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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#146}

Posted on February 17, 2023February 16, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been more ready for a three day weekend than I am now!

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Favorite Pic:

I love this pic of the kids before the 7th grade dance last Friday. {Real talk: it took some convincing for one of these two to pose for a photo…I will let you guess who!)

Favorite Moment:

We were all so excited with the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl!

Favorite Food:

It may sound silly but these heart shaped nuggets hit the spot for our family Valentine’s Day dinner. Honestly, we only had a few minutes together, but we all loved nuggets and mac and cheese for our festive dinner.

Also, when the kids were decorating football cookies with my mom, she had a few heart cookies too. I decorated one and promptly ate it. It was cute and tasty!

Favorite Kid Quote:

During the 4th quarter of the very intense Super Bowl, Hayden kept checking his watch. Eventually, he told me that his heart rate was 110. He was stressed. haha

Other Faves:

How cute is the cross stitch that my mom made me? She knows I love the Golden Girls, and this was my Valentine’s Day gift.

Hadley had a big day of volleyball last Saturday. She’s playing a short season of volleyball on a club team. She had three games on Saturday. They came up short in the championship game, but they’ve only had a couple of practices. It will be fun to see them progress over the next few weeks.

Basketball has continued for Hayden. Actually, his middle school season is almost over which is hard to believe. He had two games this week, and I was able to go to his game Wednesday night which was a really good one.

My Valentine’s Day card for T-rav was a favorite. He has always written my name in bubble letters. haha

How cute is this filly that was born at Trav’s work this week…born right before Valentine’s Day with a white heart on her head.

Not a fave was being sick this week, but I did get to watch two cute movies. One Fine Day is one of my all time faves…and then I also watched Your Place or Mine. I have about thirty minutes left of it, but it was cute.

Favorite Mom Meme:

This one made me chuckle. I do love a family game night when we can…but I usually have to put a time limit on it from the beginning.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

I remember taking this pic in 2017 before Hadley went to the her first dad/daughter dance with Travis. I joked that I’d hoped it wasn’t what foreshadowing prom 2027 with Hadley out and about and Hayden at home. haha

Well, I blinked and they went to the 7th grade dance. This was definitely a timely memory.

Weekly Recap:

I was back on track with posting this week.

What are your weekend plans? Honestly, we don’t have a ton going on. Well, this evening and tomorrow we have plans…but then not much on Sunday or Monday!

I hope you have a great weekend.

Clothes

Fashion Files

Posted on February 16, 2023February 15, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Thursday!

I’ve shared a few What I Wore Wednesday posts, but thought I’d link up with Kellyann and Jill this time for Fashion Files.

Here are a few outfits over the past couple of weeks…starting with a few school outfits.

School:

I got this heart sweater last year, and I’ve made a point to wear it a few times over the past month. It comes in a few colorways. I usually wear it with black pants or jeans.

This blouse was in one of my Stitch Fix boxes. I never buy myself blouses…button downs, sweaters, sweatshirts, yes…blouses…very rarely…and I’m not sure why…but most of the time, I keep a blouse that’s sent in my Stitch Fix box.

In these two photos, I’m wearing different black pants, but the same leopard flats that I got at Walmart a couple of years ago. I wear them often.

I loved this outfit because I felt comfy, cute and put together. Matilda Jane ruffles are my favorite, and I’ve had this tan turtleneck for years. I think it’s from Loft. I picked up these tan ballet flats a few years ago at Kohls, and they are always so comfy on my feet.

Last week, I tried to wear pink a couple of times leading up to Valentine’s Day. My pink Aerie sweatshirt is one I wear often…at both school and at home. This time I wore it with jeggings and my tan loafers.

Then, I wore one of my favorite sweaters of the season…this pink turtleneck sweater. I paired the sweater with this pair of navy polka dot pants that I got years ago at Old Navy. I love them because they button, but they stretch! The weather has been so mild that I’ve hardly worn boots this winter…and have been able to wear my mules more than I thought I would at this point in the year.

