One last Christmas DIY!

These hairbows are simple to make and are perfect for any little noggin! All you need is felt, a hot glue gun, and clips. (You can find all of these items at Michaels)

Trace a flower shape onto felt and cut out shapes. You will need 7 per bow. (I used a cookie cutter for a stencil)

Fold each flower in half.

Fold again!

Snip off the pointy end to create a flat surface.

Place a dab of hot glue on the end and glue onto a round piece of felt.
You'll need 4 flowers to lie flat on the felt circle and three pieces to glue upright in the center.

Ta da!

One more view...

A quick shot of the clips that I used.

Hot clue a clip to the base and you're done!

Free gift idea for the kid in your life

Give the child in your life the gift of a fun "date" with you. Make and decorate a coupon for them to unwrap, detailing the destination and plan for a date with you. It will be sure to be a favorite tradition for years to come!
Ideas:

• Book store date. Go to your favorite bookstore and browse together. Let the little one pick out a book to bring home.
• Go to a park with a pond and feed the ducks or fish. Bring a picnic lunch or if it's too cold, stop at a coffee shop for hot chocolate.
• Attend a sporting event together.
• Check out a local theater production, musical, or ballet.
• Order takeout and play board games at home together.
• Take a trip to a home improvement or craft store. Purchase items for a project and craft or build it together when you get home.
• Go hiking together and pack a few fun snacks.
• Take a tour of your local fire station.
• Visit a local farmer's market and let them choose something to buy.
• Visit a museum together.

*This is the perfect gift for a hard-to-buy-for spouse!

Take the cake!

There are plenty of us who will be transporting cakes this Christmas season. Take the stress out of it all with these simple and effective tips!

• Trace a circle around a large bowl onto a piece of scrapbook paper and then cut out with pinking shears. (You know, those scissors that make a scalloped edge.) Place the paper on a cake plate or stand and set the cake on top. This serves as a garnish as well as a shield for your silver, making serving so much prettier and simpler!

• Another trick for transporting and serving a cheesecake is to put a small circle of grippy mesh(like you line your cabinets with or use to hold rugs in place) onto the cake platter and then put the cheesecake (still with the metal pan bottom under it) onto that platter. A perfect solution for keeping cheesecakes secure around each winding curve! This will also keep your cake from sliding during transport if placed under the paper that the cake is sitting on.

Perfect toddler gift

The deals on online photo printing websites are flying fast and thick right now. Even the grocery store is printing out the occasional coupon for a free photo book. Instead of Grandma, give the toddler in your life a photo book. Fill it with pictures of family, pets, favorite places or animals and don't forget to include a photo of themselves. I discovered this would be a favorite when my two toddlers got their paws on a photo calendar of themselves. They were absolutely enchanted! Laminate the pages for additional durability and you've got a home run!

Handy Dandy Baking Tips

Since Christmas baking is probably well underway, here are a few helpful tips to help things go smoothly.

• Good news, readers: most cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months, so get baking while you have time!
• To freeze cookies, place in container in single layers with wax or parchment paper in between the layers.
• Meringue cookies do not freeze well.
• If you're decorating the cookies, ice them once they have thawed.
• When chopping sticky ingredients (dates, candied fruit, etc.) give the ingredients a quick spray of Pam to chop more easily. You can spray the knife blade too.
• For all of you royal icing fans, powdered egg whites are interchangeable with meringue powder.

Tips for smart shopping at Christmas!

It seems like everywhere I go, folks are talking about spending less money this Christmas. Here are a few ways to ease the strain on the ol' gift budget:

 

• Do a gift card "sweep". Collect all gift cards in your house and use those for buying gifts.
• Sell the gift cards on ebay for cash.
• Check out thrift stores and yard sales for gifts. Don't laugh, you can find brand new stuff!
• Use credit card rewards points for cash or more gift cards.
• Draw names for gift giving this year instead of buying each person a gift.
• Shop online. Free shipping is a big deal- it costs about $6 in gas just for me to go to the mall!
• Trade gift cards with a friend so you can shop your favorite stores.
• Sell items you can do without on ebay and use the cash to buy gifts.

