Category: Clothes

Posted in Clothes, Projects

Operation Closet Reorganization

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Well, I’m not sure if this is riveting content or not, but I wanted to document my closet clean out of 2022. I’m writing this post as a reference point for me to remember to never let my closet get as bad as it did and to remember the process.

A few things about the closet situation in our house….We have lots of closets, but none of them are big.

We have a hall closet as soon as you walk in the front door. It backs up to Hadley’s closet, so they are the same…double doors with a long rod for hanging and then two long shelves above. We keep all coats in there, and it’s where I keep my hanging decorations for the front door.

We have a closet off the kitchen where we keep the dog food, appliances we don’t use often, and cleaning supplies.

We have another hall closet on our main hall that is similar in size to Hayden’s closet and the closet in our bedroom. When we first moved in, Travis actually used that hall closet as his closet, and I used the one in our bedroom.

Once we finished the basement bathroom, Travis started using that bathroom and the closet in the basement. Then, the hall closet just became and extra spot for us. It’s where I keep a few decorations, candles, Homer’s leash and toys, pool towels and pool bag, and Hadley’s dance bag. Last summer, I did move my dresses in there just to help relieve some of the congestion in my closet.

I’ve needed to do this purge for over a year. “Organize closet” was on my “to do” last summer. I just never got to it, and to be honest, it just continued to feel more and more overwhelming of a task. So, I just kept putting it off.

Nothing like a Covid quarantine in the bedroom to make me finally get to it. On day 5 of my 5 day quarantine, I finally got started. Silly me…I thought it would take a few hours. Well…it actually took a few hours over a few days.

Before:

Here’s the before…

When I took the “before” photo, I was just holding myself accountable…if I’d backed up a few more steps, you’d see quite a bit on the closet floor too. *sigh*

I’d be embarrassed of the “before” photo if I wasn’t so proud of the “after.”

The Process:

Here’s how I (finally!) went about getting organized:

  • On the first day, I tackled my dresser and chest of drawers. I started with my dresser. I went through my pjs, workout clothes, t-shirts, and socks.
  • Then I moved on to the chest of drawers and went through seasonal sweatshirts, swimsuits, coverup, and a few other odds and ends.
  • The next day, I emptied out all the clothes on the shelves on the right side of my closet as well as the shelf below my hanging clothes. I also went through my shoes and purses as well. (At this point, I panic shopped on Amazon and picked up a shoe organizer for under the bed and two boxes with lids for purses. I ended up returning both because I didn’t end up needing them!)
  • On the third day, I went through hanging clothes and jeans.
  • Finally, I went through my dresses in the hall closet. Then, I just went back through everything to make sure it was organized.

With each phase, I made a keep, donate, and try on pile. This is the first time in a while that I forced myself to try on things to decide if I still wanted to keep them or not.

My weight fluctuates, and to be honest for over a year and a half was kind of stuck no matter what I tried. I think that was some of my hang up as well with the closet. I wasn’t in a good head space to try things on even in January. I’ve made some progress over the past few months, and I think that helped me want to go through my clothes and get everything in order.

Of course, styles change too! I’ve had some of these clothes for years.

After:

Ta….da….!

…five big trash bags later…

I smile every time I open the closet door now. It’s amazing how overwhelmed I felt every single time I opened the door to get dressed. Not anymore!

I ended up moving the three drawer storage that stuck out of the left side of my closet, and put it in the nook to the right. I have sandals and flip flops in the smaller drawers and then some tennis shoes in the bigger drawer.

Do I still have too many shoes? Yes. But…at least they are now organized.

Little better view side of my closet:

The left side of my closet used to have a scarf organizer that hung down. Remember when decorative scarves were all the rage? I ended up saving a few, but since I don’t wear them often, they are in a basket at the top of my closet.

I ended up hanging a couple beach hats on the left, and I smile when I see them.

Hadley actually had a good idea to maybe add one or two shelves for my bedside pile of books. I think she’s on to something!

Travis was so impressed (Hadley too!) with the final outcome. When Travis asked me what was in some of my drawers, I did get a side eye for having two drawers of pjs. I will not apologize for my love of pajamas!

