Category: Let's look

Posted in Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

First of all, July needs to slow its roll! How is it already the second Wednesday in July?!

I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for this month’s Let’s Look.

So far this year we’ve looked at…

  • Things we outsource without regret in January…
  • Ways we’ve turned into our parents in February (I missed out on the February post, but I’m sure I’ve turned into them in the best possible ways.)
  • Favorite family vacations in March
  • Hardest thing we’ve ever done in April (I didn’t have a post, but I’d say the hardest (but most rewarding) thing I’ve ever done is raise these kids of mine!
  • Making couple friends in May
  • What I’m making more time for in June (I missed this post, but in June I was probably making more time for getting my life together after the end of the school year…and rest!)

This month we’re looking at….our “summer selves” (how is it different?)

Well, “Summer Jen” isn’t too different than “Year Round Jen,” but being a teacher and having summers off does lend itself to me having some downtime which means life looks a little different.

1. No Alarms

The best thing about summer is not having to set an alarm. It’s not that I sleep in too late, but obviously it’s nice to not have to set an alarm at 5:50 AM. Most mornings, I’m up by 8:00. I’ve started most mornings by reading my Kindle rather than scrolling my phone.

During the school year, even on weekends, when I wake up, I get out of bed. This summer, I’ve made a point to lie in bed for a bit and read to start my day which has been so nice. There have even been a few mornings I’ve even fallen back to sleep.

While I don’t set 5:50 alarms right now, most mornings I have some kind of alarm set at 9:30 or 10 to wake the kids as one of them tends to have a scheduled workout most days a week.

2. Slow Mornings, Later Nights

As I’ve mentioned in the past, during the school year, I always get up before everyone else to have my quiet time before the day begins. One thing I love about summer is having slow mornings. I do try and have a plan for my day, but most mornings, I don’t have much planned until 10:00 or so. It’s nice to have time to sip my coffee, have a good breakfast, read, watch the Today Show and start chores around the house like the laundry.

In the summer, I don’t stay up too late. During the school year, I try to go to bed by 10 and asleep by 10:30. In the summer, I tend to stay up until 11…although it depends on the day! Travis and I usually watch a show or two at night, and then he reminds me he has to go to bed because he has to work the next day. Imagine having to worry about work the next day. haha!

Right now, we’ve been watching Lincoln Lawyer and Night Agent. It’s nice that we have a couple of shows that we watch together.

I also love a summer afternoon nap when I can. Is there anything better?!

3. To Do Lists

Well, you know I have a “to do” list year round, but I do tend to have a list of things to accomplish in the summer when I know I have more time to do so.

For example, this summer, I wanted to create my Amazon Storefront, and I did get that accomplished.

Screenshot

I also always take the time to clean out my closet and dresser as well as the hall and bathroom closets in the summer. I did that all last week, and it’s amazing how opening the door to a tidy closet has improved my mood. haha!

I also take the time to schedule appointments, clean up my Google drive, and even prep a bit for the upcoming school year.

Usually in the summer, we take the time to make a list of a few things we want to purchase or update in the house and try and prioritize those. This summer, we wanted to finally get new stools/chairs for our island, a new rug for under the kitchen table, paint my bathroom, and a few other odds and ends. In the past couple of weeks, we made progress on all of those things!

I almost bought a new rug over the weekend on Wayfair because they were having a 4th of July sale, but then I remembered that I’d saved this Walmart rug when someone shared it, and they had one in stock at one of our local Walmarts. Trav and I went and picked it up on Sunday, and we just put it down last night.

The rug we had under the table previously was one that Kristy Wicks shared, and it was from Home Depot. It was an indoor/outdoor rug, and I loved it. We had it for probably seven years, and just in the past few months it acquired a few stains (thanks to Homer) that we couldn’t get out). This “My Texas House” rug is a 10/10. It’s also indoor/outdoor, but the pattern is raised up and so soft.

The only thing missing is I’m still looking for a new rug for the living room. Honestly, this could also probably work in my living room. I’m so pleased with this purchase.

