Disclaimer: This was an older post that I am reposting because I don’t have time to come up with a new idea tonight. As we all know, it’s Christmas tomorrow so I am going to go ahead and wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas elf-ryone! 💚 Thanks, @ElsieLMC for coming up with that clever introduction. It’s very punny and I hope you don’t mind that I used your intro here. This year, I wanted to dress up my son as a cute elf but was unable to find an elf outfit. Maybe it will happen next year! 🎅🎄 I wanted to share with you some photos of our little Christmas tree. Most of the decorations came from Dollarama. As many of you know, this girl is frugal. Even this trademark wrapping paper came from Dollarama. 😊
12 Days of Finals 📖
When I was in university, I wrote a rough outline for a parody of the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.” I never got around to editing and uploading this parody and at one point, I even forgot that I had the rough draft on my notepad. I figured that there is no better time than Christmas Day to upload this parody for all of my readers. If you enjoyed reading this parody, feel free to check out my other poetry musings here.
[Verse 1] On the first day of finals, My professor gave to me A ton of anxiety.
[Verse 2] On the second day of finals, My professor gave to me Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 3] On the third day of finals, My professor gave to me Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 4] On the fourth day of finals, My professor gave to me Four restless nights, Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 5] On the fifth day of finals, My professor gave to me Five all-nighters, Four restless nights, Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 6] On the sixth day of finals, My professor gave to me Six study parities, Five all-nighters, Four restless nights, Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 7] On the seventh day of finals, My professor gave to me Seven Venti coffees, Six study parties, Five all-nighters, Four restless nights, Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 8] On the eigth day of finals, My professor gave to me Eight sugar crashes, Seven Venti coffees, Six study parties, Five all-nighters, Four restless nights, Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 9] On the ninth day of finals, My professor gave to me Nine cram-sessions, Eight sugar crashes, Seven Venti coffees, Six study parties, Five all-nighters, Four restless nights, Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 10] On the tenth day of finals, My professor gave to me Ten people praying, Nine cram-sessions, Eight sugar crashes, Seven Venti coffees, Six study parties, Five all-nighters, Four restless nights, Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 11] On the eleventh day of finals, My professor gave to me Eleven temper tantrums, Ten people praying, Nine cram-sessions, Eight sugar crashes, Seven Venti coffees, Six study parties, Five all-nighters, Four restless nights, Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety.
[Verse 12] On the twelth day of finals, My professor gave to me Twelve clocks a-ticking, Eleven temper tantrums, Ten people praying, Nine cram-sessions, Eight sugar crashes, Seven Venti coffees, Six study parties, Five all-nighters, Four restless nights, Three Dunkin’ runs, Two Advil pills, And a ton of anxiety!
(っ◔◡◔)っTreat yourself to some fudgy, chocolatey brownies!Not only that, but they are also perfect for sharing with family and friends ♥
★彡[ᴅɪᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ꜱᴀʏ ʙʀᴏᴡɴɪᴇꜱ?!?!]彡★
Okay, so this recipe isn’t exactly the healthiest but kids love them. I do plan on posting a healthier brownie recipe in the future, but for now, this is the one that I am using. Because these brownies are made with simple, standard ingredients, they’re pretty much guaranteed to be a show-stopper!
If you’re looking for a healthier, plant-based dessert recipe, then I recommend checking out this chocolate cake recipeby Peppa Pig. Kids love Peppa Pig so you really can’t go wrong with this healthier alternative.
Anyways, back to the brownies. The fudgy brownie recipe is fairly simple and straightforward. To make the brownies extra special, you can dust them in confectioner’s sugar or add a few chocolate chips. Another advantage of this recipe is that it’s simple enough for children to help. Let’s get started, shall we?
FUDGY BROWNIES
Servings: 12 Time: 40 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
confectioner’s sugar (optional)
chocolate chips (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-or-9-inch square baking pan.
Using a mixing bowl, mix together the cocoa and sugar. Add in the melted butter and stir again. Finally, whisk in the eggs and vanilla.
Add the flour and salt, and mix just until smooth. Gently incorporate the chocolate chips (optional). Don’t overmix it.
Scrape the mixture into the pan and spread it out n an even layer. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the brownies just begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Take the pan out of the oven with oven mitts, then let it cool on a heat-proof surface before cutting. Sprinkle confectioner’s sugar to decorate (optional). Enjoy!
