SHE Spring Cleans

Hey Y’all, 

February is winding up and fingers crossed spring is on the way. Has your home become kind of stale over the winter months? I know mine seems to be. Everything has been closed up to keep out the cold. 

You may not be this way, but I am not very motivated to do any extra chores in the winter. So when the days get sunnier and warmer I know it is time for “Spring- cleaning”.  I use this time to do the chores I don’t do every week. You know light fixtures, curtains down, windows cleaned, mattresses flipped, cabinets cleaned and closets purged. 

I must admit, I never seem to toss out enough- how do we accumulate so much STUFF?? But I do make an effort. A good idea might be to try to get rid of 10 things.  When switching out your closet for the next season, sort your clothes- If you didn't wear this year or it doesn't fit, get rid of it. There is no reason to hang on to these things.

image via Target

Time to pack away the snowman and bring out my Easter and spring time decorations. I use several storage totes to organize our seasonal clothes and decorations. These are easy to handle and hold so much.

image via Genevieve Bond Gifts

 If spring cleaning over whelms you, try developing a cleaning schedule.  This super cute agenda is so fun and seems to say "Happy Spring".   And hey, it could be used to keep up with your cleaning tasks.  If you need an idea of where to begin,  this is a good example of a monthly cleaning schedule. By tackling specific tasks each day, week and month, you can stay super organized.

Here's to kicking off a squeaky clean spring ~ Stay tuned for plenty of cleaning "how-to's" this month.                                                          

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links,  we may receive a small commission.

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SHE Sets A Table

Hey y'all! So whether you have the party gene or not, chances are you're going to need to set a table at some point in your life. Obviously, you're going to want to make sure you do it right!

Study this picture above and you'll be good to go! This is considered an informal place setting. A formal place setting would have a bread plate, white and red wine glasses, dessert spoon, cake knife, and cup and saucer. You don't see this much anymore so I'm sticking with the informal setting.

This post is going to be short because you can see it all in the picture above!

Tips and Tricks

1. If you have a salad plate and/or bowl, you'll want to put those on top of your dinner plate. You can then either place the napkin in the bowl or under the knife and spoons.

2. Make sure the blade of the knife is facing the plate like in the picture. 

3. Mix it up with pretty chargers under your plate or a placemat!

I hope this has been helpful for you and you're ready for your next party!

Be sure to check back next Thursday. I'll be sharing how I folded my napkin and just how easy it is!

xo Courtney

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SHE Cooks: Homemade Biscuits

I love Biscuits!!!  I love biscuits!!  I have tried several recipes over the years, but I have found the easiest and I want to share it with you!  Now here's the deal....you must act like these take forever and your great grandmother gave you her secret recipe and you can only share this with a family member or friend...never mind don't share!  Keep them guessing!

This is how it all begins.  This wonderful mix you can find near the flour at your local grocery store.  Before you leave grab a half gallon of buttermilk too!  Those are the only ingredients you need to make the most wonderful biscuits ever!

Thank you to my friend Frankie who told me about this wonderful product!!

The recipe is on the back of the package and is very easy.  You just combine the mix with buttermilk until incorporated.  The most important thing to remember to make fluffy biscuits - you never, ever over mix. That is how your biscuits become tough. Once you have mixed lightly, turn your dough out onto wax paper that has been lightly floured.

You can roll out your dough or if you don't have a rolling pin just flatten it with your hands until it is about 1/2 an inch thick.  Still keeping in mind not to work it too much or it will be tough and not fluffy.

 You can cut out your biscuits with a biscuit cutter, a round cookie cutter, or if you are like me...a glass.

Then you bake those biscuits on 450 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Notice how they are touching on the pan.  Biscuits like to touch lightly when cooking.  (not like cookies that need space) 

Now to enjoy these beauties!  I am going to slather on the butter and apple butter and eat my fill.  I wish you could smell them, they are heavenly!

Give these and try and let me know how they turn out in the comments section!

Lisa B

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SHE: Marinades

Hey Ya'll! I hope you're having a great week. Today I wanted to share with you a marinade that I use on basically any and every type of meat. It consists of ingredients most people keep on hand, and it's super flavorful!

