Archive | DIY RSS feed for this section

Toni’s Tummy Tonic

By on September 23, 2011 in DIY, Recipes, Survival Guide for Busy Moms

How To Cure An Upset Tummy

My recipe for Tummy Tonic originated one morning when my friend, Noelle, showed up to my house with an upset tummy.  She was always getting nauseous and said the only thing that settled her stomach was some juice from our nearby raw foods cafe.  “Every time I go there it costs me $8.00 for one cup of juice.  Tou need to make this“, she said.

I took a few sips, and then got to work.  Noelle knows how I love to create my version of a food dish or drink from taste; it’s like playing a game of Sudoku.

I later shared my Tummy Tonic with my grandmother during her visit who also suffers from chronic nausea and she couldn’t believe the immediate relief.  When she got home she shared some with her friend who then used it on her- get this- dog.

One of my daughters gets an upset stomach often from nerves, the poor girl worries about everything.  Toni’s Tummy Tonic to the rescue.

So what’s the secret?

Toni’s Tummy Tonic Ingredients

  1. Cinnamon Sticks, 5-7
  2. Fresh Ginger, 1-2 whole peeled and sliced thin
  3. Whole Cloves, 2 tbspns
  4. Ground Ginger, 2 tbspns
  5. Organic Honey, 1 cup
  6. Non-Concentrated White Grape or Apple Juice, 1/2 Gallon
How To Cure An Upset Stomach

Tummy Tonic Ingredients: Ginger, Cinnamon & Cloves

Toni’s Tummy Tonic Directions

The first thing you’ll need is a big stock or soup pot.

1.  Place sliced ginger, cinnamon sticks, cloves and ground ginger in a stock pot 3/4 full of water

How To Cure An Upset Stomach

Whole Ginger, peeled and sliced

How To Cure An Upset Stomach

Whole Cinnamon Sticks

How To Cure An Upset Stomach

Whole Cloves

 

2.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat

How To Cure An Upset Stomach

The cinnamon sticks and cloves will float, but ginger sinks to the bottom

 

3.  Let it boil for a few minutes, then cover and reduce heat to simmer for about 10 minutes.

4.  Leave it covered, turn heat off and let it steep for an hour.

How To Cure An Upset Stomach

Let it steep for at least an hour

5.  Place strainer over another large pot and strain and discard ginger, cinnamon sticks and cloves by pouring through strainer into another pot

6.  Add honey to juice in pot and stir

7.  Combine juice with the fruit juice; you may not have enough room in one pot and will therefore need to pour half of your juice in one pot and half in the other to add the fruit juice to both pots

8.  Store in juice containers in the refrigerator

This recipe makes about 2-3 gallons so there’s plenty to share with your friends, family…. or friend’s dog.

 

 

 

Email this to a Friend Email this to a Friend
Comments { 0 }

Family Summer Bucket List from Positively Splendid

By on June 10, 2011 in Busy Mom Living The Dream, DIY, Survival Guide for Busy Moms

Even the most organized moms are put to the test come the last week of school, especially if you have three children at three different schools like I do.

family summer bucket list cards

Family Summer Bucket List Idea Cards by Tatertots & Jello on Positively Splendid

So, as I stood looking at the sign-up sheet for my pre-K daughters end of school year party, only two openings were available- “condiments” or “party giveaway bags“.

It’s decision time.

Do I go for the easy sign-up to bring a bottle of ketchup and ranch dressing?  How simple and smart that would be!

Or, do I sign up for the most difficult task of creating and assembling gift bags?  Part of me (the logical me) really wants to make life easy and sign up to bring condiments.

Condiments or party bags?

Condiments?  Or, party bags?

Condiments.

Or…. party bags?

How predictable I am.  Yes, I signed up for the most complicated item.

And, of course, the party crept up on me out of nowhere and left me scrambling at the 11th hour to put something together.

So, it was me and every other haggard mother at Michaels come 8:00 p.m. the night before looking for last-minute items to fulfill some self-inflicted obligation for kids school parties or teacher gifts.

And I can’t even keep this task simple by just throwing some candy in a bag with a bow.  Even that would be pretty simple.

I had to think of a theme.

So, as I wandered around the store praying for some inspiration, it was then that I remembered a fabulous Family Summer Bucket List idea by Tatertots & Jello featured on Positively Splendid blog.

family summer bucket list

By printing and cutting out these adorable summer ideas and placing a few in each bag or bucket, all I had to do was purchase items to go along with ideas like: “Write and Act In A Play”, “Have A Lemonade Stand” and “Plant A Garden”.  There are actually three pages of ideas to choose from.

