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 

out of the mouth proceed the issues of the heart . . .

There's a buzz on facebook tonight, there has been a buzz everywhere from the get-go of this presidential election.

From Herman Cain and his short lived campaign to Santorum and his beloved sweater vests honestly, I couldn't be more ready for this whole thing to be a done deal. I know I speak for a lot of people when I say that...

This isn't fun.

I've been stretched and tested and driven to search my own heart in order to decide how I feel about issues, big and small. I know many others have been driven to do the same thing, which is as it should be. But I've really been surprised and frankly a little disappointed.

Hold up, before you shake your head and dust off your soapbox because I dared to be disappointed in how someone exercised their freedom to vote (or didn't....) that's really not what I'm referring to. What I'm referring to are the chinks this scenario has shown in our proverbial armor.


Friends, we're called to speak the truth in love. Not in sarcasm, not in condescension, not in anger or self-righteousness. We aren't called to blast others away with our high-powered doctrine.

Let me put it differently...I'm not called to blast people away with my high-powered doctrine.


For the last few months I've seen condescension and harsh words between people who profess to be followers of Christ, I've seen an eagerness to judge heart motives time and time again. Finger pointing at those who don't fit the other person's model of the right political decision making process and oftentimes just a general disgust with those who feel differently.

I'm guilty of not acting in a loving way. I'm guilty of thinking I have a bead on a person's motives when in reality God is the only one who can that. I can't even know my own heart fully...(apparently I get tripped up by the realization that I'm not all-knowing...huh)

It's the night of the election, but what I'm realizing is that this way of behaving is simply the result of some pressure.

That means that it's in there, and the end of an election won't change what's in our hearts.

It is my prayer that we will exhort one another, we will treat others how we would want to be treated and that above all we would speak the truth when it needs to be spoken but that it would always be done in love.

Slow to speak, quick to listen, slow to wrath, a soft answer, not provoking one another.

 This is what I want to see coming out of my own heart. 

Also I'm going to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Because.

That's all.  

Love to you my friends, 

Rae 

Thursday List

1. There is a city in this fine state of ours called Euharlee. That's you-harley in case it threw you...

Anyway, Brad and I took a trip to Euharlee for a fall festival and on the way we passed the most beautiful fields of cotton. 

Cotton plants have never impressed me all that much, they're deceptively prickly so it stands to reason that a field full of these plants isn't necessarily something to write home about.... I was proved wrong. We passed hill after rolling hill of cotton and after I said it was beautiful for about the fifth time Brad voluntarily pulled our car off the road into a very obviously private drive and shooed me out to take a few pictures. Granted, the fields were less spectacular when viewed from a distinctively prickly vantage point - but nevertheless, the cotton was cool. 

2. Now for a rousing change of pace...I was walking through our local health food store and happened to look over to see this smiling face. 

Have any of you ever done this? Anyone? Can we please have a moment of silence for this kid? America's Next Top Model can go home, they've been schooled. This is raw talent, my friends. Smiling through a nasal wash. Bless her. 

3. She's cute. 

4. Sisters who find clothes for you are nice...thanks, Sarah! Banana Republic dress 

Retail price $130.00 

Thrifted for $5.00 

 xoxo,

Rae 

Cold Camping

This weekend my dear family and I braved the cold and wet to experience the great outdoors. 

                                      

We decided to gird our loins and seek rugged adventure. This is also known as wet sleeping bags.    

                                        

                                      

We decided to enjoy the woods, which as we all know are lovely, dark, and deep. 

We also happened to pick the weekend of the biggest fog eclipse I have ever seen. 

This contributed to dramatic aesthetic appeal and also the likelihood of soggy extremities. 

On that note... here are a two things that made camping much more enjoyable this time around, in spite of the cold, and the wet, and the lack of anything even remotely resembling comfortable sleeping quarters. 

1. Squeeze Bottles. Seriously, y'all. Please use these next time you decide to go on an adventure, empty out a ketchup bottle and fill it up with pancake batter, eggs, whatever you can stick in a bottle to make prep and clean-up easier. 

2. Tacos in a bag...

I have no pictures to illustrate this culinary masterpiece. My phone died about 12 hours into our trip but it was one of the easiest meals I've ever prepared. You prepare the fixings for a taco ahead of time, and bring miniature bags of Doritos - dump all the ingredients straight into the bag and you've got almost no clean up to speak of. 

Plus, it's absolutely packed with nutrients and vital vitamins and minerals your body is craving and most likely deficient in. No no, don't thank me. It's my gift to you.  

That's all I've got. I really thought I had more to offer on the camping front, but no cigar. 

Thawing out,

Rae 

Imagine Dragons --> It's Time

I have a few favorite bands... not many, but a few. Mostly I just end up liking a few random songs from different people, not everything they do. 

Not so with these people...

If you aren't familiar with Imagine Dragons, please do yourself a favor and give them a listen.  

Dan Reynolds is the lead singer, they're based in Nevada and we got to see them in Atlanta on Tuesday...

AWOLnation was there as well, but they really didn't hold a candle to Imagine Dragons... 

Zeale

Imagine Dragons

Take two.. 

The group really was ridiculously talented, and they had such a great vibe. Check 'em out if you can and if ever you have the opportunity to see them in concert, do it. It's completely worth it. 

Love, 

Rachael