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Posted in Travel

California Recap

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

Shew…it’s already Thursday. I swear the summer weeks flew by, but I’ve been so busy this week that it’s flown by as well.

Yesterday, I shared about what the kids did while in KC, and today, I’m sharing a recap of my trip to California with Travis.

Most years Travis heads to Del Mar the end of July/early August for work. He has clients in California that he checks in on and some of them have horses running at Del Mar. The Del Mar racing meet for the summer is the end of July to around Labor Day.

So, the timing with back to school isn’t ideal, but I try to tag along the years that I can.

Wednesday:

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I drove the kids to KC last Sunday and then I flew out of KC on Wednesday (and Travis flew out of Lex) and we met in San Diego.

My dad dropped me off at the (new and improved) KCI airport around 8:15 for my 9:45 flight. Since I had a carry-on suitcase (yay!) and security was a breeze, I was at my gate by 8:30.

I flew from KC to Denver and made a sprint through the Denver airport to make my connecting flight to San Diego.

While it would have been nice to have a few extra minutes in the airport, I was very thankful everything was on time and smooth sailing. I arrived around 12:30.

Travis arrived about an hour and a half before me which gave him time to pick up the rental car and do some work.

Since we were in downtown San Diego, we parked and walked around Little Italy. We ate lunch at the Farmer’s Table. My gnocchi was delish.

Then, we drove about thirty minutes to Del Mar. Travis booked our place on Airbnb. It was a vacation rental called Wave Crest. It was really nice, and the 90’s kid in me kept thinking about the tv show Melrose Place. haha

I will say the only “down side” was that the train tracks were busy, and those trains honk their horns. I never heard it at night…I know they went by, but I didn’t hear the honking then.

Our room wasn’t ready yet, so they gave us a key to the pool, and we hung out for about thirty minutes. This was the view from the pool area:

Our place was a one bedroom that was really spacious. There was enough space and pull out couch that I truly think we would have been comfortable there, space-wise, if we had the kids with us.

Our place overlooked Seagrove Park.

Once we unpacked, we headed to the beach for a bit. The water is definitely colder, but you can’t beat the air temps!

When we went back to the resort, we realized it was “Wine Night,” so we had a glass of wine along with some cheese and crackers while enjoying the view.

Then, Trav ran to store for a few things like water, strawberries, beer, wine and a few snacks.

We got dressed, and walked…

…to a restaurant on the beach called Poseidon. We eat there most every time we go to Del Mar. We ended up seeing one of Trav’s clients, and some Lexington people. I had fish tacos for dinner, and the sunset over the ocean was pretty.

Around 9, we headed back to room and watched some tv before bed. The only thing I don’t like about travelling out west…the time change!

Thursday:

I woke up around 6, but made myself go back to sleep. When I woke up at 7, Travis was gone, but he’d left me a large coffee from Starbucks.

While he was at the track watching the horses workout, I just relaxed, watched tv, and hung out.

We went to breakfast at one of Trav’s favorite spots in Solano Beach…Claire’s on Cedros. I got the avocado toast, and it was so good.

Once we got back, I went to the pool while Travis went to watch some of the races. I started Five Star Weekend.

I went back to the room and ate lunch before heading to the beach for a couple of hours.

I went back to the room to clean up and take a quick nap before dinner.

We were meeting a few of Trav’s clients (who have truly become friends) at Ken’s Sushi. One of the clients did all the ordering for us, and we ate so much delicious sushi. Cali sushi can’t be beat!

We got back to our place around 7:30 just in time to catch the 7:45 sunset.

Look at all those surfers out there at sunset…in this pic, it looks like sharks!

It was a great full day of relaxation.

Friday:

I had another easy going morning while Travis went and watched the horses work out.

Then, I did a work out in room before going to the pool for a bit.

I had the whole pool to myself.

Then, Travis and I walked to Del Mar pizza for lunch.

Then, we both went to the beach for a bit…

…before heading to Del Mar Race Track. The weather was beautiful, and we hung out on the veranda for a bit. Then, we watched some races from a box and even went to the paddock to check on one of the horses before the race. Beer Can Man placed second; he lost by a nose.

I wish we’d gotten a pic together that day since we looked nice…but we were busy, I guess.

Then, we went to dinner at Tony Jacal’s. We’d never been there before, but it was so good!

Back at the room, I packed up a bit and finished my book.

Saturday:

Of course, I adjusted to the time change by the last day…it was nice to sleep in a bit and not be rushed to the airport.

I read for a bit and drank my coffee while enjoying the views one last time.

Trav went for a jog, and I walked on the beach for a bit.

We packed up and checked out by 11.

Since we knew it was going to be a long travel day, we wanted to have a good lunch. Another fave spot is The Brigantine which overlooks the water and race track.

I had one more round of fish tacos.

Since we had a few more minutes to kill, we walked on the beach one more time.

…and then headed to the airport.

