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.

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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

Dad builds kids the ultimate NASA spacecraft simulator

Spacecraft includes LED lights, sound effects, switches, dials, and more

Remember that adventure you had as a kid when you jumped into that cardboard box and used it as your own personal spaceship to soar through the stars? Although that was most likely tons of fun, one awesome father took imagination to the next level with his homemade NASA simulator.

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Highsmith’s NASA spacecraft simulator. Image via makezine.com.

Earlier this year, the handy and creative Jeff Highsmith designed and built a mission control desk for his two sons. As if that wasn’t cool enough, it now interfaces with his new spaceship simulator, thanks to a fully functional intercom system. The spacecraft features LED lights, a robotic arm, real switches, buttons, and dials that trigger flashing along with sound effects, an iPhone mount that plays real NASA footage, and the best part: it also includes a bass shaker in the floor so the mini-astronauts on board can feel the rocket blasting off.  Read More