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Showing posts with label knock-off. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knock-off. Show all posts

Monday, February 18, 2013

Knock-off: McDonald's Iced Hot Chocolate

Before I found out I was allergic to corn, I practically lived on McDonald's Iced Hot Chocolate. It was the best stuff to go along with a breakfast burrito. Then they stopped offering it. Completely bummed me out.

Now, it's hotter than Hades around here when it's supposed to be winter! Maybe I'm just used to an Idaho winter and I'll be freezing my bum off like the rest of the folks around here come next year. However, I don't like to drink hot drinks when it's hot. Doesn't make sense to me. I got a hankering for an Iced Hot Chocolate, but wondered if I could figure out how to make it on my own. 

News flash: I did.

You'll need:
1 packet hot chocolate mix
1Tbsp chocolate syrup
1c milk
ice
optional: whipped cream

You may have to look around to find a corn-free version of these, but it's really not that hard. If I can find it in a little town in Idaho, I have faith.

Pour everything into a saucepan and cook on low until everything has dissolved and it's slightly warm. You don't need to boil it or anything.

Pour it over ice and stir. I'm not patient enough, but you can top with whipped cream if you like. I'm just 
ready to tear into that bad boy!


Monday, September 17, 2012

Mango Passionfruit Lemonade

I saw something on pinterest about a passionfruit lemonade Starbucks sells. I'm not a big Starbucks person because I don't drink coffee, but it looked good. I thought I'd give it a try with my own little spin on it.

First, some research. I wanted to make sure this drink was worth trying to imitate.

Yeah, it's worth it.

I used Tazo's Mango Passionfruit tea. I boiled 32 oz of water & steeped 5 tea bags in it.

Then I added 12 oz of Chick-fil-A's diet lemonade (I swear they put crack in that stuff) and 1 cup of sugar. You can use any sweetener you want though.

Why diet lemonade then use sugar? I'm allergic to corn & I'm never sure what drinks have corn syrup in it. It's just out of habit really that I ask for diet. And by all means, feel free to make your own, but why bother? You know the stuff Chick-fil-A sells is soooo much better.

Verdict: HECK YEAH! Make this stuff! It's a little different because of the mango, but I actually liked it better than the one I got at Starbucks. Shoot, even making a cup of the tea itself was worth the $2.12 I spent. Enjoy!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Knock-off Week: Rose pillow

Note: I'm having some issues with pictures. Sorry! I was able to salvage one.

I'm not usually a throw pillow kind of girl. You know, the one who has 20 pillows on the bed and another 10 on the couch. I think they're a waste of space and money. However, I do like pretty things and I do like my home to feel welcoming. I also like for my guests to think that I care about my home's appearance. I found this at West Elm while surfing the net one day:
Deconstructed Rose Pillow Cover
Source
Isn't it precious? However, I flat-out refuse to pay $47 for one pillow. $47! And that's marked down! Heck no! ...So I decided to make it instead.

You'll need:
felt
hot glue & gun
fabric that coordinates with felt
pillow form
sewing machine
coordinating thread

Measure the pillow form & cut out 2 pieces of fabric to cover it.

Remember my St Patrick's Day wreath? Repeat the same process for making the felt rosettes until you get enough to cover one piece of fabric.

Sew the 2 pieces of fabric together on 3 sides.

Slip in the pillow form & sew the remaining side closed.

Glue the rosettes onto the front of the pillow.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Knock-off Week: Tiered Platters

I love this from JSG Oceana:
Source
However, we are college students getting ready to move across the country and are, therefore, broke.as.a.joke. No lie. I still want a "fancy" tiered glass service set though for those time when we have friends over & the food just won't fit on our table.

Thank goodness Dollar Tree is just right down the road. 
You'll need: 
2 plates
1 bowl
2 taper candle holders
strong glue


Glue one candlestick holder onto the bottom of 1 plate and another onto the bottom of the bowl according to the directions on the glue. 

I didn't glue all three dishes together for storage purposes, but you can if you like. I just don't have a space where something of this size will fit properly. Besides, not gluing them all together gives me different options in stacking them.
Now, I don't trust the glue to hold up in the dishwasher, but the glue you use may be fine. Also, if one breaks, no big deal! I can just run to the Dollar Tree & replace it!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Knock-off Week: Calvin Klein bracelet

I am all about being frugal. I've said many times, "Don't buy what you can make." This week is dedicated to proving that you don't have to buy everything. Sometimes going the cheaper route is best.

I love jewelry! Even using "love" is still a bit of an understatement...ask my husband. I have so many necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, etc he complains a bit every time I open my jewelry box. I must admit though, most of my pieces I get at really good prices, but I knew that he would flip out if I paid retail for this beauty:
Source. $100!!!
Yeah, he would have flipped his lid on that one. So...I decided to try my hand at making something similar for about a 1/10th of the cost.


You'll need:
6-8 inches of black leather cording, depending of desired length
jump rings, I used 62
round disks (you can find these near the jump rings), I used 10
1 clasp, I went with a lobster clasp
2 cord ends


Fasten 1 cord end to one end of the cording. Attach one half of the clasp. This will help the jump rings and disks not slide off while you're working. Slide on jump rings and jump rings with disks attached to them (or loaded) onto the cording. I alternated using the following pattern: 5 empty, 1 loaded, 6 empty, 1 loaded, 5 empty, 1 loaded, 6 empty, 1 loaded.... until I reached 10 loaded jump rings. Then I ended with 5 empty.
Attach the other cord end and use a jump ring to attach the other half of the clasp.