Author: jgalvinwhite

Posted in Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Wow! I can’t believe that this time next week will be September! The month of August is always an adjustment back to reality. I feel like we are getting our feet under us now, and September means I can start burning my fall candles, so I’m looking forward to that!

I’m linking up with Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings.

This month’s topic is:

I love to cook, but I’m all about an easy dinner especially during the week.

1. Easiest dinner you make and the recipe:

The first thing that popped in my mind was the baked chicken recipe that I make at least once a month. It’s quick and can easily be paired with the microwave Bob Evans mashed potatoes or a bagged salad. There are usually eight chicken thighs in a pack which used to be enough to guarantee leftovers for dinner, but now that the kids eat more (and they love this meal!), I sometimes make two packs of chicken to have leftovers or even some for lunch.

In general, anything in the Crockpot is a lifesaver too…

2. Crockpot? Instapot? Both?

Well, I have both. I asked for (and received) an Instapot a couple of years ago for Christmas. While it is handy, and I’ve made some delicious meals, I can honestly say that I hardly turn to it for a recipe and instead rely on my Crockpot. I think I will give the Instapot one more winter, and then if I don’t use it much, I may donate it.

The Crockpot, on the other hand, I literally can’t live without. I used it to make two meals this week!

Slow Cooker Chili Mac
Creamy Crockpot Chicken

3. Are you a member of a wholesale club and fave items?

We are not a member of a wholesale club. When the kids were babies, we belonged to Sam’s Club for a couple of years. It was a handy place to pick up diapers and formula…and so many other things. I understand why people go, and I know there are so many great finds at Costco and Sam’s Club, but we don’t live close to either, and I don’t really have storage space for bulk items.

4. Do you meal prep or menu plan? Do you follow any set themes?

I always meal plan, and I sometimes meal prep. I have a calendar on our fridge, and I write down our evening activities and go from there. If there’s an evening full of activities, that’s the time I use my Crockpot, for example. I know some people do Taco Tuesday and other themes, but I don’t necessarily do that.

A perfect week would be that I make something Sunday that has leftovers for Monday. Then, Tuesday, I might make tacos or have pork loin (we love the ones you make in the bag) or fish (salmon from the fish counter that you cook in the bag) and make an easy side. Then, Wednesday would probably be some kind of pasta, casserole, or soup that provide leftovers for Thursday.

Or, Thursday often ends up being soup and grilled cheese or breakfast for dinner. Hayden (finally) mastered the grilled cheese this summer, and that’s been a game changer having him make a sandwich or two when he’s hungry.

As far as meal prep, on Sunday, I will prep a few lunches and even go ahead and put my grapes and chips in baggies, so that they are easy to pack in my lunches.

5. Best dinner tips for busy nights?

Kind of like I said above, meal planning and planning for leftovers are key for me. Again, using the Crockpot is another tip. Finally, I also make sure I have easy sides like Bob Evans potatoes, bagged salad, Bisquick or Sister Schubert rolls, and I use the Air Fryer for tater tots or sweet potato fries. Fruit is an easy, healthy side, and I make fresh green beans often (blanch in water for a few minutes, drain, drizzle with EVOO, sprinkle with S&P and serve! This is my kids’ fave side dish besides the BE potatoes.)

Here’s a post I wrote about a year ago with some “Quick Family Dinners”:

Family Dinners

6. Do you use certain ingredients more in the fall?

My favorite fall recipe is Pumpkin Sausage Penne Pasta, and my family loves it.

That being said, I don’t think I really use certain ingredients more, but I lean into making chili, soups, and casseroles once the weather cools off.

7. Any back to school dinner traditions?

I’ve written many posts about back to school. When the kids were in elementary, our tradition was a cute Back to School breakfast.

For two years now, we’ve done a Back to School Brinner instead, and I love this new tradition.

8. Do you own an air fryer?

YES! We’ve had our air fryer now for almost two years, and we love it. We most often use it to cook frozen items like chicken tenders, fries, etc., but I’ve also used it for veggies, chicken and more.

9. Favorite grab and go items? Homemade or store bought?

My go to “grab and go” would be when we need dinner in a hurry, and I pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and then just serve with the BE potatoes or microwave baked potato.

The Fresh Market in town has a chicken, two sides, and cornbread muffins for $10-$12, and we get that deal pretty often too!

10. How many nights a week do you cook?

I cook (or we have leftovers) Sunday-Thursday. Usually the weekend nights are one night carry out and one night eat out.

That being said, we’ve had discussions about how “backwards” it kind of is to eat out/carry out when we have more time on the weekend. Maybe I should cook at least one of those days and save a carry out meal for a random Wednesday night! I guess it’s just the routine of it, and I do like being less structured on the weekend. During the week, when dinner is ready, you better be in the kitchen ASAP or I start getting grumpy. Just ask my kids!