Recycle those electronics!

Upgrade to a newer digital camera, mp3 player, or tablet? Don't leave the old one collecting dust- it will make the perfect gift for your child! We gave an old digital camera to our 5 year old and she was thrilled. We were quickly informed that "This was the best present ever!". Not only will it not cost you a dime, but you can dress it up to make it even more special with a new case or a gift card for iTunes. Remember, Christmas is less than 6 weeks away!

Fall bean recipe!

This recipe is perfect for chilly autumn nights. Whip up a batch of cornbread to round out this simple, yet delicious meal. It's also very inexpensive and packed with fiber and protein. Trust me, you're going to LOVE it!

Appalachian Cider Beans
3 cups dried great northern beans
3 cups fresh apple cider
8 oz. bacon, divided
2 small yellow onions, peeled and quartered

1 Tbs. dried mustard powder
6 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. salt

Pour beans into a large bowl and cover with water. Soak beans overnight; drain and transfer to Dutch oven.  Add cider and simmer over medium heat uncovered, stirring occasionally for 30 min.  Remove from heat and drain, reserving liquid.  Layer 4 oz. bacon in a 2-qt Dutch oven.  Spoon beans over pork, bury the onion quarters in beans. Cook in small saucepan 1 T. dry mustard, 6 T sorghum or maple syrup, and 1 t. salt for 3 min. over med. heat.  Pour over beans.  Top with remaining bacon.  Add reserved bean liquid and hot water to cover (add water if beans are not covered).  Bake covered at 300 for 3 hrs.  Add hot water if beans become dry.

Post- Halloween Pumpkin Disposal

Still have that Jack O' Lantern sitting on the steps? Go beyond the obvious solution of eating it or roasting the seeds with these fun ideas!

• Pitch it into a wooded area for the deer (Make sure it's at least 100 feet away from your house to avoid attracting mice.)
• Slather the inside with peanut butter and hang from a tree for the squirrels
• Compost it
• Use it for target practice
• Call a local zoo or farmer- pumpkins make great snacks for animals!
• Feed to the chickens. They will love the seeds!
• Use for elementary math lessons. What is the circumference and radius? How much does it weigh? Estimate the number of seeds.
• Hollow out your old pumpkin, have the kids attach a "sail" and set it free in a creek or stream.

Perfect Peanut Butter

Finally tired of trying to stir the oil into my natural peanut butter, I scraped the whole jar into a food processor. After less than 30 seconds, the separated peanut butter was blended to perfection. To add natural sweetener, I added 3 Tbs. of honey and blended again. The result: smooth, creamy peanut butter with a light, slightly fluffy texture. Back into the jar and into the fridge and it's done. This is it folks, I'm never going back to hydrogenated oil peanut butter again!

Before: oil and dry crumbly peanut butter

After: smooth and creamy, perfectly dreamy!

Vanity

We've all seen the ubiquitous vanities that pervade the yard sale landscape. They are usually beautifully made and antique to boot, but let's be honest, who sits down to do their makeup anymore? I found this former vanity at a yard sale for $5. One can of white spray paint and a little disassembling later, we now have lovely matching bedside tables. Snag a vanity the next time you see a deal and see what you can do!

Bake Sale Idea

Happy October everyone! Fall is definitely here and so are the bake sales. I made the following cupcakes for a library bake sale and they were quite the hit.

Using icing, attach a mini vanilla wafer to a Hershey kiss. Top with a mini chocolate chip.



Place inside a punch cup for easy transport.

For the cupcakes, I tried a crazy recipe that's floating around online and behold, it worked! Just combine a yellow cake mix with a 15oz can of pumpkin and bake as directed. I added 1 1/2 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice to mine. Yum!

New Topping

Apple pie filling makes the perfect fall pancake topper! There's no need for syrup when you top fluffy pumpkin pancakes with this stuff! Here's my favorite pumpkin pancake recipe below:

Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch of ground cloves.

