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Posted in Travel

Today, in my mind, I’m in…

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

California!

Recently, Lauren shared her “Today in my mind I’m in…” post about her honeymoon in Hawaii. I loved this idea. After having to cancel our spring break NYC trip and having no clue what we can plan for the summer, I thought I’d look back on our best trip as a family…June 2018 when we spent our time in Arizona and California…also known as #Whitesgowest (Travis thought of the hashtag and was very proud of himself!)

Now, before we could get to California, we had to first spend a few days in Arizona.

Hayden mentioned going to the Grand Canyon, and neither Travis nor I had ever been there. I’ve said it before, but I am grateful that Travis plans our trips because I feel like I plan every other second of our lives! I was down with the Grand Canyon idea, but was hesitant to spend a big chunk of vacation somewhere without an ocean. Travis was steps ahead of me and knew that San Diego, our all time favorite vacation spot, was an 8 hour drive from Sedona. So, we put the wheels in motion to start our trip in Arizona and spend the bulk of it in California.

To say the kids were excited for this trip, would be an understatement. To say I was nervous about being gone so long and it being just for four of us for the bulk of the vacay, would be an understatement! Turns out, we actually enjoy spending time together especially with sunshine and an ocean view.

Ready for Takeoff…

We left on a Monday afternoon and drove from Lexington to Cincinnati for a direct flight to Las Vegas.

Ready to fly!

Arizona & Grand Canyon

We landed in Las Vegas, rented a car and drove 4.5 hours to Sedona, AZ. Needless to say, we were happy when we arrived, just as the sun went down, at Amara Resort and Spa. We unpacked, and the kids swam while Travis got us a late night dinner. We stayed there Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.

Due to the time difference, even with a good night’s sleep, we were awake pretty early on Tuesday morning. So, we went ahead and decided to visit the Grand Canyon that day.

The kids were excited and ready to roll.

at the resort…

We stopped for breakfast and drove the almost two hours to the GC. Once we got there, we explored for quite some time. We’d follow the map, drive a bit, sight see, get back in the car, drive a bit more, etc. There was lots of “ooing” and “ahhing” and “Don’t take one more step closer!” during our adventure.

It was a hot day, but the views were breathtaking. Of course, the pics don’t do it justice!

Looks can be deceiving. If we backed up three feet, well–I do’nt want to think about it!

After a few hours, we drove to one of the visitor centers where the kids picked out a souvenir, and we picked up some lunch. They had a picnic area where we had lunch and then got ice cream. Then, it was time to drive the two hours back. I will say…there’s not much to look at on the drive to and from!

Once back at the resort, the kids swam (They love a good pool!), we relaxed and then went out to dinner.

On Wednesday, the kids hiked at Bell Rock with Travis while I had a massage at the resort.

Then, we went to nearby Slide Rock State Park where the kids and Travis were brave enough to slide down the rocks in the cold water. I swear I’m fun…but apparently not that fun!

Pool time, Bell Rock, and Slide Rock Park
They were hesitant at first, but loved it once they got going.

After a couple of hours, we headed back to the resort where the kids swam, we hit up Happy Hour had dinner at one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever eaten at, and then headed to bed.

Snoopy Rock on the right

Thursday morning, we were up, ready for breakfast and then 8 hour drive to California!

San Diego Part 1

San Diego has my heart. We’ve been there quite a few times through the years, and I just love it. I would have gone to any part of California, but I was so pleased that San Diego made the most sense.

The kids were fine in the car. They are used to 9 hour road trips when we drive to Kansas City. Much like driving to get to the Grand Canyon, there wasn’t much to see. That being said, the terrain did change to sand dunes which was interesting. We drove through the border crossing which was also an interesting experience.

We arrived in La Jolla late afternoon and stayed at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. Travis has lots of California friends due to being in the horse business, so they were able to tell us where to stay. While some of the rooms need updating, they were still nice and you couldn’t beat the location and being steps from the beach.

We were a little bummed that the weather was overcast for our first two days in San Diego, but, for me, the weather and view were perfect for reading, watching the kids play, and relaxing.

Upon arrival, the kids played on the beach and checked out the pool, before we walked to dinner at a delicious Mexican restaurant. Then, we headed back and went to bed.

I love this pic of Hadley…one of my favorites pics of the trip. First time seeing the Pacific Ocean and just taking it all in. Also, check out her natural highlights…what I wouldn’t give!

Fun at the pool…

On Friday, we spent much of the day on the beach. The kids went for a run with Travis while I continued reading and sipping my coffee. They bounced back and forth between the beach and the pool and even checked out the tennis courts until it was time to shower and go to dinner.

The “I love you so much” was a perfect spot to snap a pic before diiner.

Ready for dinner.

After dinner at a restaurant on the water, we stopped for ice cream (We eat lots of ice cream on vacation!) on our walk back to the beach club. Then, it was time for bed.

San Diego Part 2

If you haven’t traveled with Travis White, then you don’t know that we like to change hotels during our trips 😉 By the time we booked the trip, he could only get two days at the beach club but then found two days at a hotel on the beach in Carlsbad.

