Raines Realm

Do you get anxiety every December? Do you find yourself in debt when January rolls around? Do you dread all the chaotic shopping of the holidays? There really is a better way. I used to freak out every year around this time. I obsessed over trying to show my love for others by the price tag on their gift. It took all of the joy out of giving, stressed me to the max, and left me worrying about January's bills. This season is not a competition for who can spend the most money. Its also not about matching the cost of gifts that are given to you. Its about the love and care that goes into choosing a gift for someone else. In our home, we make pretty much everyone's gifts during the holidays now. This ensures that everyone gets personalized gifts that suit them and a lot of thought goes in to each and every one! We also don't go into massive debt. I prepare by purchasing the materials throughout the year, so I don't have to worry about getting everything in Decemb...

I've recently been trying to add a lot more hygge to my life. Pronounced hue'gah, the Oxford dictionary defines it as  A quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture). To put it simply, its the little moments. Its a hot cup of tea by the fire, its a picnic in the woods, its enjoying the sounds of the evening. Its putting the phone down! (After you read this, of course). When you take the time to truly experience and observe your atmosphere, you create a calming and fulfilling effect that benefits you mentally and physically. Our lifestyles can be very demanding and cause us to have to rush around, rarely enjoying life's little pleasures. It is crucial that we take the time to savor those little moments throughout the day. When you incorporate hygge into your life, your mind will start to be able to focus and concentrate in a more productive way,...

With the weather cooling down, these are a perfect treat for the whole family! You can customize them in so many ways and they are kid-approved, healthy deliciousness.   You will need a dehydrator for this recipe or a warmer drawer on your oven. A high-powered food processor really helps when making the sauce, but its not absolutely crucial for this recipe. Raw Vegan Cinnamon Rolls 5 Bananas 1 cup medjool dates (soaked for 30 min and then pitted) 2 tbsp softened coconut oil 1/2 tsp vanilla extract Pinch of sea salt 1/2 c water 1. Slice bananas lengthwise into thirds and dehydrate until soft and pliable. 2. While bananas are dehydrating blend remaining ingredients until smooth. 3. Spread filling on banana slices and roll onto themselves until you have two banana slices rolled together into cinnamon bun shape. 4. Dehydrate rolls until the consistency you prefer. 5. Sprinkle with cinnamon and chopped walnuts. You can also sprinkle with nutmeg, add shredded coconut...

Chances are, you or someone you know has jumped on the amber necklace train. The question is, do they actually work or is it the placebo effect? Well, today, I am doing my best to answer that question. The science behind the medicinal use of Baltic amber is grounded in succinic acid. Baltic amber has the highest concentrations of succinic acid found in nature. This acid is released by your body heat and absorbed by your skin as a natural pain reliever. It is referred to as an antispasmodic and anti-fever by homeopathic doctors. You can find more information on succinic acid  here . Common medicinal uses for Baltic amber are relief from teething, headaches, inflammation of throat, ears, and stomach, rashes, stomach aches, earaches, fevers, colds, arthritis, carpal tunnel, and fighting infections and respiratory diseases. I can personally attest to the effectiveness of Baltic amber for teething as well as aches and pains. I have used an amber teething necklace for my daug...

Are you looking for an awesome gift for everyone in your list? Have you waited until last minute and want an easy and reasonably priced recipe that you can make yourself? Look no further, sugar scrub is your friend! This recipe is so easy and it works wonderfully. You can customize it by adding more or less sugar depending on the consistency that you want. The great thing about using coconut oil is that it doesn't leave an oily residue, so it can be used on the face and body! I suggest using lavender essential oil instead of peppermint. I know, I know, peppermint is all the rage around the holidays. But, peppermint oil can have detrimental effects on new breastfeeding mothers' supplies. So, instead of screening everyone on my gift list, I use lavender. Besides being such a mild and well-tolerated oil, lavender is also amazing for easing headaches and migraines, relaxation, skin irritations, and it can really lift your mood. It is such a great overall choice that it is ...

We've all been there at some point, where we sit down to a dinner party and have no idea what plate is for what or what fork to use first. Maybe it's because we haven't really attended very many dinner parties or perhaps we were so busy in the pursuit to adult that we missed this important lesson. Today I'm going to discuss the basics that will get you through practically any dinner party during this holiday season. You can watch a video where I go into more detail  here . -First, let's start with the flatware. Forks on the left, knives and spoons on the right. If you're setting a table and get confused, just remember that fork has four letters and so does left and knife and spoon have five and so does right. You may have a dessert fork or spoon above your plate as well. If you have a cheese spreader above your plate, you're in for a real treat because there will be a cheese course! Regarding flatware, always work from the outside in and from the top ...

Yogurt pretzels are a simple thing to make. They are fun and tasty, although the calorie count is not for the faint of heart! Seriously, don't look it up, just enjoy these little delectables a few at a time and you'll be fine. Moderation is always key and these pretzels taste so good that they're worth it. The first time I made these, the yogurt didn't coat the pretzel as well as I would've liked, so I ended up doing the process twice. You can watch that video here . To avoid that, you can make the yogurt mixture and put it in the fridge to stiffen up a little first and then proceed with the dipping and setting. This recipe would be a fun project for children. Getting to dip the pretzels into the yogurt would also be really good for developing hose fine motor skills as well as teaching patience. And, it's vegetarian, so for those with certain dietary restrictions, this can still be an acceptable snack. Another great thing about this recipe is that you p...

