5 Minute Crafts Magazine - December 2018 by Lawrence Ambrocio

Joy of Christmas Easy to make gingerbread house

December 2018 $5.99 (Canada) $3.99 (US)

PLUS DIY Christmas Trees

Chicken Dinners

Our Ultimate Gift Guide

12.2018

CONTENTS

“One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

DECEMBER 2018

CONTENTS

style

COLOR YOUR HAIR There are several ways to change your style, and coloring your hair is one of them. If you don’t have enough time or money to go to a professional stylist but want to change your look, we have some great solutions.

16 DEEP FACIAL TREATMENT A lot of dirt accumulates on your facial skin throughout the day. This is due to regular activities along with makeup and environmental pollution, especially if you live in the city or in a dusty area. Therefore, a good cleaning technique is an important skill to acquire and to implement from time to time to really get rid of all the impurities that regular skincare routines simply can’t handle.

home

5 FANCY WAYS TO FOLD NAPKINS Napkins are always an essential part of any table setting. However, in addition to their main function, they can also create a certain mood and atmosphere.

28 WRAPPING UP Finding the perfect gift is only the first challenge when it comes to Christmas and New Year’s gifts. If you’ve found something great, then wrapping it in a cool way can make it even better. If on the other hand, the gift you chose isn’t all that impressive, maybe a nice wrap job can do the trick.

holidays

37 2018 GIFT GUIDE No matter what your taste is, you're sure to find something you'll love in this list of pretty holiday gifts.

health

SIMPLY ALOE Aloe vera gel is a natural moisturizer with a lot of health benefits: it’s good for sunburns, bug bites, minor cuts, and wounds.

features

52 CLOTHING STATEMENT Shopping for new clothes every now and then can be expensive, so you can always make the most of your creativity by transforming your old clothes into new outfits in a breeze.

ULTIMATE CHICKEN DINNERS Chicken boasts a gentle taste, delicate texture, and in combination with spices and herbs, an unsurpassed flavor. It’s perfect for preparing main dishes, including low-fat ones.

59 GINGERBREAD MAKER A gingerbread house covered in colored icing, powdered sugar, and nuts can become a defining centerpiece of any table. You can make one with a big group of people when you’re gathered around at home.

DECEMBER 2018

EDITOR'S LETTER

73 TRICKS & TIPS

74 CHILL & DRAW

HOW TO MAKE CREAM CHEESE COVER PHOTO FROSTING FOR CAKES © DEPOSITPHOTOS Cream cheese frosting is one of the most popular frosting creams among pastry chefs. You can use it for cakes and cupcakes, and it’s solid enough to help you implement many culinary ideas.

living

food

departments

DIY CHRISTMAS TREES Did you run out of time to buy a Christmas tree, even with the holidays just around the corner? Don’t sweat it, this isn’t even an issue. That’s because you can make a stylish and unique tree from plastic bottles, paper, egg trays, plastic forks, or spoons with your own 2 hands.

TANYA WENMAN STEEL Editor In-Chief

FOOD DIRECTOR Annabelle Waugh FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Julia McEwen HOME & GARDEN DIRECTOR Brett Walther MANAGING EDITOR Day Helesic TEST KITCHEN SENIOR FOOD SPECIALIST Irene Fong FOOD SPECIALISTS Jennifer Bartoli, Amanda Barnier ARTICLES EDITOR, FOOD Gilean Watts INTERN Jessica Bronstein ART CONSULTING DESIGN DIRECTOR Brendan Fisher ACTING ART DIRECTOR June F. Anderson SENIOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Henrietta Poon CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTORS Lisa de Nikolits, Leanne Gilbert FEATURES HEALTH EDITOR Kate Daley CONTRIBUTING HEALTH EDITOR Tralee Pearce SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Jill Buchner ASSOCIATE EDITOR, FASHION & BEAUTY Andrea Karr CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jacqueline Kovacs

COPY & OPERATIONS EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa COPY EDITOR Stephanie Zolis CONTRIBUTING COPY EDITORS Ruth Hanley, Debbie Madsen Villamere ASSISTANT EDITOR Teresa Sousa INTERNS William Dixon, Thalia Gamage, Natalie Wong

EDITORIAL DEPUTY EDITOR Jessica Pollack SENIOR EDITORS Ariel Brewster, Sadiya Dendar, Simone Olivero CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Claire Gagne ASSISTANT EDITOR Kevin John Siazon COPY EDITOR Kelly Jones PROOFREADER Janet Morassutti INTERNS Emily McDonald, Arisa Valyear

ART CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Colleen Nicholson IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHERS Carmen Cheung, Erik Putz

MARKETING SERVICES & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS GENERAL SALES MANAGER Caroline K. Breton CREATIVE BRAND DIRECTOR Laura Denton CONTENT DIRECTOR Kim Alison Fraser MANAGING EDITOR Renée Sylvestre-Williams MANAGER, STRATEGY AND IDEATION Stevie Gorrie STRATEGISTS Sarah Drake, Jessica Lee, Marcela Perez ART DIRECTORS Susan Jackson, Suzanne LaCorte, Peter Robertson JUNIOR COPY WRITER Victoria DiPlacibo SENIOR DIRECTOR, CLIENT DELIVERY Stefany Pierce CAMPAIGN MANAGERS Melissa Carmichael, Ivan McBurney, Rob Stephenson, Inga Terzopoulos PRODUCTION PRODUCTION TEAM LEAD Carol Zephyrine RESEARCH SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST Eva Chau MARKETING , COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS SENIOR DIRECTOR Tracy Finkelstein MANAGER Silvana Sciortino SENIOR SPECIALIST Erin Quinn SPECIALISTS Carlie McGhee, Summer Varty, Alyson Young SENIOR DESIGNER Colin Elliott CONSUMER MARKETING GROUP VICE-PRESIDENT, CONSUMER MARKETING Christopher Purcell GROUP CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Doris Chan PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGERS Yen Duong, Amanda Stone DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Jason Patterson DIRECTOR, NEWSSTAND SALES Pat Strangis