So, Saturday morning, we loaded up the car, made a pit stop for lunch at the Taco Stand and arrived at Beach Terrace Inn in Carlsbad.

After we unpacked, we hung out on the beach where the sun finally out! Later, we walked to dinner at a pizza place in downtown Carlsbad and then headed back to the hotel to watch a few television shows and go to bed.

I heart the ocean

On Sunday, the weather was again perfect, so it was a beach day.

Now I’m wondering where these sunglasses are…

My kids have been to the beach often, but are used to the calm waves of the Gulf of Mexico when we go to Siesta Key. So, the waves of the Pacific Ocean gave them a run for their money. They enjoyed it anyway!

That Sunday was actually our 13th wedding anniversary. After some hours on the beach, we walked around town for a bit. The English teacher in me geeked out for a minute while seeing the Farenheit 451 Book Store. I went inside for a few minutes while Travis took the kids for ice cream.

Before dinner, we took some quick, informal family beach pics, watched the sunset, and then walked to dinner at Campfire Restaurant.

My 13th anniversary gift…Hayden didn’t argue about putting on a Polo and both let me take their pics as the sun set.
I love these pics so much. Definitely shows how their relationship goes!

When we go on a beach vacation, we usually eat dinner early and head back to the beach for the sunset. Beach sunsets really are my fave. Our reservation was late, so we decided to watch the sunset first and then go to dinner.

Happy anniversary!

Campfire provided an awesome atmosphere, wonderful food, and amazing s’mores for dessert. Truly, it was an anniversary I will always remember spent at our favorite place (San Diego area) with our favorite little people.

Monday morning we had breakfast, hung out at the beach for a few hours (again, the weather was amazing) and then drove to…

Los Angeles

Travis has been blessed with some amazing business opportunities that have turned into friendships. While in Los Angeles, we stayed with one of Trav’s friends at their amazing house. They have young kids too, so our kids had fun playing with their boys while swimming in their pool.

Monday night, we went to the Dodgers game. Justify had won the Triple Crown of racing and Bob Baffert was at the game to throw out the first pitch which was an amazing coincidence!

Go Dodgers!

On Tuesday, we went to Rodeo drive and then to the Santa Monica Pier where there was a kids exhibit with activities.

The kids had fun at this exhibit.

Tuesday night we went out for a sushi dinner.

I knew we wouldn’t escape without going to the horse track! We went to Santa Anita Park, so Travis could watch some horses work out while also meeting up with friends/clients.

They love horses. What choice do they have? 😉

Then, we went to breakfast, checked out the Hollywood sign, said our goodbyes and then headed to Las Vegas which was a 4 hour drive.

Goodbye, Cali!

Las Vegas

After the drive, we checked in at Mandalay Bay, had a snack, took a nap (well, I did!), and then had a late dinner at Giada’s restaurant! I was so excited to eat there, and it was a perfect way to cap off our trip.

While we waited for our table, we took a few pics in her photo booth.

It’s hard to get everyone to look at the camera!

I ordered the scallops and risotto because I feel like that’s what Giada would have wanted me to order! 🙂

We had about 4 hours Thursday morning before our flight and kids voted to go to the pool. We went to the pool that has the lazy river and wave pool. It was perfect for them.

Of course, we soaked up all the sunshine and fruity drinks we could causing us to have to rush to pack up. Too long of a story, but while Travis returned the rental car, the kids and I ran Home Alone style through the airport. Travis was literally the last person on the plane with minutes to spare. I thought he was going to have to spend an extra night in Vegas with our car keys in his pocket as the kids and I would have been stuck in the Cinci airport. BUT…it all worked out.

Home

Thankfully, our flight from Las Vegas to Cinci was uneventful as was the drive back to Lexington. We arrived home around 10:00 pm only to realize we were locked out! haha

Our sitter/dog sitter saved the day about twenty minutes later with a key!

We were gone 11 days, and definitely needed that length of time to pace ourselves for both sightseeing and relaxing! We will forever treasure the memories of this vacation…and it all started with Hayden’s idea to see the Grand Canyon!

If you made it to the end, thanks for sticking with me through the details. When posts like these come up, it reminds me how much I wish I had started blogging sooner as to have all these memories and details in one place. (And to share with anyone who may be interested!)

Thanks for following along on our favorite vacation. I can’t believe that it’s been almost two years since we made that trek. #WhitesgoWest

Where’s your favorite place to vacation?? We usually stick to Florida or South Carolina, but this trip was definitely one worth taking!

I hope you are having a good week!

Posted in Delish Desserts

Delish Desserts: Cookie Cake

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Recently, Andrea shared that she made a cookie cake for her son’s birthday. I like to bake, but have never baked a cookie cake. Y’all, we are cookie cake people. I usually order them from Great American Cookie which is in our mall. Cookie cakes for all special occasions. For my birthday, I always say, “All I want is a card and a cookie cake!”

Lately, I’ve had more time to bake, so most Sundays Hadley and I have baked a sweet treat for Sunday dessert. I thought it would be fun to make a cookie cake as our Sunday treat a couple of weeks ago.

I will keep this post simple as Andrea shared about baking her cookie cakes using this recipe, so that’s what I did too!

