Living room layout

I've been using my awesome paint skills to try and come up with a new layout for our living room/dining room/office layout. It's the largest room in our apartment, and it's the most used room. The problem is lack of wall space for the larger items like the couches and coffee table and entertainment center. Since replacing these items is far from being in our tiny budget. I have decided to play with the layout to try and maximize the space. Here is the current layout.

Photos can be found here.

This is what the new layout would look like.

I know the room isn't identical in the drawings, but I did the best I could with my serious lack of drawing skills.

By removing the door into this room (bottom left corner) it will open the wall so that the entertainment center will fit. It should give the living area a brighter, more open feel. I think my biggest concern is putting the dining area all the way over in the far corner, making it even further away from the kitchen.

Does anyone have any alternative suggestions that will allow us to keep the current furniture and not have to spend money on anything?

I've measured everything, and it will all fit in the new layout, it's just a question of whether or not it will be the most efficient use of the space.

Pay It forward

Barbara over at The Origin of Wonder is participating in

Source: me

I wanted to do the same. So, I signed up with Barbara, and would like for you to join me!

The rules are simple.

1. In the next 365 days I will receive a handmade gift from Barbara.
2. In the next 365 days I will send something handmade to the first 3 people to comment on this post.
3. After commenting, you agree to do the same for 3 more people, and post about it on your blog.

That's it! If you want to participate, leave me a comment!

Strawberry Yoghurt Bread

Strawberry Yoghurt Bread

250g (about 1 3/4 C.) fruit
160g (about 2/3 C.) butter or margarine
120g (1/2 C.) Sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla sugar
3 eggs
100g (about 3/4 C.) Yoghurt, plain - you can sub with Greek yoghurt, creme fraiche, skyr, etc...
270g ( 2 3/4 C.) Flour
1 1/2 tsp. Baking powder

Preheat oven to about 175C (350F). I've been baking mine at around 160C (320F) for about 40-45 minutes and they've been perfect.

Wash and drain your fruit, cut larger fruits like apples and strawberries, smaller fruits can be left whole.
Grease and flour a loaf pan
Cream together butter, sugar, & vanilla then add 3 eggs & mix.

Add yoghurt & mix, followed by flour and baking powder & mix again.

Stir in fruit. (or reserve for layering into the poured batter)

Pour batter into loaf pan and cook for about 40-45 minutes. 

Let cool & Serve.

***Update:

I have recently started doubling my yoghurt, and cooking the bread for about 10 minutes longer. This makes a very moist sweet bread that reminds me a lot of a white cake. Also, I use a very small amount of sugar, if you prefer a sweeter bread then I suggest using 150-200 grams of sugar. 

Linking up here:
A Diamond in the Stuff
Funky Polkadot Giraffe
Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy
Euro Style Cakes
Bella Before & After
Reasons To Skip The Housework
Vintage Wanna Bee
Not Just A Housewife
Ginger Snaps
Night Owl Crafting
Polkadots On Parade
Lady Behind the Curtain

I baked, again!

I stumbled on a new recipe the other day. However, it was in Polish. With the help of Google, I was able to translate it. I've discovered, Google's not so great with translations much of the time, so the recipe had some serious 'holes' in it. 

No biggie, I like to experiment! 

This is what I ended up with.

This stuff is so good, it's scary!

I'm pretty sure this is what you get when pound cake meets angel food cake, and they have a cake baby.

I was a bit forgetful this past weekend, at least when it came to my camera. For some reason I forgot I had one. I got after pictures of the 2 loaves I made, but no pictures of actually making it. 

Because they were so tasty, I will be making another today, complete with pictures! 

Until then, I will be converting the recipe for all my imperial followers.

Paper Pinwheel Cupcake Topper

Last Friday, I guest posted over at Agape Love Designs and Photography I made my Sinful Mexican Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes and my Heavenly Mexican Chocolate Cupcakes (I know, that's quite a mouthful.) If you haven't been over there to see them, you really should go check them out! They're delicious, and I actually made them healthy, for a cupcake.

For Maria's party, I felt she needed some cute cupcake toppers in her favorite colors, pink and green. So, today I will show you how I made these.

Pinwheels are super simple, and easy to make.

Start with a square piece of paper. I used digital scrapbook pages that I printed onto cardstock, then measured and cut into squares.

The size of your pinwheels will depend on the size or your squares. I think the ones I made were a bit too big for those cupcakes, or rather, those cupcakes were far too small for the pinwheels!

After you have your square paper, you will fold it in half diagonally twice (to get 4 triangles) Then cut along those folds, like this.

Be careful not to cut all the way to the center, leave yourself some room, about a dime sized space to glue your paper. 

Add glue to the center.

I recommend using hot glue or a 'fast tack' glue, otherwise you will be sitting there holding it down for a while.

Now, take 1 of of the corners from the triangles and glue it down. 

Do the same with every other corner, all the way around.

When it's completed it's time to embellish your pinwheel.

I had these little butterflies.

With adhesive backs.

As well as, some beads.

I just removed the backing from the butterflies and stuck onto the centers of some of the pinwheels.

Then, I glued the beads onto the centers of the others.

I glued 1/2 of a skewer to the back, and inserted them into the cupcakes.

Easy as pie, or in the case, cupcakes!

Silent Sundays - Drake's Purse

Drake's got his purse and is ready to go.

