DIY Liquid dishwasher detergent: Pulled an AB muscle...so spending all day in my kitchen!

Somehow in the past two days I pulled an AB muscle. It either came from my crazy 600 rep challenge from bodyrock followed up by an extra AB workout or the hills I ran yesterday. I got the idea to run hills from my friend's blog: http://runcheuricerun.blogspot.com/  and the workout she posted on March 22. If you run hills, it takes time off your run. I figured if runners use this to better their times, I could just use it to better my fitness level and running skills. So I ran a long (very long) hill by my house last night with the hubsters. We took turns running/ pushing our munchkin up and down the hill in his stroller. I took the stroller up the first hill and after that was just going to let my husband push it, but he said I needed practice for when I'm alone. I made it up and down 6 times before I couldn't breath from my allergies and now this afternoon I feel as though I pulled an AB muscle. Must have been from all that hard pushing! So here are the products of spending the whole day in my kitchen and resting my ABS.

DIY LIQUID DISHWASHER DETERGENT: finally found a way to get rid of that film.

This is super easy, very cost effective, and safe for your children and the environment. I found it on this blog. Most recipes you find are for powder detergent, but I wanted one for a liquid because it's better for your dishwasher. This recipe is an exact replica of hers except with the secret ingredient to remove the film.

Recipe:  This is her recipe, but I quadrupled mine and it almost filled a 1 Gallon container. It made about 3 1/2 quarts which left me enough room to shake it up.

1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup liquid castile soap (you can find this in the body wash/ soap section; just look for the all natural products and you'll find it)
2 tablespoons pure lemon juice (not concentrate)
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon washing soda
1/2 tbsp borax (this is optional)

SECRET INGREDIENT: To cut the film, you must use 2-3 drops Dawn dish soap in the same container you place the detergent in. Do NOT use more than that because your dishwasher will flood over. My dishwasher is really old and does a really poor job at washing dishes not matter what detergent I use (always have to super scrub the dishes before I put them in). If yours is newer you may be able to just get away with the vinegar as the rinsing agent. Try and see first! If there is a film, it tends to only be on plastics like: tupperware, plastic glasses or bowls, and non stick pans. If you only use glass items, you should be good to go!

**10-15 drops antibacterial essential oil, if using an unscented castile (I added tea tree oil to it even though I had a scented castile)
 
Extra white vinegar for the rinse cycle (you can either fill your rinsing agent container or just pour some in the bottom of the dishwasher)

In a small saucepan, combine water and vinegar over medium heat. Bring to just boiling and then reduce to low heat. Add each additional ingredient, one at a time, whisking as you go. Make sure everything is dissolved before removing from heat.
Allow to cool and then transfer to a storage container. When completely cooled the solution will separate into two layers, so shake it up really good before use.

Have fun trying this and let me know how it goes! I will continue to rest my AB muscles.

DIY air freshener and Freshen up those stinky dish towels!

I just realized I had not blogged in a while....I think it was due to the four day weekend my husband just had at work. We decided to relax and do things around the house. Somehow the relaxing part never happened. I spent the weekend DIYing and nursing around the clock because my son was having a growth spurt. A few of the things I'm going to share this week are: Homemade oatmeal mix, DIY liquid dishwasher detergent, Homemade baby carrots, DIY air freshener, Homemade jam, and how to get that weird smell out of your dish towels.

TODAY is: DIY air freshener and the dish towels.

Air freshener: So easy you're going to cry about how much money you've wasted on any type of air freshener.

SO why did I make this?

The outside before the air freshener

Well...I have this bathroom.
That I clean regularly (maybe 2 to 3 times a week)
And it STILL smells dusty (not the worst smell, but still annoying)
Yes I tried dusting it
And cleaning the walls.......
But the smell was STILL there.

Why didn't I buy air freshener?

YUCK!

I hate the fake, over-concentrated smell they give off
I don't want the chemicals near my baby
I have allergies
I didn't want to spend the money (yes, I'm cheap when it comes to certain things)

Then I saw this blog.....and I knew I could replicate it and pretty it up some

What you need:
Container or small mason jar
Baking Soda
Essential oil (I used orange. It was $3.99 at the local health food store)
A lid and something to use to poke holes in it
Tulle (your color choice)
Twine

Step 1: Take your jar, wrap the tulle around it, and tie with twine.

