2009 Highlights - Some of my favorite projects!

I wanted to recap 2009 and show you some of my favorite things from this year! This year has been so much fun, and I have to thank YOU my fellow bloggers for always leaving such nice and thoughtful comments, and giving me inspiration EVERY DAY! This year I plan to do even more, so keep the great ideas coming! Blogging has become one of my favorite things to do at night when the kids are asleep and I can curl up on my couch with my coffee and get inspired! Maybe that is why I no longer sleep very well, too many great ideas running through my head! LOL!






For 2010 some things I want to work on are-
*Writing down where I get my inspiration so I can always give proper credit, even if it was just an idea that got me started! I am horrible at this!
*Leave more comments on others blogs, I love comments, and I am sure you do as well!
*I would like come up with at least one new item a month that I can add to my ETSY store!
*Take more time for me, especially when I need It! (Like this last holiday season!)
*Make more handmade cards to have on hand, lord knows I have enough supplies!
*Use more of what I have around here for projects, I need to stop running out every time I don't have something and improvise!








What are some things that you are going to focus on for the new year? Where do you get your inspiration? I would love to hear your ideas, and if you have ideas for me, let me know! I love hearing from my readers, so don't be afraid! I hope you all have a wonderful 2010!

Missy

An Awesome French Door Makeover

I am so glad I saved theses old door knobs. Not knowing what I would do with them, but knew I could NOT throw them out, and today was the day they got used!

I have never been happy with the french doors that were in our house, they were cheap looking and the windows were always dirty, the grids made them impossible to clean. So yesterday while I was off visiting blogland, I saw a door that totally gave me a great idea! I immediately got to work! I took my doors appart and began painting!
I pained the glass panes with Rustoleum chalkboard paint, 2 coats on each side. Let dry thoroughly!
Then I sanded down the faux wood grain, just to rough it up, and added a coat of Rustoleum espresso spray paint. Once dry I sanded down the edges for a worn, old look.

These were the frames around the wood grid, I just took the grid parts out, spray painted with Rustoleum Heirloom white, sanded, painted again, sanded, then glazed with Ralph Lauren smoke glaze.I was having trouble with the original cheap plastic door knobs, I tried painting them, but they just were not turning out, and then I remembered the old hardware in the garage....
They were exactly what I needed to finish the look of the doors! I got them all put together and this is the finished look! This is the back side...
And here is the front! My kids are so excited to be able to draw on them!


I did spray the existing hinges red just for a little hint of color, (Rustoleum colonial red) they are hung right off of my kitchen which has 2 red walls and lots of red accents!


I could not be happier with how they turned out, and my hubby is super happy with the price...$0. I had everything I needed at home!

Homemade Tiramisu

This year we had an Italian christmas, so i decided to attempt to make Tiramisu, I wanted it to be completely from scratch, so I found this recipie from Cooks Illustrated.com, and I will say that I highly recommend it, but follow the directions exactly! I have added all the directions, enjoy!

Brandy and even whiskey can stand in for the dark rum. The test kitchen prefers a tiramisù with a pronounced rum flavor; for a less potent rum flavor, halve the amount of rum added to the coffee mixture in step 1. Do not allow the mascarpone to warm to room temperature before using it; it has a tendency to break if allowed to do so. Be certain to use hard, not soft ladyfingers.

Ingredients

2 1/2	cups strong black coffee , room temperature
1 1/2	tablespoons instant espresso powder
9	tablespoons dark rum
6	large egg yolks
2/3	cup sugar
1/4	teaspoon table salt
1 1/2	pounds mascarpone cheese
3/4	cup heavy cream (cold)
14	ounces ladyfingers (42 to 60, depending on size)
3 1/2	tablespoons cocoa , preferably Dutch-processed
1/4	cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate , grated (optional)

1. Stir coffee, espresso, and 5 tablespoons rum in wide bowl or baking dish until espresso dissolves; set aside.

2. In bowl of standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat yolks at low speed until just combined. Add sugar and salt and beat at medium-high speed until pale yellow, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, scraping down bowl with rubber spatula once or twice. Add remaining 4 tablespoons rum and beat at medium speed until just combined, 20 to 30 seconds; scrape bowl. Add mascarpone and beat at medium speed until no lumps remain, 30 to 45 seconds, scraping down bowl once or twice. Transfer mixture to large bowl and set aside.