Weekend

Hey everyone, just wanted to let y'all know I will be scarce this weekend, but I've got at least 1 (possibly more) fantastic recipe to share with you! Lots of pics to be posted as well! Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend!

Guest Posting

Hey everyone! Today I am guest posting over at

Since she's having a party, I made some of these

Sinful Mexican Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes

I want to remind you that Maria is celebrating 500 followers, and she's lined up lots of guest bloggers and giveaways! Hop over there and check it out!

I hope to see y'all there!

Linked to:
Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy

The Irresistably Sweet Blog Award

I just received my very first award from PC at MeiJo's JOY!

PC is such an inspiration to me, she is absolutely brilliant when it comes to up-cycling and recycling items. Just check out this sunburst mirror she made!

I am honored to receive this award from her!

This award comes with a few rules:

Thank the person who gave you this award.

PC, thank you so much for this award! You are a lovely blog friend!

Share 7 random facts about yourself.

1. I'm left handed, except when playing sports, then I am ambidextrous.

2. I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was little, that changed to becoming a thoracic surgeon, now I am 30 years old and have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

3. Cheesecake is quite possibly my biggest weakness, chocolate is a close second.

4. I have very strong emotional reactions to colors and smells.

5. I am a "work now, play when it's done" kinda of girl. My husband is the opposite, and it drives me nuts.

6. Clutter stresses me out! Everything HAS to be neat and tidy before I can do anything.

7. Weather permitting (not snowing or below 40F) you will likely find me wearing flip flops.

Pass the award onto others, and contact them to let them know.

Mindie @ Bacon Time With The Hungry Hungry Hypo

Becky @ Creative Contentment

Marie @ Pouty Pink Princess

Kathy @ Alter Everything

Tammy @ Crafted By Tammy

Maria @ Agape Love Designs & Photography

Bella @ Bella Before & After

Celebration at Agape Love Designs & Photography!

Maria over at Agape Love has hit 500 followers! Starting today, she will be partying for 2 whole weeks! 

That's right, 2 weeks of partying! 

She will have a giveaway every day, along with many guest posts (myself included).

Go see her, enter one of her many giveaways, and tell her I sent you!

Yellow Jackets (Paper Wasps)

Yesterday afternoon, I was standing in my kitchen, minding my own business when as paper wasp (yellow jacket) decided to fly in the window and onto my foot!

I froze.

It climbed up my foot and past my ankle then began it's way up my leg! Crap! What do I do? In order to remove it from my body I have to move. 

What do I kill it with? 

Of course I'm going to kill it, I don't want to piss it off and risk being stung!

Too late, it stung me! Twice! 

(Thankfully I'm not allergic, at least I haven't been in the past, and so far, so good.)

I blurred the edges to spare you my hairy legs.

I grabbed a fly swatter. 

(Thankfully I had one conveniently close!)

I think I beat myself as much as I did that wasp, but it's dead. 

I think. 

No. It is.

See.

R.I.P. Yellow jacket. 

Chick-a-Dee

Who needs an ugly smoke detector when you can have one of these?

Source

This little birdie gives you a loud tweet and chirp when things get a bit too hot in the kitchen. How stinkin' cute is that? 

It's a bit WAY out of my price range, but if anyone wants, they can buy me one!

Just wanted to let you know...

I post extra 'goodies' on my Twitter and Facebook pages! Follow along to get the get in on the awesome deals and giveaways not posted here. While you're at it, go see what I've been pinning on Pintrest!

Hope you're all having a great Tuesday. I've got a few projects I'm working on, but they're going slower than I had expected. 

Painted Vases

I bought 2 matching vases while thrifting, a few months ago. I loved the shape, but wasn't sure what to do with them. My husband has no problem buying me flowers, but he prefers them in a pot. They are cheaper and last longer than a big beautiful bouquet. I don't particularly agree with this way of thinking. I don't always want to try maintaining a plant when I just need a big pop of color, in the form of flowers. Since I will never see that big beautiful bouquet, I decided to add some color to the vases.

I was inspired by Anthropologie's Curvy Chrysanthemum Vase.

I painted my clear vases, along with another cheap vase I already had.

I'm sorry to say, I do not have a tutorial for these. However, they're quite simple. I would have preferred using glass paint, or even spray paint, but all I had was acrylic. On the plus side, I can now change the colors when I get bored with them.

I just mixed my colors up, then added a little gel medium and some water (to make it a little runny). I poured some of the paint mixture into a vase and rolled it around to coat. The thinner your paint, the easier it will be to coat. I had to experiment a little before I got the right consistency. 

I let them dry overnight. I considered popping them in the oven for a little bit to attempt to heat set them, but I have no idea if this would work with acrylic on glass. Has anyone ever tried this? If so, was it successful?

Linking up here:

Ask Anna
All Things Fee
Dittle Dattle
Craft-O-Maniac
Young & Crafty
Just A Girl
Confession of a Stay at Home Mommy
Reasons To Skip Housework
Not Just A Housewife
Vintage Wanna Bee
A Diamond in the Stuff
Bella Before and After
Lovely Little Snippets
Ginger Snaps
Polka Dots on Parade
Organize and Decorate Everything
Someday Crafts
Bacon Time With The Hungry Hungry Hypo
Be Different Act Normal
Tatertots and Jello
Homemaker on a Dime
Pouty Pink Princess
Night Owl Crafting