Diy – Homemade Advents Calendars

Kurt Adler Wooden Chimney Christmas Advent Calendar

The countdown to Christmas has started.
On of my favourite traditions as a child was opening our Advent calendars. Each morning, starting on December 1 my sister, and I got up and raced to our calendars to see what chocolate shape was to be found behind the door.  Stars, Christmas trees, bells and more, we loved the sweet surprise.

My children also enjoy their Advents calendars and especially for small children it shortens the wait till until Christmas.

Of course, you can purchase calendars now in every Grocery store.  They range from $1.25 at Dollar stores to $19 for exclusive Lindt chocolate ones. Even Lego and Playmobile Toy Calendars are now available (see below)
But much more unique and personal are homemade advent calendars, and they can be reused and handed down and become a family tradition.
You can craft an advent calendar from materials like wood, paper or fabric. There are virtually no limits to your creativity. It can be classic, simple or colourful and modern. Add numbered pouches, bags or boxes that can hold many types of small treats, an inspirational note, toys, or stickers.

I found some awesome and inspiring examples here and want to share some great ideas with you.
Make this year’s Advent extra special.

Better Homes and Garden
Create a calendar made from a 24 cup muffin tin. It doesn’t get much faster and easier than this.

Santa Countdown
How cute are these little Santas? Visit the link and get 24 different Santa printables and decorate your rolls
All you need is 24 toilet paper rolls, scissors, string, tape and colored paper for the hats.

Advent Calendar Tree

You don’t need carpenter skills, just a hammer, nails and wood to assemble this rustic tree of treats.

Fabric Advent Calendars, as seen on Amazon

Feeling like adding personal treats to a calendar, but don’t have the time to make a DIY calendar from scratch?

These cute fabric Christmas trees or Santas Advent calendars have 24 pockets, that are just asking to be stuffed with special treats for your favourite child or person!

browse all Advent Calendars on Amazon.ca

Source: The post Homemade Advents Calendars – Cute and Easy appeared first on Angie's Ontario.

Easy Cookie Icing Recipe

Butter cookies are by far my Family’s favourite cookies, and I love to use this easy icing recipe below.
The icing tastes perfectly sweet, and it dries shiny, giving your cookies a
professional glazed look.
The icing may be used for any kind of cookies from Christmas and Easter cookies to Halloween treats, sugar cookies and gingerbread men.
Add any of your favourite food colouring, if you wish.
I like to use Maple syrup with mine for a unique Canadian taste, but other syrups like corn syrups works just as well.
Start out with the ingredients below and add a little bit more milk or syrup, to get the right consistency.

Instructions:

1.Measure confectioners’ sugar and pour into a small dish.
2.Add the milk and stir Pour in the maple or corn syrup and vanilla extract and stir until the icing is smooth and shiny. If needed, add a little more syrup to get a spreadable consistency.
3.The icing is ready to use on your cooled cookies. Simply use a brush and paint on the icing, or put in a bag for piping.

If you wish to have coloured icing, you may now add the desired food colouring.
Use one colour or divide the icing into several bowls, if you want several colours.
Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity.

Source: The post Easy Cookie Icing Recipe – Perfect for Christmas and Sugar Cookies appeared first on Angie's Ontario.

Fun Fall Leaf Crafts and Decorations

My favourite part about autumn is that the leaves of many deciduous trees put on the most gorgeous show of colour.
As we were raking leaves in our yard today, we kept pausing to admire the beautiful coloured leaves on our front lawn, looking so vividly illuminated by streaks of sunlight. O.K., it was mostly me doing the admiring while my kids dove in and out of leave piles, scattering them all over the lawn. Again!

Eventually, most of the neatly raked piles made it into the leaf bags. We do compost some and also use the lawn mover to break down a nice layer of mulch to leave as fertilizer for the next year. But most of them ended up in leaf bags. Finally being done with all the raking, I should have a feeling of accomplishment, but discarding all these little pieces of beauty felt like such a waste.
I picked up a few “perfect ones” and decided to find a way to somehow extend their short and colorful life.I chose the best shaped and coloured leaves, made sure they were dry and clean and could be used them for various decorations inside.

