Week 17: New Pest Removal

So this may not be as exciting to all those who have never dealt with the nusense of having a tiny and consistent trail of ants in your house, but for me, this was a miracle! Let me tell you more:


The New:
As I mentioned above, I was recently invaded with tiny ants. Gross. I needed a way to get rid of them, but I didn't feel like buying ant killer that was expensive and chalk full of chemicals. So after a little research, I stumbled upon a pretty simple way to take care of the problem here.

I heated 1/4 cup of water in the mircowave, added 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tablespoon borax to it, stirred it all up, and placed it in a shallow lid for the ants to feast upon.



The Evidence:


I stored the extra in an old gravy jar, just in case those little pests feel like coming back.

This picture and the next were taken about an hour and a half after I first set the concoction out. I used the toothpick to smear some of the syrupy liquid on the side of the plastic lid so the ants would find it faster.

These next two pictures were from six hours after first putting it out. You'll notice that all the ants are gone from the outer edge, and upon closer inspection, so was the syrup. This had to mean that they had eaten it and/or taken it back to their colony.

It's important to realize that this method will draw more ants in at first, but just wait....

The Verdict:
This method worked wonders for my ant problem. I first set the solution out at noon yesterday and by six o'clock tonight, there were just a few stray ants wandering around. There are about a dozen ants in the syrup, but they are all dead, so I guess that if I needed proof, it was laying right there for me to see.

If I ever ever ever have another ant problem, this will be my go-to fix, without question. Just one quick warning though: borax is toxic if ingested so you have to keep it away from kids and pets. It's worth it though, because those ants are DEAD!

Week 16: New Potato Recipe(s)

First off, I know this week 17 and I slacked off last week. So here is week 16 and I will post more newness later this week. Also, summer break is coming up and I can guarantee that I will be bringing you lots of fun and exciting and, of course, new things to be trying out! I already have a list of things for each week of summer, so stay tuned :)


The New:
I have a tendency to buy way more potatoes than I need for a certain recipe, but being the potato lover that I am, I always find a way to prepare the extras. That is exactly what happened for this week's new post. In fact, I got a little extra creative and came up with 2 different ways :)


Cubed Parsley Potatoes:
For this recipe, you will need potatoes, parsley, salt, and a little bit of oil. This is super simple, so don't be alarmed at the lack of description each step. First, cube the potatoes and spread them out on a baking sheet. Next drizzle/brush/spray/coat the potatoes with oil and sprinkle salt and parsley on them. Stick them in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Cooking them longer will make the outsides more crispy.


Garlic Salted Fries:
Although this sounds more fattening because of the fries part, its really not. For this recipe, you need potatoes, oil, and you guessed it: garlic salt. Slice potatoes length-wise several times to create french-fry looking strips. Place them on a baking sheet and drizzle/brush/spray/coat them in oil. Sprinkle them with garlic salt and stick them in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Cooking them longer will make the outsides more crispy.



The Evidence:

I had six potatoes, so I used 3 for each recipe.

The Verdict:
As I have said before, I love potatoes, so I was by no means disappointed in either of these recipes! They were delicious and ridiculously simple. I don't have much to say past that. I'm assuming it's pretty obvious that you could probably toss the cubed potatoes into another recipe more easily than the fries.
One side note though: these potatoes stuck to the foil on my pan pretty fiercely, so to avoid frustration you may want to grease the foil beforehand.

Enjoy :)

Week 15: New Dessert

That's right, I'm breaking out the sweet stuff! You might be shocked to find how simple and how refreshing this dessert is, and without crazy amounts of sugar and fat! Check it out :)


The New:
This week, I had three bananas that were on the brink of going bad. You know that point where they're soft and not exactly palatable anymore, but they aren't quite banana-bread ready? Well, that's where these were at, so I decided to blend them up with about 2 Tbs. of peanut butter and stick the mixture in the freezer.

I checked on it about three hours later and it wasn't nearly as frozen as I was hoping, but I was dying to try it anyway, so I put a spoonful between two graham crackers and took bite. Yummmmmy!

The Evidence:

The Verdict:
This little treat was scrumptious! I might add more peanut butter, if I had to make any changes, but they were fantastic just like I them too. I am already looking forward to eating these little modified "ice cream" sandwiches all summer long, and my thighs are thankful that they won't have to find extra room to put them.

To spruce it up a little, I might add cinnamon to the mixture. Even mixing in vanilla pudding (or other flavors for that matter!) would give it some more flavor. However, I am a pretty big fan of bananas, so I wouldn't want to overwhelm this little beauty with too much extra excitement. I suppose that I could always change what I'm eating it on or with.

Opening that door, along with adding other flavors, could lead to some dangerous yet delicious combinations. Just think of how tasty this could be on vanilla wafers or mixed in to your oatmeal in the morning (unfrozen of course)! I'm not sure what took me so long to discover this simple and satisfying treat, but I won't be forgetting about it any time soon :)

Week 14: New Movie

The New:
This week, I found enough time in my crazy schedule to watch Frozen, the newest animated movie that seems to be all the rage in the younger crowd. Seeing as it was targeting the youngsters, I know that it would be less than two hours long, so I gave in and let myself take a break from the craziness.


The Evidence:
Yet another week that I have no photo evidence for y'all, but for this sort of "new," it seemed a little unnecessary.

The Verdict:
I thought this movie was fantastic. It was such a relief to watch a movie where the girls don't rely on man to save them or to make everything right.When Anna chose to run over and protect her sister instead of getting her "true love's kiss" and saving herself, I was beside myself with excitement. Seriously though, isn't sacrificing yourself for someone else the ultimate act of true love? Two thumbs up for this movie, without a doubt!
If you haven't seen it, I would highly recommend it. There is a pretty good amount of adult humor in it, so even if you don't have kids, it is worth the 90 minutes out of your day to sit down and watch it.

Week 12 & 13: New Booze and Nail Design

Things with school have been crazy lately, and I'll admit, I have been neglectful these last two weeks. However, to make up for it I'm doing a 'double-feature' this morning! Check it out :)


The New:
This weekend I discovered a new mixed drink and the joy of using stamps on my nails. Let me tell you about these one at a time.


Fruity Blue Drink:

• 2 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. coconut rum
• 1 oz. blue kinky
• 1 oz. sour mix
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• top it off with sprite

I found a similar drink on Pinterest (shocking, I know) and tweaked it some.

Nail Stamping:

A few years ago, I got a nail-stamping kit for Christmas and I was so excited to use it! But my Christmas break went by way to fast and when I brought it back home, it found its way to the very back of a cabinet that I rarely open. So long story short, I never got the chance to use it. 

When I happened upon it this weekend though, I got excited all over again and used it for the first time. When you scroll down to look at the pictures, just keep that "first time" part in mind! It's harder than it looks!

The Evidence:

I suppose the stamp isn't terrible, but I won't dare show you what my non-dominant hand produced...

The Verdict:

Seeing as my 21st birthday was less than a month ago, I am definitely still enjoying concocting new things to try. This blue fruity drink (even though it's less blue and more teal) was pretty good and I will more than likely make it again.

This whole nail-stamping endeavor is definitely something I need to keep practicing and working with! I have nowhere near perfected the technique, but I did have a lot of fun trying to figure it out. It will surely provide a little variety in my future nail-painting.