Thursday, August 29, 2019

Keto Friendly Tortillas


If you asked me what I'd want my last meal to be, it would definitely be tacos. Mexican food is my weakness and favorite of all time. When I began my keto journey, I didn't know how I'd manage without beloved tacos, shells, chips, etc. Well This fills the tortilla void that I was so desperately needing.
This recipe is simple, easy, and really quick to throw together. All things I love when creating. It helps that they're really delicious too! The recipe is simple and doesn't include any weird ingredients, in fact, you probably have most of the stuff already if you follow a low-carb or keto lifestyle.


What you'll need:
  • 8 Egg Whites
  • 1/3 c Coconut Flour
  • 8-10 Tbs Water
  • 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
Optional Ingredients to Taste
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Cumin

Mix all ingredients together until you get a thin batter. If it's too thick (like pancake batter) add more water a tsp at a time. Once mixed, use a 1/4 c measuring cup to make even sized tortillas in a heated, greased (cooking spray of choice) skillet. Once poured, swirl pan immediately to spread. Cook for a min (until you see bubbles form) then flip for another minute. Keep tortillas under a warm wet cloth to keep from drying out. Then devour as needed! 




Happy Cooking


Monday, August 19, 2019

Almond Butter Keto Breakfast Waffles


Who doesn't love a good breakfast waffle? The butter and syrup dripping is just heavenly! When I started keto, I didn't think it was possible to have them ever again. How would I be able to have thick maple syrup while maintaining a keto diet? Well I found the secret, an amazing company called ChocZero. They have been my saving grace for syrups and of course chocolate. 

I whipped up these babies super fast, and they are delicious. I am not affiliated with these companies in any way, I just love them, so if I post about a particular brand, it means I totally love it and spend my own money on their amazing products! I will also link my favorite ingredients in the recipe list. 

What you'll need:
  • 1/4 c Pecan Pie Almond Butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tbs Melted Butter
  • 1/8 c Almond flour
  • 1/2 Tbs Sweetener of Choice
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract (or you can play with flavors here)
  • 1/8 tsp Salt
  • Syrup of Choice (I use ChocZero, but you can use any sugar free version you prefer)

Mix all wet ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients. Combined mixed ingredients and pour onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown. This recipe makes two full sized waffles, so feel free to double or triple the recipe to feed the whole family. 



Happy Cooking



Saturday, August 17, 2019

I'm back

This site used to be dedicated to arts and crafts with my son, but life happened and it got pushed aside and I quit focusing on this, and just lived life. Well, fast forward to 6-7 years later and here I am. Still artsy and craftsy, but we're going to throw in some lifestyle and recipe posts to really encompass mine and my family's lifestyle. I'll be bringing, my now 2 kiddos, back and sharing my keto journey with you all, including recipes, helpful info, and how I make keto work for me. There's a learning curve here after being away for so long, and I'm quite certain I'm rusty, but bear with me and follow along.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Easy Play Dough

 
 It's been a REALLY long time since I've posted a cool activity, but being in the military life has made me understand that things can get totally shaken up at any time...We've since moved to another state and have finally settled down at our new place.
So, we started back on our activity creations today, and I must say, today's activity was pretty cool.

What you'll Need:
  • 1 Cup Corn Starch
  • 3T to 1/2 Cup Liquid Soap (I used dish soap, but liquid shower gel, or hand soap works well too)
  • 3T oil (I used canola, but any cooking oil will work)
  • Glitter (optional)
  • Food Coloring (optional)


I used a medium sized mixing bowl and put all my ingredients in. I started mixing with a spoon, but quickly realized that my hands would do a much better job. Now this dough will go through a few different stages; dry, sticky, kinda wet. Basically you should mix it until you get the consistency that you like. The more oil you add, the more stretchy it will be. I wanted more of a play dough consistency so i didn't add as much soap. This dough is so soft and the oil makes it so smooth, and my little just LOVED it. It can get kind of crumbly depending on how much oil and soap you add, so it will take a little tweaking to get just right. 



 This is totally kid approved, so try it out. It's easy, quick, and fun which will make great memories for you and your kiddo to share! 