Weekend:

Here are a couple of weekend looks.

I ordered this quilted pullover from Shop Style Your Senses and have zero regrets. I couldn’t love it more. I’ve worn it to school with a long sleeve black shirt, gray leopard leggings, and then on Saturday to Hadley’s volleyball tournament in a bit more casual way. Both times, I wore my Shu Shop sneaks.

On Super Bowl Sunday, I wore my Chiefs sweatshirt that I ordered from Etsy shop, Sweet Momma Blair, last year. Since the weather was so mild, and I was being lazy/comfy, I wore my favorite Amazon joggers. I ordered these in the spring of 2020. I had them in two colors, but I donated the gray version I bought when I purged my closet/clothes in June. This is the first time I’ve regretted getting rid of something. I decided to order them again in dark gray/black yesterday. I know they will get a lot of wear in the spring. I also wore my favorite New Balance tennis shoes…these are not my workout tennis shoes, but ones I wear often more casually. I also ordered them in the spring of 2020. 😂

This week:

To keep it real and to keep me humble, this has been my outfit this week:

Unfortunately, Covid ran through our house this past couple of weeks and it was my turn…my sinus issues also turned into a sinus infection. Thankfully, I’m headed back to school today. I can’t wait to put on real clothes again.

{This post contains Amazon affiliate links…Thank you for supporting my blog!}

Holidays, Kids, Life Lately

Life Lately

Posted on February 15, 2023February 14, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

How is your week going? Ours is…going.

Here’s a bit of our life…lately.

The kids had a big Friday night! They went to the 7th grade dance. Hadley was counting down the days, and we were all shocked that Hayden contemplated going. 😆

I’m not sure what their school did before Covid, but last year there weren’t any dances/mixers. This year, the PTSA has done an awesome job organizing something for every grade level. They had a school wide mixer (dance/game night) one Saturday evening in January, then the 6th graders had a casual after school dance in early February. The 7th graders had the Valentine’s Day dance on Friday night, and then the 8th graders have a more “formal” dance in the spring.

It’s been so nice to see the kids and their friends have these opportunities.

Here they are all dressed up and ready to go.

One of the moms organized a pre-dance get together with appetizers for the kids at a local restaurant. The moms stayed as well, so that we could then get them to the dance. So, from 5:15-6:45, the kids hung out, ate, and we talked them in to a few photos before they headed to the dance from 7-9.

This really is such a great group of kids. I’ve said it before, but Hayden and Hadley have held on to their close elementary friendships and the new friends they made last year have been such an added bonus. We’ve enjoyed getting to know the parents too.

Hayden rode with friends, and I got to drop these lovely ladies off at school.

Hayden texted about a half hour in to the dance asking when it was over. 😂Some of my friends were chaperones and reported back that both kids were having fun. Hadley gave us all the details when she got home, and Hayden actually said he had a good time.

This was such a nice “rite of passage” for them, and I loved seeing every moment.

Go Chiefs!

On Saturday, my mom decorated Chiefs cookies with the kids. I was impressed.

Sunday night was game time.

I picked up some balloons and a cookie cake. We’d ordered pizza the two previous play off games, so we continued that tradition too. Everyone was up late for the big win! We were all so excited.

Valentine’s Day

I think the kids had a pretty good Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, I’ve been sick this week, so I wasn’t up to make a special breakfast. I did put out a couple of decorations once I got up…

After school, we gave them a few gifts.

I got the kids some candy and donuts. Then, they both got a new alarm clock/sound machine. They both have the same sound machine from when they were babies (seriously – their sound machines are now 13 years old!), and Hayden’s is kind of glitchy. I’m going to put Hadley’s old one in my suitcase, so we always have it on hand for travel. I’ve decided the kids need to start setting an alarm in the morning, so that combined with the sound machine was a good little gift that they “needed.”

A couple of months ago, I picked up a heart necklace for Hadley when Shay had her collaboration with Victoria Emerson.