There are many ways to use these beautiful autumn leaves.

www.bellenza.com
You can place one or two of them on each napkin beside a plate and enjoy a touch of fall during your family dinner. Get a decorative piece of strings and tie them around the napkin for a fancier dinner party.

on nowoodenspoons.blogspot.com

Having a more romantic dinner?  You could spread a few bright red coloured leaves around a candle light  to have an elegant, romantic glow

http:/homedecorationdesigns.blogspot.ca

Use them to dress up your fruit bowl. Take some leaves and place a few between  your apples and bananas.

Want to keep your leaves for an extended amount of time?

www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com

Frame them or make a coaster or bookmark.

Make sure to save some of the leaves for crafts and activities.  Kids will enjoy fun and easy crafts with leaves.
Have them collect various brightly coloured leaves in different shapes and sizes and get  ready to make these adorable crafts seen below

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So it’s that time of year again, you’ve sent the kids off to school and with that it’s time to start dealing with what can be a frustrating question – what to pack them for lunch? Of course you want to pack items that are healthy, will give them the energy they need to make it through the day, meet the school restrictions, and are tasty but what about the cost? Packing lunches daily can be pretty pricey so let’s take a look at some economical lunch solutions.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Before even heading to the grocery store to pick up on items, it’s important to first be aware of what food restrictions your child’s school and/or class may have. We are all now very used to the nut-free environments at school, but there can be other items your child can’t bring. It may take a little reading at first as you look at the ingredients on all the boxes and cartons at the supermarket but soon you’ll be familiar with what is safe and what isn’t.

Another thing to keep in mind is to have on hand a selection of containers that will work for your child’s tastes. If you child prefers hot lunches you may want to pick up on a few spill-proof insulated containers, whereas if your child is more of a sandwich type you can find all kinds of perfectly sized reusable containers. It’s all about making your life easy, convenient, and quick when it comes to packing lunches.

Fit and Fresh Kids Value Lunch Container Set with Removable Ice Packs, 17-Piece Set

Think Ahead
A great way to save money is to think ahead when you’re cooking dinners. Try to pick meals that can be versatile and can then be used in lunches for the next few days. This means you aren’t preparing new things or having to purchase new items. An example of this is pasta, which can be cooked in advance even on Sunday afternoon/evening. Cook up a large pot and then start getting creative. You can quickly transform that pasta into a cold salad, add a warm and comforting sauce to it, bake it with some grated cheese and your child’s favourite spices, or add pesto, kidney beans, and veggies for a scrumptious dish. Each day you can serve up the pasta in a different way taking no more than 15 minutes to prepare and at a very low cost.

Walmart Live Better

Finger Foods
Another cost-effective option that is quick and simple is a selection of finger foods. Pick up your child’s favourite veggies, cold meats, a little cheese, eggs (for hard-boiled eggs), hummus, and some crackers. This sort of meal does well with the reusable containers that have separate sections in them. You can pre-wash and cut up all the vegetables and fruit (if you are sending a fruit). Send them with a variety of nibblers each day, and it will be fun for them to eat, super fast for you to put together, and very cost-effective. To add a bit of substance if they are a big eater you can also include a soft tortilla wrap so they can eat that separately or create their own customized wrap at lunch time.

All You recipes

Meat Eaters Unite
If your child is a meat eater and can’t seem to go a meal without this food group you can still satisfy their hunger in a cost-effective way. Chicken drumstick are one of the cheapest cuts of meat you can find. Look for the large value packs to go on sale and pick up a pack or two then place one or two drumsticks in a freezer bag and pop them in the freezer. Take out one freezer bag at a time and cook the drumsticks in advance, on say that Sunday night. You can now include fresh meat in their lunch for days and again do it in different ways. Perhaps make a sandwich from the meat, a pasta and chicken salad, a chicken wrap, or just a full drumstick with a container of ranch dressing on the side.

