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Posted in Kids, School, Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Thursday. How is your week going?! We are in that transition to back to school (yay!) which means earlier wake up calls, the hustle and bustle of making lunches and packing backpacks, and the rush of getting out the door. While that all can be exhausting, I’m here for it!

Today, I’m reflecting on the last 355 days at home for virtual learning as I know it’s a time the kids and I will always remember, and this post will be perfect to have those thoughts all in one place.

Virtual Learning:

  • March – May 2020: We all mastered Google Meet and Google Classroom. We lived in two weeks chunks of time while decisions were made at the state and district level about in person learning. Most days, the kids could sleep in before joining their class Google Meet at 10:00. They were on with their teachers for about an hour before completing their work for the day. Even a field trip and field day took place virtually. We missed out on fun events like the school carnival. I heard the sadness in their teachers’ voices as they said goodbye for the summer. None of us realized how long we’d be out of school.
  • August 2020: Back to school was delayed a few weeks, and we started school on August 26 rather than August 12th. Leading up to the first day of school, we drove through the car line at school to pick up materials and meet the teachers from our car while wearing masks. We decided to send the kids to a pod (at my friend Amy’s with their school friends…mostly girls, much to Hayden’s chagrin!) two days a week. “Back to School Night” was held via Zoom.
  • August 2020-March 2021: Synchronous and Asynchronous instruction were the new “buzz words” for the year. We mastered Zoom, Canvas, and Google Classroom. The kids’ school day was much more structured, and they spent most of the morning on Zoom. They had a 1.5 hour chunk of time for lunch and would often play with their friends in the neighborhood or at the school play ground. They would get back on Zoom in the afternoon for the last hour of the school day. Parent/teacher conferences we held via telephone. We lived in bigger chunks of time while waiting for decisions on return to in person learning. The number of school activities the kids missed out on is endless: field trips, lunch bunch, spaghetti/puzzle night, chorus concerts, academic team, clubs, the books fair, and more. January 2021: Their school schedule basically remained the same, but with an earlier start time and a bit more structure with the goal of prepping for a return to in person learning. Late February 2021: We learned that K-2 would begin on February 22 and 3rd-5th grades would start on March 3.

What we thought would be a few weeks in March and April of 2020 turned into months…and almost of a year of learning at home.

Real talk: I actually teared up typing this time line…I can’t believe we’ve made it through this time. There have certainly been ups, downs, learning curves, tears, frustration, and more.

Thankfully, they have amazing teachers who have hosted virtual lunch bunch, dropped off gifts on front porches, met with students individually who were struggling academically, made phone calls home with words of encouragement, waved as we drove through the car line, and so much more.

At the pod, the kids were able to read in groups, play games, bake, have holiday parties, learn about the election process, go roller skating, and experience many more fun activities.

Memories at home learning provided us…

and some things I will miss about at home learning...

  • The kids showing me what they are working on and asking for help.
  • Meals: enjoying leisurely breakfasts and lunches. (Bonus: Hadley now can make a quesadilla and soup on her own. Hayden has mastered heating Spaghetti O’s on the stove and can make a mean grilled cheese!)
  • Hearing their awesome teachers and the sweet replies of their classmates.
  • (also) Hearing Hayden and Hadley’s thoughtful responses when sharing answers with their classes.
  • Friday Chick-fil-A lunch
  • Time outside with them during “recess” and going for walks
  • Flexibility and maximizing our time: I’ve been able to start dinner in the slow cooker at 10:00 am vs 7:00 am, they’ve completed chores on a break, and we’ve been able to schedule ortho appointments during lunch break.
  • Extra Homer snuggles
  • Impromptu play dates during recess or learning at home with friends
  • Pajama pants as suitable school attire!

That being said, it’s time. It’s been 355 days since they’ve walked into their school building. They only have nine weeks left in the elementary school building they’ve attended since kindergarten.

Real talk (again!): I’ve also said that their age during this time has been a blessing. They are old enough to work pretty independently, but are young enough to still need me. I will treasure this experience forever, but I’m also happy to release them to the elementary educational professionals 😉

I asked them both what they will miss about at home learning and why they are excited to return to the building. Here are their responses:

Hayden:

I will miss being at home with Homer all day.

I’m excited to actually be in the school building to learn with my teachers and friends.

Hadley:

I will miss being able to stay in my pjs while learning at home.

I’m excited to see my friends and my teacher in person.

A few photos:

First day at the pod: August 26, 2020

Last day at the pod: March 2, 2021

First day of 5th grade: August 26, 2020

First day of in person learning, 5th grade: March 3, 2021

Back to School Breakfast (again!)