Thankfully, everything was on time, and we had a very quick flight to Phoenix.

Since we had a two hour layover in Phoenix, we sat down for dinner before boarding our flight.

The flight was pretty bumpy and the pilot even flew around to try to avoid some bad weather. Our flight was supposed to land at 11:59 pm, but it landed at 12:15am. Honestly, given how travel is these days, that was no big deal.

We caught an Uber to my dad’s house, and finally went to bed at 1:30…before waking up the next day, re-uniting with the kids and driving the 8 1/2 hours back to Lex.

It really was a great trip, and I’m thankful for my KC fam keeping the kids busy.

I have dreams of spending a few weeks in Del Mar in the summer…it may have to wait until I retire, but we’ll see!

Thanks for following along on this trip!

(Also, I haven’t forgotten about the gift card I owe one of you! I will get that figured out and hope to announce in tomorrow’s post!)

Have a great day.

Posted in Travel

KC Recap

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday.

Two days of professional development down and two to go! So far, so good.

I was going to link up for Let’s Look, but the topic is worst habits which I already covered in one of my blog challenge posts.

So, today going to recap our visit to Kansas City last week.

As the kids have gotten older, summer has seemed to get busier. We usually get to KC in the summer to see family, but this summer took a bit of orchestrating schedule-wise.

Travis was in Saratoga, NY (for work/fun) and then had to go to California (for work) (with a few nights back in Lexington in between), so the kids and I drove to KC on our own.

In all my trips to KC with the kids, I think this is only the second time it was just the kids and me. Obviously, that meant I had to do all the driving…haha

Look at my co-pilots!

Thankfully, our nine hour drive was uneventful!

We arrived in KC on Sunday evening and made a pit stop at my dad’s. Then, we picked up dinner before going to my mom’s house. We ate and hung out and then Hadley and I stayed at my dad’s house while Hayden slept at my mom’s.

On Monday, we had some downtime before going to my mom’s house. While there, I went on a walk. The temps in KC can be pretty hot this time of the year, but it wasn’t too hot that day.

Later, we went to my Gma’s house for dinner. We looked through some old photos, and Hadley found this one with my brother being silly.

We had lasagna and then played Phase 10. I’d never played it before, and we all liked it.

We also enjoyed some Crumbl cookies we picked up for dessert.

The kids and I went back to my dad’s for bed.

On Tuesday, we all slept in a bit, and then Hayden had to do a track workout. Since we didn’t have Coach Travis with us, Hadley subbed in for the job.

He had to run 100, 200, etc. a few times at a certain pace. Hadley was his timer, but did a warm up jog with him.

I walked the track while they did the workout.

Tuesday afternoon, we ran some errands, went to my mom’s house and then I packed for my California trip.

The kids wanted to go to my Gma’s house again, so we picked up dinner and went to her house. We played Phase 10 again and hung out for a bit. I took the kids to my mom’s house and told them goodbye before heading back to my dad’s to go to bed because…

I had an early flight and he was taking me.

I don’t want this to be too big of a flex…but look who packed a carry on again for a flight!!

(I will share more about this next week, but Hadley did help me pack…and it was still pretty tight. Since my smallest luggage is a medium size suitcase, I packed it for KC and then pared what I wanted to take to California into Hadley’s carry-on suitcase. It’s not that I needed much more for my couple days in KC, but it’s hard packing for a week with hot and then mild/cooler temps! Anyway, we made it work!)

On Wednesday, while I was gone, my mom took Hadley with her to workout while Hayden ran. Then, she took the kids to the neighborhood pool, but I guess they were only there an hour or so before storms rolled in. They also went shopping because one of the local stores had Super Bowl athleticwear on sale.

On Thursday, they met my Gma and aunt for lunch and more shopping…(at this point, I told the kids to quit running up a tab…haha)

Thursday evening, my mom got Hadley a volleyball lesson with former collegiate player. My mom is friends with the player’s mom, so that was a fun way for Hadley (and Hayden) to burn some energy.

On Friday, the kids went to my dad’s house for a bit. Hayden got in his track workout, and then they went to Culver’s for lunch.

That afternoon, my mom took the kids to the Nelson Atkins Art Museum, and they had a good time.

My mom said Hayden was blown away by the Van Gogh paintings.

Afterwards, they played putt putt.

On Saturday, Hayden had his long run and then my mom and Hadley went to my aunt’s house for her stamping class. On Sunday, Hadley was excited to show me all the cards she made.

That afternoon, they went swimming and ate BBQ at my Gma’s house.

Travis and I were to arrive in KC at 11:59 PM, but our flight landed around 12:15.

By the time we got off the plane and took an Uber, it was 1:30 before my head hit the pillow.

We didn’t set an alarm, but we wanted to get up at a decent time on Sunday. I was up around 7:30 and Travis was up around 8. We went to my mom’s to get the kids. They were excited to see Travis because they hadn’t seen him in 10 days.

