Wordless Wednesday

Baby elephant.

PB + J Monday

Ever get caught in the rain without an umbrella?  Ever get caught in a storm that blows your umbrella inside out and breaks it?  Once umbrellas are broken there isn't really a way to fix them or replace the protective shell and just end up in the garbage.  Here's a great solution that you can easily store in your purse or bag.

It's the skeleton of an umbrella that attaches to any surface to create the shelter effect of a traditional umbrella.  You can use a newspaper, bag or anything else that's handy.

You can take a look at the Eco Brolly here.

Foodie Friday

I have just discovered the most incredible kitchen advice/tips/knowledge/guide I've ever seen.  This post contains 22 cheat sheets on everything from knives to spices to grilling to food storage to conversions and so much more!  Here are just two of the many charts available.  They are bright and fun to look at and I am absolutely sure you will learn something that you didn't know before.

To see the entire 22 Kitchen Cheat Sheet Guide On Basic Cooking Techniques click here.

Wordless Wednesday

Going for a stroll.

PB + J Monday

My husband is thinking about getting an iPhone.  He also works out...a lot.  I just happened to come across this fun idea to charge your phone and thought it was perfect for him.  Great way to save on the energy you'd use when you plug it in to the wall.  Instead you can charge your phone and get a work out at the same time.

You can learn more about them here.

I couldn’t tell from the website if it’s an actual product or just an idea.  But I’m sure there’s something like this out in the world if this exact one isn’t yet.

And what a fun gift for a golfer.  They can practise their swing, charge their phone and learn how to improve their technique all at the same time.  I thought it was pretty cool, even if we don’t golf.

I Commit to the 30 Day Challenge!

I have committed to Mayi Carles 30 Day Challenge.

It's really simple.  All you have to do is pick something you want to become a healthy  habit in your life.  Something you want to change for the better and do everyday.  Like eating healthier or exercising your body or mind.

From www.heartmadeblog.com

I have chosen two things to commit to....  

#1. I have been exercising haphazardly for the last few months and I think this will be a great way to get into a better routine.  Therefore, my first commitment is to EXERCISE EVERYDAY…with a plan.

#2. The second is to better myself at my work.  I feel I have a lot to learn and I know that practise and stretching myself further is the way to get better.  My second commitment is to DRAW SOMETHING EVERYDAY.  I have a beautiful book on learning to zentangle and it just so happens to be an everyday kind of study.  It will fit in perfectly with this new challenge.

I encourage you to watch Mayi's video and make a commitment in your life as well..only if there is something you'd like to change of course.  If you're perfectly content then skip it and continue on.  : )

If you decide to commit with me, remember to add these tags to your social media as you update friends and the webworld: #heartmade #30daychallenge.

You can follow my progress on twitter: @mayabki

and on instagram: @mayabki

and probably Facebook too: www.facebook.com/bkinspired.

The challenge starts Monday, March 11!!

Hope to see you out there!

Foodie Friday

I am a dessert person.  I love sweet things.  I would eat dessert all day long if it wasn't frowned upon.  

One of my absolute favourite desserts is apple crisp (or crumble.  Is there a difference?).  When it's warm out of the oven and topped with vanilla ice cream it can't be beat.  So this week I'm sharing a very simple recipe for a quick and easy apple crisp. I have another recipe for apple crumble pie that is heaven. I will share that with you sometime too.  But for now you can enjoy this...

Apple Crisp

3 apples 

½ cup flour

½ cup rolled quick oats

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 egg

⅓ cup melted butter

cinnamon

Slice apples and place in baking dish.  

Combine dry ingredients.  Beat egg in and sprinkle on top of apples.  Drizzle melted butter over top then sprinkle cinnamon on.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.  Serve warm with ice cream.

I used Granny Smith apples.  I cut them pretty thin this time but I think a bit thicker is better.

Dry ingredients.

Egg added.

Butter and cinnamon added and ready for the oven.

I prepared and served this when we had guests so I completely forgot to take the after pictures.  Since it was gobbled up quickly I didn't have a chance to take any pictures after either.  But it's a nice compliment though and shows how delicious the recipe is!

Wordless Wednesday

Rhino!

PB + J Monday

Change the ending of your next celebration.

I love that quote from Green Planet Parties!

I thought I’d change it up a bit this week since last week’s topic was a little depressing.

This week I want to introduce Green Planet Parties!  They are an American online company that offer “green” alternatives for parties and everyday life.

Their goal is helping families in their desire to lead more sustainable lives through the everyday choices we make and the education we provide our children about nature and our part in it. We can all, one person at a time, learn a little more and practice taking better care of mother earth.

Our two boys will have birthday parties coming up soon, something we only do every other year, and we like to make them as special as possible while demonstrating that it can be environmentally friendly and fun.

Green Planet Parties offers a variety of products for decorating, tableware, party games, gift wrapping and loot bags items.  They offer a variety of themed party options including; wizards, fairies, bugs, animals and more.

I really like their wooden secret decoders.  What a fun loot bag idea for a bunch of boys.  

I also like the wizard wands and the basil seed boxes.

I’m not suggesting that this is the only place to shop.  It’s just to show that the greener options are out there and it’s fun to look.  It’s amazing what you can find, like poo poo notepads, notebooks that are derived from poo (elephant, moose, and panda to be exact) from fiber eating vegetarians

You can see more of Green Planet Parties on their website or on Facebook.

Haha, you can tell I have boys by the pictures I chose to share!  They have a lot of girl related items too!

Foodie Friday

This was the picture shared on FB.

I came across these little gems on Facebook.  A friend had shared someone's recipe for Cauliflower Pizza Bites and I thought they looked good enough to try.  And possibly another way to offer up cauliflower to the boys.

I was pretty easy, but used a lot of kitchen items and it didn't fill a  mini muffin pan like her picture, but maybe because I didn't use enough cauliflower.  But, one out of the two boys liked it and I liked it so it's something we'll try again.

Here's the recipe…

Cauliflower Pizza Bites

2 T olive oil (i used more)

½ head of large cauliflower (I don't think I had a "large" head)

1 cup Mozzarella cheese

1 tsp oregano

2 tsp parsley

1 tsp garlic salt (I didn't have any so I used seasoning salt)

1 tsp red pepper flakes (didn't use since kids and I don't like things hot)

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

1 egg

Put small pieces of cauliflower in to a food processor.  Process in batches until you get approximately 3 cups of cauliflower that looks like couscous or rice.  The recipe calls for 2 or 3 cups but I think you need more if you want to make 24 bites.

Saute the cauliflower in the olive oil until translucent.  Meanwhile process all the other ingredients in the food processor except for the egg.

Mix the cheese mixture with the cauliflower.  Test mixture and add any other spices you think it needs.  Add egg.

Grease mini muffin tin.  Spoon mixture into tin and press down.  

Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees and serve.

Cauliflower in frying pan.

Adding the egg.

This is what ours looked like in the oven.
Close, but I forgot to press them down before baking.

Ready for eating!  Yum!

If you try these let me know what you think.