My Black Thumb

Most people brag that they are green thumbs and can grow all these amazing plants and flowers.... that is NOT me!! I love flowers (hence Lily's name after Calla Lily) and have attempted to grow plants in the past which have been an epic failure. No matter how much sun I gave the plants, watered them and tried to love them... my poor plants would just die. 

As the mother of a vegetarian, I wanted to be able to grow some of my own vegetables so that Lily always had a snack throughout the summer. Plus this would give her a self of responsibility (since I tend to take care of her Hamster, Stinky, more then she does) by helping me with watering and loving the plants. Of course, I am hoping that at the end of the season I will have a sense of accomplishment and boost to my ego by actually growing these plants. 

Heirloom Tomato

Sage

So... to the plants! I am starting off with a heirloom tomato plant since this is Lily's favorite type of tomato, a sage plant because I love to cook with it and add it to my water for a little flavor and lastly Zinnia flowers only because when I bought soaping gloves the packet was included free (love me some free items!) I am using Miracle Grow soil with the amazing Miracle Grow nutrients already in it. The tomato plant was so easy to plant in the big pot because it was in a biodegradable pot! I love how eco-friendly that is!! The sage plant was an easy transfer and the seeds for the flowers I just sprinkled over the soil as directed (not pictured since it is just soil. 

I will be tracking our progress of how we keep these plants alive... hopefully! Wish us luck and I hope this inspires you to try and grow a plant or two!

Give A Little of Yourself

Something that I have learned in my life is the kindness of others, especially strangers is something that lasts with person til their last day. There is always the battle of remembering the good and remembering the bad and what stays with a person. Well in the end, people remember the good and kindness of people more then the bad things that have occurred in their life. 

My life has been one of highs and lows but it has been the kindness of other people that have helped me get through the lows and celebrate the highs. With my mother's recent medical issues, I have seen how people have a huge heart especially strangers that have helped my family and I. The warmth thoughts and feelings a person gets when receives this kindness resonates everyday. To me, this begins the start a trend of pay it forward. When you give yourself, you can influence others to do the same. This is what has happened to me....

Everything that other have done has encouraged me to use my gift and skills to do selfless acts for other people. I am going back and forth on 2 different ideas. My first idea is to crochet baby blankets for babies with special needs and preemies. I had 2 babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) so I know this experience of taking a baby home weeks or months after they were born and still have the special gifts they were given. These keepsakes are something that means so much to parents of these special babies. My second idea is to crochet prayer shawls for people in the hospital or hospice. After my experience with my mom, this is also something that means alot to me because a blanket doesn't always keep them warm. Many times they are in those hospital gowns which have no sleeves and the hospital is cool. The prayer shawl will keep them warm and comfortable in the times that they need. 

So what do you think about which idea I should choose? What kind of selfless acts do you practice in your life?  

Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins Review

Having to be on a gluten-free and lactose-free diet has been an issue for me since my Irritable Bowel Syndrome diagnosis in January so in May I am making a concious effort to go on this diet and see how I feel at the end of May. So, now on Tuesdays, I am going to blog recipes or foods found at the grocery store that are gluten-free and/or lactose-free and track how they taste and how I feel. 

This morning I woke up with no real appetite but when I went to get Lily her bowl of cereal I saw that I the box of Hodgson Mills Gluten-free Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix sitting there. I figured it would be a good day to give it a try because it was something small and I could freeze them and heat them when I wanted more (always looking for ways to save time and money). The mix called for 1/4 cup sugar (sweetened for taste), 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup 2% milk and 1 egg. Well since I am also lactose free, I substituted the milk for my Lactaid milk which is lactose friendly milk. 

The making of the muffins was pretty easy and made about 9 average size muffins. The recipe called for baking them at 375 degrees for 14-15 minutes. Well I opened the first one and it was still gooey in the middle so they went back in for 5 more minutes. I am not sure if this has anything to do with the fact that I used Lactaid and not cow's milk but that is why this is an experiment!

So now the taste test.....

Overall the muffins are okay at best. I am one that is huge on texture and I don't like things to mushy (no Lima Beans in my life!!) or grainy (really who wants to chew on sand!). These muffins are a bit on the grainy side for me. I liked the bits of apples but there is a lack of taste unless you catch a piece of apple in the mix. It maybe me but I need a little more sweetness like replacing the milk with a sweeter milk like almond milk or a flavored soy milk or replacing the sugar with honey or something similar. I will finish the batch that I made because my coffee helps it go down but I don't think I will be buying this again in the future. 

