Liquid Bandage For Covering PimplesI get pimples quite often. I noticed a while back that my liquid makeup and foundations would cover everything except my pimples, and that would make them stand out even more.
Intense Sunset and My CatThis is one of the last photos I ever took with a regular camera before I switched over to digital. I remember rushing home from classes one day because I wanted to snap a photo of the sky.
Mini Lemon Meringue PiesI'd never made a lemon meringue pie, but after seeing contestants bake some on a cooking show on TV, I wanted to try one out. Since it's just me and my husband in this house, I made mini versions.
Roasted Carrots with Carrot-Top PestoThis is a beautiful side dish with vibrant flavours. Use the carrots' own greens to make a pesto to serve with it. I added a bit of mint and lemon to really make it pop. I used pine nuts, but you can use cashews or something similar, too.
Pistachio Shell Birds PaintingI like to save the shells from my pistachio nuts to craft with. Here, I've turned them into birds on a tree I painted.
Creamy RatatouilleThis is a beautiful vegetable ratatouille that is immersed in a tomato sauce, swirled with a homemade Bechamel sauce. It's lovely and crisp on top, and soft and creamy on the bottom. This is a delight to enjoy any time of the year.
Washable No-Sew MaskYou can make this washable, reusable no-sew face mask at home. If you use something like a handkerchief, you won't even need to cut it. Aside from being able to wash this, it's also beneficial in the way that you can make it custom to your face shape to ensure you're covered over the nose and under the chin.
Curtain Rod HeadboardUse a curtain rod and a couple pieces of fabric to make the most elegant headboard. Headboards can be expensive, and if you try to make your own from wood boards and foaming, it can be a little tough. Mounting a curtain rod over your bed is very easy. You can also change colors whenever you like!
Microwave for Drying HerbsUsing a microwave to turn your fresh herbs into dry herbs doesn't only speed up the process, it also secures a longer lasting, stronger flavour. You will also notice that they retain their natural, beautiful, vibrant colour.
Wildlife: Lone BirdI was trying to take a picture of this tree in front of my house filled with birds. Right when I was taking the shot, the neighborhood ice cream truck came by with its blasting song, scaring all the birds away except this one!
March of the Penguins (Hokkaido, Japan)Here are some photos from the Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan. They hold this famous Penguin Walk annually from December through March. A walkway is roped off for the penguins to roam around the park, they seemed to do it so happily!
Kitten in the Window (France)This cute little kitty was staring at me as I was walking down an alley in France on the way to getting some croissants. I thought the huge wooden shutters were beautiful, too. It really made my day!
Plastic Milk Jug FlowerI love plastic milk jugs because they are a lot like thick vellum paper, except they are free after you drink all your milk. After cleaning, drying, and cutting, these milk jugs can make beautiful flowers. Placing a candle in the middle and using it as a votive holder is optional.
Easiest Homemade Greek YogurtGreek yogurt has been one of the most popular decadent foods lately. It's delicious on its own, but also a great way to cut calories and at the same time, boost flavor and protein. Here is a simple way to turn regular yogurt into Greek yogurt.
Cinnamon Apple Pork ChopsThis is an amazingly delicious one-pan pork chop recipe using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. It's so easy to make but tastes like a gourmet treat. You will want to keep this recipe.
Cheese and Crackers Mini PiesThese little cheese and cracker appetizers are super delicious. They double up as great presentation as they imitate little slices of pumpkin pie. They are sure to bring many oohs and aahs to your parties!
DIY Organic Food ColouringI was chatting with a friend recently about how his kids are allergic to red food dye. It made me do some research, where I found that it contains plenty of chemicals, including petroleum. I decided to make my own food colouring from organic fruits and vegetables, and it was a total success!
DIY Makeup Setting SprayStop reapplying your makeup and use a setting spray for all-day wear. Here's how to make your own at home for a few bucks.
Cardboard Tube WreathThis is a gorgeous way to recycle the cardboard tubes from the inside of your toilet paper or kitchen roll. You can dazzle them up with some colourful findings from nature outside. Enjoy and happy holidays!
Pasta Christmas TreeThis is a beautiful little centerpiece you can make from dry pasta, a foam cone, and paint. I think it'd be beautiful in any colour, but it really looks quite chic in gold with red accents. The farfalle bowtie pasta sitting on top is a cute little finishing touch.
