I am participating in a fun Valentine blog hop today so if you came here from SugarandSawDust welcome!  We are glad to have you here on the Valentine blog hop!!

Since so many people will be eating at home this year for Valentines we thought we would walk you through making Beef Wellington!  It is easier than you think so read on!  Who needs a fancy restaurant with a fancy price tag!  And best news you don't have to slave in the kitchen all day on Valentines day.  Plan ahead and space it out and you can have a nice relaxing day!  

If you have ever thought making beef Wellington is too difficult for you than we are here to dispel that myth.  We are going to break it down in simple steps that you can even do in advance.  So if you are having guests over or just planning a romantic dinner at home you will be able to have an elegant dinner with ease!

The first part of cooking beef Wellington is knowing what to buy.  If you have a butcher and can ask them for the center cut of the tenderloin that will be the easiest and best cut of meat for this.  You can also buy full tenderloins which are typically cheaper than if you would be buying them cut into steaks.  We will often buy a whole beef  tenderloin and just cut it into steaks ourselves because it is so much cheaper.  Costco usually has a full beef tenderloin that you could use and depending on how many people you are feeding you could get several meals out of it.  We actually wearable to get a full beef tenderloin on sale for $35.  Since that will be at least three full meals for us that is not bad.  Especially around holidays including Valentines day you may see the go on sale so keep an eye out and they freeze well.  If you buy a full one it is very easy to see where to cut it.  You basically cut the very middle so cut off both ends on end will be bigger and the other smaller and try to cut it so the majority of the middle is roughly the same size.  

Now that you have the meat and have it cut. You can now tie it together if you feel that it will not stay together well for searing it.  I usually do tie it in two or three places.  Get a frying pan out and heat it with some oil.  The reason to tie it is to keep it round.  It is not critical if you keep it round when seasoning and searing but it just helps it keep its shape.  That is not a critical step feel free to skip it if you would like.  
You want to generously salt and pepper it.  I use Montreal steak seasoning because we love it, but regular salt and pepper will work fine.  Don't skimp it is a good piece of meat but with very little fat it does not have as much flavor so you do want to ensure you season it well all the way around the meat.  
Now sear it on all sides including the ends.  This is an important step do not skip it. Roughly 2 minutes on each side.  Remember brown is flavor!! 
When it is done take it off and put it on a plate.  Then you will want to cover the seared meat in mustard.  I used Dijon mustard but regular mustard would work too.  Use whatever mustard you have. Now that it is covered in mustard put in the refrigerator to cool.  When it is cooked the mustard will almost disappear into the meat.  It acts not only to add flavor but also as a tenderizer and helps to make the meat even more tender.  

Use a food processor to chop the mushrooms, shallot, and thyme very fine.  It will work best if you work in bunches and don't try to do them all at once.  I did it in two batches and it worked perfectly in my machine but depending on the size of your machine you may need to do three.  You want to use a variety of mushrooms I used 8oz each of white, baby Bella, and Shitake mushrooms.  Once you have them all chopped up then cook them in a frying pan.  We want to do this to get rid of the moisture in the mushrooms.  If you skip this step your beef Wellington will be soggy.  Once it is done then you are ready to wrap the meat.

This step is not critical but adds an extra layer of protection against a soggy bottom to your puff pastry.  So if you want to do this step then we will make the crepes making sure to get them as thin as possible.  You do not want to add a thick crepe it will start to interfere with the taste and the texture.  A thin crepe with the prosciutto will add plenty of protection against getting the soggy puff pastry.  If you use the Crepes simply wrap on top of the Prosciutto before wrapping in the puff pastry.  

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Before you wrap it in puff pastry get some cling wrap and lay it out flat on the counter just like you did in the step above.  Roll your puff pastry out to slightly larger than your piece of meat and ensure enough wrap around it as well.  Roll the ends where it will overlap slightly thinner so you don't have a large joint.  Then place the meat already wrapped in the prosciutto on top of the puff pastry.  Brush it with the egg yolk.  This is your last time to add any seasoning inside so salt it very lightly on top of the egg yolk then wrap it and seal it.  Bd sure to twist the ends tight even wrapping some of the puff pastry in the ends is fine.  Then refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to overnight.  When ready to bake cut the ends off where you have twisted it tightly see picture below for reference.  Then unwrap the rest of the meat brush with egg yolk and lightly salt with coarse salt.  

The picture above is wrapped in crepes before being wrapped in the puff pastry.  

This is what the ends will look like after cutting off the Saran Wrap.  Just be sure they are sealed well and then brush with the egg yolks on the outside of the puff pastry.  Before we brushed it on the inside so the edges would seal now we are brushing it on the outside so that it will brown beautifully!
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Now you are ready to bake.  Place on a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet in case you do have any leakage.  That will help with clean up later.  Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes. 