I decided to have another back to school breakfast, and was able to put this together pretty quickly thanks to a trip to The Dollar Tree (thanks, Amy, for the idea!) and a few items from my “Back to School Breakfast tub.

I love these little lunch trays from The Dollar Tree, and I assembled an easy breakfast of donuts, yogurts, Cuties, and juice boxes.

I got them each a little notebook and the “Star Student” tags were perfect for the lunch trays.

Other Back to School Breakfast posts:

Back 2 School Bfst Info
Back 2 School BfSt Aug 2020

When they enter the building, they go through a thermal scanner to have their temperatures taken, there are plastic dividers at their desks, they will eat lunch at their desks, they have to stay with their classes at recess, and some of the their specials teachers will come to them.

I received emails from both kids within the first couple hours of school 😂

Hayden was telling me he’d forgotten his watch, and could I bring it to school (the answer was no) 😂, and Hadley’s email brought tears to my eyes. She said she was so happy to be at school and that her teacher cried happy tears!

Their assistant principal sent me pictures of them at their desks. Hadley looks so happy, and I’m proud of Hayden for “going with the flow.” ( I know that’s not easy for him).

Hadley’s teacher shared this photo with me. So far, Hadley has been pretty consistent with her plans to be an elementary school teacher 😊

I know school will look so different compared to when they were last there on March 13, 2020, but I’m forever grateful for the school administrators, teachers and staff who have made this transition from at home learning to in person learning as smooth as possible. The school sign said, ‘Welcome back,” there were lawn letters greeting them with sweet “back to school” wishes, and so many wonderful teachers were outside waving and opening car doors at car line yesterday morning.

Everyone was smiling: students, teachers, and parents, and even a mask couldn’t hide the enthusiasm that returning to the school building after 355 days has brought to everyone.

My wish for the kids: “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!” ~ Dr. Seuss

(read: mom loves you, but bye!) 😉

The weight of the pandemic, as a mom and as a teacher, has been very difficult…probably more difficult than I have realized at times. Getting my kids back to school yesterday was a huge step towards normalcy, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Next week, students start to return to my school building, and I’m so looking forward to that next step as well!

Thanks so much for reading today’s post. I hope you’re having a great week. I know mine sure has taken a turn for the better!

Posted in Amazon

Prime Purchases: March 2021

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! The first Tuesday of the month always sneaks up on me, but it’s always one of my favorite posts to write. I’m sharing my Prime Purchases again this month thanks to Tanya hosting her fun link up!

I only have a few purchases (Trav’s praying paid off 😉) this month, and they are a mix of comfy and random!

I’ve shared these leggings in another post, but they are definitely still a favorite. I wear them all the time. They are soft, comfortable, and have the cute scoop detail at the ankle. They are 7/8 length which is the only length that I wear.

Leggings

The leggings are perfect for my weekend (read: everyday) “momiform” of sneaks, leggings, and over-sized sweatshirt.

Speaking of “momiform,” these joggers are legit. If I’m not in the leggings, I’m probably wearing these joggers. They are perfect for wearing with a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, a sweater and (in my opinion) can be dressed up or down. I’ve worn them to church with a sweater and leopard flats! I look forward to wearing these in the spring with a t-shirt and flip flops!

Joggers

Well, when we had to two straight weeks of winter weather and lost power for two hours, I realized a portable charger sure would come in handy! This two pack arrived before storm number 2 (of 3) rolled in a couple weeks ago. Of course, we didn’t lose power again, but I know these will be good for travel or to keep in my purse in case our phone or iPads need charged while we aren’t home.

2 Pack Portable Charger

I ordered this cute Boxwood wreath as an addition to my new candle pedestal from The Nested Fig.

Mini Boxwood Wreath

It’s super cute and great quality.

I try to buy the kids a game as a Valentine’s Day gift that we can play as a family. Bananagrams is so fun, and we’ve played it quite a few times. I love that you can even play the Solitaire version of this, so it’s a game that can be played with one or many participants.

Bananagrams

I didn’t Prime much this month, but these purchases we good ones! Next month’s link up is on April 6. I have a feeling I will have a few more purchases as Amazon is a main resource for helping me fill up the kids’ Easter baskets!

I hope to post pretty regularly this week, but with family visiting, the transition back to in person learning, and kids’ activities, I’m not sure what I will have time to share.

Currently me: 😂

As always, thanks for stopping by, and make sure to check out the other ladies’ Prime Purchases posts!

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Kids

Girl Scout Cookies

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! (and Happy March 1st!) How was your weekend? Hadley and I went to Target for a few things on Friday including something for her to wear on the first day back to school this week. Somehow, we left with four pairs of workout tights/leggings for her. I think I was #Hadleyed.

