“Lifestyle” Blog: Part 2

Posted on March 19, 2024March 18, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Thanks for the love yesterday when I shared my 1,000th post. It definitely feels like a fun blogging milestone. Today, I’m linking up with Joanne for Talking About it Tuesdays…

…to continue discussing…

Today, I’m looking at the next ten blog categories and sharing posts about most of them.

Interior Design:

On the website, I have “Home Updates” and “Home Decor” tabs. In the spring of 2020, when I had a little more time on my hands, I went through my house room by room and showed how we updated it. I shared many “Tuesday Transformation” posts. Now, we’ve been here almost ten years, and there’s so much I’d still like to do…or even update again!

We started recently with Hadley’s Room Refresh.

I’ve also shared smaller changes, like a couple of years ago, when we added ship lap to our living room wall.

Hobbies and Interests:

I’ve written about a few interests and hobbies through the years. You know I love reading, and I guess right now I’m in the phase of life where my main hobby is watching my kids do what they love to do. I wrote about those two things, and a few other ideas, in a Not Just a Mom post last year.

Favorite Products:

I’d say my most popular posts are when I share Amazon favorites! Of course, I have an Amazon tab on the website.

This month, I’ve made it a daily point to share an Amazon favorite in my Instagram stories. Then, I add the product to my Amazon Instagram highlight. It’s been a fun goal for me to keep showcasing things I’m buying and then saving them in one place.

In my Friday Favorites posts, I typically throw in a few favorite products or clothing items from time to time. As I mentioned in yesterday’s posts, I’ve shared my favorite Dime Beauty and Seint products.

Travel:

We go on a few trips a year, and I love having these posts as a “scrapbook” of sorts with the memories. There’s a “Travel” tab on the website. Our most recent “travel” was to Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago, but I’ve also recapped summer vacations, fall break trips, and even a look at what states I’ve visited. That was one of my favorite posts to write.

Technology:

I’m not much of an an expert on technology. I’ve written a couple of posts about favorite apps like the Cozi app. One Not Just a Mom post was about our favorite phone apps. I always love seeing what others have to say. I’m sure I’m missing out on the latest technology!

Local Activities:

I wrote a Lexington post a couple of years ago, and it was another favorite post that I’ve put together.

When the we do yearly traditions like going to Keeneland or the pumpkin patch, I tend to recap those fun events too.

The first week of May is always a busy time in Kentucky. It’s all about Oaks and Derby!

Cooking/Cookware:

Under the “Meals and Recipes” tab, I’ve shared quite a few “Monday Meal” ideas. Truly, there aren’t many recipes that I’ve created on my own, but I love sharing meals my family enjoys. Plus, o can look back on them for dinner ideas when I’m in a rut 😉

Pumpkin Penne Pasta and Corned Beef, Cabbage, and Irish Soda Bread are my two favorite recipes to highlight.

I’ve shared some Instant Pot recipes, but I actually donated my Instant Pot when I did a good kitchen purge after Christmas.

I can’t live without my slow cooker, and I use it at least once a week.

My new favorite gadget is my egg cooker. I make six perfect hard boiled eggs every week now!

Baking:

Oh! We love to bake. I’ve always loved to bake, and so has Hadley. Just think weekend, Hayden decided he wanted to learn how to make the box of brownies and Krusteaz cinnamon swirl cake. Now, of course, those are not home made, but at least he’s interested in baking for himself!

There’s a “Delish Desserts” tab with anything from seasonal desserts to other faves like Graham Cracker Pudding recipe.

Like I mentioned in yesterday’s post, earlier this year, I shared twelve desserts we made last year.

Entreprenuerhsip:

I’m not very entrepreneurial, but I do share my Amazon buys every month thanks to Tanya’s link up. Being an Amazon Associate means I make a small commission.

Truly, just yesterday, I received my monthly earnings gift card, and I used it to finish buying a couple of things for the kids’ Easter baskets. I appreciate the support of my blog, whether it’s big or small!

Book Reviews:

Some of my favorite posts to write are my monthly book reviews as well as the end of the year book post where I share my Top 5 books of the year. Reading is one of my favorite things to do.