1 cup milk
6 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 egg

Combine dry ingredients. Combine wet ingredients. Fold everything together until combined. Melt some butter in a skillet over medium heat; pour in 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook pancakes about 3 minutes per side.
Makes 8 to 10.

Treat for your feet!

If you're like me, your post-summer feet are showing signs of wear. Try this wonderful soak to regain baby soft heels.

Exfoliating Foot Soak
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup mouthwash
1 cup warm water

Combine all and soak each foot for 10 minutes. Dry thoroughly and exfoliate with pumice stone. The dead skin will fall right off!

Miracle Chicken

Well folks, it can be done...chicken that is! Forgot that lovely little whole chicken was hanging out in the fridge again? It's 4:00pm, which is too late to cook it, right? Wrong! Try this amazingly simple and delicious recipe for that bird. Here's the kicker...it only takes 1 hour!

Herb Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

 

1 whole chicken (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), rinsed and patted dry

coarse salt and pepper

1/2 bunch thyme

1/2 bunch parsley

2 leeks halved lengthwise (I used Trader Joes frozen, sliced leeks)

3 medium carrots, cut into 3 inch lengths

1 pound small red potatoes (bigger ones halved)

olive oil

1/2 cup dry white wine

 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Season chicken inside and out with salt and pepper and place in roasting pan. Stuff thyme and parsley in cavity.

In large bowl, toss veggies with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Scatter veggies around chicken, arranging potatoes at edges of pan; pour wine into pan.

Roast until chicken is golden brown and juices run clear (165 degrees). Cook about an hour.

Crushed pepper

If you have a plethora of hot peppers in your garden, try making your own crushed pepper flakes. Trust me, these flakes will blow away their store-bought counterparts. We're talking not just heat but loads of flavor! Simply place peppers on a baking sheet and cook at 170 degrees all day. Turn the peppers often and take them out at night. In the morning or when cool, pulse in a food processor until finely chopped.
* Use cayenne peppers, paprika peppers, or any other hot peppers. If using larger peppers, quarter to ensure quick drying time.

Chicken Tip

Snag a few pounds of bone-in chicken breasts the next time you see them on sale. Once you're home, cut the breast meat from the bones. Now you have boneless skinless chicken breasts! Toss the bones into a pot with water, peppercorns, pieces of celery, carrot, and onion along with bay leaves and salt. Simmer for about an hour, cool, strain and freeze. Now you have chicken broth! Now that's a lot of bang for your cluck!

Sweet Endings

These little chocolate beauties are perfect for satisfying the after-dinner sweet cravings without the guilt. It's also a great opportunity to use up leftover chocolate chips, bars, and those assorted dried fruits and nuts languishing in your pantry!

Ingredients: good quality dark chocolate, dried fruit and nuts.
*My personal favorite combo is almonds and cherries.

Melt chocolate over double boiler till glossy and smooth. Add dried fruit and nuts.

Scoop out mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pop in the freezer for 10 minutes to set.
Store at room temperature or fridge in a sealed container.

Yard Sale

As school looms ahead (or has already begun) try having a yard sale this month. It's the perfect time as folks are home from vacation, looking for school clothes, and getting into fall nesting mode. Here are some tried and true tips from my sister, fresh on the heels of her very successful yard sale last week.

• If your schedule permits, try having your sale on Friday and Saturday to maximize traffic.
• Advertise on free sites such as Facebook and Craigslist. Be sure to offer specific details in your ad such as the sizes of clothing you have.
• Offer free coffee, bake brownies to sell, and have music playing to avoid awkward silence.  
• Make your signs all the same color and use plenty of arrows.
• After a certain time, have a "sale" where customers can fill a bag for a dollar or offer half off of everything.
• Yard sales are great for fundraising for charity, adoption, and sports teams- make sure your customers know this!
• Finally, when the sale is over, advertise a curb alert on Craigslist. You won't even have to haul anything away!

