Arts &Crafts, How-To's, Upcycling & Repurposing

There are many many recipes out there for the different sauces & gravies, as well as not everyone knows how to make a basic Roux. Today, I have a few easy basic recipes to share with you. Roux is used in many dishes for the base of gravies, creamy soups and even stews. It’s a…

~ Mel

~ Mel

Throughout the western expansion, the people were in a hurry to get to their destinations. They had to carry everything that could sustain them along the way. Corn meal, being one of their bulk items. Traveling over long distances, with no food trucks, restaurants or pit stops either. So they needed to be completely self…

~ Mel

In the 1800’s one item they could get their hands on easily was Apple cider Vinegar. It was thought of as nutritional. Fresh fruit was very hard to come by so they made well with what they had. By 1847, the settlers knew that by eating fresh fruit, it would help prevent diseases like scurvy.…

~ Mel

I came across a fun little DIY project yesterday, a macrame candle holder. It makes a nice little candle holder for the home. A little fun facts for you: Macrame first started in the 13th century. Arabs would tie knots along the fringes of their rugs so they wouldn’t come apart. The knotting trend back…

~Mel

~ Mel

Weekdays are already hectic for most people. Having a quick grab and go breakfast that is all ready made and ready to eat is a plus. Oats are packed with whole grains, fiber, vitamins and nutrients that make it the perfect go to. Overnight oats are the easiest no cook breakfast. Measure out and throw…

~ Mel

Well, for me this is a new art. This is one of those things where you see an article on something and then you don’t find anything else on it. That makes it a little difficult. People write articles about it, however they only write the basics. They do not answer any questions. Like after…

~ Mel

In the early 1800’s they didn’t have refrigerators, freezers or ovens. They had to make do when it came to food. They did eat well, but they were limited to ingredients. One meal that was popular back then all over the world was “Cornmeal Mush”. Also known as Cornmeal porridge, polenta, grits, cou cou, mamaliga, or l’escaoutoun.…

~ Mel

~ Mel

Almond extract dates back to ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Romans. In the 16th century they were using almond extract in baked goods. Now fast forward to the 19th century, the production of almond extract became more commercialized. Now, here’s where things get interesting. While almond extract is often assumed to be made…

~ Mel

~ Mel

This year we put mulch in our flower beds, for two reasons. 1- aphids cannot walk on mulch. 2- weeds. Well, we got rid of the aphids, we just need to take care of the weeds. It’s a pain really. I’ve noticed more & more people not wanting to use chemicals on their lawn/flowerbeds. Some…

~ Mel

~ Mel

~ Mel

Whether you’re entertaining or relaxing under the stars at night, they’ll get you. Mosquitoes… The annoying insects that we all despise. Besides the up keep of the yard, not leaving stagnant water around and the basic citronella candles, there are other ways to help deter or repel them. I hate having to spray mosquito spray…

Good for a rainy day or to prepare for an emergency. This version of soup is healthier for you than the prepackaged or canned soups. “Pocket soup” was carried by colonial travellers, as it could easily be prepared with a little hot water. Canned and dehydrated soups were available in the 19th century. These supplied the military, covered…

On Monday we made Almond Milk. Today we are going to use the almond pulp we have from making the milk and turn it into Almond Flour. Almond Flour is a big staple in gluten free baking. The increasing allergies to wheat led a lot of people to find alternative flours to use. Almond flour’s…

~ Mel

~ Mel

Sometimes, we never realize how easy it is to do or make something, until we actually do it ourselves. This weekend it was Almond Milk. So easy anyone can do it! Supplies & Ingredients needed: * Bowl * Strainer * Milk sieve or cheese cloth You can find the sieve on Amazon ($6.63 for set…

~ Mel

The Dollar store is one of my favorite go to places! You can find so much there and for so little money. Today I’m sharing a fun little project with you guys. The longest part was waiting for the paint to dry. Supplies needed: * “Wall Creations” Removable Wall Decal (peel & stick) * Unfinished…

One of the recipes I came across from the 1800’s is Fried Apples. It’s a simple dish that’s easy to make and so delicious! Apples are easily accessible, easy to store and versatile. Every part of the fruit served a purpose. The peels were fermented into vinegar, the bruised apples were used to make sauce…

We’ve had so many warnings and close calls where we live with tornadoes. So much of a close call that it hit our neighbors across the street. We got lucky! The last tornado a couple months ago, I decided to put a bin together of our “tornado emergency supplies.” Which I will be transferring to…

A few days ago I did a post on Magnesium oil. If you have not read it, you can read about it here- 👇 A few weeks back I came across an article about Magnesium cream. This lady went on about how much it helped her sore muscles, her muscle cramps went away and no…

~ Mel

~Mel

“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage.” — Harry S. Truman ~ Mel