We packed them up, said goodbye to my mom before heading to my dad’s house to get our stuff. We were on the road around 9:45 and made good time back to Lexington.

I didn’t want to jinx it because I know travel can be wonky right now, but thankfully our air travel was pretty seamless this summer with our trip to Florida and then KC to California. Travis had some slight issues on his flight to Saratoga, but otherwise, it all worked out.

I’d say that we all enjoyed our trips. The kids had a really great time with a good mix of downtime, family time, craft, sports, culture and more! I was thankful for Trav being there to help on the drive home. We were tired and happy to get home to Homer.

Posted in Amazon

Prime Purchases

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Well, we’re back from California which also included an 8 1/2 hour car ride yesterday from KC. I drove the kids there last weekend, stayed a few days, met Travis in California, then flew back to KC Saturday night and drove to Lex yesterday. To say I wish I could have slept in this morning might be the understatement of the century…haha

but…

Today, I officially head back to school. Our students don’t start until next Wednesday, but they added all of our professional development days to the beginning of the year rather than sprinkling them throughout the year (or letting us get our own PD in the summer…not really “best practice,” but what do I know? Can you tell I’m bitter?)

Anyway, since it’s the first Monday of the month, Tanya is hosting her Prime Purchases link up!

I did have quite a few purchases, so here we go…

Clothes:

I hadn’t really purchased many clothes this summer from Amazon, but did buy a few things over the past few weeks that I’ve been wearing quite a bit.

  • I’ve shared this romper already a time or two when it was worth mentioning in other posts, but I haven’t shared it in a Prime post yet. Actually, I bought this romper mid-June, but I wanted to wear it a few times before sharing. Like I said before, I don’t know if it’s the most flattering (on me), but it’s comfy, and I like the pink color with my tan.
  • This three pack of biker shorts were something I wanted to try. Now, I’ve yet to leave the house in these biker shorts, but I’ve used them for at home Pilates workouts, lounging and even pjs with a t-shirt. I really like them.
  • This cap sleeve sweater is one of my favorite purchases this summer. It’s lightweight, comfy and cute. Truly, I love this sweater. I wore it twice in Florida and twice in California…not that you have to go on vacay to wear it, but I was so glad I packed it. I know I will wear it to school too.
  • This tiered tank is perfect for summer nights paired with white denim.
  • I have this t-shirt in two colors. I knew it was oversized, so I bought it in medium, and it’s perfect. Then I thought it would be good with the biker shorts in a size large, and it does provide enough coverage. So, I have this t-shirt in purple and the rose color.

Books:

  • Like I said in my What I’ve Been Reading post last week, I purchased The Five-Star Weekend because the library waitlist was long. I read it in 24 hours while in Cali. IT was SO good.
  • I picked up this word search book to do on the plane because sometimes, if I feel anxious on the plane, I can’t concentrate to read. I did quite a few of these on the plane, in the airport, or just lounging around in the morning. I love a word search.

Health:

  • Like I shared in my “What’s in my shower” post last week, I’ve been buying this Selsun Blue for Hayden. He doesn’t have itchy scalp, but I guess it can be good for skincare too. Again, he doesn’t use it as a face wash…just when he washes his hair, and it trickles down his face, there are skincare benefits (and he’s getting his hair washed!)
  • I’ve been putting a scoop of electrolyte powder in my Stanley cup for my workouts, and I really like this orange pineapple flavor.

Prime Day:

I had a few Prime Day purchases…

  • I bought this little portable speaker for Hadley because she’s always looking for Trav’s. It didn’t arrive before our trip to Florida, so I think I’m going to save it for her birthday.
  • I needed more of my collagen powder, and the Vital Proteins that I always buy was on sale.
  • I’m loving my Stanley cup and wanted extra straws. These were on sale that day too.

So, what have you been Priming lately?

Also, I want to say thank you for the blogiversary love on Friday…I really appreciate the comments and will choose a winner soon. I hope to post pretty regularly this week, but I will just have to take it day by day…re-entry is rough!

I hope you have a great Monday.

{This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog.}

Posted in Friday Favorites, Travel

Friday Favorites {#169} & Blogiversary

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? We’ve definitely made the most of my last official week of summer.

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

Here are a few favorites:

The kids got to hang out with their uncle and cousin at a photo shoot for UK volleyball.

They had so much fun, and Hadley was excited to meet Azhani Tealer.

Travis and I have been in California since Wednesday, and it’s been so nice to have some down time before heading back to school.

He’s here for work, and I tagged along. I’ve had some beach time…

…and pool time.

The weather and views have been amazing.

Also…

Today’s a big day…it’s the 4th blogiversary of Show Me and Sweet Tea.

I don’t take for granted this community, and writing these blog posts is still my favorite hobby!

As a thank you, I will send a $40 gift card to one of you to Target, Trader Joe’s, or Amazon.

By end of day Sunday, just share a favorite thing you’ve done this summer in the comment section of this post for a chance to win.

