What you’ll need:
Vanilla beans
80 proof alcohol - you can use vodka (the most common choice) or bourbon
Jar for storing
How to make it:
Enjoy!
Here is what you will need:
Directions:
Use a plate and scoop peanut butter. Roll the pine cone in the peanut butter. Then on a separate plate mix the seeds. Roll the pinecone in the seeds. Tie the string to the top of the pinecone. Then take the new pinecone treat outside and hang from a tree branch!
Enjoy watching your feathered neighbors feast on this healthy treat!
]]>Originally from The Salty Marshmallow, this recipe is ideal for anyone who loves fresh Alfredo sauce. We did make a few modifications based on our preferences which you will find in our recipe below. This sauce is fairly easy to make and with minimal ingredients, you might just find yourself making it weekly!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of butter
1 1/2 cups of whipping cream
2 cloves of garlic minced - more/less depending on your preference
2 cups of freshly grated parmesan
Recipe:
*We have found that allowing it to cool will thicken the sauce, so depending on how you enjoy your alfredo you could make enough for two meals and save the sauce in the fridge for the next evening!
]]>Gua Sha is an ancient practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has recently become very popular because when done consistently it can reduce inflammation, fine lines, and increase blood flow specifically to the face. All of this combines to have an anti-aging affect on your skin.
Necessary Tools: a Gua Sha tool is a piece of smooth stone, there are even metal varieties, that has specific angles for certain areas of the face and neck. To avoid appropriation, here is a video from an acupuncturist on how to best begin Gua Sha into your routine.
She talks about specific products, but even moisturizing your face and then using any facial oil will work as well, the key is to not use it on draw skin to avoid pulling unnecessarily.
]]>Trellis
If you’ve got climbing plants, or want them, a trellis is a great way to show them off. You can get plastic versions, metal versions, but all in all it adds height to your garden.
Pots
Add some brightly colors pots! This is a great way to help keep the weeds down around certain plants and add some dimension to your garden at the same time.
Figurines and Metal Signs
Display your passions, add personal touches to make the garden feel personalized to you and your home. Do you love fairies? Add some to your garden!
Water feature
Definitely a more extensive option but a beautiful way to bring another element of nature into your garden. A fountain can be done inexpensively or you can spend thousands. Either way it allows you to add more variety, waterplants, bird baths, etc. to your outdoor space.
Sections/Pathways
Create areas within your garden by grouping certain plants together, or even create paths if the space allows for it. This will make it easier to take in the beauty of your garden from different angles, and allow you to immerse yourself in the space to the fullest extent!
]]>Change is easier when you start small!
]]>Ingredients:
3 tablespoons of butter
1 tablespoon of whipping cream (or half and half)
½ cup of powdered sugar
Recipe:
Melt butter until soft
Add in whipping cream
Slowly add in powdered sugar gradually
*The key here is getting the right consistency. If you’re going for a glaze, ease back on the amount of sugar. If you’re going for a full on frosting go heavy on the powdered sugar.
You will not believe the difference this will make to the flavor, but trust me - you’ll never go back to the frosting that comes with the cinnamon rolls again.
]]>
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon of butter
1/2 cup of yellow/white onion finely diced
1 jalapeno finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic minced
1 1/4 cup of whole (3.25%) milk
1 cup of cheddar (grated)
1 1/2 cup of Monterrey jack (grated)
3-4 oz of cream cheese
3 sprigs of cilantro finely chopped
Optional: pico de gallo for topping
Recipe:
SERVE!
]]>Pansies - these are a lovely little flower that can grow indoors our outdoors but does prefer slightly cool weather and lots of light, so best for a sunroom if kept indoors.
Hydrangeas - these require more maintenance but can also be kept indoors and the blooms are so full and lovely!
Amaryllis - These tall beauties require a decent amount of light. They will bloom for about a month!
Orchids - a popular choice for many, these flowers are known to thrive indoors due to their low maintenance requirements
Hibiscus - these flowers will bloom from spring to fall and the plant can live for several years, so you’ll get multiple seasons!
]]>Bold and Bright - this choice is fun and outgoing with it’s multicolor pom poms, but the neutral weave allows it to work with so many color palettes. The wide brim keeps the sun off your face while the bold colors express your personality.
Classic Black - classic black details make this hat a versatile one you’ll find yourself using over and over. Another wide brim option to keep the sun out of your eyes and off your face.
