DiY Tape Roll Bracelet

I’m all about taking things and reinventing them. So when I finished a roll of wide painters tape a while back and saw the perfectly round and sturdy cardboard base left I threw it in my pile of goodies to keep for a day of creating. I decided to get it out and turn it into something. Of course the most obvious choice was a bracelet.

So here is what I did:
I took the base and painted it white to make sure the writing was covered. Then I chose a fun turquoise as the base color. Once I did a couple coats of the turquoise and let that dry really well (about an hour) I took a piece of scrap lace and dipped it in modge podge. I wrapped the bracelet with the lace and pressed it down so it was stuck in place well. I got a glass and pushed the bracelet down onto the glass to hold the lace in place while it dried. During the drying process I pulled the bracelet off and pressed the lace down and flipped the bracelet to make sure it was pressed all around the middle. Again I let this dry very well (overnight) before moving on. Once it was dry I took the cup and pressed it in and spun the bracelet around it to make it smooth and even on the inside. (yes, it will be hard because that is what happens when glue dries. But if you’ve pressed it down correctly and worked the inside flat against the bracelet it shouldn’t be an issue when wearing it.) Then I took my embellishments and stitched them on, tying knots at each end to ensure they stayed secure.  

You’ll need:
Cardboard tape roll
Acrylic Craft Paint
Modge Podge
Lace/ribbon/yarn/material for wrapping
Drinking Glass large enough around to press out against the roll
Beads or other embellishments
Needle and Thread

Step by step:

1. Paint your tape roll with a base coat to cover all writing. Let dry approx 30 mins.

2. Once the base coat has dried add a coat of your chose of color. Let dry approx 30 mins.

3. Once the color coat has dried wrap or modge podge wrap the next layer. Smooth out so all ends are secure. Press down onto glass. While drying remove from glass and press down ends again and flip before putting back on glass. Let dry completely overnight.

4. Stitch the embellishments on and knot to hold in place.

Also, you could take a sharp knife or small saw and slice it in half to make more than one if it is wide like this one. If you have small wrists and it is too wide just stack it with another fun bracelet that is a bit smaller.

So start holding on to those used up tape rolls. Your new arm jewelry is waiting!
Daspri

Gluten Free, Grain Free & Vegan Banana Coconut Muffins

Ah, muffins.....i love you.
If you missed the last tasty and healthy muffin recipe, you can check it out here.

Today, I want to share another favorite in our home, Banana Coconut Muffins. These muffins are so moist and full of banana flavor. They are easy to make and use minimal ingredients, my favorite kind!

I failed to take a photo worthy of these muffins this time because they all disappeared so quickly! I will take a better one next time I make them....maybe.

They are not the prettiest muffins because they do not rise, so you will want to fill those muffin cups full. And if you pile them just right, add that nice sprinkle of coconut, then they can still look presentable. But the important part is that they are super yummy and I can totally eat them because they are grain free, gluten free and sugar free!
I scored this recipe from my favorite raw/whole food site.

Banana Coconut Muffins
4 ripe bananas
1 cup coconut flour
1 heaping T coconut oil
1 T pure vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
stevia (to taste)
dash of salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 T apple cider vinegar
-unsweetened shredded coconut

Bake at 400 for about 25 min.(until tooth pick comes out clean!)

-Mash your bananas
-Add coconut flour, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup and salt and stevia.
-add the baking soda and apple cider vinegar last.
-Fill your muffin cups full and sprinkle with coconut

Enjoy!
-Jenny           

Girl Time - JUST DO IT!

As mommas we always do our best to make sure everyone is fed, decently clean and happy, the house is picked up, the laundry and dishes washed, kids played with and educated, and life is moving forward. Let me say that I am blessed to have a food to cook, a house to clean, laundry to wash, and a little one to chase around. There are many that do not have these privileges. But, as blessed as I am I also really enjoy a little time away to recoop. I have always wanted to do girl weekends with friends to shop and laugh and chat and eat and shop and eat and laugh; repeat, blend and repeat! I've had the luxury of a few girls only weekends during my lifetime, but for the most part these weekends were nothing but a hopeful dream because people are busy and finances are tight and life gets in the way.

One of my great buddies (7 months pregnant with her 4^th baby) needed one of these weekends away to relax before the newest addition to her family. We were so pleased when all things aligned and we got away, girl style!

Note: Excuse some of the photos, I quickly snapped most of them with my phone.

We spent the first few hours at a really fun local bead store (we share a love for jewelry making; she’s pretty new to the gig but makes awesome stuff). We took our time to look through all the nooks and crannies, dig through the bowls of random pieces, talk with the ladies that work there about different techniques and new products, and make our selections. This for us was a BLAST!