Hayden had four total basketball games this weekend which are always fun to watch. And, in true Kentucky weather fashion, we’ve gone from snow and ice to sunshine to rain all in the matter of a week!

One of the tasks Hadley and I accomplished yesterday was sorting her third and final order of Girl Scout cookies. I thought I share about her cookie sales through the years. This last year of elementary school has me feeling all kinds of nostalgia!

Image c/o lcnme.com

Every year, she sells to family and friends, and Travis and I take the cookie form to work. That being said, they are her cookies to sell for her troop, so I always tell her that if she wants me to share about cookie sales on social media, she has to make a video.

These videos have cracked me up through the years. One year, when she mentioned her troop, she said, “Toot toot!” instead of “22” haha! We couldn’t stop laughing.

She always shares any cookie updates, what the favorite cookies are, the new cookies, how much the cookies cost, and whatever else she can think to share in her one minute video.

She also sells door to door in the neighborhood, and she learns so much from interacting with “customers” on those direct sales. Also, her troop typically sells at Kroger during a two hour window of time a couple Saturdays or Sundays in February.

Of course, Covid made things different this year, so there were no cookie booth sales for her troop, but we did go door to door to neighbors who I knew would feel comfortable with her selling cookies; we of course, kept our distance and wore masks during those sales.

She definitely loves this time of the year, and while sorting hundreds of boxes can be daunting, we make it a family affair! Hayden will even help us if needed 😉 (Also, of note: the mom in our troop in charge of cookies is an absolute saint! I’m forever adding to orders I’ve given her, swapping cookies, or asking how much money we owe! I don’t know how she does it, but we sure do appreciate her!)

Cookie Time through the Years…

2018:


I’m fairly certain this wasn’t the first year her troop sold cookies, but it must have been the first year they had a cookie booth a Kroger.

They were so cute in their little cookie costumes. Who could say ‘no’ to these sweet faces?

2019:

Cookie booth at Kroger in 2018 in their second year as Brownies.

I took this picture of Hadley to share on Facebook as a “thank you” post for supporting her sales.

2020:

The cookie booth smiles continued in 2020.

2020 “thank you” photo…

2021:

Who knew when they sold at Kroger in 2020, that there would be no booth sales in 2021?! They always have so much fun together greeting the customers, giving their sales pitch, tallying the cookies sold, and providing the (hopefully!) correct change when the customer makes a purchase. They always worked so well together playing off of each other’s strengths and weaknesses!

2021 cookie photo when her first two rounds of orders were picked up!

We made the final tally over the weekend and Hadley sold…

630 boxes!!! She was so excited.

2021 “thank you” photo:

It’s always fun seeing who orders what, and which cookie is the winner in most boxes sold…It’s always the Thin Mint cookie as the winner! The new “Toast-Yay” cookie was really good, and this was the last year for the S’mores!

  • Toast-yay 45
  • S’more 48
  • Lemonades 55
  • Shortbread 61
  • Thin Mint 134
  • Peanut Butter Patties 92
  • Caramel deLite 111
  • Peanut butter Sandwich 42
  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip 28
  • Donated: 14

This year, I think so many people took advantage of cookies being shipped. We were able to reach more than our Kentucky friends and family, and we, of course, appreciate their generosity.

Our family favorites:

  • Hadley: Peanut Butter Patties or Toast-yay
  • Hayden: Lemonades (Every year, he gives Hadley his own money for one box to keep all for himself!)
  • Trav: Caramel deLites
  • Me: Peanut Butter Patties

Thank you:

I created this form a couple of years ago as a way to help with sorting and keep orders straight. Again, I feel like it’s important for Hadley to help and also give thanks to those who have placed ordered.

Being in Girl Scouts has taught Hadley so much. Being a servant leader, navigating life skills, and building confidence are certainly just a few of the things she’s learned while being a part of this sweet little troop!

I can’t believe cookie season is over. We actually did a good job pacing ourselves with the cookie eating! We still have quite a few boxes, and I’ve hidden them in the basement 😉

What are your favorite cookies? Thanks so much for reading, and have a great week!

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#56}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hey! Hey! We made it to Friday. I can’t get over the difference in weather in a matter of just one week. Last week, the kids were sledding and our streets were covered in ice and snow. This week, Hayden has been excited to wear shorts most days and both kids haven’t needed their winter coat!

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

As I occasionally do, I’m sharing the “little” moments as favorites this week. Here’s a look at some small, but meaningful, moments from the week:

Sunday:

On Sunday, the sun was (finally) shining, and the snow began to melt! We needed the milder temps after 2+ weeks of frigid temperatures and ongoing winter weather events.

