Blog challenge

Monday Memo

Posted on February 16, 2026February 14, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

The Monday of a three day weekend definitely “hits different,” and while I know we had some time off recently, I always appreciate a Monday off from school.

I think I do a pretty good job not being on my phone too much. Of course, I’m on my phone for a variety of reasons like checking emails, answering texts, etc., but I try not to “doom scroll” too much!

Speaking of scrolling (ha!), I was on Pinterest, and saw this graphic and thought it was a good reminder of other ways to use our time in both creative and useful ways.

Creative:

Here are a few ways that I use time time in a creative way:

Journaling – This blog is my journal!
Drawing/painting – I don’t draw or paint, but I still like to color when I have the time.
Cross-stitch– I had so much fun cross-stitching a few ornaments over Christmas break. I hope to continue with that hobby!
DIY home decor – I’ve completed quite a few projects through the years, but not many lately. That being said, I do like updating spaces in our house with little touches like new candles and pillows.
Flower arranging: I buy more flowers in the spring and summer months, but I always love putting them around the house. Also, our limelight hydrangeas are always so pretty in the summer, and it’s fun to pick some and put them in vases.

Useful:

Here are a few ways that I use time time in a useful way:

Reading physical books: Ok…well, as you know, I love to read. That being said, I don’t read as many physical books as I used to. My Kindle is just more convenient for me to read (as well as audiobooks). But, I think reading on my Kindle shouldn’t count against me since reading is a good habit 🙂
Cooking new recipes: Well, if I don’t cook, how will we eat dinner? haha But, really, I do enjoy cooking…I just don’t love meal planning. Anyway, I like to try new recipes, and I actually probably make one new dinner a week.
Organizing and decluttering: Well, I do this all the time! I will say I do bigger “purges” after Christmas and during the summer when I have more time to do so.
Hiking/walking: I don’t get to go on nature walks or hike very often, but I do a good job getting my steps in outside…especially in the spring and fall.
Practicing mediation: I know it’s not exactly the same, but my quiet morning time is similar to meditation to me.
Self-care routine: I try!
Listening to audiobooks and podcasts: I’ve been listening to podcasts for quite some time, but audiobooks are still somewhat new to me. Audiobooks have been a way for me to read at least one more book a month.
Meal prepping: I do this in phases, but it’s always worth it when I do it. Meal planning/prepping just isn’t one of my favorite things to do.
Planning: Are you even a mom if you aren’t always planning something?!

What is something from this list that you do that’s a screen free hobby?

Have a great Monday!

Blog challenge, Inspiration, Me

Sunday Reflection

Posted on February 15, 2026February 14, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Happy Sunday!

Last month, I shared a “Sunday Reflection” looking back on the week, and I think that’s something I’m going to try to share at least once a month. It’s good to look back on the week and to look forward to the next in regards to seeing what I’ve accomplished and what goals I have for the upcoming week.

What made you the happiest this week? Thursday, we found the time for a family Valentine’s day dinner. I’ve kept it simple the past few years with heart shaped chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, fruit, and rolls. It was easy, and everyone loved (and appreciated) it.
What are your three biggest wins from the week? Well, to start, getting up at 5:50 again after a two plus week reprieve is definitely a win. Also, just getting back in school routine was also an accomplishment. I had to spend time getting with my students reviewing their NTI work and then getting in the swing of a new unit. Lastly, I was able to cross some things off my “to do” list like ordering Hadley’s volleyball pictures, making a few returns, and running a few errands. (You know, little things that you just put off and wonder what took you so long to do them?)
How did you spend most of your time this week? Well, besides being at school, I spent a lot of time watching the Olympics. So fun!
What drained your energy this week? I think the answers might always be teenagers. haha! But really – I had to do an online SAT training outside of school hours and it’s frustrating how long it took to complete. Apparently, the only thing harder than then SAT is completing the training to be a proctor for the SAT!
What did you do for yourself this week? I was overdue for a nail appointment, so I did that Tuesday after school. I didn’t go too far out of my wheelhouse, but I did try a new color…Let’s Be Friends….and it’s kind of a combo of my two faves…Funny Bunny and Bubble Bath.
What’s the greatest lesson you learned this week? I already knew this, but for some students, being at school is their safe place. There are so many students who struggled being out of school for two weeks because of their home life, food insecurity, or just being out of a school routine.
What do you want to do better next week? I need to get back to planning lunches. My new “go to” is to buy a bag of Caesar salad and take it to school and then bring some chicken and low-carb tortillas and just leave those things in my classroom fridge. I can usually get two to three wraps out of the bag of salad.
What would you like to accomplish next week? Probably just what I typically want to accomplish –getting workouts in, focusing on eating better…and I need to get better about eating more protein again, and just continuing to get into a school groove.
What can you do next week to take a step towards long-term goals? I need to plan all of unit 3 for my classes, so I can see when the unit will wrap up. We have district common unit assessments we have to give at the end of each unit, and I need to make that deadline.