Sometimes it's the simple things that can make all of the difference. The holidays are busy enough that I'm sure all of us could benefit from these simple kitchen hacks. I personally utilize all of these tricks and they have really made my life easier. If you want to watch me go into a little more detail about these ideas, you can check out my video  here . 1. Baking Kits If you're going to be doing a lot of baking this season, making lots will save you a lot of time and headaches along the way. Pre-measure your dry ingredients for the recipes on your baking list and bags them separately in sandwich bags. Then combine them into a gallon storage bag and label it. This way, when you're ready to bake, all you have to do is grab your bag and then measure your wet ingredients. This is such a time saver! 2. Add baking soda when boiling eggs Add a tbsp of baking soda to the water when boiling eggs. This makes them so easy to peel which saves time and eliminates frus...

This recipe is a favorite of mine. It combines just the right amount of sweetness and it's a perfect addition to a cheese course! (More on that at another time.) Spreading this recipe over a cracker paired with goat cheese is an ultimate snack, appetizer, or addition to your cheese courses. At this moment, I realize I might be obsessed with cheese courses. I'll reflect on that. Seriously though, this recipe really takes minimal effort, you can easily do it while doing other things around the house. I recently made this whole also doing some holiday crafts and it was a perfect treat to enjoy after clean-up! A side note, this has a shelf life of about three days, but I doubt it will last that long. You can easily make it for gifts if you make it the day before or morning of the exchange. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Fig and Onion Spread Recipe 1/4 Cup Olive Oil 1 Onion (diced) 2 Cups Figs 1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar 2 Tbsp Sugar Directions ( Step-by-step vid...

Sometimes, I can be pretty obsessed with my slow cooker. I love making big batches of delicious meals and then freezing half to enjoy later. It helps me save time and my family gets to enjoy a large variety of tasty dinners! I originally saw this recipe while I was watching How Jen Does It   on YouTube. She has some really amazing slow cooker recipes and this one really stuck out for me. I've changed a couple of things in her recipe based on my family's preferences and simplifying it to make it an even quicker dinner time option. A little tip when cooking in your slow cooker, spray it with nonstick spray first so that things don't stick. Nothings worse than saving the time cooking only to find yourself spending considerable time scrubbing over the sink after. I suggest serving this chicken over rice and topping it with sour cream and perhaps a little shredded cheese. You can use brown or white rice, whichever you prefer. Santa Fe Chicken Recipe ( Step-by-step vi...

We all want to show our loved ones how much we care, especially during the holidays. Perhaps, you're better off skipping the long lines and parking lot brawls, and baking gifts that will last year after year. This recipe can be used for a variety of projects like making ornaments or little knick knacks. You can let your children or pets add their little hand or paw prints. You can even create your own designs using your fingers, toothpicks, straws, or anything you can think of. Let your imagination guide you as you gather your supplies. You will need flour, salt, water, and acrylic paints. The original recipe for this project can be found  here . Ornament Mold Recipe 4 cups Flour 1 Cup Salt 1 1/2 cups Water Directions  Step-by-step instructions 1. Combine all ingredients in bowl and knead for 15 minutes. 2. Roll out dough and use cookie cutters or a butter knife to cut out shapes. 3. Add handprints, footprints, fingerprints, pawprints, (you get the idea...

With all of those hectic schedules this holiday season, it's so easy to forget about self-care. It's crucial to take the time for yourself, even if it's only 10-15 minutes a day. Here are 5 easy beauty treatments with ingredients that you probably keep in your kitchen. Sugar  Sugar scrubs are a wonderful way to exfoliate while moisturizing for beautiful, glowing skin. Sugar Scrub Recipe 1/2 Cup Coconut Oil 1/4 Cup Sugar 1/2 tsp. Lavender Essential Oil (optional) Combine all ingredients and use as needed. Coconut Oil Coconut oil is a lightweight, efficient moisturizer that can be used as a waterproof makeup remover as well. You can even apply a thin layer to your legs instead of shaving cream! To use: apply a thin layer, and softly wipe away. Cucumber Cucumber not only tastes wonderful, but it has a few key skin care benefits as well. It rejuvenates skin, improves complexion, and tightens pores. Directions Mix cucumber juice or puree with 2 dro...

Welcome to the third part in my functional food series. If you missed the first two, you can find Tumeric here  and Apple Cider Vinegar here . The use of honey by humans has a history that spans back at least 10,000 years. Originally, it was gathered from wild hives that were sought out through definite peril. The earliest recorded "apiaries" can be credited to the ancient Egyptians. During that time hives were made out of old tree trunks and logs to imitate wild hives. Since that time, honey has been studied through extensive methods by a variety of scientists and health professionals to substantiate the claims of benefits associated with it. The list of benefits include preventing heart disease and cancers, blood sugar regulation, reducing ulcers, reducing and eliminating throat irritations, probiotic, antibacterial, antifungal, and it aids in healing burns and wounds. That is a very comprehensive list of abilities! So, if you want to incorporate the benefits ...

