a creative, health conscious blog
Over the weekend, I read an article in the Chicago Tribune that mentioned Americans toss roughly 25% of their fridge contents each week. The article also mentioned that the average American family with two school-aged children spends $235/week on food. That's a lot of wasted cash. Given how much we cook here at the estate, I'm guilty as … [Read more...]
In the early days of this blog, a little table top tree I made back in the winter of 2010 went "viral" on some new fangled site called Pinterest. That made this newbie blogger happy back then. Since that time, my lovely 3 year old child mistook said tree for a "birthday hat", and the tree is no longer with us. That was a long time-out for the … [Read more...]
Two books were harmed in the making of this project. Books destroyed either by time or children. Note to self: replace Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon and Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. I have thousands of books, and love the romance of the written word. On paper. I still mourn the loss of our only neighborhood bookstore. … [Read more...]
Yup. This month will be all about Halloween. 31 days of Halloween projects, crafts, ideas, stories, and recipes galore. This October, I will celebrate my favorite month of the year for Nester's 31 days project. I'm tackling Halloween, because last year, I epically failed on that front. Now, I'm accountable. This post will serve as … [Read more...]
Back by popular demand...This blog has resurrected the art teacher in me. I look forward to each holiday like I did when I was teaching. Plus, having decorations for Saint Patrick's Day marks the end of one very long Chicago winter. Here's an easy and cheap Saint Patrick's Day craft. Even get the kids involved. All holiday decor at the … [Read more...]
{reposted from last year}Believe it or not, this entire project cost me less than a gallon of $3.60 gas here in Chicago.Less than $2.-gift boxes {yup I ask for them whenever I go shopping}-Free-magenta colored Christmas picks {70% off at Michaels}-29 cents on sale-damask fabric that I scored for $1.20/yard at Joann's Black Friday sale- {used a half … [Read more...]
It's time to take my vanity more seriously. As a SAHM/blogger/tutor, I can get away with yoga pants and crusty tees all week. In truth: 1.) Most of my make-up is older than my children. I know, I know, I will probably get a fungal infection and die {or if the ingredients in these products won't kill me first!}. 2.) I usually toss said … [Read more...]
Have your holiday cards started piling in your mailbox? Here's a quick holiday card display tutorial that will take you all of fifteen minutes and cost less than $5!I've seen a lot of clothespin displays, but not ones dipped in glitter with ornaments hot glued. My extensive research from google images proved my hypothesis...I save each year's … [Read more...]
How craft stores charge $40-50 dollars for these wreaths is beyond me. It's so cheap to DIY, and takes all of $5, a glue gun, and 5 minutes. So here's a simple Thanksgiving wreath tutorial to jazz up your front door. Rather than skipping over Thanksgiving and moving onto Christmas gifts, cookies, and crafts, oh my, I will relish a little in all … [Read more...]
I fell in love hard core while perusing the Z's website. By winter, I am hoping to makeover my front room in black, white and grey with turquoise/yellow accents. This pillow is my inspiration piece. And inspiration is all it could ever be with a price that rivals a trip to Whole Foods.With tax, two of these babies would have run me what my … [Read more...]
Well, we survived our first gluten-free Thanksgiving. I could care less about the breads and such, it was the PIE I missed the most. Luckily, I found a substitute that will be a stand-by for many holidays to come. Apple crisp. Like the French Apple Pie I so missed. The recipe is simple. Ingredients: For [...]
What bites about buttercream is that it must be refrigerated to hold up, especially at summer birthday parties in the dead heat of a Chicago July. What really bites about the butter in buttercream, is that I can’t eat it without a migraine or my kids acting a fool. We can’t eat butter because [...]