How to: Acorn Goodies

I made these acorn treats for my sorority's retreat this weekend.  They are very fall festive as well as Alpha Gamma Delta appropriate.  (our mascot is the squirrel)

These would also be an adorable edible centerpiece for fall parties, Thanksgiving, or Halloween!  They are inexpensive and super easy to make! 

What you will need:

- mini vanilla cookies

- hershey kisses

- peanut butter chips

- microwave safe bowl

- plastic fork

1.  unwrap the hershey kisses from the foil

2.  place about 1/3 cup peanut butter chips in bowl

3.  microwave in 10 second intervals, stirring each time

assembly:

4.  using the knife, smear peanut butter on the flat part of the kiss and press on a cookie (flat side)

5.  let cool sitting cookie side down

6.  place a small dab of peanut butter on the top of the cookie and press on a chip

VIOLA! You have yourself adorable acorn sweets!

How to: Thrift Shop

A lot of people are afraid of shopping at thrift or second hand stores.  You may think it's gross, not worth it, chaotic, or just plain icky.  And yeah, some stores can be like that but not if you thrift shop smart, you can avoid all of that.  I have been an avid thrifter for eight months now and I have learned SO much!

Here are 6 guidelines on how to make your thrifting experience the best it can possibly be!

1.  know when the sales are
Most thrift chains have some sort of membership or club.  Join these and sign up for e-mail or test alerts for sales and promotions.  For Goodwill, the last saturday of each month is 50% off all clothing.  Goodwill also has color barb days (Sunday-Wednesday).  Remember that the color is based off of the plastic barb, not the paper tag.

2.  take your time
Thrift shopping is something where you can not be rushed.  I only go when I have no where to be in hours.  You need time to flip through all of the racks and search through the shelves.

3.  wear appropriate clothing
Some thrift stores do not have fitting rooms.  If they do not, find a body length mirror to try your items on.  I recommend wearing tight fitting pants and a top that easy to slip tops over.  I personally like wearing leggings and a simple top.  Even if the store does have fitting rooms, they are small and crowded.

4.  set a budget
Going thrift shopping is a very tempting thing because everything is very cheap, BUT it adds up.  I have learned to set a budget before I enter the store so I do not overbuy.  This is a smart guideline to follow when spending money anywhere!

5.  get creative
Being a thrifter takes a certain amount of imagination and creativity.  You are going to sift through thousands of pieces of clothing.  More than half will be old, dated, ugly, you get the picture BUT there are some good ones.  Think of multiple ways to style a piece.  Can you see yourself wearing it with clothing that you currently have?  My favorite thing to do is buy vintage pieces and style them into a current and trending look.  Don't automatically pass over the vintage or "weird" looking things.

6.  look everywhere
You can find the coolest pieces that no one else will have in sections other than womans!  I find some of the best flannels, vest, and T's in the mens section!  Workers also tend to misplace items in the wrong section so you never know!  If you are a petite woman, don't be afraid to look in the little boy's section for some perfect fitting jeans, hipster tanks, etc.

How To: Sesame Snow Peas

Being a bust college student, it is hard to eat healthy, quick snacks.  Sesame snow peas are one of my favorite healthy snacks to make, and it is super cheap!  It takes a few ingredients and about 10 minutes to make.  

All you need is:

Soy Sauce

Sesame Oil

Sesame Seeds

Garlic salt or powder

Snow Peas

Coconut oil or Olive oil

* I do not use measurements.  I eyeball it and add to taste *

1.  In a saute pan on medium heat, add a splash of coconut oil, 2 spoonfuls of sesame oil, and the snowpeas.  

2.  Let cook for about 5 mins, occasionally stirring and flipping the mixture. 

3.  Add sesame seeds and garlic powder (as much as you want to taste)

4.  Continue cooking until the peas begin to look see through or until they are less crunchy and more fluid.

5.  Add soy sauce to taste and serve!