Thanksgiving was wonderful, but you're left with half of a gigantic bird that's now taking up valuable real estate in your fridge. There are hundreds of recipes you could use, but this is probably one of the easiest and it's absolutely delicious! I love making chicken pot pies, so I got the idea of using leftover turkey, it's so simple yet an ultimate comfort food. The ingredients that you'll need for this recipe are all inexpensive and the prep takes about 5 to 10 minutes tops. Feel free to customize the seasoning depending on your preferences and how the turkey was originally seasoned. I normally buy the pie crusts that come rolled up in a two pack in the refrigerated section. If there's one you prefer, you can certainly use that instead. Here is my ultimate turkey leftover recipe! Turkey Pot Pie 2 Pie Crusts 2 Cups of Turkey (cubed) 1 bag of Frozen Vegetable Mix (Peas, Corn, Green Beans, Carrots) 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup Salt Pepper 1...

Thanksgiving was wonderful, but you're left with half of a gigantic bird that's now taking up valuable real estate in your fridge. There are hundreds of recipes you could use, but this is probably one of the easiest and it's absolutely delicious! I love making chicken pot pies, so I got the idea of using leftover turkey, it's so simple yet an ultimate comfort food. The ingredients that you'll need for this recipe are all inexpensive and the prep takes about 5 to 10 minutes tops. Feel free to customize the seasoning depending on your preferences and how the turkey was originally seasoned. I normally buy the pie crusts that come rolled up in a two pack in the refrigerated section. If there's one you prefer, you can certainly use that instead. Here is my ultimate turkey leftover recipe! Turkey Pot Pie 2 Pie Crusts 2 Cups of Turkey (cubed) 1 bag of Frozen Vegetable Mix (Peas, Corn, Green Beans, Carrots) 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup Salt Pepper 1...

During the holidays, it seems we are bombarded with snacking options. From the baked goods circulating neighborhoods to the "specialty" offerings in every grocery store. Here's what you can do to ensure that your clothes don't "shrink" during the season of eating, I mean giving... 1. Try to limit eating to your main meal times. Let yourself have the cookie or cake, just for dessert. When you save the special items for after your meal, you're less likely to overindulge. By looking at snack foods as part of your meal instead of a filler for in-between, you're allowing yourself a guilt-free indulgence. You may find that this makes it easier to abstain throughout the day. 2. If you want to be trendy while having your cake and eating it too, eat a small slice for breakfast. You can read more about the benefits of that  here . 3. If your holiday traditions involve baking all of those delicious goodies, try to share them with friends and family,...

With everything that has to be done to prepare for the holidays, struggling to think of what to cook shouldn't be one of them. Here's a list of 10 dinner ideas to take the guesswork out of your evenings. Easy Broccoli Quiche Garli Roasted Chicken Breasts Quinoa and Black Bean Crockpot Chili Pork Chops and Sauerkraut Potato Soup Shrimp and Grits Hamburger Steaks Chicken Enchilada Casserole Crockpot Barbeque Meatballs Quinoa Stuffed Butternut Squash Hopefully these ideas help your holidays run a little smoother! Do you have a go-to recipe for when you're stuck in a rut? Don't forget to subscribe to receive all of the relevant news when it comes to food.

There have been claims that Apple Cider Vinegar can do everything from burn fat to repair split ends. I don't know about the hair care part, but I notice that I do feel better when I ingest it on a regular basis. This vinegar is created by fermentation. Its imperative that you get an apple cider vinegar with "the mother" of you're using it for health reasons and the companies that have it clearly labeled are the best bets. Or better yet, make your own with this easy Apple Cider Vinegar recipe . The "mother" is full of beneficial bacteria even though it looks like something out of a mad scientist's experiment, you have been warned... Realistic expectations for benefits of using this vinegar include faster digestion of carbs, lowering blood sugar levels, and lowering cholesterol. Here  is an interesting article that goes into more detail. To take ACV, try mixing it into a dressing or using it in marinades. It can be taken diluted in a shot glas...

Sweet breads are amazing, although you should never get them confused with sweetbreads, totally different ball game. One of the great things about breads like this is that they freeze well. You can make a batch or two ahead of time for when you need it and its a great way to take some of the stress out of planning teas and brunches. I always keep some in my freezer for just such occasions. This is a mild orange bread so it pairs well with a lot of things. You can serve it with butter and fruit spreads if you like, but it doesn't need them. This means that it can stand alone as part of a variety of finger foods, (such as for afternoon tea), or it can play a supporting role as a dinner bread, or perhaps even dessert. Orange Bread Recipe 1 1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour 1 tsp Baking Soda 1/2 tsp Baking Powder A Pinch of Salt 3/4 cup Sugar 1/3 cup Oil, such as Olive Oil 1 cup Orange Juice Directions ( Step-by-step video ) 1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease pan(s). 2. ...