Homemade Hanging Wall Wreath Decoration

Homemade Hanging Wall Wreath Decoration

by | Mar 3, 2017 | Home

As winter tree branches begin to dry up in my backyard, I figured there must be uses for them besides firewood.  In my yard, I have large mesquite trees which are known for their long, limber branches and messy leaves.  I trimmed off some branches that had shed most of their leaves but were still slightly flexible (aka green inside).  I decided to upcycle the lovely branches into a pretty wall wreath decoration for my home.

For this project, you could skip over making your own wreath and just use a store-bought one.  Though, if you’ve got some trees near you and are wondering what you can do with their branches, then look no further.

I love rustic wreaths as they are but the branches can totally be dressed up to look more chic to fit anywhere in your home.  *I’ll include notes at the bottom for how I made the wreath itself.  Keep on reading to see how I decorated the wreath for hanging on a wall.

Wreath Supplies

I like the rustic wooden look so I only want to complement the branches, not conceal them. A long lace ribbon and some flowers helped me do just that.  I went with white but light pink would look lovely, too.  Use whatever colors suit your home.  **Also, feel free to use objects like bells, artificial fruit, or other knick-knacks in place of or in addition to flowers.

Examine your wreath and find a center point that appears to be thinnest (note: store-bought wreaths may not appear to have a thinner spot so choose any point).  The thinnest point on the wreath will be the best place to fill with flowers or other large objects.  So, across from it, we will want to start with the ribbon.

Center knot on the wreath

I tied a simple knot on a branch and placed the ribbon over the branches.  Each end of the ribbon should be circling the wreath in different directions.  I took one end of the ribbon and circled it to the left of the wreath, bringing it forward, up, and then behind the wreath. Bring it underneath the wreath and forward again.  Repeat until the ends of the ribbon make it to the top (thinnest) point.  Make sure to keep the ribbon flat, not twisted, for the cleanest appearance.  Do the same for the right side of the wreath, except take the ribbon underneath, behind the wreath, and then forward and underneath again.  Continue until the ribbon end meets the other at the top.

Wrap ribbon around the wreath

Ribbon-wrapped wreath

Extra ribbon for hanging the wreath

I had extra long ribbon so I tied the ribbon ends together to make a hanger for the wreath.  This is optional though.  Alternatively, knot the ribbon ends together or use hot glue to attach them.  Later, hang the wreath with a hammer and extra long nail.  You may also add a sawtooth hanger, like the ones on the back of picture frames.

Now is the time to warm up a hot glue gun so as to add artificial flowers to the wreath.  I went with three medium to large flowers.  I only wanted to add some to the thin part of the wreath but more flowers could be used to cover the entire wreath.

Cut off the stems and place the flowers on the wreath to check the position that they fit best.  Once you are satisfied with their placement, add hot glue to the base of a flower and apply it to the wreath.  Press firmly and hold for a minute to ensure it is well-adhered.  Repeat with additional flowers.

Artificial flowers for decoration

Hot Glue Flowers

Add flowers to wreath

Wreath

Hang and enjoy!  You now have a customized wreath that you can use to jazz up any wall space.

Let me know if you give this a try!

 

 

For the Wall Wreath I used:

A store-bought or homemade wreath

A long ribbon, about 2 ½-3 yards

Artificial flowers**(See post for alternatives)

Scissors

A hot glue gun

Sawtooth hanger (optional; I didn’t use one)

 

*If you are making your wreath by hand, use a large bucket to shape the branches around it.  Keep in mind: green branches are softer and easier to bend into a wreath shape.  Use zip ties to hold the branches in place as you layer them, intertwining the branches as best you can.  As I mentioned, flexible branches are ideal for this.  Layer the branches and zip tie them together until the wreath is as thick as you would like it to be.  Leave the zip ties and let the wreath set in the sun for 5-7 days, or until branches are no longer green.  Once the wreath is dry, now you can decorate it.  See above post.