Please bear with me with heading back to school on Monday and getting my life together after being gone all week. It might be a couple of days before I announce the winner.

Truly, thank you for reading my posts, commenting and making this space a fun corner for the internet for me.

Favorite Kid Quote:

On Tuesday, when Hadley looked at her phone, she said, “Ewww! It’s August 1st.” I could definitely relate 😆

Favorite Mom Meme:

This one made me laugh…

Weekly Recap:

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

July Books
Siesta Key part 2
What’s in my Shower

What are your weekend plans?

I still have a couple more days in paradise and then Sunday is full on back to reality followed by back to school on Monday.

Have a great weekend.

Posted in Health and Fitness, Self-care

What’s in my shower

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday.

Thursday is always my favorite day of the week, but today is a great Thursday because I’m spending it with Travis in one of our favorite places.

So, today’s post might seem kind of random, but when Jennifer shared what was in her shower, I loved that idea for a blog post.

The kids have their own full bathroom, but it’s the only space we haven’t updated in the house. They have a shower/bathtub, but once they outgrew baths, they just started showering in my bathroom.

So, because of that, we have plenty of products for all three of us…

For years, Travis has used the bathroom in the basement and leaves his clothes in the basement closet too whereas I use the primary bedroom closet and bathroom. Honestly, I think Travis pulled one over on me with the decision because most school day mornings, I’m upstairs fussing at the kids to get ready for school while he’s blissfully having a carefree morning getting ready in the basement…haha

Anyway, here’s a peek at what’s in my shower…

  • Pureology– This is my favorite shampoo, and I’ve used it for years. Fun fact: I only wash my hair twice a week…and honestly don’t use dry shampoo very much. I used to wash my hair every other day, but I swear it must have been during the year at home /2020, I was just washing my hair less, and have continued that practice.
  • CeraVe face wash- I’ve never been picky about my face wash, and a couple of years ago, Hadley mentioned that CeraVe was what all the girls were using…So that’s what we use too…Hayden, too, if he thinks about. (I hope!)
  • Body wash – I always have some kind of body wash in the shower…usually something seasonal from Bath and Body Works…but this Brazil Nut Body Wash has been a fave Trader Joe’s find this summer.
  • Conditioner – I used to use the purple Pureology conditioner, but felt like my hair needed something different. I don’t know if that’s a “thing,” but every few years, I feel like hair needs to switch things up, so I just use this Kristin Ess conditioner that I get at Target.
  • Selsun blue – A few months ago, Landyn shared that her dermatologist suggested this for teens, not for itchy scalp, but to help with acne/oil. (see explanation below) So, Hayden uses it…because I told him to…haha So far, neither of my kids has had any real issues with breakouts, but I do encourage them to wash their face at least once a day. So, this isn’t used as face wash, but just hopefully as the sudsy water trickles down while washing hair, it can have skincare benefits.
  • Shaving cream -I’m not picky about my shaving cream, but I do prefer gel shaving cream to foam.
  • Bar soap– not pictured, but there’s always a bar of soap (usually Dove) in the shower.
  • I’ve used Billie razors for three or four years. Hadley now uses them too. I know there are other options out there now, and some have said the Billie razor doesn’t seem the same, but I haven’t had any issues. To be honest, I shave my legs every day regardless. I’m telling you that I was eight months pregnant with twins and still finding a way to shave my legs every single day…so these razor blades have been working fine for me…but maybe that’s because I shave my legs daily anyway. I love that every couple months, I get a few new blades in the mail …and don’t have to buy razors at Kroger. We have a couple of travel holders too.
  • Function of beauty– This is Hadley’s shampoo and conditioner of choice. She’s used it for about a year and a half. Have you heard of it? I’m not sure where else you can find it, but we get it at Target. You choose your shampoo and conditioner (Hadley uses wavy hair) and then add in your “booster shot” to the bottle. Not sure if it’s working, but Hadley has beautifully long hair…and uses the “lengthen” booster shot.

How pretty is this display? I knew I was going to write this post, and then was at Target and saw the display.

Overflow…

Since the kids and I share a shower, some things stay in the shower full-time (my stuff!), but I have a basket on the toilet where they grab what they need (usually their shampoo)

  • Extra shave cream– There’s nothing worse than getting in the shower and realizing I’m out of something.
  • Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer –Amy shared about this (I think back in the winter?) and I’ve used it ever since. I don’t use it as much as I did in the winter, but I love it. I get it at Target.
  • Extra shower gel
  • Body lotion –I love the Nivea Shea Daily Moisture Body lotion
  • Air freshener
  • Shampoo– I keep the Krisin Ess shampoo on standby if we need extra shampoo
  • Hadley’s shampoo / conditioner – Function of Beauty

Anyway, this was kind of a random post, but I always love seeing what products people use and love.

What are your “go to” shower products?

Posted in Travel

Siesta Key Part 2

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello…and happy first day of August!