Happy Sunday!

Blog challenge, Me

Finish the Sentence

Posted on February 14, 2026February 14, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Valentine’s Day!

Wow…Friday the 13th was no joke. Overall, it was a good day, but you know…kids are crazy. haha! Plus, we’ve had really nice and warm weather, and I swear the students are acting like it’s spring!

Anyway, I love these fun graphics, and I stumbled upon this one…

…here are my answers:

Every morning, I ….drink coffee! Well, I do a lot of things every morning, but drinking coffee seems like the most important! The second most important thing I do is make our bed.
I can’t leave the house without my …tumbler! Of course, I “can’t” leave the house without many things like my wallet, phone, or car keys, but I do take my tumbler with me wherever I go.
My usual breakfast is…either nothing or cream of wheat. I’m not a big breakfast person, especially on weekdays, but if I’m hungry and have time, I will make some cream of wheat. I keep some cereal bars at school if I make it until mid-morning before I need something to eat. Other days, I do eat anything until 12:30.
I study/work at…high school! (As I’m sure you know!). It’s hard to believe that I’m on the downhill slide to wrap up year 24.
When I get home, I…put on comfy or workout clothes. Once I get home, it always goes one of two ways…I either put on comfy clothes, or I change into leggings and a t-shirt and head to the basement for a workout. Even if I put on workout clothes, I still take a few minutes to unwind after a long day.

I hope your weekend is off to a great start!

Blog challenge, Inspiration, Me

Bloganuary: 1.25.26 – Sunday Prompts

Posted on January 25, 2026January 25, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Happy Sunday!

How are you faring with the winter weather? It is wild how expansive this storm has been. We were supposed to get more snow than anything else, but the freezing rain moved more our way. So, we’re waking up to snow that has fallen overnight and some freezing rain too. Bitterly cold temps follow, so we’ll see how many days of school we have this week?

I’m not sure the source, but I found this “Sunday Prompts” via Pinterest, and I thought it would be a good look back on the week.