For Hayden, I also got him this running calendar and Toughness by Jay Bilas. (*I may end up reading it too!) 😉

Then, for dinner, we had heart shaped chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. An easy and delicious dinner made us all happy.

The past couple of years, I’ve made a special weekend Valentine’s Day lunch, but with our already hectic weekend and then V-Day falling on a Tuesday, we made the most of it. Travis and I hope to go out to dinner this weekend.

Have a great Wednesday,

{This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting my blog.}

Holidays

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 14, 2023February 13, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Valentine’s Day!

A few festive touches:

I realized I never shared my Valentine’s Day decorations with you, but honestly, they are exactly the same as last year!

I change out the garden flag and door hanger…

….and then add in a few little touches in the living room and kitchen.

The XOXO banner is one I’ve used for a couple of years.

…and that’s about it! I will probably leave the outside things up the rest of February, but take down the inside stuff this weekend.

V-Day photo:

Well, we went from this:

…to this in the blink of an eye…

Every year, I take a pic of the kids and use it for a Valentine’s Day card for family. Most years, I use a snow day pic for the card, but other years, we seem to have more mild temps, so I have to take what I can get.

Here’s our card this year:

…and that’s about it. I bought donuts for the kids for breakfast this morning, and picked them up a couple of gifts and some candy. I’m sure they’ll feel the love 😉

Travis and I were supposed to go out to dinner on Saturday night for an early Valentine’s Day dinner, but I was under the weather. So, we’re hoping to try again this weekend. We’ll see.

Do you have any big Valentine’s Day plans?

Not Just a Mom

Posted on February 13, 2023February 12, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday!

We had a busy weekend that included the kids going to the 7th grade school dance, volleyball for Hadley, and cheering on the Chiefs last night.

It’s the second Monday of the month, so I’m teaming up with some of my favorite bloggers for Not Just a Mom.

In January, we did Introductions…

This month’s topic is house rules. For some reason, some of my favorite “mom memes” popped in my head:

I joke with my kids and say that they are a “full time job.” 😂but I guess that’s what parenting is…an around the clock, non-stop job. Of course, that sounds kind of negative…I guess I could say we are on a journey.

Anyway, of course we have rules. Well, I call them “rules,” and my kids seem to think they are suggestions. 😂

I’m a structured, type A person. There’s very little “go with the flow” for me. Even if I wanted to, it feels like we are so busy that it’s best to have some structure, so we can stay on top of things.

Here are some of our rules:

*It goes without saying that these rules are a *constant* work in progress. #teens #iykyk

Be respectful.
Make your bed. Have you seen this video? I show it to my students every year, and I always start my day by making the bed. Even if everything else seems to need picked up, at least our beds are made. Also, on the weekends, I usually make the kids’ beds. It’s kind of my compromise with them, and since we are home on the weekends, I like the bed to be tidied up and made correctly since I’m here to see it.
Pick up after yourself. When that doesn’t happen, I end up making piles and telling them to come get their stuff.
On Sunday, tidy up your room. I wish their rooms were always clean, but that’s probably not ever going to happen, so a Sunday “reset” seems to work (AKA appease me)
Put away your laundry. We do one load of laundry per person every week. I end up laying and folding their clean clothes on their bed, and then they hang and put them away.
Help unpack the groceries. Since they eat 80% of the foods, they definitely need to help put it away!
On that note, throw away empty food packages. There’s nothing worse than when I think I’m going to enjoy a cookie only to find that the package in the pantry is empty. haha
Keep up with your schoolwork. School is the priority.
Plug phones up in the kitchen…by 9:00 on a school night and 11:00 on the weekends (if not sooner).
Be honest. I’m always going to find out, so let’s save us all a bit of time and just be truthful.

I’m sure I’m missing a few, but really it’s best to keep it simple with: be kind, be honest, be respectful.

When all else fails, there’s this…right?

Next month:

Next month, we’re sharing a day in the life on the weekend!

We sure hope you will join our link up. We always look forward to it.

