Mexican Hot Chocolate Atole | RECIPE

To pair with my mom's authentic Mexican tamales recipe, I have here her recipe for Mexican Atole. Atole is a hot cornflour drink that usually accompanies tamales. Some people may call this champurrado as opposed to atole but in my opinion champurrado is really just chocolate flavored atole.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of milk
• 2 cups of water
• 10 half cones of brown sugar a.k.a. piloncillo OR 2 full size cones
• 1 stick of cinnamon
• 1/2 cup of corn flour (Maseca)
• 1 additional cup of water
• 1 Mexican hot chocolate tablet (ex. ABUELITA or IBARRA Mexican Hot Chocolate Drink Tablets)

Directions:

1. Simmer milk, water and the cinnamon stick together. Add piloncillo and stir until completely dissolved.

2. Mix 1 cup of water with the 1/2 cup of corn flour. You can sieve this little mixture into the milk mixture for a smoother blend.

3. Let the mixture come to a boil so it all thickens and then simmer for 15 minutes. All done, enjoy with your tamales!

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Upcycled Solar Lamp Posts

Robin @ ReDo It Yourself Inspirations has post segments called "Cut the Cord". She provides so many clever ideas for outdoor lighting solutions sans conventional electricity.
A while ago I had seen a photo on Pinterest from her posts. Later I took a trip to a local flea market and found these lamps without shades that were perfect for this project.

I had not realized how almost identical they are to the ones used in the inspiration photo. Pretty close right?

So I did the same thing. Took out the wiring, electrical components and cut the cord! Then I spray painted them black to match the solar lamps. I used Rust-Oleum Spray Paint, in Satin Canyon Black.

I didn't glue the lamps on though. They actually fit right into the post so I don't think the glue is absolutely necessary. If I see that they get affected by wind then I'll glue them down. They turned out really cute though and make excellent front door accents.

I hope you give this a try too.

Solar is the future and the future is now!

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DIY EASY UPCYCLING | Upcycled Measuring Tape Sewing Room Wall Decor

This upcycling craft is for all my fellow seamstresses out there, to spruce up your sewing space.

I hope you save your old measuring tapes because you're going to need a couple.

You'll also need:

• A frame
• A piece of card stock that fits your frame
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun or super glue

All you're doing is arranging the measuring tapes on the card stock in any way you want. I happened to have this frame I found at the thrift store, with a cool oval plastic mat (spray painted it red). Other shapes would be really cute too, like a heart.

I used the oval mat as a stencil on the paper, cut the measuring tapes (3 of them) to fit and glued them horizontally in a repeating pattern. Once it was done, then just placed it in the frame.

If you don't want to make wall decor, consider one of these measuring tape upcycles:
Recycled From Vintage Rulers, JacQ’s Bracelets Are Made to Measure

Tape Measure Watches

Tape Measure Belts

Upcycled Vintage Tape Measure and Ruler Earrings

Measuring Tape Zippered Bag

Tape Meaure Rug from VivaTerra

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20 Ways to Upcycle Computer Parts / Hardware

E-Waste comprises 2% of America's trash in landfills and 70% of overall toxic waste.

20–50 million tons of e-Waste are generated worldwide every year. An estimated 80% of electronic waste goes out with the trash.

Every year Americans generate almost 2.5 million tons of used electronics!

Electronic waste isn’t just waste, it contains some very toxic substances, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, beryllium and brominated flame retardants. Since e-Waste is extremely toxic, the effects on the planet and ALL that inhabit it are devastating!

(For more facts check out: Causes International Inc.)

Here are some recycling / upcycling ideas that will hopefully inspire you and help bring down the alarming figures.