• 1 center cut beef tenderloin about 1 pound
• mustard dijon or regular
• salt and pepper
• 1 t fresh thyme
• 1 1/2 pounds of mushrooms
• 4-6 slices prosciutto
• puff pastry
• 2 egg yolks beaten 
• savory crepes (optional) recipe below

Salt and Pepper the tenderloin then sear in a hot pan with olive oil.
Cover the meat in mustard
Pulse mushrooms in a food processor until finely chopped with shallot and thyme.
Lay three pieces of cling film out and then lay down crepes if using then prosciutto and then mushrooms.  wrap up tightly and refrigerate for at least a half an hour.  

Roll out puff pastry and rolling the ends slightly thinner so they seal properly and you don't have a very thick seam.  Be sure it will fit around the beef tenderloin with not a lot of extra on either side.  Lightly salt the puff pastry and then roll it up with the beef tenderloin inside tightly and place in the refrigerator until read to bake.  When ready to bake brush with egg yolks and lightly salt it.  Bake in preheated oven at 450 degrees (425 if a convection) for about 18-20 minutes for a one pound of beef.  

Savory Crepes:

• 3 eggs
• 1 C flour
• 1 1/2 C milk
• 1 t Thyme and two or three fresh sprigs of Rosemary
• salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined or can be done in a blender.  Set in fridge for 30 minutes or more.  After it has rested in the fridge lightly spray a 10 inch nonstick pan and pour in 1/4 c of batter swirl in pan to coat the pan lightly like a very thin pancake.  Cook for a a half a minute on each side then remove and continue until done with batter. 

You got this!  You can make this and we can't wait to hear if you do make it.  Share a pic with us.  We can't wait to see your version!  
​By the way if you are gluten free and want to learn how to make the puff pastry GF let us know below.  We do all gluten free baking including our puff pastry.  We would be happy to teach how to do that if there is an interest in it.

Our next stop on the Valentine Blog hop today you will learn to make some great drinks that you can have to go with this so be sure and head over to see Libbie At a Life Unfolding

No matter how many areas you have that need to be organized don't try to do more than one area at a time.  It will just lead to frustration and not being able to complete any of them.  So choose which area you want to start in and lets get going!  You can make a list and prioritize them if it helps, or pick the easiest to be able to have something completed, or you could even pick the hardest.  Where you start doesn't matter but the fact that you are starting is key!

Organizing takes time.  Don't try to start five minutes before carpool or at the end of the day when you are already exhausted.  It is a better task for when you are fresh and ready to take on the project.  You will have much more success if you wait one more day than try to fit it into a day that was already busy and crazy.  

Be sure have a donation box ready so anything you do not want goes directly info that box.  Once you complete that room don't keep the box to fill with more items for another day of organizing take it directly to the car so when you are out next you can drop it off and it does not sit in the hall or your bedroom for a week driving you crazy.  Actually putting it in the car will help you signal completion of the task!

Now this does not include furniture if you are organizing a room but if you are cleaning a closet or a drawer you need to remove everything first.  That makes sure you really are going through everything and also allows for an opportunity to clean it quick and easily while everything is out.  

 Now that you have everything out of the space it is time to start going through it.  During this stage you need to ask yourself a few questions 1.  Do I use this?  if the answer is no get rid of it.  If it holds sentimental value you are going to have to make the determination if it is worth keeping.  2.  Next does it belong here?  Would it be better suited in the bathroom than your kitchen.  If not take it to the room it belongs in.  Don't get distracted with finding the right place for it now just put it in that room and come back to it after you are finished.  Remember one task at a time.  If you are organizing your closet and you want to keep something you think you will wear put the hanger in backwards.  If it is still backwards in a year get rid of it.  We do this yearly with our clothes.  All of our hangers are turned around backwards at the beginning of the year.  Then once worn and hung back up they are put in the correct way.  That way at the end of the year we know if we have not worn something and it is time to get rid of it.  

The best time to give any space a good cleaning is when everything is out of it.  So be sure and make use of this time to give everything a good through cleaning.  Wipe down walls, baseboards, lights, everything!!  It will feel so much better when you are done.  If you are cleaning out drawers be sure to wash them not just wipe them out.  It is surprising how much you will clean out of a drawer with actual soap and water.  ​

Maximizing the space can mean adding a tier to a shelf or a lazy susan to a pantry.  It could also mean maximizing vertical space.  Above the door is a space that is often not utilized and could be perfect for the less used items.  Think creatively on how you can maximize your space.  Under the bed is another area that can often go unused and is perfect for off season clothes and shoes. The back of doors is another area so think out side the box to make the most of the space you have.  Hooks are another way to utilize a space that may go unused otherwise.  If you have a double rod in your closet add a shelf above the lower one and use short baskets to hold additional clothes as in the picture above.
​Hooks are perfect for so many things from hats to kids sweatshirts to robes the list goes on and on.  If you are worried about ruining paint or a wall you can always use the command hooks. There are many new options out there to help you maximize your space.  

When you organize something it needs to be visible, flexible, and accessible in order to be able to keep it organized.  If it is not visible you will waste time looking for it and eventually have to reorganize everything.  Clear containers would be a perfect example of keeping things visible.  If you don't have clear containers use labels so you can quickly and easily identify everything.  
Flexibility comes in many different ways but one of the most is if you are buying storage solutions beside that they can be configured in different ways so if your storage solutions change they will continue to work.  There is nothing worse then spending money on a storage solution that your family outgrows in a year or two so be sure it is flexible.  
Accessibility is also key.  The items you use most should be the most available so in the kitchen the items you use most should be the most handy.  In your closet if you work everyday your work clothes should be the most handy etc.  If you have the items you use most at the most convenient places it is more likely to stay organized.  

There are many ways to actually organize a space whether you choose to do it by occasion or color, pick a scheme that works for you.  It does not have to be the same in every space either.  Maybe you organize your clothes by style: formal, work, casual, and exercise and your books by color.  Either way pick what works for you and the space.  If the space works for you it will have a better chance of staying organized.  Also the ability to be able to see it is very important so if organizing a pantry use clear containers.  And in a pantry you choose what works for you for example in ours I have all my baking items together but the ones that I use the most are first and the others are further down the shelf.  My son loves popcorn and likes to make it himself so instead of keeping the oil and salt that he uses I put all of the popcorn things together that way he knows not only where they are but where they go when he is done and they are more likely to find their way back to the spot then if he had to put the oil in one place and the popcorn in another.   So there is not right or wrong method to how you organize an area it just needs to make sense for you and your family.  

Now that you have cleaned things out decided how you are going to organize them the last thing to do is to put them all back in their space!  And be sure that the next time you put something away it goes in the correct space.  After awhile it become a habit and your space will stay nice and organized and you will find yourself less stressed and with more time for fun things!  Also when putting things in drawers like towels or clothes if you don't fold them like a filing system so you can see everything you should.  It really helps.  I have been folding my husband's and son's t-shirts like that for years.  Now they have a name for it and call it the Marie Kondo method of folding.  When we did it years ago my mom just called it the file method.  It looks like a bunch of files so you can easily see what you have. No matter what you call it believe me it helps to keep the drawers neat and organized.  Another thing that really helps is containers.  If everything has its place then it is more likely to get put in that place.  So in drawers utilize extra small containers.  You don't have to spend a fortune on these Dollar tree has a lot of options or use old Tupperware that no longer has a lid.  Most house typically have a few of those around.  I know we sure do.  Use some extra bowls. Be creative in what you use.  and then LABEL LABEL LABEL.  For kids cut out pictures of items so they know where they go.  If you have a small container in their drawer in the bathroom and have a picture of a brush, toothpaste, and toothbrush for each container they will likely use it.  

We would love to hear from you below on what spaces you organized and how it went!  What method did you choose and are you sticking with it!  Let us know!!
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One essential to every house is having a place where guests can feel comfortable and at home. But making a room to fit that description is a lot harder than it seems. That's why in this blog post, we'll be helping you make the perfect guest room.

The first thing to keep in mind when making a good guest room is that this is not your room. It is for guests, and as such, should not be filled with personal belongings or other paraphernalia. For example, personal photographs, trophies, awards, or decorations are normally should not be in the room. Try to make sure the closet is empty so that the guest has room for his or her suitcase and clothes. Another important aspect to a guest room is a workspace that includes a chair, an outlet nearby, writing utensils, paper, and a desk. This is vital if the guest needs to work while they are at your house. Always make sure the room has enough privacy and does not have an unsavory aroma. Finally, allow for there to some sort of entertainment in the room, namely a television and some books. These aspects are a great start to ensuring that a guest in your house has a great stay.

Now that you have the essentials covered, let's talk about some conveniences. The first thing you should be sure to include is some extra blankets. Fresh towels that are in plain sight is a must. Put the WiFi and password in the room where it is visible, and you will save yourself and your guest a lot of trouble. Having a mirror in the room itself is a very valuable addition as well. One other thing that you should put in the room is a universal charger so that if they forget their phone charger, no matter what phone they have, a charger will be in there for them. One last convenience is to prepare a basket full of any essential toiletry the guest might need, like shampoo, toothpaste, or a toothbrush.  Adding these to your room infinitely increases your hospitality as a host.