Modern Fedora - A wider brim take on a classic style, this is a fedora meets sunhat option in a neutral color.
Visor Vision - Not into hats or like to wear your hair up? Visors are making a comeback. A great choice for keeping your options open, this grey visor is easy to wear and goes with almost anything.
Vacation Mode - State your mind without saying a word! We could all use a vacation, but maybe for now a vacation state of mind will have to get us by, and this hat definitely embodies that idea!
]]>This cake is so easy to make and is such a hit. The trick here is to use a few simple steps to take a box cake mix to a new level.
INGREDIENTS:
Cake
Cake mix of choice
4 eggs
1 ¼ cups of butter
¾ of milk
2 cups of strawberries
Powdered sugar
Lemon
DIRECTIONS:
For Cake:
For Frosting:
Allow cake to cool for about 1 hour. Then add frosting to cake!
SERVE!
]]>We’ve all been told that walking is good for you. It’s low impact exercise, it’s fairly easy for most, and apparently the benefits are many! Here are three major benefits to making time for a 15 minute walk every day.
Better Sleep - a light walk in the evening can help you get a better night’s sleep, even more so than those who exercise intensely. This is because, according to one study, exercise boosts the releases of sleep related hormones, including melatonin.
Longer Life - This one is a multi-faceted benefit. Walking actually helps with several health benefits which in turn causes you to live a longer healthier life! Just a few of those benefits are increased bone density and lower blood pressure.
Better Eyesight - Cardio exercise increases the blood flow to the retina and the optic nerve. This means that simply by going for a short walk you are improving your vision.
So many benefits from a short walk and now is the perfect time to be getting outside again with warmer weather on the way!
]]>
Change up your soft goods - whether it’s throw pillows, a new rug, or seasonal decor, this is a great way to bring a pop of spring colors into your home. Think florals, pastels, and fun patterns. Now is the time to go for that bold home accessory!
Planters at the front door - Nothing says spring like fresh flowers. Whether you prefer hydrangeas, tulips, peonies, or daffodils they’re all a great way to bring color and freshness to the entrance of your home. You can style them in planters around the entryway, or really commit and plant some around the yard!
Bring the outdoors in - Bring some greenery into your home with a new plant! There are several low maintenance plant options that still allow you to bring nature indoors, or if you’re adventurous go for a mini herb garden. You can have your own fresh herbs all spring and summer long!
Outdoor Dining - As things warm up it will soon be patio weather! Nothing says spring like sitting outside for a coffee or meal. You can do this at home or at your favorite lunch spot, and embrace the spring weather!
]]>The original recipe comes from Savory Bites Recipe and you can find it here.
INGREDIENTS:
Sauce
Directions
Sensory Experience - One reason gardens are considered therapeutic is because of the sensory experience; all the colors, textures, and general variety in a garden.
Fine Motor Skills - this is especially true for people in rehabilitation from a medical condition; even reaching out for the plants, or a few pulling weeds can help improve this skill.
Psychological Benefits - There has been research conducted that shows even just viewing nature can have a positive effect on recovery from a surgery, so imagine what it can do for the mental health of a healthy person!
Physiological Benefits - studies have shown that just being in nature can improve your health including, lower heart and improved blood pressure.
Positive Reinforcement - physically gardening can be great for people with PTSD allowing them to nurture and grow the plant to its full potential.
With all these benefits, will you be planting a garden this spring?
]]>Neutrals
If you’re looking for a bag you can use for years to come a neutral option is your best bet, it will go with whatever you’re wearing and still keep you on trend.
Pops of Color
If you’re someone who prefers color then you can easily incorporate it with fun details. These bags both have pom poms that dress them up. It incorporates color in an easy, simple way.
Purse Basket Bag
If you want to get on board with seasonal style but don’t want to carry around a large tote, then a smaller bag will be just the ticket. Convenient in size, but still big enough for a few extras.
The Shopping Tote
This basket bag is for someone who is fully committed to this style. You can use this bag to hold all your essentials and it can double as a fun grocery tote.
Classic
If you want to incorporate both fun and practical go for a basket bag that has black details. The colors will keep it chic but the elements of design will keep it fun and youthful.
]]>
We made just a few adjustments, which I'll add to the recipe under the video.
INGREDIENTS:
Cake
Frosting
We modified the recipe slightly which I'll include below.
