High Five for Friday

I guess with the cooler temps this week and my sleeping schedule changing as far as waking up hours earlier than the last 6 months to workout...I'm.so.tired.  Yesterday evening I so did not want to go to yoga..I wanted a nap, but I told myself I better get over the nap and get in the car (right now) and drive myself to yoga..(sometimes I can be really mean) So, I rolled my eyes at myself and went to yoga.  I got there a little early so I decided I would just lay in rest pose on my mat before class began.  Apparently I got a little too comfortable.  When I heard a loud noise, which was actually someones plastic water bottle making a popping sound, I almost jumped out of my skin.  I had fallen asleep.  It was like that jump/jolt/scary wake up part of your almost asleepness (pretty sure I just made that word up) where you feel like you are falling so when your body jerks it wakes you up.  Yeah, I was embarrassed.  I lifted my head long enough to see if anyone saw me.  Then, I don't know how much time had passed..it had to have only been a few minutes.  I made a noise...then a really weird sound came from my throat..my eyes shot open and I thought to myself oh Dear Lord I'm snoring..   In the hot room. At yoga. I tried really hard not to laugh..I layed still with my eyes wide open staring at the ceiling, smiling at myself for feeling like such a dork.

This chick needs some sleep!

Here are my recent highlights...

Friday night lights..

CHS vs HCHS

Go Cats!!

Super fun girls night!!

We lost, but it was a good game.

I got this Amika blowout spray in my September Birchbox. It protects, smooths, nourishes and volumizes.  I lift a few strands of hair at the top of my head and spray my roots, mostly I use this when I plan to let my hair dry naturally. Then I have natural waves with volume at my roots without a heavy product so it still feels natural.  It smells amazing.  Like seriously, sometimes I spray it in my already dry hair just to give it a little yummy scent.

Got my pumpkins looking cute.

New obsession...Mrs. Meyers all purpose aromatherapy cleaner.  I put it in a spray bottle with water to wipe countertops, or even mop my floors with it. Smells so fresh and so clean..clean..clean (that's an Outkast song..am I the only one that got that? )

I did The Color Run with my people.  I was so proud of Trey for running the entire time.  I get so frustrated with the color run because it is always less than 3 miles..it's barely 2.5, so it's not a true 5k...buuut both of my guys ran and they did great.  Initially when I asked them to do it with me they made me agree to walk with them.  Then I guess they got all pumped up waiting to go through the start chute and they were like "let's run!!"  Well, Oook..don't have to ask me twice.  So, we ran, and they killed it!

Nashville runs are always fun..

I love running through Printers Alley.

I was filthy..I have never gotten this dirty at a color run..it could have had something to do with Trey's ultimate goal being to put all color within reach on my head and anywhere else he felt it necessary.  Apparently it was fun to color his Mom, so I let him.

I was the only one out of our group that had done this run before...

I think they all had a blast and I'm so glad we all did it together.

I loved doing it with Trey and he talked about it for days.
I totally earned cool Mom points.

So, on the way to the green one day with a girlfriend she brought up that she had compared my picture from the color run in April..I think it was April?..March..maybe?  I don't know, this whole year runs together...anyway, she was comparing me then to me now, saying that I had lost weight since then.  Sooo, I got to thinking...I did this run last October..I wonder what the difference is from a year ago?  So, while laying in bed one night, not sleeping, I did a side by side...

What a difference a year makes!!  I really don't even know how much I have lost...I weighed in Feb and had lost 52 pounds..I haven't weighed since then. Honestly, it doesn't matter.  I just want to look, feel and be healthy.  Can't wait to see what I look like this time next year!

H5 to me!!

My little guy turned 14 over the weekend.  This was one of my favorite pictures of him in the hospital the day he was born.  He was a c-section baby so he was pretty much perfectly shaped as soon as he came out.  After going to a baby shower recently, holding my hand to a pregnant belly and feeling him kick in utero and then going through this little nuggets baby album I am sooo having baby fever.  It's all too much.  I'm hoping little baby Case will be born this week so I can hold him, love him, smell him, give him Auntie kisses and then maybe, just maybe, the baby fever will subside..Trey, on the other hand, suggests we adopt a Chinese baby.  I don't know where he comes up with this stuff.

 I was almost afraid his little cake wouldn't be big enough for all of his candles.  

Happy Birthday, Trey!

My Dad and Trey share a birthday.  This year my Dad turned 70.  Just like last year we spent their birthday weekend Saturday night at the Ducks Unlimited Banquet together. Kyle and Trey insisted I go because they think I always win the raffle.  I guess they were right, because I did win again.. Trey loaded up.

In love with this Essie polish..the color is Overboard..

I could only find time this week to do my toes in the car line at school (lame) which explains why the polish job is not perfect.  I did fix it when I got home.. I seriously love the color.  Perfect for Fall.

This was one of the gorgeous countryside views on one of my runs this week. 

I am registered for a race on this trail tomorrow.  I saw on active.com they were having a 4 mile Boo Dash, so I figured why not!!  I could run this course in my sleep.  Right now I'm sitting at my desk with a heating pad under my leg hoping and praying that I will actually be able to run.  I slipped and fell in yoga yesterday and think maybe I pulled a muscle.  I continued to finish the class..I honestly felt fine, just a little shaken and mad at myself.  Normally my clumsiness happens in slow motion and I'm able to contort my body to prevent an injury..this happened so fast that I didn't know what happened until it was over..I think the popping sound scared me the most.  When I woke up this morning I was totally feeling it... I'm taking it easy today and hoping it will feel better by morning.  I've never pulled a muscle so I don't really know what to expect, or if that's even what I have done to myself.  Either way I'm showing up at this race tomorrow to give it all I've got without further injuring myself.  Fingers crossed.

Sometimes on my runs I tend to get a little sidetracked at the turnaround...

I can't help it.  I don't want to grow up.

That's all I have for this week...
Wishing all of you a beautiful weekend!
Thanks for stopping by for some H54F!!

xo
Carrie

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble - guest post by Nicole

I was so excited when Carrie asked me to do a guest post and share this delicious little recipe that has become one of my new favorite things to make this Halloween season.  I love this stuff so much that I just made my 3rd batch.  It seriously takes all of 10 minutes to make!!!

Halloween Snack Mix

Ingredients

Corn Chex

Pretzel sticks

White popcorn

12 oz bag of white chocolate chips

Halloween sprinkles

Candy of your choice

I went with Reese Pieces, but I also love candy corn M&M's, which are white chocolate M&M's and they are ahhhh-mazing!  Oreo pieces, candy corn, peanut butter M&M's and, honestly, just about any other kind of candy would be great.

Directions

- Line a cookie sheet with aluminium foil for easy clean up.

- Pop your popcorn then cover the cookie sheet with a thin layer of pretzel sticks, Chex and popcorn.

- Put your white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl, set a couple to the side and place the bowl in the microwave for a minute.  After one minute, stir chips.  I would then cook them in 30 second intervals until they are nice and melted.

While you are waiting for them to melt, treat yourself to those chips you set aside and maybe even a few pieces of candy.  I had this super cute little guy helping me, so I thought he deserved a treat too...a few Chex.

- Drizzle about 3/4 of the white chocolate over the popcorn, Chex and pretzels.

- While the chocolate is still hot sprinkle 1/2 to 3/4 of your candy on top and as many sprinkles as you'd like.

- Start filling in any holes with more Chex, pretzels and popcorn.  Drizzle the rest of your white chocolate on top, then the rest of your candy and more sprinkles.

- Set aside so the chocolate can harden...then dig in!!

See, wasn't that easy!?!  One of the super cool things about this snack mix is that you can change it up and make it your own version for every holiday..i.e. melt peppermint flavored candy chips or bark and sprinkle your choice of candy with Christmas sprinkles on top, or make it into Bunny food for Easter.  I like to keep it handy for a snack here and there (I'm actually eating some now!!) so I have had a jar of it on my kitchen counter pretty much all month...plus it looks pretty and festive.

I hope you enjoy this super easy, and not to mention, addicting and delicious treat!

Happy Halloween,

Nicole

High Five for Friday

Hello, lovers.  I have been sitting on my side of the bed for almost thirty minutes, while my husband sits beside me and glances over every few minutes and says.."Have you still not written anything?" Um, no.  He is laughing at me.  He's not funny.  

Here are the highlights from my week...

I decided to "clean" the garden out.  By clean I mean pull weeds.

Got a little carried away.  

With the exception of a few pepper plants, the garden is no more.

I got a basket full of colorful goodies on my last harvest.

Heather at River & Bridge had a giveaway on Instagram.  I never participate in giveaways because I have terrible luck..I never win anything.  It was a giveaway for you and a friend to win a set of personalized stationery.  I entered myself and Nicole.  We won!! 

Rumor has it that this stationery will be in the October BridgeBox.  You have until the 15th to order yours!

Brittney gave me the cutest nail kit for my bday and I am wearing this polish lately on my toes.  Love it for Fall.  The color is Mink Muffs by Essie.  Mink Muffs??...I don't know where these people come up with these names, but they crack me up.

Doing my third color run this weekend with Kyle and Trey.  They have never done one, so I think they will have a lot of fun.  It's the kick off to Trey's bday celebration.  I can't believe in one week he will be 14 years old.  Sorta makes me feel old.  He told me the other day one of his friends saw us at the grocery store and at school the next day the boy asked how old I was and Trey said 37.."I said..uh, try 36..don't make me older than I already am.."  His friend said "whoa, I thought she was like 21".  My response..."well that is nice..and umm that would mean that I birthed you when I was 7..and can he be my your new best friend?"  It's still nice/awkward when new friends think I'm his sister and not his Mother.  

I'll take it..and some more eye cream, wrinkle reducer please.  Because apparently it's working for me.

oh, and if you want to register for the color run use code tnfriends for $5.00 off your registration.

Speaking of Trey and the grocery..something totally humiliating happened yesterday in the grocery parking lot.  I got out of the car...and before you get all judgy you and I both know this has happened to you before.. I had a major wedgie. Whether anyone else could tell or not..it was uncomfortable for me.  So when I got out of the car..I shut the door, Trey took off thinking I was following him.  I whispered  "Trey, wait I have to fix my pants.." So as I am fixing myself and trying to discretely make my situation comfortable and presentable Trey mumbles something and walks off.  I catch up with him quickly and I say "what did you say?" Teenagers mumble and it is so annoying.  Sometimes I have to ask him ten times to repeat himself and we are both so frustrated by the end of the conversation that it no longer matters to either of us what he was saying.  Anyway, he says..."did you not see the lady in the car beside you while you were doing whatever you were doing?" First of all, I giggled because it sounded like something smart I would say...  Second of all I turned around and saw a woman sitting in the car beside mine.  With her window down.  She was staring at me.  Helllo, embarrassment!  I looked at Trey...my mouth was wide open and for once I had no words.  He laughed and said..."I tried to tell you." I said, "Well, I can't understand you when you mumble, and if that car is still there when we are done shopping we will have to wait for them to leave." He rolled his eyes and looked at me like I was crazy, but truth be known I'm pretty sure he never wanted to lay eyes on that woman again either..err he never again wanted her to lay eyes on his crazy Mother. I could have died.

I got these super cute star patterned (have to look closely) Rockstar skinnies from Old Navy.

and I absolutely love my ring from the Mexican market in San Antonio.

Kyle is a few months into his mowing business and this week he got a new (used) zero turn mower.  

I couldn't wait to drive it.  

 It's a huge machine (compared to the other mower) and it was crazy weird to drive, but eventually I got the hang of it and he couldn't get me off of it.  It even has a little cooler attached to it.  Apparently my zero turn driving skills were not up to par because I was only give permission to actually mow the back yard.  He's pretty anal when it comes to the grass...(for which I am grateful...my yard always looks awesome)

After relentlessly torturing my voodoo doll I have come to the conclusion that the only purpose of the $1.00 dolls you buy at the French Market is to make yourself feel better, rather than hurting the person actually intended for the torture.  What ever works, right?

I was surprised to see this post on my fb this week..it made me laugh because I knew exactly what made her so happy about her gift before she actually opened it...

Since the JT and Jimmy Fallon hashtag video went viral my friends and I have communicated using hashtags.  Like hilarious conversations that only we find funny.  I covered her birthday present packaging in hashtags... #icantstop

We so crazy!!

Last weekend my guys took me to buy pumpkins and I got to play with these little baby chicks.  I wanted to take all of them home with me.  We literally had to go back and visit them three more times before we could leave the store.  I want chickens so badly that I even had the secretary of our HOA send me the bylaws because if it did not mention chickens in the restrictions then I was going to have chickens.  I was so excited when I had the copy in my hands.  Sadly, no chickens for me.  They covered all the bases as far as livestock goes.  I was bummed...I even had a coop plan picked out.  One day I will have my very own chicks!!

Thanks for stopping by to read about my week!!

Have a great weekend!

xo

Carrie