Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day 2017  ~

Enjoying the day with our family and hoping you are able to do so too!! Grateful for the

men and women who made

this day possible.

Back soon with some tips and tricks to share

with you all.

xoxo, 

        Amy

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SHE: BBQs Safely

Hey Y'all,

Next weekend, Memorial Day, has always kicked off the summer for me. (I guess it is because school is generally over, the weather is definitely feeling like summer and it's a long holiday weekend for most.)   And a holiday weekend means we will be using the BBQ for something... burgers, chicken, ribs, veggies... awesome options! 

image via google

Tweet, tweet... here comes the Birdie ~ Remember that with the increased outdoor temps + having your food outdoors waiting to be grilled/ eaten = the potential for food contamination.... And no one wants that! So with a few precautions, I think your BBQ will be a hit~ and your guests will stay healthy.

1) First off, make sure your grill is clean and in good working order. Don't wait until you are ready to fire it up to check things out.

2) Practice good hygiene, washing hands thoroughly before and after touching foods.

3) Keep your food properly stored until ready to grill: in a refrigerator or cooler.

4) Use separate, clean utensils / platters for raw and cooked meats.

5) Be sure everything is cooked to the proper temperature, undercooked chicken is a recipe for disaster.

6) Put away leftovers as soon as you are finished: mayo based salads do NOT hold up well in the    heat.  They can become contaminated in less than 1 hour in the heat. So keep them in the cooler until ready to serve.  And then repack as soon as everyone is served.

Here are a few illustrations about BBQ safety  you might like too.   How are you kicking off your summer?  We are fortunate to be able to grill almost year round here in Chattanooga.  But it's so fun and a great way to keep dinners light and the house cool during the summer heat we are also blessed to have :)

Let's get to the BBQ friends ~

xoxo,
Amy

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SHE: Has A Village

Hey Y'all,

May 6, 2017

Last weekend we had a very quick trip to Mobile, Alabama. We traveled there to see my sweet niece, Kaity, graduate from college. As I imagine most college students are at this time of year, Kaity was tired and stressed.  She was so ready for a break that she tried to downplay the significance of the day.  She tried to convince us that we should not make a big deal" about it because she is continuing her education in the fall and not really "finished" with school.  Kaity is headed to Pharmacy school y'all! That's a pretty big deal and we could not be more proud.  Needless to say, there was no way we were letting the day go by without a celebration. In fact, it turned out to be a mini family reunion with my Mom, sister, brother in law, his dad, an aunt, uncles, cousins and Kaity's boyfriend.  It was so much fun seeing everyone, it had been so long since we were together. Her parents and Grandmother (my mom) did a great job organizing everything. There was a lot of smiling and laughing, first time introductions (several had not met our precious Andrew or Kaity's boyfriend, Wesley) and just getting reacquainted. We even called and "Face timed" with an Aunt and cousin who couldn't attend ~ gotta love technology!  And you know we had to take photos with everyone... lots and lots of photos.  As I looked at each smile in the photos, it was so evident that these people loved Kaity and each other. Even though we were missing several aunts & uncles and cousins, each person and family represented has had an impact on her life.  This weekend was a perfect example of the phrase..."it takes a village".  And Kaity's village was very proud of her.  

May 5, 2017

Do you have a village? A group of people who support you no matter the need ? They influence and encourage; They are your cheerleader, tear wiper and prayer warriors. Surround yourself with these people~ SHE's that love you and yours well. Good luck sweet Kaity-Did! We can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for your future & thankful to be included in your village.

xoxo,

Aunt Amy

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She Plans: Planner Box

Happy Friday, y'all! We made it to the end of the week, and to celebrate we're sharing with you one of our favorite new products! If you've followed She Degree for a while now, you've probably realized that we love planners + planner accessories around here. Washi tape, stickers, clips, pens, markers, stencils - you name, we love it. 

If you're new to the world of planning, it can be very overwhelming. The planning community has taken off recently + has flooded stores like Michael's, Target, and Hobby Lobby, but when there is so much to buy, how do you choose? 

Incase you're too busy to go shopping, or too indecisive to decide what to buy when you get there, OR just LOVE all things planning, we have just the new planning item you need - a monthly subscription box! 

Our close friends at Bustle + Bee have created the perfect monthly subscription box that every busy girl needs. 

If you're a just starting out as a planner, or have been doing it for a while, this box has everything you could need. Each month the box will contain something a little different, hand picked by the owners. This month's box includes: 

Heart Stickers, Gold Pen, Mini Weekly Spread, Pointed Paper Clips, and Page Flag Washi Tape! 