Ingredients:
5 chicken thighs
1/2 of olive oil
1/2 cup of sesame oil
1 cup of snow peas chopped
1 head of broccoli chopped
1 cup of carrots chopped
1 cup of peppers chopped
1 tablespoon of ginger (This is to taste. If you enjoy ginger add more!)
3 cloves of garlic
green curry paste
1 1/2 cups of coconut milk
1 tablespoon of fish sauce
2 tablespoons of honey
2 teaspoons of lime juice
1 teaspoon of corn starch
2 cups of rice
4 cups of water
Recipe:
]]>
What’s your favorite spring cleaning hack?
]]>- Aide in weight loss
- Assist in regulating blood sugar levels
- Reduce heartburn
- Lowers cholesterol
- Improves heart health
But being able to stomach even a teaspoon of the stuff can turn off even the most health conscious. Luckily, there’s a way to get benefits by combining another flavor with Apple Cider Vinegar, or ACV. We tested a few options and came up with a great recipe to make your own ACV gummies at home! If you don’t have a gummie mold you can easily use a chocolate mold, any food safe silicone mold will work, even a silicone ice cube mold. I’ll link a few options at the end of this post.
Ingredients:
1 and ½ cups mango juice
½ cup apple cider vinegar
Boil for about 10-15 minutes to reduce and thicken the juice
2 Tablespoons honey
Stop the boil and add 5 Tablespoons of knox gelatin.
Allow to cool and then refrigerate for a few hours (keep refriegrate to prolong freshness). Enjoy within 1 week!
Gummi mold options:
]]>
Like many others I developed a lot of new hobbies in quarantine to kill time but my favorite by far was tie dye. Every time I posted pictures of it my friends would flood my DMs with requests on how to buy them. I figured why not, even if nobody ever bought anything at least I was having fun.
Tie dye got really big last year but call me the hipster of tie dye because I have always loved it. My parents were Deadheads and I think what draws people to that community is the escape. I want my pieces to help bring people a little joy and a lot of love.
I think 2020 was a hard year for everyone. We went from bustling busy lives to a complete halt with a lot of uncertainty. Everyone turned to making banana bread and watching crazy documentaries together for some sense of escape from the terrible things that were happening. Starting this gave me an outlet during a crazy time.
Some pieces I plan very precisely and sometimes my favorite pieces are the ones where I completely wing it. I tend to have an aesthetic in mind. My first drop I pulled color ideas from sunrise and sunsets all in pastel tones. Next I am loving desert tones so I am envisioning dusty hues.
There's great pros to both. With stock pieces you have the freedom to go for it and try out what you like. With custom pieces I love bringing people's visions to life. I plan to do small drops of stock pieces so that I can always have my creative juices flowing and practice my techniques. It's also the best way for people to see what you can do and that inspires them to come up with custom orders.
You can find Bianca and the Coco Melyssa brand on instagram and etsy
]]>
It’s not exclusively because of the environmental benefits that bamboo is a great choice, it’s also a higher performing material. Below we have 5 major benefits of bamboo fabric.
Antibacterial - Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and this stems right from the genetics of the plant! This effect is usually (depending on the process) passed down to bamboo clothing.
Most eco-friendly fabric in the world - Bamboo requires less chemicals to process, it only takes ⅓ the amount of water compared to cotton to grow, it renews at an accelerated rate and it can grow in more locations around the world.
300% more absorbent than cotton - This means that bamboo fabric is more moisture wicking which is great for humid locations.
Wrinkle resistant - Bamboo clothing is resistant to wrinkles! Which means it’s the perfect material for work wear, lounging, travel, the beach, need I go on?
Thermal regulating - This means that bamboo can help regulate your body temperature because of the breathability of the fabric. Bamboo is so breathable because of the molecular structure of the plant.
There you have it! 5 reasons to think bamboo next time you’re clothes shopping, or check out our bamboo loungewear!
]]>
Ingredients:
4 oz. Stewing beef per person
3-4 Cups of water for the meat
1 Cup of rice per person
2 Cups of water for every 1 cup of rice
Soy Sauce
Honey
Rice Wine Vinegar
Sesame Oil
Maple Syrup
Teriyaki Sauce
Water
Corn Starch
Teriyaki Sauce Base:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon of honey
2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons of sesame oil
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1 tablespoon of teriyaki sauce
2 teaspoons of water
Directions:
Here we will be discussing the benefits and disadvantages of some popular wax types so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
Paraffin Wax
First, Paraffin Wax is a candle wax used by many large corporations due to its low cost and high availability. Paraffin comes from the byproduct of refining crude oil. The benefits of using this wax are its ability to have strong fragrances and its excellent scent circulation (although other waxes are catching up!). The downfall of Paraffin Wax is that Paraffin is linked to the unsustainable resource, crude oil. Additionally, low-quality Paraffin candles may also release compounds that could be hazardous in the home.