On my Instagram page, I’ve added a highlight with book trackers for anyone to use. Thanks to a reader’s idea (hi, Christina!), I have a highlight of the books I’ve read so far this year. I can’t believe I haven’t thought of that idea before now.

Well, two recaps down, one to go!

Have a great day!

Blog challenge, Me, Uncategorized

SM&ST 1000th Blog Post

Posted on March 18, 2024March 17, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

It’s a big day over here at Show Me and Sweet Tea…Today is my 1,000th blog post!

Who knew when I started this blog in August of 2019 that I’d have enough to say to write 999 posts + today’s post?!

I’m linking up with the Hello Monday ladies, Sarah and Holly, to share my thoughts.

I saw this graphic on Pinterest recently.

Honestly, the word “lifestyle” kind of made me cringe. I don’t know why. I’m just living my life and sharing, but not trying to tell you how to live your life. haha

That being said, I really can check so many boxes on this list.

You know I love a recap of sorts…so today I’m going to share and link back to some of the posts I’ve written that would fall under the first ten categories.

Personal Style/Fashion:

I don’t do it often, but I’ve shared some “What I Wore Wednesday” posts. Of course, I share other clothes that I love…mostly from Amazon, Target, and Shop Style Your Senses.

Beauty:

When I first think of “beauty,” I first think of skincare, but that’s it’s own topic!

I’ve been using Seint makeup for about a year and a half. I’m a creature of habit, so I haven’t really changed my makeup routine at all.

So, I think I’ve only written one Seint post, but I really love these makeup products.

Hadley shared her “heatless curl” hair tutorial last summer, and it was one of my favorite posts to share.

Spirituality:

Just by nature, I’m pretty private with my faith, but just recently, I’ve shared about about my daily Bible routine. I hope to share more in the future.

Skincare:

I’ve been using Dime Beauty products longer than I’ve been using Seint, but, again, I think I’ve only written one post.

Dime Beauty products are reasonably priced, have clean ingredients, and are so easy and convenient to use.

Hadley recently wrote about her skincare routine. Again, I loved having her share her thoughts, and she really appreciated the sweet comments.

Productivity:

I try to be as productive as possible.

I use the calendar on my phone, I write our activities and dinners on a magnetic pad, I use a desk calendar at school and write my lesson plans in a planner.

As a family, we use the Cozi app.

I tell my family they should be thankful for my time management and planning skills. 😆

Personal Finance:

Oh…I don’t get much into finances on here, that’s because my least favorite thing to do is talk about money…unless it’s sharing a good deal.

I literally just had to ask Travis why my paycheck where my stipend was $100 more than the previous paycheck didn’t reflect $100 more in the net amount…he reminded me about taxes. Boooo!

One of our Not Just a Mom posts last year was about money saving tips.

Self-Care:

I think I share a lot about self-care on this blog. Anywhere from quiet time, to working out, to monthly facials, I think self-care is important, and I still fail at it!

The first Monthly Musing post of 2024 was about self-care during the winter months.

Foods/Drinks/Dining:

I have a “Monday Meals” and “Delish Desserts” tab on the website, but I don’t feel like I add to them like I used to.

Last year, Hadley and I made a dessert a month, and I shared that post in January.

I always try to share new recipes I’ve found or recap what we’ve eaten in the week if I think it’s something others will be interested in.

Wellness:

I share quite a bit about wellness…and, again, it’s still an area that I’m always working on improving.

At the end of 2023, I recapped the Bodi programs that I completed last year.

So far this year, I’ve recapped my January and February Bodi workouts.

I’ve shared some goals like drinking more water, getting in more steps, and eating more protein.

Recently, I’ve started using these essential oil sticks (Awaken // Sleep) in the morning and before bed. They’ve been an easy addition to my wellness routine.

Mental Health:

I guess I haven’t really written a post on mental health, but I think I reference it when I share about my morning routine, taking time for myself, working out, quiet time, blogging, and more.

Some of my Enneagram posts, tie in with mental health because it’s about better understanding others and how they might think, feel or react.

Some thoughts:

I’ve really enjoyed blogging over these past four and a half years. I still truly wish I’d started a blog when I’d first thought about it years before 2019.

Lately, it has felt like I haven’t had as much time and energy to give to it. I’m wondering if this is just a phase, where I’m at in life, or if I’m running out of steam. (I hope not!)

