#16 Another Detox/Weight Loss Drink

Here is another great detox/weight loss drink. And another way to spruce up water. I stuck with this one longer than the other one and might bring it back again one of these days, it's a great summer drink!

Ingredients:
Water
1 Medium Cucumber (peeled and thinly sliced)
1 Lemon (thinly sliced)
Mint Leaves
1 Teaspoon of Freshly Grated Ginger

Add all ingredients to a pitcher and let steep overnight in the fridge. Pour over ice & enjoy! It has a very subtle flavor and can be enjoyed daily.

http://pinterest.com/pin/139893132145666758/?e_t=f995684999a2428b92fc5583e211d1b4&e_t_s=pin-text&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_pin_user

#15 Infant Headbands

It's baby gift time! I really do love all babies (especially since they aren't mine and I can hold and cuddle them and then return to their parents when I am finished, ha!) But baby girls are really just so much easier to shop for. The little headbands are just the cutest, but really the biggest rip off!

While at Michael's some time ago, I had found these great flowers on clearance and picked them up not really knowing what I was going to do with them. Then baby shower time came and I had just the idea. I had to make my life difficult by buying the stretchy band stuff on a roll and then cutting and sewing it. The very next day I then saw them already pre-made at the craft store. Then  I glued on the flower and wrapped them up.

Just look at this cute little butterball of a model!

A little step-by-step direction: http://thefrugalgirls.com/2010/08/how-to-make-cute-flower-headbands-for-babies-and-little-girls.html

#12, 13 & 14 Teacher Appreciation

The most fabulous week as a teacher! And my favorite this year as well as being part of administration. As an administrator, the appreciation is really limited, it's really what comes with the job and I have no bitterness towards it. However, my teachers really benefited from all of my craftiness! And rather than splitting this up into 3 posts, I figured I would group them together.

#12

The first is kind of a thorn in my side. A month prior to Teacher Appreciation Week (which is beginning to mid May for those of you that might not know), I started looking for different ideas. I found a cute idea for a cup filled with candy or teacher items and an adorable tag reading "A cup of thanks for all you do!" Now, did I bookmark that page, no of course not! So fast forward a few weeks, and there I go looking for it again, and wouldn't you know, I can't find it. I searched for a week straight, my co-worker tried to find it for me and it just completely vanished! 

After realizing that I wasn't going to find it, I had to get creative and make my own label (which I was still so bitter about because I loved that pre-made label!) Label made, now onto the cup and contents. Our company loves it's branding and the price of these stadium cups wasn't too bad. I threw in some candy, put it into a clear party bag, added some ribbon and the tag and called it finished.

#13

I started the week out with a breakfast. Come on, who doesn't love a free breakfast on Monday morning! Bagels & cream cheese, some "Simply" juices with adorable tags that read 'You're "Simply" the Best!' and a balloon bouquet.  

Free Printable Tags for the juices: http://befickle.blogspot.com/2010/05/teacher-appreciation-gifts.html \

#14

Finally, my piece-de-resistance. I had seen the wedding thank you ideas where the bride and groom each hold an end of the thank you banner. Well, I couldn't really enlist 2 children to stand in the front office all day long to hold the banner. So I decided to print out 1 letter per page to spell out THANK YOU! (in different colors of course) and then take picture of different children holding the letters. 

The excellent part was that there were 9 letters/character and we have 9 classrooms. So I took a boy and a girl from each classroom and had them hold a letter while I snapped a picture (I made 2 banners). For the !, I reserved that for our newest infant because I knew that I could just put her on a boppy and prop the ! in front of her (I couldn't imagine having one of our older ones try and hold it, this was easier.) I strung and hung them and everyone loved it! The extra greatness of it was that we had a Parent Advisory Meeting that week and the parents were able to see some of their children in the banners. Kudos to me!

For more teacher appreciation ideas for next year, go here: http://craftibilities.blogspot.com/2012/10/hi-there-first-post.html

#11 Chalkboard Wine Glasses

I love that so many of my friends are wine drinkers. This is such a budget friendly craft/gift and is so simple! Keep in mind friends, that while it's kind to my pocketbook, that doesn't mean my love to you is cheap :).

Materials:
Wine Glasses (I use the Libby brand, which run $6 - $12 depending on the type of wine glass and pack size)
Rust-oleum Specialty Black Chalkboard Paint (can be found at practically any hardware store, I picked mine up from Menards for less than $8)
Blue Painter's Tape
Newspaper, Paper Towels or Plastic Shopping Bags

On the original directions, they just dipped the wine glasses and weren't concerned if their lines were straight. Well, I'm a little more neurotic and wanted to tape the lines off ensuring that they all looked the same. There was also a benefit to taping them off and then covering the rest, (I used paper towel the first time and Walmart bags the second time, the bags definitely worked better) I didn't have to hold them upside for 10-15 minutes while the excess dripped off like they did.

