Easy Halloween Art Decor

Easy Crafty Halloween Art Decorations

My mother and I made these really easy cute and cheap Halloween art decorations for our house. They were easy, cheap and fun to make.

You’ll need:

3 pieces of 12×12 wood, cardboard, tile or other material suitable to hang. We used mosaic tiles

Fabric of your choice in Halloween motifs, we used a pack of Novelty Bundles of fabric from Joann’s.

Halloween Scrapbooking stickers, your choice

Halloween Scrapbooking papers

Mod podge

Fabric scissors

Optional: Martha Stewart Spider die cut, Cricut machine and Celebrate with Flourish cartridge

Instructions:

Cut fabric to fit your canvas, ours were made 12 x 12 inches.

Stick fabric to your canvas with Mod Podge or adhesive of your choice.  We actually used liquid starch on the fabric for the mosaic tiles because we want to be able to remove this art after Halloween and replace it with decorations for another holiday or season.

Once dry, stick Halloween scrap-booking stickers, Martha Stewart die cut designs (we used the big spider in red), and any Cricut designs. We used the flying witch from Cricut’s Celebrate with Flourish cartridge.  The stickers usually stick fine on their own, but you may want to reinforce them with Mod Podge.

You can also stick ribbon on the sides to create a border.

That’s it! Super easy, quick, fun and cheap.  This idea can easily be adapted to any other holiday, not just Halloween decor. Hope you like it

Mom’s Best Corn-Oat Gluten-Free Vegan Waffles

My grandmother used to make these waffles for breakfast, they were so filling that one was enough and they tasted so good. Whenever I went to her house and it smelled of these waffles, I knew I was in for a treat. Now, my mother makes them in large batches, freezes them and we can have a wonderful breakfast for about a week. These waffles are super healthy, they are gluten-free, vegan (honey is optional), and can be done organic! I give small pieces to my 1 year old without anything else, no honey or maple syrup and he loves it, and I don’t feel the least bit guilty about giving him some.  In general, I can’t stand the taste of gluten-free products but these are an exception, they are delicious. All the picky eaters who’ve tried them, the non-health nuts, etc., all love them, and ask for the recipe. So, here it is!

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Best Corn-Oat Gluten-Free Vegan Waffles:

• 7 cups organic rolled oats
• 7 cups water
• 1 cup organic cornmeal
• 1/4 cup organic coconut oil
• 2 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup honey (optional)
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 2 ripe mashed (not over mashed!) bananas
• Sesame seeds for sprinkling
• Optional but highly recommended: 2 tablespoons each chia seeds, flax seeds

Blend oats, water, cornmeal, coconut oil, salt, honey and vanilla extract in blender, 3 or 4 cups at a time.  If you have a Vitamix or Ninja blender, the large 9 cup container is big enough to do all of it at once, otherwise you’ll want to split the mixture.  Batter should not be too thick or too runny.  Pour into large mixing bowl and add bananas, mix with large wooden spoon.  For best results, oil waffle iron with coconut oil once before adding batter.  For easy removal and enhancing flavor, sprinkle sesame seeds on hot waffle iron, pour batter, then sprinkle with more sesame seeds.

Depending on your waffle maker, it can take between 5-10 minutes for each to cook.  We use an Oster waffle maker we bought at Target for under $20, set on high heat. We do not recommend the cheap Black & Decker waffle maker from Walmart, it takes forever but it does work in a pinch.

Set to cool on a rack so they can release their moisture. Once cooled, they can be stacked with wax paper between them and frozen.  Makes about 10 waffles. You can double this recipe and store them frozen for a quick yet nutritious breakfast the whole family will enjoy.  We recommend using real maple syrup or honey as topping.

Best Corn-Oat Vegan Gluten-free Waffle

Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolate Giveaway

I love chocolate, I rarely indulge however because of all the sugar and other added nastiness. But quality chocolate is so good to have in moderation. With Valentine’s Day coming up, I definitely wouldn’t mind getting a nice box, which I’d share with the household….right….yeah…maybe…

Anyway…I came across this giveaway for Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolate and thought it would be a sin not to share the chance

Win a Year of Netflix Streaming or Amazon Prime

This is an awesome giveaway, I must say! A year’s subscription to either Netflix Streaming or Amazon Prime service.  I already have Netflix so I would personally choose Amazon Prime, which I’ve wanted to check out for a while now.  It’d be nice to have it since I can see Amazon Prime on my Roku box.  I refuse to pay for cable, which is why services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus on my Roku box are just great for the whole family.  There’s always something interesting to watch.

To participate, visit Single Root’s blog.  It’s a very easy Rafflecopter giveaway, winner’s will be announced Feb 15, 2012.

TEA COLLECTION (CLOTHING) $100.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE GIVEAWAY

Finding cool and original styles for boys can sometimes be a little challenging.  So when I came across this giveaway I just had to share!

Mama to 4 Blessing is hosting a Tea Collection Review and $100 Gift Certificate Giveaway.  Be sure to check it out, their styles are very versatile and super hip for boys. I’d love to get some of these pieces for my little boy, they’re just the style we like for him.

Tea Collection designs distinctive fashion collections inspired by the beauty they discover in their travels around the world. From the iconic art and architecture of Barcelona to the graphic boldness of Brazilian street graffiti, Tea interprets their discoveries into beautiful, dynamic styles for children, ages 0-12.

Leap Frog 2 Piece Set

Fabulous Vegetarian Moms

My family and I went out to Infusion Tea last night. It’s one of our absolute favorite places in all of Central Florida, what with all the tea options, the vegetarian menu, vegan and gluten-free options, the gorgeous craft section and the farmers market. Not to mention its just a great spot to chill with friends. We’ve been in the house for a few days due to our juice fast/diet so we decided to dress up a little.

Fabulous Vegetarian Moms

My mother and I are both life-long vegetarians, she breastfed me for 2 1/2 years and has always been very focused on healthy living in every aspect. She’s so gung-ho and willing to try all kinds of new things in the name of good, clean fun and delicious, nutritious eating.  This week she tried her hand at home-made sauerkraut; we’ve been making up veggie patties, home-made gluten, yogurt, dressings, and more!

Before my pregnancy, I was at around 180lbs, nearly nine months after giving birth, I’m at 167lbs! I’m super excited, I can fit into clothes that had been sitting in my closet for way too long, my energy level has increased and I’m loving it.  It’s been a combination of the breastfeeding, carefully watching what I eat (more than usual) and exercising with the baby.  I’ve been doing squats, walking with and lifting the baby. Considering he’s over 20lbs right now, he’s the perfect set of weights.

See the results for yourself:

Pre-pregnancy, July 2010

Before delivery, May 2011

9 months Post-baby, January 2012

 

Juicing Day Three

It’s our third day of juicing. Today we used: carrots, zucchini, cucumber, celery, mint, apples and half a lime. It’s important to add a little bit of lime or lemon to avoid the juice oxidizing.

Veggies and Fruits for Juicing

My baby likes to try everything we make so we let him have some.

Veggie Fruit Juice for Mama and Baby

Baby Drinking Vegetable Juice

So far so good! Last night we had some of our Sesame Seed Smoothie and had our friend and her baby try it. It was a success. The two babies couldn’t get enough of it! Good times