Here is a quick tip just in time for stocking stuffers. I love to wrap every little thing in our kids' Christmas stockings...partially because it makes each item seem a little more special. The other main reason is that we just don't put much in the stockings. This year, in lieu of wrap, I decided to make little origami boxes.
The inspiration: My mother in law. She is awesome at gift giving, and a couple of days ago we had one more taste of her gifting. In the mail was a sweet, intricate origami star ornament she had purchased complete with origami box. "Hmmm...maybe I could do that..." The rest is history.
Where did I go for instruction? VideoJug, of course. Click here to get started.
Because I have beaucoups of sheets of scrapbooking paper, this was a cheap project. And this way I could personalize each child's gifts using their favorite colors. A little time, a little effort, and a big bang for our Christmas buck!
Once you've made my gluten free flour mix, you NEED to make the following cookie recipe.
GF Toll House Cookies (adapted fromverybestbaking.com)
2 1/4 cups Julia’s all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon gf vanilla extract 2 large eggs 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) gf chocolate chips
Directions: PREHEAT oven to 375° F.
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
*By the way, I always just dump all of the ingredients and mix them. I can't stand recipes with too many steps. If they don't work when I dump it, I usually won't keep the recipe!
*This makes a great cookie cake. Just spread it in a round pizza pan. Bake 18 minutes.
In light of many real problems in the world today, head lice is a minor issue. But, if your family has ever fallen victim to this nasty ailment, you'll know what chaos can ensue when you say the word "louse."
As I type, my head feels itchy. Last school year, my little family experienced lice infestation. My poor husband knows I am great with many difficult situations, but this is a whole other animal. Seriously.
So, you just heard the report at school. Head lice is going around. Oh my word! Oh my goodness! Ahhhhhh! So what should you do?
Not panic. It's hard to have a gentle and quiet spirit, but your demeanor can make the difference. It could be a CRISIS or an inconvenience.
Next, if you found it, let's remember: this is doable. Having lice is somewhat of a rite of passage that most families will go through. And yes, my family survived lice. And we will survive if it should be in our home again. I do want to tell you that I'm sorry that this has happened to your family, and it is not fun.
I did the wrong thing first, and then tried some methods that worked. Here are some quick do's and don'ts.
DON'T freak out.
DO realize this will be a process, not a five minute fix.
DON'T stay up until 2 a.m. cleaning just to wake up at 6 a.m. to nit pick.
DO realize lice like heads, not houses.
DON'T use "lice home sprays" that are not made with natural ingredients.
DO vacuum your home and use your dryer on high for 1 hour on stuffed animals and toss pillows. Then put them in garbage bags in the attic so you can keep them out of the way until this is over.
DON'T use permethrin or pyrethrum based lice treatments. (I did and regretted it later after seeing some research on side effects.)Do not use lindane, either!
DO use natural products. These are very easy to find, and I have found them to be much more effective. I will list my favorites at the end of this article.
Now, let's watch one of the best videos I've seen on what to do in the first 24 hours of discovering a lice infestation:
As mentioned in this video, olive oil treatment for 8 hours is viable (along with nit picking), and a good first step. But it was not enough to ease my mind. Nit picking is difficult and impossible on your own head, so these other products are VERY helpful.
My favorite tools for getting rid of lice: I love this Terminator Comb: Terminator comb Treatment Mousse- This treatment mousse or this mousse or this mousse (I think they are all similar.) I just ordered Happy Heads treatment/ prevention shampoo for prevention and possible future treatment. It is a once a week precautionary shampoo. I love this prevention spray from Neonnits.com (It also helps eliminate with enzymes!) We use California Baby Tea Tree and Lavender Shampoo as an everyday shampoo from Target for the kiddos. And this Neon Nits Lice Egg Locator Spray in pink was actually FUN for my daughter. She felt like it was a party when I pulled out the pink spray! Plus: put tea tree oil on a lavender scented dryer sheet when you dry backpacks and coats. Lice don't like either of these scents.
My closest friends will get info overload if they come to me for lice advice. I am an overachiever when it comes to hitting lice with all I have, but all of these products are things you can use without fear of damage to the health of your loved ones. **Do be aware that tea tree oil may cause respiratory difficulty in some kids (much like any other scented oil.) So use sparingly and not on teeny babies.
I have decided to give away my gluten free flour recipe.
I've tried TONS of gluten free products available today. Many of them are gross, and many of them are fine. None of the gluten free flours did everything I desired. What I wanted was a gf flour that could serve my baking needs. I wanted something that behaved like real four and tasted decent. What I came up with is a flour that tastes and behaves similarly to whole wheat. It's not an "all purpose" white flour. It's a "many purpose" flour.
My flour is a bit dense and more complicated than some recipes. The different ingredients have different characteristics. Some are starchy and light. Some are earthy and full-flavored. Some have a bit of elasticity. Together they form "Julia's Gluten Free Flour."
I will be posting recipes for cookies, bread, and pancakes now that I am giving you the groundwork. Bon appetit!
Julia's Gluten Free Flour 4 1/4 cups white rice flour 2 cups teff flour 2 1/4 cups brown rice flour 1 3/4 cups cornstarch* 1 cup potato starch flour 3/4 cup tapioca flour 3 1/2 cups sweet white sorghum flour 14 teaspoons xanthan gum
Quick tip: use finely ground flours. Bob's Red Mill does a great job of grinding their flours. White rice and brown rice flours need to be of a fine consistency. I can't stand grainy particles in my finished products. Be picky and pay for good quality.
*If corn is an issue, you may try replacing the cornstarch with another starch flour. Perhaps more potato starch would work?
I had a friend tell me that her husband grew up in a family of little means. Her husband has not-so-fond memories as he remembers dining out as a family. Dad would get a soda and he and the other kids would get water. And I must admit, that more than a few handfuls of times, I have done this. Not that my kids need overloads of caffeine and sugar, but neither do I! Also, I want to be an example to my children of putting others first, not selfishly hoarding.
So today, with my Starbucks gift card in hand (from my sister), my kids and I hit the drive thru. But this time was different. I did get my caramel macchiato, but my kids got their little treat, too. I ordered a tall hot chocolate and asked them to split it three ways into espresso cups. So CUTE! Three tiny little to-go cups for my three oldest with their mini kid-sized lids! Still frugal, but they felt like it was a very special outing. Riding in the cart at Walmart has never been so exciting!
Like I've stated before, I am an all or nothing person. Half-hearted is just not how I want to be described. But really, if I had to have a bachelors degree in every activity I tried, I wouldn't do much.
Here enters the quote at the top of this entry. For context: Linda Dollar was a role model in my community when I was in high school. Her simple statement meant a lot to me then and still does now. It motivates me to give something a shot and not fear failure. If it's worth my time, then even doing some of it will have merit.
Personal application #1: recycling. I used to think that recycling was for the truly dedicated. If I couldn't do it like the real green people, then I shouldn't try. But then one day I realized that even doing it a little was better than nothing.
Personal application #2: sewing. My mom is a professional seamstress. She can whip up a wedding dress faster than I can cook dinner. And believe me, it's art. My version is not so much. This used to be where I stopped. My sewing machine would gather dust and rust in my closet. But, I have decided that a sundress here or there for my little girl is better than nothing. (And I can call Mom for advice when the thread bunches up on the back of my project!)
Posts
