How to Make Lavender Oil at Home

How to Make Lavender Oil at Home

I was trying to find an all natural remedy for my sinuses and came across this article in Buzzle on Lavender. I have always purchased Lavender products for my children for the “soothing” solution and I’ve always just used Vicks but sometimes the vapors burn, especially when my nose is already irritated from overdosing on tissues! here you will read about the many benefits of Lavender. I was pretty impressed at all of them. To make your oil at home you will need:

Things you will need:One big bottle of carrier oil
Bunch of lavender flowers
A small glass jar
Rubber band
Plastic cling film
Strainer
Saucepan
Spoon

*Click link above for directions

Fresh & Flavorful Memorial Day Menu

Fresh & Flavorful Memorial Day Menu

I find that planning my menus before a gathering  just makes things easier for me. I marinate all my meats, cook all my sides ahead of times and on the day of, I just simply just reheat my food or fire up the grill and get cooking. Now that the warm weather is coming around, most of my time will be spent enjoying my backyard. I feel like these cold New York City winters kept me hibernating! I finally want to celebrate, relax and what perfect start than on Memorial Day weekend. For my husband and I, it’s usually our first big gathering with family and friends. The kids are always just excited as us. I guess we love t party! Kristin over at IowaGirlEats has already planned out a menu for us. It includes one of my favorite Summer drinks ,Strawberry Mojito’s! She’s also included what most of the guys go for, a delicious flank steak with salsa verde. She’s really made it easier for me. Hope this makes it easy for you too. Enjoy!

Recipes included are:

Drink: Strawberry Mojitos

Side: Grilled Corn Orzo Salad with Chili Lime Vinaigrette

Main: Grilled Flank Steak with Salsa Verde

Dessert:  Boozy Berry Cups

*Click link below photo for full printable recipes

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie (vegan, gf)

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie (vegan, gf)

This recipe quickly took me back to my childhood when my grandmother would whip up a pitcher of Morir Soninando. Although I no longer can tolerate dairy, I prefer to use a Vegan version instead, while still keeping within my roots. This is the perfect summer time drink and because of the texture, the blogger behind 86 Lemons was even able to make Popsicle sticks, which I love because it’s a sweet little summer treat for my  two little girls.

*Click link for recipe

DIY Ikea Lack Table Upgrade

DIY Ikea Lack Table Upgrade

If I only had time to actually do this project! I love Ikea “Hacks” and I don’t care what anyone says about them. I can spend hours shopping and day dreaming about what my next project will be. I have to admit. My little girls bedroom is completely decked out by Ikea but you wouldn’t really notice because I always add my magic touch to it. Whether I’m spray painting picture frames or bed frames, I always love that you can add your own little thing. I remember the first apartment my husband and I moved into, we could only afford Ikea furniture. We had these Lack tables and I hated them! had I been inspired by Lovely Indeed, I would have kept my old tables.

Materials

• Ikea lack table (or similar)
• upholstery nails
• stain-proof fabric (pleather works like a charm)
• spray adhesive
• pencil
• scissors
• needle nose pliers
• soft mallet

Tamatar Shorba (Indian Spiced Tomato Soup) Vegetarian & Vegan Friendly

It’s “Spring” in New York City but it feels like the Fall. I have been sipping on warm and hearty soups to keep me warm. Being that I am a Vegan, I am able to make this soup to my liking. What I love about this recipe is that you can actually blend all your ingredients to give it that rich and creamy texture.

Quoted from My Food Pantry:

This recipe can easily be made vegan.  Simply replace the ghee with the oil of your choice (I’d recommend peanut oil or coconut oil) and leave out the milk.  If you also prefer your tomato soup on the creamy side, substitute with plain almond milk or plain soy milk.

DIY Gold Chevron Vase

DIY Gold Chevron Vase

I’m totally in love with the Chevron trend. I love how simple it is to create your own vase. There are 3 things you’ll need. Le Zoe shows us how:

1. An old glass bottle

2. Gold Spray Paint

3. Painters paint

Sticky Asian-Style Chicken Thighs

Sticky Asian-Style Chicken Thighs

If I had to choose eating out over a home cooked meal, I would definitely say a home cooked meal but that’s not always an option when you have two little girls constantly running around the house. I don’t know how my grandmother managed to raise 5 daughters as a single mother, keep sane and had the energy to cook 3 meals a day. I’m lucky if I even remember to eat breakfast. I feel defeated in my own home and prefer to desperately seek any recipes that save me time in the kitchen, so that I have more time focusing on myself and my children. Foodienarium shows us how to make these Sticky Asian Chicken thighs in 15 minutes! Yes, you read that correctly. Now get cooking!