One more thing I did in my closet…I added a brighter bulb. Just doing that helped lighten up that small space.

Hall closet:

Like I said, when we first moved in, Travis used this closet. Everything I owned basically fit in the bedroom closet. That was almost eight years ago, so obviously I’ve accumulated more throughout time.

Last summer, just moving dresses here helped my closet so much. For years, I was adamant about not wanting to put off season clothes elsewhere, but this was a good compromise. If I want to wear a dress, I know where to go. I also put some of my favorite sweaters on the shelf in this closet too. Otherwise, everything else is in my room.

In the hall closet, I kept three of these storage totes of odds and ends…sentimental t-shirts, or clothes I wore occasionally. I ended up getting rid of enough items to downsize to one of these. I did end up using one for my nicer purses that I don’t use very often. Then, I have one to spare. That being said, I feel like I should only need one of these for occasional clothes. If I haven’t worn it, it should go.

The real MVPs of closet organization:

I purchased these acrylic dividers and used them in both closets. I used them between my jeans and sweatshirts in my closet and between the few sweaters in the hall closet.

On a whim, I decided to buy a few more hangers so they would match. I’ve purchased this set a few times as we’ve transitioned the kids hangers too. They aren’t fancy hangers, but it is something I noticed when I open my closet. The same hangers just make it more streamlined. (I took the “after” photos before these arrived.)

I’ve had these stackable storage bins for almost two years. Like I said, I now use one to store a few pieces of clothes, some purses, and then now I have one spare!

Shew! If you made it to the end, thanks for hanging in there. I’m not sure what it says about me that having this task completed is just about the highlight of my summer.

I’m going to try to stay on top of my closet(s), and donate items that I don’t wear at the end of each season.

This is definitely the smallest closet I’ve ever had. I know it’s “first world problems” to wish for a bigger closet, but a girl can dream!

Do you have any closet organization tips? I’d love to hear them! I need to stay motivated to keep it as neat and tidy as it is now!

I hope you are having a great week.

{Amazon affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog.}

Posted in Clothes

Summer Style from Target

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How is your week going? I swear the summer weeks go by so quickly.

I laid low most of this week, but that forced me to tackle my closet. I’ve been needing to purge my closet for over a year. If you’ve seen any of my Insta stories, you may have seen that I’ve made some major headway.

Well, I had to make room for some of the favorites I’m showing you today. I typically buy some new summer clothes in June and then promise Travis I will slow my roll in July. I just like to have a few summer staples to get me through the hot months as well as vacation.

Here are some of my recent Target finds:

I’ve already shared these pjs (top // bottom) with you as a Friday favorite, but here they are again! I love the shade of pink, and the material is so soft. I actually sized down in these, and they come in a few color options.

I needed a few new tanks, and I love the cut of this ribbed tank. I picked it up in navy as well as light green and blue. (There 13 color options!)

Before vacation, I wanted to pick up one more cover up, and saw this terry tank dress. It was with the swim suits, so I assume it can be a cover up or a dress. The terry style reminded me of my childhood swim cover ups!

I was in need of a new sports bra, and this one is cute, comfortable, and supportive. I have it in mauve and teal.

Of everything I’ve purchased recently, this dress was my only “impulse” buy. I thought it looked like a dress that could be dressed up or down…or even used as a cover up. It’s light, flowy, and perfect for summer. I sized way down to a small.

A tank dress is always my “momiform” for the summer. Also, I will wear tank dresses (long and short) to school with a cardigan. I love that you can wear sandals, flats or tennis shoes with them. This one comes in a variety of colors, but I love the blue!

Ok…time for the real dress of the summer! Amy has shared this dress a few times on her blog which prompted me to pick up the mauve color. I ordered it in a large and a medium.

This is the medium, so I returned the large.

I loved this dress so much that I was curious about a size small to compare, so I ordered it in green.

This is the small:

….and then I decided to keep both! Like most decisions I make with dresses, I love to buy something that can be dressed up or down, and that I can wear to school. I would throw this on over a swimsuit too if needed.

It looks like there’s limited stock and colors, but the white seems to stay in stock, and as I type this, the mauve has some sizes left.

None of my shoes are from Target, but here are the links in case you are interested!

