Jun 9, 2014

Light Fixture Makeover

Mr. Cookie Puzzle and I are building a new home.  When I say WE....I mean WE...as in WE are doing most of the work ourselves.  We have contracted some stuff. like the framing, electrical and plumbing, but for the most part, we are doing this ourselves.

We are also doing this with the goal of moving into this house debt free.  Using our savings, doing most of the work ourselves and getting creative, we are finally getting to the point where that goal is in site.

I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the creative ways we have been saving money.  Light fixtures are expensive...so I updated a fixture that Mr. Cookie Puzzle picked up at an auction.


 Here she is in all her 1980's shiny brass beauty.
When he first brought it home....my first reaction was
EEEEEEEWWWWWW!


Light Fixture Makeover


But...I was able to transform her into 
something I was proud to have in our new home.

Light Fixture Makeover


I took the light fixture apart, removing all the glass panels and used
painters tape to cover the sockets.  Then using my new best friend, 
I painted the yucky shiny brass surfaces.


It update the look even further, I picked a ceiling medallion
at Lowe's and painted it with the same paint.

I used these medallions several places in the house, they are light weight,
take paint beautifully, and really add a special touch to what
would be a pretty simple light fixture.

Being new to this all DIY, re-purpose blogging thing, 
I did not take step by step pictures, but the process is pretty simple.
I just taped or removed what I did not want to paint, and painted the
rest.  I used almost two cans to get complete coverage. When it was dry, I 
re-assembled it and I had a totally new fixture.


Light Fixture Makeover


For less then $20, I now have a beautiful oil-rubbed bronze light
fixture in my new home, much better then the how much  it 
could have cost me.  Every little bit helps.

I/we got pretty creative with light fixtures in the house,
I will try to get pictures and share more with you.

Getting pictures of light fixtures is NOT an easy process.
Do you have any tips?  Do you take pictures with the 
lights ON or OFF?  

Anyway...have a wonderful Monday...catch ya next time.


Jun 5, 2014

Party in Your PJ # 6

Welcome back to 
Party in Your PJs!


Thank you to all of you for coming back, 
week after week to join us, Melissa and I are
truly honored to have you here.
Let's just get right to the party, shall we?


The Cookie Puzzle Facebook Pinterest



Here are a few of my favorite links from last week.
Make sure you check out Melissa's favorites over at


Did you know that you can knead bread dough
in a bag?  I had no idea!  Thank you What's on the List?
for the great post. I must try this soon!




I am total love with the Coastal Mantel 
that
The colors, the accessories  the texture....swoon!

seashells, seashell wreath, wood sailboat, nautical sign on white mantel



I can not wait to try some of these
Delicious Dinner Recipes shared by
They all look so, well, yummy!

10 Delicious Dinner Dishes from Around the World | InSearchOfYummyness.com









We love to pin!  We've have created a board, where all links will be pinned.  If you 
want to be inspired, make sure to follow the board.


Follow The Cookie Puzzle's board Party in Your PJs Links on Pinterest.


I am a simple girl....so the "rules" are simple.
Link up to your post..not your main blog.
Link up something YOU made.
No Etsy Shops or Business Links.
I would love for you to share the party on
Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and Twitter.
Visit other links and make friends.
Feel free to grab a button.










Jun 3, 2014

Triple Chocolate Donuts

I have been seeing Baked Donuts all over
Pinterests and Blogs.

They look so very yummy, so
last week I purchased a donut pan
and made donuts!

Triple Chocolate Donuts | The Cookie Puzzle


I don't mean to toot my own horn, 
but these were GOOD!

I mean so good that Mr. Cookie Puzzle and Collin, 
ate them ALL!  Well, I ate a few too, but the majority
of them went in THEIR bellies!

I used a cake mix for these, so they 
whipped up very quickly.

I only had one, six cavity pan, so I could 
only make six at a time, but with a 7 minute baking 
time, I had a batch done pretty quickly.

Triple Chocolate Donuts | The Cookie Puzzle


I think I will be buying another pan soon, and 
playing around with other flavor combinations.

What is your favorite flavor donut?
Do you like them filled or un-filled?
Baked or Fried?


