Category: Holidays

Posted in Friday Favorites, Holidays

Friday Favorites {#59}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! Real Talk: this week kicked my tail. I don’t know if it’s because of Daylight Savings Time, the fact that this was our second full week of school, kids’ activities, or a culmination of all, but I’m tired. I feel like my family is probably tired of me saying, “I’m tired!” No rest for the weary…Hadley has her first ever dance competition tomorrow, so I’m adding “Dance Mom” to my resume!

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

As I occasionally do, I’m sharing the “small moments” and favorites of each day this week.

Sunday:

I made “special” green pancakes with Lucky Charms on Sunday as an early St. Patrick’s Day breakfast. These are always a favorite for the kids and…

Homer! I always make Homer a mini pancake when I serve those up from breakfast.

The kids in their spiffy church clothes is always a favorite. Hayden gets some great hand-me-downs from former neighbors, and I love Hadley’s new Matilda Jane dress.

It was chilly on Sunday, but cousin Wyatt came over for a session at the Travis White School of Baseball.

The best part was when Hayden pitched to him. Such a sweet moment…and made me realize how big Hayden is in comparison. I feel like it was just yesterday and he was just starting coach pitch like Wyatt is now.

Here he is in 2017:#sigh

Monday:

A highlight from Monday was that we finally have all the students back in the building! Grades 7, 8, 10, and 11 went back into their school buildings! It’s been fun to drive past schools and see the yard signs, lawn letters, and balloons with each school opening.

Tuesday:

Hayden has been asking about contacts for a few months. His annual eye exam is in mid-July, but we could tell his vision was worsening a bit. Travis had an appointment, so he scheduled one for Hayden. Hayden was pretty excited, but I know putting in contacts (and taking them out ) will take some time.

They were gone for almost two hours, and Travis texted, “This isn’t going well!” haha Right now, he’s still mostly wearing his glasses because we are lucky to get to school on time as is (and I joke that it’s a full time job getting Hadley away from the mirror in the morning let alone having him use it to put contacts in!)

With Spring Break right around the corner, he will have some slower mornings to practice getting those in. Right now, his fastest time is 25 minutes…and I’ve been taking them out for him.

While glasses can make you look distinguished, for some reason, without the glasses, he looks 16! Those blue eyes and big smile are always a favorite.

Wednesday:

St Patrick’s Day milkshakes were a favorite on Wednesday. I made the kids green milkshakes for their afternoon snack since we’d already had our St. Patrick’s Day meal a couple of weeks ago and the green pancakes on Sunday.

The kids will say their favorite part of the week was having the middle school counselors visit their classrooms. Hadley is so excited to have a locker, and Hayden seems pretty excited about middle school too. They heard all about classes, lockers, teachers, activities, and more! I can’t believe they will be in middle school next year. #Iamnotwell

Thursday:

Yesterday, my Happy Planner arrived. I love a planner but have not felt the need to have one since I rely pretty heavily on my phone calendar and my “to do” list note. Also, I write activities and meetings on my desk calendar at school. That being said, I saw the “Skinny Classic” planner was on sale (under $10!) because it goes July 2020-June 2021. I thought I’d try it out for the next couple of months before deciding if I’d like to purchase their “Classic” planner or even another “Skinny Classic” planner starting in July 2021. I just thought this would be a good place to jot down things I need to do, appointments, grocery necessities and more.

I feel like this planner is the perfect size for my purse….and you can purchase stickers to use in the planner! This Type A/Teacher/Mom was sold! I will let you know what I think about it soon!

Also, yesterday, was my monthly facial appointment. I always look forward to these appointments! Yesterday, I got dermaplane (my fave!) and a custom facial. She also used some kind of buzzy thing on my face to stimulate the collagen. I don’t ask any questions…I just say, “Whatever it takes to make me look 38 again!” #Im41 😉

Favorite Kid Quote:

Y’all, Hadley’s been giving me a run for my money since birth! The other night, I told her it was time to take a bath (I meant shower). She said, “Mom! Baths are for children. I’m a TWEEN!” 😂 Yes, yes she is!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Err’y day!

I dislike any kind of math…forward or backwards! I’ve mastered “backwards” math though…that’s for sure!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here are the kids on St. Pat’s Day in 2015…

2015

and…in 2018.(Let’s talk about the fact that Hadley was able to wear that shirt for 4 years!)

2018

Weekly Recap:

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

Weekend Top 5
Tuesday Talk: Kids Easter Gift Ideas
Let’s Look

I hope you have a great weekend! Saturday is our action packed day! If you need me, I will be the one back stage figuring out costume changes, low buns, and bobby pins!

See you back here Monday for my favorite memes this month!

Posted in Gift Ideas, Holidays, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk: Easter Gift Ideas

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! It’s Tuesday Talk time with Ashley and Erika. With Easter right around the corner, I thought I’d share some Easter gift ideas for kids.

At our house, the Easter Bunny brings the candy for their baskets and hides the eggs that we dye the day before Easter.

