Hello and Happy Friday! This week has been so different for me! I’ve had lots of time spent on the mend with napping and Netflix. That being said, Travis has definitely had to wear his Super Dad cape this week! I greatly appreciate all he does for me and for our family to keep us a float while we are a (wo)man down!
The kids still had activities, I still worked from home, friends continued to bring us meals and desserts, and we are just taking one day at a time.
Today, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for their weekly Friday Favorites post.
Today’s Friday Favorites has a Flashback twist. With Halloween around the corner, I thought I’d share the kids’ costumes through the years.
2010:
Lil Pumpkin and chubby skeleton…
2010
2011:
M&M’s…
2011
2012:
Fireman and Princess…
2012
2013:
My favorite costume combo: Batman and Robin! (Being Robin was 100% Hadley’s idea after Hayden said he wanted to be Batman)
2013
2014:
Captain America and Elsa (from Frozen)
2014
2015:
A ninja and a pink Power Ranger…The neighborhood was very safe that year 😉
2015
2016:
A bee and Luke Skywalker…
2016
2017:
Super Girl and KC Royals player Mike Moustakas…
2017
2018:
Soccer player and 80’s party girl #omg
2018
2019:
A Ghostbuster and a nerd 😂
2019
Last year, our Halloween trick-or-treating was moved due to weather. So, we had a fun dinner at home on Halloween. Andrea had shared about her spooky dinner, and I recreated the fun. I hope to do this again this year.
I thought that would be a fun trip down memory lane! Now, on to some favorites…
Favorite Picture:
After a string of dreary days, the sun finally came out! I went outside to tell Hadley to come in for dinner and saw one of our front yard trees showing off.
now…who is going to rake up all those leaves? 🤔
Favorite Clothing Item:
My pjs or comfy clothes on repeat.
Favorite Food:
Again, we’ve been enjoying so many wonderful foods that friends have brought us for dinner. We’ve had soups, lasagna, chicken enchiladas, and a quiche. As well as too many delicious desserts.
Cupcakes made by H&H
Favorite Moment:
When I had my surgery last week, my goal was to rest up and be able to attend the kids’ district championship cross country meet on Wednesday. I’m so glad I was able to attend! The boys and girls teams have come so far, and I’m so proud of Travis for taking on the coaching responsibilities again this year. They’ve had a pretty good season considering the late start due to Covid.
Hadley finished with her best time and highest finish yet with 4th place. Then, Hayden finished again in first. They’ve grown so much as runners in the past year, and again, it’s so awesome to see teammates cheering each other on!
I caught this pic of Hayden right as the race started. He had on his new bright cleats and was chasing the daylight!
On the run…
left: Hadley and her friend leading the pack; top right: Hadley almost to the finish line; bottom right: Hayden at the finish!
Twinsies with their hardware.
Their cousins came to cheer them on 🙂
It was such a beautiful day, and definitely a fun race for all.
Favorite Kid Quote:
This quote goes back to last week. Hadley had her first band class via Zoom for playing flute on the Wednesday of my surgery. That evening, when I Facetimed the kids from the hospital, I asked Hadley how band went, and she told me how the teacher taught her a few notes. I said, “Hadley, I’m so proud of you!” She said, “No, mom, I’m so proud of you.” ❤️She knew I was anxious about my surgery that morning, and that I was so relieved to be on the recovery side of it.
She’s such a sweet girl…when she’s not being sassy 😉
Favorite Mom Memes:
This one popped up in my Facebook memories. Thankfully, I haven’t had to cook in over a week! 😂
Travis is the real MVP this week getting the kids where they need to go. Technically, I’m not supposed to drive yet, so it’s on him to get them to school pod and activities…as well as other errands.
Weekly Recap:
It was a short blogging week for me, but here are my two other posts from the week:
Y’all, by some miracle we don’t have any real plans this weekend. No sports or other major commitments on the schedule which means I will continue to get some much needed rest.
Thanks so much for reading, and have a great weekend!
Hello! Life has kind of come to a standstill (for me) this past week. So…there’s no real Weekend Wrap Up or Life Lately material to share…but I figured it’s the perfect time for a Currently post 🙂
So here’s a little bit of what I’ve been up to…
I’m Currently…
Recovering:
One week ago today, I had a total hysterectomy. Long story short, it was a long time coming. There would never be a perfect time, but mid-October was as perfect as any to have the procedure done.
