High Five for Friday

Hey, hey!  While trying to decide what to write about this week, I realized that I have done four things here lately that I've never done before.  Nothing major, but nonetheless, new to me..  So, I'll start there and go in order.

 I knew while I was on my summer vacation I wanted to find a race to get into while I was traveling.  I was bummed when I couldn't find one in South Carolina the week I would be there, so I started looking for one on the way...

There just happened to be a trail race on the outskirts of Asheville the weekend I would be traveling through.  So, I checked into it..a 5k trail race in Swannanoa, North Carolina between Black Mountain and the Blue Ridge Mountains.  After doing a little more research on the area I was completely sold and registered for the race almost immediately.

After checking-in at our hotel room we ventured out to pick up our race packets, then we went to find the location of the race.  It was breathtakingly beautiful, which made me want to explore.  I turned down unmarked gravel roads, followed all the curves in the road anticipating what would be around the next corner.

This is a picture of the sun setting that night.

The mountains are so lovely..many times I found myself day dreaming of what it would be like to live there.

So, rise and grind it was finally race day...I was pumped up and ready to take on whatever these hills had in store for me.

All downhill and flat for the first mile..I was even two minutes under my usual time.  I was killing it..and then I had that light bulb moment...Am I going to have to run back up everything I just ran down?

Well, no..much worse.  Oh my gosh.  This was by far the hardest thing I have ever done running wise..At this point I couldn't see anyone in front of me.  I knew there were still people behind me, but they were still so far back I couldn't see them.  I was talking to myself..more like reassuring myself that I wasn't going to die..here..in the middle of this mountain...I convinced myself that my legs wouldn't give up on me no matter how much my head was trying to tell me that they were dunzo..I was like "you are doing this..you are rocking this and you will finish this"!! 

and I'm not going to lie..there were two parts I remember having to walk up the hills..and I sooo hated doing it..but I remembered a conversation with a friend that told me to keep a comfortable pace uphills..I just kept repeating that to myself over and over..and next to crawling up the hill, my comfortable pace was walking... 

Everything was so beautiful...I just couldn't get over it.  I think the beauty of it took away my desire to fall over and roll back down the hill.

Finally I saw another human..a tall, grey headed man standing at the top of the hill.  I was so happy to see him. I just wanted to run up and give him a hug...then he began cheering me on, telling me I was at the top...that I can do this .. and that it was all good from here to the finish line.  As soon I heard those words coming out of his mouth I gave a thumbs up, thought to myself that yes, I can do this...then gave it all I had left.. I ran my little heart out until my feet finally crossed the finish line.

So, despite that grueling second mile I never did give up, and I never wanted to..I don't guess..There were a few minutes where it was questionable as to whether or not my judgement was clear, but the point is..I didn't give up...It always feels awesome when you cross the finish line, but this particular race had me feeling all sorts of emotions..I was super proud of myself, and felt like I could do anything..  It was a pretty amazing experience that I would do again in a heartbeat!

Isn't it funny how after you finish a race, no matter how hard it was..as soon as you cross the finish line...well...errr..rewind..in this instance..about 10 minutes after you cross the finish line you're ready to run again!!

So, after a quick change/cleanup I was back on the road and five hours later I was in beach bum mode for the next seven days.

 I found a yoga studio that offered yoga classes on the beach in the mornings.

As soon as I arrived one of the first things I did was sign up for a class.

It was super relaxing, and I so needed it. 

Laying in savasana while listening to the waves crash...amazing!

The instructor, as well as the other people in the class were so fun..I'm so glad that I ventured out on my own to do something I love in a new place.

I got up a few times to watch the sun rise.  Sunrises and sunsets are easily two of my favorite things to watch these days.

I convinced Trey to go on a beach run with me one morning.  I only wanted to run at dawn, and once he realized how early it actually was he was so not wanting to go, but he was a good sport and went anyway. I love early mornings with him.  

This was seen on one of my morning runs.

Another morning run picture.  I don't know them, but watching the guy play with his dog made me smile thinking of how much my dogs would love to play on the beach.  The dog was so happy having the best time playing in the water.  It turned out to be one of my favorites pictures.

Trey snapped this of me and I l.o.v.e it!!  I'm convinced that if I had access to a beach on the daily, I would for sure have some killer legs.  Beach miles go by way faster than road miles and they do some serious work on your legs!  <3

This was the prefect spot to have breakfast in the mornings.  Mango, strawberries and bananas never tasted so good!

My little buddy got his first truck. sniff sniff..He had no idea, and I couldn't wait for him to see it.  His reaction to it brought me to tears, and he had tears rolling too..  Of course me more than him.. his tears were more happy tears..mine were too of course, but mixed with Mom tears, and "how can he only be months away from driving" tears.

I helped Lynn and Catie pick blackberries for the market.

If you know me, then you know I am terrified of snakes.  I tried really hard to not even pay attention to the ground.  I figured it I didn't see it I would live.  I warned everyone that if I did see one I would probably scare them, and the snake because I would scream, run, then a bowl full of blackberries would probably go flying in the air.  I think I need a whistle...you know, to let the snakes know I'm coming...

Since I didn't have a whistle I just stomped the ground and announced myself every time I stepped out of the gator. I must have scared them all away.. ;-)

We picked three big bowls of wild berries...

They are so sweet and delicious!!

I had a pretty decent harvest this week.  Everything in the grass had to be tossed out because it was too ripe...I have a huge job this week in the garden.  I definitely took way too much time off and it shows.

Kayla and I took our first Barre class yesterday..it totally kicked our butts..big time!!  Barre combines yoga, pilates and ballet moves to basically strengthen and lengthen your muscles.  I'm going to say it targets all of your muscles, including the ones you forgot you had.  It was pretty intense..  I love working up a sweat, and pushing myself.. feeling the burn , and having the good kind of sore muscles.  Have you ever ridden a bicycle for like three hours straight?  I haven't either, but I have ridden one for an hour straight, and you know how your legs feel when you walk for the first time after riding?  During Barre your arms and your legs begin to feel like that.  About 10 minutes after class I called Kayla and was like "I'm pretty sure it's not safe for me to be driving at this point" She said "my arm keeps falling of the steering wheel."  I said "omg I have floppy arms too."  We couldn't stop laughing.  I'm not kidding.  It was brutal, but seriously the best kind of brutality.  I can't wait to sign up for the next class!  There is only one place in town that offers Barre classes and the studio is super cute!! Those gliding boards were so fun!!

I snuck out of town again... This morning Trey and I are going on an Independence Day kayak adventure. 

Thanks for stopping by to read about my week..Hope you all have a fun, safe, wonderful weekend!!

Happy Birthday America!

xo

Carrie

High Five for Friday

Hey there!  This week flew..I can't believe how fast it went by. 

I bet the sunshine and 80 something degree weather had a lot to do with it.  :-)  

I had an amazing weekend with my sweet friends that came to visit from Ohio.  Friday, we spent the entire day in Nashville.

We had lunch at The Southern Steak and Oyster on 3rd Ave.  The food was fabulous.. I had the barbecuban with black beans on the side and a peach belini.  Jason, our waiter, was too much fun! 

  

Afterwards we drove to Franklin and did some downtown shopping.  I spent way too much time and money in Anthropologie.  Then we ventured over to the Greenhills area for some more shopping and dinner before heading home..

Between yoga, shopping, brunch, girl talk, whiskey night, homemade peach pie and movie night..we had a super fun weekend!!

Have you ever been to Teavana?  It is a specialty tea store that offers samples of several types of the loose leaf tea they sell in the store.  I have been enjoying the blueberry bliss rooibos tea, and the pineapple kona pop herbal tea.  They taste amazing mixed together, not to mention it's like potpourri for my kitchen..and I'm totally digging my perfectea maker.  We should have a tea party.

I picked up this candle at Target.  It smells sooooo good!  So good, that I'm pretty sure you should have one too, so next time you are in Target, at least go sniff it out.  I bet if you sniff if, you'll get it.  You're welcome.

  

So, the day we had a high of 81..as soon as Trey finished up his homework we loaded his bike and headed to the Greenway.

I was super pumped to run that day because I knew it would be the run where I would finally break 100 miles since I started using this app..Which, by the way, felt pretty darn awesome!!

Trey loves going to this particular Green with me..He likes to explore.

This month some of the yogis I follow on insta have been doing a yoga challenge..The challenge is called - unleash the rebel within - They want to encourage you to change your yoga routine..taking your practice off your mat and instead doing it outside in this great big world..they want you to break through some boundaries that otherwise may make you uncomfortable..

Such as..side planks in the middle of the trail..

You know..why not!?  Personally, I think being a rebel is fun.

So, at one point on this outing Trey and I we were both startled by a man walking behind some trees right off the trail.  

At first I thought he had a metal detector, but the closer I got I knew that it wasn't...

Trey and I had some silent communication going on....

He looked at me and said:

 "It's a snake hook"  

I said.."A who?!!"  

He said.."yeah..he is looking for snakes."  

He knows I'm terrified, so I give him that look..

I said..  

