Refreshment Around the House

November 2, 2016November 2, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

pillow-cover

To keep a home inviting, clean and fresh, it takes attention to details. Not only does the house need a good cleaning each week, but the decor needs to be freshened up, and things that aren’t working and/or functioning well need a solution.

I have three words today to help you do that:

Slipcovers

Paint

Salt

Yes, salt! Let’s start first with…

Slipcovers – We have a chair in our living room that requires my husband to put a pillow behind his back when he sits in it. He has often grabbed one from his office (totally different decor! Ahhh!) and brought it in when we have guests. Recently, I decided I must find a permanent pillow for that seat.

Pillows can be so expensive, and I hadn’t found what I was looking for UNTIL I went to the Hobby Lobby sewing area! I was in the clearance section and found the cutest slipcover for a pillow marked down to $4! I didn’t even have to buy a form for it because I had an ugly velvet pillow with hideous fringe that I had tucked away, and it was the perfect size and shape to slip inside!

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I was so pleased with my find! So, if you want to refresh your pillows on your sofa or bed, don’t buy new ones; go looking for slipcovers. You can change them out seasonally for a fraction of the cost!

Paint – Earlier this summer I dried some of my herbs. They continue to produce, so I’ve dried a lot more and stored them in little herb jars I found on clearance at TJ Maxx. Every time I reach into the cabinet for one of them, I have to look carefully before adding it to my food to determine which herb it is. I decided it was time to label the jars so it would make this task easier.

Using scotch tape, I made a square on each jar. Then I painted on several coats of chalkboard paint. When it was dry, I peeled off the tape and used chalk to write the name of the herb on the jar. Not only will I find the herb I need much quicker, the paint adds a cute little bit of charm! What do you need to label? Consider chalkboard paint to do the job!

Salt – We had one bathroom sink that had gotten backed up. Not wanting to purchase a drain cleaner at the store, I researched for a simple solution. The answer was as easy as hot water and salt.

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Using a straightened out coat hanger and gloves on my hands, I got rid of any thing that was under the drain.
I poured 1/2 cup of salt slowly into the drain. I added boiling water slowly.
I added more salt (about 1/2 cup) and more hot water.
Immediately the drain opened up and the everything gurgled right down the pipes!

It just makes me smile when things are more organized and function well around my house! Do you need to refresh your home with one of these three tips?

Stay refreshed,

Friday Favorites – Fall Party

October 7, 2016October 6, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

Last weekend we got to have a lovely Fall party in our backyard. It was so much fun to prep and decorate for it, and I couldn’t wait to show you some pictures.

The guests were our recent Apples Of Gold mentoring group and their husbands. The Lord gave us a gorgeous day and evening to enjoy being outside for the entire dinner.

I used mums and small pumpkins, as well as corn stalks out on the patio area. I covered the three round tables where our guests ate with brown butcher paper. Then I wrote the guest’s names on the paper. Each table had a centerpiece that was a mixture of fall items – pumpkins, candles, apples, leaves and other decorative pieces set on a wooden tray or a piece of barn wood (see pic below).

The menu consisted of:

Artichoke Dip and crackers

Veggie Tray and dip

Blue Cheese Crackers

Cream of Wild Rice Soup

Potato Soup

Beef and Barley Soup

Homemade French Bread

Harvest Salad – Greens, apples, red onion, dried cranberries, walnuts and blue cheese with a Balsamic vinaigrette

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Texas Sheet Cake

The evening turned nice and cool, making the fire a welcomed place to gather to share testimonies of how the Lord has used Apples of Gold in each life, to sing songs and to be challenged by my husband to “Continue” and “Compliment.” I thought the night was a huge success and can’t wait to host another gathering outside this fall!

Other events of the weekend consisted of a morning in Jonesborough with my daughter, Alli. Jonesborough (the oldest city in TN) is always quaint and fun and beautiful, but add a farmer’s market, a library book sale and fall decorations, and you have a perfect morning!

That waffle with blueberries above was my breakfast – fixed by my sweet husband before I headed out to Jonesborough! Okay, I made the waffles and froze them, so all he had to do was toast them, but he thought of me, fixed breakfast, added blueberries and brought it up to me while I was having my Quiet Time! What a great way to start any day!