I hope your week is off to a great start. I have one more post recapping our vacation in Siesta Key. I shared part 1 last week, and have two more days to share today.

Wednesday:

I enjoyed my coffee before going for a walk in the morning.

It was hot, but the views were pretty!

We had a quick lunch at the house before going to the beach. Hadley wanted a smoothie bowl, so we stopped for one as well as sweatshirt shopping

We went to Turtle Beach for a few hours that afternoon. I really do love that beach because it’s only steps from the parking lot to the sand…and it’s not very crowded.

A fellow beach-goer saw me taking the girls’ picture and offered to take one of the three of use. She probably thought both girls were my daughters. haha

I had a great time with the girls.

(How cute is my “beach” ball cap? Remember when we took the kids to the outlet malls…Hadley went into Simply Southern and I saw it…I think it was $6! I figured, why not? Also, sometimes I have a hard time wearing my favorite sunglasses with ball caps, so that one fits perfectly for that too.)

I finished a book and started a new one while the girls swam and floated on the boogie boards.

We were there a couple of hours before a storm started brewing. Truly, this view was behind me and I had no clue. It was sunny and blue skies while I watched the girls float on the boogie boards, and Hadley pointed behind me and said, “Mom look!” We stayed until it was obvious we should pack up.

We were at the house for a bit before heading to the Lobster Pot for dinner. This is Hadley’s favorite place to eat. I showed her the pic from 2019, and of course she wanted to recreate it.

After dinner, we went back to the house. The girls were tired, so I went and caught the sunset. When I sent them the pic of the rainbow, they wished they’d joined me…haha

…I sent Hadley a selfie…

I’ll never get over how the sunset at the same spot of the beach can look so different night to night…

and…the lighting can change so much in a matter of minutes…

Then, I picked the girls up, and we headed for ice cream at Orange Octopus.

Like every other night, I read and they hung out and watched tv before bed.

Thursday:

As many times as we’ve been to Siesta Key, we’ve never been on the water. I was able to book us on a morning two hour boat ride…”morning dolphin cruise.” So, we were at the marina early to check in and get on the boat.

The captain was funny and knowledgeable.

In the first thirty minutes we passed quite a few “famous” houses.

Top left: Prince’s former house (in the foreground, you can see the edge of the purple pool)

Top right: Andre Agassi’s former house. There’s a gold lion head until the second level windows.

Middle left: Urban Meyer’s current house.

Middle right: Tommy Bahama’s house (can’t remember if it’s his current house)

Bottom left: The guy who has the patent for the Swatch Watch built that house.

Bottom right: The most expensive house in Siesta Key – $30 million…and guess how many bedrooms it has—2!

…the view of Sarasota was neat.

They stopped at one point and let everyone go to the front of the boat to snap pics if they wanted.

Besides us, there was a group of four and then a family six.

I thought this was so cool…the captain said this dog walker/day care brings the dogs to play on this sandbar. The pups were having the best time.

So, we were on the lookout for dolphins with not much luck…and then, on our way back, almost to the marina, we saw three dolphins right in front of Prince’s house! It was cool to see…but hard to catch in a picture.

After the boat ride, it was lunchtime, so we headed to the village for pizza.

The girls were full and tired, so they hung at the house, while I went to the beach for a couple of hours. I was able to read my book, and enjoy the view.

For dinner, we ate Mexican food at the Hub which is another favorite.

Then, we went to catch one last sunset.

The girls played spike ball again, and…

Hadley found a sand dollar. It was alive, so she just showed it to me, and put it back.

We hung out for as long as we could.

I always hate saying “goodbye” to the beach.

There were clouds rolling in, and the girls were being silly.

The sky colors changed so quickly…

…and even the walk back to the car was so pretty.

On the way home, we stopped for gelato at another favorite place in the village.

Then, we tidied up and packed our suitcases before just relaxing the rest of the night.

Friday :

We were up around 7, so we could leave by 8.

It’s a family “tradition” to take a pic in front of the palm trees at the house before we leave. I took this pic earlier in the week because they both had their new sweatshirts on…haha

Our rental car was a Jeep Grand Cherokee for the week…and I really loved it.

Honestly, I was expecting a four door sedan, but at the car rental rep gave me a few choices and mentioned the jeep, so I went for it.

Side note — Hadley’s “dream” car is a jeep…(a real jeep), so I was excited that they had this Grand Cherokee option, so I didn’t tell the girls which car was ours until we got to the parking spot…but it was parked right next to Hadley’s dream car jeep…lol

Also, my dad drove a white Grand Jeep Cherokee for many years –actually 17 I think!…so this was a fun blast from the past.

We stopped in the village at Meaney’s Mini Donuts and Coffee House before hitting the road.

I can’t believe how seamless the trip was in regards to checking in/security flights being on time, picking up and dropping off the car, etc. Each way, from leaving the house, arriving at the airport one hour before departure, the two hour flight and getting home was five hours total…and no issues.