So, I’ve been napping, snuggling with Homer, reading, and binging Netflix for the past week or so. I feel better with each day, but I can’t get over how exhausted I am.
Do you have any Netflix recommendations? If so, send them my way!
Light up pumpkin, Food Network, and Homer snuggles. The perfect combo for recovery.
Reading:
I’ve been reading November 9 by Colleen Hoover. I’m a big fan of her books, and this one doesn’t disappoint.
But… every time I start reading, I end up dozing off! 😂 Hoover should take no offense! 😉This book is definitely a good one, and I’m almost finished.
Watching:
I was so excited a few months ago when I saw that Supermarket Sweep was coming back on TV! I remember watching that show as a kid on Lifetime. Now, I know, I could crush it on that show #momgoals
I also watched all six episodes of Dream Home Makeover on Netflix. I wish there were more episodes! I watched the entire first season this weekend. Thankfully, there will be a Season 2 in the spring.
Celebrating:
We are celebrating the end of hayden’s fall baseball season. Now, I’m not celebrating that the season is over… 🙃 Just celebrating him growing as a player the past couple of months with a new team and celebrating their successes. We were with a great group of players and parents which made the season even more fun.
On the pitcher’s mound during Saturday’s game
Enjoying:
We are enjoying all the food and desserts that people have dropped off. So many goodies and wonderful meals have kept us going for the past week. We truly appreciate it.
The kids were super excited to show me the monster cupcakes they made. When we FaceTimed last Wednesday night from the hospital, they told me they’d made me something tasty with the sitter! My friend brought over the ingredients, and the sitter helped them bake and decorate the cupcakes.
Remembering:
Remembering and thinking about those who’ve suffered a pregnancy loss or loss of a child. This day isn’t necessarily marked in my calendar, but when it’s shared on social media, I always pause and reflect.
This year, made me pause for a bit longer. Of course, I count my blessings of Hayden and Hadley, but I’ve suffered a miscarriage as well. And, the juxtaposition of this day being the day after my hysterectomy is a cause for grief as I turn the page on that chapter of my life. My decision for the surgery weighed heavily on me for years and so much of that was because what if…What if one day we could have one more? But…here we are and I need to be here, active, and present for my two greatest blessings. My heart is always with those struggling to start a family, to add to their family, or who have experienced loss.
Reminiscing:
Reminiscing about Keeneland in the fall. Y’all, there’s no better time in Lexington than the fall and being at Keeneland. We miss going to one of our favorite places.
2018
Loving:
I’m loving using this phone wallpaper for my background. I started following @Ashton.creates on Instagram, and she shared this free wallpaper for use for phone backgrounds. It brings a smile to my face every time I unlock my phone 🙂
Laughing:
At the fact that both my kids are running for President of their pod. They had elections yesterday, and Hadley won the first set of votes, and then Hayden and another friend tied. So, there are three of them running for Pod President. Pod President gets to bring snack of their choice to share with the pod, create a seating arrangement for the day, choose the recess activity, and choose a movie to watch during their down time.
They are learning how voter registration works, why it’s important to debate, what electoral votes are, what a swing state is, and about the election process.
Before voting, they will give one speech at lunch, create ads and buttons, and participate in one debate. I joked that they’ve mastered arguing with each other, so the debate shouldn’t be an issue for either one of them 😉
When they got home yesterday and told me about it, Hayden said, “Hadley, how’d you get so many votes?” Hadley said, “Well, I guess people like me?” 😂
Thanks so much for reading. I hope you are having a great week.
I haven’t posted in a bit because I’ve been recovering from surgery that I had last Wednesday. I’ve been trying to take the time to slow down, heal, and sleep! I’m so tired, but happy that most of my pain has subsided; I’m hoping to get more energy back with each day.
I will probably write more about my surgery later in the week, but thought I’d share my monthly memes to start our week off with a laugh or two! Enjoy 😊
1.
I feel like this happens a lot in our kitchen…whether it be a husband, a kid, or a dog in my way, they tend to be right where I need to be at the moment!
2.
Target is my happy place. I’m always amazed at what I end up picking up even when I’m only going in for one thing!
3.
I shared this meme on Instagram stories recently. It definitely made me laugh out loud. Some days I can’t remember what I wore yesterday, but I can remember something petty from years ago! 😂
4.
This is unfortunately the truth. The kids always seem to need me when I’m in the restroom, or I’m fussing at them to get out because they are fighting with each other!
