Apartment Therapy Re-Nest - posts by Kathryn Hill

DIY Oyster Mushroom Kit

For Christmas, my boyfriend bought me a Blue Oyster Mushroom kit from Mushroom Adventures, and I had so much fun with it. The kit arrived on December 19th, and the box said "do not open until December 30th." This is because the mycelium is still being prepared. On January 2nd, I opened the box, which contained a clear plastic liner and a black plastic bag with slits cut in it. Following the instructions, I placed it in a well-lit location and sprayed it with water daily, and after seven days, the first mushrooms started emerging through the slits in the black plastic!

DIY Recipe: Peppermint Mocha

Trying to save a little extra money over the holidays but still want your Peppermint Mocha fix from Starbucks? Well, this isn't an exact recipe, but it comes close, and costs a lot less!

DIY Recipe: Gingerbread Latte

Recreate this special holiday treat at home at a fraction of the cost! Instead of using those expensive bottled syrups, I figured out a way to make the gingerbread syrup from scratch, and it is so yummy. I'm sure that you guys could find other ways to use this syrup. It makes the kitchen smell so good while it's bubbling on the stove.

How To: Prevent and Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

Who doesn't hate walking in their kitchen and seeing a long trail of ants coming down the wall and amassing in a large group on the trash can? These persistent little critters can be difficult to deal with, but the situation is not hopeless. You can get them out of your kitchen without using toxic chemicals!

Holiday Tip: Cushion Your Packages With Popcorn

As you prepare to pack and ship fragile gifts to your loved ones for the holidays, here's a sustainable alternative to bubble wrap and foam peanuts; popcorn! Economical, sustainable, and efficient, plain popcorn provides just as much cushion as plastic packaging materials do.

posted originally from: TheKitchn

A Gentle Reminder to Buy Local

We found this article in the New York Times on the cost of shipping groceries around the world very thought-provoking, and wanted to share it with you.