Monday:

On Monday, I started Muscle Burns Fat: Advanced. I did Muscle Burns Fat earlier in the month, and I loved the program. Since the beginning of January, I’ve lost almost 6 total inches and a few pounds, so I’m hoping MBFA will help me keep chipping away at my #quarantine15!

Tuesday:

Hadley started attending the God’s Girls Reading Group at our church. It was fun picking her and two friends up afterwards and hearing about how the session went for them. The “mini chapters” in this book are perfect for Hadley and provide opportunities for some nice conversations.

Wednesday:

With in person learning on the horizon, the kids’ pod teacher gave them this sweet gift on Wednesday. I love a good hashtag: #podsquadforever

Hand sanitizer, Kleenex, pencils, and a candy necklace…perfect for 5th graders in 2021! I know they will always remember their time at pod, and we are thankful to have had that option and experience.

Another favorite from Wednesday, was I was able to catch up with one of my friends! We met at Agave and Rye for their Happy Hour specials. We had a great time catching up, sipping margs, and eating chips and queso!

Thursday:

My candle pedestal from The Nested Fig arrived a couple weeks ago. The small wreath I ordered from Amazon arrived and was the perfect finishing touch for the candle and pedestal.

I’m enjoying slow mornings at home with this Butterscotch Toffee scented candle from Bath and Body Works while I can.

I also tried cinnamon rolls in the Air Fryer, and they were a hit! Well…for Hayden and Travis, anyway. Hadley doesn’t like cinnamon rolls. (crazy, but true!) They were ready in five minutes. Five minute cinnamon rolls isn’t necessarily a reason to buy an Air Fryer, but I am appreciating being able to make some breakfast favorites during the week instead of just on the weekends.

Favorite Mom Meme:

That mom life though…

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

February 2013 when Hadley came to school with me for a few hours. I loved when she let me put her hair in little pigtails!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from this week in case you are interested…

Monday Memes
What’s Up Wednesday
February books

Also, I feel like I have a bit of the “blogging blahs…” #workingtitle

Let me know if there are any topics or ideas that you have that you are interested in reading about or that you’ve seen other bloggers share. I always plan around certain link ups or some of my regular posts like books, meals, memes and other ideas, but I’d love to hear some new fresh ideas!

This weekend we have four basketball games to keep us busy, Hayden has also started back with baseball, and Hadley’s working hard on her competition dance routines. We’re also gearing up for in person learning next week, so I feel like there won’t be much rest to be had over the next couple of weeks.

I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks so much for reading,

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Books and Shows

February: What I’ve Been Reading

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How’s it going?

Today I’m sharing the three books I read this month. They were all very different, and I enjoyed them all.

Friendly reminder that I’m using the Good Reads summaries of the books as well as a few of my thoughts and a rating!

This month I read…

The Lies that Bind:

The Lies that Bind

Summary:

It’s 2 A.M. on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and twenty-eight-year-old Cecily Gardner sits alone in a dive bar in New York’s East Village, questioning her life. Feeling lonesome and homesick for the Midwest, she wonders if she’ll ever make it as a reporter in the big city–and whether she made a terrible mistake in breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew.

As Cecily reaches for the phone to call him, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, “Don’t do it–you’ll regret it.” Something tells her to listen, and over the next several hours–and shots of tequila–the two forge an unlikely connection. That should be it, they both decide the next morning, as Cecily reminds herself of the perils of a rebound relationship. Moreover, their timing couldn’t be worse–Grant is preparing to quit his job and move overseas. Yet despite all their obstacles, they can’t seem to say goodbye, and for the first time in her carefully constructed life, Cecily follows her heart instead of her head.

Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing-person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him. Her investigative reporting instincts kick into action as she vows to discover the truth. But the questions pile up fast: How well did she really know Grant? Did he ever really love her? And is it possible to love a man who wasn’t who heseemed to be?

The Lies That Bind is a mesmerizing and emotionally resonant exploration of the never-ending search for love and truth–in our relationships, our careers, and deep within our own hearts.

Quick Thoughts:

This book takes place during 9/11 which kept me thinking about what I was doing on that day. 9/11 seems like yesterday when reading the description of events from the book. Overall, I thought this book was good, but the ending felt odd/unrealistic. I did read it quickly and thought the characters were interesting.

Rating:

A Hope More Powerful than the Sea:

A Hope More Powerful than the Sea

Summary:

Doaa and her family leave war-torn Syria for Egypt where the climate is becoming politically unstable and increasingly dangerous. She meets and falls in love with Bassem, a former Free Syrian Army fighter and together they decide to leave behind the hardship and harassment they face in Egypt to flee for Europe, joining the ranks of the thousands of refugees who make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean on overcrowded and run-down ships to seek asylum overseas and begin a new life.