  • flip flops -( I have had these for years…and have two pairs: rose gold and steel gray)
  • thin strap sandals – (I’ve shared these before –that they are so comfy, but sometime make a weird airy sound when I walk)
  • faux Birks – (Hadley has these in white, and has worn them faithfully for two years. I bought the rose gold pair last summer and wear them ten times more than my real Birks. I sized up to 10 instead of my regular 9)
  • braided heel sandal– These will be my sandal of the summer. These are stylish and comfy.

Target and Amazon continue to be the real MVPs in my life! What are your summer “go to” items?

See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Amazon, Clothes

Summer Amazon Faves

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday Eve. Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite Amazon finds from last summer!

With the warmer temps, I’m already wearing some of these faves, so I thought I’d go ahead and share.

Sandals:

I’ve previously raved about these woven sandals that I bought last summer. Unfortunately, they aren’t available anymore, but…

…but these are very similar, come in a variety of colors, and have over 3,000 four star reviews.

I purchased these “comfort slides” in white two summers ago, and then again in pink last summer. They are perfect for the pool, and I often wore them to baseball games during those hot summer days last year. After I initially purchased them, I returned my regular 9 and sized up to 10 for the perfect fit.

I wear these faux Birks on the regular. I got them for Hadley two summers ago in white, and she still wears them. I purchased them in rose gold last summer and couldn’t love them more. (Because I sized up in the comfort slides, I knew to do the same in these. Size 10, instead of a 9, works perfectly for me.)

Dresses:

This dress was one of my favorites last summer. It comes in a few colors and is perfect to wear with slides, wedges or heels. It’s easy to dress up or down.

I wore it to Hadley’s dance recital last year as well as throughout the summer and back to school.

This dress was such a favorite that I purchased it in blue and then in gray.

The material is so soft, I love the high/low style of it.

This dress was another favorite of mine from last summer. I also wore it to school with a cardigan and out to dinner with friends with a denim jacket.

Fun in the Sun:

While I didn’t need another pair of sunglasses, I purchased these recently, and I love them.

I got this visor last summer, and it’s perfect for the pool. It’s also perfect for travel because it rolls up and fastens together for easy packing.

This swimsuit was my swimsuit of the summer last year. I purchased it in “big leopard” and “leopard.” There are so many cute options, and it is super comfortable.

big leopard

This swim cover up was one of my favorites! I purchased it in navy, but there are so many awesome colors and patterns. I love that it buttons all the way up to give more styling options.

Hat and sunglasses are from Nordstrom, but here I am ready for the pool in swimsuit and cover up.

Other Summer Faves:

Hadley ended up getting these shorts in three colors for back to school.

She got the women’s XS, and they are super cute to wear with a t-shirt, tank, or even sweatshirt/sweater when the temps cool off.

I lived in this tank last summer. I bought it more than one color! It can easily be dressed up or down. I wanted it for the hot days at the ballpark, but here it is styled with white jeans…

With Hadley doing swim team and all our time spent at the pool, we tried to be proactive with hair care and the chlorine. This combo saved Hadley’s hair in the summer months.

The kids loved these goggles, and I always have an extra pair or two in the swim bag.

I’ve never been one to wear jewelry when I know I’m going to sweat! That being said, these gold glitter jelly bangles were too cute to pass up!

I wore them to the beach and to the pool often last summer.

What are some of your summer “must haves?”

I can’t wait for summer. It’s almost here!

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Clothes

WIWW: White Denim

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How is your week going? We had a busy Monday with school and a track meet. Then, life slowed down a bit when Hadley tested positive for strep! Ugh. I feel so bad for her. She’s on the mend though!

Listen, I’m no fashion blogger, but I have a new favorite pair of pants (white jeans), and I had to tell you about them.

Here is my first ever (and maybe last? haha) ….

I love a pair of white jeans. I had a pair that I wore for years…and then I spilled coffee on them, and they just weren’t the same. Seriously–that was 2019. In 2020, I didn’t care to replace them, and then last spring I bought a random pair of white jeans from Amazon. They were ok, and I made do, but decided to purchase a couple of pairs this spring when Old Navy had a sale.

