Category Archives: DIY

Giveaway! Frolic in the Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book & Win One Too!

by Julie Posted on May 20, 2013

 

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I’m very much a fan of Laurence King publishing’s unique selections in activity books. I’ve reviewed some here in the past.  Their books tend to be imagination sparkers, more than just coloring, they provide a springboard to one’s imagination.

There’s a reason I’m not specifying children as the target market here.  Their newest release by Scottish based artist Johanna Basford appeals to my grown up sense of wonderment as much as it does my seven year old daughter’s.  Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure and Coloring Book is a sublime labyrinth of gorgeously detailed coloring pages, and yet it’s so much more.

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The journey begins on the first page, where the reader is provided a key of images to be found within Basford’s amazing floral illustrations, hence the treasure hunt.  The next level is the actual coloring.  This book is not for the non-comittal or the scribbler.  I’d recommend it for older kids and it is admittedly quite satisfying for adult use as well.  Do not attempt this with anything but well-sharpened colored pencils; some areas are quite tiny and attention to detail is key.  This is some serious coloring!

Among the 63 lush illustrations, Basford  has included fun interactive challenges, such as BI_130416_garten_malbuch_01adding some birds perched on her adorable scarecrow, completing some flowers with your own petals, adding design elements to simple flora, and several mazes.  These activities are bound to ignite a blossoming (pun intended) artist’s interest in the design world.

Done well, each and every one of these pages is stunningly frame-worthy.   My daughter and I have been having a blast collaborating on pages; those are keepers for sure!

Here’s a pretty peek inside the Secret Garden:

Due to popular demand, Secret Garden is sold at the publisher’s website, but is available below list price ($14.95) at Amazon and Barnes and Noble for just $10.76.  This is a steal for days of thought provoking activity, not to mention a great gift idea!

WIN

Laurence King has kindly offered one lucky TAV reader their very own copy of  Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure and Coloring Book!  You could give it as a gift, but you may not want to part with it.  Simply enter via Rafflecopter below….

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special thanks to Laurence King for providing a copy of this beautiful book for my review.
Posted in Book Review, Crafts, Creativity, Education, Gift Giving, Gift Idea, Giveaway, parent-child activities, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

DIT (Do It Themselves): Mother’s Day Fruit Plates… Help Them to Treat You Right!

by Julie Posted on May 8, 2013

Not to brag, but I am fairly lucky when it comes to my children’s eating habits.  My seven year old is not only willing to try anything, but she actually makes conscious decisions to eat healthy (ok bragging a little).  I’ve seen her bypass  a cookie for a peach, filling my heart with happiness. My youngest is pickier, but at age five she is also making smart choices, though will seldom pass up that cookie.

IMG_2112I’ve never had much trouble getting them to eat fruits and veggies, but when it is dessert time, some coaxing is often in order to keep them satisfied with simply fruit.  It’s my own fault.  I’m a big fan of dessert myself, so it sometimes becomes a bit of a habit until I remind myself to break that cycle.

My favorite way to make the fruit more enticing is toIMG_0982
 make fruit plates. Sometimes they are elaborate, sometimes simply silly.  Regardless – they always get a great response and then gobbled up!  Not only do we enjoy eating them, but they are also a real pleasure to create.  It’s become something of a zen activity for me.

You can only imagine my joy when my little ones began asking me to cut fruit for them to design their own fruit plates!  It’s become quite a hobby for my youngest and I must say she’s got a knack for it.  We often incorporate veggies too.

Now I  really will start bragging.  Last weekend I was awakened twice with fruit plates IMG_2141made with child labor and love.  The one to the right was admittedly made with help from my man – there’s even an egg in the bowl at its center ~ super yum! Perhaps the best part, is when the girls announce themselves proudly and climb into my bed to help me eat their delicious art!

I can’t wait to see what my lovelies create for me next weekend!

Help your kiddos treat you!  Simply cut the fruit the night before and keep it in covered containers in the fridge.  Leave a plate out within their reach and earn yourself an extra 15 minutes or more of sleep!  Proudness and sweetness all around!

Please share any “Do it Themselves” Mother’s Day ideas by commenting below – the more the merrier!

Posted in Breakfast, Crafts, Creativity, Dessert, diet, DIT, DIY, Do It Themselves, Fast Healthy Meals, Food, Gift Idea, Gluten Free, GMO Free, Health, Memories, Mommy Time, Parenting, Parenting Advice, Recipes, Sharing, Snacks, Vegan, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What to Do With… Veggie Peels and Ends – don’t toss ‘em; cook ‘em!

by Julie Posted on May 6, 2013

soup2I try my best to incorporate fresh vegetables into every meal.  Although the extra bits and pieces of these veggies are compostable, there is yet a better use for much of them.  Simply collect them in the freezer until you’re ready to make soup stock, then pop them out and simmer with your other ingredients.  Not only will this give your broth a more well rounded flavor, but because the bits are frozen while still fresh, it will add a healthy dose of nutrients as well.