After four days at sea, their boat is sunk by another boat filled with angry men shouting threats and insults. With no land in sight and surrounded by bloated, floating corpses, Doaa is adrift with a child’s inflatable water ring around her waist, while two little girls cling to her neck. Doaa must stay alive for them. She must not lose strength. She must not lose hope.

Quick Thoughts:

I can’t remember who shared this book, but after hearing about it, I moved it to the top of my reading list. Much like when I read American Dirt, I was overcome with emotions thinking about what Doaa and her family went through to flee their country. I caught myself tensing up and reading quickly through the chapters where she was at sea. This book definitely provided such a vivid and gripping perspective on the determination and heartbreak so many go through to leave their homeland in search of a better life.

Rating:

4.5 rating

Troubles in Paradise:

Troubles in Paradise

Summary:

After uprooting her life in the States, Irene Steele has just settled in at the villa on St. John where her husband Russ had been living a double life. But a visit from the FBI shakes her foundations, and Irene once again learns just how little she knew about the man she loved.

With help from their friends, Irene and her sons set up their lives while evidence mounts that the helicopter crash that killed Russ may not have been an accident. Meanwhile, the island watches this drama unfold — including the driver of a Jeep with tinted windows who seems to be shadowing the Steele family.

As a storm gathers strength in the Atlantic, surprises are in store for the Steeles: help from a mysterious source, and a new beginning in the paradise that has become their home. At last all will be revealed about the secrets and lies that brought Irene and her sons to St. John — and the truth that transformed them all.

Quick Thoughts:

This is the third and final book in the Paradise series. Like with the other two books, I really enjoyed this one. I love the characters, the setting, the family connections, and the plot. I did think there was a little bit of a forced connection near the end with Mitzi Quinn from Hilderbrand’s Winter Street series making an appearance, but otherwise I enjoyed this book. I feel like the series was wrapped up quite nicely!

Rating:

Currently Reading:

I’m currently reading We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. While I don’t typically turn to historical fiction, this book has definitely captured my attention. I’m about 75% finished, so I will tell you more about it next month. That being said, I already think it may be one of my Top 2021 reads this year.

What are you currently reading? As always, I love book suggestions, so let me know!

Happy Reading,

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hey! Happy What’s Up Wednesday! I can’t believe that next week is March! February flew by, and at least this week, we’ve thawed out, the snow has melted, and we’ve had temps in the 50’s! It actually feels like spring…which probably means we’ll get two snow storms in March here in Kentucky.

Today, I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for WUW!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

  • Sunday- Sliders and soup!
  • Monday- Andrea’s Creamy Beef and Rice and broccoli
  • Tuesday- My kids’ school had a fundraiser at Chipolte, so we had a Taco Tuesday where I didn’t have to cook!
  • Wednesday– Shay’s Chicken Tortilla Soup…which is a family favorite!
  • Thursday– Shay’s Beefy Cornbread Casserole Obviously, this recipe is on Shay’s blog, but it’s also in one of her cookbooks that I hadn’t used in a while. I made it a couple weeks ago, and it was so good! We all loved it, so I wanted to make it again before winter is over.
  • Friday and Saturday– I’m sure we’ll eat out or get carry out per usual on the weekend.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

The first day of school. As I’ve mentioned my kids haven’t stepped foot in their school since March 13, 2020. This year, they’ve been home with me three days a week and have attended school with a pod of kids the other two days. Fingers crossed, one week from today, they will be back in school with only three months left in the 5th grade.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

My Air Fryer…

haha

I received so many awesome suggestions after my Tuesday Talk post last week. (I’d love even more, so let me know some of your favorite Air Fryer recipes!)

Besides using it to reheat items or cook frozen foods, I’ve made veggies for dinner side dishes, donuts, and sliders. Up next: cinnamon rolls…I mean, just the store bought ones, but I’m going to bake them in the Air Fryer. I can’t wait to give them a try!

The donuts were delish!

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

This is so random, but I’m working on deleting photos from my phone. I save all my photos to Shutterfly, so there’s ZERO reason why I need to keep so many on my phone. That being said, I was up to like 9,000 photos and was just waiting for Apple to tell me my storage was full! Anyway, for some reason, deleting so many photos seems overwhelming to me, so I set an alarm on my phone to delete 100 photos a day. I’ve been doing this since January 1st, and I’ve gone from 9,000 to 4,800…now, that’s progress, y’all! I probably should have just called the Home Edit ladies…or given them my phone to return to me when there are 52 photos left on it 😂

We also just finished up sorting and delivering Hadley’s Girl Scout cookie orders. She still has a few more orders that will come in, but 90% of her cookies have been delivered!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

Besides school, work, dance, and basketball, the kids had plenty of fun in the snow over the past two weeks…and have a couple of broken sleds to prove it!

