Holidays

Monthly Musings

Posted on July 30, 2026July 29, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

Patty isn’t able to host this month’s Monthly Musings post, but I missed her June one, so I’m going to answer those prompts today.

It’s never too late to celebrate America’s birthday!

1. Are you excited about America 250?

It’s been exciting to see all the “buzz” around this big birthday for America. In June and July, I felt like that was really amped up. Any time we can come together to celebrate our country, it’s a special time for sure.

2. Did you purchase any fun America 250 items?

I didn’t buy any America 250 items, but I did feel very patriotic starting with Memorial Day weekend. I purchased bunting, and we put it on our front porch for Memorial Day and the 4th of July. I plan on putting them out again for Labor Day.

3. Do you make any red, white and blue themed appetizers, sides or desserts?

I don’t typically make anything red, white and blue in those categories, but most years, I serve up red, white and blue waffles for breakfast on the 4th of July.

4. Do you like fireworks?

I love fireworks! Truly, ending the 4th with fireworks is one of my favorite things ever. We have a good spot that we go to in Lexington to view a wonderful display.

5. Do you dress in red, white and blue themes?

I don’t typically dress in red, white and blue themes but I miss the days of the kids doing so. Is there anything cuter?!

6. What are your plans for the 4th of July?

Our plans are usually pretty low-key on the 4th of July. A few years, we’ve been on vacation, but often times, we’re at home. Sometimes, we head downtown in the morning for the Bluegrass 10,000 race. Travis and Hayden have run it through the years.

Then, we’re usually at home, or we’ll go to the pool. We grill out and then go see the local fireworks. After that, the kids sometimes do sparklers and snappers at home.

7. Do you remember the bicentennial in 1976?

These days, I don’t feel like I can say this often, but in 1976 I wasn’t born yet!

8. What is your favorite patriotic song?

America the Beautiful always hits home!

9. Favorite 4th of July memory?

I really can’t think of just one…Growing up, the 4th of July was usually a family affair on my dad’s side, and those memories just kind of set the precedent for it feeling like a family holiday for me. I think we’ve created some good memories for the kids through the years. Besides Thanksgiving, the 4th of July is my favorite holiday.

10. Have you ever participated in a local 4th of July parade or event?

I feel like a party pooper saying no…but not really. Like I said, quite a few years, we end up at the Bluegrass 10,000 race because Trav, Hayden, or my nephew run it. We always bump into people we know which is fun.

Well, better late than never in answering the June Monthly Musing prompts, but since the 4th of July is a fave holiday, I’m glad I got to participate!

Friday Favorites, Holidays, Home Decor, Home Updates

Friday Favorites {#306}

Posted on July 10, 2026July 10, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

I know I’m going to sound like a broken record over the next few weeks, but summer needs to slow down! I still have a few weeks before I go back to school, but I do feel like I should probably start checking my school email…haha!

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

Since last week’s Friday Favorites post was a recap of our few days in Siesta Key, my favorites list is a bit longer with some faves over the past couple of weeks.

While we were on vacation, it was our 21st wedding anniversary. Once we got home, my mom had sent us a gift…she’d been at a market and spotted a water color painting of the church where we got married in KC! So cool.

Out of town cousins were in town, and the kids had lots of time hanging with them. It’s wild that they are old enough to hang out and not need us…they all hop in the car together and are out on their own. We did crash their “pool party” last Friday night!

On the 4th, the kids were in and out of the house, but we did grill out and then I caught some of the fireworks show in NYC. I love the 4th of July, and in some ways, I’m sad that it’s not the same as when the kids were little. I almost didn’t even go watch fireworks at our local traditional spot, but Hadley wanted to go as did Trav.

The fireworks show was spectacular, so I’m glad we went!

We’d borrowed a few sparklers from Trav’s brother, and Hadley had fun with those when we got home.

After celebrating America’s 250th birthday, it was time to celebrate Trav’s birthday…on Tuesday!

As a family, we went out to dinner…to a pizza/pasta place we’d never been to. It was delish.

Once my nephew was finished with baseball, my brother’s family came over for ice cream cake. Happy birthday, T-rav!

That evening, the sky was so pretty….the pic doesn’t even do it justice.

