Another finished room.

I wanted to finish painting my dining room before Thanksgiving.  That didn't get done, mostly because of the whole "let's come down with strep" thing (seriously, how did I get strep and neither of my kids did!?  Not that I'm complaining, but me and my immune system don't get along.)  So I was pretty determined to before Christmas.

The old dining room

You remember the ugly paneling?  I can't believe it took me this long, but it's finally gone.  I was a bit afraid of just painting over it- the paneling was etched and grooved, and I was afraid it wouldn't look good if I simply painted over it.  I also didn't want to spackle all the walls, and I definitely didn't want to rip off the paneling, particularly not knowing what was under them.

The grooves turned out not to be so much a problem.  Only one wall had really deep grooves, the others were just lightly etched.  It gave the walls a unique texture, something I can't seem to capture on film.  In fact it's not really noticeable unless you stare at the walls.

I had a little helper.

It was risky, but I went with a dark brown.  I knew it would make the room darker, but for some reason, I really like that for a dining room.  Not that we ever have romantic, candlelit dinners at home (Have I ever mentioned that my kids work off their dinners by running around the kitchen table several hunded times playing chase with one another?) but darker dining rooms always make me think modern and romantic.

Right now there's white curtains, but I'd like to get new ones eventually.  If there's one thing I've really picked up on in the past few years, it's the difference between cheap curtains and heavy, pricier drapes.  They really help a room, in my opinion.  And since it wil be awhile before we get new dining room furniture, the only things I really need to finish the room is some shelving.  In a small house, there's no such thing as too much shelving.

The only wall where the grooves are noticeable.

In the end, I'm really happy with it.

So now that the dining room is finished, the only rooms left are the kitchen and bathroom, plus the stairwell.  I'm trying to convince myself that I can remove tile on my own, but there's a huge spot in my brain that screams "Don't do it!!"  And for now, I'll listen to that voice.

Marshmallows are yum

Only a few more days until Christmas! How exciting is that.  It's a big year for us- both kids understand that Christmas is coming, or at the very least, will be excited about opening presents and spending the day with family.  Lilia is singing in a Christmas concert for her Pre-K.  I can't wait to the adorableness that will abound from kids pre-k to 3 in something called "The Noisy Nativity".  I'm done with shopping, with only wrapping left.  Christmas cookies have been planned, stockings are still being knit and I have lists galore on what needs to be done before Christmas morning.

It's honestly not that much, although it seems like it.  I've been able to relax quite a bit, playing the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (which the kids love to cheer me on as I play.) and watching Christmas specials with the kids.  Lilia and I have been drinking a lot of hot chocolate, because what better way to deal with the cold weather is there?

I've had my eye on making marshmallows for a while now.  I was a little intimidated, I admit it.  Me and Candy making don't really mix.  I usually lack the patience, and who wants to deal with the mess?  Well, I kept seeing a bunch of various marshmallow recipes pop up on pinterest, and finally gave in.  Yesterday I spent the afternoon making vanilla marshmallows.

My KitchenAid made this SO much easier!

I decided on a very simple recipe from Martha Stewart.  I didn't want anything with eggs, or meringue powder, and I wanted something basic for my first time.  This recipe fit the bill.  I started boiling up the water, salt, corn syrup and sugar, and then realized I couldn't find my candy thermometer.  I had a quick freak out, and then, determined to succeed, I refreshed myself with how to do a "firm ball" test.  Luckily it didn't get that far- my husband found the thermometer.  It reached the right temperature, and I started using my mixer.  Can I admit to being nerd enough that I found it incredibly exciting and amusing to watch the grayish syrup concoction turned white and fluffy?

It wasn't as sticky and messy as I was afraid it would be.  After about 15 minutes of whipping, I sprayed a spatula and poured it into a pan coated in confectioner's sugar.  It wasn't easy, as the stuff still stuck, but I had been warned.  I avoided getting it on my hands, only touching it with the spatula.  Once it was all in the pan, I sprinkled more confectioner's sugar, wet my hands, patted it down, and left it to sit over night.  It all seemed to be right, although I worried all night that it wasn't right.  I'm guilty of poking it quite a few times to see if it was drying out or if it was sticky.

Getting out of the pan was a little messy.  It didn't stick anywhere I put a thick coating of confectioner's sugar down, but the places where the coating was a little thin it did.  I dusted my hands a bit, and then slowly "peeled" the marshmallows off the pan.  Another dusting of confectioner's sugar, and then I cut it all into bite size pieces with a dusted knife.  Each piece was dusted again (and vigorously shook to get as much of the sugar off as possible) and put in a contained.  And it was so delicious!  This recipe called for 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract, and it's almost too strong for me.  John loves vanilla, and he thought it was perfect.  I'd love to make another batch, using vanilla infused sugar.  And a third batch, with peppermint!