3. In now-empty mixer bowl (no need to clean bowl), beat cream at medium speed until frothy, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Increase speed to high and continue to beat until cream holds stiff peaks, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes longer. Using rubber spatula, fold one-third of whipped cream into mascarpone mixture to lighten, then gently fold in remaining whipped cream until no white streaks remain. Set mascarpone mixture aside.

4. Working one at a time, drop half of ladyfingers into coffee mixture, roll, remove, and transfer to 13 by 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. (Do not submerge ladyfingers in coffee mixture; entire process should take no longer than 2 to 3 seconds for each cookie.) Arrange soaked cookies in single layer in baking dish, breaking or trimming ladyfingers as needed to fit neatly into dish

Dip, Don't Submerge the ladyfingers in the coffee mixture.


5. Spread half of mascarpone mixture over ladyfingers; use rubber spatula to spread mixture to sides and into corners of dish and smooth surface. Place 2 tablespoons cocoa in fine-mesh strainer and dust cocoa over mascarpone.

6. Repeat dipping and arrangement of ladyfingers; spread remaining mascarpone mixture over ladyfingers and dust with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa. Wipe edges of dish with dry paper towel. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 6 to 24 hours. Sprinkle with grated chocolate, if using; cut into pieces and serve chilled.

I have had a piece everyday since Christmas eve, and am so sad that there are only 2 left!

I am linking up to
And

Christmas Blizzard 2009

It started Christmas eve day, and as of right now, Saturday morning, we have over 24 inches, and it is still snowing! We have had rain, snow, & sleet! The winds have been up to 40mph! The blowing and drifting have been crazy! We have done a lot of plowing and shoveling and are still not done! It did not slow us down too much though! Santa was still able to make it here, and we got to my moms late Christmas morning, she has a green house business and 3 of the 7 houses collapsed due to the weight of the snow. We had to postpone the day at Mike's mom's, roads were not plowed and not everyone would have been able to get there, so we get to have Christmas again tomorrow!

The Kids have had fun playing and shoveling, we built a snowman, rode the 4 wheeler, and even though things were a little hectic due to the storm, my family is healthy, happy, and we have everything we need, and that is all that really matters!

Merry Christmas to all! My Holiday home tour!

Finally I feel like I can sit down with my peppermint mocha and RELAX! Christmas is here and I am all set! All the gifts are wrapped and under the tree, cookies are baked, and fridge is full! Now we have to sit back and wait to see what mother nature truly has in store for us, you know it's bad when they predict snowfall in feet rather than inches! So sit back, and take a tour of my home tonight and find some time during the hustle and bustle of the next 2 days to enjoy time with your family and friends and enjoy what each day has in store!
Isn't this drawer cute! My uber talented friend Krista made it last year! Check her out for some serious inspiration over at Snowman Hill!

The stockings are hung!






Tree #1 this is the tree that all the kids ornaments and home made goodies go! This is our family tree, so Christmas morning we get to open everything under it! I can't wait, the kids are so excited! I love watching them open all their presents!
I love my scentsy pot! my house smells soooo good! If you don't know what these are be sure to check them out, they are such a great alternative to burning candles!

This is Charlie, the bird I paid more to have shipped than the cost of the bird itself, but he was so darn cute I just had to have him!



Here is another project I did after touring blogland! I found this great idea at Thrifty Decor Chick! They are so easy to make, and just so darn cute!

When I saw these psoscicle stick snowflakes I knew that I HAD to make them!! See how easy they are over at Someday Crafts!!! I decided to hang mine on the kids doors!


This is a candle that i don't burn too often cause this little guy is so cute! I hate to take his hat off!

Tree #2 downstairs in the family room! I love all the lights and the fact that it is such a tall skinny tree, it doesn't take up too much room, and adds so much to the room!
So now I am going to sit back, relax and enjoy the next couple of days. Hopefully the snow storm won't be as bad as they are saying, but if it is we will have a great time anyway I have lots of food, presents and wine! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!