Holiday Straw Vase Craft DIY

• Here is what you will need:
• Glass jar
• Assorted paper straws
• Ribbon
• Hot glue, glue gun
• Scissors

You can find paper straws like the ones you see here at Michael’s and other area craft stores. They run about $2 a pack, and a pack is all you need to cover a medium sized jar. Use a holiday color such as green, red, gold, or a combination of all three.

Directions:
1. Begin by cutting the straws to the length of your choice and need. You want them to be about ½ inch taller than the jar you are using. Basic craft scissors will work just fine for this step. Make sure all of the straws are identical in length.

2. Once the straws are cut, you can begin applying them to the jar. Apply the hot glue to the length of the straw, then press the straw to the jar. Hold it in place until it is secure.
3. Continue the process until you have covered the entire jar. Continue applying the straws, placing them as close to each other as possible.

4. Once all of the straws are in place, tie a length of ribbon around the jar. You can knot it or make a bow.

Your holiday straw vase is now complete. Fill it with your favorite holiday flowers, utensils, or anything else you can think of. It is a great way to add some holiday color to your space while using straws in a fun and fresh way. Give it a try!

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Caring for a Norfolk Island Pine Indoors

What is the Norfolk Island Pine?

How to help the Norfolk Island Pine thrive indoors?

What are the common problems with Norfolk Island Pines?

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Where can you use raspberry mascarpone frosting?

This frosting would be wonderful on top of a lemon cupcake, lemon and raspberry is one of my favorite flavor combinations! You could also use this to top a basic vanilla cupcake, sugar cookies or even a chocolate cake. Mascarpone frosting is a little more sturdy than regular buttercream frosting, and the raspberry flavor makes this amazing!

So what is Mascarpone?

Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese. It’s different from American cream cheese. Mascarpone cheese is made from cow’s milk, like regular cream cheese, but it’s an off-white in color and is spreadable. It’s a great way to add a little extra richness into recipes, or great to make mascarpone frosting!

Give your cupcakes a little extra pizazz by adding a Wilton 1M large star tip to the end of a pastry bag. Add the Raspberry Mascarpone Frosting to the bag and squeeze gently while you swirl the icing from the outside in to make a soft peak in the center. You can also top the cupcakes with sprinkles or even a couple fresh raspberries!

What’s your favorite frosting recipe?

Looking for more baking recipes? Check out this Vanilla Cake Recipe with Lemon Cream Frosting. Or this basket weave cake for a birthday party.

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Low Histamine Herbs For The Garden

Fresh leafy green herbs are great for a low histamine diet. There are more, but here are a few of the top ones you should consider in your garden.

• Sage– It’s rich in quercetin, so it helps block the release of histamines.
• Rosemary– Helps balance flavors, and can help enhance digestion.
• Lavender– Great for tea, or just to have to make your own natural body products.
• Thyme – Rich in vitamin C and has some anti-microbial properties.
• Peppermint- One of my favorite herbs for tea! I gave up coffee when I started watching my histamines, because caffeine can block DAO. Peppermint tea with a dash of local honey is my new favorite! You might grow it in a large pot if you’re worried about it being invasive.
• Cilantro– If you’re a fan, cilantro is great on salads and I’ve heard it can help you detox.
• Oregano– Great for your immune system, possibly to help you heal, and to add flavor to your favorite recipes.
• Basil– Is a great anti-inflammatory herb, especially Holy Basil which is an anti-histamine. Basil is great for adding flavor to fresh salad dressings and summer salads.
• Parsley– Also supposed to be great to help calm inflammation, a great addition to summer salads.
• Lemongrass– I grow this in a pot so I can bring it in for the winter since it’s a tender perennial and I live in Ohio. It’s great for tea! Lemongrass root stock on Amazon.

Low Histamine Greens To Grow In Your Garden

Most greens are great to grow in your low histamine garden. NOT spinach, it’s on the no go list for those who have issues with histamines. These are all a great addition to your spring and summer salads, or when you can grow them in your area.

• Kale– High in quercetin when it’s raw, which helps lower histamine. This is one of my favorite garden greens to grow, especially in the early spring and fall.
• Lettuces: Romaine Lettuce, Leaf (especially red leaf), bibb, butter, etc- There is nothing better than a big old salad
• Bok Choy– Great for a low histamine stir fry!
• Collard Greens– DAO enzyme boosting
• Chard– Also DAO enzyme boosting
• Beet Greens– Another DAO enzyme booster, great addition to salads.
• Arugula– Low in histamine and can add flavor variety and a spicy kick to salad.

Other Low Histamine Vegetables

Beyond the leafy greens above, there are quite a few vegetables that are great to include in your low histamine garden. Here are some of my favorites!