BUSINESS BUSINESS MANAGER Nancy Baker DIGITAL SOLUTIONS GROUP GENERAL MANAGER, NATIONAL PORTALS Ray Ostor

ROGERS MEDIA, INC. SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF DIGITAL PRODUCT CONTENT & PUBLISHING Steve Maich VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTENT John Intini SENIOR DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Sean McCluskey SENIOR DIRECTOR, DIGITAL AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Sarah Trimble DIRECTOR, BUSINESS PLANNING Chris Johnston CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CUSTOM CONTENT Christopher London DIRECTOR, DIGITAL MONETIZATION Andrew Myers VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCT & INNOVATION Scott MacMillan EXECUTIVE EDITOR, CUSTOM PROJECTS Stefanie Di Verdi

Visit us at 5minutecrafts.site

Rogers Media Inc. can be reached at One Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON M4Y 2Y5 or 1-800-268-9119

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. 5 Minute Crafts is published monthly except January/February and July/August by Rogers Media, Inc. One Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON M4Y 2Y5 or 1-800-268-9119. Contents Copyright 2017 by Rogers Media, Inc. may not be reprinted without written permission. Article proposals and manuscripts must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes and sufficient postage; otherwise they will not be returned or acknowledged. While the publishers will take all reasonable care, they will not be responsible for the loss of any manuscript, drawing or photograph. ISSN 0128-1839. Single copy price $5.99 + tax. Full subscription prices: Canada, 1 year (10 issues), $15 + tax. In the U.S., 1 year $45 + tax; Other countries $75 + tax, Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Printed in Canada. 5 Minute Crafts, it's affiliate and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, distribute, store and archive such as unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensate of any sort.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Holiday Helpers I

have a hidden talent—I know how to cut intricate paper snowflakes. I’m not very crafty otherwise, though I greatly admire folks who cut, stitch, and hot-glue beautiful things out of humble materials. I wasn’t raised in a home where we made many holiday decorations. Our yuletide tradition was for my father to take us to the local department store for the after-Christmas clearance sales. I remember my mother’s dismay when we found a life-size plastic soldier for the living room. As the youngest of four, I headed up the Christmas decorating, a task I enthusiastically geared up for after Halloween. I wound tinsel garland around banisters. I helped my dad wrap candy cane ribbon and lights on porch pillars. I dragged all the ornament boxes out of the attic and loaded our tree until it sagged. Although nothing matched in color or style, each decoration had a story. And tucked among those store-bought ornaments were the odd few that we had made in elementary school or in an art class—each imprinted with shared years and good memories. Maybe that’s why I’m most drawn to stories of family traditions, especially those that are handmade. What could be more special in this age of online shopping and overnight everything than a gift or a decoration constructed with our own hands? These are the meaningful details that launch family traditions for years, if not generations. My snowflakes themselves aren’t so long-lasting. But that’s OK by me. It’s the act of cutting— and finding little triangles of confetti for months to come— that makes me feel like I’m fully in the season and continuing a holiday tradition I’ll never retire.

TANYA WENMAN STEEL Editor In-Chief

HOLIDAY PREP

HOLIDAY NAPKIN TECHNIQUES We would like to show you some unique napkin-folding ideas that will help you impress all of your guests at the table.

DECEMBER 2018

style COLOR YOUR HAIR There are several ways to change your style, and coloring your hair is one of them. If you don’t have enough time or money to go to a professional stylist but want to change your look, we have some great solutions.

DECEMBER 2018

STYLE Coloring markers Markers (any color you choose) A bowl with water Tweezers Conditioner Gloves Aluminum foil 1. Remove the plug of the marker and use tweezers to take out the foam tube containing the dye. 2. Submerge part of the foam tube in the bowl with water and wait for it to turn white. Then blow on the end of the tube in order to pour the ink into an empty container. 3. Add conditioner and mix it thoroughly until you get the dye you’ll be using. 4. Wear gloves to apply the dye on the strands of hair you wish to dye. Wrap them immediately with aluminum foil. Wait for a couple of minutes. 5. Finally, wash your hair and rock that new look!

Eyeshadow Eyeshadow Hair setting spray 1. Slide down the eyeshadow container over one or several strands of hair, pressing your thumb against the other side so that the powder sticks to the hair. 2. The color will last longer if you apply setting spray on the strands of dyed hair.

Activated charcoal 1 leaf of fresh aloe vera 1 cup of activated charcoal powder 1 cup of flaxseed A medium jug of hot water A blender or food processor A shower cap

Blackberries

1. Cut the aloe leaf lengthwise in 2 halves and remove the inside layer with a fork. 2. Put the inside layer of aloe in a blender or food processor. Then, add the activated charcoal, flaxseed, and hot water. Mix until smooth. 3. Apply the paste onto your hair while being careful not to get any stains on you. 4. Once all of your hair is covered, put on the shower cap and wait for 2 hours. 5. Finally, wash your hair.

1 cup of blackberries 1 clean plastic bag A rolling pin Gloves 1. Put the blackberries in a plastic bag and squash them with the rolling pin into a smooth paste. 2. Wear the gloves to apply the paste to the strands of hair that you want to dye. Wait for a few minutes. 3. Finally, wash your hair. You’re ready!

Lipstick Lipstick A comb

Beetroot juice

1. Hold a strand of hair and slide down the lipstick until the hair reaches the intensity of color you desire. 2. Comb the strand of hair and enjoy your new look!

