Self-care

Monday Memo: It’s the Little Things

Posted on October 20, 2025October 20, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

This is the stretch of the school year where Mondays start to hit differently. Fall break is over, and it feels like Thanksgiving break is a ways away. That being said, I know it will be here before we know it!

The past few days I’ve done a few “little” things just to try to give myself a break and to remind myself that it’s okay for me to take some time when I need it. I’m sharing those things with you today.

I finally got a pumpkin cream cold brew at Starbucks. I don’t do pumpkin spice lattes anymore, but this sure did hit the spot. I also love the bacon Gouda egg sandwich at Starbs, so I get that occasionally. I never go inside Starbs, let alone sit inside for a few minutes, but I did so the other day. It was really nice to take twenty minutes to enjoy my breakfast sandwich and coffee.

I love hand creams. I have a few of the Bath and Body ones, and I always put some on my hands before bed…and then as needed otherwise. Anyway, Bath and Body had buy three get one free, so I stocked up. I put one in the car, one in my purse, one in my makeup bag, and one in my bedside table drawer. So, I have one wherever I need them.

I went to a new (to me) store…

I’ve walked past Paper Source many times, and I decided to go inside the other day. My oh my…they have so many cute things.

I actually showed restraint and didn’t buy anything, but I will definitely be back. I saw so many great gift ideas.

I purchased more pumpkins! A couple of weeks ago, I spruced up the front porch, but something was missing. That “something” was a couple more pumpkins. haha!

When I was at Trader Joe’s on Friday, I purchased a couple more to balance out the porch. Treat yourself!

I sat outside and got some fresh air. Instead of scrolling my phone, I did one of my favorite hobbies… a word search! I love doing word searches.

I’ve been trying a new beauty product…I was “influenced” into using this 3D lifting cream, and I really like it. Honestly, I can feel it working once I apply it. I’m not turning back the hands of time, but I am using this in my evening skincare routine.

I stayed in my pajamas all day. Saturday was such a long day…probably fourteen hours from start to finish. We were in Louisville at Hadley’s last volleyball tournament which meant a 6am wake up call, and we didn’t get home until close to 8pm. Yesterday was rainy and cold, so I gave myself permission to stay comfy all day. I briefly changed out of my pjs to go to Kroger…and of course I saw my brother and a neighbor…so I’m glad I wasn’t wearing my PJs for those brief moments. haha!

Anyway, the rest of the day was spent at home grading, doing laundry, getting ready for the week…

…and I watched one of my favorite movies…Father of the Bride. Man, we’ll miss Diane Keaton. I love Disney + for the sole purpose of watching so many movies that I loved growing up.

So, those were a few of the things I’ve done for myself lately. I hope this is a reminder to take care of yourself when needed!

Have a great Monday.

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

Let’s Look

Posted on May 14, 2025May 15, 2025 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?

Self-care, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk: Skincare

Posted on February 18, 2025February 17, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Well, I didn’t mean to take yesterday off from blogging, but the three day weekend got away from me. Actually, we hardly did anything this past weekend which was just what we needed.

Today’s Tuesday Talk is all about skincare.

I was chatting with another blogger (hi, Mandy!) about skincare, and I always think it’s interesting to see what other people use for skincare and how they use it as well.

I’ve written a few posts through the years…

Share Our Lives post
Thursday Thoughts: Dime Beauty post

…but thought it was time for a little update. While some products change (as I like it try new things), Dime Beauty continues to be my “go to” for serums and moisturizers. I’ve been using Dime for at least four years.

I bought this organizer about a year ago, and it’s still working perfectly to house my skincare. I keep my makeup in this toiletry bag, and I also use it for travel.

I always start my skin care, day and night, by washing my face. I use CeraVe (I always get it at Target), and one of these facial sponges.

Then, I use a cotton round to apply Thayer’s facial toner. Target has the “rose petal,” scent toner, and that’s also where I get my cotton rounds.

I’ve always heard to apply skin care products thinnest to thickest, so here we go…

This “honey milk” by Farmacy is a new part of my skin care routine. Thanks to the cold weather, my skin has felt extra dry, so I’ve started to use a few drops of this product.

Then, I use my Dime serum. In the morning, I use Hyper Glow, and at night, I use Super Firm Serum.

After that, I use this Retinol eye stick. I’ve been using this for about a year, and while I’m not necessarily turning back the hands of time, I do feel like I’m doing something for my under eyes!

One of my friends is a Mary Kay consultant, and she recently sent me this “wrinkle limiter.” It’s pretty thick cream that you use for fine lines and wrinkles. So, this is a new part of my skin care routine, but I actually do feel my skin tightening a bit after using it on my forehead, between my eyes (my 11’s), and upper lip.

I don’t always use this Gold Bond neck cream, but I try to remember to do so. It’s such a great price, and I usually find it at Target. I figure why not use it when I can.

This “facial milk” is another Mary Kay product, and it’s a leftover as a duo with a retinol product that I used previously. It’s a very thin cream, so sometimes I apply it before using my thicker moisturizers.

Then, it’s moisturizer time. I use Dime’s Dewy Day Cream in the morning, and then Restorative Night Cream at night.

I still love my eye patches in the mornings (these or these) and my once a month facial/dermaplane/chemical peel.

So, that’s a(nother) look at my skin care routine. Truly, I don’t think I started washing my face and taking my makeup off before bed until about ten years ago. Now, I can’t imagine not doing my skincare routine. I know it may look like a lot, but it doesn’t take longer than two minutes!

What’s your favorite skincare product?

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.

Seasonal, Self-care

Summer Sundays #2

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

Hello and happy Sunday!

Another Sunday, and another summer post.

This week, I’m sharing some things I do for “self-care” in the summer.

Here they are:

1. Quiet Time

My biggest form of self-care all year long is my quiet time in the morning. Unless we have something going on, I probably get more quiet time in the summer because my kids really know how to sleep in.

Now, my coffee time is sometimes on our front porch our back patio; it’s nice to change up the routine.

2. Bedtime/Sleep/Nap

While I don’t tend to stay up super late in the summer, I might stay up until 11:00 instead of 10:00 like during the school year. That being said, I love just going to bed at 10 knowing I don’t have to set an alarm.

That means, that sleeping in (or at least not setting an alarm) is another form of self-care for me.

Also, to me, there’s nothing better than an afternoon nap in the summer!

3. Read

While I make a Summer Reading List, it’s just a guide. It’s ok if I don’t read all of the books, and of course, I will read books not on the list too. It’s just nice to have a bit more time to read, especially when we are on vacation.

4. TV time

That being said, I tend to have more time to watch TV in the summer, so I will get caught up on shows that I’ve fallen behind on or watch series that I haven’t had time to watch during the school year.

This week, I started Under the Bridge on Hulu, and I only have a couple of episodes left.

I also want to finish watching episodes of some of my favorite series like The Rookie and NCIS Hawaii (which got cancelled) 😦

5. Workout

I am pretty consistent with my workouts, and I think it’s important to keep up my workouts in the summer. Honestly, sometimes it’s easier for me to workout during the school year because of having more structure/routine.

I still love my Bodi workouts in my basement, but in the summer, I might go to the gym to use the elliptical, take a class, or go for a walk. Since I usually have more than 30 minutes to spare, I have time to change up my routine.

My goal in the summer is to workout five days a week.

6. Pool time

I still enjoy going to the pool even though my kids don’t need me like they used to. When they were younger, we used to go for three to four hours, and now they stay at the pool if I want to go after a couple of hours.

I enjoy reading, working on my tan, and chatting with my mom friends.

We also like to go to the pool in the evenings when we can. Again, we’ll see friends, have a drink, and enjoy dinner at the pool.

7. Be productive

Now, I don’t get too carried away with productivity…haha…but…I do use the summer to do things that I slack on during the school year. I typically make a list of things I want to accomplish in the summer and chip away at them week by week. The list is usually organizing and cleaning out areas like my closet, the basement, our office cabinet and more. Also, I don’t want to work on school during the summer, but I do find that it’s easier and less overwhelming for me to start the school year when I’ve chipped away at some school tasks in the summer.

8. Not cooking

It’s nice to mentally and physically take a break from the grind of the school year which does include meal planning, meal prepping, grocery shopping and more.

I love when a few hours at the pool turns to dinner at the pool and just hanging out with no definite plans. I love impromptu plans when neighbors get together for a casual patio dinner or dinner out.

Our pool has a great covered patio, and it’s nice to hang out there while the kids play volleyball, swim, and socialize.

9. Get a pedicure

I still don’t get pedis as often as I’d like to, but it’s such a treat when I do!

10. Go with the flow

I feel like during the school year every hour is accounted for, so in the summer, it’s nice to relax our schedule a bit more.

Honestly, we’re still busy, but it’s obviously less than during the school year.

Even our dinners are more relaxed. I do like when we all eat together, but if they kids are out with friends, they can have leftovers when they get home. If I planned on coming home from the pool at 4, but stay until 7:00, that’s ok.

Sometimes, we stretch leftovers to a third day, and I don’t have to cook.

Shew – I might even go wild and not pick up my Kroger order on the weekend. Isn’t that what Mondays are for?

My “type A” personality almost needs permission to chill, and summer is the time to do that.

What does self-care look like for you in the summer?

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.}

Friday Favorites, Kids, Self-care

Hadley’s Favorite Products

Posted on February 23, 2024February 22, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Why do the shorter weeks sometimes feel like the longest? It’s been a good week, but I’ve felt a bit “off” not knowing what day is what!

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

Today, I’m switching things up. Rather than share some “favorites” from the week, I asked Hadley to write a post. Recently, I saw a funny reel on Instagram about a mom who said she had to go into her daughter’s room to use the “good” beauty products. Relatable…haha

So, I thought today’s post would be a fun way to share some of her favorite products that she uses almost daily.

I’d say there’s something for everyone…not just for teens!

Here’s Hadley:

My mom is giving me the honor of writing another blog post. I will be showing you guys my favorite products and why I like them.

Here’s the line up:

My mom gets me most of these products at Target or Kroger, but I bet you can get them from Amazon too.

Fragrance mist: This is from Bath and Body Works, and I think I have used it for over a year now! Every time I see my friends, they compliment it and everyone always loves it. I use a couple of different sprays, but this is the one I’m using now. These sprays have a light scent, not as heavy as perfume.
Dry shampoo: The Bariste brand is my favorite, but the Kroger one works well too. This is perfect when it isn’t quite hair wash day yet and you need something to get you through the day without your hair looking greasy.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel: This moisturizer is so good, and I don’t plan on changing it anytime soon! You will love it if you like a super light-weight and hydrating moisturizer.
Aquaphor: Aquaphor is my ride or die, my forever and always! I use it every single day. It lasts for a while, and it is super easy to apply on the go if you need a little shine or even just something to keep your lips from getting chapped.

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing lotion – This PM moisturizer is also super light-weight and very smooth. I apply this every night at the end of my routine, and it keeps my skin from getting dry.
Garnier Cleansing Water – This Micellar water is also my ride or die. I use this for everything…as a toner, to get my makeup off, and to just get all the dirt off my face. You will never catch me not using this on the daily.
Covergirl mascara – I don’t know much about mascara and which one is good and which one is bad but this seems to be doing the job! I get compliments on my lashes everyday (it could be my natural long lashes or the mascara) either way I love this mascara and it gets the job done.

Dime Blue Facial Oil: My mom first bought this oil over a year ago, and I use it (and Hayden does too when needed) This oil is amazing for when you have a pimple that showed up to the party uninvited! I put this on at night when I have a pimple and when I wake up it’s gone (or at least more under control)! It’s super easy to use, and it has a light blue tint to it…but it soaks in clear. This definitely is the party saver.
Glow Recipe serum: I got this serum for Christmas from my grandma, and I love it! I’m almost out so I gotta get me a new one ASAP. I use it both morning and night, and it’s super easy and smooth to rub in and it keeps my skin clean and clear!

So, those are some of my favorite products!

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

Weekend Top 5

Hadley’s Room Refresh

What are your weekend plans? Hayden has a basketball tournament, and I have a few errands to run as well as a few things on my “to do” list. I guess that’s a pretty typical weekend for us.

I will have a bonus post tomorrow for Share 4 Somethings.

Thanks for reading,

Self-care, Top 10

Top 10 Tuesday

Posted on October 17, 2023October 16, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday.

My goodness yesterday sure did feel like a Monday. It was cold and dreary, and I was tired! It was still a good day though.

Anyway…

I always have my nails painted, so I thought this would be a fun way to kick off a new blog idea:

I’ve used the OPI brand for years and years. I remember getting my first manicure after Travis and I got engaged. All my friends were wearing the “Bubble Bath” shade, and that quickly became my “go to.” Through the years, I’ve mostly painted my own nails. Sometimes, I would get in the car, paint them really quickly, and then they’d dry while I drive. I’ve always been a multi-taker. 😉

A few years ago, I started occasionally getting a gel manicure and then about a year and a half ago, I started getting SNS manicures pretty regularly. I go every three to four weeks. I make sure they trim my nails short each time because I can’t stand to have long nails.

I love a pedicure, but I’m more practical about them and only get a few a from April – September. Polish on my toes tends to last long anyways.

Here are my top 10 nail polish colors:

My go to shades:

I love a neutral nail polish…

Bubble Bath
Funny Bunny
Sweetheart Pink
Let Me Bayou a Drink

Summer shades:

In the summer, I still keep my nails pretty neutral, but when it comes time for a pedicure, I typically choose one of these two colors:

5. Strawberry Margarita

6. Mexican Move-mint

Fall/Winter colors:

In the fall and winter, if I don’t do a neutral nail polish, I typically wear a darker color. In the fall, I choose a more light brown shade and then sometimes in the winter, I choose a darker brown. Occasionally, I will wear a shade of gray. I always have polish on my toes, and in the winter, it’s usually one of these shades.

7. Krona-logical Order

8. Lincoln Park After Dark

9. How Great is Your Dane

10. Steel Waters Run Deep

So that’s it! Those are my favorite nail polish colors. What’s your favorite shade? I was thinking a navy color might be pretty in the fall. Do you have any suggestions?

Health and Fitness, Self-care

What’s in my shower

Posted on August 3, 2023August 3, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday.

Thursday is always my favorite day of the week, but today is a great Thursday because I’m spending it with Travis in one of our favorite places.

So, today’s post might seem kind of random, but when Jennifer shared what was in her shower, I loved that idea for a blog post.

The kids have their own full bathroom, but it’s the only space we haven’t updated in the house. They have a shower/bathtub, but once they outgrew baths, they just started showering in my bathroom.

So, because of that, we have plenty of products for all three of us…

For years, Travis has used the bathroom in the basement and leaves his clothes in the basement closet too whereas I use the primary bedroom closet and bathroom. Honestly, I think Travis pulled one over on me with the decision because most school day mornings, I’m upstairs fussing at the kids to get ready for school while he’s blissfully having a carefree morning getting ready in the basement…haha

