Part 2 of Gifts Under $20

I love these decorative book boxes from Michaels.

How about a mug,some hot chocolate and some marshmellows.  

Also feel free to throw in a candy Cane as a stir stick.

Wrap it in clear plastic and tie it with pretty ribbon.

And who doesn't love home made goodies.  Make your favourite cookies ,microwave some fudge and put it on a Christmas plate,jar or tin.  Let your imagination run wild.

Easy home made Gifts under $20

If you are like me it is not buying for my immediate family that stressed me out as it is thinking of something small for teacher babysitters,neighbours and co-worker.

Well, again I have been visiting Michaels(I think they know me on a first name basis lol) and I have come up with some cool ideals that will be easy on your Christmas budget.

Also I should share some of my supplies are from Superstore and please to save money always check out your favourite discount Dollar store.

These are decorative books from Michaels with fragrant soaps and accent pinecone and candle.

The soap were from Winners. There was four in a set for $6.00.

 Does this look good or what?

I got the basket at Michaels for %50 off which made it $3.00

All items in the basket were $1.50 each but the candles were $5.99 for a set of 4,which i used my %40 off discount coupon that they have almost every week.

You can get it e-mailed to you are use your Michaels app.

This is a little decorative book i got at 60% off with a pretty frame tissue paper and candle.

This was under $10.

Easy and fun, Yes i made it ,Christmas Wreath

Have I mentioned Michael's crafts is one of my favourite places to shop.

I especially love the Country Village Rd N.E store.

I want to give a huge shout out to them.

They have been so helpful to me and go above and beyond to help out.

And they are so friendly.

Anyway" squirrelled "back to our Christmas Wreath.

Go to you guessed it Michaels and buy a wreath($10-$12)

Look down and you will see some great decoration ($1.49-$5.00)

The decorations are easy to attach and bam,you made a wreath.

Now your friends and family will see it and say "Wow thats beautiful where did you get that?"

and you get to say" heh"inside your head of course lol, not out loud and tell them you made it.

Than you sit back and enjoy their praise.

This is also a great project for the whole family to enjoy

Christmas decorating made fun easy and cheap,hallelujah

Ladies and gentlemen you are going to love this.

First step in to go right now and take a framed picture of your wall.

Yes you heard me right.

Now get out your pretty Christmas paper,scissor and green painters tape(this tape is the safest as it comes of easy.

Okay,wrap up your picture like it is a present you would put under the Christmas tree.

Add ribbon and a pretty bow.

Cut around the area that is used to hang it back up on the wall and bam you are ready to hang your new decoration back on your wall.

Infused with goodness Muffins

What do plain muffins and baby food have in common? 

They are the new peanut butter and jelly.

Infuse your plain muffin mix with many different combinations of squeezable baby food.

It adds great flavour with less work and it is so much fun your kids will want to help.

So get squeezing baby, mix ,bake and enjoy.

Uncles hockey cake

You can do a lot of fun cakes just from cooling and cutting your cake mix into any shape

Your best Summer cooking friend

If you don't have a slow cooker/crock pot you need to stop what you are doing and go get one . 

When it is already so hot in your house you want to stick your head in the freezer you don't want to heat the house up even more by turning on the oven . 

Also cooking in this handy device will save you time and money.

You can prepare a meal the night before and put the inside of the crock pot in your fridge and take it out in the morning and plug it in and set it on low or for between 4-10 hours and enjoy your meal when you arrive home . 

You can prepare chicken ,roast ,spaghetti sauce ,stews and many more of your favourite meals.

It will also save you money because when you are on your way home and exhausted from your busy day and think "I don't feel like cooking I will just pick up some fast food. "

Instead you will say" I am so glad I put something in the crock pot so I don't have to waste my time and money at the drive through window . "

So get your creative juices flowing and get crocking ,get it ,get cracking get crocking ha ha . I though it was funny

Have fun my darlings 

Easy pita pizza

All you need is cheese sauce pita and /or meat veggies or whatever your favourite topping

Put your pita on parchment paper or foil tray and add sauce. I like to use my left over spaghetti sauce

Add your favourite cheese

Add meat or favourite topping and cook at 350 for about 10 minutes

And there you have it and fast and easy lunch or supper .

Summer fun-Take a drive to Canmore

We starting going to Canmore years ago instead of  Banff because we wanted to save some money by not paying the fee at the park gates.

Well we feel in love with Canmore and we haven't been back to Banff in years

There are many little trails to walk on that you can acess right from downtown .

In the summer there is a great Farmers market in downtown Canmore. 

I love to walk along policemens creek have lunch or a tea and to look at all the great stores. 

O'Canada soapworks and Arty farty are my favorite stores

Just put Canmore Alberta into the great google and you will find many fun activities all year round. 

So what's stopping you?

it's only about an hour of a beautiful drive from Calgary

Go and be in awe of all the beauty of a trip to the mountains

Go and breath and have some fun

That mountain air will relax and refresh you

Homemade Oreo Sundaes

So easy and so yummy and fat free(not)

All you need is frozen yogurt ( a lilttle less calories)

Oreo cookies

Chocolate and butterscotch  syrup 

Whip cream and cherries

Take your Oreo cookies and blend them to crumbs in a blender or crush them with a rolling bin between two pieces of parchment or wax paper. 

After they are crushed you will use them to layer your sundae with.

Add either chocolate or butterscotch first on the bottom than Oreo crumbs than frozen yogurt and repeat. 

One you get to the top add whip cream cherries and whole cookie just because it makes it look fancy.

Add or take away 

Make it your own. 

Shop for fun glasses at the dollar store to make these in. 

And most of all have fun.

P.S You may want to go for a walk after you eat this lol

Homemade Quesadillas

This is so easy. All you need is a frying pan or cookie sheet

Whole wheat tortilla wrap

Salsa (homemade or bought )

Cheese

Hamburger or chicken  mixed with taco spice

Lay out  tortilla on parchment paper on cookie sheet

Parchment is my best cooking friend . 

It saved clean up time and you don't have to use cooking sprays or oils to prevent what your making from sticking  

Spread on cheese evenly 

Than spread  salsa on top of cheese

Add fried hamburger meat or chicken

You can buy taco seasoning at any grocery store and just follow direction on the package 

Add a layer of cheese and put another tortilla  on top .

Bake at 350 for about 7-10 minutes or until golden brown.

You will need to lift up a bottom corner to check this 

Once it looks good, turn it over and cook for another 7-10 minute.

You always want to make sure the cheese is the first and the last thing you put on before you add the second tortilla because the cheese acts like a glue and will make it stick together for easier turning over  

I do have cheese on top of mine, but I like less cheese, more veggies.

I make my own salsa with tomatos peppers, garlic, cloves, red onions parsley, basil, salt and a teaspoon of olive oil.

Feel free to add in hot peppers. 

My tummy doesn't do hot spices so experiment add or take away . 

In the summer when you don't want to heat up the house with your oven do this in a frying pan instead . 

Spray your pan with oil 

Add tortilla shell

Put your ingredients in 

Top with second tortilla shell and keep checking bottom by lifting up a corner

Turn over when golden brown and wait until the other side is golden brown than remove 

Cut and enjoy

Make it your own and have fun

Add any tofu regular or lactate free sour cream, more salsa and avocado to add color and the yum factor . Enjoy and have fun.  

Save Haven garden

Why the fancy name.

Motivated by old man winter that has over stayed his welcome I need my garden to be portable so I can move it in when the weatherman tells me Mr. Freeze is back for the night

This meaning if I leave my plants outside they will die 

My little portable garden needs a safe Haven at night to keep it warm and cozy until it meets the suns warmth the next day. 

I am anxious to get my lettuce and onions growing so why not plant them on one pot and give myself the option to plant them I'm my big garden after June 1 or keep it portable for convenience and safety. 

This bowl like container was $9.95 at Lowes

I got a great soil mix from Superstore called pro mix that was $6.98

And the lettuce onions and herb plants are usual under $3.00

So what are you waiting for get your garden gloves on and have fun my darlings playing I'm the dirt.

Do it yourself soft hands

So you ever find that no matter how much cream you use for your hands they are still dry and rough. 

How about try a home made exfoliation made from the Ingients in your kitchen cupboard .

You will need :

1 teaspoon sugar 

1 teaspoon olive oil

If desires you can put a few drops of aromatherapy ( I like lemon )

Put one teaspoon olive oil on the plan of your hand 

Pour 1 teaspoon sugar on top of the oil and add your aromatherapy on top

Give your hands a good scrub and make sure your whole hand gets some scrubbing action

Rinse with warm water dry and apply moisture cream. 

Happy soft hands my darlings 

Home made lemon iced tea for one

This a a great alternative to buying a can of iced tea

It saves you money and you can control the sugar 

You know the lemon is real because you are going to squeeze it yourself .

It is chemical free.

You will need :

One beer mug

I tea bag( I use red rose)

2 packs presidents choice stevia individual packs 

or 1 teaspoon white sugar or to your desired sweetness

I real lemon

Ice 

How to put together:

Boil water and fill up your beer mug half full of boiled water

Add your tea bag and your stevia or sugar.

Let tea bag steep 5 minutes 

Take out your bag 

Taste to see if it is sweet enough.

If not add more before it cools too much If the water is not hot enough to melt the sweetener it will stay grainy .

Add the juice of one lemon squeezed 

Add ice right to the top and garnish with left over lemon. 

Enjoy my darlings