fall | Through Heather's Looking Glass

Halloween 2017 Recap

November 2, 2017 by Heather

Happy November! Just like pretty much every other month this year, October flew. Now it’s on to baking and turkeys and Christmas carols and Hallmark movies. Ok, so maybe I have already started watching Hallmark movies. I just can’t help it guys. They suck me in to this sappy vortex of holiday cheer. Anyway, before I get completely sucked into the holiday madness, I wanted to recap our Halloween. Now that we live in Tampa, there is TONS to do for Halloween, so we ended up doing 4 events plus the main event Halloween night. Let’s take a look:

Friday, Emma Kate’s preschool had a parade and trunk or treat. Through a communications mix up (grumble grumble) I didn’t know about it until the day before. Thankfully I found out because the first think Emma Kate did was look for me when her class walked out to do the parade. I also would have felt horrible if she was the only one not in a costume. Thankfully the #MomFail was avoided, and she paraded her little heart out and got her first taste of 2017 Halloween candy goodness.

When we got home from school, she was conveniently able to stay in her costume because we had our neighborhood trunk or treat to attend. Emma Kate perfected her manners with “trick or treats” and “thank you’s” but was getting confused with the candy part. Some people put it in her basket, some tell her to pick what she wants, so she ended up just grabbing candy herself every time. Oops.

She also got her face painted for the very first time. It was short lived because we went home ten minutes later, took a bath and went to bed, but I’m still so glad we did it because she was SO excited and sat so still while the lady worked. Too cute for words.

Saturday my parents went with us to a nearby fall festival. They had a trunk or treat, and also businesses had booths set up and also had candy. There was also a carnival but we conveniently skipped that part. I have heard way too many news stories lately of rides breaking down and people falling from them or dying. Anything that can be put up or taken down in a matter of hours is not considered safe in this mama’s book. It ended up raining but we stayed anyway. Emma Kate was super cute and brave going form table to table and getting candy.

Sunday afternoon we headed to the local outlet mall for another fall festival. Same thing, the businesses had tables selling things and also buckets of candy. Like we really needed more, right? They also had “Disney characters” (I use this term very loosely) wandering about and singing (the incorrect) words to songs from their movies. It was a gorgeous weekend so a perfect one to be out and about though.

Then Tuesday night, the main event. The second I walked into her classroom to pick her up from school she came running over saying “I want to go trick or treating!” I had to convince her to eat dinner and wait until the sun went down, but we were finally dressed and ready to take on the neighborhood. Funny story about this costume…I always assumed she would be Elsa, or Cinderella, or Moana for Halloween since we already have those costumes. Last Thursday she got in the car after school and declared she wanted to be a pumpkin…Say WHAT?!? She was so sweet and serious, so I hurried home, got on Amazon, and praise Jesus for prime. It arrived Monday, and she was a sweet little pumpkin for Halloween.

Of course, the first door we go to a teenage boy opens it and jumps out wearing a scary wolf head thing…terrified EK and she didn’t want to ring doorbells alone anymore. Thanks kid. She got the hang of which houses to go to (“mommy they don’t have lights on so we go to the next one”) and wanted to keep going to more and more houses. I’m glad we brought the stroller because she ended up in it some and poor thing got so tired she could barely stand up and fell down several times.

After dumping out her haul and looking at her candy, it was time for bed. She passed out immediately and then wanted candy for breakfast. I was sure to hide most of it while she was at school. Thankfully shes young enough that she won’t know!

Bobby and I ended the evening with a tradition, watching Hocus Pocus.

I call Halloween 2017 a huge success, and can’t wait to see what kind of fun we can find next year.

QOTD: What did you/your kids dress up as for Halloween?

Filed Under: blogging, family, holidays, Tampa Tagged: costume, fall, Halloween, holidays, trick-or-treat

5 Things Friday XXIX

October 27, 2017 by Heather

Happy Friday friends! It’s been awhile since I did a 5 things Friday, and I thought it would be a fun way to “catch up” with you all.