I use Easter as a time to give practical gifts for the season like flip flops, pajamas, swimsuits, and a book or two. Some years I pick up odds and ends to put in Hayden and Hadley’s baskets with the candy like a tooth brush, body spray, deodorant, and chapstick.

Easter 2020

This year Target and Amazon had everything I needed to provide practical and cute gifts for Hayden and Hadley.

Hayden:

  • These slides will be just what Hayden needs for the pool and wearing to practice when he’s not wearing his cleats.
  • I’ve never purchased kids’ swimwear from Amazon, but these plaid trunks have high ratings and there are many cute patterns! They arrived yesterday and the quality is really good!
  • I’ve had this God Sized Dreams book saved on my Amazon list for the kids for quite some time. I always try to buy a book for them for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and back to school.
  • I guess Hayden’s officially “too old” to wear matching pj shorts and shirts, so I thought I’d give him these play shorts to wear as pajama bottoms that he’ll just wear to bed with whatever t-shirt he chooses.

Hadley:

  • I thought this two piece from Target was so cute. I think Hadley will love it!
  • Hadley loves to have a variety of sandals in the summer, so I picked these pink flip flops up for her at Target.
  • I purchased the girl version of the God Sized Dreams book for Hadley as well.
  • Hadley already has a pair of these pajamas from last year, but I bought her the next size to be able to wear this spring and summer. They are some of her faves!

Also, Hadley still loves her leather sandals that she got last summer, and thankfully they still fit! We both have a pair of these comfort slides from Amazon, and we both wear them often. They come in a variety of colors as well!

Both:

I still love my weighted blanket, and the kids have shown interest in wanting one. I’ve had this 5 lb one saved, and saw that the price dropped significantly, so I went ahead and got one for each of them.

Small Gift Ideas:

Here are a few other smaller items that I’ve purchased for them for their Easter baskets or other holidays:

  • Stretch Band for Dance (Hadley still uses this, and it was in her basket last Easter)
  • Cra-Z-Art Snow (Hayden thought this was so fun when he received it last Easter)
  • Led Sound Activated Party Lights with remote (Hadley LOVES this thing!)
  • Bananagrams (family fave!)
  • Wireless Computer Mouse (essential item to use with their chromebooks)
  • Blue Light Blocking Glasses (perfect for online learning)

How do you do Easter baskets at your house? It’s always fun to see the kids hunt for the hidden eggs, have chocolate for breakfast, and enjoy a few gifts before we head to church.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope your week is off to a great start!

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Gift Ideas, Holidays, Home Decor

Valentine’s Day Decorations & Gifts

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Today, I’m sharing with you the Valentine’s Day decorations I put up over the weekend. To be honest, I use the same few things each year, so I guess this post probably isn’t too different than what I shared last year!

I’ve mentioned before that I typically buy the kids a few things for Valentine’s Day to make the day special, so I’m sharing those today too!

Decorations:

I love a garden flag, and change our front yard flag pretty often! I’ve had this cute heart flag for years. My favorite decoration of all is my heart door hanger that I purchased from Etsy years ago!

Inside, Hadley helped me hang this XOXO banner on the kitchen mantle. Last year, I found this wooden love “sign” at Home Goods or TJ Maxx, and it fits perfectly on the mantle between some of my favorite pictures.

I try to keep the little pink dish on our island tray filled with Hershey Kisses, but they don’t typically last too long! We seem to have the same problem with the conversation hearts in the other pink dish on the kitchen counter. The wooden heart sign was painted by one of my friends, and it’s the perfect touch for that corner of the kitchen.

I guess we all heart the Valentine’s Day candy at our house!

The white ceramic heart fits in perfectly on our front hall table…

and the XOXO on the coffee table rounds out my Valentine’s Day decor.

Gifts:

Gifts for both…

For gifts this year, both kids (and Travis!) will receive a box of chocolate hearts from me. I’m also getting cookies from a local baker/cookie decorator (@1smartcookieky on Instagram) that the kids can decorate on Valentine’s Day!

Also, I love to shop small when I can, and Etsy always has the cutest items! Years ago, I got the kids each a personalized pillowcase with their names. I honestly think I bought them eight(ish) years ago when they transitioned to their “big boy/girl” beds. They’ve used those pillowcases off and on ever since, so I figured it was the perfect time to purchased them news ones.

On Etsy, I found this one for Hadley and this one for Hayden.

I love the whimsy of the one I picked out for Hadley and the simplicity of the one I picked out for Hayden. There are many varieties and options for pillowcases in these shops, but I settled on the ones pictured below.

I always purchase a book for them. When they were younger, they were always Valentine’s Day/love themed books. As they have gotten older, I just choose one I think they will enjoy reading.

For Hayden, I know he’ll love The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling as he has been loving the Harry Potter series. Hadley just finished up the first book of The Vanderbeekers series, so I got her the second one in hopes that she will keep on reading!

I also always purchase a game to add to our collection, and I’ve heard that Bananagrams is fun. Hopefully, it will provide some family fun!

Gift for Hayden…

Hayden loves golf! He plays on the golf course. He plays in the yard. And…he plays in the house! I thought this automatic putting practice hole would be perfect for him. He will love that it returns the ball right back to you…once you make it in the hole! 😉

Gift for Hadley…

I’ve been following MelandMae on Instagram, and I’ve made a few purchases from their Etsy shop! I thought these leather circle stud earrings in blush would be perfect for Hadley because Sis loves a good monogram!

You may be wondering about Travis…😂. Well, I’ve mentioned before that we try to just go out to dinner at some point before or after Valentine’s Day. We always exchange cards as well which is all I need.

Also, Homer is a big fan of the holiday 😆 He will tolerate a scarf for a few minutes…and I bet he will get an extra treat or two on February 14th!

I shared a few more thoughts about Valentine’s Day in last week’s Monthly Musings link up. Check it out if you’d like!

We still have snow on the ground here! I hope everyone is staying safe and warm!

Take care,

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Holidays, Me

NYE 2020 and 2021 Goals

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! It’s the first Monday of 2021! Of course, I feel like our two week break flew by, but it was a good one. Technically, my kids are off until Thursday! Teachers start back today though (virtually).

To kick off 2021, I thought I’d recap our New Year’s Eve and share a few goals I have for 2021.

I saw this graphic on Instagram Stories, filled it out and shared to my stories! It’s one form of reflection 😉

I also always think it’s fun to see the Top 9 posts on Instagram. This was my Top 9 of 2020 on Insta:

New Year’s Eve:

NYE 2020: (and most years, actually)…

I kind of miss the years when we could “trick” the kids with a countdown at 9 PM. haha That being said, we had a great evening at home. Truth be told, I’ve never been a big fan of NYE. I’m not big on dressing up, going out in the cold…or staying up late 😂That being said, we’ve spent some fun New Year’s Eves with friends sharing dinner and drinks at someone’s house, and we’ve also had some fun years at home. This, of course, was an “at home” year.

Both kids were adamant about staying up…Hayden said he was going to stay up until 3! I could barely commit to midnight, but glad that I did.

We got carry out from a local favorite: OBC Kitchen. I set the table using wrapping paper as a runner, used our winter dishes for place settings, and gathered a few decorations from around the house for the centerpiece.

The kids love cranberry Ginger ale while Travis and I had adult beverages. We had bacon and peanut butter for an appetizer, and then had dinner of salmon, steak, gnocchi, bread and salad. So good.

Hadley was ready to party!

After dinner, the kids did their own thing for a while, and then we played Emoji Uno for almost two hours. At one point I couldn’t find Homer, but found him in our bed. Apparently, he wasn’t going to stay up until midnight!

Around 11:30, we turned on the countdown, poured the Ginger ale and champs and celebrated with the countdown. We were in bed by about 12:30. I think Hayden watched TV until about 1:30. We figured with it being NYE and break almost over, we’d let him stay up. Both kids have been sleeping so late…but they slept until almost 11 on Friday and Saturday!

As I mentioned in Friday’s post, 2020 had highs and lows, but I’m still thankful for this most random year and certainly continue to count my blessings.

2021 Goals:

I’m going to start with these goals:

and focus on…

  • Allowing for “me” time: This has always been of importance to me which is why I’ve always started my day solo with my cup of coffee, favorite blogs, and scrolling social media. With having the kids home most of the time since March, “me time” has been hard to find. I still get up before them, of course, but it’s still difficult to take some time for myself. I hope to carve out a little bit of time in the evening too.
  • Drinking more water: This is usually an easy goal for me in the summer, but I need to drink more daily all year long. While being home so much, I’ve been drinking more coffee than I should, so I need to cut that off at a certain time and drink water the rest of the day.
  • Eating whole food nutrition: For January, I plan on eating healthy but also limiting fried foods and sugar. I don’t eat tons of fried food, but even on Fridays I usually pick up Chick-fil-A for the kids and indulge myself. I do have a sweet tooth and zero willpower, so I’m going to try to cut out sweets as well…except for some birthday cookie cake mid-January for my birthday.
  • Working out: While I’ve never been one to bounce right out of bed to workout, I do enjoy working out. I feel better physically, mentally and emotionally when that’s a part of my regular routine. I’ve shared a bit before, but I struggled with endometriosis prior to my October hysterectomy which really affected my being able to work out for the past couple of years. I didn’t make excuses and tried to continue to work out, but I still could never give it 100% and couldn’t work out daily. For the past month, I’ve eased back into working out, and will now continue to kick it up a notch and do so almost daily.
  • Keep reading: I love to read and have made it a part of my daily life. I usually average around 40 books per year, and I hope to read that many or more in 2021. Also, I think last year was the first year I started using Goodreads, and I hope to get more organized with my book lists on there this year!
  • Blogging: I love that I’ve been able to blog a bit more this year. I was blogging three days a week, and then was able to write 4-5 posts a week in the past six months. I think four posts a week for me is usually manageable, so I hope to continue doing that. I’d like to branch out and join some other link ups. I’d love to know of link ups you read or join, so let me know, and I can add them to my list!

and then there’s this:

I want to work on owning my time, setting boundaries, and not be so critical of myself. As far as crying and showing emotions…I’ve always been ok with that…but sometimes I let things build up (due to lack of time to deal with it) rather than process what I’m feeling in the moment. I’m reflective enough to know I’m forever a work in progress over here! 😆

What goals do you have for 2021? I’m so hopeful it will be a great year!