1 beetroot 1 tbsp of olive oil Gloves A spray bottle A grater and strainer A shower cap 1. Grate the beetroot over a strainer until you get all the juice out. 2. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the juice and mix thoroughly. 3. Use a spray bottle and wear gloves to apply the mixture to your hair, covering the complete surface or only the strands you wish to dye. 4. Put the shower cap on and wait for 1 hour. 5. Finally, wash your hair and the result will visibly stand out.

DECEMBER 2018

STYLE

DEEP FACIAL TREATMENT

A lot of dirt accumulates on your facial skin throughout the day. This is due to regular activities along with makeup and environmental pollution, especially if you live in the city or in a dusty area. Therefore, a good cleaning technique is an important skill to acquire and to implement from time to time to really get rid of all the impurities that regular skincare routines simply can’t handle.

DECEMBER 2018

STYLE

1 Cleanse your skin. In order to prevent any type of infection, it’s important to remove impurities from your skin before starting a deep cleansing of your face. Wash your face with water and mild soap. You can also use a special facial cleanser for your type of skin. To stimulate blood circulation in your face, it’s better to use cold water when washing.

4 Remove any blackheads. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Remove any pimples or blackheads from your face by squeezing them with your fingertips wrapped in aseptic gauze to avoid infection. Do not squeeze anything with your fingernails because this can leave marks on your skin. Don’t touch the hard red areas that precede the outbreak of blackheads because doing so can deteriorate your skin.

2 Open your pores.

3 Exfoliate your face.

Gently massage the T-zone (the area containing the eyebrows, upper lip or mustache, and chin) down to the neck to relax the muscles and activate the skin cells. A good way to open your pores is to use steam. Bring water to a boil in a large pot or container or heat it up until it starts to steam. Cover your head with a towel or cloth and let the steam open your pores. Always make sure to leave enough distance between your skin and the steam so as not to burn yourself. Wait 10 minutes. This method helps to open the pores effectively. Otherwise, if you prefer, you can use pieces of cloth soaked in hot water instead of steam. Just place them on your skin and let them work for a few minutes before removing them.

5 Apply lotion or a face mask. Apply a tonic lotion or face mask after you’ve removed the blackheads. That will help you soothe the reddened skin. Apply the appropriate product for your skin type using a piece of cotton or your fingertips. Massage the skin in circular movements. This helps absorb oxygen, which in turn, will close the pores on your face.

7 Avoid wearing makeup. After an intense skin cleansing like the one we just described, it’s important to avoid wearing makeup until a day after the treatment. This way, the skin has enough time to regenerate and rest. If you can wait 24 hours before having to apply makeup again, that would be ideal. That way, your pores will close again and you can avoid the risk of developing a skin infection.

DECEMBER 2018

Once your pores have opened, you have to exfoliate your skin. Apply a suitable exfoliant for your skin type and gently rub it all over your face. Carry out a soft massage with the help of a face brush. Make sure not to get any exfoliant in your eyes. Most commercial exfoliants have particles that help remove dirt. To avoid the skin from getting damaged, you have to do it very carefully.

6 Hydrate your skin. You may feel as if your skin was stretched or dried out after this whole process. In order to get rid of this feeling, you need to apply a facial moisturizer that you use every day.

home

5 FANCY WAYS TO FOLD NAPKINS Napkins are always an essential part of any table setting. However, in addition to their main function, they can also create a certain mood and atmosphere.

DECEMBER 2018

HOME

TRIPLE POCKET FOLD

1. Place a square napkin on the table. 2. Then take the first layer on top of the napkin and fold it diagonally. 3. Fold the next layer of the napkin diagonally as well, but stop slightly before the first fold. 4. Tuck the second fold beneath the first one. 5. Fold one more layer and tuck it beneath the previous fold again. The distance between each fold should be equal. 6. Flip the napkin over and fold the left side about 1/3 of the way. 7. Then fold the right side to meet the far edge of the napkin. 8. Tuck the lower-left corner of the napkin under the shortest fold on the left side. 9. Flip the napkin over again and insert your cutlery into the pockets.

CANDY BOWL FOLD

ROYAL ROSE FOLD

1. Place a napkin on the table and unfold it. 2. Then fold each corner of the napkin up to the middle. 3. After the first set of folds is done, make another set of folds with each corner in the middle as well. 4. When it’s finished, make one more set of folds to the middle. 5. Flip the folded square over and fold all the corners to the middle. 6. Take a glass, turn it upside down, and put it on the table. 7. Flip the napkin over and place it on the glass. 8. Start carefully folding down each of the corners of the napkin until all of them face down. 9. Once all the corners are folded down, remove the napkin from the glass and turn it over. 10. Now you can place your favorite candies inside.

1. Take a napkin, unfold it, and place it on the table. 2. Then fold the napkin in half to make a triangle. 3. Grab the napkin by the 2 ends of the triangle and start rolling it toward the top until you reach the center of the triangle. 4. Flip the napkin over. 5. Take one end of the napkin and roll it to the other end. The result should look like a rosette. 6. Tuck the loose end of the roll inside. 7. Then grab the 2 tail ends that stick out from the rosette and pull them apart. 8. Flip over the rosette and adjust the 2 tails so that they look like leaves. 9. The royal rose is ready!

DECEMBER 2018

LOTUS FOLD

1. Take a napkin, unfold it, and place it on the table. 2. Fold each corner of the napkin to the middle. 3. Flip the napkin over and fold each corner to the middle again. 4. Place one of your hands on the center of the napkin and reach underneath its corner with your other hand. 5. Pull the bottom layer of the napkin up to create a lotus petal. 6. Repeat the previous step with each corner of the napkin, forming lotus petals out of them. 7. Now you can put a plate on it and enjoy your meal.

HOME

BUNNY FOLD

1. Take a napkin, unfold it completely, then fold it in half to form a long rectangle. 2. Fold it again, in half, lengthwise, to form an even longer and thinner rectangle. 3. Grab the top-left corner and fold it down along the centerline. 4. Repeat with the right side of the napkin. 5. Fold up the bottom corners of the napkin to the center so that the napkin is in a square shape. 6. Bring the left and right edges of the napkin together to the centerline. Now the napkin should look like a kite. 7. Flip the napkin over and fold the upper point of it down to create a triangle. 8. Flip the napkin over and turn it upside down. 9. Then grab the napkin by the bottom corners and bring them together. 10. Tuck one corner into the pocket of the other one. 11. After that, flip the napkin over. 12. Open up the 2 edges of the napkin that are pointing upward, forming them to look like bunny ears. 13. To prevent the bunny from unfolding, you can use a piece of twine or thread.

DECEMBER 2018

HOME

WRAPPING UP Finding the perfect gift is only the first challenge when it comes to Christmas and New Year’s gifts. If you’ve found something great, then wrapping it in a cool way can make it even better. If on the other hand, the gift you chose isn’t all that impressive, maybe a nice wrap job can do the trick.

DECEMBER 2018

HOME

DESIGN 1

1. Wrap the gift. Right in the middle of the front part, place a thin piece of paper, lengthwise. You can also use a colored ribbon. This will be the front placket of the shirt. 2. Make the collar of the shirt by folding a strip of paper into 3 equal parts. In this case, you can also use a colored ribbon. Join the ends in a triangular shape. Glue it to the top of the wrapped box. 3. Attach colored buttons to the front placket. 4. Make a bow tie. You can use colored paper, a ribbon, fabric, or EVA rubber. Glue the tie in the middle of the shirt’s collar.

DESIGN 2

DESIGN 3

1. Fill a cardboard roll with candy or any other nice treats that you like. 2. Use wrapping paper printed on both sides. Place the cardboard roll full of sweets in the center and roll it up. 3. Twist both ends and tie a knot with a colored ribbon on each side. 4. Use 2 ribbons to decorate each end of the package.

1. Place the package in the center of the wrapping paper. Fold both sides lengthwise into the center of the package. Stick them together using adhesive tape. 2. Press the corners of the paper that are left on the sides of the box. Fold them diagonally to obtain a triangular shape. 3. Fold the longer triangular edges toward the center of the gift. Glue them or stick adhesive tape to secure them. 4. Stick a thick colored band over the corners that you previously fixed. You can also just make your own band with a different colored paper so that it stands out. 5. Fold the remaining triangular edges toward the center of the gift. Glue them or stick adhesive tape to secure them. 6. Glue or tape a ribbon on to the package to hide the points of the triangle.

DECEMBER 2018

DESIGN 4

1. Take a cylindrical package (you can use, for instance, an empty milk can) and cover its surface with checkered or white paper. 2. Attach black paper or EVA rubber around the cylinder. Use adhesive tape to stick the underside of the EVA rubber paper. 3. Fold the upper halves of the paper that was left loose to form the neck of the tuxedo jacket. Attach them to the wrapping. 4. Cut a triangle to create 2 neck flaps. 5. Use liquid glue to adhere buttons to the center of the tuxedo jacket. And on the sides, glue small paper pieces shaped like pockets. Use a white marker to draw the outline of each pocket. 6. Stick a bow on the collar, so that it looks like a bow tie. You can make the bow tie with EVA rubber or fabric ribbons. You can also just make a regular tie.

HOME

DESIGN 5

DESIGN 6

1. Place the bottle on the edge of the wrapping paper. Make sure the top part (like, the bottle’s atomizer if you’re wrapping a perfume) is left out of the wrapping paper. 2. Tape the paper to the bottle. Use double-sided tape to stick both sides of the paper to each other. 3. Fold the tip of the paper, that wasn’t taped to the bottle, into a triangular shape. 4. Make another fold over the previous fold. Continue making folds each one on top of the other. 5. The folds should be finished until there is no more paper left and you can close the wrapper. Secure it with adhesive tape. 6. Decorate the outside of the package with a ribbon.

1. Take a whole piece of wrapping paper that is printed on both sides. Place it lengthwise, like you would normally with an A4 sheet of paper and fold the upper right corner diagonally. 2. Place your present in the center. Start by wrapping it with the part of the wrapping paper that wasn’t folded in step 1. Then proceed to do the same, but with the triangular fold resulting from the previous step. 3. Press the tips of each side to create new triangular folds. Then, fold both resulting sides to really wrap up the gift. 4. Decorate with a bow in the corner or in the center, or in any other place you’d like.

DECEMBER 2018

holidays 2018 GIFT GUIDE No matter what your taste is, you're sure to find something you'll love in this list of pretty holiday gifts.

DECEMBER 2018

2018 GIFT GUIDE

BEAUTY FINDS 2 4

5 3 6

1.Benefit Cosmetics Complexionista Face Palette $42, indigo.ca., 2.Chloe Nomade $122 for 50mL, beautyboutique.ca, 3.Sublimessence Nuit Regenerating Serum $94, lisewatier.com, 4.Mother’s Wellness Soothing Blend $15, saje.ca. , 5.Nude By Nature Natural Wonders Eye Palette $49, shoppersdrugmart.ca, 6.Maui Moisture Strength & Anti-breakage + Agave Hair Mask $11, shoppersdrugmart.ca, 7.Aerin Hibiscus Palm Body Cream $72, esteelauder.ca.

DECEMBER 2018

2018 GIFT GUIDE

FASHION WORTHY 4

2 5

7 1.Jane Diamante Face Mesh Watch $45, evernew.ca, 2.Versatile Swarovski Remix Collection Bracelet $89, swarovski.com, 3.Adrelassi Navy Striped Loafers $80, aldoshoes.com., 4.Earrings with Pendants $10, hm.com, 5.Socialite Ruffle Front Blouse $49, nordstrom.com, 6.Patterned Slacks $35, hm.com, 7.Arborist Ladies Plantlife Sock Pack $30, drakegeneralstore.ca.

