Re-purposing..crazy, genius and wth?

Just some ideas for re-purposing some everyday things..

Did you break the foot off of one of your favorite stemware glasses?  Stick it in a plant and put a candle in it. Great idea for a porch or patio. 

I tore the mini blinds out of my house a few years back..I hate them...so I cute the strings off of them and cut the slats up to use as garden markers..you can get a gazillion from one mini blind. I still have more of them in my garden shed. 

Is your cooler looking abused, maybe the hinges are broken? 

The Renaissance Faire has an herb garden and they burn herbs on logs in it, in a neat cast iron pot that makes it smell so nice..I want to do that in my herb garden but have not been able to locate a cast iron pot cheap enough...this would work..I have seen these scratched up out for trash..I could paint it up and change it up a bit. 

Great idea for the music fan

If you cycle a lot...you may have some extra rims laying around.

Trellis

OMG...hey, its not going in the trash...fun

Cute garden marker from an old wooden spoon

old window greenhouse 

Who doesn't have toilet paper rolls...tame the chargers..we save our chargers and believe it or not, they have come in handy on many occasions. 

seedlings..

One of my older posts..a cereal box with fabric hot glued on it to tame the mail.

There are millions of uses for canning jars. this is cute. 

Recipe book holder..would work for those magazines

This is a head board turned into a swing...awesome! 

I love this...a mini greenhouse 

How about some old knobs for hanging a towel in the bathroom? 

Handwashing station for your campsite. 

bubble refill station

How about keeping this in the car or truck or boat for trash bags.

If you travel a lot, and have a lot of travel shirts.. or a good idea to reuse your child's baby clothes..make a quilt.

Mini greenhouse/terrarium

I could go on for days.

Homemade Wholesome Chocolate Syrup (no high fructose corn syrup)

This is delicious, IMHO, better than any commercial brands you can buy in a store, takes minutes to make and is more wholesome than the stuff they have in the stores...can you replicate that ingredient list on the commercial brand syrups?  It smells divine when you are cooking it..so quick, yet your kitchen has a fudge shop smell.

We use raw milk and I could not justify putting those ingredients into the raw milk...sugar I can tolerate.  Corn syrup I would rather avoid.

Homemade Wholesome Chocolate Syrup

Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (raw cacao if you have it)
1 cup granulated sugar 
1 cup cold water
¼ teaspoon salt
2-3 teaspoons vanilla extract

Method
In a medium saucepan, whisk cocoa and sugar until all the lumps of cocoa are gone. Add water and salt and mix well with whisk. Cook over medium heat, bringing it to a boil. Keep boiling until thick, stirring to keep from scalding.

Remove from heat and allow to cool. When cool, add vanilla. Pour into an airtight glass container or a squeeze bottle and keep refrigerated.

To make chocolate milk, use at least 1 tablespoon of syrup for every 8 ounces of milk, adding more to taste.

Makes about 1 3/4 cups. 

My best advice to losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight

Click the image to make it large enough to read. 

Sorry, most of my posts are for yummy food, but I see a lot of people posting on fb about their weight right now. Sure, I am no expert, but who would you rather listen to for advice on being thin? Someone thin or someone who is trying to lose weight? Its a lifestyle. Its not a diet.  If you are happy in your frame, read no further, but if deep down, you are struggling with your changing body...I have a little advice. Portion size!

I read tons of nutrition books, and well..I am "skinny" as people like to say..I say fit...I mean...there are a lot of complaints made by not so thin people about thin people, but they are all trying to achieve a smaller size.  Media doesn't lie...sex sells and lets face it..most magazines have thin built models, 90 percent of actors and actresses in movies and on tv are thin...news people are thin.  No one said rail thin...I am talking about normal thin.  Lets not exaggerate it and claim that you are either fat or anorexic for crying out loud.  There is a healthy build for every frame and you know deep down if you are there or not.  So don't cut down the ones who are by claiming they are TOO skinny...we fit people don't call you thick people, fat..so don't call us too skinny.

I don't own a scale.  I judge my weight by my jeans. When they start to get snug, I am over eating. Your clothes don't lie.  No little demon is sewing them smaller.  Wearing yoga pants is so relaxing...but its also hard to tell if you are gaining weight, so do not live in yoga pants or sweats or spandex...you will not realize when you are gaining weight. I over eat when I go out on occasion...when I calculated my calories the other day after eating at chili's , I nearly died. And I only ate half of my meal. My jeans are getting snug and that is putting me back on track. I won't buy new jeans..my goal is to die in my current size (hopefully many years from now lol)

I try to eat as healthy as I can..I always say...80/20.  80 percent healthy foods, and give yourself that 20 percent favorite indulgences or you will go insane!!!  Eat what you want..but eat only a serving of it.

