SHIFTING ROOTS

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The Cutest Fall Themed Edible Tic Tac Toe Game for Kids

October 2, 2018

Who doesn’t love a game of tic tac toe?  Keep the kids in your life entertained with these adorable fall themed edible tic tac toe desserts.  They’re perfect for a fall carnival, Halloween treat, or a fun Thanksgiving snack.  Not to mention its a good dinner table activity to keep the kiddos occupied until dinner is served!!

No more “Moooooom, is it ready yet?” for you.

It's the night before your kids classroom Halloween party, what fast and easy sweet treat can you make?  This easy edible fall tic tac toe dessert.  Pumpkin candy, icing, graham cracker, and you're done!  So cute for toddlers, kids, and schools. #halloween #treats #fast #easy #nobake #kids #toddlers #recipe #desserts #party

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Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

www.shiftingroots.com

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Filed Under: Halloween, Recipes, Simple & Easy Tagged: Autumn, classrooms, edible, fall, fun, Halloween, Kids, party, simple and easy, Thanksgiving, tic tac toe

Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Muffins

September 27, 2018

Can’t get enough of everything pumpkin spice?  Me neither!  Call me basic, but once September rolls around I just can’t get enough of pumpkin flavoured goodies.

These chocolate chip pumpkin muffins are sort of healthy, great for lunches and after school snacks, and just plain delicious!

Fall tastes like these easy pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips!  You've got to try this healthy, deliciously moist, from scratch recipe now!  Perfect for Thanksgiving, Halloween, and after school snacks. #pumpkin #chocolatechips #muffin #recipe #fall #autumn #snack #Thanksgiving #Halloween

[Read more…]

Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

www.shiftingroots.com

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Filed Under: Baking, Halloween, Harvest, Recipes Tagged: Autumn, Baking, chocolate chips, desserts, fall, Halloween, pumpkin, pumpkin muffin, snacks, sweet treats, Thanksgiving

How to Make Easy & Delicious Pumpkin Seeds for Your Next Snack

September 17, 2018

Remember this from our last post about making pumpkin puree?  Those “guts” from your Halloween Jack-o-lantern needn’t go to waste!  I’ll show you how you can make an easy and delicious snack from the leftover pumpkin seeds.

Making pumpkin seeds is easier than you think! Delicious, nutritious, and perfect for your next snack.

In yet another attempt in finding nutritious-things-my-son-might-consider-eating, I decided I would try roasting pumpkin seeds.  I thought would be complicated, but it was actually super simple.  They ended up being so good that it made the idea of taking pumpkin seeds out of a pumpkin slightly less gross.  Just slightly.

[Read more…]

Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

www.shiftingroots.com

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Filed Under: Fun, Gardening, Harvest Tagged: Halloween, How-to, pumpkin, seeds, snack, spices, tutorial

How to Make an Adorable Halloween Chick Costume

October 28, 2017

One of the things I love most about my son is that he’s not like everybody else.  In the last three years when I’ve asked him what he’s wanted to be for Halloween, he’s always come up with a unique answer.  And he never waivers in his choice either.

Last year he wanted to be an orange chick.  Try finding that in a big-box store.

Thankfully, the year before he wanted to be a rooster, so I already knew how to make his costume with just a few modifications.

Today I give my public service to the internet, should any other Mom find themselves with a child asking for an orange chick costume.  I’ve got you covered.

[Read more…]

Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

www.shiftingroots.com

10 Comments
Filed Under: DIY, Halloween, Parenting Tagged: Autism, costume, DIY costume, easy, Halloween, Halloween costume, minimal sewing, orange chick, random, tutorial

45+ Recipes to Use Your Kids Leftover Halloween Candy

Like you have any leftover Halloween candy. . . right? But if you do, here’s how to turn that pile of sugar into treats you can eat, gift, or enjoy. Bake one of these treats and watch your leftover Halloween candy disappear.

I’ve done the work for you and rounded up 45+ recipes and activities that you can use. Because you can only handle your kids constant candy requests for so long.

Caramels

Almond Roca is super addictive and nice to give as Christmas gifts. Watch it disappear.

I make these every Christmas and they’re a favourite with my music students and their families.

A nice pumpkin-spiced treat you can make while everyone is still in the mood for pumpkin.

Gummy Candies

Impress your guests with this Mike and Ike cocktail.

This idea looks a bit time consuming, but oh so adorable!

So bright and fun!!

Kit Kat

At least 10 different people have tagged me on Facebook with this photo because they know how much my son loves trains. Kit Kat bars make excellent tracks!

Mars

Milky Way

Magic bars are one of those squares that everyone wants seconds.

I can feel the calories just looking at these cupcakes.

Peanut Butter Cups and Reeses Pieces

Skittles

Here’s a way to use your skittles that doesn’t involve eating them, all in the name of science.

A sweet idea for your little artist’s birthday party.

Snickers

Smarties, M&M’s, and Hersheys

 
Nothing says love like a chocolate chip cookie. Make a batch and give it to your child’s classroom teacher. She’ll need it while all of her students are extra hyper for the next week.

These candies are staples of gingerbread house decorating, so put them in the freezer and use them in December.

Starburst

Three Musketeers

Tootsie Rolls

Twix

What if I don’t have enough leftover Halloween Candy?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. You can always make candy bar fondue!

Today we will answer the question of the ages. . . what do you do with all that leftover Halloween candy? Easy recipes to use up mars, snickers, skittles, M & M's, smarties, kit kat, reeses peanut butter cups, starburst and more!

Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

www.shiftingroots.com
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Welcome!

