Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives – January 2025

Posted on January 13, 2025January 12, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Well, our three week break (two planned, one thanks to Mother Nature!) apparently continues. Due to many neighborhood roads not being plowed and other conditions, school has been called off again. This time, we are having an NTI day which means students will have assignments online.

It’s already the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting the first Share Our Lives link up of 2025 with some of my favorite bloggers.

We’re starting the year off fresh talking about..saving time on chores.

Well, let me tell you ….it’s not asking your teens to help! haha

Cleaning and picking up are ongoing chores in our house. I have to admit that Trav is the cleaner, and I’m the tidier. Cleaning has never been my skill set, but the one chore, if I had to do it, would be dusting. I don’t mind doing that.

We are blessed to have a wonderful house cleaner who comes twice a month, so honestly, we don’t do a lot of cleaning in between. We do have Homer hair to keep up with, and Trav loves to use the Swiffer for that.

I always go to bed with a tidy house. I’ve always done that, but that especially became a priority when the kids were little. They had lots of toys in our living room and of course would get them out as soon as they got up. I still always put the toys in the corner, in baskets, etc. just to have a fresh start to the morning.

I typically do laundry only on the weekend, and we don’t do many loads. Travis takes care of himself. Hayden usually has the most clothes to wash due to his running. I tend to not have as much, and I usually toss my things in with Hadley’s dirty clothes. When the clothes are finished, I take them out of the basket and lay them flat/in piles on the kids’ beds and they put them away. I’ve been doing the kids’ laundry separately for years…even when they didn’t have as much. I still have to to lay the clothes out for them to put away, but I don’t have to sort them between family members.

I make sure the bathrooms have cleaning supplies to “clean as we go” for daily needs. I’d like the think the kids would wipe our their bathroom sink if there’s too much toothpaste if I leave a tub of Clorox wipes under their sink!

On Sundays, we “reset.” I let the kids have clothes on their floor, for example, but on Sunday, their rooms get picked up. Papers get thrown away, desks get tidied up, Chromebooks get charged for school and so on.

In the summer, a big chore is mowing the lawn. For years, we had a service mow, but for the past couple of summers, Trav and Hayden have split the duties. I’m in charge of watering the flowers in the spring and summer. Hadley helps with that as well.

I usually unload the dishwasher just out of convenience. I’m often in the kitchen getting ready to cook dinner and will unload our dishwasher. Of course, Trav does that too and the kids help occasionally.

Not chores, but we shared cleaning hacks in a Not Just a Mom post in 2023.

I’d love to have any ideas you have for saving time on chores.

Next month, our topic is tips for falling asleep. I have quite the formula for sleep…but I will save those thoughts for next month.

Have a great Monday.

Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives

Posted on December 9, 2024December 8, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

I hope you had a great weekend. Ours was pretty relaxed which was really nice!

It’s our list Share Our Lives of 2024, so I’m co-hosting our link up with some of my favorite bloggers.

This year, we discussed…

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant others in February
5 items you can’t live without in March
Favorite makeup and hair products in April
5 favorite and least favorite foods in May
Foods you make for someone else in June
Day in the life: summer edition in July
Least favorite activities in August
Finding peace in your day in September
Sweet tooth cravings in October
Where you shop in November

This month’s topic is…favorite scents.

I still loves these scents of perfume. Travis (with Hadley’s help) picked these out for me last Christmas.

I love the smell of coffee in the morning.

I tend to like certain scents during certain times of the year.

I like berry, vanilla, and gingerbread during the winter months. This “Home from the Holidays” candle from Antique Candle Co his some spruce in it, and I like a touch of that scent.

Spring and summer are similar in that I like “lighter” scents. Citrus, berries, and floral scents are my “go to,” during those months.

In the fall, I still love vanilla, but I like apple and cinnamon scents more.

I have a whole shelf in my hall closet (it’s a small shelf) filled with candles that I use throughout the year. It’s fun to pull out the various scents each season.

2025:

We’re continuing the Share Our Lives fun in 2025. Grab our graphic below, and we’d love to see you like up with us in January if you have a blog.

Here are our topics for 2025:

Have a great Monday,

Share Our Lives

Posted on November 11, 2024November 12, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday…and happy Veteran’s Day to those who serve or have served in the military.