My best advice is...everything in moderation.  KNOW WHAT IS A SERVING!  We Americans do not know what a serving is.  I go to restaurants and can get two or three meals from one dinner entree.  I do just that. I always take half of my food home.  Always!  Use everyday items to judge your servings. Here is a nice little chart of ideas on how to determine servings.  ONE egg is a serving..how many do you eat for breakfast..be honest..I eat two...I am over eating by double!  I have been going back to eating one egg,  on a bed of produce (lettuce, parsley, basil etc) and with a serving of fruit.  I have an orange for second break at work now instead of a candy bar.  That orange is so invigorating. It satisfies my sweet craving, my thirst, and gives me a burst of energy because well, have you ever smelled an orange..its a stimulating smell.

I know some of this looks insane..but its an honest serving. When have you ever scooped yourself a billiard size ball of pasta?  Well, that is a serving.  Crazy huh?  It wouldn't be crazy if it was how you were raised, but we Americans are raised to finish our food and in restaurants..that pasta entree is 4+ servings!  Did you finish that meal?  Teach yourself that its okay to be hungry.  You won't die.  Eat one serving and be done. Let it rest and soak in...eat small meals often and two to three hours before bedtime..stop eating.  If you are still hungry and can't help but need to eat more..make it a vegetable. You might feel better eating on your salad plates. I always eat off of a salad plate..the men in my house use the large plates and I use a salad plate.

Grains: Aim for 6-11 servings each day. Choose whole grains whenever possible.

Examples	One serving equals	That's about the size of
Bread	1 ounce (1 small slice, 1/2 bagel, 1/2 bun)	Index card
Cooked Grains	1/2 cup cooked oats, rice, pasta	Billiard ball
Dry cereal	1/2 cup flakes, puffed rice, shredded wheat	Billiard ball

Fruits and Vegetables: Aim 5-9 total servings each day. Choose fresh fruits and veggies whenever possible.

Examples	One serving equals	That's about the size of
Raw fruit	1/2 cup raw, canned, frozen fruit	Billiard ball
Dried fruit	1/4 cup raisins, prunes, apricots	An egg
Juice	6 oz 100% fruit or vegetable juice	Hockey puck
Raw vegetables	1 cup leafy greens, baby carrots	Baseball
Cooked vegetables	1/2 cup cooked broccoli, potatoes	Billiard ball

Meat and Beans: Aim for 2-3 servings each day. Choose lean meats and plant proteins whenever possible.

Examples	One serving equals	That's about the size of
Meat & Tofu	2-3 oz cooked beef, poultry, fish, tofu	Deck of cards
Beans	1/2 cup cooked beans, split peas, legumes	Billiard ball
Nuts & Seeds	2 Tbsp nuts, seeds, or nut butters	Ping pong ball

Dairy: Aim for 2-3 servings of calcium-rich foods each day. Choose low- or non-fat products whenever possible.

Examples	One serving equals	That's about the size of
Cheese	1 ounce or 1 thin slice of cheese	A pair of dice
Milk	1 cup milk, yogurt, soy milk	Baseball

Fats & Oils: Eat fats and oils sparingly and in small portions. Choose heart-healthy fats whenever possible.

Examples	One serving equals	That's about the size of
Fat & Oil	1 tsp butter, margarine, oil	One die

  If you over eat one day, detox the next with all heatlhy foods. You can't go wrong eating lots of veggies!

They were talking on tv the other day about how a happy meal is an adult serving..yes, a happy meal is an adult serving!  Something I have always ordered. Sure I love a big mac...but I split it with my dog or husband or, I if I am not with them, I throw half away...yes, I am throwing half away..is it a crime?  Why should I force that on myself. I am not eating to get bigger...I cannot eat whole big mac..which may sound crazy to you, but its my lifestyle. So get that fast food..but get a happy meal or split a meal with someone.

There is my two cents..its not rocket science...eat ONE portion  and make sure you move!  Go ahead and eat that piece of cake...but just eat one..and then...get outside and do something physical.  Walk, run, bike, kayak, play tennis, hula hoop, go to the playground and play like you did when you were a kid.

30 Benefits of Hula Hooping

Roasted Nutty Candied Sweet Potatoes

Roasted Nutty Candied Sweet Potatoes

This recipe mixes mostly healthy and a wee bit not so healthy (basically butter and sugar) ingredients but its all real food.  I love when a side dish is dessert-like..because I am usually full really fast and its like I had dessert,even though its really healthy.

32 oz diced fresh  sweet potatoes
1 cup coursely chopped walntus or pecans

1/4 c melted butter
1/4 c melted coconut oil (or any vegetable oil will do)

2/3 c granulated sugar (don't judge..this is my recipe)
Quantities of spices are going to vary by taste. This is my liking..
2 T cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp all  spice
2 pinches cardamom(smell cardamom before you use it,some people love it and some hate it, I LOVE it, and its healthy)


Preheat oven to 375°.  Melt and mix coconut oil and butter in a bowl. Add sugar and spices and incorporate.  Add nuts, stir well...add sweet potatoes, stir well.

Pour onto a baking pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender.

Ehrmagerd!!

Note, you can use any spices you like...any oil, and any nuts.  You can also use brown sugar, maple syrup, molasses, etc...go to town.  Make it your own.  That is what love of cooking is all about.  Add the love and ingredients your family likes and no one else's cooking will compare.

Parsley Water for Kidney Cleansing

I got this from a friend who is a naturalist...and I love parsley.  I put it on my salads, sandwiches, and in my vitamix shakes by the handfuls...I wish restaurants still put it on the sides of meals.  I love tossing it in my water with my lemon/lime/or orange slice.

This is the original wording from my friend. 

CLEAN YOUR KIDNEY IN LESS THAN P20 (I CARE FOR ALL OF US)

Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments and how are we going to overcome this?
It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley (MALLI Leaves)and wash it clean
Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool.
Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.
Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!

Whole Foods "Egg Salad" (my favorite breakfast)

This is my idea of an Egg Salad...All fresh ingredients...

I have become a huge fan of fruit with my breakfast..in fact, I don't particularly care much for potatoes on the side anymore...I always ask for fresh fruit if its available.

The past few weeks, I have been eating at home for breakfast, to try to keep to keep it healthy.  This has become my favorite new breakfast.

I lay out my lettuce and parsley...curly lettuce and curly parsley are my favorite salad base, then I add walnuts, bleu cheese (or gorgonzola), fresh mozzerella and work on the fruit. Cut up the fruit...cantaloupe, watermelon, grapes, pineapple, and apples...also three or four slices of orange for the side. Fry the egg or eggs (one or two, depending on my hunger)...lay it on top and pepper the whole thing, even the fruit.
'
The egg yolk makes its own dressing for the salad..i cut it all up and mix it up together..its soo yummy.


I love parsley and pepper with my fruit.

Organizing the Kitchen and Cabinets

 I am having a heck of a time finding a container to fit my spice cabinet exactly. The measurements are 7 inches high, by 31 inches wide by 10 inches deep.  I want to utilize every ounce of space.  So basically, I want them 10 inches wide also so I can house three on each shelf.  This way, when I need a spice in the back, I don't have to individually pull out each little bottle of spice to get to one in the back.

I searched refrigerator organizers, but they are 14 inches deep. I am on the lookout or baskets, containers, whatever. Until then, I have gone and cut up boxes and retaped them to the dimensions I want so they are organized until I find the proper tool.  I had to make due.

I came up with this..and its working...those little rubbermaid type things...I have the spices alphabetized somewhat...A-C, C-H (so many C's!). Its hard to keep everything together, with so many chefs in my house, but at least its easy to spot them if they are kept close alphabetically.  I bought a bunch of rubber made baskets like the white ones and have one in my fridge for my "this is my work lunch for tomorrow, don't eat it" spot, in case the teenagers decide to eat a midnight snack...I don't wanna wake up to nothing for lunch.

Here are some other things I do to keep things organized in my cabinets.

 I have a picture of the inside of my kitchen cabinet, hanging on the inside of the cabinet door showing what goes where so if someone else does the dishes, they know how to put them away so they fit.  They can be a pill to keep organized.  Lids on top for easy access.  I also hang a few of my recipes that are the boys favorites, inside of the cabinet so they can make it when I am at work.

I  keep everything in stations. 

 Coffee supplies (filters, mugs and coffee,sugar pourer coffee press), in the cabinet above the coffeemaker. Next to the coffeemaker is the not so healthy but oh so good coffee syrup with a pump top because it saves on everyone in the house going to starbucks or dunkin for pricey flavored coffee) 

Baking supplies, in the cabinet above my stand mixer and  flour and sugar jars..the drawers under are the measuring cups, etc. Again, keeping a picture of the cabinets, saves a bunch of time and headaches having to reorganize. 

Under the sink cleaning supply storage..takes the spray bottles off of the bottom of the cabinet to make room for other things.

For some great organizing and cleaning tips, one of my favorite books is Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook.  This is where I got the bluing agent advice years ago for laundry (makes whites whiter and blacks blacker), etc. Its a timeless book of how to clean and organize your home.