Happy Crafting



Sunday, November 11, 2012

Travel Activity Bag

 
This idea came to me when I took my last trip with my little and it was a big nightmare. Obviously my kid needs entertained 24/7 in the car, and few things make him content! This time however, I wised up and went prepared!
This project is customizable to your child's likes and I'm just going to give you a few ideas of what I used, which I think is pretty universal for most kids.
A mix of activities and snacks will make for a much smoother trip! (trust me on this one)
 
 
Books
DVDs (if you have a travel DVD player...if you don't have one, GET ONE! lifesaver)
Crayons
Colored Pencils
Markers
Coloring Books
Paper
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Granola
Trail Mix
Granola Bars
Cereal
Crackers
Pretzels
Chex Mix
Pop Tarts
Fruit Snacks
Fruit
 
Once you have all of your supplies together, put them in a good sized travel bag.
I recently bought my little a new bedding set for his big boy toddler bed, and the bag it came in was absolutely perfect!!!
 
 
 
 
Lately, I've been into labeling stuff since my organization skills, well, stink! I found some free labels that you can download and print out that are PERFECT for this little travel bag, not to mention perfect for 100+ other things around the house!
Look at that pantry...WOW I wish mine was that beautiful!
Click on the Pic below for the link to some cute FREE labels!
 
Also, this cool little travel tray is pretty good for long car rides. It allows them to write and eat without a mess in the car. I have one, and it's pretty nice. It is a bit flimsy, but it's good for long car rides, and allows my little to color on the go. 
Click on the Pic below for the link to buy this!
 
 
 
 
 
Happy Crafting


Monday, November 5, 2012

Stovetop Fall/Christmas Scent

 
Ok, so this really isn't a "craft" but I found this idea and thought that I'd share it with you wonderful people!! This is easy, and when I saw it I thought to myself "why have I NOT done this before?" I spend A LOT of $$$ on air fresheners...There is almost 1 in every room/outlet...
It drives my husband INSANE because I'm always buying a new one.
When I walk past Bath & Bodyworks, I can't help but stop in and wish my house would smell exactly like this store! So I buy a couple *cough* cough 4 cough* cough* and go on my way.
This easy stove top method meets all my criteria for creations; easy, cheap, and homemade.
 
What you'll need:
  •  Whole Orange (quartered)
  •  Whole Apple (quartered)
  •  3 Cinnamon Sticks (can use powdered if that's what you have at home)
  •  1 Tbs Whole Cloves
  •  Dash of Nutmeg (optional)
  •  1/2 Cup Cranberries (if you can't find fresh, dried will work)
  •  Pot/ Sause pan
  •  Water
 
Ok, so above list is TOTALLY customizable!!! Any smells you love, just toss it in. This can be changed throughout seasons or moods of the day! :)
 
My creation is for the fall/Christmas/winter season and it's awesome!
Simply fill your pot maybe half way with water, then toss in your ingredients. Put the heat on medium to bring it to a slight simmer, then turn it down to the lowest setting on your stove and let it go.
This should obviously only be used when you're going to be home all day to watch it.
 *NEVER leave the stove unattended!*
 
I've had mine on the stove for a week, and the smell is still amazing when I turn it on. It fills my house with the wonderful smells that I adore this time of year!
Just simply add more water when it starts to run low. Do Not let the water completely evaporate!
You can always toss in new ingredients when you think the old ones are losing scent, but this should last a few weeks.
 
 
 
 
Happy Crafting


Sunday, November 4, 2012

Stained Glass Fall Shapes

 
It's the beginning of November, and I'm sooo in the Christmas spirit, but I thought I'd do a fall activity on this cool dreary day!
Fall is my ABSOLUTE favorite time of year. The smells of burning leaves/wood, the crisp cool air, hot chocolate by the fireplace, and all the cuddles under warm blankets. This inspired me to bring a little fall right into our home.
This activity is a little messy, but very fun! I guarantee the kids will love it!!
 
What you'll need:
  •  Crayons (I used fall colors ie: brown, orange, red, yellow, little bit of green)
  •  Grater (you could also use a crayon sharpener to help save your knuckles)
  •  Wax Paper
  •  Leaves (I found some fall shapes at my local Dollar Tree; acorn, pumpkin, & leaves. You can easily go outside and grab some leaves out of the front yard to trace.)
  •  Iron
 
You'll want to trace your shapes on wax paper. This is the tricky part. You can either cut the shapes out before or after you melt the wax. I tried both ways, and either way will work just fine. When I cut the shape before melting the wax, it was hard to get the wax all the way to the edges and also was a pain to actually cut. When I cut the shapes out after I melted the wax, the wax started to flake out. So I just re-melted it once I got it cut out. Like I said, whichever method you think will be easier will work.
 