Triple Chocolate Donuts

by thecookiepuzzle
Ingredients
    For Donuts
    • 1(15.25 oz) Chocolate Cake Mix
    • 3/4 cup buttermilk see note
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 tablespoons melted butter
    • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
    • if you don't have buttermilk you can mix 2 teaspoons white vinegar + enough milk to make 3/4, let sit for 5 minutes before using
    For Glaze
    • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
    • 4 tablespoons cocoa powder, I used Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 3 tablespoons milk, more or less if needed
    • chocolate sprinkles for garnish
    Instructions
    For Donuts
    Preheat oven to 425. Spray donut pan with cooking spray. Mix cake mix, buttermilk, eggs and melted butter until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Place batter in a large piping bag or ziploc bag, with small corner cut off. Fill the donut cavities about 2/3 full. Bake for 7 minutes. Let donuts sit in pan for 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack to cool completely.
    For Glaze
    Mix all glaze ingredients well in a medium bowl. If glaze appears too thick to coat donuts, add more milk. Dip each donut in glaze, place on cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet, top with chocolate sprinkles.
    Powered by Recipage



    This post might be linked up at the link parties found Here

    May 29, 2014

    Party in Your PJs # 5

    Welcome back to 
    Party in Your PJs!

    Thank you to each and everyone of you who have linked
    to our party.

    Our little party has been doing great, but we are still struggling to get it to grow.
    Melissa and I have agreed that once we have 100 links, we would love
    to celebrate by having a giveaway of some sort.  So, could you help us
    achieve that goal?  Link up, share the party on Social Media, tell
    your friends, we would really appreciate it!

    Want to get a notification when the party goes live each week?
    Click the link below to sign up and get an email notification. 

    The Cookie Puzzle Facebook Pinterest



    Party in Your PJs is a weekly, anything goes, link party.  From recipes, to crafts, DIY projects, tutorials, printables and a variety of other posts you'll not only get to show off your great work, but you'll find plenty of inspiration.  Who doesn't want to strut their stuff and be inspired all at the same time?  You'll only need to link up at ONE blog and your link will be seen on both blogs.  The party starts every Thursday at 7:00pm CST and ends on Tuesday at 7:00pm CST.  We hope you'll join us and make this a great party!



    Here are a few of my favorite links from last week.
    Make sure you check out Melissa's favorites over at


    As soon as I saw this DIY Duck Tape Wall Tree from 
    My Pinterventures I was in love!
    My husband collects hats like some women collect shoes.
    This tree is the perfect solution for them to be neatly 
    displayed in his "man cave"


    If you followed me for any amount of time, you know that
    I have a passion for Nutella, I will eat it anyway
    anytime, but my favorite way has always been on 
    toaster waffles, don't judge please.
    When I saw this
    No-Bake Nutella Black and White Mousse Pie from 
    Ms. Toody Goo Shoes, I was dying for a 
    slice of it.  I can not wait to give it a try!


    I love a good wrap, I think they make the perfect lunch.
    This Chipotle Turkey Wrap from Memories By The Mile
    has everything a good wrap should have.
    I can not wait to try it!



    You know what the perfect summer treat is?
    Ice Cream cones!
    You know what is NOT fun about ice cream cones?
    The mess it makes on a hot summer day.
    These No Drip Ice Cream Cones
    from Lou Lou Girls are 
    a great solution to that messy cone 
    problem.  I think these would be perfect for a picnic
    or party outside!  LOVE THESE!


    We love to pin!  We've have created a board, where all links will be pinned.  If you 

    want to be inspired, make sure to follow the board.


    Follow The Cookie Puzzle's board Party in Your PJs Links on Pinterest.

     Party in Your PJs Link Party Rules:
    • Link to a specific post, not your home page. Limit 3 links per guest.
    • This is an anything goes party (PG of course, no adult content). Feel free to link up your recipes, crafts, tutorials, printables, DIY projects, ets as you'd like but please make sure that you do not link posts from the previous week.  We want to keep this party fresh and fun.  Also, please link up to only things that YOU have created.
    • No Etsy shops, giveaways or business links please.  We will delete these types of links
    • Each week the hosts will pick out their favorites to feature. Be sure to visit both blogs each week to see if you have been featured..
    • We would love to grow this link party with your help. We have an amazing button below that you can place in your post or anywhere on your blog.  If you prefer you can insert a text link to the party in your blog post or on a link party page.
    • It is not a party without interaction.  Please visit a few of the links and leave a comment.  Everyone loves comments!









    May 27, 2014

    60+ Great Popsicles for Summer


    For many Memorial Day
    is the official launch of Summer


    I don't know about you, 
    but nothing says Summer to me
    more then Popsicles!

    60+ Great Popsicles for Summer




    An InLinkz Link-up



    What says SUMMER to you?

    Do you like Round-Up posts?

    Would you like to see more?

    What themes would you like to see?

    60+ Great Popsicles for Summer


    This post might be linked up at the link parties found Here

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