Step 2: Pour your baking soda and essential oil into it.
Baking soda amount: 1/4 of your container
*Essential oil: 6 drops

Step 3: Put lid on it and poke holes (I used a nail and hammer)

Step 4: Put it where you want it!

The dusty bathroom

Cost breakdown:
Baking soda: You probably already have this
Essential oil: initial cost $3.99 to $4.99 (but you only use 6 drops so probably 20 cents)
Tulle: 77 cents on sale
Twine: $3.99 (you use a tiny bit so maybe 20 cents worth)
Total: $1.14

It lasts for a long time. When the scent starts to settle, just give it a little shake and that will release more scent.



Ok, second thing: Stinky dish towels
Ever get that weird, moldy smell in your dish towels when they get wet?
Usually this indicates they're getting old and need to be thrown out. Well mine started getting this smell after 3 months and were not even close to being old!
So how to remove the smell:
1. Wash all the towels in hot water
2. Add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup vinegar to the machine depending on size of load
3. Add 5-7 drops tea tree oil (this is an antibacterial and disinfectant so it takes the smell away)

Viola! Smell is gone and you can keep your dish towels!

Back on the Workout Train....

The past couple of weeks have been crazy for me! And surprise, surprise when life gets busy the first thing to go is exercise. Sometimes I wonder why this is, but I think it's pretty simple: working out takes extra effort, is tiring, and usually isn't pleasant soooooo it's easy to scratch it off the to do list first. Or at least in my case it is. Now that things are back under control and my little one is not sick and I am no longer sick I'm getting back on the workout train. Hopefully I will be doing workouts everyday. I signed up with my friends workout group online so now I'm being held accountable by other people! Here's what I've been doing to get things back under control: last weekend I ran 2.3 miles, a 5k, and did the Colorado Incline. This week I have done 3 body rock workouts and ran 2 miles of hills. Next week will be better! If you've fallen off the workout train, get a partner and get back on! Check out fun exercising things to do in your area like 5K's or hiking and then just suck it up and do a real workout. Here are a few ideas:

Incline!

 

 

 

5k's and more by state!
My personal favorite: bodyrock.tv! You don't need any equipment that they use except for some form of weights. They give you options if you don't have the equipment and they are fast!

Free at home workouts!

Find something you like! Enjoy!

Mornings Gone Wrong! What to do?

Or in the face of mornings gone wrong!

We all have mornings that go wrong....miserably wrong. Somehow, I have managed to have two of these mornings in a row: Yesterday and Today. How is that possible? I didn't even really think about it until my sister called me this morning to vent about her morning going wrong. I think being a mom is pretty much dodging (or learning to deal with) mornings gone wrong. Yesterday, I was trying to hurry so I could start a tutoring session and Lil' M poops in the tub. YAY... I had to stop, give him another bath, disinfect the tub and bath toys, and so on. This morning when we're supposed to be leaving to run errands all he wants to do is nurse and take a nap. So what do we moms do? Conform our plans to our children. What do I do with my mornings gone wrong? Let them roll of my back and form a new plan. I won't let these wrong mornings get to me. I will make them work for me! How do you deal with your mornings gone wrong?

Oatbread! Finally!!

Day 7 of the 7 Day Oatmeal Challenge

Cinnamon oat flour bundt cake!

I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID IT!!

I finally finished my oatmeal challenge and I FINALLY conquered the oat flour bread! This oat flour bread has been long overdue and giving me fits for some time (I guess a week to be exact). But no more, I now know how to successfully cook gluten free oat flour bread and actually have it taste good and not crumble. Go me! Now to share it with you!




The crazy thing is I adapted this recipe from a cornbread recipe thinking that cornmeal and oat flour kind of have the same properties. Each of them needs another flour added to the mixture to create a rising agent. I was able to change the cornbread recipe to my liking and got a great tasting cake. You can use any pan you would like, but I chose the bundt pan because I think it looks fun, cleans easily, and doesn't make a mess when I pour the bread mix into it.