August 4th will mark five years of SM&ST, and I’d love to continue writing and sharing. I have felt a bit of “shift” recently just knowing my kids are getting older. They don’t mind the blog, but I do try to be very intentional with what I share. I’m wondering next year, with them being in high school, how much of that I will continue to share. I guess time will tell.

I’m also trying to navigate blog post ideas that aren’t just about the kids or what we are up to as a family. I’d like to dig a little deeper into other topics.

For any bloggers already in this “phase of life,” I’m open to advice and ideas. Also, if there are certain topics that I already share, and you look forward to those posts, let me know that too. Let me know what you want to hear about from me! I’m open to suggestions.

Through this blog, I’ve connected with so many readers, chatted with other bloggers, participated (and co-hosted) in link ups, and I’m an Amazon associate.

I hope to continue this recap of “lifestyle blog” topics throughout the week if I have time. It’s been fun to look back on these posts.

Thank you for showing up and reading my posts. Commenting on those posts also means the world to me. I try my best to respond to everyone!

I hope you have a great start to your week.

{Amazon Affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog}

Friday Favorites, Uncategorized

Friday Favorites {#198}

Posted on March 15, 2024March 14, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? Ours was good, and it’s really starting to feel like the slide into spring break time of the year. We still have a couple of weeks to go, but we can do it. (At least that’s what I’m telling myself)

This week was different for me because on Tuesday, all of our sophomores and juniors took the ACT, so it was a busy day at school. Then, my allergies caught up with me and turned into a sinus infection, so I was sick on Wednesday. Today, teachers have a work day, but the students get the day off. It was just a different kind of week, and I felt like this:

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Our weekend trip to Cincinnati was a good one. The Bailey Zimmerman concert was fun, and we enjoyed the pretty city and good food while we were there too.

Breakfast on the way out of town was a favorite as well. So many delicious options.

How cute is this Walmart $5 votive candle holder? I made a quick Walmart trip last weekend, and saw this egg nest votive and couldn’t resist…buying two! I can’t find it on Walmart.com, but they were in the seasonal/dollar section when you first walk in the door. I know all Walmarts are different…haha…but kind of like the Target “dollar spot” area…but of Walmart.

Anyway, I “styled” them two ways. One on the kitchen table with a flameless candle and “grass” that I use for the kids’ Easter baskets.

In the living room, I used the other one with a small votive candle that I picked up at Ikea.

The reason I went to Walmart was to look for these Joy Spun pjs. They come in so many cute patterns, the material is so soft, and they are perfect for spring/summer.

I 10/10 recommend.

I change out my candles seasonally, and I have a shelf in our hall closet where I keep my candles. I received this one (Lavender Marshmallow) during the Christmas secret Santa exchange with Trav’s family. I knew it would be the perfect springtime candle, so I put it away until now.

Did you know that when burning your candle for the first time, you are supposed to burn it for the length of time as is the width ? So, this one is a little over three inches wide, so I burned it for three hours the first time.

I guess this just ensures that the candle starts off being burned evenly? And…when I said, “did you know that you are supposed to…” I think I saw this tip on TikTok. haha

Full Swing season 2 is out, and I love it. I like reality TV, but I especially like the shows that follow athletes. I’ve watched the first few episodes this week.

I know I’ve shared these Amazon eye gels/masks before, but only this week did I read the tip on the package about putting them in the fridge for extra soothing. Especially with my sinus issues this week, the extra cool eye gels in the morning have been life changing!!

This weekend, we’ll be indulging in favorite St. Patrick’s Day recipes…like “leprechaun” pancakes…

…and corned beef, cabbage, and Irish soda bread.

Favorite Kid Quote:

Last week, Hadley was so excited because she’d worked hard and earned a great grade on her Algebra 1 exam. She said, “Mom, I am eating up school…& leaving no crumbs.” 😆

We’re proud of how hard she is working, and she is just so funny sometimes.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Lack of time management (x 2) might be what sends me over the edge. Ugh.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

St. Patrick’s Day edition:

A look back with my favorite little leprechauns!

