Chattanooga

This place is cool. If you've never been and you have the chance to go, do it. It lacks the glitz of Nashville and you won't find the community of artists Knoxville boasts, but it's a neat place to visit. 

The local aquarium is my favorite...gasp. I know, I live a short drive away from the world's most awesome, huge, blow-your-mind, overrated aquarium known to man kind, just ask us how great it is...we can talk about it for days. You can't blame us though, I mean honestly when we introduce guests to the city it's nice to be able to bring something up that will distract unsuspecting souls from the uncomfortable visual assault via the monstrous skewered peach that adorns the Atlanta skyline... 

Anyway, aquariums. 

I prefer what Chattanooga has to offer. 

Like this...

It's a special kind of blurry fish. The Atlanta aquarium doesn't have it... 

Also there's this lovely alligator. As you can see he is highly mobile and extremely entertaining, I also got the distinct feeling that he might have been cold. 

Chattanooga has what looks like post-apocalyptic urban terrain as decor.

 It has a very large brick couch on the sidewalk. 

This is a point in Chattanooga's favor in case you wondered...

Chattanooga also has a rowing team who I unfortunately failed to capture in is picture. They were remarkably pale and had a vaguely tortured look about them. 

xo,

Rachael   

Random

I have a few DIY and Haul posts in the making, it's true. I'm not lying.

I also have laundry to fold and dishes to wash. That's the honest to goodness truth too.

Here's the deal, I have strep throat.

I haven't been this sick in years.

Years.

I had myself convinced this morning that my fever had finally broken, no such luck. Delusional actually when it turns out I was cooking along at a toasty 102.5...

 2 p.m. rolled around and I felt like death warmed over so I said uncle and went to the doctor.

I made it a good solid 72 hours before tapping out and begging for antibiotics, yay for feeling worse for longer all for the sake of holistic naturopath pride. Blah.

After 7 bottles of Gatorade, 5 naps, who knows how many hot baths and a pretty traumatizing experience at Publix involving a disappearing prescription and subsequent tears, I seem to maybe be on the mend.

Anyway - I digress. I'm working on putting together some DIY posts and I have a lot of neat thrift store finds I picked up over the last few weeks to share...all in good time. I just have to work on this whole swallowing thing for the next day or two.

In the mean time... have a great week, stay healthy and be well.

xo, 

Rachael 

Berry Patch Farms

I love traditions, I also love Christmas - the two combined are really just peaches and cream.

Unfortunately we don't have an established Christmas tree tradition, the first year we were married we didn't even decorate our own...we had an influx of elf-like siblings who came over and took the ordeal on as a charity act.

This year instead of braving the Black Friday crowds we went to Berry Patch Farms to find the perfect tree, Home Depot ended up having the one we were after...but that trip wasn't nearly as aesthetically pleasing.

If you live in the Woodstock area, check this place out. It's family owned and operated and in the summer time (as you might have ascertained given the name...) they grow a few different crops of berries. They also have a very friendly golden retriever who is more than happy to accommodate all of your puppy-loving needs.

What are your Christmas tree traditions? 

xo,

Rachael 

Coffee Date

Want to chill a few minutes? Lets say that you're sitting here with me, you would have a warm cup of coffee in your hand, Chai tea in mine. 

The fire in my living room would be warming the whole house and I would apologize for the 10 different projects littering my living room.

 I would tell you about the list of things I need to accomplish before Thursday, but I wouldn't move. I would grab a blanket and pull up a chair so we can just talk. 

I might consider apologizing for the fact that Christmas music is playing in the background (I caved...). 

And then I would ask you what's taking up your time. What's occupying space in your heart and mind. 

I would ask you if you were ok. 

It's amazing to me what comes out of a person when you piece together those three words and aim them at somebody. 

I would want to know.

I would want to know what's making you smile these days and what burdens you. 

I would tell you that I'm learning hard lessons but that I'm content all at the same time. 

I would tell you about how the passage of time grieves me. How moments turn into memories in seconds and  it's only after that has happened that I realize what a gift now is. 

I'd tell you how I always slip back into the trap of not being grateful for today. 

I'd tell you that I'm trying, trying so hard to appreciate life for its forward movement instead of being grieved by it, and I'd be honest about how that's my Achilles' heel.  

It's funny how what we love the most, life and living, is what hurts the most. 

I would ask you what you're thankful for, what warms your heart and I would tell you that for me it's Brad. His willingness to forgive my faults and love all of me. Heart and soul, good and bad. 

I would ask you what lights up your life and what makes it all worth it.

I would tell you about how Thanksgiving has a new meaning to me this year...how the concept is occupying my thoughts and how I don't want overwhelming gratitude to be restricted to one day. 

I would tell you about my family and how Brad's little 5 year old sister makes me smile. About her habit of ending nonsensical stories with "...y'know...?" and a quizzically sympathetic look. As if the confused look on my face is just the world's biggest tragedy. 

I would thank you for coming over. Tell you how much it meant to me. And I'd ask if you wanted to do it again soon. 

xo 

Edit: Please forgive the randomly underlined words with ads attached...they aren't supposed to be there and I'm working on it. 

French Onion Soup - A Recipe

French Onion Soup 

4-6 yellow onions, peeled and coarsely chopped
Olive oil
Pinch of sugar
3 cloves of garlic, minced
8 cups of beef stock
1/2 cup dry red wine
Salt and pepper
8 slices of crusty bread
Sliced or grated Provolone or Gruyere cheese

1. In a large sauce pan saute onions and garlic in olive oil on med-low heat until they're browned - add in a pinch of sugar in order to help along the onions caramelize. Don't turn up the heat here, just be patient and stir occasionally.

