Window Selections

This is the Vinylbilt Window style we selected. The window  company we decided to work with only sells the Vinylbilt Platinum Series windows.

Listed Standard Features of  Vinylbilt Platinum  Series Windows

• Multi-point locking hardware
• Heavy duty handle
• Sash Keepers
• Full Screen with overlapping frame
• Unique ramp system

Multi-point Locking Hardware
The lever lock is easy to use and easy to reach.

Heavy Duty Handle
The handle folds down and out of the way.

Full screen with overlapping frame
Bugs and debris stay out. Screens are easy to remove. Screens are on the inside.


 We decided for slight extra cost to have both windows casement so that they could both open. Originally we decided on one fixed window and one casement, but for minimal cost compared to the overall cost of the window, it made more sense to have the option to open both.

It's been a few weeks since we ordered our windows. They should arrive in a few weeks.  Hard to believe i could get excited about new windows. I am looking forward to the energy savings, the ease of opening the new windows and the enhanced curb appeal.

Sewing a Tutu

My daughter had been twirling around for months pretending to "dance ballet" and saying that she needed a beautiful pink tutu. I decided to make her a tutu for Christmas. Off to  pinterest I went to search for tutorials. The seamstress in me had to choose the tutorial for sewing a tutu. I decided that I would follow the tutorial from starlight masquerade . I searched everywhere local  for  tulle yardage and it wasn't available so I went to Michaels Craft store and bought a roll of tulle. It was a huge mistake and I wasted hrs trying to get my ruffler to co-operate. I  nearly lost what little sanity I have left.  

The tulle was only 6" wide. At 6" width, I had to cut so many strips to get the width needed. My ruffler tangled up the tulle at at 0.5 stitch length. at 2.0 stitch length, it was still a frustrating mess. It was too late. Christmas was close and there was no way I would get the tutu done. The tutu project was abandoned. Surely ruffling tulle shouldn't be this difficult.

Without the pressure of a deadline, I  was able to locate some yardage of pink tulle and pink satin for the waist band.  My ruffler liked this tulle much better for some reason. I used a stitch length of 2. I think if I make another tutu  I will use a 2.5 stitch length. I determined the elastic size by measuring my daughter's waist and subtracting 2 "  and allowing approx 1 " overlap for the elastic.

Here are a few pics of the process and the final product.

Ruffled tulle with duct tape to tame the ruffles

 Ironing the waistband

Adding the satin waist band

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

 I used the cinnamon swirl banana bread from Lovin' From The Oven with some modifications.  I always reduce the amount of sugar. I used 1/2 cup of sugar instead of 3/4 cup. I also substituted melted coconut oil for the butter and used the cinnamon sugar mixture as a topping.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

3 mashed bananas
1/3 cup melted butter ( I used melted coconut oil )
3/4 cup sugar ( I reduced to 1/2 cup)
1 egg beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cup flour

Swirl
1/3 cup brown sugar (I reduced to 1/4 cup)
1 tbsp cinnamon

Mix banana,  butter(or coconut oil) sugar, egg, vanilla. Stir just until mixed. In another bowl, mix flour, salt and baking soda. Combine wet and dry ingredients.  Pour batter into greased loaf pan. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on the top of the batter. Bake 350 for 50-60 min.

Best Ever Pumpkin Muffins

There is nothing better than a  warm from the oven pumpkin muffin. I baked the Best Ever Pumpkin Muffin recipe from Lovely Little Kitchen and everyone in my family loves them. Everyone loving a recipe doesn't happen too often, so it's a keeper. The texture with the coconut oil is perfect. No worries, the coconut oil did not leave a coconut taste.
I cut out 1/2 cup of the sugar and will probably cut out another 1/4 cup next time. I never use the amount of sugar called for in a recipe. The muffins were very sweet to me even with the 1/2 cup reduction in white sugar.
As for the picture of these amazing muffins, well if you can believe it they were gone so fast before I could get a pic. Yep 12 muffins gone in less than 10 minutes. I may or may not have had 2 :-) Then my muffin broke so that halted my baking adventures.  If you want to make some of these amazing muffins for yourself, here is the link to Lovely Little Kitchen's  Best Ever Pumpkin Muffin

Here are the modifications I made to the recipe when I made the pumpkin muffins.

Serves 12

Best Ever Pumpkin Muffins

• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar ( I reduced this to 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground clove ( I didn't add this)
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg ( I didn't add this)
• 2 eggs
• 1 15oz can pure pumpkin
• 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 and prepare your muffin pan. See Notes

Mix flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon (and cloves and nutmeg if you are using them). Set aside.

In another bowl, whisk pumpkin, eggs, vanilla and melted coconut oil.

Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until mixed. Don't over mix.

Scoop batter into muffin cups. The muffin cups will be almost full. Bake for 20-22 min or until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Notes: I use a stone muffin pan, so i just add a it of coconut oil to each muffin cup to make sure the muffins release without much effort.
 I melt coconut oil by sitting the jar in some warm water and after a few minutes I can pour out the amount i need.

Curb Appeal: Exterior lighting

These are the exterior porch lights we had before.

These are the exterior porch lights we have now.Starting to look better.

New lights and the new door. What a difference.

We choose the large Ruthorford Sconce from restoration hardware. It is 9 1/2 diameter and 15 1/2 height.

Curb Appeal: Window Colour

There are other projects like our bathroom that I wanted to tackle first, but our 30+ year old windows are done and need to be replaced asap. I really should take a picture to show you just how much condensation there is on our windows compared to no condensation  on the new full light front and back doors we had installed. We will replace the 3 bedroom windows first with Vinylbilt casement windows. We are hoping to install the windows in April. I need to hurry up and decide on colour since the company we are ordering from has a 5 week order time.

I was looking for colour inspiration and found 2 other bloggers with brick homes who installed new windows that weren't white. I emailed Shannon over at 8footsix about the colour of the windows she installed and she was said that they went with Vinlybilt sable. You can see Shannon's new windows and the rest of her awesome blog here 8footsix New Windows . Sable is the same colour that Lindsay from The Little House blog went with. Lindsay is now blogging at her new blog. You can see Lindsay's window reveal here Lindsay Stephen's Curb Appeal Reveal If you haven't already, go check out these 2 fabulous blogs.

Here are the colours choices I am looking at , but leaing more towards choosing sable

Sable

Sandstone

Hickory

Pebble

 

Winter Solstice Candle Labyrinth

Celebrating Winter Solstice with an outdoor candle labyrinth.