DIY Beverage Coolers, Kegerators, & Wet Bars

Yellow and Gray DIY Wedding | Glamour and Grace Blog.

Well, now that the temps have crept up to stay (110 degrees easily, here in Tucson), it’s time for a few cold beverages on the patio. I saw this pic from a wedding and wanted to share it. I think it’s perfect for your outdoor parties this time of year. Sadly, there are no instructions, but I think all you savvy folk could figure out how to put one together (or enlist a spouse or family member, perhaps). If the red cooler is slightly more casual than you would like, you could always create a faux casing.

If you’re really going for the big leagues, you could consider something like this:
Keg-o-rater – chest freezer on Pinterest | Build A Bar, Wet Bars and Butler Pantry.

Check out these multiple pins (many linked to instructions) for building your own kegerators and wet bars. Know they do not have to be just for alcoholic beverages, though. I’m sure any type of cool sips will be welcome by your friends and family.

My Way, No. 11

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Has one of your New Year’s Resolutions been to get more organized? I am going to make this ‘minimalist-chic’ entryway organizer. Crafted from a simple wood frame & bungee cords, it’s one of the easiest and most practical projects I’ve seen. As I have a few days to myself, I’m doing a lot of clearing out and re-organizing of things right now. How do you collect so much stuff? I err on the side of ‘pitch it, donate it, or give it to an unsuspecting friend or relative ;)’ if I think an item has fulfilled its purpose in my life. This comes from previously living with a roommate and relatives with “stuff” in every nook they can find — they cannot have an inch of unused space anywhere. I do have a tendency to collect way too many kitchen pieces, though…gadgets, glasses, dishes, etc. Sometimes, I have to force myself to not purchase them. And, speaking of the kitchen, take a look at this link with 50 Clever Ways to Organize Your Pots and Pans.

— The Detox Drinks have been a hit! Since the last ‘My Way‘ post, I’ve also prepared the Natural Daily Detox Remedy, Beet Juice Smoothie, Mango Ginger Lemonade, Detox Smoothie w/ Pineapple, Spinach, & Ginger, Citrus & Green Tea Smoothie (very grapefruit-y, so you’ll have to love grapefruit), Grapefruit-Cado Sunrise Smoothie, and the Detox Beet and Carrot Smoothie. I left the beets and carrots raw in the beet/carrot smoothie instead of steaming them. I added a good handful of cranberries, a 1/4 of a lime, and a tsp. of sweetener, as well. Delish! I realized the Cranberry Pomegranate Detox Juice I linked to from another site is the same as the Red and Green Festive Cocktail on my original post. So far my faves have been the pineapple-spinach-ginger (just needs a little rum — teasing 😉 ), and the Grapefruit-Cado (I added just a little extra banana).

— EATS & DRINKS: Homemade Chili-Garlic Paste, Lentil Meatballs with Lemony Pesto, Cinnamon Whole Grain Power Pancakes, Philly Cheesesteak Stew, Grilled Lobster Tails with Sriracha Butter, Cinnamon-Orange Animal Crackers, Harvest Apple Sangria with Bourbon and Thyme, Nutty Florentine Bars. Also, I want to make a batch of granola bars soon, so I found these low cal treats: Low Cal Almond-Raisin Granola Bars & Low-Fat Banana Pecan Cranberry Granola Bars. I usually do not use a recipe for granola bars, but I wanted to try to control the portions and cal count. There’s not a lot of sense in eating something supposedly healthy if it’s going to have 500 calories per serving, lol.

— I updated my blogroll and photo gallery.

— As you know, I have a series of posts on mental health. I will try to post another installment soon, but I like to take the opportunity to share a few related articles here. I found this quite heart-breaking: http://atlantablackstar.com/2015/01/11/racial-discrimination-behind-high-suicide-rates-young-black-men-proving-dire-need-combat-stigma-depression/

— I would like to do another WhirlwinDISH post soon, too, but my meals have pretty much been the detox smoothies, salads, bagel sandwiches, and the salmon-Thai coconut soup recipe collision. I saw a recipe for a Salade Niçoise Wrap, so I started craving Niçoise. I put together a simple one with cold roasted veggies and a light vinaigrette. Besides just lettuce and tomato, Niçoise was the first type of salad I ever prepared. It is the reason for my love of cold, salty potatoes.

