Category: Holidays

Posted in Holidays, Home Decor

Festive Finds

Posted on 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!

Posted in Holidays, Share 4 Somethings

Share 4 Somethings

Posted on 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…

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….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!

Posted in Holidays, Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings: January 2026

Posted on 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.

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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!

Posted in Friday Favorites, Holidays, Me

Friday Favorites {#288}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Shew! We’ve almost made it to the weekend. We had a good week, but I felt so tired all week…and a little run down. The cold weather is back, and it certainly feels like winter.

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

Here are my favorites from the week:

I’ve seen others share these Drizzilicious rice cakes, but I think they are mostly at Sam’s/Costco? Anyway, when I was at TJ Maxx last week, I saw them in the snack aisle, so I bought a box. They’ve been a great “sweet treat” to pack with my lunch this week.

Amy shared about this hydration brand, and I spotted a little three pack at Target last weekend. She suggested mixing with Fresca. I had the watermelon flavor this week, and it was so good…very refreshing.

Wednesday was my birthday, and we went out to dinner on Sunday night. Jeff Ruby’s “spoiled” me again with my name on the menu.

Trav and Hayden split a steak, Hadley ordered the salmon, and I got sushi.

Why do my babies look so grown up?!

When it’s your birthday (or any other celebration), you get dessert and a photo. Besides the cupcake, we ordered cheesecake and creme brulee.

I’ve been trying to “refresh” a few spaces, and I saw these candle sticks (tall and short) at Target that I couldn’t pass up. I thought they were just my style and a fun mix and match. I also updated a couple of frames in the house including the one on the kitchen buffet that I found at TJ Maxx.

I feel like we’re back to being all over the place as far as schedules are concerned and with the kids being able to drive themselves, we’re not all together after school very often. We all went home at the same time on Monday which was nice.

Wednesday evening, we celebrated my birthday and I opened a few gifts, and then my brother and his family came over for cookie cake.

It was a nice evening, and we had the UK basketball game on one TV and the Mizzou game on the other. Both teams came out on the winning side.

Favorite Mom Meme:

This meme definitely fits one of my kids more than the other…but it rings true.

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Weekly Recap:

I’m on a January blogging streak…

10 on the 10th
January Bucket List
Share Our Lives
Icon Glasses
Let’s Look
Throwback Thursday

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I hope to blog over the weekend too, so see you then!

Posted in Blog challenge, Holidays, Me

Happy New Year – 2026!

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy January 1st!

How was your New Year’s Eve? We hung out with friends and actually stayed up until midnight, but overall, it was a low-key evening.

A few years ago, I participated in “Bloganuary” that WordPress hosted with topics every day. While I don’t think they host this anymore, I think I might challenge myself to blog every day in January. What I remember liking about Bloganuary is it was an opportunity to write about topics big and small. Sometimes, last year I felt like I had “writer’s block,” and I’d like to start the year strong.

I plan on sharing my regular content, but I hope to sprinkle in some random topics even if it provides for a short post. Now, once I get back to school, we’ll see if I can keep this up, but I’m going to try.

Last night, we had more of an informal New Year’s Eve. I’ve shared in the past that a few friends, who all live within a few houses of each other, started a progressive dinner years ago. Well, they expanded the invite to a few other couples, including us, a couple of years ago, and that’s been lots of fun.

This year, they/we decided to scale back and just host at one house an informal game night with pizza for people to come and go as they please.

We had lots of fun watching football, playing a few games, enjoying apps and pizza and just letting the kids come and go as well.

One thing that didn’t change was that one friend still organized the “words of the year” that we pull from a pretty jar. After we draw our words, we all go around and share them.