Just so you know, Rebecca is the one who approved this recipe.
I typically don’t make salad dressing, as my mom makes better salad dressing than I do. I purchase Kraft salad dressings only when I am lazy or busy because they are easily accessible and convenient. However, homemade salad dressing is way better than store-bought ones – even my mom agrees. My mom lives halfway across the country, so I can’t show up at her house every day for freshly made salad. So that leaves me with two options: a) keep eating the Kraft salad dressings or b) learn how to make my own.
I’ve compiled these recipes so that you can enjoy more freshly made salads, and make salad a part of your diet. Many salads are healthy, but people don’t always like them because they’re so bland. If you dress the salad up with an interesting dressing, not only will it be more appealing to people’s taste buds, but it can also give their bodies all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. The best thing about this recipe is that it is all ready for you to use in just a few minutes and can be made using ingredients that are probably already in your house. I’m confident that these salad dressing recipes will be helpful to you, as they have been to me.
Salad Dressing Science: Salad dressing is a process where two liquids – oil and water or vinegar – are mixed together. Normally, liquid drops of oil and water remain separate from each other. If you start with just the oil and the vinegar, they won’t mix well until you add an emulsifier, which helps them to combine more smoothly. You can mix and match ingredients to create your perfect salad dressing.
𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴!
SALAD DRESSINGS »3 WAYS«
Servings: 1 mason jar each Time: 10 minutes Difficulty: easy
1. BASIC B* VINEGARETTE
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
pinch of fresh ground pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
2. CITRUS SUNSHINE DRESSING
2 tbsp. orange juice
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. maple syrup
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
pinch of fresh ground pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
3. SWEET HONEY VINEGARETTE
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1.5 tbsp. honey
1/2 cup peanut oil
pinch of fresh ground pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
DIRECTIONS
In a mixing bowl, add the ingredients and mix them well using a whisk.
Slowly add a little bit of oil while continuously whisking the mixture. Once you have added a small amount, start to whisk faster.
Toss the dressing with a green salad, or add it to a mason jar for storing in the fridge.
Continuing on with the challenge from yesterday, you probably have a can or two of chickpeas in your cupboard, right? I sure do! To accompany the guacamole dip, why not try some hummus dip? It’s just as tasty and quick to make.
While I usually can find store-bought hummus for a cheap price, I think it’s important to remember that it’s not always the best idea to buy something just because it is cheap. Store-bought hummus can be of lower quality than homemade, and sometimes you don’t get the same true taste. With my recipe, though, I’ve found that even though you might have to spend more time making your own, it will be worth the effort because this homemade hummus usually has a better taste.
EASY HUMMUS DIP
Servings: 5-6 Time: 40 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
3 cloves of garlic
1 can (15 oz.) of chickpeas, drained
2 tbsp. plain greek yogurt
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. water
1.5 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cumin
optional: sliced veggies, pita bread
DIRECTIONS
Add a few inches of water to the saucepan and bring it to a boil.
Add the cloves of garlic (still in the skin) and cook them for 10-12 minutes, or until the cloves are tender.
Take the saucepan off the heat and run cold water over the garlic to cool it down. Once the garlic is cooled, peel the skins.
Add the peeled garlic and canned chickpeas (drained) to the food processor. Add yogurt, olive oil, water, lemon juice, salt, and water to the mixture.
Process the hummus for approx. 30 seconds, stopping periodically to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
Scoop the hummus into a serving bowl and add a drizzle of olive oil.
Serve with sliced veggies, pita bread, tortilla chips, etc. Enjoy!
I have a challenge for you! Using everything you have in your cupboard, come up with a recipe and actually make it. You can “cheat” by referencing google for inspiration if you need some ideas. Tomorrow, do the exact same thing. I bet that you will come up with two different recipes without the need to buy any new ingredients. Keep repeating this process and make a mental note to add your recipes to a database for easy access. If you do this for 30 days, then you should end up with ~20-30 unique recipes for your family.
With the avocado craze dying down and Canadians finally being able to find avocados for a reasonable price, it is easier to use avocado in my dishes. I love avocado toast, but guacamole is way better! 🥑😋 Guacamole pairs well with fresh tortilla chips and I no longer have to resort to store-bought guacamole on days when I am craving this healthy snack.
