Monday, January 30, 2012

Pinspiration

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I'm a pin whore. Yes, I said it. The first step is admitting, right? I've been sick the last few days so I've been stuck at home busying myself with projects. Even with the cold from hell I try to be productive! Here are some ideas I've been working on that I never would've thought of without the help of Pinterest.

I fell in love with this DIY cake stand and knew I had to make one.
Fortunately we had some logs handy. I have some customers that are
going to be very happy about this!
My first mod podge experience. Put the lace on any ol' container then
spray paint with desired color. I'm hoping mine will turn out this good!
Apparently stores in my area don't sell ruffled lamp shades and I really
want one so I'm just making it :)
All the shoes I was about ready to throw out and now there's a simple solution!
The results look great...I'm hoping the glitter stays put.
One of my husband's friends works at a cider mill so I was able to get
the hook-up on some crates. We had a corner in our dining room that
needed jazzing up and I'm so happy with how this turned out.
I actually didn't work on this because that would've involved me going
outside in the cold, but we do have lattice leftover from another project and I'm
going to fill the hubby in on my plans to cover up our ugly AC unit asap!

I've got lots more stuff pinned that I will eventually get to, so if anyone wants to steal some ideas feel free to stalk me at Pinterest.com/cortneyloo

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Tasty Tuesday- Cinnamon French Toast Bake

Umm...the picture speaks for itself, right?


You'll need:

1/4 cup melted butter

2 12.4 oz. cans Pillsbury refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing

5 eggs

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 cup maple syrup


Melt butter and pour on ungreased 9x13 inch glass dish. Separate cinnamon roll dough into 16 rolls saving the icing for later use. Cut each individual roll into 8 pieces and add to baking dish. Beat eggs in medium bowl. Add cinnamon, vanilla, and cream and beat until well blended. Pour over cut pieces of cinnamon rolls. Drizzle maple syrup over the top and bake at 375 degrees for approximately 22 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly while heating icing in microwave for 15 seconds. Drizzle icing over the top and serve!

52 Week Organization Challenge

One of my New Year's resolutions is to get my house completely organized once and for all. My husband and I have relocated a total of five times in the past six years, and that has made it near impossible to come up with a good system since as soon as I find a spot for everything we're packing things up again! Now that we have a house and we're set to be here indefinitely I am eager to eliminate all chaos and clutter. I've signed up for weekly organization challenges from www.home-storage-solutions-101.com and although it might sound weird, I find myself looking forward to that Monday email! The challenge is meant to be a 52-week process but some of the chores on the list are so small that I'm going to be completing multiple tasks within a week to get a tidy home sooner. I thought I'd share the link here in case anyone else wants to join in, too! It's not too late to get started if you had the same goal in mind :)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Tasty Tuesday-Parmesan Honey Pork Roast

It's that time again! Time for a delicious new recipe that is both quick and easy to make. I actually prefer when my food cooks itself, so how's about a slow cooker dish today? This is another great find courtesy of Pinterest. That site has been great for my taste buds, not so much for my waist line :) I cooked this for the hubby a few nights ago and it was ah-maz-ing. Even the gravy pretty much makes itself.


You'll need:

1 2-3lb. boneless pork roast

2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup of honey

3 tablespoons of soy sauce

2 tablespoons dried basil

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 cup cold water


Spray slow cooker with non-stick spray. Place roast in slow cooker. In a small bowl combine the cheese, honey, basil, garlic, soy sauce, oil and salt, then pour over pork. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours until meat thermometer reads 160 degrees. Remove meat to a serving platter. Skim fat from cooking juices and transfer to a saucepan. Bring liquid to a boil, then combine cornstarch and water until smooth in a separate bowl. Stir into pan, bring to a boil, then stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Slice roast and serve with gravy.