Family Summer Bucket List from Toni Spilsbury

So, I purchased items like sidewalk chalk, mini squirt guns, notepad & pen, garden seeds, lemonade mix, etc.  And, yes, I threw in some Starburst candy.

Kids Summer Ideas from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Thank you Tatertots & Jello and Positively Splendid for the inspiration.  I think I’ll be using this Family Summer Bucket List at home this summer as well.  Adorable idea!

Email this to a Friend Email this to a Friend
Comments { 0 }

DIY Teacher Gifts

By on June 6, 2011 in DIY, Survival Guide for Busy Moms

DIY Chalkboard Frames

Coming up with ideas for teacher gifts at the end of the school years gets more challenging for me.  I love DIY gifts and wanted something functional for the classroom.  With a little chalkboard paint (my new best friend), we created these adorable mini chalkboards.

DIY chalkboard frames from Toni Spilsbury The Organized Cook

No, I don’t homeschool- it’s completely coincidental that Brooke’s preschool teacher this year is named Toni

 

DIY Teacher Gifts by Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

DIY Teacher Gifts using Chalkboard Paint

 

I found some decorative inexpensive frames at HomeGoods.  Then I removed the glass and spray painted a couple coats of chalkboard paint on it, and placed it back in the frame after drying.

DIY Teacher Gifts by Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

DIY Teacher Gifts- Chalkboard Frames

 

The kids can use chalk to write a “thank you” message to their teacher.

DIY chalkboard frames from Toni Spilsbury The Organized Cook

 

I love how these mini chalkboards came out.  We had some wonderful teachers this year and these frames will look so cute sitting in their classrooms next year.

DIY chalkboard frame from Toni Spilsbury The Organized Cook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Email this to a Friend Email this to a Friend
Comments { 2 }

Toni’s DIY Holiday Spice Sangria

By on December 13, 2010 in Beverages, DIY, Holiday Recipes, Recipes, Saving Money

Homemade Sangria Recipe

Have a holiday drink on hand for last-minute entertaining, or to give away as a Christmas gift.  I love homemade sangria, and here’s my recipe with a twist of holiday spice.

Homemade Holiday Sangria recipe

 

Print
Toni’s DIY Holiday Spice Sangria

Toni’s DIY Holiday Spice Sangria

Ingredients

  • Basic Red Table Wine- I use a gallon of a basic red wine that I find in bulk at Costco. Trader Joe’s also has great deals for basic red table wine over the holidays.
  • Cranberry Juice- 1 bottle
  • Brandy- a little more than half a bottle (save some for your eggnog!)
  • Oranges- 3 or 4 large; sliced and halved (into half-moon shapes)
  • Pears- 3 or 4 large; sliced
  • Cinnamon Sticks- 4 or 5 whole
  • Cranberries, fresh- 12 oz.
  • Whole Cloves- put into a tea bag

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients in large mason or Sangria Jar
  2. Let this mixture “steep” for a 2-3 days in a cool place. If you live someplace cold, you can just leave it outside, unless it will freeze.
http://tonispilsbury.com/tonis-holiday-spice-sangria/

 

Eat, drink and be thrifty!

If you enjoy serving wine to guests for the holidays, at anywhere from $20 to $100′s per bottle, the money you spend can certainly add up.  Having a batch of this holiday wine elixir on hand is not only affordable, it makes a visually stunning holiday presentation and it’s absolutely delicious.

homemade holiday sangria recipe

 

The Gift of Wine

Many of my friends like to give and receive wine for the holidays, and this too can get costly.  Get creative with ribbons, tags and metallic pens by bottling your own Holiday-Spice Sangria.

 

Toni’s Holiday Spice Sangria Recipe

You will need a big pitcher, mason or sangria jar.  I don’t like sugar in my sangria even though so many recipes call for it; I can’t even drink it.  Instead I use fruit juice.

Combine:

  1. Red Table Wine- I use 2 gallons of a basic red wine that I found in bulk.  Trader Joe’s also has great deals for basic red table wine over the holidays.
  2. Cranberry Juice-  1 bottle
  3. Brandy- a little more than half a bottle (save some for your eggnog!)
  4. Oranges- 3 or 4 large; sliced and halved
  5. Pears- 3 or 4 large; sliced
  6. Cinnamon Sticks- 4 or 5 whole
  7. Cranberries- 1 12oz. bag
  8. Whole Cloves- put into a tea bag

Let this mixture “steep” for a few days in a cool place.  If you live someplace cold, you can just leave it outside, unless it will freeze.

Serve and enjoy.

Happy Holidays!

 

Chardonnay Cake Recipe:

Chardonnay Cake

Easy Chardonnay Cake Recipe

Email this to a Friend Email this to a Friend
Comments { 0 }