Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#246}

Posted on February 21, 2025February 20, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Well, after a somewhat consistent couple of weeks, this week was an odd one. We had no school Monday for Presidents’ Day, went to school on Tuesday, and then we had NTI days due to snow and cold temps Wednesday and Thursday. As I type this, my district said they’d make the call for today this morning. Besides the wacky school week, Hayden has had the flu! He’s doing better now, but he was pretty sick.

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Last Friday was Valentine’s Day.

The kids had practice after school, but when they got home, I had a couple of gifts for them. They both got a few odds and ends, but I bought Hayden a quarter zip from Good Good Golf, and Hadley’s main gift was one of these wristlets from Lululemon. They are all the rage with teen girls right now.

I got Trav a card and chocolates, and he gave me a card and some chocolate covered strawberries.

I had to go to Kroger for my prescription, so while I was there I got the kids some candy, their favorite drinks, and a couple of smaller items like Chapstick. I picked up some cupcakes for dessert.

Anyway, it was a low-key evening, but fun to celebrate a bit.

We really didn’t have much going on last weekend which was perfect timing because I was getting over a sinus infection.

A couple of months ago, we were out with friends at a new pizza place in town. We spotted the private room they had and asked about it. We looked ahead at the UK basketball schedule, and booked the room for last Saturday. The fire was going, there were a few TV’s, serve yourself soft drinks, and we had our own waitress. So, we ordered apps, pizza, and drinks throughout the night. For the room, you had to spend $500. We spent a bit more than that, but we divided it among eight families. So, it was just a fun way to get together and watch a basketball game.

On Monday, since we were off of school, and everyone was still healthy, the kids and I ran some errands and then stopped for lunch at Shake Shack. We were only out and about for a couple of hours, but it was nice doing something with them on a day off. As you know, we’ve had a ton of snow days, but we’re usually at home or Hadley will go to a friend’s house to do her school work. Anyway, it was just a nice afternoon.

I know it’s crazy the amount of snow days and NTI days we’ve had, but our winters aren’t usually this active. While I’m ready for spring, the snowfalls have been pretty and you never know what the next year might bring. We’ve had winters with only a couple inches of snow in the past.

Not a favorite but the NTI days saved me from using sick days to take care of Hayden. Also, the pediatrician’s office feels so odd at this age. Seeing the little kids compared to my teenage boy is bittersweet. We’ve gone to the same pediatrician the kids’ whole lives, and when he walked in to see Hayden, he said, “Well, who is this guy?” haha…I don’t think Hayden’s been there since last spring, so I’m sure he’s grown a bit.

Wednesday night Travis and Hadley went to the UK basketball game and had some great seats. I was receiving lots of texts and messages with people spotting them behind UK’s bench. haha

Last weekend, Hadley and I watched Sweet Home Alabama. That’s one of my favorite movies that I hadn’t seen in years, and it was on Hulu. Hadley really liked it.

Speaking of Reese Witherspoon, I also watched her new movie with Will Farrell, You’re Cordially Invited. One of my favorite comedians, Leanne Morgan is also in it. It’s a quirky and funny movie…but I’m glad it was included in my Prime membership, and I didn’t have to pay extra to watch it.

Favorite Meals:

I kept our dinners pretty simple including sheet pan nachos…

…and a new recipe I tried: Bubble Up Pizza Bake…I didn’t get a picture of it as I assembled it and Hadley baked it…but we all loved it. Per Hadley’s request, I actually might make it again next week and add sausage to the pepperoni.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Man, this is so true, but I also know that in less than two years, they can take themselves wherever they need to go!

Weekly Recap:

This week I had a couple of posts:

Tuesday Talk: Skin Care

Thursday Thoughts: THings I Love

I hope you have a great weekend! Next week, our temps are on the rise, so maybe we’ll get back to some kind of normalcy!

Friday Favorites, Holidays, Kids

Friday Favorites {#245}

Posted on February 14, 2025February 13, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday…and happy Valentine’s Day!