This same idea can be done with any type of meat the key is to package them separately before freezing them.

Betty Crocker

Warm them Through the Cold Months

Even though we are still enjoying relatively mild and beautiful weather, it won’t be long before it starts getting chilly. This is the perfect time to start enjoying soups and stews, which can be very cheap and easy to make. A slow cooker is a wonderful way to make use of all those leftovers in your fridge, and you can throw in the rice, kidney beans, lentils, potatoes, pasta, or barley to give it more substance and fill their bellies. Don’t forget experiment with those warm and comforting spices such as cumin, garlic, onions, thyme, ginger, nutmeg, and chilli peppers that also do an excellent job chasing away those cold and flu bugs. You can add a nice thick slice of fresh bread or a roll that they will be able to dip into the soup and leave them satisfied.

Keep in mind many stews/soups can be frozen so you can ladle them into individual meal portions in your reusable containers making lunch preparations so simple. All you’ll need to do is take it out of the freezer the night before and let it defrost in the fridge overnight. Warm it up in the morning and pour it into an insulated spill-proof thermos.

Conclusion

There are plenty of ways to make lunches exciting, tasty, healthy, and cost-effective for kids. Planning out the lunches in advance, taking advantage of sales when you find them, seasonal items, and a little advance preparation can actually make a big difference for all.

Source: The post Tasty and Cost-Effective School Lunch Ideas appeared first on Angie's Ontario.

Keep Wasps Away Tricks – DIY Wasp repellents and Traps

Summer gives us warm temperatures and plenty of chances to enjoy picnics, BBQ’s  and outdoor gatherings.
Unfortunately summer also brings some unwelcome guests.
Mosquitos and wasps (or yellow jackets) can quickly take the enjoyment of eating outdoors and become a nuisance you’d want to get rid of.

In August and September wasps seem to be on a carb rush and will be attracted by anything sweet!
Sharing your delicious pie or juicy drink with these bugs is not only gross, but it can be quite dangerous!

I don’t like using the commercially available bug and insect sprays because they contain too many dangerous pesticides. That’s not something I would consider spraying around my children, or anywhere near food.

So I have compiled a list of my favourite natural and homemade tricks to deter wasps and as a final resort you may want to put up traps.
There are store bought wasp traps available, but they can cost anywhere from $6 to $20 and
you can make your own wasp traps for a lot less money.

1. Deter Wasps & Keep them away with herbs and scents.

Certain scents are proven to keep wasps away. If wasps are a problem in your kitchen or around the patio, make sure to use these natural deterents.  They include:

• Tea tree oil is a great hack for germs, viruses and wasps!
• sliced garlic cloves. Wasps hate the smell and you may want to place a few cloves on the table when having a BBQ
• Basil plants. To us the smell is delightful. To wasps, NOT so much! Place plants as decoration.
• Essential oils. Use an incense burner with essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus or mint. We love the scent, but it  actually drives away these pesky insects.
• Coffee: We love the smell of roasted coffee. Not wasps, however. So place some ground coffee on a heat proof plate and light it up. The smoke will send them packing.

2. Distract the Wasps!

If your family is eating at the patio table, place a dish with very ripe grapes several feet away on the ground. Wasps love grapes and will likely flock to the grapes, leaving your plate untouched! Don’t use honey or jam, which tends to make wasps more aggressive,

3. Trap and Kill?

As a last resort you can make your own DIY wasp trap and catch them.

www.pinterest.com

Take any empty bottle and use a sharp knife or scissors to cut off the top third part. Then fill a sweet solution into the bottle and insert the top back with the opening facing downwards (creating a funnel). The insects will crawl into the bottle via the funnel, but be unable to find the opening when trying to escape.