Also, I should add that Travis can and will cook too! I just usually get home sooner, and I do the grocery list, so I tend to cook. He’s our grill master, that’s for sure!

What are some of your favorite fall meals?

Posted in Clothes

WIWW: Teacher Edition

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Today I have another peek at what I’ve been wearing this week. Writing these posts has helped me think through my outfits ahead of time which has been a time saver in the morning.

Here are my outfits over the past week:

Wednesday:

Picking up where I left off last week…

Last Wednesday, I wore this dark blue midi length dress from Target that I’ve had for a couple of years. I paired it with my Stitch Fix cardigan and sandals I found (but had forgotten about) when I cleaned out my closet!

Thursday:

Can you tell I love a cardigan? 😆 I paired my other flutter short sleeve dress from Target with a cardigan I’ve had for years! I love a long cardigan with pockets. When I’m not in my classroom, I appreciate a pocket for my phone and room keys when I’m out and about in the building. Of course, I continue to wear my Birks from Nordy.

Friday:

Last Friday, was a verrrry casual Friday since we didn’t have students. Again, you just never know the room temp in our school, and we spent the morning in the cafeteria. I paired my new pink Aerie sweatshirt with black shorts and Birks.

Monday:

On Monday, I wore a pair of Matilda Jane pants that I’d forgotten about until my closet clean out. I paired them my chambray button up from Target that I bought last winter and my comfy thin strap sandals from Amazon.

Tuesday:

Then, yesterday, I wore this dress from Old Navy.

I’ve had this dress since the spring and bought it on sale. I got it right at the end of the school year, and I think I wore it once. I did take it to Mexico (doesn’t it look like something that could be worn to a fiesta?! 😆), but I didn’t wear it. With the lining, it is a pretty thick dress, and while I like it…and will wear it, I’m not sure I’m in love it. I’m not big on drawstring/tassels on dresses, so I tucked them in. I guess I could cut them off? It does have pockets, so bonus points for that. Anyway, it works as a school option, for sure!

I wore my woven Amazon sandals with the dress.

As you can see, I apparently have three favorite sandals that I rotate through. I will wear sandals for as long as possible which is usually until the beginning of October.

These past couple of weeks have been fun sharing my outfits. I’m definitely not a fashion blogger, but I love seeing what others wear to work. I find inspiration in what others wear which helps me pull outfits together.

Which outfit is your fave? I think mine is Monday’s outfit? I felt put together and comfy! Win-win! Guess which outfit I got the most compliments on at school (and home?)?! …the Old Navy fiesta dress…Olé!

Posted in Weekend Top 5

Hello Monday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello {Monday}!

How was your weekend? We had another pretty slow paced one which was just what I needed. Just when I thought I was tired after the first week of school, by the end of the second week, I felt like I’d been hit by a ton of bricks.

It was nice to have a couple of slower paced days over the weekend.

I’m linking up with Holly and Sarah to share about the weekend for Hello Monday.

Here’s a peek at our weekend:

Well, Friday started off with no school for the kids and a work day for me. Since I didn’t have to be at school until 8:30, I decided to get up at my regular time, have my coffee/me time, and then got in a quick workout.

We had meetings from 8:30-11:30, and then I worked in my room.

Friday afternoon, I got a pedicure. I tried a new color…Can’t find my Czechbook, and I like it! I wanted something a little darker, but still a summery color.

Then, it was time to head to the cross country run-a-thon. This was the fundraiser for the cross country team. They asked for donations per lap or flat donations to go towards team shirts and meet entry fees. Travis picked up Popsicles and Gatorade for after the run. Hadley and her friend kept track of laps.

This was a great, quick way to raise money for their team, and the weather wasn’t too hot!

After the run-a-thon, we went to dinner at Josie’s. Once we got home, Hadley and friends went to the pool for movie night. I, on the other hand, was in my pjs by 7:00. I just watched some tv and read before heading to bed. The week felt so long!

Saturday, we all slept in a bit (Hadley ended up at an overnight with her friend), and just eased into the morning. When Travis and Hayden headed to cross country practice, I left to work out and then ran some errands.

Travis was able to pick up my Kroger order after practice. This is two weeks in a row of grocery pick up on Saturday, and it’s been so nice!

Well, the email about $2.95 soaps at Bath and Body Works lured me there. Before I made any purchases, I did check my at home stock of fall scents. I stuck to my list of getting a few soaps and only two candles (2/$22). I can’t wait for fall.

I also ran to Target and Walgreens for a few things and then came home for lunch.

The sun was shining, and I had planned on going to the pool for a bit. I started reading and dozed off…and woke up to lots of rain!

So we all just stayed home. I finished reading The Chain and started reading This Time Tomorrow.