Here are my words for 2026:

  • Boundaries: I think I’m pretty good at setting boundaries…I feel like this is something that’s easier to do as we get older. If a situation or relationship isn’t serving me, I’m ok with saying no or letting that go.
  • Encourage: One thing about me is that I’m a pretty loyal person, and I think I do a good job encouraging my people. I’m in the “thick” of raising two teens, and I’m going to keep encouraging them through the ups and downs of life…and honestly, I’m going to keep encouraging myself to do things for myself and give myself grace.
  • Celebrate: Low-key celebrating, ok? I’m too old for much more than that. haha (That being said, my birthday is a couple of weeks away, and I’ve already started receiving birthday emails from my school district and places like Ulta, etc…I ‘ve got birthday coupons to spend, apparently!)

I always keep the three words in my bedside table every year, and it’s fun to look back on them and reflect on the year.

Here were my 2025 words:

I hope you have a great start to your year!

Posted in Holidays

Christmas Recap

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Is it even Monday?! haha!

This is definitely the time of the year and the part of Christmas break where the days are running together.

Today, I’m sharing about our Christmas(es)…

The last Friday of school was pj day which made it very hard for me to rally and get dressed for our friends’ annual Christmas party, but of course I’m glad we went.

I brought home a few of her family’s famous springerle cookies which are a fave.

The next day, we made Chocolate Crinkle cookies per tradition. We never got around to making peanut butter blossoms, but maybe we’ll get back to those next year.

On Sunday, Hadley and her friends met up for pizza and a gift exchange.

My Monday project was cross stitching this little ornament. When I went to World Market, I picked up a kit of three ornaments, and they’ve been fun to complete over the past week or so.

That evening, we finally made it out to the Horse Park for Southern Lights. Trav and I have been doing this for over twenty years. The kids love this tradition too.

You know you’re in Kentucky when…

On Christmas Eve Eve, we headed to Trav’s mom’s house in Louisville. Unfortunately, Hadley wasn’t feeling well, but we were still able to go.

Mamaw and all the grandkids.

On Christmas Eve, Hadley still wasn’t feeling well, so we went to the Little Clinic once we got back to Lex. Thankfully, she tested negative for all the things and got a prescription for something to help with the congestion.

She rallied for the Christmas Eve service at church.

Silent Night by candlelight is always a favorite.

Family photo which I appreciated.

The kids went home after church, but Trav and I stopped by a friend’s house for a bit. They had so many cute inflatables…now I want some. haha

I was up at 6:30 on Christmas morning…even though the kids slept in, of course.

Hadley was the first one up around 9:00 which surprised me…usually, Hayden gets up first. Anyway, even Homer was ready to open presents.

Trav and his gift tags are always something I like forward to.

I got the kids these new ornaments…how cute?! They were fun to personalize.

After presents, the kids swapped their gifts that they picked out for each other…

…and then it was stocking time.

I made a very easy breakfast of a pre-made quiche from Fresh Market, and the Sister Shubert cinnamon rolls from Kroger that are easy and delish.

Hadley went back to bed, and Hayden watched Home Alone with Trav and me.

We took it easy most of the day, and of course made sure to call family and wish them a Merry Christmas.

For dinner, Trav grilled steak that he received as a gift, and I made Bob Evans mashed potatoes and green beans. Easy and delish dinner.

I finished another ornament off and on that day…

I actually found the same pack on Amazon, so I can complete the other three patterns. Don’t be jealous of all the fun I’m having. haha!

This past Saturday, we finally connected with my brother’s family and the cousins exchanged gifts.

And that’s a wrap on Christmas. It’s always different when we don’t go to KC as we don’t have as much going on, but it was nice to have some time at home…and since Hadley wasn’t feeling well, it worked out for her to have time at home in her bed to recoup.

Tis the season for all the things…including germs.

Every year seems to be a bit different as the kids have gotten older, but overall, it was a very Merry Christmas. I hope the same for you!

This week, I plan on recapping 2025 and sharing my favorite books of the year too.

I’m also clinging to break for dear life! I have to remind myself that I still have one more week full of downtime and productivity.