Money Guide

A fun way for the kids to learn their coins is to make a coin board and hang it in the car. They can learn on the go and you can quiz while you drive with questions regarding size, color, and value. Tape the coins onto a piece of cardboard, write in the values and names, and clip onto the back of a seat.

Decoding the produce label

In case you can't find great local produce in your area, you can still know exactly what you're buying just by checking that ubiquitous little round PLU sticker found on all grocery store produce. Here's the lowdown:

• PLU stickers that have 4 digits and begin with a “3″ or “4″: produce is conventionally grown. This means that this produce was probably treated with pesticides and/or herbicides.
• PLU stickers that have 5-digits and start with “8″: produce was genetically engineered and may have been chemically treated.
• PLU stickers that have 5-digits and start with “9″: produce was raised organically.

Rainy day fun

This nifty little target will be perfect if you find yourself with the challenging combination of a rainy day and bored kids this summer. Simply cut a circular hole in a paper grocery bag for a nerf gun target. If the target is hit, the projectiles wind up in the bag.
*This was tested on 8 and 6 year old boys and was a huge success!

From bag...

to target!

Weed control au natural

I heard a rumor that white vinegar works as a natural weed killer, so I decided to put it to the test. Here are my findings: the vinegar works perfectly (and quickly) to zap low-growing weeds. Weeds with tall foliage (i.e. tall grass) only appeared to be burned. So, if you have dandelions in your yards or low growing weeds, the vinegar will do the trick in eliminating them without putting harmful chemicals into your soil or garden. Spray on!

*Note: I used a pump sprayer to apply.

Dry it or buy it?

Dried cherries are so delicious and so expensive. I decided to see if drying them myself in my dehydrator would be more economical. Alas, 2 pounds of cherries ($6) yielded only one cup once dried. I can buy the exact amount of dried cherries at the Fresh Market for, you guessed it, $6. So now you know: just buy the dried cherries! I'll keep you all posted on more dehydrating adventures to come...

Golden Egg

Here's the latest golden egg yard sale find! I needed a craft/school cabinet, but didn't want to spend much. I found this horribly dilapidated cabinet at a yard sale. The "bones" were good and I loved the lip that runs around the top- perfect for containing papers and projects! I decided to give it a shot.

Here's the prize! Scratched, gouged, and let's not overlook the Sharpie graffiti!

The top, with some weird mix of glue and asbestos flooring.

The finished product: white paint, new handles, and plenty of elbow grease.
Cost: $30 (cabinet, handles and paint)

Easy Transport

The next time you're delivering muffins or cupcakes, nestle them into a shirt box filled with paper shreds. Not only will the treats arrive in pristine condition, but they'll look pretty sharp too. The best part is that the box and shreds are disposable.
*Thanks Susi, for the tip!

Decorator's Notebook

To simplify home decorating, start by keeping a decorator's notebook. Fill a binder with paint swatches, fabric swatches, and carpet samples of what you currently have as well as photos torn from magazines of décor that you like. Organize the binder with a tab for each room for easy reference and you're all set. Take the binder with you when you shop for curtains, paint, or accessories for quick and easy matching.

Summer Cake Recipe

This cake is so refreshing on a hot summer day and is a nice low-fat option too. Make one today and keep it in the freezer on standby. (Just try to ignore the radioactive blue reflection from the metallic plate!)

Light Summer Cake

1 angel food cake
1 8oz tub Cool Whip
1 can fat free sweetened condensed milk
2 limes, zested and juiced

Combine Cool Whip, milk, juice, and zest. Slice the cake laterally and frost. Cover and freeze. Slice and serve frozen.

*Mix things up by adding crushed berries or changing the juice and zest. Use light or fat free Cool Whip and milk to lighten.

Ticks

Well folks, tick season is upon us. If you find yourself removing a tick, be sure to place the tick in a plastic bag and store it in the freezer. If you develop a rash or bulls-eye pattern around the bite, you can take the offending tick to the doctor for testing to see if it carries Lyme's disease. By doing this, you'll prevent unnecessary medication for yourself and avoid expensive testing.