Most peels and ends can be incorporated.  Mushroom stems, carrot peels and tips (excluding the leafy tops which tend to make the stock bitter), fennel fronds & ends,IMG_2166 celery ends and leaves, ginger offcuts, herb stems,  potato ends and the list goes on –  experiment to see what you like.  I was very happy to learn in a cooking class that onion, garlic, and shallot peels can be used as well and they take the stock to a whole new level of savory goodness!

Do you steam, boil, or blanch veggies?   The excess water you’re left with is halfway to yummy nutritious broth already and can be frozen with your scraps!

Some items to leave out are cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.  I’ve put in a bit of cabbage though and it’s worked out fine.  Also, please use your best judgement- don’t add anything moldy or rotten – if you can’t eat it now, freezing will only make it cold and rotten.

IMG_2172I sift through my crisper from time to time and if something is on the cusp of not so freshness I’ll freeze it before it crosses the line of inedibility.   I also like to keep my slightly droopy tomatoes frozen separately to for use in a tomato based recipe.  Of course if you use lots of vegetables and want to make stock right away, you can bypass the freezer and make the stock immediately.  You could always freeze it once it cools down and store it that way too.  I personally like to make large batches of soup, so I collect scraps for a while in the freezer and bust them out when it’s soup time.

Making Your Stock:

When you are ready to make the stock, simply toss your scraps into a stock pot, add some fresh vegetables and herbs, and cover with water in equal amount to the veggies.

For depth of flavor it’s wise to always include fresh carrots, celery, garlic (leave the peels on) and onions (among others) in addition to your peels and bits.  Fresh parsnips add a lovely sweetness as well.

Chicken or other bones add a ton of flavor also, for those who partake.vegetable_soup_stock_cc_marci1994

Bring the whole deal to a boil and then simmer for about an hour – don’t go too much longer or it won’t taste as fresh.

Taste as you go, and season with fresh and/or dried herbs as you wish.

Strain the ingredients out, separating the broth into a new pot for immediate use or to cool before putting in smaller containers for freezing.

I prefer to leave the stock unsalted until I use it in a recipe.  If you wish to salt, do so at the end when the flavor is developed – low sodium soy sauce or liquid aminos are a great option too.

A healthy squeeze of lemon at the end is a nice touch depending on how you’ll use your stock.

If animal products were excluded, the leftover veggies may be composted, taking it full circle!

Do you have a different use for veggie scraps? How about another idea for reusing, reducing, or recycling? Please comment here or email us at contact@takesavillage.net. We’d love to include your ideas in a post!

 

Posted in diet, DIY, Food, Gluten Free, Greener Living, Recipes, Vegan, Villagers, What to Do With.... | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Giveaway! Feel Good Cleaner of the Year: Emily Cleanser by Eco-Me

by Julie Posted on April 25, 2013

I have never before felt such a healthy boost while cleaning my bathtub; Emily makes me want to inhale deeply and brightens my mood.  Unfortunately Emily is not my new cleaning lady, but does make my work much more pleasant.

Emily Scrub Cleanser by Eco-Me is made with all natural, food grade ingredients – simplyEmily-WEB_-2013_large baking soda, cream of tartar, and deliciously scented essential oils, and boy did they get the mix right.  The lemony aroma of this dry cleanser invokes citrus right off the tree and turns chores into  a much more relaxing experience.

Remarkably affordable for a natural cleaning product, at just $5.39 for sixteen ounces of powdered cleanser, Emily works great in the bathroom and kitchen.  From chrome to baked-on pans, it leaves things shining.  I love to use it in my tub, in between major cleanings, to freshen up and give my daughters (and myself) a spa-like treat in a sparkling tub – Aaaaaaaah!

Home_Box_Set_largeEco-Me has also made getting a fresh start in your home easy – ditch your chemical laden set for an inexpensive, easy to purchase all natural cleaning pack – including toilet cleaner, floor cleaner, dish soap, Scrub Cleanser, All Purpose Cleaner, and laundry soap – all for $27.99!

Eco-Me was founded by Robin Kay Levine after her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.  The cancer diagnosis was not due to genetics, nor did her sister lead an unhealthy lifestyle. This forced the  sisters to research other grim possibilities.   They found that not only are many common household chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, allergies, and psychological issues, but the air in ourCleaning-Pack-WEB-2013_large homes has become more polluted than the outdoors due to these chemicals!  The sisters took it upon themselves to make some changes to this horrible and potentially dangerous situation.

