Recipes, Crafts & DIY

 

                                

 

                          

 

 

                           

 

 

 

                          

Tips: 

 

For the banner, I cut pieces of scrapbook paper into triangles with a little part left over (to make it easier to glue onto the string).

 

                          

 

The pop-up part is really easy to make!

 

All you have to do is cut two slits into a folded pice of paper (as shown below) then glue your images onto them. What I did to make the card a bit neater was I glued this sheet of paper onto another, thicker piece of paper (theblue sheet). That way, it looks like a regular card from the outside.

 

                                 

 

 

 

 

This is a pinterest-inspired gift that requires a lot of thought and a decent amount of time to make, but it is worth making for someone you care a lot about.  It can be for anyone-your significant other, a friend, sibling, parents. It's especially nice to do if you live far away from that person because it's a gift that keeps on giving, even when you're not close-by. 

                           

Open when: 

You're sad

You're happy

You want to look forward to the future/daydream

You're angry

You have feelings you can't express

You get a good grade

You have a hard test coming up

You're in for a tiring day

You miss me

You're bored

You're feeling creative 

You need a laugh

You can't sleep

What's included in each envelope: 

This will be added progessively. Stay tuned!

You're happy:
-letter
-quotes
-12 things happy people do differently 

                                
                               

 

You have a hard test:
-letter
-post-it notes
-Hi-lighter
-good luck charm (ex. a horseshoe keychain, four leaf clover or chinese coin)
-cue cards (or flash cards)
-study tips
 

                               

You're in for a tiring day:

-letter
-$5 gift card for tim hortons (or starbucks)

-"50 ways to take a break" print out

                                 

 

You get a good grade:

-letter

-confetti

-smarties

                                   

You're bored:

-letter

-word search

-suduko puzzle

-comic book or magazine

 

                                     

 

You're sad:

-letter 
-pack of tissues
-candy
-quotes (ex. "This too shall pass")

-7 things to do that will make you feel better (I just googled a list and picked my favourites)

-1 "How I Feel" sheet from the "Knock Knock" website

 

                                     

You're feeling creative:

-letter

-quotes

-small canvas 

-paintbrushes

-pencil (to sketch with)

-recipes

 

                                   

The following are the ones I have no pictures for (sorry):

You need a laugh:

-letter

-jokes (printed out some memes)

-funny memories we've had together

-silly pictures we took together

You miss me: 

-letter
-mini album with pics of us
-memories (copies of tickets to places we've been, random memories written on cardstock etc)

                            

 

50 Reasons I Love You” Deck of Cards (Pinterest-inspired)

With Valentine’s Day coming up, you may want to start thinking of what to give your significant other (or family and friends) to show them how much you appreciate and love them. Sentimental gifts are always the most treasured, so why not try out this cool idea for re-cycling a deck of cards?

It’s basically a deck of cards with 50 reasons you love (or “like”) a certain person on each card, and bound together with a binder ring to make it into a cute booklet.  It’s an easy-to-make gift that is sure to impress.

 

                             

 

Things You’ll Need:

                            

1 Deck of Cards

Multi-use labels (can find these at the dollar store or stationary stores)

A nice gel or fountain pen to write with

Optional:

Hole-puncher

A binder ring (comes in a pack of many binder rings at any stationary store)

Stickers, cardstock or other embellishments you want to add

Directions:

1. Make a list of reasons you love the person you’re gifting this to. Remember to be thoughtful and add inside jokes or things that are unique about that person to make it even more special.

 

Examples:

“You always know how to make me laugh”

“Your passion and openness to music”

“You can be mature but still have a fun, childish side”

“You make time for me even when you’re busy”

“The way you dress…even if it is a bit hipster”

“You don’t hold grudges or stay mad for long”

“You send me the sweetest texts every morning”

 

2. Cut the labels, if necessary to fit onto the cards. The good thing about the labels is that they’re already adhesive so they go smoothly onto the card, with no lumpy glue needed.

3. Write each reason on the labels. Remember to leave one card for the title and if you’d like, one at the end to write your “to” and “from”.

4. Decorate as you desire.

5. Use a single hole-puncher to make one or two holes on each card and put the binder rings through them.

And you’re done! It’s a really simple to make yet thoughtful gift idea that anyone would appreciate. Try it out and let me know how it goes!

 

Optional:

 

1 tsp pepper sauce

 

Directions to make the bara: 

 

Mix warm water, sugar and yeast and set aside.

 

In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, black pepperand cumin (geera) together then add in the previously prepared mixture. Also, add about 1/2 cup of water until the mixture becomes firm and knead the dough. Set the dough aside for an hour.

 

While the dough is rising, make the filling for the doubles:

 

Drain the water from the canned peas.

 

Heat the oil in a skillet and add onion, garlic, curry powder and 1/4 cup of water. Saute for about a minute and a half.

 

Add the chick peas, coat them with the mixture and cook for 5 minutes. Add water, cumin, salt and black pepper, cover and allow to simmer until peas are very tender.

 

Back to the bara:

 

Punch down the dough and leave it for about 12 minutes.

Take about 1 tablespoon of the dough and flatten into a circle, 4 or 5 inches in diameter.

Fry the pieces of dough in a pan with about 1 cup of oil until they are light brown (about 30 seconds per side).

Place chickpeas on one bara, and top it off with another bara.

Prepare yourself to taste awesome-ness.

 

Enjoy!

 

Note: This recipe is a slightly modified version of one found in "Sweet Hands: Island Cooking from Trinidad and Tobago" by Ramin Ganeshram (2006 Hippocrene Books).
 

When I visited Universal Studios, I was excited to try butterbeer and was not disappointed. The drink is refreshing and very sweet.  

                                         

It is also surprisingly very easy to make and it tastes just like the one you’d get from Universal Studios!  

This recipe makes 2 glasses of chilled butterbeer (the size shown below).

For the froth:

approx. 1.5 cup whipped cream

¼ cup powdered sugar

3 teaspoons of butterscotch-flavored Jell-O mix

For drink:

Cream soda (chilled)

4 teaspoons of butterscotch-flavored Jell-O mix

Froth

Directions:

Mix whipped cream, powdered sugar and butterscotch Jell-O mix in a small bowl until you’re satisfied with the consistency (just add more whipped cream to make it thicker)

For the drink, pour butterscotch Jell-O mix into cream soda and stir until dissolved (you can add more to get the color you want but 2 was enough to get the color in my picture)

Top the drink with the prepared froth.

Enjoy!

Try it out and please let me know what you think!