EASY GUACAMOLE DIP
Servings: 4-6 Time: 20 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1 green onion
1 tomato
3 ripe avocados, halved
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1 bag tortilla chips
DIRECTIONS
Chop the green onion and tomato into small pieces.
Slice the avocados in half and use a spoon to remove the pits.
Scoop the avocado sections into a bowl. Add the garlic powder and lemon juice. Mash it all up with a fork.
Add the chopped onion, tomato, and salt. Mix everything together.
Serve with a generous portion of tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Please note that I make no money from this blog and I’m not involved with affiliates. This blog post is for educational purposes only!
This chocolate cake recipe is from my daughter’s book, “Peppa Pig Loves to Bake!” I want to share it with you because she tends to destroy everything she touches, and I don’t want to lose this recipe. I want to make this recipe evergreen, and currently, my blog is a good place to do that. We got the book from a book sale at my daughter’s school but it is also available on Amazon. If you scroll down to the bottom of this blog post, you’ll see a video tutorial by no other than Peppa Pig herself. Unlike the video, the recipe in the book is vegan. Alternatively, you can also use gluten-free flour if you’re avoiding gluten.
Did I mention that this recipe is vegan-friendly? 🌱
CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE
Servings: 4-6 Time: 40 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
3 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
5 tbsp applesauce
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup cold water
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add in applesauce, apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, and water. Mix until smooth.
Pour cake batter into an 8″ x 8″ square pan or 9″ round cake pan.
Using an oven mitt, put the cake pan in the oven.
Bake for approx. 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Using an oven mitt, take the cake out of the oven. Let cool.
Once the cake has cooled, have fun decorating it! 🎂
っ(◔_◔)っQuestion: What are some items that you no longer buy?
A few months ago, I stumbled uponthis blog postwhich made me reflect on my own life and spending habits. My intention was to answer her question in a timely manner, but we all know how long it takes me to post a blog post response. Bee is a 30-year old blogger who runs a popular blog called Mind. Beauty. Simplicity.She writes blog posts about intentional living, self-growth, lifestyle, and anything in between. I recommend checking out her blog and following her if you haven’t done so already.
These days, I am on a similar journey as Bee. When it comes to living intentionally, I am still far from perfect but I have learned to be more mindful about my spending and to avoid buying things that aren’t going to add value to my life. Keep reading if you are interested in learning what I added to my list! 🙌
•✽ 5 THINGS I NO LONGER BUY ✽•
1. Bath & Body WorksI have nothing against Bath & Body Works. In fact, it is a great store and I still like their products. I am wiser now that I am older, but when I was a teenager, my life revolved around this store. I was in love with their products and the shopping addiction got pretty bad whenever there was a sale, which was pretty much every week 😆 I would buy all sorts of things: lotions, shower gels, candles, fragrance mists —you name it. When I couldn’t go through the products fast enough, I would make lists of the products that I wouldn’t have to replenish. The lotions and body mists lasted so long to the point where they would expire and end up smelling horrible. Once I realized that I was wasting money, I stopped shopping at Bath and Body Works.
2. Subscription Boxes These days, subscription box services are catering to everyone’s tastes. You can pretty much guarantee that the subscription box model isn’t just limited to food and books – there are monthly boxes for everything from candles to clothes. Want new socks and underwear but don’t want to think about it? There’s a box for that. And as tempting as these subscription boxes are, it is important to note that these services usually charge an upfront fee as well as recurring fees each month. I cannot justify paying a high price for items that I might not even like or use! 🤦♀️
Note: I want to make a clear distinction between subscription boxes and subscription services. We have access to Netflix and at one point, we paid for a Spotify account. We are thinking about renewing the Spotify subscription since my husband regularly uses that platform. We also have a Costco membership and I finally upgraded to a Premium WordPress Plan last year. When I was in nursing school, I subscribed to www.nursng.com after failing a clinical rotation inSpring 2019. At one point, I also subscribed to www.coursehero.com and even uploaded my own summary notes to share with other students. Subscription services are valuable tools when used for their intended purpose.
