a few hours, and I headed back to the house in the early afternoon.

I love nothing more than an afternoon nap on vacation. Also, because I’d stayed at the beach all day the day before, I was kind of a lobster in some spots. So, I headed back to the house for a shower and a nap before breakfast.

The kids wanted to go out to eat for dinner, and one of the easiest places to do that is at the Big Chill. There’s a variety of restaurants to choose from and lots of space to hang out.

It was a really pretty night.

We enjoyed dinner and a drink for a couple of hours, and then we went home. Most of us went to bed pretty early.

Tuesday:

We have something planned for breakfast every morning at the house, and Tuesday’s breakfast was bacon and biscuits.

That morning, we went shopping in Seaside…and I got my traditional post office pic with Had.

Of course the girls got a pic too!

Then, we did a bit of shopping. Hadley got a sweatshirt, and I got a t-shirt.

Trav and Hadley went over to Black Bear for breakfast, and my friend sent me this pic:

Then, it was time for the beach…and it was a yellow flag for the day, but the water was back to a pretty green/blue color that we are used to on the Gulf.

How Hayden does the beach:

The kids were so happy to be able to play in the water after the two red flag days. This is such a fun crew:

Hayden and I were back to the house by 3:00 to watch the Royals game play off game.

I had asked my family to make sure they were at the beach for sunset as I knew the next day, we wouldn’t be able to be at the beach at sunset and there was a chance of rain on Thursday.

Anyway, I was happy to get a pic with the fam:

…and a few other pics:

The girls were there for the traditional sweatshirt pic. I love that the pretty colors of their sweatshirts match the beautiful water and sky.

Besties!

At Modica Market, I picked up this 30A Rose’, and it was the perfect beverage for the beach.

After sunset, we went back to the house and had tacos for dinner.

Wednesday:

Wednesday was another beach day. We spent time at the beach 10:30-3, and it was the best beach day we had. The water and the temps were perfect. My friend overheard another beach goer say that they picked up sand dollars at the sand bar that we could see a bit out past where we could touch.

So, we swam (with our flotation devices) to the sand bar. We were out there for about 45 minutes and came back with so many sand dollars.

Of course, the little girls laid them out and counted them once we got back.

We even had some cloud coverage that day which was so nice.

I had lots of time to read…

…before I headed back to the house for the Royals game 3:30. They won both games on Tuesday and Wednesday which was so fun to watch.

That night, while we were getting ready for the adults’ dinner, the girls went to the beach for their own sunset pics.

We headed to dinner at Cafe Thirty-A. I got the lobster alfredo, and it was delish!

We came home to the girls working on a puzzle.

They completed a couple that week!

It was a great evening with an early bedtime.

Thursday:

A few of us decided to hit up Black Bear for breakfast one more time on Thursday. It definitely hit the spot!

After breakfast, we spent some time in Seaside, and did some window shopping and some real shopping.

A rare glimpse of the boys!

Of course, after that, I headed to the beach for a few hours. We “forced” the kids to go to the beach since it was the last day.

It was a purple flag day…so the girls were on the look out for some jelly fish. We did see a few in the water that day.

The girls just kept their toes in the water. haha

Well, the kids didn’t last more than an hour. The girls went to the pool, and Travis took the boys golfing. So, I had a few hours on the beach to read and enjoy the view. A few of the other adults stayed too. We wanted to soak in the last day.

Once I got back from the beach, I showered and started to get organized and pack.

Hadley went to Rosemary Beach with one of the other families.

Eventually, Travis and I made our way to Seaside where Hayden was. The post office was decorated for fall.

While we waited to be seated at Great Southern, Hayden snapped a pic with me 🙂

The three of us had dinner, and the boys ran off again to hang out.

Once we were back at the house, the girls had movie night, and we packed up to leave in the morning.

Friday:

Friday morning, we finished packing up the car, and I forced the kids to take one more pic in front of the house. Truly, they weren’t happy with me…but oh well…I’m used to dealing with moody teens. haha

Then, we hit the road back home. It took us a bit longer to get home; we didn’t do a good job planning our stops. Also, one of our stops was Bucee’s where I’m convinced Travis picked up Covid, got sick, and then passed it on to me. Oh well…we’re all feeling better now.