DIY Eyelash AdhesiveI started making my own eyelash glue when I realized the store brand ones I was using was making my lids a bit itchy. This adhesive is made of a few simple household products and keeps your lashes on all day.
DIY Comb-top DustpanAttach a wide-toothed comb with hot glue to your dustpan in order to brush out all the debris and dust bunnies from your broom. This dollar hack is a copycat of a $25 dustpan I saw at the Home Goods store.
Cornstarch BeadsThis is a super easy and fun way to make beads for a necklace or bracelet. All it takes is three ingredients that you have in your kitchen to make the basic beads. I've added color and sealant to mine. You'd never know it was cornstarch!
New Cleaning Use For An Old ToothbrushDon't through away that old toothbrush. Carefully heat the toothbrush handle with a lighter for about 10 seconds and bend into a curved L shape. Dip in cold water to cool it down.
Deodorize Clothing with VodkaA great way to deodorize clothes is to place some vodka in a spray bottle and mist them with it. Hang them to dry and you'll notice all the smells are gone. The vodka kills bacteria and odor, but won't leave an alcohol scent behind. This is great for clothes that you just brought out from storage.
Remove Home Address From LuggageIf you have your home address written on your luggage tag, it's best to remove it. It's become more common these days that criminals are stashing illegal items in people's luggage, then keeping the home addresses in order to retrieve those items later.
Making a Crab from a Scallop ShellI like to buy scallop appetizers at the seafood shop. They come in these beautiful shells, so I clean them and keep them for crafts. I've made a little red crab with one of them here. It's pretty easy to do and looks so cute. You can add a magnet to the back and put it on your fridge, if you like!
Homemade Blackhead Removing StripsHere is a simple way to make your own blackhead removing strips. I used to spend $10 per box (which lasted me 2 weeks) for many, many years.
3 Ingredient TrufflesThese beautiful little truffles will blow you away. They are creamy and decadent, yet so easy to make. You just need a pack of Oreo cookies, a block of cream cheese, and a bag of chocolate chips. Sprinkles are totally optional. I only used them to make them pop for my Valentine!
Crispy Eggplant "Bacon"I've tried to make fake bacon out of so many products and eggplant seems to mimic the texture of bacon the best. Here is how to make your own eggplant "bacon" at home!
In Memory of Bunson (Rabbit)Bunson was about a 1 year old rabbit. She walked into our garden one day about a year ago. She was a bittersweet "find", because we had just lost our cat a week prior.
DIY Light Bulb Grinch OrnamentI made this Grinch ornament from a burnt out light bulb. All you need is acrylic paint, some red and white fabric, and some hot glue. No sewing is necessary. Tie on some ribbon and hang it on the tree. I think he's pretty cute!
5 Ingredient Apple TartThis apple tart is so easy to make. The great thing is you don't need any fancy equipment or fluted tart pans or techniques. Just throw everything in a pan and put it in the oven!
Lobster Mac and CheeseFor special occasions, my husband and I like to order lobster mac and cheese. We've recently realized, as good as it is, it's just not worth $20 for a plate! Here's a recipe for lobster mac and cheese for under $3 a serving.
Stretching Tight Boots and ShoesI have really big muscular calves and wide feet (thanks, Mum!), making it very hard for me to fit into shoes I fancy. I bought these suede boots and pumps online because they were dirt cheap and super cute. When they arrived, not surprisingly, I could not fit into them.
Cheapskate CheesecakeHere's a way to make cheesecake when you're a bit low on funds. It tastes so good and with a healthy dollop of whipped cream on top, no one will notice you cut some corners!
How I Lost 125 Pounds on a BudgetI'd always been a bit overweight growing up. I just thought that was the norm since most of my family members always carried extra weight. "We're a big-boned family," we'd joke. But our appetites were huge, especially coming from cultural backgrounds where food was the primary offering in times of celebration... or any occasion.
Upcycled Plastic Bottle Jewelry StandThis a super cute and thrifty jewelry stand you can make out of some plastic bottles and a few pieces of hardware. I used it to fill up with the jewelry I wear most often, and separated them by colour using the different tiers: silver on top, then gold, then colour pieces. I love this stand!
"Hamburger" Decorated CakeMake a simple box cake into a huge "hamburger" cake by adding a few modifications. I used 9 inch round tins to bake yellow cake and cut them in half to form hamburger buns.
