Replenish:

Just a quick note to replenish your soul and help finish the week strong! 

With Love, 

Katie M.

Explore Home:

It was an unusually warm and beautiful Saturday this past weekend in Tallahassee and Phillip and I took full advantage of it. Phillip and I both have desk jobs, so any opportunity to be outside - we take it. 

We decided to explore Mclay Gardens, a State Park, located in our area. It is a natural gem with biking/walking/riding trials, wildlife, and a lake. We did the 3 mile loop around the lake and ate lunch at the park, it was great exercise and such an enjoyable afternoon date!

While both Phillip and I have lived in Tallahassee for awhile now, we have never taken advantage of the State Park's natural habitat (even many of my local friends mentioned they haven't explored the trails of Mclay). It got me thinking about everything our area has to offer, and how we get stuck in a routine for dates and weekend plans. It's like growing up at the beach, you forget you live in paradise  (now that I have moved away, I only dream of that luxury). Like they say, "you never know what you have until it's gone"! So my goal is to enjoy Tallahassee and all it has to offer and I encourage everyone to find those hidden gems in your area! Just get out and explore.

Some Places to Explore at Home:

1. Museums - they are always changing! You go to museums on vacation, so why not at home too?

2. Local restaurants - support local shops!

3. Your Capital - I haven't been since 4th grade and I drive by it almost every day!

4. Parks - try recreational parks or state parks 

5. Your backyard - who knows what's back there!

6. Small towns in your area - we love the small towns surrounding our area, they are quaint and offer a quick "get-away",  new shops, and lots to explore.

So break out of your routine and try something new in your area! 

With Love, 

Katie M. 

Here are a few more pictures from our local adventure:

The Wildlife:

Red bird! (Blow a kiss, Make a wish!)

Ok so we didn't see any gators, but we did see a lot of squirrels!

Sewing Sunday:

I have recently become interested in sewing.  My mom has sewn for many years and I have finally decided to learn the skill for myself.  When I was young my mom made me dresses and Halloween costumes, and as I grew up those costume request turned into new pillow shams and curtain projects. Now that I have my own house, the list of possible sewing projects is endless! Time to learn for myself.

I always wonder how people learn to sew,whether by classes, family tradition, or by simple trial and error. I will be doing a mix of the listed, but mostly trial and error with a lot of calls to my mom.  I have decided to dedicate some Sunday posts to new projects I am attempting...whether they be good or bad. 

My first project was an infinity scarf; I have to say it turned out great! I chose a simple black material so my seams wouldn't matter if they didn't line up.  I found a tutorial via Pinterest (at Shrimp Salad Circus); the tutorial was very helpful with great pictures and directions.This is how it turned out:

I only had to use my seam ripper one time :). It was a great first project for beginners. Here is a quick picture of my sewing station! Seems like the perfect nook to be creative and I don't have to put my sewing machine away after each project.

I have "pinned" a few more sewing projects and I currently have another project in the works that I will post about next week!  You can check out my inspiration and other tutorials via my "Sewing Projects" board on Pinterest! 

With Love,

Katie M.

All in the Name:

I never really explained how "Southern Refresh" came to be, and the start of the new year seems like the perfect time to explain:

Southern: The majority of my life has been spent in the South; it is my comfort zone, my style, my life. The way of life in the South, is the life I love. People are friendly, hospitable, and God centered, Saturdays are reserved for college football and Sundays are for God and good cooking. What could be better?

So that part of the name was easy, but then what to put with Southern? A lot of my first thoughts were already taken, so I began to think outside the box and the word "Refresh" came to mind. I immediately looked up the word and this is what the Webster dictionary said:

Refresh: to restore strength and animation to : revive; to freshen up : renovate; to restore or maintain by renewing supply : replenish.

It was perfect! I love to revive old fashions (see here), I am always renovating my home, and I am always seeking replenish my soul through God, friends, and family.

Put the two together and so began Southern Refresh; it is the perfect blog name for me!  To those who read this blog,  I hope you enjoy reading Southern Refresh as much as I like writing it. 

Happy Sunday! 

PS- We had a great weekend with one of my best friends and can't wait to share this week! 

With Love, 

Katie M. 

End of a Season, Beginning of a Year:

It was a bitter sweet start to 2013: with a Nole victory at the 2013 Orange Bowl, so too came the closing of the 2012 football season. Hopefully the new year will be full of hope, opportunity, and new adventures to be had! And maybe a National Championship next season? 

In honor of game day and the new year we planned a traditional southern New Year's feast, with a bit of a football theme.

On the Menu: 

Corn Casserole

Lucky Black Eye Peas

Smoked Ribs

Collard Greens

Yum.

And of course a southern meal wouldn't be complete with out a tablescape. 

The Seminole table:

Again, I used what I had around the house for the table setting (if you do your wedding right, you really do get a lot of good pieces). My mom made the burlap runners for each table at the wedding and we used the garnet & gold shakers for our wedding"exit."  The mints and napkins used were leftovers from tailgates this season, and the Bobby Bowden signed football was a gift Phillip received.  Oh, and of course I had to add the oranges in honor of the "Orange Bowl". 

Below is the corn casserole recipe (via Paula Deen). All you have to do is mix all the ingredients and pop it in the oven for 45 mins! Easy as can be! 

Ingredients:

• 1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
• 1 (8-ounce) package corn muffin mix (recommended: Jiffy)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, and melted butter. Pour into a greased 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with Cheddar. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.

Note: We actually decided not to add the cheese, used low sodium corn, and substituted regular sour cream with light sour cream. Have to save calories where you can! 

Go Noles,

Katie M. 

2013:

Happy New Year! Hope 2012 was a blessed year for you and yours! Here are my resolutions/goals for 2013. What are yours?

Cheers,

Katie M. 

Revive:

After perusing through blogs, J.Crew catalogues, and an assortment of magazines, Barbour Jackets had begun to peak my interest. While the jacket isn't a necessity, there is a charm about the jackets I just can't resist. I remember my mom having one when we lived in England and I figured it would be a fun "investment" piece: they are classic, functional, and go with everything. If my mom's Barbour jacket could last 20 years and still be in great condition, they must be a good purchase. But then I thought, wait, why get a new one when my mom's is still in great condition? It had been a while since she wore it, so I figured she wouldn't mind letting me borrow it for a season or two...or three! When I called her up to try and locate the jacket, it seemed to peak her interest as well! She found it and decided it still looked good on her! But after a little convincing she said she would be happy to see it put to use again. 

Here is the Jacket from the Barbour Website
 (http://www.barbour.com/us/womens-clothing/jackets-coats/wax/classic-womens/beaufront-jacket)

The jacket is still in wonderful condition: the zippers work perfectly, every detail is in tact, and the lapel pin remains with the jacket! Ekkk this was such a fun and special find :) 

                             

Here is a picture of mom in the jacket in 1993! Literally 20 years ago. 

And here is a side-by-side. Who do you think wore it better? 

Can't you see the charm? I tried to style myself like my mom's outfit in 1993, just a little "refreshed". I do have to say she was quite stylish (minus the fanny-pack), especially for the 90s! I added a scarf and Ray-bans on my head like my mom did,  and of course I wore the classic sweater and jeans.

Moral of the story? Buy classic, "investment" pieces.  I have never been the "trendy" girl, that is just not my style, but this confirms my style choices and makes appreciate my style even more. So next time you see that expensive black dress or beautiful purse, ask yourself, "Would my daughter wear this 20 years from now?". If this answer is yes,  I think that would classify it as a good investment! Who knows how someone will refresh your look one day? Now go rummage your mom's closet!

With Love, 

Katie M.