We got to speak with the owners and creators of Bustle + Bee, Turner and Clare, and decided to ask them a few questions! Here's what they said: 

1) What is your favorite product in the box, and why? 

Probably the gold gel pen. It just writes smoothly and looks so good. We were actually disappointed that we didn't end up with any extra after putting together our boxes! 

2) If you could give our readers one planning tip, what would it be?

Always makes lists. Our number one tip for organizing a crazy, overwhelming week is to sit down and make a list of small, manageable tasks. Start with the smallest one, then tackle the more daunting ones.

3) Why do you plan? 

We think it's hard to get life in order without a physical, paper book that can keep track of the things our brains can't. We plan to try to make sense of the chaos that is life! 

4) Finally, what inspired you to start this company? 

We both love planning and organizing our busy lives, and we also love subscription boxes. One day, the idea came to mind and we just decided to go with it. Since it combines so much of what we both love, it was an easy business to start. 

Okay, now that you know how amazing these women are + how awesome their product is - head over to https://bustleandbee.wixsite.com/home/the-box to order your very own box! We are in love with ours and know you will be too. 

xoxo, Madison 

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SHE Knows Electrical Safety

Happy Friday!

April showers bring May flowers. We all know the saying, and boy did it rain in April.... but here it is May 5th and it's still raining!! I'm getting tired of it myself. I need some sunshine and back porch sitting in my life.  

With all the rain we've been having there are plenty of downed power lines. Whether it's from fallen trees, wrecks caused from hydroplaning, high winds, or anything else.  The timing of this post is perfect if you ask me. Lots of rain AND May is National Electrical Safety Month.  This infographic I'm sharing with you today went around my office this week (utility industry = safety), and I knew that it was perfect to share with y'all. 

Please take a good look at this and make sure you remember it. If you come across downed power lines you need to stay 40 feet away. If they are touching your car STAY IN THE CAR unless you 100% must exit (aka the car is on fire).  These tips could save your life or someone you come across. 

I hope y'all found this as useful as I did!  Stay safe and we'll all dream of sunny days!

xo Courtney

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SHE: Mother's Day Gift Guide

Hey Y'all,  

Mother's Day is right around the corner. Have you thought about what to get that special Mom in your life?  Today I am sharing a few ideas for Moms in all seasons of life. This first list has items that are typically appreciated by any Mom:

• Cards
• Flowers or plants
• Gift cards to favorite restaurants or coffee shops, favorite boutiques
• Manicure/ Pedicure gift card: pretty hands and feet make you feel good
• Gift basket for her a DIY mani/pedi. These are awesome! I can't wait to try them out.
• Although I love items for my home, it's not a favorite for Mother's Day, unless I have asked for something specific
• If you are sure that you know her tastes, you might celebrate her with a fragrance gift set (stores have tons of these sets at great prices now.)

Mom to Be:  So often for the Mom to Be the focus of gift giving is directed at the Baby.  While that makes sense, a new mom would appreciate a little recognition too. 

• a nice comfy cotton gown ~  be sure it has buttons, sleeveless is good- no spaghetti straps, longer knee length.  This may scream Granny to her at first, but those first few days home, she will appreciate the comfort. 
• If she is just starting to get her Baby Bump and transitioning into maternity clothes, maternity items might be appreciated.  Lots of moms try to just wear larger sizes, maternity items fit so much better and make you feel better about yourself in the process.

Moms with children at home: these Moms are crazy busy, knee deep in loving on sweet babies and trying to keep them safe and happy, making lunches, checking homework, running a home.... you know how it is. They tend to neglect themselves in the process.

• Salon day: hair cut/ color, mani/pedi, waxing, facials... 3 hrs. alone is GOLD to her
• Anything that is made by her children or photos of her children~ an absolute heart melter!

Empty Nest Moms: These moms have most of what they need for their homes at this point. They appreciate the gift of time with their extended family even more!

• Lunch or dinner with their family (extra points for homemade)
• Gift cards for services
• Expendable items... foods, soaps, lotions 

Grandmothers:  no "do-dads" or "what-nots" as in nothing that has to be dusted. At this point, they have collected and accumulated a houseful of items.  So less is better.

• Gift card for services that they need: dry cleaning, car wash, lawn care, housekeeping.
• Gift cards for stores: grocery store, gas gift cards
• Time with loved ones just talking is a treasure

I hope these gave you a few ideas for the special moms in your life.  Above anything else, a Mom wants to spend time with her family. Be sure that if you have the opportunity to spend time with your Mom you take advantage of it.  And be sure to take photos with HER in them.  Remember you at always making memories.

xoxo,

Amy

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