Onions

Yes. This post will be as fascinating as the title sounds. Many personalities are described like onions: "You have to peel back the layers to see what you're really getting." Anyone who knows me, knows this is definitely not true of me. I'm kind of like... grapes. I may be sweet at times, may be sour at times, may even have wrinkles spots, but you know exactly what you're getting into at first glance.

Anyway, as I have stated before, we try to save money a lot. I also really like to cook. I recently discovered that I wasn't being frugal, green, or like the culinary genius that I'm not, and I have been buying frozen onions that are prediced. 

I know it's sad. But, I never completely learned how to quickly dice an onion without crying all of my mascara off and reeking of onion. (Which, with being a high school teacher, always makes me wonder if it's onions or if I really have body odor)

So, I do what the Boso family always does when curious about how to do something: go to YouTube! (Seriously how Lee learned to tie a bow tie) I immediately went and bought a bag of onions and put my new knowledge to work. I was amazed at how quick, easy, non-teary, and un-stinky the whole process was. Also, HOW MUCH CHEAPER it is. After a few nights of practice, I literally stayed awake for a while (after I turned off House Hunters International. Oh, snow days. You've ruined my sleep schedule.) thinking about how much I love cutting onions. And folding fitted sheets. My brain is a very exciting place to be, I tell ya. 

Apparently the tears are triggered when the root is cut off. So, here is the technique I learned (and if you've known this for years and are thinking, "She is so lame." you are so right.)

Get an onion and a sharp knife. Preferably the santoku style

Cut the onion in half from root to stem

Cut off the stem and peel the onion and lay half cut side down on a cutting board

Put the palm of your hand on the onion and cut horizontally through the onion about 3/4 of the way. If it's a small to medium size, do 1 cut. If it's a really big one, cut in thirds. 

Now, take your knife and make many vertical cuts down with the knife around ge same plan as where your horizontal cut stopped. 

Now, cut across the vertical cuts and repeat the steps with the other half. 

You will have an onion diced to the fineness you want and it will be done super quickly!

And if you think about it enough, maybe your Nannie will give you your favorite thing from her kitchen from your childhood. 

(I was FaceTiming with my brother yesterday when I showed him I inherited the onion and potato bin. He was as excited as I was.)

There, you have it: an intriguing post on onions. Your life is now more complete. 

Snow Day, Snow Day (singing)

 It's official. I have been off of work for a week and, by the looks of things, I may be off a little longer. We had a foot of snow and today is the only "break" we getting and the temperatures are in the single digits. Sounds like more than another half foot on its way tomorrow. I love snow and I love snow days. But, I would be lying if didn't admit that I spent a long time lingering at the gardening section at Lowe's last night. I'm slightly concerned that my time in Alaska this summer, that left me wondering if I could live there, may be part of this constant snow. However, it's warmer there than here. Anyone want to move up to AK?!

So, I've been trying to keep us all entertained for a few days. I can't run right now for more than 25 minutes because of a strained quad (22 days from the half. Awesome.) (I've seen a physical therapist. I'm resting, heating, icing, and stretching, as recommended. I WILL run.) 

Because I can't run, can't work, can't really leave the house, and it's too cold to play outside, we have been doing a TON of cooking. Like, I'd better get back to running or I'm going to be braving the snow-covered roads to get to the mall to purchase new pants. 

For Christmas, I got Ree Drummond's second cookbook. I looked through it and before bed on Christmas day, I had already ordered her first. She basically takes "normal people food" and makes it "awesome people food". Nearly every recipe has been knock-you-over-on-the-first-bite type of food. Here are some of our favorites from the last few weeks:

Cinnamon Rolls 

Chicken Spaghetti

Chicken Pot Pie (Probably my favorite of all. My girlfriend, Anne, gave me the hint to only use half of the shortening in the pie crust, and for the other half, use butter. A.maz.ing.)

Coffee Cream Cake (This is currently in my kitchen and I think about it all the time.)

French Breakfast Puffs (typing the name may or may not have forced me to walk to the kitchen to get one)

Tonight is Pork Chops and Applesauce and Cheese Grits. So excited!