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

Share Our Lives

Cinci Concert Recap

What are your weekend plans? Hadley has a volleyball tournament. She hasn’t had one in about a month, and while it makes for a hectic weekend, I’ve missed watching her play.

I’m sure Trav and Hayden will be glued to the TV cheering for the CATS in the SEC tournament.

Thanks for reading!

Family, Travel

Concert in Cinci

Posted on March 13, 2024March 12, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hey, hey…it’s Wednesday.

Between our busy weekend and the time change, I feel like I’m still recovering!

Today, I’m sharing about our weekend trip to Cincinnati filled with a stop at IKEA, the kids’ first concert, and good food and fun.

Hadley loves country singer Bailey Zimmerman. Last summer, Travis texted me that he got tickets for the BZ concert in Cinci in March. We decided to hold off telling Hadley about the concert until closer to time.

A couple of months ago, she had to make the choice about traveling with her volleyball team this past weekend or going to the concert. Well, she didn’t know she’d have to make a choice…haha…but when we told her about the concert, she was so excited. Travis was able to snag a fourth ticket, so Hayden could come too.

After her “room refresh,” I had a couple of things to return to IKEA, so we held on to them until this past weekend knowing that would be a good time to make the returns.

Hayden had a friend’s birthday party on Sunday, so we knew we’d have to get up and head back on Sunday…so we decided to spend most of the day Saturday in Cinci.

We left our house around 11:00, and drove to West Chester, OH to go to IKEA. We got there around 1:00, and ate at Panera before heading into IKEA.

I love IKEA, and I wish there was one closer. Since we don’t go very often, I do like to walk the whole store to look at designs and see what they have.

So, Travis went and did the returns while the kids and I started walking around.

We’d also hoped to pick up the last piece for her room, but it wasn’t in stock. I’d checked the IKEA app before we made the trip, but I’d hoped we’d luck into the cabinet, but we were making the trip anyway. I actually got a text alert that it will be in stock soon, so maybe we can get it delivered if that’s still what we want to do.

It was nice to see it (the one on the left) in person.

Anyway, we made a few small purchases, and then we headed to the hotel.

We stayed in downtown Cinci near the concert venue. We had a pretty view out the window.

Right as we arrived at the hotel, the UK/Tennessee basketball game was starting, so we just hung out and watched the game in our room.

Then, we walked a few blocks to the Yard House for dinner before walking to the Andrew J. Brady Music Center for the concert.

It was a short and pretty walk!

There were two opening acts before Bailey Zimmerman. We caught the last couple of songs of Brandon Wisham before Josh Ross took the stage. We actually knew a couple of his songs, and he was so good. I bet he will be big time soon! He’s got a Morgan Wallen/Eric Church vibe to him.

Trav took our pic in between sets.

….and then it was time for BZ to perform. This is the “Religiously” tour, and that, of course, was his first song.

We all had a really great time (even though no picture proof that Travis and Hayden were with us…haha), and it was a fun venue.

I really liked his closing message as he encouraged the audience :

You don’t get anywhere without working your a$$ off.
You have to believe in yourself before others can believe in you.
God is good all the time.

He was finished performing around 11:00, and we started the walk back to the hotel. The hotel had a market open 24/7, and the kids were hungry, so we picked up a few snacks before bed.

Shew! The time change….we did sleep until around 8:00, and the kids slept longer. We didn’t want to rush them, but we wanted to get home by 12:30 or so.

We did make a pit stop at a bakery, Paris Baguette Pastry Cafe, that we’d walked past on the way to the concert. You pick up a tray and tongs, and could pick up whatever pastries you want to buy.

This was our load:

(I chose the chocolate crossiant…and a coffee!)

…their desserts looked delish too.

We got in the car and headed home.

Overall, I think Bailey Zimmerman was the perfect first concert for the kids since we all enjoy his music. I know they’ll remember it.

My first concert was Billy Joel. I was supposed to see him in 1994, but the concert was postponed until the next year because his wife, Christie Brinkley, was in a helicopter crash. He rescheduled the concert, so he could be with her while she recovered. I hadn’t thought about that concert memory in a long time!

What was your first concert?

Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: March 2024

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

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was so good. We went to Cinicinnati for a concert on Saturday, and made time to go to IKEA as well.