3. Bottled WaterWhen you stop and think about it, it is pretty insane to pay for water when you can get it for free out of your tap. Sure, bottled water isn’t bad for you; there are worse things that you could be drinking such as soda or beer. If you are not active enough to need a drink with extra electrolytes and if drinking from a reusable bottle helps reduce your plastic consumption, then why would you bother spending money on something that is so easily accessible? The water you get from your faucet is much more affordable and safer for you. Also, by using a reusable water bottlelike this one, you’ll be saving money as well as doing your part for Mother Earth. 🌎
4. StarbucksDid you really think that I was only going to throw shade at Bath & Body Works? I also like the fancy coffee drinks from Starbucks, especially their Frappuccinos. The vanilla whipped cream is absolutely divine! ❤ Plus, if you are anything like me, I do not go to Starbucks just to order a basic cup of coffee. I usually go to Starbucks to spend money on these fancy, empty-calorie Frappuccinos which typically cost around $5.50 -7.50 CAD. I prefer to save these treats only for special occasionsrather than treat myself every time I go to the mall or local Starbucks coffee shop. ☕💕
If you are a coffee drinker like my husband, getting a good cup of coffee doesn’t require waiting in line. It just requires learning how to make a good cup of coffee at home. Next time you are shopping, skip the Starbucks line and make coffee at home. If Starbucks coffee is your thing (for the record, MCDs coffee is my thing), you can buy the coffee beans and make it at home for a fraction of the price. Even Costco sells Starbucks coffee beans. There is really no excuse to buy takeaway coffee anymore.
5. Alcohol This is an easy one to add to the list because I was never really a fan of alcohol. I don’t understand the hype around it, I don’t like how it makes me feel, and I don’t crave alcohol like some people do. Sugar on the other hand is a different story, which you can read about here.Personally, I think that there is too much sugar in alcohol, which is not limited to Vex, Smirnoff, and those cocktails with cute little umbrellas! I am tired of harping on the fact that alcohol isn’t good for your health and overall wellbeing. When you think about it, what kind of benefit does consuming alcohol bring? None that I can think of…. so yeah, I seldom drink alcohol 🙄 I would suggest cutting out alcohol from your budget if you are looking to save some money. It is an easy way to pocket extra cash without feeling like you are missing out on anything. There are other ways that you can socialize with people: going for walks, playing board games, or setting up a game night at home. Remember, you don’t have to stop socializing altogether.
👉 Image: I went on a trip to NYC with Nick and his friends, but I don’t remember what year this was 🤷♀️
Choosing to live a simpler, more intentional life is a conscious decision that affects each and every choice we make. Try thinking about the things that you can live without, specifically things that no longer serve a purpose in your life. What are some items that you no longer buy? Let me know by joining the conversation below ↓ I look forward to reading your comments.
Disclaimer: I uploaded this post in 2019 as its own page, but nobody stumbled upon it. I added updates and edited the original blog post to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Btw, I searched high and low for the original Pikachu x Coffee & Donuts image(s) but I could only find them as re-shares on Pinterest. I cannot take full credit for these, so if you happen to know where they came from, feel free to let me know so I can give the artist(s) credit. Thank you! ✌💖
The Frugal Millenial
As a Millenial, I noticed that I do not fit the typical Millenial stereotype. Yes, I do enjoy homemade avocado toast once in a while, but you probably won’t find me frivolously spending money on daily Starbucks coffee runs or FabFitFun subscription boxes. Don’t get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with Starbucks…. more on that later. ☕ Since moving 2000+ miles away from home, I have learned to embrace frugality and started living below my means, which in turn, helps me save money. I am not saying that you should become frugal like me. All I am saying is that people are at risk of over-spending and buying sh*t they don’t need if they aren’t conscious of their spending habits. Surprisingly, cutting back on unnecessary spending is not as painful as it sounds nor does it have to be difficult. Below ↓ I have 7 practical tips on how to save money, whether you are a college student or a broke Millennial who needs to cut back on frivolous spending and curb your bad habits, once and for all. Let’s get started, shall we?
7 Ways to Stop Wasting Money
1. Think before you buy. When you receive your next paycheck, birthday money, etc. you don’t need to spend it immediately. How can you think like a wealthy person if you keep blowing your money on materialistic things or wants, rather than needs? It’s not about how much money you make; it’s about how much money you save.
(っ◔◡◔)っMy Two Cents: Is a daily Starbucks run really necessary? I go to Starbucks maybe once or twice per year, and even then, I am conscious of how much I am spending on these overpriced drinks. Sometimes, date night is a must so I do splurge from time to time but this is not a daily or weekly thing for us. Being frugal doesn’t mean that I don’t buy nice things. However, we buy what is on sale and only if we need it vs. want it. For example, a few years ago when my daughter was a toddler, we bought a Baby Gap hoodie that was on sale for $10 in the U.S.