4. Pool Time

Of course with summer time comes pool time…and I always joke that I’m happier when I’m tan! I’ve had quite a few pool days this summer thanks to our pool and my sister-in-law’s mom’s pool.

When the kids were little, we used to spend hours at the pool.

One thing I do love now is I can kind of just come and go as I please. Sometimes I go to the pool for an hour and other days for longer. Of course, some days I stay home and am productive. haha

5. More TV Time

While I do have more time to read in the summer, I tend to also watch a lot (not too much!) of TV. It’s just a good time to get caught up on shows and watch some movies. This summer, I’ve gotten caught up on The Rookie, Abbott Elementary and a few other shows. I’ve also watched both seasons of Four Seasons, finished Love Story, watched two seasons of Lincoln Lawyer (with Trav), and I’m almost finished with season three of The Diplomat.

Soon, I want to watch The People You Meet on Vacation since I’ve finished the book. I also want to watch The Woman in Cabin 10 since I read that book years ago. I’m excited for The Five Star Weekend that will be out soon on Peacock…I loved that book.

6. Meal plan/grocery

Of course, my people still need to eat! But…I am more relaxed with meal planning and grocery shopping in the summer. I’m realizing that every week is different in regards to dinner because I never really know what the kids have going on. So, I just plan a couple meals knowing I can always go back to store if needed. During the school year, I feel like I have to maximize every minute of the weekend and have a solid plan. In the summer, I have more time to figure things out.

Also, Trav grills out a lot in the summer, so that means I don’t have to cook as much. I also love that seasonal fruit really counts as a side dish in the summer. There’s nothing better than some good watermelon on my plate!

I eat most lunches at home, and I usually eat leftovers or a “snack plate.”

The kids, on the other hand…are you even 16 if you don’t eat Chipolte or Chick-fil-A five times a week?! If that’s how they want to spend their money, that’s on them! I’m content with my snack plate!

7. Air dry & Minimal Makeup

In the summer, I rarely wear makeup unless we’re going out somewhere. I also rarely blow dry my hair. Not that I wear that much makeup during the school year, but in the summer, I usually wear mascara and maybe lip glass if I can find it. Usually, my hair is pulled back in a low bun or up in a claw clip and I like to wear hats in the summer, so that always gets me an extra day or two between hair washings.

This summer…

To be honest, this summer has been a bit different. I have found that I’ve had a bit more time on my hands, and I realized that it’s because I’m not driving the kids everywhere. They do that themselves. That being said, they still share a car, so sometimes, if they both have somewhere to be, sometimes I’m left without a car. I take that opportunity to do a work out, read, to be productive at home. The kids are still busy, and I still have things they need me for, but it’s just been different…and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

I hope you have a great day!

Posted in Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

May is just (thankfully!) chugging right along. It’s the second Wednesday of the month, so I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look.

So far this year we’ve looked at…

  • Things we outsource without regret in January…
  • Ways we’ve turned into our parents in February (I missed out on the February post, but I’m sure I’ve turned into them in the best possible ways.)
  • Favorite family vacations in March
  • Hardest thing we’ve ever done in April (I didn’t have a post, but I’d say the hardest (but most rewarding) thing I’ve ever done is raise these kids of mine!

This month we’re looking at…making couple friends.

Isn’t there a saying that friends are for a season, a reason, or a lifetime? I remember hearing that and thinking “that’s sad but true.” I guess you would just think that all friendships last forever?! But, as an adult, I do see where that saying holds true. That being said, making couple friends can be tricky, but we’ve been so blessed to have so many couples who we hang with whether it’s long time friends, new friends, neighbors, kids’ friends’ parents and even work friends.

First of all, we’re truly blessed with awesome neighbors. Truly, we see each other out for a walk, go out to dinner, help when needed and more. That being said, we are in kind of a busy season of life when we’re all pulled in different directions, but it’s comforting to know so many good people are literally a stone’s throw away if we need anything.

