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Posted in Books and Shows

August: What I’ve Been Reading

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello…and Happy September 1st! I had hoped to post this yesterday, but this photo of Hayden kind of sums up my Monday, and honestly, most of Tuesday:

{he was safe, by the way} 😉

haha

So, the transition back to school kind of got in the way of my reading, but I was able to finish three books this month. (…and to my credit, one was pretty long! 😉)

This month I read…

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Local Woman Missing

Local Woman Missing

Summary:

Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Now, 11 years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find….

In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense and New York Times best-selling author Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

Quick Thoughts:

I enjoy Kubica books. I’ve read The Couple Next Door, Every Last Lie, The Good Girl and I think even more books by her. This one didn’t disappoint! This book is dark and suspenseful which made it a pretty quick read for me because it held my attention. I didn’t necessarily see the ending coming, but about halfway through there were a couple of red flags that really got me thinking about a couple of the characters. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

Rating:

Golden Girl

Golden Girl

Summary:

On a perfect June day, Vivian Howe, author of thirteen beach novels and mother of three nearly grown children, is killed in a hit-and-run car accident while jogging near her home on Nantucket. She ascends to the Beyond where she’s assigned to a Person named Martha, who allows Vivi to watch what happens below for one last summer. Vivi also is granted three “nudges” to change the outcome of events on earth, and with her daughter Willa on her third miscarriage, Carson partying until all hours, and Leo currently “off again” with his high-maintenance girlfriend, she’ll have to think carefully where to use them.

From the Beyond, Vivi watches “The Chief” Ed Kapenash investigate her death, but her greatest worry is her final book, which contains a secret from her own youth that could be disastrous for her reputation. But when hidden truths come to light, Vivi’s family will have to sort out their past and present mistakes—with or without a nudge of help from above—while Vivi finally lets them grow without her.

With all of Elin’s trademark beach scenes, mouth-watering meals, and picture-perfect homes, plus a heartfelt message—the people we lose never really leave us—Golden Girl is a beach book unlike any other.

Quick Thoughts:

So, I’ve seen some conflicting reviews about this book. Some don’t like the supernatural element, but I enjoyed that perspective of Vivian looking down and watching over her family after she was gone. That being said some of Vivian’s exchanges with Martha seemed a bit hokey and a little unnatural. All that to say, I’ve enjoyed every Elin Hilderbrand book I’ve read, and I loved this one too. I liked the idea of Vivian having the three nudges combined with the evolving family and friends’ relationships after Vivian’s death. Those relationships combined with solving the mystery of who the driver was who hit Vivian provided for a really interesting plot. This book was on my summer reading list, and it was the perfect way to cap off my summer reading.

Rating:

The Four Winds

The Four Winds

Summary:

Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras—the Great Depression

Quick Thoughts:

I’ve been wanting to read this book for quite some time, and I’m so glad that I finally read it. I loved it. Now, I knew it would be heavy. It’s set during the Great Depression. It was, in fact, a heavy read. There isn’t a lot of light or hope in Elsa’s life. That being said, she was inspiring to me. I can’t imagine being a mother who shoulders the responsibility of everything in today’s world, let alone having to be the sole caretaker and provider during Great Depression. Elsa is courageous. She is fierce. She is determined. I will say the ending crushed me. I was an invested reader, and I thought I knew how it would end…but I was wrong.

There are female characters in books that I will always remember. Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice. Lydia in American Dirt. Kya in Where the Crawdads Sing. I can definitely add Elsa to that elite list of fierce females.

You know I love a book when I share some favorite quotes:

  • “Life went on, even in the hardest of time…”
  • “It wasn’t the fear that mattered in life. It was the choices made when you were afraid. You were brave because of your fear, not in spite of it.”

I’m sure we can all relate to Elsa’s grit and determination at some point in our lives even if we haven’t travelled across the country in a run down truck, worked tirelessly in a field, or pinched pennies to budget for basic necessities.

Rating:

Summer Reading Update:

These were the books on my summer reading list:

  • Here’s to Us: read!
  • Big Summer: started but couldn’t really get into it.
  • The Summer House: read!
  • Girls of Summer: read!
  • That Summer: had to return it before I could read it.
  • Golden Girl: read!

So, while I did a lot of reading this summer, I only read 4 of my 6 summer books. Honestly, this is also why I fail at book clubs. haha I did like having a plan on some books I wanted to read while mixing in other ones as they became available at the library.