How To:
Tape around the stem, then wrap the plastic bag, newspaper or paper towel around the rest of the glass to protect it from the paint and tape. Wipe the stem of the glass off with a clean paper towel. Dip into the chalkboard paint and let the majority of the excess drip back into the can. Place upside down on a lined pan or cookie sheet, let dry for 24-48 hours.

Pack back into the original box, include chalk (which I forget every time until the last minute, I need to buy some chalk in bulk and make some cute little bundles), and gift!

My one minor disclaimer, suggest hand washing just in case.

Thank you Pinterest! http://justshortofcrazy.com/2011/09/chalkboard-wine-glasses-tutorial/

#10 Victoria Secret Bag Halloween Costume

This might have been the best homemade Halloween costume that I have made yet. I had some pretty great ones as a child, but those were all crafted by my mom. I'm super glad she passed on those crafty genes to me.

Start with a box, cutting off the top and bottom. Then measure to length, although now looking back, I made it a bit long because I have modesty and didn't want my hind end hanging out all night. However, if my hind end would have been hanging out, maybe I would have been able to sit, which I was NOT able to do all night (yikes!). 

I then painted the entire box light pink and let dry for 24 hours. Then using painting tape, measure out and tape sections to make the stripes and to ensure your lines are straight (which took forever because I am neurotic). Paint every other stripe the darker pink and let dry again. Using a gold paint pen or gold puffy paint, write "Victoria's Secret" on the front and back. Add a handle using ribbon and tissue paper to the top and ta-da!

My pin-spiration: http://costumepop.com/adult-costumes/victoria-secret-shopping-bag/

#9 Easy Vegan Banana Ice Cream

Now you would think that the name would mean that I can't possibly screw this up. However, it is possible. I have this problem, I read the directions for something once and think "I'll remember that, I don't need to bring the directions with me." 9 times out of 10, I end up doing something wrong or having to go back for the directions.

I can't say that I necessarily screwed it up, just forgot some ingredients! There are 4 ingredients, how could I have forgotten something?! But I did, and even though I did, I have to say that mine still turned out delicious. Now I can't wait to make it the right way next time, because I am sure that I am going to love it even more!

Ingredients:
5 ripe bananas (on the verge of going brown)
2-3 cups Vanilla Almond Milk - this would be ingredient #1 that I forgot
1/2 - 1 tsp of vanilla - and #2
Sprinkle of cinnamon - I remembered you!

Throw your ripe banana's in the freezer for at least 8 hours. Then add them to your blender or food processor along with the vanilla and almond milk (adding a little at a time until creamy). Take out of the blender or food processor and sprinkle with vanilla, enjoy! I threw mine in the freezer for a little bit to chill and make it a little thicker/harder.

 Looks delish, right?

 It was even tastier than I thought, didn't remind me at all of baby food (which was my fear).

The real recipe, not my forgetful one: http://berryripe.com/recipes/vegan-banana-ice-cream-recipe/

#8 Coconut Oil Hair Mask

Oh coconut oil, you have so many uses that I have yet to explore. But one that I have and have had great results with is using it as a hair mask. Used regularly, coconut oil will promote hair growth, which is what intrigued me right away. You can only rock the reverse bob for so many years and then it is time for a change. Isn't it funny that when you want to maintain a shorter haircut, your hair seems to grow rapidly fast. But the minute you decide to grow it out, it seems like it is growing at a snails pace.

Let's be honest, I am truly terrible with routines. I can't even remember to take my acid reflux or allergy medication regularly, so planning to wake up early to apply a hair mask at least twice a week to get my hair to grow faster only lasted about 2 1/2 weeks. It really takes no time at all to put it in your hair, but waiting the 15-20 minutes before washing it out was the time consumer. 

The funny thing about coconut oils it that it is a solid at first, but then the heat of your hands melts it (kind of like a mini science experiment every time.) Starting with your roots, you rub the oil into your hair and run it through to the ends. Let sit for 15-20 minutes then wash your hair as you would regularly. I haven't noticed if it has helped with my hair growth, probably because I didn't use it enough. But what I did notice was that it made my hair so soft, healthy and clean feeling!

Because I have yet to use the oil for other recommended uses, I haven't tasted this particular brand and am not selective of a certain brand. I do recommend this brand for hair use and picked it up from a friends local store in McHenry, Natures Cornucopia. 

I suggest this link for step by step directions: http://made2style.com/2013/02/18/coconut-oil-hair-mask/