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!

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,

{Amazon Affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog.}

Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: March 2024

Posted on March 11, 2024March 10, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was so good. We went to Cinicinnati for a concert on Saturday, and made time to go to IKEA as well.

The kids had never been to a concert, and Hadley loves Bailey Zimmerman, so Trav bought tickets last summer for this concert this weekend. BZ was really amazing, and his opening acts were amazing too.

Anyway, I’m sure I will share more at some point, but first…

How’s everyone feeling? haha

Anyway, today’s our monthly Share Our Lives link up…

This year, we’ve discussed:

Introductions and jobs you’ve had in January
How we met our significant other in February

This month’s topic is…5 items you can’t live without.

Ok – topics like this one stress me out a bit…how do I narrow down to 5? What if I forget to mention something?? I know I’m going to read others’ posts and think, “Oh yeah! I need that too!

Anyway, here are some of the (more trivial) things that I can’t live without.

1. My Kindle

My Kindle is one of my favorite things ever. It’s so handy to take with me, throw in my purse, download a few books, and read conveniently wherever I am.

I bought my Kindle almost five years ago! Honestly, it’s getting a little slow, and I’ve noticed it’s not staying charged as long. I’m thinking about getting a new one soon.

2. Weighted Blanket

When I’m not home, I miss my weighted blanket more than I can say. Truly. It’s one of my favorite things. I bought the kids each one (a lighter weight one) a few years ago, but they didn’t use theirs like I thought they would. Honestly, I really think Hayden would benefit from one…he’s not a very relaxed sleeper…but what does mom know?

I can’t remember where I got mine years ago…I’ve been thinking and thinking and am drawing a blank. I know I was “influenced” and bought it using a code from a brand, but anyway…I still love it so much.

3. Post-It Notes

Post-It notes and note pads…I truly can’t live without them. I feel like I have little things I want to remember, so I will use a sticky notes…but then I have longer lists that I write on a small notepad or one of these pretty notepads.

4. Tumbler(s)

I shared recently about my new tumbler that’s only for my Diet Coke. I have a small one from Target for my coffee, and I have another one that’s for water only! I have a purple Stanley but this lilac one is the one I use the most often for water.

5. Coffee pot

Coffee on repeat. It’s my lifeline and the best way to start my day. We had the same coffee pot for years, and then I got a pretty white Drew Barrymore brand one that didn’t even last a year. When it just up and stopped working about a year and a half ago, Travis made a trip to Walmart and came home with this bad boy:

It is nice that it’s Keurig for single cups of coffee, but we can also make a pot of coffee. What I truly miss about my old coffee pot is setting the timer and having a fresh pot of coffee when I wake up.

Now, I usually do a single cup for me in the morning and then make the pot of coffee for my second cup and for Trav to drink.

Bonus: A hair tie!

I’m not a person to wear a hair tie (rubber band) on my wrist, but I do have to have a few in my purse, in my makeup bag, in my nightstand and more. I like to pull my hair back, and just have to know that I have one nearby to do that if/when needed.

Also, I cannot workout unless my hair is pulled back.

So those are some of my “can’t live without” items.

To be honest, I could have included things like my phone or phone charger, but I was trying to keep this list as short as possible. haha

Next month, we’re talking about favorite make up and hair products. I’m not great at either of these things, so I’m going to start thinking about that topic now.

If you have a blog, we’d love for you to link up with us and join us.

I can’t wait to see what “must have” items others share.

Have a great week,

Amazon Affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: February 2024

Posted on February 12, 2024February 12, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

It’s time for another Share Our Lives post with some of my favorite bloggers.

In January, we discussed introductions and jobs we’ve had.

This month’s topic is…how we met our significant other or best friend.

…This post is just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Here’s how I met T-rav:

When Travis graduated college, he worked for UK’s Athletic department, and after a few years he moved to Columbia, Missouri to work for Mizzou Athletics. It was a step up from what he was doing but also not too far from home.

Anyway, he moved to Columbia in 2001.

I met Travis that fall. I was in my last year of college and University of Missouri. I was working part time in the ticket office, and that was his full time job.

My friend who also worked in the ticket office also thought he was cute. We liked his accent…haha

Anyway, we crossed paths at work quite a few times and would see each other out at bars. (Oh to be 21 again!) He asked me on a date and said he’d call me the next day. Well, I’d dated a bit in college and knew I’d at least see him again at work or that maybe he’d call the next evening. He called me (on the house phone!) early the next morning. This already made him stand out in my book.