The kids had never been to a concert, and Hadley loves Bailey Zimmerman, so Trav bought tickets last summer for this concert this weekend. BZ was really amazing, and his opening acts were amazing too.

Anyway, I’m sure I will share more at some point, but first…

How’s everyone feeling? haha

Anyway, today’s our monthly Share Our Lives link up…

This year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant other in February

This month’s topic is…5 items you can’t live without.

Ok – topics like this one stress me out a bit…how do I narrow down to 5? What if I forget to mention something?? I know I’m going to read others’ posts and think, “Oh yeah! I need that too!

Anyway, here are some of the (more trivial) things that I can’t live without.

1. My Kindle

My Kindle is one of my favorite things ever. It’s so handy to take with me, throw in my purse, download a few books, and read conveniently wherever I am.

I bought my Kindle almost five years ago! Honestly, it’s getting a little slow, and I’ve noticed it’s not staying charged as long. I’m thinking about getting a new one soon.

2. Weighted Blanket

When I’m not home, I miss my weighted blanket more than I can say. Truly. It’s one of my favorite things. I bought the kids each one (a lighter weight one) a few years ago, but they didn’t use theirs like I thought they would. Honestly, I really think Hayden would benefit from one…he’s not a very relaxed sleeper…but what does mom know?

I can’t remember where I got mine years ago…I’ve been thinking and thinking and am drawing a blank. I know I was “influenced” and bought it using a code from a brand, but anyway…I still love it so much.

3. Post-It Notes

Post-It notes and note pads…I truly can’t live without them. I feel like I have little things I want to remember, so I will use a sticky notes…but then I have longer lists that I write on a small notepad or one of these pretty notepads.

4. Tumbler(s)

I shared recently about my new tumbler that’s only for my Diet Coke. I have a small one from Target for my coffee, and I have another one that’s for water only! I have a purple Stanley but this lilac one is the one I use the most often for water.

5. Coffee pot

Coffee on repeat. It’s my lifeline and the best way to start my day. We had the same coffee pot for years, and then I got a pretty white Drew Barrymore brand one that didn’t even last a year. When it just up and stopped working about a year and a half ago, Travis made a trip to Walmart and came home with this bad boy:

It is nice that it’s Keurig for single cups of coffee, but we can also make a pot of coffee. What I truly miss about my old coffee pot is setting the timer and having a fresh pot of coffee when I wake up.

Now, I usually do a single cup for me in the morning and then make the pot of coffee for my second cup and for Trav to drink.

Bonus: A hair tie!

I’m not a person to wear a hair tie (rubber band) on my wrist, but I do have to have a few in my purse, in my makeup bag, in my nightstand and more. I like to pull my hair back, and just have to know that I have one nearby to do that if/when needed.

Also, I cannot workout unless my hair is pulled back.

So those are some of my “can’t live without” items.

To be honest, I could have included things like my phone or phone charger, but I was trying to keep this list as short as possible. haha

Next month, we’re talking about favorite make up and hair products. I’m not great at either of these things, so I’m going to start thinking about that topic now.

If you have a blog, we’d love for you to link up with us and join us.

I can’t wait to see what “must have” items others share.

Have a great week,

Amazon Affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#197}

Posted on March 8, 2024March 7, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? Ours was pretty good, but it felt difficult to get in a routine. Hayden was under the weather a bit, we had one late night of basketball, and Hadley had one late night of volleyball. It just felt like every time I went to sit down, someone needed something or someone needed picked up. haha!

Anyway, I’m really looking forward to the weekend!

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

Here are my favorites from the week:

My mom came to visit, and brought all the Super Bowl goods. The kids received Super Bowl t-shirts a couple of weeks ago, but she brought me a mug…

…and an updated garden flag!

I made March reading trackers last week, and they are in my Instagram highlight if you want to use them to share what you are reading. I really enjoy using Canva to make these. My goal is to make new ones every month.

A little bit of luck…

…and a little bit of spring colors…

Speaking of “trackers,” have you seen the new CBS show Tracker?

I’ve watched the first few episodes, and I really like it. It stars Justin Hartley from This is Us!

This little corner of my living room makes me happy. It feels like a bit of spring.