When I moved to Kentucky, I knew no one besides Travis! Thankfully, Travis had a whole crew who he was friends with from college. Many of them were engaged or married when I moved here, and the girls took me right under their wing. So, it was so easy to hang as couples. Most of them have kids just two to three years older than my kids, but it’s crazy to think they had some of the first babies I held or bought gifts for, and now their kids are in college.

Anyway, there’s a whole slew of couples that are all friends thanks to Trav’s college days, and I’m really grateful for them.

I’m also a lucky girl because my kids have awesome friends who have awesome parents. I’ve carpooled, had game nights, gone for walks, gone on vacations, laughed, cried, vented and more with these ladies, and they truly are a blessing in my life. I also feel blessed that we all live near each other thanks to meeting them during the elementary days for my kids.

It’s cliche, but it’s true that we have seen less of each other now that the kids are all driving themselves around. That being said, the group texts continue, and I know with summer we’ll reconnect more. They truly are just a phone call away which they’ve proved to me time and time again.

And, I know this post was about “making couple friends,” and it’s so great that the husbands get along just as well as the wives do!

I hope from the bottom of my heart that this crew falls in the “lifetime” friendship category!

Posted in Let's look, This and That

Let’s Look and Hodgepodge

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday. How’s the week treating you? I think the busy weekend we had has me “surviving” not “thriving.” It’s already midweek, so we’ll just keep moving right along.

Today is a double dose of blog posts!

I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look, but that post for me is short and sweet…

…so I’m also linking up with Joyce for her Wednesday Hodgepodge.

Starting with Let’s Look…so far this year, we’ve looked at…

  • Things we outsource without regret in January…
  • Ways we’ve turned into our parents in February (I missed out on the February post, but I’m sure I’ve turned into them in the best possible ways.)

This month, we’re looking at…favorite family vacations.

In July, one of our Share Our Lives posts was about best vacation memory. Well, I couldn’t choose just one memory, so I recapped quite a few vacations there.

One thing I’m grateful for is our fall break tradition of going to the 30A area of Florida with friends. We’ve gone the past four years and have made countless memories as a family of four but also with friends who feel like family.

Moving on to Wednesday Hodgepodge…

Here are my answers to her prompts this week:

1. Are you a naturally trusting person? Is trust built on logic or ‘gut instinct?’ Does everyone deserve a second chance?

I think I am, but I also think I’m a pretty good judge of character when trusting people.

Trust is built on a little bit of both of logic and ‘gut instinct.’ I guess the more you’re around people, the easier it is to “read” who you can trust or not. I try to find the good in people and not be jaded.

As far as deserving a second chance…depending on the situation yes, I’d say most people would deserve a second chance. Of course there’s the saying, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” and “Don’t let someone show you twice who they really are.”

2. ‘Beware the Ides of March’…March 15 is on the ancient Roman calendar, these words were made famous by William Shakespeare in his play Julius Caesar. Caesar was assassinated on March 15th 44 B.C. Have you read any Shakespeare? If so, do you have a favorite? Have you ever been to Rome?

Listen, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried to read Shakespeare with one hundred freshmen! Thankfully, they go into Romeo and Juliet with some foundational knowledge. We’re actually reading RJ right now…and Romeo and Juliet just got married…which always as my freshmen shaking their heads.

Reading Shakespeare is tough, so I try to mix it up for them. We read the graphic novel version (online) for Acts 1 and 2. Then, we read the full text for Act 3 with comprehension questions. I usually read the “bridge” text (shorter version) for Acts 4 and 5. With my Advanced classes, we read the full text and students even volunteer to read parts. I always sprinkle in activities to check understanding and take a deeper look into certain vocab words. One of my fellow teachers shared the Broadway play (via You Tube) with Orlando Bloom as Romeo, so we watch a little bit after each act.

When I was sixteen, I went on a two week trip to Europe with school. We went to Italy, but we didn’t go to Rome.