Anyway, here’s a peek at what’s in my shower…

Pureology– This is my favorite shampoo, and I’ve used it for years. Fun fact: I only wash my hair twice a week…and honestly don’t use dry shampoo very much. I used to wash my hair every other day, but I swear it must have been during the year at home /2020, I was just washing my hair less, and have continued that practice.
CeraVe face wash- I’ve never been picky about my face wash, and a couple of years ago, Hadley mentioned that CeraVe was what all the girls were using…So that’s what we use too…Hayden, too, if he thinks about. (I hope!)
Body wash – I always have some kind of body wash in the shower…usually something seasonal from Bath and Body Works…but this Brazil Nut Body Wash has been a fave Trader Joe’s find this summer.
Conditioner – I used to use the purple Pureology conditioner, but felt like my hair needed something different. I don’t know if that’s a “thing,” but every few years, I feel like hair needs to switch things up, so I just use this Kristin Ess conditioner that I get at Target.
Selsun blue – A few months ago, Landyn shared that her dermatologist suggested this for teens, not for itchy scalp, but to help with acne/oil. (see explanation below) So, Hayden uses it…because I told him to…haha So far, neither of my kids has had any real issues with breakouts, but I do encourage them to wash their face at least once a day. So, this isn’t used as face wash, but just hopefully as the sudsy water trickles down while washing hair, it can have skincare benefits.
Shaving cream -I’m not picky about my shaving cream, but I do prefer gel shaving cream to foam.
Bar soap– not pictured, but there’s always a bar of soap (usually Dove) in the shower.

I’ve used Billie razors for three or four years. Hadley now uses them too. I know there are other options out there now, and some have said the Billie razor doesn’t seem the same, but I haven’t had any issues. To be honest, I shave my legs every day regardless. I’m telling you that I was eight months pregnant with twins and still finding a way to shave my legs every single day…so these razor blades have been working fine for me…but maybe that’s because I shave my legs daily anyway. I love that every couple months, I get a few new blades in the mail …and don’t have to buy razors at Kroger. We have a couple of travel holders too.

Function of beauty– This is Hadley’s shampoo and conditioner of choice. She’s used it for about a year and a half. Have you heard of it? I’m not sure where else you can find it, but we get it at Target. You choose your shampoo and conditioner (Hadley uses wavy hair) and then add in your “booster shot” to the bottle. Not sure if it’s working, but Hadley has beautifully long hair…and uses the “lengthen” booster shot.

How pretty is this display? I knew I was going to write this post, and then was at Target and saw the display.

Overflow…

Since the kids and I share a shower, some things stay in the shower full-time (my stuff!), but I have a basket on the toilet where they grab what they need (usually their shampoo)

Extra shave cream– There’s nothing worse than getting in the shower and realizing I’m out of something.
Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer –Amy shared about this (I think back in the winter?) and I’ve used it ever since. I don’t use it as much as I did in the winter, but I love it. I get it at Target.
Extra shower gel
Body lotion –I love the Nivea Shea Daily Moisture Body lotion
Air freshener
Shampoo– I keep the Krisin Ess shampoo on standby if we need extra shampoo
Hadley’s shampoo / conditioner – Function of Beauty

Anyway, this was kind of a random post, but I always love seeing what products people use and love.

What are your “go to” shower products?

Me, Self-care

Tuesday Talk: Seint Makeup

Posted on August 16, 2022August 15, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Well, today’s post is a bit out of my comfort zone…lots of selfies of me, but I’ve been using Seint makeup for about a month and want to tell you all about it.

Tuesday Talk: Seint Makeup

I’ve always said that Hadley knows more about hair and makeup than I do. She doesn’t wear much, but she needs to know how to apply it for dance. Plus, most teen/tween girls like watching makeup videos on You Tube! I’ve used the same drug store (L’oreal, for example) products for years, and honestly had no issues with them. They do the trick, and I’m a “less is more” gal anyway. I’ve always worn enough for there to be a difference in making my skin look more even, but not much otherwise.

That being said, my friend Amy is now a Seint consultant, and I was intrigued but her Insta stories sharing about the products.

I went to her house, and she did a color match on me in person. That being said, many Seint reps can color match via a photo you send them.

I’ve gotten the hang of it pretty quickly. Amy has shared a few videos of her Seint makeup routine, and at first, I followed along as she did them. Also, there are so many videos on Instagram and Pinterest. I also used my color map that Amy sent me after my consultation as a guide, but it was nice to see the process in real time and follow along.

Palette and Brushes:

I purchased the IIID Palette 12 in silver. This palette holds six makeup tins on each side. There’s a mirror in the palette, and it has a magnetic closure. These are cream based products, so there’s no mess!

I think most will say that the IIID Brush does it all. So, if you just purchase one brush, get that one. I purchased the IIID as well as the Detail Brush, and I am glad that I have both.

Makeup:

Here’s what’s in my palette:

Contour: Astoria
Highlight: Aura (light highlight, similar to your concealer)
Highlight: Mango (darker highlight, similar to your foundation)
Bronzer: Bella (I don’t use this as often as I thought I would)
Lip/Cheek: Pink Grapefruit (great summer color, but I think I will get something a bit darker for the fall)
Illuminator: Rose Gold

So, the other side of my palette is empty, but I bet as my tan fades, I will need a different color of highlight(s). Also, Seint as cream based eye shadows, but I have a few other products that I currently use.

Here I am after my first time applying Seint in late July. I followed along with Amy’s video, and thought that I did a pretty good job!

The Process:

Warning: here come the selfies!

Before:

Step 1: contour, highlight (concealer), highlight (main)

I use my finger to apply the product(s).

Contour – Apply to forehead, cheekbones, jaw line, and outside of nose to the tip.

Highlight (concealer)– Apply to either side of eyes, down the middle/bridge of nose, under nose, on chin, and blemishes if you have any.

Highlight (main/foundation) – This goes anywhere you don’t have makeup.

Blend – Tip: Blend light to dark. I use the wider side of Detail Brush and go up my nose and fan out to get my forehead. Then I blend my chin, and then I use smaller side of detail brush to do under my eyes. I then use the bigger side of IIID brush and start with contour rubbing in circles on my forehead up to my hair line to blend. Then, I blend in the contour on my jawline and down to my neck.

After blending contour and two highlights:

Step 2: blush

I dab a bit on the tops of both cheeks.

Blend: Then, I blend using the smaller side of IIID brush.

Before and after blending in the blush:

Step 3: bronzer (If using)

I put this where the sun hits my face. So, I put a bit on my forehead, the tops of my cheeks, and my chin.

Blend: I blend in the bronzer using the bigger side of IIID brush.

Before and after blending in the bronzer:

Step 4: Illuminator

I put this on the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of nose, on the tops of my cheeks, and a bit on my chin.

Blend: I blend using bigger side of IIID brush.

Before and after blending in the illuminator:

Step 5: lip

I’m more of a lip gloss/Chapstick girl, so I typically only do lip for a weekend night. Again, I like this grapefruit color, but will look for something more fall/winter that’s dark but not too dark once we get into September.

After adding lip color:

*After the photo above, I went back and blended on the bridge of my nose a bit more… (but forgot to take photo) #notabeautyblogger

Also:

The cream base of Seint makeup is forgiving because I can add more if needed. So if I have too much bronzer, I can add more highlight and blend to take away some of the bronze.

I also love that I can kind of choose what works for me for the day.

For example, on the average weekend day when I just want some coverage, I’ve just used both highlights for to even out my skin…and also applied mascara. (I don’t go anywhere without mascara!)

Also, there are many days I skip bronzer and illuminator…just depends on what I’m wanting for that day. I really can get away with just contour, both highlights, blush, eye shadow and mascara for a normal school day.

A few options:

Here I am Saturday night with no bronzer or Illuminator, only the other products.

*Like I said, I think I’m more of a lip gloss girl and added some after this photo but I like this pink for summer.

Then, for church on Sunday, I didn’t use bronzer, but I did use Illuminator. Then, I added lip gloss to the grapefruit Seint lip.

Overall, I’m loving the Seint makeup. The process is now pretty easy for me. I feel like it helps my skin look flawless. The coverage seems to last all day.

I think I’ve moved from novice to accomplished using Seint over the past month. It definitely hasn’t slowed down my morning routine at all. I actually timed myself yesterday morning, and I’d applied all makeup in 5 minutes!

Well, I feel like I’ve been in your face quite a bit today! 😂 Let me know if you have any questions. I’m sure Amy can help get those answered or help you if you are interested.

I hope your week is off to a great start! Seint is also perfect for hiding the bags under my tired eyes!

Happy Tuesday!