I think I'll coat a few of them with chocolate, and give them as gifts to a few people, or at least place them out for guests.  I got the Liam approval, when after I gave him one which he devoured, he climbed onto the table while I was cleaning up to snag a second one.  And of course...hot chocolate.

What's a better use for a home made marshmallow?

Wordless Wednesday

Adding a touch of sophistication

Growing up, one of our staple decorations were these cardboard cut out wall decorations.  They are like sticker decals, only made of thin cardboard and they don't stick.  My mother had a ton- Santa, Trees, Angels, Stars, Presents, little woodland animals with presents and goodies...you name it, and we probably had it.  She'd stick them on the walls with tape, usually creating a variety of Christmas scenes.

I have my own collection, but have to admit...I'm not liking the look as much as I once did.  I can't really explain why, only there is a feeling of a lack of sophistication as they begin to wear down and have old tape marks, rips and tears.  Not to mention that my freshly painted walls do not need tape marks on them.  So this year, I've done something a little different.  I used frames, and old Christmas cards, and voila...adorable DIY Christmas decor.

Old Christmas cards, cut and framed!

I was going to use my wall decorations in the frames, but it turns out that most of them are very large.  Too large to be framed.  Now, it just so happens that I have just about every Christmas card ever sent to me in the past few years.  Maybe the last 10 years...I swear I don't hoard...But I always thought that maybe I should do something with those cards, like make a garland.  I just didn't get around to doing it.  Until this year.  It's not a garland, though I have plenty of cards remaining, and might get board before Christmas.  But I think it looks fantastic.

Framed Christmas Buffalo from Roswell Park

So I took a bunch of empty frames, and cut out my favorite cards to fit.  Many of the ones I picked were art cards from Roswell Park in Buffalo.  For those that don't know, Roswell Park Cancer Institute is a place near our hearts, as that is where John's mom received her care while battling cancer.  John's dad sends them out every year, and I think they are lovely.  In fact, it shames me to admit that I forget to utilize these each year... But they are really beautiful cards and they make beautiful artwork for the season.

I loved using the pre-made mat and filling in each space with a card, or even a part of a card that I liked.  I think it looks great with just a bit more of an "adult look" than normal.  I'm kind of proud of it. And really, I just love that these cards were something friends and family sent me at some point in the past, and they weren't just something that was thrown away, they are now a part of my Christmas decor.  Who knows- maybe some of you will recognize your cards from years past!

Don't mind the wallpaper...painting the stairwell is scary.

I have yet to decide if I'll just stow these away each year, or if I'll actually take the cards out and replace them with pictures or art.  I know we've been here for over a year, but I honestly haven't put much on the walls.  Now that things are on the wall, it seems like the walls will just be too bare if I take everything down.  Have I ever mentioned that I love framed work, even though I have a lack of it in my house?

In case you are wondering, I still am using some of my old cardboard decor.  It's great for doors in the house.  It's just that extra cute touch.  Can you tell I may or may not go overboard decorating for Christmas?  I don't mean to...I'm just enthusiastic.  Decorating can be very fun, and sometimes it's exactly what I need to put me in a Christmasy mood.  It's just one of those things...seeing things again after being put away for an entire year.  As an adult, and a parent, who may not get very much under the tree, unwrapping and putting up all my Christmas decorations is like my Christmas morning.  I look forward to it each year.

This one was perfect for my Christmas Pengin theme.

Not so wordless wednesday on Thursday

Decorating the Tree!

Ok, so this was supposed to be posted yesterday for Wordless Wednesday.  The truth is...I forgot.  I was working on a crochet project, which was of course giving me difficulty and before I knew it, midnight was here and I still needed to make lunches and feed the guinea pig.

I love decorating the tree.  My mother was a perfectionist when it came to the tree (Ever have lights taken off 4 times before it was declared ok to put on decorations?) and I inherited a little of that desire for perfection.  Not nearly as bad, thank goodness.  But I did spend a good amount of time rearranging the ornaments the kids and husband put on.

It's awesome to see how the number of ornaments have grown over the years.  Our first tree in 1999 was probably the most pitiful little tree ever.  It was (literally) bought from a gypsy in Cork, Ireland.  They didn't have any tree stands, at least not something we know as a tree stand.  Instead, we bought a little tree pot, which was filled with dirt and the tree placed in that.  We had no saw, so there was no fresh cut, and it's no doubt as to why by the end of the holiday the poor thing had barely a needle left on it.

My aunt had sent a bunch of cute ornaments, and I bought a few generic ones from a pound shop that I later donated.  I made paper garlands, and ornaments, and I can't even tell you what was on top.  Probably some cheap star...but it was our first tree, shared only with our roommate from Taiwan, and I'm pretty sure we were the only students in Dean's Hall who had a tree.