Everyone was kind of doing their own thing, and we decided to go to dinner. That being said, everyone except Travis was kind of grumpy. I’m not going to lie…I was the grumpiest. #justkeepingitreal

A Facebook memory popped up at us at a local restaurant the Friday after the first week of school when the kids were in Kindergarten. Hadley had her head down on the table and both kids were a mess. That was me on Saturday night. I saved everyone from having to deal with me. 🤣

Trav and Hadley went out for a bite to eat while I stayed home and Hayden played outside.

Once Travis and Hadley got home, it started to downpour. After a few minutes, I looked outside, and saw the neighborhood kids, including my own, out playing in the rain. Oh to be young again.

It was kind of a chill evening with everyone in bed pretty early. Clearly, we needed it.

Sunday morning, Travis and I woke up to both of our phones not working for a couple of hours. Travis read that maybe there was a software update with that glitch. It took him some time, but the resolution was to click the volume up button at the same time as some other button to get it to restart. So random that both of our phones had that issue.

While Travis was playing “tech support,” I drank my coffee and read for a bit. The kids slept in.

Trav and Hayden went to meet family for brunch while Hadley and I hung out at home.

She made her own breakfast:

…while I prepped dinner and then ran a couple of errands. Then, it was time to pick up two of Hadley’s friends and take them all to volleyball.

I picked up some lunch for myself, and then I worked on setting up this week’s activities on the Cozi app. I thought I would give that a try this year keeping us all up to date on what’s going on.

I worked on some school work and watched a bit of TV before doing laundry and some other things around the house.

We all had dinner together and just wrapped up the weekend getting ready for the week ahead.

My apologies…this kind of felt like a the most boring weekend recap. That being said, for the foreseeable future, I don’t think we have a free Saturday which will then make Sundays hectic with church, weekend chores, and errands. I was happy to have a bit more free time this weekend.

I had a couple of readers ask me to share meals when I can, so here’s what we are eating this week:

Here’s what we are eating this week:

  • Sunday: Shay’s Slow Cooker Chili Mac (I knew Sunday was supposed to be cooler and kind of rainy, so I thought I’d take advantage of the weather and make something that seemed to fit the cooler temps)
  • Monday: Travis bought steaks to grill, and we’ll have fruit, and Hadley requested asparagus fries. A family fave…
  • Tuesday: leftovers from Sunday/Monday
  • Wednesday: Creamy Crockpot Crack Chicken Sandwiches and green beans.
  • Thursday: I saw this Meatball Sub Bake on Instagram stories and thought I’d give it a try. I will serve it with bagged Caesar salad.

Meatball sub bake:

That being said, if we have enough chicken leftover from Wednesday, then we’ll have leftovers and save the meatballs for Sunday. I love when I end up making more food than I think we need and then I already have one meal planned for the next week.

This week is our first full five day school week…and Hayden has a cross country meet and Hadley has dance three nights this year. Here we go!

I hope you have a great week.

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#123}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday!

How was your week? We had a good one. It’s back to school business as usual with school, cross country practice, dance and more.

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Hadley’s back in the dance studio for competition season, and we are excited to see all of her routines! Just like when she was little, she still comes home from dance, and wants to show us what they learned.

A little “me time” at the pool on Saturday was a favorite. Hadley was at a swim birthday party (different pool) and Travis and Hayden were hanging out, so I worked on my tan and read for a couple of hours.

New lunches are a favorite. I tried to get a simple plan for some lunches this week, and tried a couple of them out over the weekend. I took a sandwich thin with veggie cream cheese and cucumbers a couple of days this week. So good!

The opposite of my healthy meal above is Saturday night’s dinner at Bella Notte. This is a restaurant in Lex that we hadn’t been to in years! I was talking about it with a friend last week, and told Travis maybe it would be an idea for dinner. Hayden was at a friend’s birthday party, so Hadley joined Travis and me on date night. The food was just as good as I remember!

Hadley as the acolyte on Sunday was a favorite.

I continue to live for my monthly facials. A dermaplane and chemical peel were on the agenda at Monday’s appointment. Turning back the hands of time one appointment at a time.

We’ve had so much rain and such mild weather that our hydrangeas are thriving. Travis loves a blooming yard!

Y’all, I’m officially hooked on the F1 Drive to Survive series on Netflix. I’m very late to this as there are four seasons, but in the past couple of weeks I’ve watched two of them, and have now gotten started on season 3. When I tell people what I’m watching, many are surprised! 😂 Well, I’m here for the drama and none of the drivers are ugly! 😉

Netflix

I’m giving myself a pat on the back. For years, I didn’t work out consistently. Many years, I would not workout at all during November and December and just get “back on track” in January. I think every year of my twenty years in education, I took the month of August off from working out as getting back to school is quite the adjustment. After Labor Day, I’d always add working out back into my new school routine.