It’s always sad to leave the beach after a good trip, but it’s also so nice to arrive home and sleep in our own beds.

A few thoughts:

This was our third year doing this trip with the same families, and I feel so lucky to have a crew that gets along, makes plans, but goes with the flow, and we all enjoy each other’s company.
It’s important to have low expectations when traveling with a big group, and I think we do a good job of that. Also, we have followed the same at home breakfast and dinner plans the past few years, but also adjust as needed. For example, the kids all wanted to go out to dinner, so that’s how we ended up going to the The Big Chill rather than eating at home Monday night. Some families or couples end up making their own plans, and that’s fine too. Some love to beach all day, and others just go for a few hours. I think we’ve done a good job embracing each other’s preferences. They all know I love to catch as many sunsets as possible, but I know there are nights that won’t happen, and that’s fine.
Each year has gotten easier as the kids get older. Do I wish my kids, and even Trav, were at the beach more because that’s what I like to do? Yes. But, it’s nice that the kids are old enough to have some independence too.
Bikes come in handy as that’s the kids’ main form of transportation. The house comes with some, but there were extra ones this year, and Trav rented one to use to follow Hayden on his runs.
The golf cart is also a key factor for us as that’s the easiest form of transportation to most places in the Seaside area. We pay extra to use the one at the house.
This was the first year we used the “Splitwise” app. I’d heard of it, but had never used it. We would just add in expenses, divide it up, and settle up using Venmo at the end of the week to repay whoever needed paid.
This year, we arrived on Saturday evening, and usually we drive halfway on Saturday, and arrive late afternoon on Sunday. It was SO nice having the extra day, but then still having the weekend to recover and regroup after a week away was perfect.

Overall, it was a great trip, and we hope to do it again if the athletics schedule allows.

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

Share Our Lives

Wednesday Hodgepodge

If you made it to the end of this post, thanks for reading!!

I hope you have a great weekend.

This and That

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Posted on October 16, 2024October 15, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve linked up with Joyce, so I’m doing that today.

This week’s prompts are so fun, so let’s get to it:

1. How did you meet your significant other?

We met at the University of Missouri when I was a senior. Travis worked in college athletics at the time, and he’d moved to Columbia for a career move. I worked in the ticket office my senior year, so I met him there. One Saturday football game, they needed someone to work the player pass gate area, and I thought to myself, if he volunteers me to do it (because he’d also be there), then he must like me.

Well, that Saturday, I was the one to work the player pass gate with him, and I was so excited…until he made fun of my tennis shoes. He called them “buddies.” (which would be “dupe” now!) Listen, I didn’t have quite the budget back then…and Shoe Carnival was the answer. haha

Anyway, a couple weeks later, we went out on our first date.

This wasn’t our first day, but we’d only been dating a few months:

2. It’s Department Store Day. Do you still shop in department stores? If not, do you miss that shopping experience? Do you have a favorite department store? Any fun memories of department store shopping when you were a child?

I don’t shop much at department stores, but I will still look there occasionally for dresses or shoes. I don’t usually have much luck, but I will still pop in every once in a while. I like Macy’s and Nordstrom, but mostly order from them online.

I don’t really have any department store memories as a child, but I do vividly remember going to the mall, and that was kind of a big deal. Ward Parkway mall in KC was my favorite. I remember the cinnamon roll place that we’d go to as well as Ms. Field’s for a cookie!

3. Something you’re currently nuts about?

It’s candy corn season…and I really only like candy corn when it’s paired with peanuts. You know what’s even better?

This little mix:

4. What’s your favorite nut and is there a favorite recipe?

My favorite nut is for sure a cashew! I don’t have any recipes, but I do love chocolate covered cashews.

5. On Wednesday, we officially reach the 70 days until Christmas mark. Have you purchased any gifts?

I haven’t purchased a single item. Unfortunately, I usually feel like I need to “get through” the kids’ birthday in November before I can think about Christmas.

I do have some gift ideas for a few people though as well as some birthday gift ideas I have for the kids too.