3. Do you like a Caesar salad? If given the choice between garden/house salad or Caesar which do you order? Anchovies or no? What’s your favorite salad dressing?

I do like Caesar salad, and if it’s on a menu, oftentimes, I will order it. No anchovies…no thanks! Overall, my favorite salad dressing is Ranch.

4. Where do you typically work (or blog if that’s easier) at home? Do you have a dedicated office space? Are you happy with the space?

At home, I typically sit on the couch or at the kitchen table to work. It just depends what I’m working on. If I need to spread out a bit, I will go to the kitchen table. We have a dedicated office space but not a full office. We use what would be our formal dining room partly for office space. It just fits our needs better.

I wrote this post back in 2020 sharing how we updated the living room and dining (office) space. The space serves our needs. Since we all have laptops, we can all kind of work wherever we choose, but it’s nice having the cabinet for storage (school supplies, envelopes, chargers, etc) and the bigger desk if we ever need more space.

5. Snow drops, daffodils, lenten roses, crocus, hyacinth, or early tulips…what’s your favorite Spring flowers?

Tulips from Trader Joe’s…

I think I buy flowers the most in the spring. I guess I’m ready to sprinkle in some color and freshness around the house after winter.

…I know they aren’t listed because they aren’t an early flower, but I love my hydrangea mug that I got last year at a local boutique. I need to bring it out into the coffee mug rotation.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day which means it’s almost corned beef, cabbage and Irish soda bread time. I always host my brother’s family, and I guess time slipped away. I just texted the other day to check on their weekend plans.

Along with random thoughts…I love Irish soda bread and say every year that I wonder why I only make it once a year?!

Have a great Wednesday!

Posted in Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Well, January is chugging right along.

It’s already the second Wednesday of the month, so I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for the first Let’s Look of 2026.

The first topic of the year is …things we outsource without regret.

Groceries:

I immediately thought about how helpful it is that I do grocery pick up and delivery.

The number one thing I outsource is groceries. I’ve done grocery pick up for probably twelve years now, and I can’t even remember what it’s like to be at the store for hours. Of course, it still takes me time to meal plan, make a list, and order, but it’s so nice pulling up and having my order placed in my car. Trav or myself still end up going to Kroger at some point in the week for a few things, so oftentimes, that’s when I pick up produce that I’m picky about or anything we’ve forgotten. I find that now I enjoy shopping a bit more when I do have to go into the store. I also enjoy shopping other stores like Trader Joe’s and Aldi because I don’t really have a list or a plan when I go there.

Also, I’m now going on my second year subscription of Kroger delivery, and it’s been so helpful. I typically use it two to three times a month if I need to have a few things to start the week or make Sunday dinner. Other times, I schedule a mid-week delivery to get us to the weekend.

House cleaning:

Another thing we outsource is having the house cleaned. We have someone clean the house every other week which is such a treat. While it does take some effort to pick up to prep the house to be cleaned, there’s no better feeling than coming home to a clean house.

Yard work:

We used to have someone mow the grass, but now we have Hayden. haha!

Homer:

Trav (& sometimes the rest of us) walk him, but if he needs a bath and a trim, we take him to a groomer.

Teens:

I’m currently outsourcing my teen drivers to run a few errands for me, including Kroger and Target pick ups. Hadley is really good at this, and Hayden has been helpful going to pick up food we’ve ordered for lunch or dinner.

School work…mostly math:

Speaking of teens, we’re thankful to have a few hands on deck to help with math if/when needed. It’s the one subject I literally haven’t been able to help the kids with since 4th grade…& Trav knows when to step away too. Haha

Christmas cards:

One thing I don’t outsource but think of doing every year is when I order Christmas cards, it would be nice if they could be addressed and sent straight from the source. It just seems like an added expense that I don’t feel like paying in the already expensive month of December. If you have any tips/tricks for cutting down on the time it takes to address envelopes, please let me know!

Well, today is my birthday, and I’m off to school to spend it with a hundred teens! haha

I know it will be a great day.