Packaged in PET #1 BPA free plastic with no chemical preservatives, no dyes, no colorants, no phosphates, and no animal testing or bi-products, Eco-me products consider every corner of you home as well as the environment.  They even sell awesome DIY kits for making your own natural cleaners for body, home, pets, and cars.  Thanks to Eco-Me you can keep it all clean without the toxic stuff!

SAVE

Eco-Me is offering Takes a Village readers 15% off all online purchases through May 30, 2013!  Simply enter the code TAV-15 at checkout!  What a great way to start your cleaning supply list anew with all natural products!  Plus get free shipping on any orders over $30!

WIN

Want to try out the Emily Scrub Cleanser?  Eco-Me is giving one lucky Takes a Village reader a full sized product.  Simply follow the easy steps below for lots of entries!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special thanks to Eco-Me for providing product for my review.
Posted in Cleaning, Coupon Code, Discount, DIY, Environmental, Giveaway, Greener Living, Health, Housekeeping, natural, Nontoxic, Recycling, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Repurpose Those Chocolate Bunnies ~ Easter Fondue!

by Louise Fenton Posted on April 8, 2013

images-8Still have Easter candy around a week later? After “candy holidays” like Easter and Halloween, I can’t wait to get rid of the stuff for a few reasons: the begging and the pleading, the cavities, the appetite ruining, and most of all my own midnight snacking.

Luckily Easter, at least for us, presents fewer issues than Halloween. Its nice to have some control over what goes into the basket and how much of it. I’m no grinch-bunny though and after having a gang of three year olds around our place for an egg and bunny hunt in the yard, there was plenty of candy left over. And my son knew it.

The following few mornings were the stuff of nightmares. He wanted chocolate bunnies 553752_10151569174216233_872037726_nfor breakfast. He refused all other options. No amount of explanation, negotiation or consolation seemed to make the slightest difference. Despite the screaming, I switched my focus to getting some waffles made, cutting fruit and then… the bunnies. I heated a small sauce pan, added a little coconut oil, two hollow chocolate bunnies, some milk, the little guy helped me stir… and Voila! We had fondue… for breakfast, how decadent and yet efficient.

Now this magical compromise wasn’t an immediate success. Although he helped me prepare the fondue chocolate, once it was served I got a round of, “You killed my rabbits! They’re dead!” and “I want rabbits, not waffles!” We needed some calm down time: a snuggle and reading of Green Eggs And Ham. Then he was ready to try it. Did he like it? Of course he did. In fact, he said he would eat it with a goat or on a boat!

To Make:

images-7For fondue sauce – any leftover Easter chocolate will do. I used a dollop of coconut oil to make it saucier. Butter would work as well. Just melt the oil or butter in the pan, add the chocolate on low heat and stir continuously. As the chocolate begins to melt, add some milk. We used almond milk, but cow’s or rice or soy or hemp would work as well. Berries, grapes and apple slices are great in fondue. Use your imagination and just shove a toothpick in it. I had some gummy bears with vitamin C in them (bulk section at Whole Foods) and put them on the plate as well. They were yummy dipped in chocolate!

Posted in Breakfast, Creativity, Dessert, DIY, Food, Holidays, parent-child activities, Parenting, Parenting Advice, Recipes, Recycling, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Get It Girl!- The Importance of Girl/Me Time

by Stephanie Posted on April 5, 2013

A few weekends ago I was reminded of how important ‘girl time’ is. I was invited to one of my best friend’s bridal shower and had a blast!  My girlfriend is having an amazing DIY wedding, and she came up with the idea of getting all of her girlfriends together to make different items to be used for her wedding.  I was privileged enough to spend the afternoon surrounded by a group of very artistic and crafty women.  We all came together for the sole purpose of celebrating our friend by doing our best to make her wedding day gorgeous and special.  As I sat there wielding a hot glue gun, it all came flooding back to me.  Before being a mommy took up all of my time, I was always dreaming of and actually making different items for friends and family.  It was so much a part of my lifestyle I couldn’t hardly imagine myself not always doing it.  Yet, here I am with a completely different focus and now I spend my time dreaming up activities that I can do with my son.  The days of spending a whole afternoon in front of my sewing machine have now become play dates at the park.  I am in no way complaining, but after the weekend with my friends, I realized I miss my crafty time.  

As mothers, I think that we become so absorbed in our children we often lose important parts of ourselves. I don’t think it’s intentional – it just seems that our priorities shift.  At least for me, the things that were once so important became secondary to my child.  So much so that I didn’t even realize how much I was missing it. I think it happens to the best of us.  The time with my girlfriends made me realize that I too have needs, and those needs are every bit as important as my child’s needs.  Easier said then done, I know, but we mothers need to recognize it and not feel guilty about it.   Sometimes it’s important for us to put the kid down and pick ourselves back up again.  We will be much better mothers for it .