The last additions to your guest room are not essential, but add a lot if you are able to. For example, having a coffee and tea station isn't necessary, but if you do have it, your guest can make coffee or tea whenever they want without having to worry about disturbing you. Candles and coasters really sell the luxurious nature of the room, and putting snacks on or near the nightstand is a really nice touch.

By now, your guest room should be looking stunning and welcoming to all guests who are staying there. If you still aren't sure what it needs, try living in the room for a few nights and adjusting what you see fit, or you can contact us at farmhousefixer.com. We look forward to seeing your new guest bedrooms and what you have done to them! Until next time!

2020 has been a difficult one for so many but a lack of money or not being able to do your normal movie theater night, or other activities during the holidays does not have to mean a sad lonely season.  We will give you many ideas that you can do for little to no cost during this crazy year and still have a jolly Christmas season.  You will be sure to have some laughs and make some deeper connections with your family as you go through the list.

Welcome to our first Christmas in this fun fixer upper log home!  While we are still under construction in many rooms we still have made tremendous progress and are having a wonderfully beautiful Christmas here in the Northwest!  
If you came from Dabbling and Decorating welcome.  We are sure you enjoyed Ann's amazing home and great tips!
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Whether you came over from Ann or from Instagram or however you found us we are glad you are here!  Grab a cup of hot cocoa and stay awhile!
While this home is certainly a different style than we have ever owned we are embracing it and loving every minute of it!

Our mudroom is the first room we renovated you can find that link here!  Since it was the first update it will also be the first we share here on our holiday decor tour!  With a log home we decided to go mostly with traditional Christmas colors this year!  And of course what kind of decorator would I be without throwing in some buffalo plaid this year!  

Well at least we thought it would be a quick update.  This room had indoor outdoor carpet which is typically easy to clean and get smells out of but this one smelled like a wet dog had been living in it ...... maybe because it had!  So we ended up ripping up the carpet and it still smelled :(!  We ended up replacing all the sub flooring so at least now we know it is good and smell free :)!  Happy Nose!

The benches were already installed and so were the hooks.  YAY!!!  So a quick coat of paint updated those and really brightened the room right up!  Bonus the two sides both lift up, for hidden storage!  Below is the before picture of what it looked like before we began our DIY project and then after ripping the carpet out and painting.

If you have ever tried to retrofit a farmhouse sink in an older house you know the troubles that can you can encounter.  If you haven't let us warn you - even though it is fairly straightforward; if you are dealing with cabinets that are not exactly level you are in for some work trying to get it level.  You have to build supports if your cabinet was not originally used for a farmhouse sink so why not build the supports as levelers also!

My brilliant husband came up with this genius idea on how to easy level it without shims and any one spot can be adjusted easily and quickly to get it level and keep it level!
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We have had a lot of interest in our Guest room Internet sign so we thought we would just do a quick blog post and include it here for you to be able to download!  It is always nice to have these documents around your house for guests so they don't have to bother asking for the Internet password - it is already in their room waiting for them!  Or you can make a few and put them in various places in your house. We have found they are great in the family room for the babysitters.  They have come in handy after the kids go to bed and they want to get on the Internet and not use their data!

Important note before you do any electrical work in your home you should consult an electrician.  Always use extra precautions also.  Make sure the power is off and use a voltage tester to double check.

After you have consulted with your electrician you are ready to get started!  Styling and building your own Industrial wall sconce or lamp is probably easier than you think!  We love the look of the pipe lights but weren't sure if we wanted to fork out the money so we decided to build one ourselves first before we bought one.  Now we like it more and we can configure them any way we want and the price is great when you do it yourself.  So get dreaming up what you want and let's get started!!

We have four full bathrooms in our house and while technically all of them were usable they didn't exactly inspire relaxation or style. They were functional and fantastic for the 1980s but we preferred a more up to date style without breaking the bank because let's face it the whole house is stuck in the 80s!  Don't get me wrong we love it; great space great rooms gorgeous fireplaces and breathtaking views so fixing up the decor for all these things we will take it.
Below are some of the ways we saved money on our project and other things to consider.
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It is so easy to get lost for hours on Pintrest, Instagram, or Houzz; but whatever you use to search for ideas it is important to narrow those ideas down once you have a good idea of your overall desired style and budget.  Let's face it we can all drool over some of the wonderful pictures and ideas out there but it is not always a reality so we keep those thoughts in mind as we figure out how to get a similar look on a budget!
We have developed and will share with you our easy and successful process that we developed over the years of fixing up homes.  It will help you take control of your project and be successful with the overall desired style and decor whether it is farmhouse, country or anything else the process is the same.