The cute bunnies from Walmart, and the pink hydrangeas from Trader Joe’s make it nice and “springy.”

Favorite Mom Meme:

Well, I only have two teenagers, and I did get an epidural, but I still feel this one deeply!

Share our Lives:

On Monday, we have our monthly Share Our Lives, and we’re sharing: 5 Items You Can’t Live Without.

We’d love to have you join us!

Weekly Recap:

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

Prime Purchases

Currently

February Workouts

What are your weekend plans? We don’t have much tonight, but we have a very busy Saturday full of fun.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Health and Fitness

Workout Diaries: February 2024

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

Hello and happy Thursday!

Well, before we get too far into March, I want to recap my workouts for February.

Knowing I’m going to write these posts (at least for now) have been pretty good for my accountability.

This month…workouts seemed harder to get in. We were in the thick of Hayden’s basketball schedule, and I had a week after school where I didn’t get home until at least 6:00 most days.

Here’s my February Bodi tracker:

Here are my workouts this month:

February 1, 16, 20, 29: On these days, I either walked as my workout or had a busy day with lots of steps…and took brief walk to get to 10k steps.

February 3:Sure Thing: Lower Body Power

February 5: Job 1 Start Strong: Back, Glutes, Core

February 6: Sure Thing: Cardio Conditioning
February 7: Sure Thing: Combination Strength
February 9: Sure Thing: Hybrid Strength Circuit (This is one of my favorite workouts)

Then I had a break…this was the week that I was in charge of our after school credit recovery session, and I told myself I’d at least get a couple of workouts in …but didn’t. That week, Hayden also had a couple of basketball games which made for late evenings. Anyway, excuses, I guess…but just where I’m at in life.

February 17: Sure Thing: Lower Body Power

February 18: Fire and Flow: Restorative Flow 1 (I usually don’t take the time to do the slower yoga type workouts, but this one felt good because I remember being sore from the workout the day before)
February 19: Fire and Flow: Cardio Fire 1
February 21: Job 1: Start Strong: Shoulders, Legs, Core
February 26: Fire and Flow: Cardio Fire 2
February 27: Job 1: Build and Burn: Glutes, Arms, Core.

I don’t feel like I was in as good of a rhythm as I was in January…but, oddly enough, I still like coloring in the date on the Bodi calendar.

When I go to the basement to workout, I always just click on the Bodi app and pick and choose based on what program I want to do or how much time I have to give to a workout. I “program hop” around, and Sure Thing and Fire and Flow are my two faves right now. I’ve done both of those programs in the past, so it’s nice knowing what to expect.

This month I did try to make sure I was doing more cardio type workouts on Monday and Tuesdays.

There was only one day where I “should” have worked out — as in I had planned to and had time to– but didn’t. Saturday, February 24. It was a rainy Saturday, and we didn’t have much going on…so I just decided to be lazy.

So, this month I worked out of 15/29 days. My goal continues to be to workout at least half of the days in a month. That being said, this month had more “walking” days than January. I hope in March to get back on track consistently working out before my evenings are filled at track meets in April and part of May.

I know these posts aren’t for everyone, but I think I will continue to share them because they help me hold myself accountable…except for apparently Saturday, February 24th when I knew you’d understand my need to be lazy. haha

What’s your favorite way to workout? Do you do anything different for exercise in the spring now that winter is over?

Currently

Posted on March 6, 2024March 6, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday.

We’re already a week into March, and Jennifer is hosting her monthly Currently link up.

Here’s what I’m currently:

Loving:

All my bunny decor for Easter. I guess bunnies are to my spring decor as pumpkins are to my fall decor. How many bunnies are too many?

These colorful wooden bunnies brighten up my entryway table.

These flocked bunnies from Walmart are another favorite. I remember that they were all the rage last year, and I missed out. This year, I bought one pink, one cream, and two mint colored ones. These are the 9 inch ones, and they are less than $5 each!

I ordered them, and they were delivered the same day! Walmart continues to spoil me.

(Walmart also has 16 inch ones too!)

My Kroger had these light up bunnies marked down. They came in blue, pink, purple, and white. I picked up a blue one…and once I got home, I realized the batteries weren’t included. This guy needed three of those small round batteries…now I see why he was marked down.