What have you been reading lately? Let me know what I should add to my list.

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Weekend Top 5

Weekend Top 5

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your weekend? We had a good one! It started with me falling asleep on the couch twice on Friday night! The kids went to a birthday party, so I read, watched the Chiefs game, and apparently dozed off a time or two.

Here’s what what we were up to the rest of the weekend!

On Friday night, I finished Four Winds. I really enjoyed this book, but shew…the ending got me. I will share more about my thoughts tomorrow when I share the books I read in August.

On Saturday morning, Hadley and I were headed to Hayden’s cross country meet, but I wanted a bit more coffee, and she hadn’t had breakfast yet. I was late to the Chick-fil-A and even later to the Starbucks app. Now, that I’ve finally downloaded it (and have a responsible daughter who can go in and pick up our order ;), we got our drinks and breakfast in no time!

I used to love Pumpkin Spice lattes, but for the past couple of years, I’ve used Shay’s trick of just ordering a Pike Place coffee and then add in a pump of pumpkin and splash of cream. It still gets the pumpkin job done, and it’s way less calories. It was my first pumpkin coffee of the season.

Another highlight of the weekend was Hayden’s cross country meet. Like Tuesday, the feels like temp was 98 degrees! This race was longer than Tuesday’s course, and it was just as hot. Again, he’s running with the big boys and definitely holding his own! I’m very proud of his effort, and it’s showing in how he finishes. He’s earning points for team which is an amazing thing to do as a 6th grader!

(His uniform still isn’t in, so he likes to rep the Oregon Ducks 😉

Hayden missed baseball for Saturday’s cross country meet, but he was back in action on the field Sunday. Hayden has been playing baseball non-stop since March, first with his spring team, and then with his summer team since May. They are a great group of boys and fun to watch.

We had a hot afternoon and evening at the ball park, but the boys rallied to win the first game.

Then, they won again to make it to the championship game which they also won! We didn’t get home until 11:00 last night. We’re tired, but it was worth it.

I tried two new recipes this weekend thanks to Amy. I made both her cake and egg breakfast casserole! I’m hoping the cake will last us a few days, and I hope to enjoy the casserole for breakfast throughout the week.

How was your weekend? We’re ready to tackle the week! …at least I think so. What choice do we have? 😂

Take care,

Linking up with Heather (and others!) for Hello Monday!

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#80}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Well, we made it to Friday! This was our first five day week of school, and we handled it pretty well! The kids started to have a little bit of homework this week, so I think middle school is starting to feel real for them 😉

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

I’m sharing a few favorites from the week, day by day.

Saturday:

On Saturday, I stopped by the cross country fundraising car wash. My car was all sparkle and shine after a wash for Hayden and his crew!

We enjoyed the evening at the pool. The kids swam, I read for a bit, and we even had dinner there. It felt like a great summer night!

Sunday:

On Sunday, we were back at the pool for the Back to School Bash. This is a fun event with lots of prizes that are given away. Poor Hadley…there are at least two other Hadleys at our pool, and they both won prizes. When their names were announced on the loud speaker, Hadley thought she won not only once, but twice! Oh well, the weather was great, and it was a good way to wrap up the summer.

Then, we had our neighborhood block party. It was nice to see neighbors, and we kept it simple this year. Instead of people bringing an appetizer to share, we had a local taco truck come by. We really enjoyed our evening with neighbors and friends.

Monday:

On Monday, I tried a new recipe shared by Andrea. Her Bacon Ranch Penne Pasta is definitely a new family favorite and will be in the dinner rotation this fall and winter.

Hayden earned the red plate for starting the school year off strong as well has for effort in baseball and cross country.

Tuesday:

Tuesday was a fun day because the first cross country meet of the season was that evening. Even at 7:00 PM, the feels like temp 98 degrees! The fire department had the hoses going at the finish line for the runners to cool off. Hayden’s team did great and earned 3rd place!

Since we’ve moved up to middle school, that means more (and bigger!) kids running the meets. That combined with the heat, made for a tough race, but Hayden did an awesome job.

Wednesday:

No photos, but on Wednesday night, we grilled out with friends. One of the moms organized a get together for the middle schoolers to hang out, reconnect, and compare middle school notes after the first few weeks of school.