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2. Less is more. Do you really need 4 tablets, 2 laptops, and 3 smartphones with unlimited data and roaming? If you are being honest with yourself, then you probably don’t need data on your tablet when you travel and you can still live well without the latest tech gadgets. This is not only expensive but it won’t keep you satisfied for very long. Soon enough, you will want the next latest, shiny thing that is within reach. Like video game, manga collecting, etc., it gets old after a while or you will grow bored of it. Most concerning, you will end up burning a hole in your wallet from this compulsive habit. Although some people might disagree, collecting stuff might not give you the sense of satisfaction that you have been searching for.
(っ◔◡◔)っMy Two Cents: We all gotta start somewhere. During the decluttering process, you might also benefit from reading this book: “The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo.
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3. Shop at discount stores. If you can find the same brands at a discount store, then shop there. In order to know if I am actually getting a good deal, I shop by unit price to save money on groceries, etc. My husband taught me this trick so that I don’t get carried away shopping at places like Dollarama where smaller items by weight are disguised as being a good deal 😆 Sometimes, upgrading to a larger size elsewhere makes sense, like dish soap or…. ahem! toilet paper! 🧻🙊 Most of the time, I can get away with shopping at Dollarama for the same brands.
(っ◔◡◔)っMy Two Cents: When we were still living in the NW of Calgary, I was excited when there was a Dollarama opening nearby. If you are familiar with the NW of Calgary, it used to be challenging finding a Dollarama within a 10min. driving radius. Since we moved to our townhouse, I happen to live close to a plaza with a Dollarama! 😅 This is the best Dollar Store in Canada in my opinion. I often shop here for discounted brand-name items and cute stationery (see photo of cute tropical stickers). The photo of the Dollarama signage was taken in the NW of Calgary before we moved across the city in May 2021.
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4. Don’t collect multiples. This is an ongoing problem at my mom’s house. She often buys multiple items of the same thing because she forgets what she already bought. As a result, items like food in the fridge often get lost and forgotten. Not only is this a waste of money, but chances are you will end up tossing these expired products in the trash. I try not to buy multiples by keeping track of what I own which is easier when you own less stuff in the first place. Do you really need 5 bottles of soap from Bath and Body Works? Unless there is an amazing sale on soap and you plan on giving them away as gifts, skip the multiples. My husband often buys multiples so I have a rule that we have to use up what we have before going to the store to buy more. 🛒🏃♀️
(っ◔◡◔)っMy Two Cents: I got a discount on these items which I would normally buy anyway because I bought them in a gift set rather than individually. Best of all, these items are full-sized so I got to try new brands and scents that I would not have tried otherwise. They sell these gift sets at the beginning of the school year, so it is like Christmas in September! To this day, I still don’t know what happened to the dry shampoo… I think it got left behind the last time I visited Ontario. If anyone has ever tried dry shampoo, let me know if it is worth buying in the comments below ↓ I’m curious to know what you think! 🙋♀️
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5. Make it Yourself. Do you have a habit of getting takeaway every time you leave the house? Do you need that daily 3 PM caffeine fix at the drive-thru? Instead of buying drinks, fast food, etc., the frugal alternative is to make it yourself. It is much cheaper to make a smoothie at home but it requires a little effort. I prefer to take the DIY route plus I can control what I put in my body (calories, fat, ingredients). With the internet being readily available to us, there are DIY recipes on YouTube, from Starbucks mock-cappuccinos to bath bombs.
(っ◔◡◔)っMy Two Cents: I never understood why anyone would spend full price on hot water and a teabag at Tim Horton’s, especially when hot water is virtually free and tea costs roughly 10 cents per bag. For this reason, I only order steeped tea at Tims which I cannot replicate at home. Trust me, I tried every hack and my homemade steeped tea tastes nothing like store-bought, even after I tried filtering the teabags at home for a richer, bolder taste. *Le sigh*
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6. Cancel your subscriptions. As much as I enjoy reading magazines, much of what I read becomes redundant over time. There are a couple magazines that I really enjoy but even these get old after a while. Magazines are also quite pricey so it makes sense to order a yearly subscription. The only problem is that I was locked into a 2-year subscription to Cosmopolitan even though I got bored of reading them after a few months. I couldn’t care less about the advertisements, makeup, and fashion sections (more ads for expensive products that I don’t need).