~Mel

I’ll admit, I’ve had such a sweet tooth lately! For today’s deliciousness, Lemon curd. Lemon curd first started approx in 1844. Also known as lemon cheese. You can use it as a desert, or a filling for pastries, a topping for waffles and crepes, topping for scones or a filling for cake. Prep time 5…

~Mel

What would you do in an emergency? Powers out, no running water, no electricity or gas. You may not be able to get out of the house to go to the store. Some of us may not be prepared for emergencies like this. One thing I for sure do not want to do again, is…

~ Mel

Magnesium deficiency is widespread because many of us have lifestyle factors that actively deplete our magnesium levels. These include lack of sleep, excess stress, or alcohol/caffeine/sugar consumption. On top of that, many of our natural magnesium sources are depleted. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to several chronic health conditions, such as- Much of the research done on…

The Old Frontier, also known as the American Wild West, was a period during the 1800s centered around westward American expansion. It began with European colonial settlers moving into territories newly acquired through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. With limited resources, they often had to get creative with cooking meals. They had to farm, hunt,…

~Mel

Hi everyone! A fellow blogger, Johnbritto Kurusumuthu, recently wrote a terrific post about ways to make a difference for our planet. Daily rituals you can do (he does) to help our world. Whether it’s leaving the lights on or constant running water. Buying from farmers markets versus the grocery store. Even planting your own. He…

~Mel

Hello everyone! Making your own pancake mix people think it requires a lot of work but really, there’s nothing to it. It only takes minutes to make, it’s cheaper and healthier for you AND there’s nothing added ingredients that you can’t pronounce. 😁 A lot of people have food allergies like gluten for example. Buying…

I love a good breakfast! Pancakes are always a win in this house. Especially with different toppings on it. I have a great recipe to share with you guys today! Vanilla Syrup, total syrupy goodness! Ingredients : Step 1: In a small saucepan over high heat, combine the water and brown sugar. Cook, stirring frequently,…

~Mel

I thought this project was a neat idea. Kids or adults looking for something to do over the summer. The birds will thank you! A neat little project that doesn’t take a lot of time, plus your up cycling! Supplies needed: Twine Tin can -with lid detached Hot glue gun & glue Scissors Bird feed…

~Mel

~Mel

Cinnamon is one of the world’s oldest spices. It derives from the inner bark of trees from the Cinnamomum family. While cinnamon is a staple in almost every kitchen, it offers us much more than a sweet taste in baked goods or just the right touch to apple cider. Cinnamon is packed with antioxidants, anti…

This is for you…

Hi everyone! This post I’m sharing is a fellow blogger’s post, Phil – 2048.studio Such a terrific story showing kindness matters even between animals! I know you guys will like this story as much as I do. Click on the link 👇 below. ~ Mel

You never know …

We took plain, old worn out blue shutters and turned them into a pretty patriotic decor for outside. The hardest part…. Was lining up the tape to get straight lines. Supplies needed: Old shutters – cleaned, sanded and ready to go Paint – red, white and blue (we used spray paint) Paint brush – if…

Today I couldn’t decide which to post. So you guys get two quotes today. 😊

Amen ~ Mel

Independence Day. “The day in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress” Today I’m sharing some decor I made. You can put it out not just for 4th of July, There’s also Memorial Day, Labor Day, and a couple other holidays. Created this using barn wood for the box, I used…

It’s funny how we get stuck sometimes, isn’t it? We walk through a door, thinking it’s where we’re supposed to be, and even when we start to realize it’s not right, we stay. We stay because it feels easier than turning back. We stay because we’ve already put in the time, energy, and emotions. We tell ourselves…

Hi everyone! A fellow blogger, John- Rise and Inspire, wrote this terrific post on writers, it’s very motivational and inspiring. It hits home, I believe a lot of you would like his post as well. Check it out at the link above ☝️ ~Mel

This is a good reminder. Especially for those of us that worry too much. ~ Mel

~Mel

We all have to do it. I keep telling myself that. For myself, it’s hard to declutter because I tend want to keep a lot. The good ol “I can reuse that for something.” Someone asked me the other day how I start the process of decluttering. Here are a few tips for those of…

Words of wisdom ~ Mel

Happy Tuesday ! ~ Mel

Hi everyone! It took a couple days for the coffee clay projects to dry. After they were dry, I put a coat of mod podge on them. Other than a couple tiny cracks and the edge of the bowl isn’t exactly perfect, they turned out great!!! See below at the end of the post for…

Wise words from my favorite actor –

I’m starting this week off simple. A super easy and inexpensive project. The longest time was the drying time. I love candles and different candle holders. I have them all over our home. So today I thought I’d share a simple , inexpensive and pretty candle holder. Supplies needed: *small pedestal (Dollar Tree -they have…

