Countdown to Thanksgiving - Easy Centerpiece Ideas

If you're looking for easy ways to jazz up your Thanksgiving table, I came up with a few easy and possibly free (depending on what you have on hand) ideas.

1. Leftover pumpkins from Halloween. If you have any small pumpkins left from Halloween or have found them on clearance recently, they make great centerpieces! I had several leftover, plus I was given a few recently, so I used them as my focal point. There are lots of options with pumpkins. You paint them, write on them, or leave them plain. You could even have your guests write what they're thankful for on the pumpkins!
2. Use cake stands or cupcake towers to display on. I put my pumpkins and some leaves on my glass cupcake stand that comes apart. The variation of size makes it visually interesting. You could use just one or multiples. They are great for displaying candles, pumpkins, leaves, gourds, or whatever else you think up.
   
   
   
3. Fill jars with acorns, painted or all natural. We went acorn picking a while back at one of our local parks filled with Oak trees and came home with a grocery bag full of acorns. Once we baked them to get all the critters out, we just ended up putting them in jars around the house. They were pretty, but I wanted get a little more creative with some of them. I ran across this blog about painting acorns on Pinterest. This would be a great project to do with kiddos! We just used some acrylic craft paint we had on hand. They turned out beautiful if I do say so myself!
4.  Scatter some leaves and candles in the center of the table. If you are looking for a very basic centerpiece, this would be the easiest! I just grabbed a couple things of fake leaves at the dollar store and then cut them off the stems. You could then scatter any size combination of candles on top of the leaves. Or, if you want to get really creative, you could cut holes in gourds or apples and pop in tea lights, like they do here.

I ended up doing a combination of most of the above. The important thing is to get your creative on and have fun with it!

We will posting our final Countdown to Thanksgiving post tomorrow!

Countdown to Thanksgiving - Give Thanks Banner Craft

Donald and I are pretty excited about our first Thanksgiving as clean eaters and as bloggers! We decided that we wanted to do a count down to Thanksgiving. That means every day for the next week we will be posting a Thanksgiving themed blog post! It will vary between crafts, recipes, and ways to incorporate clean eating into your traditional Thanksgiving fare.

We're kicking off with a simple craft to liven up your dining room! I'm sure some of you already have beautifully decorated dining rooms, but I'm certainly not one of them. My poor walls are bare and in desperate need of some love. When we moved to Nevada last year, we downsized majorly and got rid of almost all of our stuff to cut down on moving costs. That meant we had a whole house to furnish when we moved into our own place in August. We picked things like couches instead of art for the walls (necessities, you know ;) So as I planned my Thanksgiving menu and started thinking about how I wanted to decorate my table, I realized that my walls needed some kind of spice!

I searched through Pinterest, but didn't see anything that particularly struck my fancy. So I came up with something of my own. I had made this kind of flag banner for a baby shower and knew how cute they looked. This time I wanted to add letters and do it in a Fall colored them however. I did a quick trip to Michael's and was very happy that everything I wanted was on sale.

(By the way, I'm sure you will noticed the lovely green carpet in several of these pictures. Yeah. That's the color of my carpet. >_<)

What you need:

Scrapbook Paper
Stick-on Letters or Letter Stencil
Tape or Glue Dots
String
Scissors
Ruler
Pen/Pencil

I started by drawing a triangle with the ruler to figure out what size I wanted. I decided on 6 inches for each of the long sides.

Draw and cut out the model triangle from a piece of scratch paper.

Then flip over the scrapbook paper to the back side and trace the triangle on to it. I was able to get about 6 triangles out of each 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper.

After the triangles were cut out, I attached the stick on letters. I decided to have my banner say, "Give Thanks."

Lay out the triangles in the order you wanted them, then keeping in that order, flip upside down. I did two banners; one that said "Give" and the other saying "Thanks!"

Once the triangles are laid out upside down, run your string along the top of each and tape in place. I had glue dots left over from a project, so I used a combination of glue dots and tape.

And with that, your done. All that's left is to hang it up on your wall. I just tied it to some thumb tacks to hang it.

My dining room is not the most well-lit place, so it made it hard to get a good picture. But I guarantee, it looks awesome in person! I put a little leaf wreath below it to add a little more interest to the huge wall it's hanging on.

I hope this provides you with some crafty Thanksgiving inspiration! Please check back tomorrow for a very unique Thanksgiving recipe as we continue our Countdown to Thanksgiving!

Three DIY Deodorant Recipes (Plus our personal trial & error)

Deodorant was my first DIY attempt. I decided to make my own, both for health reasons (the aluminum in store bought deodorant is being linked to breast cancer), and to save on cost. I started making it last Spring and started with a really simple recipe. It worked surprisingly well, but the one thing I did not like about it was that I had to put it on with my fingers.