Thursday :

On Thursday, Hayden started playing in a fall PGA junior league. He was so excited. We haven’t been able to make a lot of time for golf, so he’s excited to have that on his schedule this fall.

Favorite Kid Quote:

I have two favorite quotes this week…one from each kid…

I was reminding Hadley of a few things before bed one night this week, and she said, “Mom, I don’t live under a rock. I’m a tween!” Oh….don’t I know it! haha

Yesterday, Hayden was taking forever to get out of the car. I asked him why he was taking so long, and he said, “Mom, when you turn 11 things to start falling apart, and then you move slower.” If I only he knew what it felt like to be 41!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Right?! Things just go missing because of my tweens! Random things!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

Since yesterday was National Dog day, here’s a throwback to when we first got Homer two years ago:

Weekly Recap:

I had a few posts this week. I shared some funny memes that I saw this month. Then, I linked up for What’s Up Wednesday and Monthly Musings (fall planning and back to school.)

Monday Memes
What’s Up Wednesday
Monthly Musings

I hope you have a great weekend. We have a busy one ahead! I do hope to finish Four Winds this weekend, and share my August books with you next week.

Posted in Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Thursday! Have I ever told you that Thursdays are my favorite day of the week? I’m still very productive on a Thursday, but then I also know that the weekend is almost here as well!

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

This month’s topic is Back to School/Fall Planning. We are on week three of the school year and I’m always ready to think about fall, so I’m excited for today’s post!

1. Do you meal plan/prep? Favorite back to school recipe?

I meal plan more than I meal prep. I always plan our meals for the week on Saturday, so I can place my Kroger pickup order on Sunday. Sometimes Saturdays are too busy for meal planning and things get bumped a day, but I try my best to get organized before the week starts.

Actually, once Hayden is finished with baseball, my Saturdays will be more predictable. There are stretches of the school year where I do grocery pickup on Saturday which is my preference.

As far as my favorite back to school recipe, I’ve done muffins, fruit and yogurt for the kids on the first day of school. This year I started a new tradition with Back to School Brinner. This breakfast casserole was a hit.

I still had the muffins (made from a mix as well as some store bought ones), yogurt and fruit as well.

2. How do you buy and organize school supplies?

When the kids were in elementary school, we would take the school supply list and head to Walmart in early August. We’d actually make a day of it and get school supplies, back to school haircuts, and go out for lunch or ice cream.

This year I bought the supplies from their middle school. I figured with eight classes (and eight different teachers), I’d purchased the package deal, so we’d get exactly what the kids need.

After the first few days of school, Hadley had to help Hayden get all his supplies organized! haha

3. Any back to school traditions?

We have a few back to school traditions. Like I said, I used to have a Back to School Breakfast for the kids on the first day of school.

Now, it’s a Back to School Brinner.

Also, every year, I buy them a book for the grade their are in. It’s been surprisingly easy to find books for each grade. I haven’t looked for 7th or 8th grade books yet, but the elementary years were definitely easy to find.

Of course, there are back to school pictures before they leave for school.

4. Bring lunch? Buy lunch? Favorite lunchbox item?

Through they years, the kids have only bought school lunch to both of them bring a lunch and then even a mix in between. I’m always encouraging them to buy lunch because our district has free lunch for everyone…and it’s one less thing to do to pack lunches! The past couple of years they’ve mainly packed their lunch on their own if they didn’t want to buy.

This year, Hayden buys his lunch because middle school has a few more options. Hadley brings her lunch from home. She loves the Uncrustables (PBJ or Nutella) and usually brings fruit snacks, chips and either a fruit (She is very into raspberries right now) or a vegetable (like cucumbers!)

They don’t eat lunch until 1:00, so their teachers encourage them to bring a snack. Hayden loves Chomps, Hadley loves Cliff bars, and they both will bring snack packages of goldfish or Cheezits.

I always bring my lunch. Seriously, in twenty years of teaching, I’ve only bought school lunch on they day they serve their Thanksgiving meal!

5. Favorite thing about back to school then and now?

Even though I’m always sad to see summer go, it’s always good to get back on a schedule and get in a routine. I love the traditions we’ve started with breakfast/brinner, back to school photos, and more. In elementary school, I loved walking the kids to school on the first day.

6. Pumpkin spice – Hate or Love?

I used to love a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, but I don’t get those very often anymore. From September – November, I get by with a splash of creamer and pumpkin spice.