*What to eradicate ticks from your yard naturally? Try buying a few Guinea hens as pets. Two Guineas per acre will keep your yard tick-free. An added bonus: they also eat snakes!

Happy Independance Day!

Happy July 4th, friends! On your way to your holiday cookout, stop by your local Ace Hardware store for some great deals. Here are a few standouts from the ad:
Quart of motor oil: $1.99
50 count fertilizer spikes $0.19
Stanley hand tools $1.99
30 pack of AA batteries for $6.99

*Be sure to use your Ace rewards card for the deals. Sale runs through July3-8. These items are great for hurricane preparation or stocking stuffers!

Allergy - Free Amazing Pesto Pasta

This is an original recipe I have been experimenting with for family members with multiple food allergies. It is packed with flavor and nobody will suspect - allergy free!

Pesto:
Throw into your food processor
3 cloves garlic
2-3 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Juice of half a lemon
Olive oil (enough to get a good consistency - about 1/3 - 1/2 cup)

Boil pasta of choice, I used brown rice pasta. Mix hot pasta with pesto and top with grilled chicken, sautéed scallops, fish or white beans to make it meatless. Leftovers are just as delicious the next day - that is if you have them!

Summer greens

Ok, everyone I confess. I didn't have a post written up for today so I'm relying on good ol' Martha to help me out. Put the lushness of summer to work at your table by using hosta leaves and rosemary. These decorations are simple, beautiful, and disposable. Enjoy!

Soak hosta leaves in water. Dry before using for coasters.

Wrap hosta leaves around glass candle holders and tie with twine. Trim to fit.



Soak sturdy rosemary stalks for 30 minutes before threading and grill.
*You may want to "pre-drill" by skewering with a metal skewer first.

*All of the above pictures and ideas are from www.marthastewart.com. Thanks, Martha!

Handy Dandy Compost Container

Hmmm...looks like a diaper pail huh? Think again! This, my friends, was a diaper pail. Its new job is now a compost container! I use the diaper refill bags to contain the compost, which works well. It's large enough to hold several days worth of compost and the snug lid keeps fruit flies away.
*Be sure to double-knot the bag and empty every 3 days or so to prevent leaks.

Healthy Snack

Here is a healthy, easy to make granola snack to stash in your fridge for summer days. An added bonus is that they are gluten free and peanut-free if you use almond butter. Kids and adults love them!

 

Granola Bites

• 1-½ cup Quick Oats
• ½ cups Crisp Rice Cereal
• ¼ cups Ground Flaxseed
• ¼ cups Oat Bran
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• 2/3 cups Dark Chocolate Chips
• ½ cups No-stir Natural Peanut Butter (or any natural nut butter)
• ½ cups Honey

1. In a large bowl, stir together oats, cereal, flaxseed, oat bran, salt, chocolate chips. Add in peanut butter and honey. Stir in until well-combined.

2. If dough is sticky, refrigerate for 15 minutes to allow dough to stiffen. Form dough into 1-inch balls.
3. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

*Customize them to your family's tastes by adding coconut, dried fruit, or nuts.

 

Clip it

If one of the many hats you wear is that of a DIY hairdresser, then the following tip is for you! On a 3x5 card, record what size clipper guard your family member prefers and tape it on the inside of the clipper case. You'll get it right every time! Don't forget to include different sizes if the cut changes with the seasons.

Try this method for staking your tomatoes this year. Drive stakes into the ends of your rows and tightly stretch twine across. Tie the tomatoes to the twine to form neat rows. Gone are the days of trying to extract tomatoes from the inside of a cage. I picked a friend's tomatoes last year using this method and picking was a breeze. *If you have long rows, add a stake or two in the center for reinforcement.

 

Photography tip

Kids can be, to me, the most difficult subject to photograph. Once babies are mobile, it becomes increasingly difficult. The next time you want to take a picture of your little ankle biter, try sitting them down atop a small table. (End tables work best, because baby can't move around on them.) Not only can you place the table in whatever lighting is best, but babies tend to like the novelty of sitting higher up. You also don't have to lay on the floor to be at eye level!