We took a break to grab a drink and sit for a while and then off we went to shop a little (ok, a LOT). We made our way through many (can’t tell you how many) stores. Some stores we just browsed and got ideas for making things, some stores were having great sales and BOGOs which we couldn’t pass up. We stopped off for dinner and the off to our hotel.

Now, a note about me, I’m frugal (fun word for cheap) but my friends hubbs wanted to treat her on her getaway so he got us a great room in one of the much nicer local hotels. The beds were very fluffy and awesome and we laid in them and chatted for hours.

The next day when we got up we were told to order room service (again strikes the hubbs). So we did and it was awesome to eat in bed and relax without having to rush around for something to eat.

I even took a few minutes to Skype with my little peanut and tell her how much I missed her (love me some technology). We took our time getting ready and checked out of the hotel leisurely.

We hit up an outlet mall and then off to a late lunch. The place we went is a local place called McFarlain’s which my hubbs and I love. It is home cooking with a touch of extraordinary. We always get the fried green tomatoes so I shot him a quick pic just to let him know we were doing things right. We ate too much food and dessert and loved every bite. A bit more shopping to round off the trip and then off to the homesteads.

Amongst all the shopping and eating we had such great convos and really got to take our time and laugh a lot. It was such a great time with a friend that I am so blessed to know. The best parts of the weekend were really the down times (the drive up, the evening at the hotel, and the drive home) when we got to just talk. Sometimes it’s hard to have a really great conversation with little ones all around.

While we were gone I received this pic of Keylee playing and I smiled ear to ear.

I am a believer in girl time. I think getting out for a cup of coffee, dinner, a movie, some shopping, walking at the park, etc. with a friend is much needed. A couple days and a night away really is quite different. It forces you to release your lists completely (if even for a short time) and relax a bit more.

Of course once you get home the reunion with the ones you love couldn't be sweeter!  

Blessed!

Daspri

Gluten Free Grain Free Blueberry Muffins

I don't know about you, but I love a good muffin with my coffee. When I began this health journey back in May of 2012, I thought of muffins and scones and how I would miss them. Sounds kind of silly to type that but for me, they were like a treat, even a dessert at times. Now, I didn't lose sleep over it or anything, but I did begin searching for healthy alternatives.
This recipe is one of my favorite finds.

Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins
2 cups almond flour
2 eggs
2 egg whites
1/4 cup raw honey
dash of sea salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 T coconut oil
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 cup blueberries

Mix the first 7 ingredients together. Then add the baking soda and apple cider vinegar to the mixture. Next, fold in your blueberries.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

*I sprinkled some unsweetened shredded coconut on top of these too. YUMMY!

They are moist and full of flavor without the grains, gluten and the sugar. And they are packed with all of the wonderful protein and antioxidant power of almonds and blueberries!

Enjoy!
-Jenny

Re-style- DiY Shoe Fun

I have been itching to make over some more canvas shoes since my last attempt. I had been on the hunt for some inexpensive canvas shoes when I finally came across this pair on clearance at Target.

You need:
Canvas Shoes
Fabric Markers ( I used Sharpie Fine Tip Fabric Markers)
tissue paper/grocery bags (to stuff your shoes)

First, you'll want to stuff the toes of your shoes with tissue paper or grocery bags (which is what I used). This will give you a solid, smooth surface to write on.
As you can see from the photo above, one shoe is smooth and ready to write on (stuffed) and one is dented (not stuffed).
Now, you can start adding some character to those shoes!

 

I did not copy or follow anything for my design. I just wrote about things I love, things that inspire me and things that make me smile. No rules!

What do you think?

This was such a fun and easy project. I believe I need to go shopping for more shoes now!

 

I kind of love them!

Now go buy some shoes and fabric markers, get creative, take pictures and share with us! 

-Jenny

 

My weekend -Hipstamatic Style

So, I have been busy busy this weekend working on things around the house, some fun DiY projects, and some jewelry making for my line at Branch Out.

I am telling you, I feel so much better when I make time to create something.  It refreshes and energizes me every time!

 

Made some yummy muffins, drinking my fair share of hot tea and coffee, experimenting with styling my new hair cut different ways (straight, wavy-too fun!), Bok Choy, playing with yarn and brightly colored fabrics........

can't wait to share more on these projects with you soon!

Make time to make something...it's good for you!

-Jenny

Bangin'

Well, Fridays are fun...at least they should be. To add a little extra fun to my Friday I got a few bangs and layers cut last night. I happen to have a buddy that I used to work with who cuts my hair now and then when I get an impulse desire for a haircut. I called her up tonight and asked if her kitchen scissors were ready to go (no she isn't a hairdresser professionally and yes she literally uses her kitchen scissors) and off we went. My hair is pretty thick so she did quite a bit of thinning and gave me some fringy bangs. 

So here is a quick before and after:

What do you do to add some fun to your Friday?

Daspri