I purchased the High Waist Super Skinny Ankle Jean…

…and returned them. I still don’t love high-waisted jeans…and while I almost kept them just because I’d gotten them for such a good price, I went ahead and returned them.

I also purchased the Mid Rise Rockstar Super Skinny and these are what this post is all about.

Mid-rise jeans are my jam. Low rise, no ma’am. High rise, apparently not. Mid-rise, yes ma’am!

I wanted frayed look, so I ended up cutting the bottoms off after I wore them a couple of times….like Travis walked in the room when I had the scissors in my hand…and I said, “Don’t ask annnnyyy questions…I know what I’m doing.”

I wore this outfit to church on Sunday. I will repeat it for school and wear sandals.

black tank // white jeans // espadrilles // cardigan

This is one of my favorite spring/summer blouses. It’s lightweight and so comfortable. Pairing it with white jeans and sandals is a great casual but put together outfit option.

blue blouse // white jeans // similar sandals

This lightweight sweater with wedge sandals give a more elevated look for a date night or night out with friends.

(Sometimes, even with the frayed hem, I cuff the jeans just a bit. It’s always good to show the thinnest part of your body…ankles and wrists, ladies! Ankles and wrists.)

Peep homer 🤣

summer sweater // white jeans // old wedges (but these are on my wish list)

A black sweater, white jeans, and leopard flats provide a perfect outfit for work.

(old) black sweater // white jeans // (old) leopard flats from Walmart (but this pair is cute from DSW)

I cuffed the jeans again here to wear with sneakers. When I snapped this photo, I meant to throw on a baseball cap! On the weekend, you will definitely find me in something like this to run errands or go out to lunch. #momiform

Short sleeve sweatshirt (various size/color combos) // white jeans // GG

Ugh, as I went to finish up this post, I realized how limited the stock is on this particular pair of white jeans, but the in stock sizes seem to come and go. That being said, if high-rise are your thing, then the pair I returned may be for you!

Here are some other white denim options at Old Navy:

Also, a few of my clothing items are old/unlinkable….but they are great basics! Can’t go wrong with a lightweight black sweater, leopard flats, and black tank top in your closet.

Nothing says “spring/summer” like a pair of white denim, so I’m hoping you found some outfit inspiration! It was nice to “shop my closet” to round up a few spring outfits.

Also, Old Navy has 25% off with code: BONUS, so now may be a great time to pick up a few things for the warmer weather.

I’m sure fashion bloggers take better photos and clean their mirror, but thanks for sticking with me!

See you back here tomorrow for Monthly Musings.

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Clothes

Spring Shoes and Sandals

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Happy Friday Eve! Our weather started off soooo cold this week, but it’s turning the corner with highs in the 70’s and low 80’s this weekend. The warmer weather combined some recent shoe shopping got me thinking about spring shoes and sandals.

I always treat myself to a pedicure over Spring Break, and then I’m annoyed with the cold weather we have off and on in April and May which means I can’t wear my favorite flip flops and sandals.

Today, I’m sharing some recent shoe and sandal finds that are perfect for spring, and some of my tried and true faves as well.

DSW:

Every spring, Hadley’s foot has typically grown enough (she now wears a women’s 7.5) that she needs a new pair of flats for church and Easter. Our Target was picked over, so we ended up at DSW. I always forget how many shoes they have!

After only a few minutes in the store, Hadley chose these ballet flats in the beige color. They are cute and comfy.

Once I knew we were going to Keeneland last weekend and the weather was on the cooler side, I wanted a pair of close toe wedges. I have a variety of booties and a favorite pair of open toed wedges, but thought I’d check out DSW again. I found these and love them. I tried on my regular size 9, and they fit. Well, I compared them to the 9.5, and actually did purchase the 9.5 because they seemed to fit the best.

I wore them to Keeneland on Saturday and church on Sunday, and they are so comfortable. I know they will look great with jeans or white pants too.

I’ve had these Nine West wedges forever…I’m talking at least six or seven years. They are my “go to” dressier sandal option. They’ve been through it all, and when I went to take the pic really noticed how much they’ve been worn.

Here I am wearing them…

So, I have my eyes on this pair at DSW for a replacement. I will see what I may need for spring before buying them, but I saw them in the store and took note!

Target:

Hadley saw these on one of our Target trips, and we picked them up for her to have as a summer option with dresses. She usually has a pair of ballet flats and sandal flip flops, but I thought these were very age appropriate for her. She got them in the cognac color, and she loves them.

She wore them for Easter and gave them rave reviews.

I saw these when we were at Target, but they didn’t have my size. I’m having flashbacks to the 80’s, and I’m sure my mom had a similar pair of these. I’m definitely going to keep them in mind once summer is in full swing.

Amazon:

{Amazon affiliate links…}

While I’m sharing sandals, I figured it’s a great time to share some of my faves from Amazon.

I wear these rose gold faux Birks whenever I can! I bought them last summer because Hadley had them in white from the previous summer. She still wears hers often and they’ve held up beautifully. I did size up to a 10 in these, and that’s a better fit.

40,000 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️rating

Here are Hadley’s white faux Birks and then comfort slides that I have in both white and pink. I purchased both pairs last summer (and sized up to a 10), and they are perfect for the pool or sitting out the ball fields.

Comfort slides 47,000 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️rating

These sandals were the purchase of summer 2021, and I didn’t even buy them until the end of the summer!

It looks like my exact pair isn’t currently on Amazon, but here is a similar option. (with almost 3,000 four star ratings)

I’ve seen so many share the braided heels, and Target has a cute option that goes in and out of stock. I have my eyes on these from Amazon. The memory foam insoles are a selling point for me 😉

I need to go through my shoe sitch ASAP before adding more to the mix. That being said, I know there are some shoes and sandals in my closet that haven’t been worn since before the pandemic!

Hopefully, warmer days are ahead because I’m ready to wear my spring sandals.

See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Posted in Clothes, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#106}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! It’s the best kind of Friday because…Shew!… I’ve almost made it to Spring Break.

This week as been hectic at both school and at home; I’m definitely ready to kick my feet up and relax this evening. I can’t wait.

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

I had my annual mammogram last week and received my “all clear” results this week. Just a friendly reminder to get yourself that appointment!

Not a favorite…I threw my back out on Monday. This is the third time since 2018 that my sciatica has given me trouble. The worst time was the first time in 2018. Then, spring of 2020 and now almost two years later. Monday, after school, I couldn’t wait to get home and lie down flat and rest. It was really hard for me to rest, but I’ve done that when I can this week, and I think (fingers crossed) this isn’t going to turn into a big issue.

Over the weekend, I popped into Trader Joe’s…I stuck to my list, but then I saw this grapefruit scented candle, and knew it would be perfect for spring. It’s a good one!

I really try to use the You are Special plate whenever I can, but I usually end up combining “celebrations.” Both kids had their best report cards yet (7 A’s and 1 B), and they made the track team. So, both were celebrated on different evenings.

It was Spirit Week this week. Hadley dressed up most days, but the both sported their “college” shirts on Tuesday. Why do I feel like I’m going to blink, and I will be dropping them off at college?!

Favorite Kid Quote:

Hadley forgot her running shoes for track practice on Monday. Travis suggested she borrow Hayden’s spare pair…

Look at her response below: haha!

…and…

Wednesday night we were getting caught up on American Idol. The contestant, who ended up earning the platinum ticket, was singing “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” and Hayden said, “He sings like me…when I’m in the shower.” 😆

I LOL’d!

Favorite Clothing Item(s):

I used to have a chambray shirt but got rid of it at some point. Amy shared her fashion faves recently and I realized I “needed” a chambray shirt again.😉 Target for the win! My Target was out, so I had this one shipped.

I love it. It arrived Wednesday (a little wrinkly), so I threw it on for a pic. I wore it yesterday with my Matilda Jane ruffle pants, and felt so comfy all day.

My sister-in-law was wearing some cute jeans from Loft. I found these (which are similar) and ordered them immediately…using the 40% off code.

They arrived on Tuesday, and I wore them Wednesday. So many of my jeans are skinny jeans, and I wanted a darker pair that was a bit different.

Favorite Mom Meme(s):

Tweens…#amIright?!

This one is relatable as well!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

After my dad requested the photo with the kids, he said, “I hope you are saving these.” Of course, that prompted me to take a deep dive into my Shutterfly folders, and I found 2017 thorough ’22.

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

Hello Monday
Easter Basket Ideas

What are your weekend plans? Spring Break begins at 3:30, and I’m ready.

I should have a couple of posts next week starting with some memes on Monday.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Posted in Clothes, Weekend Top 5

Hello Monday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello (Monday!) How was your weekend? We had a really good one. Our mornings were slow paced followed by busy afternoons, but it was a great weekend. Also, even though the temps are still cool, the sun was shining all weekend which made me want to be productive and cross some things off my “to do” list(s).

I’m linking up with Holly and Sarah to share about the weekend.

Here’s my…

After school, I came home and took a quick nap because I couldn’t shake the headache I’d had all day. Both of the kids had after school activities, I so I had some time to close my eyes for a bit. Then, I went to Walmart for a few things for school (and a couple other purchases…you’ll see below!)

Then, I picked up the kids, and we stopped at home quickly for everyone to get ready for Hayden’s basketball game.

We picked up Hadley’s friend and decided to stop by a favorite restaurant and have pizza before his game. Then, the the girls decided we should have the Nutella pizza for dessert. Travis and I thought it sounded delish…and it was.

Hayden’s team won by ONE point to advance in the end of the season tournament. It was an exciting game to watch!

Once we got home, the kids did their own thing, and Travis and I started Inventing Anna. We watched one episode. We loved Ozark, and I can’t believe Anna is Ruth from Ozark. Once the episode was over, it was 11:00, so I was very ready for bed!

I slept until almost 9:00, and the kids slept past 11:00. I don’t know the last time we had a Saturday morning without anywhere we needed to be. The slow start to Saturday meant coffee, Wordle, watching the last episode of season 2 of The Morning Show, I and had plenty of time to lounge in some comfies that I scored at Walmart. The past couple of years, I’ve had great luck finding lounge wear, athletic wear, and even summer dresses at Walmart.

I have a few pieces of the Secret Treasures brand of pajamas. I got this top in “teal dust print” and “teal dust” and bought the pj pants in “teal dust” as well. The pants are true to size for me, but the top can definitely be sized down (or not if you want it over-sized). Run, don’t walk…you won’t regret picking up these mix and match sets!

Hadley and Travis went for a run, and then Hadley told me she’d run some errands with me. She mentioned that she wanted to try the acai bowl at The Press, so we stopped there. While she enjoyed her snack, I got a smoothie as well.

Then, we headed to Save-a-Lot to purchase snacks for my after school program.

I really didn’t want to, but when I got home, I did my 30 minutes Beach Body workout before heading to Hayden’s basketball game. Of course, I’m glad it “pushed play,” and it was fun to watch Hayden play.

On the way home from his game, Travis suggested we pick up dinner from The Pasta Garage, so we did just that. We enjoyed a drink while waiting for our “to go” order. We hadn’t been there in a while, but the food was perfect for Saturday night dinner.

After dinner, I placed our Kroger Clicklist order, showered, and read my book while Travis and Hadley watched a movie. Then, it was time for bed.

Sunday morning, I slept until about 7:45. Travis picked up Parlor Donuts for the kids. I had a couple bites of a couple of them, drank my coffee, and watched an episode of The Rookie. Then, we woke the kids and got them moving.

While the kids got ready for church, I ran to Trader Joe’s for my produce items (and a couple of things that Kroger said they didn’t have in stock). Then, we headed to church.

After church, I stopped in TJ Maxx before picking up my Kroger order.

Then, I cut up peppers and cucumbers for the week, ate lunch, and took down the Christmas tree in Hadley’s room. While Hayden was at basketball practice, and Hadley was at youth group, I worked on this post, and then put dinner in the slow cooker.

I had some time to read my book (I hope to share my February books later this week) before Hayden’s basketball game. (He still has school ball and rec league ball going on.)

After Hayden’s game, we enjoyed dinner. I made Narci’s Crockpost Beef and Broccoli.

Then, it was time to get everyone organized and ready for the week.

We ended the weekend watching American Idol. I cried no less than two times. Season 20 will be a good one!

So, that’s a wrap on our weekend. I will be back tomorrow to share Prime Purchases!

I hope you have a great week!

Posted in Clothes, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#100}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! Apparently, this is my 100th Friday Favorites post which makes this Friday even better.

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

This week was pretty hectic for me both personally and professionally, so this may be a somewhat quick post!

Favorite Moment(s):

I’ve loved watching the Olympics. As a matter of fact, I’ve been staying up too late to watch! It’s so exciting to watch these athletes, and also heartbreaking sometimes too. I mean, Mikaela Shiffrin sitting on the side of that mountain for over twenty minutes about did me in. I was like, “Someone go give that girl a hug!”

My first ever Antique Candle Co order arrived. As you all know, I love by Bath and Body Works candles, but when ACC had come candles 40% off, I went for it.

I ordered:

  • Fall Harvest (and will save for the fall months)
  • Homemade Gingerbread (perfect to round out this last month of winter)
  • Vanilla Bean
  • Sweet Lemon
  • and…I didn’t know that they often include a 2 oz candle, and they sent me Grapefruit.

So far, I’ve burned the Gingerbread, Vanilla Bean, and Sweet Lemon.

I love them all.

Favorite Picture(s):

I think our Valentine’s Day cards for our family turned out really cute.

front of 2022 card

Even though the Chiefs lost, I couldn’t resist including us in our red!

back of 2022 card

This Hayden and Homer selfie is just precious too!

Favorite Food:

I love Taco Soup, but haven’t made it it yet this year. It sure did hit the spot Wednesday night for dinner and then lunch leftovers yesterday.

Favorite Clothing Item:

I can’t believe that I haven’t shared this sweater yet with y’all! I have it in two colors. Over Christmas break, Hadley and I went to the mall and stopped in Aerie. I bought it in the Rose color while in the store. Later, I purchased it online in Monaco Blue. I wear it with leggings, denim, and even nicer pants to school. Both times I bought this sweater, it was on sale which makes it even better 😉

Favorite Kid Quote:

Valentines Day and people asking to be Valentines with each other are hot topics in middle school. Hadley said, “Everyone is finding a Valentine this year. And to think…just last year we thought boys had cooties!” 🤣 Made me LOL.

Favorite Mom Meme(s):

This bulk meme is my life…and also applies to buying bananas.

This! Not saying I had it tough in the 80’s, but I’m not sure my kids would last long in 1985.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

I’ve always been great with multi-tasking. I really stepped up my game when I became a mom. I carried both Hayden and the clean laundry upstairs at one point!

February 2010

I always say about Hadley #sassysincedayone Here she is stealing my drink in 2013.

Weekly Recap:

I had a few posts this week:

Hello Monday
Valentine’s Day Ideas
Let’s Look

On Monday, we are hosting our February Not Just a Mom link up!

The topic is: Day in the Life. We hope you’ll join us.

Do you have any big plans this week? Of course, we have a few sports activities going on, but we aren’t completely overbooked. I know that I sure hope to sleep in tomorrow. We’ll see.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Posted in Clothes, Friday Favorites, Holidays

Friday Favorites {#93}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! For some reason, this has felt like the longest week. School seems extra crazy, and honestly, home life does too. I’ve definitely earned my teaching and parenting paycheck this week. haha

I’m going to focus on the positives and link up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Here are my favorites from the week:

Coffee by the glow of the Christmas tree.

Beautiful sunrises.

I’ve caught two this week.

I did a Bath and Body run recently for holiday and winter fragrances. I picked up a few candles: Snowflake and Citrus, Iced Cranberry Scone, Winter and Frosted Cranberry.

Winter Citrus Wreath hand soap is perfect for the kitchen, and Twisted Peppermint is a favorite shower gel this time of the year.

Hadley had a Christmas chorus concert this week, and I loved it. The choir sang three songs, and then the orchestra and band played three songs each as well. It was a great evening, and we loved watching the performances.

I’m almost finished with my first December book. A Nantucket Christmas has been a cute read.

For the second year in a row, I’ve purchased these sweet Santa photos from Narci. Hayden and Hadley will wake up to this one in a frame this morning:

The sun room is one of my favorite decorated spots. I picked up the tree and the pillow covers last year. I’ve quickly learned a great way to decorate for fall and winter are with pillow covers. Pillow covers save so much space for storage during the off months. They quite possibly have also saved my marriage, so I don’t have to hear Travis ask, “Do we really need another pillow?” I just put these over my regular pillows during the Christmas season.

Similar pillow covers

I ordered this sweater from Amazon recently, and I love it. It’s great quality, so soft, and the green color is perfect for this time of the year. I’ve worn it to school with black pants (pictured below), but I’ve also worn it with leggings too.

Our elf, Red, has been having a little fun:

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

Trav’s work Christmas party reminded me of one of the times the kids met Santa when they were little at the same party.

Here they are in 2013…and just a bit hesitant.

And then there’s this one…from 1980 something…

I look a bit uncertain while my brother looks terrified. haha

Weekly Recap:

I’ve had a few posts this week. I shared about our festive and fun weekend, my Amazon purchases for last month, and then a look at our favorite Christmas traditions.

Weekend Top 5
Prime Purchases
Let’s Look: Fave Traditions

This Monday is our last Not Just a Mom link up of 2021. I’ve enjoyed joining these ladies each month to share about our NJAM topics.

Monday’s topic is Favorite Holiday movies. We’d love to have you join us!

I hope you have a great weekend. Ours will be filled with dance for Hadley, cross country and basketball for Hayden, and maybe we’ll have a bit more holiday fun too.

Thanks so much for reading.

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Clothes, Friday Favorites, Gift Ideas

Friday Favorites {#92}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your week? We had a good one, but the first couple of days just seemed so difficult getting back into the swing of things.

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

Here are some of my recent favorites:

I ordered this sweater from Walmart, and I love it. It’s soft, cozy, and a great price. I ordered it in “Winter White.” I wore it to school this week with black pants and flats, but I’ve also worn it with leggings and sneakers!

Cowl neck sweater

One of my favorite comedians is coming to town, and I’m so excited. A few girlfriends and I snagged some tickets. She was in Cincinnati last month, and I was bummed I didn’t go. Then, she released more tickets! I’m so excited.

I finished watching Maid on Netflix, and it was so good. I read the book last year, and actually put it on my Top 5 Reads for 2020 list. Just like the book, I teared up. The acting was fantastic. Andie MacDowell and Margaret Qualley were out of this world amazing. (Did you know Margaret is Andie’s daughter?) I highly recommend the book and the series.

Homer snuggles are another favorite. I think he missed us while we were gone over Thanksgiving. He snuggled right up to Travis when we got home on Saturday.

I have a couple of new ornaments for the tree, and they are both my favorites.

My friend brought me this Betty White ornament along with a can of Trader Joe’s Step Up to the Bar mix. My fave!

My mom cross stitched this ornament, and I love it.

School photos came in and I can’t get over how much older my kids look! They missed the first photo day when they were home with Covid. Thankfully, they made it to the make up picture day.

I can’t believe what a difference (a little over) six months can make.

These 5th grade pics were taken in late March.

Also, our favorite gift to give arrived yesterday. I feel ok sharing this because I think by now my family knows they will receive this calendar 😉 Every year, I order this stand up desk calendar for my parents, my Gma, and my aunt. Then, I order a couple of extra for my desk at school and one for my brother’s family. The calendar used to just be filled with my kids’ photos, but now it’s a mix of my kids and my brother’s kids. We also include a few group photos of them every year like at Halloween and at Christmas.

Vistaprint has so many cute design options for the calendars and the discount code is amazing. Also, I ordered these on Monday, and they arrived yesterday. No shipping delay!

I just thought I’d share in case you are in need of a small personalized gift or stocking stuffer.

Favorite Mom Meme:

This. On repeat. I swear no matter how hard I try, I’m always running late!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

This sweet little basketball memory popped up from 2018. Travis was Hadley’s basketball coach, and it was such a fun season. The Fire went on to win the championship game in the tournament!

Weekly Recap:

I was busy with posts this week!

Monday Memes
Thanksgiving Recap
November Books
Sentence a DAy

I hope you have a great weekend. I hope we can finally get a tree for the living room, and we have a Christmas party to attend…oh! and basketball. There’s always some kind of game to attend!

See you back here Monday!