Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#47}

Posted on December 4, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! How’s it going? We’ve had a good week around here, and it actually felt like winter! We are back in a school groove with only a few evening activities, and we’ve been enjoying the holiday season so far.

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

Favorites from this week:

Angel Tree:

Purchasing gifts for families on the angel tree is one of our favorite family traditions. It’s fun to let the kids pick out gifts for the kids on the list. As a family, we sponsored a boy and girl and then Hayden and Hadley’s pod also bought presents for a family as well. Of course, I try to instill in the kids to always be grateful and always help those in need…not just during the holidays.

Black Friday Discounts:

I’ve never been a Black Friday shopper, but we took advantage of a sale at a local retailer once I saw that our weather was taking a turn to the colder side early this week. Hadley’s coat was 50% off and Hayden’s was 30% off. My kids know I love a coupon and a discount. I tell them they should never purchase anything full price. 😆

Candles:

After picking out the kids’ coats, I made a stop in Bath and Body Works and picked up some holiday season candles. They had buy 3, get 3 free, so I picked up two hand soaps, two 3-wick candles, and then 2 single wick candles. On my way to the register a nice customer handed me a coupon for a free single wick candle, so I ended up with a third candle! I was very appreciative.

I always pick up the ‘Winter’ candle every year. It has such a clean and fresh smell. I love it so much.

Running Buddies:

The weather was warm enough on Sunday for a run, and I looked out the window to see Trav and Hayden stretching after their afternoon jog. They looked like twins! Homer didn’t get the invite for the run!

Turkey Rice Soup:

We usually use the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving for soup on the Friday after Thanksgiving…but I didn’t end up making the soup until Sunday. It was the perfect Sunday night dinner.

SnOMG:

Monday and Tuesday mornings we woke up to snow! I knew there was talk of colder weather and some precipitation, but I was still surprised to see measurable amounts of snow both mornings.

We got those Christmas lights up just in time!

I usually make snowman pancakes on the first snow day of the season. With virtual school for the foreseeable future, I’m not sure we’ll get a traditional snow day any time soon. So, I went ahead and made snowman pancakes for the kids on Monday morning.

Tuesday’s snow stuck around for a couple days and was enough to play in. The kids dressed accordingly for recess at the pod and then Hadley played with her friend in the snow for a couple hours after school. Hayden did as well, but he was nowhere to be found when I wanted to take a snowy pic!

Homer:

I found Homer on the couch all snuggled up on Tuesday afternoon. Both kids swear they didn’t cover him with the blanket, so who knows! Homer is either into trouble or snoozing! There’s rarely an in between.

Starbucks:

I made not one, but two trips to Starbucks this week. I wanted something warm to drink, but I’d already had my morning coffee; so, I ordered a London Fog tea during both visits! So good. I enjoyed them from the quiet of my classroom.

Winter Decorations:

Over the weekend, I put out our Christmas decorations. I couldn’t help myself, and I did make a trip (or two) to Michaels. I use most of the same decorations each year. This year, I actually did take the time to get rid of the fall decorations I haven’t used in recent years and will do the same when I put these winter decorations away in January.

I picked up two of these crock lanterns and put tealights in them. I also purchased four snow covered swags for our front windows and a few other items. Of course, everything was 50% off and teachers get an additional 10% off all their orders, so I used that as well.

I purchased the basket with wreath at TJ Maxx.

Christmas lanterns // swags

The Return of Red:

Red doesn’t come until December in our house, and he made his arrival right on time on December 1st. On the second night, he left the kids their “Want, Need, Wear, Read” list to fill out, so he can report back to Santa.

He filled in a couple of “needs” for them 😉

GG:

My mom is in town visiting and took over virtual school yesterday. With over 30 years experience teaching 7th grade English we knew the kids would be well supervised.

Favorite gift idea:

I debated on sharing this as to not give away a gift for a few family members, so I will just share this sneak peek.

Every year since my kids were born, I’ve ordered this desk calendar from Vistaprint for my immediate family. I always place the order on Cyber Monday because they offer a great discount. Once my brother and sister-in-law had their kids, we started to include their photos too.

I upload the photos (and we use the same pattern of January is a pic of my kids, February includes a pic of my niece and nephew and then some months, like October, is the four kids) I placed this order late Monday night, and it already arrived yesterday! As usual, it turned out perfectly, and we can’t wait to give it to them. (I even order one for myself and my brother’s family)

Like I said, I’m sure my family is expecting this gift. It’s one I love giving, and they love receiving.

Selfies:

Found this gem on my phone, and it made me smile!

Friday Funny:

Y’all, I feel this deeply. haha

My brother decided to remind me this week that I’m almost 41. Wow…40 has gone by quickly!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Tis the season for my kids to think we are millionaires 😅

Weekly Recap:

Thanksgiving Recap

Amazon Lately

Tis the Season

Looking back, I sure shared a hodge podge of faves from the week. All things considered, we had a pretty good week. Now, bring on the weekend!

Thanks so much for reading, and don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

Take care,

Friday Favorites, Holidays, Traditions

Friday Favorites {#45}: Thanksgiving

Posted on November 13, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! We made it to the weekend. This week has definitely had its share of ups and downs, so needless to say, I’m ready for the weekend.

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

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It also feels like the most overlooked holiday smooshed right in between Halloween and Christmas. Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I thought I’d share some of my favorite things about Thanksgiving from traditions, the food, and more!

