Mason Jar Madness

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Cherry Jargarita

I'm obsessed with Mason jars.  Where do I start?  First, I drink out of a Mason jar 95% of the time.  They make great vases for flowers and center pieces.  I can store soup, salad dressings, and more in them.    These jars come in all sorts of sizes, so the work for just about anything.  Lids make them transportable.  I'm sure you are getting the picture here.

I have recently discovered through the help of Pinterest lots of other fun uses for Mason jars.  Crafts, food, cocktails…oh my!

Last fall, I really started to go down this path full force with our "jar-garitas" for tailgating.  This fun cocktail can be made and frozen pre-party and taken out as needed for events.  So fun!  It's a cherry based cocktail that is tart and refreshing for summer.  Try it once, and you'll be hooked!

King Diaper's
Mason Jar Lamp

Crafts are also a great use for Mason jars.  I made a little lamp for king diaper's room.  Lamp kits can be purchased from lots of online suppliers and make these projects a breeze.  I filled the jar with wooden blocks and completed the project with a plain lamp shade that I decorated with buttons and a fabric initial cut out.  So simple.  Since I already had the jar and blocks, it was a fairly cheap project too.  Depending on your shad and jar items for filling, this would easily cost less than $30.

You can fill your mason jar lamp base with:

• Sand and/or sea shells
• coffee beans
• layers of different colored beans (red, lentils of different colors, black, etc)
• small pinecones or other dried items from your yard
• found bird nest
• marbles

Get creative and use items you have to construct something that adds you your decor.  Add a lampshade that fits in with the filled base or create something on a plain lampshade.  The one that is featured above is not finished.  I later added some buttons around the base and top of the shade for added texture and color.  

Prepping meals for the week is my new favorite.  If you haven't tried salads in a jar, I highly suggest it.  You start by layering chunky vegetables like carrots or beans on the bottom.  Add dressing and layer items on top such as fruit or other items like quinoa.  Layer on your greens and weight with nuts or other fillers.  Its up to you.  Lots of options and can be made with tons of different combinations.

Finally, breakfast can also be an easy addition to my Mason jar sickness.  This is an easy prep for everyone in our family.

• 1/4 cup old fashioned, rolled oats
• 1/2 cup milk (I use whole milk)
• 1/2 chopped apple (Granny Smith is my favorite)
• sprinkle of cinnamon



Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal in a jar

• 1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar, optional

Layer items into the jar with the oats on the bottom and apples on the top.  Can be stored in the fridge for a week.  Pour into a bowl and heat for 2 minutes in the microwave and is perfect every time.  

If you would prefer to make this with a different fruit combination, add whatever fruit you want to fill to the top of the jar.  This can include whatever fruit is in season:  blueberries, peaches, cherries or anything else that you want.  And, if you prefer, leave out the cinnamon.  This can be made into whatever you like!  But, its a great way to have a handy, healthy breakfast!

So, get out those Mason jars you have.  Save a few to use or just go buy some if you don't have any handy!  You will be so glad you did.  No matter what you do with them, you will find lots of uses.  And if nothing else, you always need a good tea or water glass!  Have a happy week!