Well, this year, I made a point to just keep on keeping on. In a way, I think I got lucky because Beachbody released some new programs in late July/early August, and I found a couple that have worked for me.

Job 1 consists of 20 minute workouts with Jennifer Jacobs. LIIFT4 has longer workouts with Joel Freeman. They are 30-40 minutes long and combine weights with HIIT and core depending on the workout. Anyway, I’ve made a point to get at least three weekday workouts in. If all I have the energy or time for are the 20 minute workouts, then I do Job 1. Otherwise, if I have more time, I do LIIFT 4.

Working out in my basement has continued to work for me, but last Saturday it was nice to hit the gym for the elliptical and have time to listen to a podcast or two.

Beach body

Last night was Curriculum Night at the kids’ school. Last year, because of Covid, the teachers just sent out videos. This teacher mom loves a good Curriculum Night, so I was happy to attend last night. I know most kids are worried about 7th grade, but I really think they will have a great year.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Right…?! Where is the lie?

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

With dance resuming, I love these dance memories of Hadley.

August 2015, when she was in kindergarten, she was in her first ballet and tap class.

2015

Then, in 4th grade, she headed back to the barre (plus tap and jazz too!). I can’t believe how much she’s grown, both as a girl and as a dancer!

2019

Weekly Recap:

I had a few posts this week…here they are:

Monday Meals
Seint Makeup
WIWW: Teacher Edition

What are your plans for the weekend? Today, we don’t have students, so my kids get the day off.

Coach White has the cross country team in a run-a-thon fundraiser, and then I don’t know…maybe some pool time? There are only a couple more weekends left for the pool. Sunday looks pretty rainy, and I’m here for it!

Thanks so much for reading,

Posted in Clothes

What I Wore Wednesday: Teacher Edition

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

One of the things I do love about going back to school is dressing up again…Summer is basically a rotation of pajamas, swimsuit/coverup, and workout clothes. Today, I’m sharing what I’ve worn over the past week…

The first five days of school:

First Day:

You’ve seen me in this dress quite a few times. I wanted to look cute but be comfy on the first day. I wore my fave flutter short sleeve dress from Target. It doesn’t seem to be in stock or has limited stock. I also have it in green.

I have zero regrets with my new Birkenstock sandals purchase from Nordstrom. These are on my feet 90% of the time. (There are a few color options too!)

My fellow blogger teacher friend, Amy, was my first day of school twin!

Thursday:

Target for the win again. I love this sleeveless knit ballet dress in light green (limited stock in taupe). This light-weight cardigan is from my latest Stitch Fix haul, and I wore my favorite woven Amazon sandals from last summer.

Friday:

Me last Friday. haha

I always joke that I start strong on Mondays and am in jeans by Friday!

We can wear jeans on Fridays, and I almost always do. I usually wear a school shirt or some kind of t-shirt on Friday. I bought this shirt in a few colors last year, and they are perfect with shorts, leggings, and jeans. My jeans are old from Target, and I wore my Birks, again!

Monday:

I started the week strong with this outfit! Again, I felt comfy and cute which is how I try to choose outfits.

When I purchased this Amazon dress before vacay, I knew I’d be able to pair it with a cardigan once I got back to school. I’ve shared this cardi before, and I have it in two colors. I also wore my comfy simple strap Amazon sandals. (sized up 1/2 a size) Literally, this entire outfit brought to you by Amazon!

I had many compliments on Monday, including from Hadley! #theultimateapproval

Tuesday:

I really prefer dresses in late summer/fall. They are the comfiest for me, and I embrace my tan while I can. That being said, this tunic top is one of my favorites because it can be worn with leggings, and then I also have worn it with jeans. Yesterday, I paired it with my white denim from Old Navy (I shared this post last spring, but I don’t think these are in stock anymore) and, you guessed it…my Nordstrom sandals.

I’m always sad when it’s time to put up the sandals, but I’m never sad to see fall arrive! I can’t wait for more sweaters and pumpkins!

Which outfit is your favorite?

See you back here on Friday!

{This post contains Amazon affiliate links…Thank you for supporting my blog!}

Posted in Me, Self-care

Tuesday Talk: Seint Makeup

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Well, today’s post is a bit out of my comfort zone…lots of selfies of me, but I’ve been using Seint makeup for about a month and want to tell you all about it.

Tuesday Talk: Seint Makeup

I’ve always said that Hadley knows more about hair and makeup than I do. She doesn’t wear much, but she needs to know how to apply it for dance. Plus, most teen/tween girls like watching makeup videos on You Tube! I’ve used the same drug store (L’oreal, for example) products for years, and honestly had no issues with them. They do the trick, and I’m a “less is more” gal anyway. I’ve always worn enough for there to be a difference in making my skin look more even, but not much otherwise.

That being said, my friend Amy is now a Seint consultant, and I was intrigued but her Insta stories sharing about the products.

I went to her house, and she did a color match on me in person. That being said, many Seint reps can color match via a photo you send them.

I’ve gotten the hang of it pretty quickly. Amy has shared a few videos of her Seint makeup routine, and at first, I followed along as she did them. Also, there are so many videos on Instagram and Pinterest. I also used my color map that Amy sent me after my consultation as a guide, but it was nice to see the process in real time and follow along.

Palette and Brushes:

I purchased the IIID Palette 12 in silver. This palette holds six makeup tins on each side. There’s a mirror in the palette, and it has a magnetic closure. These are cream based products, so there’s no mess!

I think most will say that the IIID Brush does it all. So, if you just purchase one brush, get that one. I purchased the IIID as well as the Detail Brush, and I am glad that I have both.

Makeup:

Here’s what’s in my palette:

  • Contour: Astoria
  • Highlight: Aura (light highlight, similar to your concealer)
  • Highlight: Mango (darker highlight, similar to your foundation)
  • Bronzer: Bella (I don’t use this as often as I thought I would)
  • Lip/Cheek: Pink Grapefruit (great summer color, but I think I will get something a bit darker for the fall)
  • Illuminator: Rose Gold

So, the other side of my palette is empty, but I bet as my tan fades, I will need a different color of highlight(s). Also, Seint as cream based eye shadows, but I have a few other products that I currently use.

Here I am after my first time applying Seint in late July. I followed along with Amy’s video, and thought that I did a pretty good job!

The Process:

Warning: here come the selfies!

Before:

Step 1: contour, highlight (concealer), highlight (main)

I use my finger to apply the product(s).

Contour – Apply to forehead, cheekbones, jaw line, and outside of nose to the tip.

Highlight (concealer)– Apply to either side of eyes, down the middle/bridge of nose, under nose, on chin, and blemishes if you have any.

Highlight (main/foundation) – This goes anywhere you don’t have makeup.

Blend – Tip: Blend light to dark. I use the wider side of Detail Brush and go up my nose and fan out to get my forehead. Then I blend my chin, and then I use smaller side of detail brush to do under my eyes. I then use the bigger side of IIID brush and start with contour rubbing in circles on my forehead up to my hair line to blend. Then, I blend in the contour on my jawline and down to my neck.

After blending contour and two highlights:

Step 2: blush

I dab a bit on the tops of both cheeks.

Blend: Then, I blend using the smaller side of IIID brush.

Before and after blending in the blush:

Step 3: bronzer (If using)

I put this where the sun hits my face. So, I put a bit on my forehead, the tops of my cheeks, and my chin.

Blend: I blend in the bronzer using the bigger side of IIID brush.

Before and after blending in the bronzer:

Step 4: Illuminator

I put this on the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of nose, on the tops of my cheeks, and a bit on my chin.

Blend: I blend using bigger side of IIID brush.

Before and after blending in the illuminator:

Step 5: lip

I’m more of a lip gloss/Chapstick girl, so I typically only do lip for a weekend night. Again, I like this grapefruit color, but will look for something more fall/winter that’s dark but not too dark once we get into September.

After adding lip color:

*After the photo above, I went back and blended on the bridge of my nose a bit more… (but forgot to take photo) #notabeautyblogger

Also:

The cream base of Seint makeup is forgiving because I can add more if needed. So if I have too much bronzer, I can add more highlight and blend to take away some of the bronze.

I also love that I can kind of choose what works for me for the day.

For example, on the average weekend day when I just want some coverage, I’ve just used both highlights for to even out my skin…and also applied mascara. (I don’t go anywhere without mascara!)

Also, there are many days I skip bronzer and illuminator…just depends on what I’m wanting for that day. I really can get away with just contour, both highlights, blush, eye shadow and mascara for a normal school day.

A few options:

Here I am Saturday night with no bronzer or Illuminator, only the other products.

*Like I said, I think I’m more of a lip gloss girl and added some after this photo but I like this pink for summer.

Then, for church on Sunday, I didn’t use bronzer, but I did use Illuminator. Then, I added lip gloss to the grapefruit Seint lip.

Overall, I’m loving the Seint makeup. The process is now pretty easy for me. I feel like it helps my skin look flawless. The coverage seems to last all day.

I think I’ve moved from novice to accomplished using Seint over the past month. It definitely hasn’t slowed down my morning routine at all. I actually timed myself yesterday morning, and I’d applied all makeup in 5 minutes!

Well, I feel like I’ve been in your face quite a bit today! 😂 Let me know if you have any questions. I’m sure Amy can help get those answered or help you if you are interested.

I hope your week is off to a great start! Seint is also perfect for hiding the bags under my tired eyes!

Happy Tuesday!