What made you the happiest this week? We finally found a car for the kids. Trav went to Louisville on Friday, and we were able to surprise them Friday evening. They were genuinely surprised and also, even better, genuinely grateful. They’ve only had their licenses for a couple of months, but they never once asked when we were getting them a car. They knew we were looking, but they understood it might take a bit. Of course, they drove it Friday night and a bit yesterday morning, but now none of us are driving anywhere thanks to the weather!
What are your three biggest wins from the week? I left school on Friday pretty caught up on grading and with a decent plan for NTI (online learning) days if we have them this week. A third “win” probably is getting the kids a car. Trav spent lots of time and energy the past few months trying to find them one in our parameters.
How did you spend most of your time this week? At school…but also thinking about/hearing about the upcoming snow. Wednesday and Thursday were actually pretty slick mornings with other districts out or delayed, but we weren’t. So, it just felt like Tuesday was our only “normal” day of school because Monday we didn’t have school, and then Wednesday-Friday, I felt like we were talking about the weather and prepping accordingly.
What drained your energy this week? Worrying about the weather. I wasn’t actually worried, but more than it was on my mind. I just knew we should get a few groceries. We had snack, lunch and breakfast items, but I just figured we should have a couple of dinners on hand. Trav tackled the grocery store for me Thursday evening, and he did get most of what we needed. Also, we were supposed to travel to Indy for Hadley’s volleyball, and even through Thursday, most of the parents felt like it was a good idea to still go. I felt like us and a couple other parents were the only “rational” ones. Thankfully, the club directors met Thursday evening and decided to pull out of the tournament as a club.
What did you do for yourself this week? I had my monthly facial on Wednesday, and it was lovely!
What is the greatest lesson you learned this week? Patience pays off. We stuck with our parameters for type of car and price, and found something good for the kids. Also, I already know this, but with major winter weather on the way, I remind my own kids what a blessing it is that we can just go to the store and get what we need…and that some kids would much rather be at school than at home for an extended amount of time.
What do you want to do better next week? Get back on track with working out. If you are a regular reader, you know I mention getting “back on track” sometimes. haha Anyway, I did great in December working out and even for the start of January, but last week, I only worked out twice, and I just didn’t feel like myself.
What would you like to accomplish next week? This answer is probably the same as what I want to do better next week.
What can I do to work towards a long term goal? I want to spend more time reading this week. Assuming we are home a bit, it will be easy to scroll my phone or watch a show when I could spend a bit more time reading. I read three books in January, and I have started a fourth, so I did read a lot, but I know I could find pockets of time to read more.
I love the reminder: This is your Sunday reminder that you can handle whatever this week throws your way.

I might try adding post, or something similar, into my blogging rotation.

Stay safe and warm!

Blog challenge, Me

Bloganuary 1.24.26 – My Life in GIFS

Posted on January 24, 2026January 24, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Saturday!

We’re waking up to a little sunshine, but winter weather is definitely on the way. I might run a couple of errands this morning before travel becomes unlikely for a couple of days.

Today’s post is quick and fun…

I love seeing these graphics and thinking about my answers…

This one is “My Life in GIFS”…but I’m using emojis…

Favorite color: I actually had to think about this one for a second…Overall, I’m a pretty neutral girl, but I didn’t want to say that my favorite color is black. haha

I lean towards navy and gray. I like a pop of blue…especially light blue as an accent for home decor.

Favorite hobby: Reading! I just finished an audiobook yesterday, and I’m going to finish the book on my Kindle after I publish this post. Then, I’m going to make sure I have a couple more downloaded to hopefully read the next couple of days.

Dream career: I’m doing it! I put the money as a joke for two reasons…since I’ve never won the lottery, I’ve continued my teaching career. ha! And, as you know, teachers aren’t in this profession for the money. That being said, sticking with teaching for over twenty years has provided a good income for my family. I always wanted to be a teacher. I always had great English teachers, and my mom was a middle school Language Arts teacher. Being a teacher, has been very rewarding in many ways, and I’m thankful that I’ve stuck with it through some hard years. Of course, I appreciate the time off in the summer (and the occasional snow day!). I’m extremely grateful to be having one of the best years of my career. I also love seeing my own kids and their friends at school.

Favorite food: I love Mexican food (have you ever seen anyone mad while eating chips and queso?) and sushi…not together, obviously.

I’d like to travel to: England. You all know I love anything to do with the British Royal Family, and I know how exciting London can be. I did go on a European trip when I was in high school, and I loved London. I’d love to go back.

Current mood: Excited/happy for the impending snow…as long as we don’t lose power!

Makes me happy: Self-care. I look forward to my monthly facials, and I like my quiet time in the morning. I get my nails done every three to four weeks, and while sometimes I feel guilty doing so, it’s my treat to myself. I enjoy working out and going for walks. I used to feel guilty about self-care, but I think it’s important.

Can’t live without: (Obviously besides family, friends, and Homer as an answer)…coffee! …which I’m going to go make myself a cup right now.