One last group of photos below will reveal a kitty who curled up in the wooden tray on my chaise lounge – one I used ot hold magazines! I never know where I’ll find her sleeping!

I was on the search for a gray cardigan and I found the one pictured here clearnanced priced for a whopping $5! Double win!!

The fall sunrises have been so beautiful! I feel like Robert Sheffey, the old circuit riding preacher when he would see the sun setting and would take his sheep skin and go pray because he could “almost see heaven peeking through those clouds.” I use my walking time to pray out loud to the Lord. These cool, beautiful mornings have been such a blessing as I cry out to the Lord, walk and pray!

My week and my heart is full of so many of God’s blessings! I am undeserving, but so very thankful! What fun things did you do this week?

Stay refreshed,

Home decor

Bedroom Re-Arrangement

September 21, 2016September 20, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Hmmm,. maybe I should’ve been a licensed furniture mover. Why? I love moving the furniture around in my house! It just hits me while I’m sitting in the room. I’ll think…

That would look better over THERE! Then I could put this where that was!

Recently I was in my bedroom and realized that the two chairs in there were too far apart. My husband and I needed a place in our room where we could sit and chat without having to sound like we were having a knock-down drag out! Ha!

So, I started pulling and tugging the chairs and side tables that were already in there to a more “conversational-appropriate space.”

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Of course I don’t just move one thing – one leads to something else and something else and …well, you get the idea. So I also moved that little cafe table near the window for good lighting and a lovely view of the backyard. I’ve really enjoyed sitting there and working. That window gets great sunshine in the late afternoon, making it bright and even lovelier!

I’m still on the lookout for a throw or blanket to put on our bed that has some turquoise in it to add a pop of color.

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I put my little round table in the corner, but when I sat down to have my coffee, there was no where to set my coffee cup, so I scooted it closer within reach. This is a perfect spot for my daily Quiet Time! There’s good lighting with the lamp over the chair and the floor lamp beside the chaise lounge. Of course the window gives light as well. Liza tested it out and she approved!

Another change I did in the bedroom recently was the picture over the headboard. I had a mirror there, but it was too high to reflect the windows as I’d hoped, so it’s now over the mantle in the living room. I walked through my house and realized that the bicycle picture I had in the foyer was perfect for over the bed! The colors are perfect, and it speaks well of our love for biking! I love it when I don’t have to buy a thing to complete a rearrangement!

bedroom-rearrangement

All our married lives our bedroom has been quite small, and to have the blessing of this kind of space is a true gift from the Lord. But you know what? Even when our room was small, I still did what I could to create seating for conversation and coziness. No matter the size of your home, do what you can to love your bedroom. Make it a space you and your spouse love retreating to. Little changes like moving the furniture around, adding soft lighting, or bringing in a little table from another room can make a huge difference!

My home is a work in progress. It’s ever changing with our needs and the seasons, and I love it! Change keeps things from getting cluttered up and it also keeps the occupants on their toes so they don’t fall over or bump into the most recently moved piece of furniture!

What do you need to do to make your bedroom space even cozier?

Thanks for dropping by!

cat · Home decor · Marriage

Friday Favorites

September 9, 2016September 6, 2016 RefreshHer3 Comments

The first week of September has been a good start to the month! These are some of my favorite things that happened this week. (From top to bottom, left to right)

My flower boxes were looking a little weary, so I refreshed them with mums, rosemary and Asters. This is the first time I’ve added rosemary, but I’m hoping since it’s so hardy it will do well all winter!
If you follow me on Instagram (denisec_refreshHer), you saw this picture on my #Mondaymarriagematters. I drew this little picture on the bathroom mirror the night before my husband jumped back into preaching after sabbatical. I wanted to remind him I was praying for him and behind him!
Sunday morning our dear Rod Carter, 90 years old, was so happy to see his pastor at the door. We missed every member while we were gone, and Sunday was quite the reunion!
My husband ran in a 10K on Saturday! I’m so proud of him for staying fit and active! I am NOT runner, so I went to stand on the sidelines and cheer him on!
This sunrise was September first. What a glorious reminder that my God is in control and will give grace and glory for each day ahead!
The mornings have been so cool and refreshing that one morning I sat in a rocker on the front porch and had my Bible reading. It was so beautiful, quiet and refreshing in every way!
My kitty Liza does so many funny things. She is not one to jump on the counters, or furniture, so the morning I found her like this was quite hilarious. I had used the tub to fill my water pitcher to water the flower boxes and she jumped in to get a drink of the droplets that were still in the tub! How would you caption this picture?

Then to end the week we have our really special ladies’ event at our church! If you’re in the area, I invite you to join us for our Ladies’ Event. Our Theme is, “When God Writes Your Story.”

Carol Trahan is our guest speaker tonight and tomorrow morning. Carol is a Word-filled speaker whose story is not what she would have chosen, but she has allowed the Lord to take the tragedies that have touched her life to refine and mold her into the image of Christ. She is a Word-filled speaker who exalts her Savior with her testimony of His goodness in her times of brokenness.

Friday night begins with a fashion workshop, some fun skits, then a time in God’s Word with Carol. Then we go home and sleep in our own comfy bed and return the next morning. Saturday will be filled with helpful workshops you can choose from, and two more sessions with Carol. Breakfast starts at 9:00 and the day moves on from there. I pray you’ll come and bring a friend!

Praying you have a great weekend of spiritual encouragement!

Denise Signature 150 px

entertaining · Home decor · organization · summertime

A Look Through My Lens

July 8, 2016July 7, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

It’s unreal how much activity goes on in one week, isn’t it? I look through my photos on my camera and am shocked at how much we did in the last seven days! Let me give you a look through my lens:

On Friday night we hosted our church teen group at our home. They are led by Alli’s husband, Andrew who does a great job! The teens love both Alli and Andrew, and it was fun to see them interact that evening. They played volleyball, and a new version of football. Oh, and they ate. A LOT! Which means they loved it, and that makes me happy!Their meal was a simple one of grilled hot dogs and the fixings, but I can’t wait to tell you about the dessert we served. Here’s a little peek, but I’ll share the details with you on Monday.

On Saturday I hosted a baby shower for a sweet young mom, expecting her first baby. You can tell by the pictures that she’s expecting a girl!

A friend at church did the food, and it was amazing.

Another gal does the cupcakes for our church showers. These are White Chocolate Raspberry. Oh my goodness!! The little size makes it completely safe to try without feeling too guilty! Also check out the waffle bowls filled with fresh fruit; those were so good!

Saturday night my husband and I went with Alli and Andrew to Carter’s Fold to hear Fiddlin’ Carson Peters, a talented 12 year-old who plays fiddle with his father and two other instrumentalists. It was such a fun night! The music was great, the setting was country and perfect!

Sunday morning we had the blessing of seeing two little girls who recently accepted Christ as their Savior get baptized, or as one of them called it, “Bap-ti-tized!” It always brings tears to my eyes to see these young ones trust Christ, then declare their devotion to follow Him all their lives!

It also always makes me so thankful to be married to the pastor who gets the privilege of baptizing, and pouring into their lives the Truth of God’s Word. He always gives a personal challenge to each one, and it’s so sweet.

Sunday evening we did not have services at church. My husband and I took special care to spend time together and also to rest. We sat on our front porch rockers and played Farkle while several of our neighbors put on quite a firework display.

We had front row seats and never had to leave home!

Even Liza got to enjoy some time outside. That’s a great treat for this indoor kitty!

Monday’s Fourth of July celebrations took us to Cherokee Lake to friends’ home. We had a wonderful time. It included a feast of picnic foods, a boat ride, and fellowship with new friends.

This barn was on the dead end road that took us to the lake house. What is it about old barns that makes them so beautiful?

My pantry got some further organization when I finally found a couple of Lazy Susans at TJ Maxx. These will make finding my canned goods so much easier!

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Lastly, I harvested some of my herbs a few weeks ago and had them drying in small bundles in our hot, dry garage. This week I pulled the leaves off and got them stored in small jars. They’re so fragrant and I can’t wait to use all three – Thyme, Dill and Oregano.

God is good to give sweet blessings that we get to enjoy each day. He also gives grace for the difficult things that come, but God is always good!

How have you seen God’s goodness to you this week? Do you have a favorite photo from this post?

Stay refreshed,

Denise