Homemade Hot Cocoa

  1. Bring 4 cups milk to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low.
  2. Whisk in 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa + 1/2 cup sugar (or to your taste)

Whipped Cream

  1. In a small bowl, pour 1 cup heavy cream + 2tbsp sugar (or to your taste)
  2. Whip with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft.
I’ve been clipping these dainty purple flowers from my sage stalks for weeks, and they keep coming. My favorite things in life are as useful as they are beautiful. High-res

I’ve been clipping these dainty purple flowers from my sage stalks for weeks, and they keep coming. My favorite things in life are as useful as they are beautiful.

Hard boiled eggs…in the rice cooker. I set the rice, then ten minutes in I add eggs and slightly thawed frozen broccoli. The eggs should cook about 30 minutes. Then run cold water over them. They peel SO easily. High-res

Hard boiled eggs…in the rice cooker. I set the rice, then ten minutes in I add eggs and slightly thawed frozen broccoli. The eggs should cook about 30 minutes. Then run cold water over them. They peel SO easily.

DIY wax warmer pods Supplies Scented candle in glass container or just a candle with no container Knife Optional tongs to reach inside a jar Small condiment cups, often found with kitchen extras like wood skewers and salt and pepper shakers. Mine are from Walmart. Instructions Melt candle in the microwave, in the jar, or in a microwave safe container if using a plain candle. It may take several minutes depending on the size of your candle. Pour into condiment cups, about 1/4” deep. Freeze for about an hour. Gently tap the little cup upside down to release the wax. Place in a wax warmer and enjoy! Store extras as you would your other wax. I keep mine in the fridge in the warmer months so they don’t stick together. Chunks, not pods If you’d prefer the natural chunks instead, here’s how I get those. Freeze the candle instead of melting it. Freeze for a good couple of hours to make it solid. Now, working fast before the wax warms, use a knife to cut the candle from the top down, in a rough pie shape. Break pieces apart inside the jar and use tongs to pull them out. Or if your candle is not inside a container, continue to the next step. Now cut pieces into smaller chunks, about an inch in size. Store in a paper or plastic bag at room temperature or in the fridge if your house gets hot like mine in the summer. High-res

DIY wax warmer pods

Supplies

  1. Scented candle in glass container or just a candle with no container
  2. Knife
  3. Optional tongs to reach inside a jar
  4. Small condiment cups, often found with kitchen extras like wood skewers and salt and pepper shakers. Mine are from Walmart.

Instructions

  1. Melt candle in the microwave, in the jar, or in a microwave safe container if using a plain candle. It may take several minutes depending on the size of your candle.
  2. Pour into condiment cups, about 1/4” deep.
  3. Freeze for about an hour.
  4. Gently tap the little cup upside down to release the wax.
  5. Place in a wax warmer and enjoy!

Store extras as you would your other wax. I keep mine in the fridge in the warmer months so they don’t stick together.

Chunks, not pods

If you’d prefer the natural chunks instead, here’s how I get those.

  1. Freeze the candle instead of melting it. Freeze for a good couple of hours to make it solid.
  2. Now, working fast before the wax warms, use a knife to cut the candle from the top down, in a rough pie shape. Break pieces apart inside the jar and use tongs to pull them out. Or if your candle is not inside a container, continue to the next step.
  3. Now cut pieces into smaller chunks, about an inch in size.
  4. Store in a paper or plastic bag at room temperature or in the fridge if your house gets hot like mine in the summer.
Finished the chevron stripe blanket I started last year. The most unusual pattern. It works diagonally from one corner to the other and makes a square. The original was designed with lots of colors and it made little squares. By using only two colors and going two rows with each color instead of one, I was able to get a zig zag effect. Now considering adding a border. Thoughts? High-res

Finished the chevron stripe blanket I started last year. The most unusual pattern. It works diagonally from one corner to the other and makes a square. The original was designed with lots of colors and it made little squares. By using only two colors and going two rows with each color instead of one, I was able to get a zig zag effect. Now considering adding a border. Thoughts?

Done! It’s part doily, part mini tablecloth. Each square is just under 4”, the whole piece is about 17x17. I estimated about a half hour for each one, and 25 squares means at minimum wage it cost me about $100 just for my time. In case anyone wonders why I don’t sell things like this in my shop, I don’t have time to make these on a regular basis. However, I do the occasional custom request. I have time for just 2-3 per year depending on the scope. #olivemanna #crochet #tablecloth #diy #grannysquare #yarn #bakerstwine #colors #colorful #rainbow #bright #happy #crafts #homemaking #customcrochet High-res

Done! It’s part doily, part mini tablecloth. Each square is just under 4”, the whole piece is about 17x17. I estimated about a half hour for each one, and 25 squares means at minimum wage it cost me about $100 just for my time. In case anyone wonders why I don’t sell things like this in my shop, I don’t have time to make these on a regular basis. However, I do the occasional custom request. I have time for just 2-3 per year depending on the scope. #olivemanna #crochet #tablecloth #diy #grannysquare #yarn #bakerstwine #colors #colorful #rainbow #bright #happy #crafts #homemaking #customcrochet