How would you answer these prompts?

Stay safe and warm!

Blog challenge

Bloganuary 1.18.26: Keep 3

Posted on January 18, 2026January 16, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Sunday!

I love Sundays, but even more so with no school on Monday. I’m stopping by for a quick Sunday Bloganuary post.

I saw this graphic on social media, and I always like thinking about what I would keep when I see these different graphics…(I think this one was tied to Seint makeup since one of them is the 3D foundation)…

There are a lot of great ideas on here, but for me, I think I’d keep:

Books: You know I love to read!
Coffee: The best way to start my day.
Free Shipping: I appreciate Amazon Prime and all that can be on my door step in a day or two.

What about you? Which three would you keep?

I hope you’re having a great weekend.

Blog challenge

January Bucket List- Bloganuary 1.11.26

Posted on January 11, 2026January 11, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Sunday!

I hope the weekend has been treating you well.

Pinterest is kind of like Target to me. When I go to Target, Target tells me what I need to buy. Sometimes, when I get on Pinterest, ideas pop up for things to write. haha!

We’re not quite to the halfway point of January, so I think it’s not too late to share some January bucket list ideas.

I saw this list, and realized that I’ve already done a few of these…

{c/o http://www.mustlovelists.com}

Make a homemade soup, make a batch of chili: I love soup and chili season. We have soup at least once a week November-March.
Try a new hobby: I finished cross-stitching a few ornaments, and I still have one to go…and a couple other little projects too. This is a fun hobby that I’ve picked up again.
Set goals: My main goal for January is to stay consistent with working out…and be mindful of what I’m eating. Starting this week, I’m going to go back to tracking in My Fitness Pal.
Try a new type of workout: I went to Solid Core for the first time after Christmas, and I went to another class yesterday. I felt less like a fish out of water yesterday!
Create a 30 day workout calendar: I haven’t really done this, but I am planning my workouts out every week and will continue with the Bodi program I’ve been doing.
Work on a home improvement project: We aren’t doing anything major right now, but I have “refreshed” a few things…new pillow covers, new picture frames, etc.
Declutter your closet: Well, my closet isn’t in horrible shape, but I should go through it. That being said, I went into the new year having purged almost every other part of the house (kitchen cabinets, island, office cabinet, etc)
Make a reading list: I always have a reading list going. After reading “lighter” holiday reads in December, it’s been nice to read a few “meatier” books to start the new year.
After Christmas shopping sale: I did hit up a few after Christmas sales. I picked up a cute Christmas pillow for 60% off at World Market.
Watch a winter movie: I was able to watch a few favorites over break.
Read a productivity/self-improvement book: I picked up a book at a bookstore on fall break, and I hope to start reading it soon.
Get cozy socks/slippers: We’ve had warm temps, but it will be colder this week…which means I will get out my cozy socks.
Organize a bookshelf: We have lots of shelves in our basement, and I put my books down there. On a whim, I decided to organize them by color, and I love it.

With still a couple weeks left in January, I hope to cross a few more of these off my list.

Have you completed any of these ideas?

Have a great Sunday!

10 on the 10th, Blog challenge

10 on the 10th

Posted on January 10, 2026January 9, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Saturday!

I hope your weekend is off to a great start.

When I shared that I’m trying to blog every day in January, Joanne suggested Marsha‘s 10 on the 10th link up…I’ve never participated, so I’m excited to do so today.