Posted in Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I had to double check the calendar that today is the second Wednesday of the month already. How is that possible? Honestly, we’ve had two days of winter like temps, so I was also checking the calendar to make sure it’s not actually January!

I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for this month’s Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at…

  • Low level goals for 2025 in January
  • How you work on your marriage in February
  • How you reset for the week on Sunday in March
  • Maintaining friendships in April
  • Our wellness routine in May
  • Travel bucket lists in June
  • Things I’ve changed my mind about in July (no post from me)
  • Juggling family schedules in August (no post from me)
  • Managing teenage life in September
  • Things we’ve said no to recently in October (no post from me)

This month’s topic is…how we show gratitude.

Obviously, this is a timely post with Thanksgiving right around the corner.

Honestly, I guess my answer to this prompt is simple…

I show gratitude by saying thank you…whether it’s verbal or written. I’m very quick to send a text or a note when someone has helped me or thought of me. I appreciate when others help me whether I’ve asked for assistance, or they just know I could use a hand. A thoughtful text, note or message goes a long way.

I also show my gratitude with small gifts. Again, if someone has been really helpful, I try to drop off a plant, bouquet of flowers, favorite candy or a candle.

I will bring Starbucks coffee or favorite pens to teachers who help me out at school….whether it’s for covering a class or helping with lesson ideas.

My mom group (the dads get credit too!) have spent many years organizing carpool and getting the kids where they need to be. I show my gratitude by offering to pick up even if I’ve already taken on a certain afternoon if it helps someone else out. It always evens out in the end.

I show gratitude by giving a tip at a restaurant or donating to a cause. A little goes a long way for many.

With Trav and the kids, I show my gratitude by spending time with them. Of course, I would do that anyway, but I just mean that I try and make time for them or plan something special too.

And, I always try to remember to be…

Life definitely has its ups and down, and this time of the year always feels really stressful for me. That being said, I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve done a pretty good job remembering the big picture and being grateful for all things, big and small.

How do you show gratitude?

Posted in Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday! I hope you’ve been having a great week so far.

I missed Let’s Look in July and August, but I’m linking up with Shay and Erika today.

So far this year we’ve looked at…

  • Low level goals for 2025 in January
  • How you work on your marriage in February
  • How you reset for the week on Sunday in March
  • Maintaining friendships in April
  • Our wellness routine in May
  • Travel bucket lists in June
  • Things I’ve changed my mind about in July (no post from me)
  • Juggling family schedules in August (no post from me)

This month we’re looking at…managing teenage life.

Ahh…teen life! It probably goes without saying that most teens are far busier than I was during my teenage years.

Of course, I have two teens at once keeping us busy, so many days feel like a blur!

I’m no expert, and to be honest, the teen years as a parent haven’t been the easiest. I take solace in the fact that I think parenting teens isn’t easy for most.

As far as my kids are concerned, communication tends to be the key element in regards to making sure we’re all straight about weekly schedules and who needs to be where and when. Family group chat is where it’s at. haha

I’ve told them that having a phone is a responsibility, so it’s up to them to have the app to check their grades and communicate with their teachers. In middle school, I would screen shot missing assignment notifications and send it to them if needed. Then, I transitioned to just telling them to check their grades. Now in high school, thankfully, they seem to have a handle on what they need to do.

This summer, Hadley had an app to check for her work schedule, and she would let me know when she had to work.

Also, I’ve had people reach out asking if the kids can do things like babysit or mow their lawn. I’ve replied, but then shared my kids’ contacts with those (trusted) adults and the same with my kids. I’m happy to make the connection, but it’s up to my kids to respond and follow up.

Also, this topic also could include managing teen life in regards to raising teens and well, I will continue to take any advice that you have!

Obviously, as a high school teacher, I have some experience managing teens. I try to keep in mind that they often have much more going on in their lives besides school, and there are far more good days than bad.

My kids are good kids and they still keep me on my toes.