I love pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread.

Last fall, I made these pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies, and I can’t wait to make them again.

7. Do you decorate for fall?

I will let you be the judge of that…

Yes! Haha! I love decorating for fall…maybe even more than when I decorate for Christmas. Of course, my fall decorations are up for a couple of months, so I get to enjoy them longer.

8. How do you transition your fall wardrobe?

I wear summer dresses with a cardigan almost daily. My classroom is pretty chilly, so I like to have the cardigan layer if needed.

These are some of my favorite cardigans:

The navy one I got last fall, and I love it. It’s a bit heavier, but super soft.

The green one is one that I got a few weeks ago. It’s lightweight, so it’s perfect for the transition from summer to fall.

The pink one is one that’s in my Amazon cart right now.

All of these come in a variety of colors. So many great options!

9. Favorite fall fashion staples:

See # 8 😉

I also mix like to mix in lightweight short sleeve sweaters. They are a great transition piece.

I purchased these two at the end of summer before my trip to California. They are both perfect to wear with shorts, denim, or pants.

Tan sweater // Short sleeve sweatshirt

10. When does school start where you live?

We always start the second Wednesday in August. We start with a three day week, then have a four day week with no school on Friday, followed by a full week and then Labor Day. It’s nice to ease into the school year.

When I was a kid, we seemed to go Labor Day to Memorial Day. While we are usually out around Memorial Day, we are sometimes still in school until the very end of May.

So, that’s how we do back to school and plan for fall. What about you? What’s your favorite thing about fall?

I hope you are having a great week! Make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts as well!

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How’s your week going? We’re off to a good, but hectic start!

Today, I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday. I haven’t done this link up in a few months, so I’m excited to share today!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

  • Sunday- We had our neighborhood block party, and we had tacos from a local food truck!
  • Monday- I made Andrea’s Bacon Ranch Penne Pasta recipe and served it with watermelon.
  • Tuesday- Leftover pasta after the cross country meet, served with fruit!
  • Wednesday- Hadley requested salmon, so that’s on the menu for tonight. I’ll serve it with Bob Evans mashed potatoes and green beans.
  • Thursday– The slow cooker will save the day tomorrow, and I will make Shay’s meatballs over rice, and broccoli will be our side dish.
  • Friday and Saturday- We always eat out on the weekends. I love to cook, but Friday and Saturday nights I give myself a break.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Next month will mark 20 years with T-rav. We had our first date in September of 2001!

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I’m just continuing to keep up with our school and activities schedule. We have a mix of old and new activities, so I’m just trying to get in a groove. For example, Hayden is still playing baseball, but has cross country after school. It’s just a new routine of drop off and pick ups! We’ll get the hang of it just in time for some new activity to start.

I’m also working on being intentional with planning my workouts. I could kind of wing it during the summer, and then I eased into the school year where a quick afternoon nap would win out over a sweat sesh. Now, I’m trying to get up a couple of mornings like I did for quite a few years before March of 2020. It’s nice to get those workouts crossed off the “to do” list.

I’m still loving my Happy Planner teacher planner to keep me organized at school as well.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

School. Activities. Repeat.

As I mentioned, Hayden’s baseball team still has a few tournaments left. His cross country has started as well. He had his first meet last night!

Hadley’s ballet, tap and jazz class started this week. Competition classes started last week!

On Sunday, we did go to our pool’s Back to School Bash which was a great way to spend our Sunday afternoon. Of course, the pool is still open a couple more weeks!

WHAT I’M DREADING:

…receiving a quarantine phone call from kids’ school. I mentioned in a previous post about how so many kids are having to quarantine right now if they are near someone who tests positive at school. Hopefully, the kids can remain in school!

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Honestly, I’m excited for the kids’ middle school activities. It will be fun to see what they choose to do as far as sports and clubs. I can tell they are loving having a little more freedom in middle school.

Also, is it too early to say that I’m excited about fall? haha! Now, I just need these 90 degree days to go away!

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I watched Luke Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries documentary over the weekend, and I thought it was really good. I’m a Luke Bryan fan. It was interesting to hear about his career, listen to what other had to say about him, and see him interact with his family. I knew he’d lost so many close loved ones, but to hear him tell his story and share his loss really left an impact on me.

I’m currently reading The Four Winds and can’t put it down.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

I haven’t listened to all the seasons of Even the Rich, but I started listening to the newest season about J Lo and Ben!