This month’s prompt is…

When I first saw this prompt, I thought it would be difficult to do…and it kind of was hard to come up with ideas. I guess this is the opposite of a resolution! haha I gave it my best shot…

Here are 10 things I won’t be doing in 2026:

Eat more fiber: For years, I’ve tracked my protein off and on as I know that’s important for weight loss, but now I’m hearing more and more about fiber. I know fiber has its benefits, but I don’t know if I can track one more thing. That being said, one of my “go to” ideas for lunch on low carb days are “Carb Balance” tortillas…and it’s always surprising to me to see that they have 17 grams of fiber!
Read books that are longer than 300 (or so) pages (or listen to super long audio books): When I’m reading on my Kindle, I guess I don’t really know how long a book is until I download it, but 300-350 pages is what holds my attention span. (Even better if it’s a shorter book) I’ve also noticed when checking out audiobooks on Libby, I like to see that a book is nine or less hours in listening length. I often listen to a book on 1.5 or 1.75 speed, but if a book is longer than nine hours, I don’t know if I will have time to finish it in the two week window that I get to check it out.
Quit scrolling before bed: I know that it’s bad for our brains to scroll phones or read a Kindle, but I do both of those things and I rarely have trouble falling asleep. At this point, those moments tend to be some of the only ones I have for mindless activities.
Walking 10,000 steps: Listen, I’m not mad at that idea and there are days I get 10,000 steps, but a more realistic goal for me is 7,500 steps in a day. Most days I leave school with 5,000 steps, so evening activities and workouts typically get me to 7,500. That being said, since the workout program I typically do is 25 minutes, I usually try to walk outside or on my walking pad for 15 minutes after the workout. At that point, I’ve definitely gotten to my 7,500 goal (or more!), but attempting to get 10,000 steps in every day would make me feel like a failure.
Give up on the Chiefs and the Royals: Us Chiefs fans are in uncharted water this season without the Chiefs in the playoffs. I hate that Mahomes is injured and Kelce might retire, but I have to hope that next year will be better. When you are also a KC Royals fan, you also always hope the next year will be better.
Clean up my Gmail: Why do I have so many unread emails and very little storage? I can’t keep up! It’s very unlike my type A personality to have over 200 unread emails on my phone (my personal email…not my school email), and even Trav will do a double-take and make a comment about my out of control inbox. A few years ago, “something had to give,” and apparently it was my Gmail inbox!
Watch Stranger Things: I have nothing against this show, and I know it’s been on for years, but I feel like it’s all I’m hearing about and I just don’t have interest in watching it…which leads me to…
Learning Mahjong: This is also all the rage, and I just don’t think it’s something I’m interested in. Mostly, I think I feel this way because it seems like there are a lot of rules. haha! I will never say never about Mahj, but as of right now, it’s a no for me.
Wear long or chunky socks: I have some fuzzy, cozy fleece socks, but I can’t do the athletic or chunky socks over leggings. I’m a below ankle sock girl through and through.
Drink energy drinks: I’ve always been a “no energy drink” girl especially when “energy drink” meant Monster. haha! Now, there are so many options with many cute cans to tempt you…Alani, Bloom, Celsius, etc. Occasionally, I will have an afternoon coffee and I love a Diet Coke, but I don’t even drink those very often.

This turned out to be such a fun topic!

Blog challenge, Health and Fitness, Inspiration

Healthy Teacher Challenge

Posted on January 8, 2026January 7, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! We made it to Thursday! After three days of setting an alarm, I think I’m getting back on track and adjusted to school life.

Speaking of back on track, January is always a good time to get back on track, but I don’t want to make resolutions or lofty goals that end up making me feel like a failure.

I think it’s fun to find little “mini challenges” or short workout programs that I can kind of “chip away at” to make progress.

I shared in yesterday’s post that I like the Bodi widget that I’ve recently added to my phone to see my weekly workout progress. This only tracks when I do a Bodi workout, but it’s still been pretty motivating.

I follow @followkristenfriend on Instagram…she’s a fun, sassy, elementary teacher who also has a “Healthy Teacher Tribe” channel on Instagram.

She shared this little challenge with a fun graphic to kick start going back to school. I love that it incorporates other things besides fitness.

That being said, I worked out 21 days in December, and I want to keep that progress going. I also want to get back to having some “quiet time” either with a devotional or the Headspace app. Of course, sleep and water are important too!

Here’s my progress so far this week:

(She shared on the channel that she realizes she needs to update the graphic to include the toggles for Friday. haha)

My mom got me a subscription to Headspace, and I’ve spent a few minutes most days with “mindful mediation.” I’d like to do this before the day starts, but realistically, I’ve had more time in the evening.