I’m hoping for a better week this week, but I’m starting the week battling a sinus infection. Hopefully, I will turn the corner soon!

Thanks so much for reading.

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#145}

Posted on February 10, 2023February 9, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! I don’t think I’ve been so ready for a weekend in a long time.

You know I try to be positive, but shew…my first favorite is that this week is almost over. I’ve been at school most days until past 5:30, we’ve had busy evenings, and we’ve all taken turns not feeling 100%.

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

Here are a few favorites from the week:

Hadley helped me with a big Save-a-lot shopping trip to get snacks for the after school credit recovery session I was in charge of this week at school. We had two carts full of snacks.

We had lots of basketball over the past week. Besides Hayden’s regular season games, his team also played in a tournament this past weekend. Their team is fun to watch.

Favorite photo:

…and the team and individual pics came in this week too. I love this one of Hayden.

Favorite kid quote:

The kids’ school is doing a fund raiser for school improvements, and it’s the one where it sends out email blasts asking for donations. My brother’s text to Hadley was so funny…as was her response!

Kids these days will never know about selling coupon books. haha

Favorite recipe:

I tried a new recipe this week. This Cheeseburger Pasta recipe was a quick, easy, and delicious weeknight meal. We even had some for leftovers last night.

Favorite Mom Meme:

My kids are eating me out of house and home. I just go to the grocery once a week, and by the time I go, we really need more food.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

This isn’t that far back of a “throwback,” but I was changing out my sports pics at school…Hayden in 6th grade vs. 7th grade just blows my mind. I know he’s growing up, but the side by side comparison shocked me!

Also, in honor of the Chiefs going back to the Super Bowl, here’s a throwback to 2020 with our little Chiefs fans before the 2019 season win.

Weekly Recap:

It was a short blogging week for me, but I joined a couple of link ups:

February Amazon

Let’s Look

Not Just a Mom:

On Monday, we have our second Not Just a Mom link up of the year, and the topic is: house rules.

If you have a blog, we’d love to have you join us!

What are your weekend plans? The kids have the 7th grade dance and Hadley has volleyball.

Then, of course, we’ll be cheering on the Chiefs this Sunday! Fingers crossed for a Super Bowl win…or no one will want to be around Hayden on Monday. haha

Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on February 8, 2023February 7, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

It felt weird not posting yesterday, but today I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look.

In January, we looked at scheduling/organizing a busy family.

This month’s topic is: what’s in your medicine cabinet…

Well, we don’t have one! I got to thinking…we’ve lived in three houses, and our first one had a medicine cabinet in the bathroom Travis used, but I didn’t have one in the bathroom I used. Then, our second house didn’t have one. (It was “newer,” so maybe that’s why?) Our current house did have one in the primary bathroom, but when we redid the bathroom a few years ago, we tore it out…and there’s just a mirror there now.

This closet has always been in the bathroom, and it’s where we store all the things…

Given the crazy busy stage of life right now, I guess it’s not in too bad of shape…

Top shelf: That white tub holds travel sized things like small bags we use when we travel, and a few other odds and ends.
Second to top shelf: Sheets for our bed. The kids have their spare pairs in their bedroom closets.
Next: Towels. Since the kids don’t have a closet in their bathroom, this closet holds the towels for them and for me.
Then…I have a tub for small items like lotion, mouthwash, etc. We have another small tub for dental hygiene…mostly the toothbrush heads for our toothbrushes. Then, I have nail polish and a few beauty products.
Bottom shelf: I have a bucket with a few hair things, then my Invisalign trays, and over the counter medicines and Band aids.
Very bottom: My facial steamer, heating pad, old scale (I guess I should throw this away), and a “beauty bag” that I’ve had forever and just keep random things in it like small trash bags, sunless tanner, hand sanitizer and more.

It’s a pretty small bathroom, and it could probably be better organized, but I’d say we at least can see everything and know where to find things. The kids only have a couple of drawers and under the sink storage in their bathroom. Travis uses the basement bathroom, and keeps up with his own towels, medicines, products, etc.