• Snap Peas– Rich in quercetin, and a great addition to salad.
• Cruciferous Vegetables like Broccoli, Cabbage, and Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower- These all contain some great anti-inflammatory properties, and Broccoli and cabbage are rich in quercetin. I like to stir fry these or to add them to my sheet pan vegetables.
• Red Beets– Add these to some other root vegetables to make a great roasted root vegetables sheet pan recipe. 7 Health Benefits of Beets
• Onions– Beneficial for adding flavor to your recipes! They’re also thought to help lower histamine levels, especially red onions since they have quercetin.
• Mild Peppers– Another quercetin rich food. Stay away from the hotter varieties, since these can cause inflammation if you have histamine issues.
• Carrots– Great for salads, or another great addition to my favorite roasted root vegetables recipe. Also great for snacking or juicing.
• Cucumber– Great for those summer salads, or sliced for a fresh snack, or juicing.
• Sweet Potatoes/ Yams– Another great addition to the roasted root vegetable recipe I linked to above. I also love to spiral these and make baked sweet potato fries. I also like to make sweet potato puree.
• Turnips– A delicious crunchy snack!
• Squash– From summer squash like zucchini and yellow squash, to winter squash, including acorn, butternut, spaghetti, and even pumpkins, squash is loaded with vitamins, and overall great for a low histamine lifestyle. Test these though, some people have issues with the winter squash types.

This definitely isn’t an all inclusive list, it’s just some of my favorites! What would you include in your low histamine garden plan?

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1. Use old Valentines in scrapbook pages.
Cut out the fun shapes and characters on the valentines and use them in your scrapbooking. They will work great and make your pages pop with color!

2. Make a Valentine’s Day bunting banner.
Cut the valentines into triangles and glue them onto a length of ribbon. You now have a Valentine’s Day bunting banner for pennies. Place it somewhere safe and use it next year when the holiday comes around again.

3. Make year round love notes.
Cut out the hearts and other sweet illustrations on the valentines and use them as year round love memos. Stick them in your child’s lunch or spouses work bag so they can have an instant pick me up when they find it.

4. Make your own fire starters.
Roll the valentines into a tube shape and stuff the inside with dryer lint. Place the rolls in a basket and grab one each time you need to start a fire. They will look sweet displayed and yet they are a practical way to get a fire roaring.

5. Make a sweet ornament.
Shred the valentines and then stuff the shreds into a clear ornament. The colors will look beautiful showing through the glass. Label the ornament with the year so you can recall when you received them. Display the ornament year round or on your tree at Christmas.

6. Use them as bookmarks.
Valentines make colorful and practical bookmarks. Use them to mark the pages of your novels, cookbooks, and more. If you want, you can even punch a hole in the valentine and run ribbon through for some extra flare.

7. Use old Valentines for decoupage.
Cut out the graphics and wording you like and use them in decoupage projects. You can apply them to jars, plates, pictures, and more.

Don’t toss those old valentines! Give these choices a try instead and see how fun they can be to repurpose.

Looking for more Valentine’s Day Inspiration? Check out these Two Lovely Heart Plants for Valentine’s Day.

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I used Lily’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips, but you could also use the dark chocolate bars.  Here’s the link to their Lily’s baking chips on Amazon (I may make a commission if you make a purchase, but I only recommend products I use and love), but I’ve also found them at our local Meijer and Kroger grocery stores (and you don’t have to buy 3). They have a KETO version of these too, I found them at Whole Foods!

Here’s the recipe for Low Carb Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Please note: You can still only have 1 or 2, not the whole container in one sitting!

This is a quick and easy recipe! Only 2 ingredients, hah! But they’re oh so delicious! You can use this idea for other berries too! I’ve made chocolate covered blueberries and chocolate covered raspberries this way! All turned out delicious, and hit the spot when I was craving a little chocolate, or for a bite of sweet for a romantic date night!

Looking for more recipes? Check out this recipe for low carb white chocolate covered berries. So romantic!

Or check out this low-carb raspberry smoothie!

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New Year’s Eve Party Decorating Tips

First, choose a color palette.  A favored color palette incorporates classic colors of black, gold and silver, with a touch of glitter for some extra glitz and glamour (New Year’s Eve only rolls around once a year, so make it special)!  Plus, by choosing such classic colors, you are more likely to already have items on hand at home that you can use.  Leftover Christmas ornaments, metallic ribbon and sparkly holiday accents make for perfect quick change additions for a New Year’s celebration.

Don’t be afraid to shop after Christmas sales for additional décor basics.  Serving trays, platters and extra glassware and dishes are often on sale. Items like basic white plates can be purchased and embellished with food safe paints.  How amazing would hand painted clocks striking midnight look as part of an elegant table setting?

Add Some Extra New Year’s Eve Pizazz

Add some glitz by spray painting plastic or faux fruit leftovers from the holidays with metallic paint to create a beautiful runner and centerpieces.  Even the leaves of a pineapple top can look amazing gilded with gold or silver and used as a tea light holder.  Add glitter to vases or dollar store glassware stems to really impress guests.

Create New Year’s Eve magic by adding great lighting.  Accomplish this by stringing holiday lights and using well-placed floor lighting.  Even rope lighting under sheer tablecloths on refreshment buffets and behind sheer fabric curtains can have a big impact.  Pull out candles in all shapes and sizes and light them in areas that need a little more ambience.

