Look What a Little Paint Can Do!

July 31, 2020July 30, 2020 RefreshHer7 Comments

I have always been a fan of transforming a room by adding some color, but it’s also amazing what a little paint can do to a piece of furniture!

This week while visiting my folks in Kentucky, I did a project – I painted their outdoor bench. Two colors of paint, a little time, and a LOT of sweat (it was Hot!), and this bench was truly given new life. It went from this…

to this…

Often it’s easy to think we need to buy new furniture because we change the colors in our home, but we fail to realize that a coat of paint might do the trick instead.

At one time I used a lot of red accents in my home, but have gone to mostly blue and white. As you can see in this old picture, the black and red bar stools just weren’t adding the right appeal to the kitchen space. So, this spring I decided to paint them an off white, the color of my cabinets.

Here are the results….

I LOVE painted furniture because it keeps you from having to buy another new piece and it helps you make the most of what you already have.

I encourage you to take a look around your house and see if there’s a piece of furniture you own that is either needing a face lift, or needs paint to add either a pop of color for accent, or a neutral shade to help blend in with your decor.

A few tips I would give before you start…

Clean the piece well before you start
Remove any hardware
Invest in a good brush – it doesn’t have to be expensive
Tape off areas where the paint should not go
Take your time
Rough up wooden furniture with sandpaper before painting
Take a before and after picture!
Don’t be afraid…it’s just paint!

A can of paint is a low cost investment in updating your home! Why not refresh your home by adding new life to an old piece of furniture you already own?!

Have you painted furniture? If not, what’s keeping you from taking the plunge?

A New Side Dish for Delicious Variety!

July 27, 2020July 27, 2020 RefreshHerLeave a comment

If there’s an area of meal planning where I find it hard to come up with new ideas, it’s the category of side dishes! It’s so easy to get into a rut of green beans, corn and baked potatoes. We like each of those things and they’re easy. They take no thought, but they get really boring after a while!

Recently when looking for something to add to my meal of Tandoori Shrimp, I came across a Brown Rice Salad and Black Beans and Corn recipe. I had all the ingredients on hand, so I went for it! Were we very happy I did! My husband raved about it the first night and when leftovers were served the next day, he exclaimed again how good this was! I heartily agree! You could serve this warm or cold and it would be perfect.

It’s hard to get a pretty picture of brown rice, so you have to trust me on this one. The flavor combinations are just so good!

Brown Rice Salad with Black Beans and Corn

1 Cup instant uncooked Brown Rice
15 oz. Black Beans, drained
1 Cup frozen corn kernels
1/4 Cup diced scallions
2 Tbl cilantro
2 tsp pickled Jalapeno peppers – I left this out
1 Tbl lime juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions:
Cook rice according to directions on package.
While rice is warm, add all other ingredients. Serve with lime wedges.

This couldn’t be easier! It would be a great accompaniment to Mexican meals, chicken or fish.

Get out of your side dish rut and try this. You may be a long time before you look at baked potatoes again!

outfits · summertime

Keeping your outfits classy when it’s hot outside

July 24, 2020July 24, 2020 RefreshHer8 Comments

It’s mid July and it’s hot and humid in the south! While we all realize that thinner summer clothes are necessary for the temperatures, we need to be mindful to keep those summer outfits classy. That does not mean we have to be dressed up on casual days, but keeping things appropriate and tasteful is the name of the game.

1. Keep it cool and covered

When tops or dresses are thin or low cut, layer a thin tank top underneath. They can be found at Old Navy, Target, Walmart…lots of places! I have them in many colors. Just make sure they’re not too scooped to cover what needs to be covered. I’ve heard of women wearing them backwards in order to achieve that!

Outfit- Thin white top with white tank and white jeans. I love adding a pop of color in the shoe when I wear white. For a tailored look, If the top is flowing like this one, make sure the pants are slim and straight.

The tank underneath keeps this top from being see-through and too low in the V, as well as under the arm.

2. Undergarments should stay under!

Keeping it classy means wearing proper styles of underclothes that do just what they say and stay hidden under your clothes. Make sure your bra straps are razor back when you wear necklines or sleeves that are cut in. Again, wearing a tank top under can help hide your straps.

Again, wearing a tank under this top kept things underneath.

3. Add lighter Accessorizes

Don’t neglect accessories just because it’s hot. Wearing thin, layered chains is really a great look right now and they’re also not as hot as some necklaces can be. Find staggering lengths to wear together.

I have on three layered necklaces at varying lengths that added some style but no heat!

This little necklace would also be perfect in a hot day.

Another great addition is statement earrings as another way to accessorize your outfit, but forgo the necklace so you won’t have the Gypsy look! 😉 Also, as in the white outfit above, even your shoes that add a pop of color act as your accessory!

Summer outfits are fun, colorful, and can still keep you classy and cool!

Do you need to refresh your approach to your summertime outfits? What addition will you make?

breakfast · Fast meal · Make-Ahead

Bump up your breakfast game

July 20, 2020July 19, 2020 RefreshHer7 Comments

I always eat breakfast, but I find it the most difficult meal to want to prepare. I’m ready to get my day started and don’t like fussing over that first meal of the day. Can anyone else relate?

It’s for that reason that I try to have this things on hand that are either quick to prepare or can be made ahead and just warmed up.

If you’re like me and struggle with getting breakfast ready, let me share a few of my favorite go-to morning meals.

Baked Oatmeal with apples or bananas is hearty, easy to prepare and reheats nicely. Here’s one of the recipes I use often. This same page has a delicious Banana Bread that’s another great addition for breakfast, and it’s also a lighter version!

Baked Eggs With Hashbrowns and Canadian Bacon
Here’s an egg dish with all the morning breakfast foods! It is also hearty and reheats well.

6 spray(s)cooking spray
1 tsp olive oil
3 cup(s)frozen hash brown potatoes
1 small uncooked onion(s), thinly sliced
1⁄4 tsp kosher salt
1 1⁄4 tsp dried thyme, plus more for garnish
3 slice(s)uncooked Canadian bacon, diced
12 large eggs

Instructions:
1. Place oven rack in middle of oven. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a 12-hole standard muffin pan with cooking spray.

2. Heat a medium skillet over high heat; add oil and swirl to coat pan. Reduce heat to medium-high; add potatoes, onion, salt and thyme. Sauté until lightly golden and tender, 5-7 minutes; remove from skillet. Spoon about 1/4 cup potato mixture into each prepared muffin hole; bake 15 minutes – Less if you want a runny yolk!

3. Meanwhile, return skillet to heat; add Canadian bacon. Sauté until crispy on edges, 3 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside.

4. Crack an egg, one at a time, into a small ramekin or cup; gently slide an egg into each muffin hole. Bake for 9 minutes; remove from oven and evenly divide bacon over eggs. Return pan to oven; bake for 3 minutes more.

5. To serve, run a knife around edge of each egg and lift out onto individual plates or a serving platter; sprinkle with dried thyme and serve immediately.

6. Serving size: 1 baked egg with hash brown crust

Then there’s this Fruity Peanut Butter Toast I made recently and LOVED!! It’s as pretty as it is delicious! It’s simply whole grain bread, toasted and topped with peanut butter and whatever fruit you like. Then add a tiny drizzle of honey over the fruit. So good!

There’s no need to go without breakfast just because you don’t have time to stop and make it in the morning. Get a jump on things and prepare ahead so you can have a delicious meal at the start of your day!

Anyone else love breakfast but dread making it?

I hope you’ll refresh your breakfast routine with one of these easy ideas!

gratitude · summertime

Pictures of Summer

July 17, 2020 RefreshHer14 Comments

Perhaps you’ve heard the line, “When this you see, think of me.” What do you see that automatically takes you to summer? Maybe it’s the 100 degrees on the thermometer outside your window accompanied by 100% humidity, but I mean the good pictures, the things that make your heart happy!

It IS hot right now, but there are too many good things we can’t overlook. I’m asking the Lord to give me a heart of thanks in both this season of the year and in our world. That means we need eyes that look for the blessings and a mouth to speak it.

So here are a few of my summer blessings in picture form today!