Pic’d: boiled eggs, roasted turnips, boiled Peruvian potatoes, roasted white asparagus, roasted red bells, roasted golden beets, radishes, roasted rutabagas, grilled marinated artichokes, tuna, toasted walnuts, capers, and black olives. I have never been able to get used to the color of purple potatoes. They came in a mixed bag, and it was the sole boiled potato in the fridge. I subbed asparagus for my normal haricots verts. I need to pick up anchovies, so I had to make-do without them. I added the walnuts because I read they are terrific in upping your serotonin levels.
After posting about How to Eat in Europe on a Budget, I saw a perfect picnic opportunity. What do you do when you have a few days to yourself? Have a “girly” day: an indoor picnic for one, pretend you are in Europe & put on your Maurice Chevalier records, soak in a bubble bath (Homemade Bubble Baths), give yourself a facial (10 Homemade Facial Scrubs), bubbling water spa pedicure, warm hand wax and manicure, deep condition your hair (Homemade Deep Conditioner and Hot Oil Treatment), don your best fluffy ‘hotel-style’ robe and slippers, and turn on your heated back and neck massagers. My picnic included a sandwich inspired by the Pan Bagnat I posted several months back. I stuffed a round mini-loaf with all the same Niçoise toppings except the turnips, rutabagas, and walnuts. I also added a little avocado and raw green bell pepper. Guess what I used for the bread? The bagel recipe, of course! I know you probably think I’m going a little too far with the reshaping the bagels, haha. That super-quick bagel recipe, though, is the next best thing for me since (well, it is sliced bread, so that analogy won’t work)…since Noosa Honey Yogurt, I guess.

And, as I am keeping it alcohol-free for a couple of weeks, I made myself a little kicked up green tea in a flask (it helps with the illusion 😉 ): Green tea, honey, ginger, lemon juice, lemon zest, & red chiles. Who needs bourbon when it’s this good? A set of 2 of these flasks in a nice leather bag came by way of a very good family friend. We lost touch with him for years, and through very miraculous and random circumstances found him again. Anyway, I have him to thank for this lovely picnic memory. I cherished a few pear slices and some sugar & spice frozen cranberries (raw sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves). After the Holidays, I always keep craving cranberry sauce, so this satisfied my need. I think I could eat a whole cup or two in one sitting, I love it so much. A lot less damage this way, with probably less than a 1/4 tsp. of sugar.

— Scroll down to see this wicked decent DIY Zipper Cuff Bracelet and also check out this DIY Gold Hinge and Chain Bracelet.

— Article: Why Are So Many Drinks Flavored with Honey? Because it’s yummy??? I received honeyed bourbon as a Holiday gift. Yums. This article also includes comparisons between honey, agave, xylitol, and stevia. What about maple? Maple bourbon is good, too. Scratch my earlier statement about the green tea…maple bourbon might be all the world ever needed.

‘Til we meet again!

Cheap Eats: Dining Out & Healthy Eating on a Budget

Cheap Eats : How to eat in Europe on a Budget | My Melange.

“Sometimes, you just have to eat at that place. Your know that five-star, Michelin or Zagat rated, people-can’t-stop-talking-about-it..place. Trust me, I get that. Really, I do. But, think about this. My guess is, many times, you are going for the experience, as much as the meal. What if, just getting all gussied up and sauntering up to the bar having a drink and an appetizer would satisfy this need. It just might and you will be able to save a boatload, without sacrificing most of the experience.”

As I’m sure many of you have resolved to eat bit better (at least for a week or so 😉 ) as we start this new year off…I thought I would round up a few tips to make the process less stressful for your wallet. You are probably aware of most of them, but it never hurts to give yourself a refresher course. You may have to keep in mind that these are just general tips and tailor them to your own specific needs. Some ideas may not apply in every circumstance for each and every person, and your location/food accessibility can come into play. Know that sometimes you may have to compromise with your spouse, family members, roommates, or whomever you share your meals with. Just because you want to eat tofu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner doesn’t mean they will want to. And, just because they want that super expensive brand name junk food doesn’t mean you have to get into a barroom brawl over it, lol.