And…did I mention, for the first time ever, I packed a carry-on suitcase? This milestone needs to be remembered…haha

Thanks for following along on our little girls vacay. We had a great time.

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: July 2023

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Did you catch my Share 4 Somethings post on Saturday? I love that fun link up.

*sigh* This time next week, I’ll be reporting to school. That escalated quickly!

Anyway, it’s the last day of July (how is that possible?!), so I better share the books I read this month before turning the calendar page to August.

This month, I read four books which I guess is my average. I would have thought I would have read more, but like I’ve said before, I’m also really good at watching tv in the summer too.

Again this month I’m using one of @dariabookstagram’s templates. Cute, right?

Here are the books I read this month:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Meet Me at the Lake:

Summary:

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in Toronto. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s Muskoka lakeside resort–something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan–a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

Quick Thoughts:

I loved Every Summer After which I read last summer, and I felt like this had a similar vibe….love, hope, heartbreak and more. It was a good summer read!

Rating:

Endless Summer

Summary:

In SUMMER DAYS AGAIN, Elin Hilderbrand offers nine delectable stories—prequels, sequels, and “missing chapters” from her cherished books—some of which have never been published, until now.

With a foreword by Elin Hilderbrand about the writer’s reluctance to leave treasured characters behind and a prefatory, “behind-the-scenes” note included with each story, this book answers the prayers of both new and seasoned readers everywhere who, like the Kirkus reviewer, “would rather be living in an Elin Hilderbrand novel.”

Quick Thoughts:

I guess it would probably only make sense to read this book if you’ve read most of her books? She includes additions to The Matchmaker, Summer of 79, Summer of 69, 28 Summers and more. I think I had read all of the books except for the Summers of 69 and 79.

I love that Hilderbrand has an intro for each short story with notes and explanation as to why she wrote it, why it was left out, and other general thoughts and ideas.

The 28 Summers sequel was my favorite. I honestly really loved that book, and it was fun catching up with the characters and seeing how their lives turned out.

Rating:

Lessons in Chemistry

Summary:

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.

Quick Thoughts:

I feel like this is a popular book right now. I’ve seen quite a few people share it, and my Gma mentioned it to me a few months ago.

Elizabeth and Calvin’s relationship reminded me of Sheldon and Amy’s on The Big Bang Theory tv show….innocent, clunky, clueless but sweet.

I loved following along on Elizabeth’s journey of her cooking show and all that she has to offer for her female audience.

Of course this book has some twists and turns, heartache, a “girl power” message and more…and I loved it. It might be one of my favorite books of 2023.

Fave Quotes:

“Every day she found parenthood like taking a test for which she had not studied.” (**I do not know that I’ve ever related more to quote than this one! haha)

“Courage is the root of change – and change is what we’re chemically designed to do.”

Rating:

Summer Stage:

Summary:

Bestselling Author of  The Wedding Veil Amy Trevino, a former aspiring playwright, has stayed close to her Rhode Island hometown while her famous brother, Timothy Fleming, pursued and achieved his Hollywood dreams. Now a high school English teacher and occasional drama director, Amy takes on the production manager role for her brother’s play in an effort to mend rifting family relationships. 

Sam, Amy’s daughter, was a Disney child star who continued her pursuit for fame in a Manhattan TikTok house. Now she’s returned home unexpectedly. Her sudden arrival is shrouded in secrets, and Sam refuses to open up to her mother, deciding instead to join her uncle on Block Island for the summer.  

Timothy, a successful and well-loved actor, is directing a summer production at a storied Block Island theater–and his famous ex-wife has the lead role.

As they work together to ensure the production is a success, Amy, Sam, and Timothy are forced to grapple with their desires for recognition and fortune, stand up for what they believe art and fame actually mean, and discover what they really want out of life.

Quick Thoughts:

This book was on my summer reading list. I don’t think I’ve read any other books by Meg Mitchell Moore, but I know she wrote Vacationland which has been on my want to read list for a while.

Anyway, this was a perfect little summer read with Block Island setting. I loved the mix of characters – uncle, mom, daughter and more along with the idea of a summer play. This was a fun and easy read.

Rating:

Summer Reading Update:

  • Read: All the Days of Summer, Endless Summer, Meet Me at the Lake, and Summer Stage
  • Picked up from the library: Hotel Laguna
  • Bought: The Five-Star Weekend…I wasn’t sure when it would ever be my turn to read this, so I went ahead and ordered it from Amazon.
  • Still waiting on…The Summer of Songbirds and The Block Party (I’m second in line on the library wait list for both, so maybe I can read those in August too!)

Anyway, how’s your summer reading going?

Posted in School, Share 4 Somethings

Share 4 Somethings

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Saturday!

I love it that Jennifer hosts this fun little link up at the end of the month. It’s just a quick way to reflect on the past month.

I this month, I….