I hope you had a great weekend. Did you catch my posts on Saturday and Sunday? The Gratitude Challenge has been fun to keep up with with month.

How is this our second to last Share Our Lives link up for 2024? I’m co-hosting with some of my favorite bloggers.

So far this year we’ve discussed…

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant others in February
5 items you can’t live without in March
Favorite makeup and hair products in April
5 favorite and least favorite foods in May
Foods you make for someone else in June
Day in the life: summer edition in July
Least favorite activities in August
Finding peace in your day in September
Sweet tooth cravings in October

This month’s topic is…where you shop.

I’m guessing we scheduled this as the topic since many of us are starting to shop for the holiday season. That being said, my brain automatically thought of categories…Why am I like this?

Groceries:

I get 70-80% of my groceries at Kroger. You know I love Trader Joe’s, and I go there once a week or every other week. Aldi’s is another spot I like to check out from time to time.

Beauty:

I shop for makeup/beauty products mostly on Amazon or Target. Ulta is where I get my shampoo and conditioner, and then I always end up finding another thing or two. I love my Tarte shape tape, and Ulta has it now. I still use Dime for my skincare. I just went to Sephora the other day to pick up a gift for Hadley, and that place overwhelms me!

Clothes:

Y’all know I love SSYS, and I truly have so many things in my wardrobe I love from that shop. I buy a lot from Amazon, as you know. I like Target and Old Navy, but I really don’t buy as many clothes at either of those anymore.

Candles:

Bath and Body Works is where I usually get candles since there’s always a sale, and there are a couple stores in town. I love Antique Candle Co. candles too, and usually buy one each season. Jen Reed has some great scents with her Life in Lilac brand, and the jars are beautiful. I usually buy those candles a couple of times a year.

Home Decor:

For me, Homegoods is my fave place to find home and holiday decor. Target and TJ Maxx are also good as well. I just love strolling through Homegoods and taking my time while looking at all the decor.

Gifts:

Obviously, it depends on who I’m buying for, but I shop Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Target quite a bit. I always have luck at Aerie for Hadley. I do love supporting local shops and buying gifts from Etsy too. Truly, I’ve purchased quite a few gifts from Etsy shops, and I’m never disappointed.

While holiday shopping is still sometimes overwhelming to me, I am lucky that online shopping and curbside service are so convenient!

Next month, our topic is “favorite scents,” and we’d love to have you join us in the link up.

I need to get shopping for the kids’ birthday …which is next week! Where’s your favorite place to shop?

Delish Desserts, Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: October 2024

Posted on October 14, 2024October 13, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was great as we had a busy Saturday and a low-key Sunday. I think I “over did” it a bit on Saturday, but Sunday I had some time to recharge before thankfully heading back to school today. I’m glad to be feeling much better.

Anyway, it’s the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting Share Our Lives with some of my favorite bloggers.

So far this year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant others in February
5 items you can’t live without in March
Favorite makeup and hair products in April
5 favorite and least favorite foods in May
Foods you make for someone else in June
Day in the life: summer edition in July
Least favorite activities in August
Finding peace in your day in September

This month’s topic is…sweet tooth cravings.

Well, I certainly have a sweet tooth! It’s hard for me to pass up a good sweet! That being said, I try to show restraint, but if something is seasonal, I probably won’t hold back. For example, I don’t eat breakfast, but in the fall, I love nothing more than an apple cider donut with a cup of coffee on a weekend!

At the start of the year, I shared a “12 months of desserts” post where I shared the desserts we made in 2023.

As soon as I started thinking about favorite sweets, I immediately thought of apple cider donuts…which then made me decide to organize this post by season of desserts.

So, here we go!

Fall:

As I said, above, one of my favorite fall treats are apple cider donuts.

Trader Joe’s has them for a few weeks:

….but my faves are the ones from the pumpkin patch!

This apple cider donut cake is a new fall tradition for me to bake:

Also, I love to make a pumpkin pie in the fall too. I prefer it served cold with a dollop of Cool Whip.

Winter:

I always look forward to Shay’s Peppermint Bundt cake in the winter. It’s a tradition that I make it for our Christmas dinner when we are at home.

I like cookie cake alllll year long, but we usually kick off the year with one for my birthday in January!

Spring:

Once spring arrives, I’m ready for lighter desserts like strawberry short cake.