1. Upcycled Resistor Earrings by Clone Hardware

2. Circuit Board Bracelet by MGrosser Jewelry

3. Resistor Rings by Stewart Jewelry Designs

4. Circuit Board Necklace by Upcycled Jewelry

5. Custom Computer Keyboard Necklace by The Crafty Panda Girl

6. Mac Mailbox

7. Circuit Board Picture Frame

8. Imac Aquarium

9. Discarded Keyboard and Floppy Disk Pencil Cup

10. Caffine Machine - Old PC Tower Coffee Maker

11. Computer Parts Christmas Wreath

12. Binary Coffee Table

13. Computer Parts Clock

14. Circuit Board Notebook

15. Keyboard Circuit Sheet Lampshade

16. Recycled Motherboard Storage Box

17. Mini Magnetic Circuit Board Clipboards

18. Cuircuit Board Mail Holder

19. Upcycled Circuit Board Tie Clip

20. Population Control 2.0 - Circuit Board Boxer Briefs

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Refashion: How to Fix High Waters / Flood Pants

Don't you hate when clothes shrink? For most clothing it's just inevitable after so many washes or rather times in the dryer. I don't worry too much about tops shrinking but when pants shrink, ugh.
Don't be so quick to get rid of those pants though! You have other options...

1. Let the hem down. Most pants have at least another inch in length that make up the hem. Use your seam ripper to undo this. Once that is done it could give at least a half inch, maybe more. To hem it again use your serger then hem up the serged length. If you don't mind a serger rolled hem then do that to get the most length out of this.
2. Add fabric. Give your pants a new look by adding a cuff. This is especially cute and easy for children's pants. Check this tutorial by You & Mie.
3. Turn your pants into Shorts or Capris. Patch Work Posse has a great tutorial here on how to make capris happen.

And thennnnn there's my option. Add elastic.

By adding elastic to the pre-existing hem or the one you create, you get this harem / jogger pants look. You also get a pants length that is pretty adjustable. You can wear them to your ankle or below the knee and anywhere in between. Of course this option though, best lends itself to pants that are not so skinny or straight legged. They should have a good width to them like a flare, bell bottom or wide leg.
Here's how you can do it...

1. I have these olive green linen pants that I love, they're so comfy. Downside, they shrunk after a couple washes. So I added elastic to them. Luckily these pants have a wide hem that perfectly fits an inch wide elastic through. If your pants don't have a wide enough hem, then you'll have to make your own.
   Create an opening by ripping a seam. If your pants have one side where the seam is double top stitched and thick, pick the other side so it's easier.

2. Measure your leg for the width you want. For mine I wanted the pants to sit above the ankle but I measured the width of my leg higher than that so the elastic will stretch comfortably over that. I hope that makes sense.
   Next place a safety pin on one end of the elastic to keep a grip on it while you string it through the opening in the seam you made.
   
   
Once your elastic is all the way through you want to place one end over the other, so they lay flat and pin it in place. It's important to make sure the elastic has not twisted itself when you were working it through.


3. Now sew the elastic down, going over the seam a couple times. Then stretch out the elastic so the ruching is evenly distributed. Close the openings (where the elastic was strung through) with small seams just enough to close them.
   

4. You're done. Keep on trekking wearing? Oh you get it.

P.S. Always try to avoid throwing out clothes. Our planet doesn't need anymore of that garbage. If you can recycle it, do it but if not then at least donate it (Although, even donations center can only handle so much). With this case of high waters, yeah there's always people who are shorter than you, if doesn't fit you anymore it'll probably fit someone else. Someone will make it work but they're already your pants, you bought them and they fit your top half so why not you make it work for you. Give your pants a new look.

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Upcycled Wall Decor | DIY Mirror Glass From Thrift Store Framed Art

Here's a super easy upcycling project you can do with old thrifted wall decor and spray paints (the color/s you want for the frames and Krylon Looking Glass).

The before: A set of matching framed wall art and mirror. The artwork looks dated with the gold colored frames but the detail on the frames is cute and a mirror is always useful no matter the age.

The after: A matching pair of mirrors. I chose a gloss black for the frames because it matches the bathroom decor (please ignore the dated wall paneling, it's up next for a makeover). Now, yes one mirror is stronger than the other (the original mirror of course) but the mirror I created myself is truly not that bad. All you have to do is simply spray paint one side of the frame's glass.

See the backside is dull. While the other side is the shiny mirror that you'll see through the glass. Leave the original matted artwork though, for the frame's back support (you won't see it anymore anyway).

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