Loved:

Slow mornings when we had them. July was still busy, but there were fewer alarms set in the morning.

I also loved seeing so many beautiful sunsets while in Florida last week.

Read:

You know I love to read. Looking back on this summer, how lucky am I that I read with mountain views, ocean views, and pool views?! That makes my reading heart happy.

Ate:

Seafood while at the beach.

Travis and I both love seafood, Hayden mostly loves oysters, and Hadley loves salmon. The boys missed out on oysters this year (although, Hayden got them when he went to SC with his friend’s family)

While in Florida, I had shrimp, fish tacos, and more.

I also drank a daiquiri at one of our favorite places…The Daiquiri Deck.

Bought:

Well, it’s that time of the year…back to school. {*sigh}

About the only thing that makes going back to school better is buying a new planner (and pens!)

This is the third year that I’m using a Happy Planner. Three years ago, I realized Michael’s sells them, and are 40% for back to school. (Also, fun fact: Michael’s gives a teacher discount…A few summers ago, I showed my badge and ever since, the discount (I think 20%) is connected to my account).

Anyway, this is the second year I’m going to use the smaller version of the the Happy Planner. It worked well for me last year, so I figured I would try it again.

Since they were also 40% off, I picked up a pack of stickers too. I use them on my desk calendar as well.

Then, of course, I had to have new pens. I just got my favorite Flair felt pens at Kroger. {*Impulse buy*}–these PASTEL Ticonderoga pencils. I’m honestly not picky about my pencils, but the pastel colored ones stopped me in my tracks. How could I say no??

I also need to pick up a new desk calendar…sometimes I get one from Amazon, but I think last year I got mine at Walmart when the kids got their school supplies.

For the first time in a few years, I actually need to get a new lunch tote and a new travel coffee mug.

Every year, I used to go to the Parent Teacher store to pick up my planner and any other odds and ends I needed. I could always spot the elementary teachers a mile away because they always had so much stuff!! I know you might see lots of “teacher lists” this time of the year or even just the back school supply list and think it all seems excessive, but if you can, throw the extra box of Kleenex their way or purchase a few things off their Amazon list. It means more to them then you know!

As a high school teacher, I admit I don’t need as much. That being said, I still have to replenish markers, paper, folders and other odds and ends during the school year. When I take my own kids back to school shopping, I usually pick up some of those supplies while they are on sale.

I do miss the days when the kids were little. In elementary school, we’d make a day of all the back to school things. The kids would get haircuts, we’d go out to lunch, we’d buy new shoes, and then go get school supplies. I loved that day when we did all the fun things.

To be honest, I tried to make it kind of a big deal because it helped me get excited about going back to school. It’s also why I did the Back to School Breakfast in elementary school and now do the Back to School Brinner .

I always love my summers with my kids. I don’t take for granted that I get to be with them all day. This summer has felt especially quick with everyone’s schedules being so crazy and the kids being a bit more independent.

They used to help my set up my classroom…

…and now they are about to be 8th graders! (Honestly, they will still help me set up my classroom if needed.)

Well, y’all, I didn’t mean to get so nostalgic, but here we are…haha

I hope you still have many fun summer days left having all kinds of fun.

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#168}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

*sigh* besides today, I only have one more Friday without school responsibilities…I guess I better savor these last few days while I can.

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

On Sunday, we picked up Hayden from running camp. He had the best time. This is a camp for high school runners, but he was able to go this summer along with a few other 8th graders.

Throughout the four days, he ran 45 miles including 10 miles on Saturday with the big kids. He texted us and said, “I did it!” I love that he was proud of his accomplishment.

They definitely did more than just run. They had guest speakers, sessions for stretching, theme nights, volleyball, swimming, and more.

Cousin Jacob was there, so I knew he’d be in good hands!

After picking Hayden up, we headed to Louisville to celebrate Trav’s mom’s birthday. Most of the grand-kids were there…

Hadley and I have still been baking at least once a month. This week, we made Chocolate Zucchini Cake. I think this is one of the first recipes I shared on the blog. We usually add a dollop of Cool Whip on each slice. I got the recipe from a childhood friend of mine.

The neighbors shared some flowers from their garden with us…so pretty!

This week, the kids have been in charge of watering that neighbor’s garden as well as checking on and feeding their cat. This has been a good summer of responsibility for the kids. Hadley has babysat quite a few times, Hayden has mowed some lawns (including ours), and then they’ve watered neighbors flowers and checked on pets. It’s been good for them to have to have a few responsibilities and nice that they can earn a little money.

What seems to be more rare than a unicorn sighting? Seeing a smiling teen boy out in public!? lol #welcometomyworld

I’m kind of struggling with the fact that my boy is looking like a man!?! He gets the best tan in the summer, has grown a few inches, and has the best smile (when he shows it 😉 )

I had pool time with the kids a couple of days this week which has been so nice. They mostly hang with their friends and ask me for money for a snack while I read…but I’ll take what I can get.