Fave beverages:

I went to Trader Joe’s last weekend, and I saw this sparkling watermelon juice, and it’s delish.

Amy shared about this flavor of Chobani creamer, and I found it at my Kroger a couple of weeks ago. I just cracked it open, and I like it! I still think S’mores is my favorite, but this flavor is #2, and I will definitely buy it again. It’s great for summer.

House Updates:

As I shared in Wednesday’s post, this summer we had a few “to do’s” that we really wanted to get crossed off our list: finish the landscaping out front, paint the primary bathroom, get a new driveway, find new rugs for kitchen and living room, and find new bar stools for the island. Well, we’ve been busy the past couple of weeks, and the only thing not accomplished now is finding a neutral rug for the living room.

While we were out of town, we had someone paint the bathroom, and we also got a new driveway. Adulting is so fun.

On to the actual “fun” stuff. I almost purchased a rug from Wayfair because they were having a sale, but then I remembered I’d saved this rug on the Walmart app after someone shared it. Well, there were a few in stock locally, so Trav and I went to pick it up on Sunday.

We got it laid out on Tuesday, and I love it. It’s an indoor/outdoor rug like what we had before, but the raised pattern is so soft, and the quality is amazing. It’s a 10/10.

A couple of months ago, I spotted some Pioneer Woman dishes at Walmart, but I didn’t get them. Then, a few weeks ago, I was back at Walmart, and the dishes were marked down, so I couldn’t resist! I bought eight dinner and salad plates as well as eight bowls. In our twenty years of marriage, this will be our third set of dishes….so I feel like this is justified, and each piece was $3-$5. (My Walmart didn’t have the set, but it’s only 12 pieces anyway)

Also of note, so far not a single person in my family has mentioned the new dishes 😂

Also, we still use some Pier One plates that we had on our gift registry, and I don’t think I will ever get rid of those.

You know I can’t say no to a hydrangea dish towel, and Drew Barrymore’s “Beautiful” brand never disappoints.

When I say we’ve been looking for new bar stools, I’m not exaggerating that we’ve been looking off and on for a couple of years. The other ones we’ve had for years were stools, and the fabric on top had seen better days. Most of our “issue” was we just never wanted to spend the money on new ones. I could always find a few I liked…and this time I did want to get a stool with a back. Patience paid off…I found these at World Market a couple of months ago, but Trav and I finally went last Friday when he was off work.

I still wasn’t 100% sure, but once we got them home, I knew we made the right choice.

I love them!

Sandals:

Well, you know since I cleaned out my closet and got rid of things, I couldn’t resist adding some sandals back to my closet. My sister-in-law had these, and my Target had one pair left in my size…I saw that as a sign. They are so comfy, and the “jelly” sandal rage is taking me back to being an 80’s baby growing up in the 90’s.

Book Trackers:

Like I do every month, I shared my book trackers on Instagram. They are are saved in a highlight, so just screen shot, use them, tag me and let me know what you’re reading!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Why do I relate to this so much?!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

I’ve shared this pool photo in a previous Throwback Thursday post…

…and here the kids are in 2012. This just popped up in my Facebook memories. We got a lot of use out of that plastic pool!

Weekly Recap:

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

Prime Purchases

Florida Part 2: Orlando

LEt’s Look

Share Our Lives:

Monday is our monthly Share Our Lives link up, and the topic is…favorite room in your house. We’d love to have your link up with us…I love seeing other people’s homes, so I can’t wait to read those posts!

I hope you have a lovely summer weekend!

Family, Holidays

Happy Anniversary

Posted on June 24, 2026June 26, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Today is mine and Trav’s 21st wedding anniversary.

I’m sure I say it every year, but we went from here…

to here in a blink!

A few favorite marriage memes (because you have to have a sense of humor in order to stay married for any length of time!)

In honor of 21 years of marriage, here are 21 experiences we’ve had through the years…

One.

We got married in KC in 2005…on a very hot and humid day! My dad, a retired police officer, had a police escort arranged from the church to the reception.

Two.

We’ve traveled to lots of places that have become favorites like Asheville, NC, Isle of Palms, SC, Del Mar, CA, and Siesta Key, Fl.