 I will admit, I am not a measurer - I usually eyeball everything and it still turns out great. When I marinade, I like to make sure every piece of meat is evenly coated with seasoning. Sometimes I think plastic storage bags work great, but when using this marinade I like to use a container of some sort just so everything is easier to season - totally a personal preference though!

Start by pouring some vegetable oil over your meat, not drowning it, but enough to coat it all. Then season all sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion flakes. Sprinkle a tablespoon or so of worcestershire sauce and a few dabs of soy sauce - not too much because it can be very salty. If you are using this marinade on fish or shrimp I would add a drop or two of lemon juice for a fresher flavor, but again, it's optional!

Marinade

Vegetable Oil (1/2 - 3/4 cup)

Salt

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Onion Flakes

Worcestershire Sauce

Soy Sauce 

Lemon Juice (optional)

As mentioned earlier, I use this marinade for everything - steaks, roasted chicken breasts and stew meat, even grilled shrimp! If you plan on using this for beef or chicken, allow the meat to marinade at least over night to get the best flavor. If you plan on using this for seafood or shrimp, a few hours to sit in the marinade will work just fine.

I hope you enjoy this simple marinade. Let me know in the comments how you plan to use it!

xo ~ Brittney

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SHE Cooks: Homemade Chicken Salad

Homemade Chicken Salad

Hey Y'all, 

Today I am sharing a yummy chicken salad recipe.  It is so versatile.  You can serve it at a special occasion luncheon or shower.  But it is so very easy to make, I think you will be packing it for your workday lunch. I think your children will like it too.  It’s healthier I think because it’s homemade and you know exactly what ingredients you used. 

Basic recipe:

1 ½ c. cooked chicken, (white meat, shredded)
¾ c chopped, seedless grapes    
¼ c chopped nuts 1/8 tsp onion salt

1/8 tsp garlic salt and 
1/8 tsp celery salt
3 Tbsp. mayonnaise

Mix all together in a bowl. Cover and chill 1-2 hrs. for the best flavor. It will look a little creamy at first, but the mayo will be absorbed as it chills so you may need to add a little more before serving.

 

That is my basic recipe, but here are a few of my suggestions to make it your own. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the recipe.  This is what makes cooking fun.

Fruit:  red or green grapes – whichever your family likes but you can also add apples or pineapple or golden raisins 
Nuts: I use pecans, but almonds or walnuts would be tasty 
Mayonnaise: I am a fan, but I know a lot are not.  Use as little as possible or use Greek yogurt
Chicken: a shredded rotisserie chicken or 1 lg. can of Swanson's chicken work just as well and will save some time. 

 
Once chilled,it is ready to serve on a pretty platter.  Depending on the occasion, I serve mine with croissant rolls or buttery crackers.  You can use it to top a Romaine salad or as a dip with crackers.  It is really good by itself.  

 

Give this recipe a try soon~ I think you will be hooked. Let us know what you think.   
Be sure to share SHE Degree with a friend and invite them to join us today. 

  xoxo, 

Amy 

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links,  we may receive a small commission.

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SHE Splurges: Work Clothes

Okay SHE's, I'm sharing what I consider to be important for those of us in the working world (#CubeLife) - Clothes.

Some weeks you see your coworkers more than you see your family, so it's obvious we want to be cute, but why waste your money on clothes that will only be around to wear a couple of times. So today I'm going to let you in on what pieces I think you need to splurge on. Splurging on the right pieces is key to making sure you have a closet full of things that are going to last you. Let's get started!

First up is a good solid colored blouse (or two - three). Having a few tops that you know are going to make it past the third wear is worth the few extra dollars. 

Image via The Limited

Up next is a good dress. This sheath dress from The Limited is my favorite. I have it in three colors (still want the rest) and wear it all the time. I've had them for two years or so and they still look just as good as day one. Worth the splurge!

Image via The Limited

You're also going to need a good jacket. Even if your office is business casual, chances are there will be a meeting here or there that you're going to need this for. I like to have my nice suit jacket and then one of these fun colored cotton jackets. 

Image via The Limited

Image via The Limited

Let's move to the bottom half. You're going to need a good pair of pants and a skirt. Always splurge on these. You'll be thankful that you do!

Image via The Limited

Image via The Limited

Okay, now that you've stocked your closet with your key pieces go run to Target and fill it up with fluff pieces!

What are your go-to splurge pieces?

xo Courtney

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SHE Loves Her Pets

Hey Ya'll! I've mentioned before that Andrew and I have three fur babies - Maggie, Manning, and Millie. When we first made the decision to be pet parents, we made a "rule" that they would be outside critters. As much as we love them, we can't trust them enough to stay inside while we're at work, and they loathe crates - they have entirely way too much energy to stay in one all day. With the colder weather we've been having, we've had to make some adjustments to our "rule". Today I'll share with you how we're adjusting to the colder weather and tips to keep your pets safe and warm.

• If your pet stays outside during the day, it is important to notice if their skin is irritated from the elements. If it becomes dry or itchy you can try adding a probiotic to their food or, if your dogs are unlike mine and enjoy baths, try letting them soak in an oatmeal bath. It should hydrate their skin quickly. However, it's not recommended to bathe too frequently, because it can also cause skin drying.

• Although dogs have fur, they can still become cold. If you are wearing a coat, gloves, and hat and are still cold, so are your pets. Even long haired dogs can experience this; if their fur becomes wet, it's more likely to become matted and not keep them as warm. There are pet sweaters and boots to help keep them warm, but not all will want to wear those. If your dog isn't one for clothing, try providing them a spot out of the elements (garage or dog house) with a comfy bed and blankets they can snuggle under. Our pups love these beds.

• Bring them inside at night. The temperature drops and no one likes to sleep in the cold. When we get ready for bed at night, we bring the pets inside. We keep their beds in a room off of our garage so they are close to outside if we need to take them out, but still warm and safe.

Sleepy Babies

Millie loves heated blankets

• Your pets can also burn more calories while trying to stay warm. Add a little extra food to their bowls when it's cold to make sure they don't get hungry.

I hope your pets are staying warm and safe these last few months of winter. Here's to a warm spring with lots of sunny naps!

xo ~ Brittney

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SHE loves to smile

Hey Y’all,

 Although February is a short month, it is jam packed with holidays and celebrations. Ground Hog Day, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day you probably knew.  But do you know it is also Children’s Dental Health month?  There is nothing sweeter than a baby's smile. 

image via google

A smile breaks the ice, welcomes you home and says so much about you, so it is important to keep those pearly whites healthy. Some simple ways to help you be sure they are:

1) Brush using a soft toothbrush and a small amount of an ADA approved  toothpaste at least twice a day.  Don’t forget to floss daily today.   Mommas - brush for your little ones at night ~ encourage them to learn to brush, but really until they are older they just can’t get them clean enough. Let them handle the morning and you get them at night (hopefully your nights are a little less rushed.) You may find an electric toothbrush encourages longer brushing.

      2) Avoid sugary snacks and drinks between meals. This means “sports drinks” too. They are extremely acidic and can lead to enamel erosion and decay.  Encourage your children (and yourself) to  sip on water between meals.  Sipping all day causes tooth decay.

image via google

      3) See your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and check-up. Little ones should visit the dentist  by age 3 and an orthodontist by age 7.  Orthodontics (braces ) aren’t for children only.  Having your teeth and jaws aligned can improve your dental health by making it easier to keep your teeth clean and  a having a smile 

      you are proud of can really boost your self-confidence. Most orthodontists offer  complimentary (FREE) initial exams. 

You dental health is important for your physical health too.  I bet you didn’t know gum disease can 

complicate heart issues and diabetes.  No insurance? Check your local community college, many offer reduced fees for routine checkups if they have an accredited dental program. If your smile isn’t what you want it to be, ask your dentist or dental hygienist how you can improve it.  Check the links added  above for more dental information.  Hope these tips can give you a reason to smile ~  Let me know if you have any questions. I will be glad to try to help point you in the right direction. 

image via google

xoxo, 

Amy 

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing product through my links, we may receive a small commission.

 

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