There’s no better time to chat than when we’re in the car. Sometimes, I wait to talk about things with each kid when we’re one on one because I don’t need the other chiming in. Also, I like to respect their privacy in that way too.

Screenshot

I will say that being with teens all day and then coming home two teens, depending on what’s going on, can be more than I want to handle. If that’s the case, I tap Trav in.

I do think I do a good job of not making a big deal about every little thing. I want them to be able to come talk to us (or each other) if needed. The teen years are for pushing the limits and making mistakes, but as I’ve told both kids many times, the clock is ticking on my time launching from the nest…so I have to make the most of these high school years and making sure they are ready for after high school (but I also don’t want to think too much about that either!)

I feel like I was all over the place with this topic….which is kind of what it’s like managing teen schedules!

Posted in Let's look, Travel

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday! How is the week treating you?! So far, so good for us. We’re still recovering from a busy weekend and now getting things accomplished that we didn’t have time for over the weekend.

It’s the second Wednesday of the month, so I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for this month’s edition of Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at…

  • Low level goals for 2025 in January
  • How you work on your marriage in February
  • How you reset for the week on Sunday in March
  • Maintaining friendships in April
  • Our wellness routine in May

This month we’re looking at travel bucket lists.

When I saw this topic, I immediately remembered a post I wrote a few years ago where I recapped some of our favorite vacation spots.

In that post, I included this “bucket list”:

  • New York – I’d shared that we had a full trip planned in 2020 for spring break only to have to cancel it due to Covid. Trav and I have been to New York (before we met), so it’s been a while ago, obviously. We just thought it would be a fun spot to take the kids especially now that they are older. We have some possible short term plans for NYC.
  • DC was also on that list. Again, not necessarily a bucket list item in that it’s a luxurious spot, but just an important place that we felt like the kids would enjoy. Well, we can check that box, because, as you know, we went to DC for spring break 2024. Truly, though, I’d love to go back. There’s so much we didn’t get to see.
  • Pacific NW – This is another box we’ve checked since I wrote that post. Last summer, we went to Oregon mainly for the Olympic track trials, but we did so much more than that. We started in Oregon and ended our PNW trip in Washington.
  • Mexico was also on the list. Trav and I went there twenty years ago for our honeymoon, and then we took the kids there the summer after 6th grade. Mexico did not disappoint. The travel to get there was pretty easy, the all inclusive resort was nice, and we had plenty of time to relax.

So, still on the list are:

  • Hawaii – and while this destination remains on my list, it’s probably the one I would rank as the lowest priority.
  • Nantucket – Maybe one day!
  • Europe – London, Paris, Italy, Greece
  • BVI – The British Virgin Islands look like a lovely place to relax!
  • One addition – I’m intrigued by Costa Rica, so I will add that to the list.

Something about summer always makes me think about travel. We really don’t have any major travel plans this summer, and honestly, that’s ok too! I appreciate the time at home just as much as the time away at this point in my life.

What a blessing it’s been to check some of these destinations off our list.

Posted in Health and Fitness, Let's look, Self-care

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Y’all this week is going to age me ten years. I just feel like I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off from sun up to sun down. We have state testing this week, so every day is different and our evenings aren’t much calmer either!

Anyway, it’s already the second Wednesday of the month, so I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at…

  • Low level goals for 2025 in January
  • How you work on your marriage in February
  • How you reset for the week on Sunday in March
  • Maintaining friendships in April

This month we’re looking at…our wellness routines.

What is wellness? haha! I often joke that I’m “unwell.”

Here are a few things that came to mind when thinking about wellness, both for body and for mind:

Morning quiet time: I share this often, but I can’t start my day without easing into it. I need quiet and my morning coffee to get my mind set and set myself up for a successful day.

Decompress after school. On the other side of the daily spectrum is giving myself a bit of time (if I can) after school to decompress. Honestly, just a few silent moments will do, but really, if I can come home and sit on the couch for a minute or shut my eyes for ten minutes, it helps me regroup for the evening ahead.