Travis and I made it out to dinner at one of our favorite places last Friday night. I love a 6:30 reservation by the fire…and home by 8:00!

I’m continuing my Beachbody workouts, and finished up Muscle Burns Fat. On Monday, I started Muscle Burns Fat Advanced. It might as well be called Muscle Burns Fat EXTREME because Megan has me cussing half the time…which must mean she knows what she’s doing!

WHAT I’M DREADING:

I’m not technically dreading anything right now, but of course, I continue to feel unsettled with the plans for return to in person learning. I hope once the elementary kids are phased in, we are ready to get a plan for the middle and high school kids. Right now feels very similar to the end of the school year last year when we were living on a two week by two week timeline with such uncertainty about educational plans.

*Edit: After I had this all typed out, we received the email and phone call with a plan to get all grades back in the building by the middle of March. Fingers crossed that Covid cases continue to decline and the plan can be carried out as scheduled. 😊😊

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Hayden and Hadley getting to (hopefully!) finish their last few months of elementary school in the building. Maybe I will have another Back 2 School Breakfast next week??

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

American Idol is back, and we usually watch it as a family.

Recently, we watched The Blindside and Top Gun with Hayden. He loved both movies. I don’t think I have seen either movie in years, and they were fun to watch.

Tomorrow, I will share the books I read in February. I’m currently reading We Were the Lucky Ones. I don’t typically read historical fiction, but this novel has captured my attention!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson have a new podcast called Calm Down. They’ve only had one episode, and Kevin Hart was their guest. Erin and Charissa are smart, funny, and sassy! I’m sure I will tune into this one weekly!

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Apparently, joggers and more joggers.

I a few weeks ago, Old Navy was having a sale, and I picked up these joggers. I love that they are high-waisted and form fitting but loose at the same time.

My Old Navy didn’t have the joggers in black, so I turned to Amazon….because why would I pay for shipping at Old Navy if I could find an option on Amazon where shipping is free! (and fast!)

I’ve dressed both pairs of joggers up and down…sweater, sweatshirt, tennis shoes, leopard flats, etc. The material of both lends to them being versatile.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Well, this weekend is what happens when make up basketball games and tournaments for two teams collide. Hayden has two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday!

Hadley’s talked me into taking her to Target to “look around…” Yikes…I’m scared just typing that out! She wants a few items for her room and maybe couple pairs of leggings or joggers because we’re all hoping pajama pants aren’t going to be a daytime wardrobe option soon!

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

I’m looking forward to spring weather and corned beef and cabbage on the menu. Also, Hadley has her first dance competition in March and baseball will be in full swing next month as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

Take care,

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Memes

February Monday Memes

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! How was your weekend?

We had a pretty good one which started off with Travis and I going out to dinner. Our original “Valentine’s Day” dinner had to be rescheduled due to the weather, and while our roads were still snow covered, the main roads were good enough for us to get out and enjoy dinner. Then, Saturday and Sunday were filled with basketball games, errands, church activities, and other things on my “to do” list.

I can’t let the month of February pass by without sharing some of my favorite memes. So, here you go…

1.

Haha! I swear every year that I ask the kids a 100 times how many kids are in their classes. We always end up with an extra box of Valentines because of course they have 25 kids in each of their classes!

2.

I feel this deeply, y’all!

3.

Funny!

4.

This is definitely me!

5.

Travis, are you listening?!

6.

I’m working on this, ok? 😉

7.

I’ve never felt more seen…

8.

This is definitely me! I tried to watch a movie with Hadley on Saturday night, and didnt’t make it past 30 minutes of the movie.

9.

This one definitely made me chuckle!

10.

My weakness 😂

So there are a few laughs to start off your week! I’m hoping for a pretty normal week around here, and the weather finally seems to have its act together! I think we are in the 40’s and 50’s all week, so hopefully our snow and ice will continue to melt.

I’m in the great debate (with myself) on when to get my car washed. I want to do so today, but I guess I should wait a couple days until all the snow is melted and the streets dry up!

And…I don’t want to jinx anything, but there’s a very good chance that Hayden and Hadley will be back in the school building (for the first time in 350+ days) next week! So, we’ll cherish this (hopefully) final week of virtual school, and then prep for a RETURN TO IN PERSON LEARNING! (excuse the CAPS…I’m not shouting…just really, really, really hopeful to get my kids back in the building!)

I hope you have a great week!

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#55}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! This has felt like such a long week. Sometimes I feel like when we have a Monday off, the week seems longer! Also, since we’ve been mostly home all week due to the weather, some days feel like the length of two!

I’m not sure if Andrea and Erika are hosting their weekly Friday Favorites post as I know they’ve been without power and haven’t posted much this week. My thoughts are with those throughout the country dealing with the ongoing winter weather.

I feel blessed that we have had power all week, and that storms two and three in the past week brought more snow than ice here in Kentucky!

Here are some of my favorites from the week.

Favorite Moment:

My favorite moment from the week was that we had an actual SNOW DAY on Tuesday. We received the phone call on Monday afternoon that we’d have a good old fashioned, non-virtual learning, snow day! It was so nice to know we didn’t have to set alarms, we could be lazy most of the day, and we could just take a break from virtual learning.

I try to stay pretty positive on here, but let me just say that I needed a break from being teacher/mom/home school teacher, and Tuesday provided just that.

We still had some snow and ice on the ground from the storm last Thursday, and then Monday-Tuesday, we got quite a few more inches of snow.

Favorite Pic:

My favorite pic is of this Snow Squad with their brightly colored sleds! Travis wins dad of the year for taking these kids sledding on Tuesday. They had so much fun.

Favorite Food:

My two favorite foods from the week both included biscuits, cinnamon, and sugar, so what’s not to love?!

On Monday morning, I made Bev’s Cinnamon Biscuit Bake. It was just the right amount for the four of us to have for breakfast, and it was so good.

In my Tuesday Talk post earlier in the week, I asked for Air Fryer ideas, and a couple of friends told me about Air Fryer donuts. I made them yesterday for us to have for breakfast. They were so good, and I made them in less than ten minutes from start to finish!

Favorite Clothing Item:

I was on the hunt for some black joggers. I found these on Amazon a couple of weeks ago, and have been wearing them quite often. They are comfy and stylish. I’ve worn with with tennis shoes, but I even wore them with a sweater and my leopard flats to church last week.

Favorite Kid Quote:

Hadley cracked me up on Sunday night as she headed for bed. She thanked me for a great Valentine’s Day and said, “Happy Valentine’s Day, mom or as us single people say, “Happy Gal-entine’s Day!” I couldn’t stop laughing!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Two favorite mom memes this week:

I feel this one deeply, y’all…

and this…although we don’t have stairs, so I make piles on the kitchen table that everyone ignores!

Other Faves from the Week:

I purchased a cookie decorating kit, and the kids decorated these for dessert one night. Hadley takes her time and tries to make the cookies look cute while Hayden tends to put on as much icing as he can!

One of the kids’ Valentine’s Day presents from us was the Bananagrams game. We’ve been playing it pretty often, and it’s even a game you can play by yourself!

Homer is still skittish coming up the stairs in the snow, but he sure loves to play in it!

Honestly, another favorite for me has been the snow. I love winter, and the snow has been so pretty. Of course, if we were without power or if I had to get out and drive in the weather because of work, I’d feel differently. The snow has been fun for the kids to play in (they’ve been able to sled three times this week!), and it’s certainly better than if we’d gotten tons of ice!

That being said, our extended forecast calls for 50 degree weather next week, and I’m definitely fine with that too after having so much winter weather the past two weeks!

snowflakes were *still* flying yesterday afternoon

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

This Kindergarten President’s Day craft popped up in my Facebook memories. Hayden as George Washington 😂…so funny and cute!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from this week in case you missed one!

Weekend Wrap UP
Tuesday Talk
Etsy Gifts

Well, we still have a couple days of cold temperatures and possibly a little more precipitation today, but then hopefully we will have a chance to recover from all of the winter weather.

Truly, I know that there are so many people dealing with loss of power, bursting pipes, treacherous travel situations (and more!) across the country. Prayers and warm wishes for those dealing with this unrelenting wintry weather.

Stay safe, warm, and have a great weekend.

Thanks so much for reading,

{this post contained an Amazon affiliate link..}

Posted in Gift Ideas

Excellent Etsy Ideas

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! I’m typing this post from what has now been deemed “The Kentucky Tundra.” In the past week, we’ve had two snow/ice storms and a third one that’s passing through today bringing 4+ more inches of snow. Our roads are icy and snow packed, people continue to lose power, and the temps are frigid with wind chills 0 or below! Next week, I see 40’s in the forecast, and while I do love winter and snow, I’m ready for this stuff to melt!

Anyway, today, I’m sharing some recent Etsy purchases. Y’all know I love Amazon, but I do try to shop small when I can and especially when I’m giving gifts. Again, Amazon has everything, but shopping small always ends up with me finding cute and personalized gifts!

Sweet Momma Blair

Hadley wore this Merry and Bright sweatshirt on repeat for the months of November and December. Of course, I know the holidays have passed, but her shop has so many seasonal sweatshirts as well as sweatshirts and t-shirts with fun and sweet sayings and….

sports teams apparel like my KC Chiefs sweatshirt. It kind of has a retro feel, and I love it.

RSShome:

My Gma requested this photo frame for a Christmas gift, and it was so pretty in person and amazing quality.

Garnett Jewelry:

I purchased this cuff bracelet for Hadley for Christmas, and she loves it. I wanted to give her something meaningful, and this bracelet should be a great keepsake for her. As I’ve mentioned before, Sis loves a monogram!

Moonwake Designs Co:

I’d had these bags saved as a teacher gift idea from MoonwakeDesignCo for quite some time. They ended up being the perfect teacher gift. I put sticky notes and PaperMate pens in each bag for my kids’ teachers. These bags would be perfect for travel or as a cosmetic bag as well!

Genius Leather:

I’d been wanting to get Homer a new collar and this one from Genius Leather has been perfect for him. Lots of people in Kentucky have these “name plate” belts (Travis included!) as a nod to horse halters. I knew Homer would look so cute in this cognac brown one. He almost looks distinguished and well-behaved 😉

Zoey Belle’s Creations:

Another find for Homer was this dog bowl. Simple, but personalized, and it arrived quickly!

I don’t see the bowl listed anymore on Zoey Belle’s Creations, but there are so many cute products in this shop from winter headbands to Easter gift ideas and much more!

Biscuits Bandana Co:

I’ve ordered Homer many bandanas from Biscuits Bandana Co, most recently this tartan one. They have so many options. I’ve ordered Homer a red, white and blue scarf as well as a scarf for fall from them. Again, I’m try to get him to “dress the part” of a well-behaved pup.

4th of July festive

Simple Amazing Designs:

For Christmas, I got my Gma and my mom these hand towels with their grandparent names on them from the kids. They are the perfect stocking stuffer, and this shop has tons of personalized options!

Mel and Mae:

I started following Mel and Mae a few months ago on Instagram after were were in a follow loop together. After finding them on Etsy, I saw so many items that I loved!

I’ve shared this XOXO sweatshirt from Mel and Mae that I got for Hadley. Much like the Merry and Bright sweatshirt, she has worn this new one on repeat.

These leather circle stud monogrammed earrings were a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for Hadley. I don’t see these specific ones listed anymore, but, again, this shop has so many cute options and tons of jewelry.

Pillowcases:

I shared in my Valentine’s Day gift idea post, that the kids have had their personalized pillowcases for many years, so I decided to get them new ones for Valentine’s Day.

They turned out super cute, are great quality, and were the perfect update for their bedding.

Hadley pillowcase // Hayden’s pillowcase

I love the Etsy app because it’s easy to save ideas to favorite shops. Obviously these shops have more than what I’m sharing, so go check them out!

I should be back tomorrow for a Friday Favorites post. I know Andrea and Erika, who co-host the link up, have shared that they’ve been without power and haven’t posted this week. So many of the OG blogs I read are friends with each other and live in Texas. Prayers for all the people dealing with this unrelenting winter weather across the country!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Stay safe and warm,

Posted in Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! It’s Tuesday Talk time with Erika and Ashley.

This is a link up where the topic is anything you want to chat about…Well, today, I’d like to talk about…

Air fryers!

I’ve wanted one for a while…I’d thought about asking for one for Christmas, but I wasn’t sure where I’d store it when not using it. Well, since Trav’s work didn’t have a Christmas party this year, they had an employee drawing for gifts! When Travis called to tell me he won the air fryer, I was about as excited as if he’d told me he’d won $1 million! 😂

We reorganized our kitchen closet, so it has a home when it’s not being used, but the problem is…I don’t know what to make in it!

I’ve gotten really good at hitting the “snowflake” button to cook frozen foods, and we’ve reheated tacos and pizza in it as well!

Lately, I did branch out and roast some broccoli (with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and Everything But the Bagel seasoning) in it. That’s my “go to” broccoli recipe that I typically do in the oven. I was relieved that it worked in the Air Fryer because it was definitely quicker and a bit easier to clean up!

Then, I really gained confidence and made Chicken Parmesan which turned out amazing! The only issue was that I had to cook the chicken in two batches because I was wanting to make enough for leftovers the next day.

What else do you suggest making? I’d love some side dish and vegetable recipes. Also, I liked making the main course (Chicken Parm) in it, so do you all have any suggestions for easy dinners? Do people make desserts in the Air Fryer? Why is there a button with a piece of cake on it?! I’m intrigued.

I want to love this new gadget so much…and I do, but I definitely would like to use it for more than reheating food and cooking frozen food!

Thanks for any help and suggestions! I’m trying to add “Air Fryer Expert” to my culinary resume, so I appreciate any help I can get.

Thanks so much for reading, and make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts too!