Functional Upcycling

This is a Marie's Ranch dressing bottle from the salad section in the grocery store. The Lavazza coffee comes in a foul package so I restored it in here. 

Benefit? Glass container, wide opening for your choice of utensil to dispense the coffee grounds. It seems airtight enough. 

Talenti Gelato icecream pint comes in a plastic material with a wide open ring as well. Spring cotton balls. Love love love the dark chocolate brown print, goes so well with the super white cotton balls. 

This is two candle glass tops off its previous containers. They just happen to fit together like top n bottoms. The top is also upside down. You can reverse it but it looks nice this way n the little nook inside which usually has a rubber/plastic seal is now holding rings while the bottom holds watches/bracelets/ or more rings. Looks classy than a typical jewelry holder. 

They all look like they were made for the functions I utilize them for. Awesome!

There's way more things you can upcycle for no cost at all. Just gotta get creative. 

Sure, you might become a mini pack-rat or whatever the term used to discrinate us but it's a savy talent unrecognized unless from similar observers. 

Practical Funnel

Supplies:

Plastic water bottle

Scissors

Method:

Cut into the empty water bottle. However tall or short you want the funnel to be. Make a clean cut so you don't have plastic pieces falling into the substance you're transferring. 

The bottom bottle was a honey bottle and I'm just reusing it as a condense milk dispenser. Practical, useable. The honey bottle cap has a tiny spout so it was the perfect choice, especially the right size for a regular size can of milk. 

I have 2 plastic funnels for different purposes but this was just an experiment and specifically because the spout was wide for a faster easier flow n it's short so it doesn't dunk too low into the bottle. If you ever handle condense milk it's thick n towards the end it flows slow. The water bottle funnel is wide and sturdy enough to hold the can while I did other stuff. 

When done n cleaned the plastic bottle funnel and the milk can gets recycled so it's a win win, no waste here. 

Brag-About-It: My sweet coconut rice with Red and Black Beans

So somehow i came across this recipe. 

Mango Sticky Rice -

http://rasamalaysia.com/mango-sticky-rice/2/

Wether it was Pinterest or just plain google i can't remember. What i did was attempt to make it. First time making something it is usually my worst attempt. By following the directions intently i usually end up missing something or over looking something else. Actually this time i had it all prepped n made minus the mangos. I did exactly what i had read, even went to buy a bamboo steamer even though i totally forgot I already have a humungus double decker stainless steel steamer for banh boas. Anyways long story short, its probably not short, but I did everything and eventually it all went into the trash with just a few sample bites. Don't get me wrong, the food was good but how the rice and coconut was made with all that sugar just didn't do it for me. Maybe if I had that same rotten sweet tooth again i would of enjoyed it at least. Ever since i had my little son 22 months ago and my daughter a year ago I've been eating healthier. Sure its dessert U might say but honestly my taste buds didnt care for it much. So to the point, i remade it just yesterday and finished it today with half the sugar required. It turned out much better to my tasting. Since i had cut half the sugar in the coconut milk i did the same w the salt. I usually try to balance it right when i cut ingredients. This time though, no mangos still. Nothing against mangos. They're just not in season so you cant get the full flavor this dessert intended it to be. Instead, i made red and black beans slightly sweetened; about 7 grams of sugar to 1/4 cup of red beans and 1/4 cup of black beans. I had just bought some beans because I've  been wanting to make some vietnamese bean desserts. Another somehow (subscribed email), i got a how-to video on how to prep dried beans so i can use immediately without having the 2 day wait window?!  Unbelievable, the wait time that people endure for just a meal. I'm not a cook so i won't get it until i become one. Well everything turned out well. Even my hubby liked it. I had all the random ingredients needed besides the sweet rice which actaully took me forever to find because i was looking for "glutenious rice" when in asian stores its just labeled sweet rice which my mom also mentioned when i asked her once before. Here's the snap shot. 

What i did differently was i didn't drain or soak the rice in the coconut. One teaspoon at a time i dresses the rice with the coconut milk. Then i layered it with shredded coconuts (the one i had on hand was to make macaroons which i never got to do.). Then i layered it w the beans on top of that and another layer of coconut shreds. Lastly i topped the whole thing with another few teaspoons of coconut milk. It was divine!  Heavenly, maybe. I do love coconuts, wether it be drinking coconut water, desserting w coconut milk, eating the coconut chips along with my FruNuts, or eating it straight out of the shell itself, meat and all! I love my coconuts!  If you haven't tried Chobani's Flip Greek Yogurt Coconut flavor with the dark chocolate and pistacios or was it roasted almonds and dark chocolate (i can't remember anything!) its really good. When i had my son i was eating so much yogurt i bought every flavor instead of the weird ones. But since my daughter i haven't had any up until a few weeks ago when i saw that Chobani had 'Flips' which got me to nosily browse in which the dark chocolate, almonds and pistacios made the decision for me. Anyways. Lets save that for another post which turns out may or may not exist if i dont start remembering. This mama's brain syndrome is effecting me, for reals!

So there's my brag-about-it moment. 

Hope you've  enjoyed the post n give that dessert a try. 

P.s. I cannot have a phone without the screen shot option, best thing that can happen for a mini photographer. 

Target's C9 by Champion

Ever tried this brand? I like the fit but i can't attest to their quality yet sonce i just  bought 3 pieces recently this week. But if you're a fan then you're in luck. They have a sale! 

Do this.. (text part)

Then you get these.. 

 

If you're shopping online then the code is already in the photo. 

Happy Fitness Shopping!

Target's Email Bonus Coupon

So I was checking my email which I can't  claim I do often because somehow I don't notice 'deals' until it's almost the end of the week/sale. Sad, I know, but I was looking through it n found this: 

.. in which turns out to be .. 

 

Awesome right? Normally I'd depend on IG (Instagram) or the next text from Target mobile or their weekly ad but this came in an email form. I guess it would depend if you've signed up for their email newsletter or have signed up for their Red Card (Target credit card) or registered for their bridal or baby events. Who knows. But for the ones who either don't have mobile connections or haven't received the deal by email, I did find it on Target's website on the coupons page. (Coupons.target.com)  ⬅️ under the 'baby' and 'food' section. 

Happy savings!