In a pinch trap:

Simply take any large, used soda bottle, unscrew and fill with 2-3 cm of pop or juice. Add a little dish soap  This will prevent wasps from escaping the trap. Place bottle a few feet away from eating area. Wasps will climb be attracted to the sweet scent, climb into the bottle and eventually drown.

You can conduct some experiments with several types of bottles to see what works best for you.

Finally, there are some Dont’s when it comes to dealing with wasps:

DON’T swat or blow on wasps. This will make them agressive and more likely to attack and sting you.

Don’t use honey in traps, as it might attract honey bees, which should not be killed.

Source: The post Keep Wasps Away Tricks – DIY Wasp Repellents & Traps appeared first on Angie's Ontario.

Homemade Blackhead Pore Strips – How to Make a DIY Blackhead Removing Mask!

Nobody likes to look in the mirror and see blackheads on their nose and face. Yikes! Feels like they always appear at the worst time, like when you have somewhere important to go and want to look your best.
There is no sense on wasting money on pore minimizers or cover them up because simply put; blackheads make your pores look huge and more visible.
So, I was quite ecstatic when I noticed an easy DIY recipe for Blackheads floating around the web this week.
This is a fabulous beauty remedy with everyday  ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen already.

It comes in handy as emergency treatment before a night out or as part of your weekly beauty routine.
On top of it, you’ll be happy to know it’s also inexpensive.

Here is what you’ll need:

• one (1)  tablespoon of unflavoured gelatin and
• 1-2  tablespoons of plain unsweetened yogurt or milk

Instructions: How to Make the Blackhead Pore Strips

1.  take a microwavable bowl or small cup and add the gelatin and milk or yogurt.
2. heat the mixture until melted
3. remove the dish from microwave and let it cool until safe to apply to face.
4. Use your fingertips or a small makeup sponge and apply to nose  and areas with blackheads.
5. Wait for the mixture to dry (about ten minutes
6. The peel it off gently.

Voila!
Show off a clearer complexion thanks to these safe and edible ingredients.

What I like about this homemade mask is that it does not contain preservatives and harmful ingredients like store bought pore strips.
The lactic acid from the milk or yogurt also has the added benefit of removing dead skin cells. I love the nice rosy glow my skin has after the peel.

Source: The post Homemade Blackhead Pore Strips – Make a DIY Blackhead Removing Mask! appeared first on Angie's Ontario.

Great new uses for Toothpaste – Use these Alternative DIY cleaning tips

If you think Toothpaste is just for brushing your teeth and whitening your smile, then you will be surprised by my tips for alternative uses

I have listed my top 11 favourite Smart uses for toothpaste.
They are not listed in any particular order as I have used them all at one time or another!
Enjoy.
A tip for starters. Mild toothpastes are gentle on your enamel and teeth, but they will not come in handy for the applications I am about to mention.
The toothpaste I like to pick up, is a whitening toothpaste like Arm & Hammer Extra white, etc.
Whitening toothpastes work well, because they contain small abrasive particles.

1. Cleaning Tiles
Is your tile grout  yellowed, dirty and unsightly?
Tiles are exceptionally easy to clean with toothpaste. Grab  an old toothbrush, add a small amount of toothpaste and brush the tiles grout to get it looking like new again.

2. Fill nail holes white walls
Toothpaste is ideal for filling tiny holes in white walls. This little cosmetic touchup will save you from having to paint the whole wall or even room! This trick came in handy when I first moved out of my dorm room and for every move since then!

3. Remove your kids art work
Is it time to remove the painting and drawings your budding Picasso left on your walls? Whether it’s coloured pencil, ballpoint pen or crayon, toothpaste is coming to the rescue.
Simply squeeze a small glob of white toothpaste on a dry and clean cloth or paper towel. Next rub the wall gently in a circular motion and make the artwork disappear.

