What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on August 25, 2021August 24, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How’s your week going? We’re off to a good, but hectic start!

Today, I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday. I haven’t done this link up in a few months, so I’m excited to share today!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

Sunday- We had our neighborhood block party, and we had tacos from a local food truck!
Monday- I made Andrea’s Bacon Ranch Penne Pasta recipe and served it with watermelon.
Tuesday- Leftover pasta after the cross country meet, served with fruit!
Wednesday- Hadley requested salmon, so that’s on the menu for tonight. I’ll serve it with Bob Evans mashed potatoes and green beans.
Thursday– The slow cooker will save the day tomorrow, and I will make Shay’s meatballs over rice, and broccoli will be our side dish.
Friday and Saturday- We always eat out on the weekends. I love to cook, but Friday and Saturday nights I give myself a break.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Next month will mark 20 years with T-rav. We had our first date in September of 2001!

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I’m just continuing to keep up with our school and activities schedule. We have a mix of old and new activities, so I’m just trying to get in a groove. For example, Hayden is still playing baseball, but has cross country after school. It’s just a new routine of drop off and pick ups! We’ll get the hang of it just in time for some new activity to start.

I’m also working on being intentional with planning my workouts. I could kind of wing it during the summer, and then I eased into the school year where a quick afternoon nap would win out over a sweat sesh. Now, I’m trying to get up a couple of mornings like I did for quite a few years before March of 2020. It’s nice to get those workouts crossed off the “to do” list.

I’m still loving my Happy Planner teacher planner to keep me organized at school as well.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

School. Activities. Repeat.

As I mentioned, Hayden’s baseball team still has a few tournaments left. His cross country has started as well. He had his first meet last night!

Hadley’s ballet, tap and jazz class started this week. Competition classes started last week!

On Sunday, we did go to our pool’s Back to School Bash which was a great way to spend our Sunday afternoon. Of course, the pool is still open a couple more weeks!

WHAT I’M DREADING:

…receiving a quarantine phone call from kids’ school. I mentioned in a previous post about how so many kids are having to quarantine right now if they are near someone who tests positive at school. Hopefully, the kids can remain in school!

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Honestly, I’m excited for the kids’ middle school activities. It will be fun to see what they choose to do as far as sports and clubs. I can tell they are loving having a little more freedom in middle school.

Also, is it too early to say that I’m excited about fall? haha! Now, I just need these 90 degree days to go away!

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I watched Luke Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries documentary over the weekend, and I thought it was really good. I’m a Luke Bryan fan. It was interesting to hear about his career, listen to what other had to say about him, and see him interact with his family. I knew he’d lost so many close loved ones, but to hear him tell his story and share his loss really left an impact on me.

I’m currently reading The Four Winds and can’t put it down.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

I haven’t listened to all the seasons of Even the Rich, but I started listening to the newest season about J Lo and Ben!

I catch most of the episodes of Always Hungry. I’m a big Food Network girl, and I love hearing Bobby Flay interact with his daughter Sophie. I loved their Flay List (TV) series that was on last year.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

My new shirt from Amazon is still a fave. I’ve shared it before, but it’s still getting a lot of wear.

I loved this blue dress so much that I’ve also purchased it in gray.

You might have noticed, I had on these sandals with both outfits. We’ve been in school for two weeks, and I’ve worn these every single day! They are definitely my sandal of the summer!

Shirt // Dress // Sandals

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Well, Hayden has cross country meet on Saturday and baseball on Sunday, so I think that will take up most of our time.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

Being able to say it’s officially fall! Seriously, fall is my most favorite time of the year!

See you back here tomorrow for Monthly Musings and then on Friday for my favorites from the week.

Take care,

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on February 24, 2021February 25, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hey! Happy What’s Up Wednesday! I can’t believe that next week is March! February flew by, and at least this week, we’ve thawed out, the snow has melted, and we’ve had temps in the 50’s! It actually feels like spring…which probably means we’ll get two snow storms in March here in Kentucky.

Today, I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for WUW!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

Sunday- Sliders and soup!
Monday- Andrea’s Creamy Beef and Rice and broccoli
Tuesday- My kids’ school had a fundraiser at Chipolte, so we had a Taco Tuesday where I didn’t have to cook!
Wednesday– Shay’s Chicken Tortilla Soup…which is a family favorite!
Thursday– Shay’s Beefy Cornbread Casserole Obviously, this recipe is on Shay’s blog, but it’s also in one of her cookbooks that I hadn’t used in a while. I made it a couple weeks ago, and it was so good! We all loved it, so I wanted to make it again before winter is over.
Friday and Saturday– I’m sure we’ll eat out or get carry out per usual on the weekend.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

The first day of school. As I’ve mentioned my kids haven’t stepped foot in their school since March 13, 2020. This year, they’ve been home with me three days a week and have attended school with a pod of kids the other two days. Fingers crossed, one week from today, they will be back in school with only three months left in the 5th grade.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

My Air Fryer…

I received so many awesome suggestions after my Tuesday Talk post last week. (I’d love even more, so let me know some of your favorite Air Fryer recipes!)

Besides using it to reheat items or cook frozen foods, I’ve made veggies for dinner side dishes, donuts, and sliders. Up next: cinnamon rolls…I mean, just the store bought ones, but I’m going to bake them in the Air Fryer. I can’t wait to give them a try!

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

This is so random, but I’m working on deleting photos from my phone. I save all my photos to Shutterfly, so there’s ZERO reason why I need to keep so many on my phone. That being said, I was up to like 9,000 photos and was just waiting for Apple to tell me my storage was full! Anyway, for some reason, deleting so many photos seems overwhelming to me, so I set an alarm on my phone to delete 100 photos a day. I’ve been doing this since January 1st, and I’ve gone from 9,000 to 4,800…now, that’s progress, y’all! I probably should have just called the Home Edit ladies…or given them my phone to return to me when there are 52 photos left on it 😂

We also just finished up sorting and delivering Hadley’s Girl Scout cookie orders. She still has a few more orders that will come in, but 90% of her cookies have been delivered!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

Besides school, work, dance, and basketball, the kids had plenty of fun in the snow over the past two weeks…and have a couple of broken sleds to prove it!