Have a great week (and a great year!)

Posted in Holidays

Christmas Recap

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! There’s nothing better than a Monday while still on break! I love that feeling; I only wish these Christmas decorations would put themselves away!

Anyway, to wrap up all the holiday posts over the past couple of months, I’m sharing how we spent Christmas Eve and day.

Our elf, Red, of course stuck around until the 25th. We found him hanging out after getting into our wrapping supplies!

Then, he brought the kids some reindeer food to sprinkle in the yard on the 24th.

Lastly, he was in the tree to watch us open gifts on Christmas morning. Santa left the kids some cookies to find Christmas morning. Hayden said, “I bet Mrs. Claus made these!”

We had a nice dinner on Christmas Eve after watching Christmas Eve service from home.

Hadley helped me set the table on Thursday afternoon.

My grandma gave me these Christmas dishes a few years ago, and then I always add candles and a few decorations from around the house for the centerpiece. This year, I added trees and red and green candles to the kitchen table tray.

For dinner, I made lasagna and we had salad and rolls as well.

For dessert, I made a chocolate peppermint bundt cake which is what I’ve made the past few years using Shay’s recipe. It’s sooo good.

Before dinner, we snapped a few family photos. I asked the kids to get dressed for online church and dinner. Also, Hadley is pretty distinguished using the camera timer on my phone, so she set it up, and we just kept smiling!

Selfie with my fave…

After Christmas Eve dinner, the kids sprinkled the reindeer food on the SNOWY! front lawn before exchanging their gifts to each other. Usually, we take an evening and all go out, with Travis taking one kid, and I take the other to choose gifts. Then, we typically meet up for dinner (last year, we did Sunday brunch) as a tradition. This year, I just took each kid out one afternoon to choose gifts for each other.

It’s always fun to see what they pick for each other.

We played Uno before setting out the milk, cookies, and carrots for Santa (and his reindeer) before bedtime.

Hadley woke up twice in the middle of the night to tell me she couldn’t sleep. I’m sure she was excited for Christmas morning, but I bet she could have tried to wake her dad up at least one of those times 😉Anyway, I was shocked to take up at 7:30, and I couldn’t believe the kids weren’t up yet. Through the years, they typically get up around 7:00. I got out of bed and was just about to pour a cup of coffee when Hadley got up and then woke up Hayden and Trav.

After opening gifts and stockings…

Trav’s gift tags to me always make me laugh.

the kids got a pic with Homer who was pretty well-behaved on Christmas morning!

Then, we went outside to check out the snow! It had started snowing Christmas Eve afternoon, and we got even more overnight…probably only a couple of inches but there was some ice as well. The snow was so pretty!

Then, I made a very simple breakfast. I made the muffins from a mix the day before. I picked up some mini quiches from Kroger and while they baked, I fried up some bacon and cut up some strawberries.

Then, Travis and I had a mimosa (or two) and watched Ozark while the kids played video games.

We spent the rest of the day being pretty lazy and calling loved ones to wish them a Merry Christmas.

The kids played in the snow for a bit with the neighborhood friends.

Mid-afternoon, we snacked on a couple apps and took turns taking naps. We had leftover lasagna for dinner and watched A Christmas Story as a family before 10:00 bedtime for everyone!

While it was a different Christmas for sure, we still enjoyed the day and the slower pace this year. That being said, I saw this on Instagram, and can certainly relate and thought of family and friends many times throughout the day.

Well, I guess we’ll enjoy these Christmas decorations for a bit longer because I’m too tired to take them down just yet!

What did Christmas look like for you this year? I hope it was a good day for you.

Have a great week!

Posted in Holidays

Merry Christmas!

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Today, I’m keeping my thoughts (pretty) short, sweet and filled with gratitude. 2020 has been quite a year. It’s been a time for reflection, a time for tears, a time of worry, a time for prayers, a time of generosity, a time of unity, and a time of hope.

Even in the dark times of this year, the spirit of Christmas could be seen and felt through the generosity of others, through the sense of community, and through the unwavering hope for better days ahead.

When I started this blog a year and a half ago, I had no clue what to expect. I’ve “met” new friends, found comfort in writing, and become a part of a community I’d only known from the outside looking in.

Thank you for reading my posts, sharing your thoughts, and supporting me on this blogging journey.

Since I can’t send a card to everyone (geez, I barely got my cards out to anyone this year!), I’d like to share our Christmas card in a very 2020 way…virtually!

Happy Holidays:

Other favorite photos from our Christmas card shoot:

Beautiful weather right after Thanksgiving provided for the perfect day to bribe my kids with ice cream for nice clothes and smiles…

Homer was in the on the action!

Henry Clay Estate

Awe…these kids of mine are getting so big!

A few more faves…

Homer wishes you a Merry Christmas too!

While I know it’s been a difficult year for most, and Christmas may not look the same as in years past, I’m hopeful for more lighter days than dark ahead in 2021!

Truly, thank you for being a part of this community.

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Posted in Holidays, Life Lately

Life Lately and Elf Antics

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hey!…or should I say, “Ho, ho, ho?! because we’ve been having lots of festive fun over here. This post is basically a “Weekend Wrap Up,” but I’m going with “Life Lately: Holiday Fun Edition” as well as a glimpse of what our elf has been up to lately.

Friday:

Friday at 2:45 kicked off Winter Break for us, so I decided to plan a fun outside Christmas activity. In Millersburg, not too far from here, is a place called Mustard Seed Hill. I’ve seen people post about the lights and displays at this historic home, so I thought we’d check it out. The tickets were free, but we had to purchase tickets online beforehand to enter. I did so early in the week, and the whole weekend did end up being sold out by Friday. I appreciate that they were limited numbers due to Covid, and the security officer was turning people away who didn’t have proof of ticket.

We parked on the street, and Mustard Seed Hill was easy to find!

so pretty!

I did pay $5 per person in advance to see the gingerbread house display. We had a time frame of 6-7 to look at the houses. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and these displays were from a competition. I thought maybe there would be houses created by professionals, but instead there were displays of categories (teen, family , businesses, etc). That being said, there were so really cool houses on display! Considering the ones we do at home usually end up imploding, I was amazed at these creations.

We did end up going in the house. Again, I wasn’t sure what we were in line to see, but there was a really sweet greeter at the door who let only a few people in and out and shared the history of the home. Once we were inside, we just toured the main level, and then stopped to listen to another volunteer who shared more history about the family. Hayden loves this kind of stuff!

On the back porch of the home…

There was a little line to see this huge ornament, and it was the perfect spot for people to take photos….so, of course that’s what we did.

Hadley really wanted to have her photo taken in the glowing carriage!

Then, we stopped by the outdoor market for a treat. Everyone got hot chocolate, and both kids got a cookie. Mid-bite, I saw Hayden laughing, and asked him what was so funny. Travis had asked Hayden what he got to eat…Travis heard, “Big a$$ cookie,” when Hayden said, “Big iced cookie.” His mask must have muffled his response! 😂

Then, we headed home. We were probably there a little over an hour. The property was beautiful, and apparently this is only the second year they’ve put on this display. While it may not be a yearly tradition, I’m glad that we checked it out!

We got home a little after 8:00, got carry out for dinner, and I started break off with a glass of wine in festive cups I got from @cupsoncochran.

Saturday:

We had a low key Saturday morning, and then Hadley and some friends volunteered at dance for the Christmas Tea Party for the younger dancers. She had a lot of fun.

After that, Hadley and I stopped by our friend’s house who was hosting an outdoor hot chocolate bar for her daughters and friends. It was nice to see some friends, enjoy the hot chocolate, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

My friend had so many toppings and different flavors of whipped cream. We also brought a gift to take a gift, and girls always love to do those kinds of things. Hadley came home with some pretty bracelets.

We were there for about an hour and everyone wore their masks which actually came in handy in the cold weather!

Saturday night Travis and I watched Safety with Hayden. It was a really inspiring movie, and fun to watch.

Sunday:

On Sunday, we baked cookies…lots of cookies!

Hayden said he wanted to help with the peanut butter blossoms, and Hadley helped me with the rest of the cookies.

We made sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, chocolate crinkle cookies (my fave) and peppermint chocolate chip cookies which came from a Trader Joe’s mix.

I know we can have sugar cookies anytime during the year, but we usually make them at Christmas because we have fun decorating them…even Travis!

Finished products!

For dinner Sunday night, I made Amy’s potato soup. It was so delish!

We wrapped up the weekend by watching my favorite Christmas movie…Home Alone.

Elf Antics:

Going along with festive fun and holiday traditions…Red has been very busy while visiting from the North Pole.

He’s made a gingerbread house…

taken a marshmallow bath with a couple of friends, gotten stuck, and hidden 12 candy canes.

He also made (burnt) toast for breakfast one morning…

wore festive socks and put Santa hats on the kids’ heads in my favorite Santa photo.

He even got Santa to take a photo with them (and Homer!)

Speaking of Homer, he got a hold of Red. Red was still struggling from being #homered last year, but this time was even worse.

Y’all, Red is most definitely the 2020 version of an elf. It may be time for him to stay at the North Pole.