What you need:

1 1/2 cups oat flour
1 cup tapioca flour (or a flour of your choice. I chose something gluten free because my Aunt cannot have gluten and she frequently reads my blog. This is for you Auntie Beth!)
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup plain yogurt
3 eggs or egg beaters
2 tbsp melted butter
1/3 cup maple syrup or honey

What to do: VERY simple

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all of the dry ingredients and mix them well. Combine all of the wet ingredients and whisk them until smooth. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until combined. Do not over mix or the cake will become rubbery. Grease bundt pan and pour mixture into pan. Cook in oven for 20 to 25 mins until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 

You can choose to glaze it or I just chose to eat it with sliced bananas and honey. It is delicious! It is moist and has a nice cake taste. You could easily adapt this recipe to create a savory cake/ bread instead of a dessert cake by adding different spices. Enjoy it how it is or experiment!

Homemade chicken nuggets!

Day 6 of the 7 Day Oatmeal Challenge:

Wow! I can't believe I'm one day away from finishing my 7 day oatmeal challenge. I have almost done it and it has NOT been easy. I feel like so many things were stacked against me this week. My son got sick, then he gave it to me, I started my new tutoring job, and was co-planning/ co-hosting a baby shower today. Needless to say I am EXHAUSTED! When you have a sick baby, there is no sleeping. On top of all of these things, I picked this week to do the challenge so there was no stopping somewhere to get a quick dinner or lunch, but I feel accomplished for sticking to it. Since all of this craziness has been happening, I have been craving comfort food. What better than homemade chicken nuggets? These were so easy to make it was almost a joke. It was way easier than getting in the car, driving to fast food place or restaurant, and ordering nuggets. The great thing about these is they're healthy, low-calorie, and can easily be paired with any type of vegetable.


Ready for the ease of this recipe? I adapted it from this idea.

Marinate Chicken

Mix flour!

Cook in pan and flip when golden

Enjoy!

Here's what you need:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cubed)
1 cup oat flour (1 1/2 cups oatmeal)
1 garlic clove minced
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4  grated Parmesan cheese

What to do:

1. Cube your chicken into nugget-sized chunks
2. Place chicken in a ziploc with 2 tbsp yogurt and season to taste (I usually marinade chicken in salt, pepper, garlic, onion). Let chicken soak for as long as you would like or as long as it takes you to make the breading
3. Heat a thin layer of oil in skillet to medium heat. You want it hot enough to cook the chicken all the way through, but not burn the breading
4. Combine oatmeal, garlic, salt, pepper, onion, paprika, cheese, and Italian seasoning in food processor, blender or grinder and blend pulse together until smooth. Place mixture in bowl.
5. Take chicken from ziploc and roll one piece at a time in flour mixture and place in pan. Do this to all chicken. When chicken is golden brown on one-side, flip it over and brown the other side. When they are golden remove and place on plate lined with paper towel to soak up and extra oil. Serve with your favorite sauce and enjoy!

Oatmeal pancakes

Oatmeal pancakes!

Day 5 of the 7 Day Oatmeal Challenge:

Today I wanted to do a healthy twist on pancakes. I love pancakes and you already know I LOVE oatmeal so why not combine the two? Plus, plain pancakes, even though they taste OH SO GOOD are NOT good for you. I mean: white flour, sugar, and syrup....those do not sound like good material for the abs I am working at getting. Here are my AB-ilicious oatmeal pancakes. I combined two separate recipes for optimum flavor and even created my own pumpkin pie spice syrup. Why not get in a few extra antioxidants while we're getting our extra whole grain for the day?
I made these pancakes a couple of weeks ago and knew for sure that I wanted to share them on here. I did forget to take a picture of mine before diving in and eating so I found one as close as I could!

Here's what you need:

1/2 cup oatmeal
3/4 cup oat flour (see how to make this in my previous blog)
1 cup skim milk
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
2 tbsp vegetable oil (canola, grapeseed, coconut, or something of your choice)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp sugar (or substitute in agave, honey, or maple syrup)

What to do:

Pulse everything together in a blender or stir by hand. Once everything is mixed well, pour 1/4 cup batter onto a well heated griddle or non stick pan. Continue cooking until well browned on both sides.

