From the Kitchen: Simple No-Bake Christmas Cookies

Okay, I feel like I need to redeem myself after the 3-hour cinnamon bun fiasco.  Who has that kind of time? Especially during the hoidays! So today I'm sharing the most simple, easy and delicious Christmas cookie recipe I have on tap. I made these earlier in the week and the stash has since dwindled away to almost nothing as I can't stop sneaking them...today I'm making another batch in hopes of actually keeping some to bring to Christmas parties!  I think you will find them an absolute breeze to whip up...

No-Bake Cookies

In a large saucepan, over medium heat, melt together:
1/2 cup of butter
1/2 cup of milk
2 cups of sugar
2 tablespoons of cocoa

Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and add:
1 teaspoon of vanilla
3 tablespoons of peanut butter
3 cups of oatmeal

Drop by spoonfulls onto wax paper and chill. That's it!  I dare you not to eat them all yourselves!

How is your weekend going friends? I've been puttering around doing baking, Christmas shopping, watching the 'Keeping up the Kardashians' marathon (embarassing but addictive!) and working on my latest commission.  Here she is 'before':

To fill you in on her backstory, I was contacted by local blog reader Michelle. She found this amazing desk she wants to use as a dressing table. But sadly, she wasn't happy with her own stain job and was looking to fix her up with something different.  She loved the look of the Inky Blue Weathered Side Table and felt it was a perfect colour and style to go with some gorgeous antique rose pulls she found for it on Ebay. So Michelle got in touch with Lather Creations and the rest is...so they say - history!  I started work on this today and can't wait to see how she turns out!

Have a happy rest of your weekend friends!

PIY Pointers: Finding your perfect paint finish

Walk the paint aisles of your local hardware shop and you're inundated with piles of options. Flat vs. semi-gloss? Eggshell vs. Satin? Matte vs. velvet? It's enough to make your head spin! Here's my quick guide to paint finishes for furniture painting (walls are a whole other story but the basics are the same). Keep in mind that different paint manufacturers can have different names for their finishes - but this should cover most of them.

First of all, before you even think about finish - you have to think about what kind of paint you want to use. Oh the oil vs. latex debate...I personally only paint with latex.  Why you ask? It's more environmentally friendly, smells better, it's easier to clean up (simple soap and water) and it dries quickly - which allows me to do more coats in less time. Oil is said to be slightly more durable in the long run, but I've never had a problem with latex, as long as you leave adequate curing time.

As always, paint finish is a personal preference, so use this for reference only. Here's my super simple guide to the pros and cons of latex paint finishes:

Flat - a matte finish with no sheen at all
Pros - hides knicks, dings and imperfections well
Cons - harder to clean, scuffs easily 

Melamine - a thick, smooth self-levelling finish with a low sheen 
*note: not every brand offers this but I quite liked using Rona's Latex Melamine finish on a chair I painted

Pros - thicker, self-levelling so it hides knicks and scratches, highly moisture resistant, subdued finish, easy to create nice even finish
Cons - stickier to paint with

Eggshell/Pearl - a smooth finish with a hint of sheen
Pros - easier to clean, nice subtle sheen, good balance between hiding imperfections and still being washable
Cons - Pearlized finish may not appeal to everyone

Satin/Silk/Velvet - a velvety finish with a touch of gloss
Pros - easier to clean, nice rich finish, good balance between hiding imperfections and still being washable
Cons - No real cons for me, easy to apply and gorgeous finish - this is my fave finish!

Semi-gloss - a high sheen finish
Pros - Higher durability, decorative style
Cons -  Magnifies inperfections in the furniture, more difficult to get an even finish, requires careful application

Gloss  - a super reflective, very high gloss finish
Pros - Modern, reflective look, can make a piece look expensive, stylish, maximum durability
Cons -  Highly magnifies imperfections, highly difficult to get an even finish, requires careful application, slightly stickier paint consistency

 

What's your fave finish my friends?

PS: Happy Friday!

Thursday Blog/Website Share: Art.com

Friends - do you know about art.com?  You probably do and I'm just late to the party!

But I thought I would share on the wee chance you haven't discovered this awesome site yet. I love, love to give gifts that mean something and I think one of the easiest ways is to get an inexpensive print and frame it yourself. They have the widest selection of prints in everything from classic art reproductions to maps to vintage advertisements to concert posters.  Plus they offer a price and size range in most of them - from simple, low cost prints to more detailed gyclee prints to photo prints to high-end actual canvas art! 

Imagine picking up the Thelonious Monk print for the jazz lover in your family....or a print of your favourite classic children's book for a new wee one's nursery...oh the possibilities! Plus I would love to receive a gift like this...hint hint!

{all images via art.com}

I've been lost in this site for hours!  Hope you enjoy and happy Thursday friends!

PS: Michael's has a huge selection of poster sized frames and I picked up mine for a steal with the 40% off coupon!!