I catch most of the episodes of Always Hungry. I’m a big Food Network girl, and I love hearing Bobby Flay interact with his daughter Sophie. I loved their Flay List (TV) series that was on last year.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

My new shirt from Amazon is still a fave. I’ve shared it before, but it’s still getting a lot of wear.

I loved this blue dress so much that I’ve also purchased it in gray.

You might have noticed, I had on these sandals with both outfits. We’ve been in school for two weeks, and I’ve worn these every single day! They are definitely my sandal of the summer!

Shirt // Dress // Sandals

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Well, Hayden has cross country meet on Saturday and baseball on Sunday, so I think that will take up most of our time.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

Being able to say it’s officially fall! Seriously, fall is my most favorite time of the year!

See you back here tomorrow for Monthly Musings and then on Friday for my favorites from the week.

Take care,

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Memes

Monday Memes

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your weekend? We had a pretty relaxing one! With not much going on, the kids definitely made up for lost pool time. They were there Friday evening with Travis, Saturday evening as a family, and then Sunday afternoon for a Back to School get together our pool hosted.

On Saturday, I did next to nothing. I had an appointment in the morning, stopped by Hayden’s cross country car wash fundraiser, came home and read my book, watched some television, and took a nap! Then, we went to the pool for a bit in the evening. It was glorious not having anything that I really felt like I had to do.

On Sunday, we went to church, went to the pool for a bit, I placed my Kroger grocery order, and then our neighborhood had their annual block party. It was a busy but great Sunday.

We’re ready to start our first five day week of the year, but first I’m starting the week off with a few laughs.

Here are some of my favorite memes of the month:

1.

Right?! I felt we blinked and it was August. Now, August is almost over!

2.

Poor August. I’m giving it a hard time, but this meme rings true for me as well. Once August 1st hit, I really had to start letting go of summer.

3.

Arg! I’ve been having to reset lots of passwords lately, and I can’t keep up.

4.

I feel seen:

5.

I can’t pass up a good bargain!

6.

Texting with Hadley be like…

7.

I felt like I dragged myself through last week. Maybe that early alarm will feel a bit easier on week three of the school year…

8.

My phone is always on silent because otherwise I’d be overstimulated with all the dinging! I’m lucky to answer a text in a timely manner let alone answer a phone call!

Can you relate to any of these memes? I hope they’ve started your week off with a laugh! I should be posting pretty frequently this week. At least, that’s the plan! I hope you have a great week.

I’m linking up with Heather (and others!) for Hello Monday as well.

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#79}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hey! We made it to Friday! How has your week been? We’ve had a good one, but we are definitely still working on getting into a new school routine!

Honestly, last week was so nice with all the back to school enthusiasm by all, but this week has been stressful. Our Covid cases have been on the rise (much like everywhere) and many kids are being sent home to quarantine. Lots of my kids’ friends are at home at the moment, and I have held by breath all week waiting for the quarantine phone call from school. Thankfully, we made it through the week without one. (I hope I didn’t just jinx us for next week!)

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

Favorite Kid Quote:

I forgot to share this last week, but I found this note on my desk on my first day back to school. The kids had been up to school with me the week before, and Hadley left this note on my desk. I’m glad she added her last name, or I wouldn’t have known which Hadley left me this note 😉

Also, I’m loving allll the middle school details I’m getting from the kids…especially Hadley. She fills me in on every class when I pick her up from school.

(**One thing I’ve loved so far with the kids starting and ending later than my school, is that I can now usually do pick up after school. I always wished I could do that when they were younger, but now I get that opportunity most days.)

Favorite Food:

I met some friends out last weekend to hang with a friend who was in town. I always love getting together with them when we can, and the food (and friendships!) was amazing.

Last week, I treated the kids to milkshakes after school for surviving the first few days of middle school. They were surprised by the sweet treat.

Favorite Picture(s)

Hadley’s studio did head shots for their competition teams last week. These two photos were the ones I ordered and I love them. I also can’t get over how much older Hadley looks.

Favorite Moment:

Hayden used to be my most organized child…but he passed that organization baton to Hadley last year. The other night, she was getting her binders organized, and ended up helping Hayden…for a small fee. They negotiated, and $8 (one $5 and three crumpled ones) later, Hayden’s binders were as organized as Hadley’s binders.

