Bathroom Upgrade

Happy Summer!!!!!

I hope all is well with each of you and that life is treating you well! 

It's been a while so lets get started!

 I thought I would start by sharing my bathroom upgrade with you!!

We have been in our home going on 15 years now and we have raised 3 kids sharing 1 bathroom. It has been many colors, light yellow, a brighter yellow, & a light tan... 

Our oldest recently moved out and I finally had some free time to make some improvements to their bathroom!

Here is is before ~

We had a board attached to the wall for the kids towels...

gone with the board!

I decided to put wainscoting on the lower portion of the walls!

We used liquid nails to attach the board,  wow great stuff!  If you are using it for paneling,  I highly suggest you get the one specifically made for paneling,  you will spend less time trying to hold it still so it can dry. I learned the lesson so you won't have to :) 

Here is the final product!!!  I am so happy with how it came out!

 I feel so relaxed in this bathroom!!! 

It turned out just how I wanted it!

The wall color is called Silver Sage,  I saw it at a friends home and fell in love with the color!

Homemade Glazed Doughnuts

Ingredients:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/8 cups whole milk, warmed
3 teaspoons instant yeast
2 large eggs
1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, melted
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups vegetable shortening, for frying (I use sunflower oil)

Glaze:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Watch how to make this recipe.
For the doughnuts: Add the granulated sugar to the warm milk in a medium bowl, and then add the yeast. Allow it to sit until the yeast starts to bubble, 5 to 10 minutes.

In a small bowl, beat the eggs and then pour them into a bowl with the melted butter, whisking constantly. Add the butter/egg mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer. Pour in the milk/sugar/yeast mixture. With the hook attachment, turn the mixer to low speed.

Mix the flour and salt in a bowl, and then retrieve 1/2 cup at a time and add it to the mixing bowl, allowing it to slowly incorporate into the liquid mixture.

Continue mixing for 5 minutes after the flour is combined. Stop the mixer, scrape the bowl and then mix about 30 seconds more. Then place the dough in a lightly-oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 to 12 hours.

After refrigeration process.

Before refrigeration process...

The next morning, remove the dough from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature and rise, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Put the dough in a warm spot, if necessary, to facilitate rising.

Turn out the dough on to a floured surface and roll it out to about 1/4-inch thick. Use a doughnut cutter (or 2 concentric cutters) to cut out the doughnuts. Remove the holes and transfer the doughnuts to a lightly-floured baking sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment. Then - and this is the vital part - cover the doughnuts lightly with tea towels and place it in a draft-free area, at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It will take that long for them to rise. If they don't seem to be rising much, move the pan to a warm place.

Rolled out, and cutting shapes.

The rising process...

Melt the shortening in a pot over a medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F on a candy thermometer. (Or you can drop one of the doughnut holes in the oil, if it sizzles and immediately rises to the surface, the oil is ready.) The doughnuts should immediately float to the top and puff up. Then use a metal spoon or spatula to carefully flip them over to the other side. Remove them from the oil as soon as they're golden brown on both sides (this should take less than 1 minute in total). At the end, drop in the doughnut holes and fry them until they are golden brown.

Place the doughnuts on paper-towel-lined-plates to drain. Don't worry if they're a little imperfect; if your fingers leave impressions when you dropped them into the oil, that just means they were extra light and fluffy.

For the glaze: To glaze the doughnuts, mix the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup cold water, salt and vanilla in a bowl until smooth. Drop in the doughnuts one at a time. Quickly turn them over then remove them. Place them on a rack so any excess glaze can drip off.

To make the most of the glaze, set the holes underneath the doughnuts so they can catch the extra good stuff

ENJOY!!!!!

I also sprinkled a few with cinnamon and sugar, so YUMMY!!!!!

Recipe from...Food Network

Dot Paintings

My inspiration lately, has been to work with more colors and different backgrounds...

here are a few of my recent works.

Colorful Stamps 8x10

Available for purchase ~ $40

  

Orange Dots 8x10

Available for purchase ~ $40

Turquoise Dots 4x6

Available for purchase ~ $30

Rainbow Circles 4x6

Available for purchase ~$30

Green Dots 7x14

Available for purchase ~ $40

Purple Turquoise Dots 7x14

Available for purchase ~ $40

If you are interested in purchasing one of my works,  

please go to my Facebook page and send me a message.

Homemade Laundry Soap

A neighbor of mine, gave me a jar of homemade laundry soap about a month ago.

 I was a little skeptical to use it, at first, 

because it said to only use 1 tablespoon full per load. 

I thought,  now how is that going to clean all of these clothes?!

BOY am I glad I tried it out! 

My clothes have NEVER been cleaner or smelled fresher,

 and that one jar has lasted me one month!!!

I am about to run out, so today I  made some more,

and I thought I would share it with you.

Homemade Laundry Soap

Author Karrie

Ingredients

• 1 Box of Super Washing Soda 3 lb. 7 oz.
• 1 Box of Borax 4 lbs 12 oz. size
• 1 Box of Pure Baking Soda 4 lb.
• 3 bars of Fels-Naptha 5.5 oz. or you could also use Ivory or Zote soap
• 1 container of Oxy-Clean 1.3 lb ($3.86)
• *optional: Purex Crystals 28 oz. for scent (or you could use Downy un-stoppables)

NOTE: I chose not to use the Purex crystals, 

I wanted an unscented detergent, due to skin sensitivities.

Instructions

1. Finely grate the Fels-Naptha. Mix all the ingredients together and store in container of your choice. Use only 1-2 Tablespoons of detergent per load.

Doesn't it look like cheese?!

Look at how much I have now!!!
Ready to share with others, 
so they can be inspired to make their own laundry soap!

I will never buy regular laundry detergent again.....
This cost me $17 to make...and it will last me through the rest of the year!

Creativity

For about the past year or so,

 I have felt that my creativity was like a boiling pot of water that I kept putting a lid on. 

 I would pull out a sewing, or painting project begin working on it, 

then it would be time for lunch or dinner, and it all had to be put away. 

My creativity was being put on the back burner, 

until the next time I had time to pull it all out again and work on it. Until now.....

I decided enough was enough and I turned my garage parking spot,

into an artist studio!!!

(Needless to say my car is covered in pollen, 

nothing a little hosing off can't fix right?!)

My first projects were my sisters baby blanket and an apron for a friend. 

Then my sewing machine stopped working properly,  off to the repair shop...

Well, that didn't stop me,  I pulled out the canvases and got to work.

Here are my first few pieces after I have removed the lid off my boiling pot of creativity!

It is also a perfect spot for my daughter to use her glitter and playdoh,

no more mess in the kitchen!!

I hope you have a lovely and peaceful day!!

Be Inspired :)

Rainbow Baby Blanket

My cousin had a baby last summer, and I had been unable to make his blanket, 

until now!!

She told me a list of colors, and I had MANY months to think about the layout.

This is what I came up with!!! 

It is, by far, one of my top favorite blankets to date!

I ended up making two because my sister also had a son  <3

The colorful side of the blanket is made of cotton,

and the backside is flannel,  for cuddles :)

The joy that I get while I am making blankets is almost indescribable.

Just thinking about the new little life that will be having it's first tummy time on it,  napping on it, rolling over, 

drooling on it, (and not the floor).....

There are so many wonderful new memories to be made when a new life is born.  

Do you know anyone having a baby soon, and you have no idea what to get them? 

Look no further!!

Check out my facebook page and private message me. 

Hope you enjoy the beautiful spring weather that will be coming our way soon!!! 

Bruschetta

Happy New Year!!!!!

I hope you have a peaceful and healthy 2014!!!

Here is one of my favorite appetizer recipes,

I just HAD to share it with you!

 Bruschetta
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
24 Slices of French Bread

3 tablespoons Olive Oil

1/2 C. ripe black olives ~ chopped

1/2 C. green olives ~ chopped

2 garlic cloves ~ minced

1 tablespoon Zesty Italian salad dressing

3/4 C. Chive & Onion cream cheese

Sliced Cherry Tomatoes (optional)

Preheat oven to 375`

Combine green and black olives, minced garlic & Zesty Italian dressing. set aside.

Lightly brush french bread slices w/ olive oil and place on foiled baking sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes.

Remove bread from oven,  

spread cream cheese on each piece & place a dollop of the olive mixture on top of each piece as well.

Bake 6-8 minutes.

Remove from oven.

(Optional) ~ Top with sliced cherry tomatoes. Enjoy!!!