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 c. room temperature, unsalted butter
  • 1 c. packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg, plus 1 yolk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 c. all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Hadley is always big help in the kitchen. Hayden mostly prefers to be the taste tester 😉

Instructions:

See Sally’s Baking Addiction recipe and instructions.

Finished Product:

We did not do homemade buttercream icing…although, I do love a good buttercream icing. We just used vanilla icing and sprinkles we had on hand. Hadley did most of the decorating!

Also, of note, not sure if we did something “wrong,” but the cake did rise a bit in the middle. It wasn’t flat like a cookie cake. That being said, it tasted delicious. Like most desserts, it barely lasted two days in our house!

I do want to try the recipe again and press the batter down more before putting it in the over. Also, not sure if Hadley had too big a scoopful of baking soda causing it to rise a bit more than it should have or not? I fall somewhere between novice and expert baker 😉

Overall, the recipe was a success and tasted delish!

Have you found yourself baking more during this time? What are some of your favorite recipes to bake? I’m afraid “quarantine 15” may be real!

Happy baking,

Posted in Weekend Top 5

Weekend Top 5

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! We had a pretty good weekend around here, and I hope you did too. The weather was really great especially on Saturday. Even with the lovely weather, I was still in a funky mood. My allergies have really been bothering me, and I haven’t been sleeping very soundly, so I think that all caught up to me.The sunshine and Vitamin D did help a bit though. I’m sure this week will be better.

We continue to find joy in the little things, and that’s what this weekend was all about.

Friday morning, I decided to make the kids a breakfast charcuterie board. Shay shared one she made for her kids recently. I decided it was the ultimate challenge for me with it being Friday, and I was in need of getting to the grocery store. I had made muffins the night before, so that got me off to a good start while making the plate. Like with the snack trays I make for the kids, I offered food items I knew each kid would like, so nothing would go to waste. Hayden eats Cinnamon Toast Crunch on repeat, but doesn’t like bananas. Hadley loves the chocolate chip muffins as well as bananas. Of course, both of them love bacon…#duh

Friday afternoon and evening were so nice. Hayden played basketball in the driveway while I read. Then, Hadley joined him for a few minutes while Travis went to pick up pizza. We ate pizza on our back patio and then Travis built a fire, and the kids had s’mores. It was a nice evening at home.

Saturday was absolutely gorgeous. Hayden helped Travis do yard work, and Hadley helped him plant flowers. Then, we rode our bikes to celebrate cousin Neko’s 7th birthday. Even though it was a social distance birthday, it was still great to see them.

*Also, apparently I’ve given up on making my kids change their clothes. Hayden wore that Mahomes shirt Friday and Saturday! haha

Saturday should have been Derby Day. There are other tracks with horses racing, so Travis tuned in to some of those races while also watching some of the “virtual” Derby coverage.

Oaks through the years…

The kids and Travis stayed up late Saturday night completing a puzzle. I went to bed early. I was hoping some extra rest would help my sinus headache!

I finished watching The Morning Show yesterday. I’d been wanting to watch it since I’d heard about it back in the fall. As I mentioned in a previous post, Travis got the free week of Apple TV, so he could watch a Beastie Boys documentary….so I was tasked with binge watching all ten episodes of TMS this week. #Iwasupforthechallenge

When I first saw the cast lineup last fall, I initially thought it would be more of a comedy…but it’s definitely a drama series. Basically, Steve Carrell is Matt Lauer who is fired leaving his co-host, Jennifer Aniston, in search of a replacement (insert Reese Witherspoon). That being said, it was a pretty heavy series to watch, and it certainly focused on the topics of the work place environment, the abuse of power, and the misconduct that is covered up. Some of the minor characters made the show even more than the main cast, in my opinion. I believe there is a season 2 in the works, and I will definitely tune in when it premieres.

On Sunday, Hadley helped me make Shay’s Oreo Peanut Butter Ice Box Pie. It was absolutely delicious. For the month of May, I made a goal to give up sweets….except on any Sunday where we’ve made anything with the words “peanut butter,” “Oreo,” and “PIE!” It was a great way to cap off our weekend.

So, that’s what we were up to this weekend. I was very grateful for the beautiful weather and hope we have more of it this week. Now, it’s time to wake up two kids for week 5 (I think?!) of distance learning.

I hope you have a great week.

Thanks for reading,

Posted in Friday Favorites, Gift Ideas, Holidays

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

**I shared this post earlier in the week, but all of the items are my favorites and perfect for this week’s Friday Favorites. I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika, so check out their posts too!

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I wanted to go ahead and share some ideas. ❤️

I saw this meme on Sunday, and thought it would be fun to put together some gift ideas for mom. Also, these could be gift ideas for yourself (I do that sometimes…like every Friday after I’ve survived another week of home schooling 😉) or ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

Of course, now you are down to about 10 days!

When I saw this meme, I really did get sad for a second. I love when the kids bring home cute crafts from school for me and there’s nothing better than a homemade card! For Father’s Day, I always print one of those fill in the blank sheets “All About Dad” with Dad’s favorites, etc. The kids’ responses are always so cute.