Use basic bowls and dishes (clear and white work perfectly), and fill them with gold and silver candies like Hershey’s Kisses and Nuggets.  Strategically place these in areas that need a little glam, providing perfect snacks for guests to enjoy. It also adds a little bit of sparkle all in one.

Decorating Tips as The New Year Approaches

Traditional New Year’s Eve party horns can be strung as a garland.  Other favors like glittered hats, feather boas and beads can be purposefully positioned as décor on the refreshment table. These can be handed out as favors as the clock ticks closer to midnight.

You can spruce up your favorite bar cart with tissue tassel garland DIYd from clearance tissue paper, for an inexpensive display that’s sure to wow your guests.  Add fun paper straws, stir sticks and all of the ingredients for a signature mocktail or cocktail.

Use a shimmery fabric made of sequins to lay the foundation for a beautiful refreshment table.  Add height by wrapping gift boxes in metallic wrapping paper and adding cake stands and platters in varying heights. This will help to serve a line-up of beautifully presented finger foods. You can add printed food labels to help guests identify all of the mouth-watering options and give your party that pulled together look.

Keep these tips in mind while adding your personal flair—you will be ringing in the New Year, in style!

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You might think that throwing out on the curb for trash pick up is your only option, but the truth is, there are so many other cool things you can do with an old Christmas tree! If you are unsure where to begin, take a peek below at 7 ways to reuse your old Christmas tree. Even if you are not crafty, you will still find these easy to implement ideas are a great way to give your tree a new life.

I came up with 7 ideas, I’d love to challenge you to come up with a few more!

7 Ways to Reuse Your Old Christmas Tree

1. Make your own swags.
Cut off the branches and use them to make your own outdoor swags. You can easily group the branches together and tie them with wire and ribbon. Hang them from fencing, porch posts, or other outdoor items to keep your home looking seasonal all winter long.

2. Create a bird haven.
Move the tree out to the yard where birds will adore hanging out in it. You can keep it in the stand or simply lean it up against a sturdy surface. Place seed nearby and some simple building materials such as straw or scrap fabric and in no time the birds will move in. This is a great way to help out your feather friends during the cold months! More tips on attracting winter birds.

3. Craft up some coasters.
You can make your own coasters from the trunk of your tree in no time. Simply saw the trunk off in discs, sand them smooth with some sandpaper, and paint or stain the pieces. The finished product is some easy and inexpensive coasters perfect for holding your beverages.

4. Keep it for kindling.
Pine is great for kindling and giving your bon fires a boost. Chop your tree up and bundle the wood up to use as kindling later. Even if you can’t use it for awhile, it will be nice to have on hand for when you can! Use pine just for your outdoor fires, as the sap can pop and become quite flammable. Because of this, it is not ideal for indoor fires.

5. Make your own mulch.
Pine needles make excellent and FREE mulch. Place the pine needles and branches over your flower beds and around tree bases to keep them protected during the cool months. Simply wear some heavy and protective gloves, pull the needles off, and start laying them down. Nothing beats free, especially when mulch can run as much as $5 a bag.

6. Create a natural border.
Your tree trunk can also be used to create a natural border around your flower beds. Simply cut the trunk into discs as you did with the coasters, but instead place them around flower beds and gardens. There is no need to sand them or finish them, just place them on the ground as is.

7. Recycle it.
You might be tempted in the end to just trash your tree, but call and check if your city has a recycling program first. This is a great way to make sure your tree will get a new life, even if you don’t have the time to try any of the projects listed above.

Don’t let the end of the Christmas season mean it is the end of your tree. Give these tips a try and see how easy it is to reuse your tree in ways that are so fun and frugal. You might be surprised at just how easy it can be.

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I’m pretty sure I’m going to be making this mug cake the whole month of December and beyond! If you’re used to baked goods made with wheat flour, this is a little denser and heavier, but it’s super moist and chocolaty, oh and delicious! Definitely hits the spot for a winter treat without all the carbs in candy and other baked goods that are going around this time of year.

Grain Free Peppermint Chocolate Mug Cake

Some of the ingredients are a little difficult to find so here are the brands I use on Amazon (if you use these links I may make a small commission at no extra expense to you):

• Protein Powder: Left Coast Chocolate Bone Broth Protein Powder
• Coconut Flour
• Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips (these are strictly optional, they aren’t low carb, but they are grain free, and dairy free)

I’m also in love with this snowflake ramekin! I got it in the dollar sections at our local Target store. I don’t see it online, and it was $3 not one dollar, but there were 2. The one pictured and another a little bit smaller for $3. Definitely worth the money! They also had star and Christmas tree ramekin sets. The larger one is the perfect size for mug cakes and so festive!

I’ve also been trying a couple other variations on this recipe, so I’ll definitely be sharing those soon!

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How to choose which bulbs to buy

Find the right bulb for your garden

What bulbs to plant in fall:

Here are some bulbs to plant in October

The best soil for planting bulbs in the fall

Best way to plant bulbs

After planting, care for bulbs.

How to store bulbs until planting

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