1.) A cruise redo: Remember when my husband and I were supposed to go on a cruise with Carnival in September and it got cancelled due to a little thing called hurricane Irma? Well we were finally able to reschedule! It’s a 6 night western instead of an 8 night eastern, but still on the gorgeous Carnival Vista and we are pumped to leave in just over two weeks! You can follow along with me on social media (@heatherslg) and the hashtag #CruisingCarnival.

(I just bought these towel clips so our towels won’t blow away on the ship, I have meant to do it for years!)

2.) Finally fall? Y’all, we had to put our heat on last night! It dropped down to 50 and this girl was cold, but I’m not complaining! We have had record breaking heat this October (90’s!) so I was thankful to get to wear pants and a cozy sweater today. I’m busting out my boots tomorrow! Unfortunately it’s not staying this way, but maybe now we won’t be reaching the 90’s anymore until May? One can hope!

3.) Wine and Dine: I announced on Instagram stories a couple weeks ago that due to the generosity of a sweet friend I will be running the two course challenge! Yes I’m under trained and I have no costume (help?) but I am running both races and am PUMPED! I haven’t run this once since 2013 so it’s time.

4.) Giveaway: Head on over to Instagram because I am hosting a giveaway, a gift certificate, and if you like athletic apparel you need to check it out. It closes in a couple days so hurry.

5.) Webinar and pre sale: In case you aren’t on my email list or follow me on social, you may not know my pre sale for my e-course: Social Side Hustle, 21 days to becoming a social media manager, started yesterday. Not only can you get my course at the lowest price now, but you can sign up for a FREE webinar all about getting social media clients. Also if you would like to get on my email list here is the link for that.

I know I just gave you a ton of links and information, but y’all are sharp, I know you got this. I hope everyone has a fabulous fall weekend, has great weather, attends at least two pumpkin patches and three trunk or treats (no seriously we have a really busy weekend!)

QOTD: What are you or your kids dressing up as for Halloween?

Filed Under: dining, fitness, Giveaway, holidays, running, vacation Tagged: carnival, cruise, ecourse, fall, fitness, Giveaway, Halloween, social media, wine and dine

Finally Fall

October 25, 2016 by Heather

Fall finally decided to show up in Mississippi this weekend. It was gorgeous and sunny Saturday and Sunday with lows in the low 50’s and highs in the 70’s. For our third year and a row, my dad took Emma Kate to the classic car show in our city and out to lunch at McAlisters. This year was the most challenging because last year she was just learning to walk and the year before she was only a month old!

How cute is this display?

It’s fun to walk around a free event checking out all the cars. It helps when the weather is beautiful! We are all about free things to do.

There were rows and rows of classic cars of all different colors.

We walked over to McAlisters and sat outside for lunch before walking over to our yogurt shop for dessert.

Saturday night we had a fall get together with our life group from church. It was at my friends house who lives down the street, so we just walked over. We had chips and dip, chili, soup, and caramel apples. Emma Kate had a blast playing with all the other kids. I didn’t take any photos, but if you saw my Instagram story then you saw Emma Kate wipe out on some playground equipment (she was fine).

Then some friends came over and watched part of the LSU/Ole Miss game. I went to bed at 11:00 because the game didn’t start until 8:15, so it was way past my bedtime.

Sunday we went to church and then had the annual fun fest at our church. It’s a free community wide event with games, candy, and lots of fun!

How adorable is she?!?

We went in the bouncy house about five times, watched the puppet show, and helped with the photo booth. She slept like a rock that night!

It was our third year at fun fest and it is something I will definitely miss when we move.

QOTD: Do you go to any community or church fall events?

Filed Under: baby, family Tagged: car show, church, emma kate, fall, family, fun fest

Fall Fun

October 19, 2015 by Heather

Happy Monday! We had a fun filled weekend with amazing weather down here in Mississippi, and I’m so sad it’s all over. I wish the temperature would stay like this forever! On Saturday morning, my dad drove up here early to hang out with us. There is an annual car show here in Madison, and we decided to sell Orange Leaf frozen yogurt from a booth this year. Bobby left early to set up, and my dad and I arrived later with Emma Kate. (My dad came up for this same car show last year so it was fun to do it again!)

This was only our second time at the car show, but apparently this was it’s 12th year. There were a lot more cars that had awesome access systems than last year, so apparently it just keeps getting bigger and bigger!

Yes, this is an old blue truck with a corvette engine in it.

Transformers?

Emma Kate decided to practice her walking skills.

Dad and I walked down to McAlisters for lunch with Emma Kate just like last year. It was so fun to do the same things as last time but this year Emma Kate is walking!

Below is a picture from this same weekend last year. Crazy how big she has gotten!

After lunch we headed to the store to get grilling supplies for our BBQ that evening. We had a great time relaxing on the back patio grilling and eating and Emma Kate was such a trooper the whole day and didn’t get fussy until just before bedtime.

Sunday morning, dad left right before Bobby and I headed to church.

After church we hung out at the house before attending our church’s annual Fun fest. It’s like a big carnival with jump jumps of all kinds, games the kids can play and win candy, food trucks, puppet show, photo booth, a clown, etc. It’s free to the public, they just ask that you bring some canned goods for their canned food drive.

All the kids dress up in their costumes, and it’s just a really fun family time.

We watched the puppet show, then let Emma Kate practice her walking skills and she thought she was hot stuff walking around the festival. It was so cute.

I had a delicious hot dog from a food truck, and capped off the night with a cheesecake caramel apple. I don’t know about you, but the fact that they will slice it for you at no extra cost is amazing. I haven’t had a caramel apple in years because they are just so gosh darn messy, but this, this I could deal with!

The festival was over at 7:00 so we left a few minutes before since Emma Kate’s bedtime is 7:00 and she was fading fast. She had a very full weekend but was such a trooper. We are loving this new stage!

QOTD: Do you go to any fall festivals? Are you dressing up for Halloween?

Filed Under: baby, family, food, holidays Tagged: car show, emma kate, fall, family, festival, fun fest, Madison

A Day in the Country

October 5, 2015 by Heather

It’s Fall yall! Well, it was fall for the weekend…today the high is 84 and we are somehow back to summer. What a tease. Anyway, we had great weather temperature-wise all weekend (never really saw the sun though). On Saturday we had a birthday party to go to, and then we decided to go to a fall festival we have heard about for years but for one reason or another never actually went to. It’s called a day in the country, and had a ton of adorable craft booths, music, food, games for the kids, a silent auction, and petting zoo among other things. After snagging a great parking spot (ah, the things we get excited about), we headed over to check out all the craft and food booths. I just say, some people are just so darn creative and crafty, I am quite jealous.

We didn’t buy anything, but Bobby sampled some different dips and salsa.

There was a sad little petting zoo that contained a pony in a tutu, a spray painted goat and pig, and some unfortunate looking chickens. I felt kind of bad for the animals, but at least they looked well fed. The poor pony was pathetic looking.

Emma Kate was a trooper all morning at the birthday party but got a little cranky in her stroller after awhile at the festival.

We are brave to wear our LSU gear amongst everyone else in their Ole Miss and Mississippi State gear!

Bobby got some red beans and rice to eat while we checked out the silent auction.

Little bit had enough of the stroller, so we found a grassy area and let her practice her walking. Is she not the most adorable little cheerleader that ever was?!? I’m dying.

By the way this outfit is a size 2T. Girlfriend is big. At least I am getting some arm muscles lugging her around.

I LOVE this picture of my two loves. They are twins.

We were quickly encroaching on nap time and decided to call it a day. We went home and watched football the rest of the afternoon/evening and I went to bed early. The weekend was rounded out by church, a nap, a little work, and more football. I hope you had a good weekend, too!

QOTD: Any fall festivals where you live? How did your football team do?

Filed Under: baby, blogging, family Tagged: emma kate, fall, festival, weekend

5 Things Friday II

September 18, 2015 by Heather

Happy Friday! Today is a very happy Friday indeed. We have lots of stuff going on this weekend, but it’s going to be a lot of fun. Let’s dive right in to 5 things Friday:

1.) My parents are coming in town tomorrow because…Saturday is Emma Kate’s first birthday party! Oh. my. gosh. This year yall, it’s just flown by. How do I have an almost one year old? I can’t even. but whether I like it or not, it’s coming, as are a lot of people to our house tomorrow! My guest bedroom has been the “staging area” for the past few weeks and I am hoping to get everything set up today while EK is at daycare. I will be glad to have this room back to normal and not looking like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse threw up in it.

2.) KT tape is hosting a photo challenge through September 21st at 11:59 PM PST. All you have to do is use a sharpie to write a motivational saying or doodle on your tape, post it on Instagram and hashtag #KTtape and #MYkttape to win some tape of your own! I sported my “finish strong” tape on my run on Wednesday.

3.) Now that EK is almost walking, we have a lot more fun at the park than we used to. We met a friend and her daughter there yesterday and the girls had so much fun! I see a lot more park visits in our future. I also got to run 5 miles with another friend and I pushed EK in her stroller. Man my calves were burning! Oh, we also took the babies to Orange Leaf. Emma Kate was not prepared for how cold the froyo was going to be.

4.) I am playing in my churches’ kickball league, and my life group (Sunday school class) has it’s own team. We are having a BLAST! We played a group of high schoolers on Monday night who called us OLD TIMERS! Oh, we ended up beating them. Ah, sweet victory! I have been bringing Builder’s bars to the games as a team snack and everyone loves them.

5.) We still have some hot days ahead of us (in the mid 90’s tomorrow for the party OF COURSE) but it is slowly starting to cool off in a general sense. I busted out my pumpkin Yankee Candle and bought a couple pumpkins for the front door. That plus football has me so excited for fall. Now, if Kroger would just get it’s act together and put out some pumpkin spice coffee creamer I would be a happy girl. Speaking of pumpkin spice, I just got some Advocare meal replacement shakes, they are SO GOOD! You can order some of your own HERE. Tastes like fall!

QOTD: Do you like pumpkin spice coffee creamer? Do you use KT tape? any exciting weekend plans?

Filed Under: Advocare, baby, blogging, fitness, holidays, running Tagged: Birthday, fall, kt tape, party, pumpkin spice, runing

5 Fall Races in the Southeast

September 16, 2015 by Heather

I am in the middle of my fall half marathon training plan, and I have heard many others say that they are beginning to ramp up their mileage as well. For us here in the south, half marathon and marathon season is VERY short. It won’t really start cooling down here until October, and most distances races are over by March, so we have to cram in as many races as we can.

Training in cooler weather! Yes!

I am honestly still undecided about my race season and thought many of you may be as well, so I decided to compile several fall races you may want to check out if you live or plan on running in the southeast. Some I have run myself, and some just look like a lot of fun! Hopefully some of you can give input on the ones that I haven’t run that look fun!

1.) Gulf Coast half Mandeville, Louisiana: This is a fun, flat half marathon in my hometown! Just a short drive to New Orleans, you can run a race and still visit the city without expensive city hotel prices. This course is beautiful and goes through old Mandeville and along the beautiful lakefront. October is a great time to race in Louisiana, too! I haven’t signed up yet, but really hoping to run this one with Bobby this year! I had just had Emma Kate last year so I missed it.

2.) Rock n Roll Savannah: As a member of the Rock ‘n Blog team, I am partial to Rock n Roll races, and while I haven’t run this one, it’s on my bucket list and I have heard nothing but wonderful things about this gorgeous course in such a historic city. It sounds like a great November weekend racecation to me! (enter code LOOKINGGLASS15 for $15 off registration!)

3.) runDisney Wine and Dine half and 5k: This race is sold out for this year, but listen to me, SIGN UP AS SOON AS YOU CAN for 2016! It’s SO MUCH FUN. It’s a nighttime race, in the happiest place on earth! Plus, it has an amazing after party in EPCOT celebrating the race and the food and wine festival. This race is typically held the second week in November.

4.) Space Coast marathon and half: This is another one I have heard nothing but good things about. This is Florida’s oldest marathon, and is run along a beautiful waterfront course on Florida’s east coast. The entire event revolves around the space theme, which is pretty awesome. Race is November 29th!

5.) Thunder Road marathon, half, and 5k: This race weekend is in Charlotte, North Carolina. There is a whole weekend of fun with a marathon, half, and 5k option. This is a fun weekend in mid November and celebrates stock car racing. Plenty of family friendly fun and music, this weekend is for the everyone. I have also heard the course is very scenic!

QOTD: Any favorite fall races in the south?

Filed Under: blogging, fitness, running Tagged: fall, half marathon, mandeville half, races, races in the southeast, rock ' roll, runDisney, running, thunder road half, training, wine and dine

5 Things Friday

September 11, 2015 by Heather

1.) September 11th. Where were you? I was a junior in high school and I still remember sitting in class, and another teacher came in and whispered something into my teachers ear. I will never forget the look on his face, it still makes me stomach turn. Let’s continue to pray for the families of the victims, and for our country as a whole.

2.) Fall decorations. What is the “rule” in your house on when you decorate? typically I decorate labor day weekend/beginning of September, but I haven’t yet. Emma Kate’s birthday party is the 19th and I don’t want the house to look cluttered with fall décor + her party decorations, so I may just wait until after that.

3.) The treadmill boost. I ran on the treadmill yesterday, and my time was way better than it has been outside (air conditioning plus running on a belt changes many things!) What are your thoughts on this? I know running outside is totally different, but I really needed the confidence boost of running in the non 100+ degree heat to see what I could do.

4.) Recipe help. I need some new, EASY and QUICK chicken recipes. Help a sister out. I’m getting tired of the same old stuff. I have a great enchilada soup recipe I will start once it gets cooler!

5.) Gorgeous clothes. Check out my new Fabletics outfit. Isn’t it gorgeous? I am loving the romantic print and deep purple. I will post a pic soon of me wearing it. We are supposed to have cooler weather this weekend so maybe I will run in it!

QOTD: Where were you September 11? Any links to easy chicken recipes? When do you decorate for fall?

Disclosure: I was provided with this outfit by Fabletics, however all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: blogging, fitness, food, running, running gear Tagged: decorations, fabletics, fall, food, gear, running, September 11

Looking Forward…

September 1, 2015 by Heather

Today is September, yall! How, how how? Christmas is less than four months away (yyeesss!) and cooler weather is right around the corner. Well, it’s probably already arrived for some, but we are still waiting down here in the land of insane humidity. Now that we are getting into fall, I started thinking of all the things I am looking forward to with the changing of the seasons.

1.) FOOTBALL! Yes my friends, it is finally back. It’s such a magical time of year.

2.) Cooler weather- Ah, this one has many, many wonderful things about it, but most of them have to do with running. I cannot wait to do long runs in the crisp fall air.

3.) New clothing- When I say new, I mean “been in the back of my closet since February”. Jeans, boots, sweaters, long sleeves and cozy warm things. Not that I don’t love my tank tops, but let’s face it, they see the majority of the year around here.

4.) Fall TV- I am excited about the return of some favorites i.e. The Walking Dead, but also excited for some new shows coming out. Quantico looks interesting. What else looks good?

Scared of walkers outside of Dale’s camper at Universal.

5.) Pumpkin everything- I am a sucker for decorations. Fall décor then leads to Christmas décor, so that means September is the beginning of my favorite months of the year. So much festiveness, as well as yummy pumpkin spiced lattes, pumpkin coffee creamer, and well, everything pumpkin.