How was your week? Ours was odd with a snow day on Tuesday. That meant that Wednesday felt like a Monday again! And, I’m still battling my cold which I think is now officially a sinus infection. I’m hoping this is the end of the sickness at my house!

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

Here are some favorites from the week.

On Saturday, Hayden had his second indoor mile race of the season, and he ran a PR of 4:47.

While Hayden was running, Hadley was playing in a sand volleyball tournament with her friends.

Last Thursday, I (finally) put out a few Valentine’s Day decorations. My Valentine’s Day decor doesn’t really change from year to year, but this little heart vase and flowers were a cute addition to my kitchen island tray. The Hershey Kisses don’t last very long!

On Sunday, Hadley and about ten friends had a Galentine’s Day party. One of her friends hosted and was sweet to ask her to come.

They had lots of fun hanging out, having a few snacks and making their own floral bouquets.

Sunday evening, we went to my brother’s house for the Super Bowl. Obviously, the outcome wasn’t a favorite, but we’re lucky to say it’s a tradition to watch the Chiefs in the Super Bowl these past few years.

Win or lose, getting a cookie cake is a favorite tradition too.

All smiles…before the game! haha

My mom gave me this belated birthday card. My favorite ladies!

…and a belated birthday gift. She has this butter dish from Crate and Barrel. I thought it was neat and pretty, so she gave me one too!

Valentine’s Day Card:

The Valentine’s Day card for family continues. This is a fun tradition through the years.

Favorite Mom Meme:

This…#accurate

Favorite Teacher Memes:

As a teacher, I thought these next two graphics are very relatable for me.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

I will always share these pics of my little Valentines…

Weekly Recap:

I was a link up girl this week!

Share Our Lives

Let’s Look

Wednesday Hodgepodge

This three day weekend, we actually don’t have much going on…and I think it’s just what the doctor ordered!

Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#244}

Posted on February 7, 2025February 6, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? Ours was another full week, and we’ve definitely gotten back into a school/sports groove, finally. Unfortunately, Trav had the flu and was sick all week. It hit him hard, but I think he’s finally turned a corner.

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

In honor of Ground Hog’s Day, this meme made me laugh…I wish I could relate to it a bit less. haha

Last weekend, we went to Gatlinburg, TN for Hadley’s volleyball tournament. Trav and Hayden tagged along as well. After school, we headed to G-burg, and then Hadley’s team had three games Saturday afternoon and evening.

It was nice having some down time on Saturday morning…we had breakfast at the hotel, Hadley slept in, Trav and Hayden went for a run, and I went for a walk. Then, we headed to Rocky Top Sports World for the games.

The girls went 2-1 in pool play…

…making it to the gold bracket games on Sunday.

…they came in third in the gold bracket, and won a bronze medal. As always, it was fun watching them play.

Saturday night, one mom ordered a bunch of pizzas and the girls and parents hung out in the lobby while watching the UK vs Arkansas game. This was a big game because UK’s former coach, Coach Cal, is at Arkansas now. Hayden watched the game in the room but came down for pizza at halftime. He started to watch the second half with us, but got frustrated and went back to the room.

Unfortunately, UK lost, but we did have a great evening hanging out.

I made a few more February book trackers. They’re saved in a highlight on my Instagram. If you use them, feel free to tag me, and I’ll share! (To use them, you just hold the story down and screen shot the book tracker. Then, you upload it and add a pic of your book to the book tracker and publish it in your story!)

I should have shared this Target sweatshirt sooner! The gingham heart is so cute. I’ve worn it quite a few times in the past month, and I will of course wear it next week on Valentine’s Day. There are a few sizes left.

How cute is this cherry heart sweatshirt? There are a lot of size options left. This “love” one is precious too!

This never happens, but we were down to one hand soap (and I always have one in both of the upstairs bathrooms and one in the kitchen), so I popped into Bath and Body Works yesterday. I took advantage of the 5 for $27 hand soap deal. The “foaming” soap is my preference, so I stocked up.

While I was there, this “book loft” candle caught my eye. Three wick candles were $14.95, so I went ahead and got it. I prefer single wick candles as they aren’t overpowering, but I loved the title and scent of this one. It really does smell so good. It’s a very clean and subtle scent.

