Nine Inspirational Quotes on Accepting Change

Fighting through some uncomfortable change that’s got you feeling down? Below are nine motivational quotes packed with words of wisdom for the tough times life throws at you. All photos were excitedly snapped by yours truly. If you like ’em, feel free to save and share! If you’ve created your own inspirational pieces of positivity that you’d like to showcase, send an email to hey@sprangled.com, and they’ll be featured on Sprangled, my adventure-based website.

Always be the best version of yourself. And remember, don’t be afraid of change. You may be losing something good, but you may gain something better. Without change, you’d never grow. Read More

How to Make Guacamole-Stuffed Onion Rings

This was originally posted on my new adventure-based website, Sprangled! Check it out for fun times and inspiration, and submit your own experiences, advice, and reviews. We all share this world together!

What happens when you combine homemade guacamole and onion rings? Heaven for your taste buds. These crispy snacks are a must — check out the recipe below — they’re fun and easy to make. You’re welcome.

Once you’ve been blessed with this heavenly idea, make sure you have all of your ingredients to get cookin’. You’ll need three ripe avocados, one lime, one diced tomato, 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro, and two minced cloves of garlic. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mash the avocados with the juice of your lime. Next, mix in your chopped tomato, cilantro, and garlic, and add a pinch of salt and chili powder for a bit of a kick. This will be your delightfully delicious guacamole. Read More

DIY Holiday Gift Idea: Peppermint Sugar Scrub

If you’re a female human being you’ve most likely received a basket of bath products wrapped in plastic during the holidays, or may have even purchased one yourself for a family member as a last-minute gift when you had no idea what to get her. If you aren’t feeling thoughtful after many years of holidays, why not get crafty and create your own beauty products? Fun and easy to make, sugar scrubs are fantastic gifts, especially when they come with a personal touch.

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You’ll need just a few basic ingredients for your sugar scrub: sugar, your oil of choice (coconut oil works great), and an essential oil to scent your scrub — peppermint is perfect for the holidays. Read More

A Bite out of Life: Mashed Potato Cupcakes

No, you’re not dreaming. Mashed potato cupcakes exist and you can make them.

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Show up at your aunt’s house with these tasty treasures and you’ll be the talk of the table this Thanksgiving. Fun and simple to make, mashed potato cupcakes are sure to hit that sweet spot once the turkey’s devoured and the chatter turns down as everyone’s attention becomes drawn to the incoming desserts. And the choice will be obvious.

To whip up these treats, grab yourself your favorite cake mix and follow the instructions on the box as usual (or make your own mix from scratch). Once finished baking in the oven, let the cakes cool for about 15 minutes and then apply vanilla icing to the tops. Use yellow Starburst candies or Laffy Taffy for the butter, and top it off with gravy, which is caramel syrup. If you’d like to get even more creative, use green sprinkles as chives, or red sprinkles as bacon bits.

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And, happy Thanksgiving to you, you’re done! These delightful desserts are sure to please the potato lovers in your life (and let’s face it, everyone, because…just…potatoes).

Source: Look! Mashed Potato Cupcakes!

DIY Crafty Autumn Candle

Fall is colorful and cozy and wants to transform you into an artist. If you’re the creative type who can’t resist DIY crafts, which are especially fun for the fast approaching holiday season, this pretty project is for you.

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Materials needed for your autumn candle.

Here’s what you’ll need: fake leaves, Krazy glue, a glass jar, a tea candle (real or fake), and scissors. You can find these materials at the dollar store, or at a craft store such as Michaels or Jo-Ann Fabrics (good luck trying to make it out of there without being distracted by all the decorations and other inspiring crafts).

Before starting, you should wipe down your glass jar to rid it of any greasiness. Once clean, you can grab a fake leaf and apply the Krazy Glue to the back of it, and then stick it on the jar. It will most likely not stick the first time, so hold it on there for a few seconds before removing your hand. Every part of the leaf won’t stick, but don’t worry, because once you add more leaves, it’ll barely be noticeable.

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Hold your leaf to the jar for a few seconds before removing your hand, to make sure that it sticks.

