Homemade Mayo

1

I’ve been eating a bit differently for the past 40ish days. No refined sugar, no flour, no grains, and no dairy. It’s basically been the hardest eating challenge I’ve ever had. I don’t even really eat that much sugar, but by day 5 of eating this way I was craving sugar like crazy. The super sad (mostly great) part about this lifestyle change is I feel better. I LOVE cheese (OMG, cheese), but I may feel better without eating it as much as I used to. Biscuits? Yeah, they’re so good… but flour makes me feel tired.

This diet/lifestyle change has meant I need to look at the labels of EVERYthing. It’s surprising how much processed food has sugar added to it. It’s so crazy. Even mayonnaise. SO, today I’m sharing my homemade mayo recipe that I’ve been making this past month. It’s surprisingly easy, and so tasty. I like to make aioli for my sweet potatoes with this homemade mayo.

Ingredients:

(recipe adapted from Whole30)

  • 1 cup of light olive oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon of mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • stick blender (you could use a food processor if you need to)

Directions:

Step 1:

First, this is important: make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature, that’s important.

Step 2:

Place the egg, 1/4 cup of olive oil, mustard powder, and salt into a bowl. Use the stick blender to mix up the ingredients.

Step 3:

With the stick blender running, slowly add the remaining olive oil. The key here is to go SLOW. I basically add about an 1/8 of olive oil and mix, then repeat. If you add too fast, it could mess up the mayo.

Step 4:

After the mayo is blended and at a mayo consistency, add the lemon juice and mix with a spoon.

Seriously give this a try. So good and yummy.

– Chelsey


Two Happy Galentine’s Day Card Free Printables

Happy Galentine's Day Card

Valentine’s shouldn’t just about celebrating your significant other. What about all those beautiful friends in your life? They deserve a shout out and that’s just what these Happy Galentine’s Day cards are for (I love Parks and Rec). Tell your lady (or guy friends) that they are special to you and you love them. I have two free cards for you today: “Waffles, friends, & wine. All I need.” and “Ladies celebrating ladies.” with the inside for both, “Happy Galentine’s Day”. You can skip the Galantine’s inside printable if you want to just print the outside card for any occasion. Side note: I also made a secret note Galentine’s card. You can find it (and download it) on the Cambria blog.

Happy Galentine's Day Card

Supplies:

  • white card stock paper
  • printer
  • straight edge paper cutter
  • bone folder
  • free printable Galentine’s Day cards (front and inside)
  • two 4 x 5 inch envelopes.

Directions:

Happy Galentine's Day Card

STEP 1:

Print out the free Galentine’s Day printable that I provided. This printable comes with a front and inside PDF, so be sure to check the “two sided” option when printing.

STEP 2:

Fold the card in half, the long way. Use the bone folder to flatten down the edge.

Happy Galentine's Day Card

STEP 3:

Use your straight edge paper cutter to cut the cards to size. The final card measurements should be 4 inches by 5 inches.

Happy Galentine's Day Card

Add this card to a treat, or just give it all by itself. Happy Galentine’s (and Valentine’s) Day to you and your friends!

Happy Galentine's Day Card

– Chelsey

P.S. I was paid, by Cambria, to create these Galentine’s cards.


Paper Doughnut Valentine’s (with free printables)

Paper Doughnut Valentine's (with free printables)

Yesterday I shared my Chocolate Kisses rings, for Valentines, and today I have some Paper Doughnut Valentine’s! Since the kiddo is in preschool, there are lots of kids that come throughout the week, so I made a couple different Valentines for the class.

Paper Doughnut Valentine's (with free printables)

These doughnuts are so cute! Just print them out, cut them out, and add a treat before you glue together. It took me about 5 minutes to assemble each of these Valentines, not that bad. Another great thing: they aren’t that bad for you. Low calorie!

Supplies:

  • card stock paper
  • scissors
  • hot glue sticks and hot glue gun
  • ribbon
  • hole punch
  • a Valentine treat
  • free printable doughnut (top and bottom)
  • free printable tag

Directions:

Paper Doughnut Valentine's (with free printables)

STEP 1:
Print out the top and bottom printables for the doughnuts. Use your scissors to cut them out.

STEP 2:
Fold the flaps on the doughnuts.

Paper Doughnut Valentine's (with free printables)

STEP 3:
Use the hot glue to glue the bottom of the doughnut. The flaps should glue inside of the doughnut side/circle.

Paper Doughnut Valentine's (with free printables)

STEP 4: 

Use the hole punch to put a hole in one side of the doughnut. Cut a section of ribbon, tie a knot in it, and push the tied ribbon into the hole.

Paper Doughnut Valentine's (with free printables)

Paper Doughnut Valentine's (with free printables)

STEP 5:
Add the treat to the doughnut, then glue on the glazed doughnut top.

Paper Doughnut Valentine's (with free printables)

STEP 6:

Optional: Print out the “You’re a treat!” tags, and glue onto the doughnut ribbon. 

Paper Doughnut Valentine's (with free printables)

Aren’t they cute? They are so gluten free… hee. These would be cute for more than just a Valentine’s treat. These would be super cute birthday favors!

– Chelsey

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Chocolate Kisses Valentine’s Rings (and a free printable)!

Chocolate Kisses Valentine's Rings

It’s another year, and another Valentine’s Day for the kiddo. She gets to bring treats to school to share with her friends (super exciting for a 5-year-old). She loves dress up jewelry (and chocolate), so that’s why we came up with these Chocolate Kisses Valentine’s Rings. They are so so easy to make. I made 16 in an hour, plus they are inexpensive… and oh so fashionable.