2. Add the red wine (white wine works as well..) to the onions after they've caramelized and allow the flavor to cook into the onions.

3. Heat the beef stock in a medium sized pot and add onion mixture

4. Add salt and pepper to taste - I actually tend to add a bit more wine as well to bring out the flavors but this is just a preference thing.

5. Serve the soup with pieces of crusty bread and melted Provolone or Gruyere cheese. The easiest way to get a good melted texture with the cheese is by turning on your broiler and leaving the individual bowls in the oven for a minute or two.


Yummy yummy, enjoy!

Rachael

The Day I Changed The Oil

I'm hip, guys.

 At least I tell myself I am for certain periods of time before I have self-realization relapses and reality shows up again.

One such occasion happened not too long ago...

I drive a large vehicle. Large. It's kind of embarrassing to drive around all on my lonesome actually. Brad has made it abundantly clear to me that driving a tank is in my best interest so that's what I cruise around in. Alone. Getting dirty looks from Prius drivers and environmentalists. Sorry guys...

So a while ago the "tank" needed an oil change and being the industrious, able-bodied girl that I am I opted to do it myself. No problem, I can change a tire...I'm basically a mechanic. I got my wrench and my fresh oil and parked the car at the top of our driveway. I put on my cool "I work on cars" jeans and found myself a pan to drain the oil into. (At this point in the evening Brad is en route from work...if I time things perfectly he should be pulling up right as I finish changing the oil...which is when he will be struck by my amazing car skills and irresistible hotness)

Under the tank I scoot, sleeves rolled up, wrench in hand, I got this.

The pan is positioned I unscrew the plug and I'm in business.

Then I started thinking about some basic scientific measurements....

 I drive a very big car so it stands to reason that there would be a good bit of oil to drain...unfortunately I got too caught up in being awesome to think much about reason though, so it was only as I watched the oil shooting out of the tank and into the pan with increasing gusto that I started getting a sinking feeling that perhaps something large enough to hold a good sized casserole wasn't going to cut it. My pan started looking very, very small. It was looking very, very full too.

Within the next 4 seconds the pan overflowed, I shot out from under the car and into the garage trying to find something, anything to catch the remaining 50 gallons of oil...no such luck. I watched in horror as the oil poured out of my car and down our driveway, a tragic testament to my skill and forethought.

 This is where things get hazy. My first reaction was to run inside my house and hide. From who? Not sure. I just needed a small dark space to regroup and my coat closet was available. After I hid I figured it would be a good idea to hide the evidence instead of myself, so I dumped my casserole dish full of oil into our trashcan. Not a good idea in case you wondered.

Then I ran through a list of things that would be able to absorb the huge oil spill covering our driveway in 5 minutes..which was approximately how much time I had before Brad got home. Baking soda? Dry laundry detergent? Help? I tried a few things but eventually came to grips with the fact that in spite of my efforts, Brad would probably notice the massive amounts of engine oil seeping into our driveway and might have some questions regarding the incriminating puddle in the bottom of our trashcan. I figured if I called him before he got home maybe I could salvage my reputation, it would be better than hiding in a coat closet.

I can't say that my reputation was salvaged since I discovered not long after talking to Brad that he has never really thought of me as the cute-mechanic type (my world is shattered) instead he suggested I take the car to have a real mechanic do it next time...

...apparently they have bigger casserole dishes.

xoxo,

Rae 

Mason Jar Snow Globe - Anthropologie Inspired DIY

Anthropologie is my favorite store by a long, long shot.

Interestingly enough, I don't own a single Anthropologie item. Not one.

My reasons are strictly monetary, I can't afford $200 sweaters or $50.00 measuring cups. I still love to walk through the store and get ideas for my home, I always come out with so much inspiration for projects and ways to dress up pieces of furniture or worn out clothes.

This is the latest project I tackled...

Supplies Needed: 

1 Mason Jar - choose one with very clear glass, some have a sort of textured look which doesn't look great with this project. EDIT: You can find a perfect jar for this project for $2.57 at Hobby Lobby. 

2 (or more) model size Christmas trees - these can be found at Michael's or any hobby store near the model train set items, sizes vary, you can get smaller trees and put multiple trees in one snow globe or one larger one, whatever makes your skirt fly up. 

Silver glitter (optional) 

White glitter 

Hot glue gun 

Step 1

Clean your mason jar and dry it thoroughly, the glitter will stick to the inside of the jar if you don't get it totally dry. 

Step 2 

Get your hot glue gun going... 

Here's the tree I chose 

It's obviously not covered in silver glitter...I considered adding a bit to it but I liked the plain snow better. I also happen to not have any silver glitter on hand....whatever. 

Make a circle of hot glue on the inside of the mason jar lid building it up about 1/4 inch, this insures that you'll be able to see the little tree above the rim of the jar. Place your tree on top of the glue - don't smash it down, let the glue set elevating the tree a little bit. 

Step 3 

The glitter I picked is not quite as insanely shiny as most glitter...it's mixed in with some clear pieces which I liked better than the high shine option. Personal preference, do yo thang. 

Pour about 1/4 - 1/3 cup of glitter into the mason jar depending on the size of your jar, you want it to reach the bottom branches of your Christmas tree. 

Place the lid on the jar, screw it shut and flip it over

ta-da 

Anthropologie charges $48.00 for a mason jar snow globe this size. 

I'm not positive precisely how much I spent on one individual globe but I feel safe in saying it was under $8.00 since I already had the mason jar. 

xoxo,  

Rae