Egg Carton Rose BroochDon't throw away your empty egg cartons. You can make beautiful roses out of them, then glue them onto an old pin. When painted, the cartons make a beautiful almost canvas-like material. This is one gorgeous upcycled brooch that I think you should try!
Cheddar Cheese Shell TacosYou won't need regular tortilla shells for these super low carb tacos. These shells are made of one ingredient: cheddar cheese. Fried until they are crispy then hung upside down to form a taco shell shape, they are the perfect treat for anyone on a low carb diet... or just loves cheese!
Fluffy Egg CloudsI love this recipe because it only has two ingredients and turns into something deliciously elegant. With the high prices on eggs these days, this is nice way to stretch your money.
Clear Browser for Cheaper Online Airline TicketsMany travel websites track your activity and see how many times you've been on their page. Clearing your web browser's cookies and cache can help you score cheaper air travel online, making it look like it's your first visit to their site.
Book Pages Christmas WreathMy husband is an avid book reader. He reads them and then places the books in three categories; keep, donate, and junk. I use the ones from the junk pile to upcycle, of course! Give this craft a try. It is my husband's twist on a Martha Stewart wreath. It's practically free!
Mint Tin Homemade Lip BalmHere's a super simple all-natural recipe for a lip balm you can pour into one of your empty mint tins.
Newspaper Nail ArtNail art is very popular right now. Doing them at home yourself may seem difficult but try these newspaper nails! It costs next to nothing and they're very cute!
Brownie BrittleBrownie brittle is my dream come true as it's just the crispy, crunchy, sweet goodness of the edges of brownies I always tend to fight over. I love it but why does it cost more than brownies? It has less ingredients, less substance, but costs more money. Let's make our own! Here's how to make them using a box of brownie mix.
DIY Unicorn HeadbandMy best friend was having a unicorn themed birthday party, but could not find unicorn horn headbands anywhere! I went out to look for some for her and found they were all terrible plastic pieces of junk. I decided to make some for her. She loved them so much, she actually squealed. Success!
Wildlife: Impatient SquirrelThis is a squirrel that visits my parents house three times a day for feeding. I always tell my friends about how she impatiently knocks on the window and demands food but no one ever believes me, until now!
Easy Whipped CoffeeEveryone has been making this budget-friendly coffee delight as we are all stuck at home. I have some tips on how to make the most luscious puff with some techniques. Give this a try. It's a tasty and beautiful treat that beats any coffee shop's $5 version.
Fudgy Black Bean BrowniesI've been using this healthy two-ingredient brownie recipe for two years now. It's full of protein, fiber, and it's absolutely delicious. It has an amazing fudgy texture to it, you won't get from making the brownies with the box directions.
Upcycled Bottle Top Bag SealerI don't always have spare containers or chip-clips handy so I make my own airtight enclosures for my goodies using empty plastic drink bottles.
Keeping Your Garbage Disposal In Mint ConditionGarbage disposals not only get really stinky if you don't maintain them, the blades will also go dull. Here's is a fast and easy way to eliminate odors and sharpen the blades.
Reuse Favorite T-shirts As A QuiltThrough our teenage years, my brother and I went to hundreds of concerts. We've collected many a precious T-shirt while following our favorite bands on tours. Now we have outgrown them, but wanting to keep them alive for our memories, we've had our mother turn the T-shirts into quilts.
Pistachio HummusI've come up with a few hummus recipes where I replace the tahini with something else due to allergies or high cost, but this one is by far my favourite now. This hummus uses pistachios to replace the sesame paste and gives it an amazing flavour. I've also added green peas for colour, texture, and dimension. I urge you to try this recipe!
Purple Sweet Potato PieI'm sure many of you have had sweet potato pie. This pie is very similar but uses purple sweet potatoes. Baking the sweet potatoes in the oven (in lieu of boiling them) gives this a beautiful creamy consistency and not at all watered down. Baking them also retains their beautiful purple colour. Purple sweet potatoes can be found in grocery stores labeled as Okinawan, Hawaiian, or purple sweet potatoes. They are packed full of potassium, B6, vitamin C, and fiber.
Softening Butter QuicklyI often have spur of the moment baking ideas and get annoyed when a recipe calls for softened butter. Even when "gently" microwaved, I have a tendency to melt some of it. The best way around that is to pour boiling water in a microwave safe glass in order to heat it the glass.
Gravity-Defying Ramen CakeThis is a super cool cake you can make at home with a few fun techniques. It's a bowl of ramen with chopsticks that appear to be suspended in the air. You don't need too many obscure items to make this yourself. Making it will save you literally hundreds of dollars as these fun types of cakes don't come cheap from the specialists. Have fun with this edible craft!
Super Moist Citrus Pound CakeThe secret to this incredibly moist poundcake is great because it eliminates leftovers... leftover oatmeal. If you don't have leftover oatmeal, it's real easy to boil some up. Give this cake a shot. You will be super impressed with it, and so happy to use that oatmeal you or your kids couldn't finish!
Easy Peel TomatoesTo peel tomatoes to use in stews and sauces, or if you just prefer them skin-free like I do, this is an easy way to get the job done quickly. Remove the stem, score the bottom with a big X, then dunk in boiling water for 10 to 15 seconds. Transfer to an ice bath to cool. Right when they're cool, remove from water and the skin will slide right off.
Raw Potato For Healthy SkinRub a raw potato on your face to help with skin discoloration, wrinkles, and age spots. Enzymes in the raw potato nourishes your skin tissue, and the alkaline content gives you a nice glow.
Snickers-Stuffed Peanut Butter CookiesEvery year around Halloween, I like to come up with a sweet treat that uses candies from trick-or-treating events. Either you have kids that end up with lots of them, or you have loads leftover from handing them out. My favourite candy has always been Snickers, so these peanut butter cookies are stuffed with them. The outside is a lovely sandy, crumbly cookie, and the middle is gooey and chewy from the baked Snickers. I've had a dozen people ask me for this recipe after an event I made them for last week, so be ready to share if you make these, too!
Aspirin for Swimmer's Green HairThere are many ways to treat your hair before swimming to prevent your hair from turning green, but if you forgot to do that before you jumped in the pool, try this! Crush two aspirin and mix it into your the normal amount of shampoo you'd use while washing your hair.
Preserving Wine with MarblesA bottle of wine goes very slowly in my house as I generally only use it for cooking. In order to keep the wine fresh, I gently fill the opened bottle with sterilized marbles to keep the wine level as close to the cork as possible. The marbles take the space of the air that would be in the bottle, ensuring freshness.
Walnuts for Hardwood Floor ScratchesCrack open a walnut and rub the nut "meat" against cracks and scratches in hardwood floors to repair them. The nut meat fills in the scratch with a color resembling the wood.
Mini Taco FrittatasI came up with these frittatas because I love egg breakfasts and adore tacos, but don't have much time to hang around to make both. These are so delicious, guilt-free, and gluten-free. I love to make a batch and keep them in the fridge. They're perfect for days you are on the run.
Honey Lemon CakeI came up with this cake when my husband had the flu and asked, "Why do all things honey lemon have to be medicine?" Let's just say that's been remedied. This cake is very moist and always hits the spot. I've gotten asked for the recipe by everyone who has tried it, even non-bakers. I used an amazing local honey from Washington state, but I have been successful making this using all kinds of honey (squeezy bear, too).
Turn Old Sock Into Hair Volumizing BunI really adore big, voluminous vintage style hair buns. I have a lot of hair, but not THAT much hair, so I use clean old tube socks with the ends cut off to bump up my hair bun.
Helping Out Lost Little BirdsWe found these little birds crying at the end of the garden, looking lost, no mother around. We put together some dried leaves and mini twigs in a bamboo basket and wooden cheese box to see if they needed nesting. Surely enough, they got right in and got comfortable.
Caramel GrapesThis is a delicious twist on caramel apples. I love caramel grapes because I get everything I want in caramel apples in one bite, with so much less mess. Plus, they're so cute!
Beware of Drug InteractionsMy father has been feeling incredibly ill lately. He has been suffering from muscle aches, weakness, vomiting, shaking, just to list a few. I visited him last week and noticed he had a huge load of medications he was instructed to take daily.
Felt Fortune CookiesThe best part of opening a fortune cookie is receiving your paper fortune, so these felt versions can save you from ingesting too many cookies! They can be reused, too, so this is a great craft for Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, and many other celebrations.