6. Insert random thought here.

Shew! It sure feels like fall this week! That being said, I think we skipped the 70’s! We went from mid-80’s to 60 degrees real quick!

That being said, I’m not mad about it. I’m sooo ready for fall. It’s my favorite season.

Have a great day,

Delish Desserts, Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: October 2024

Posted on October 14, 2024October 13, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was great as we had a busy Saturday and a low-key Sunday. I think I “over did” it a bit on Saturday, but Sunday I had some time to recharge before thankfully heading back to school today. I’m glad to be feeling much better.

Anyway, it’s the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting Share Our Lives with some of my favorite bloggers.

So far this year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant others in February
5 items you can’t live without in March
Favorite makeup and hair products in April
5 favorite and least favorite foods in May
Foods you make for someone else in June
Day in the life: summer edition in July
Least favorite activities in August
Finding peace in your day in September

This month’s topic is…sweet tooth cravings.

Well, I certainly have a sweet tooth! It’s hard for me to pass up a good sweet! That being said, I try to show restraint, but if something is seasonal, I probably won’t hold back. For example, I don’t eat breakfast, but in the fall, I love nothing more than an apple cider donut with a cup of coffee on a weekend!

At the start of the year, I shared a “12 months of desserts” post where I shared the desserts we made in 2023.

As soon as I started thinking about favorite sweets, I immediately thought of apple cider donuts…which then made me decide to organize this post by season of desserts.

So, here we go!

Fall:

As I said, above, one of my favorite fall treats are apple cider donuts.

Trader Joe’s has them for a few weeks:

….but my faves are the ones from the pumpkin patch!

This apple cider donut cake is a new fall tradition for me to bake:

Also, I love to make a pumpkin pie in the fall too. I prefer it served cold with a dollop of Cool Whip.

Winter:

I always look forward to Shay’s Peppermint Bundt cake in the winter. It’s a tradition that I make it for our Christmas dinner when we are at home.

I like cookie cake alllll year long, but we usually kick off the year with one for my birthday in January!

Spring:

Once spring arrives, I’m ready for lighter desserts like strawberry short cake.

Summer:

There’s nothing better than a scoop of ice cream on a hot day in the summer. One thing about me is I will always look at all the flavor options, but 9 times out of 10, I will get my fave…mint chocolate chip. (I also love peppermint ice cream in the winter!)

I love cheesecake, especially in the summer. Jason’s Deli has such a good slice of cheesecake, so when I can, I get one. I’ve made cheesecake a couple of times, but I haven’t perfected it. Trader Joe’s has a good one too.

All year:

What’s my favorite dessert that I could eat all year long? Homemade Rice Krispies treats. Usually, when we got to Trav’s mom’s house, she has some for me…and his sister makes them when we come to town too. Obviously, I can make them myself, and sometimes I do…but it can be dangerous to have a whole pan of them! haha

What’s your sweet tooth cravings?

Next month, our topic is: where do you shop?

We’d love to have you link up with us!

Thanks for reading,

Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#228}

Posted on October 11, 2024October 10, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? Well, ours started off ok just getting back in the groove after a week off, but Travis was sick at the start of the week, and now it’s my turn to be under the weather.

Hopefully, we’ll rally for the weekend and have a better week next week.

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

It’s hard to believe that a week ago we were headed home from one of our favorite places. I had intended to share our trip recap today, but I just didn’t have it in me to get such a large post organized, written, and published. I hope to work on in this weekend in order to share next week.

Anyway…on to this week…

I started Saturday morning at home which is always a nice place to be after a week away. Instead of a mimosa from Modica Market, I sipped my coffee out of my new mug.

While in Seaside on the last morning, I went to one of my favorite spots…the bookstore. I picked up this 30A coloring book (as well as a book, a puzzle, and a sticker for my Kindle)

It’s been relaxing coloring a few pages.

It’s been fun watching the KC Royals in the post season…something that hasn’t happen since 2015. Saturday night was so nice that we watched the game on the back patio. Unfortunately, we were losing, so I told Hayden to put on his “rally cap,” and he flipped up his hood. haha

Tuesday night, Hayden ran in the “city championship” race, and it was so beautiful outside.

