Homemade Almond Milk

I know this isn't a craft. It's a little different from what I've been doing here on my blog but as you've probably notice, I haven't been doing much on here! My life with my 4 little (forces a  sweet, twitching, crooked smile) angels has been filled with such (again with that forced smile) wonderful adventures of school, summer activities, birthday's, parties, sickness, camps, learning experiences, crafts, cleaning and let's not forget a full time job....my husband.....just kidding (that darn smile again), no really my full time job as a home health nurse.  :-)

So, back on track, the almond milk. We as a family, have been trying to eat and live healthier. It hasn't been easy. We have been attending classes, reading books, blogs, watching documentaries and having interesting conversations with friends.  We are taking baby steps and learning a little at a time but slowly we will get this healthy living thing down. And no, it's not easy with 4 very, very, very picky eaters. The kids are still a step behind us with the healthy eating but that's ok. My husband and I are learning and changing our ways and we lead by example right? The kids will eventually listen to us and see us doing it so they will follow, right? Ya, right! In our dreams but hey baby steps. They try everything and like 1 out of every 20 things. That's progress in my books. :-)

I got this Almond milk recipe from our local Wellness Kitchen. It is a wonderful non profit that makes all organic, gluten free foods for those in need of recovery from a sickness or just wanting to change the way they eat. They offer education classes, cooking classes, a peaceful place to relax, read, learn and eat. They are a wonderful and giving blessing for many people.

After the recipe I will write about the nutritional facts about almonds. Also, some yummy variations you can do with this recipe to make all kinds of treats :-) So, please make sure you read on.

Almond Milk

~ This recipe makes about 4 cups, 1 quart mason jar. 

Items needed:

~ Mason jar - 12 pack from Walmart $6

(I store only in glass jars to prevent toxin leaks from plastic containers)

~ Nut Milk Bag. They are about $8-$9 on Amazon

~ Blender

~Small bowl

~ Measuring cup

Ingredients:

1 cup of almonds, soaked overnight (will become about 1-1/2 cups after soak)

4 cups water

1 medium date, pit out (optional, adds slight sweetness)

Directions:

1. Strain and rinse almonds until water runs clear. 

2. In blender, I used Vitamix, add almonds, water and date. 

3. Blend on high until it reaches milk consistency. Vitamix was about 10 secs. 

4. Using a medium bowl, place your nut milk bag in the bowl, open your nut milk bag and pour some of your almond milk into the bag. Twist the bag starting from the top moving down to strain the milk from the bag. Continue until the bag seems kind of dry or only a couple of drips are coming out. 

5. Pour the milk into the mason jar. 

6. Pour the almond meal out into the bowl. 

That's it! Super easy! 

You can freeze the almond meal and use for other projects (which I have not come up with yet). 

It is suggested not to freeze the almond milk. I have read that it causes the milk properties to change and then it tastes different. 

Uses:

Warm and mix with chocolate for killer hot coco

Warm and add a little cinnamon

Add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (alcohol free) before blending for a sweeter taste. 

Add to coffee and tea
Use in shakes with your favorite organic fruit 

So many ways you can use it!

** The almond milk is good for 4 days in the fridge.**

** Shake well before each use**

So, drink up! Enjoy it! 

Food Wisdom:

Almonds contain more calcium than any other nut and have the highest dietary fiber than any nut or seed with a whopping 3 grams of fiber per ounce. They are rich in vitamin E, iron, and B vitamins. 

Soaking nuts, seeds grains and legumes germinates or "ends it's dormancy" and the food begins new life. Nutrients become readily available to assimilate, barriers get broken down and the food becomes easier to digest. 

Magnet Cups for the Fridge

 Magnet Cups for the Fridge

 

Materials:

Plastic Cup- $.50 - .95 Walmart

Magnets- $3 for 52 Walmart

Super Glue- $1 Target (I used Scotch, found it in the dollar section)

UNDER $1 to make!!

 

 

 

SUPER EASY!!

 

I have 4 kids. 3 which are independent enough to get their own water out of the built in fridge spout. However, not responsible enough to use only 1 cup a day! I wash at least 6 cups a day! Most of which probably just had water but I'm not trusting it. So, picking my battles, I decided to make it easier on them.

 

Instructions:

Just super glue 2 magnets to the back of the cup.

Press for at least 40 seconds.

Let sit for 30 minutes.

Put on fridge!

Now they just grab their cup, fill it with water, drink it all (that is key), and put it back.

Hand wash every couple days!

 

 

 

 

 



 

Please ask any questions you have!

Let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

 

 

Baby Photo Toy

I actually saw this on Martha Stewart the other day and thought it was so easy and cute! My cousin just had a baby girl last month so I thought I would try this out on her. I used black and white photos because the baby at this point can only see in black and white. Also, I've read that they are drawn to black and white more then color at this early age.

*Make sure you read the whole post and the notes at the end before you buy everything. I write my good and bad learning experiences at the end and it could change the way you do things.*

Break Down

Total Cost: About $7

Total Time: 20 minutes

Materials:

Baby rings $3 Target

Shower curtain rings $1 Target

Self stick laminating sheets $3 for 5 Target

Hole puncher had

Pictures you want to use

Scissors

White paper

How To:

1.

Cut your pictures out just smaller then the size of the laminating sheets that you are using. You really can use any size. Larger ones, 4x6, might be easier for the baby to hold. I used "wallet size" which I think was about 2 x 3. Make sure you cut the pictures out smaller then the laminating sheets. You want enough room around the picture for the laminate to stick and seal (see picture below. I feel I should of cut the picture smaller. I would've liked a better seal). Also make sure there is enough room that if baby sucks and chews on it, which they will, it will stay sealed and not get the picture wet.

* I used the self stick laminating sheets. I have a laminator but I thought this would be easier and quicker to use. You can get these in a number of sizes, I saw them at Target. If you use your own laminator, you might have to do these steps a little different. I'm not that experienced in using the laminator.*

2.

Cut out a white, or any color you want, paper to the same size as your picture. This will be the backing you can write names or whatever you want on.

3. 

Next, punch a hole in the laminates. I find it easier to poke a hole now and then again once the picture is in it, if needed. Going through all of it once it's puts together is tough and can tear the picture. 

4.

Now using the directions on the laminating sheets, put the picture and the white paper, if used, together. It was pretty easy. Basically, open the sheets, center the picture, peel off the instructions, and seal. Just make sure you take a marker or something to smooth over the sheets to really get a good seal. 

If your picture now covers up the punched hole, use the hole puncher and punch through the picture. 

5.

Now, put the shower curtain ring through the pictures and snap shut. This is why I used the shower curtain rings, they snap shut so you can't loose the pictures. Of course they open pretty easy, with adult muscle, if and when you want to change out the pictures. 

Finally, attach the baby rings and make it as long you want! 

Last thoughts:

*This project was pretty quick and easy! I can't wait to make more! Really you can make anything for your baby to look at. Flash cards, pictures, letters, etc.... These can be attached to almost anything! High chair, stroller, car seat, crib, other toys, and if sealed well, the bath! 

* Martha Stewart used trading card protectors rather then laminating sheets, but I couldn't find those and the babies can chew on these. The trading card protectors are just a sleeve that has an opening where the baby could get the picture wet. 

* The shower curtain rings I used where pretty thick. The hole punch size allowed for the pictures to go on the "snap" part of the ring but then the pictures didn't move much. So, I used the hole puncher to make the holes bigger. I don't know if they have a bigger hole puncher but with my lack of experience, I don't have one. Once I made the hole bigger, the pictures now slide over the shower curtain ring and the baby can see the pictures better. 

* Sorry the pictures are kind of blah. I haven't been feeling great and apparently it affects my creativity! : )

I hope this is something you would like to do! Let me know how your project goes! I would love to hear from you!!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap (safe for top or front loaders)

I was spending a fortune in laundry soap! I wash a couple of loads a day! I had once scene on TV the Duggers (if you don't know who, that's ok) make their own soap. Brillant! I'll give it a try! * The picture above was an after thought after I made my batch so the bar soap is missing*

Details:
                    Easy. Super Cheap!! A little time consuming but worth it. Can be used for top or front
                     loaders!!

Materials: 
                         All bought at Walmart, in the laundry soap isle all next to each other:
                       4 Cups - hot tap water
                       1 Fels-Naptha soap bar about $3
                       1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda about $4   
                      ½ Cup Borax about $4
Directions:
                      1. Grate bar of soap (I used my cheese grader) and add to saucepan with water. Stir
                          continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. It didn't
                          take to long.
                     
                     2. Fill a 5 gallon bucket (I used the cat litter bucket)  half full of hot tap water. Add
                         melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.
                         Getting a paint stir stick would help, or if your husband has the stir extension for
                         his drill. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight
                         to thicken.

                    3. The next day stir. It was really thick and hard to mix. It was really chunky but I kept
                        stirring until it was mixed really well. Then fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser
                        half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water.

                    4. Shake before each use. (will gel)

- Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
- Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
- Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
- Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!


Likes: LOVE IT! The clothes come out smelling so clean and fresh!! While making it, the scent was strong and I was worried but the clothes hardly smell at all. Just fresh and clean! I still use my liquid fabric softner but I will soon make homemade softner too! My mom uses white vinager in her rinse cycle for a softner. The clothes feel nice too! Not "filmy". I recently put in a load with chocolate stained clothes (sat and dried all day) and they came out perfectly clean!! The soap will store for a long time!


Dislikes/Changes: None!!