Coffee Creamer Container Reuse (Pinterest)

 I love coffee creamer, especially of the yummy flavors they have around the holidays. I had 9 in my fridge at one point. The hubby just rolled his eyes, he's getting used to my buying in multiples, he doesn't get it, but is getting used to it.

 

So I saw on pinterest that moms were using them for snack containers for their kids, which is super smart! They won't get crushed in a baggie and you can just pour the snack into the kiddo's hand.

 

Well I don't have kids, but I immediately knew what I could put in the containers as I would empty them. From left to right I have, so far: bacon bits, sunflower seeds, popcorn kernels, hot chocolate, and crushed candy canes.

 

I was having a really hard time filling the containers with a normal funnel, (things were getting stuck about every 5 seconds) and then realized I had a wide mouth funnel, it fit perfectly!!!!

 

As more containers empty I know that I will find something to fill them with or pass them on to others.

 

The only thing missing is a super cute label.

Roasted Carrots (Pinterest)

 I love carrots! I love them in salads, with dip, and with a meal. So I was really excited to try this roasted carrot receipe.

 

They take less than 30 minutes, including prep.

 

They looked and smelled so yummy that last time they came out of the oven.

 

Well ... I found out that I only like mushy carrots when they are warm. They were great, but I was thrown off by a warm carrot and them being crunchy at the same time.

 

 

Finshed Product!!! Smells so good!

 

Roasted Carrots 

Preheat oven to 400. Bake 1 bag of baby carrots with seasoning salt and olive oil for 20 minutes. Take out and drizzle with 2 TBSP olive oil. 3 TBSP honey & 1 tsp balsamic vinegar. Cook for another 5 mintues.

 

SIDE NOTE: Move the carrots from the pan into a serving dish or bowl and rinse the pan so the honey doesn't harden.

 

 

I really liked the taste, it was the crunch that I disliked. I will attempt this again, but cook them in a pan beforehand. Hopefully that will give me the desired result!

Coconut Scrub/Bars (Pinterest)

 So I have been hearing and seeing all kinds of things about coconut oil. So I decided to try a scrub and I learned something interesting along the way.

 

All you need is sugar, coconut oil and a container. (at least I thought so ... more on the container later)

I bought the coconut oil at Wal-Mart for $6.

 

 I got everything ready and then I opened the coconut oil to pour into a measuring cup.

 

Well ... to my surprise coconut oil is solid! I had no idea! So I proceeded to scrape the oil out into my measuring cup and melt it in the microwave.  

 

After it melted I put any excess back into the jar, and then poured into a container with the sugar.  

While I was mixing the oil and sugar together I realized that the sugar won't stop the oil from hardening.  

 

Thankfully because of my list of things I needed to purchase for all of my pinterest creations, and a great sale at Jo-ann's I bought this silicone dish/pan/tray thing for half off!!! (I'll be using it later for solid lotion bars)

 

I layed it out and scooped out the mix (I would stir the mix in the container each time, just so that one 'starburst' didn't have more oil or sugar than another) The mix filled all the starbursts perfectly!

 

 

I think that I know what I'll be doing for Christmas gifts already!

 

 

 

Coconut Scrub

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. coconut oil

 

SIDE NOTE: While I haven't tried it, other than the little bit leftover from the container, (while the oil was still warm) I bet these will be great in a warm shower! Just don't forget to wipe the tub/floor down so it isn't slick with the oil. 

Envelopes (Pinterest)

 So I have way too much paper. And when I say I have too much of something, it means I have as much paper in my possession, as a craft store has in stock.

 

I have started finding all kinds of things to do with all of my paper. One of them, are the cute envelopes below. All you have to do is gently pull apart a small-medium envelope and trace it out. Then you just cut and glue, or tape, the bottom and two side folds together.

 

I used double sided tape from Michaels. The link is a similar tape runner. http://www.michaels.com/AdTech-Permanent-Glue-Runner/gc0940,default,pd.html?cgid=products-generalcrafts-glueandadhesives&start=94 

 

 

 

I love these envelopes! With all of the cute paper, whether printed or solid, you have a cute hand made envelope that is great for thank you notes, or just to put a cute note in for your friends and family! 

Thin Mints? (Pinterest)

It's the time of year for those cute little girls with boxes of cookie goodness to find you and rip you off.

 

Don't get me wrong I don't have an issue paying for something I like, but last year my Husband and I bought a case of thin mints and I was pretty sad to see that the amount of cookies was much smaller from previous years. So being my frugal self I figured I would try to replicate them.

 

So I found a simple recipe that was easy and would be good. While I was right on both counts they didn't taste like thin mints, more like a york peppermint patty cookie. So it was a miss on what it was supposed to be, but a surprise hit in another way.

 

It might be weird to think of using a Ritz cracker, but I have a great recipe for mock toffee that uses saltines and you can't even taste it because all the other flavors take over the cracker flavor.

 

I am pretty obsessed with containers of any kind and labeling... How cute is my chocolate chip jar!!!

 

 

So it was just 4 ingredients. Ritz crackers, semisweet chocolate chips, shortening and peppermint extract. Easy Peasy!

 

York Peppermint Cookies ... formerly Thin Mints

18 Ritz Crackers

1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

1 TBSP shortening (this is just to make the chocolate smooth)

3/4 tsp peppermint extract

 

Melt the chocolate and shortening, stir in extract (and don't spill the bottle 3 different times like I did, I very clumsy) Dip the crackers and place on wax paper.

 



They are yummy! ENJOY!!!

Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken (Pinterest)

 So I love sweet and salty/tangy food. So I thought I would give this garlic brown sugar chicken a try, and it was yummy! It took about 5 minutes to prep and 15-30 to bake (depending on the size of the chicken)

Grease a casserole dish and place the chicken inside.

 

Then saute the minced garlic and add the brown sugar when done.

 

Pour mix over chicken and bake.
 

 The chicken was yummy.

 
Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken:
4 Chicken breasts
4 minced garlic cloves
4TBSP brown sugar
3tsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 500. Lightly grease casserole dish and place chicken inside. Saute the garlic until tender. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar. Cover chicken with mix and S&P. Bake uncovered for 15-30 minutes. ENJOY!!!

SIDE NOTE: Since this chicken had an Asian chicken feel it would go great with some rice.

Heart Bracelet (Pinterest)

 I'm sure you have seen the cute wire bracelet with a heart on one end and a hook on the other, so that it makes a cute bracelet? Well I thought I'd give it a try.

I will warn you ahead of time, I don't make jewelery. I can string some beads and tie clasps on things, but this isn't something I have even tried.

I got this wire at the dollar store. It was just labeled as floral wire, but wasn't a weak wire. So I figured for a $1 why not try it out?

So you take a few inches from one end, fold in half and bend into a 'hook'. For some of this I needed some pliers to get the wire close together.

 

From there you take the other end and shape it into a heart, that was the hardest part for me, and I had to make 3 to make it look like the above photo.

I really like the idea and think that I will keep trying until I can get it down, and then I will go get some better wire from a craft store! 

Cutting Wine Bottles (Pinterest)

So I have wanted to try this for a long time, and I had a random day off and 2 sparkling cider bottles laying around.

Let's be honest, I was cleaning my craft room and had to move the bottles about 15 times and I realized that I've had the bottles laying around for about 3 months. I figured rather than keeping moving them around, why not break the top off of those suckers.

 

 

 Just take a clean bottle and wrap a cotton string around (3 times, or more if your string is thinner) the part of the bottle you want to break. 

Then slide the string off and soak it in acetone nail polish remover.

Slide the string back on the bottle and light it. Rotate the bottle so that the fire is all the way around and heats evenly.

Once the flame starts to die down, or goes out, dunk the bottle in a sinkfull of cold water.

The bottle should break and you have a cute cup, pen holder or planter.

 

 The bottle on the left was the first bottle and it broke on the first try. But there was a crack on the left side. I ended up throwing it away because I didn't want the crack to break later on.

The bottle on the right took a few tries, but turned out the best, the edges were a lot smoother than the first bottle, but they were still sharp. (I have a cut to prove it).

All you have to do is sand the edges to make them smooth. I will keep trying until I get a more uniform cut, and I will dip the tops in glue and then glitter and put tea lights in the bottom!!!

 

The possibilites are endless!

 

Bathroom Cleaner (Pinterest)

Ever feel like you have way too many cleaning supplies for your bathroom? I did. I had something for the sink, and the tub, and the toilet, and the floor, etc. Underneath my sink looked like this:

Well I found an amazing cleaner that I love and it works for everything!!!

 

Just mix 2 liters (68oz) of water, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar together in a big bowl. This will give you enough for 2 32oz spray bottles + some.

 

Just spray and wipe or scrub and your bathroom will be sparkling!

 

SIDE NOTE: You can add fragrance if desired so that the vinegar isn't strong. I didn't at a fragrance, just because I didn't think that the cleaner would work as well.