Super Cleaning Powers

Yes. That is correct. I have recently developed SUPER cleaning powers. And it's thanks to this amazing thing called baking soda and Ceara from DIYConfessions. I will most likely be eternally grateful to both! 

Story time:I moved into my first apartment ever a few months ago. This wasn't a brand new apartment, so it had of course housed a few other people. Mostly though, it's really clean. But I'm a tad OCD and there was one area that was not clean enough for me: The Kitchen Sink. 

Yes, it was a little grimy and filled with black scratch marks and waters stains all over. It was driving me nutty.. I didn't get a before picture, sadly, but I'm sure you can imagine, especially if you've ever rented an apartment or house. 

I went on a hunt for a cleaning solution, and I found a recipe from DIYConfessions for a natural water stain remover. Now, I didn't have a great big spray bottle to mix the ingredients in like she did, so I justput in varying amounts of the three ingredients in a little dollar spray bottle: 

1. White Vinegar
2. Lemon Juice
3. Dish Soap

This mix works pretty well alone, but if you want to see some real magic (which, who doesn't want to see cleaning related magic?) Follow these steps:

1. Mix spray
2. Sprinkle baking soda over trouble zones
3. Spray with the stain remover mix
4. Let bubble up in cleaning goodness
5. Scrub away the grime!

And you're done! For less troubling areas that just need a little bit of TLC, you can just let the baking soda sprayed with the mix sit for a few minutes and then rinse away.

Enjoy your new super cleaning powers! You'll feel the need to wear a cape while cleaning now, trust me.

Magic Mud Body Scrub

I've never really used body scrub and to be honest I always thought it sounded like a waste of time and money, but I was bored the other day and thought I'd try to make one. I'd read how coffee body scrubs are extra great because the caffeine helps with skin elasticity and cellulite and such (supposedly) so I figured I'd start there.

After trying my concoction I dubbed it Magic Mud because it was SO amazing. I have some dry skin issues but after using this just once it was a drastic change, all smooth and soft! It certainly converted me into a body scrub believer. So here's the recipe, I strongly encourage you to try it out! It is really easy to switch up too so mix however you feel works best!

4 T used coffee (you can use dry coffee, but why waste good coffee?)

1/2 c white or brown sugar

1 T olive oil

1.5 T water (optional - less water will equal a courser scrub)

Lavender (you can also use essential oils, other herbs or any spices)

Mix the coffee and sugar. Mix in the olive oil and water. Cut up the lavender and mix in.

For use, it's recommended to soak or stand in a hot shower before applying, rub on in circles, rinse, and embrace your new soft skin! Store in a jar and use once a month or as often as you like. And enjoy! It will settle after sitting for a bit, so stir before each use.

Stay Lovely,

Katelin

Homemade Graham Crackers Recipe

As you may know from reading my bread-making post, I am trying to make more homemade stuff. I have a growing list of things I want to make, but most recently I tackled graham crackers. I looked through two recipes and used a bit from both. From Smitten Kitchen I took the topping for the graham crackers and from Chocolate & Carrots I took most of the recipe. I did use regular flour and sugar though. I figure I will just rewrite the recipe as I did it. So please consider it an adaptation from the two blogs.

Homemade Graham Crackers 
Ingredients

Crackers
2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, mostly melted
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey

 Topping
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Make the Dough
In a bowl stir the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon together. Set aside.
In another bowl mix the remaining ingredients together. Your butter should be mostly melted, but not fully. You can hand mix or use a mixer to beat the ingredients until combined.*
Add in the flour mixture in two shifts, mixing until well combined.

Chill the Dough
Try to make your dough look rectangular, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge to harden. (the rectangle isn't that important, it just may help with cutting the dough later)
Wait 30 minutes or longer, until dough is chilled and firm.

Cut Out the Crackers
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface until it’s 1/8 thick. The dough will be sticky so use more flour as necessary and roll out the dough slowly to prevent tearing.
Cut the dough out into  squares of whatever size your prefer with whichever tool you prefer (I used a pizza cutter).

Bake the Crackers 
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Place the crackers, about 1 inch apart, on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Score the squares down the middle and poke some holes in the top with a fork, or decorate however you prefer.
Sprinkle the topping over the crackers.
Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to harden the cookies a little before baking.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through.
Allow to cool before removing from the baking sheet(s).

Enjoy!
S'mores, cheesecake, an afternoon snack...whatever you want to use these crackers for go for it! They are certifiably delicious! Though don't expect them to taste like store-bought ones (aka junk). These are a little more like cinnamon shortbread cookies. They'd be great with tea and maybe jam!

If you do make these let me know how they turn out and what you have with them!
Stay Lovely,
Katelin