DECEMBER 2018

2018 GIFT GUIDE

HOME FINDS 1

4 5

1.Dinera 18-piece Dinnerware Set $35, ikea.ca, 2.Floral Teacup $6, homesense.ca, 3.CANVAS Marble Side Plate $4, canadiantire.ca, 4.Fern Cushion $25, homesense.ca, 5.Illume Fresh Floral Tin Candles Coconut Milk Mango: $25, indigo.ca and Wild Peony: $25, indigo.ca, 6.Auria Genie Ultrasonic Diffuser $100, indigo.ca.

DECEMBER 2018

2018 GIFT GUIDE

KITCHEN FINDS 2

7 1.House Doctor Beech/Black Salad Set $12, drakegeneralstore.ca, 2.CANVAS Faux Marble 16pc Cutlery Set $25, canadiantire.ca, 3.Lint & Honey Scales Apron $38, babasouk.ca, 4.Cherry Bombe The Cookbook $47, indigo.ca, 5.Alicja Confections Go Nuts and Strawberry Blonde Chocolate Bars $9 each, etsy.com, 6.Nordstrom At Home Set of 4 Measuring Cups $61, nordstrom.com, 7.Graphic Cheese Plate $45, babasouk.ca.

DECEMBER 2018

health

SIMPLY ALOE Aloe vera gel is a natural moisturizer with a lot of health benefits: it’s good for sunburns, bug bites, minor cuts, and wounds.

DECEMBER 2018

HEALTH

How to Make Aloe Vera Gel What you will need An aloe vera leaf A knife or vegetable peeler A small spoon A cup Scissors A blender A glass container Powdered vitamin C and/or vitamin E

1. Cut the leaf from the aloe vera plant. Remember, you can buy one that’s already cut. 2. Wash the leaf and remove any dirt. 3. Drain the leaf’s resin for 10 minutes to 15 minutes by standing it upright inside a cup. 4. Peel off the skin of one side of the leaf by using a vegetable peeler or knife. Cut through the inner white layer to get to the gel underneath. If the leaf is too long, you can cut it into small pieces. 5. Take the natural aloe vera gel out using a knife or small spoon. 6. Put the natural gel inside a blender and blend it until it’s frothy and liquefied. This only takes a few seconds. 7. Add 500 IU powdered vitamin C and vitamin E to serve as natural preservatives to extend the gel’s life. You can add the powder directly to the blender. 8. Put the gel inside a container and store it in the fridge. It should last for around 2 months thanks to the added vitamin C and vitamin E.

DECEMBER 2018

December 51

DECEMBER 2018

Leggings into a top Leggings 1. Fold the leggings in half. Stretch them well to make sure there are no creases. 2. Cut along the lines of the leggings, as is shown in the image above. Remember, the wider the cut, the more your neck will be shown. 3. Wear the top as if you were putting pants on your head — the leggings are now your sleeves and the rest of the material covers your upper body. 4. Your new top is ready.

Clothing Statement Shopping for new clothes every now and then can be expensive, so you can always make the most of your creativity by transforming your old clothes into new outfits in a breeze.

Things you’ll need in every hack: A pair of scissors & Needle and thread

Jeans into a skirt A pair of jeans A ruler Permanent marker 1. Fold the jeans in half. Stretch them to make sure there are no creases. 2. Now, estimate the length you’d like the skirt to be, mark that point, and cut it along a straight line. The jeans should now look like shorts. 3. Cut the insides of the shorts as marked in the image above. 4. To turn your shorts into a skirt, turn them inside out. Ensure that the cuts along the front and back seams come to the sides. Then, mark the extra fabric on the left, as is shown in the image. Note that the back seam comes to the left and the front seam comes to the right. 5. Repeat the step on the front seam. 6. Cut away the extra material from the back seam. 7. Repeat the step for the front seam as well. 8. Stitch both edges. 9. Turn the skirt inside out and scratch its bottom edge with a needle to cast out little threads. This gives the skirt a frilly look. 10. Your skirt is ready. 11. You can also try decorating your skirt with sequins, fabric paints, and more.

DECEMBER 2018

Socks into wintery gloves A pair of socks 1. Take a pair of socks and cut a few inches off the tips as you see in the image above. 2. Then make a small V-shaped cut on the heel part of the socks. 3. Stitch both the cut edges to clean up the raw edges. Then give your socks a slight stretch. 4. To try them on, your thumb should go in the smaller hole of the socks, and the rest of the fingers should fit in the bigger hole

DECEMBER 2018

Wide pants into a dress Wide pants 1. Choose a pair of wide pants that are stretchy enough. 2. Put both legs into one of the pant legs. 3. Pull the pants up to your chest and adjust the dress in a way that has the loose part in front. 4. From the point where the flaps of the pants meet, cut a slit in your dress 5. The flaps are no longer adjoined. 6. Pull the loose flaps in opposite directions — the left flap to the right and the right flap to the left. 7. Tie them askew. 8. Your dress is ready.

DECEMBER 2018

A skirt into a dress A long skirt A belt 1. Take a skirt that is long or stretchy enough to fit like a dress. 2. Cut a slit on the left part of your skirt. 3. The slit must not be too big or small, just large enough to let your left arm slide through easily. 4. Pull the skirt up to your left shoulder by sliding your arm in. 5. You can customize it further by wearing a belt so that the dress stays in place. 6. Your new outfit is ready. Instead of the left side, you can also create a slit on your right.

A muffler into a winter cap A wide, square-shaped muffler Strong thread 1. Fold the muffler and bring its edges to the center. 2. Stitch the edges of the muffler together and turn it inside out. 3. Tie the part that is closer to one of the edges with a strong thread, as is shown in the image above. 4. Cut off the excess thread, making sure you don’t cut the knot away. 5. Cut vertical slits into the muffler as displayed. 6. The muffler should now look like the one in image #6. 7. Roll up the untouched part of the muffler. 8. Your winter headwear is ready.