5.
Daylight Savings Time is right around the corner! Maybe we should just go for it and buck the system. #2020amiright ?!
6.
I was doing this a lot in the spring. I joked that I usually buy myself an end of the school year gift and was basically making some kind of Friday purchase for surviving each week of home school and work from home life.
7.
The older I’ve gotten and the longer I’ve been a parent, the more this is true. Sometimes I just like a few minutes alone in my car. I’m the type the drives with no music on just so I can have a quiet and think to myself.
8.
This frame of mind is nice and may come in handy since I’m not supposed to drive for another week or so!
I hope to post somewhat regularly this week, but sleep and Homer snuggles are obviously my first priority!
Hopefully, these memes will provide a few laughs and get your week started off right.
This month’s topic is how you “pumpkin.” Well, we don’t mess around when it comes to pumpkins. As I’ve mentioned repeatedly, fall is my favorite season, and I especially love the month of October.
Here’s a peek at how we “pumpkin.”
Food and Drinks:
Once October hits, I add a dash of pumpkin spice to my creamer and coffee. It definitely hits the spot on a cool morning.
We love the Pumpkin Sausage PennePasta recipe that I got off the back of a Kroger coupon pack many years ago. I make it a few times during the fall season.
The kids, with the help of my mom and my Gma, made the first pumpkin pie of the season a couple of weekends ago. I hope to make another one soon.
A new recipe we tried this year was Andrea’sPumpkin Sugar Cookies. So good, and definitely a family favorite!
Decorations:
I’ve shared about the fall decor at our house. I think I love fall decorations better than Christmas ones because we get to enjoy them a bit more.
Pumpkins everywhere you turn!
Trader Joe’s came in clutch this year for my porch pumpkins because my regular place had hardly any of the fun fantasy pumpkins to choose from when I stopped by in mid-September.
Fall front porch, y’all.
Pumpkin Patch:
As I shared in yesterday’s post, going to the pumpkin patch is a family tradition. We were able to go last Friday to pick out our carving pumpkins, get some apple cider donuts, and enjoy the lovely fall weather.
Pumpkin patch pics through the years…
2019:
2020:
Homer:
We can’t leave Homer out of the fall fun…I’ve purchased him a banana the past two fall seasons. He tolerates wearing them for a bit.
2019:
2020:
2020
And…
Another family tradition for us is to watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown together as a family. I need to be on the lookout this year for it, so I can record it for some forced family fun! 😉
Next month’s topic is Let’s Look at your holiday menu!
Thanks so much for reading this fun (for me!) post.
I’m going to take a little blogging break, but I hope to be back with a new post the beginning of next week or so.
Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts too!
Today I’m recapping one of my favorite days of the year…our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.
On Friday, Hayden’s baseball practice was canceled which gave us an afternoon after school off from activities. Travis even got home a bit early, so we were able to leave right when I finished my school day. We go to Evan’s Orchard in Georgetown, and have been going there for four or five years.
I love the mix of activities, pumpkins, photo ops, and apple cider everything 😊
Of course, upon arrival, I headed straight to the pumpkins…
while the kids headed straight to the apple cannon! I don’t remember them having this in the past, but the kids shot ten apples at the various targets (a truck, a ghost, etc), and we were all laughing at the hits and the misses.
I was impressed with how the orchard was set up. The area with most of the pumpkins, the apple cannon, and this corn stalk photo op is an area that typically isn’t used. So, this provided more space for people to spread out all over the orchard.
This cute pic of the kids is very 2020 with the masks around their necks, but I sure do miss the days where they let me dress them in a bright orange jack-o-lantern or boo shirt. At least they still like this tradition of going to pick out our carving pumpkins.
Family photo.
This little swing photo area was also new this year. Hadley couldn’t resist.
All the pumpkins you could ever ask for…
These are the pumpkins they picked for carving:
Mini pumpkins on the way inside the store…
where we also purchased two packs of apple cider donuts.
Hadley and Travis had ice cream as their treat while Hayden and I had apple cider slushies. It was the first time I’d had one, and it was so delish and refreshing.
I also picked up these mini wooden pumpkins to add to my ongoing collection.
We enjoyed our treats while sitting by the big pumpkins.
I swear they look 10 going on 16 in this pic!
Then, Hayden talked us into a bag of kettle corn for the road. We figured “why not?” since we all could share it. A medium bag is plenty big and lasted the rest of the weekend.
This is the second year we didn’t pay for the play area …1. because of lack of time and 2. because of Covid. That’s why I obliged on a few extra treats and pumpkins when it was all said and done.
Again, it was definitely a good outside outing with masks, social distancing, and protocols being followed.
The pumpkin patch and this front porch view are two of my favorite things about this season!
I can’t wait for tomorrow’s Let’s Look link up. It’s all about…pumpkins. My fave! I couldn’t miss out on that!
Hello and Happy Monday! How was your weekend? We were able to make it to the pumpkin patch on Friday which always makes my fall loving heart happy. Sunshine, apple cider donuts, and pumpkins kicked our weekend off right. I plan on sharing more about that tomorrow!
We spent Saturday morning at the kids’ cross country meet, and then we were going to head straight to Hayden’s baseball tournament, but got word as we arrived at the cross country meet that the baseball tournament had been canceled due to rain. All of the sudden, this mama had her entire weekend back! Hadley placed 6th in her race, and Hayden had another 1st place finish! Their team is so fun to watch and both the boys and girls teams earned top 5 finishes at the meet!
Once we got back to Lex, we decided to have brunch at Winchells which is one of our favorite places. Then, the rest of the weekend was pretty relaxing. With overcast and/or rainy skies for Saturday and Sunday, we just hung out, did chores around the house, took a nap or two and just recharged. I did catch most of the replay of my MIZZOU Tigers beating LSU and then the CATS won as well. Weekends like these don’t happen very often, so I was happy to have this extra time. Hayden talked Travis into 9 holes of golf Sunday afternoon once it quit raining so steadily. I prepped dinner and got organized for the week.
Now, on to the topic of today’s post…
Today, I’m joining Lauren, Ashley, and others for their Not Just a Mom series. This month’s focus is on “getting crafty.”
I do love a craft or a quick project. Now, I don’t seem to have as much time as I used to, but I do like to pin on Pinterest, plan a craft for a party decoration, or update an outdated piece of furniture with paint!
Here are some of my favorite crafts through the years…
Birthday Banner:
I made this banner for the kids right before their 3rd birthday. I cut out the triangles and circles on card stock, printed the letters, and glued them on. Then, I clipped each each triangle to string with clothes pins. I’ve used this banner every birthday since, and just change out the age for the birthday.
Through the years…
Last year, I told them I was ok with quitting the birthday shirt tradition (Hadley would probably play along until she’s 50 and Hayden was over it a couple of years ago😉) and that I could even part with the banner tradition if necessary. I just wanted to respect them and not cling tight to all the traditions I started when they were younger if they didn’t want all the hype #wheredidmybabiesgo
Both said they want the banner tradition to continue…So, maybe I will hang it next month when they turn 11. (How is that possible?!)
Birthday Party Decoration:
For their 3rd birthday party, I hot glued these buttons on a thick cardboard 3 that I purchased at Michael’s. Then, I hung it from the front door as a decoration for when guests arrived at the party. Super simple, colorful and fun.
Hadley’s Room:
When the kids were about 3 1/2, we gave them each their own room. I knew we’d prbably move that next year, so I didn’t want to paint. We got vinyl stickers with their names, and I added a few homemade decorations.
The hoops with fabric is one of my favorite ideas. So easy, inexpensive, and cute.
I painted Hadley’s bedside table white, and stapled tutu fabric around the sides. See, I’m all about the cute and easy craft and project!
I also made the kids each a canvas with a quote. I just bought the canvases at Michael’s, put vinyl letters on, painted over the letters, and then when the paint dried, I peeled the letters off. I mean I probably won’t open an Etsy shop for the signs, but I thought they were cute for a kid’s room and a quick project.
Hayden’s Room:
Travis and I completed Hayden’s magnet board when we moved into our current house. Travis had this wooden pane that he’d picked up years ago, and then I bought a piece of metal at Home Depot (or Lowes) that we cut down and then stapled to the back of the frame. Then, we hung it on one of the walls in his room.
This is Hayden’s quote canvas that I made when I made Hadley’s. The quote is from Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird (one of my favorite books!) #Englishteachernerd 🙂 and I thought it fit perfectly for Hayden because he’s always been on the smaller side (probably more average sized now) but inquisitive and pretty studious. The canvas still hangs in his room now.
Kitchen Projects:
I had seen this valance idea on Pinterest, and tried it out on the window in our kitchen. All you need is fabric and hot glue. Yep. Hot glue. I did this project in about an hour…and always thought I’d replace it, but five years later, the valance still hangs in the window.
This wasn’t a huge project, but I love it because it has a piece of the original house in it. Travis found the window at Lexington Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Then, the “shutters” are part of a swinging cafe doors that used to hang in the entry way from the hall to the kitchen area in our house. The previous owners took them down, and we found them in the garage. So, we cut them in half, painted them, and hung them next to the window on the wall.
Chalk Paint:
A few summers ago, I was brave enough for my first chalk paint project. I painted our entry way table with chalk paint and antiquing wax.
A few months later, I painted our tv stand (that we now use in the sun room) with chalk paint and another glaze.
Then, I used the Limewash Glaze on an antique side table.
Lastly, one of my first quarantine projects was that I used the same Limewash Glaze on this table in our basement.
Here are the posts I wrote about my chalk paint projects and you can see the befores and afters:
I made this Missouri/Kentucky burlap piece for the gallery wall in our former home. I included it in the gallery wall in our kitchen in this house. My former house was mostly reds and greens, so I chose the red color for the paint. I printed out the two states and laid them flat on a piece of burlap. I simply painted over them and then removed the cut outs to reveal the burlap. Then, I just put the finished burlap piece in a frame.
It’s a sweet nod to where I’m from and where Travis is from (and, of course, where we currently live)
Sometimes I’m not sure of the difference between a craft and a project. I guess projects may have more steps and take longer…so this post is probably a good mix of crafts and projects 😄Do you consider yourself to be crafty?
Next month’s topic is Shop the Holidays. It’s crazy to think we’ll soon being thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas! (And my kids turn 11 next month…time sure does fly!)
Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts! Thanks so much for reading.
Happy Friday! We’ve had a good, but busy, week around here! Sometimes getting back on track after a break can be difficult, but we all rallied to get it together with our schedules, school, work, and activities. I hope you’ve had a great week too!
Per usual, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for their weekly Friday Favorites post.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Favorite Food(s):
Saturday, after we returned home from Asheville, we headed to my brother’s house because my mom and Gma were visiting. My Gma made sloppy joe’s and tots for dinner. My brother made this delicious cake with apple butter and homemade icing!
I hosted Sunday night dinner with soup and cornbread. I tried a new recipe my dad shared with me where you use a box of Jiffy cornbread mix and yellow cake mix. It was delicious.
The kids (with the help of my mom and Gma) made the first pumpkin pie (for us!) of the season.
ready for the oven
This was our dessert on Sunday night!
Also, on Sunday, I went to Trader Joe’s with my mom, Gma, and Hadley. I’d just been grocery shopping, but picked up some of our Trader Joe’s faves.
Favorite Moment(s):
Of course, my most favorite moment was having family visit. It’s hard enough having family that lives far away and then throw Covid into the mix which makes it even more difficult.
Honestly, we didn’t do much, so I don’t have any pictures except Hadley did a countdown selfie on Monday morning before they left…which meant no makeup and very tired eyes. 😊
I mentioned last week, that Hadley earned the red plate for dance, cross country, and because her teacher shared such positive thoughts about her on a phone call home.
It was Hayden’s turn for the red plate for his efforts with school and sports.
And…Hadley picked up her flute yesterday. 5th grade band starts next week, and she wanted to give the flute a try!
And after Hadley got her flute…
Hayden got…braces. And, while that’s probably not a favorite, he does have a good attitude about it all and is happy to move onto this next step of the phase 2 process.
Favorite Kid Quote:
My kids weren’t funny this week. Kidding. Kidding. I just can’t think of a specific example as I type this post.
Favorite Pic:
Still reminiscing about our Asheville trip…
but then we returned home to the leaves on the trees starting to show off!
Favorite Clothing Item:
I’ve seen all the people talking about this Aerie sweatshirt, and when I saw it was on sale, I went ahead and purchased…two! I will say I’m wearing them on repeat. I tried on the small and it fit, but I liked the over-sized fit of the medium, so I could wear it with leggings. Also, I do feel like I may be too old to shop at Aerie, but not mad about this purchase 😉
and, yes, y’all–I moved my mirror to the hallway for better light! …but I’m still headless.
Other Faves:
My mom brought this basket with her that she found after cleaning her garage. I do give her a hard time about the fact that she always brings things with her when she visits. She made this basket many moons ago…and it actually does look perfect on top of the antique cabinet (from my dad’s side of the family) in my kitchen.
This kids finally received their yearbooks from last year. The covers were so cute with their school pics on them. (I probably paid for that extra touch and have forgotten. 😂) I love looking through the yearbook as much as they do!
Hayden went to a friend’s house for school on Tuesday, so I told Hadley I’d treat her to lunch. She wanted Jason’s Deli, so we had lunch together before she headed outside for recess.
I clicked on my Netflix app to add a show to my viewing list, and saw that Hadley changed our profile pics….which she does often. It’s always funny to see what she chooses. The pic for Hayden cracks me up the most!
Favorite Mom Meme:
This of all the Mom Memes I’ve shared has to be funniest one I’ve seen! Every time I read it, I chuckle!
Friday Funny:
My mom shared this with me and then I saw it again on Facebook 😂 My love for the GG runs deep…and Dorothy’s side eye is on point!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday
This pic of Hadley in 2010 is a fave. I love Facebook memories. #thebiggerthebow…
FYI she was a very serious baby for the first year of her life. 😳
Here’s another set of faves: a flashback (2012), Hadley, picking pumpkins, and Trader Joe’s!
Speaking of pumpkins…(I feel like I’m always speaking of pumpkins)… We hope to start the weekend off right with a trip to the orchard! I see more pumpkins and apple cider donuts in my future!
So…we had a very brief fall break last week, and we decided to make a quick trip to Asheville, NC. We’ve been there quite a few times, and actually, when I got to thinking about it, we’ve gone at least once a year the past few years. Asheville is about a four hour drive for us, and we like the outdoor vibe NC has to offer. Also, Asheville is the city with the most breweries, per capita…which makes it a place Trav loves to visit.
A couple of times, Travis and I have stayed at the Red Rocker Inn in Black Mountain. Actually, the first time I ever went to Asheville (in 2004), we stayed at RRI…and all weekend long I thought Travis was going to propose. He did not. That happened a few months later in May of 2004…but that’s a tale for another time. 😉
I also booked a stay at RRI in 2013 to celebrate Trav’s birthday with a getaway for the two of us.
For Spring break 2018, we visited Asheville with the kids because Hayden wanted to go to the Biltmore. Of course, we did other activities like hike to a beautiful waterfall, but that was one of our main goals of the trip.
Last fall break, we stayed in Asheville one night before glamping with friends in Pisgah National Forest two additional nights.
Anyway, any time we visit, we check out new (to us) restaurants, breweries, and hiking trails, and we always leave planning a return trip ASAP.
Quick note…We stayed at an Airbnb that was cute and close to downtown. Every place we went—downtown, restaurants, hiking trails, etc….followed Covid protocols very closely. I don’t think I saw a single person without a mask in the 48 hours we were there. Of course, when we hiked, we just kept our masks handy if necessary, but everyone seemed to keep their distance while letting other pass and looking at the views at the top of the trail.
And…my only other mental note for a fall trip is to eat dinner earlier. We ate dinner both nights at around 7:00 which is about dark and much cooler outside. So, if we go back in the fall, I will try to remember to rally my crew for dinner at 5! 😉 During the day, with the sunshine, the weather was glorious.
Thursday:
We arrived Thursday around 2:00, found our Airbnb, and unpacked.
The kids were excited to see the bunk beds….but on both nights, Hadley slept on the bottom bunk and then Hayden slept on our floor (don’t ask 😂), and then in the other bedroom the next night.
The 3 bedroom Airbnb was so cute and super clean. I loved the bedding and couch so much that I was trying to find the brand name on the tags of the duvet and the cushions of the couch. There was only one bathroom, but we made do.
There were cute little touches around the house like the Asheville bar of soap on our bed, brochures and books for the area, and a welcome packet with info about the house and electronics.
Then we headed to Highland Brewing. We sat in the “meadow” area where there were picnic tables both in the shade and in the sunshine. I don’t have a good picture, but you can see parts of the hoops that had out for social distancing. If you wanted to picnic in the grass, you sat in the hoop on the ground or put your chairs in the hoop to maintain distance. The picnic tables had larger hoops around them, and they had bricks with a red and a green side for dirty vs clean table. The large hoop around our table was wide enough for the kids to move around a bit if they didn’t want to sit at the table. That being said, it wasn’t very crowded, we we could space out some and give them a few extra feet to roam. When you weren’t at your table, you were to wear a mask…and everyone obliged.