Travis and I made it out to dinner at one of our favorite places last Friday night. I love a 6:30 reservation by the fire…and home by 8:00!

I’m continuing my Beachbody workouts, and finished up Muscle Burns Fat. On Monday, I started Muscle Burns Fat Advanced. It might as well be called Muscle Burns Fat EXTREME because Megan has me cussing half the time…which must mean she knows what she’s doing!

WHAT I’M DREADING:

I’m not technically dreading anything right now, but of course, I continue to feel unsettled with the plans for return to in person learning. I hope once the elementary kids are phased in, we are ready to get a plan for the middle and high school kids. Right now feels very similar to the end of the school year last year when we were living on a two week by two week timeline with such uncertainty about educational plans.

*Edit: After I had this all typed out, we received the email and phone call with a plan to get all grades back in the building by the middle of March. Fingers crossed that Covid cases continue to decline and the plan can be carried out as scheduled. 😊😊

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Hayden and Hadley getting to (hopefully!) finish their last few months of elementary school in the building. Maybe I will have another Back 2 School Breakfast next week??

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

American Idol is back, and we usually watch it as a family.

Recently, we watched The Blindside and Top Gun with Hayden. He loved both movies. I don’t think I have seen either movie in years, and they were fun to watch.

Tomorrow, I will share the books I read in February. I’m currently reading We Were the Lucky Ones. I don’t typically read historical fiction, but this novel has captured my attention!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson have a new podcast called Calm Down. They’ve only had one episode, and Kevin Hart was their guest. Erin and Charissa are smart, funny, and sassy! I’m sure I will tune into this one weekly!

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Apparently, joggers and more joggers.

I a few weeks ago, Old Navy was having a sale, and I picked up these joggers. I love that they are high-waisted and form fitting but loose at the same time.

My Old Navy didn’t have the joggers in black, so I turned to Amazon….because why would I pay for shipping at Old Navy if I could find an option on Amazon where shipping is free! (and fast!)

I’ve dressed both pairs of joggers up and down…sweater, sweatshirt, tennis shoes, leopard flats, etc. The material of both lends to them being versatile.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Well, this weekend is what happens when make up basketball games and tournaments for two teams collide. Hayden has two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday!

Hadley’s talked me into taking her to Target to “look around…” Yikes…I’m scared just typing that out! She wants a few items for her room and maybe couple pairs of leggings or joggers because we’re all hoping pajama pants aren’t going to be a daytime wardrobe option soon!

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

I’m looking forward to spring weather and corned beef and cabbage on the menu. Also, Hadley has her first dance competition in March and baseball will be in full swing next month as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

Take care,

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on January 27, 2021January 26, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! It’s already the end of January, so I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for their What’s Up Wednesday post!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

Per usual, I only cook Sunday-Thursdays. Here’s what we are eating this week:

Sunday: Shay’s Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tortilla Soup
Monday: Million dollar spaghetti and roasted broccoli
Tuesday: Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan, Trader Joe’s risotto, and fruit
Wednesday: Monday/Tuesday leftovers and bagged Caesar salad
Thursday: Shay’s Beefy Cornbread Casserole, rice/broccoli side
Friday and Saturday: take out!

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

I’m reminiscing about my itty bitty valentines…

Here they are in February 2015.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

I’m loving Hadley’s new Valentine’s Day sweatshirt that I ordered from MelandMae on Etsy. It’s so cute, and she loves wearing it.

I’m loving my new Kendra Scott bracelets. I love jewelry that can be worn with any outfit whether it’s workout clothes or dressed for school. Travis and the kids gave me the silver bracelet from Christmas, and then last week I used my birthday 50% off discount for the gold set of three bracelets. I’d never done that before, so I was excited to find something to go with the silver bracelet.

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I’m working on tomorrow’s Monthly Musings blog post (with Holly and Patty!). It’s the first MM of 2021!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

School for the kids, work/school for me (emails, emails emails, meetings…and Zoom appointments with students)…

Hayden is on two basketball teams, and Hadley attends dance two nights a week.

I finished 21Day Fix Extreme, and have started a new workout program: Muscle Burns Fat.

Also, is anyone else out there buying lottery tickets?! We rarely do, but when the jackpot gets close to $1 billion, I get greedy and tell Travis to pick up a few tickets!

WHAT I’M DREADING:

besides not winning the lottery?! 😂…Honestly, not much. It’s nice that the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over (not that we hustled or bustled as much as usual this year), and we can settle into the new year. I do have days where my Covid anxiety heightens, but I try to keep in mind that hopefully we are moving towards more of a sense of normalcy.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Our KC Chiefs are headed to the Super Bowl!! We are so excited. I’m not a perfect parent, but one of my greatest accomplishments is instilling a love for my KC Royals and KC Chiefs in my kids…well, at least Hayden! That being said, Hadley will dress for any occasion!

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I shared the books I read in January yesterday, so check that post out!

I’ve been watching the new Real Housewives franchise: Salt Lake City! Apparently, it doesn’t matter where you live…there’s always drama 😉

I also started season 4 of The Crown, and I’m loving it! Now that Diana is in the picture, the story line is really moving!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

…the rain as I type this post.

Also, I haven’t really been listening to podcasts lately, but Instagram stories will suck me in every time! I set a timer on my phone as to not waste too much time on social media.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

I went to Target for dry shampoo and a few things for Hadley, and I somehow left with this top and matching joggers for myself! Things just hop into my cart when I’m at Target!

I love both pieces, but I find that I tend to wear them separately more than together. I’m not a super matchy match person, I guess. Both are so soft and cozy and are perfect for wearing at home or running errands!

I’ve been wearing these three sweaters from Amazon on repeat since November.

{affiliate links for sweaters below}

I have this one in blue.