Favorite Clothing Item:

This blouse has become a favorite of mine. Like most of my wardrobe, it’s versatile. I’ve worn it with shorts, but then paired it with my white denim (and my favorite sandals) for school on Tuesday.

Hadley saw this Rolling Stones shirt at Target a few weeks ago, and wanted it for back to school. She wore it this week, but couldn’t even tell me one song by the Stones 😉 She paired it with the gray ruffle Amazon shorts (women’s xs) that she has in a few colors.

Other Faves:

Hadley loved the fun surprise she found in our front yard celebrating her being on her studio’s competition team again this season.

Baseball photos on repeat continue to be a favorite. Even though Hayden is now running cross country for school, he’s still playing a few more tournaments with his summer team. They got two games in last Saturday, but Sunday was rained out. These are some of my favorite pics from Saturday’s games:

Hydrangeas are my favorite flower, and we have a few bushes in our backyard. My last Trader Joe’s flowers lasted almost two weeks, but then I decided to turn to the backyard to refill my Mason jars.

Kroger is speaking my love language having mums out already. I always wait until mid-September to buy mums and decorate my front porch, but the sight of these brought a smile to my face.

We stopped by to see cousin Wyatt Wednesday night to drop of his birthday presents. Time is flying by. He turned seven yesterday.

Favorite Mom Meme:

This meme made me laugh out loud. I can’t handle the number of times I find the chips without a clip or the boxes not closed! Ugh!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

I love this photo from 2012. The kids had come to help me set up my classroom and have lunch! Now they are big kids in middle school!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week. I enjoyed recapping my trip to southern California with Travis. Then, I chatted about Storyworth and what a great gift it’s been for my mom. Lastly, I shared my makeup purge and reorganization which had been on my “to do” list for a few weeks!

California Recap
Tuesday TAlk: Story worth
Operation MAkeup Organization

Believe it or not, we don’t have much on tap this weekend which is very much needed. We have a break from baseball which gives me some time to get a few other things accomplished and give us all some much needed downtime. Travis is still recovering from knee surgery, but is already off crutches and back to work.

Today, I have school, but we don’t have any students. This day off is always on our calendar, but it definitely feels needed this year to regroup and catch our breath from the start of the year.

What was the highlight of your week?

See you back here on Monday!

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Health and Fitness, Self-care

Operation Makeup Reorganization

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hey there!

Let me go ahead and say that never in a million years did I ever think I’d have a blog post dedicated to makeup. But, really, the post is about makeup purging and reorganizing. Organizing is definitely up my alley. Makeup is not!

Hadley can do hair and makeup better than I can thanks to You Tube and whatever other sources she can find. I am not one of her sources 😉 (Also, she doesn’t really wear makeup–I just mean she’s way more up to speed on the hair and makeup scene!)

A little back story: Since March, I’ve been having trouble with my eye lids. They randomly get itchy and irritated. The doctor prescribed me an ointment that helps, but occasionally I have a flair up. I noticed during the summer it wasn’t happening as often, and I don’t wear make up most days during the summer. This made me think about the last time I’ve changed out my makeup brushes and eye shadows.

I’m not proud, but this was the state of my makeup bag:

It’s technically a travel bag that I bought three years ago before going on a trip and then continued to use it. At some point, a glittery eye shadow broke, so there was glitter that would get on the brushes and the inside of the bag was a mess as well. I don’t wear very many products anyway, but some were not used much over the summer when I wear less make up.

The reason I purchased this new makeup bag (It has a few color options) was because it had the clear compartment to hold some of my daily and smaller items like nasal spray, tweezers, hair clips and more.

I purchased this pack of brushes and makeup sponges. I just needed a fresh start, and I need to make a point to clean them regularly and even switch them out every few months.

Let me tell you how novice I am with makeup. I read the little pamphlet that came with the pack that says which brush is used for what! haha

Again, I tossed my previous eye shadows, and purchased this eye shadow palette. I’m a neutral girl, so I thought these shades would work best, and I’m definitely pleased.

This is the finished, organized product:

Ahh…so much better!

I kept all my random items in the top clear compartment.

Then, a feature I hadn’t thought about that I now appreciate is the fact that I can use the loops to hold my brushes as well as my under eye corrector and concealer. That way, things stay nice and tidy.