Once you got your first leaf down, add the rest, letting them stick the best that they can. Once everything’s still and dry, place your tea candle inside. I recommend using a fake candle, just because it’s safer, and you won’t have to stick the lighter into the jar near the fake (flammable) leaves. I was originally going to go with a scented apple cinnamon tea candle, but went with the fake tea candle instead, mainly because my lighter decided it was dead. If you’re comfortable with a real candle, be careful and go for it!

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A fun way to light up the season!

And there you have it. To get a bit more crafty, you can tie some brown string or yarn around the top of the jar — make it yours! Quick and simple, this project is a fun way to light up the season!

Sprangled.com is Open to Submissions

Here on Earth, a lifetime isn’t forever, so it’s important to live to the fullest, creating life-growing memories to look back on. Inspire and be inspired — take that chance and don’t wait for the second one. Be proud to share that snippet of your existence, because adventure is the best way to learn.

SPRANGLED

Hi fellow bloggers! I’ve created a new website, sprangled.com, and it’s open to submissions! It’s all about coloring in life and sharing experiences, no matter if it’s about your hike up a mountain, crafts you’ve designed, or a review on one of your city’s events — I’d like to showcase your awesomeness.

You can read more about submitting here or simply email hey@sprangled.com with your story and images.

As always, thank you for reading!

Nicole

Getting Crafty: Sweet Love Notes in a Jar

Got somebody who makes your heart leap and dance and twirl about like everything’s going to be perfect forever? Instead of just telling them, use your pretty hands and selfless mind to craft something meaningful for your sweetie. Writing out short, thoughtful love notes in a self-decorated jar is a lovely, personalized gift sure to make both hearts flutter.

That’s my idea for V-Day anyway. I’m big on hand-crafting shared, cherished memories whenever I get the chance. I spent my yesterday in the craft store, Michael’s, browsing the aisles, coming up with too many ideas than my brain could handle. One idea I’ve been wanting to breathe life into for a while now was having a jar or bottle and filling it up with words of adoration. Luckily I have myself a gem of a man, so I got to work on my project for our fourth Valentine’s Day together. Read More

Healthy, Crunchy Kale Chips

Kale Chips Ingredients

Tasty, crispy kale chips are quick and easy to make. If you’re craving a snack, forget that bag of flavored potato chips that’s been sitting on the grocery store shelf for weeks, and go to your local market and pick yourself some kale. Packed with nutrition, one cup of this leafy green includes loads of vitamin A, vitamin C, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and even some protein.

Kale Rib

To get started, gather a little bit of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and, of course, some fresh, washed kale. Once dry, peel pieces of the kale from the rib of the plant and spread them out in a cooking tray or cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.

Kale Chips in Tray

Next, drizzle on two teaspoons of olive oil (make sure the majority of the oil doesn’t go to some chips and not others, as too much oil can make them soggy) and sprinkle with salt. Read More

Rustic Potatoes au Gratin

Rustic Potatoes au Gratin

Potatoes in your face! It’s about to be a party in your mouth!

Late yesterday morning I was hungry and was in the mood for something tasty and different, something that I could cook. I received a Crock-Pot slow cooker recipe book not long ago, and decided it was time to crack it open. I gave my Crock-Pot a cleaning and flipped through the recipes, only to stop in awe at the picture of the Rustic Potatoes au Gratin in the side dishes section. I’m a sucker for anything potato, and since I had planned on making steak for dinner, I figured the potatoes would pair with it perfectly. It was a chilly, snowy day out, and this dish seemed warm, flavorful, and comforting.

Rustic Potatoes au Gratin Recipe

As you can see in the ingredients list above, I needed 1/2 cup of milk, one can of cheddar cheese soup (10 3/4 ounces), one package (eight ounces) of cream cheese, one clove of garlic, minced, 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/ teaspoon black pepper, two pounds of baking potatoes cut into 1/4-inch slices (the recipe book shows three, I went with four, which worked out fine), one small onion, thinly sliced, and paprika, which is optional. Read More