Favorite Mom Meme:

*not me fussing at Hayden yesterday when we needed to leave for school*

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of fun posts this week:

Prime Purchases

Let’s Lunch

Share Our Lives:

Well, I had to double check the calendar, but Monday is indeed the second Monday of the month, so we’ll have our Share Our Lives link up.

This month’s topic is…tips for falling asleep! Sleep….one of my favorite things!

What are your weekend plans?

My family has our eyes set on Sunday when we cheer our Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl! Fingers crossed for a V-I-C-T-O-R-Y! #threepeatplease

Have a great weekend,

Everyday Life, Friday Favorites, Monthly Moments

Friday Favorites {#243}: January Monthly Moments

Posted on January 31, 2025January 30, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and TGIF! Happy last day of January. It’s felt like the longest month.

Y’all, only a few hours stand between us and the weekend, and I’m grateful to have made it through this five day week. It’s been a minute since we’ve logged a full week of school thanks to winter break and the weather.

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

…to share my…

One of my favorite posts to write at the end of the year is when I take a look back on the year. While I will still probably write that post, I thought it would be fun to share the highlights of each month.

My goal is to share four to five moments rather than a laundry list of all that we did in a month.

Since these are some of my favorite moments from the month, I’m still on track with a Friday favorites post.

1. SnOMG

First of all…SnOMG! We got snow and ice on January 5th, and there’s still some snow in some spots. Well, it will be gone today thanks to the rain we’ve been getting.

We had one week of traditional snow days. Then, we had three NTI (non-traditional instruction) days before finally going back to school on Thursday, January 16th. The following week, we had another NTI day due to the below zero temps.

The snow was so pretty, but I’m also appreciating the warmer temps now.

2. Reformer Pilates

Thanks to the snow days, I was able to go to a few Reformer Pilates classes. I think I’ve been to five now, and each one is different! I really enjoy this workout, and I hope to do it when I can…especially in the summer when the class times align more with my schedule.

3. My Birthday

I celebrated my birthday…on a snow day! I’ve never had a snow day birthday in all my 23 years teaching. Since it was an NTI day, I was able to go to a Pilates class, grab a Starbucks and then head home for my Zoom meeting.

We went out to dinner, and then had a Bundt cake for dessert.

4. Volleyball

Hadley started her club volleyball season a couple of weeks ago. Her team made it to the gold bracket in their first tournamnet, and had lots of fun playing!

5. KC Chiefs

To round out the month, the KC Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills in a nail-biter AFC Championship game last Sunday. It was such a good game, and we’re looking forward to the Super Bowl!

The news of the DC plane crash is so heartbreaking, and I can’t imagine what those families and communities are going through. Life can change in an instant.

I hope to share this post on the last day of every month…just a way to be grateful to the moments each month, both big and small.

Weekly Recap:

I had a good week of blog posts…

Monday Memes

January Books

Monthly Musings

Have a great weekend!

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#242}

Posted on January 24, 2025January 23, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Well, another Friday post after another odd week for us. We had a three day weekend, and then an NTI day on Wednesday due to the frigid temps. Next week, it looks to be in the 40’s, so we’ll feel like it’s a heat wave.

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

I’m keeping my favorites short and sweet this week….

To start, I loved having a three day weekend….and then one snow day! Well, it was an NTI day, but since we knew ahead of time, at least I didn’t have to set my alarm. Next week looks like it will be warmer, so I’m guessing we’ll have our first five day school week since December 16-20.

Last weekend, Hadley’s club volleyball team kicked off their season!

Hadley was excited to get her #14 jersey…that’s her favorite number. Mine too! She’s playing Libero again for her team.

They made it to the gold bracket which is great for their first tournament.

I ordered a new set (different brand) of Bento boxes for my lunches since the other set I ordered the lids wouldn’t stay secure. Anyway, this new set has been working perfectly.

