Closet Make-Over

This was a project that I've been wanting to do for awhile now.  My husband really wasn't ready to take it on but my In-Laws were coming to town so I hit up my father-in-law.  He loves to work on projects and I had a couple in mind for him to choose from.   He chose the closet make-over project while they were staying with us.  His wife was at a conference for church all day for 2 days, my husband was at work so he was stuck with the kids and I.  He likes to be busy, check out the pictures below on what we did.

I also wanted to mention that I originally got this idea from Pinterest but gave my own twist and ideas to the project.  Here's are the pins and websites that I got the idea from.  They both have their own looks to them are wonderful as well.  Check them out here and here.

We started off by taking the ugly white doors off and measuring everything.  We drew up some blue prints and came up with a plan of attack.

Here are the pictures to show the work that was done and the wonderful outcome we had!  Thanks Norbert for helping me out.

Before the closet make-over.
What a scary mess!

Cleaning out the closet!
Yeah, the white doors are gone.

Time to paint.  Just a little back story on painting.  When we first moved into our house 5 years ago my husband painted all the rooms.  I decided I'd try and help him out and put a first coat on in the kids bathroom while he was at work one day.  Needless, to say it wasn't the best and he said, "What the heck did you do in here?"  After that I haven't painted until the closet update, and I think it turned out pretty darn good!

My father-in-law measuring and
cutting for the bench and top shelf.

Painting in progress!
Break time right now, got some good upper
arm workout in painting the top half.

Even one of my kiddos decided to
 help out with the painting.

Here's the finished mud room/closet.

Baskets - purchased from Michael's with 40% off coupons or they were already on sale.

Coat Hooks - found at Target.

Tan (Maple) 15 cube organizer/ shoe shelf on the right - already had from before if you look at the before picture.  (Got from Target a couple of years ago.)

Dark brown (Espresso) 15 cube organizer $29.95 - Target and Wal-Mart no longer had anything to go with the one I had prior.  Ended up getting the Espresso one and the two organizers on the left as well from go organize.com ~ check them out HERE!

Upper shelf and bench with dividers - bought the wood at Lowe's with my father-in-law.  He sanded it down measured and cut it to size for me.  I ended up staining it with some stain we already had and I think it turned out great.  

I have to say, I think the dark and light browns go great together and look really rich and warm.  Very welcoming when coming into the house.  

  

Here's what it looks like now with stuff in it.
No more closet doors to shut and hide all the crap
so it stays pretty clean most of the time.

SuPeR BoWl ApPeTiZeR - YUM!

My mom has been making this delicious appetizer since I was in my teens at least or before.  I haven't seen this anywhere on Pinterest yet either, so this is a new appetizer for you all to try.  I will be up front here and say it is definitely not a healthy appetizer but if you only have it on special occasions then go for it.  My best and worst memory of this dish is when my mom made it for a New Year's Party one year and us kids were doing our thing at the party and parents were playing cards like usual.  No monitoring of the junk that we ate that night.  Well I overindulged in this delicious appetizer and ended up getting sick because of it.  Up until this year I haven't eaten them because of that.  The last time I saw my mom she had made them for her book club and had some left over so I tried some and they sucked me in.  I got the recipe from her and made them for New Year's Eve and they were hit.  Then I made them again for the Super Bowl and they were a hit again.

Chili Sausage Bites ~ Step by Step of what to do.  

You can print the recipe below.

Take these tasty chili sausage bites to your next New Year's Eve, Super Bowl or whatever your having a party for.  You'll be the hit of the party!!!

Chili Sausage Bites

Yummy appetizer to take to parties!

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: American

Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 4 packages Sausage links
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup chili sauce
• 4 Tbsp butter (melted)
• 1/8 cup vinegar
• 1/8 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp garlic salt

Directions

1. Cut up each sausage link into 4 pieces. (4 packages of 8 skinless links.) After they are all cut up put in a skillet and brown until grease is minimal.
2. Put the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and mix together.
3. Once sausage links are cooked put in bowl with sauce and mix them up.
4. Put all ingredients in a crock pot to keep warm for serving.
5. I got all mine to fit in my mini crock pot.

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#superbowlfood #appetizer #sausagebites

Frozen Cinnamon Rolls or Cinnamon Roll Cake!

GOOD MORNING ~ What's for breakfast?  Both of these options are great choices for breakfast.  Check them out below.  

On weekends we like to make cinnamon rolls.  These are the easiest cinnamon rolls you'll ever make.  I first learned about these great c.r. at a MOPS meeting that I went to about 8 years ago.  After that I was hooked because they are quick and easy to make.  Rhodes has other great products as well but this is the only one we've tried. Check out all the products here! 

Recipe:  Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls  

Directions:

Buy a bag of frozen Cinnamon Rolls in the freezer section at your nearest grocery store.  Wal-mart, HyVee and Price Chopper all have them where we live. 

Spray 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

Lay frozen cinnamon rolls out in pan before going to bed.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise over night on the counter - OR - I put mine in the oven overnight and don't cover them.  Critters (I'm not saying that we have critters) or the dog can't get to them in the oven overnight.  They are safe and ready to bake in the morning.  

There are two packages of frosting in a bag.  Set out on counter to thaw. 

I used to put all 12 rolls in a 9x13 pan but then they are usually spilling out of the pan in the morning.  Now, I put 6 in two 9x13 pans overnight.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Do not over bake!

Cinnamon rolls after they have risen all night

Baked cinnamon rolls

Baked & frosted Cinnamon Rolls ~ Ready to eat!

Here's a Cinnamon Roll Cake recipe, that I got from Rumbly in my Tumbly off of Pinterest.  It was very tasty, but a lot more work for this baker, NOT!  I like quick and simple and my Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls above are so much easier.  Although, I would probably make the cake again, just for something different to eat for breakfast once in a while.  

Ingredients:

Cake Batter

Cake-

3 C flour

1/4 tsp salt

4 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 C Milk

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 C butter, melted

Topping

Topping -

1 C butter, softened

1 C brown sugar

2 Tbsp flour

1 Tbsp cinnamon

Directions:

Mix everything together except for the butter.  Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9x13 pan.  For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined.  Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife  Bake at 350 degrees for 28-32 minutes.

Glaze

Glaze:
2 C powdered sugar
5 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
While warm drizzle the glaze over the cake.  

  

Cake batter with topping swirled in.  It looks so pretty!

Baked Cinnamon Roll Cake

Baked & glazed!

Time to DIG IN!