What I like about the above link is that even though it is written for traveling in Europe, the concepts certainly translate to dining out anywhere in the world. I especially adore the thought of picnic dining:

“Visit a local food market and buy some of the best produce you can find. Grab some cold salads, some bread, fresh fruit and pick a glorious spot, sit down and relax and enjoy your meal at a fraction of what a meal out would cost. Don’t just think of picnics for lunch, consider one for dinner as well. I am not talking about eating in your car or anything boring like that. Instead, join the locals on the lawn of the Eiffel Tower, and watch the lights twinkle. It will be a romantic dinner picnic you’ll not soon forget. Or dangle your feet off a less-traveled footbridge in Venice and watch the gondolas float by. Now that’s a picnic!”

As you know, I love dining out and often scout out Happy Hours. In many restaurants, Happy Hour savings can be quite considerable. Or, I commonly have a look at lunch and dinner menus online before deciding what to order upon arrival. If I find certain dinner items are also available at lunch for a reduced rate (sometimes the portion size is the same or just slightly smaller), I make sure to order those items only during lunch hours. I will have the options not available at lunch during the dinner hours. Why pay more for the same meal because of a few hours difference? Appetizers and small plates are also a way to satisfy a taste for a particular dish without a larger portion’s price tag.

10 Tips for Eating Healthy on the Cheap

A few tips from this post:

“Stretch Your Meat – If you are indeed a carnivore, then you know how expensive meat can be. However, you can stretch your poultry and beef out by using healthy fillers like tofu and grains.”

“Shop at the Farmer’s Market – Are you paying gouged prices at your local health food store when you could be getting your food direct from local growers? Check out the local farmer’s market before heading to the grocery store.”

“Buy In-Season Produce – A seasonal produce chart may help you do determine what will be cheapest at the store right now. Buying your favorite fruits and vegetables during the off-season can really cost you some major dough.”

I do not prepare a lot of meat at home, but making it stretch with grains or tofu is a great idea. Rice with ground beef is quite common. I carried organic TVP with me to school to add to soups, rice bowls, and veggie chili. As it’s dry, it keeps well and doesn’t have any unpleasant odors (as eggs and fish can sometimes have). Farmer’s market prices can vary, but it’s always a great idea to support your local growers. Many times, fresh produce from the farm will also have more nutrients (vs. produce that has been sitting around for several days, possibly weeks). Living in Tucson, I find seasonality of prices is not as greatly affected as others areas I’ve been in. We’ve been experiencing warm days in the 60’s and 70’s, while many places in the country have been having bitterly cold temps.

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

This blog post has several ideas including preparing and ordering foods in bulk, as well as a few non-food related budgeting ideas: “Make expensive baby items at home…Natural Homemade Baby Wipes, baby food, and cloth diapers.”

20 Simple Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Athletes and those looking to increase muscle mass (even those looking to lean out), can sometimes find it challenging to reach nutritional goals within a small budget. This blog post offers some practical ways to make that happen, such as:

“Buy Whole Foods. Unprocessed foods are cheaper and more nutritious than processed foods. They also give you total control over the ingredients. Avoid anything that comes from a box 90% of the time.”

“Buy Cheap Proteins. You need 1g protein per pound of body-weight per day to build and maintain muscle. Eating whole protein with each meal also helps fat loss as protein has a higher thermic effect than other foods. Keep the steaks & salmon for special occasions. Buy eggs, milk, whey, mackerel, tuna, calves liver, frozen chicken breast, cottage cheese…”

“Buy Generic Food. And store brands. Raw foods like rice, pasta, eggs, milk, cottage cheese, frozen fruits/veggies, … taste like brand name foods once you get used to them. But they’ll save you money on packaging & advertising.”

“Check the Unit Price. But also how the big the servings are. Big packages are often, but not always cheaper than small ones. Sometimes 2 small boxes are cheaper than 1 big one although there’s more packaging.“

Organic and natural foods are fab, but many cannot afford to purchase them. Years ago, I saw The Dirty Dozen list of the 12 most and least pesticide residue-contaminated produce items. If you’ve not seen it, you can find it here. If you do have the ability to buy only a select amount of organic produce, this list may help you decide where your money is best spent.

I hope these links will be of some use to you all. Even if you are able to spend indiscriminately, I think most of us have a frugal nature at heart.

Have a great weekend!