Hi, I'm Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

P.S. First time gardener? You'll want to download the quick start gardening guide below!

Recent Posts

  • 5 Easy Ways to Increase Pollination in Your Vegetable Garden
  • Bloom Times: What Cut Flowers Grow When in Zone 3
  • The Best Vegetables & Flowers to Start with Winter Sowing
  • 21 Cut Flowers to Grow in Part Shade
  • The Best Grow Lights for Seedlings (from Budget to Bougie)

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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I love seeing the world through this loving boy’ I love seeing the world through this loving boy’s eyes.  Honestly, I’ve been so sick that I wasn’t really in the mood to “do Valentines Day” but there was this sweet little voice going on about how excited he was for today and how much he loves his family and I just couldn’t resist.  So whether you’re on your own, part of a couple, or in the thick of life-with-littles craziness, Happy Valentines Day!

#valentinesday2020 #mylittlevalentine #boymomlife #lifewithlittles
How do you pass a cold -28 day? By planning your How do you pass a cold -28 day?  By planning your garden, of course!  Today in my stories I’ll be going through the steps I take to start planning everything out.  I’m curious, do you start planning now or wait until the last minute?

P.S.  want your own copy of this planner?  This is the newly updated paid version and it’s on sale by itself from now until Sunday for only $5.  If you’re from Canada, use the code CANADA to make $5 USD be closer to $5 CAD.  Head over to the link in my bio to get yours.

#gardenplanning #gardenplanner #gardenersofinstagram #gardenersofig #organizedlife #organizedliving #wintergardening
Curious about growing lettuce indoors? My experim Curious about growing lettuce indoors?  My experiment is a success so far, although it’s still going to be awhile before I’m eating another salad off of them.

Okay, so maybe a little rant today.  I think sometimes in the gardening space we’re guilty of making things seem easier than they are.  Myself included.  This lettuce project is a case in point.

Was it easy?  Yes.  But will it provide me with endless salads all winter long? Nope.  Or at least not at this scale.  I’m going to estimate that I’d need at least 15 plants this size, especially since it’s winter and everything just grows slower.  And I’m the only person in my family who really eats salad.

In conclusion, this is a fun project to pass the winter, and not a truly sustainable source of lettuce.

Thoughts?

#growinglettuce #eatwhatyougrow #growwhatyoueat #wintergardening #indoorgardening #plantproject #sustainablefood #gardenersofinstagram #gardenerslife #northerngardening
Part of the mystery of seed starting is knowing ex Part of the mystery of seed starting is knowing exactly what to start when.  Every two weeks, I'll be posting these handy guides so you have enough time to order your seeds and be ready to plant when it's time for your area.  To find out when these veggies, herbs, and flowers need to be started where you live. . . ⁠
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1. Search out your area's last frost date.  There are plenty of calculators on the Internet.⁠
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2. Count backwards 8 weeks from that date.⁠
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3. Start these seeds when that date hits.⁠
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If you follow me because we're in similar zones--don't panic, it's not time yet!! I won't be starting my 10 week seeds for another two weeks, and even that is slightly on the early side. (I'm starting everything a bit early so I can hopefully plant it out before baby gets here--I won't be physically able to do it after.) I like posting the info early for followers in warmer zones and so you can save it and still have time to order/buy seeds & supplies.⁠
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Which one of these are you most excited to start?⁠
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#seedstarting #seedlings #homegardener #northerngardener #homesteading #urbandhomesteading #homesteadingskills #gardenlife #gardenlifestyle #startingseeds
Eeeek!!! My luffa seedlings are up!! I’m growing Eeeek!!! My luffa seedlings are up!! I’m growing the whole seed packet in hopes that a few of these little luffa babies will provide me with zero waste sponges that I can use for home cleaning, and as an exfoliant in home made beauty products.

The catch?

These plants are notoriously hard to grow, especially when you live somewhere cold with a really cold growing season—and if they get a hint of frost on them they turn to mush and all my hard work is ruined.

Gulp.

But gardeners are born optimists, so I’m giving it a shot—because you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

P.S. if you’re trying luffa in zone 3 like me, just basically ignore all the directions on the seed packet.  Start them immediately (two weeks ago would have been ideal) and follow along because I’ll show you exactly what to do and when.  I’ll be popping these under a grow light once the sun goes down.

#luffagourd #luffa #loofah #seedlings #seedstarting #northerngardening #northerngardener #gardenersofinstagram #gardenersofig #mygardenthismonth #gardenlife #canadiangardening
This weekend I took a big leap of faith. I came t This weekend I took a big leap of faith.  I came to New York to meet with other content creators/business owners to dig deep into what we do and create a strategy around our messaging.  I don’t even know how to properly describe what all went down, but is was incredibly life changing and I really feel connected to this tribe of women who are committed to playing to win and being the people our businesses need us to be.  I’m so excited to share what I’ve planned for my business with you in the coming months.

#playtowin #gardenblogger #businessowner #wahmlife
Is there such a thing as a no-fail houseplant? I Is there such a thing as a no-fail houseplant?  I think the Sansevera or Snake Plant or Mother-in-law’s tongue comes close.  Sure, it might be the vanilla of the plant-loving world, but it is so good for so many situations!⁠
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It can handle you forgetting to water it, low light, or bright light.  It is somewhat forgiving if you are an over-waterer. ⁠
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I’ve had this one for 2 or 3 years now and I keep getting rewarded with more spikes.⁠
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Plant lovers, is there another houseplant you think would be perfect for beginners?⁠
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#crazyplantlady #houseplantsofig #houseplantsofinstagram #snakeplant #houseplantlove
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