LIFE HACK: How to Ripen Green Avocados

Isn't it the WORST when you snag a bag of avocados and they're all ROCK.SOLID??

Yep.. momma needs her healthy fats, y'all!

So what do you do? Wait a week for them to soften up? Nada.

Let me introduce you to my life hack that will ripen all of your green avocados!

1) Find a brown paper bag

2) Add an apple

3) Add your avocados.

I haven't added more than two or three at a time.

4) Fold up bag and set aside on counter for 24-48 hours. And let the magic begin...

Okay so time to get nerdy and tell you HOW this works.

In this experiment, you can use an apple, banana or tomato! These fruits emit more ethylene gas than other fruits out there. The brown bag is simply a way to the TRAP ethylene gas that ripens these bad boys. 

5) Check on the avocados each day

.. this was after ONE day.

So have no fear of un-ripened avocados the next time you pick up a baggie.

Give this a try and let me know what you think!

Love Fights Fair: Notes from the Love Dare

I've been SLOWLY working thru the Love Dare since the start of December, and by slowly I mean one chapter every couple of days.

It's been such a humbling experience that's challenged me by uncovering so many of my prideful and selfish downfalls as a woman and wife, when I originally planned to use this as a tool to fix Nate and I as a couple. (HA)

Each chapter (day) discusses a topic about what love IS.. actively. Love is a verb. It's a choice we make in marriage every day.

Oh man.. I could go off on a tangent here about the excuse people use for ending a marriage because they simply fall in and out of love. The truth is, we DO. We are imperfect people, loving imperfect people. If love is simply based on circumstantial emotion, feeling and opinions then you better BELIEVE your feelings of love will fluctuate. But we can't choose to start OR end a marriage based on that alone. It's like building a house on a foundation of sand!

This is what sets God's solid institution of marriage apart. We are imperfect people, loving each other through our faults and imperfections to ultimately glorify God. Marriage REFINES us as individuals, putting us in sometimes HOT, fiery places that can make us BETTER if we seek Him though it. We will stand firm and come out stronger, because we started with a proper foundation.

A loving marriage can last a lifetime if you CHOOSE to love unconditionally. Guard your heart. Base your love on commitment for life, rather than fleeting feelings. If YOU pursue a true agape love (the Love of Christ) towards your spouse, then phileo and eros love (that of friendship and sexuality) will follow!

I digress :) Back to my journal notes from today's dare about fighting fair..

If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Mark 3:25

Love reminds us that our marriage is too valuable to let it self destruct. And that our love for our spouse is more important than whatever you're fighting about.

Love PROTECTS our "one-ness." It reminds you that conflict can actually be turned around for good and result in greater unity- not less.

Fight clean. Establish rules of engagement as a way of protecting each other.

There are two types of boundaries: WE and ME

We: rules you BOTH agree on that apply to any fight. Each has the right to enforce if broken.

example: NEVER mention the word divorce. Avoid bringing up past resolved issues.  No fighting in public or in front of children. Call a "time out" if escalating to a damaging level. NEVER touch each other in a harmful way. Don't go to bed angry. Agree that FAILURE is NEVER an option.

Me: rules of personal practice.

example:

I will listen before I speak

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:9

I will deal with my own issues up front and apologize first if needed

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3

I will speak gently and keep my voice down, lacing speech with love

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

Fighting FAIR means changing our weapons, disagreeing with dignity & building bridges instead of burning them down.

LOVE itself is not a fight, but it's always worth fighting for!

Be challenged to discuss healthy rules of engagement with your spouse and resolve to abide by them. If your spouse if not ready, you must still do this yourself.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:16

I hope this speaks to your heart, like it did mine.

Hacka-Lackas & Coconut Oil

I am a TOTAL life hack fan & when I came across these, I knew I had to share!

Hack Numero UNO::

KUERIG Oats

So there's basically nothing to describe here, but when I saw this no the inter-web I literally thought "WHY DID I NEVER THINK OF THAT BEFORE!?"

BOOM- oats in a minute & cooked to perfection. Just add toppings. My favorites: Fruit, chocolate chips {ahem}, coconut, vanilla beans, peanut butter, etc.

Hack Numero DOS::

{Straw, Blue, Rasp} Berry Cleanse

Nate & I eat fruit like it's candy. No really, it's how we stay away from it. When I hit the store on the weekends, I usually buy every berry on the shelf. But usually mid-week, I'm having to sift through them for the nuggets without mold on them.

You feeling me?

Okay, grab your berries, some vinegar, a large bowl and water.

Soak your berries in a 10:1 ratio of water to vinegar. For 2 pounds of strawberries, I used 1/2 C. white vinegar and 5 cups of water. If we had more berries laying around the house, I would have used this mixture again. Soak the berries for 2 minutes and rinse them thoroughly. The vinegar is supposed to kill any mold producing spores, lengthening the shelf life.

Hack Numero TRES::

Toilet Cleaner + Toothbrush Grout Cleaning Method

Ever wonder how to get that DEEP set gunk out of your grout?

Now, this method is a little time consuming, but worked like a CHARM! Just turn on a good audio book, throw on some junky clothes & get comfortable on the floor.

Work by section, using the Clorox toilet bowl cleaner (which squeezes out in a gel form) to line your grout- apply liberally. Let this sit on the grout for about 10 minutes before you come back & SCRUB. Let the scrubbed grout sit for another 5 minutes before you wipe up the excess Clorox & clean with a wet sponge. Repeat until things are looking squeaky clean!

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Okay, I mentioned something super random about coconut oil. Have you ever tried it in your COFFEE?? I did today & oh-my-lanta! CREAMY, frothy, no-guilt goodness.

Ingredients:
Hot Coffee
Coconut Oil
Blender

{if you're feeling frisky, add cinnamon/vanilla/nutmeg/etc}

Make sure you give all of these a try & let me know what you think! 
linz