Snowflake Hanger Tutorial (Dollar tree Craft)

Zip ties hold the 14 hangers in place and the glitter made them look classy and polished!

I used hangers I already had, so this cost be ONE DOLLAR!

 I used baby hangers to create different sizes and different large shaped hangers to create dimensions.

You can arrange them differently for a different look especially when doing a grouping.

Use kids hangers for small snowflakes!

This is an AWESOME craft to do with children!!!

Video here...

Here is a version using more hangers...

And...you can layer them...

Some other ideas...

 You can also attach greens to them, fresh or silk...

Galeux d'Eysines Pumpkin

My grandma (she was a farmer) called those "sugar scars". Any fruit or vegetable with lots of them are supposed to be sweeter than usual.

Peanut shell warts covering Creamsicle-colored flesh make the Galeux d'Eysines look like its suffering from a disease. The pumpkin was discovered in 1996 in Tranzault, France. The flesh is sweet and silky, no strings like many other pumpkins and squashes.

Galeux d’Eysines squash has salmon-peach colored skin that is covered in peanut-shell like protrusions. When maturing from green to orange, sugars in the flesh begin leeching through the skin which is what causes its unique, wart-like bumps. As the sugar content grows, the more nodes appear on the outside of the squash. The more peanut-shell like protrusions, the sweeter the squash. The flesh is a bright orange with a medium-sized seed cavity. Galeux d' Eysines squash has a sweet flavor, with a smooth velvety texture free from the fibrous strings found in many other squash varieties. Galeux d’Eysines can grow to be between ten and twenty pounds.

This pink-skinned pumpkin is lighter in density than most other pumpkins and is mild and fluffy when baked. It can be eaten straight out of the oven and is also good for soups and stews and baked with a pot roast.

Apple/Pumpkin Upside-down Cake.

In a warm oven, put 2 T butter to melt in a 9×13 or similar sized cake pan while you prepare the upside-down topping.  Peel and cube two large apples, retrieve the warming pan and toss the apples in the butter with 2 T sugar and 1/2 t cinnamon; wrap up sides to grease them, then distribute the apples evenly on the bottom and set aside.

Cream 1/4 cup of butter with 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar (depending on how sweet your squash puree is); crack 2 large or 3 small eggs into the mix and continue to blend until smooth.  Stir in about 2 cups of pureed pumpkin or other winter squash and a cup of yogurt or buttermilk. Set aside.

Sift together 2 cups flour with 1-1/2 teaspoons each of baking powder and baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, along with another 1/2 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice.  Add this dry mix to the wet and stir together.  Add milk to thin if it seems very stiff.

Bake in a 350* oven until a toothpick stuck in its center comes out clean, about 30-40 minutes.  Let cool slightly, run a knife around the sides of the cake, place a cookie sheet or large platter atop the pan and invert them, tapping the bottom of the pan to free it.  Adjust the apple chunks along the top and try not to eat in one sitting.

Happy Halloween ~ Welcome to the Dead and Breakfast Inn with Miss Havirsham

You know Miss Havisham, don’t you? She’s a favorite character in Charles Dicken’s “Great Expectations”. Young, lovely and wealthy Miss Havisham had planned a lavish wedding to her suitor Compeyson.

Miss Havisham was a wealthy spinster, once jilted at the altar, who insists on wearing her wedding dress for the rest of her life. She lives in a ruined mansion. 

On her wedding day, while she was dressing, Miss Havisham received a letter from Compeyson and realised he had defrauded her and she had been left at the altar.

Humiliated and heartbroken, Miss Havisham suffered a mental breakdown and remained alone in her decaying mansion Satis House – never removing her wedding dress, wearing only one shoe, leaving the wedding breakfast and cake uneaten on the table, and allowing only a few people to see her. She even had the clocks in her mansion stopped at twenty minutes to nine: the exact time when she had received Compeyson's letter.

 "Miss Havisham effect" has been coined by scientists to describe a person who suffers a painful longing for lost love.

Welcome to the Dead and Breakfast Inn...
We have been wondering where you have been!

It's an inn like no other , we have no doubt...
That when you check in, you will never check out!

Worst in the business is our creed...
Your dissatisfaction is guaranteed!

We've put every last detail to the test...
To ensure a dreadful night for every guest!

Killer Cuisine...

Horribly Hot Bathtub...

A Bed to Rest in Peace...

 Eat, Drink, and be Scary!!!

Welcome to Dracula's Castle...HAPPY HALLOWEEN

What You Need To Know About Candida

O.K...I just have to do a blog post on Candida...

You might be wondering, “What the heck is Candida?” Candida is a fungus, yeast that lives in your mouth and intestines. Its job is to aid with digestion and nutrient absorption. However, when it is overproduced it breaks down the wall of the intestine and penetrates the bloodstream. This releases toxic byproducts into your body and causes leaky gut. 

Once Candida has gotten into your intestinal lining and caused your gut to become leaky, it opens the floodgates for undigested food particles, toxins, viruses, and bacteria to pass through your intestinal wall and into your bloodstream. This causes an inflammatory response from your immune system that is trying to to fight off these “invaders.” As your gut remains leaky, your immune system continues sending out wave after wave of inflammation, and soon gets stressed, weakened, confused, and begins functioning less . This can be the cause  autoimmune disease.

