Make Your Own Flavored Coffee Syrups

Do you like the flavored coffee syrups at your favorite coffee shop?  This is how to make your own flavored coffee syrups that you can use at home and save some money.

VANILLA SYRUP

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups water

2 cups sugar, brown or white

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (the clear kind is better here)

DIRECTIONS:

In a small pot, heat your water and sugar over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Now stir in your vanilla extract and pour into your dispenser.  You can experiment with other extract flavorings.

RASPBERRY SYRUP

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups water

2 cups sugar, brown or white

1/2 cup fresh raspberries

DIRECTIONS:

In a small pot heat, your water and sugar over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Mash up the raspberries a little and then stir them in with the syrup, allow this to mingle for 3-5 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer to filter out any large raspberry pieces and seeds. Then pour into your dispenser.  You can experiment with your favorite fresh fruit, like strawberries, blueberries, etc.

CARAMEL SYRUP

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups water

2 cups sugar, brown or white

1/2 cup caramel syrup

DIRECTIONS:

In a small pot, heat your water and sugar over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in caramel until well combined and pour into your dispenser.

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Label the syrups.  You can add decorative labels or ribbons to these for gifting. You can wrap a piece of craft paper (labeled and decorated any way you like) around the bottle(s).  These do not need to be refrigerated.  The shelf life value is unknown by me at this point.

Adding a CONTACT ME widget/gadget to your blogspot

This is  what to do if you are interested in adding a contact button to your blogspot page.


From the dashboard, choose the layout option.


Click Add a Gadget


Choose Picture


Type in your title (example:  Contact me via e-mail)


In the Link box type:  mailto:youremailaddress@wherever.com


Load your chosen image and save


Go back to your layout page and move your gadget wherever you want it and then save.  This will allow others to send you an e-mail directly from your blog.

Singer's "Tea"

SINGER’S “TEA”

INGREDIENTS:

1 ginger root (4-6 inches long)
6 ounces apple juice concentrate
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 cup honey

DIRECTIONS:

Chop the ginger root in 1/4 inch slices using approximately 4-6 inches of the root. Add enough water to cover the slices in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for 45 minutes.

Add cayenne, honey, lemon juice, and apple juice concentrate, using relative amounts to suit your taste.

You can use Singer's Tea to warm and soothe the throat, to cut through mucus, and to stimulate the circulation in the vocal tract.

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I have also seen this same recipe with a couple of different ingredients:

1 fresh ginger root (4-6 inches)
2 cups water
1 caffeine free tea bag
1 tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 Fresh lemon
1/4 tsp. Cayenne
1/3 cup honey

How to know if your EGGS have gone bad

Oh, my.  I need to use eggs in a recipe and am not sure if my eggs are still good.  Well, have no fear.  Simply fill a bowl with water.  If your eggs SINK to the bottom, they are still good.  If they float?  They are no longer fit to eat.

HONEY is the ONE food that NEVER goes bad

Who knew?

You're making a recipe and suddenly realize that you need honey.  You remember vaguely seeing some in the back corner of the cupboard.  Thankfully, it really is there and you pull it out to use it, only to realize it has crystallized.  You're going to have to go to the store, after all, and buy... wait a minute, there.  Hold on to your horses.  Honey never goes bad.  So what if it has crystallized?  All you do is throw it in the microwave (if it has a metal lid on the jar, please take the lid off.  I don't want you burning your house down) for 45 seconds.  Take it out, stir it up a bit (or shake it if it's in a plastic container).  Continue to microwave it in 45 second bursts until it is back to it's regular consistency.  You can also place the container (if it's glass, not sure how plastic containers would fare) in a pot of boiling water and that will do the same thing.  It does lose a little of it's nutritional value over time, but never again throw away that crystallized jar of honey.  Unless said crystallized jar of honey contains mold.  You CAN throw THAT puppy away.

Homemade Shampoo Recipes

Homemade Shampoo Recipes

So how can you make your own shampoo? Fortunately there are tons of great homemade shampoo recipes out there. Here are just TWO:

CASTILE SHAMPOO

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup liquid Castile soap
• 1/2 teaspoon oil (like jojoba, olive oil, or grapeseed)

Mix all the ingredients into a plastic or glass bottle and you’re good to go!  Don't forget to label your shampoo with the ingredients listed.

As far as the results, it’s a mixed bag with this recipe. Some people love this combination; others says it leaves a film on their hair. Again, a lot will depend on your hair type and your water type (hard water seems to leave more film).