Our first date was going for a jog that afternoon on the MK-T trail which is a popular outdoor spot in Columbia. I actually was a jogger back then.

Since this was 2001, and athleisure wasn’t all the rage, I remember stressing and asking my roommates what to wear. I wanted to look cute but also able to jog…haha

He picked me up in his silver Honda Civic, and we headed to the trail. We jogged briefly, and I then told him I couldn’t run and talk at the same time…and he casually dropped the fact that he ran for UK in college on me. Oh geez!

Anyway, after the jog, we went to eat an early dinner at an Italian place called Bambinos and then hung out for a while afterwards.

I remember being nervous about possibly seeing him at work on Monday, but didn’t see him. Then, he called me that evening, and I told him I wasn’t feeling well. I ended up with a high fever, and was pretty sick. He brought me Gatorade and a People magazine because at some point we’d talked about my love for celebrity gossip.

To this day, he takes care of me. I think I’m a pretty independent person, but at this point in my life when I feel like I’m taking care of everyone, I appreciate it even more when he steps in and takes care of things or me.

Anyway, we hit it off and hung out quite a bit moving forward.

I think this is the first pic we have together…it’s at my parents’ house…and I think it’s around my birthday in January 2002.

Our relationship wasn’t perfect then (we even broke up once or twice…that’s a story for another day…but the breakups were always short-lived), and it’s still not perfect now…but I think we are pretty perfect for each other.

The fact that Valentine’s Day is in a couple of days is timely for a running joke we have. Every year he asks me how many years we’ve been valentines…and I say the number of years but then remind him it would be one more if we hadn’t broken up in February of 2002 (only to get back together in March of that year).

We got engaged in May of 2004 and married in June 2005.

I’m really grateful to have found “my person” while I was pretty young, but I also know we aren’t the people we were back then. Although, I always say that he really is the same guy I met. I’m the one who has probably changed a bit more…but I know that’s a part of life too…and I’m grateful that he loves me through the ups and downs of life.

We’ve definitely come a long way and are very blessed:

So, that’s our story!

Next month’s topic is 5 items you can’t live without…

I hope you have a great week. Mine is a really busy one at school and in the evenings. I hope to have a couple more posts this week.

Me, Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: January 2024

Posted on January 8, 2024January 7, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? We had a pretty good one that wasn’t too busy.

Did you catch my two posts this weekend?

This month, I’m participating in Bloganuary where I’m trying to write a daily post. I’m continuing with my own schedule, but I’m also using some of the WordPress prompts for topics too.

On Saturday, I wrote about gifts, and on Sunday I shared my recent Amazon purchases to link up with Tanya today.

Anyway, on to today’s post…

Today is our first Share Our Lives (formerly Not Just a Mom) link up of 2024. I’m happy to be back co-hosting this link up with these ladies:

This month’s topic is introductions and job’s you’ve had.

Introduction:

We did introductions last January too….and not much as changed for me.

I’m Jen:

I’m still…

a wife (married to Travis, and we will celebrate 19 years in June)
a mom (my boy/girl twins are now 14 years old)
a high school English teacher (this is my 22nd year in education. I do academic intervention now which I really enjoy)
pretty introverted and a homebody
a book lover (but fail at book clubs) and a dog lover
a beach and mountain view lover
an Enneagram 5w6
left-handed
I grew up in Kansas City, but have lived in Lexington, KY for almost 20 years
a KC Royals, KC Chiefs, and Missouri Tigers fan

Here are some other blog posts I’ve written sharing a bit more about myself:

First Ever Blog Post

Facts About ME

More Facts and SM&ST

A few additional facts about me:

I can’t live without coffee
I took a True Colors test this year, and I’m gold (planner) which means I’m loyalty driven, respect rules and authority, responsible, organized, and appreciative
Autumn is my favorite season.
I love traditions.
I need quiet time to start my morning.
I love my birthday, but I don’t need a lot of attention…haha
After almost two years, I’m on my third and (hopefully) final phase of Invisalign.
I love a Sunday afternoon nap.
I love “falling back” for daylight savings time, and I love a snow day.
I’ve had this blog for 4.5 years (will be 5 years at the end of the summer)

Here are some more recent posts I’ve written sharing more about myself:

How I Became a Mom

My Name

Jobs:

I actually wrote about jobs I’ve had last summer.

Here is that post:

Tuesday Talk: Jobs

The short of it is:

I worked at dental/ortho office for a few years in high school and my freshman year of college.
I worked the front desk of my dorm sophomore and junior years of college.
I occasionally babysat.
I worked for Mizzou Athletics in the ticket office during my senior year of college and while I did my student teaching.
This is my 22nd year as a high school teacher.

Here are our topics this year. If you have a blog, we’d love for you to save the Share Our Lives graphics and link up with us on the second Monday of the month. We love reading other bloggers’ posts!

I hope your week is off to a great start.

Not Just a Mom

Posted on December 11, 2023December 10, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

I hope you had a great weekend. Ours was extra fun…we went to my school’s basketball game on Friday night, Hayden had a race on Saturday, the kids had cotillion dance on Saturday night, and Hadley and I baked cookies yesterday.

It’s time for the last Not Just a Mom link up of 2023!

This year we’ve discussed:

Introductions in January
House rules in February
Day in the life (weekend edition) in March
Cleaning hacks in April
Pet peeves in May
How we became a mom in June
Top 5 favorite family activities in July
What’s in my handbag in August
Hobbies in September
Money saving tips in October
Comfort food in November

This month’s topic is…favorite books/series.

It’s no secret that I love to read. As a matter of fact, I’ve had less time to read over the past couple of months than I have in years…and I’ve kind of felt in a funk not having reading as part of my routine.

One of my favorite blog posts to write every year is when I share my top five books of the year. I’ve had lots of favorites through the years…

I don’t read a lot of series, but the first thing that popped in my mind given this time of the year is Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter Street series. It’s one of my faves!

2024:

Just a little FYI – for 2024, we’re continuing this link up, but we’re changing the name to Share Our Lives.

We hope you’ll continue to join us, either by linking up or reading, these posts on the second Monday of the month. Our first link up for 2024 will be January 8th, so mark your calendars!

So, what’s one of your favorite series? I do have a shelf on Goodreads for “series,” so I can those suggestions to my list.

Thanks so much for reading the Not Just a Mom posts throughthe years; they are some of my favorite to write.

Meals and Recipes, Not Just a Mom

Not Just a Mom

Posted on November 13, 2023November 13, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

It’s one of my favorite posts of the month linking up with these ladies:

This year we’ve discussed:

Introductions in January
House rules in February
Day in the life (weekend edition) in March
Cleaning hacks in April
Pet peeves in May
How we became a mom in June
Top 5 favorite family activities in July
What’s in my handbag in August
Hobbies in September
Money saving tips in October

This month’s topic is…comfort food.

This is definitely the time of the year for comfort food.

To me, comfort food is warm and hearty like chili, soup or a casserole.

Here are a few of my “go to” recipes that are definitely comfort foods:

I shared this recipe in my Friday Favorites post. I just saw it on Instagram, and decided to make it. It will definitely go into my cooking rotation as we move into winter.

It’s almost time for me to make our traditional Turkey Rice Soup. We use Thanksgiving turkey the day after for this soup.

Crockpot Cheese Tortellini soup

Bev’s Simple Chicken Pasta Soup

Chicken Chili

Taco Soup

Major’s Chili

Pumpkin penne sausage pasta (My favorite thing to make in the fall!)

Andrea’s Creamy Rice casserole is so good!

One Pan Chicken Alfredo

Spaghetti: Million Dollar Spaghetti and Chicken Spaghetti

One pot Roasted Red Pepper and Sausage Alfredo

Mac and cheese! Mac and cheese has always been one of my favorite foods. While Hadley can live on the box of white cheddar shells from Trader Joe’s, my favorite is this one that I occasionally make, and when I do, I always wonder why I don’t make it more often. (maybe because of all the calories…haha)

Anyway, this was quite the list…and it’s inspired me to make some of these recipes soon! I can’t wait to see what others share as well.

What’s your favorite comfort food?

I can’t believe next month will be our last Not Just a Mom post of 2023. Our topic is favorite books/series. We’d love to have you join us!

I hope you have a great week!

Not Just a Mom

Posted on October 9, 2023October 8, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Well, this Monday hits different as we head back to school after a week of fun in the sun. That’s ok though…it’s always good to get back in a routine, and I always love the month of October and all the fun we have in store.

Today, I’m co-hosting our monthly Not Just a Mom link up with some of my favorite boggers:

This year we’ve discussed:

Introductions in January
House rules in February
Day in the life (weekend edition) in March
Cleaning hacks in April
Pet peeves in May
How we became a mom in June
Top 5 favorite family activities in July
What’s in my handbag in August
Hobbies in September

This month’s topic is money saving tips.

Well, to start, here are a couple of ideas:

…and…

ha ha ha ha…ha!