I have been trying to figure out where all of  my nasty post nasal drip has been coming from. Let me tell you Dr.'s are no help. They just wanted to give me crap for my symptoms instead of finding the problem...story of my life. 

Long story short, I felt awful, like I was drowning in mucus, no energy, coughing, had terrible eye bags under my eyes...I actually thought I had mold in the house, that is how awful I felt. 

How did I get rid of it???

First, I starved the Candida by removing the foods that feed it. I cut all sugar and alcohol and limiting carbohydrates such as fruit, starchy vegetables, grains, and beans.

Then I  had to create an inhospitable environment for yeast to grow.
A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar a day with caprylic acid is what helped me.

Now I am going to tell you that as those little candida buggers die off, you will crave sugar and carbs like crazy, they want to eat..be strong, know that at the end you will feel amazing.All the foods below help kill candida, so any you can incorporate in your diet makes the process all that much more quick...

Gluten and casein intolerance/allergy is often the root of substance addiction later in life.

How many of our children appear to be addicted to pizza? Macaroni and cheese? Chicken nuggets? Cereal and milk? Ice cream? French fries and milk shakes? Apples? Grapes? Ketchup? Pickles and pickle juice?

The common factors here are: grains/gluten, milk/casein, sugar, and yeast.

How many of our children who crave these things also have problems (occasionally or chronically) with constipation?

Grains/gluten, sugar, and yeast make alcohol. Especially in places where they sit for a while in warm darkness.

Yeast is always present in the human body. However, when the internal ecosystem (the micro flora of the gut) is disrupted by overuse of antibiotics and steroids, or when the gut is damaged by exposure to environmental toxins, and especially when the gut is damaged by exposure to environmental toxins AND antibiotics... what often happens is an overgrowth of pathogenic yeast. Because all the good guys (beneficial bacteria) have been wiped out, the bad guys take over. The result is candidiasis-induced gut damage. Leaky gut syndrome. Intestinal hyperpermeability.

Yeast are like plants. They have “roots” that burrow through the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A healthy GI tract is impermeable. It’s tight. It doesn’t leak. A gut that is overrun with pathogenic yeast is like a colander. It’s a “leaky gut.”

Once the lining of the GI tract is damaged, and pathogenic yeast takes over, and the gut becomes leaky, that’s when the factors are perfect for the initiation of what will later become known as “substance abuse.”

Let’s go back to gluten and casein.
Gluten is the protein in wheat. It is also found in many other grains.
Casein is the protein in milk. And cheese, yogurt, cream, half and half, and yes... ice cream.

Gluten and casein are food proteins. They are the two food proteins that are the most difficult for the body to digest. In the presence of an injured gut, and particularly in the presence of a leaky gut, gluten and casein are more likely to break through the lining of the gastrointestinal system, undigested, and from there, they gain entrance into the blood stream. The bloodstream is where undigested food proteins absolutely should not be.

Undigested food proteins in the blood stream can cause (yes! I said CAUSE) very serious health conditions like anaphylaxis. Which can be deadly. Anaphylaxis is an extreme, acute reaction. Undigested food proteins can also cause or contribute to reactions which are less immediately severe, but which can lead to chronic health issues such as allergies and inflammatory conditions affecting the gut, joints, brain, skin, and immune system.

In some people, when undigested gluten and casein break through the lining of the gut, those proteins are misidentified by the body as endogenous opiates. “Endogenous” means produced within the body, and not taken in from an outside source. Endogenous opiates have very similar effects on the.body... similar to other opiates from other sources... like OxyContin. Or heroin. Or other drugs that play a major role in the excitation of the dopaminergic (reward) system.

So... your six year old has had multiple ear infections which were treated with antibiotics. Your baby may or may not have had some weird skin rashes that come and go. And some issues with constipation and/or diarrhea. And yeah... he’s a picky eater. Craves bread. And cheese. And wants ketchup on everything. And drinks pickle juice.

What’s with the ketchup and pickle juice??? And why does she only eat apples and grapes?
Answer: Fermentation.
There’s a reason apples and grapes are used to make wine. They ferment quickly and easily. And that means they “feed” yeast. Children with pathogenic yeast overgrowth crave fermented things and things high in sugar.

Are you getting the picture yet?

The leaky gut allows the undigested gluten and casein to get into the blood stream, where it is misidentified by the body as an opiate.

One of the symptoms of opiate intake/dependence/addiction is constipation.

Constipation causes fermentation in the gut. If your child has a leaky gut due to yeast overgrowth, he will crave grains and sugars. Those grains and sugars then sit in that warm, constipated environment. And guess what? Your six year old is no longer a child. She’s a still. She’s producing her own alcohol. She may be overly silly and display inappropriate laughter or other emotional responses that seem out of place. Just like a drunk.

Think about this... the typical American child eats cereal and milk for breakfast (or some other combination of grains and milk). Our darling goes to school and is spaced out for the first couple of hours and then starts to jiggle his leg and pester his classmates, looking like a junky jonesing for his next fix. Then... lunch time.

Pizza or macaroni and cheese for lunch. (Or gluten-coated chicken nuggets and chocolate milk.) Back to class where he’s either the class clown or sleeping on the desk for the next two hours, and then it’s back to twitching and bitching until it’s time to go home.

Afternoon snack? Cookies and milk? Leftover pizza? It doesn’t matter as long as it’s got gluten and casein. And maybe some sugar, caffeine, yeast, good ol’ red dye 40.

In a child with a leaky gut, this kind of daily food intake is like a roller-coaster for their biochemistry. And for their behavior. They look like rapid-cycling bipolar kids. And many of them are diagnosed and medicated with pharmaceutical drugs, which can have dangerous side effects.

Off the soapbox...

So, what does this have to do with substance abuse in adults?

Let’s say your six year old is now fourteen. He’s at his first teenage party. Someone hands him a beer. Or a joint. For the first time. It’s the first time he - or she - has tried alcohol or marijuana... but your child’s body recognizes the response. It’s the same high he or she has been getting for years. It’s a dopamine response. The same one that makes opioids so addictive.

Your child didn’t suddenly become an addict when he or she was handed that first beer or smoked that first bowl. That child was addicted at the age of six (or three...). When they are handed that first beer, they just switched to a new route of delivery.

Those who follow me may wonder what any of this has to do with vaccines, since that’s what I usually post about.
Here’s the answer to that question:
There is an enzyme called DPPIV, which is produced in the body. The purpose of DPPIV is to break down gluten and casein.
DPPIV is deactivated by mercury and by aluminum in vaccines (these enzymes are also deactivated by exposure to other environmental toxins).

Vaccines skew the immune system and in at least some children, lead to increased administration of antibiotics, which leads to the damaged gut, which invites yeast overgrowth.

If you think this is bunk, you probably haven’t gotten this far.
If you’re still with me, let me know if this makes sense to you, or if your family may have experienced this kind of domino effect.

I am now on INSTAGRAM!!!

Well...I caved...I finally started an Instagram account...

As many of you know, I have left Facebook, so I am going to give IG a try...

Stop in and say, Hi!

https://www.instagram.com/suzyhomefaker/

PUMPKIN CRESCENT ROLLS

These are sooooo cute, and easy made with refrigerated crescent rolls!!!

Roll out that refrigerated crescent  roll dough into 12x8-inch rectangle. 

With pizza cutter cut dough into 8 (12-inch) strips.Then cut in half for 16 (6 inch) strips .2 strips make one roll. So you should get 8 rolls from every container of crescent rolls...

Twist 2 strips together and wrap as pictured below. 

Stick tails into the center and add a halved pecan to create a “stem.” 

Brush with egg wash and bake in preheated 275 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and dough is baked through. 

Serve warm rolls with cinnamon-sugar butter.

Christmas Cookie Cake

       

     Cake 

            1 box Betty Crocker French Vanilla Cake Mix
           1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
           1/4 tsp. baking soda
           1/2 tsp. salt
           1 container (15 ounces) ricotta cheese, drained
           4 eggs
           1 tsp. almond extract
           1/2 cup olive oil
           3/4 cup heavy cream 
           
           Nonpareil Sprinkles
           Non stick Cooking Spray

Mix  all the wet ingredients together with a electric mixer, then add the dry ingredients.

Do not overmix  the wet with the dry, just fold the ingredients til blended .

Heat oven to 325° F. Spray a 9” springform pan with baking spray.

Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely before removing from springform pan.

Frosting Glaze

2 cups Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Milk or 1/2 and 1/2
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix ingredients well with a whisk, drizzle or frost cake while still warm, sprinkle with Nonpareils

Shredded Mini Chicken Taco Boats

Click for VIDEO BELOW

Ingredients and Directions...

• 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup diced green chilis
• 1/2 cup ranch salad dressing

1. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Sprinkle with taco seasoning. Add the butter and  green chilis .
2. Pour the ranch dressing over the chicken breasts and cover the slow cooker.
3. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Remove the chicken breasts and shred.Add 1 tablespoon flour to the juices and stir to get it well mixed. 
5. Add the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker and stir.That's it!! Now you are ready to assemble your boats!!

Bling Pink Shabby Chic Fall Decor

SEE VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE!!CLICK PICTURE BELOW....

I really do love the fall colors...I have them in my living room and bath, but in my kitchen and dining room...Let there be Pink, Pearls and Velvet!!!

I made these adorable pink velvet pumpkins...and they were sooo easy and cheap...I will be doing a you tube video on how to make them, so check back here ....

Who has velvet sweet corn made with pearls????
I DO!!!

I made these adorable ears of corn from cream velvet and glass pearls..The husks are from real ears of corn curled with a curling iron!!

These pumpkins are just dreamy...pictures do not do them justice...I made the stems from clay..

I added a fun eyeball to the flowers on the back of my chair...I want to see how many people notice...hee hee

 I feel a dinner party coming on....

O,k   so I was just having some fun here for Halloween...I am not into them creepy eyeballs, so I made me some pretty ones with some Sharpies and BIG pearls I got from Joanne fabrics....