All the recipes have heated up well and, for the main courses, I've been making full recipes so Lee and I can have leftovers for lunch. However, because we don't need 7 pans of cinnamon rolls, I have been using half recipes for the baking. My aunt got me this awesome cooking conversion magnet that I have used nearly every day for almost 8 years. Definitely a "can't live without" in my kitchen. (Thanks, Auntie!)

My college bestie, Katie, (who is equally as obsessed with The Pioneer Woman) and I have discovered the awesomeness of the cast iron skillet. Lee and I inherited our skillets from our grandmothers who have both passed away. So, not only are they seasoned with years of cooking, they're also very sentimental.  (Here is one skillet cooking Eggs in a Hole. Or Chicken in a Basket. Or Popeyes....)

My current favorite gadget is an appliance that acts as a grill, a griddle, a panini press, a flat press...  I use it for grilled cheese, chicken breasts, vegetables, Lee made pancakes (why does it always seem like pancakes are a man's domain??). I seriously can't get enough of it and use it all the time. The plates are dishwasher safe too. Love it. (And it's made by Cuisinart which has an excellent warranty and great customer service.)

Anyway. That's what we've been up to in our snowed-in villa. I think I'll stick to cooking instead of measuring snow on the back porch that caused me to fall down steps and I now have a very bruised back. Another story for another day. 

To answer a few questions

Y'all. It's a struggle with me today. I'm in week 8 of 12 in my half-marathon plan and I am starting to get tired. I have the incredibly weird (but apparently, not too uncommon) problem of not being able to sleep after a long run. On Saturday, I ran 9 miles and was (obviously) quite tired by the end of that day (I burned 19 WW points. I only get 26 in a day.) (We ate oreos.), but I laid awake for hours and barely got 3 hours of sleep that night. Now, my body is trying to play catch up and it's losing. I've read a lot about possible dehydration or my core temperature being too high for sleep. I'm not sure on any of it, but I will try anything. (Suggestions? My runs normally are over by 3:00pm, so it's not that I'm running too late...)

ANYWAY! I'm sure you could care less about my restless sleep on Saturday nights. Since my post on my goals from 2013, I have had a lot of messages, texts, emails, etc about 3 areas. So, I thought I would elaborate on them to answer them to the best of my ability.

Bible Study
Several years ago, I felt a strong calling on my life to start an in-depth Bible study with several gals from our church. We met on Saturday mornings at our house and did the 10 week study by Beth Moore called "Breaking Free". It was a great time to be together and dig deeper in the Word. What started as 5 of us in my living room in our pajamas (it was 8:00 on a Saturday! Courtney was the only one of us who even took a shower first!) Since then, we (our pastor's wife, Jennifer, and I have taken turns leading) have had several large group Bible studies and have grown so much as women in our church. I have two favorite Bible study authors: Beth Moore and Kelly Minter.

Beth is basically the Billy Graham of women's Bible studies. She has written tons of in-depth studies and books, and devotions. My first Beth, I did at home, by myself, and no videos and just fell into such a deep love with God and His word (A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place). Last year, we did James, David, we've also done Esther, Jesus... My favorite one was called "Living Beyond Yourself: A study of the Fruits of the Spirit". Check the study length before you begin. Most of Beth's are 10 week studies. Daniel is a 12 week, James is 7. We started Stepping Up: The Psalms of the Ascent last night and it is a 6 week study.

Kelly is relatively new on the horizon and has incredible insight. Her studies are typically 6 week and don't have video sessions with it. I have done her study called Nehemiah that was literally life-changing in the way it taught me to do ministry and how to look at leadership. I started No Other Gods and will finish it whenever we take a break in our study routine.

There are lots of other wonderful authors that the Lord has blessed with insight and writing ability to reach us. Dig around and find one that you can connect with!