I store my skincare products, daily medicine, curling iron, and more under the sink and in the couple drawers I have in the bathroom vanity.

Do I wish I had a bigger bathroom? Sure do! I honestly wish it more for the kids. They share the world’s smallest hall bathroom. I guess it keeps them humble. haha…”first world” problems for sure.

Next month we look at all time favorite Amazon finds…I better start planning that post now. Y’all know I love Amazon!

I hope you are having a great week.

Amazon

Prime Purchases: February 2023

Posted on February 6, 2023February 5, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was super busy. Honestly, I was in bed by 9:00 on Friday because I was so tired and kind of grumpy. Then, Saturday was non-stop which I expect…but then Sunday was too which isn’t what I was expecting.

Anyway, I’m starting the week off by linking up with Tanya for this month’s Prime Purchases.

In January, I try to limit my Amazon spending because I feel like in November and December, all I do is buy gifts. That being said, this post is pretty full which makes me feel like I need to explain myself 😂

Here are my purchases this month:

At the end of December (so technically not January), I bought:

This pack of no show socks to wear with my new Shu Shop shoes. I’ve been losing socks left and right lately, so I needed a few more no show socks.

Also, I ordered another tub of collagen. I’ve been adding a a scoop to my morning coffee for the past few months.

Once I got organized after Christmas, I wanted a place for my boots, and ordered this boot bag organizer that fits under the bed. I have two pairs of tall boots in it and then a couple of short boots too. One of the spots is still empty which is nice knowing I can still add to it.

With an Amazon gift card that I got for Christmas, I ordered…

Kelly Ripa’s book…

…and these slippers that I had my eye on. I 10/10 recommend these. I love them because they are easy to wear around the house (and outside if needed), and my feet don’t get hot. The come in lots of colors too.

When I got my house organized and put back together after Christmas, I purchased two more of these mini boxwood wreaths. I have one on the candle pedestal on my coffee table, and wanted two more to add to two more candle pedestals.

With a gift card I received for my birthday, I bought…

This seven pack of flameless candles with remote! My friend had a couple on her mantel, but then I found the seven pack. I’m only using a few right now, but they provide a lovely glow in the living room when I’m missing my Christmas tree. The timer can be set for two, four, six or eight hours. Also, using the remote, you can make the candles flicker (or not!) I have a feeling this will be one of my favorite 2023 Amazon purchases.

Here is one of the candles with one of the mini wreaths:

I also picked up a pair of new black cotton leggings. I’ve had a pair from H&M for years, and wear them so much they are almost see through…so this pair has worked as a replacement.

One more thing I picked up with my gift card is this workout tank. I love it so much, and will probably order it in another color at some point. (I ordered a large, and maybe could have done a medium…but I don’t like my tanks to be tight)

Travis made a rare Amazon purchase, and picked up some Adidas & Nike socks for the kids. He ordered a pack of black and of white. Both kids have lots of socks with holes in them that they refuse to throw away! haha

One more purchase…

from my Gma…She ordered me these Ugg dupes (that I gave as a gift idea) for my birthday, and I’ve been wearing them so much. There are various colors, but I think the leopard print is fun!

So, I still had quite a few purchases this month, but really I used gift cards for most of them!

What have you been priming lately?

I’m not sure how much I will post this week. I will be at school late every day this week and the kids are super busy. *sigh* It’s only Monday, and I already want it to be Friday.

{This post contains Amazon affiliate links…Thank you for supporting my blog!}

Friday Favorites, Kids, Meals and Recipes

Friday Favorites {#144}

Posted on February 3, 2023February 2, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday!

This week was super busy, but it did include a snow (icy) day! Now, I think we have milder temps on the way.

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

Here are some favorites of the week:

Hadley and I baked a cake last Friday. We’re trying to make a cake a month, and this was our first one of the year. Hadley did most of the work, including decorating it. We made this Chocolate Chip cake, and it was really good.

On Saturday morning, we went to my nephew’s basketball game. He did such a good job, and his sister did some cheers at halftime!

My brother gave my niece his phone, and then sent me this selfie she took. Too funny.

On Sunday, Hayden had an indoor track meet in Louisville. With basketball going on, he has only been running a couple of days a week, but still had a PR in the mile.

Of course, my household was super excited with the Chiefs big win! We are close to Bengals country, so that made this win even more exciting. We can’t wait to cheer on the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

Snow day pancakes on an icy Tuesday morning hit the spot!

Hayden’s basketball team is off to a solid start. They had two wins this week!

Fave Mom Meme:

This made me laugh…but it also reminded me that I want to pick up a couple of things for the kids for Valentine’s Day.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

With Hayden’s basketball season starting up, I love this 3rd grade throwback to these two cute ballers. This is the year that Travis coached Hadley’s team to the championship victory! Hayden was on a team with a great group of kids too.

Weekly Recap:

Well, I continued with Bloganuary on the weekends, so I have a full week of posts:

I guess my blogging streak of 33 posts is coming to an end. I enjoyed tackling some Bloganuary posts on the weekends this month. Honestly, I have a bit more time to blog on the weekends, but readership is down on the weekend, so obviously, Monday-Friday blogging makes the most sense. Who knows, maybe I’ll throw in a random weekend post every now and then.

What are your weekend plans? Hadley has some fun planned with her friends tonight, and Hayden has basketball this weekend. I’m not sure what else we’ll do. See you back her Monday for my Amazon purchases this month.

Have a great weekend!

Blog challenge, Me

Blog Challenge: Part 5

Posted on February 2, 2023February 1, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

Today, I’m continuing on with my “Blog Challenge” and answering…

Prompt #11…

Most Proud Moment:

Not sure if this means a time I was proud of myself or proud of others, so let me tag all the bases…

That being said, per usual, it’s difficult to write about myself, but my first thought was that I was proud of myself when I finished my second Master’s degree…

I completed it in about a year and a half while the kids were really young. My school was a part of a grant, and I had less than two years to complete the Reading Specialist degree that went with my literacy specialist job. I didn’t have to have the degree, but the tuition was free and the program was all online. The kids were two to three years old during that time. There were many late nights where I’d write papers and submit assignments through those years. Travis was Super Dad during that time too. I always think about the opportunities I’ve had in my career thanks to my two Master’s degrees. They’ve opened a lot of doors for me, and I’m grateful that I took the time to complete them when I did.

Also, I was proud of myself when I made the decision to move to my current school. I knew it would be hard to say goodbye to a school I was at for 12 years with so many wonderful friends and then start fresh in a very established school. That being said, I knew it was the right call for my family. The kids were just starting school, and I needed to be on the same schedule as them in the same district. An added bonus is that my current district pays more and the drive is less. The first year was a major adjustment, but the second year was much easier. The years are definitely flying by…it seems like yesterday that I started there!

Moving on…

I’m constantly proud of Travis. He’s a hard worker and is just an all around good guy. He continues to work hard for our family, and has really accomplished so much in his career. Everyone who knows him know what a great person he is, and they always tell me so. I joke that it’s hard being married to someone who is so perfect when I’m a hot mess. lol

Of course, I’ve been so proud of him for coaching cross country both at the kids’ school and for the club team. As his wife and also as a teacher, I know he’s making an impact on so many kids’ lives and he doesn’t even realize it. That’s the best kind of teacher.

Also, of course I’m proud of my kids. Parenting is such a tough job, and they aren’t perfect. We’re doing the best that we can, and so are they. That being said, I see them interact with their teammates, support their friends, use their manners, and try their best, and I’m proud of them for that. I’m grateful that they’ve stayed true to friendships and know that it’s important to be inclusive, and that’s come really naturally to them. Also, they’ve both gone through things, especially Hayden, that haven’t been easy, but they’ve persevered. I hope they always know how proud we are of them.

I didn’t have a lot of time for this post, so these are just my quick thoughts…

Thanks so much for reading!