I’m loving my new lunch tote which was a gift suggestion I gave to my mother-in-law. It’s so roomy, and has a side pocket and then another side pocket that zips. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and I’m loving the leopard.

I have quite a few of Shay’s cookbooks, but I’d never made her Chicken Sausage Pasta recipe. I made it for dinner this week, and I thought it was delish.

Favorite Kid Quote:

I walked in the kitchen last night, and Hayden was on his computer. I asked him what he was doing (meaning – what was he working on?), and he said, “I plead the fifth!” I chuckled…and immediately texted his Government teacher. haha

Favorite Mom Meme:

Where is the lie?!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week:

Teacher TAlk Tuesday

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thursday Thoughts

What are your weekend plans? I have a friend (and her family) coming in town tonight. On Sunday, I’m cashing in one of my Christmas presents…a massage at a spa! Then, we’ll be cheering on the KC Chiefs!

Have a great weekend.

Friday Favorites, Me

Friday Favorites {#241}

Posted on January 17, 2025January 16, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Well, this was a different kind of week for us…three NTI days and then two days back to school. Yesterday, was a good day, but I’m tired! It kind of felt like the actual first day of school.

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

This week was basically about my birthday. If you know me, then you know that’s really “on brand” for me….as I always look forward to my birthday. haha

But, really –with all the snow days and the kids just in the practice phase of their sports right now, we didn’t have a ton going on. It was a good week though.

A few days before my birthday, we went to Jeff Ruby’s for a family dinner.

Jeff Ruby’s went all out for my birthday…just look at the menu! haha

We’ve been to this restaurant a few times, and I usually get sushi whereas Trav and the kids usually order steak. The sushi was delish.

Then, it was time for dessert. Jeff Ruby’s doing the most…

I didn’t want any attention, and out walks our server with my dessert on fire! At least no one sang to me!

We also ordered cheese cake and a gooey butter cake as well to share around the table. For special occasions, the server takes your picture, prints it out and gives it to you as a keepsake.

This one is a keeper:

On my actual birthday, we had a snow day. In 23 years as a teacher, I’ve never had a snow day on my birthday. That morning, I went to Pilates class and then picked up my free Starbucks. I got an email for a free Jimmy John’s birthday sandwich, so since we were home for the snow day, that’s what we had for lunch.

(BTW: I’m sure both of these freebies have a time frame in which to cash in…I just had the time to do so on Tuesday)

After dinner, Trav and the kids gave me flowers and a card…and bubble letters on the card, of course.

Then, it was cake time! Bundt cake for my birthday! It was delish.

Wednesday morning, I picked up another Starbucks (I’m loving the cold brew with peppermint foam) and had a slice of cake for a late breakfast. This is one of my traditions (if we have cake leftover. haha)

Yesterday, was back to school. I packed my lunch in my new containers that I got as a Christmas gift. These were my suggestion to Trav’s mom as she needed some ideas, but now that I’m using them…the lid only seems to snap on/stay secure on one side…which is a bummer. I will give them another try, but I might have to find a different brand on Amazon.

My lunch was perfect…and I was able to take one of my favorite things…a “snack plate” lunch to take to school.

I still love sharing what I’m reading on my Instagram account. When I started making the book trackers last year, I only had a couple for January and February, so I made a couple new ones to add to my Instagram highlight.

If you use any of them, feel free to tag me!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Only occasional swearing? j/k!

Weekly Recap:

I had a few posts this week…

Share our Lives

Let’s Look

Currently

Well, we were back to school for two days, and now we have a three day weekend. It’s hard to get in a groove lately, but I will take the extra day of rest!

Thanks for reading,

Friday Favorites, Seasonal

Friday Favorites {#240}

Posted on January 10, 2025January 9, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday.

Well, this time last week, I was prepping to go back to school…but as of today, I’ve had a three week winter break. In all my years teaching, I’ve never had a three week winter break!

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Well, we didn’t do much this week, so I don’t have a ton to share. Most of my favorites are snow day (week) related!

I finally put up my Christmas decorations, and I switched out my “Merry Christmas” garden flag out for my “Let it Snow” flag which is the one I put out in January and for most of February.