Three.

We’ve also traveled to new places like Mexico, the Grand Canyon, and the Pacific Northwest, to name a few.

Four.

Travis wasn’t a dog person until he met me…and I convinced him to get our first Boxer pup, Shiloh. A couple of years later, we added Scout to the mix. They passed away in 2018 and 2019, but then we adopted Homer that June.

Five.

We’ve weathered some storms like infertility and a miscarriage. I couldn’t have made it through those times in my life without him.

Six.

In 2009, we welcomed boy/girl twins, and we’ve been tired ever since. ha!

Seven.

While our professions have overall stayed the same, we’ve had some jobs changes through the years. After fifteen years in education, twelve at the same school, I moved to my current school in 2016.

Trav has been in the horse business since 2004, and he’s only worked at two farms. He’s now the President of his division which is a much deserved promotion for him.

Eight.

We’ve lived in three houses. We had a starter home for a few years, and then we moved to a bigger home to grow our family. After about seven years, we moved to our current home. We love our neighborhood, and this house has been such a blessing.

Nine.

We’ve had a few surgeries between us, but he takes the cake having three knee surgeries (torn meniscus every time!), and I had a total hysterectomy a few years ago.

Ten.

We’ve made new couple friends while also maintaining longtime friendships.

Eleven.

Believe it or not, we’ve run a few races. There was a time when I was a fast jogger (ha!) and ran a few 5K’s as well as a couple of 10k’s and a mini marathon. Travis has always been a runner (hence the knee surgeries), and he still enjoys a jog or walk.

Twelve.

We’ve taught two kids to drive!

Thirteen.

He’s coached our kids…Hayden in basketball, baseball and cross country and Hadley in cross country and track. I know the kids will look back on those years with fond memories.

Fourteen.

We’ve tried new foods…I like sushi because of him…

Fifteen.

We’ve said goodbye to loved ones through the years. We do count ourselves as lucky to still have our parents (Trav’s dad died a long time ago), and my Gma.

Sixteen.

We’ve gone to lots of concerts which is his fave thing to do…

Seventeen.

We’ve attended countless college and professional sporting events.

Eighteen.

Something that’s very meaningful to me is that we’ve started family traditions like going to the Horse Park to look at the lights, go to the pumpkin patch in the fall, and bake cookies at Christmastime.

Nineteen.

We’ve found a church we love that’s the perfect fit for our family.

Twenty.

We’ve fussed a lot (me more than him!), but we’ve balanced that out by laughing a lot too.

Twenty-one.

We’ve exchanged lots of cards through the years, and his to me always have bubble letters!

I count my lucky stars that Travis and I have survived the ups and downs of marriage. Some years and some phases of life are harder than others, but he’s definitely “my person.” Because of him, I take on challenges, I stand up for myself, I know he’s in my corner, I know he’ll make me laugh, and I always feel supported by him. I hope he can say the same about me.

Cheers to 21 years!

Holidays

Easter Recap

Posted on April 7, 2026April 7, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Today, I’m just sharing a quick little Easter recap.

First of all, I can’t believe how different Easter mornings feel now that the kids are older. Weren’t we just here?

On Saturday, the kids dyed their eggs. Of course, the day got away from us, so then it was Saturday evening, and we had to squeeze this tradition in between the final four games! (Well, for Hayden, anyway!)

Ten minutes of fun…and some pretty eggs.

Sunday was a beautiful day…

I had purchased a few things over the past few weeks, and I was happy everything fit just right in their baskets. Their baskets included candy, a gift card, and a few odds and ends like Chapstick.

When the kids were little, the Easter Bunny would always bring them a swimsuit and PJs, but now, they’re pickier about those things, so I went with tanks, t-shirts, baseball cards, skincare, etc.

The church service was beautiful.

Then, we snapped a few pics per tradition.

I appreciate the smiles on this beautiful Easter morning.

After that, we went to Trav’s sister’s house in Louisville…and I didn’t take any photos! Per usual, she (as well as Trav’s mom and other sister) out did themselves with the food. Also, the older cousins are such adults, that they help bring side dishes now too! Anyway, it was a busy day from start to finish, but it was a good one! I appreciated the morning at home, the church service, and time with family.