BAKING SODA SHAMPOO

The awesome ways to save money with baking soda extend to shampoo, as well.  The biggest benefit to using baking soda is that it really helps get rid of the buildup that settles on your scalp from other hair care products. But, you have to rinse with vinegar if you want your hair feeling as light and fluffy as it always does. Alone, baking soda has a tendency to dry hair out.

INGREDIENTS:

Baking Soda

Water

Vinegar - - - used for rinsing ('flavor' of your choice)

Here’s what you do:

• Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 3 cups water (this will make enough for several washings). Store in a LABELED plastic or glass container. You can also make it one serving at a time. Mix 1 Tablespoon of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water.
• When you’re ready to use, shake and apply to your scalp, scrubbing it in.
• After you’ve scrubbed your scalp with the baking soda, rinse with 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar (or regular white vinegar for a lighter smell). You can also use 1 Tablespoon of vinegar mixed with 1 cup of water for a lighter mixture.

Keep in mind that there are as many natural shampoo recipes as there are people experimenting. You might need to play with proportions before you find a combination that works great for your hair.

Tip: It might take a couple of weeks or more for your hair to “settle in” to being washed with baking soda and vinegar. The reason is because right now, your commercial shampoo (and daily washing) strips your scalp of natural oils. When you go natural, your hair might feel greasy or thick as your body adjusts. Stick it out! It’s also best not to wash your hair every day, whether you’re using natural shampoo or not. Washing every other day will help keep your hair and scalp healthy.  I usually wash my hair a couple of times a week.

Homemade Dryer 'Sheets'

HOMEMADE DRYER ‘SHEETS’

1 bottle fabric softener (your choice and size)

Water 

4 sponges

1 air-tight container that will hold all of your ingredients

Pour one bottle of fabric softener in the (I suggest lidded) container of your choice and another bottle and a half (use the empty fabric softener bottle you just emptied) of water.  Add 2-4 sponges.  When you are ready to use your homemade dryer 'sheets', simply wring out 2 of the sponges and toss them in the dryer.  Voila!  Reusable dryer 'sheets'.  Be sure and label your reusable dryer 'sheet' container.  It might be nice to also note on the label which fabric softener you have included :-)

Homemade Deodorant

HOMEMADE DEODORANT

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup Arrowroot powder

3/4 cup Baking soda

3/4 cup Organic coconut oil

1/4 tsp Tea tree oil

8 drops of Lavender oil

Directions:

In a bowl using a pastry cutter, mix arrowroot powder, baking soda and coconut oil. After working it all together it should be a firm consistency but dissolve easily when rubbed through fingers. Add tea tree oil and lavender oil and mix until blended. Store in an air-tight container of your choice.

When applying it, simply scoop out a very small amount with your finger and apply.

Homemade Pre-Wash Stain Spray

Homemade Pre-Wash Stain Spray

1⁄2 cup white vinegar

1⁄4 cup baking soda

3 cups water

Stir together and fill a labeled spray bottle. Spray on soiled spots just before washing. Always test a hidden spot first.

Homemade Laundry Stain Lifter

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY STAIN LIFTERS

REGULAR STAIN LIFTER

Laundry stain lifter needs a stronger cleaning power than just detergent, therefore we have to include a stronger chemical compound, hydrogen peroxide. Make this recipe to remove your stain in your clothes. Here is a recipe for one cup of homemade stain remover:

1/2 cup HOT Water

1/4 cup Hydrogen Peroxide

1/4 cup Baking Soda

Mix all ingredients and put it in a spray bottle. TEST ON HIDDEN PORTION OF FABRIC BEFORE USING.  Soak or spray to the stain only. Leave for at least 30 minutes before you wash the cloth as usual.  Don't forget to label the spray bottle with the ingredients listed so there is no confusion as to what's in it.

DEEPER/STRONGER STAIN LIFTER

1/2 cup ammonia

2 quarts water

2 Tablespoons Laundry Detergent (liquid or powder)

Blend ammonia and water.  Add laundry detergent and stir well.   Store in spray bottle.  TEST ON HIDDEN PORTION OF FABRIC BEFORE USING.  Spot to stain, then soak overnight.  Don't forget to label the spray bottle with the ingredients listed so there is no confusion as to what's in it.

Edible Play Dough Recipe

Edible Play Dough Recipe

1/3 cup margarine
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract or flavorings
1 lb. powdered sugar
food coloring (optional)

Mix first 4 ingredients together. Add powdered sugar. Knead it. Divide and add food coloring. Keep the homemade play dough refrigerated to keep from spoiling when not in use. You can replace vanilla with flavored extracts to give flavor other than just plain sweetness.