I guess it’s a good luck charm…look at our snow (and ice!)…

Sunday, we got about six inches of snow followed by some ice. On Monday, it snowed even more and my teacher work day was canceled.

Tuesday was to be the kids’ first day back to school, but since it was a snow day, I made our traditional snowman pancakes! Trav’s farm didn’t have power, so he was home too to enjoy this breakfast too.

On Sunday and Monday, the kids bundled up and went sledding with friends. They had lots of fun.

I got this mug out of my cabinet for my morning coffee. Our neighborhood looked like a winter wonderland.

Last weekend, I went to Trader Joe’s for a few things, and they had their wreaths out, so I picked one up. Usually, I get their fresh garland for the front porch at Christmas, but we never decorated outside this year. This wreath is pretty, and it looks pretty with the snow.

I spy Homer…

Ice, ice baby! While I was outside taking a couple icicle pics, I heard a snap and I looked up to see a huge section of our neighbor’s tree fall with a thud in a neighbor’s yard. The top 1/3rd of the tree was leaning on the electrical line. Thankfully, we didn’t lose power.

One thing I love about being home in the summer and on other breaks is just making “snack plates” for lunch.

Sprite “chill” is so good, and I love the rosemary almonds from Trader Joe’s. I’d saved a recipe I saw on Instagram for a cream cheese dip. I made it on Sunday and snacked on it all week. It’s just cream cheese, chopped up pickle, dried beef (I never know what this is — I just always buy the little beef lunch meat packets), salt and pepper. Mix it all together…and we’ve been on a Wheat Thins kick around here.

After taking quite the workout break the past couple of months, I’m making it a goal to work out as much as possible in January. I went to the gym one day with Hayden and then with Hadley another day. It was a pretty walk to and from the car.

I was really dragging my feet putting up the Christmas decorations…I guess because I wanted a week of enjoying them after we got home from KC…and it’s an effort getting the tubs up and down from the attic. Then, as the days went on, I realized I had time to put it off. haha!

Anyway, I took everything down one day, and then put out my regular decor the next.

Trav had his brother take the kids’ pics last year, and I just never put this one out. I found a spot for it, and my Gma gave me this candle stick that my great great grandfather made. I like the juxtaposition of old and new.

Last night, a few of us moms got together to chat and we played Play Nine for a few hours. The general consensus was that we all needed out of the house (and have a break from our families?! #maybe)

Favorite Mom Meme:

There’s never been a meme more “Hadley” than this one:

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

2014 – the first year of the froggy hats. #myfave

Share Our Lives:

We have our first Share Our Lives link up of 2025!

This month’s topic is…saving time on chores.

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

Weekly Recap:

I had a great week of blogging…

Prime Purchases

New Year, Same me

Throwback Thursday: Snow Days

Well, more snow is on the way today! Will we go to school on Monday? Only time will tell.

Stay warm,

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#239}

Posted on January 3, 2025January 2, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Well, all good things must come to an end. I feel like I just shared a Friday Favorites post saying I was ready for break. Now, the two weeks are up, and it’s almost time to face reality.

I’m linking up with Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Here are a few favorites from the week:

Well, we’ve had a pretty low-key week with not a lot of action. Honestly, that’s my first favorite…but that also means I don’t have a ton to share.

While in KC, my Gma gave me this candle snuffer that my great great grandfather made. It’s the perfect addition to my living room tray.

I have two new ornaments to add to my tree. My Gma made this one…

…and my mom gave me this one. It’s a light from the Plaza Christmas lights.

Hadley was back in action playing in a scrimmage with her new volleyball team. They were fun to watch, and I know they’ll only get better.

We spent New Year’s Eve with friends at a progressive dinner. It’s always a good time and great way to end the year.

We drew words again, and I got purpose, commitment, and faith as my focus for the year.

One of my Christmas gifts was the word search calendar.

I’ve started every day with a puzzle. I’ve always loved word searches.

Favorite Kid Quote:

Travis went to the grocery store on Sunday and told me he planned dinners for the week.