Posted in Holidays

Merry Christmas

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy December 24th.

Merry Christmas Eve.

I’m just stopping by to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

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I continued our Christmas card tradition by sending a card from Shutterfly. Since we were dressed up a couple of times this summer for family weddings, I used the family photo my brother-in-law took of us in July which made for a great family photo without me having to pester my family for another photo.

From my family to yours…

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

As always…I know not everyone’s holiday season is merry and bright. Even for us, every year is a bit different depending on our plans with family and whether we are traveling or not. I know others have suffered loss or are struggling in other ways. You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers in the coming days.

Sending love,

Posted in Friday Favorites, Holidays

Friday Favorites {#285}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Today is a great Friday because only a few hours stand between me and winter break! I’m very much ready to turn off my alarm clock, have some time to finish up Christmas things, and embrace a slower pace for a couple of weeks.

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

I have lots of favorites to share this week…

Last Friday was a snow day, and Trav and I had a quick breakfast before an appointment I had scheduled.

I rarely eat breakfast, but this bagel hit the spot.

My mom and Gma came to visit, and we spent a few hours on Saturday decorating cookies, and making our traditional waffle cookies. My Gma brought the waffle iron that my great-great-grandfather brought from Germany.

Everyone was in on the fun…

These kids were busy cookie decorators…

The grandkids with GG and Gma….

Sunday afternoon we went to my brother’s house to celebrate an early Christmas.

One of my gifts from my Gma was some Betty White stamps! I immediately sent a pic to one of my friends who had told me about them when they came out…and I’d forgotten about them. If you’re receiving a Christmas card from me this year, the Betty White stamps will be the chef’s kiss!

They left on Monday morning, and we had yet another snow day. Truly, I don’t think I’ve ever had a December snow day as a teacher, and this year, we’ve had three in December!

I’ve been loving my holiday icon glasses from Target, but I wished I’d gotten a couple more while they were in stock.

Well, Amy shared about the ones she found at World Market, and so I went there on Saturday and got a candy cane and holly one. I also got a couple for my mom as one of her Christmas gifts. Since then, Hadley broke my holly one. ugh! #thisiswhyIcanthavenicethings

On Monday, we had some “Merry Mail” as our new ornaments arrived. A few years ago, I ordered quite a few ornaments from Shutterfly with the kids with Santa through the years and pics we used for our holiday cards. The shipping price is stupid, so I just wait until I order my Christmas cards and then add in the ornaments to that order.

Anyway, since we looked nice twice this summer for our niece and then nephew’s wedding, I ordered two ornaments.

The Monday snow day was also what I needed to get started on wrapping. How cute are my new Etsy gift tags? Jen Reed had shared about the labels she’s used the past few years, and I thought they’d be a fun way for the kids to know which gifts are theirs. I probably should have ordered some for Trav too!

The biggest news of all on Monday is that we officially have another new driver! Hayden passed his driver’s test! He then drove himself to the gym and then to Walgreens for a snack. haha!

Y’all, if loving peppermint is wrong, I don’t want to be right!

It was my first time using it, but I baked the Trader Joe’s chocolate peppermint cake mix, and I took it to the English department lunch/gift exchange last week. It was a hit!

Last Friday, Hadley went to Chick-fil-A and the only thing that sounded good to me was the seasonal peppermint milkshake. I usually get one or two a season.

Speaking of CFA ice cream…I then saw on Insta that you can order a cup of ice cream, and add crushed peppermint (and cookie crumbles) to the top. This is definitely a lower calorie option. Hayden and I got some ice cream after school yesterday.

Lastly, I always make Shay’s peppermint Bundt cake for Christmas, and the past couple of years I’ve made it to share with my KC family. Last year, I baked the cake in KC, and this year I took it to my brother’s house when we opened gifts.

I actually went to Trader Joe’s the other day to pick up another box of the cake mix to make a smaller cake for Christmas Day, but it seems they are out of stock? This is my lesson learned to stock up on seasonal items when they were available.