"You are totally making this up..and you're not funny...!!!" 

By this time I stopped running, and he stopped beside me on his bike.  

It was getting serious up in there..So, we are both standing there in the middle of the trail..

We are just looking at each other..

"Seriously, Mom..I'm telling you..he's looking for snakes."  

"And you know this, how?!"

"Mom!!??"

<insert eye rolling here>
(me, not him)

"Okay, fine..go ask him"  

"No, you go ask him"

 "I'm not asking him, you go ask him..you're the expert.." 

(yes, we are twelve)

He stares blankly..

So, I said.."Ok, I am going to ask him because I would really like to know the answer.."

He said..

"Seriously?! <mumbles under breath> Mom, don't..!! <more mumbles> you are so embarrassing..."

So, by the time I catch back up to the guy he is coming out of the woods with what is clearly a snake hook..

(o.m.g) 

I say "excuse me.. sir....excuse me.." 

Snake hook man turns to face me..  

"Hi, I am so sorry to bother you..My son and I were wondering what you are......"

- rudely interrupted by the boy - 

"I told my Mom you were looking for snakes, but she doesn't believe me..."

<insert smug, teenager, know it all, giggle here> 

I give him the "Mom" look...

Snake hook man speaks.. 

"Yes, actually..I am looking for snakes..."

 If I didn't say "shuuut upp??!!"  I was most definitely thinking it..

"Have..haave you seen any?"

Then, snake hook man goes on to say.."Not yet, but you two should be careful out here because around the first of April you will see them everywhere."  "

"Everywhere??!"

"Yes, ma'am..last year I saw seven cotton mouths between here and the trail head.."

Pointing my finger towards the ground I am standing on I say..

"onnn the trail..like, right here..?"  

"Yes, ma'am..and you should be very cautious because they are aggressive and will chase you.

Oh dear Lord.

So, we finish up our conversation with the snake hook man..I thank him and carry on about my business...Running along..trying not to look at the ground..remembering what my Dad always says at work.."if you don't look for them you won't see them.."

Well, ok Dad!!  I was not looking for this particular snake and I saw it.....

Surprisingly, I did not scream bloody murder.

However, I did a little hop..jump to the side, kick..hii-ya type thing..and then an 80's cartoon move where I am trying to run so fast that my feet are just spinning in circles underneath me and I am going no where.. It looked like a stick, but had it not been in the middle of the trail with it's head raised I wouldn't have noticed it.

Ohhh dear Lord.

So, after my 80's cartoon move where it felt like I went no where and the anaconda was chasing me down for dinner..I looked ahead for Trey..he was out of sight..and I knew if I told him I saw one he wouldn't believe me..so, I took a deep breath and went back to take a very far away, yet very zoomed in picture of it..

This definitely is not..I repeat...IS NOT a highlight of my week, but I do feel as if it is my civic duty to warn tell you that the snakes have slithered out of their holes to disgrace us with their presence.  

I just want to cry.  Guess where I will not be running at anytime soon?!

So, to end my eventful, warm, sunshiny day.  I know once I get to the bridge that I'm close to the end..I kept telling myself "don't stop now..you are soo clooose to waaaterr."  I was dying for water, and the last time Trey circled back to find me I sent him on to retrieve my H2O..  He never came back..I get to the parking lot..think to myself "why is my hood up?"..reach for my water..Empty.  He drank it. I could have strangled him..then..my car battery was mysteriously dead..of course he kept pleading that he had nothing to do with it..no water, one dead cell phone, dead car..snakes on the loose.. By that time I needed something a lot stronger than water and some anger management might not have been a terrible idea.  Thankfully Trey had his phone and we were able to call for help.  My SuperDad saved the day!!

I have chives coming up in last years herb garden..

Trey and I went to the high school to get his schedule squared away for his Freshman year.  He said he was not nervous, but I was sooo nervous.  For me it was like first day of school stomach pains..I went to a private school, so my high school was tiny compared to this one.  I think I have only been inside this school one time, and that was back in the 90's when I went to Homecoming with my boyfriend that went there.  Trey is really excited to start HS.  I, on the other hand..am going to cry.  

I video chatted with Nicole for over three hours one evening.  Surprisingly, we never seem to run out of things to talk about.  So glad we got to hang out together, even if we are 800 miles apart.

<3

My little guy gives the sweetest goodnight kisses!! 

 I entered Brodie and I into a models and mutts contest.  We probably won't win, but it was still fun and I got really excited when they responded to the photo I entered. You can enter too...find @modelsnmutts on instagram for details.

Thanks for stopping by to read about my week.  

Never a dull moment around here..and I love it..minus the snakes..I do not love the snakes..

xo

Carrie

High Five for Friday

Hola Friday friends!  If you are here then you are already seeing the changes that have been made to the ol' blog.  There are a few more changes coming, but the most noticeable change is the header, which I am super pleased with.  It is exactly how I imagined, and I wasn't even sure how I wanted it to look when I began the design process with Amy.  She has been a dream to work with.  Sooo, yay!!  I can't wait for it to be finished.

My kitchen floor re-do was last week..  When your contractor calls you mid-day and says "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" and then the good news is that he found 50 cents under your fridge..you know the bad news is bad.. So, I came home Monday and I was missing half of my kitchen floor. Jimmy was standing with his lower body in my crawlspace and his upper half in my kitchen.  I was like "oh, hey guys" then I quickly walked away.  The damage they were repairing was worse than any of us thought so I was trying not to see what all was going on.

My refrigerator was in my living room and my other appliances were in my dining room...There were random kitchen cabinets..in my foyer and in my garage.  I sorta felt like I was living in an apartment..which was fun, for some weird reason I feel like I missed out on something in my college day youth by never living in an apartment. I realize that sounds totally crazy, but helleur..it's me telling this story. It kinda goes without saying. ;-)

The floor looks fantastic!!  Unfortunately, I've already broken my first glass...Glass doesn't quite land on vinyl the same way it does ceramic tile.  Of course I already knew this, but had yet to experience it..until now.  So, day two of the new floor I was sweepin' up glass. 

I felt extremely vulnerable with all of my junk drawers exposed.  You really don't realize how much crap you have until it's all out in the open for everyone to see.  I only have six drawers in my kitchen..two are neat and organized, two are junk drawers and the other two are just "organized" chaos..not quite on the junk drawer level, but so close. I spent a few hours last weekend organizing my drawers and cabinets. It may or may not have been an intervention type thing..I hate to get rid of stuff.  I can almost find sentimental value in any random object in my house.  So, Catharina came over one day while I was cleaning them out..I was like "look at all this stuff.." then I went on to explain why I didn't want to get rid of it..Then..I could see the look in her eyes.  I was being ridiculous.  So, with my head hung low I said.."Just throw it away when I'm not looking."  I now feel much better about what my drawers contain.

 While cleaning the drawers out I found a Ziploc bag with a bunch of folded up paper inside.  I nosed through it to see if it was trash or not.  My heart melted... Inside the bag were notes that I had written to Trey, and put in his lunch box for school.  He kept them.  <3

 I sure love that boy of mine..he's so good to me.

I got these new slippers from Old Navy.  They are on clearance right now..and the colors/sizes are super limited, so if you see them..and you want them..get them!!  I love mine..they have a good sole on them, so they don't feel cheap..The inside is warm and fuzzy, and they are Brodie approved!

While dusting my entire house for the tenth time after the floor was done (dust was everywhere!!) I decided to mess with my cookoo clock..it hasn't worked in years.. Not entirely sure why I never noticed before, but my cookoo bird looks like a chicken!!!  ahaha!!  It's perfect.

I love my new compression-mesh pants from ON. Like love, love!!  My other compression pants I feel are too long, and these are perfect..I think that's why I like them so much.  Everyone should live in compressions..they are heavenly...like new clean sheets.  I never want to leave them once I'm in them.

Trey has been working up the ground in the garden.  It's almost that time again!!  I can't wait!

I rocked my Westie scarf this week.  I always get compliments when I wear it.. Except for that one time when a lady at church told me she loved my horse scarf.  I mean, I guess that is a compliment, but you know...doesn't look like any horse I've ever seen.

I got it from Purple Possum UK on Etsy.

Last Friday night I skipped town and went to hang out with my niece and her bestie.  They're so cute and fun to hang around with.  Pretty much all they do is giggle..and they both exude sarcasm... it's almost as if I birthed them myself. I'm such a proud aunt! We had fun together!  I lerve them both!

I finally got to meet my new nephew, Bentley.  He is way too spoiled and only wants to be held by my sister.  Such a whiny baby!

This geranium scented soy candle from Mrs. Meyers smells fabulous and Spring like!!  It's the perfect candle for a sunny day when you have the windows in the house open.

Brodie and I took a sequence of pictures together..He never moved in any of them, so my hair was sitting on top of his head in every one of them.  I don't know why this was so funny to me, but I couldn't stop laughing.  Clearly, we don't get out often enough.

 Love my sweet boys!!

Thanks for stopping by to read about my week.
Hope you have an awesome weekend!

xo

Carrie