(っ◔◡◔)っMy Two Cents: Before discarding my magazines, I made a vision board with snippets of positive messages. Before I moved to Calgary, I mailed my vision board to an online friend who lives in the U.S. For a while, we were sending each other snail mail. Since I reached most of the goals that I had put on my vision board and I didn’t have room for it in my new apartment, I gave it to her. What you are seeing here are some of the snippets I used. At this time, I am unable to dig up a photo of the vision which is probably buried in a file somewhere on our computer.
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7. Rewire Your Brain. I recommend having a broke student mentality, but not to take it too literally. If you have ever been in post-secondary school, then you will understand what I am talking about. Much of changing a habit begins with the way you think. By thinking a certain way, over time you can reprogram your brain to understand that the sacrifices you are making now won’t feel like sacrifices in the future.
(っ◔◡◔)っMy Two Cents: I have also adopted a minimalist mindset over the years and I am much happier with what I have these days. I no longer chase the latest, shiniest thing that is waved in my face. Learn to appreciate the good things in life and be grateful for what you have. 🙏💕
“Nothing worth having comes easy.” – Theodore Roosevelt
To all of my Millennial and non-Millennial readers, I hope that you enjoyed reading this blog post! 🙌 If this blog post taught you something or made you think about things differently, feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓ I will be AFK (working) this weekend, so I will reply to your comments when I have time.
Disclaimer: Now I can officially say that we are all caught up with the recipes! Any new recipes that are posted in the future will be new blog posts. I am happy about that! 😄 This recipe was originally posted as a separate page on June 10, 2019. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding! 🙊🍌
Since I am trying to eat as clean as possible by cutting down on my sugar consumption, I wanted a muffin recipe that I could easily grab for a quick, easy breakfast. I crave carbs so if I am going to eat carbs, I would prefer them to be cleaner than what you would typically find at the grocery store or local coffee shop. Finally, I found a recipe that I really like so I wanted to share it with you. I modified the recipe slightly which was based on the original recipe from www.gimmedelicious.com.
My photo didn’t do these muffins much justice but I added a photo anyways. Voila! My family loves these muffins and it is so easy to whip up a batch when you need a quick muffin fix. Let’s get started, shall we?
HEALTHIER BRAN MUFFINS
Servings: 12 Time: 45 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1 cup mashed bananas (approx. 2 medium bananas)
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease or line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
Combine whole wheat flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
Crack eggs into a bowl and whisk the egg. Then add plain yogurt, maple syrup, mashed bananas, and coconut oil to the egg mixture. For a smooth consistency, use a blender to pulverize the wet ingredients. I use my Vitamix blender but a simple blender works too.
Add wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and stir gently with a plastic spatula until ingredients are evenly mixed.
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted a very long time ago in a land far, far away. I am reposting the recipe as a blog post to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding! 🙊🍌
I have a challenge for you! Using everything you have in your cupboard, come up with a recipe and actually make it. You can “cheat” by referencing google for inspiration if you need some ideas. Tomorrow, do the exact same thing. I bet that you will come up with two different recipes without the need to buy any of your ingredients. Keep repeating this process and make a mental note to add your recipes to a database for easy access. If you do this for 30 days, then you should end up with ~20-30 unique recipes for your family.
I live in Canada and our degrees are measured in Celsius, not Fahrenheit. For baking purposes, I use Fahrenheit because it’s universal and easier to follow. But if you tell me that the temperature today is 45 outside, you’re not fooling anyone given that it’s the middle of November and there is snow on the ground. I will assume that you have mastered teleportation and are probably enjoying a Daiquiri on some tropical island….. and you didn’t invite me, how rude.
This week I made banana bran muffins and the batter was delicious. However, the muffins were dry and slightly overcooked, so I would suggest baking them for 15-18 minutes at 350ºF instead of 20 minutes at 375ºF. You can find the original recipe here.
BANANA BRAN MUFFINS
Servings: 12 Time: 40 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1 cup mashed bananas (approx. 2 medium bananas)
1 1/2 cups bran mix
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup flaked coconut (optional)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup canola oil
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease or line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
Combine bran with whole wheat flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and coconut (optional).