Summer:

There’s nothing better than a scoop of ice cream on a hot day in the summer. One thing about me is I will always look at all the flavor options, but 9 times out of 10, I will get my fave…mint chocolate chip. (I also love peppermint ice cream in the winter!)

I love cheesecake, especially in the summer. Jason’s Deli has such a good slice of cheesecake, so when I can, I get one. I’ve made cheesecake a couple of times, but I haven’t perfected it. Trader Joe’s has a good one too.

All year:

What’s my favorite dessert that I could eat all year long? Homemade Rice Krispies treats. Usually, when we got to Trav’s mom’s house, she has some for me…and his sister makes them when we come to town too. Obviously, I can make them myself, and sometimes I do…but it can be dangerous to have a whole pan of them! haha

What’s your sweet tooth cravings?

Next month, our topic is: where do you shop?

We’d love to have you link up with us!

Thanks for reading,

Not Just a Mom, Self-care

Share Our Lives: September 2024

Posted on September 9, 2024September 8, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was a “divide and conquer” kind of weekend. I was was in Tennessee with Hadley for most of the weekend at her volleyball tournament, and Travis was with Hayden for his cross country race on Saturday. This is a busy time of the year for Trav, so he worked a lot while Hayden went to the UK football game on Saturday and then golfed with a friend yesterday.

Overall, it was a good weekend, but I’m already looking forward to next weekend when we don’t have much going on.

It’s the second Monday of the month, so I’m c0-hosting our “Share Our Lives” link up with some of my favorite bloggers.

So far this year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant others in February
5 items you can’t live without in March
Favorite makeup and hair products in April
5 favorite and least favorite foods in May
Foods you make for someone else in June
Day in the life: summer edition in July
Least Favorite activities in August

This month’s topic is…finding peace in your day.

Peace. What’s that?!?! haha

Well, as I’ve shared many times before, if I want peace (and quiet), I have to wake up before the rest of the house. So, I get up before six, enjoy my cup of coffee, read my favorite blogs, and ease into my day for about 45 minutes.

Even now that my kids go to my school, they don’t often ride with me in the morning. I take that time to have a peaceful drive to work while listening to the radio or a podcast.

My planning period is 3rd hour, and I find that time to be peaceful. I always have a lot to do, but it’s my time, in my room, to get things accomplished, but it’s quiet and peaceful. Sometimes, I will turn on music while I grade papers.

If I’m able to go for a walk or get a workout in, that’s usually a peaceful time as well. I appreciate the time to myself to do something for myself.

When the evening is wrapping up, and the kitchen is clean, everyone’s showering and getting ready for bed, it’s a nice quiet time to watch TV or read. That’s peaceful to me as well…knowing we’ve made it thought another hectic day.

So, that’s how I find peace in my day. Most of our days are busy and somewhat crazy, but there are still quiet, peaceful moments as well. I know the day will come when I have more quiet and peace than I will know what to do with, so I’m fine to just take my few minutes of peace where I can find it.

Next month, our topic is…sweet tooth cravings…just in time for Halloween!

How do you find peace in your day?

I hope you have a great start to your week.

Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: August 2024

Posted on August 12, 2024August 12, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

I hope you had a great weekend. Ours was good overall. Yesterday, we went to church and out to lunch which was nice. Then we picked up groceries. I took a nice long walk since the weather was beautiful and then I read for a bit. I’m a little worried that I’m only going to read one book in August…but what’s a girl to do? I just haven’t had as much time.

Also, did you catch my post yesterday about summer side dishes?

Anyway, today I’m co-hosting our monthly link up with some of my favorite bloggers.

So far this year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant others in February
5 items you can’t live without in March
Favorite make up and hair products in April
5 favorite and least favorite foods in May
Foods you make for someone else in June
Day in the life: summer edition in July

This month’s topic is…least favorite activities.

I try to keep it positive, but of course there are some things I don’t love doing. Since I don’t love doing these things, I tend to put them off. I wish I wasn’t this way, but I am!

Here are some of my least favorite activities.

1. Laundry

I’m good about starting laundry and putting it in the dryer, but it’s the putting it away that takes three to five business days.