Pumpkin Pie Syrup:

1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup water
1 tsp maple syrup
1/2 a small can of pumpkin
Pumpkin pie spice to taste

Mix sugar and water and bring to a boil. Then allow it to simmer. Add in maple syrup, pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir until smooth and allow to simmer again. Serve warm or chill. Store in air tight container for up to 3 weeks.

These are like a healthy guilty pleasure, especially the syrup! I store the syrup and use it on my oatmeal or sometimes in my smoothies when I get the taste for it. Hope you enjoy! Only 2 more days left of the 7 day oatmeal challenge.

Homemade Tortillas

Day 4 of the 7 Day Oatmeal Challenge:

Yummy and Easy!

• I know you read the title Homemade Tortillas and you're probably wondering what those have to do with oatmeal. But that beautiful tortilla in the picture to the right was made with part oat flour/ part wheat flour! I must say I was extremely proud of myself for making these tortillas

• So why make tortillas when you can buy them at the store? In my case, it's mostly because of the cost. I have a corn allergy and have to buy all natural whole wheat or spelt tortillas which cost a LOT more than your usual tortilla at your regular grocery store. At my local health food store, spelt tortillas cost $4.99 for a package of 8. My only other option is to drive across town to Whole Foods and pay roughly $3.50 for a package of 8 (if I factor in gas/ driving time these cost almost the same as the spelt tortillas!). But wait, I have ONE more option and that is to make my OWN! This process was actually easy and I came out with tasty, healthy, whole grain tortillas that probably cost about $.50 for the 10 that I made.

 What I did: I researched a lot of different recipes and finally found one I liked. I did not want to spend the time making these and they not taste good. Then I made my oat flour. Whatever you do, do NOT buy oat flour at the store. It can range anywhere from $4-$11 and you can make it for just cents at home. All you need is oatmeal and a food processor, grinder, or blender. Pop your oats in the machine of your choice and blend!


 What you need:
1/2 cup bread flour
1 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup oat flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 oil of your choice (I used grapeseed, but olive, canola, or anything you want will work)
1 1/4 boiling water

Super easy so far!

dough ball!

Starting to bubble...almost ready to flip

Cooked pile...with a few already eaten! My 100% oat flour tortilla is peeking out in the corner.

What to do:
1. Mix the flours and salt together.
2. Add in the oil and mix again.
3. Begin pouring in boiling water and keep mixing. A wet dough will form and be a little sticky
4. At this point you can either form 10 small balls (racquetball size) or you can leave your dough in a big ball (I left mine in a big ball). Cover your balls and let them sit for an hour.
5. When the hour is almost up, preheat griddle to 400 degrees or non stick pan to about 8. Lightly grease pan.
6. After the hour, roll dough out on a lightly floured surface. Roll them as thin as possible otherwise they will be very dense because of the whole wheat and oat flour. You can use anything for a rolling pin! I used a bottle of rice vinegar because it was the size I wanted
7. Toss the rolled out tortilla in the pan and let it cook on each side for just over 30 secs. You will know when to flip when the tortillas start to bubble. You want them to have little brown flecks on them. See pictures above!


*A couple of hints: Next time I make these I will maximize my time and make a lot and freeze them! I usually end up freezing my store bought tortillas because we do not eat them fast enough so this will be no different. Also be sure to finely grind your oats. I had a few oat grains in my tortillas, but this did not bother me.

*Next time I make these I do plan on cutting out the bread flour and just doing whole wheat and oat flour. I made one tortilla completely out of oat flour, but it came out very grainy and bland. It would need some type of seasoning if you wanted to make one. If you want a 100% gluten-free tortilla you could mix the oat flour with some other flour like almond or corn.

100% oat flour tortilla on top.

Oatmeal Banana Springrolls!

Day 3 of the 7 Day Oatmeal Challenge:

Up close!

Doing the challenge was a little more difficult today only because I wasn't feeling well. My baby bear has had a cold for the past couple of days and decided to so generously give it to me. My first thought for the next oatmeal challenge was make a fresh loaf of oat flour bread. I did a little research and what I found basically said it's impossible to make an entire loaf out of oat flour. Based on my research, various websites said oat flour will not work because it is gluten free and has no leavening agents. I thought that I could fix this problem by adding yeast, baking powder and an egg. Boy was I wrong!!!! I baked my loaf of oat flour bread and it did not rise one bit! It looked exactly the same when I took it out as when I put it in the oven. It basically had no flavor and was very crumbly. I decided it was a bust and that I would try a different oatmeal recipe instead. I went with adapting a banana spring roll recipe and I must say it turned out delicious!! It's nice to know that I can have dessert and fit in an extra serving of whole grains and fiber.

I scaled my recipe down to serve 4 instead of 6, but you can find the recipe I adapted it from here.

What you need:
4 spring roll wrappers
2 mashed bananas
1 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp honey
powdered sugar
oil for frying
2 tbsp flour/ 2 tbsp water (flour paste for closing spring rolls)

What to do:
 1. Begin heating oil to about 300 degrees F in a pot. Take your spring rolls out of the freezer and let them thaw
 2. Mix the oatmeal, applesauce, bananas, honey, and chocolate chips.
 3. Microwave this mixture for about 30 secs to 1 min (until chocolate chips are melted and oatmeal consistency has changed a little)
 4. Lay the spring rolls in front of you like a diamond. Take the mixture and place 1/4 of it in the corner of each spring roll and spread it out in a line. Then begin rolling the spring roll up folding in the corners as you go until it is nice and neat. Seal each end with the flour paste.
5. When your oil is fully heated, carefully place the spring rolls in the oil. Cook for 3 mins each side until golden brown. Remove from oil and place on plate covered with a paper towel.
6. Slice each spring roll in half and drizzle with chocolate sauce and powdered sugar.
7. I did not have melting chocolate for my sauce so I mixed chocolate chips and milk and melted them in the microwave (so middle school, I know)

Eat your dessert and enjoy knowing that you have extra whole grains in that chocolatey deliciousness!

Homemade granola? Yes, Please!

Day 2 of the 7 Day Oatmeal Challenge: Pumpkin Cranberry Granola

Today, I had so many ideas for my oatmeal challenge that I could hardly decide which one to try. So I decided to try one that I have been waiting to try for a while: HOMEMADE Pumpkin Cranberry GRANOLA. About a month ago, I tried a different homemade granola recipe and it did NOT taste that great. Because of this, I did a little extra research and found a recipe that I thought would taste better. The original recipe is for plain granola, but since I love pumpkin and it's wonderful health benefits, I decided to add some pumpkin and adapt the recipe to my taste. I hope you enjoy it!

Before I get started on the recipe, let me give you two more reasons why you should love oatmeal just in case you're not yet convinced.

1. It costs a $1.49 for a 42 oz container (at the commissary)

2. It is virtually gluten-free (click here for info)

What you need:

4 cups of oatmeal
1 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup pecan pieces
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup finely ground flax seeds
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 can of pumpkin (I used the 15 oz can)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 parchment paper

*I changed a few things from the original recipe. I added pumpkin because I enjoy the flavor. I also added pumpkin pie spice to bring out the flavor of the pumpkin, but if you don't have pumpkin pie spice all you need is cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and nutmeg (not sure of the exact measurements).  I also added an extra 1/2 cup of oatmeal because of the extra liquid from the pumpkin. I swapped out the sunflower seed for flax seed because of the extra fiber and I did not have any sunflower seeds in my pantry. This recipe is very flexible and can easily be played with so have fun using what you have in your pantry!

Little Bear: always willing to help!

Yummy! Ready to cool!

How to make it:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Cover a rectangular baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix the dry ingredients: oats, almonds, pecans, coconut, flax seed and spices together in a large mixing bowl.
Heat the butter, honey, and pumpkin together in a small saucepan over low heat. Once the butter melts stir in the vanilla.
Pour the hot liquids over the dry ingredients and stir together with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.
Spread mixture onto prepared pan in one even layer. Bake for 75 minutes.
The granola will become crisp as it cools at which point you can break it up into small chunks by pounding it in a zip lock bag. Store in air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
 
Add it to a smoothie or yogurt for a great crunch or put it in a bowl with some banana and milk. Enjoy!

*Something to remember: Depending on the size of your baking sheet, you may need to split the mixture between two pans. If it is too thick it will not cook completely and become crunchy.

7 Day Oatmeal Challenge!

One thing I need to say before I get started: I LOVE, no I am OBSESSED with OATMEAL!!
4 Reasons: It's cheap, it's healthy, it's versatile, and it tastes great if you know what to do with it!
I love it for more reasons than just the ones above, but these are the main 4 reasons.

Because of my oatmeal addiction, I decided to do a 7 Day Oatmeal Challenge.
This challenge means:
I will use oatmeal in at least 1 meal a day and post the recipe on here. Of course you're thinking that I could just post a different breakfast oatmeal recipe everyday, but I will NOT do that. These will be creative uses for oatmeal. Here is my first oatmeal inspired dinner:

Oatmeal Meatloaf: there's a little bit of a story behind this meatloaf. My husband loves meatloaf. But there's one little problem: he loves beef meatloaf and I rarely, I mean RARELY cook with beef. I'm all about the poultry products. I know I can always find a turkey or chicken substitute for beef. Because of this, I make my meatloaf with ground turkey. I do this because it's leaner, less fatty, and better for you. The first time I made meatloaf for my husband he basically gave it a BIG thumbs down. When I asked how it tasted, I received a shoulder shrug and a mumbled, "It's okay." In my book, that's a polite way of saying, "Yuck, terrible, or thumbs down." After further probing, he shared that it did not have the same flavor as beef, was too mushy of a consistency, and overall just couldn't compete. So I set out on a little adventure to make a meatloaf that could rival his oh-so-beloved all beef favorite. 

Here's what I used:

1/2 a package ground turkey (93/7....I usually like to use 85/15, but in my stores all they carry is 93/7)

1/2 a package ground pork (lean)

1/2 of a small onion chopped or 1/4 of a large onion

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt (optional)

3/4 cup of my favorite bbq sauce (I use Organic Ville original because I'm allergic to other sauces, but your favorite will be just as tasty)

1 clove minced garlic

1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (depends on how spicy you want it)

1 tsp cumin

2 tbsp mustard

1 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup applesauce w/ 1/2 tsp baking powder OR 2 servings of egg beaters (DO NOT USE BOTH)* 

*I use the applesauce w/ the baking powder in place of the eggs because I have an egg allergy. Applesauce will bind the same way an egg does, but if you prefer egg you can use 2 egg whites or 1 egg.

Ingredients

Same stuff. This picture just includes the oatmeal

meat and onions

shaped into a loaf!

 What to do:

Preheat oven to 350. Chop your onion. Then add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix very well. Once it is mixed place on a baking sheet (covered w/ foil and sprayed w/ pam) and mold it into the shape of a loaf. Cook in the oven for 50 mins or until juices run clear. Then put ketchup or barbecue sauce on top and place back in oven for 5 more mins. Now eat!

I forgot to take a picture of the finish product because we were so hungry that we dived right in. Come back tomorrow for the 2nd day of the oatmeal challenge!

*This recipe should serve 6 people and is roughly 287 calories per serving w/ ketchup or bbq sauce on top. If you want less calories you can use an entire package of ground turkey instead of half pork/ half turkey.  

 

DIY mini-mudroom: for those of us without a front hall closet

My question of the day is: who builds a house without a front hall closet? I have been pondering this ever since we moved into our townhouse here in Colorado. I mean, think about it....without a front hall closet where do you hang your coats? Or put your boots? Or store your vacuum cleaner, diaper bag, suitcases, purse, or other miscellaneous items? I have currently found a place for my vacuum cleaner and suitcases, but no where for our coats or our guests' coats, my purse, and the diaper bag. How was I going to solve with problem? With a wonderful, DIY, hidden-behind-the-door coat rack. Here's what is looks like and here's how to do it!

View from the stairs, but nicely hidden behind the front door

view from the couch

This project was one of the easiest and simplest that I have done yet! I wish they were all this easy!

