Cinnamon Almonds (Pinterest)

 So I LOVE cinnamon almonds, but I always feel like I am paying to much and want to enjoy them all the time.

Well I found a recipe for this tasty almonds! It is super easy and they are delish!

 

 

 

 

Crock Pot Cinnamon Almonds

 

4 cups whole raw almonds

2 egg whites

1 TBSP vanilla

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 TBSP cinnamon

dash of salt

 

Spray crockpot with non stick spray.

 

In separate containers:

Combine sugars, cinnamon and salt.

Whisk egg white & vanilla until frothy.

Add almonds to egg white/vanilla mixture, and toss until coated. Add sugar mix and toss until coated. Dump into crock pot and cook on low for about 2 1/2 hours. Mix and stir every 20 minutes or so. Spread on baking sheet until cool

 

 

SIDE NOTE:

You will know when the almonds are done, the mixture will start to harden at around the 2 1/2 hour mark.

You also don't want to line the cookie sheet with anything because the mixture is hardened you will have very little to clean off the cookie sheet.

 

Earring Display/Storage (Pinterest)

 I have a ton of earrings and needed a cute way to display them. So of course I searched Pinterest and found a few different options. The most common stud earring displays were frames with lace in them, or just sticking the earrings into a fabric covered bulletin board. While they are cute, I needed a lot of storage, and those were for people with just a few earrings.

 

Then I stumbled across this idea, which I made into my own.

What this crafty gal did was take a shoe box lid, spray paint it and wrap pencils in felt. Then she places the earrings inside!

 

Here's my twist with steps:

I bought a cigar box from Jo-ann removed the hardware and lid and spray painted it with 2 coats of black, sanding inbetween, and a clear coat. Between the coats I cut the wooden dowels just a little bit smaller than a perfect fit. Then I folded a sheet of felt in fourths, placed the dowel on top and cut off the excess. Then I cut the sheet of felt in half. Then I put hot glue on the length of the dowel, wrapped the felt and secured with more hot glue.

 

Then after the clear coat dried I stuck in the wooden dowels and started to arrange my earrings!

 

SO cute and took about an hour!!!

 

 

 

Because of how shallow the box was I just used 1/2 thick dowels.

 

I am going to make another one, (to store all of my big studs and duplicate earrings... what can I say Forever 21 make way too many cute earrings) but I am going to keep the lid attached so that I can stack (or lean) the finished tray on top!

 

 

 

Apple Brickle Dip

Apple Brickle Dip
1 pkg (8oz) softened cream cheese
1 pkg (10oz) English toffee chips *
¼ cup sugar
½ cup Brown sugar
1tsp vanilla
Mix together and enjoy with some granny Smith apples!!! I like the dip best the next day when the toffee chips have softened. *there are just plain toffee chips, and one with chocolate. I've only tried the plain ones, but am sure it's great with chocolate too!
Also some grocery stores only have one kind of the toffee chips. The Harmon's I went to had the plain chips, and Winco have the toffee with chocolate.

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!