My favorite things about Thanksgiving:

The Food:

Thanksgiving food is my favorite food of the entire year. I never really say no to carbs, but definitely not on Thanksgiving. Give me all of the mashed potatoes, rolls, macaroni and cheese and other carbs! I do love the turkey as well. A slice of pumpkin pie topped with a dollop of whipped cream is the perfect way to end the meal.

Fun fact: the only day of the year that I buy the school lunch is the Thursday before Thanksgiving. That’s when our district serves up their version of a Thanksgiving meal. I know the picture isn’t the best, but the food really is good!

The Leftovers, Y’all:

The leftovers are the best part of the meal! I always look forward to the Friday after Thanksgiving lunch when we reheat the turkey, the mashed potatoes, and anything else we have left to eat!

Also, did you see the soup recipe I shared in my Let’s Look post on Wednesday? It’s so good and a great way to use up your leftover turkey!

The Weather and FAll Colors:

The weather and the fall colors of the leaves always make the holiday even better! Whether we are in KC or KY, we tend to luck out with pretty mild weather.

Family:

It’s always great to see family around the holidays. It makes that time of the year even more special. Some years, we see my family in KC, and other years we see Trav’s family from various parts of Kentucky. This year, we probably won’t see family like we usually do, but hopefully we can get back on track with that tradition next year.

No stress of Gifts:

I’ve always loved Thanksgiving because of food, family, and….no gift giving! It’s nice just to show up, hang out, eat, and not feel overwhelmed with gift buying lists, wrapping, and hauling gifts from house to house (or state to state!)

The Parade:

I’ve always loved the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. I remember watching it as a kid, and I always turn it on for my kids now too. I’m not saying I always watched every second of it, but it’s just nice to even have it on in the background while hanging out or cooking.

The Lights:

The Plaza lights in KC are always a must when we visit. On Thanksgiving evening, there is always a ceremony, a countdown, and then the lights are lit! Whether it’s right after Thanksgiving or when we visit at Christmas, we try to see them as a family.

I remember as a kid going with my family to drive through that part of town and look at the lights…followed by a hamburger and shake at Winsteads (another KC fave!)

Giving Thanks:

Of course, I try to give thanks on other days besides Thanksgiving, but Thanksgiving does provide a time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the blessings in my life.

One thing my school does is gratitude feathers. Students fill out the feathers for their teachers thanking them, and then they get put in teacher mailboxes for teachers to receive before Thanksgiving break. I never expect to receive a gratitude feather, but I always love when I do. The sweet messages keep me going during this time of the school year.

Elementary Art:

Through the years, I’ve loved seeing what the kids bring home in their backpacks from school. Whether it’s a turkey or a cap with feathers, I always love talking with them about their masterpieces.

I’m sad that this year looks so different for Hayden and Hadley, and this is another example of “what would have been” if they were in school for a regular year. I doubt there will be any Thanksgiving artwork in middle school. #sadface

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday: Turkey Day Edition

Here are some kid and family pics through the years. Thankfully, they don’t fight me much when when I ask them to dress up a bit to see family!

Weekly Recap:

Not Just a Mom: Shop the Holidays

Let’s Look

Life Lately

Even with this year looking differently, I continue to be thankful for family, friends, and our health.

What blessings are you counting this year?

Thanks so much for reading, and don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

Have a great weekend,

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#44}

Posted on November 6, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! How was your week? The weather here was beautiful, so that combined with a day off on Tuesday left us having a pretty good week!

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

Favorite Food:

Halloween candy. Too much of it. haha Snickers are my fave…I usually put a couple of them in the freezer to have as a sweet afternoon treat.

Favorite Moment:

This…

I never decorate until closer to Thanksgiving. We usually get a real tree for our living room, and typically do so the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday, and it deserves its glory…but…this year, for me, anything goes! I’d had my eye on this “cashmere” pencil tree at Michael’s. A few influencers shared it on Instagram, and said it usually sells out quickly. So, I went ahead and purchased it. It was on sale for $60 (marked down from $140). There’s another option that’s $50 that is the same height and pencil style just not “cashmere.”

So, I spent my Election Day putting up this little tree in our sun room. I also picked up the neutral/metallic colored ornaments and natural woven tree topper bow to complete the tree.

I don’t want to jinx it, but the tree has been up for three days, and none of the shatterproof ornaments have been #homered. Of course, I think he prefers ornaments that are heirlooms. He had a real knack for destroying those last year. 🙃

I love it so much that I took pics of it throughout the day. 😂

We will still get a real tree for the living room later. I may move this pencil tree into our bedroom and put our bigger artificial one in the sunroom like we did last year. I have plenty of time to think about it.

For now, the rest of my house is pumpkins…except for this one corner of the sun room. 😉

Favorite Kid Quote:

I’ve previously mentioned the Pod President election, and on Monday, the kids gave their speeches to their pod classmates. They did such a great job writing their speeches. They had such fun ideas and their personalities definitely shined though.

Wednesday was voting day, and the kids were encouraged to wear red, white, and blue.

Casting their ballots in the cute pod voting booth.

The three candidates…

The third candidate ending up winning, but I was so proud of my kids’ effort in making their posters, thinking of slogans, and writing their speeches. They had a great time and learned a lot about the election process.

Favorite Pic:

I was out for a walk, looked down and saw this heart shaped leaf which made me smile.

Favorite Clothing Item:

In Tuesday’s Amazon post, I shared about my love for this tank. It’s such a great basic to wear with a cardigan or with leggings.

Landyn shared about these Nordstrom pjs. I wanted something new and comfy for after my surgery, and these are just that! I also like that they are shorts with a long sleeved shirt because that’s perfect for the fall nights where sometimes we have 50 degree temps and other nights are much colder.

There are a few color options, but I went with “grey pavement.”

Other Faves:

No school on a Tuesday is always a bonus! We used that day to sleep in a bit, relax, get caught up on school, and cross some items off our “to do” lists.

Homer is always a fave…even when he brings his bone in the bed when I’ve told him not to.

I finished reading The Jetsetters Wednesday night and LOVED it. I highly recommend it!

Favorite Mom Meme:

I blame the time change, y’all! 😂

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

This pic of Hadley ready for the first grade fall festival in 2016 popped up in my Facebook memories❤️ #yeehaw

As well as this pic of Hayden when he lost his first tooth in November 2014. Now he’s in full on braces for the second time. Time really does fly…and kids do get more expensive!

Weekly Recap:

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

Halloween Recap

Amazon Lately

Home Updates

Thanks so much for reading, and don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts!

I hope you have a great weekend.

Friday Favorites, Holidays

Friday Favorites {#43}

Posted on October 30, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! We’ve had a pretty good week around here. Of course, we were busy with school and work, but we also found time for a few Halloween activities which made the week even more fun.

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

Favorite Food:

Amy shared about these rice rollers in a recent blog post. I rarely go into the grocery store, so I’ve forgotten to look for them when placing my online orders. Anyway, the other day I went into Kroger to pick up Halloween candy and saw the rice rollers!

They are a perfect snack, and really delicious.

Favorite Moment:

Well, y’all…we’ve hit a milestone! The kids carved their pumpkins on Tuesday night with minimal help from mom and dad!! #praisehands I love this tradition, but I’m not mad about them doing the work! Hayden wanted his pumpkin to have crooked teeth and the tongue sticking out while Hadley just wanted her pumpkin to say “Boo.”

Both pumpkins turned out pretty cute!

Here they are lit up on the front porch:

Favorite Kid Quote:

Hayden was on a roll this week and two memorable quotes.

Last weekend, Hayden was on the computer and said, “Ugh, every time I’m on You Tube, there are commercials. ‘I’m Amy McGrath. I’m Mitch McConnell. Hi! I’m Josh Hicks. I’m Joe Biden. I’m Donald J Trump.’ I’m over it. Just show me a Geico commercial!” I literally laughed out loud.😂

Then, the other morning, he was fed up with Hadley and said, “Mom, I’m moving my toothbrush into your bathroom. Hadley takes too much time to get ready and all she does is Tik Tok dances in the mirror!” I guess I have a new bathroom buddy.

Favorite Pic:

My favorite pic this week comes from my friend who runs the school pod. They had a Halloween party on Wednesday, and here’s the crew:

As we all know, 2020 is a year to remember. I’m very thankful they’ve had a sense of normalcy by going to school with a group of friends and having fun activities like holiday parties.

Favorite Clothing Item:

I shared the links for these in my What’s Up Wednesday post, but I’ve been living in this lightweight tunic jacket from Walmart.

and…I’m officially in love with my new robe from Target.

Other Faves: Halloween Fun:

Tuesday afternoon Hadley helped me add a few more touches to the front of the house. It’s no secret I love my pumpkins on the porch for fall, but then we usually add some cobwebs on the front bushes with some spiders the week leading up to Halloween.

Last weekend, when we were in Walmart, Hadley spotted these skeletons, so we picked up a couple to add to the cobwebs.

Other favorites from the week include the pod Halloween party activities.

Hadley’s ready to bob for apples.

Hayden’s turn…He took off his glasses, so he could really bob for apples! He was the champ of his round.

My friend joked that this activity was CDC approved because there were fresh apples, fresh water each round, and siblings shared tubs when it was their turn.

I joked that their big mouths apparently came in handy! 😉 #momjokes

Then, they decorated cookies.

and then ate the cookies…

I think they had a sweet afternoon filled with fun.

Favorite Mom Meme:

I saw this on the ‘gram and laughed! Too funny not to share.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

I shared Hadley’s kindergarten “All About Me” pic a few weeks ago. Hayden’s turn popped up in my Facebook memories this week. #pinchycheekcute

I remember how much he loved reading The Magic Tree House series which he wrote down as his favorite book. Ugh! Some times I really do miss this age.

Weekly Recap:

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

Monday Memo: Surgery and Recovery

What’s Up Wednesday

October: What I’ve been Reading

Before wrapping up this post, I do want to say thank you for the love on Monday’s post about my surgery and recovery. From blog post comments and Instagram love, I really appreciate the support and kind words. The blogging community is a good one, and I’m certainly grateful for my readers.

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you have a great Halloween!

Friday Favorites, Holidays, Kids

(Flashback) Friday Favorites {#42}

Posted on October 23, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! This week has been so different for me! I’ve had lots of time spent on the mend with napping and Netflix. That being said, Travis has definitely had to wear his Super Dad cape this week! I greatly appreciate all he does for me and for our family to keep us a float while we are a (wo)man down!

The kids still had activities, I still worked from home, friends continued to bring us meals and desserts, and we are just taking one day at a time.

Today, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for their weekly Friday Favorites post.

Today’s Friday Favorites has a Flashback twist. With Halloween around the corner, I thought I’d share the kids’ costumes through the years.

2010:

Lil Pumpkin and chubby skeleton…

2011:

M&M’s…

2012:

Fireman and Princess…

2013:

My favorite costume combo: Batman and Robin! (Being Robin was 100% Hadley’s idea after Hayden said he wanted to be Batman)

2014:

Captain America and Elsa (from Frozen)

2015:

A ninja and a pink Power Ranger…The neighborhood was very safe that year 😉

2016:

A bee and Luke Skywalker…

2017:

Super Girl and KC Royals player Mike Moustakas…

2018:

Soccer player and 80’s party girl #omg

2019:

A Ghostbuster and a nerd 😂

Last year, our Halloween trick-or-treating was moved due to weather. So, we had a fun dinner at home on Halloween. Andrea had shared about her spooky dinner, and I recreated the fun. I hope to do this again this year.

I thought that would be a fun trip down memory lane! Now, on to some favorites…

Favorite Picture:

After a string of dreary days, the sun finally came out! I went outside to tell Hadley to come in for dinner and saw one of our front yard trees showing off.

now…who is going to rake up all those leaves? 🤔

Favorite Clothing Item:

My pjs or comfy clothes on repeat.

Favorite Food:

Again, we’ve been enjoying so many wonderful foods that friends have brought us for dinner. We’ve had soups, lasagna, chicken enchiladas, and a quiche. As well as too many delicious desserts.

Favorite Moment:

When I had my surgery last week, my goal was to rest up and be able to attend the kids’ district championship cross country meet on Wednesday. I’m so glad I was able to attend! The boys and girls teams have come so far, and I’m so proud of Travis for taking on the coaching responsibilities again this year. They’ve had a pretty good season considering the late start due to Covid.

Hadley finished with her best time and highest finish yet with 4th place. Then, Hayden finished again in first. They’ve grown so much as runners in the past year, and again, it’s so awesome to see teammates cheering each other on!

I caught this pic of Hayden right as the race started. He had on his new bright cleats and was chasing the daylight!

On the run…

left: Hadley and her friend leading the pack; top right: Hadley almost to the finish line; bottom right: Hayden at the finish!

Twinsies with their hardware.

Their cousins came to cheer them on 🙂

It was such a beautiful day, and definitely a fun race for all.

Favorite Kid Quote:

This quote goes back to last week. Hadley had her first band class via Zoom for playing flute on the Wednesday of my surgery. That evening, when I Facetimed the kids from the hospital, I asked Hadley how band went, and she told me how the teacher taught her a few notes. I said, “Hadley, I’m so proud of you!” She said, “No, mom, I’m so proud of you.” ❤️She knew I was anxious about my surgery that morning, and that I was so relieved to be on the recovery side of it.

She’s such a sweet girl…when she’s not being sassy 😉

Favorite Mom Memes:

This one popped up in my Facebook memories. Thankfully, I haven’t had to cook in over a week! 😂

Travis is the real MVP this week getting the kids where they need to go. Technically, I’m not supposed to drive yet, so it’s on him to get them to school pod and activities…as well as other errands.

Weekly Recap:

It was a short blogging week for me, but here are my two other posts from the week:

October Memes

Currently

Y’all, by some miracle we don’t have any real plans this weekend. No sports or other major commitments on the schedule which means I will continue to get some much needed rest.

Thanks so much for reading, and have a great weekend!

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#41}

Posted on October 9, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Happy Friday! We’ve had a good, but busy, week around here! Sometimes getting back on track after a break can be difficult, but we all rallied to get it together with our schedules, school, work, and activities. I hope you’ve had a great week too!

Per usual, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for their weekly Friday Favorites post.

Here are some favorites from the week:

Favorite Food(s):

Saturday, after we returned home from Asheville, we headed to my brother’s house because my mom and Gma were visiting. My Gma made sloppy joe’s and tots for dinner. My brother made this delicious cake with apple butter and homemade icing!

I hosted Sunday night dinner with soup and cornbread. I tried a new recipe my dad shared with me where you use a box of Jiffy cornbread mix and yellow cake mix. It was delicious.

The kids (with the help of my mom and Gma) made the first pumpkin pie (for us!) of the season.

This was our dessert on Sunday night!

Also, on Sunday, I went to Trader Joe’s with my mom, Gma, and Hadley. I’d just been grocery shopping, but picked up some of our Trader Joe’s faves.

Favorite Moment(s):

Of course, my most favorite moment was having family visit. It’s hard enough having family that lives far away and then throw Covid into the mix which makes it even more difficult.

Honestly, we didn’t do much, so I don’t have any pictures except Hadley did a countdown selfie on Monday morning before they left…which meant no makeup and very tired eyes. 😊

I mentioned last week, that Hadley earned the red plate for dance, cross country, and because her teacher shared such positive thoughts about her on a phone call home.

It was Hayden’s turn for the red plate for his efforts with school and sports.

And…Hadley picked up her flute yesterday. 5th grade band starts next week, and she wanted to give the flute a try!

And after Hadley got her flute…

Hayden got…braces. And, while that’s probably not a favorite, he does have a good attitude about it all and is happy to move onto this next step of the phase 2 process.

Favorite Kid Quote:

My kids weren’t funny this week. Kidding. Kidding. I just can’t think of a specific example as I type this post.

Favorite Pic:

Still reminiscing about our Asheville trip…

but then we returned home to the leaves on the trees starting to show off!

Favorite Clothing Item:

I’ve seen all the people talking about this Aerie sweatshirt, and when I saw it was on sale, I went ahead and purchased…two! I will say I’m wearing them on repeat. I tried on the small and it fit, but I liked the over-sized fit of the medium, so I could wear it with leggings. Also, I do feel like I may be too old to shop at Aerie, but not mad about this purchase 😉

Good Vibes Oversized Quarter Zip in Light Gray Cheetah.

I also love the corded option in Mystic Mauve.

and, yes, y’all–I moved my mirror to the hallway for better light! …but I’m still headless.

Other Faves:

My mom brought this basket with her that she found after cleaning her garage. I do give her a hard time about the fact that she always brings things with her when she visits. She made this basket many moons ago…and it actually does look perfect on top of the antique cabinet (from my dad’s side of the family) in my kitchen.

This kids finally received their yearbooks from last year. The covers were so cute with their school pics on them. (I probably paid for that extra touch and have forgotten. 😂) I love looking through the yearbook as much as they do!

Hayden went to a friend’s house for school on Tuesday, so I told Hadley I’d treat her to lunch. She wanted Jason’s Deli, so we had lunch together before she headed outside for recess.

I clicked on my Netflix app to add a show to my viewing list, and saw that Hadley changed our profile pics….which she does often. It’s always funny to see what she chooses. The pic for Hayden cracks me up the most!

Favorite Mom Meme:

This of all the Mom Memes I’ve shared has to be funniest one I’ve seen! Every time I read it, I chuckle!

Friday Funny:

My mom shared this with me and then I saw it again on Facebook 😂 My love for the GG runs deep…and Dorothy’s side eye is on point!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

This pic of Hadley in 2010 is a fave. I love Facebook memories. #thebiggerthebow…

FYI she was a very serious baby for the first year of her life. 😳

Here’s another set of faves: a flashback (2012), Hadley, picking pumpkins, and Trader Joe’s!

Speaking of pumpkins…(I feel like I’m always speaking of pumpkins)… We hope to start the weekend off right with a trip to the orchard! I see more pumpkins and apple cider donuts in my future!

Weekly Recap:

Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ post! Have a great weekend!

Friday Favorites, Home Decor

Friday Favorites {#40}

Posted on September 25, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday. We had a pretty great week around here. Of course, we had school, work, and activities as well as flu shot appointments, and I had a dental cleaning. I’m a weirdo who loves the dentist.

Again, the weather has really been cooperating and feeling like fall. I think we are supposed to warm up this weekend before getting cool again next week. Speaking of next week, somehow, it’s already fall break at the end of next week. The first few weeks have flown by…and we are supposed to have answers next week about school moving forward. We shall see…

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

Here are some of my favorites from the week.

First of all, I’m just so happy it’s fall which is my favorite time of the year. I saw this cute graphic, and thought I’d share. It certainly includes so many favorite fall things.

Favorite Moments:

I had a couple of favorite moments with Hayden this week. No picture, but it was just the two of us for dinner on Monday night. I’m pretty used to Travis taking Hayden where he needs to go and I tend to get Hadley to her activities. Anyway, I picked him up from baseball, and we went ahead and had dinner before I picked up Hadley. He told me all about his school day with his pod and then about baseball practice. It was just a rarity that it’s the two of us at home.

Then, yesterday morning, Hayden went to sit outside for his morning work. They were to observe their surroundings and write about what they hear, see, feel, etc. Well, I looked out the front door and just saw him out there enjoying his quiet time while journaling. So simple and sweet.

And…yoga for recess yesterday. The kids don’t know how lucky they are ❤️

Favorite Kid Quote:

Well, Tuesday was flu shot day for the kids. On the way there, Hadyen said, “Mom, you know when the nurse usually asks what medicines you are taking?” I said yes. (but was surprised he knows that’s a part of a doctor appointment routine) He said, “You’ll have to update her now that I’m taking my allergy medicine.” It was just a random Hayden thought that made me chuckle.

Then, when I woke Hadley up Wednesday morning and she said, “Mom, I just had a dream that all I ate for dinner was carrots!” Again, random but sweet.

Favorite Pic:

Since the kids were little, getting a shot means getting ice cream afterwards. Hadley ordered the unicorn “character creation” ice cream at Baskin Robbins. I swear…some days she’s 10 going on 15, and other days she’s 10 going on 5. 😂

The ice cream was super cute and came with…

the unicorn head band! 😂

Favorite Food (drink):

For years, I’ve liked a PSL from Starbucks, but a couple of years ago, someone shared that for their morning coffee, in the fall, they use their creamer and a dash of pumpkin spice. So, I typically do that now during the fall months. It’s just enough to give me the pumpkin flavor without being too creamy and heavy like the Starbucks PSL.

Favorite Porch Decorations:

Throughout the week, I continued to add decorations to my porch. I put out the pillows, door hanger, and doormat after Labor Day. Then, I added my pumpkins and a few other touches this past week.

The corn shocks were the final touch that I needed, and I picked these up at Fresh Market earlier this week!

A little front porch peek:

Give me all the pumpkins!

I clearly have zero chill when it comes to decorating my porch for fall 😀

Favorite Teacher Meme:

I saw this meme shared on Facebook. Teaching in 2020…😂

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

A couple of years ago, Hadley was with me at Home Goods and told me she needed this sign. It still sits on her bedside time! Girl Boss from day 1!

Weekly Recap:

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

Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts! I hope you have a great weekend.

Friday Favorites, Home Decor

Friday Favorites {#39}

Posted on September 18, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! How was your week? We had a pretty good week of school, work and activities. My favorite part of the week was that it actually felt like fall!! We’ve had pretty mild and even cool temps, and it’s just been amazing. I put out my fall decorations last weekend, and I’m so happy that I did. I would have enjoyed them no matter what, but since it actually feels like fall outside, that’s made the house feel even more cozy on the inside.

As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for their Friday Favorites link up.

Favorite Moment:

Hadley was excited to show me that she was featured on the 5th grade website.

Favorite subject: grammar 👏🏻 #shegetsitfromhermama

Favorite Kid Quote:

The other night, Homer was snuggling with Hadley. He hops in her bed every night for about ten minutes before she kicks him out, so she can get her beauty sleep. As I walked past her room, she asked me to take their pic.

When she looked at the photo she said, “Couples goals!” Cracked me up!

Favorite Clothing Item:

I ordered this sweater (two of them, actually) from Nordstrom Rack. I love a roomy sweater because I feel like I can wear it to school or wear it with jeans or leggings….the price couldn’t be beat.

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find the link online…but here it is:

Favorite Pic:

Homer let me dress him up in his autumn bandana from Golden Dog Co (a shop on Etsy.) He will tolerate bandanas for a bit if they are flipped with the scarf part on his back. I let him wear them for a bit until he notices. haha

Favorite Food:

Nothing says fall like Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bagels and Pumpkin Cream Cheese. I don’t even like cream cheese, but love their pumpkin flavor.

Other Faves:

I’ve binged The Home Edit on Netflix over the past week (mostly last weekend!). It’s soooo good! Hayden even watched some episodes with me. He’s my tidier child, so that makes sense 😉Seeing these two ladies work their magic on celebrity and “regular” people’s homes and closets is so satisfying. (That’s how Hayden described it!)

His other remark could go in the “favorite kid quote” section of this post because it made me laugh. After seeing the before and after of one completed closet, he said, “Mom, they need to help you with your closet. It’s a DISASTER!” #hesnotlying

As I mentioned above, I put out my fall decorations last weekend.

I always take pics of my seasonal decorations, so I was able to decorate for fall in about an hour when I looked back at last year’s pics. After getting everything put where I wanted it, I felt like I needed one more thing (Travis would beg to differ) 😂,so I went to Michaels, and saw this light up pumpkin! It’s battery operated and so cute! Plus, I got it for 40% off. I almost grabbed a second one but reeled myself in! So, the only decoration I purchased this year was the LED pumpkin. I consider that a win! #andTravisshouldtoo

At Trader Joe’s, I picked up a few mini pumpkins and gourds to put in the kitchen.

The kids and I stopped by Bath & Body Works on Saturday for a few candles. I had a 20% off coupon, and I knew they were having a buy 1 get 1 free for the 3 wick candles. Honestly, I usually just buy the single wick ones because the 3 wick ones take up more space on the counter or on a shelf, but it was such a great deal to get one free.

I also picked up some single wick candles. Hayden picked out the Apple Weather scented candle, and Hadley chose the Pumpkin Pecan Waffle one.

I rarely go there, but on Sunday, I went to the At Home store, and picked up a couple of things. I need to remember to go there for servingware. I usually have success finding white plates or dishes at Home Goods or TJ Maxx, but At Home had so many awesome pieces. I held off for now on servingware, but did buy this quart basket to hold odds and ends that collect in the tray on my kitchen island. Inevitably, loose change, allergy medicine, paper clips, etc. end up scattered about on my decorative tray. Now my rule is, if it doesn’t fit in this basket, it’s trash or needs to go where it belongs.

I also found this this set to hold utensils. I wish I could keep it out all the time, but I bought it to use when we have people over….when that’s a “thing” again.

I love my Golden Girls, and their show debuted 35 years ago this week. I saw this on Facebook and loved it. That show is a classic.

Let me tell you Hayden’s favorite part of the week. The kids talked me into getting them Chick-fil-a yesterday (that’s usually a Friday thing) and then Hayden proceeded to watch the US Open while he ate his lunch…followed by a “round” of golf in the front and backyard for recess 😂

Favorite Mom Meme:

This meme made me laugh. Since the day Hadley’s personality started to shine through, people would say, “She looks like you!” and I would (still) always reply, “Well, unfortunately she acts like me too!” 😬#sassandsarcasm #amen Sis does have a heart of gold, though!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

This memory was in my Facebook Memories this week. I included the whole caption, because the sass that I mentioned previously is evident in this post.

I also remember Travis sending me this photo! He’d taken her to a doctor’s appointment, and she was so worried about missing school since she was supposed to share her poster with the class. I loved how excited she was and the fact that Travis knew I’d want a pic of her with her poster.

Weekly Recap:

Here are this week’s posts if you missed one!

We have cooler temps, a baseball tournament and a cross country meet this weekend! I also hope to make some pumpkin bread if time allows!

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you have a great weekend!

Clothes, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#38}

Posted on September 11, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hey! Hey! It’s Friday! Sometimes these short weeks feel like they are the longest, and that definitely held true for me this week. The kids have had a great week of distance learning, activities are continuing/starting back, Travis is very busy with work, and I’m basically holding on for dear life 🙃

As always, I’m ready for the weekend. I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for their weekly Friday Favorites post.

Before I get started, of course, today holds such significant meaning. September 11th. I remember being 21 years old and a senior in college when our country was attacked. I can’t believe it’s been 19 years, and I now have students in class who weren’t even born then and who can’t fully understand the panic and disbelief that everyone endured that day and in the weeks and months that followed. We will certainly never forget.

Here are some favorites from the week:

Favorite Kid Quote(s):

I mentioned in my Weekend Wrap Up post that we got together with a few neighbors to celebrate one of the families who is moving. We had gluten and dairy free options for those who eat GF and DF, and as Hayden put food on his plate he said, “Am I vegan?” It just made me laugh. No, Hayden, no you are not. 😂

Hadley’s growing like a weed, and I wanted to get her some pj shorts that actually are appropriate in length! Anyway, I found this cute set on Amazon. Hadley put them on, entered the room and said, “Where’s my sleep squad ?” 😂 She’s a hoot.

Favorite Pic:

I love this pic of some of our neighborhood crew! They are lucky to have each other.

Favorite Clothing Item:

I’ve purchased a couple of things from Target recently and have been so pleased with them. I’m going to school 2-3 days per week. There aren’t many teachers there, of course, there are no students, and I may only see a few people, but I do try to get dressed to leave the house.

This dress was perfect to wear this week. It’s definitely a great transition piece as it can be worn now or with cardigan and booties in the fall and winter.

I actually did wear it with this cardigan because my classroom is chilly…but here’s the cardigan with jeans and a tank. I’ve worn the cardigan with my pjs kind of as a robe, over the dress, and with these jeans…so I know it’s something that will get a lot of wear!

I realize maybe I should hang this mirror! So many headless photos of me!

Favorite Food:

We finished off the Pumpkin Sugar cookies we made this past weekend. I will definitely make them again, and maybe even freeze some to enjoy later. #zerowillpowerwithsweets

No picture…but I dropped the ball on Wednesday night’s dinner. I mismanaged my time and also forgot to thaw the hamburger meat for dinner. So, while Travis and the kids finished up cross country practice, I decided to change up dinner. Thankfully, I had a DiGiorno’s pizza, bagged Caesar salad, freshly cut up watermelon on hand, so I went with that. At the last second, I wondered if the pizza would be enough, so I threw some Trader Joe’s mini tacos in the oven as well.

When everyone got home, I put dinner on the plates. Hayden sat down at the table and said, “Is this a lazy dinner?” I told him yes and kind of gave him the side eye. He replied, “No mom, I LOVE it!” I probably should take this short cut more often on dinner!

(And…it’s not like I’m a fancy chef, but I do try to cook Sunday-Thursday whether it’s in the slower cooker, Instant Pot, stove, oven, etc)

I do have a picture of lunch last week. One of my blogger friends (hi, Amy!) suggested serving the kids their lunch on cafeteria trays. My gma gave me these trays years ago. I used to use them for dinners outside, or they could be used for a picnic. Anyway, the kids thought this was fun. I served them lunch yesterday on them as well. This may be our new Thursday tradition while we are doing school at home.

Ready to eat!

Other Faves:

Another favorite from the week has been early morning workouts. I mean, do I love when the alarm goes off 30-45 minutes earlier? No. But do I love getting my workout accomplished before the busyness of the day starts? Yes.

During the “regular” school year, I get up early 2-3 days a week to get my workouts accomplished. So, I’ve made that a priority this week, and I’m happy with that decision. I typically work out in my basement, but have also enjoyed walks in the morning with cooler temps!

Hayden’s back at it with baseball (after only a couple weeks off). Typically, he plays soccer in the fall, but decided at the last minute to play with a new baseball team this fall. He likes soccer but loves baseball. It’s been so fun seeing him grow as a player this past season, and I know he’ll continue doing so during this season too.

And…Hadley has decided to try competition team for dance this year. Does this officially make me a Dance Mom?!

Who doesn’t love Homer in a scarf?!? Our sweet biscuit let me snap a few photos of him in his Chiefs scarf. We were all excited about the season opener last night!

Here he is last year:

Favorite Mom Meme:

Thankfully, my kids aren’t eating me out of house and home…but lots of snacking, lunch packing, and meal preparing going on during the hours of 8:00-4:00. My grocery list has been a bit more extensive with them at home.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

I won’t ever get political on here, but Jimmy John will always get our vote 😉

Travis had taken the kids to Jimmy Johns in September of 2012….They were excited to show me their “Vote for Jimmy” pins! Who doesn’t love a sandwich from Jimmy Johns? Also, I’m a huge fan of their chocolate chip cookie!

Weekly Recap:

It was a short blogging week for me, but here’s a quick recap:

Weekend WRap Up

Let’s Look: School Pics

Thanks so much for reading! Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

Have a great weekend,

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#37}

Posted on September 4, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! We’ve almost made it through our first full week of distance learning, and so far, so good. I’ve said it before, but I will say it again that I’ve been so impressed by my kids’ teachers. They’ve made it an awesome start to the school year. Also, my kids have really been enjoying the tutor’s house as well, so it’s just been a better than expected start for this school year.

Now, “real learning” will start soon, so I know the kids will have more questions and possibly need more assistance once the rigor is kicked up a notch, but I feel like a solid foundation as been laid!

Also, this week, we’ve had extra downtime in the evening which I think has helped, and we’ve gotten back on track with bedtimes, so that’s made it feel more like “back to school.”

Anyway, as always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for some of our Friday Favorites. I hope you’ve had a great week!

Favorite Activities:

Hadley’s taking a few volleyball clinics this month, and the first one was on Sunday. She had fun getting back on the court.

Trav is coaching the kids’ school’s cross country team this year. Due to COVID restrictions, they will have to make some adjustments to how many kids can participate, take temperatures before practices and meets, wearing masks until practice begins, etc. I’m just excited for the kids (and Trav!) that they will be able to run again this season.

I stopped by the first practice, and the yellow flowers were so pretty that I convinced the kids to let me take their pic….only to then realize Hayden was wearing his neck gaiter as a headband 😂 Oh well, they are silly, and the flowers are pretty!

And, no pic, but Hayden got in a round of golf on Sunday with Trav and a friend, so he was excited about that.

Favorite Moment:

I meant to share this last week, but we had a sweet moment with the custodian at the kids’ school.

Last week, we took a “recess” break and met some friends at the school. Their main custodian came outside (wearing a mask), and smiled when he saw all the kids playing.

The moms chatted with him for a bit, and then he said he was going to bring the kids some bottled water which they, of course, appreciated. Then, as it was time to go, he was telling them all goodbye, and said to the moms, “Just because we aren’t in school, they are still our kids.” It was such a sweet thing for him to say; I have a feeling that school is too quiet for him right now!

Favorite Food:

Three words for you: Sheet. Pan. Nachos.

Why has it taken me this long to throw some chips on a sheet pan, add taco meat, toppings and bake for a few minutes? I made these Monday night, and they were a hit. I served them with Trader Joe’s Mexican Style Roasted Corn. Easy and delish.

Other Faves:

I love getting pics of the kids from the tutor during the day. It’s fun to see them working and playing! The group pics are often hilarious and a bright spot in the day.

Our niece, who is in grad school, started a business making headbands with a friend. We purchased a few for Hadley, and she loves them. So far, she’s been rotating the camo and cheetah print depending on her outfit 😊

Check out Em and Hayls Headbands on Facebook.

Hadley took this selfie…so cute! (and definitely shows her personality!)

Of course, when Homer is chill and not destroying property, he is our fave 😉

Well, it’s Derby week around here. Derby week is usually filled with festivities, and Travis and I typically go to Oaks. It’s such a bummer that Oaks and Derby are being run in September and with no fans…but I understand the restrictions that have been put into place.

I had to put up a couple Derby decorations to mark the occasion.

By next week, I will probably hang up my pumpkin door hanger! 😂

Trader Joe’s Faves:

I made a Trader Joe’s run, and picked up some of our faves.

Dill Pickle Hummus (that I usually eat with TJ Thin Mini Crackers) or veggies.
Buffalo Chicken Dip (that I usually eat with TJ Corn Chips) or veggies.
Tzatziki Cucumber Dip which is perfect with veggies or TJ gyros.
Sweet Potato Chips
Salami
Molasses Cookies (So good that Homer even ate six of them right out of the box a few months ago) #baddog
Pita Bite Crackers (perfect for any of the dips or the cheese and salami)
Chocolate Covered Marshmallows (So good!)
Havarti Cheese with dill (my fave!)

I picked up a few of our other staples like frozen risotto, gnocchi, Mexican style roasted corn, chips and a few other odds and ends.

Trader Joe’s never disappoints!

Favorite Kid Quote:

Hayden and I were watching a close KC Royals baseball game where the bases were loaded (for the other team). Hayden said, “I can’t watch this!” And took off his glasses 🤣He’s basically blind without the glasses, and I couldn’t stop laughing!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Team Forever Exhausted over here!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

As always, I love to share Facebook memories, and I love these pics from 2011.

Listen, I can’t remember what I wore yesterday, but I actually remember taking these pics. I had just returned home from a consignment sale that was hosted by Bluegrass Parents of Twins and Multiples Club. I tried a few of the clothes on the kids (and this was probably the last time Hayden wore jeans!) 😉

Hadley with the book and sassy face was par for the course back then. Hayden, holding Trav’s phone, and giving me the sweet smile is forever a fave pic!

Then, their first day of preschool popped up the other day. They had the best sitter when they were little, but the year before kindergarten, I signed them up for preschool two days a week (and they went to the sitter the other three days).

This was a great trial run for kindergarten, and we put them in separate classes which proved to be a wise choice…and set the tone for elementary school. Hayden needed to rip off the” Hadley doing everything for him and speaking for him” Band-Aid! 😂

I remember Hadley being so excited and Hayden being very hesitant, which, again, shows the differences in their personalities.

I’m not sure where Hayden’s backpack and lunchbox are, but I love this pic.