Homemade Beef Stock

I just posted a similar entry on last Friday about making chicken stock. Beef stock is even easier. Plus, there are a lot of benefits you get from homemade stocks and broths that you won't get from store bought...

"When you ingest bone broth, it feeds the body with collagen, which is the building block of cells to bones, ligaments, cartilage and the brain.  Gelatin, a form of collagen used in food, is used (among other benefits) to help digestion because the liquid gets absorbed into the body quickly and without much effort. Making bone broth excellent for people with food sensitivities and gastrointestinal disorders because it is usually very safe and tolerable for the body." (http://doctorauer.com/benefits-of-bone-broth/)

Button Soup (AKA: Stone Soup)

One of my favorite stories growing up was "Button Soup" ( sometimes called Stone Soup... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Soup). In a nutshell, it's about a community coming together to make a meal for everyone when they all thought they had nothing... probably thinly veiled Communist propaganda, but I digress. The story is really sweet, and I think of it whenever I make this soup. The basic recipe is the same each time, but the outcome varies depending on what I have on hand.

Make your dog a dirty hippie

This post is going to be super short...

I"ll be making an entry in a few days about making homemade beef stock from roasted bones, with a link explaining all of the health benefits. If you're a dog owner, your pet can benefit from your leftovers.

REFASHION POST: Nightshirt to Casual Dress

Here is another item I picked up for $1 a pound.

I'm not totally sure if it was a night gown or a dress, but it was so close to being cute that I had to pick it up. It was super soft and comfortable, but it had NO shape. So, I started by turning it inside out and laying it out on my sewing table. I had a summer dress in my closet that fit perfectly, so I used that as a guide.

Don't waste your fat!!

In the last week, I posted 2 entries about making broth and skimming the fat off the top...

Don't worry. I'm not going to suggest that you eat it or that you render it down into soaps or candles

(although you could)

But why waste it? 

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids' Craftroom Redo on the Cheap

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on children. I do not have children of my own. I do not claim to know anything about kids. In fact, kids freak me out a little.

However...

Last fall, my boyfriends kids (AKA: the Wigglets), started showing an interest in art. WOOHOO!! What I lack in knowledge about kids, I make up for with knowledge about arts and crafts. Art was a HUGE part of my childhood. And I couldn't wait to introduce them to paint and glue and GLITTER!!

Homemade All Natural Deodorant

I'll be honest. I'm not totally convinced that commercial deodorants and antiperspirants cause Alzheimer's or cancer. But, (1) I'm not convinced they don't have negative side effects, and (2) I hate the way they feel. They leave a weird film on my skin that I don't care for, and they clog up my razors (yes, I shave my armpits. I'm a hippie, not a heathen).

I found a super easy recipe for homemade, natural deodorant last summer, and it kept me stink free even after walking my dog at the park in the heat. I made a few tweaks to the original recipe, but try it out and see what you think.

Why I make my own Chicken stock...

I make a lot of homemade soups. I mean, like, A LOT. Soups are easy. They're filling. They're inexpensive. And, they're a good way to use up leftovers. Plus, they freeze well, so it's a great way to make meals in advance. Because I make a lot of soup, I use a lot of broth.

Don't misunderstand. Store bought broth is quick, easy, and inexpensive. There are even a bunch of brands now that are are "all-natural" and "organic". But, as I've mentioned before, I am a super cheapskate and I hate buying things just to throw them away. Hypothetically, if I were to buy some all-natural chicken broth, it would be a healthy option, but I'm spending about $5 for a quart (or about $10 just for the broth in my homemade soup), and I now have 2 containers I need to dispose of.

On the other hand, an entire chicken is also about $5. This one little chicken will give you enough meat for more than a few different recipes, as well as a few GALLONS of all natural broth. Plus, you can control the amount of fat and sodium... Plus, it couldn't be simpler.

Quinoa with Sauteed Kale and Dijon Vinaigrette

I threw together a delicious, easy, healthy lunch to use up the odds and ends in my fridge. Thought the recipe should be shared here:

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies (Grain Free)

This may be the simplest recipe for Peanut Butter cookies ever devised. I wish I could take credit for it. However, I did steal it fair and square. Not one to leave well enough alone, I added a creamy, honey flavored filling and upgraded it to sandwich status.

(I really need to step up my photography game. This picture does not do these cookies justice)

REFASHION POST: Sweater to Pencil Skirt

About a year ago, I went scavenging through one of those "$1 per Pound" thrift store outlets. I grabbed a few sweaters with the sole intention of turning them into scarves or hats someday. I threw them in my sewing room, and there they sat, waiting for a moment of inspiration (or boredom, but mostly inspiration)

This one had decent bones: 100% cotton, neutral colors, good condition. But the neckline was wonky, It was too wide to be a turtleneck, too narrow to be a cowl, and it had a these weird flaps to tie it down in front.

Creamsicle Bath Fizz

These bath bombs are just as soothing to the skin as the Lavender Vanilla ones I posted last week, but the bright Orange-Vanilla scent will perk you up, even during these gloomy winter months.

Kitchen Surface Cleaner

This All-Natural Kitchen Cleaner is by far one of the cheapest and easiest DIY products you can make.

All you need:
White Vinegar
Tap water
Citrus Peels
Storage Container (like an empty mason jar)
Time

After eating or juicing citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, etc), just put the leftover peels in a jar and pour in enough vinegar to cover.

LIFEHACK: "Bullet-proof" Coffee Creamer Drop-ins

Have you heard of "Bullet-proof Coffee"? I first heard about it here: http://wellnessmama.com/5673/the-only-way-i-drink-coffee/ . However, the idea has been around forever (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_tea)

 OK, so the first time I read about putting butter and oil in my coffee, I though it sounded gross and weird. However, I had all the ingredients and my curiosity got the better of me.

LIFE. CHANGING. COFFEE.

Vinyl and Laminate Floor Polish

Up until recently, I had always used a brand name cleaner on the laminate flooring in my kitchen. I LOVED it. It was easy to use, inexpensive and made my kitchen smell like delicious oranges. Then I read the directions:

[Brand X] floor finish with future shine should be removed from your floor every 6 To 8 applications or annually with a solution Of 1 cup ammonia and 1/4 cup [Brand X] floor cleaner in 1/2 gallon cool water. Then rinse floor with clean water. 

OK, let me get this straight... the product I'm using to CLEAN my floors has to be CHEMICALLY REMOVED? And, as if having to use ammonia wasn't bad enough, I'm also expected to spend more money on another [Brand X] product to get the job done. 

Genius marketing ploy? You betcha. 

Reason for me to find a better homemade product? Precisely.

So, I turned to the all-knowing internet and found some recipes for laminate cleaners and polishes. They all did a great job of getting the floor clean. But they all lacked a very important feature in a floor polish... SHINE. Since my laminate doesn't already have a high gloss finish, the recipes that were out there were leaving me a little frustrated. I tinkered with the formula for a while and finally found a winning combination.

I present to you:

The Totally Natural, Practically Edible, All-in-One Laminate Floor Cleaner and Polish!

(Or, just "Floor Polish" for short)

Lavender Vanilla Bath Fizz

These bath bombs are like a mini trip to the spa. They are soothing to the skin and calming to the senses. Unlike a spa visit, these bad boys won't kill your bank account. (They cost roughly $0.80 per bath)

Antioxidant Exfoliating Scrub

After playing around with the original recipe for this COFFEE SCRUB, I found a few variations that I really loved (link to original recipe at end of post). Since switching to this from a store-brand product, my skin has become smoother and softer. I have fewer breakouts. And, my fine lines seem to be going away... not too shabby for a product that costs pennies to make.

CUSTOMIZABLE ANTIOXIDANT EXFOLIATING SCRUB

Honey Nut Cookies (Grain Free)

I try to eat fairly healthy, but I don't subscribe to any specific diet. I'm not vegan or Paleo. I eat wheat and drink alcohol. I like to eat foods that make me happy. That being said, I'm also not opposed to trying a new recipe, be it vegan or Paleo or whatever, so long as it's delicious.

Here is a grain free cookie recipe that I found and then modified to my liking...

New Year's Resolution: Pursuit of the Perfect Pizza

I don't make New Year's resolutions. Why resolve to make a MAJOR change ONCE a year? That's way too much pressure for this lazy hippie. Instead, I like to set up frequent, attainable goals for myself. My latest goal was to learn how to make the perfect homemade pizza. I vowed that I would accomplish this by the end of winter. 
I started my journey in mid-December and was able to accomplish it by New Year's Eve. Looks like I can relax until Spring

Getting started...

I'm still really new to this whole all-natural, homemade, DIY lifestyle. Because of this, nearly every time I try a new recipe, I end up having to run back to the store to grab "just one more thing". If you're anything like me, stopping by the store for "just one more thing" usually results in a bunch of wasted time roaming the aisles and a basket full of extras I don't need. That's way too much time and money for this lazy hippie to spend. So, I compiled a list of commonly used items for the recipes I'll be posting here. I've also included the total prices as well as a breakdown into price per unit. That way, you can easily figure how much a recipe costs to create and decide if the [time spent]:[money saved] ratio is worth the effort...

 

Here we go...

I don't claim to be an expert in any field. But I DO know what I like and what works for me. I hope some of this will work for you, too!

 

The main thing you need to know about me is that I'm frugal with my money and my time (AKA: I'm cheap and lazy). Last year, I decided that I was tired of wasting time and money on products that didn't work or weren't worth the money, food I didn't truly love and activities I didn't really care about. So, I decided to start making simple changes to the products I use and the foods I prepare. I've found a lot of recipes for both that I really liked, so I wanted to share. Most of the products recipes here are less expensive than their store-brand counterparts. The ones that are equal in price or more-expensive are far superior products... at least in my opinion.
 

Some of the ideas you'll find here have been stolen... err, copied... directly from another page or website. Those posts will feature a link so you can show them some love, too. Some of these items have been altered from the original posts to suit my own preferences. However, all of them have been tried and have been successful.

This little blog is all about finding ways to make life better, easier or less expensive; hopefully, it will satisfy all three of those things.