DECEMBER 2018

A scarf into a shrug A scarf (must be at least 6.5 to 10 feet long) A belt

An old tank top into a tightfitting top

1. Spread the scarf horizontally. 2. Fold it in half. 3. Hold the folded part of the scarf in your right hand and hold a few inches below the fold in your left. These cuts are for your arms. Ensure that you make this hold away from the edges or else the shrug wouldn’t hang onto your shoulders. 4. Cut the part you hold in your left hand like in the image above. 5. Release the folds and try on the shrug. 6. Keep it in place by putting on a belt.

Plain denim into checkered denim

A tank top

A pair of jeans Acrylic tape Fabric paint

1. Cut the front side of your tank top from the middle. 2. Open the top and begin cutting from the left side seams as shown in the image above. The cut should be approximately 3/4 of the back seam. 3. Then cut from the right side seam. 4. From the point where your cut ends, make a horizontal cut across the top.

1. Put some tape a few inches away from the button, as is shown in the image. Note that this should be done on the front side of the jeans. Mirror the step on the other side as well. 2. Now put some more tape a few inches away from the side seam, parallel to the tape applied from step 1. The space between the tape lines must be equal to 2 widths of the tape. 3. Cut square strips of the tape and stick them onto the denim, beginning from the top of the denim on both sides. 4. Ensure you stick the square tape in a checkered patterned all the way to the bottom. 5. Now it’s time to paint the empty spaces between the tape. Paint the white color in a zigzag pattern. 6. Then paint the rest of the empty squares black. 7. After the paint dries, strip away the tape. 8. Your checkered denim is ready.

Your boyfriend’s old shirt into a dress An oversized shirt 1. Put on an oversized shirt to see how loose it is on your body. 2. Now wear the shirt below your shoulders and button it up till it fits, as is shown in the image. 3. Gather the sleeves and pull them in opposite directions — the left goes right, and the right goes left. Tie them firmly against your back and tuck in any extra fabric. 4. Your dress is ready.

DECEMBER 2018

food

GINGERBREAD MAKER A gingerbread house covered in colored icing, powdered sugar, and nuts can become a defining centerpiece of any table. You can make one with a big group of people when you’re gathered around at home.

DECEMBER 2018

FOOD

GINGERBREAD RECIPE Ingredients: 7 oz of butter 14 oz of brown sugar 2 cups of honey 4 chicken eggs 2.6 lb of wheat flour 1.2 cups of pancake mix 2 tbsp of ground ginger 2 tbsp of cinnamon 2.5 tbsp of ground cloves 2 tbsp of baking soda A few caramel lollipops (for the windows) 1. Cut the butter into small pieces, place it into a small pot with sugar and honey, and put it on the stove. Stir the mix until the sugar melts and then remove the pot from the stove. Let the mix cool down for 10 minutes and then pour it all into a big bowl. Add the eggs. In a different bowl, mix the dry ingredients and flour. Add it to the first bowl. Make the dough, cover it with a towel, and put it into the fridge for 1 hour. Tip: If this process seems too hard, go to the store and look for prepared gingerbread dough.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE 1. Place 2 sticks that are 5 mm in width on baking paper. Between them, put the gingerbread dough. 2. Spread the dough into a sheet. 3. Take sheets of paper and cut out 2 parts as the picture above shows — you’ll need them to make the walls of the future house. 4. Use another sheet of paper to cut out a rectangle as the picture above shows — you’ll need it for the roof. 5. Also, prepare 3 parts for the future chimney to decorate the house. 6. Put a few caramel lollipops into a zip bag. Close the bag and mash the lollipops into dust. Put the dough parts on baking paper. On the side walls, make the holes for the windows using a knife. Put the caramel dust into the holes. Tip: To make the windows multicolored, use caramel of different colors. 7. Put the parts of the house into the oven for 5-10 minutes. The temperature should be at 370°F. Make sure the dough becomes a bit solid but not burned or cracked.

DECEMBER 2018

Place the cut-out part of the dough in front of you and cut the edges with a knife. You should have a few parts now: 2 rectangle side walls 2 other walls, the front and the back 2 rectangles for the roof 2 parts for the chimney (1 short rectangle, 1 long rectangle, and 4 more pieces with slanted edges)

What you need to decorate the house Icing Food coloring (red, green) A pastry bag Marmalade ribbon with sugar Sugar dragees Salty breadsticks Nut mix Powdered sugar A sponge Scissors Tweezers How to decorate your gingerbread house 1. Prepare 2 types of icing: a liquid one and a thicker one. First, take the thick icing and use it to outline the different pieces and the windows. 2. Then use the liquid icing to paint all the parts, except for the roof. Prepare the same icing but with a red colorant. 3. Take a small sponge, dip it into the red icing, and carefully touch the parts of the house to create the appearance of bricks on the walls. 4. After that, make a red outline around the window and draw bars on it as well. 5. Take green marmalade ribbons and cut them into small pieces as the picture above shows. Put the liquid icing on the parts of the roof, and then, before it dries, place the marmalade pieces there — they will look like tiles. 6. Use white icing to draw the outline for the door and use red icing to draw the inside of the door. Put a sugar dragee where the knob should be. 7. Use green icing to draw a spruce wreath on the wall of the house. Use a sugar dragee to imitate the balls. 8. Use white icing to glue the parts of the house together. Start with the walls and then put on a layer for the roof. 9. Hold the parts until the icing becomes solid. 10. Place the white liquid icing near the front door and put the nut powder there to make it look like a path. Near the window, use the icing and breadsticks to create the wood. 11. Take the chimney parts, cover them with thick icing, attach pieces of almond there, and fix the parts together. Put them on the roof. Add green colorant to the liquid icing and create the trees around the house. 12. Put some liquid icing on the house to make it look like snow. Add some powdered sugar on the top. Now you’re done! Tip: If you want to make a glowing house, glue the roof parts together but don’t glue the roof to the walls. You will be able to remove the roof and put a small candle inside the house.