Tip of the week

Don't toss those plastic and cardboard fruit containers. They will be perfect for sharing the produce from your summer garden and for storing the produce that you keep. The clamshell style containers are also good for storing sewing notions or craft supplies.

Chalk Paint

After hearing about the new chalk paint craze, I decided to give it a shot. Chalk paint is a specialty paint that allows you to paint without a primer and lends a weathered appearance. You can find chalk paint online for a whopping $40 a pint, but this recipe worked well with great coverage. Just combine 3 parts paint to 1 part plaster of paris. The mix will be thick, so add water to bring the paint back to its original consistency. Paint onto furniture (I used 2 coats), lightly sand with 100 grit sandpaper on areas you wish to distress and rub paste wax over the painted surface with a clean rag. The wax give it a nice patina and takes away that chalky feel. I used SC Johnson's paste wax in the yellow tub and it worked just fine. Total cost: $17 (I used leftover paint).

Dark and boring corner cabinet before

Bright and breezy after!

Distressed areas up close

More distress!
 

Tricks of the trade

Micro Dessert

Use the odds and ends from leftover brownies or cake and ice cream to create a miniature treat. These are the perfect size for kids or for someone watching the waistline. Get creative with the flavor combinations: think yellow cake with raspberry sorbet, brownies with coffee ice cream, or angel food cake with lemon ice cream. Champagne flutes add a special touch and keep portions small.

You'll need cake or brownies, ice cream, and a melon ball scoop.

Layer the cake with tiny scoops of ice cream into a champagne flute.

Double Duty

Break out those old paintbrushes to make tedious cleaning easier!

A soft bristled paintbrush is the perfect tool for sweeping the dust out of a keyboard.

• Dust your car vents and controls
• Use a clean, synthetic paintbrush to baste pastries or meat
• Dust baseboards, blinds, and lampshades
• Give your kids a few paintbrushes with buckets of water to "paint" the sidewalk or fence (thanks Angie!)
• Try using natural bristled paintbrushes to apply eyeshadow
• Pack a paintbrush for your next beach trip for dusting off sandy feet before getting in the car.
• Cleaning window screens

Rainy Day Box

If you have kids, you know how maddening it can get on a rainy day. Boredom sets in and the chanting of "What can I do?" only makes things worse! Try making a rainy day box to ward off cabin fever. Pick up odds and ends at yard sales or on clearance throughout the year and add them to the box. When a rainy day (or sick day) arrives, allow each child to choose an item from the box. It gives them something new and fun to do and will give you a rest. Before you know it, they'll be watching the weather, looking for rain!

Ideas:
Small craft kits
Coloring books
DVDs
Stamp kits
Paints
Matchbox cars
Action figures
Sticker sheets
Toy instruments
Cookie cutter sets (Be prepared to bake!)
Books
Books on CD
CDs
Costumes

BBQ Parfaits

The next time you serve barbeque, try this tidy little method: barbeque parfaits! Layer baked beans, barbeque, and coleslaw in half pint jars for an attractive (and portable) presentation. These are perfect for backyard barbeques, pig pickings, and picnics. It's just the right balance of sweet, salty, and crunchy all in its own adorable container. Now you have a great excuse to have barbeque for dinner!



Proper Drainage

Tuck a coffee filter into the bottom of pots with large holes to prevent the soil from falling through. Water drains, soil stays. Perfect drainage every time!

More great uses for coffee filters:

• Clean mirrors and chrome for a lint-free shine
• Cover your bowl before heating in the microwave to prevent splatters
• Layer those antique plates with coffee filters to prevent scratches (this works great for non-stick skillets too)
• Use as a disposable snack bowl- great in the car!
• Make baking soda sachets by filling the filter with soda and tying with string. Place inside shoes to keep odor at bay.
• Juice your lemons and limes through them to filter the seeds and pulp.
• Use to weigh chopped ingredients
• Use to contain messy foods such as tacos and hot dogs.
•