If I had to guess, I think Travis would say a money saving tip is to not get married 😆…and I’d say don’t have kids haha

I am not necessarily an expert on money saving tips, but I do try to save money whenever I can.

Seriously, I try really hard not to buy something unless it’s on sale or I have a coupon.

Here are a few tips that came to mind:

Coupons: I don’t really use paper coupons anymore because they don’t seem to exist! I always check apps for deals and coupons. For example, before placing my Kroger order, I always click on the digital coupons.
Meal plan: I try to have a plan for our meals and tailor our grocery list to that plan. I do think using Clicklist helps with not overspending even though some weeks I still buy more than others. Also, I try to make a meal or two based on what’s in our freezer. So, if I have ground beef in the freezer, I will plan for tacos or spaghetti for dinner. That means, I have less to buy at the grocery store.
Look for discounts: There are quite a few stores that have teacher discounts like Michael’s, J Crew, and Vineyard Vines. Now, some places only offer discounts during Teacher Appreciation Week, so sometimes I wait and stock up on items then. Listen, I will flash my teacher badge for just about anything free or discounted. haha My school district just started letting teachers get into school/district athletic events for free. Like…what took so long?! Of course, I could get in free to my school events, but I always thought it was odd that they didn’t let teachers in at any school. I’m about to save $5/game during my kids’ sports seasons!
Library: As much as I love to read, I know I save money by getting books from the library versus purchasing them. I probably only buy one or two books a year, and those are usually books I want to read in the summer.
Wait for sales: Of course, there are Prime Days and Black Friday/Cyber Monday where you can take advantage of major sales. By now, I kind of know when some of my favorite stores will have sales. Also, again, sometimes there are sales that are only on the app. For example, Target had 30% off women’s boots recently, and that’s when I would buy boots if I needed them. I don’t think I’ve ever paid full price for a Bath and Body Works candle. They always have a deal on two single wick candles or half price three wick candles. Vineyard Vines will always have an “end of summer” sale, and since those are the swim trunks Hayden loves the most, I buy a pair and save them for his Easter basket. Old Navy was having a huge sale on pjs this weekend and I had $10 Old Navy cash. I always get the kids Christmas pjs for their November birthday (mostly just pj bottoms now), and I get them when Old Navy has a sale. Because I also had the $10 cash, I didn’t pay much at all for two pj pants and a Christmas sleep shirt. Of course, just because there’s a sale doesn’t mean you have to buy anything. That being said, I really try to buy as much as possible when there’s a sale or I have a coupon or points to use on something I would buy anyway.
Space out spending: I try really hard to space out spending. By now, I kind of know when the kids will have sports fees or other things that cost money like a school trip. With the kids having November birthdays and then Christmas in December, we try to not spend as much in September/October. That being said, kids are expensive. lol We just do the best that we can.
Plan: We try to plan for yearly trips and save accordingly.
Save: Of course, having a savings plan is always a good idea.
Girl math: I always return things I don’t want. If I order something and don’t absolutely love it, I will return it. Most stores make returns easy, so that helps! When I took Hadley back to school shopping, she got two pairs of shorts at Pac-Sun. One pair was $40 in store, but then I looked online, and they were $18!! I emailed Pac-Sun, and they gave me a refund for the difference. Girl math: when I return something, I’m saving money 😉
Cancel apps– Apps like Apple TV, Canva, etc. add up. Sometimes in the summer when we have more time, we will get a month of Apple TV or Paramount to watch a few shows, but then I put a note on my calendar to remind me to cancel. I love Canva, and thought I’d try out the “Pro” version for free for a month. I do love it, so I might keep it for another month, but I will just put a note in my calendar to remind me to cancel if/when needed. Little things add up.
The kids: They’ve earned some money this summer, and we’ve made sure they put some in their savings account. Since they mostly get cash, they put some in their piggy bank, sometimes they give for offering at church, they have some on hand in case they need it, and then Travis will also put most in their account. Also, for example, I will pay for Hadley to get a manicure as a “back to school” treat, but I always have her pay the tip with her own money. I want her to learn what it means to tip 20% for a service. If there’s a random time she wants something like a new shirt or manicure, she knows she will typically have to pay for it.

What money saving tips do you have? Again, we’re definitely not perfect, and I lean on Travis most for our budgeting…but I get him fed, so we all have our strengths!

Next month, we’re talking about comfort food. I’m kicking this week off with comfort food thanks to the cooler temps. For dinner this week, we’re having chili and Chicken Tortilla soup!

I hope you’ll check out the other ladies’ posts and link up with us if you can!

I hope you have a great start to your week!