For the kids, I always lay their dry clothes out on their bed, and then they have to put them up. So, they can’t get into their bed until they put up their clothes. (or, at least they shouldn’t! haha)

2. Packing and Unpacking

I dread packing for a trip, and I always wait until the night before or even the morning of a trip. Everyone else will be packed, but I’m always the last one…and I’m usually the one with the biggest suitcase.

Kind of like laundry, sometimes unpacking a suitcase takes three to five business days too!

That being said, I always unpack everything else, and the kids always put their stuff away pretty much as soon as we get home. For whatever reason, I just don’t mind my suitcase on the floor until I can get to it.

3. Calling to schedule an appointment

I don’t know why, but calling to schedule an appointment is one of my least favorite things to do. Some appointments I schedule for the next year before I even leave the doctor’s office. I appreciate it if I can schedule an appointment online.

4. Changing bed sheets

Changing bed sheets is like an Olympic event, which I mentioned in last week’s Hodgepodge post.

I wash the sheets on all three beds often, and then I also wash the quilts and bedspreads at least once a month. It just takes a lot of cycles of laundry and sometimes multiple spins through the dryer to get the comforters dry.

5. Assemble things

I don’t love putting things together. Thankfully, Travis is handy enough to put together furniture and whatever else we need. Just last night, he put together a cart for my classroom.

I’m not sure why he’s laughing when I asked him to put the cart together…almost two weeks ago and he finally got to it last night. (& I was just kidding when I was being bossy) 😂

Those are just a few things that are my least favorite activities. What’s one of your least favorite activities?

Next month we’re discussing finding peace in your day. We’d love for you to link up with us!

I hope you have a great week. The kids have two more days of summer, and I’m sure they will be soaking up every last minute of it.

Thanks for reading,

Day in the Life, Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: July 2024

Posted on July 8, 2024July 8, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

I’m not trying to be negative, but I only have four more Mondays (counting today!) until I go back to school. I swear summer feels shorter and shorter every year.

Did you catch my posts on Saturday and Sunday? My Saturday post was all about our time in Eugene, OR at the Olympic track trials. It was such a special part of our trip. Sunday, I shared a few pics from our 4th of July…I was in KC while the kids and Trav were at home in Lex.

Anyway, it’s already the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting this month’s link up with some of my favorite bloggers:

So far this year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant others in February
5 items you can’t live without in March
Favorite make up and hair products in April
5 favorite and least favorite foods in May
Foods to make for someone else in June

This month’s topic is…day in the life: summer edition.

Well, I’m glad that I looked ahead at this topic because I decided to go ahead a document a day a couple of weeks ago knowing we were about to go out of town for vacation, and then I’d be in KC for a week. I wanted to choose a somewhat “normal” day when we are home.

Honestly, we’ve yet to have two days a like this summer which can be both good and bad.

Anyway, here’s a peek at Tuesday, June 18th.

I got up at 7:30 but forgot to screenshot the time. I did so around 8:30.

After I got up, I settled in my with “dream team” team of eye gels and coffee.

Hayden has been here….

He ate some coffee cake before his run.

Knowing we were about to be gone, I wanted to make sure my Kindle was loaded up with good books:

Of course I made my bed…

…started some laundry…

…and did my morning skincare routine.

Around 9:00 is when the HVAC guys arrived. This was the day we were getting our new a/c and furnace.

Just in time! It had “cooled off” to 82 that morning.

Hayden was prepping for his run while Homer and I snuggled.

Then, I went to unload the dishwasher only to realize that Trav had unloaded it before work… but he did it wrong…(haha!)

There…that’s better 🤣 To me, I don’t care where the forks and spoons go (although, they should go side by side)…the butter knives have to go to the far left…at least that’s what I think!

I looked outside and realized that Hayden was still home. He takes forever to get started…and was out front warming up.

I didn’t have to go to school for summer school this day, but I did have some stipends to approve. I grabbed a second cup of coffee and did that.

While I was at my computer, I decided to go ahead and work on the next day’s blog post.

Around 10:00, I put on a little makeup, finished getting ready for the day, tidied up and changed out the laundry.

~~Sleeping Beauty~~, Hadley was still sleeping at 10:30, so I woke her up.

Then, I took Hayden to his doctor’s appointment.

Once we were finished with that, I dropped Hayden at home and filled up my tumbler with water.

I had a 12:00 dentist appointment for my six month cleaning. Fun fact about me is that I never had a cavity until I was thirty years old…and then I had two! I got them right after I had the kids. I’ve never had another cavity since! Another fun fact about me is that I love going to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned.

How cute is their summer tree?

I was home around 1:00 and had lunch. I still love a little plate of snacks for lunch in the summer.

Then, I walked around the house and fussed at my kids to pick up up their ish!

Around 1:45, Hadley and I picked up my niece for our 2:00 nail appointments. I wanted to get a pedicure before vacation, and I usually let Hadley get a manicure before vacay too. Layla had a birthday in late May, and I hadn’t gotten her a present yet, so she tagged along for a mani too!

Then, of course we had to get ice cream…

…and see Layla’s updated room!

As I got home around 3:30, the a/c guys were finishing up.

Hadley said our new thermostat is “bougie” because it has the time on it haha

I found Homer was cooling off in the sun room.

I decided to have a little snack and watch some tv in the basement. During the summer, I find myself watching King of Queens, 227, Golden Girls and other shows from my childhood. It’s a great way to pass the time. Sometimes I doze off if needed too!

I lounged for about an hour before finally getting my workout in around 6:00. I almost didn’t “press play,” but I’m glad that I did.

Then, I put dinner in the oven. I decided to do something easy and make a store bought quiche for dinner.

While it baked, I read for a bit.

Then, I picked up Hadley and her friends from pool party at 7.

Since the house was still hot, I enjoyed dinner out in the sun room, and Homer kept me company.

After dinner, I always get the coffee pot ready for the next day…even in the summer.

I still hadn’t gotten in my Bible study for the day, so I did that.

Then, I showered and did my PM skincare routine.

Around 9:00, Travis and I watched the first episode of Presumed Innocent on Apple TV. We were hooked…but tired…

…so we went on to bed. I had the Royals game on in the background as I read my book.

I read and watched TV for a bit before going to bed close to 11:00.

In the summer, 11:00 seems to be my typical bedtime instead of 10:00 during the school year. It’s nice to stay up about an hour later and sleep in about an hour later.

So, that was a summer day for us! Some days, I’ve been at school for a few hours, taken the kids to other appointments or activities, gone to the pool, ran errands and more. I guess I just try to make the most of each day and have a mix of productivity and downtime.

Next month we’re discussing least favorite activities. We hope you’ll join us.

I love reading “day in the life” posts, so I can’t wait to read other bloggers’ posts today.

Have a great start to your week!

Meals and Recipes, Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: June 2024

Posted on June 10, 2024June 9, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Did you catch my second Sunday post of summer? It was all about self-care.

Well, I don’t want to dwell on it, but how is it already the second Monday of June?!

As always, I’m co-hosting today’s link up with some of my favorite bloggers.

So far this year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How me met our significant others in February
5 items you can’t live without in March
Favorite make up and hair products in April
5 favorite and least favorite foods in May

This month’s topic is…foods to make for someone else.

Do you know what the first thought I had when I realized this was the topic for today’s post?…That I don’t think people cook for each other like they used to. Maybe I’m wrong….but even when people create “meal trains” for others, it’s a lot of carry out food or sending food via Uber Eats.

That being said, I’m not judging because I can relate…it feels like at this busy stage in my life, I want to help others, but feel like I don’t have as much time as I’d like to….Venmo and gift cards are a “go to” for me as well.

I also think that I’m a little “burned out” on cooking for others because I do that every single day….which I also truly don’t mind…if they’d just come to the table when I say, “dinner’s ready!”

Anyway, that might not be the point of this post, so I will reel in those random thoughts and share a few ideas.

1. Coffee Cake

Call me Mother of the Year, but my kids feel like I’ve really done them a solid when I make the Krusteaz coffee cake for them for breakfast.

It’s easy and delish.

2. Casseroles

Casseroles of any kind are a good way to make someone a lot of food. Or, I should say anything in a casserole dish.

Some favorites are Million Dollar Spaghetti and Chicken Noodle Bake.

3. Soup and Chili

Turkey rice soup is a favorite family tradition after Thanksgiving.

While I guess chili is more for fall and winter, we love to make beef chili and chicken chili. Both of those are great to make and share with others.

Next month’s topic is…day in the life, summer edition! I always love seeing “day in the life posts,” so we hope lots of you will share your days as well.

What about you? What’s a food you enjoy making for someone else?

Sorry this post is pretty short and sweet…The kids and I got back from Kansas City last night. We were able to visit family for a few days, and it was nice to be there. That being said, somewhere in the middle of Illinois, I sure would have been thankful for if one of the kids could have driven for a bit. haha

And — this morning, I’m headed to school for a few hours as it’s our first day of our first summer school session. Thankfully, my responsibilities are minimal, but the first day is always pretty hectic.

I hope you have a great Monday.

Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: May 2024

Posted on May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was pretty good, and the weather was amazing.

I hope everyone had a great Mother’s Day. We all slept in, went to church and then brunch, and then spent time outside for the rest of the day.

It’s time for our monthly Share Our Lives link up with some of my favorite bloggers:

So far this year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant others in February
5 items you can’t live without in March
Favorite make up and hair products in April

This month’s topic is…5 favorite and least favorite foods. I’m not sure why this post was so hard for me to write….maybe because I’m not too picky, so I guess I like most food and don’t dislike many foods?

Top 5 favorite foods:

So many great foods to choose from, but I narrowed my list down to these five:

Chips and queso: the best part about going to a Mexican restaurant (I love a good salsa too!)
Macaroni and cheese: Hadley gets her love of mac and cheese from me. I don’t make it very often, but I love homemade macaroni and cheese. This recipe is a little effort, but it’s oh so good!
Gnocchi: If we are at an Italian restaurant and gnocchi is on the menu, I will order it!
Green bean casserole: Well, I don’t think I had green bean casserole until moving to Kentucky and attending Trav’s family get togethers. I always think of green been casserole for Thanksgiving and Easter, but I try to make it a couple of other times throughout the year. The crunchy fried onions on top are the “chef’s kiss.”
Mint chocolate chip ice cream: My favorite ice cream flavor of all time.
Bonus: I love sushi. Now, I don’t eat all fish. I don’t love tuna, for example, but I will eat salmon, yellowtail, shrimp, crab and more.

I’m sure I’m forgetting so many great foods, but those were the first ones to pop in my head!

Top 5 least favorite foods:

Oh…I do have a few least favorite foods:

Mayo: Absolutely not. I’ve never liked mayo and never will. If a recipes calls for mayo, I ain’t making it. I don’t even know if my kids have ever had mayo since we don’t have it at home.
Yogurt: I want to like yogurt so badly…I know it’s a great source of protein and an easy breakfast, but I just can’t do it. I was always proud of myself as a mom that my kids liked mayo when they were little. They still like it, but don’t ask me to buy it often.
Tomato: I don’t like tomatoes. They don’t taste like much to me and the juice is too runny. Again, I don’t know that my kids have had many tomatoes besides salsa.
Oysters: I know many people don’t like oysters, but Travis and Hayden do. When we go on vacay, Hadley and I hate it when they want to hit up the oyster happy hour.
Pimento cheese: I know it’s a southern thing, so I guess I didn’t grow up eating it. I tried it once, and I just can’t do it.

Coleslaw was another food that came to mind as one I don’t like.

Next month, our topic is also about food…but it’s foods to make for someone else.

I can’t wait to see what others share for favorites and least favorite foods. I’m sure there are some I could have added to both lists but forgot.

After today, only one more Monday of the school year…I think I can, I think I can!

Not Just a Mom, Self-care

Share Our Lives: April 2024

Posted on April 8, 2024April 8, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

And, thanks to the eclipse, we have one more day of break. Per usual, I feel like I could use one more day to get my life together. I was really productive on Friday unpacking, ordering groceries, and doing laundry.

Then, we ended up having a stressful/long weekend and on top of that, I’ve been having back issues…feels like a pinched nerve, so I’ve been moving slowly and not sleeping great.

Anyway, it’s already the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting this month’s Share Our Lives with some of my favorite bloggers.

This year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant other in February
5 items you can’t live without in March

This month’s topic is…favorite make up and hair products

Well, this post went from “I’m not sure I will have much to share” to apparently I’ve written a doctoral thesis on products I love.

Here are some of my “go to” makeup, hair and skincare products.

Makeup:

I’m a creature of habit, and haven’t changed my makeup in a couple of years.

I still wear Seint makeup, but two other products I love are:

Tarte Shape Tape which I use for under eye and blemish concealer
L’Oreal Lash Paradise mascara. I’ve used this mascara for about a year, and it’s thick and lasts all day.

Hair Products:

Like makeup, I try to keep it simple, but I do have a few favorite products.

Hadley uses dry shampoo more than I do, and we prefer the Batiste brand, but we’ll use the Kroger brand too.
A new favorite of mine, and now Hadley’s, is In Common Magic Myst. If Jen Reed shares something, odds are I will love it. I use this on my wet hair as a detangler, and I use it for a heat protectant too. Hadley caught wind of it — literally –the scent after I sprayed it in my hair–and started using it too. I just purchased a second bottle with Jen’s code, and it included a travel size spray too.

Pureology: I’m not a hair person, and my hair never looks as good as when I leave the salon, but I do know that a good shampoo and conditioner go a long way, and I’ve been using the purple Hydrate bottles for years.

I’m such a novice at hair care, that my hair girl still has to share hair washing tips with me…like a little shampoo and conditioner go a long way , use your finger tips to massage in the shampoo on your scalp (not your finger nails), and to put a bit of conditioner on the tips of your hair and then use your fingers to comb the remaining conditioner in evenly.

Hadley needs no hair care tips. haha

Her favorite shampoo and conditioner are from Function of Beauty. There are various shampoo bases like wavy hair, straight hair, curly hair, etc. Then, you add in a booster. There are different “shots”: strengthen, volumize, deep condition, etc. Hadley uses “lengthen,” and she loves it. Of course, she doesn’t do much to her hair to damage it…it’s not highlighted, and she only straightens or curls it occasionally, but I’m very envious of her hair!

Skincare:

Well, I know the topic didn’t include skincare, and I’ve shared skincare in the past…but I just thought it would be nice to have everything in one place.

I still use Dime Beauty pretty religiously…especially these three products:

Dewy Day Cream
Super Firm Serum (I use this at night with…)
Restorative Night Cream

They did change the packaging of the day and night cream…and I’ve gotten used to it…but I still prefer the pump which is also easier to pack for travel.

Other tried and true favorites:

I use Thayers toner morning and night. I have a travel size too.
Vitamin C serum that I use in the morning. It looks like I ordered this for the first time a year ago and am on my fourth bottle.
Gold Bond Neck and Chest Firming Cream that I try to remember to use at least once a day, if not twice! The price is a affordable, and I do feel like it helps!

The real MVP of Hadley’s Easter basket:

This e.l.f. Holy Hydration set. It was perfect to take on on trip to DC, and she loves the products. On the trip, I borrowed the cleanser to use with…
The facial sponges. (Hayden got some in his basket too) These are perfect for travel, and I’ve been using them most mornings when I wash my face.

Other:

Well, while we’re at it…here are a few other “beauty/skincare” products I love:

I bought this Jergens Instant Sun about a year and a half ago, and I still have the same bottle. The mitt is a must as well for applying it. I have “light bronze” which gives a subtle hint of color when needed. I use it the most in the spring and then in October when my summer tan is fading, but a little is just enough to keep color without being obviously tan. I’ve helped Hadley use it just to give herself a little color before the cotillion dances. She says she’s not ready to apply it herself. haha

I’ve been using Billie razors for years. Every other month, I receive four new blades. When Hadley started shaving her legs, I got her a razor too. I also like that they have a cute little travel case for easy packing.
For Christmas, Hadley requested shave oil when we saw it at Target. I’d never even heard of shave oil, but now we both use it!

The razors have a magnet on them for easy shower storage.

I’ve still been using the Jergens Essential Oil sticks in the morning and before bed. I just apply a bit to my wrists and neck, and I love the scent of both. I ordered both in January, and they are nowhere near being close to gone.

Ok…I’m saving the best for last.

I’ve shared these eye masks, and they continue to be my favorite thing. Just recently I realized the “pro tip” of putting them in the fridge. Let me tell you what a treat it is to start my morning with these chilled eye patches and a cup of coffee. It’s the little things!

I even packed a few for our DC trip because I knew our hotel room had a fridge.

Next month…we’re talking about food…favorite and least favorite foods. As always, we hope you’ll join us.

I can’t wait to see what others are sharing today. I love learning about new favorite products.

Happy eclipse day,

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