4. Remove stains from clothing
Stubborn stains on clothing stains can be easily removed with toothpaste. Dab white toothpaste onto the stain and rub it into the fabric. Let the toothpaste absorb the stain and once dried, you can simply scrape off the toothpaste or wash it out.
Very stubborn stains may have to be treated again if necessary.

5. Clean your iron
The dirty bottom of a clothes iron can be easily cleaned with toothpaste. Every time my steam iron collects grey and black smudges on the bottom, I use a little toothpaste and rub the smears gently with a cloth. Finish with a damp wipe and your iron is shiny again.

6. Toothpaste prevents your mirror from fogging
Coming out of the shower, and your bathroom mirror is all foggy?
You can prevent this from happening by using toothpaste.
Next time, clean your mirror, add a little toothpaste and polish the glass. This will leave an invisible protective film that repels the steam from fogging up your mirror.

7. Brighten your fingernails
Toothpaste can not only remove residual nail polish, but it will also brighten your nails. Add a little toothpaste to your nails, Brush gently and rinse. This works well for smokers.

8. Clean Your Car’s  Headlights

Toothpaste does a great job for polishing automobile headlights. Use a damp cloth, add toothpaste and rub with the rag.
Your headlights will sparkle like new.
your headlights already sparkle like new.

10. Clean silver jewellery
Toothpaste is fantastic for cleaning Silver cutlery.  Use a soft dish cloth and a little toothpaste to polish cutlery and other silver objects. It not only cleans, but will bring back a high-gloss finish.

11. Remove unpleasant odours from the fingers
Cut an onion or peeled some garlic? Remove the pungent odour with toothpaste.

Have you found some great alternative uses for your toothpaste>

Stay tuned I will be adding more tips to this list

Source: The post Alternative uses for Toothpaste – Clean with Your Whitening Toothpaste appeared first on Angie's Ontario.

AddIngredients:

Garlic butter is one of these homemade items that should be in everyone’s fridge.
I never purchase store bought packages, as they  are rather expensive (if you can find them), and it’s so easy and fast to prepare it at home.

Garlic butter is so versatile. Spread it on fresh baguette, your baked potatoes or use in cooking for your vegetables or sauteing.

Freshly made garlic butter is always a treat at any dinner party.
Place a variety of fresh artisan breads and serve the garlic butter in an elegant dish.

Scroll down below for two great recipes, simply and easy garlic butter and garlic butter with herbs.

This recipe below is easily adjusted to your own taste.
It only takes 10 minutes to make.

Simple Garlic Butter Recipe
Use the following ingredients:

250 g  soft butter
1/2 tsp of  salt
1/2 tsp pepper
4-6 garlic cloves (minced)
optional 1/4 cup fresh chives (chopped)  or  teaspoon Italian seasoning
Peel and mince the garlic cloves on a cutting board with a knife or use a garlic press. Set the chopped garlic aside.In a small bowl, cream the butter and add the garlic, salt, pepper and spices.
Mix all ingredients, serve or store in refrigerator.

 Herb Garlic Butter

Ingredients:

• 200 soft butter
• 1 bunch of parsley, finely chopped
• 1 bunch chives
• 2 cloves of garlic
• salt and sweet Paprika to taste.

Finely chop the parsley and the chives and the butter. Peel and mince the garlic cloves .
Add the remaining spices and the chopped herbs and blend with the butter.

Mix until well blended. Place mixture into a bowl and let it chill in the fridge for min. of one hour.

My time-saver Tip: There are also ready made herb pastes or blends available at your local store’s produce section. I have used them to whip up Herb garlic butter in a pinch.

Source: The post Homemade Garlic Butter Recipes – Easy & Herb Garlic Butter appeared first on Angie's Ontario.

Father’s DIY Gifts From the Heart
Father’s Day is fast approaching and whether you have to do something up from your kids, or give your own father a special day, making gifts that are unique and from the heart are truly the best gifts.