Per tradition, the kids and Travis know all I would like for Mother’s Day is a card, two hanging ferns for our front porch, no fighting…and maybe an hour of peace and quiet. The past couple of years we’ve gone out for brunch…and I will miss that this year. Since I do most of the cooking, I do take a break on Mother’s Day, and Travis usually grills out or we get carryout from a local restaurant.

To be honest, Travis is a great gift giver. Most years, on top of the traditional gifts, he (and the kids!) usually come up with something special like a framed sign with a saying, a gift card to somewhere I’d probably never go on my own, or a sweetly completed craft project.

Pinterest always has cute craft ideas for Mother’s Day. One year, Travis painted a wooden crate, and then the kids put their names and hand prints on it. Then, they filled it with flowers. It was a perfect addition to our back porch. A framed photo is always a sweet idea as well. I think all moms really want is to feel appreciated by maybe sleeping in a bit, not doing any household chores, or getting to stay out of the kitchen.

I posted some recent favorites of mine last week, but here are a few more ideas that are extra special!

 

9. I have this Amazon blanket in gray. It’s warm and cozy.

10. I have two pairs of these flip flops from Nordstrom. They are my faves and would be a perfect gift with some of mom’s favorite nail polish (I love OPI Bubble Bath and Funny Bunny!) or a nail salon gift card.

11. This “mom” ring dish (can be customized) is so pretty and perfect for mom’s dresser or jewelry drawer.

12. These vases from Rustic Roots would be a wonderful surprise for mom. Just fill them with flowers!

Y’all, mom doesn’t need anything fancy; she just wants to feel the love. Of course, I’m sure she wouldn’t be mad if she received something comfy, stylish, or sparkly to go with that sweetly signed Mother’s Day card.

 I hope you find an idea or two for mom, for yourself, or for someone special.

P.S. someone may need to forward this to Travis. Just in case. 😉 

Have a great weekend!

 

Posted in Books and Shows

April: What I’ve Been Reading

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! I can’t believe it’s the last day of April. How is that even possible?! I read three really good books this month (while balancing out reading with watching episodes of The Crown and Tiger King) 😉 I think one (or two!) of them may end up in my top 5 of the year.

Regretting You

I’d seen Regretting You recommended on other bloggers’ reading lists, and I’ve read other Colleen Hoover books. I was on the wait list at the library for a bit before I got the chance to read it.

One of the main characters, Morgan, gets pregnant at sixteen and commits her life to her daughter and husband. Morgan is worried her daughter Clara will make the same “mistakes” she made while Clara wants nothing to do with her mother’s advice. Then, a tragic accident happens that both pushes mother and daughter apart, but also forces them to figure out life together. The accident provides a twist in the plot that provides lots of questions that drive the story line to the end.

This was definitely a great book that I couldn’t put down! It lived up to the hype.

Our New Normal

Our New Normal was book I snagged off the shelf on the last day the library was open. This book was a slow start for me, but I did end up enjoying it.

Liz has been a stay at home mom for many years. Just as she is about to send her son off to college and start a new career, her teenage daughter, Hazel, shocks her with the news that she’s pregnant. The plot centers around Liz as she juggles this new development in her life, her aging parents as well as her strained marriage. All of these factors make up her “new normal.” That being said, the ending got me. It was a beautiful wrap up of the story.

The Matchmaker

I always love Elin Hilderbrand books, and keep meaning to tell Travis I want to add Nantucket on places I want to visit!

Dabney Kimball Beech has a full time job at the Chamber of Commerce, but she is also known for being a matchmaker. Even though Dabney is married and has a grown daughter, she still can’t escape her own romance troubles. One of my favorite parts of this book is that stories of Dabney’s successful matchmaking are interwoven within the plot of her life. The Matchmaker may be one of the most touching books I’ve read…and it was certainly one that brought a tear to my eye…a time…or two!

Currently Reading:

I’m currently reading Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna and Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey. Southern Side of Paradise is the third book in the Peachtree Bluff series that I’ve mentioned before.

Speaking of Kristy Woodson Harvey. I follow her on Instagram, and she’s been sharing about her new book Feels Like Falling which came out this week! I pre-ordered it on Amazon, and I believe it will arrive today! She mentioned on Instagram those who pre-ordered a book would receive a postcard and quote card signed by her. I received these in the mail last week, and they were such a fun surprise in my mailbox. I can’t wait to read this newest book of hers!

What have you been reading? I’ve love to add more suggestions to my list!

Also, did you see my Mother’s Day Gift Idea post from yesterday? Just didn’t want you to miss out 😉

Happy reading!

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Wednesday. I can’t believe we are in the last few days of April. This month has both flown by and moved at a snail’s pace! As always, I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday.

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

Sunday: It was a cold and rainy Sunday, so I made Shay’s Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s definitely a family favorite.

Monday: I love this burrito baked recipe, but I hadn’t made it in forever! I’m definitely going to put it back in our dinner rotation. I made Trader Joe’s street corn as an easy side dish!

Tuesday: Leftovers from Sunday and Monday.

Wed: Pork loin, Bob Evans microwave mashed potatoes, and bagged Ceasar salad

Thursday: King Ranch Joes and roasted broccoli

Friday and Saturday: We’ll continue to eat out to support local restaurants

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Hadley’s class played Guess the Toddler during their class meeting on Monday. Hadley’s teacher asked the parents to submit a toddler pic! This is the first pic that popped in my mind. Hadley’s mastered the death stare! 😉

Whoever would have thought when we started the school year back in August, that we’d be ending the year on lockdown with distance learning to wrap up the 4th grade? So, I guess I’m reminiscing about the beginning of the year, and, as always, how quickly this school year has flown by! My kids only have one more year of elementary school left. How is that even possible?!

WHAT I AM LOVING:

I shared some things I’ve been loving in last Friday’s post!

Also, the flowers continue to bloom, and they are such a beautiful sight to see.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

Hadley and I made our first ever cookie cake. We are cookie cake people. It’s usually our “go to” for birthdays and other special events….but we’d never made one before! It was pretty delicious and Hadley had fun decorating it.

We’ve been trying to keep Homer out of trouble. He’s a full time job!! The other day, he ate at least six donuts from the box of donuts Travis bought at a local place. He also joined me on a Zoom meeting last week.

Also, we are in a pretty good groove with distance learning and working from home at this point. The kids are usually able to have most of the afternoon for whatever they’d like to do while Travis and I finish up work. I can’t believe this is our new normal, but at least we are hanging in there.

WHAT I’M DREADING:

I’m not really dreading anything at the moment…trying to stay positive over here! 😉 My one “constant” is thinking about the groceries. It’s difficult to plan what we may need a few days out or thinking about dinners for the next week. I did get lucky last week and was able to place a Clicklist order for the next day! It was a miracle.

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

Besides helping with 4th grade math? I’m working on some posts with Mother’s Day gift ideas and about the three books I read in April.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

I have a few Amazon items arriving soon…mostly comfy pjs and a new books…but a few other odds and ends. I like that kind of mail! Also, it’s almost time to plant flowers. Travis loves doing yard work and planting, so it’s always fun to see the yard spruced up when he’s finished.

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I’m continuing to get caught up on The Crown. Since mid-March, I’ve watched all of season 2 and only have a few more episodes of season 3. I do like the new cast better than I thought I would. Travis and I watched The Tiger King and I was left speechless. haha Dead to Me is coming back to Netflix in May, I believe. I binged season 1 last year in about a week. I’m excited for season 2.

I’ve also been keeping up with American Idol; I’ve really enjoyed this season.

Travis wanted to watch a Beastie Boys documentary, so he went ahead and got the free week of Apple TV. I’m taking advantage of the free week to watch The Morning Show. I just finished episode 5, and it’s a very good series!

I will share my April books tomorrow or Friday, but I’m currently reading Two Girls Down and Southern Side of Paradise (The third book in the Peachtree Bluff series by Kristy Woodson Harvey.)

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

I’m still loving the Even the Rich podcast; I just finished season 1 and am ready to start season 2. I also love The Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, and am listening to the episode with Chip and Joanna Gaines. Also, last week, I listened to the latest episode of Shay and Erika’s The Bestie Breakdown. I enjoy that new series too!

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Well, I’m currently wearing the heck out of this Kentucky sweatshirt. Travis went to the basement on Sunday to look for something. He came upstairs and said, “Good news and great news!” The great news was he found this sweatshirt which was a Christmas gift he’d forgotten to give me! Y’all, practical me told him it could count as a Mother’s Day gift 😉

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Well, this weekend should have been Oaks and Derby. Travis is usually in Louisville most of this week for work, and I usually join him for Oaks on Friday. Most years, Hayden ends up having a baseball game on Derby Day, so in recent years, we’ve always just gone to a Derby party or hung out with neighbors and friends. The past few years, we’ve had to worry about soggy weather on Oaks or Derby or both! Of course, this Friday and Saturday look to have picture perfect weather, but with no horses to run! Both events have been moved to September 4th and 5th…but I will believe that when I see it.

I went ahead and hung my jockey silk door hanger and garden flag. It just didn’t feel right not to…during these first few days of May.

Obviously, no big plans for the weekend, but hopefully we can take advantage of the nice weather.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

I’m looking forward to Mother’s Day and wrapping up the school year. We don’t get out of school until May 27 which is actually one day earlier than we were scheduled. I know our summer will look different, but it’s nice when the year is all wrapped up…even if that looks differently this year.

Well, that’s it for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday. Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too. This is such a fun link up!

Thanks for reading,

Posted in Home Updates

Transformation Tuesday: The Sunroom

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Well, I only have a few more rooms to share on my home renovation tour and while I’m afraid each reveal is less dramatic, it’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint and a few accessories can do for a room.

So far, I’ve shared about the basement bathroom, the living room/office, the kitchen, the basement, and the master bathroom. I’m linking them up again in case you are interested or missed a post.

I think you can see through my little home tour that I’m committed to a color palette (gray/beige/pops of teal) and a theme (“If Joanna Gaines stopped by, she’d be proud of me but I don’t want to live in the middle of Texas!”) which honestly helps in the decision making process…

So on to the sunroom…

After only living here a few months, Travis painted the paneling in the the sunroom. After about a year, the parquet flooring was not holding up with two active kids and two dogs. The sunroom has two doors which is how we get to our backyard, so there’s lots of coming and going activity. When we were ready, our neighbor put down the waterproof flooring.

After the paint and flooring, the sunroom has kind of just remained as is. It’s an area that I wish we used more, but we don’t. Our old house had a screened in porch, and I know we would use this room more if it was a screened in porch. I miss the screened in porch! That being said, I realize most may prefer a sunroom…it’s added square footage with a heat/cooling unit, so it can be used mostly year round.

We’ve had this neutral sectional couch for almost ten years. It was in our basement in our previous house and didn’t fit quite right in our current basement due to the structural pole that I’m guessing holds up the house 😉 So, the neutral sectional takes up most of the sunroom, but it’s still a good spot to take a nap, read a book, or the kids’ have used this space to work on school work recently.

This is a pic of the emptied out sunroom with the new flooring—I believe we did that in spring of 2016, and it’s held up so nicely.

That rug is long gone—because of kids and dogs 😉

Before:

*Side note–I’m looking at this before (house listing) pic–and see blinds. I don’t remember those being there or taking them down. Travis may remember differently 😉

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

We removed the heavy sliding glass doors and replaced them with French doors.

The doors are great to open on a nice day or if we have people over.

After I took all of these pics (above) right before Easter, the kids requested that we dye Easter eggs outside. Well, it was a bit windy, so I moved our coffee table that goes with our back porch furniture inside for them to do that activity. Well, the table combined with good weather and lots of at home time, has now provided a place for us to circle up and eat dinner or play a game. We’ve done that quite a few times in the past couple of weeks.

So, we’ve been using the space a bit more which makes me happy. If only I could get Homer to quit running in from the outside and taking a lap on the couch! 😂

Our future plans…

I don’t know if it’s the quarantine talking or not, but we have started brainstorming how to furnish this area to provide a space that we could use more. I knew all along the sectional was limiting, but we’ve worked with what we have for more than five years. I guess step one will be to sell the sectional. Then, thanks to a few recommendations, I’ve had my eye on this set . We need to measure and check to see if everything will fit. We may just get a couch and smaller chairs. A few friends have a swing in their sunrooms/screened in porches, so we may look into one of those.

After we figure out the furniture, we hope to make room and move the tv stand I painted and tv. That has been a hold up as well. The only wall space (we’d thought about mounting a tv) we have is where the back doors open up…so inevitably, the door will bang into the tv. Also, the French doors take up most of that wall anyway.

I just know for us to hang out there, we have to be able to split up to sit, have a place to eat, play game, put our feet up, and then possibly watch tv too.

So, that’s how we updated the sunroom. Definitely one of our cheaper projects just costing us paint and reasonable priced flooring.

See you back here tomorrow for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday with Sheaffer and Shay.

Thanks for reading,

Posted in Meals and Recipes

Monday Meals: Side Dishes

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your weekend? I can honestly say after being so productive last weekend working on our master bedroom refresh, we were pretty lazy this weekend! The weather was so rainy and dreary, so we kind of took that as permission to be lazy.

We’ve regrouped and are ready to tackle the week ahead!

When the weather has allowed, we’ve been grilling out a bit. Over the past few weeks, I’ve made some of my favorite side dishes, so I thought I’d share them with you ! What I love about these is that that they are all even better the next day for lunch or for leftovers for dinner.

Pasta Salad

I’ve had this recipe pinned on Pinterest for years and make it quite often in the spring and summer months.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Rotini pasta, cooked
  • 1 Tblsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 c. Italian dressing
  • 1/2 c. of olives, chopped (sometimes I omit these which is what I did this time making it….just due to my personal preference)
  • 1/2 c. grape or cherry tomatoes, cut into fourths
  • 1 large cucumber, chopped
  • 3 Mozzarella sticks, chopped into bite sized pieces (I think I used four because it’s my kids’ favorite part!)
  • 3 Tblsp McCormick’s Salad Supreme (If I can’t find it, I use the Good Season dressing mix)

Instructions:

  • Boil the pasta.
  • Drizzle with the olive oil and stir.
  • Add salad dressing and stir.
  • Add in veggies and cheese and stir.
  • Add in McCormick Salad Supreme, mix together and then refrigerate.
  • Enjoy!

Wild Rice and Carrot Salad

This recipe, like many of mine, was in a Kroger coupon packet years ago. It’s a family favorite as well….even the kids devour it!

Ingredients:

  • 2 c. cooked, cooled wild rice or wild rice blend
  • 2 c. shredded carrots
  • 1 c. chopped, toasted walnuts (I always use slivered almonds instead)
  • 3/4 c. golden raisins
  • 1 small shallot, finely minced
  • 2 Tblsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tblsp. honey
  • 2 c. roughly chopped arugula (or spinach, kale, or any leafy greens)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Enjoy!

Instructions:

  • In a large bowl, combine rice, carrots, nuts, and golden raisins.
  • To make the dressing, whisk together shallot, vinegar, olive oil, and honey in small bowl.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste. (Also, at this point, I usually end up adding another drizzle of honey! Again, just our preference)
  • Drizzle dressing over rice and carrot mixture, tossing until combined. (Recipe can be made a day ahead up until this point.)
  • Add greens, tossing until evenly distributed.
  • Serve, refrigerating any leftovers.

Asian Slaw

I’ve had this recipe for years. I believe I got it from a friend at a recipe exchange years ago. It’s actually one I’d forgotten about until I was digging through my recipe box recently. I made it as a side when Travis grilled burgers recently, and it was so delish.

Ingredients:

  • 1 small head cabbage (I buy the classic coleslaw)
  • 1 package Ramen noodles
  • 2-3 Tblsp. fresh chives, chopped
  • 4 oz. toasted almonds (I used slivered almonds)
  • 1/4 c. salted sunflower seeds

For the dressing:

  • 1/3 c. oil
  • 1/3 c. white vinegar
  • 1/3 c. sugar
  • seasoning from Ramen noodles
  • 1/4 c. water (if slaw seems to dry)…I didn’t feel the need to use water when I made it recently.

Instructions:

  • Crush noodles, set aside.
  • Toast almonds in the skillet for a couple of minutes.
  • Stir together noodles, slaw/cabbage, chives, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
  • Pour dressing on just before serving.

or…

***Toss everything together, minus the noodles, and chill. Then, add in noodles right before serving. (**This is what I did when I made it) Enjoy!

I hope these side dishes provide ideas for you to add into your meal prep rotation!

I hope you have a great week! For us, it’s time for us to start week 4 of distance learning.

Thanks for reading.

Posted in Clothes, Friday Favorites, Health and Fitness

Friday Favorites {#24}: Things I’ve been Loving

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and of course, Happy Friday. Y’all we made it through another week. This was definitely our easiest week so far. The kids were able to do their schoolwork with minimal help from us, and the weather was pretty nice all week allowing us to get outside a bit more than we did last week.

Of course, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites, so check out their posts too.

For this edition of Friday Favorites, I thought I’d share some things I’ve been loving. A few items I’ve been using for quite some time and others have been recent purchases #quarantinemademedoit

All of these items are, of course, my favorites. ❤️

Health and Beauty

After seeing quite a few people promote the Billie razors, I thought I’d give them a try. I signed up for an every other month subscription ($9+free shipping). This cute box arrived on my doorstep in a matter of days with my starter kit inside. I chose the blush colored razor, and it came with the magic holder and two other blades. The starter kit also included a Wonder Wipe sample that removes makeup and a sample of the Sudsy Body Wash. I will receive four new blades in my June shipment. I do really like this product so far. The razors provide a smooth, clean shave, and I love the magic holder as it’s a magnet that sticks right to my shower wall.

At only $9, I felt good with trying these razors out. I may switch to a monthly subscription, but I thought every other month was a good place to start!

As I’ve mentioned before, I always have my nails painted. I usually stick with OPI Bubble Bath or Funny Bunny which are neutral colors. Andrea has shared about her base and top coats that she uses, and I’ve used them for quite some time now. I feel like the top coat definitely helps an at home manicure last longer. Of course, going to my regular nail place isn’t even an option right now, so I’ve been using my own at home supplies more and more recently.

Nail Polish post
base and top coat polish

Admittedly, I haven’t been putting forth a lot of effort in the hair and makeup department recently, but I’ve been using the Revlon One-Step Dryer since January after receiving it for a birthday present. I’m sure you’ve seen others talk about it or review it, and most everyone seems to love it. Me too. That being said, it’s definitely not something I can use on sopping wet hair. I have always let my hair air dry almost to 75% before using a blow dryer, in the past, or the One-Step Dryer now. So if your hair is mostly dry, this is certainly easier to use.

I find that it gives my hair so much more body and fullness. In the past, I would blow dry my hair with a round brush, then use a straightener where needed and then add some curls with my curling iron. Of course, all of that, is a lot of heat on my hair. Now, I can completely skip the straightener step. Sometimes, I don’t even put curl in my hair because my hair already has enough volume after using this.

One thing that did surprise me once I saw the One-Step Dryer in person….you’ll get a bit of an arm workout while using it! 😉 It’s a hefty styling tool. That being said, it only takes me a few minutes of use to get my hair how I’d like it.

Another product I’ve used weekly over the past couple months is my Nano Steamer. Again, it was a gift, but it’s one I use in addition to my normal skin care routine. Of course, everyone’s skin is different, and I made sure to read the instructions and even viewed a tutorial video because I wanted to know how to safely use all the features. After just 12-15 minutes of use, my skin always feels so refreshed.

REvlon one-step dryer
Nano STeamer

Shoes, Shoes, and, well…more shoes…

I’ve made a few shoe purchases recently. I kept seeing all kinds of great deals that influencers were sharing, and I couldn’t pass the deals up!

Influencers made me do it!
Adidas Retro run sneaker
Adidas REtro run JCP

Jen Reed shared that her retro Adidas were back in stock at DSW, so I snagged them right away. DSW had a code and I purchased mine for $38…and they arrived very quickly!

JC Penney seems to have the same retro shoe with a few other color options as well.

After following Jennifer Todryk for so long, she always shares about the amazing deals shes gets on shoes from Joe’s New Balance Outlet. I now get the New Balance emails and waited until I saw something I liked that was a good deal. My New Balances were only $35!

Then, I used Landyn’s Vici code for a discount on the already reasonably priced sandals she showed one day in her Instagram stories. These sandals seem to be out of stock, but Vici’s shoe and sandal collection has so many cute and affordable options.

I’ve mentioned recently how my sciatica has been bothering me lately, and last time this happened, I had waited too long to purchase new workout shoes. Both of these tennis shoes have already helped with my back pain, and I can tell they are providing my feet with more comfort and support…at least that’s what I tell Travis when he asks why there’s another shoe package on our front porch!

Food and Drinks

This week, I mentioned that I went on a Trader Joe’s run recently. These are some of our family faves! I love the Havarti cheese with dill and the Buffalo Chicken dip.

I also love Trader Joe’s Simpler Wines Rose’ and purchase the four pack in the spring and summer months! It’s a refreshing drink for sure.

Around the House…

Since we are washing our hands on repeat (on repeat, on repeat), I purchased a few new foaming hand soaps from Bath and Body Works. They seem to be having an ongoing 4 for $20 sale. After putting those in my cart, I decided to add in a couple of single wick candles. The soap and candles arrived this week, and both the candles smell heavenly! Also, the candles were 2 for $20, so I was happy to take advantage of that deal as well.

That’s it for my What I’ve Been Loving: Friday Favorites. We are going to take advantage of some nicer weather today before what looks like a soggy weekend!

Thanks so much for reading, and don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

Posted in Life Lately

Life Lately

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! We’re certainly scooting right through this week as we continue distance learning and working from home. Obviously, we’ve been sticking pretty close to home, but I thought I’d share a peek at what we’ve been up to…a bit of our life…lately.

Well, while I knew it was coming, we got the official word that we would finish out the school year at home. I feel like I’m mourning the loss of this school year in a sense. I surprised myself when tears sprang to my eyes when I saw the tweet from KDE.

My kids will only be in the 4th grade once. They have awesome teachers, and I know how it goes…as the school years go on, there’s more stress, school seems less fun, and the memories of elementary school are some of the best. No carnival, no 4th grade field trip, no field day, and no end of the year teacher hugs…the list goes on and on…and I’m sad for them …even if they aren’t too sad right now. It’s absolutely amazing to me how resilient kids are. I’ve said to others that it’s almost scary that we are now kind of used to this new normal (in regards to staying put at home and distance learning) that I’m afraid kids won’t want to do much once we get back to normal, if that makes sense. I know they miss friends and will want to get back to sports, but we’ve started a new, more simple routine.

A friend brought up a good point about how our kids have been so over-scheduled and how content they are now at home. I do agree…but joked that Hayden’s been playing too much Xbox, so I can’t want to over-schedule him once we can get back to it, and that Hadley over-schedules herself!

Anyway, I know it will all be just fine…and I’m thankful this isn’t a milestone year for them, but I know springtime at the elementary level provides some of the best times and best memories.

That being said, the kids are doing a great job learning at home. That first week was rough but we are now in a routine. This week their teachers have incorporated some other activities like Earth Day activities, a video about kindness, and Hayden’s teacher is doing a chapter a day Read Aloud of the first Harry Potter book. Hayden has loved listening to the book this week.

Reading and lunch with Boo
Homer joined Hadley’s morning class meeting

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, we’ve been working on our master bedroom refresh. Travis and I wallpapered one wall in our bedroom Friday evening. Then, Hadley helped Travis paint over the weekend.

On Saturday, Hadley decided to try on one of her dance recital costumes. She even put on some makeup (she’s better than me at doing so) and twirled around the house for a bit. Just your average Saturday afternoon! Hayden did ask her why she had a napkin ring on her head! haha

I had a Zoom call with some of my friends on Saturday evening. We had a little 7-8:00 Happy Hour and just caught up with each other. It was nice to see their faces and hear their voices!

Monday afternoon, I picked up by Kroger Clicklist order which included instant coffee. So, I made my first ever whipped coffee. I followed Amy’s directions from one of her recent posts. It was a delicious and refreshing treat!

I stopped by my classroom on Tuesday. I needed to get a few materials, and it felt good to sit and work there a couple of hours in silence…and in what should have been…

There was a birthday parade for one of my friends on Tuesday. Can birthday parades always be a thing? I love this idea! If we are still locked in our houses in July, can someone please organize a half birthday parade for me?!?

The past few evenings, Hadley and I have been watching the Elephants documentary on Disney + (narrated by Meghan Markle) while the guys have been watching the Last Dance documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

I made a Trader Joe’s run recently and picked up some of our faves! Nothing says warmer weather to me than the canned Rose’ I love from TJ. The other items are family favorites but I’m also oobbbssed with the Havarti cheese with dill and the Buffalo Chicken Dip.

We’ve even kept up our (at least) weekly family bike ride.

Also, this week, I wrote my first ever Tuesday Talk blog post on Why I Started a Blog. It was a fun link up with Erika and Ashley.

Well, I guess that’s it. Just a little bit of what’s been going on with us! See you back here tomorrow for some of my recent favorites!

Thanks for reading,