What you need:
8 to 10 Hooks or knobs of your choice (I found mine on sale for $8.99 at Target. This was a box of 10 and I found them in the cabinet door knob section)
Spray paint of your choice
2  3-ft boards (You can find these at Home Depot in the lumber section. Choose a board that is the width you want and then have Home Depot cut them for free!)

I had my boards cut to 3 ft because that is the length of my tile entryway. You can measure the length you want and then have the boards cut to that size. I also used chair rail for my boards because I liked the design. It is cheaper to go with a plain board, but not too much more expensive to use the chair rail. 1 plain board costs $1.71 for the entire board and my chair rail was $1.19 per foot. So 2 plain boards would cost roughly $3.00 and 2 3-ft pieces of chair rail cost roughly $8.00.

Here's what to do:
Take your 2 pieces of board and spray paint them. Let them dry thoroughly and apply another coat. Once they are dry, evenly space out your knobs on the board and mark with a pen on the back. Drill the knobs into the board following the instructions on the box. When you are finished, screw these into the wall (make sure you're over a stud and that the boards are level). That's it! You've completed your very own  coat rack. Hang everything that you need to on there: purses, diaper bags, rain boots, and of course coats! Enjoy!

spray paint I used

boards drying

Up close and personal

Bottom rack

*We determined how high they should be on the wall based on the door hinges. It looked better to have them lined up. This entire project cost: $20 (or $14 had if you use plain board) for two coat rack as opposed to $23 dollars for 1 similar looking coat rack!

Steak Lettuce Wraps w/ Melon Salsa and Parmesan Green Beans

Last night I wanted to cook something healthy and carbohydrate free (Hubby and I are trying to eat carb-free every other day). I pulled up my favorite recipes board on Pinterest and found this fabulous recipe for steak lettuce wraps. I looked through my pantry and since I had most of the ingredients I decided to cook the steak and improvise the rest. Since I'm an aspiring cook, my improvisations do not always come out so well, but this one came out deliciously!

Steak Lettuce Wraps w/ Melon Salsa and Parmesan Green Beans

Everything you need for the steak:

Steak (enough for how many your feeding) of your choice (I used a filet and New York strip because that's what I had in my freezer)
Green leaf lettuce (I used this because it's cheaper than Bibb lettuce and I like it!)
2 tbl olive oil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp ginger
1/4 to 1/2 cup (depending on size of steak) red wine vinegar or red wine 

Everything you need for the Melon Salsa:

1 cup honey dew melon chopped
1/2 jalapeno diced
1/2 cucumber ( I didn't use this because I was out)*
1/2 red onion chopped
Dash of salt
Juice of 1 lime
Splash of rice vinegar

*If you are out of cucumbers like I was you can always swap this out for another fruit or veggie that is crunchy and easily takes on flavoring like: strawberries, cantaloupe, mango, kiwi, or zucchini. Just experiment and have fun with it!

Everything you need for the Green Beans:

Green Beans (based on how many you're feeding)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 a garlic clove
Olive oil drizzle
Grated Parmesan

Everything you need to do:

Tip your green beans and place them on a baking sheet. Then drizzle them with olive oil, add the salt, pepper, garlic, and then set them aside. Place your steaks in a Ziploc and add all of the seasonings, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Let them marinate for 15-20 minutes. Next assemble the melon salsa and allow to marinate for 15 minutes also. Your oven should be preheated by now. Pop the green beans in and allow them to cook for 10-15 mins. Begin searing steaks in non-stick pan. Cook until desired doneness is reached and then place them on a plate to rest for 5 minutes. While steaks are resting, remove green beans from oven and place them in the steak pan. Cook them for another 5 to 7 minutes on medium high heat. While the green beans are cooking, slice the steak into strips. Place two lettuce leaves onto each plate and put as many steak strips on top as you want. Remember that you are going to eat them like a wrap though so if they're overloaded they will fall apart. Take your melon salsa and put on top of steak strips. Next take your green beans from the pan, put them on your plate, and sprinkle with grated Parmesan. Enjoy your carb-free, deliciously healthy dinner!

Green beans cooking in the steak juice

Steaks resting

Melon salsa minus the cucumber because I was out!