Oh well, it’s the perfect touch for my kitchen island tray.

Looking forward to:

Well, my first thought was spring break!

But…I’m also looking forward to “springing forward” this weekend. I’m ready for the extra daylight.

I did my Easter decor inside, but this weekend I look forward to putting a few Easter touches outside. I’m sure it will look the same as last year…

Planning:

I promise I’m not skipping St. Patrick’s Day. Soon, it will be time to plan St. Patty’s Day dinner.

I need to start planning a few Easter basket ideas. Just yesterday, Jen Reed shared these exfoliating facial sponges that I think Hadley will like (me too!).

I always get Hayden a pair of Vineyard Vines swim trunks. I always buy a pair at the end of summer sale that I hold on to for either Christmas or Easter. So, I’ve been holding on to a pair for quite a few months. He still wears the boys XL size. Crazy, but true.

I know I don’t need to go overboard, but I’ve always used Easter baskets as a way to give them a few things for the summer. That being said, it’s not the same as when they were little. I would buy them swim goggles, bubbles, and sunglasses.

Travis and I also need to start planning a bit more of our spring break.

Wearing:

Whether the temps have been in the 40’s or low 70’s, I’ve been wearing this jacket to school, to run errands, or to volleyball and basketball games.

I purchased this set last fall, and I didn’t wear it as much in the winter. Now, I’ve been wearing it quite a bit again. It’s perfect for mild temps.

Again, even with the more mild weather, I’ve still been trying to wear as many sweaters as possible. Once April hits, I will be back to wearing dresses until the end of the school year.

Eating:

Lately:

I discovered the “Cool Ranch” wrap from Chick-fil-A.

I made a Pizza Pasta Bake that was a family favorite…

…as was this stir fry recipe.

This week we had this Chicken and Rice Casserole….Travis and I liked it…and the kids thought it was ok.

Monday night, after Hayden’s basketball game, we ate out on a whim. I think the kids didn’t want leftover casserole!

This week, we’re also going to have either Cheeseburger soup or Crockpot Crack Chicken sandwiches and waffle fries. Whatever we don’t have tonight/tomorrow, we’ll have on Sunday.

Side note – I’m always so happy when I “over plan” our weekly meals…because if we don’t make something during the week, then I already know what I can make for Sunday dinner!

Anyway, that’s what I’m currently up to! What about you?

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

Amazon

Prime Purchases

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

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was pretty good. We didn’t have a ton going on, so I savored that. Moving forward, I don’t know the next free weekend we have.

Well, it’s the first Monday of the month, so Tanya is hosting her Prime Purchases link up. As always, I have plenty to share.

Here are my purchases for the month:

Well, Hayden is giving me grief. After one of Hadley’s volleyball tournaments where we could bring drinks in (that’s a rarity) as long as they were in a water bottle or tumbler, I picked up this one for my Diet Cokes. Hayden is giving me a hard time because this means I have a tumbler for my water, my coffee, and now my Diet Coke. haha

(I like to keep my drinks/drink ware separated.)

In my defense, you can’t beat the price, it comes in a variety of colors, and I’ve purchased other Civago products. I’ve used it many times, and I really like it.

For Hadley’s Valentine’s Day present, I ordered her a new Stanley. She got one for Christmas from my brother’s family, but then lost it at a volleyball tournament….which is very unlike her.

And…one of Hayden’s Valentine’s Day presents was this two pack of Gatorade bottles. Unfortunately, he does have a habit of misplacing his water bottles.

On a whim, after the Chiefs Super Bowl win, I got Hayden this Sherpa blanket as another Valentine’s Day present. It’s so soft and cozy. He loves it and sleeps with it every night.

Looks like there are a variety of teams to choose from.

I have a couple of pairs of cozy socks, but wanted a pack of long socks to wear around the house that aren’t fuzzy. I loved the color combo of this pack.

I bought this pack of “to do” lists because I feel like I’m using so many sticky notes at school. I’d rather have a bigger piece of paper to write my daily to do lists on. I love this variety pack and that you can write the day and month on it too.

I shared these bunnies on Friday. They are so cute.

They’ve been a fun addition to my Easter decor.

Not sure how many are in need of a “Hawaiian” shirt, but this is the one that I got Hayden for the Malibu Mingle cotillion dance.

I knew he wouldn’t wear one with lots of bright colors, so I thought this one would be on theme but subtle.

A few years ago, I bought a light weight winter coat from Walmart, and I wear it often. This one is even a bit lighter and perfect for when I don’t need a heavy coat, but still need something. It’s actually been perfect for the volleyball tournaments when we’ve been in drafty gyms and convention centers. It comes in a variety of colors, and I got my regular size large.

I shared all about Hadley’s “Room Refresh” a few weeks ago, and we found so many great things via Amazon. Her mirrors, chair, bedside tables, and makeup organizer are all Amazon purchases over the past few months.

Everything is linked at the end of that post…

…except for the white vase I got her for Valentine’s Day for her Lego flowers. It looks like the only one available now is blue, but here’s a similar white vase.

Just FYI – I’m going to try sharing links on Instagram a bit more, and I’ve started an Amazon highlight my Show Me and Sweet Tea Instagram page.

I hope you have a great start to your week.

Happy shopping!

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

Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#196}

Posted on March 1, 2024February 29, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday. Also, it’s March 1st. Wow! February both felt like the longest and the shortest month!

I hope you’ve had a great week.

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

Before I get to today’s post, I wanted to say thanks for all the love for Hadley’s post last Friday. She read the comments and smiled! Let me know if you have any topics you’d like her to share about in the future.

Here are some favorites from the week:

Fave Pics:

It’s hard to believe that Hayden’s last middle school basketball season is almost over.

Last week, we got the professional photos back, and they were so good. I like this one…

…but of course I love seeing my boy smile.

Last week, was the last home game, so they had 8th grade night for the boys. A couple of the team moms are amazing, and put together a really nice celebration for the boys. Hadley’s favorite part of the “goody bag” was the “fat head” of Hayden. haha

The middle school years have felt both long and short. Hayden’s grown so much over the past couple of years, both literally and figuratively, and it was nice to celebrate him (and this team)

Last weekend, was the 8th grade tournament, so we had a busy weekend of basketball.

Fave show:

Well, I dragged it out as long as a I could. I didn’t want to see it end, so I paced myself watching the 6th and final season of The Crown.

It ended nicely, but I wish there was one more season to recap the last few years.

Fave Moment:

I didn’t have to cook Sunday night! We went to Tony’s, a steakhouse in downtown Lex, for dinner…just the four of us.

Let me tell you…Hadley ordered the filet mignon without batting an eye. Whereas, Hayden always says things are too expensive, and wondered if they had “fish and chips” on the menu. 😆

He settled on splitting a steak and some sides with Travis.

I got the “Rig-a-Tony,” and it was pretty good.

Favorite Foods:

Speaking of food…I tried a couple new recipes this week, and the kids loved both of them.

I made this stir fry on Monday night. I did do a pound and a half of ground turkey instead of just one pound. I wanted to make sure I had enough to take for lunch a couple of days.

This Pizza Pasta bake was delish too. I made enough for 8×11 casserole dish rather than 8×8 size. Again, I wanted to make sure we had enough leftovers.

Am I the only one who didn’t know about the Cool Wrap at Chick-fil-A? It’s so good. I drizzled some of the avocado lime ranch dressing on it which made it even better. I had a professional learning/planning meeting on Monday, and this is what I ordered. I had half of one yesterday for lunch too.

Favorite Find:

I saw these cute colorful bunnies on Amazon, and knew that I “had” to have them. I think this weekend I will go ahead and decorate for Easter since I don’t decorate for St. Patrick’s Day.

Favorite Kid Quote:

Hadley was telling us a story about something funny that happened at school. She said, “I crackled,” and I looked at her…and we both started laughing. I guess “crackled” is a combo of “cackled” and “cracked up.” 😄

Favorite Mom Meme:

Well, I feel like this applies more to having little kids, but it’s still so true.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

It’s hard to believe that Hayden has been playing basketball for over ten years.

With high school next year, I don’t know what he might decide to play, so I will cherish the basketball memories while I can.

Weekly Recap:

Here are my post this week in case you missed one:

What are your weekend plans? Overall, we don’t have much going on which is very much needed.

Thanks for reading,

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