High Five for Friday

Hey there, Friday friends..  

This week went by super fast and I can't believe that it is already the end of January. Seriously, can we just hit pause for a moment?!

Trey has been gone every weekend in the last month except for one, and that was only because he was sick.  He left again this weekend to go on a guy trip.  Apparently when you are a teenager the last place you want to be is home.  I remember those days.. I miss him!

Monday night we went out for fajita night...my fave!!

I have a new little nephew named Bentley.  I haven't met him in person yet, but when I do finally meet him I have already decided that he is just small enough to fit in my purse, so I'll dog nap him and bring him home with me.  Clearly, I have it all planned out.

I treated myself to to a little retail therapy this week and hit up Pier 1's clearance sale.  I went to see if they still had the amber musk candles on sale, and they did, so I bought the last two left on the shelf.  Unfortunately, they are being discontinued along with a few other scents.  That is the luck I have, as soon as I find something I like.. it goes away.  While I was there I picked up this adorable candle holder that was also on clearance..I found a place for it on my bathroom counter..I have yet to light the candle, and it still fills my bedroom and bathroom with its scent.

Last year I did 13 races and this year I want to change it up a bit and challenge myself more.  Decrease the amount of races, but increase the distance..In 2013 my hardest race was my best race..and my worst race was just..I have no clue..it must have been a really off day for me, and that's ok.  It was so bad I didn't tell anyone about it.  I don't expect every race to make me feel amazing..the important thing for me is to start, finish and recognize how I can improve and then actually make the changes that need to be made.  

So far in 2014 I am stepping out of my comfort zone a little at a time..pushing myself harder, longer runs, more hills, more trails..I finally found a happy medium between my yoga practices and my running schedule - and that helps a whole lot because I was all over the place with both and was pretty unhappy about it..I felt very unorganized and unaccomplished.  Now I have my set yoga days and my set running days.  I hooked up with some girls from the Clarksville Running Club and we set a few early mornings a week to get together and do some group runs. I am currently training for my first half that I will do in the Fall, and maybe..(maaaybe) a mini tri.  Trey really wants to do it and keeps trying to talk me into it.  I think I would love it..I am really excited about it..but I'm just as terrified about it as I am excited about it..I just need to convince myself that it's not the worst idea I've had and then get over that fear of really stepping way out of my comfort zone.  

This was my last race of 2013 in New Orleans with my cousins on the Miller side of the fam. 

 (I still really want to steal Tim's snowflake leggings..)

I can never ever get enough of my sunset runs.  My last sunset run I was a little scared because it was one of my long runs, so it was completely dark and I was still about a mile out and I know there was a man behind me somewhere.. I turned my flashlight on..on my phone ..not real sure why?  Maybe so the scary axe murderer could have an easier time finding me? I kept thinking to myself..."please.. legs ..run.. faster.." and "omg, I've seen this movie before and it doesn't end well.." 

I took my ear phones out so I would be able to hear if anyone was coming after me..In case you didn't know..if it's dark..and you cannot see anything..a squirrel in the forest sounds pretty much the same as a human running through the leaves to try and attack you..not that I really know what that sounds like, but I can imagine...add the entire squirrel family and it is for real loud and scary..Apparently dusk is the gathering hour for squirrel families, either that or they like to scare girls that shouldn't be running in the woods alone at night.  It seriously gets pretty creepy out there, but I am always good at shooting someone a text before I run telling them where I am and if they don't hear from me by a certain time to call the good guys to come find me because I've been abducted.

Love these "c" initial stamped earrings made by Amy Cornwell.  She is so talented and makes some really fun and unique jewelry.  She is offering 10% off with code valentine10 until February 4.

I ordered my next book from Amazon this week - don't you just love that they have the fastest shipping, ever!!?..I finished reading Losing Hope the other night..I cried my eyes out.  It was the perfect ending and I will miss the characters.  I'm giving myself time to get over that book before I begin my new one..It's been a few months since I have read a dystopian so I'm pretty pumped!

Have you read Unwind?

My kitty cat is getting so old..He turns 18 this year - which is 88 in cat years.  He's pretty pitiful and I have been saying for a few years now that I feel it will be his last year.  He continues to prove me wrong.. Every time I mention it to my Mom, she's like "how long have you been saying that now?" Yeah, he has definitely used his fair share of nine lives..maybe he borrowed some from the neighbor cat..  One of my girlfriends teases me saying I run a convalescent home for senior animals - sorta true if you think about it..  Anyway, lately Sebastian has not been bathing himself like a cat normally would, so I gave him his first ever  - and hopefully my last ever - cat bath.  It actually did not go as horrible as I thought it might..it was much simpler than a dog bath.  He didn't even move.  

Perhaps he was in shock.

A little while after the bath I saw him in the living room sitting in the spot where the sun ray meets the floor..He was shaking like a leaf.  Bless his heart.  I immediately picked him up and wrapped him in a towel, holding him for a few.  I went into my bedroom and turned on my heater.  He wanted nothing to do with it and took off to hide.  A while later I walked back in my room and found him nuzzled up by the heater. Sweet baby.  His Mommy made him take a bath and then left him to shiver.  He feels much better now.

Other than that it's been pretty low key around here this week.  I took a few quizzes out of sheer boredom and according to the results I should be an astronaut, and if I were a dog I would be a mutt.  Awesome. 

I really should get out more.

Hope your weekend is super cool..thanks for stopping by!

xo

Carrie 

French Onion Soup - Crock Pot Recipe

Ahhh, yes..if I have a love for any soup it is most def French Onion Soup.  I found this recipe from how sweet it is blog and made very few changes.  It was near perfect already! 

I love it so much that I feel like behaving like a child and blowing bubbles on the rim of the bowl..You know, like you did when you were a toddler ..to your milk, and your Mom fussed at you?  I will blow bubbles in a hot steamy bowl of FO soup any day of the week.  Not really, I do have manners, I promise..but now you understand my ridiculous level of fondness for this soup and my absurd urge to motorboat it. 

But, in all seriousness..something covered with a slice of bread, smothered with ooey gooey, melted/crispy on the edges, cheese...is nothing short of amazing.

*bonus, bonus* ...beer is also involved.

You know that country song..

God is great, beer is good, bread is better??

Oh, wait..I guess that's not exactly how it goes..

Ingredients

4 medium sweet onions - thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves - minced (I used 6)

4 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

3 tablespoons flour

8 ounces beer (I used Newcastle brown ale - see picture above)

64 oz beef stock

2 tablespoons fresh thyme (I used more)

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

french bread

Gruyere cheese - sliced

Serves 8-10

Turn your crock pot on high while you slice your onions.  

Bless your heart..it's ok to cry.  It happens. Nothing but a thing.

Add onions, garlic, brown sugar, butter, salt and balsamic vinegar to the pot.

Stir together until well combined.

Cover and let cook for 60 minutes.

Stir occasionally, until onions are slightly caramelized and a little brown on the edges.  

Now add in flour, stir and let sit for 5 minutes.  

Add beer, beef stock, thyme and pepper.  

Turn the heat to low and cook for 6-8 hours.

Before serving, slice bread.  

Fill soup bowl to the top, cover with the bread and a slice of cheese.

Set under the broiler for a few minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbling.

Please be careful because it will be extremely hot!!

Love at first bite

Enjoy,

Carrie

High Five for Friday

Two things occurred to me this week...

1.  I have become one of those women that you see in the grocery store wearing her workout clothes..

I vividly recall having a conversation several years ago with Brittney about all the women that shop in full on workout gear.  Mind you, this was a conversation before either of us set goals to be physically active on a regular basis.  So we were curious.. "do they really workout, or do they just shop in their "active" wear?

Now that I am one of those people I can answer that question, and my answer is - both.  