Mallory (@mallory_fitzsimmons_) shared about the devotional she’s using this year, and I thought it would be a good way for me to set aside a few minutes every day to have some quiet time.

I have a couple of these tumblers, and they are definitely the way I get in my water intake. I typically drink at least two a day.

The Bodi workout I started in December is 25 Minute Speed Train. I’ve done other workouts by Joel Freeman, and this program is definitely the most like what I prefer for a workout. They are tough but efficient workouts. I appreciate that I can complete them in the comfort of my basement. haha

I still love my SSYS leggings, but these Hanes 7/8 length leggings that I purchased a couple of months ago have been my “go to” lately. They are buttery soft and stay put!

I have a couple of these workout tops, and they are my preference. For me, I like the muscle cut style, and the length is perfect.

For Christmas, Trav and the kids got me new tennis shoes, per my request. I knew Trav would know what brand would be best, and Hadley picked out the pretty color way. I didn’t realize how much I needed a new pair of shoes for walking and workout.

With going back to school, it’s easy to just want to come home and relax…and I do!…but I also wanted to keep up the commitment I made in December and even regroup and prioritize other goals too.

I have to remind myself…progress not perfection.

Amazon, Blog challenge, Projects

Bloganuary 1.4.26 – Organization

Posted on January 4, 2026January 3, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Sunday!

Well, today is the last day of winter break, and overall, I can say it’s been a good one. We had a good Christmas, we had some down time, and I did spend a good chunk of time getting our house somewhat in order.

The Christmas tree and decorations finally got put up yesterday. Since I did spend a bit of time purging and organizing, today I’m sharing a few organizational things that my family utilizes.

Starting off strong with something very cute. I saw these little scallop trays on a Mark and Graham ad back in November, and I thought one would be perfect for Hadley.

When she opened it on Christmas morning, she said, “how cute!” …and it is. She tends to collect things on her bedside table, so I thought this would be a good spot for her to put her bracelets, car keys (one day…still looking for a used car!), and other odds and ends.

Also, since her vanity only has one drawer, she tends to have her hair tools everywhere (which drives me crazy). I got her this hair tools travel bag, so she can keep her hair tools in it that she’s not using, but she can also use it for travel. It’s a win/win! This bag was one of her Christmas gifts, and I put some new makeup brushes in it which was something that she needed too.

When we went to KC for Thanksgiving, Hayden just threw his golf shoes in the car, and when I saw this on Amazon, I thought it would be a good way for him to store his shoes and transport them when needed. There are pockets for golf balls and tees too.

Two years ago, I got Trav this trunk organizer for his car, and he’s gotten such good use out of it.

This year, I got him this hat organizer for one of this presents (who says love is dead?!)…honestly though, every year, I get him some kind of “practical/organizational” gift, and he appreciates it. Anyway, this is a set of two, and they stack on each other. He ended up using one, and I used the other for my hats.

I’ve had the same pillow storage bags for years, and one of the zippers broke, so I bought a set of these moving/storage bags, and they are perfect. I like that they are longer and the handles make for easy transporting.

One other area I tidied over break was my bathroom closet, vanity drawers, and skincare. I’ve had this skincare/makeup organizer for a couple of years, and I re-organized it and prioritized it with products I use daily.

We’re still using these little clear (plastic) jars in our bathrooms to hold Q-tips, cotton balls and shower steamers.

We have a few of these medium size Bright room baskets from Target, and I picked up a couple more this weekend. They are perfect for under the sink in the kitchen, holding papers in our office cabinet, storage for Homer’s dog food and treats and more. I have a couple of large ones in my hall closet that hold my off season sweaters. Target has a small size too.

For me, the purging and organizing can sometimes feel overwhelming since it’s a “it has to get messy before it gets better” situation, but once things are put in their place, my type A brain can relax.

See you back here tomorrow for Prime Purchases.