I have this cozy sweater in “wine red.” It’s so soft, and I love that I can wear it with leggings or jeans.

I wore it to school the other day with my favorite leopard flats.

And, I’ve shared this one before that I have in pink and navy blue. I probably wear this sweater the most of the other three. Of course, I have it in two colors, but I truly do love it. I purchased it in size medium after realizing size large was too big.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

I think I will put up my Valentine’s Day decor. I don’t do much anyway; I just add a few touches here and there.

Here’s a pic of last year’s Valentine’s Day dinner!

Also, Hayden has two basketball games on Saturday, but then we should have a pretty relaxing Sunday.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

I guess I’m looking forward to Valetine’s Day next month. I’ve already bought the kids a couple of things that I know they’ll like, and maybe Travis and I will be able to go out to dinner.

I also keep hoping for a good snowfall. Maybe February will bring that weather to Kentucky?!

I haven’t written a WUW post in a couple of months, so I was happy to join this link up today. Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts as well!

Thanks so much for reading.

What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on October 28, 2020October 28, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How is it already the last Wednesday in October? October is my favorite month, and I feel like it needs at least 14 more days! haha Y’all, it’s completely flown by!

As always, I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for their What’s Up Wednesday series.

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

I’m back to cooking this week which has been good for me!

Sunday– Chicken chili and cornbread

Monday- easy pork loin, Bob Evans mashed potatoes, and veggies
Tuesday- leftover chili and cornbread
Wednesday – Baked chicken thighs (my dad’s recipe!), Trader Joe’s Risotto, and fruit
Thursday– leftover chicken, bagged salad
Friday– Spooky Halloween dinner (hot dogs, mac and cheese, and grapes)

Saturday– It’s Halloween. I usually make chili and/or Shay’s Chicken Tortilla Soup and some other family faves.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

This pic of Hadley popped up in my Facebook memories from 2016 when she dressed up for the 50th day of school. I can’t get over how the elementary years have flown by and how fast this crazy school year is going!

WHAT I’M LOVING:

I’m loving this Chex Mix that I whipped up after seeing it on Instagram Stories.

Chex cereal
Candy Corn
Peanuts
Reese’s Pieces

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I’m just continuing to rest up and heal from my surgery. I have my two week appointment with my doctor today. This week, I’ve definitely been easing back a bit more into “real life” with cooking, laundry, helping the kids with school and continuing to work from home.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

This week we’ve had a little more down time now that baseball is over. Cross country and dance have continued, but we’ve had a few extra weekend days and weekday evenings just at home rather than running around everywhere.

The kids have been focused on their Pod President campaign. Over the weekend, they worked on their slogans and signs before taking them to their class pod. The election is next Wednesday, I believe. Before then, they will each give a speech and participate in a debate with the other candidate (three kids, total, are running for the position).

Pod President gets to choose the seating chart for the day, bring their favorite snack to share, and choose the recess activity.

Hadley upped her campaign game with buttons! 🤣

WHAT I’M DREADING:

Nothing really at the moment. I’m just always overwhelmed with the school situation (even though we have a great routine going), and now I guess we need to start thinking about the holidays. I’m not sure how all of that will shake out.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

My Missouri Tigers beat Trav’s Kentucky Wildcats in football last Saturday.

They say, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it…” Well, I have an MU garden flag, and it’s flying! 🎉#zerochill Hayden noticed right away, and I’m not sure if Travis has noticed I changed it yet or not.

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

Last week, I binged Million Dollar Beach House on Netflix in a matter of a couple of days. In my defense, there are only six 30 minute episodes.

Then, I moved on to Virgin River which a few people suggested. I just finished episode 7, and I really like it. A perk to be late to watching VR is that I will finish Season 1 and Season 2 will be out next month! (Side note–Travis saw me watching it, and said he’d watched it back when shut down/quarantine started! I had no idea. 😂 )

I’m almost finished with The Guest List. This was definitely a popular read, and I was on the library wait list for quite some time. It’s pretty good. I hope to share about the books I read in October tomorrow or early next week.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

Honestly, I haven’t been listening to my regular podcasts recently since I mostly do that on my walks and while working out. I hope to get back on track with listening to those very soon!

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Landyn shared about this Target robe that she’s had for years. Apparently, Target quit selling it a couple of years ago, but a follower of hers shared that they saw Target was selling it again. #rundontwalk This is the best robe ever. I had a Target gift card, so I felt even better about the purchase.

I was in Walmart recently and saw this lightweight tunic jacket. It comes in a few colors, and I picked up the dark gray. I like that it’s lightweight, so I can wear it in the house or layer it to wear outside.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

It’s Halloween! This is one of our favorite holidays. Cool weather, candy, and costumes. So fun.

Hayden and Hadley’s costumes through the years..

2019: Ghostbuster and nerd

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

The kids’ birthday! Hayden and Hadley will be 11! How is that even possible?!

I think we wrapped up the birthday t-shirt tradition last year. I loved it so much, but I thought 10 was a good age to move on. I’ve said before that Hadley probably would have let me buy a her a b-day t-shirt until she’s 50, and Hayden was over it a couple of years ago.

We haven’t made any solid birthday plans just yet. This year, their birthday falls on a Friday, so we may let them hang with a few friends and keep it kind of simple.

Thanks so much for reading my What’s Up Wednesday post! Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

I hope you are having a great week.

Kids, What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on September 30, 2020September 29, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Happy What’s Up Wednesday! On the last Wednesday of the month, Sheaffer and Shay host a link up to share a bit about what’s going on!

I can’t believe tomorrow is October! It’s no secret that I love fall, but October is my favorite month of the year. By October, we are in a school routine (even for an odd year like this one!), the weather is turning cooler, we have fall break, we visit the pumpkin patch, and of course, there’s Halloween!

Before I get too far into dreaming about October, I first need to wrap up September! Here’s what’s happening with us!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

I’ve been a slacker…and off my meal planning game…

Sunday: Subway sandwiches in between baseball games.
Monday: Rotisserie chicken, Trader Joe’s mushroom risotto, and broccoli before the kids’ cross country meet.
Tuesday: Shay’s Sloppy Joe’s , Bob Evans mashed potatoes, and salad.
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday-Saturday: I had hoped to make my favorite Pumpkin Sausage Penne recipe, but I may push that to next week and wing it for meals the rest of the week.

Hadley earned the Red Plate last night because her teacher called and left me a message about how hard Hadley is working in class as well as how she is being a leader and a good classmate. Makes my mama teacher heart very proud.

Also, this week, we’ve enjoyed treats that the kids made in their pod on Monday. They were put into three baking groups for an apple baking challenge. The three groups made one of the following: mini apple pies, apple turnovers, and apple monkey bread bites.

They had such a great time, and the leftovers have been amazing.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Last fall break when we went glamping . It was definitely a fun experience.

I’m also reminiscing about this sweet little troop of girls. They started off as Daisies and are now Junior Girl Scouts. They had their first meeting of the year last Friday.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

My new bar stools for my kitchen. We’d had the previous ones since we moved in six years ago, and it was time for an upgrade. I found these at At Home store, and they are two inches taller and more sturdy. Hopefully, we can get five years (or longer!) out of these too!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

I feel like a broken record, but yes, our lives revolve around our kids’ activities right now. From cross country to dance to baseball to Girl Scouts…that’s where you’ll find us. I do enjoy watching them do the things that they love even if it means early wake ups on the weekend, later bedtimes (for me!) on a weeknight, and miles on put on my car.

I’ve mentioned before that Hadley’s trying competition team this year. There will be three competitions (hopefully!) in the spring. She was excited to find this sign in our yard on Friday.

Friday evening, the kids had a cross country meet. The hosts of the events we’ve gone to have done such a wonderful job following protocols that then allow these kids to compete. I’ve been very impressed.

Hadley finished in 7th place, and Hayden had his first ever first place finish. We are so proud of both of them, and I love that Travis is coaching them.

Real talk: Trav’s family is a running family. My family is not. I always joke if you see me running, you’d better help me because that means someone is chasing me! 😉So, I guess they get their speed and agility from his side!

Friday night Hadley’s Girl Scout troop met for the first time this year. One of their fun activities was roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. It was the perfect evening for an outside meeting.

Saturday and Sunday Hayden had a baseball tournament. He pitched two of the four games over the weekend, and did an amazing job.

This team lost in the championship, but enjoyed their weekend playing ball.

Funny Hayden quote: When we arrived home very late on Sunday night from the championship game, Hayden was excited to see Homer. Homer sniffed Hayden a whole bunch, and Hayden said, “What Homer? Do I smell like a runner-up?” 😂

Then, Monday, some of the area schools put together a cross country meet here in town. We haven’t had rain in over two weeks, but Monday’s weather was the real test for these runners. They ran in wind and a light rain with cooler temps. The cooler temps were perfect for running…not so much the wind and rain. But…they persevered. Hadley placed 6th and Hayden had another 1st place finish. This was their first 3K meet of the year. The other two meets have been 1.2 miles.

WHAT I’M DREADING:

This topic always throws me off each month! I never want to sound negative. Sarcastic, yes. Negative, no. 😉

We’ve been in such a blessed position with the kids going to a pod to learn two days a week, our sitter comes over one day, and I’m with them the other two days. That being said, we haven’t had much clarification for a timeline to at least start with a hyrbid model, and I was really hoping my kids would be able to at least start going to school, even for just a couple days a week, soon. It sounds like November is our earliest option, but unfortunately, we still need the number of Covid cases to decline.

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

Basically, I’m just over here trying to get my life together! So, that’s what I’m working on. I’m also hoping to get a blog post together for this week (hopefully tomorrow!) about the books I read in September.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

I’m excited about having a couple of days off starting tomorrow. It will be nice to relax, unwind…and not set an alarm for a couple of days.

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I’m almost finished reading Two Can Keep a Secret which one of my friends recommended.

Lately, I feel like I haven’t had tons of time to read or watch many shows. If I have a few minutes, I like to watch some mindless shows like Real Housewives. I only have a couple episodes left of The Home Edit on Netflix. I’ve loved watching those ladies purge and organize other people’s closets, kitchens, and homes.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

I’ve been listening to random podcasts here and there, but lately, I turned back to Even the Rich podcast. This season focuses on the Chappaquiddick saga with Ted Kennedy.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Cardigans. On Repeat. I added this Amazon cardigan to my collection recently and love it. It’s so soft and not too heavy.

Also, I’ve continued to wear my Universal Thread cardigans from Target.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

We are taking a break from all the sports action and kids’ activities. I’m hoping for a few days of relaxation and family time.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

All things October.

Thanks so much for reading. Don’t forget to check out Sheaffer and Shay’s posts too!

I hope you are having a great week!

What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on July 29, 2020July 28, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Y,all! My mind is blown. How in the world is July almost over?

I do feel like July flew by and now all eyes are on back to school…whatever that may look like!

Since it’s the last Wednesday of the month, I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday post.

WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK:

Sunday: I made Bev’s Meatloaf in Tomato Sauce. It’s easy, hearty, and so delish! I paired that with Trader Joe’s Mushroom Risotto and watermelon.
Monday: Leftover meatloaf and bagged Ceasar salad.
Tuesday: Trader Joe’s carnitas with salsa verde. (I mentioned in my Trader Joe’s post that I put the carnitas and salsa in the slow cooker for a few hours for a delicious dinner. I eat the carnitas with a salad, or we do nachos or tacos). Trader Joe’s Street corn will be our side dish.
Wednesday: We will have carnitas leftovers and fruit for dinner.
Thursday: I’m making one of my favorite summer pastas. The Pinterest link doesn’t work anymore, but it’s as simple as cooking the pasta and then drizzling it with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and mixing it with the other ingredients. For a side, we’ll have roasted broccoli.

Friday and Saturday: Like most weekends, we’ll do carry out for dinner. #mamadontcookontheweekends

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

My Memory Lane post yesterday had me reminiscing about when I was a kid. It’s crazy to look at pics of me at the age my kids are now and wonder what they’ll think and remember about their childhood.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

I’m loving Hayden’s new glasses. He’s been wearing these as well as his sports goggles. He looks like such a big kid!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

We’ve been checking appointments off our list (ortho, dental, vision and more).

The kids have been playing outside quite a bit as well as beating the summer heat at home.

Hayden has baseball a few days a week, and Hadley’s been taking dance workshop classes.

We’ve also been checking things off our “Summer Fun” list one thing at a time.

WHAT I’M DREADING:

I don’t know if “dread” is the word, but I am disappointed that we aren’t starting school in a normal fashion this year. I just hate it for my students who need to be at school and, of course, I hate it for my own kids. It’s the last year of elementary school for them as they will be 5th graders this year.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think they’d start their last first day of elementary school online. As a teacher and as a parent, I completely understand the decision. I just can’t believe we’ve been out of the school building for almost 5 months. I’m disappointed that our COVID numbers continue to rise, and we appear to be in a worse situation than when this all began.

Of course, I will have a good attitude about it though because I firmly believe that the kids are looking at us, as parents, and will respond accordingly. Hadley is bummed that this is how school is starting. Hayden seems pretty indifferent about it all. So, even within my own household, I have to choose my words carefully and react in a way that will be best for my kids.

I saw this recently on social media, and it certainly rings true.

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I’m working on getting organized for the school year. I buy a new lesson plan book every year. I always feel better once I get all the dates and my preps written in it. I always buy new colorful pens to brighten up the pages. I do love a planner and pens!

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Hadley starts back to her dance classes next week. They are going to use August to brush up on their recital routines and then have an in studio dance recital before starting the new semester of dance in September.

Hadley had dance recital pics yesterday. I always underestimate how long it takes to get a girl in tights, her hair up in a bun, and some blush on her cheeks! And…Hadley’s better at the hair and makeup part than I could ever be!

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I love the show The Rookie on ABC, I’m a big fan of Nathan Fillion. I’d fallen behind with watching it, so I’ve been getting caught up on it. I just have one more episode of the season left to watch.

Hayden and I started watching Alone on Netflix. This is apparently the sixth season, but I’m not sure how to see the other seasons. Ten contestants are placed in the Arctic wilderness to see if they can survive 100 days (I think?) and win $500,000. Each person films themselves, hunts the land for food, makes their own shelter, etc. Let me just go ahead and say that I would last 1/2 a day. 😉 I don’t even think I could make coffee over a fire…and, I guess I’d first need to know how to start a fire!

I just finished reading Feels Like Falling and then started The Family Upstairs. I’m working on my What I’ve Been Reading (in July) post for Friday.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

I usually only listen to podcasts when I walk, and I haven’t been walking as much lately. I still love Landyn’s podcast when I am out for a walk.

Also, as I type this post, I’m hearing silence! Both kids are outside playing 🙂

WHAT I’M WEARING:

I’ve been loving my new sandals from Amazon. I’m sure before summer is over, I will get another pair in another color!

When we went to Walmart last week to pick up Hayden’s glasses, I saw these workout shorts. I’d been on the hunt for a black pair, and these have been a perfect fit. They are the Avia brand. I can’t seem to find them online, but they were only $12 in the store and remind me of Athleta or Lulu shorts. They do have a built in biker short which I didn’t realize until I got home, but I actually like that detail.

I also didn’t immediately find the exact workout tank I bought, but I bought one in coral and one in gray. They have a split hem and cover your bum if wearing leggings. The tanks were only $6.96 each. My tanks seem similar to these.

I’m also a sucker for pajama shorts! I’ve purchased a few mix and match Secret Treasures pajamas over the past couple of years from Walmart. I picked up this pair of shorts to add to my collection.

My Shop Style Your Senses bracelets arrived recently, and I’ve been wearing them on the regular.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

We don’t have too much planned. I’m sure we will lay low at home in between Hayden’s baseball games.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

No matter what school looks like when we start, I will certainly treat my kids to our traditional Back to School breakfast.

Thanks so much for reading. Don’t forget to check out Sheaffer and Shay’s posts too!

I hope you are having a great week.

Clothes, What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on June 24, 2020June 23, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

It’s the last Wednesday of the month (Y’all, how is that even possible?!), so I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for What’s Up Wednesday.

I have to start off by wishing my husband a Happy Anniversary!! Today is our 15th wedding anniversary. Again, y’all….How is that even possible?! He may be wondering the same thing! 😂I couldn’t do life without him and love and appreciate him more than he’ll ever know! #cheersto15years

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

Sunday: I mentioned in my Father’s Day post that we had kabobs, pasta salad, watermelon, and asparagus fries for our Father’s Day menu. Then, we had lemon freezer pie for dessert.
Monday: I kept it simple and put Trader Joe’s Traditional Carnitas in the slow cooker with Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde and cooked everything on low for 4 hours. I mixed my carnitas in with one of my favorite Trader Joe’s salads: Southwestern Chopped Salad. I only used half of the salad. Travis and the kids had hard shell tacos and tortillas for their carnitas.
Tuesday: I hadn’t planned for it, but we ended up having enough carnitas for leftovers on Tuesday which was perfect because Hadley had dance and Hayden had baseball. I paired the tacos with Trader Joe’s Mexican Style Roasted Corn. (another fave!)
Wednesday: Pork loin, bagged salad, and Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes (Hadley’s fave!)
Thursday: Travis and I are going out to dinner, so the kids will have dinner at home.
Friday and Saturday: We’ll eat out (or get carry out)

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Where the heck the time as gone?! We got married 15 years ago today in my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. When I look back on these years, I always tell Travis he seems to never change (He doesn’t even age, dang it!), and I always feel like the hot mess. Any ups and downs we’ve had in life, I feel like he’s handled with grace and wisdom…and I’m just over here fumbling. Thankfully, we strike a good balance with our personalities and how we handle things. That being said, I blinked in we were wrapped up in full time careers with two very active kids. Jobs and kids are both a blessing, but we do have to continue to work to make time for each other. Thankfully, we give each other grace and are each other’s biggest supporters. It’s been a blessing to grow together as a couple, and I’m sure we’re forever a work in progress (at least I know I am! 😉 I’m very thankful every single day for Travis White!

Thanks to my dad, we had a police escort from the church to our reception.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

As you can tell from my menu this week, I made a trip to Trader Joe’s! Their peonies always stop me in my tracks. Peonies, hydrangeas, and tulips are my favorite flowers.

In the spring and summer months, I usually buy flowers once a week for a couple spots in our home.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

Baseball practice for Hayden, a dance workshop for Hadley, running errands, and just a little of this and a little of that.

WHAT I’M DREADING:

Hayden is getting his Phase 2 braces soon. I thought he was getting them yesterday, but at his appointment, they took impressions and put spacers between some of his teeth.

Phase 1 was in 2nd grade and lasted about 9 months. This time, he will have top and bottom braces as well as rods to help with his overbite. So, I’m not dreading the braces for myself (obviously), but I just know they will be a big adjustment and a bit painful at first for him. He’ll have them for about two years. Hadley is due as well but we are holding off a bit for her as his ortho work is more extensive.

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I’m working on drinking more water. I bought this water bottle...and it’s not small! BUT…I fill it up 2-3 times a day and am definitely drinking more water. I like that it has a handle and straw with a cap and I do find myself taking it with me wherever I go.

Also, we are working on crossing some things off of our Summer 2020 list.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

I’m excited to go to one of our favorite restaurants tomorrow night for dinner to celebrate our anniversary.

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I’m still binge watching Good Bones and just finished this season of Top Chef.

On Netflix, I’m still chipping away at Dead to Me and only have a few episodes left of Sweet Magnolias.

I’m close to finishing Simple Wild on my Kindle and have started One in a Million that I picked up from the library recently.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

I just finished Even the Rich Season 3 which was all about Beyonce’ and Jay Z. I love this podcast!

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Target has been my main source for summer wear.

I love both of these shorts by Universal Thread because they can be casual or dressed up.

Also, this pink dress is super comfy and comes in a variety of colors. Again, it can be dressed up or down.

olive shorts

medium wash shorts

dress

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

At the moment, I’m not sure. I’m happy to continue to not be too busy on the weekends! Hayden does have practice Friday-Sunday evenings, but other than that, we don’t have solid plans.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

I’m looking forward to possibly visiting family in KC next month.

Also, I love the 4th of July, so we are all looking forward to that. Last year, Hadley was away at camp on the 4th, and it just felt so different without her home. We saved sparklers for when she got home.

Also, Trav’s birthday is in July! I doubt he wants a birthday parade, but he’ll for sure get our traditional birthday cookie cake!

Thanks so much for reading today’s post! Make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on May 27, 2020May 26, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday…also known as our last day of school! We are ready for summer, for sure! Since it’s the last Wednesday of the month, it also means that Shay and Sheaffer host this fun link up. As always, I thought I’d join them.

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

Sunday – Travis picked up steaks to grill and twice baked potatoes from a local place. Both were so delicious!
Monday- We grilled out with a few neighbors. Everyone brought their own food. We had brats and hot dogs, watermelon, and I made this delicious Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad. It was so good!
Tuesday- I kept it easy with a frozen pasta meal and side salad.
Wednesday – Tonight, I’m going to tryout this new taquito recipe with Trader Joe’s Mexican Street corn (my fave!)
Thursday – Most likely taquito leftovers with chips and guac!
Friday and Saturday – We’ll carry out food to continue to support local restaurants.

This chicken Caesar pasta salad was so good!

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

With today being the last day for 4th grade…how is that even possible?!? I’m definitely reminiscing about how quickly these elementary years are flying by! Hayden and Hadley only have one more year at our beloved elementary school. We’ve been so blessed with our elementary experience.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

I’m loving slowly getting back into the swing of things. I’m ready to proceed with caution. Hadley requested the “pink drink” from Starbucks, but then got nervous she wouldn’t like coconut milk so they made it with lemonade 😂 It was so hot out that I got myself a vanilla frappuccino. I hadn’t had a Starbucks since early March.

I put the finishing touches on the sunroom with a new table from Ikea and these two lamps from Walmart. Walmart really has upped their game in the past couple of years! I’ve had the white Ikea side table on the right for five years. We don’t have any lighting in the sunroom, so I purchased another table and matching lamps to give us more light in the evening.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

We enjoyed the three day weekend while of course remembering and honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

Homer was a good boy and let us take his photo wearing his festive bandana on Monday.

Sparkler fun on Monday night…

And, of course, we’ve been finishing up distance learning with a virtual field trip and today the kids have a virtual field day!

WHAT I’M DREADING:

Nothing at the moment! But the last week of school always takes a lot out of me , so I’m ready to check the end of the school year off my list 😃

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

I made it a goal to walk every week day morning for the past couple of weeks, and have done a pretty good job getting my steps in! Then, I’ve also tried to make time for an additional workout ….I always feel better after a good sweat sesh.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

I’m excited that it’s officially summer! Y’all, I think I’m even more excited that I have a hair appointment today! #praisehands

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

After watching The Morning Show on Apple TV, a friend recommended Defending Jacob. I watched many episodes in a matter of days and then another friend told me it was a book! The Kindle version was available at my library, so I downloaded it. I read the book in a couple of days…and whoa! whoa! whoa! was it a good read with some twists and turns at the end that I wasn’t expecting. Right now, there are only seven episodes out on Apple TV, so I haven’t finished the series only the book. That being said, the series does follow the book very closely!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

Landyn officially has her podcast out, and I’m loving it. I’ve listened to all the episodes so far, and they are perfect for my morning walks!