Hayden had a PR, running 20 seconds faster than his last race, and he reached his goal of running under 17 minutes for a 5K. He was so happy after the race, and he placed in the top 15 in the city.

While at home yesterday, I started Nobody Wants This. I’m three episodes in, and it’s a cute and funny show.

October is one of my favorite months, so of course I love seeing graphics like this one…

…and quotes like this…

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week:

Prime Purchases

Let’s Look

Fashion Files

Share Our Lives:

We have our monthly Share Our Lives link up on Monday, and we’d love to have you join us. This month’s topic is…sweet tooth cravings.

What are your weekend plans? We have a busy Saturday, but not much on Sunday. I hope I’m able to get up and moving around soon!

Thanks for reading,

Amazon, Clothes

Fashion Files

Posted on October 10, 2024October 10, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

It’s been a minute since I’ve shared some outfits, so I’m linking up with Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files.

I decided to share some of my vacation outfits, although really I was mostly in PJs or swimsuit/cover up. Then, I will share my “back to reality” back to school outfits this week.

I will link what I can as some things are old and others might not be available any more.

The first day, I was at the beach for most of the day…from noon until 6:30 sunset.

I’ve had this hat for years, and I think I got it from Nordstrom. This purple guazy dress is a dress…but I’ve turned it into a lightweight cover up, and it’s one of my faves. I got it a couple of years ago from my favorite online boutique…Shop Style Your Senses. I’ve had my sunnies for quite a while, but I just lost them this week! They are from Amazon, so I just snatched up a pair….for less that $10 thanks to an Amazon sale.

Sunset pic on Tuesday of our trip, and I was wearing the same hat and another SSYS cover up, but this one is from their label. The terry cloth material is perfect, and I love the hot pink…especially when I have a bit of a tan.

On Tuesday, we got some breakfast in Seaside, and I was wearing my new Amazon set. It’s perfect to throw on and go.

Here it is before I walked out the door. My Lululemon crossbody purse is perfect for vacay as it holds a lot, but it’s not too big. My JW hat is from an Etsy shop, SoLillyDesignCo, and I got it earlier this summer. My fave flip flops are the Haviana brand from Nordstrom.

On the last night, we went back to Seaside for dinner, and I wore another SSYS label set. It’s a lilac color, and it’s one I wear often in the summer.

This is a pic from a few months ago, but I wore this exact outfit a couple of times. I love the SSYS scallop leggings, and the over-sized v neck t-shirt is their “air fabric” which is so soft.

One night, we always go out for an adult dinner, and I wore the “Gwen” SSYS dress that I got last summer. I love the vibrant colors, but it is a dress I feel like I “should/could” only wear on vacation, so it’s the perfect dress to pack.

I forgot to take a pic that night, but I snapped one as I unpacked the other day. These strappy Target sandals are still one of my favorite pairs to wear.

A few times on vacay and also at home, I’ve been wearing my new favorite waffle knit pants, and I’ve had this shirt from Amazon since the end of summer.

Now…back to school.

On Monday, I wore these linen pants and lightweight black sweatshirt, both from Amazon that I’ve had for a while. I got so many compliments on this outfit…(and my tan), that I figured it would be a good outfit to share.

These are my other favorite pair of strappy sandals, also from Target.

On Tuesday, I wore my new favorite blouse with some old black pants from Old Navy…and the same Target strappy sandals.

Yesterday, I wore a long sleeveless black dress that I got at Target years ago with my favorite Amazon cardigan and sandals.

Reality sure has hit this week!! Both with waking up and putting on real clothes.

What’s your favorite outfit?

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

Let's look, Seasonal

Let’s Look

Posted on October 9, 2024October 8, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Wow! This week feels like it’s flying by…and it’s already the second Wednesday of the month.

I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at…

How we clean our closets in January
Little things we do every single day in February
What’s in our grocery cart in March
Our daily quiet time/prayer time in April
Our summer closet staples in May
Our summer schedule in June
Podcasts and shows we binge in July
What’s in our pantry in August (I don’t have a pantry, so I skipped that one)
Our quick weeknight dinners in September

This month’s topic is let’s look at..how we prep for the holiday season.

Oh…well…even when I try to prep, I don’t feel very prepared when the season comes. That being said, here are a few things I try to do.

1. Notes/Lists

I keep a note on my phone with gift ideas as I think of them throughout the year.

I also make notes of recipes for the season and activities or traditions that I want to make sure that we do.

2. Amazon list

The past couple of years, I’ve made an Amazon list that I share with my mom, sister-in-law and grandma with gift ideas for the kids and me. That way, once the items are purchased, they are taken off the list. This has been a nice way to stay organized and share ideas.

3. Decorate when you can

In 2020, on Election Day, I put up my two skinny Christmas trees. One was in the living room and the other in the sun room. My kids rolled their eyes and even ask “Why are you already putting up Christmas decor?,” but the truth is that’s a day I have time to do so….so I do.

And, thanks to this blog, when I put out the rest of the decorations, I can look back on where I put my seasonal decor, so that saves time and energy.

4. Plan ahead

Once November hits, I always find time and pencil in some of our traditions like going to the horse park lights and baking cookies. I also always write down parties and plan accordingly. That has worked well to make sure we get some family time in or know when I might have time to wrap presents.

5. Stay Organized

Like I said, I have lists for gifts, meals, and activities. I have a note on my phone of things I need to buy for the next year. For example, if I’m running low on wrapping paper, I make note of that to purchase for the next year.

Also, I get rid of seasonal items if I don’t use them to help keep some of the holiday bins organized.

I’d love to hear how you prep for the holidays; give me all the tips!

Amazon

Prime Purchases

Posted on October 7, 2024October 6, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Well, all good things must come to an end…it’s back to school we go after a week off for fall break!

It’s the first Monday of the month, so I’m linking up with with Tanya to share my Amazon purchases this month.

I had quite a few purchases this month:

First up is this over-sized t-shirt. It’s perfect to wear with leggings or wear as a sleep shirt.

I did a quick change after school before running off to a volleyball game.

I had this set saved on one of my Amazon lists, and I decided to order it before our fall break trip. It arrived right before we left, so I quickly tried it on and new that I loved it.

To me, it doesn’t look exactly like the Amazon pic because the sleeves (on me, at least) are regular length and don’t go past my elbows. Anyway, I wore it more than once in Florida, and it was perfect to just throw on and go. I got my normal size.

Last month, Tanya shared this blouse that I’d also seen and saved to a list. Well, once she shared it, I went ahead and ordered it. I sized up and didn’t need to, but I love it. It’s lightweight, flowy and forgiving.

I ordered these pants as something to wear year round with a tank, a t-shirt or a sweatshirt. They are so comfy and cozy, and I just love the pockets and the hem at the bottom. This is definitely something I might order in another color.

‘Tis the season for congestion and allergies. Travis ordered this “boom.boom” nasal stick three pack for the kids to use. These are great to clear up your sinuses!

You know I watch lots of volleyball games and track meets, and I’ve had the same chair for a few years, but wanted one with arms and a bigger back. An influencer I follow, @bobbiwiththeeye, shared her favorite chair when it was on sale, so I snagged it right up. It’s worth the full price too, but I was happy to get a bit of a deal.

I shared this flag in an earlier post, and it’s so cute.

It’s been the perfect update for the front yard.

Again, I ordered my “tried and true” eye mask that I use every morning. I keep them in the fridge, so they are nice and cool under my eyes. With a new pack, the first few seem to be extra drippy, but I always just rub the extra retinol on my face or neck.

Well, due to one of Hadley’s volleyball games, I had to miss one of my facial appointments. Since I missed my September dermaplane, I took matters into my own hands. These Tinkle razors were very easy to use. I think I can get a couple of touch ups out of each one. (Also, these say eyebrow razor, but they can be used on your face)

Last but not least, Hadley had one of these wallets on her phone, and has had it for a few years. It was stretched out and falling apart, so I got her another two pack before we left for our beach vacay. The last thing I needed was her losing her debit card in Florida!

I know tomorrow and Wednesday are big days for Amazon, so some of these items might even have a better price.

Happy Priming!

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

Friday Favorites, Travel

Friday Favorites {#227}

Posted on October 4, 2024October 3, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Well, this week went by quickly. Why is it like that when you have time off? We’ve been on fall break in Florida this week, and it just went by too fast!

I hope you’ve had a great week.

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

Here are a few faves from the week:

We left Saturday morning and drove the ten hours to 30A Florida near Seaside. This is our third fall break doing this with three other families, and it’s truly become one of my most favorite weeks of the year.

We arrived at the house around 5:30, and I was able to catch the 6:30 sunset with a friend. I do hate that the sun sets so early in the fall!

We had the best week with our kids…the girls…

…and the boys.

Due to Hurricane Helene, the waters weren’t very clear the first two days. The Gulf looked more like the Atlantic Ocean, but with each passing day, the green blue water reappeared.

We had fun shopping in Seaside and grabbing breakfast or a mimosa most mornings.

We were able to catch a few sunsets this week. Honestly, the four of us weren’t on the beach together often as the kids kind of did their own thing, and Travis isn’t really a beach guy, so I was thankful to snap this sunset pic on Tuesday.

Seaside sweatshirt pic…per tradition!

Every year, I stop in the Sundog Books store and pick up a book or some other souvenir.

I loved this quote when I stopped by yesterday:

I’m sure I will do a full recap, hopefully next week, but we had a great week filled with sand, sunshine, family and friend time.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Hahaha…Hadley is like me in many ways!

One more fave:

Two afternoons this week, Tuesday and Wednesday, Hayden and I came back from the beach in time to cheer on our boys in blue. The Royals swept the Orioles and are headed the ALDS series which starts tomorrow vs. the Yankees in New York.

It’s been so fun watching them this season, and we even went to a game while in KC this summer and then we went to Cincinnati about a month ago to watch them as they beat the Reds.

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

Monday Memes

September Books

What are your weekend plans? We’ll get home tonight, and then I need to spend the rest of the weekend getting my life in order! I see laundry and grocery shopping in my future as well as some downtime to watch the Royals game on Saturday.

See you back here on Monday!

Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: September 2024

Posted on October 2, 2024October 2, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

How is your week going? We are having a great fall break; I will share more about that later in the week.

Since September is over, I’m sharing what I read last month.

Well, unfortunately, just like in August, I only read one book in September.

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Secret Book of Flora Lea:

Summary:

When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed.

In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own.

But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.

Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby’s. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel’s future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars . Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years?

As Hazel embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening wounds from her past, her career and future hang in the balance. An astonishing twist ultimately reveals the truth in this transporting and refreshingly original novel about the bond between sisters, the complications of conflicted love, and the enduring magic of storytelling.

Quick Thoughts:

My mom suggested this book because she’d read it…I think for a book club…and my grandma had read it as well.

This book was a great read. I loved that it was historical fiction, it was whimsical, but there was also a sense of mystery.

Fave Quote:

“Telling stories is one of the greatest powers we possess. It’s like a dream you can fill with what you want. And the knight doesn’t always have to save the princess; sometimes she saves herself.”

Rating:

I added some reading trackers for October on Instagram. Feel free to use them to share what you are reading…and don’t forget to tag me, so I can share.

Thanks to a lot of reading and audio books in June and July, I’m only one book behind on my Goodreads reading goal for the year. Hopefully, October will be the month that I get at least two, maybe three books read!

Memes

Monday Memes

Posted on September 30, 2024September 30, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Our weekend started off with crazy weather on Friday. Many districts called off school, but we had school and shouldn’t have been in session. There was heavy rains, winds 50+ miles per hour, schools without power and more.

Unfortunately, we had some damage to our front yard. One of the two huge trees in our yard fell over.

I will miss this view in the fall:

We still have the tree on the left, but together, they were quite the dynamic duo in the fall. So many neighbors and friends have even commented on what a bummer it is to lose that tree.

We have power, but so many in our area still haven’t had their power restored. There is so much destruction and devastation in so many areas from Florida to North Carolina. One of our favorite places, Asheville, was ravaged with flooding water.

Anyway, it’s hard to believe, but it’s the last day of September, so I’m sharing some memes that made me chuckle: