After working on crochet Christmas presents from August until late November, I've taken a few weeks off from the hobby I discovered this year.

However, after all my gifts' recipients seemed to like the items I made, and after I received a couple of wonderful crochet books, I've found myself browsing Pinterest the last few evenings to look for more ideas.

I made several crochet gifts for various people this Christmas, but I forgot to take photos of most of them before giving them away. Whoops.

I've written before about how, as a house person, I tend to make a list at the beginning of each year with a list of house-related projects I'd like to tackle.

This year, Rob and I made some excellent progress on that list - perhaps more than ever before.

Edited Dec. 24, 2012: I'm making this for Christmas lunch tomorrow at my parents', and figured I'd share it again. Hope you all enjoy some delicious food over the holiday, as well!

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I really love the look of things that are galvanized, and recently, my father-in-law gave me this amazing galvanized mop bucket.

It's on casters and has been well-used, as he owns a janitorial company.

I don't have a good use for it yet, and I'm hoping to hear your ideas.

Yesterday, regular guest-blogger Erin Lippitz wrote about decorating cupcakes for the holidays.

My baking friend and coworker Erin Lippitz recently sent me a photo and instructions for how she made gorgeous holiday cupcakes.

It's been more than a week since we finished our bathroom floor, but I'm finally getting around to posting a photo of it.

I could not be happier with the penny tiles. They're a little bit sparkly and are kind of like having a polka-dot floor, but in a socially acceptable way.

Earlier this year, I was shopping one day in Arcola with my baking friend and coworker, Erin Lippitz.

We saw a display of fairy garden furniture at a shop downtown and she expressed her delight at the tiny details.

My co-worker, Christine des Garennes, is working on a little DIY project and needs some help. So, she wrote a guest post for my blog. It's below.

If you have any advice for Christine on restoring this 1940s dollhouse, you can email her by clicking this link.