 
Once you decide on your shapes, you need to shred your crayons. This is where the kids come in handy. My little is still a little to young for the grating of the crayons, but older kids will probably love this part. Just be sure to watch those knuckles!!! I got my hunny in there to help me! What a sweetie he is! <3
 
 
 
Spread your crayon shavings on your shapes.
 
 
Lay the other piece of wax paper on that, and iron. The longer you let the iron sit the more melted the colors look and they blend together more. So just do it to your liking.
 
 
Our front door looks so festive and beautiful! This was fun and easy so get to creating!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Happy Crafting


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Raised Salt Art

 
If you're looking for a cool activity for a rainy day, this one hits all the criteria; fun, easy, fast, and somewhat educational (if you are exploring how color travels through salt).
This is more of a older toddler activity. Although my little did love this activity, he wasn't as impressed with it as I was. He loved the mess the salt made though, so to him it was a success. :)
 
What you'll need:
  •  Elmer's Glue
  •  Table Salt
  •  Construction Paper (any color you want. black looks good against the bright colors)
  •  Liquid Water Color Paints work exceptionally well for this, but I didn't have any so I used a little water with food color added. This isn't extremely bright, but add less water and more color for a vibrant color. Also, in the picture I showed regular food coloring, but I ended up using the Betty Crocker Gel Neon colors which worked very well also.
  •  Paint brushes/Droppers/Pipettes
  •  Tray

Mix your food coloring with your water, or use your liquid water color paints. I ended up mixing other colors as well for this project that aren't pictured. (the neon colors)
 
 
Add your glue to the paper. Whatever your little one's heart desires. Make shapes, rainbows, whatever tickles your fancy!
 
 
Once your happy with the design, add the salt. Place your paper on a baking sheet/cookie sheet before adding the salt to avoid a HUGE mess. (I learned that the hard way) Cover all the glue with the salt. (don't be chincy with the salt, the more the better)
 
 
Pour off the excess salt.
 
 
My little's design. Original I know! :)
 
Once the excess salt is gone, use a pipette/dropper, or use what I did, a small paint brush to add color to your glue. The second it drips on there it sort of travels which is pretty cool. The 5/6 year olds will love this part!
 
 
Now this craft is more about the process rather than the outcome. Once it dries the salt/glue tends to flake off, so if you were hoping to store this project for years to come, it definitely won't make it. The colors fade a bit when dry so this craft is definitely more about the whole making process.
 
 
 
Happy Crafting
 
 



Sunday, October 28, 2012

GAK

 
A while back, I did a post on homemade slime. Although it was pretty cool, I wanted to make something a little more GAK like....When I was little, me and my grandpa would play with this stuff for hours. Anytime I got a spare dollar, Gak is what I spent my money on. I wanted to make this amazing creation for my little at home since crafting is our "thing".
We gathered our ingredients and went to work. This is easy, surprisingly clean, and fast!
 
What you'll need:
  •  1 tsp. Borax (found in the laundry section at Wal-Mart)
  •  2 Bottles of white Elmer's Glue
  •  1/2 Cup warm water (plus the amount to fill the bottles)
  •  Food Coloring
  •  Mixing Bowl
  •  Small mixing bowl or plastic cup

 
Pour your two bottles of Elmer's Glue into your mixing bowl. Fill the empty bottles with warm water and shake. Add that to your mixing bowl.
 
 
Add your food coloring. I used the Betty Crocker Neon gel colors, but any food coloring will do. I just thought that Gak just isn't Gak if it isn't that neon slime green color.
 
 
Mix that together well and set aside.
Add 1/2 cup warm water to your smaller bowl or plastic cup. Add 1 tsp of your borax to the warm water and stir. Add the Borax mixture to your glue/water mixture. You will notice it get stringy immediately.
 
 
Continue mixing with your hands until it all comes together. This literally takes 30 seconds. (I told you this was fast)
Amazingly once this is mixed it's clean and doesn't leave a film or stickiness on your hands at all. You may want to avoid getting it on your clothes or cloth of any sort. My little got it on his shirt, and it was kind of a blobby mess, but it did come off after a little scrubbing.
 
 
This kept my little busy for a LONG time, which is an A+ in this momma's book.
 
 
 
 
 
Happy Crafting