I recently read an article about women and how they feel in the clothes they wear..it was specifically geared toward crossfitters, but I totally got it.  The author discussed how she no longer felt comfortable or confident in her normal clothes, but went on to say that she felt like a <expletive> champion in a tank top and compression shorts.  I can relate..My body is by no means perfect. I accepted that years ago when I became a Mother. I def know I don't have the body of a crossfitter, but I have watched my body morph into this new body over the last year and a half - and I'm proud of it. I actually dig it. Losing 5 pounds, much less 60 pounds is a drastic change..and no easy feat. I love the way I look in my running pants...I like my slimmer waistline..my legs...and I really like my new  "running" butt...especially mostly from the side..As I'm walking from my bathroom to the closet, my head is slightly turned towards the mirror watching the chick with the new body walk by, annd then again on the way back through. Don't even pretend you don't do the same thing.  Seeing myself now, and remembering me then, is a constant reminder to never stop..that I am awesome..this is my one and only body..and this is my NEW body.

No, I don't always feel like a "beast" in my regular clothes (with the exception of a good pair of jeans..) I prefer to rock my running gear..and chances are if I'm not at work and have no where important to be I am more than likely going to sneak some extra form of exercise into my day..so, now when I see a woman at the grocery I don't look at her and wonder what she did that day in her running tights and sneakers..I look at her and think "you go girl!!"

2.  I have taken my germ-a-phobe-ness to the extreme this week.  Every day on the news you hear that someone else has been taken too soon from the dreaded flu.  I am terrified of the flu.  I don't even know what it feels like and I pray so hard that I never find out..

I have not always been a germ-a-phobe.  I go into other peoples homes for a living and sometimes people don't clean up when they're expecting company..if you know what I mean.  I have seen some stuff, and I could tell you stories for days.  I will never forget the first time I freaked out and after leaving this particular (vacant) home I drove myself straight to the nearest store..washed my hands, bought hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes..cleaned my door handle..and my steering wheel.  Ever since that day I have been a borderline chronic hand washer/sanitizer.  I know some germs are good, but I often run into bad germs.  

I just know it.  I can feel it...and it's disgusting.

I now keep a ridiculous amount of anti-bacterial hand soap in my linen closet. 

Hello, my name is Carrie, and I am a soap hoarder.

While in the Walgreen's drive thru this week I sat in line for about 5 minutes before I realized I was in the far lane and I would have to touch the little cylinder that everyone else has touched.  I have no idea how often they clean it, but I can only imagine - in my mind - that it is not nearly enough.  

I was not about to touch the flu capsule.  

No sir!

I backed my car up and went to the lane that did not require me to touch any random objects that may or may not have been contaminated in order to drop off a prescription.

School started back today and I cringed at the thought of all the germs from all the sick kids that didn't stay home.  Trey and I each had an Airborne tablet before bed.

You know..just to be safe.

I mentioned in a previous blog that I had a new found love for Mrs. Meyers cleaning products.  

I purchased this gift set in the lavender scent.

You get all of this for $26.99 and it is made with all natural ingredients.  No fumes burning your eyes and nose.  Just a heavenly scent that smells so good you won't want to stop cleaning.  I know how ridiculous that sounds, but trust me...I have been one mean cleaning machine.

Santa brought us a Keurig for Christmas.  While I am not a huge coffee drinker I did accidentally give myself the coffee jitters a few times just to try out some of the samples that came with it.  Two cups of coffee at bed time ...I don't suggest it.  Thank goodness AMC has been playing some good movies late at night to make my unfortunate coffee experimentation a little less boring..

Good thing I can watch Braveheart and Titanic and never get tired of either..oh, and recorded episodes of Family Feud..

Anyway..

My favorite k cups so far are the just about every tea I've been able to get my hands on  as well as the apple cider.  

I love this bamboo storage drawer, and if you don't have any type of storage for your cups I totally recommend it.  I bought mine from a shop on eBay for $29.95 with free shipping.  They still have a few left, so if you're looking for one click the link and get it before they're gone.

My 2014 monthly planner is from Letter C Design on Etsy.  I absolutely love it!  I have marked important dates with different colored washi tape.  I actually got the idea from a picture I saw in the Letter C Design shop.  For instance my turquoise tape is for appointments, the lime green is for birthdays/anniversaries and the pink is for vacations.. 

It will definitely help keep me on track for the new year ahead.

That's all for this week.  

Please stay healthy - wash your hands - get your flu shot, and if you don't feel well stay home unless you're going to the doctor and please for the love of Betsy if you feel bad for more than a day go to the doctor.  

Better safe than sorry.

I'll step down from my soapbox now..

(ahaahhhaaa!!)

(lol)

Thanks for stopping by..

xo

Carrie

H54F ..Plus My Favorite Dog Treat Recipe

Hey ya'll..  Hard to believe Christmas is next week, huh?!  Didn't we just have Christmas?  Feels like it.  Every where you go people make conversation by asking "are you ready for Christmas?"  Umm, no.  I'm not..and all the people that say they are..are just over achievers..Show-offs!

I'm sorta mellow this season...mellow is my way of making myself feel better about being completely lazy when it comes to anything Christmas related..  I'm not in a huge rush to wrap any presents.  Sitting here looking at my tree I have seven gifts - six of which I have wrapped myself.  I have a ton locked up in my spare bedroom...I'll get to em eventually aka tomorrow..Not feeling so merry and bright...But tis the season..I will put on my Santa shirt, a smile, and I will make it a memorable Christmas for Trey.  

Trey and I have baked a few batches of cookies here and there that we have already given away, and I've made 5 batches of candy - which is amazing by the way.  My house is decorated - I hung the last of my Christmas decor last night, my elf is on vacation, my to-do list is getting longer, my radio has been playing Christmas music since November..Christmas is coming..ready or not. Fa la la la la la...

I made my first ever batch of candy this week..I have never used a thermometer while baking, so I was a little overwhelmed and freaking out.  I made Kyle help me in case I needed a few extra hands.  It turned out to be so good...like so seriously good that I had trouble sleeping that night because I was trying to come up with a name for my new candy shop.  I'm not making this stuff up, and yes...admittedly, I have issues.

Parker Peppermint thought it would be a good idea to take Brodie for a ride...Next thing I knew he was saddled up and on the ride of his life while they were rockin' around the Christmas tree.

Before Parker went on vacation he tp'd the tree...wise of him to disappear..

  

I took this picture on one of my runs last week..

I love running while the sun is setting..

Sonnie and I experimented with the leftover greenery from my wreaths, and came up with this for my mailbox.  Turned out pretty great!

My skin has been so extremely, painfully dry...mostly on my face and lips.  I am really picky about what I put on my face, but I was desperate and dug through my box of samples looking for a new type of moisturizer, since mine obviously was not working.  I found this sample of Carmex healing cream and within twelve hours I had relief and my dry skin was gone. 

Every Christmas I make my dogs special treats for their stocking..They have (what I consider) healthy ingredients for dogs, and they absolutely love them..

Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Treats

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 eggs

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350

Whisk together all ingredients in a bowl.  Add water as needed.  I add a tablespoon of water at a time until I get the desired consistency...

Remove the dough from the bowl and using your hands roll into a ball.

I pull a handful at a time from the ball and roll it out.  You can roll the entire ball, but I find it easier to do a little at a time.

Using cookie cutters, of your choice, cut your treats and lay them on a cookie sheet.  

I bake them on my round stone.

Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes.

Let them cool and then get ready for the poor pitiful begging to begin...

Your dogs, or your dog friends will love them!!

xo,

Carrie

High Five for Friday

Hello there, Friday friends.  I've been busy, busy lately, so let's get straight to my highlights...

Last week I was in Louisiana.  I was there for a funeral service the day after Thanksgiving, so until that day we spent our time traveling and making the most of our trip with family.

We rented a house on the Liberty Bayou in Slidell.

This was our lovely view each morning at breakfast.  My first morning waking up at the Bayou house I went straight to this window to see if I could spot the supposed gator that resides in the back yard.

Once everyone was up we were all looking for the gator..

Pretty sure Marcie and I could be voted best dressed gator hunters.  We were just killing time waiting for everyone to get ready to spend the rest of the day in New Orleans.

No gator.  Only this adorable teenager.

I loved being able to show Trey around the French Quarter.  I don't think he was as excited as I was, but when he is older I hope he will look back and appreciate the memories we made.  Teenagers can be so very hard to please..

It was a beautiful day..

The following day was Thanksgiving...Myself, Kyle, Trey and these fun cousins all registered for a five miler turkey trot.  They could quite possibly be the coolest and funniest people I know, and I am so glad that they like to run, even if they do all run faster than me...

We had a blast doing this run together.  Nothing like pumping out a five miler bright and early in the morning with some of your favorite people..

I was pretty proud of my time, I would have been jumping up and down elated had I crossed the finish line under one hour, but better luck next time.  I'm still way faster than I was this time last year, and that's good enough for me.  A year ago I could barely run 4 miles, and I was ready to keep running when I was done with this race.  I was feeling pretty awesome..We celebrated our victories by making a trip to the Quarter and stuffed our faces with fresh beignets..coffee and hot chocolate (for me).

Once I got home from Louisiana this little guy of mine was stuck to me like glue.  We've done a whole lot of snuggling, and I love it!

The Budweiser Clydesdale's were in town for our Christmas parade.  They were on display for public viewing one day, so in between doctors appointments and movie dates we stopped by to check em out. They are so gorgeous..and their dog is the cutest!  

Speaking of movie dates..Have you seen Catching Fire yet?  Loooved it!

Our elf...Parker Peppermint, showed up one evening this week.  Trey chose Rice Krispies for his cereal of choice, and the next morning we discovered that Parker busted out of the box and made a huge mess.  Apparently he offed one of the Keebler elves.

Another night he gave Kyle a uni-brow and took it upon himself to improve his mustache.

Such a naughty little guy.

Yesterday I found him admiring sweet baby Jesus.

Bella was once a dog I fostered for the Humane Society.  When she came to me she was severely malnourished, had mange, three different kinds of worms and wasn't quite sure how to act around people. She was pitiful..she had never been loved before.  Just used to make babies, then thrown in a ditch when she was too old to make any more.

During the first four weeks I had Bella she had to be secluded from all of my other animals..she had to be on a different schedule and was given some extra, extra..(extra) TLC..after four weeks she was mange and worm free and got the thumbs up from the vet to be ready for adoption...She was adopted almost immediately from another Humane Society volunteer.

This is Bella now, and this is the picture that her sweet Mom sent me this week.

She often shares pictures and videos of Bella and they always make my day.

So proud of how far this little girl has come!

For the last several years my Mother in Law has made me a natural wreath to enjoy during the holidays.  This year, she stopped making them and decided to teach me her craft.

Earlier in the week she took me around town to show me the places where she gathers her greenery.  I was seriously freaking out.  I was like "you get it here..??  Really??  Are we allowed to be here??...are we going to get in trouble??" I found myself lecturing her telling her I wasn't sure this was the best idea. I was terrified of the thought that my one phone call would be to my Father asking him to please come bail me out of the slammer because Sonnie and I got arrested cutting the green for my wreaths. Her only advice was.."well, just act like you're supposed to be here" Oh, Lawd..I'm telling you what!!  I was running and hiding behind these trees so no one would see me.  I seriously looked like I wasn't supposed to be there..It was hysterical. 

So after a few hours we had three tins full of beautiful fresh greenery.

This afternoon was wreath making day..

dun, dun dun...

Slowly my very first wreath began coming together..

Sonnie was making one right beside me..Teaching me as I went along..

Here's my finished product!!

I couldn't wait to get it home, hang it on my front door and put a bow on it.  I am so proud of myself, and can't wait to make them for others next year!  

I'm taking over the wreath making business and couldn't be happier!!

I hung the amazing wreath Sonnie made on the old mirror on my mantle.

Now my home is officially Christmas ready.  

Everything in my area is iced over, so we're staying warm and snuggled this evening.  

I have the sweetest little snuggle buddy!!

Thanks for stopping by...Stay warm out there!!

xo

Carrie