The short “kid-free” weekend with my friends left me feeling recharged and reenergized.  I came back a relaxed, happy and inspired mom.  Since then, I’ve made it a point to get back into the things I enjoy.  I came home and started my garden (something I haven’t even thought about in the last year), I’m taking steps to start a sewing group to learn to repurpose clothing I already have, and I’m hoping to dust off my sewing machine – and glue gun – and get crafting again.

In the end, I’m grateful to my friends for reawakening the part of me that needs to create something.  To think –  all it took was an afternoon with friends, wine, glue guns, and the hum of a sewing machine to get me going again.  I guess that’s what friends are for. Thanks Ladies!!

Posted in Adjusting to Parenthood, Commitment, Crafts, Creativity, DIY, Learning Experience, Memories, Mental Health, Mommy Time, Parenting, Villagers | 1 Comment

DIY (or die trying) Christmas

by Stephanie Posted on December 21, 2012

Being a stay at home mom has had its advantages.  I’ve been privileged enough to be there to see my boy hit every milestone and spend every night cuddled up to him (yes, we co-sleep).  That’s not to say that there aren’t any disadvantages.  We’ve had to tweak a few things around here so that I can continue to enjoy my special moments.  For example, we are now having to live on just my husbands salary alone and we’ve had to make quite a few cuts in our budget.  Gone are the days when we’d eat out a few times a week or pick up a few unnecessary items just because they were cute.  I’ve had to get creative with our budget to still be able to afford a few little luxuries.

 

Take Christmas gifts for example, I know that I could easily explain to my family (all 100 of them, ok, I’m exaggerating, but I do come from a very large Mexican family) that gifts christmas_sack_of_giftsfor all of them just aren’t  going to happen this year.  To be honest, I should have cut many of them off years ago.  I have quite a few nephews and nieces that are in their 30′s and would understand if I skipped their gifts.  After all, isn’t Christmas more about the kids anyway?  So this year I’ve decided to still buy the kids presents and make gifts for many of the adults.  I’ve made plenty of things in the past; my poor family members have had to tolerate all my crafty phases.  I still remember a few funny glances I got from my nephews when they opened up the scarves I knitted them a few years ago. Let’s just say, heavy scarves aren’t a necessity for southern Californians (in my defense, I was living in NYC at the time). I myself have always preferred to get handmade gifts. There is nothing more special then someone taking the time to pour their heart and talent into a present for someone they care about.  I cherish every handmade item I’ve ever been given.

So I’m taking to the internet to find some great DIY ideas.  I’m thinking, baked goods, condiments, marinades and maybe some very easy crafts (I do have a 6 month old after all!).  I’m ready to pour my heart into some gifts for those I love.

A few months ago, I got a huge bunch of kale in my organic vegetable delivery and I was
curious to find a new way to cook it. I did a google search for “kale recipes” and up popped cookieandkate.com.  Cookieandkate.com is an amazing food blog that shares the fun and funny adventures of Kate (a twenty something vegetarian) and Cookie (her sweet dog) all the while sprinkling in some fantastic recipes.  This food blog has probably been my favorite this year for healthy recipes.  Not only is the photography beautiful but every recipe on this site is vegetarian and made with 100% whole grains so it’s easy to overindulge and not feel too guilty.  I get a kick out of reading Kate’s posts and since finding the site I’ve experimented with about  6-7 of her recipes. Her recipes are pretty easy to make and I love that you don’t have to drive all around town going to specialty stores to find the ingredients.  I already had everything I needed already in my pantry.   The recipes are fantastic! I have yet to be disappointed.  Some were so good I’ve actually made them twice, so it’s only natural that Kate’s blog would be the first place I look to for inspiration.  She did not fail me.
Kate has a direct link to all of her recipes and wouldn’t you know it – the baked goods section is right on top!  Smart move Kate!!  With recipes like, Pumpkin Pecan Polvorones (Mexican Wedding Cookies),  Heavenly Lemon Blueberry Scones and even Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies, what’s not to love?  Kate has gotten me inspired to get started on some yummy and healthy goodies.  Thanks Kate!!

I’m sure there are few crafty folks and awesome foodies out there that are dying to share some great ideas for DIY Christmas gifts. C’mon, I know you wanna!  Please feel free to share those ideas, or even photo’s in our comment section, I’m dying to hear what you got!

*Photo credit: last 3 from CookieandKate.com

 

Posted in Crafts, DIY, Food, Gift Giving, Gift Idea, Holidays, Memories, Recipes, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment