Share Our Lives: March 2024

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

Hello and happy Monday!

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

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

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

How’s everyone feeling? haha

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

This year, we’ve discussed:

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

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

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

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

1. My Kindle

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

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

2. Weighted Blanket

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

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

3. Post-It Notes

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

4. Tumbler(s)

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

5. Coffee pot

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

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

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

Bonus: A hair tie!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week,

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#197}

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

Hello and happy Friday!

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

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

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

Here are my favorites from the week:

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

…and an updated garden flag!

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

A little bit of luck…

…and a little bit of spring colors…

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

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

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

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

Favorite Mom Meme:

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

Share our Lives:

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

We’d love to have you join us!

Weekly Recap:

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

Prime Purchases

Currently

February Workouts

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

I hope you have a great weekend.

Health and Fitness

Workout Diaries: February 2024

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

Hello and happy Thursday!

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

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

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

Here’s my February Bodi tracker:

Here are my workouts this month:

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

February 3:Sure Thing: Lower Body Power

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

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

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

February 17: Sure Thing: Lower Body Power

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Currently

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

Hello and happy Wednesday.

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

Here’s what I’m currently:

Loving:

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

These colorful wooden bunnies brighten up my entryway table.

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

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

(Walmart also has 16 inch ones too!)

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

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

Looking forward to:

Well, my first thought was spring break!

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

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

Planning:

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

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

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

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

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

Wearing:

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

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

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

Eating:

Lately:

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

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

…as was this stir fry recipe.

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

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

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

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

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

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Amazon

Prime Purchases

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

Hello and happy Monday!

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

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

Here are my purchases for the month:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everything is linked at the end of that post…

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

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

I hope you have a great start to your week.

Happy shopping!

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Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#196}

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

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

I hope you’ve had a great week.

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

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Fave Pics:

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

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

…but of course I love seeing my boy smile.

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

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

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

Fave show:

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

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

Fave Moment:

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

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

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

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

Favorite Foods:

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

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

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

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

Favorite Find:

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

Favorite Kid Quote:

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

Favorite Mom Meme:

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

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

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

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

Weekly Recap:

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

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

Thanks for reading,

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Monthly Musings

Posted on February 29, 2024February 28, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday. My favorite day of the week…and it’s February 29…so happy leap year!

I love Patty and Holly’s end of the month link up, so I’m joining them today for Monthly Musings!

This month’s topic is surviving the winter months.

Well, after our round of winter weather in January, we haven’t had any more snow or freezing temps. Yesterday, we had crazy rounds of storms but then the temps definitely dropped again.

While I love a good dose of winter, I’m glad that I don’t feel like it’s something I have to “survive.”

Anyway, here’s how I “survive” the winter months:

1. What do you do in the winter that brings you joy?

A pretty snowfall and a snow day bring me joy in the winter. I realize I can’t control when we get snow, but when we have a snow day, I do try to savor it.

2. How do you stay warm and cozy?

I love when we turn on the fireplace, but now that I’m typing this, I’m realizing we haven’t done that this year.

Also, I love a sweatshirt, flannel pjs, a blanket and a warm cup of coffee to keep me warm. A lit candle always makes things extra cozy.

3. What are you looking forward to this winter?

Well, at this point, I feel like winter is basically over. Sorry to sound repetitive, but during the winter, I do look forward to snow. I’m so glad I live somewhere where I experience all four seasons…because I do think that means that I embrace and cherish each one.

4. Favorite wintertime activities?

I don’t do much out in the elements, but I loved the tradition of going tubing with friends once a year. Otherwise, the kids love being out in the snow with their friends.

I guess my favorite wintertime activity is staying inside bundled up and reading a good book.

5. Favorite month of winter?

January. To connect back to #1, January actually brings me joy. November and December have always felt like such a marathon, that once it’s January, I literally feel myself exhale.

January means a fresh start, a bit slower pace, my birthday and the chance for a snow day (or five! like we got this year)

6. Favorite dishes to make in the winter?

I use my slow cooker fall, winter, and spring, and I love making an easy meal. The winter months are all about comfort food, and we have more soups and casseroles. Chili is also a family favorite.

Tuesday night, I made this Pizza Pasta Bake, and it was a hit.

7. Gas or wood burning fireplace?

We have a gas burning fire place, and I love that ours is double sided. So, we can see through the living room to the kitchen…and vice versa.

8. Favorite winter hot beverage?

Well, I love my morning coffee year round, but in the winter, I will sometimes splurge on the occasional Starbucks. There, I usually get a hazelnut or pistachio latte.

I also like a London Fog from Starbucks.

9. Favorite winter movies?

In January, for Bloganuary, I shared this post about favorite movies.

10. How do you stay healthy in the winter?

Well, I don’t want to jinx it but after I was sick after Christmas, we’ve been pretty healthy. I try to drink plenty of water, exercise, and wash my hands.

To me, tomorrow, March 1st is officially spring. Now, I’m ready to count down to spring break…and then summer!

Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: February 2024

Posted on February 28, 2024February 27, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday….and it’s already the end of February.

Today, I’m sharing the books I read this month.

Well, unfortunately, my book reading average continues to stay at two books a month.

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Berry Pickers:

Summary:

A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a tragic mystery that haunts the survivors, unravels a community, and remains unsolved for nearly fifty years.

July 1962. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come.

In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. Her father is emotionally distant, her mother frustratingly overprotective. Norma is often troubled by recurring dreams and visions that seem more like memories than imagination. As she grows older, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret.

Quick Thoughts:

I loved this book. I thought the premise was interesting as well as how the Norma’s past and present are woven together. Also, I thought the ending was very fitting and wrapped the plot up nicely.

Rating:

Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education:

Summary:

Maid was a story about a house cleaner, but it was also a story about a woman with a dream. In Class, Land takes us with her as she finishes college and pursues her writing career. Facing barriers at every turn including a byzantine loan system, not having enough money for food, navigating the judgments of professors and fellow students who didn’t understand the demands of attending college while under the poverty line—Land finds a way to survive once again, finally graduating in her mid-thirties.

Class paints an intimate and heartbreaking portrait of motherhood as it converges and often conflicts with personal desire and professional ambition. Who has the right to create art? Who has the right to go to college? And what kind of work is valued in our culture? In clear, candid, and moving prose, Class grapples with these questions, offering a searing indictment of America’s educational system and an inspiring testimony of a mother’s triumph against all odds.

Quick Thoughts:

This is another memoir by Stephanie Land. I’ve previously read Maid, and I thought it was such an interesting read. (I also enjoyed the Neflix series.) Like Maid, I thought this book was so powerful and again an eye-opening perspective for those who live below the poverty line. Picking up where she left off in Maid, I was interested to see how life was for Land and her daughter after their move to Montana. I think I enjoyed Maid more than Class, but I’m still glad that I read both.

Rating:

Maybe March will be my lucky month, and I will get three books read? I have started Shay’s Book Club Book from February: The Frozen River, and I’m really enjoying it.

Thanks to a suggestion from a reader, every month, I’m going to try and remember to add the books I read to my Instagram stories and then save to a highlight. Also, feel free to use my book trackers to share what you’ve been reading. I have those saved in highlights as well. I liked creating those and will make a couple for March too.

Happy reading!

Memes

Monday Memes

Posted on February 26, 2024February 25, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? We had a pretty good one. Overall, it was low-key, but we were pretty busy with Hayden’s basketball tournament.

Did you catch my Share 4 Somethings post on Saturday?

I can’t believe it, but it’s the last Monday of the month, so I’m sharing some memes that made me laugh this month.

This is me…most Sundays. haha

This one is definitely relatable too. By Friday, I’m just ready to be home and too tired to do much else. Saturday is usually spent at some athletic event or running errands…and then Sundays are for prepping for the week!

I feel seen.

I’m good about starting laundry, really good at letting laundry sit in the dryer for as long as possible…and the worst about putting it away. Please tell me I’m not the only one!