I started this book, and I’m really excited to read it.

This week, I started my 3rd phase of Invisalign. Phases 1 and 2 were 30 weeks each. At the end of a phase, they re-scan you, and then it’s about 5-6 weeks before you get your new aligners. So, I had an appointment, and it really is the little things that are favorites… For this phase, I don’t have attachments (or buttons?) on my front teeth! That’s a win for me. Obviously, I wear the aligners most of the time, but it’s nice not to have those on my front teeth for when they aren’t in. Yes, those attachments (mostly) blend in, but it’s still something I think about when the trays aren’t in.

I think at the end of the 30 weeks,I should be finished, but we’ll see.

Last night, I had dinner with a friend in a favorite spot in town. I ordered the steak salad, and it was delish.

It was so great seeing her and catching up. I wish we could see each other more often, but when we do get together, it’s like no time has passed.

Favorite Kid Quote:

We had kind of a hectic evening last night, so before we all went our separate ways, I said, “Let’s get our ducks in a row.” Hadley said, “I feel like my ducks are all over the place.” haha That definitely sounds like something I would say! I was like #samegirlsame

Favorite Mom Meme:

Every dang time…(I guess I should be happy they are bathing!)

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

This pic popped up in my Facebook memories from 2014…The kids with a couple of the horses on Trav’s farm.

Weekly Recap:

I loved all my posts this week –a few laughs, a travel recap (part 2 next week!), and a couple of fun link ups…

Monday Memes
Siesta Key Recap 1
WUW
Monthly Musings

What are your weekend plans? We actually don’t have too much on tap…besides keeping our ducks in a row.

On Monday, I’m sharing the books I read this month.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Posted in Clothes, Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

How’s it going?

Today, I’m linking up with Patty and Holly for Monthly Musings. I love this link up because it’s a fun way to answer questions on a specific topic.

This month’s topic is Summer Fashion.

You know I’m no fashionista…and in the summer, I’m mostly wearing workout clothes, pjs, or swimsuit and a cover up…but here we go…

1. Favorite summer outfit?

Besides what I just mentioned above, this two piece set from Shop Style Your Senses is probably my favorite buy of the summer. It’s easy to dress up or down, and it’s super comfy.

This summer feels like the year of the romper, and while I’m not 100% sold that it’s my best look, this one is a go to and easy to wear.

I recently ordered this light-weight cap sleeve sweater, and I love it. It’s an Amazon find, and I wore it two times in Florida with denim shorts.

This week, I remembered these black shorts I bought from SSYS in the spring, and I think it’s a “nicer” look for dinner out.

2. Favorite summer footware?

I truly haven’t changed up my sandals much in the past few summers.

My Birks are still my “go to”…

Then, I mix in the rose gold Amazon slides or gold sandals. I still love the braided heeled sandals I ordered last summer if I need a dressier look. The comfort slides that I’ve had for a few years are still the sandals I wear the most to the pool. (I sized up one size in both Amazon sandals, and half a size in the braided heels)

3. What summer accessories are you wearing on repeat?

I don’t really change up my accessories…I’m still wearing my same bracelets from Daily Gold Co (I never take them off) as well as my Amazon bracelets too.

My favorite pool accessories are this bag from Walmart (I even used it as my carry-on for our Florida vacay…and then used it for the beach)

I have this SSYS swim cover up that I love…

…as well as my favorite one from Amazon that I have in light blue and navy. I picked up both of these last summer, and continue to love them.

4. What do you use for a summer bag?

Like my sandals, I haven’t really changed my bags up either. Again, I love the “summer” Walmart bag for my pool bag.

Then, most days I’m wearing this black cross body, but also brought the quilted belt bag on vacation when I dressed up a bit more but still casual.

I also use this cross body too when I’m a little more put together/less “mom mode.”

5. What summer scents are you wearing?

I also, don’t change my perfume seasonally. I always prefer something light and refreshing. For Christmas, Travis got me Perfect and Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs as well as Juliette has a Gun, and I still love all three.

6. Maxi dress, romper or jumpsuit?

Besides the pink romper above, I also wear the long version too.

7. Favorite summer sunglasses?

I wear this pair almost daily, but they cracked in my bag on vacation.

Hadley still loves the pair she got earlier this summer…

I also love my Quay sunglasses that I got a couple of years ago and wear them often. I wore them to the pool yesterday!

8. Favorite summer pjs?

Hands down my favorite summer pjs are the gauzy pink ones I found at Target last summer. This summer, I bought them again in gray and turquoise.

(top // bottom)

9. Do you wear white after Labor Day?

I don’t wear much white anyway, but I will definitely still wear my white jeans in September.

10. Favorite summer fashion trend?

Apparently my favorite fashion trend is not changing things up too much…😆

I do tend to wear some brighter colors in the summer…I don’t mind to do that when I’m tan. 😆

What’s your favorite summer piece in your wardrobe?

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