As the years have gone by, we've accumulated quite a few ornaments- handmade and Hallmark.  I have all but the first year of the Mischievous Kitten series (I'd love the first year one!) and the Penguin Pals series (not all of them, sadly.)  But here are some of my favorite ornaments on the tree this year.

40 years of Buffalo Hockey

I believe this was from last year.  We actually have quite a few different Sabres ornaments, including the silly Blue and Gold slug candy candes and a #10 Tallinder signed ball.  I guess this year we'll just pretend it's Erhoff's ornament.  My favorite, not pictured, is a cardboard December 14, 2005 ornament that was given to fans attending that game.  Angry goat head, ftw.

Lilia's 1 year ornament.

This was the series I decided to use for Lilia.  Odd fact, but Lilia is just about the oldest one can get when she had her first Christmas.  Born December 27th, she was almost 1 year old before she had that first Christmas experience.  I'm always a little jealous of those that get to enjoy their babies on Christmas morning.  I spent the Christmas of 2006 sad because I was very pregnant and very disappointed that Santa didn't see fit to send me the only present I wanted that year.

Lilia's "first" ornament

Which brings us to this ornament.  Bought in Ireland that year, it was supposed to be Lilia's first ornament.  Because she was due December 22.  So there was absolutely no way she wouldn't be here for Christmas.  My own naivety amuses me.  It's an enjoyable story I get to tell her each year.

Mommy's First Ornament

1978.  The year I was born, and this is my ornament.  I can remember hanging this ornament up every year since I was old enough to put decorations on.

Tiggerific Christmas!

This tigger was bought from DisneyLand Paris in 2000.  There's also a Pooh one, but Tigger is my favorite.  It survived a trip home in a very heavy suitcase, and many moves later.  And it was placed on our first tree as a married couple.

I love my tree, each and every year.  It's such a nice collection of us then, and now.  And I love how it just grows with us.  And when the time comes, each kid will have their own collection of ornaments that they will use for their own trees.  For some reason, that makes me all happy.

Christmas project progress...kind of.

My plan for today was to get the lights on the tree while Liam napped and Lilia was at school, and then put the ornaments on the tree with the family.  I only got half of that done.  Ornaments will wait until tomorrow, mainly because we got too busy with dinner, knitting, dishes and trying to find my Christmas light staple gun.  At least the lights are on, and they look pretty.

I don't embroider...looks like cute number tags are needed.

I got a few more stockings done for my Advent Calendar, bringing the total to 9, plus the cord to hang it on.  Since I'm a little behind, I'm aiming to do at least one a day, and to hang one each day until all 25 are done.  I was excited today because I found some scrap Wool of the Andes from KnitPicks and I have to say it's probably my favorite wool to use, and it's the cutest of the stockings I've made so far.  I'll have to use more of it just because it's so lovely.

'Tis the season for yummy squash dishes.  I grabbed some spaghetti squash the other, not something anyone in the house but me likes.  I try to come up with recipes that John will enjoy as well, and so far, tonight's dish succeeded.

Spaghetti Squash, cut in half, seeds removed.
Butter
Brown sugar
Apple juice


Put the butter, brown sugar and apple juice (all measure to taste- I think I had a tablespoon of butter, a tablespoon of brown sugar and about 1/4 cup of apple juice) in the squash. Cover with foil, bake for an hour at 450.

Delicious!  I didn't take a picture, but really, it just looked like normal spaghetti squash.  Just spoon it out the cooked flesh, and serve.

I like Christmas trees.

Running around, being silly at the tree place

After a nice afternoon of playing with Christmas cards from past years, (post coming soon!) we got our Christmas tree this evening.  It's always a fun event, albeit stressful at times.  With such a small house, it seems like no matter how prepared I think we are, we end up moving furniture around.  Even when we thought our tree was "smallish" it turned out not to be small at all- at least not in this tiny living room.  It's probably the few times a year where I really do curse the decision to pick a small house.

We face the problem of furniture, inconveniently placed heating vents, fireplace, front door, stairs and an awkward corner.  I think we've worked it out this year, and while it's a little tight, I like it.  The tree is now settling nicely, and tomorrow we'll have the fun job of decorating it, as long as I get the lights on properly.

I'm in the hunt for a bigger tree skirt, but I get the feeling it'll be another year before I find the one I want.  (ie- before I get around to making the one I want.)  The one I have is kind of cute, with stand up Santa, Reindeer and snowman- but it's only 40" and I really want a bigger skirt.  I'm also in need of a new star- ours is very old and falling apart, sadly.  One of the funniest debates that I lost over the years seems to be the Star versus Angel debate.  I don't really mind- the star has grown on me.  Of course, I grew up with an adorable plastic canvas tree topper.  It was an Angel...holding a star.

It feels more Christmas-y around here now.  I think all we need now is a little snow.  Sorry, Southerners...but if there's no snow, I'm just not 100% feeling the Christmas season.