This time of the year, I love sitting on the front porch when I can.

The number of times I hear my name said in a day, the number of times I repeat myself, answer the knock at my classroom door, answer my classroom phone and more…it takes a lot out of me, and I don’t want to be frazzled and exhausted for my own kids once the school day is over.

Hydrate. I’ve been pretty good about drinking water through the years, but even more so over the past few years. It may sound lame and my family makes fun of me, but I take my tumbler everywhere. I’ve had this tumbler in the lilac color for almost two years, and just purchased a new sea glass green one. I take it to school, to games and track meets, on vacation and even if we go out to dinner, I bring it in the car to have some water to and from. I fill it up at least twice a day, but sometimes more which means I’m drinking at least 80 ounces of water every day.

Through the years, I’ve taken vitamins and added collagen to my coffee, but for whatever reason I’m not always the best about re-ordering when I run out. Right now, I’m two for two taking my daily Vitamin D and putting a scoop of collagen in my coffee every morning.

Work out/walk. Of course, getting some movement is good for my wellness. Again, I’ve been good and bad with being consistent about working out or getting my steps in, but overall, these past few years I have maintained a decent routine.

Just this week, I’ve gone to the gym or gone for a walk, both after dinner when I didn’t have tons of time…but told myself to make it happen.

I am ready for summer when I will have more time for workouts, but fun fact about me…I tend to be better about getting workouts in when I have a more structured schedule. We’ll see how it goes!

Sleep. I love to sleep, but most nights I’m going to bed later than I want. I’d love to be in bed by 10, but most of the time that’s 10:30 and then asleep by 11. I could get a few more minutes if I didn’t get up so early, but that’s important to me as well.

When I got a new Apple watch for Christmas, I started wearing the watch to bed to track my sleep. It is somewhat motivational for me to try and keep my weekly sleep average above 7 hours…meaning sometimes I will think of that around 10, and try to get to bed. Haha

What’s your best “wellness” tip?

Posted in Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Well, as usual, I can’t believe it’s already the second Wednesday of the month. That being said, since this week is spring break, I’m happy that it’s a different kind of Wednesday!

I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at…

  • Low level goals for 2025 in January
  • How you work on your marriage in February
  • How you reset for the week on Sunday in March

This month’s topic is…maintaining friendships.

First and foremost, I’m so thankful for my friends. At this point in life, I have work friends, neighbors who are friends, friends from my kids’ activities, “Mom” friends and my truest friends are probably the core group of use whose kids hang out together the most.

I have a “core group” at school and I have a “core group” of friends like the ones we travel with for fall break. These are the same people who I can depend on for carpool, call when I’m worried about something, vent to, have a glass of wine with, play a card game, and so much more.

Occasionally, we’ll get together to play a game or reconnect in the summer at the pool. We stay in touch mostly via text messaging just organizing rides for our kids, sharing sports schedules, planning a time to get together, or bumping into each other at the gym or while out for a walk.

Trav has friends from his childhood and even college who he’s very close with, and they’d do anything for each other. Many of those friends’ wives were my first friends when I moved to Kentucky, and I will always be grateful for their warm welcome when I knew no one after moving here. Sometimes, I wished I’d been able to maintain closer friendships with high school and college friends.

When I moved to Lexington when I did, I barely had a cell phone, and Facebook wasn’t a thing. Then, like what happens in life, you just get busy and time slips away. Also, KC isn’t just a few hours away…it’s nine! So, when I get to KC, it’s usually just for a few days, and I end up spending time with family. I love keeping up with childhood and college friends thanks to social media and texts, so it does feel like we’re connected in that way.

Once the kids hit school age, it was very important for me to be in a neighborhood in which we wouldn’t want to move, would have great schools, be close to whatever we need, and more. I moved when I was in the 7th grade, and it all ended up being ok…but middle school is a hard phase in life to move. I wanted the kids to have the same friends from kindergarten like Trav did, and we moved to this house the year before they started kindergarten.

I know friendships change, but both of my kids have a really solid group of friends, and some of their parents are some of my best friends. I appreciate our “mom gang” group text as well as the smaller group texts too. Right now, the “middle school moms” group text, that isn’t used as often these days, is a buzz with the driving permit info. It’s just nice to know that there are so many awesome people I can turn to if I need anything from a cup of sugar to a car ride for my kids.

In some ways, right now it’s hard to maintain friendships just being busy with all the kids’ activities. That being said, I know true friends will always be there. I still have great friends whose kids don’t go to school with my kids anymore, but we pick up right where we left off when we see each other. I know, in the future, out calendars all won’t be dictated by our kids’ schedules…the day we don’t have to schedule carpool…wow! Hold me! It’s coming in the next year or so.

I’m ready for summer and hanging at the pool and just having a bit more downtime to see friends who we don’t get to see as often as we’d like to. Plans seem to fall into place a bit more naturally in the summer.

Also, I have to admit that since I am an introverted homebody, when I’m home, I want to stay at home. I also know that I need to get out a bit more sometimes, and I will do that too.

I don’t have a secret for maintaining friendships, but I’ve figured out quality over quantity, and that loyalty is the greatest attribute that I look for in a friend…well, that and sarcasm! We can’t take ourselves too seriously!

Posted in Everyday Life, Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Well, March just seems to be flying by. It’s already the second Wednesday of the month, so I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for this month’s Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at…

This month’s topic is…let’s look on how you reset for the week on Sunday.

I truly do use Sunday as a reset, whereas, Saturday is usually more for running errands.

Here’s a few things I make sure to do on Sunday to ensure we have a successful week.

Laundry:

The weekend is when we do laundry. So, for sure, by Sunday, I try to get all the laundry washed, dried, and laid out in the kids’ rooms for them to put it up. Sometimes, I start this task on Saturday, but by Sunday, the kids have their clothes put away.

Meal Plan and Grocery Store:

I typically meal plan on Saturday, and so my grocery pick up on Sunday. If I’m running behind, I meal plan on Sunday and then do my pick up on Monday. If that’s what I need to do, I typically have a few groceries delivered on Sunday, including whatever I need for Sunday dinner. I’ve been using grocery delivery as an option since July, and it sure has come in handy.

As far as meal planning, I look at the week ahead to which days it might be best for me to use the slow cooker, or which nights I should plan on having leftovers. I try to make something on Sunday to have leftovers on Monday. I really don’t enjoy cooking on Mondays.

Plan for the Week:

I guess I actually write out what we have going on for the week before I meal plan. I still use this magnetic notepad for the fridge to write down evening activities, appointments, and what we’re having for dinner. I’ve re-ordered this meal and shopping list many times the past few years.

Another crucial step is making sure the kids know what they have going on for the upcoming week. Thankfully, we always have dinner together as a family on Sunday, so this is a good time to chat.

Notes:

I have a “this week” note on my phone, and I make sure it’s up to date with appointments, errands, activities and things I need to do each day.

Kids reset their rooms:

Sunday is for picking up all the things. The kids are busy, and they love their rooms, so they spend quite a bit of time in them. That being said, I can only walk past their rooms and see the clothes on the floor or the Chick-fil-A cup so many times before I have to say something. haha

Anyway, they know that Sundays are for tidying up and prepping for the week ahead.

Plan my outfits:

While I don’t lay my clothes out, I do try to think about my outfits…even like this week, yesterday, I had to proctor the ACT at school, so I knew I wanted to wear comfy clothes. Often times, I wear whatever I wore to church on Sunday to school on Monday.

It’s nice to at least have an idea of what I want to wear and not be scrambling at 7:15 in the morning.

Relax:

I try to relax and take some time for myself on Sundays. Whether that’s read a book, go for a walk, or binge a few episodes of a show, I try to relax and recharge for the upcoming busy week.

What about you? What do you do on Sundays to prep for the week ahead?