Openness - Or My Personal Musings

I have been working on this post for what seems like forever now.  I brainstormed.  I wrote a few rough drafts.  Mr. Ketchup even gave me some advice.

Today, I was going to tell you about the Blurb facebook photobook that I made.  However, Mr. Ketchup wanted me to write a more personal post, similar to the first few that I wrote.

This led to more brainstorming, more blank stares at the computer screen, and more re-writing.

It is much easier for me to write about a new recipe that I tried, how to make a photobook, or a new challenge that I joined online.  It is hard to be open, but I will attempt it.
 

1. I cheated on my gluten-free diet last week and ate a piece of toast.  My body was not happy, and now I am fearful that this may have to be a full-time/forever type lifestyle. 
2. I really want to move to a place with a yard so Mr. Ketchup and I can get a dog! 
3. I LOVE love notes.

Ok, the last two are very easy to be open about.

I was extremely upset last week, as I had never dreamed that one piece of toast would affect me the way it did.  I thought I was doing this diet to help with my emotions.  I started it, and noticed that I felt better physically.  Surely a cheat after a month would be ok?  Turns out it wasn’t ok.  This means I have to find a primary care physician and get this checked out.  Sigh...

Number 2 is both good and bad news.  Bad news: We found out that our rent will be going up at the end of our contract.  Good news: I spoke to a friend who told me that her and her husband rent a duplex with a fenced-in yard for just a few dollars more than what our new rent will be.  As much as I love our apartment and being so close to our friends, I have been dropping hints to Mr. Ketchup about how we should consider moving to a place with a yard when our contract is up.  I really hope that we can have a little Ketchup puppy running around this time next year!  (To Mr. Ketchup...you know you want a puppy...we can call her Cricket!)

The best thing about the past few weeks happened today.  When we came home after our wedding, Mr. Ketchup gave me a pearl necklace and a notebook.  I always tell him that I want him to write me more love notes, so the notebook was filled with letters and stories he wrote everyday for about a month.  The last note was written at midnight, the night before we got married.  I keep the notebook next to my side of the bed and check it regularly for new notes.  Well, Mr. Ketchup went on a business trip Monday and Tuesday.  I did not find out until today that he wrote me a note Monday morning before he left!  I get so happy every time I think about it!

In a previous post I talked about asking your husband what things you do that make him feel loved.  Well, Mr. Ketchup definitely does not have to ask what makes me feel loves, because he knows that writing me love notes is definitely at the top of my list!  Now I have to think of something nice to do for him this week!  What nice things can you do for your spouse or loved ones this week?

Gluten-Free Goodness

Tonight, Mr. Ketchup and I will be attending our first international event for this school year!  I am so excited to be meeting some amazing people from all different types of cultures.  The relationships we have made with these students have been life changing, and I can hardly wait to see what is in store for us this year.

Well, with these events come food...lots of amazing food...except for when the university is hosting the event.  University events usually equal pizza.  I was already tempted by pizza once this week and am not looking forward to being tempted again.

My cravings for delicious carbs like bread and pasta led to me making a no-carb, gluten-free version of spaghetti this week.  It is probably my favorite recipe so far!

Except for avocado chocolate pudding.  That amazingness is in a league of its own.

Back to the spaghetti.  I adapted several different recipes based on what I actually had around the house (and what I actually remembered to buy while grocery shopping).

Mrs. Ketchup's Spaghetti
(this ingredient list is completely adaptable)

• 1 pound meat (I used a lot more, because I was lazy and did not want to thaw and separate the venison we had in the freezer.  Use whatever kind of meat you have around: venison, beef, pork, chicken)
• 1 clove garlic, minced (Mrs. Ketchup loves garlic, feel free to double...or triple...this)
• 1 medium onion, diced (I may have forgot onions while grocery shopping and substituted dried, minced onion, but don't tell anyone)
• 1 14ounce can tomatoes (The recipes called for Italian tomatoes and what-not, but I just used a can of off-brand stewed tomatoes)
• 1 8ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 cup beef broth (optional; I added this because I had a lot more meat than tomato products)
• ~1 tbsp oregano
• ~1tbsp basil
• ~1 tbsp Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning
• ~1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 spaghetti squash

Note: Yes, I did put approximately next to all the seasonings.  I never measure when I season, so just add to taste.  Mr. Ketchup and I like our food spicy, so I probably used a lot more than 1 tbsp of Tony's and 1 tsp of cayenne

1. Brown the meat.  Time depends on what time of meat you are using (and whether or not you are lazy and don't let the meat thaw all the way)

Look at that yummy venison goodness

2. Add in the onion and garlic.  Cook until they are soft.

Did I say how much I love garlic?  I may or may not have added an extra clove in addition to these.

3. Add the rest of the ingredients (except for the squash).  Bring to a simmer.  Turn the temperature to low, cover, and let cook for approximately 30 min.

Sorry for the blurry picture.  Our dark kitchen is less than ideal for pictures.