Crack eggs into a bowl and whisk the egg. Then add milk, mashed bananas, milk, and oil to the egg mixture. For a smooth consistency, use a blender to pulverize the wet ingredients. I use my Vitamix blender but a simple blender works too.
Add wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and stir gently with a plastic spatula until ingredients are evenly mixed.
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding! 😊✨
Here is my favourite cookie recipe of all time! You may remember seeing this recipe from an older blog post that I posted back in December 2019! 😅 I love making mini Christmas cookies and decorating them with cute sprinkles. If you live in Canada, you can buy these sprinkles at Bulk Barn. I also like to package these cookies in tins to give away as hostess gifts. When my now-husband and I were first dating, I gave these cookies to his family as an attempt to win them over and I think it worked. My husband and I have been married for 5 years now, so I believe that the saying is true: the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.
A close-up shot of what these miniature cookies look like. I wanted all of the stars to look the same, all of the snowmen to look the same, etc. There are 9 different shapes featured here: 1. snowman 2. snow-bear 3. snowman 4. bell 5. Christmas tree 6. gingerbread man 7. holly 8. star 9. stocking
These cookies are a timeless classic and are totally worth the hard labor it took to make them. Just kidding! Decorating them is a lot of fun and it doesn’t feel like work to me. If you enjoy baking, you’ll probably enjoy making these cookies. The best part about mini cookies? You can eat 10 of them in one sitting without feeling guilty about it!
SUGAR COOKIES
Heavily filtered photos meant for Instagram but they will have to do. In the future, I will take new photos with a decent camera. I just wanted to give you an idea of what these miniature cookies look like. 😊
INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 cups of flower
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
cling film (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Combine sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, cream of tartar, and baking soda.
Add butter to mixture and combine until crumbly.
Add eggs and vanilla to mixture.
Roll out dough and wrap in cling film (optional).
Chill in fridge for approx. 1 hour.
Slice dough with fancy cookie cutters and place on cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.
I encourage you to give this recipe a try. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments section below ↓ I love reading your comments ❤️
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding! ♥
Most recipes found on this blog are designed for 1-2 people, particularly college students or small families who are short on time. If you are making this smoothie for 4 people, simply double the recipe. You can add other fruits such as peaches or add a handful of spinach/kale for a green smoothie. If cantaloupe isn’t your preference, you can use other kinds of melon instead, such as honeydew or watermelon. #melon-fruit-power from pixabay.com
WHY SMOOTHIES?
Fruits and vegetables contain important enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that we need to stay healthy, maintain energy levels, and keep diseases at bay. Making delicious smoothies from fresh fruits each day is an easy and tasty way to obtain your daily nutrient requirements. Smoothies are thicker than fruit juices and they may contain other ingredients such as milk, yogurt, ice cubes, etc.
CHOOSING INGREDIENTS
The quality of a smoothie is directly related to the freshness of the ingredients that you use. Try and use the best fruit that you can get by choosing fruits at optimum ripeness. Although fresh and organic are usually best, fruits that are flash-frozen soon after picking may be better than fresh fruit that has a short shelf life. Examples of summer fruits are strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and peaches. If you use canned fruit, avoid fruit soaked in syrup and aim for fruit soaked in water or natural fruit juice.
EAT WELL, FEEL GOOD, AND LOOK GREAT!
The nutrition that you are consuming by drinking smoothies on a daily basis will also begin to show through your radiant glowing skin, energy levels, and overall improved well-being. For example, antioxidants are found in fresh fruits and are also essential for younger-looking skin. Another example is folic acid, which is found in many fruits and helps keep hair and nails strong. Another advantage of drinking smoothies is the high water content that is found in fruits. It is easy to forget to drink 8 glasses of water per day. Many beverages that we consume such as coffee, tea, and alcohol are dehydrating compared to smoothies which are very hydrating.
CANTALOUPE SMOOTHIE
Servings: 2 Time: 10 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1 cup peeled, cubed cantaloupe
1/2 banana, frozen chunks
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tablespoon flaxseed (optional)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
Add the cantaloupe, banana, orange juice and lemon juice to a blender (I am using a Vitamix blender). Cover and blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
Add the yogurt, flaxseed and vanilla. Cover and blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
Pour into 2 glasses and add milkshake straws (optional). Serve immediately.
Sereneluna 
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