Hanging Wall Wreath

 

Gingerbread Stovetop Oats with Cashew Cream

Gingerbread Stovetop Oats with Cashew Cream

by | Feb 22, 2017 | Health, Home, Recipes

Today I was reading about NASA’s recent discovery of exoplanets that may be similar to our planet Earth.  It seems that they are in a prime zone for habitation and may even have oceans.  See the article here.  I don’t avidly follow space and scientific findings but something about the excitement surrounding the discovery of the planets really cheered me up this morning.  I think the optimism about the possibility that life may exist elsewhere is a really neat thought.  It is a wild thought but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

I have something a little less wild and not very space-related to share with you today: Gingerbread Oatmeal!

I know we are in the month February but who says the gingerbread flavors are only for November/December?  I’m still totally digging spiced flavors in my breakfast!

I must admit, I’m usually a much bigger fan of overnight oats than I am of warm, cooked oats.  It’s a texture thing.  One exception is this recipe for gingerbread oatmeal.  The molasses and spices are so comforting and delicious that it would be a crime not to try them warm!

Another factor that kept me from liking hot oatmeal in the past was the bland taste of it.  I felt it was necessary to add sugar to make it taste like something!  Hold your horses because there is NO sugar needed for this recipe.  We’re using the au natural sweetness of banana 😀  Then, we top off the oatmeal with some fruit of your choosing ( I like pear) and some delectable cashew cream.  I say we soak some cashews NOW so that we can whip up the cashew cream and this oatmeal for breakfast tomorrow! 😉  Who’s with me?!

Gingerbread Stovetop Oats with Cashew Cream
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 bowl
A warm bowl of oatmeal, sweetened with banana, and bursting with the flavors of molasses and gingerbread spices. A comforting breakfast for one or double up, as needed, to serve more. Top with fruit of choice and cashew cream.
Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup rolled oats
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 medium banana (half mashed, the other half sliced)*
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ginger
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp allspice
  • 1/8 tsp cloves (optional)
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp blackstrap molasses
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 tsp ground flax seeds
  • Cashew milk or milk of choice, for serving
  • Sliced pear, optional
  • Cashew cream**, for serving (see notes for recipe)
Instructions
  1. Add the water to a small pot and bring to a boil. Then, add the oats, mashed banana, spices, vanilla, and molasses. Turn down the heat to a medium level.
  2. After about two minutes, once most of the water has been absorbed, stir in the flax and chia seeds until well-dispersed and cook on low for one additional minute.
  3. Take the oatmeal off the heat and let sit for a minute. This is important because the banana makes the oatmeal retain a lot of heat so it will be REALLY HOT if you dig into it right away.
  4. Serve oatmeal with the other half of the banana, sliced pear, a small pour of milk, and a scoop of cashew cream.
Notes
*If desired, applesauce could be substituted for the banana in the recipe.[br][br]**You will have leftover cashew cream if making this recipe to go with the gingerbread oatmeal. [br][br]Cashew Cream recipe is as follows: [br]¾ cup raw cashews[br]1/3 cup water, plus more for soaking[br]1 ½ tbsp maple syrup[br]¾ tsp vanilla extract[br]A pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt or kosher salt[br][br]Simply place cashews in a bowl and fill with water until they are covered. Let them soak to soften. I recommend soaking cashews overnight in the fridge but between 2-6 hours is all that is necessary. Once cashews have softened and expanded, empty the soaking water and add them to a blender or food processor. Blend up the cashews until crumbly, then add 1/3 water, the maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. The resulting thickness will depend on the power of your blender or food processor. I left mine a bit clumpy but blend until desired consistency is achieved.[br][br]Cashew cream yields about 3 servings of 1/4 cup portions.[br][br]NOTE: Prep time does not include soaking time for the cashews.

 

Let’s embrace the last days of winter and enjoy the warm spices of gingerbread!

Valentine’s Day Smoothie Bowl

Valentine’s Day Smoothie Bowl

by | Feb 14, 2017 | Health, Home, Recipes

Hey, so, call me cheesy, but I made a Valentine’s Day themed smoothie bowl.  I felt inspired by a smoothie I saw on Miami Wellness Club that used beets.  You might have seen my smoothie bowl on my Instagram but I thought I’d catalog this recipe here on my blog.

I experimented with some beet juice that I had from Love Beets and used that as the liquid to get this beauty happening.  You could also use the soaking liquid from home-cooked beets or plain nut milk.  It is healthy, fruity, and made a meal with some protein powder.  I used vanilla but I bet chocolate protein powder would taste equally delicious. Valentine's Day Smoothie Bowl

Let me know if you try this smoothie recipe out!

Valentine’s Day Smoothie Bowl
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 smoothie
A bright pink (or red) smoothie bowl in honor of Valentine’s Day. It’s healthy and fruit-filled and makes for the perfect breakfast.
Ingredients
  • 1 small frozen banana
  • 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
  • 1/2 cup sliced & frozen strawberries
  • 1 serving of vanilla plant-based protein powder
  • 1/2 cup Love Beets organic beet juice, more if needed
  • Toppings: strawberries, raspberries, granola (optional)
Instructions
  1. Add the protein powder to the blender first, followed by the beet juice and frozen fruit.
  2. The smoothie might be tough to blend but pause your blender and push down on the sides of the mixture to help it combine.
  3. Once blended, scoop the smoothie contents into a bowl with some toppings, or, simply enjoy as a smoothie on its own.
5 Minute Peanut Butter Apple Crisp for One

5 Minute Peanut Butter Apple Crisp for One

by | Feb 4, 2017 | Health, Home, Recipes

I know what it feels like to get major cravings all of a sudden and desire immediate satisfaction.

I try not to keep unhealthy snacks or desserts around my house because I do not want the temptation.

Sure, I could make myself a healthy dessert but the thought of going through a lengthy process to whip up something is not always appealing.  Plus, what would I do with the leftovers?  Or, more likely, the problem will be that there are no leftovers.

Sometimes I have no self-restraint 🙈

Thus, I have created a treat to satisfy the quick snack cravings in a way that won’t leave you feeling yucky from an overindulgent dessert.

I cover all the sweet treat bases:

Warm

Crispy

Fruity

Peanut-buttery

Crunchy (Wait, is that the same as crispy? Nope!)

The most delicious crisp texture comes from broken down Ginnybakes cookies.  They are very firm, gluten-free cookies.  I  personally like microwaving them for a few seconds to soften them up, if I’m going to eat them on their own, but their hockey-puck like texture is perfect for adding crunch to this dessert snack!

Also, in the recipe, I used half of a large Gala apple but feel free to use an entire apple if you don’t want to leave half of an apple lying around.  Alternatively, double the recipe and share the snack-sized crisp with a friend! 😉

 

I’m aaaall ready to dive headfirst into this easy to assemble snack! Let’s go!

5 Minute Peanut Butter Apple Crisp for One
Recipe Type: Snacks
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 serving
A quick and easy apple crisp that is healthy enough for a snack and filling enough to satisfy a sweet tooth for dessert.
Ingredients
  • ½ tsp of Nutiva butter flavored coconut oil or plain coconut oil
  • ½ a large Gala apple or apple of choice, chopped
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 Ginnybakes Coconut Oatmeal Bliss Cookies*
  • 2 tsp of peanut butter (I used Wild Friends Pumpkin Spice peanut butter)
Instructions
  1. In a small, nonstick pan, warm up the coconut oil over medium heat.
  2. Add chopped apples and sprinkle with cinnamon. Stir the apples around in the pan until warm. Pour apples into a serving bowl.
  3. Place the nonstick pan back on the stove, turning the temperature down to the lowest heat. On a cutting board, chop up the 2 cookies until there is a mixture of fine and medium-sized crumbs.
  4. Add cookie crumbs to the pan and turn off the flame. Let sit for 1 minute, swirling the crumbs every few seconds. The crumbs should already be crunchy so they just need to warm up.
  5. While the crumbs warm from the heat of the pan, add the 2 teaspoons of peanut butter to the cinnamon apples and stir until coated.
  6. Remove the pan from the stove and pour cookie crumbs over the apple-peanut butter mixture. Pat yourself on the back and eat!
Notes
*You can use another crunchy cookie of your choosing. The classic Nature Valley granola bars are the kind of firm, crispness that you’re looking for. Alternatively, you can sub 2 tbsp of pre-made granola for the cookie crumbs.

 

Highlights of Scrappy Little Nobody

Highlights of Scrappy Little Nobody

by | Jan 21, 2017 | Blog, Health, Home, Reviews, Wellness

If you’ve been following celebrity news, then you might be aware of Anna Kendrick’s memoir titled Scrappy Little Nobody.  Alternatively, if you do not follow celebrity news then, perhaps, you might be like me and randomly stumble upon the above mentioned book at a local library or book store.

Here’s how it happened: I caught a glimpse of Kendrick’s sly smile from the shelf of the New Arrivals section at my public library.  I read the first page.  It seemed tolerable.  So, I checked out the book thinking that, at the very least, it would be mildly entertaining and make me laugh (at her or with her, who’s to know?).  I really think I must have been desperate for new reading material because I am not a fan of Anna Kendrick.

To my pleasant surprise, Scrappy Little Nobody has got to be one of the most hilarious and enjoyable celebrity-written books I’ve ever read.  That’s not to say that I’ve read many but…well, let’s get to the point.

If you are curious about what you can get out of this book, there is: drama, anecdotes from her youth, awkward adventures in dating, a voyeuristic look into awards shows, musical theater, and what goes into filming a movie, and much, much more!

The unexpected part about this book was that, even though the life Anna Kendrick has lived so far is not the life of the average person, it is still relatable.  She describes her stories and thoughts in a way that make you feel like she is right there in the room with you, having a one-on-one chat.  I’m not saying she’s the nicest person to chat with—(she’s not)—but she does have a unique perspective and insight.

I do not want to give too much away because what’s the fun in reading the book if I do that?  I will, however, state my 5 favorite things about Scrappy Little Nobody:

  1. Anna Kendrick looks much younger than she actually is.

I’m in the same boat so I can empathize!  It is a curse that also brought her a multitude of advantages, particularly in the acting world.

  1. She tells things as she sees them. No holding back.

I have always gotten the impression that Kendrick was a girl with a bratty attitude.  After reading this book, I now know Kendrick is a woman with a bratty attitude.

  1. She knows what it means to rough it.

I’ve got to hand it to her.  Even when fame seemed to be picking up for her, she was still living in a crumb of an apartment with roommates.  It was eye-opening to learn that not everyone from Hollywood lives in a mansion and owns expensive shoes (okay, I’m exaggerating, but the latter does describe her—see book for complementary story).

  1. The woman knows she isn’t “nice” and is completely okay with that.

She does not expect you to like her.  Though, in her defense, there are a number of characteristics that she does value and hope to improve.

  1. The Scrappy Little Nobody has as many talents as she does hang-ups.

I say this in a kind, joking manner because I feel like Kendrick and I are almost, kinda, sorta friends.  I did read her book after all.  She has mega vocal chops and has tried her hand in a number of roles but she has also gone through some challenging times to get there.  So, maybe it’s the rocky climb to the top that has made Anna Kendrick a feisty little squirrel or maybe she is just naturally gifted with those traits.  We may never know….

I learned a lot about Anna Kendrick and have a newfound admiration for her.  That’s not to say I would go up to her if I ever spotted her in public.  Heck no!  I’ll just keep my admiration to myself and here on this blog.

Have you read Scrappy Little Nobody? If not, have I piqued your interest? Let me know in the comments.

Xoxo,

Melanie

The New Year in A Nutshell

by | Jan 16, 2017 | Home

At the start of a new year, aren’t you just ecstatic thinking of the possibilities of what you hope to do in the next year?  I certainly was.  Instead, I spent the end of December and all of the first two weeks of 2017 purchasing cold medicine and making my way through more cough drops than probably recommended for safe use.

Though, none of that matters now because my main goal for this year was to start a blog.  I have been dancing around the idea of starting a blog for over a year.  Finally, now, did I open up my wallet and purchase my domain name.  So, to me, that feels like an accomplishment in and of itself.

Let me now take this moment to say: Hello Everyone! It’s nice to meet you! 🙂

I am still trying to figure out how WordPress functions and establish what content I’d like to post to this blog.  For the moment, I’m just going to post anything that I am interested in—I hope that’s okay with you 😉

Stay tuned for a bit about me and other (hopefully) fascinating things!

Xoxo,

Melanie