Money Saving
I have had a huge inquiry into how we have saved money, especially our grocery bill. My big "push" goal for 2013 was to be under budget each month at the grocery store. Our budget is $400 a month and last year, I was $376 under my yearly budget. (That doesn't include our $40 a month budget for eating out) (I know what you're thinking. "Wow. What a glamorous life they must live." It's true. We fight off the paparazzi every day.) We have made several cuts and decisions that have totaled up to be huge savings:

1) Making my own laundry soap
August 2012, I made a batch of laundry soap concentrate and it cost around $4. I didn't have to make any more soap until December 2013. (That's doing 1 load of laundry every day, some days, 2.) It's a simple recipe that I got from the Duggars. I put it in a bucket and reuse an old laundry soap dispenser. It works really well. There is also a powdered version to which I can't answer for, because we do liquid. (If you do powder, leave your thoughts in the comments for others, please!) I also have been making my own fabric softener: 2c hair conditioner, 3 c white vinegar 6 c hot water. I swear y'all, big savings. (I also make my own cleaning supplies when possible. White vinegar makes the world go round) I tried making my own dishwasher detergent and it was terrible. Recently, Good Housekeeping rated the Great Value brand (Walmart) powdered dishwasher detergent the best rated dishwasher detergent. We love it and it was $2!

2) Making a menu and store list and sticking to it.
After several years of going to work, coming home tired, biting each other's heads off about what sounds good for dinner, we decided to make a menu and a store list and making a trip once a week. As you can see by our huge restaurant budget, we rarely eat out. When we do, I typically have eater's remorse when I realize how little it took to make and how much I was charged. I get the Food Lion sales paper and start to make my menu according to what's on sale. I try to use multiple types of recipes to keep produce from going to waste. (Using lemon zest in a recipe on Monday night and lemon juice on Wednesday. Then clean my garbage disposal with the leftover lemon.) I also buy meats when on sale and bag and freeze (Ground beef 93% was on sale in the 3lb packs. I bought it, divided it into 3 bags, labeled and froze!). I use a ton of the Pioneer Woman's recipes and she uses a lot of spices and from scratch recipes. So much healthier and so much cheaper. (And any time I'm in the kitchen with my new knives, Pandora on, and my favorite soux chef, life is good.) We don't buy drinks besides milk, and coffee (Normally Seattle's Best #4) and no chips or anything like that. Our snacks are fruits, cheese sticks, etc. I buy store brand when possible (Especially on things like tomato products, zip-top bags, etc) I do use some coupons, but I am definitely not an extreme couponer. (If anyone has any ideas about how to save money on chicken, besides watching for sales, I'm all open.) I enjoy making my own bread, but I'm short on time often, so I LOVE the Food Lion brand whole wheat bread.

Running
When Lee and I first got married, we lived at the camp and literally couldn't run halfway to the gate. We were both active people, but Lee had messed up knees (soccer player problems), and I had a messed up mind (Past tense of "had" is used very lightly) and was convinced I couldn't run. So, I couldn't. It's funny how it works that way. After Nina was born, we decided to get down to it and start running. Lee started first and after I had lost 50 lbs after Nina, I started. (May 2011) I was TERRIBLE. We were at the track running (Lee was doing speed work and I was pushing a ten month old in a stroller), and I was so excited that I was able to complete a mile running at a 14:00 min mile (seriously the most I had ever run). I found a plan on weightwatchers.com that was a beginning 5k program that finally addressed my big problem: It wasn't that I couldn't run, but I couldn't keep the pace I was starting with. I have spent days trying to find this program that I used and can't seem to find it. Basically, you kept your pace at a 15:00 minute mile and did little spurts of a 12:00 minute mile and increased it. I ran that whole summer pushing a jogging stroller (It really wasn't as noble as it sounds; it was how I ensured her morning nap time) and ran a 5k in September in 29:43.

 Ever since, I have been a hit or miss runner. Last year, I trained for my first half-marathon using Hal Higdon's Novice 2 program. 12 weeks of gradually increasing your mileage to accomplish the 13.1. This year, I am 4 1/2 weeks away from the Myrtle Beach half-marathon and I'm using Hal Higdon's Intermediate plan. I am combining it with the run-walk-run program from Jeff Galloway where I run 4:00 and walk 1:00. My times are getting noticeably faster even with my walk breaks and I find that I don't get nearly as tired taking regulated walk breaks. (I was taking them anyway, may as well make sure I'm doing it correctly) I am in NO WAY a running expert. Honestly, I read a blog last week about how most runners are afraid of being found out that they're not a "real" runner. That is SO me. Dig into it! Running is guaranteed peace and quiet! The key to sticking to a running plan is to register for a race as soon as you select the training plan. Once you have money in it, you won't back out.

If you have more questions, leave them in the comment section so I can try to fully answer everyone's questions. I'm honestly, not an expert in any of these areas, this is just what I'm trying to figure out!

Happy studying, shopping, and running!

But I want to be an apple tree!

The other day, I was getting ready for a run, when I hear the familiar sound of Nina preparing to be a monkey. (She comes by it naturally. Her dad jumped off the kitchen table when he was 18 months old in response to his mom telling him to "Get down!" So he did.) I hear the sound of a kitchen chair getting scooted around for her to retrieve what her little heart desired. (Also, being my child, 5' 1", learning young how to climb on things to get what you want is a skill necessary for success in life.) I find her gathering all of the apples out of our fruit bowl. I knew she loved apples, and her climbing to get one is a very regular occurrence in our house, but when I saw her reach for apple #4, I asked what she was doing. This is the conversation that transpired:

Nina: "I'm going to take all of the apples outside to that tree."

Me: "Why do you want to do that?"

N: "Because I want it to be an apple tree."

M: "But, baby girl, that is a Maple Tree, it wasn't made to grow apples."

N: "But if I work really hard and put these apples on it, will it then be an apple tree?"

M: "Nina, God makes us all for a purpose; a purpose that He has for us. No matter what we do to that big old tree, it will still be a maple tree, because that's how God made it and that's how God wants it. And nothing we do can change its purpose."

N: "I still want it to be an apple tree."

I went on to my run (this was my 7 mile day), I was keenly aware of all of the trees I passed. I became so jealous of nature. Nature doesn't question God's purpose for it. I've never seen a poodle proclaim that it really wants to be a rose and plant itself in a garden and demand to be watered and given to a 15 year old girl for $34 on February 14. A poodle is made to be a water dog. (true fact: poodle means "puddle" in German. I think. The Westminster Dog Show will be on in 5 short weeks, I'll verify again to be certain.)

(Even though my 90lb Golden Retriever does often act like she wants to be a lap dog.)

I was thinking about how much of my life I have spent covering myself in apples swearing I wasn't a maple tree. Or, even when I've embraced the fact that I was made to give shade and syrup (and those fantastic helicopters that provide us with hours of entertainment. And sweeping), I would spend time wishing I was a deer because they get to move. Or get awesome fur that changes colors in the winter. 

I wonder how much more I could have learned more about myself or how I could have figured out how to use my purpose for God if I would have stopped trying to change who I was or wishing I was like someone else. How much less tainted I would be if I hadn't cut off branches, trying to be a blade of grass.

Knowing that I can't go back in time, I am going to do my part to try to remember, now, that I was made a maple tree because that's how God fit me into His plan. Anytime I start to fantasize about how much fun it would be to be a dolphin, I will remind myself that dolphins were made beautiful, gray, with that cool nose, and put in the sea because that's how they can best fulfill their little part of God's greater plan. One of my biggest jobs now is to teach my daughter that there's no point wasting her time covering herself in apples to make herself appear to be an apple tree. How boring would this world be if we only had one type of tree?? 

And be there to talk her through it when she declares, "But I still want to be an apple tree!"

My 2013 goals

I've never been huge on resolutions. Most years, I resolve to eat better, but that "better" is in comparison to the two weeks prior to the new year. (Cookies, chips, Cheetos, and oh my word, my family's Christmas Eve tradition of the Honeybaked Ham ham salad. Love. It.)

Last January, I read a book about goal setting called "PUSH" written by Chalene Johnson that completely kept me from doing the unreachable goals of biting off more than I could chew. Her philosophy is to make a "push goal" and then other goals around it. The "push"'s goal (pun totally intended) is to be a larger goal that will help you meet multiples of your ten goals for the year. So, I'm going to give my goal for 2013 and give them a grade as to how I met (or didn't meet) them this year!