Friday Favorites, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Kids, Travel

Friday Favorites {#292}

Posted on February 20, 2026February 19, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? Ours was good overall, but I think being out of town last weekend made me extra tired this week. We had warmer temps and lots of sunshine…proof that spring is around the corner.

As always, I’m linking up with Andrea for Friday Favorites.

Here are a few favorites from the week.

Since Hadley and I were going to be out of town for volleyball, I gave the kids their Valentine’s Day presents on Friday after school.

I got both kids and Trav some candy, and then for Hayden, he always suggests baseball cards as a gift, so I bought him a box at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Also, I bought him a Chiefs keychain for the car, so he didn’t have to use the dealer one anymore. I actually got him an air tag too, so he can keep up with the keys.

Hadley has completely hijacked one of our new living room blankets, so I got her one of her own. After we went to Hadley’s first tournament, we realized she didn’t really have an overnight bag. She often uses a spare backpack, but we purged what she had when we cleaned out her closet. Anyway, some of her friends have this Free People Carryall bag, and when I searched for it, I realized DSG has them…and some colors were on sale. So, on one of our snow days, I went to our local store and bought her one in the “petal” color. When she opened it, she was surprised and said, “Oh…it’s the real thing!” She knows I love a dupe! haha (I love a sale too, apparently!)

Anyway, they kids were surprised and appreciative.

Travis gave me a gift card for a massage, and of course my card had bubble letters.

Saturday was Valentine’s Day, and we were up and out the door to drive to Knoxville. Hadley’s team played in the afternoon wave, and wore their pink shirts for Valentine’s Day.

They played well on Saturday! Hadley’s been working on a little jump serve, and she’s getting there!

That evening, we walked around downtown we saw lots of festive touches.

How cute are these hearts and the red and white lights?

I swear Hadley is going to turn into a taco! She requested Mexican food once she saw that restaurant option, so that’s what we had…and then we went for ice cream. I was full, but she got the red velvet, and it was delish.

We walked back to the hotel which was around the corner from the Tennessee Theater. I’d seen this lit up sign in photos, so it was as surprise to walk right past it.

Sunday, they didn’t play until the afternoon, so we had some time on our hands. It was a really rainy morning, so it was nice to start off slowly. We met friends and had lunch at Tupelo Honey. We’d been to one in Asheville before, and the biscuits were as good as I remembered them to be.

Loved the Bless Your Heart glasses.

The girls dodged the rain to shop a bit, and then we headed to the convention center. They played some tough teams, but overall played well on Sunday too.

Sunday was a very late night that ended with us eating Chipolte (for Hadley – I told you…she’s going to turn into a taco!) and Cava for me…in our hotel room at 9:30 at night. We were so tired!

This was a three day tournament…I’m not sure why (LOL!). The girls made it to the silver bracket on Monday morning. We were down a hitter, so Hadley played all around on Monday. I laugh when my 5’3″ daughter playing front row, but she had some good hits AND a couple of blocks. She was so happy!

We were home by Monday afternoon, so at least I had some time at home on my Monday day off. I unpacked, took a nap, and placed a Kroger order. Overall, it was a good but busy weekend.

Yesterday, I sat in the backseat while Hadley drove us home from school. Her friend was in the front seat, and I was like, “Wow! Times have changed!” haha

Y’all, the Toms ads are targeting me! In the winter, I purchased two pairs of booties (to replace two that I’d had for years) that were on sale, and then, I saw an ad for these mules that were on sale. I ordered the metallic linen color, and they arrived this week. I can’t wait for spring! (Some colors appear to be out of stock, but there is limited sizing on some others…I did size up from a 9 to 9.5)

Yesterday, I didn’t feel like working out, but I decided to do a quick workout. Well, I got a notification that I’d completed my 400th workout! I believe this is my 400th since I started tracking about three years ago. Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise of an accomplishment.

Favorite Mom Meme:

This one depends on the day, but I can certainly relate.

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week:

We have lots going on this weekend, but I hope to get caught up on some much needed rest. I also need to take down my (limited) Valentine’s Day decor, I hope to finish a book and watch what’s left of the Olympics.

Friday Favorites, Holidays

Friday Favorites {#291}

Posted on February 13, 2026February 12, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

It’s been a good week once we got back into a routine. I know we just had two (unexpected) weeks off of school, but I’m not mad about the upcoming three day weekend.

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

Here are some faves from the week:

The Olympics!

I’ve planned my evenings around watching the Prime Time coverage, and that means I’ve also been going to bed later than I should. I’ve enjoyed watching as many events as possible, and I always love learning more about the athletes.

I almost missed out on my (half off) birthday discount, but on one of the final days of January, I ordered a Kendra Scott ring that I’d had my eye on. My local store didn’t have it, so I just ordered it online. It arrived this week, and I love it.

Hadley’s club volleyball photos came in, and they turned out so cute.

I’m not sure what took me so long to do so, but I finally bought a couple of bags at Trader Joe’s to haul my groceries in. We do like using the paper bags because we’ll use them for our recycling, but I do like having these bags, and they’ve come in handy for carrying my Kroger and Aldi groceries too.

I went to Walmart on Monday to make a return, and of course I had to look around. How cute are these (salad and dinner) plates? They are the Pioneer Woman brand, so of course they’re cute! I was so tempted to buy them, but I showed restraint. I guess I can always go back!

I’ve shared these Threshold brand candles a couple of times. I have the pink one, and I was placing a Target pick up order, so I thought I’d go ahead and snag a white one. Well, how could I resist the green one?!…and Target had a buy one get one half off sale. These are already reasonably priced, especially for the quality, so I just couldn’t say no.

With the Chiefs not being in the Super Bowl, our Super Bowl traditions were all out of whack. We did still go to my brother’s house, but instead of ordering a cookie cake, I made Valentine’s Day(ish) brownies. They were a hit.

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, my mom gave me these little heart tea lights via my Gma. So festive and cute.

We have a lot going on this weekend, so I went ahead and made our “Valentine’s Day” family dinner last night. Heart shaped chicken nuggets for the win!

Both kids love nuggets, and Hadley loves mac and cheese, so this was an easy meal to make. On a whim, I added some of the Sister Schubert rolls to my Kroger order, and we made little chicken minis!

The Valentine’s Day card for our family tradition continues! I snapped a pic of the kids on one of our snow days, and then I ordered the cards from Shutterfly. I love sending these to family every year.

The way to my heart…

Favorite Mom Meme:

I feel seen! Why is it like this? haha

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

I’m sure I share this every year, but I loved dressing the kids up for Valentine’s Day when they were younger. This pic is from 2011…their second Valentine’s Day. Pinchy cheek cute.

Weekly Recap:

I’ve still been a busy blogger….

It’s Friday the 13th. Let’s hope it’s a low-key day at school. haha!

Have a great weekend!

Holidays, Home Decor

Valentine’s Day Decor

Posted on February 5, 2026February 4, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

Well, we’re a few days into February, and we still haven’t gone back to school…I affectionately named these past two weeks “Winter break 2.0″…Yesterday, I did venture up to school because I was “itching” to at least make sure my classroom is ready to go whenever we do head back. I put away my few touches of Christmas, updated my February calendar, made a few copies, and then got the heck out of there. haha!

Anyway, one of the things on my “to do” list was to put out my few festive Valentine’s Day touches, and I did that this past weekend. Most everything is what I’ve had for years, but I did pick up a few new things too.

The mantel in the kitchen is the same as it’s been for quite a few years. I have the wooden “love” sign as well as an XOXO banner.

I saw this wooden serving tray and Michael’s and thought it would be perfect in this little corner of the kitchen. I usually have a cook book in this stand, so that was an easy swap. My friend gave me the cute heart icon candle from Aldi for my birthday, and I added it to a metal pedestal that I have out year round but also added the cute little red and white plate from Target.

Speaking of Target…I have zero regrets purchasing these two pack of tea towels…

I’ve had this little dish for years, and I fill it up with candy.

The coffee table in the living room looks much like it does at Christmas time as I’ve left out a few “winter” touches into February.

I did add in my new pink Target candle…

…here it is with the lid on. So precious.

On the entryway table, I added this little heart dish that I’ve had for years. I got it from Trader Joe’s, and it had a little flower in it originally. Now, I fill it with candy, and this year, I layered it on another Target plate and pedestal.

I’ve had this white ceramic heart for years, but I did get a new plate/art easel at Michael’s. I wanted something a little sturdier, and I love the touch of gold.

This XOXO is another decorative item that I’ve had for years. It sits on the bookshelf in the living room.

Outside, I swapped my “let it snow” flag (I think it did its job!) for my pretty pink and red Valentine’s Day flag.

I love this door hanger. I’ve had it for years, and I think it’s a nice festive touch for February.

Not decor but, but I’m really “leaning” into seasonal coffee mugs. These two are on rotation for February!

I really enjoy putting things out for Valentine’s Day…especially because set up and take down take five minutes each way!

Have a great day.

Holidays, Home Decor

Festive Finds

Posted on February 3, 2026February 2, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday!

With my impromptu week off and my quest to refresh a few spots in the house, I’ve been in and out of some of my fave stores – Aldi, TJ Maxx, Target, Home Goods, and Michael’s. I know every year these places must have lots of holiday goodies, but I just saw so many cute things, and I’m sharing those today.

Aldi:

My friend got me a candle from Aldi for my birthday, and now I’m putting it to good use.

So, the next time I went to Aldi, I made sure to go down the “Aldi finds” aisle…and I wasn’t disappointed.

There were other cute candles, various heart shaped bake ware and plates. I think the marble heart was my fave.

Home Goods:

I went to Home Goods to get new bed pillows for Hayden, and while I was there, I took a peek at their Valentine’s Day decor.

The floral heart is such a cute decorative piece…I almost bought it. If I had more storage, I would for sure buy a heart shaped Dutch oven to sit out on my stove top.

How cute is the heart kettle and the colander?! So many cute dish towels too.

Home Goods really had a fun variety of icon glasses…

…and coffee mugs.

I couldn’t help myself, and I did buy the cherry icon glass. I plan on it being a spring/summer glass for me.

Target:

Who doesn’t love Target?! I went to Target to look for a lamp, and while I was there, I scoped out their Valentine’s Day pieces…

I actually have two of the small red/white plates and the dish towels too. I bought them after Christmas, and now it’s been fun to put them out.

How cute is the polka dot ruffle pillow?! Also, I just couldn’t “say no,” and I bought the pink candle with a lid. I figured it would be perfect for February and even into March for a spring/floral color. I might get one of the white ones as well to use later.

The bedding is so cute for a little one…and who doesn’t love a plush heart shaped pillow?

Even the books that were on display and seemed to be love themed.

TJ Maxx:

I did find a lamp that I loved at Target, so I went to TJ Maxx to return a lamp I’d previously purchased. While there, I scoped out their Valentine’s Day stuff. To be honest, they didn’t have a ton, but the dish towels were cute, they had a few mugs, and their pink/red candle selection was strong!

I think TJ Maxx (and Home Goods) have some of the cutest paper products…and I loved the read floral/heart tote. I almost purchased it, but I showed restraint.

Michael’s:

I went to Michael’s to buy some tea light candles, and their Valentine’s Day decor was right when you walk in. They really didn’t have a ton of things, and I could tell they were shifting to spring. That being said, I thought the plates, heart candles, and icon glasses were so cute…as was the bow pillow!

In all my shopping I “only” walked away with the icon glass from Home Goods and a wooden heart from Michael’s…(as well as the two plates and hand towels, I’d bought previously at Target)…

…and one mug at Home Goods and one mug from TJ Maxx.

I’ll show you my few Valentine’s Day decorations later in the week.

‘Tis the season for love!

Holidays, Share 4 Somethings

Share 4 Somethings

Posted on January 31, 2026January 30, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Saturday!

It used be a rarity for me to post on the weekends, but today marks the 31st blog post I’ve written in January. Bloganuary was a fun (self-imposed) challenge for myself, and I do think writing a variety of posts helped with the writer’s ~~blog~~ block I sometimes feel!

I’m excited to link up with Jenn for Share 4 Somethings, which I haven’t done in quite some time.

The topics are…

Something I’ve loved…

Not to sound like a broken record, but I’ve loved quiet time at home this week. It’s been somewhat unexpected. We definitely get snow/ice and snow days, but this is the second year in a row we’ve had a week off a school due to the weather. Of course, I’m a bit worried how this will affect the end date of our school year, but I can’t control those things…so I’ve soaked in the down time and the quiet time while we’ve had it.

Something that has sustained me…

Coffee always sustains me. This week, I transitioned back to hot coffee after my iced coffee journey although I did get an iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts yesterday.

This week, Pilates has sustained me. Thanks to my at home schedule, I was able to pop into a couple of Reformer Pilates classes this week which I loved.

Something we’re carrying forward…

I shared this at the beginning of January…

….and I hope to carry forward these thoughts to February as well. I feel like we typically get January and February and then June and July to have downtime, but the summers have felt busier and busier as the years have gone on, so I hold tight to the quiet and cozy of these winter months.

Something we’re making space for…

After purging and organizing, I’ve made space for…quite a few things. That being said, I did some rearranging, and I organized my coffee mugs on shelves based on seasonal, favorites/everyday, and special/meaningful mugs.

I’ve now made space for a couple of new festive mugs for February:

Don’t tell Trav…haha!

He always wonders why we have so many mugs. Listen, coffee and mugs (and icon glasses!) make me happy. I could have a more expensive collection of things…like fancy watches, designer purses, or diamonds! You’re welcome, Trav!

Have a great Saturday!

Holidays, Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings: January 2026

Posted on January 29, 2026January 28, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello from the frozen tundra that is Kentucky!

We’re officially home from school for the entirety of the week. We got the call yesterday afternoon that today would be an NTI day, and tomorrow will be a snow day.

Where where has this month gone? It’s already the last Thursday of the month, so I’m linking up with Patty and Holly for Monthly Musings.

This month’s topic is about…winter fun/Valentine’s Day.

1. Describe your winter so far in one word.

Harsh. We rarely get snow in December, and we ended up having three snow days that month. Last weekend, we were supposed to get 12 inches of snow, but instead we got around five inches and some ice…followed by bitterly cold temps. The city roads are trying to recover, and it’s just not happening, especially on the secondary and neighborhood roads.

My little snowman flag is frozen!

2. What winter activities have you never tried but want to?

I can’t really think of anything. I always think the idea of going somewhere to ski in the winter sounds fun, but I think I’d be a nervous wreck wondering if someone is going to break something! I’d be good at sipping a beverage by the fire with a view of the mountain! ha!I think I’d be an “Apres ski” girl!

3. Favorite winter beverage?

A hot cup of coffee. I’ve been on an iced coffee kick, but I switched back to hot coffee this week because the temps have been so cold that I can’t stay warm.

4. Least favorite winter chore?

We love Homer, but I think my least favorite chore is letting him in and out. He often stands at the top of the stairs contemplating going out while letting in the cold air. I am thankful that he doesn’t mind going out on his own because some years he gets “spooked” by the snow on the steps, and we have to take him out on a leash.

5. Soup or chili? Share a recipe if you’d like.

I like both…and I like soup/chili season because both often provide leftovers. On Sunday, I made Shay’s Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup. I wanted to make chili, but finding ground beef proved to be difficult last weekend.

6. Dark chocolate? Milk chocolate? Neither or both?

I prefer dark chocolate. This time of the year, I always think of the little candy assortments that are out for Valentine’s Day.

7. Share your Galentine’s or Valentine’s Day plans.

Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year…and I believe it’s President’s Day weekend. I’m sure I will try to make a “special” dinner for the fam or let them choose their favorite foods for dinner like I’ve done in the past. Trav and I always exchange cards, and I get the kids a couple of things.

8. Do you dress festive for Valentine’s Day?

I picked up a gray sweatshirt with a red gingham heart on it at Target a couple of years ago, and that’s about it.

9. Do you make any sweet treats for Valentine’s Day?

The sweet treat is usually whatever candy I get Trav and the kids. Sometimes, we’ll pick up cookies or cupcakes for dessert.

10. What is your love language?

I read that book a few years ago, and my love language is definitely “Acts of Service.”

Well, Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it!