Simple DIY Deodorant #1:

2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
2 Tbsp Corn Starch
2 Tbsp Baking Soda

Melt coconut oil and pour into a reusable container (like a small gladware container). Mix corn starch and baking soda with the coconut oil. That's it; you;re done! Dip two fingers in the mixture and rub on armpits.

After a while, I got really sick of having to use my fingers to rub it in. Plus, Donald was not so keen on the idea either. So I set out to make some kind of stick deodorant. Both versions gave us horrible rashes. One of the recipes may work for some people. It just depends on your skin sensitivity.

DIY Deodorant #2:

1 1/2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
1 Tbsp Organic Beeswax
2 Tbsp Corn Starch
2 Tbsp Baking Soda
Several drops of essential oil

Same method, melt beeswax and coconut oil. Mix all ingredients together and pour into old deodorant containers. Put in fridge for a few hours while the mixture sets.

The advantages to #2 is that the beeswax will keep the deodorant solid even in warmer temperatures, which means you can use it as a stick deodorant, plus the scent is customization.

Unfortunately, we got bad rashes from this deodorant. We can't figure out if it was the beeswax, the essential oil, or the baking soda. Upon googling it, I found that usually reactions from DIY deodorant are because of the amount of baking soda. The ph in baking soda is very different from that of our skin, so too much of it can cause reactions. The trick is finding just the right amount of then because it is what helps keep the stink away! No matter your skin sensitivity, its important that you don't use just any baking soda. The kind that comes in the yellow boxes is synthetic and made in a lab. Because it is not the naturally occurring, it is much harsher on your body. You want to use Bob Redmill's baking soda, which is the naturally occurring kind that they gather from nature! I had also read that many people used arrowroot powder instead of corn starch and I wanted to give that a try. So back to the basics I went!

Simple DIY Deodorant #3 (great for sensitive skin!):

1 1/2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
3 Tbsp Arrowroot Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda

Melt coconut oil and combine all the ingredients.

Pour into old deodorant containers and stick in the fridge to set up.

Because it is the colder season, it should stay solid outside of the fridge. It may not be best to keep it out if you're going to steam up the bathroom, but you could just keep it in your bedroom or during the hot months, (as odd as it sounds) you could keep it in the fridge.

Keep in mind, with DIY deodorant, you don't need to apply as much. One or two swipes is sufficient! If you try and find that #3 is not strong enough for you, try adding in some more baking soda until you find the right balance for you.

DIY Reusable Household Cleaning Wipes

One of my first DIY home cleaning projects was reusable wipes. I'm a sucker for things like Clorox wipes and used them to clean everything from the kitchen to the bathroom. When the budget is tight however, I really can't afford them and that's when I went searching for something I could make myself.

There are lots of ideas and recipes for DIY wipes. Some people use paper towels and pine sol, but that sounded too expensive to me. Plus I wanted something a little more natural. Then I came across the idea of using old cut up t-shirts to make reusable wipes.

I found some old holey undershirts that were ready to be tossed and cut them up. I wasn't too precise on the size; I mostly wanted to get as many wipes out of the shirts as I could. I got about 40 wipes out of 4 or 5 (man size) tank tops.

Sanitizing Wipes

What you need:

2 cups water

1 cup white vinegar

3 1/2 tbsp dawn dish soap

1 large container with a lid (I used a Glad-ware container)

Place a stack of cloths into the container. I put about 20, but you could easily put more. Then measure out your cleaning ingredients and mix well (a glass measuring cup works well for this part).

Pour the mixture over the towel. I try to pour some around the edges, as well as the middle because it helps coat everything more evenly. Then put the lid on and give it a good shake. 

They are ready for use! I usually give each wipe a little squeeze over the container before using it just to drain the excess liquid. I designated a little basket in the laundry room for used wipes. When we're running low on wipes or the little basket looks full, I just toss them in with my towels. 

This amount of mix will last for more than one batch. After the wipes are washed, I just put a little stack together, stick them under the existing wipes in the container, and give it a good shake so that the cleaning mix permeates the new wipes. We typically use these wipes to clean up the kitchen counters and stove.

Disinfectant Wipes

What you need:

2 1/4 cups water

2 1/4 cups method antibac

1 reusable container

Along with the sanitizing wipes, I also wanted to make sure I had something that I trusted to get rid of germs from raw meat and for wiping down things like the toilet. I didn't want a super harsh or smelly chemical like bleach (which I'm allergic to) or pine sol. So I just looked through the cleaning products I had on hand. When I came across the method antibac (which has a lovely, gentle spearmint smell), I was hooked. 

The process is the same as with the sanitizing wipes. Put a stack of wipes in the container, mix up your cleaning solution, pour cleaning solution into container, and then give it a couple of good shakes with the lid on. 

This amount of solution will also make more than just the initial amount of wipes. The first time I made them, I stuffed 18 cloths into my container. Since then, I've probably refilled it with cloths 2 or 3 times and haven't had to add solution. I also find it handy to just write the recipe on the back of the container, that way you never forget and if you're not around, someone else can refill the container themselves. =)

Five "Shirt into a Skirt" Ideas

As I was rummaging through my closet this morning, trying to decide what to wear on this cold day, I ran across a pair of fleece lined leggings. They seemed so cozy and perfect for today's weather. The only problem was, the only skirt I had to wear with them was too big because of all my weight loss this year.

I hopped on Pinterest and searched for "DIY no sew skirt." A ton of pins came up with everything from drawstring skirts to t-shirt skirts. The t-shirt idea seemed easiest and really inspired me. So I went into my closet and started looking through my shirts to see if I could come up with any ideas. I tried on about 8 different shirts and 5 of them looked good!

From experience, let me suggest that if you are a curvy girl, it may be best to slip the shirt over your head and arms instead of trying to step into it... The basics: You just roll up the collar of the shirt around your waste until it is the desired length and then tuck the sleeves into the part that you rolled. Once you put a shirt or cardigan over it, you can't even see the little bit of extra fabric.

My first try was with this tunic shirt. This is the one I've been wearing all day and I'm here to say that it stayed this way without a problem!

My second try was this light weight, sparkly black sweater. I was pleasantly surprised by the results! Because of the stretchy material, it was easy to put on and tuck into the right shape.

Next I decided to try something without sleeves. I found my sweater vest/tank topish thing (I'm actually not sure what it was originally designed for, but I use it to layer over button-ups). I really like the look and it was an added bonus not have to deal with tucking sleeves in anywhere!

 Fourth was a cardigan. I was not sure how I would like it with the buttons going down the front, but I actually don't mind the buttons. If I was going out somewhere, I probably would not pair it was another cardigan on top though. All those buttons look a little funny to me, but with a solid top, I think it would be cute!

Lastly, I grabbed my poncho. I thought the asymmetrical fabric might give a cool look. It's harder to see in this picture because of the black, but I felt cute in the outfit! It was definitely something different from all the other looks, but still very fun.

This was such a fun way for me to invent new looks without having to pay a cent or spend time sewing anything! I'm sure you have some unique things to try in your closet, so I hope you were inspired by this post to have some fun and try on some different looks!

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

I don't know about anyone else, but Fall is one of my most favorite times of the year! One of the reasons its my favorite is PUMPKIN! I love all things pumpkin! Pumpkin bread, pumpkin chai tea lattes, pumpkin chili, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin bars, pumpkin cider (that's right, I have recipes for alllll these things and I plan on sharing!).

So when I started getting the pumpkin itch, I checked out the prices on canned pumpkin. I was not thrilled, to say the least. I bought a few cans, but at $1.88 a can (the small ones), I knew it was going to be a budget buster if I bought enough for all my recipes. 

The next time I went to the store, they had put those huge bins of pumpkins out in the front of the store. I saw $0.25/lb and I was struck with a brilliant idea! Why don't I make my own pumpkin puree? Now I know what you're thinking. Those are carving pumpkins. Wouldn't they taste funny? Well, I'm here to tell you that they don't!

I picked out two small ones, about 6 lbs each and paid $3.

When I got home, I preheated the oven to 375 F. I cut off the top of the pumpkin to remove the stem and then cut them each in half. I scooped out the guts and saved them to make roasted pumpkin seeds later. I cut each piece in half, so that the pumpkins were in quarters. I laid them on a cookie sheet, no need to be fancy about. I just smooshed them all on there. 

After baking for 45-60 minutes, they got nice and soft in the oven. When a fork easily poked through the skin, they were done. After they cooled slightly, I took one section at a time and laid it on a cutting board, skin side up. The pieces will still have a bend to them, which makes it difficult to cut the skin off. I just flatten each section with my hand and then used a sharp knife to cut the skin off.

       

After removing the skin of 2 or 3 pieces, I tossed them into the food processor. I blended until the mixture looked smooth. I poured it into a big bowl and repeated the whole process until all the sections had been processed.

Since most recipes call for a can of pumpkin, I checked how many cups were in the small can I had left: 1 3/4 cups. So I measured that into small freezer baggies and ended up with 6 baggies worth! That's $0.50/bag and saves $1.38 compared to the price of the small off-brand can! I simply stored them in the freezer and they have kept and defrosted beautifully!

Before I went shouting about my savings from the rooftops, I wanted to make sure it stood the taste test. I wasn't totally sure it would, since the color of my homemade version was considerably lighter than the canned version. Donald decided to try it in a Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. We loved them! He took some to work the next day and his co-workers begged him to bring more! 

I also noticed that my local Kroger store (Smith's) just lowered their pumpkin prices to $0.18/lb! This actually included their Sugar Pie Pumpkins!! So I grabbed 10 and plan to stock up the freezer with more pumpkin puree for the holidays! I have heard rumors that pumpkin prices drop dramatically after Halloween, so it may be worth stocking up then too!

 Happy pumpkin cooking!