 4. Take your spaghetti squash and cut it in half.  Scoop out the seeds and other stuff that you probably don't want to eat.

5. Now place the squash face down in a microwave safe container and cover, leaving a small hole for steam to escape.  Heat for 10 minutes on high, then let the squash rest for about 10 minutes.

6.  Time for spaghetti!  Take a fork and scrape out the "meat" of the squash.  It'll look like this...

  

7.  Place your cooked spaghetti sauce on top of your noodles and enjoy!  Mr. Ketchup gave a great review by devouring his portion.  I don't have pictures of the finished product due to the fact that we were both starving and impatient.

Speaking of pictures, I recently became a Blurb affiliate.  If you aren't aware, Blurb helps you create amazing photo books, something that I, as a newlywed, really enjoy.  I will be posting soon about using their Facebook photo book feature, and will follow that up with a $25 Blurb gift certificate giveaway!  Check back soon so that you don't miss out!

New Prescription

I have been wearing my glasses a lot over the past week.  Grad school, writing papers, and staring at computers will do that to you.

I took off my glasses to put some lotion on my face this morning.  Panic mode quickly ensued.  You see, I'm not the common-sense, practical person that I may initially appear to be.  Did I take my glasses off in the bathroom where I was putting on the lotion?  Nope...I left them somewhere in the bedroom.

No big deal right?  Tell that to my eyes who probably couldn't even distinguish the frames from a shoe.  I frantically searched for a lifetime few minutes before I found them on the bed.  I blame the lack of common-sense on my grad-school-burnt-out-brain.

I realized that my life has been a lot like this lately.  Even two weeks ago, I was in a blurry fog.  I was emotional, irritable, and found it hard to concentrate or remember things.  I finally decided to take charge of my life and find some glasses.

What's my prescription?
Daily personal time with the Lord.  Routines.  Healthy eating.

Even Mr. Ketchup has noticed a difference in me.

Or maybe he is just saying that so I will keep making yummy chocolate pudding (dairy/gluten free!  recipe here)...

P.S.  I didn't have all the ingredients for the recipe, so I just used 2 avocados, honey, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract.  This is how I will survive my new healthier lifestyle.

Simple Questions

After my quiet time this morning, I found myself reading a few favorite blogs instead of writing a paper for school.  I had seen this challenge several times before, but, as a newlywed, it really hit me.  Instead of always wondering how to please your loved ones, talk to them.  This specific article challenged readers to find out what makes their husbands, children, etc feel loved.

How simple is that?  Yet, how often do we forget to ask what it is that they need?

I know that I have only been married a little over two months, but I thought it would be important to ask Mr. Ketchup this question now, write down his answer, and make an effort to do at least one thing each day.  Hopefully I will make it a practice to ask him frequently, as his answer may change.

Well...what was his response today?  He knows that I love him when...

• I greet him at the door when he gets home from work
• I come to him (randomly) and hug him
• I say "I love you" before he says it

Each and every one of those things is extremely simple and doable.  Yet, each and every one of those things uplifts my husband and shows him love in the ways he needs it.

And speaking of showing him love, we are having steak for dinner (which I found on sale!).  I found a recipe for Steak Dijionaise at the Mom, What's For Dinner? blog.  Score for finding some delicious gluten-free meals!

I Love Food

Day 3 of getting up earlier...Day 2 of actually following through with a morning routine.  I have classes all day Thursday, so I get up earlier than normal.  I had to turn in a few assignments before I left, which meant that I did not have time for my little 15 minute routine.

Sigh...at least this morning has been better.

Speaking of this morning, one of my tasks to do today is research a gluten free/paleo style diet.  You see, I have suffered from anxiety and sometimes depression since I was fairly young.  At one point, I was having panic attacks frequently.  Well I have tried counseling, Bible studies specific to this topic, and even medications.  However, the one thing that I have begun to notice being a huge help is my diet (in addition to prayer/Bible study).  Thanks to our college minister's wife, I have been learning about all the ways that your diet can affect you mentally.  In addition, a child psychiatrist spoke in one of my classes about his recommendations to parents concerning gluten free diets for children with most mental disorders.

And...another sigh.

Mr. Ketchup and I love food.  We love our favorite burger joint where we order a mound of absolutely amazing cheese fries, to go along with our burger and side of fries.  I also love chocolate, Nutella, cheesecake.  Cheese bread...yum.  I could go on and on about how much I love food.

But...food affects me mentally.

Now don't get me wrong.  I know there are TONS of options for people on gluten free diets.  I know that I can make special chocolate cupcakes with honey and almond flour.  Thanks to my friend mentioned above, I have tried some amazing food that has been cooked this way.  However, we will have to be dedicated to spending the extra time and money (maybe) that this will require.  I can't come home from a 9+ hour day at school and stop by a fast food place.  I have to start planning freezer meals and easy meals that I can throw together quickly.

I have to be organized...

Sigh.