Chocolate Kisses Valentine's Rings

Supplies:

Directions:

STEP 1:
Grab two pipe cleaners and twist them in the center.

STEP 2:
Place the twisted pipe cleaner on the center of the bottom of the chocolate kiss. Bring the pipe cleaner over to the top tip of the kiss, and twist to secure.

STEP 3:
Size the ring on your finger ( I used my pinkie since this is for kids) and wrap a loop under and over your fingers, and wrap the extra pipe cleaner über the chocolate kiss.

Chocolate Kisses Valentine's Rings

STEP 4:
Print out the “You’re a gem” Valentine’s tags. Cut them out, punch a hole in the corner, and tie the tag onto the ring with the ribbon.

Chocolate Kisses Valentine's Rings

Since there are 5 billion kids in my kiddo’s preschool… and they are celebrating the day Thursday AND Friday, I’m sharing another very cute free printable Valentine. Come back tomorrow. I love it.

– Chelsey


Last Minute Valentine’s Gift Guide

If your significant other is anything like my husband, then he/she probably gathers Valentine’s goodies and treats at THEE very last minute. Ha! It doesn’t bother me, and I don’t usually expect to get anything, but he wants to treat me for the day… and I won’t fight it! We typically go the foodie route for gifts (we love good food), but below I’m sharing a Last Minute Valentine’s Gift Guide for the special person in your life. We’ve got freebie printables from me, bacon hearts, and engagement rings from Blue Nile… just in case you’re planning on popping the question soon ::wink wink::

Valentine's Gift Guide

Links for the Valentine Gift Guide:

  1. I Heart You Party Banner, from Urban Outfitters.
  2. Limited Edition Polaroid SX-70, from Photojojo.
  3. “I’m Over You” hidden message card, from Finch and Hare.
  4. Myriam red polish, from Julep.
  5. Heart shaped bacon, from The Paper Mama.
  6. We’re Young at Heart Sweater, from Modcloth.
  7. Popping the question this weekend? Blue Nile has a ton of engagement rings to check out, from Blue Nile.
  8. “I love you more than bacon!” free printable, from me The Paper Mama.
  9. Heart Phone Skin, on Society Six by Giuseppe Cristiano.

Come back tomorrow for a cute printable Valentine, from me.

– Chelsey

Side note: if you are buying Valentine’s goodies online… today might be your last day to do it! So get on it!

Categories: announcement, favorite


Playdate for the kiddo and for the parents.

Mickey Mouse Playdate #DisneyImagicademy #CG

Mickey Mouse Playdate #DisneyImagicademy #CG

I’m a work from home mama/my kiddo’s caretaker when she’s not at school. When preschool is done I need to find some crafty and/or fun thing to do with the kiddo, or we will both lose our minds. We usually go walking around the neighborhood (or the mall if it’s raining) to waste time, but my kiddo’s favorite: a playdate. About every week, or two, we head to a preschool friend’s home to play (and to wear-out the kids… they sleep so well after playing with friends for 3 hours). This week it was my turn to host and I decided to mix things up a bit and we called it a “Party” instead of a playdate. A Mickey Mouse party! Even Ramsey the Deer got into the party spirit, notice his Mickey Mouse ears?

Mickey Mouse Playdate #DisneyImagicademy #CG

Mickey Mouse Playdate #DisneyImagicademy #CG

Mickey Mouse Playdate #DisneyImagicademy #CG

We ended up having 8 kids running around my tiny home. It was crazy, but they had a ton of fun! We had puzzles to color, and the kiddo’s room exploded with toys as all of the kids explored her room.

Mickey Mouse Playdate #DisneyImagicademy #CG

After a bit I set up the Apple TV to play the Mickey’s Magical Math World App game. The kids LOVED the distraction and ended up playing the game nicely together for about an hour. Talk about parent freedom. In the app kids can explore, recognize and identify shapes with Mickey; Play with numbers and patterns within Minnie’s Robot Playground; Ponder early number concepts with Donald; Explore Counting to 10 and early problem solving with Daisy and experiment with shapes, patterns and sorting skills with Goofy. I’m pretty sure the Goofy game was a favorite (he’s one of my favorites, too).

Mickey Mouse Playdate #DisneyImagicademy #CG

After all the playing, we calmed the kids down with some snacks. Peanut butter bagels with raisin ears!

Mickey Mouse Playdate #DisneyImagicademy #CG

After everyone left, I let the kiddo play the game by herself. She loved it. Probably the best play date the kiddo has had, and it really didn’t cost much. When my friend’s and I do playmates, we try to all bring food and games, so this wasn’t too different and cost me about the same. Those kid’s had so much fun, and it was so worth it.

– Chelsey

P.S. If you downloaded Mickey’s Magical Math World App and love it, be sure to check out Mickey’s Magical Arts World app that will be available in the Apple App Store on February 12, 2015. You can also get daily ideas and activities from the Disney Imagicademy Parents AppI was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Categories: blogger business, family


10 DIY Bedroom Makeovers to Update Your Room

10 DIY Bedroom Makeovers to Update Your Room

You really don’t have to spend a ton of money to update your bedroom. You can give thrifted items new life with some paint and love, or add some color to a plain store-bought piece. There’s a ton of inspiration to get you started in my new Better Homes and Gardens blog post.

To check out the full list, head on over to the original Better Homes and Gardens blog.

– Chelsey

P.S. I am a paid contributor for the Better Homes and Gardens Style Spotters Blog. The images in the first photo are from: A Beautiful MessSmitten StudioBHGSugar and Cloth, and Knack

Categories: BHG