1. I am XXX lbs by March 1. B+
I'm really unsure how to rate that one. The goal was set and met a few times through the year, but think that number was only attainable when I was nursing. I think I have found a better goal for me as a non-nursing self that is obtainable and maintainable. I am a firm believer in the Weight Watchers program. When I got pregnant with Nina, I gained 41 pounds and I lost 71. In my younger years, I really struggled with not eating enough and thinking "If I only have a can of diet soda for lunch, I'll totally get thin." Praise Jesus, I have recovered from that logic and I swear a lot of it is WW. Healthy, easy, forgiving, and encourages fruits and veggies (0 points for a banana?! Don't mind if I do!) (No sign up fee right now. Go! Sign up! Lose!)

2. We will...(a financial goal for the family). A
A few years ago, we adopted "The Mint" which is an awesome website (we use the app) that helps you set budgets for every area in your life and sends reports, updates, etc. It has really helped us to know what we're spending and where we're spending. (Thanks Rachel for telling us about it!) We still have a little ways to go, but we're so close, we can taste it!

3. I have done 3 Bible studies. A
I took a hiatus from the last one because of the miscarriage, but all-in-all, accomplished. Check!

4. I have an active herb garden. B-
If it was phrased "had", it would be an A. I started my garden this summer and it was doing GREAT. However, I didn't pull them in before it started frosting and have found myself in a panicked scurry looking for cilantro at the grocery. Mom did get me this awesome herb keeper, so hopefully my store-bought ones will last a little longer until planting season comes back around in a few months.

5. I have been under budget for groceries every month A+! (This was my "Push" goal)
I have worked really hard at this one. And even though I am not an extreme couponer (I am obsessed with that show. Are they running a marathon on it like they usually do?! Please say yes. Please say yes.). We make menus every week and make a grocery run for all we need. I try to look at sales papers, combine store and manufacturer coupons... but really, it's just knowing what your budget looks like when it's in a buggy. I was a little over budget in December, but was under budget several months, so, it equals out! Woot!

6. Make more diligent effort for dates (both with Nina and Lee) B+
Overall, we did this. With Nina, it was a lot of puzzle dates and teaching her about being in the kitchen, etc. (Girl LOVES to cook). Lee and I did a lot of TV dates after putting Nina to bed. We did several family days, took Nina to see her first "feeder" (theater) movie (Frozen is SO good, y'all), and took her to her first fancy restaurant last night. (She was perfect. Her two little hands holding her crystal water glass... oh, just too much!!) The biggest thing is leaving my phone out of sight and reach and enjoying my family. I always feel like there's room for improvement (Is there such thing as "too much time together"? Okay, teenagers, I know your answer ;)), hence the B rating.

7. I ran a half-marathon. A+
We ran Knoxville in April and are training to run Myrtle Beach in a few short weeks! (My hind end needs a date with my iPod and Mizunos today. Oh, Christmas/New Years, you have ruined my running routine) This goal has only been accomplished because Lee encourages me to run and makes it easier for me to leave (taking care of Nina, starting dinner, running the vacuum...). He is seriously, the best. (Mush, over.)

8. I have given away 2 bags of clothing.) A+
Actually did 4 and am about to bag up more! (I have to remind myself that just because it does fit, doesn't mean it should...)

9. I no longer have a junk room. A
We have 4 bedrooms in our house. Our master (Including the bathroom and the "sitting room") (Nina calls the sitting room, the rocket ship. I think hers is more fun) is the size of our first house. HUGE. ("huge" being the bedroom. Not the house. The house was fully-cleanable in 2 hours.) However, the extra rooms aren't so big. It has taken us a while, but the back bedroom is now a cleaned out, guest room. (Except for at this moment. It is currently holding Nina's old furniture since we traded bedroom suits for her this week.) Junk rooms are like that: clean them out, wait. clean them out again, wait....

10. Complete a Turbo Fire rotation. D
I completed 7 of the 16 week program when I started training for Knoxville and never really got back on it. We use a lot of the pieces (Especially the yoga and abs/core DVDs) on a regular basis, but haven't combined them to be a continual program. Maybe I'll make that a new goal and do it after Myrtle? I LOVE her music and my abs never looked as good as they did on that program. If you're a DVD worker-outer, I HIGHLY recommend it. (Same chick who wrote this book)

It may have been a rather terrible year, in some areas, but I have accomplished a ton of goals (Some that I hadn't set out to do). I'm praying that 2014 finds us all more motivated and less painted on smiles and more peace. Auld lang syne, y'all. Auld lang syne.