Favorite Mom Meme:

LOL!

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Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday…

Oh…I miss these days…

Weekly Recap:

I was a busy blogger this week. It felt nice to have some fun posts to share. (Sometimes, I feel like I’m in a writing rut!)

MoNday Memo
Teacher Talk Tuesday
Monthly Musings

I hope you have a fabulous and festive Friday.

Posted in Holidays, Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! It’s hard to believe that this time next week is Christmas Day. I feel like December has been a blur.

Holly and Patty are hosting their last Monthly Musings link up of 2025 a little bit early, so I’m joining them today.

This month’s topic is about…holidays and ringing in the new year.

1. What holidays do you celebrate?

This time of the year, we celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. I love something different about each one…Thanksgiving is always time spent with family while feasting on a great meal. Christmas includes many family traditions, and New Year’s Day brings a fresh start and one of my favorite months…January.

2. Scale of 1-10…how into the holidays are you this year?

I’m probably between a 7 and an 8. I always look forward to decorating for Christmas, and it’s been a bit more “festive” this year with the uncharacteristic snow that we’ve had in December. I don’t love wrapping gifts, but I do love when loved ones open gifts that they are receiving. I appreciate traditions that we have like baking cookies and going to the Horse Park lights. I’m close to a 10 when school is out, and I have a bit more time to relax.

3. Favorite things to make/bake during the holidays?

We typically decorate some cookies with family.

Then, I usually bake a few cookies with my kids…typically Peanut Butter Blossoms and Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies.

I always make a Chocolate Peppermint Bundt cake for Christmas dessert.

4. Favorite holiday movies?

I don’t typically watch holiday movies until winter break, so sometimes I’m watching Christmas movies after Christmas, but it’s still a fun tradition to watch some of my faves. Home Alone is my favorite Christmas movie, and we always watch A Christmas Story on Christmas morning. The Holiday is one I tend to watch on my own at some point, and You’ve Got Mail and While You Were Sleeping are two of my faves that aren’t necessarily Christmas movies, but I tend to think so.

5. Most random holiday tradition?

I guess it’s not that random, but the white elephant exchange at Trav’s mom’s house feels that way since we get random things. It’s always funny to see what other people bring.

6. Are you hosting the holidays?

No, I’m not hosting, but my mom and Gma were in town last weekend, and I hosted cookie decorating after we went to lunch on Saturday.

7. Favorite way to ring in the new year?

Honestly, I’ve never been a huge fan of New Year’s Eve…I’m happy not to stay up late…haha

That being said, the past few years we’ve gotten together with friends which has been fun.

8. Any new year’s resolutions or word of the year?

I don’t typically do a new years’ resolution…but on NYE, we’ve drawn words and that’s been fun.

This month, I started tracking my eating using My Fitness Pal and making a point to get back to working out. September-November were hard in regards to finding time for workouts. I don’t feel like I was eating too poorly, and I’m not going to say no to a Christmas cookie, but I just wanted to go into the new year feeling a little more in control. I saw someone on Instagram mention treating December 1st as January 1st, and I liked that line of thinking.

I’m really looking forward to a fresh start in January. 2025 wasn’t really what I thought it would be. I’ve had to be brave this year…as a mom, wife, and even for myself at times, and I wasn’t really expecting that. I know a new year isn’t a magic wand, but I’m hoping to regroup a bit to kick off 2026.

9. Favorite holiday songs?

I’ve always loved “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.”

10. Favorite holiday memory?

I feel blessed that there are so many, and I know that I’m creating memories for my kids.

I love the Santa pics through the years…

…and the tradition of the kids picking out gifts for each other. Even that tradition isn’t what it used to be, but it’s still fun.

Monthly Musings is always one of my fave link ups, and now I’m really in the holiday spirit!