The weather was perfection. The kids got a coke and a lemonade while we enjoyed a beer. Hadley spotted the food trucks, so Travis took her to get something to eat. They came back with tamales and a Nutella crepe. Hayden and I weren’t mad about it! So good.
Travis also purchased a hat within the first five minutes. He didn’t pack one from the trip…and to be honest, many of his hats have been #homered! He was due for a new one.
We went back to the house to freshen up and then went to White Duck Taco for dinner. We love this place, and try to go there to eat with each visit. We’ve passed by the one downtown, but have only eaten at the one by the river. There are tons of picnic tables and the scenery is pretty!
I got one steak taco and one gyro taco. So good
After dinner, we headed to Omni Grove Park Inn for drinks and dessert. A couple of Trav’s work friends were also in Asheville, so we met up with them. The kids did a good job letting the adults have some conversation time…
while they devoured the s’mores dessert…and Hayden enjoyed looking at the wall of famous guests who had stayed at OGPI as well as the history of the resort.
Then, we went back to the house and went to bed.
Friday:
On Friday morning, we slept in a bit. I actually slept until 9:00 which was pure bliss. Then, my crazy crew decided to go for a trail run…
off they go…
while I ….sipped my coffee and read The Flatshare on my Kindle.
When they got back, we got ready for the day. We decided to head to downtown Asheville, walk around a bit and find a place to eat.
We stumbled upon H&F Burger. We did eat inside because outside seating was all bar top sitting in a row. We wanted a table to sit at, so we went inside. Like the other restaurants, everyone had on masks unless sitting at their table and tables we very spaced out. Also, it wasn’t crowded for inside eating.
I got the ricotta gnocchi with bolognese sauce, and it was amazing!
The kids each got a milkshake, and I had a Diet Coke from a bottle (which Hayden thought was so funny). Travis got a burger, and both kids got the chili cheese dog. Both of them loved it so much, and let me have a bite.
Hayden loved it so much that he borrowed Trav’s phone to leave a review! 😂He’s very into reviews lately…more on that in a minute.
Then, we headed down the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at a couple of lookout points…
Hadley actually dozed off in the car, so it’s only Hayden in this lookout pic.
We drove to the Craggy Pinnacle Trailhead and parked. This was our view when getting out of car…
With the elevation, it was definitely cooler, so Hayden went back to the car for this jacket before we hiked. The hike was only a little over 1.5 miles round trip, but it was pretty much uphill to get to the top.
family selfie before the hike
On our way to the top…
Halfway point…
View from the top. Gorgeous.
Gorgeous part 2:
We snapped a couple of photos and headed back down the trail.
Love this pic of my 3 ❤️
It’s no secret Hayden loves to golf. We haven’t been to a putt putt course in quite some time. Well, Hayden searched for putt putt places in Asheville and stumbled upon Lakeview Putt and Play. He said, “Moooommmm…they have over 100 five star reviews, and their ice cream is supposed to be amazing!”
Honestly, when he gets an idea in his head, he’s like a dog with a bone! So, we fit it into our day after the hike. I am glad we went. We had a good time…and I humbled him by beating him by turning my putting game around for the last few holes. Travis won…and Hadley came in last. Poor girl…she started off strong though!
Of note, we did get a scoop of ice cream after our round, and it is pretty good!
We went back to the house to relax for a bit before a low key pizza dinner.
Travis found All Souls Pizza, and the outside seating was so cute. The pizza was delicious as well. The kids got pepperoni, and Travis and I tried the sausage, fennel, fontina pizza…SO good!
We were pretty chilly, so we didn’t stick around long after dinner. Again, the setting was so pretty, but the temperatures definitely drop quickly when the sun goes down!
We were back to the house around 8:00, hung out, watched tv and read before 10:00 bedtime.
Saturday:
Saturday morning, we eased into the day, but were packed and out of the house around 9:45. We wanted to make a pit stop at Pisgah to see our friends who were glamping and camping.
By the time I went to make a glamping reservation, there were no more tents…which is how we ended up at the Airbnb. So, of the three families in Asheville, we stayed at a house, one family glamped, and the other family camped….like in a tent, on the ground. I’m not about that life! …but would like to try glamping again.
The kids were excited to see their friends and run around for a bit..
while the adults drank coffee and caught up.
We left Pisgah around noon and got back about 4:00 Saturday afternoon…just in time to see the Cats (lose in a heart breaker of a game), for Trav to watch the Preakness race, and to see my mom and Gma who were in town at my brother’s house.
One more day in Asheville would have been perfect, but we are always happy to get home…
Let me know if you have any Asheville questions! It’s definitely a great place to visit.
Hey, hey! I’m linking up with Tanya today for her Prime Purchases link up. I love this link up so much because it’s always fun for me to see what others have purchased as well as look back on some of my fave finds of the month.
So, here’s what I Primed this month…
We have tons of water bottles, but Hayden needed one for the days they go to the pod. This collapsible one has done the trick!
If you give a mouse a cookie, y’all…
Our water bottle storage situation as driven me bonkers for quite some time. So, I searched on Amazon and found this organizer. It’s been perfect. If I had more space in my cabinets, I’d even get a second one!
Hayden’s team wears white baseball pants. One of the moms on the team told me about this laundry soap. I get his dirt and grass stains wet and then rub this soap on the stains. I’ve let the stains sit with the soap on them for anywhere from one minute to overnight…and it definitely has helped the white pants (WHY are white baseball pants even a thing for kids?! haha) look fresh and clean (enough) again!
I ran out of thank you notes and decided to get some blank ones to use for multiple occasions. These arrived quickly and are super cute.
Hadley has outgrown most of her summer pj sets. With summer ending, I didn’t want to go overboard, but this set was super cute, inexpensive, and had many five star ratings. I’m definitely going to purchase her another pair or two for the winter by this same brand.
For fall weather, I always want to be comfy and cozy. I needed a lightweight sweatshirt, so I ordered this gray one, and I love it. I’d like to get other colors some time in the future.
I also picked up this t-shirt to wear under sweatshirts and cardigans.
In the fall, I always want so badly to wear sweaters, cardigans, and sweatshirts, but it usually gets pretty warm most days through October. So, I tend to dress in layers with a t-shirt and a sweatshirt or cardigan.
This meme my mom shared with me sums up me trying to dress in September and October.
Speaking of cardigans…I’d seen manyinfluencers share this cardigan, and I had to see what the hype was about. I already have a few cardigans, but not a navy one. This is definitely a fall fave for my wardrobe.
Have you seen this meme?
Well, it also applies to a group of 5th grade girls who have their minds set on being M&Ms for Halloween. They were hustling and had all us moms placing purchases this weekend!
Can you tell which color M&M Hadley is going to be?!
And then here’s Hayden…who is going to throw on a Patrick Mahomes t-shirt, some baseball pants (we don’t have football pants), some cleats and these wrist bands and look cute enough to ask for candy. 😂
So that’s what I Primed this month. Amazon continues to have my heart and my wallet.
Have you made any Amazon purchases this month?
Don’t forget to check out what Tanya (& others!) has been Priming.
Hello and Happy Monday! Well, fall break sure seemed to fly by! Now, we are back at it this week with school and fall activities. We took a couple days and went to Asheville, NC (more about that later this week!), and it was a nice getaway. We also had family visit this weekend. My mom and Gma were here from KC for a few days.
Anyway, I try to share a recipe or two each month, and this casserole by Taryn is a new Pinterest find for me. I made this a couple of weeks ago, and the whole family enjoyed it. It’s a great low carb option as well as being delicious.
Ingredients:
6 cups shredded cooked chicken (from about 2 lb chicken) (I used Shay’s method- In the morning, I put the chicken in the slow cooker, covered it with water and cooked on low for 6 hours…and then it’s so easy to shred!)
6 oz ham cut into bite size pieces
4 oz butter melted
6 oz cream cheese softened
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp white wine (optional) (I omitted this step)
1 oz lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
5 oz Swiss cheese
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350. Put the chicken in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Layer the pieces of ham on top.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer combine the melted butter, softened cream cheese, white wine (if using), mustard, lemon juice, and salt. Blend until a thick sauce forms. Spread this sauce over the chicken and ham in the baking dish.
Lay the slices of Swiss cheese on top of the sauce. Bake for 30-40 minutes until hot.
Broil it for 2 minutes at the end so the cheese gets more golden and bubbly. If you decide to do that, do not leave it unattended. It’s very easy to burn the cheese topping.
I served our casserole with Bob Evans mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli. Delish!
This is definitely a recipe that will be in our dinner rotation. Pinterest saves the day again!
showmeandsweettea.com 