Posted in Meals and Recipes

Monday Meals

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday!

How was your weekend? We had a good one. There’s no tired like back to school teacher tired! I was in my pajamas by 5:00 on Friday. The weather was nice all weekend; I hit the pool for a bit on Saturday. Both kids went to birthday parties on Saturday, and then Hadley went out to dinner with Travis and me. Sunday, we went to church, Hadley went to volleyball, and Travis and Hayden went on a bike ride.

Now that we are back to school, I’m trying to get back in a cooking routine. When possible, I try to make something Sunday with leftovers for Monday. Then, Tuesday is usually something quick followed by Wednesday’s meal with Thursday leftovers. I don’t always follow that plan, but I try.

Also, I had hoped to place a Kroger order for pick up Friday, but instead picked up Saturday at noon. I usually don’t get the chance to pick up groceries until Sunday, so I’m going to do my best to try for Friday or Saturday. It made Sunday so much easier just having that task crossed off my list.

Usually, my “Monday Meals” posts are recipes I make, but today I’m sharing what we are eating this week!

  • Sunday: Ground turkey pasta, Sister Schubert rolls and fruit
  • Monday: Shay’s Sloppy Joes and sweet potato fries
  • Tuesday: Gnocchi (from Trader Joe’s) with marinara sauce and green beans
  • Wednesday: Baked chicken, Bob Evans mashed potatoes, fruit
  • Thursday: Leftover chicken, bagged Caesar Salad
  • Friday/Saturday: carry out/eat out
Sunday dinner

Besides meal planning dinners, I also have to make a plan for my lunches. I hate packing a lunch, but I have done so for twenty years. Last week, I only needed lunches for three days, and I had prepped my ground turkey ahead of time, and had Cheeseburger Salad two days, and then leftover Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken on Friday.

I’m ok eating the same thing a few days in a row, so I think that will be my plan this year. Rather than meal prep a lot of things, I may just do one idea that I know I will eat at least three times knowing I should at least will have leftovers from dinner one night as an option.

Last week, and then yesterday, I went ahead an put grapes in baggies as well as my chips for the week. Last week, I took pretzels as my snack, and this week I am taking veggie chips. I liked just being able to grab grapes and chips to add to my lunch bag in the morning.

Over the weekend, I tried two new lunches that I think will be in the rotation this week.

I love this sandwich idea that Amy shared recently. I added sandwich thins to my Kroger order this week and then used Garden Vegetable Alouette and cucumbers to my sandwich. I love having an apple as a snack or for lunch at home since I prefer an apple cut up. Veggie chips are my fave.

I saw a reel shared on Instagram about turning these salads into wraps. The reel featured four Taylor Farms salads (all of which I eat pretty regularly): Dill Pickle (so good!), Buffalo Ranch (yum!), Caesar (classic!), and Avocado Ranch (delish!).

You just mix the salad together with the dressing and put it in a wrap. I love these salads, and usually one bag provides two to three lunches for me. That being said, sometimes I get tired of eating a salad, so this is a great way to mix things up.

I buy this Perdue chicken to use in the salads (as well as the kids’ quesadillas), and love these tortillas. Do you know what Hadley likes to do with a tortilla? (thankfully, not slap me! — I don’t think she’s seen the Tik Tok challenge. haha)…she likes to put peanut butter on a tortilla and fold it up to eat it. I do that occasionally too for a quick snack.

I used 1/3 of the dill pickle salad for my lunch yesterday; I added chicken to the salad mix. I actually put too much salad in the wrap, so just ate it as a side too. This was so good, and will definitely be another lunch or two for me this week.

I’m trying to keep meal planning and prep as easy as possible these first few weeks of school.

Let me know what y’all are having for dinner (or lunch!)…and that will help me plan next week. TIA 😂

I hope you have a great week!

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#122}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday!

Fridays tend to “hit different” once school starts. We had a great first week and are starting to get into a routine, but I think we are all ready to have the weekend to regroup and sleep in a bit!

Currently me:

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Going all the way back to last Friday, we made a trip to the new Buc-ee’s in Richmond.(about 30 minutes away) This had been on our “to do” list this summer, but hadn’t yet made it there. With the gloomy weather and needing to kill some time, we decided to go check it out. Hayden was at the lake with his friend. Hadley was watching my brother’s kids, so I picked them up and headed to Buc-ee’s.

Buc-ee’s had all the things! It was as busy as I expected it to be. We walked around and checked things out, picked out some snacks and cookies and just wandered around for about thirty minutes. Wyatt and Layla had previously been there, and Layla loves Buc-ee’s. It was a good little trip. I’m sure we’ll go back, but we don’t drive east very often.

Friday afternoon, Hadley got a back to school trim. She loves getting her hair styled, so that was a fun treat.

One of Hadley’s friends has a small business (Simply Stella Co), and Stella was at a pop up shop at Greyline Station. Hadley and her friend went to hang and help Stella on Friday night. They had a lot of fun, and Hadley was excited because she helped ring people up (and came home with some SSC swag)

Saturday was another cloudy day, so we eased into the weekend. Travis left to go to Saratoga and Hayden was gone. Hadley slept in, and I enjoyed my coffee, candle, and book on my Kindle. I finished Every Summer After, and it was really good.

While at the lake, Hayden caught more fish. He’s been to various lakes this summer more than ever and really does love to fish.

On Tuesday, Hayden was excited because he hit 20k steps! That day, he completed a track workout, went to a training session, ran all over the neighborhood with his friends, and then went to Sky Zone for an hour and a half. Oh to have that much energy!

My classroom was ready for year 21!

The first day of school was a favorite for sure. They both gave me all kinds of details which I loved to hear. Hadley, especially, listed the names of her friends in every class #priorities

While Hayden stayed after school for cross country practice, I picked Hadley up. She needed to pick up a birthday gift for a friend, so we did that. Then, I figured we both deserved a treat for surviving the first day!

It was time to get out the red plates to celebrate a few things like going back to school (both of them) and dance studio tryouts (Hadley) and cross country (Hayden).

My runner…carb loading. haha

**Not pictured, but I did give Travis the red plate last week…when it was made official that he is the boys cross country coach at the kids’ school this year! Considering how busy he is in the fall, this is a big commitment, and we’re so proud (and excited) for him to do this. He’s pretty excited too.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Why are kids always hungry?!

I guess I better get back to meal planning dinners now that we are back to school.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

Blast from the past…look what I found when I was cleaning out an old wallet. Oh…kids these days…they’ll never know what it’s like to have to go to a BB on a Friday night only to be disappointed that the movie they wanted to watch isn’t available.

Weekly Recap:

My posts this week include a little bit of everything…tv shows, a recap of the summer, and back to school stuff.

Not Just a Mom
Summer 2022 Recap
Back to School

What are your weekend plans? I’m sure I will be asleep by 8:00 tonight. There’s no tired like teacher tired the first few weeks of school. Then, both kids have Saturday birthday parties to attend, and I don’t think we have much going on otherwise.

See you back here Monday!

Posted in Kids, School

First Day of School

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Well, we all survived the first day of school. Overall, I’d say it was a success.

While I’m always sad for summer break fo end, this was me by Tuesday evening:

On Monday, my district held a convocation at Rupp Arena. That meant that I had to be at school by 7:15 (earlier if I wanted the catered breakfast!) to board a yellow bus to Rupp. We were at convocation from 8:00 until about 1:00 and then we had time to work in our rooms. Then, on Tuesday, we had a faculty meeting and professional development from 8:30-1:00 with more time in our rooms in the afternoon.

Even though our county is in the “red” for Covid, we are still mask optional. The superintendent’s stance is that Covid is everchanging, and we’ll continue to navigate however we need to. The motto on wearing (or not wearing) masks is “Either way is ok.”

This summer felt so short, but it was great to finally see students on Wednesday.

Back to School Brinner:

We had our Back to School Brinner on Sunday. Hadley had dance late the two nights before school started, so I thought breakfast for dinner on Sunday would be good.

I pulled out my tub with supplies from last year (plus a couple of new additions), and set up the table.

I’ve used this same chalkboard since Kindergarten. 🙂

This year, I wrote a few things on the paper “runner” which I think the kids liked.

I picked the kids each up a book and a Bundt cake to add to their place settings. Otherwise, I used the same folder, plate, and napkins as in previous years.

Unfortunately, Travis was out of town, but I set a place for myself too!

I served fruit along with muffins and yogurt.

I also made Shay’s Bacon and Tot Casserole, and it hit the spot.

We all enjoyed dinner and chatted a bit about summer and the new school year. It’s a fun tradition that I hope the kids will let me do through high school!

First Day of School Photos:

We had a pretty easy breezy morning. I did wake the kids up a bit earlier than they will typically need to wake up, but I needed to get those first day of school photos.

This time last year, Hadley was a head taller than Hayden. He sure has caught up!

They both look like they are almost able to drive me to school.

I couldn’t resist Maddie’s (@maddiescookieco) Back to School cookies. I put them out for the kids to see in the morning.

Maddie’s Back to School “groovy” theme was so cute!

Travis got the kids off to school, and headed to school myself. Y’all, I can’t believe this is year 21 for me. Over the weekend, I cleaned out my bedside table (my final organizational task of the summer), and I found some old pictures…including this one of my first year teaching (2002-03). Check out that computer!

….and now!

Y’all, I was tired! Travis had been out of town since Saturday for work, so I was doing all the mom things + all the back to school teachers/mom things. Then, he got home home really late on Tuesday night (technically, Wednesday morning), so just didn’t get the best sleep. Truth be told, I always have trouble sleeping the night before school starts….back to school jitters, I guess.

Overall, it was a great day! It’s still weird for me not starting the year with classes full of students. Since I do intervention, teachers will start sending me students need week. That being said, I enjoyed helping students find their classes, passing out schedules, helping teachers, and whatever else needs to be done. It’s a great way to ease into the school year.

Back to School Interview:

I’m probably pressing my luck with the kids’ interviews, but here are the kids’ thoughts on heading back to school:

Hayden’s Thoughts:

  • As a 7th grader, I’m most excited about...being with my friends.
  • A goal I have this year is…to get all A’s.
  • I think my favorite subject will be…Social Studies
  • One thing I’d like to get better at this year…turning my work in on time.
  • The first day of school was... fun.

Hadley’s Thoughts:

  • As a 7th grader, I’m most excited about…being upstairs in the building.
  • A goal I have this year is….study for every test.
  • I think my favorite subject will be…math.
  • One thing I’d like to get better at this year…staying on top of my school work.
  • The first day of school was… chaotic and energetic.

The first day of school meant pjs as soon as I got home and an easy slow cooker dinner.

I hope everyone is having an easy transition back to school!

Posted in Everyday Life

Summer 2022 Recap

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Well, all good things have to come to an end. Today, is the official last day of summer for the kids. I was snapped back to reality with a very early alarm clock yesterday!

This summer, we didn’t do a “bucket list” of sorts, and that was fine. We kind of just lived and only planned the bigger things like vacay.

Here’s a look back on summer 2022.

We started the summer saying “goodbye” to baseball, for now anyway. It was bittersweet to see Hayden play his last game.

Baseball has been a big part of our lives since the kids were four years old, but it’s time for him to make choices and follow his passions. We’re forever proud of all that he accomplished and how he handled himself as a teammate through the years. Baseball provided many great memories, but I know we’ll have plenty of sports still in our future.

Hadley started the summer off with her dance recital.

She had many routines: ballet, tap, jazz, and competition. We love watching her on stage!

Then, I found out I had Covid…so I spent a few days in isolation, and then was able to resume normal activity.

Hayden had a track meet in June which was fun to attend.

Of course, we celebrated Travis for Father’s Day.

Hadley enjoyed swim season. She loves being with her friends, and had fun on relays and swimming all four strokes.

On June 24th, Travis and I celebrated 17 years of marriage. We went out to dinner followed by drinks afterwards.

We went to the lake with friends at the end of June.

I caught the NKOTB concert with friends that weekend as well.

Then, we had our big trip to Mexico in early July. We had so much fun, and definitely made memories to last a lifetime.

After being home one night, Hadley headed off to camp.

I think she would have stayed there all summer if we had let her!

The kids enjoyed time with their western Kentucky cousins.

We had lots of pool time in June, and then a few days here and there in July and August when we could.

I read 12 books this summer, and of course, August isn’t close to over yet!

We traveled to KC near the end of July to see my family. Also, we were able to celebrate my Gma’s 90th birthday!

We had family photos taken while we were in KC, and they turned out great!

Then, we spent a couple of days at the Lake of the Ozarks at my college friend’s place.

I think it had been over twenty years since I’d last been there, but I have so many fond memories of the lake while growing up. I’m glad my kids got to enjoy what I enjoyed as a kid.

Hayden had a fun (lowkey) summer basketball season.

Recently, we did some back to school shopping.

We also enjoyed an end of summer/back to school dinner out at Jeff Ruby’s.

Last Friday, we finally made the trek east to the new Buc-ees. Hadley was watching the cousins, so we took a road trip to Richmond to check it out. Exciting stuff, I tell you!

Hayden spent last weekend at the lake with his friend, and he caught yet another fish!

Not pictured, but this summer also allowed for the kids to sleep in some (but, to be honest, swim team started pretty early for Hadley, and Hayden was up pretty early to run most days as well.), lots of driveway basketball, push up popsicles, overnights, movies nights and more.

When I asked both kids what they thought the best part of summer was, they both said having extra time with their friends.

To be honest, this was a bittersweet summer for me. I always cherish my time with the kids, and I try to embrace the bonuses that come with them being older. That being said, I’ve probably mentioned something similar at the end of every summer, but I am usually able to say the kids still “needed” me. I didn’t feel that way as much this summer which makes me a bit nostalgic about the years when they were younger. Now, they need me to drop them off places and give them money 😉 That being said, I know we all had a pretty great summer, but it’s also good to get back in the routine of school.

With tomorrow being the first day of school and all that goes in to preparing for that, I probably won’t post again until Thursday when I share our traditional first day of school photos.

I hope you have a great day.