Posted in Enneagram, Holidays

Monday Memo

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was really good. Did you read my post on Friday? I shared a few gift ideas, but I also mentioned that I was waiting to hear if we’d have a snow day…well, we did! Then, we got more snow over the weekend, and bitterly cold temps followed, so we have yet another snow day today.

My school district is going to use the non-traditional instruction this year again, but they decided not to start that until after winter break! So, we’ve already had three traditional snow days in December. Hopefully, we don’t have to make all of these up in June!

Anyway, we had family in town for an early Christmas. We decorated cookies, opened gifts, and had dinner together.

It’s been a while since I’ve shared an Enneagram post, but @mirabellecreations shared this one about prepping for the holidays, and I thought it was pretty accurate for my 5w6 self!

Enneagram 5:

  • Researching the history of every family tradition– I’d say this is pretty true. I love traditions, and appreciate some of the ones we have in our family. Just this weekend, we made our traditional waffle cookies using the waffle iron that my great-great-grandfather brought from Germany.
  • Choosing thoughtful gifts that are exactly right: I do think I do a good job with this. Of course, I end up ordering many things online, but I still think they can be really personal. I ordered my mom this tote from Bauble Bar and she really liked it. I like giving something personal. Recently, I went to a local boutique, and it was fun to shop in person. I got a few things including a cute tea towel and notepad for my Gma. It’s nice when you’re out shopping and you see things that remind you of loved ones.
  • Planning quiet pockets of rest: Uh…yes! Now, sometimes those pockets of quiet time don’t happen until after Christmas, but I do try and factor in time to wrap presents, watch a movie, bake cookies, etc.
  • Staying up late reading by the Christmas tree: Well, is there anything better? Actually, I couldn’t really sleep yesterday morning, and I got up early and decided to finish the book I was reading. It was nice to have the glow of the Christmas tree as I sipped my coffee and read. (I will share December books before the year ends, but I will go ahead and say that I highly recommend Christmas with the Queen. Loved it SO much!)
  • Observing all the chaos with a warm cup of something: Yes! You know I love my cup of coffee, but lately, I’ve been an iced coffee girl. I’m just really enjoying using my new festive glasses.

Enneagram 6:

  • Keeping track of all the traditions being completed: That’s definitely me, but I also don’t think we overdo it which is nice. Typically, we bake cookies one day, go to the Horse Park lights, the kids each get a gift for each other, and a few other things we do. Just last night, I told Trav we need to go see the Horse Park lights this week.
  • Triple check travel plans and weather forecasts: This is definitely me. I’m a worrier about the weather as we’ve definitely had times where we are traveling to KC at the holidays and there’s snow in the forecast. Just this weekend, I worried about family getting to and from Lex safely with our forecasted weather. Obviously, if the weather is bad, we can pivot and probably adjust schedules by a day or two. We’ve always made it work somehow.
  • Brings emergency kit and snacks: Any travel needs snacks, of course!
  • Watching all the classic holiday movies: I tend to watch holiday baking shows in December. That being said, I have many movies I like to watch in the holiday season or on break like A Christmas Story, Home Alone, and The Holiday. Some movies aren’t necessarily Christmas movies, but ones I tend to watch during this time like You’ve Got Mail and While You Were Sleeping.
  • Feeling extra grateful for the people who feel like home: I know the holidays can be stressful, and sometimes they are hectic, but I’m always grateful to spend time with extended family, but I also really enjoy the time at home with my family of four too. When we go to Louisville and KC, we’re able to spend time with family we don’t see as often as we’d like. When we stay home for Christmas, we have a few traditions like hanging with friends after the Christmas Eve church service. I like that our holidays are predictable but vary a bit year to year.

Overall, these were pretty accurate for me.

Today, I hope to spend some time making one final list of the last few things I need to buy (mostly stocking stuffers and a couple of gift cards) and maybe I can get some wrapping accomplished?!

Have a great Monday!