I never thought I’d do a blog post on makeup, but honestly, tossing the old stuff, getting organized, and starting fresh is one of those chores that I dragged my feet about doing, but it feels so good to have it done. That being said, here are the linked products in case you are interested:

makeup bag // brush set // eye shadow palette

What are some of your makeup must haves? I need all the help I can get…just ask Hadley 😂

See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Gift Ideas

Tuesday Talk

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Shew! Monday sure was a Monday. So many things to do and not enough time to do them. I can’t believe it’s already the middle of August! Today, I’m linking up with Ashley and Erika for this month’s Tuesday Talk.

Today, I’m sharing about Story Worth.

c/o storyworth.com

Have you heard about it? I’d seen the advertisements on social media and always thought it would be a great gift for family members. Story Worth, as the website says, is a way to “preserve memories, feel connected to family, and learn about relatives.”

For Mother’s Day, my brother and I split the $99 (actually $89 because I used a coupon code) and gifted it to our mom.

I knew my mom would be good at answering the weekly questions. At the end of the year, you get one hardcover book included in the price. You can also purchase additional books for siblings and other family members.

I’m able to choose the questions. They email you a couple days prior to tell you the week’s question, and you can choose another question if needed. When the person responds, you get an email with their response . (My brother gets my mom’s response too because I added his email to our account when I signed up.)

So far my mom has answered:
  • What fads did you embrace while growing up? bell bottoms! (and other fads!)
  • What is one of your favorite trips that you’ve taken? She shared many!
  • What do you consider one of your greatest achievements in life? I made the cut!
  • Who are the best cooks in your family? There are lots!
  • What is one of the strangest things that has ever happened to you? It involved drinking a Diet Coke.
  • What are some of your special talents? Crafts, cross-stitching, stamping, and more!

Those are just some of the questions that she’s answered since mid-May. She does a great job adding photos to her detailed responses which make the memories even better. When the responses are shared with you via email, you can send them a thank you or add your own comment if you’d like. For example, she shared some jokes my grandpa used to tell. I remembered one that she hadn’t included, so I messaged her my response, and she added it to her post.

Her posts are so well-thought out. Some make me laugh, remember things from my childhood, and even tear up, like she she talked about my grandpa.

Some things I’ve learned about my mom:

  • She went to the intramural high jump championship as a 7th grader!
  • She was nominated (twice!) by her students for Who’s Who America’s Teachers.
  • She thinks my grandma is the best cook in the family, and I come in 2nd!
  • Silly stories with her and her best girl friends.
  • Stories from when she worked at the public library and did story time for little ones.
  • Her grandma taught her how to cross stitch and sew.
  • Advice to her grandkids, and more!

Overall, I’m so pleased with this gift. It’s always hard to think of things to buy, and experiences and ideas like a Story Worth book are definitely money well spent.

Have you used Story Worth? I save the Story Worth emails in an email folder, so I have her replies saved. That being said, of course, I can’t wait to see the finished product.

I hope your week is off to a great start!

Posted in Travel

California Recap

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your weekend? We had a good one! On Friday, Travis had knee surgery, so he took it easy all weekend while we took turns getting him whatever he needed 😉 Hayden had baseball on Saturday, but then it was rained out on Sunday. While I love watching his team play, Sunday at home, was much needed with Travis, groceries, laundry, and just taking it easy. We were all pretty tired after our first week of school.

Today, I’m recapping our recent trip to Del Mar, California.

I have been there quite a few times, and it’s definitely one of my favorite places! Travis goes there a few times a year for work, and he often invites me to join him when he goes for work in August. I always say, “no” because it’s the weekend before school starts which is hectic within itself, but this year I decided to tag along.

I certainly have no regrets, and it was nice to get away for a few days, but it really did make the days leading up to the trip hectic to prep for back to school, and then I started school the day after we returned home.

We had a great time. Here are the details!

Wednesday:

An Uber picked us up at 4:30 AM for our 6:00 flight.

We flew to Dallas, and I will spare you the details of delays, deplaning, and changed gates, but the two hour layover turned into eight hours at DFW.

We finally landed in San Diego around 4:30, and after getting our luggage and a rental car, we drove the 25 minutes to our hotel in Del Mar. We rinsed off, got dressed, and I wanted to see the beach for a minute…

After travelling for 12+ hours and wearing a mask the entire time, I wanted some fresh air before we met some friends for dinner at…

Pamplemousse. I got the halibut, and it was delish. We were back to the hotel by 9:30. With the time change and long day of travel, we fell right asleep!