Lessons or excuses? Mel~

Part 3 for Father’s Day ~ The other day I noticed someone kindly used all the chocolate syrup and put the empty bottle back in the cabinet. 🤨. This is a norm in this house. So today, I decided to make my own. I’m telling you, it’s delicious! So worth it and only took maybe…

A lot of people are into the going, going, going so much, that they forget about the present moment. Live your life. Have fun. Do something new. Enjoy the “now”. Today only comes once ❤️ ~ Mel

Post 2 of Father’s Day gifts. One thing my kids dad does like is coffee. The second is BBQ. For this seasoning, I put the two together. Ingredients needed: *3-4 T. Of ground coffee – you can reuse your coffee grounds from the night before or just grab some from your coffee pkg. *1 T.…

Hello everyone! I’m sure most people like to make things easier on themselves while cooking in the kitchen. I know I do 🖐️. Here’s one tip – No one likes rock hard ice cream that bends your spoon when you try to scoop it. Did you know before you put your ice cream container back…

Imagine- you’re having one of those days… no weeks. You’re having one of those weeks. Nothings going the way you want it to in life, you’re broke, not a lot of food in the house. All your money went to the bills. You’d like to make pancakes but you don’t have baking powder. For dinner…

With Father’s Day coming I started to rack my brain on what to get the kids dad for Father’s Day. For one- he’s picky. Two- he doesn’t really have any hobbies anymore that he likes to do. One thing he does love…. His smoker outside. He loves cooking in it! So I thought this year…

Keep moving forward ~

When it gets nice out and we decide to go outside and maybe work in the garden, pull weeds or sit and listen to nature or maybe even read a book. There’s various bugs and creatures in nature most of which we often don’t worry about or in some areas even have to worry about.…

The Dollar Tree. One of the best stores! It is somewhat of a crafters dream in there. You can find a lot in there like- wood , tissue paper, little macrame kits, paint, rub on transfers, holiday decor, gardening tools and supplies, the list goes on. Going on Pinterest all the time I see quite…

Good morning! I have two quotes for you today from the amazing Maya Angelou.

Today, the 29th, has been 4 months since our dog passed. It feels like yesterday. Even though I wish he was still here, he is no longer suffering. Miss him terribly and he is still my baby. ❤️ I dedicate today’s post to our dog Fedor. ❤️ ~ It’s been a long day without you…

You don’t know until you try ~

Good morning. In 2023 I wrote a post about how to get rid of Aphids using ingredients you may already have at home. No added chemicals. You can read about it here~ https://craftingforlife.blog/get-rid-of-aphids-for-good/ Aphids are super tiny little bugs that pretty much kill your plants. They suck the nutrients out of the leaves causing them…

Lessons Learned in Life ~

Good morning! I’m all for repurposing things or turning something outdated and ugly to something pretty and resourceful. I had to do a challenge for a company I work for. Last week’s challenge was to repurpose something around your house into home decor. I choose a picture frame. I love how it turned out! I…

Now a days, prices of food has gone up. Some people are just barely making ends meet. There’s some people who cannot afford even the basic ingredients like corn meal. I like to make my own things like butter, seasonings, extracts, brown sugar, powdered sugar. The list goes on. It helps save a few dollars…

Your not finished yet ~

Today’s quote is about understanding the nature of the challenge you face. If you don’t understand what you are up against, you can give it all you have, and end up worse off than when you started. If your boat is pointed the wrong way, no amount of rowing will get you to where you…

I thank my sister for this one – It’s the truth too!! I was organizing my craft room the other day and came across a couple things actually that I completely forgot about. It was like going shopping in my own craft room! 😊

In the famous words of poet Walt Whitman – This powerful quote can be viewed as a metaphorical statement of optimism and the power of positive thinking. It encourages us to focus on the positive aspects of life, to stay hopeful even in the face of adversity, and to believe that the shadows will eventually…

Good morning! I know I’ve talked before about my eldest daughter with Cerebral Palsy. I try to make her to be as independent as possible. She cannot use the stove whatsoever. I find a lot of homemade meals you can make in a mug right in the microwave. Today’s breakfast is french toast in a…

We won’t know until we start.

Good evening everyone! Not long ago my husband was taking things to the recycling facility to dispose of, like styrofoam. It of course had my brain going and wondering why we can’t just put it in our recycling bins and they can separate it from there? Nope. Can’t make things easy on us. I however…

Good morning to everyone. Want a quick breakfast and not sure where to start? I find these really simple and easy recipes to cook in a mug. They are perfect for my eldest! This mornings breakfast was pancake in a mug. I’m sure you’ll love this! 1-3 minutes to make 90 seconds to cook Ingredients:…