Later, Hayden opened the cabinet and said,“Dad, why did you buy protein spaghetti?” 🤣 Travis is consistently “new year, new me” most Januarys!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Back to school next week! Honestly, even I’m out of whack. I’ve been going to bed close to 11 and not getting up until 8-9!

Weekly Recap:

I’ve had some of my favorite “end of year” posts this week:

I’m supposed to head back to school on Monday and the kids on Tuesday. If we get the predicted weather that’s expected for Sunday/Monday, I’m not sure any of us will be back to school until at least Wednesday. We’ll see.

Stay warm,

Blog challenge, Friday Favorites

2024 Blogging Recap and Fave Posts

Posted on December 27, 2024December 31, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Well, it’s hard to believe that the Christmas season is over. I hope you had a great holiday.

As the year wraps up, I always like to share my favorite posts that I wrote in the year.

I’m linking up with Andrea for Friday Favorites…the last one of 2024!

Here’s my 2024 blogging recap.

A few stats from this year:

Posts: 242
Total words: 161K
Average words per post: 661
Best day: Friday, Best hour: 8 am
Most popular day: is still March 14, 2023 with 931 views

I’ve been blogging for over five years, and it is still such a fun hobby for me. This year, I’ve felt like I had a little bit less time to blog, but I made it work.

Some all time stats include:

Views: 475, 923
Visitors: 125, 931
Posts published: 1,186
Countries: At least one person in 118 countries has read one of posts. After the United States and Canada, I have quite a few views from Japan. Who knew I was so popular in Japan?!?

As I say every year, I’m not “here for the numbers.” This is just a fun hobby for me, a way to capture memories from year to year, and share my thoughts. It is fun to see the numbers grow a bit from year to year…even how many posts I write and the word count.

I appreciate every like, comment, and read. Truly, thank you!

A few thoughts first:

Well, a couple of years ago, I shared my top 10 favorite posts. Last year, it was my top 20 favorite posts…and this year, we’re up to 25! I need to learn to edit a bit…sorry for that!

I enjoyed starting 2024 off with the WordPress Bloganuary Challenge again.

I also did a November Gratitude Challenge too. I like blogging on smaller topics and sharing my thoughts that way.

I started linking up with Joyce for the Wednesday Hodgepodge posts when I could. It’s always fun finding a new link up.

I also enjoyed continuing co-hosting the Share Our Lives link up with some of my favorite bloggers.

We’ll be back in 2025!

Favorite posts from 2024:

1.

One of the “Bloganuary” topics was to write about colleges I attended.

2.

Pinterest ideas are always fun.

3.

Our February Share Our Lives post was about how we met significant other.

4.

I loved sharing all about Hadley’s bedroom refresh early in the year.

5.

Hadley shared a post with her favorite skincare products which was fun to read!

6.

In March, I hit a blog milestone writing my 1,000th blog post.

7.

We had so much fun in Washington, D.C. in April. I had a few posts recapping our spring break trip.

8.

This Thursday Thoughts post… if you would have told me…was a fun reflective post.

9.

In April, I wrapped up my fun “ABC of” series writing about spring.

10.

At the end of the school year, I had fun reflecting on the kids’ middle school years and then shared about the last few days of school.

11.

This summer, I really enjoyed my “Summer Sunday” series, including the one I wrote about self-care.

12.

Our trip to Oregon for the Olympic Trials will go down as one of our favorite family vacations. It was truly a great trip filled with memories.

I wrote five posts recapping our time in the Pacific Northwest.

13.

I did a few “Throwback Thursday” posts this summer too. I loved the one reminiscing about summer reading through the years.

14.

Another “Summer Sunday” post was summer craft ideas for kids. It was a fun post that was reminiscent of how I used to spend my summers with the kids.

15.

Another sweet Throwback Thursday post was when I shared about the summer of 2010. I loved that summer with the kids!

16.

In August, I had a couple of “Teacher Talk” posts…the first one, I shared about the first week of school (including before and after the students arrived)

17.

Then, I had another Teacher Talk post specifically about my schedule this year.

18.

The September Monthly Musing topic was all about fall things including back to school. I love writing about fall, so this was a fun post to put together!

19.

We’ve enjoyed fall break on 30A for the past three years. I always love writing that vacay recap.

20.

I did two “day in the life” posts recently, but they were “hour by hour” for a weekday and a weekend day. I love reading and writing those kinds of posts, so this was a different way to capture those days.

21.

I was scrolling Instagram, and saw this graphic for a Gratitude Challenge, and decided to blog every single day in November!

22.

I always enjoy recapping the kids’ birthday, and this year they turned 15! that was definitely worthy of a Friday Favorites post.

23.

Hayden ran in the Foot Locker South region race after Thanksgiving. We’d never been to Charlotte, NC, so it was fun to recap our time there as well as Hayden’s running season.

24.

I pretty much kept everything the same as last year for Christmas decorations, but I did share a few new Christmas decor touches for this year.

25.

One of my favorite traditions is baking Christmas cookies, and this year we baked cookies with my brother’s family which was even more fun.

I also love sharing the books I read this year and a recap of our year, and I will have those posts next week! While the last couple weeks of the year are typically “quiet” in the blogging world, I have more time to blog and always have post that I want to share at the end of the year.

It’s been another great year of blogging, and again, thanks so much for reading!

Friday Favorites, Holidays

Friday Favorites {#238}

Posted on December 20, 2024December 19, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

This is the best kind of Friday with only about seven hours standing between me and winter break! That’s my first favorite.

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

Like last week, I have a few festive favorites…

I shared earlier this week that we made Christmas cookies with my brother’s family last weekend. All the cookies turned out great. I made an additional batch of the peanut butter blossoms this week too.

Baking crew:

On Sunday, I finished wrapping presents while watching Frosty the Snowman. I don’t love wrapping presents, so I just carve out some time once or twice in December to get everything organized and wrapped. Watching a holiday show makes that task more tolerable.

I picked up some really cute wrapping paper at Walgreens!

Ok, the Cranberry Sprite is elite! I purchased a couple of twelve packs because it’s that good! This week, my hall of teachers had a Mexican themed pot luck…we ended up having enough leftovers for two days of food. It was so nice not packing a lunch…and eating with a fun group.

Last night, we went to the Horse Park to see the lights. This is at least our 20th year going. I love this tradition. The kids wanted Homer to “see the lights,” so he hopped in the car too.

A few more festive things:

This or That:

I like to write a “this or that” post during the various holiday seasons, but never got around to it. So, here are my answers to this fun one I found on Pinterest:

I love both movies, but The Holiday is one of my faves.
I chose Christmas presents only because I enjoy giving them.
I still love the garland on our mantle that I picked up at Kirkland’s last year.
I’m more apt to bake sugar cookies, but I love the Ginger People from Trader Joe’s.
I prefer more simple decor, and I really like the decorations I put out for the holidays.
We’re in such a busy stage of life it’s nice to have time with family during the two weeks we are on break. That being said, I also love time with friends for holiday parties.
Giving presents is definitely my preference. It’s always nice when you find the “perfect” gift for someone.
Again, just with us being busy and not home much, I enjoy staying home for our time off. Of course, we like visiting family too, and once we get there, we do have downtime.
Similar to what I said above, I always look forward to our family Christmas dinner. This year, one of Trav’s clients sent him steaks, so I think we’re having those for our dinner. The couple of Christmas parties we go to every year are also fun seeing friends.
I like to hang out during the day, but have a nice dinner for Christmas.

Favorite Christmas Movies:

Another Pinterest find:

These are a few of my favorite movies.

I always watch: Home Alone, A Christmas Story, and While You Were Sleeping (which just takes place during Christmas time, but one of my faves). I usually watch The Holiday and then sometimes watch the other ones.

Favorite Kid Quote:

The other day, Hadley wanted Chick-fil-A before practice, and I questioned her because she’d had Raising Canes the day before. She said, “Mom, I don’t think I will ever get tired of eating chicken.” 😂