The kids were so upset with Homer…and I was too.

hot glue and Bandaids have him somewhat fixed…for now.

Red also brought cocoa bombs and kisses.

as well as some Pez candy. Then, per tradition, he took a selfie on the mantle and put it in one of our favorite frames .

I can’t believe Christmas is only a few days away. I feel like we’ve had to embrace this season more than ever with some traditions and fun to help make this year have some sense of normalcy.

I hope your week is off to a great start.

Take care,

Posted in Holidays, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk: Holiday Edition

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

It’s Tuesday Talk day with Ashley and Erika. For this linkup, we can chat about any topic we’d like to focus on for the post! I’m linking up with them again this month to focus on a little this or that and favorites for the holiday!

So here we go…

I’ve seen so many this or that posts shared in Insta Stories, so I thought I’d snag one and share my thoughts.

template c/0 @brewedtea4you
  • Christmas music or Christmas movies: I love Christmas songs while driving in the car, but I’d say I prefer Christmas movies during the holidays.
  • Store bought gifts or handmade gifts: Well, I love to buy gifts for others especially with the help of Amazon and Etsy. That being said, I love nothing more than receiving a handmade gift…especially from my kids!
  • Egg nog or spiced cider: Egg nog all the way. When the kids were little, my dad started calling it “Christmas milk,” so that’s what they still call it. Hayden tends to hog the egg nog at our house!
  • Gingerbread or sugar cookies: Gingerbread cookies for sure. I feel like we can have sugar cookies anytime!
  • Real tree or fake tree: We used to always have a fake tree, but I’ve come to love the tradition of getting a real tree. I love how the scent of the tree fills our home for a few days…even though sometimes it sends my allergies into overdrive!
  • It’s a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story: Christmas Story for sure. We always watch it on Christmas Day.
  • Elves or Snowmen: Snowmen are so cute!
  • White lights or colored lights: I like the glow and simplicity of white lights.

A few of my….

Favorites:

  • Favorite Christmas movie: Home Alone or A Christmas Story
  • Favorite holiday scented candle: Bath & Body Works: Winter
  • Favorite Christmas tradition: As a kid: driving through the Plaza lights in Kansas City with a stop at Winstead’s for a burger and a shake. As a parent: My kids wearing their Christmas pjs and then exchanging gifts that they picked out for each other on Christmas Eve.
  • Favorite Christmas song: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Let it Snow
  • Favorite Christmas ornament: An ornament we received for our first Christmas in 2005 after we got married and the kids’ first Christmas (2009) under the tree. We purchased one of these ornaments for all of our family members.

So, there’s a little peek at some of favorites in regards to Christmas. How do we only have ten days left until the big day?! Thankfully, I’m finished with shopping except for a gift card and a stocking stuffer or two! What are some of your favorites about Christmastime?

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

Posted in Holidays, Not Just a Mom

Not Just a Mom: Special Holiday Traditions

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Compared to last weekend, we had a relatively low-key couple of days. The kids had a cross country meet on Saturday, but Sunday I pretty much stayed in my pajamas all day. Travis was kind enough to pick up our grocery order while I did things around the house…including purging the kids’ closets! We only do this a couple times a year, but I dread it so much! I’m glad to have that checked off my list.

We are counting down this five day week and ready for a couple weeks off! Breaks is right around the corner.

Today, I’m linking up with Lauren (and others!) for their Not Just a Mom series.

This month’s topic is Special Holiday Traditions.

I grew up with some holiday traditions like seeing the Plaza lights in KC, ice skating at Crown Center, picking out an ornament at Hallmark, baking cookies, seeing Christmas lights, and more!

So, needless to say, I have now made quite a few traditions for my kids to celebrate the holiday.

Here are some of our family traditions:

Santa:

We take the kids to see Santa every year. When they were little, we didn’t take them. Once they were two to five years old or so, they’d see Santa at my school Christmas party or Trav’s work party.

Then, in 2016, we started getting a real tree, and see the perfect Santa while doing so. Our club also hosts a Cookies with Santa party, so we attend that most years. Lastly, one of our friends has hosted a Santa at her house every other year, so the kids have had plenty of opportunities to share with Santa what they hope to receive for Christmas.

2020 Santa Visit:

Santa visits through the years…

Elf on the Shelf:

Our elf, Red, has visited us since 2012. I’m not sure how many more years he will visit, but he’s always fun to have around.

Bake Cookies:

We always receive lots of cookies from my mom. When those are gone, we bake some cookies to get use through the second half of December 😉

This year, my mom visited, and had quite the crew to help with our traditional family cookies.

Cooking baking through the years…

I will say my kids are at a great age (and have been for a couple years) where they are big help in the baking process.

Southern Lights:

I grew up going to the Plaza lights as well as driving through park lights, so Travis and I have continued that tradition through the years. Even when we were dating, we drove through lights in KC or Columbia. Once I moved to Kentucky, we started going through the Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park.

We’ve realized through the years to go on a Monday or Tuesday night early in the season when it’s less crowded. Also, they have indoor activities, but my kids still have no clue about the inside activities. haha

Angel Tree:

We always choose a family from the Angel Tree to buy gifts for in early December. This used to be something I would just do, but the past few years, I’ve found it to be important to take the kids along with us to choose the gifts. I feel like my kids are pretty aware of others’ needs, but having them participate in the act of buying for those in need is something that I obviously hope they remember all year long and not just around the holidays.

PJs and Gifts:

I always give the kids Christmas pajamas as one of their birthday gifts in November. When they kids were probably three, we started taking them to pick out a gift for each other. I remember when they were little, we’d barely make it to the car before they’d tell each other what they picked out. haha

We usually let them open it on Christmas Eve before going to bed. It’s always fun to see what they pick out for each other. They know each other pretty well. 😉

Gingerbread House:

One of our traditions has been decorating gingerbread houses. Some years, the elf brings one and other years I will get one for them to decorate. The elf usually hot glues the house together for them to find in the morning and then we’ll decorate it in the evening.

The past couple years, they’ve each had a house to decorate, and it’s a fun activity…as long as the house doesn’t collapse!

Decorating through the years…

The kids decorated their houses on Saturday night. Again, it’s fun to be a part of that process, but it’s nice they are old enough to decorate on their own. Unfortunately, Hayden’s house imploded and then one of the walls fell on the floor and broke. So, he just decorated the roof while eating bites of gingerbread as Hadley finished up her house.

Hayden ended up decorating the gingerbread man and tree that came with one of the kids.

When I took the pic of Hayden’s roof, he made this face (bottom right) to demonstrate how he felt about the house collapsing!

For once, we couldn’t blame Homer for the destruction, but he sure was tempted by the icing and the treats!

So those are some of our special holiday traditions. While the holidays are such a hectic time, I’m glad we have these traditions, so that we can spend time together as a family even during the busyness of the season.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions??

2021 link up:

I’m excited to join the Not Just a Mom link up starting in January 2021! I joked with the ladies that I felt like I was invited to the cool kids’ table at lunch! haha. I’ve very excited to join this link up. If you are a blogger, make sure you join us on the second Monday of the month too!

Here are the 2021 topics:

That’s a wrap on our special holiday traditions! I know this holiday season looks different for everyone, and while, at times, that makes be feel anxious and even sometimes sad, I’m trying to focus on the things I can control like some of these traditions. Christmas cookies help ease the anxiety as well!

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

Thanks so much for reading,

Posted in Friday Favorites, Holidays, Home Decor

Friday Favorites {#48}: Holiday Home Tour

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hey, hey! We made it to Friday. We’ve had a pretty good week around here, and we are counting down the days until Winter Break! It’s right around the corner, so we’ll just keep chugging right along until break arrives.

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

One of my favorite things to do for the holidays is decorate. Even before my blog, I would always take photos of where I put decorations to make the process as easy as possible. The weekend after Thanksgiving is when I do most of my decorating, and it’s typically a one (wo)man job…until I can’t carry something or need Travis to hang the garland. 😉

I saw this meme recently, and, of course, it fits today’s blog topic.

While 90% of my decorations have been used through the years, I do move things around and often can’t help myself from buying a new item or two along the way. #michaelsiswhereitsat

Here’s a little tour around our home:

Kitchen:

My kitchen buffet stayed pretty much the same, but I added fresh garland to the top for about a week.

I figured it wouldn’t last long with Homer. He did pull it down a couple of times, but thankfully, he didn’t destroy it.

I love the Christmas dishes that I display this time of the year.

In the cabinet near the buffet, I added in some trees I’ve collected over the years and a cinnamon scented candle. I actually made the burlap trees a few years ago.

Our fire place and mantle remain the same, but I did buy new garland. What I’ve had for the past few years is extra bulky, and I just wanted a more seamless look. Hadley pointed out that the red and the green of the garland match our stockings perfectly. My previous garland was pre-lit, but I had to add lights to this new garland.

I used some extra greenery on our table centerpiece.

I definitely do the love traditional red and green Christmas decor.

This view is definitely a favorite.

One of my friends painted this pallet a few years ago, and it’s one of my favorite holiday pieces.

Office Area:

In the first few years in this house, we never really knew where to put the tree. Once we made this space the office rather than the dining room, the tree fit perfectly in here. I like that you can see the glow of the tree lights from the kitchen and the living room as well as from the street when the shutters are open.

I always put out the picture of the kids under the tree for their first Christmas. They were a month old (and a few days) old on Christmas 2009.

Front Hall:

I kept the front hall the same as years past with the light up tree, Christmas card holder, snowman tea light, and Merry and Bright sign.

I love Bath and Body Works and always have a few candles to burn like the peppermint one on this entry table.

Living Room:

The tall Santa was a Home Goods find a few years ago. I kept it simple on the coffee table with the flocked tree and candle. The light up present provides the perfect glow in the morning and night. I added a lantern and Merry Christmas canvas to my regular decor on my antique chest.

I always keep my cream pillows out and add seasonal pillows for fall and Christmas.

Outside:

This is the first year we’ve put garland out front. I’ve mentioned previously that I was on the hunt for some artificial garland, but never really found any I liked. Then, I saw the real garland at Trader Joe’s and thought I’d give it a try. Travis was kind enough to hang it for me. Now, I have no clue how long it will last, but after a week, it still is looking good. I’ve sprayed it with water a few times. I have no clue if that’s what I’m supposed to do, but that’s what I’ve been doing!

I’ve had the lanterns and poinsettias for years. My cute stocking door hanger was painted by a local Lexington small business. It’s perfectly festive and, again, I love the traditional red and green.

The Rudolph pillow covers are from Etsy, and I’ve had them for years. The trees in the planters light up, and the Merry Christmas garden flag is the final touch outside.

When the garland on the kitchen buffet was starting to look tired, I sprayed it with water and then put little pieces of it in the outside planters.

Sun room:

I’ve shared this room already as it was the first room I decorated for the season. Until this past spring (#thanksquarantine), we didn’t really use the sun room that often. This year, I thought I’d go ahead and decorate it since we are out here so much now. The pillow covers are new (from Amazon) and the basket wreath is a new find from TJ Maxx this year. We’ve had the tree for years as it’s the one we used for a few years before starting to get a real tree for the living room/office area.

I added a few little trees to the tray that’s always on this table, and I burn the Bath and Body Works Winter scented candle when hanging out in the sun room.

A few other faves:

Dinners this week:

It’s no secret that I use Shay’s cookbooks (especially Simmers) quite frequently for meal ideas. Well, last week, she posted about 24 Crazy Easy December Dinners, and I used it as my guide for meals this week. This week, we’ve eaten: Chicken Tortilla Soup, Beefy Mushroom Pasta, Cheesy Ranch Tacos, and King Ranch Joes. (I don’t think KRJ were listed in that post, but here’s the recipe.) This one post was a life saver for me. We eat the soup and KRJs pretty often, but the pasta and tacos were new recipes for me to make. We all loved them.

The Outsiders

A neighbor had a few books in her garage to give away. One of the books I brought home was The Outsiders which piqued Hayden’s interest. He started reading it Monday night at bedtime and then was telling me all about it Tuesday evening. I stopped him, mid-summary, because I was shocked he’d already read the entire book. Hadley then said that he was reading some during the day while listening to his teacher on Zoom. Anyway, he loved the book so much. With his summary of the stabbing and teenagers smoking and drinking, I was reminded why this is a classic middle school book! haha

He deemed this the second best book he’s ever read. Hatchet was recommended by my mom and still his fave.

I hope he always loves reading as much as he does now.

Then, Wednesday night, he begged us to watch the movie. Travis and I watched it with him. He really liked it, but said the book was better. A friend of mine shared a @historic_imagery post with me on Instagram. I never knew that Francis Ford Coppola hadn’t planned on making the movie but then did so after receiving a letter from a librarian as well as over 100 of her seventh and eighth graders in Fresno, CA. They also share that fact in the credits of the movie.

Southern Lights:

Our Southern Lights Horse Park tradition continued this week. We drove through the park on Tuesday night, and loved seeing the upgraded and updated displays. They had the usual displays, but had also added other lights and features. Also, Santa was sitting outside the North Pole waving at the cars. Usually, Santa is inside the pavilion.

Classic Kentucky lights with the horses, Wildcat basketball player, and Keeneland.

Winter Drive-Thru:

The kids’ school had a Winter Drive Thru this week where they handed out fun packs and free books (as well as supplies for the beginning of second semester).

There was a line around the school, and it was so wonderful to see the teachers outside, waving, and so excited to see their students. Teachers and staff were dressed as Elsa, Rudolph, elves, and Santa! To see the hustle and bustle at school as well as the staff and teachers literally brought tears to my eyes. I hope my kids are able to go back to school sooner rather than later.

Books, games and hot chocolate!

Trader Joe’s Snack Mix

It’s the time of the year for Trader Joe’s to have my favorite snack mix. I found out the hard way a couple years ago when I was looking for it in January that it’s seasonal.

Some people are hoarding toilet paper again, and I left TJ with six cans of this mix! Delish!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Y’all, I feel this deeply.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

Facebook memories from 2017 provided this gem. I love this picture from Trav’s work holiday party. It didn’t really dawn on me until seeing this that we are missing out on some fun during this season. There’s always the work party, a neighborhood party as well as a party with some of our friends. Hopefully, those traditions will be back in 2021. Sometimes I do miss the normal chaos that the holidays bring.

And for fun….here’s a 1980’s flashback for you…it’s a classic!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts for this week! We sure have been busy!

Weekend Top 5
Let’s Look: Christmas Cards
Elf: part 1

Make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts, and I hope everyone has a great weekend!