Even if you’re not crafty, giving dad a meaningful gift doesn’t have to cost a fortune or be the old stand-by Hallmark tradition. It is simply a matter of knowing what dad likes and working from there. For example;

Dad the Movie Buff

Does dad love the thrill of the big screen? Movie themed gifts are simple to put together and dad will love it. Get a movie themed popcorn container and add assorted candy, caramel popcorn or a package or two of microwave popcorn. Purchase a copy of his favorite movie on DVD, then share the experience of it with your dad. Quality time plus his favorite snacks and flick are a great way to say…You’re Special!

The Fisherman Dad

If dad loves to spend hours fishing from the quiet of a gentle lake or a lazy stream, then make this Father’s Day one to celebrate his hobby. Pack dad a special lunch just for the two of you and have him bring you out to his favorite fishing spot. Cast your lines then just let the day take you where it may. Building memories is the best gift ever. And if you even if you only browse through the latest issue of his favorite fishing magazine while waiting for a nibble, the day will have been well spent.

Golfing Dad

For the dad that loves to spend his days on the golf green, a fun golf-inspired gift can make for the perfect Father’s Day. Start by giving dad brand new golf tees and some new golf balls. Then book a day at the green for the two of you to do a round. Even if you’re not a great golfer, Dad is sure to be able to give you some tips. If you have a local mini-golf course bring dad out and see how he fares on the smaller obstacles. These are simple, yet great ways to spend some quality time with dad and to show him how much he means to you.

Handyman Dad

If dad loves to fix-it-up then showing him some love on Father’s Day for all the things he does around the house is a must. One way to do this is make him a nice batch of Nuts n’ Bolts. This tasty snack is fun and easy to make. Package it up in a mason jar or cello bag so it stays fresh, then tuck it inside of a new tool belt with the latest issue of dads favorite home repair magazine. Dad will love this thoughtful present and always remember you when he uses his new gifts.

Dad the Chef

Even if dad isn’t a very good cook, but he likes to try, make his Father’s Day something special with a gift for his cooking hobby. Find nice blends of spices or make one of your own, put them in small glass bottles or shakers so dad can try them out the next time he cooks. Shop around for fancy olive oils and mixes to give dad’s cooking a helping hand. Once you have a few items together place them in an apron made just for dad, or a big wooden bowl. Throw in a cool cookbook with the recipes marked you’d love to help dad cook or bake up. He will appreciate the extra goodies and time spent with you. And, who knows, his cooking might even improve.

Finding the perfect Father’s Day gift doesn’t have to be difficult. Take some time today to start thinking what your father really loves to do then make a plan in that direction. Telling him how much you care doesn’t have to be big or fancy. By making him feel special and honored with gifts from your heart, he will have memories that will last him (and you) a lifetime.

What are you planning for Father’s Day?

Source: The post Father’s Day DIY Gifts F appeared first on Angie's Ontario.

DIY Sandals Decos – Dress Up Your Flip Flops From Fun to Fancy!

Finally, summer has arrived, and you are looking forward to wearing your beloved sandals.
Maybe your last year’s model has a small stain, is missing a jewel, or your new, too plain sandals need a little more pizzaz.

So I ‘ve discovered this fabulous DIY sandals project.

This is an easy and cool activity and also perfect for kids who can create their own fun pair.
All you need is craft glue, scissors, and your desired decorations, like beads, fabric, jewels, and your imagination!

I am ready to give some great projects like these a try:

These pair flips of white flip flops are fancy enough to wear to a wedding reception.
Grab a pair of white flip-flops, beads, ribbon, view here

These fun and colourful flip flops are decorated with water ballons. They are so light and comfy,just perfect for a day at the beach or pool! more here

This easy diy sandals project just requires your favourite scarf and a pair of scissors to breathe new life into a plain pair of sandals! view here

Gladiator sandals are always hugely popular as summer footwear. If you are looking for a more subtle style, make your own as shown here

These fabric ruffle flip flops are just too cute. And any little girl and even big ones, should own a pair. Great diy project if you have sewing experience. more here

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