FOOD

ULTIMATE CHICKEN DINNERS

Chicken boasts a gentle taste, delicate texture, and in combination with spices and herbs, an unsurpassed flavor. It’s perfect for preparing main dishes, including low-fat ones.

DECEMBER 2018

FOOD

CHICKEN BREAST WITH CHEESE AND HAM 3 chicken breasts 3 chicken eggs 1 cup of flour 1 cup of breadcrumbs 2 square slices of cheese 2 large pieces of ham 1 cup of low-fat sour cream 1 cup of grated mozzarella

CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS IN CRISPY BREADING 35 oz of skinless chicken drumsticks 3 chicken eggs 1 cup of flour 1 cup of bread crumbs 1 cup of dry breakfast cereal Oil for deep frying

1. Take the chicken breasts and make a cut in the middle of each of them. 2. Prepare 3 plates — beat the chicken eggs into one of them, add flour to the other, and put breadcrumbs in the third. Dip each chicken breast into the flour. 3. Then dip the breasts into the eggs. 4. Finally, roll the breasts in breadcrumbs. 5. Place a piece of ham on a cutting board and place 2 pieces of cheese on top of it. 6. Cover the cheese with another piece of ham. 7. Cut the pieces of cheese and ham into 6 equal pieces. 8. Rearrange the slices of cheese and ham in such a way that there are 3 equal portions. 9. Insert a portion of cheese and ham into the cut in each chicken breast. 10. Pour sour cream into the cuts. 11. Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken breasts. 12. Bake the chicken breasts in the oven for 40 minutes at 356°F.

1. Make 3 crossover cuts along the sides of each chicken drumstick. 2. Dip the drumsticks on both sides in the flour. 3. Dip them in the beaten eggs. 4. Then roll them in breadcrumbs. 5. Dip them into the eggs for a second time. 6. Finally, roll the drumsticks in dry breakfast cereal. 7. Place the chicken drumsticks in a deep fryer and cook for 10 minutes. 8. Serve the chicken hot with a sauce of your choice and a garnish of fresh vegetables.

DECEMBER 2018

FOOD

CHICKEN PATTIES WITH CHEESE FILLING

BAKED CHICKEN WITH THYME AND POTATOES

18 oz of minced chicken meat 3.5 oz of chopped onions 3.5 oz of grated mozzarella 3 chicken eggs 1 tbsp of any spice mix you like 1 tbsp of thyme 6 square slices of cheddar cheese vegetable oil for frying

70.5 oz of young potatoes A whole chicken A bunch of thyme Salt and pepper mix to your taste

1. Place the minced chicken into a bowl, mash it thoroughly with a fork, and add 3 eggs. 2. Place the onions in next. 3. Then add mozzarella. 4. Add the spice mix to your taste. 5. Finally, add 1 tbsp of thyme. 6. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl. 7. Shape the minced meat into patties and place a piece of cheddar cheese in the middle. Pinch the minced meat around each piece of cheese so that it’s inside the patties. 8. Fry the patties on a pan in vegetable oil for 10 minutes on each side.

1. Use a special dish for baking chicken. Arrange the potatoes around the stand and put thyme sprigs on top of them. 2. Rub the chicken thoroughly with salt and pepper mix. 3. Place a round piece of foil on the chicken rack and secure it properly. 4. Place the chicken on the rack. 5. Bake for 1 hour in the oven at 374°F. 6. Serve the dish while it’s still hot.

DECEMBER 2018

FOOD

HOW TO MAKE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING FOR CAKES Cream cheese frosting is one of the most popular frosting creams among pastry chefs. You can use it for cakes and cupcakes, and it’s solid enough to help you implement many culinary ideas. 3.5 ounces of dairy butter 3.5 ounces of powdered sugar 10 ounces of cream cheese Vanilla powder or vanilla extract Additional ingredients for coloring: Food coloring Cocoa 1. Put cold dairy butter that has been cut into cubes and powdered sugar into a bowl. 2. Start whipping the butter and powdered sugar with the help of a mixer. Important: the longer you whip the butter and powdered sugar, the whiter the cream will be. You won’t be able to rewhip the cream. 3. Add the cream cheese. 4. Whip the cream thoroughly to make it smooth. 5. At this stage, add a few drops of the vanilla extract for flavor. 6. You will get a thick cream.

BONUS: HOW TO MAKE THE CREAM COLORFUL There are a few ways to color cream cheese. To color cream cheese with food coloring, choose the color first. Add food coloring gradually starting with a few drops if it’s gel food coloring, or a few grains if it’s dry food coloring. After adding the coloring, whip the cream with the mixer until it is a smooth, even color. Add a bit more coloring if necessary and whip the cream again. To make the cream taste and look like chocolate, use cocoa. Use 2 ounces of cocoa for 20 ounces of cream. When choosing cocoa, choose unsweetened cocoa powder. Whip the cream and cocoa with the help of a mixer.

Cream cheese is pretty solid, which is why it’s good for decorating different desserts — like cupcakes or layer cakes, for example. The cream becomes tastier after cooling, that is why cream cheese deserts should be stored in the fridge. When storing in the fridge, keep the deserts in a sealed container to prevent the cake from absorbing the smells of other foods.

DECEMBER 2018

living

DECEMBER 2018

LIVING

IDEA 1

1. Take green cardboard and glue it into the shape of a cone. 2. Glue the brown cardboard as a pipe — it will be your tree’s trunk. 3. Make cuts at one of the brown pipe’s ends. 4. Fold back the cuts and apply glue to them. 5. Join the brown pipe with the green cone by placing it inside the cone using the cuts with the glue side up. 6. Fold the green colored paper in half and cut it into small fringe-like strips, not reaching the fold. 7. Cut the paper from one end to the other. 8. Curl the fringe that you made with the help of scissors. 9. Glue the strip of the fringe to the cone. 10. Keep gluing such strips onto the carton with the large part of the cone facing down. 11. Glue a star to the top of the tree. Decorate the tree with colored confetti, sequins, and beads.

IDEA 2

1. Take an egg tray. 2. Separate the bulging pyramids in which the eggs are stored from the base. 3. Cut them into separate petals. 4. Paint the petals with green paint. 5. Apply glue to the base of the petal from the wrong side with a glue gun. 6. Glue the petals that you’ve made onto the cone made of green cardboard, moving from the bottom up. 7. Glue a star to the top of the tree and decorate the rest with balls from colored beads.

IDEA 3

IDEA 4

1. Make a semicircular cut at one of the wider edges of the cardboard. 2. Cover the even edge with glue. 3. Fold the paper into a cone and glue it together. 4. Take a plastic spoon and cut off half of its handle. 5. Apply glue from a glue gun to the back of the spoon handle. 6. Glue the spoon to the cone. 7 and 8. Keep gluing spoons to the cardboard cone, row after row, in a chesslike order right up to the top of the tree. 9. Cover the tree with green spray paint. 10. Glue a star to its top and wrap the tree with beads. 11. Glue large beads onto the tree to serve as Christmas decorations.

1. In order to make this idea a reality, you’ll need plastic forks and a cone made of white cardboard. 2. Glue the forks to the cone made of the cardboard, moving down up in a chesslike order (reduce the forks’ handles gradually). Glue a golden star to the top. 3. Decorate the tree with beads. 4. Attach small golden stars to the tree — your Christmas beauty is ready!

DECEMBER 2018

LIVING

IDEA 5

IDEA 6

IDEA 7

1. Take green plastic soda bottles of different sizes. 2. Cut off the bottom part of one of the bottles. 3. Cut the plastic bottle into wide strips without reaching the neck. 4. Unfold the plastic strips that you’ve made. 5 and 6. Hold each strip over a candle for a while so that they curl a bit. Finally, go through steps 2 through 6 with each bottle that you’ve prepared. 7 and 8. Fix a stick to a base and attach the plastic bottle parts you’ve made to it, going from largest to smallest. 8. Place a star on top. 9. Decorate the tree with electric lights and various decorations.

1. Fold a sheet of green cardboard into an accordion fold. 2. Cut both ends of the folded sheet diagonally the way it’s shown in the picture. 3. Tie the accordion-like paper you’ve made in the center with green thread. 4. Unfold the paper on both sides of the thread. 5. Glue the strips of paper on both sides to make a ribbed circle. 6. Make the same circles of different diameters and glue them to each other, starting with the big ones, then moving onto the smaller ones so that you get a Christmas tree. 7. Attach a star to the top of the tree. Decorate the tree with multi-colored pom-poms made of thread.

1. Make a pyramid out of plant garter supports. 2. Fixate the supports with a wire on top. 3. Using a wire, attach the beautiful Lurex packing ribbon to the supports. 4. Fill the entire pyramid with ribbons. 5. Place a star on top. Decorate the tree with a festive garland.

DECEMBER 2018

TIPS & TRICKS

HOW TO WASH A PILLOW IN THE WASHING MACHINE Oftentimes, the only thing we’re capable of thinking about at the end of a long day is plopping down on a pillow to get some good rest and restore our energy. However, within a mere month, the pillow can collect a lot of bacteria, sweat, dirt, and dead skin cells.

CHECK THE LABEL. Find the label on the pillow you’re going to wash and read the recommendations on how to wash and take care of it. The main thing to look for is whether a machine wash is allowed or not. If not, you will have to dry clean the pillow or limit yourself to removing certain stains. If you can’t find a label, check the content of the filler so that you can understand what type of washing is more suitable for it. Machine washing is recommended for synthetic, down, and cotton pillows, while pillows with latex filler or memory foam require only handwashing. Machine washing can lead to the appearance of lumps, making pillows unsuitable for future use. PREPARE THE PILLOW. Remove any protectors or pillowcases. Then take off any lint or pellets by hand or with the help of a special machine. SET THE WASHING MODE. Choose a delicate mode for washing depending on the type of fabric the pillow is made of and set the temperature anywhere from 100°F to 120°F. Also, opt for a minimum speed for drying and check again that the instructions don’t prohibit tumble drying the pillow. ADD A CLEANSING AGENT. Add the agent that you use on a regular basis, or if you have the opportunity, opt for a mild detergent with antibacterial ingredients. It will help keep the fabric properties intact as well as get rid of any germs on the surface of the pillow.

PLACE THE PILLOW IN THE WASHING MACHINE. If the size of your washing machine allows you to wash 2 pillows at once, do it. In this case, the amount of detergent and the power of the tumble dry setting will get evenly distributed over 2 items. DRY THE PILLOW. Tumble drying with a minimum amount of rotations doesn’t let the pillow dry completely. When the washing is over, take the pillow out, beat it well, and place it on a flat surface to dry in the sun. HOW TO KEEP THE PILLOW CLEAN: 1. Pillows should be washed at least 2 times a year — the optimal number of washes is 4. 2. Change your pillowcases once a week. When you make your bed in the morning, make sure to cover the blanket and the pillows. 3. Wash your face before you go to sleep and try not to lie on the pillows with makeup on. 4. Don’t lie in bed in the clothes that you were wearing outside. 5. If the pillow has lost its shape and its filler has many lumps, replace it. A good way to check whether you need to change the pillow or not is to fold it in half. If it doesn’t immediately unfold itself, you definitely need to get a new pillow.

DECEMBER 2018

CHILL & DRAW

DECEMBER 2018