summer

Posted on July 31, 2025July 30, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

Well, it’s the last day of July…and as cliche as it sounds, “where did the summer go?”

I’m linking up with Patty and Holly for Monthly Musings.

This month’s topic is…how we summer. Well, this topic is timely since I feel like summer is over…but of course, it’s not! We’ll feel the heat until October, but once school starts back, I tend to feel like that’s it for summer!

Anyway, here are my responses:

1. Favorite thing about summer 2025!

Well, it’s hard to choose just one. It felt like such a wonderful milestone for Travis and I to celebrate twenty years of marriage, and it was nice to get away for a few days to South Haven and Saugatuck, MI.

This summer has been extra special with one niece and one nephew getting married! We attended two beautiful weddings in the course of two months.

2. Favorite thing you ate this summer.

Not exactly what I ate, but one of the things I love about summer is relaxing a bit on meal planning and kind of just going with the flow. That being said, it is good when we can get back in a routine with meal planning and meal prep once the school year begins.

As for food I actually did eat, I loved breakfast at the bed and breakfast in South Haven and the boutique hotel in Saugatuck.

Also, the tasting menu at Coast in Saugatuck was ten out of ten!

3. Did you see any summer movies?

I do tend to watch a bit more TV in the summer just because I have some extra time to do so. We do usually try to have a movie night or go see at least one movie in the summer. Just this week we tried to see F1 in the theater. We bought the tickets and the popcorn and got settled in our seats…just to wait and wait and wait. Finally, after thirty minutes, they gave us ticket vouchers because they couldn’t get the movie to work. Maybe we’ll get to see it soon.

4. What books did you read this summer?

I shared my July reading yesterday, and I’ve read six of the nine summer books on my list. I’m hoping to get a couple more read in August.

5. Ready for fall or hold on to summer?

I really do love summer, even with the hot temps. Just this week, I went to the pool and it was so hot, I spent more time in the pool than out of it. That’s ok because I still was able to read my book and work on my tan!

That being said, after Labor Day, I’m ready for cooler temps and all things fall.

6. What is different about your summer schedule compared to the rest of the year?

Well, if you ask my kids…they’ll say, “What is bedtime?!” haha

For me, I love not setting an alarm to wake up. Also, it’s been nice having time to go to the Reformer Pilates classes that I love. Hadley joined me at a class this week, and she loved it. Due to the times, I can’t really do that during the summer.

Once school starts back, I feel like we are on the go more than ever. That being said, my kids typically have something going on every day of summer too, and I honestly don’t feel very rested heading back into the school year…but at least I get a nap if I want in the summer!

7. How do you take a break/relax in the summer?

In the summer, I enjoy slow mornings, afternoons on the front porch, pool or beach time to relax.

8. Any trips still on the calendar for the rest of the summer?

Unfortunately, no. We didn’t even really have our act together to travel this summer…besides the trip to Lake Michigan. That being said, the kids got to do what they wanted to do in regards to work, camps, hanging out with friends and more. Trav and I took the time to get away for a few days which we rarely do, so that was lovely too.

9. Any summer concerts this year?

No summer concerts this year for us.

10. When does summer end in your world?

Probably the first day of school when that 5:50 alarm goes off!

Sorry! I feel like I was kind of boring in this post. Truth be told, while we had lots of good memories this summer, it was also one that was hard for me. I know not every summer is perfect, but this one just felt overwhelming and disappointing in some ways. I’m forever grateful for time off and extra time with my kids, so no matter what, I don’t take that luxury for granted.

Monthly Musings

Posted on May 29, 2025May 28, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

Do you hear that sound? Well, it’s still my alarm clock going off…but I woke up at 6:30 instead of 5:50 today! Today is a teacher work day, so I have a little bit of extra time in the morning. Tomorrow, there will be the sound of silence with no alarm going off!

It’s finally the last Thursday of the month, so I’m linking up with Holly and Patty for this month’s Monthly Musings.

This month’s topic is…kicking off summer!

1. What are you looking forward to most this summer?

I’m really hoping we have some time to just relax. To be honest, most summers don’t provide as much rest as I ever need and want…but I know that even if we do still have things going on, I shouldn’t really have to set an alarm! That’s a step in the right direction.

Travis and I have our 20 year wedding anniversary in June! Time flies! I’m not sure if we have any big plans, but I’m sure we’ll do something to celebrate the milestone.

Our niece is getting married in June and our nephew is getting married in July. So, we have some weddings to go to this summer.

2. Any favorite summer traditions?

Pool time is always a fun summer tradition along with celebrating the 4th of July.

3. Any summer travel plans? Please dish!

At the moment, we really don’t have travel plans. That being said, we might get something organized at some point.

We’ll probably go to KC for a few days. This summer is different in that two weekends are scheduled with weddings and one weekend, the kids will be recovering from having their wisdom teeth removed!

Both kids have camp, but of course those weeks aren’t the same. Fall sports start in mid-July…

…and there goes summer!

4. How do you red, white and blue?

The 4th of July has always been a favorite holiday. The past couple of years, Hadley has been at camp. I’m happy for her, but I miss the holiday traditions. We typically have a low key 4th of July. Hayden has run the Lexington 10k the past two years, and I do try to make my red, white and blue waffles. Sometimes we go to the pool, and we typically grill out before watching the fireworks.

I miss the days of the kids decked out in red, white and blue.

5. Beach, lake or pool?

I like all three. Of course, we go to the pool the most. Occasionally, we’ll go to the lake with friends and often we have a beach vacation in the summer. Looks like this summer we’ll make the most of pool time!

6. Favorite summer sweet treat?

Ice cream is always a favorite summer treat. Mint chocolate chip is my favorite flavor. To me, nothing says summer like strawberry short cake!

7. Favorite sunscreens and self tanners?

For quite some time, Neutrogena has been my “go to” sunscreen. I like the stick for easy application on our faces, and the spray, always 50 SPF or higher, is what we use for our bodies.

I’ve been using the Jergens “Instant Sun” for quite a few years as well. I use a mitt to apply it, and overall, it’s very easy to use. It’s nice to add some color to my arms and legs before I get a full tan in the summer.

8. Best flip flops or sandals?

My favorite pool/beach sandals are from Nordstrom. I have had two pairs of these Havianas for many years, and just got a new pair last summer.

I’ve shared time and time again, that I love my rose gold Amazon sandals. (I size up one full size!) I had my last pair for four years, and just purchased the same pair a couple of weeks ago.

These thin strapped “Shade and Shore” sandals from Target are my favorite to wear for a little bit nicer look with dresses and shorts.

9. How are you staying fit this summer?

Fit? What’s that? haha!

I’ve been taking advantage of the cooler temps and going for walks to get some steps in before the heat of the summer arrives.

The Bodi workouts are still very convenient for me to do in my basement…especially when I’m not super motivated. If that’s the case, I usually tell myself that I can muster the motivation to put shoes on and head to the basement for 20-30 minutes.

I also enjoy going to the gym to use the elliptical when I have the chance. I went on Monday, and that’s a nice part of my fitness routine that I’ve missed.

I also plan on taking a Reformed Pilates class one to two days a week which will be a nice change of pace.

I’m excited to have the time to choose what I want to do depending on the day over the summer months.

10. Favorite summer themed movies?

I’m not sure why, but I immediately thought of Grease. My favorite movie is the Hayley Mills version of Parent Trap. I love movies like The Sandlot and The Goonies in the summer as well.

This post has me excited for summer! Thanks for hosting, ladies!

Share Our Lives: July 2024

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

Hello and happy Monday!

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

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

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

So far this year, we’ve discussed:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hayden has been here….

He ate some coffee cake before his run.

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

Of course I made my bed…

…started some laundry…

…and did my morning skincare routine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How cute is their summer tree?

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

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

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

Then, of course we had to get ice cream…

…and see Layla’s updated room!

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

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

I found Homer was cooling off in the sun room.

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

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

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

While it baked, I read for a bit.

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

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

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

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

Then, I showered and did my PM skincare routine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great start to your week!

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?

This and That

This or That: Summer Edition

Posted on June 6, 2023June 5, 2023 by jgalvinwhite

Hello…summer!

Well, now that we are getting into “summer mode,” I’m sharing my answers to a fun “this or that” that I saw on Pinterest.

This or That:

Beach or Mountains:

We are definitely beach people in the summer…That being said, I’m probably the only person in my family who really enjoys the beach. Travis likes to be active, and the kids love the pool.

Travel or Stay-cation: We always go on a vacation in the summer. That being said, this summer we’ve had trouble figuring our travel out because Hayden’s going to South Carolina with a friend, and both kids are going to camps…but of course, they are going at different times.
Ocean or Lake: Both! We usually go to the beach/ocean, but last summer, we also went to the lake twice!

Sunscreen or Tanning Lotion: I learned a long time ago the importance of sunscreen! I have treated myself to a few spray tan sessions since spring break to keep a little color though.

Ice cream or Slush: I love ice cream…especially mint chocolate chip.

Early mornings or Late nights: I still go to bed at a decent time in the summer. Instead of 10:00, I’m usually in bed my 10:30 or 11. I usually get up 7:30-8 rather than 6 am, and that’s still earlier than the kids wake up! It’s nice staying up a bit later knowing I don’t have to set an alarm. I’d say during the school year, my answer is more “early morning,” whereas in the summer, it would be “later nights.”
Camping or Pool Party: We are pool people.

Sundress or Overalls: I definitely wear more dresses in the summer (when I’m not wearing a swimsuit/cover up or workout clothes…haha). That being said, I just ordered a romper and will let you know how that turns out!
Water balloons or Slip n Slide: Oh…I remember having so much fun with Slip n Slides when I was a kid. The summer of 2020 when we were home more, the neighbors ordered one, and the kids had so much fun.

Sun tan or swimming: I’m all about the sun tan. If I’m at the pool, 9 times out of 10, I’m just sunning in the lounge chair (I wear sunscreen and a hat!) talking to the other moms or reading. I usually try to find a lounger with an umbrella nearby, but I do get in the pool when I get hot. I’m not much of a swimmer though.

So far, the temps have been really nice, but I’m sure the “dog days of summer” will be here soon.

What are some of your answers? I will post this to Instagram. Let me know what you think!

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#74}

Posted on June 25, 2021August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hey, hey! Happy Friday. How was your week? We had a pretty good one around here. We had a pretty lazy day on Monday due to lots of afternoon rain, and then Tuesday’s weather was sunny and 70 degrees! We enjoyed the “cool front,” and then the rest of the week has been back to regular summer temps.

The kids were busy with Hadley at daily swim team practices and Hayden attended baseball camp this week.

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

Our first favorite is from last Friday. Travis had the day off and joined us at the pool. The kids also got to swim with their cousins which made for a great Friday!

Also, last Friday night, our nephew ran in the 10k Olympic Trials. While he didn’t qualify for the Olympics, it was still exciting to watch, and we are so proud of him.

Summer means baseball on repeat around here. Hayden in his team warm up jacket is a favorite although he looks like such a big kid!

Of course, a championship ring is a favorite.

Hayden’s team had an awesome weekend and Father’s Day winning in the championship game.

We celebrated our favorite dad last Saturday with dinner out followed by…

milkshakes! They were so good…and definitely something to be shared.

Hadley made Amy’s Lemon Freezer Pie which we ate after the baseball games on Sunday. It’s so easy to make, refreshing and delish.

Like Hayden, Hadley sure is looking like quite the tween. She let me take this pic while we waited for our milkshakes on Saturday.

Big girl status!

…and ready for swim team pics on Wednesday…

Hayden attended baseball camp this week with lots of friends. He had so much fun.

I only get a few pedicures a year, and I try to take Hadley with me once in the summer and right before we go back to school. I know she loves a pedicure, so it’s a summer splurge that we do every once in a while.

Homer is always a favorite…and he was trying to take a bite of my favorite kind of summer lunch…a snack plate!

Nothing says summer like a lemonade stand, and these kids had a successful one earlier this week.

…and…nothing says summer like moms drinking White Claws at trivia night at the pool! We are quite the combo and all know a little bit of everything.

Anniversary flowers are definitely a fave…(and bubble letter cards!)

…and dinner out to celebrate!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Thank goodness for Google!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

Since we celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary yesterday, this throwback is timely….

We were in Siesta Key (one of our favorite places) for our 10th wedding anniversary in 2015.

Weekly Recap:

Amazon Prime Days

Day In the Life: On Insta

Father’s Day Recap

Monthly Musings

I hope you have a great weekend. We have a mix of baseball, basketball, birthday parties and more!

See you back here on Monday.

Holidays, Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings

Posted on June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today, Trav and I are celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary. Y’all, S I X T E E N years is hard to believe! Time sure does continue to fly by!

It’s also hard to believe that it’s already almost the end of June which means it’s time for this month’s Monthly Musings post.

As always, I’m linking up with Patty and Holly for this post.

This month’s topic is End of School and Summer Plans. Believe it or not, we’ve been out of school for over a month, so we are definitely in full summer mode over here!

1. Last Day of School Traditions:

While I have lots of traditions to begin the school year like Back to School Breakfast, a book to start the year, first day of school photos, walking to school and more, we don’t have many last day of school traditions. The kids let me take a last day of school pic, and that’s about it. I also get a photo of them in front of school on the first and last day. (I’m not sure they will let me do a photo in front of their middle school next year) 😩

2. Summer List:

We made our Summer Fun list a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve been able to cross a few things off the list!

3. Vacation Plans:

While we typically go to Florida for summer vacation, South Carolina is another favorite summer vacay spot for us. We are heading there soon.

4. Summer Outfits:

If I’m not in workout clothes, I’m usually in a swimsuit and coverup at the pool. I do like to wear light weight dresses as well as…

shorts and a tank or t-shirt.

These shorts from Target are a favorite! I have them in green, pink and black.

And…I’ve shared about my favorite Amazon swimsuit and cover up a couple of times this summer.

Amazon Dress // Target Shorts // Amazon Swimsuit // Amazon Coverup

5. Summer Meals:

I recently shared some quick dinner ideas. During the summer months, we grill out a lot and have baked beans, pasta salad or fruit as side dishes. Quick, easy, and light meals.

6. End of School:

We are usually scheduled to be out of school around Memorial Day. Some years, we go past Memorial Day if we have snow days to make up. That being said, our district seems to do whatever it takes (like adding time to the end of the day) to ensure we are out by May 31st. We occasionally get out rather early, like this year…we were out May 18th which was amazing!

When I was a kid, I feel like we were out around Memorial Day, but didn’t start back until after Labor Day. I wish it was like that now as well!

7. Swimsuit Type:

I used to love a tankini but the past few summers, I’ve really embraced the one piece. I just feel more comfortable in them, and there are so many awesome options in fun patterns and stylish designs.

Amazon One Piece Swimsuit

8. 4th of July Plans:

I’m not sure what our plans will be. I always start the 4th of July off with red, white, and blue waffles for the kids! Sometimes, we go to the pool or the parade downtown. We usually grill out with family or friends or sometimes just our family of four.

We always get a few firecrackers and sparklers for the kids. Then, every year, we make our way to our favorite spot to watch fireworks. The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays.

9. Red, White, and Blue Clothes:

I’ve always put the kids in some kind of red, white, and blue! Sometimes, Travis and I will do so as well.

They usually let me take a photo or two 😉

This is one of my favorite family photos of the four of us…July 2015. We were settling in to watch the fireworks, and we all were dressed in some form of red, white, and blue.

10. Charcoal or Gas Grill:

We have a gas grill, and Travis does all the grilling!

He typically uses this platter for the food that my mom painted for him in 2003! It’s basically an antique!

So, that’s a peak at our end of school and summer plans. Next month’s topic is summer fashion!

I hope your summer is off to a great start! See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Thanks so much for reading,

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Family, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#73}

Posted on June 18, 2021August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your week? We’ve had a great one. I worked two days, we had some pool time, the kids had dance, baseball, and swim team, and I was able to run some errands and cross some things off my “to do” list.

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

My dad visited for a few days which is always a favorite. He was able to hang with us and my brother’s family, see two of Hayden’s tournament games, take Hayden to the driving range, and we went ahead and celebrated Father’s Day.

For years, we’ve taken a front porch stairs photo (per the Major’s request!), and we always laugh because he’s the hardest one to get to smile. He always says, “I AM smiling!” This visit, he wanted the kids to “smile like Major,” and they nailed it.

Of course, I needed a smiling photo, and then my brother and I hopped in for one.

Seeing Hayden play baseball is always a favorite. He’s having so much fun with his summer team. They are a great group of boys with great coaches.

My favorite flowers, hydrangeas, are starting to bloom…

…but they are showing off at my brother’s house.

My sister-in-law made a couple of pies last weekend, and Layla couldn’t wait to dig in. The pies were delish.

Homer is always a favorite. He loves it that we are home so much in the summer.

Summer nights and just hanging around are a favorite of Hadley’s. My kids kids love to climb this tree in our yard.

Pool time with Layla was another favorite of Hadley’s this week.

Snow cones at the pool are a great way to beat the heat!

Hayden wanted to go to a new restaurant in town, so we ate there on Wednesday after baseball practice. Freddy’s with my fave…

Favorite Mom Meme:

Yep. Summer always magnifies what little control I have around here. 😆

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

Since it’s Father’s Day this weekend, I’m sharing these favorite flashback photos!

In 2013, I had the kids take these pics and framed them for Travis.

And, another flashback…the Major and me in the 80’s…

and in 2005… (Travis and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage next week…which I can’t believe!)

Living away from family can be hard. Luckily, my mom and grandma visited around Mother’s Day, and then we were able to celebrate my dad this past weekend for an early Father’s Day.

Weekly Recap:

Not Just a Mom: Quick Family Dinners

Tuesday Talk: GoodReads

Summer Fun 2021

What are some of your favorites for the week? I hope you have a great weekend. We’ll be at a baseball tournament and celebrating Travis on Sunday!

Amazon Prime Days are Monday and Tuesday, so I will be sharing some Amazon faves on Monday!

Thanks so much for reading.

Me, Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings and 20 Questions

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

Well, today is a two blog posts in one kind of day. I wanted to link up with Holly for her Monthly Musings post last week, but I already had my Lake Tahoe post planned.

Then, over the weekend, I saw Trista post about her 20 Questions link up, and just thought I’d put both ideas together for one post.

Monthly Musings: Summer Kick Off

Lake or Beach?

I’m definitely a beach person, but I certainly love the lake too. I grew up going to The Lake of the Ozarks, and we sometimes are able to live the lake life in Kentucky every once in a while.

That being said, there’s nothing like an ocean view or a beach sunset. So, if I had to choose, I’d say I’m a beach person.

Ice Tea or Lemonade?

I don’t drink either very often, so it’s probably a tie. Both beverages are very refreshing.

Favorite Summer Vacation Memory:

Well, I just love a vacation with my family. Thankfully, as the years have gone on, going on a vacation with the kids actually now feels like a vacation 😉 Anyway, the first thing that popped into my mind was last year’s vacation to Siesta Key because Hadley and I went the first few days just the two of us. Hayden had baseball games, so he and Travis arrived a few days later. Of course, we were happy when the guys arrived, but it was just a nice couple of days with Hadley that I hadn’t planned on when we planned the trip.

Favorite Summer Destination:

Siesta Key, Florida is typically our “go to” spot.

But….we also love South Carolina. Last time we went was fall break 2018, but we usually get to SC every couple of years.

Go To Favorite Summer Fashion Item:

Honestly, if I’m at home, I’m in comfy clothes. That being said, I do like easy, flowy dresses in the summer. I love these two Target dresses…

Tank Dress

Tiered Dress

and I have three different colors of this Amazon dress…

Have You Ever Been Water Skiing or Jet Skiing?

I have done both, but it’s been a long time!

Favorite Summer Movie:

Dirty Dancing and Parent Trap were the first movies to pop in my mind! The Parent Trap is my favorite movie of all time. Also, a few years ago, we went to Lake Lure in NC and saw where some of Dirty Dancing was filmed.

Goonies, Grease and Sandlot also remind me of summer.

Song That Makes You Think of Summer:

I’m the worst at knowing songs and who sings what but…School’s Out for the Summer is always played on the last day of school 😉 and then Summertime (DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince) always reminds me of middle school and high school.

Lately, on Instagram Stories, Sunshine and Summertime (Faith Hill), Summertime (Kenny Chesney) pop up as good summer song choices.

Best 4th of July Story:

I don’t have a specific story, but…

I’ve always loved the 4th of July. I remember as a kid spending time with extended family, grilling out, and watching fireworks.

I always wanted to get engaged or get married on the 4th. I thought it would be fun to have sparklers and a few fireworks at the reception. I don’t think I ever told Travis this plan…as we got engaged in May 2004. 😉

Fireworks:

We are definitely fireworks on the 4th type of people. I love a good fireworks display and we have a great tradition of where we watch fireworks in Lexington.

20 Questions…

with The Classy Chaos

1. Introvert or extrovert? Introvert …for sure…
2. Favorite movie? The Parent Trap (1961)
3. Arrive early or late? Arrive a few minutes late…but not too late
4. Last book you read? The Simple Wild
5. Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving (followed by the 4th of July)
6. Pet peeve? Slurping
7. Food you refuse to eat? Mayo!!!!!
8. Favorite fast food chain? Chick-fil-A
9. How do you keep fit? Well—“keep fit” is misleading 😉 I’m forever a work in progress but I like going for walks, Pilates, full body weight workouts, and HIIT workouts
10. Morning person or night owl? Well, I’d say morning person…but I’m a morning person in the sense that I like 45 minutes of silence and not talking to anyone while I sip my coffee.
11. Favorite drink? Coffee (wine and diet coke are close runner ups)
12. Irrational fear? Falling (I hate heights)
13. Go to snack? Cheezits
14. Strongest sense? Hearing. My students (and my kids) are always amazed at what I can hear from across the room.
15. Fictional place you’d like to visit? This one stumped me…I’m not sure.
16. Kindle or actual book? Actual book (but Kindle sure does come in handy!)
17. Last movie you went to see? I honestly think it was Frozen II with Hadley back in December?
18. Favorite season? Autumn!!
19. Beach or mountains? I really want to say a tie! Beach in the summer, mountains in fall.
20. Favorite cereal? Lucky Charms

Whoa! If you made it to the end of this post, you learned a lot about me 😉

Thanks so much for reading!

Everyday Life

The Halfway Point- Part 2

Posted on August 13, 2019May 19, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Continuing on with all the summer fun we had…

The kids were on our pool’s swim team for the third summer in a row. Hadley loves it while Hayden likes it most of the time. It’s a great summer activity for them as far as exercise and socialization. They moved up to the 9-10 age group this year which was an adjustment, but it was awesome to see them swim faster each meet as well as qualify to swim all four strokes this year. They had so much fun with their friends, and the parents like to socialize too!

Besides adding Homer to our family, I’d say another highlight was going on vacation. We are blessed to be able to use Trav’s aunt and uncle’s house in Florida. Hadley and I left a few days before the boys because Hayden had baseball. We enjoyed our time together, but I know Hayden (&Trav) is more fun than I am (especially when it comes to playing in the ocean and on the beach.) Since we were there for about ten days, we also scheduled a trip to Disney World for a day. We did this a few years ago, and since it’s a long day of travel to and from the park as well as all the park activities, we decided to make it a two day trip. We arrived on a Thursday and stayed at the Polynesian Resort. We lounged by the pool, the kids rode the water slide quite a few times (Travis and I did too!), and then we had dinner at a really neat Italian restaurant in Disney Springs. Then, we made it back to the hotel in time to watch the Magic Kingdom’s amazing fireworks right from our balcony. The next morning, we were up early for breakfast and were at the park by 9:00. We rode every ride we wanted to starting with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Roller Coaster and ending our day riding Splash Mountain (where I ended up the most soaked, of course!) Since we saw the fireworks the night before, we left the park around 7:00 making it back to Siesta Key by dark. Then, we capped off vacation with a few more days at the beach. I’m always worried how the four of us will be while being together 24/7 for so long…but we really do always have a great time and enjoy the down time.

After a long night of travel, we were excited to relax on the beach.

We eat dinner early most evenings, so we can catch the sun setting on the beach.

Hadley was excited to see her brother on day 4 of vacay.

We definitely hope to go back to the Polynesian one day.

Family Fun = this year’s Christmas card pic!

The last few days at the beach were the best. The weather and the water were perfect.

Sis found a sandbar and knows how to relax

These guys ate their weight in oysters on this trip. Hadley and I aren’t about that life…

Our flight wasn’t until later in the evening, so we had time to hit the beach for a couple of hours on the last day. We always take the time to say goodbye to the ocean. “If the ocean can calm itself, so can you. We are both salt mixed with water.” – Nayyirah Waheed

After we packed up, the kids let me take one last pic. It’s a family tradition to take a pic in front of the palm trees at Aunt Catherine and Uncle Jim’s Florida house. Many family members have done so through the years.

Until next time…that’s a wrap on our SK vacay

We arrived home to see the biggest zucchini ever that had been plucked from our garden (See previous post about the recipes we made using it)

The kids participated in a couple of camps this summer as well. This was the first year Hayden signed up for basketball camp; he also played summer basketball for a local league. Hadley has loved the volleyball camp at my school for the past three summers.

We had lots of family time over the summer with visits from out of town grandparents and in town cousins.

Wyatt and Layla cheered for H&H during one of their swim meets.

Dinner with cousins! (photo cred: Uncle Chet!)

Both of the kids learned to ride their bikes a few years ago thanks to the help of a neighbor friend. After an accident a couple of years ago, Hayden swore off bike riding….so much so that we sold his bike in a garage sale. Well, two years later and Hayden decided he wanted to ride a bike again. After riding Hadley’s pink bike for about a month, a friend of ours gave us a bike that they didn’t need anymore. Hayden’s been riding all over the neighborhood! (with a helmet, of course!)

One final “to do” on our Summer Fun List was to see a movie. This summer, we saw Aladdin, Toy Story 4, and to wrap up the summer, we saw Lion King. We all loved it, but I probably loved it the most!

For the final weekend of summer, we celebrated Trav’s mom’s 70th birthday at a local restaurant in Louisville.

The siblings celebrating Maryla’s 70th birthday

The final fun of summer break 2019 was that Travis and I went out to dinner at a nearby sushi restaurant. Sushi and chardonnay for dinner…followed by an early bedtime for me.

That’s a wrap on summer 2019. I know we still technically have a few weeks left of summer, but the fun is over for the most part around here. haha

Tomorrow, the kids start 4th grade (how is that even possible?!) Truth: third grade was no joke, so I’m hoping that this will be a smoother transition and the best year yet…and I start my 18th year teaching. I know what you are thinking…I don’t look that old! 😉

I’m blessed to have this time with the kids. I know I’m not stay at home mom material, but I love having these pockets of time with them throughout the year.

Enjoy these days. They fly by! It’s basically almost 2020 😉

Happy reading,

Jen

Instagram: @showmeandsweettea