Thursday

On Thursday, I slept until 7:00, which was later than Travis did. I met him at the hotel bar for coffee and breakfast.

After breakfast, we enjoyed our coffee on the deck with an ocean view and planned out our day.

We went for a walk …

before heading to lunch at Brigantine.

This dress was one of the best things I packed! Comfy and cute!

This is a restaurant that overlooks the Del Mar racetrack, and Travis typically runs into people he knows. We both got the fish tacos and a beer!

After lunch, we headed to the beach for a couple of hours, and it was glorious.

I took a walk while Travis dozed off. By the end of this trip, I had 50+ photos of the beach and ocean on my phone…I can never get enough of the view.

Also, while beach trips with my kids have gotten easier as the years have gone by, it’s been a while since just Travis and I were at the beach. It felt so weird to grab my sunglasses, my book, and my towel and have that be all I need.

After the beach, we relaxed a bit, and then went to dinner at Market.

We actually sat at the bar, so we could watch the USA women win gold in beach volleyball!

The sushi was amazing!

Again, we were home by 9:30 and fell fast asleep!

Friday

On Friday, Travis was up very early to meet friends and clients on the back side of the track to look at horses. I slept in a bit, and then headed to the hotel bar again for breakfast.

I took my book and read while enjoying only about 1/3 of these pancakes with my coffee.

When Travis got back, we decided to drive to La Jolla which is only about 20 minutes away. We walked around and there’s an area where you can see the sea lions on the rocks, and we always go there to take in the views and see the sea lions.

We walked around a bit before going to Puesto for lunch. We split some chips and guac, and I got the shrimp tacos and cilantro rice.

On our drive home, I spotted a trail by the hotel, so while Travis napped, I went for a walk. The views were breathtaking, and I wondered what it would take to have a house on the side of a cliff with ocean views.

Ahh…

After I got back from my walk, Travis was at the pool. After a few minutes there, he was going to to the track to catch a couple of races. I went to the beach for about an hour. It’s not that the horse track isn’t my thing, but the beach in 75 degree weather is!

I hung out and …

started a new book…

before getting ready for dinner. Right before the trip, I was at Target with Hayden, and picked up this dress on a whim. It was perfect for dinner…

…with a view. A racing group from Trav’s farm hosted clients at Pacific Coast Grill. The views and the food were amazing.

We could hear the waves while enjoying champagne and seafood!

Saturday


Saturday morning, Travis was up early and at the track. When he returned, we had one more hotel breakfast before going to the beach for a couple hours.

Then it was time to pack up, and get ready for the track. Again, they were hosting clients for the races that afternoon. We arrived around 1:30 before the races started at 2:00.

Trav’s co-workers really knocked it out of the park with the attention to detail, gift baskets, food, hospitality, and more!

We were able to see other clients and friends who I usually just get to see when they come to Lex for the sales or racing. The track is so pretty and right off the ocean.

Once the races were over, we snapped a couple of selfies before leaving.

We had about an hour and a half before we needed to be at the airport, so we weren’t sure we’d have time for a nice sit down dinner. Well, we drove right past an In-N-Out Burger, and our dinner decision was made 😉 Travis has dined there a few times, but I never have! The burger was really good!

When planning our return flight, we weighed the pros and cons of taking the Saturday red eye or early Sunday morning. With school starting back on Monday for me and since air travel is so unpredictable right now, we decided on the red eye. We arrived at the airport around 9 PM for our 11:00 flight. We returned our car, changed our clothes, checked in and had plenty of time before boarding. Once in the air, it was about 3.5 hours to Chicago, and we slept hard! We landed in Chicago at 5:30 and had a two hour layover before taking the quick flight to Lex. We were home by 10 am! I took two naps that day and went to bed early, but was glad with the decision to go ahead and get home.

It was a really great trip, nice to have time with just the two of us, and I’m glad I said, “yes,” to join him.

Hotel:

While in Del Mar, we stayed at Hotel Indigo.

It was super cute and felt very much like a California hotel.

Have you ever been to Southern California? I always say if I win the lottery, I’d moved to Charleston, SC or So Cal! I just need to cash that winning ticket!

I hope you have a great week! We are continuing to ease back into school with a four day week this week! See you back here tomorrow for Tuesday Talk.

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}