Soy Wax
Soy Wax is a wax type developed in the 1990s. This wax is made from soybean oil, making it 100% natural. The benefits of this wax are that it is clean burning and it comes from a sustainable resource. Furthermore, Soy Wax is specifically known for having the longest burn time compared to other popular waxes. In comparison, Soy Wax tends to have a gentler scent. This may be preferred to those who are more sensitive to strong smells or just looking for something more subtle.
If this seems like the right wax for you, you can browse our selection of soy candles made right here in Canada! BROWSE NOW.
Coconut Wax
Next, Coconut Wax is one of the newer 100% natural wax types that are popular today. Like Soy wax, Coconut Wax is slow-burning, sustainable and circulates the scent well. This wax is known as the most eco-friendly because coconuts can be sustainably farmed at a high yield. A disadvantage of this wax is that it is generally a more expensive wax for candles.
Palm Wax
Another all-natural wax is Palm Wax. Palm Wax is made from palm oil and is overall a solid choice for candle wax. More recently, Palm Wax is recognized as a less sustainable option for candles compared to other natural waxes. This impact is due to the deforestation that occurs to replace the natural forests with palm trees for farming.
Beeswax
The most ancient candle wax is Beeswax. This wax is an excellent option for those looking for a 100% natural wax with a clean burn (a popular choice for many people!). The downfall of Beeswax candles is that the wax already has a sweet scent. This scent can create a barrier when developing a range of smells because the added fragrance must complement this natural scent. With this in mind, many great candles are still available for those who enjoy this range of smells.
Gel Wax
Finally, Gel Wax makes an entirely different style of candle. This “Wax” is actually a mix of mineral oil and polymer resin. Gel Wax forms a transparent candle that is dyed for a fun effect. Overall, this type of candle is known for making novelty products. For instance, objects like seashells are placed within the transparent gel to create a unique design. The disadvantage of these candles comes when developing them. Specifically, adding the wrong fragrance could create fires during candle making. This hazard may be why many makers opt for other waxes unless the transparency adds to their product.]]>First, acknowledge that we are in a stressful situation, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed during this time. Don’t be hard on yourself for not having a full day of activities to better yourself. Just coming out healthy during this time is a success!
Picking some small goals during lockdown may help give structure to your day and help reduce Pandemic Fatigue. Here are 5 activities that could help you get through your Pandemic Fatigue:
Ingredients:
For the cake:
Cinnamon Sugar:
Apple Filling:
Frosting:
Directions:
Begin by coring and peeling your apples. Then set them in a pan on low heat with your butter and sugar. Continue checking and stirring as needed to blend and to soften the apples, this will take about 30 minutes. While this is simmering on a low heat, start your cake mix.
Preheat oven to 350F
Grease your cake pan with a light coating of butter.
Mix all the wet ingredients together in one bowl. Mix all the dry ingredients in another. Once you have combined all the wet ingredients together slowly add in the dry a little at a time mixing thoroughly as you go. Once blended set aside.
Check your apple mix on the stove periodically.
Once the apple mix is softened and starting to look like filling, go ahead and add half of your cake mix to your cake pan. I used an 8x8in cake pan. Then add half your apple filling. Sprinkle some of your cinnamon sugar mix on top. Repeat.
Place your cake pan in the oven for 30-35 minutes, checking periodically.
Now it’s time to make the frosting. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together until you have a nice, firm frosting consistency. If it’s too wet add a little more powdered sugar, and if it’s too dry add a bit more cream.
Once your cake comes out of the oven allow it to cool for about 30-45 minutes. Then go ahead and add your frosting on top. You can use a pastry bag, or if you don’t have one, fill a ziploc bag with your frosting and cut one of the bottom corners off to make your own pastry bag!
ENJOY!
]]>With this in mind, we went searching for the safest DIY ingredients to use in your face mask.
Here are 4 DIY Face Mask ingredients that are safe to use at home: