Homemade Crayons

On my travels around the Internet I have often come across tutorials for making crayons and this week I thought I’d give it a try. Little A loves to colour but standard crayons are just a little thin to hold, which was really all the excuse I needed. As is often my style, I didn’t bother to actually look up a tutorial, I just jumped right in, but luckily for me it worked out very well!

You’ll need a box of crayons, or a pile of old broken ones.

Then you’ll need to peel them. It started off very slow and honestly I nearly gave up at the third crayon, but then the therapeutic benefit set in and I survived.

The only small mould I had was a mini cupcake tray, so I filled the holes with colour combos that pleased me, and a few that didn’t coz I ran out of crayons!

 Pop them in the oven (at 160C) for 3-4 minutes, or until the crayon has all melted, and take them out to cool in the tin.

Beautiful eh?

When they’re completely cool, just pop them out.

And you have some cute little crayons to make you your children happy :)

Wouldn’t heart shaped ones be really cute?

Happy colouring everyone! Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you soon; I have been working on some rather girlie things to show you that I have been making for a very little lady’s birthday!

Hayley

xx

Spread A Little Love

 Hello! It feels like so long that I have had something worth sharing, and today’s post is really just a snippet of a thing, but it’s something none the less! How are you? Little A has another chest infection and Little H is following suit so we’re all upside down again (as if we ever got the right side up?!) but it’s ok, I’m learning to let things go and just pick up the pieces when we can.

Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? I have to say that although we tend to exchange cards and possibly cook a more ‘substantial’ meal, we don’t really buy into it all that much. I have always found it to be very ‘excluding’- putting the love between two persons far above anything else; as if that was the only kind of real or meaningful love to be found in the world, and this, to me, is not what really matters about love. Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredibly special the love that husband and wife have for one another, BUT what’s more amazing is when that love overflows into the other relationships that those people have; their friends, families and communities. Suddenly, this special bond of love between two people is transformed into a great power that can achieve so much because it can give so much and BE so much for other people. It’s the helping hand for those who are struggling; the meal gifted to the couple who have just had a baby; the lift to and from the hospital to ensure that a friend can make their appointments; the extra few minutes tidying up so the next person doesn’t have to; the afternoon tea to raise money for a local bereaved family; the extra month to pay the bill for your car repairs. This is the power of love, and it’s found between all kinds of people, and it should be celebrated!

It was while I was thinking about this that I decided to send some love to a few of the people in my life who I really value and would never think of actually telling them ‘I love You!’

I have been doodling quite a bit lately and so used some of those to make little cards to write my valentines notes in.

I filled some little bags with sweets (I strongly believe that grown-ups don’t eat enough of these) and tied them all together.

Sweet, simple, and hopefully, effective!

Do you send anyone other than your partner (or the person you want as a partner!) a Valentine’s card? Hopefully you have been inspired to; It might be better to make your own rather than buying them (to avoid sending super-mushy and possibly awkward messages!).

Happy Valentines, enjoy whatever it is you’re doing to celebrate (I am hoping to make a big beef pie because I think that’s probably what my husband would appreciate most!) and I’ll see you soon :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Hayley

xx

Homemade Granola

 Hello! How are you? I’m being very good at taking things slowly which has meant a suprising shift in the kinds of things I choose to do…cooking is being enjoyed most at the moment, much to the pleasure of my family!- and much less crochet which I thought would never happen! How about you? Are you glad January is behind us? It’s just that little closer to Spring now and I can’t wait!!

Making granola has been on my radar for quite some time but somehow I never seemed to get round to actually making it; I’d buy all the ingredients and then doubt would set in-was it really worth all the effort? I could just buy a bag from the store…and that’s what would end up happening! However, the other day, as I was thinking about healthy breakfasts for the kids (I’m bored of picking up packets in the store that contain loads of sugar and preservatives) it sprang back into my mind, and I got to it!

I want to squash any feelings you may have of pessimism here, because as soon as I had finished making it, I felt the urgent need to test it, and so I poured myself a bowl and WOW! I literally tripped over myself trying to reach a pen and paper so I could write down the recipe before I forgot it. It’s sweet and crumbly and nutty and very filling. YUM! And totally free from sugar and nasties (except fruit sugars).

So here it is, enjoy!

You will need:

2 Bananas, sliced (Mine were large, you may need 3 small).

225g Dates, chopped.

2-3 tbsp Honey, depending on how sweet you like it (I used 2).

2-3 tsp Ground Cinnamon.

625g Oats.

150g Flaked Almonds.

125g Pecans, roughly chopped.

225-250g Sultanas.

Puree the bananas, dates and honey together with 5 tbsp of hot water. It should resemble the consistency of yogurt, if not, add a little more water or possibly banana. Add to the oats and mix well.

Spread out onto two large baking trays and place in the oven (100-120 C) for 1-2hours, stirring and breaking up frequently. Keep an eye on it, especially if you’re cooking at the higher temperature. Once done, remove from the oven and leave to cool completely on the trays. Add the nuts and dried fruit and store in an airtight container until breakfast…if you can wait that long!

 

It’s really very simple but OH SO DELICIOUS! I’m looking forward to making more with all sorts of different fruits; pineapple, papaya, coconut, apple… YUM. It would even be good served plain with yogurt and grated apple and sultanas over the top I think. Let me know how you make yours!

See you soon,

Hayley

Xx

P.S. I now have FAR more respect for the people that produce cereal adverts as it was really hard to take a good picture of granola…there’s just nothing you can use as a prop other than a bowl and spoon! x