Now Hodgson Mills does have a satisfaction guarantee on their box that states if you are not satisfied you can send the bottom of the box and the purchase price and they will make it right. I am not sure if that is a coupon or refund but at least they are a company that stands behind their product!

Paper Ring Jewelry

If you have a little girl in your life then you know how they love to wear jewelry! The bigger and bolder the better for my daughter. As an artsy mom, I wanted to Lily to wear jewelry she made herself. This boosts her confidence by creating something beautiful and gives her new bling to wear and show off. So today we made paper ring jewelry.

Materials:
Paper
Scissors (for adults only!)
Crayons, Markers or anything to decorate the paper strips
Tape





 Here are my instructions with pictures:

For Paper I just used colored copy paper which is 11" long.

1. Cut the paper into 1-2" strips. I cut about 12 strips.

2. Have the kids decorate the strips anyway they want.

3. Take 1 strip, form a ring and tape the end to secure

4. Insert one strip into the ring, form a ring and tape to secure

5. Continue to tape the rings, interlocking together until you reach your desired size. Then to connect the last ring insert a strip into both end rings and tape to form the necklace.

6. We had enough strips to create a necklace and a bracelet for my lil one to bling out!

Free Shipping Saturday

Every Saturday I have a sale in one of my shops and today I am offering free in my Etsy Shop with coupon code: FREESHIPPING40 This code will take your shipping expense off at check out. So come check out the great items you can buy in my Etsy shop!

Crochet Face Cloth Pattern

It is Freebie Friday again! As a new blog, I didn't have any entries in last week's giveaway so I will be doing another giveaway very soon. I love to give things away especially my patterns that other people can create items that they can use in their everyday life! Today I am giving you a free crochet pattern that I have been using for years. This is my much loved face cloth pattern that have been very popular with my friends and family.

I make the face clothes using cotton yarn. It is a great way of using scrap cotton yarn from the end of a project or you can buy a skein for under $2 at Walmart or Michaels.

*If you have any questions about the pattern please feel free to comment on the post or email me at redshoeaffair@gmail.com

Crochet Face Cloth Pattern

Supplies:

Size G Crochet Hook

One skein of cotton yarn 

Large Eye Needle to sew in ends

Basic Knowledge of Crochet terms and stitches 

Stitches:

hdc= half double crochet

sc= single crochet

ch=chain stitch

ss= slip stitch

Instructions:

ch 10

Row 1: hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each ch (8 hdc), ch 1, turn

Row 2-5: hdc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn

Row 6: hdc in each stitch across, ch 1

Edging:

This will be done evenly along each side of the cloth without cutting the yarn. With the cloth facing you, we will start with the left side of the cloth. 

Sc evenly along the side of the cloth for 6 sc. At the Corner 3 sc in one stitch (this keeps the cloth flat and helps it to not curl its corners). Sc 8 along the bottom. At the Corner 3 sc in one stitch. Sc evenly along the right side. At the corner 3 sc in one stitch. Sc 6 along the top leaving the last stitch open! At the 6 sc ch 10. Attach the ch chain  to the first sc on the left side with a slip stitch. Cut off the end and weave the end in.

Now you have a pattern you can use for yourself or make for you friends and family! I hope you enjoy this pattern and have a great day!

Spring Cleanse your Body Water

Recently, I came across a post that a friend of mine shared on Facebook that had recipes for Spring Cleanse  Water aka Detox Water.I live with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and my diet has been not the most ideal for a girl with tummy issues. I am supposed to be on a Gluten Free diet but have you tried that over-priced cardboard they call food? It is cheaper to dig a box out of the garbage and eat that instead! Well my body has finally had it with my fried and wheat-filled diet and is putting me in a lot of pain. So it is time to change my diet... this is a very sad sad day for me because I am a foodie!

Well I have been researching recipes and diets to help ease me into the pain of not eating the foods I love for the rest of my life. When my friend posted this link of detox water recipes I thought that I should try it out. I am not a big water drinker without some flavor to it. I have come to love Mio but I am sure the sugar is not good for me. These detox recipes are no sugar added just fruits, veggies and herbs with water!

The first recipe I am trying is the Strawberry and Lime Granite Water. Here is the recipe:
Strawberry/Lime or Raspberry/Lime
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 6 strawberries / 0r Raspberries and one thinly sliced lime + 12 finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

6 large Strawberries and 3 mini limes (all the grocery store had plus I LOVE lime!)

10 cups of water

12 Mint Leaves Chopped (I am not good at chopping so I will be trying to fish them out before I try to drink )

The finished product! I will report on how it taste in another post!

I hope that this inspires others to take care of their bodies by eating and drinking the right foods. We only have one body so lets take care of it together!