Also, I’m loving season 2 of Even the Rich. Season 2 focuses on the Murdoch family, and it very interesting.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

I ordered this dress from Amazon thinking it would be perfect for the summer. I ordered the blue marl color and really love it! I wore it on Monday to our cookout. I’ve now ordered it in the olive color too.

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Honestly, I’m not sure! It’s such a bummer with the pools being closed, and that’s what we would be doing!

Our niece is turning 3 and having a little drive by birthday party, so of course we’ll wish her a happy birthday.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

I’m looking forward to the ease of a summer schedule and the possible return of baseball for Hayden. Youth sports can start back up middle to end of June…I still keep thinking I will believe it when I see it…but I know he’s ready to get out on the field with his friends.

Thanks so much for reading my What’s Up Wednesday post. Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

Now, I’m off to surprise the kids with a silly string end of the year celebration with a few friends.

I hope you have a great day.

What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on April 29, 2020May 15, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Wednesday. I can’t believe we are in the last few days of April. This month has both flown by and moved at a snail’s pace! As always, I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday.

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

Sunday: It was a cold and rainy Sunday, so I made Shay’s Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s definitely a family favorite.

Monday: I love this burrito baked recipe, but I hadn’t made it in forever! I’m definitely going to put it back in our dinner rotation. I made Trader Joe’s street corn as an easy side dish!

Tuesday: Leftovers from Sunday and Monday.

Wed: Pork loin, Bob Evans microwave mashed potatoes, and bagged Ceasar salad

Thursday: King Ranch Joes and roasted broccoli

Friday and Saturday: We’ll continue to eat out to support local restaurants

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Hadley’s class played Guess the Toddler during their class meeting on Monday. Hadley’s teacher asked the parents to submit a toddler pic! This is the first pic that popped in my mind. Hadley’s mastered the death stare! 😉

Whoever would have thought when we started the school year back in August, that we’d be ending the year on lockdown with distance learning to wrap up the 4th grade? So, I guess I’m reminiscing about the beginning of the year, and, as always, how quickly this school year has flown by! My kids only have one more year of elementary school left. How is that even possible?!

WHAT I AM LOVING:

I shared some things I’ve been loving in last Friday’s post!

Also, the flowers continue to bloom, and they are such a beautiful sight to see.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

Hadley and I made our first ever cookie cake. We are cookie cake people. It’s usually our “go to” for birthdays and other special events….but we’d never made one before! It was pretty delicious and Hadley had fun decorating it.

We’ve been trying to keep Homer out of trouble. He’s a full time job!! The other day, he ate at least six donuts from the box of donuts Travis bought at a local place. He also joined me on a Zoom meeting last week.

Also, we are in a pretty good groove with distance learning and working from home at this point. The kids are usually able to have most of the afternoon for whatever they’d like to do while Travis and I finish up work. I can’t believe this is our new normal, but at least we are hanging in there.

WHAT I’M DREADING:

I’m not really dreading anything at the moment…trying to stay positive over here! 😉 My one “constant” is thinking about the groceries. It’s difficult to plan what we may need a few days out or thinking about dinners for the next week. I did get lucky last week and was able to place a Clicklist order for the next day! It was a miracle.

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

Besides helping with 4th grade math? I’m working on some posts with Mother’s Day gift ideas and about the three books I read in April.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

I have a few Amazon items arriving soon…mostly comfy pjs and a new books…but a few other odds and ends. I like that kind of mail! Also, it’s almost time to plant flowers. Travis loves doing yard work and planting, so it’s always fun to see the yard spruced up when he’s finished.

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I’m continuing to get caught up on The Crown. Since mid-March, I’ve watched all of season 2 and only have a few more episodes of season 3. I do like the new cast better than I thought I would. Travis and I watched The Tiger King and I was left speechless. haha Dead to Me is coming back to Netflix in May, I believe. I binged season 1 last year in about a week. I’m excited for season 2.

I’ve also been keeping up with American Idol; I’ve really enjoyed this season.

Travis wanted to watch a Beastie Boys documentary, so he went ahead and got the free week of Apple TV. I’m taking advantage of the free week to watch The Morning Show. I just finished episode 5, and it’s a very good series!

I will share my April books tomorrow or Friday, but I’m currently reading Two Girls Down and Southern Side of Paradise (The third book in the Peachtree Bluff series by Kristy Woodson Harvey.)

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

I’m still loving the Even the Rich podcast; I just finished season 1 and am ready to start season 2. I also love The Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, and am listening to the episode with Chip and Joanna Gaines. Also, last week, I listened to the latest episode of Shay and Erika’s The Bestie Breakdown. I enjoy that new series too!

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Well, I’m currently wearing the heck out of this Kentucky sweatshirt. Travis went to the basement on Sunday to look for something. He came upstairs and said, “Good news and great news!” The great news was he found this sweatshirt which was a Christmas gift he’d forgotten to give me! Y’all, practical me told him it could count as a Mother’s Day gift 😉

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Well, this weekend should have been Oaks and Derby. Travis is usually in Louisville most of this week for work, and I usually join him for Oaks on Friday. Most years, Hayden ends up having a baseball game on Derby Day, so in recent years, we’ve always just gone to a Derby party or hung out with neighbors and friends. The past few years, we’ve had to worry about soggy weather on Oaks or Derby or both! Of course, this Friday and Saturday look to have picture perfect weather, but with no horses to run! Both events have been moved to September 4th and 5th…but I will believe that when I see it.

I went ahead and hung my jockey silk door hanger and garden flag. It just didn’t feel right not to…during these first few days of May.

Obviously, no big plans for the weekend, but hopefully we can take advantage of the nice weather.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

I’m looking forward to Mother’s Day and wrapping up the school year. We don’t get out of school until May 27 which is actually one day earlier than we were scheduled. I know our summer will look different, but it’s nice when the year is all wrapped up…even if that looks differently this year.

Well, that’s it for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday. Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too. This is such a fun link up!

Thanks for reading,

What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Posted on March 25, 2020May 16, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

It’s the last Wednesday of the month, so it’s time to link up with Sheaffer and Shay for March’s What’s Up Wednesday.

To say the month of March has been crazy would be an understatement, of course! In these times of uncertainty, I continue to look for what I know to be normal with a daily routine…which includes reading blogs and writing my own. I look forward to this light-hearted corner of the internet now more than ever!

I hope this post finds you happy and healthy.

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK:

Sunday – I made this Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna recipe. I’ve made it before, and my whole family loves it. I served it with rolls and roasted broccoli (I just drizzle extra virgin olive oil on the broccoli and sprinkle salt, pepper, and Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel seasoning on it and roast for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees–since that’s what the rolls were baking on)

**also, I can never find the small lasagna noodles, so I just use rotini.

**and–I’m sure you can make this recipe without an Instant Pot. You’d just have a few more dishes with one pot to cook pasta and another to brown the ground beef, etc.

Monday – leftovers with bagged side salad.

Tuesday – Breakfast for dinner! Eggs, bacon, pancakes, and hash browns.

Wednesday- Baked chicken, Bob Evans mashed potatoes, and fruit.

Thursday – leftover chicken with cheesy broccoli and fruit.

Friday and Saturday- We’ll support local restaurants and order carry out dinner.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Easter. I’m afraid Easter will look very different for us this year. Worse case, we can still dye eggs and do an egg hunt…even if it’s not with extended family.

WHAT I’M LOVING:

Trying to look on the bright side…I’m loving not setting an alarm lately! 🙂

Also, Nordstrom was having a huge site wide sale last week with 25% off. I had a gift card to use, and I had a few things on my “wish” list. I was happy to purchase them with the 25% off offer!

I love Nordstrom’s Zella leggings. I purchased the hat and flip flops while dreaming of summer. Landyn shared the hat recently. Also, last year, I ordered same flip flops in tan. I wore them a ton, so I thought I’d get another pair. Also, I rarely buy kids clothes from Nordstrom, but I knew Hayden would love these Nike shorts. I purchased two pairs: one for now and one for his Easter basket.

Last year, I purchased this sunless tanner from one of my friends who sells Rodan + Fields. I love it. It provides a subtle tan and is easy to apply.

I received this steamer for Christmas from my mom (I gave her the idea :), but I haven’t had time to use it until now.

Yesterday, I took the time for some self-care, and use the tanner and gave myself a ten minute facial!

I’m not trying to be on the other side of this pandemic pale with wrinkly skin!! 😉

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

Well, we are definitely spending a lot of time together! Also, the downtime means more time for reading, movie watching, and walking around the neighborhood.

And, like most parents, we are working on a home “school” routine!

We even had time to decorate cookies thanks to Maddie at Maddie’s Cookie Co.

WHAT I’M DREADING:

Honestly, just the uncertainty of not knowing how long the social distancing will go on…(and on, and on)

WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

You mean besides keeping my kids busy and keeping my sanity? haha

Well, I’m working on future blog posts. I’m also making an effort to give myself grace during these days at home. While I’m a home body and don’t mind being at home, we all may need a little space from time to time. Or there may be a day where my kids are on electronics more than they should be…and I’m reminding myself that it’s all going to be ok!

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

Have you heard of Wall Pops? I follow Michelle (@ellerydesigns) on Instagram. She’s made drastic changes to her laundry room, bathroom, and mantle using Wallpops wallpaper and floor tiles.

I’ve ordered the Shiplap Peel and Stick Wallpaper to do an accent wall in our master bedroom. We haven’t even updated the wall paint in our master, so I hope to do both over our extended time off.

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I’m currently reading The Secret to Southern Charm which is the second book in the Peachtree Bluff series. I will share about my other three books I’ve recently read in this Friday’s What I’ve been Reading post.

We’ve had more time for movie watching lately. We’ve watched My Girl, Stand by Me, and The Little Giants in the past week.

I’ve also started watching The Crown again on Netflix. I’m a few episodes into Season 2. I also love The Rookie on ABC, and I’ve been getting caught up on that.

I’ve been watching American Idol this season. I’d been wanting to find a show the whole family can watch, and I love the judging trio of Luke, Katy, and Lionel!

Lastly, I tune in every day at 5:00 for Governor Beshear’s daily COVID-19 news conference. Honestly, the updates have become a part of my routine and a candid way to receive information without feeling overwhelmed. It’s a time to be together with #TeamKentucky

If you are in Kentucky, then you’ll understand the meme below. 😉

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

At the moment, the sound of our grass being mowed! The first cut of the season was long overdue!

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Well, you know what they say…”Dress for the job you want, not the job you have…” Well, I’d say I’m currently trying to dress for both. So…I ordered these pjs from Target. They should be here early next week!

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

I’m sure more quality time with my fam! If the weather cooperates, maybe we can drive somewhere to go on a hike. We definitely need a change of scenery!

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

Hopefully some sense of normalcy? Or at least maybe we will feel more at ease with this at home routine by then? Also, maybe we will know what the end of the school future holds? Although, I suspect I already know that answer…#sigh

AND…

I feel like this post is a lot of life should have been ….but instead it’s…So, I hope the post isn’t taken in a negative light. It’s just such an adjustment to this new (hopefully short-lived) normal. Taking the stricter steps to curtail this virus are certainly necessary, and I continue to count my blessings while engaging in social distancing!

I’m also taking this time to try to blog a bit more often. Tomorrow, I have my FIRST EVER “Day in the Life” post and Friday I will have my “What I’ve been Reading” post for March. This means another “first….” for me… F I V E days of blogging in a week. I don’t think this will be the new normal, but while I have the time (and can think of content), I may try to post more than my normal three days a week.

Here are Monday and Tuesday’s posts:

Weekend Top 5

Home “School”

Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts! What’s Up Wednesday posts are always some of my favorites to read.

Thanks for reading!