The Southern Mercantile Blog

Re-post: Fresh Summer Salsas!

7/26/2019

Roxie

I love Mexican food! On a warm summer night there is nothing much better than chips and fresh salsa, preferably accompanied by a good margarita! I love this time of year when fresh produce is starting to come in, and after a long winter of sub-par vegetables, you can finally find some big, juicy, red tomatoes! I have tried so many brands of jarred or canned salsa, but I just can't find one that I love. I have come close when visiting Texas, as the grocery stores there seem to have a thousand to choose from, but nothing quite compares to the good ole homemade option. Fresh salsa really is so simple and easy to make, there is no reason to be intimidated and no reason you can't enjoy this treat all summer long!

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Beech Street Bungalow: The Master Bedroom

7/19/2019

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Tara

The last room to reveal in our home renovation just so happens to be my favorite--the master bedroom! Though I truly love every single room, I think I love this one most because it has become my little nest! It is where I read, where I rest, and where I feel most comfortable. I am excited to share its transformation with you, and hope that you love it too! Here is a reminder of what this room looked like when we purchased the home.

With 6 large windows and an exterior door, we wondered what this room was used for. A friend of ours who researches old homes called this room a solarium (sun room), which was often used for gatherings and quite possibly a bedroom. After talking with the granddaughter of the original owners of the home, she informed us that this was, in fact, her grandparents' bedroom! She said that it also doubled as a sitting room, and guests would gather around the fireplace to chat after dinner.

In order to make this room our master bedroom, we knew we wanted to add a master bath and move a few doorways around. Before we could get started, we had the daunting task of removing all of the bead board from the walls, once again!

We decided to close up the middle window to give us a place for our bed, as well as tear out and cover up the fireplace. This fireplace was no longer in working order and had sustained some damage to the brick over time, so we decided that a solid wall might be of more use. We had it insulated and sheet-rocked, and we were ready to roll! The original floors turned out beautifully once refinished.

One night, two sweet friends came over to help me paint the walls so we could be one step closer to moving in! You might recognize the blonde on the right, that's Katelyn! :) When deciding on a paint color, I knew I wanted something cozy. With so many windows and white trim, I knew a dark color would be the way to go. I saw this bedroom (middle picture) on Pinterest and fell in love with the brown walls! I ended up going with Less Brown SW6040 by Sherwin Williams , and I love how it turned out!

Now, for the finished room! You enter our bedroom from the end of the hallway, right next to the guest bathroom.

Phillip built our bed, which turned out perfect for the space! I was so glad that we decided to get rid of the middle window. It is so fun to dream something up, and watch it come to life. It wasn't so simple when I went on the search for our other bedroom furniture. I just couldn't find anything I liked in the surrounding furniture stores--it all seemed so bulky and traditional. I wanted a softer look, that would coordinate but not "match" the bed. I finally decided to take a chance and order something online! I was nervous, but I am so happy with my choice! The night stands, dresser and chest of drawers came from Pier 1.

I have also had the hardest time finding curtains that I liked, and could actually afford! I had no idea that Ikea had a select few curtains available in 118". They turned out to be beautiful--and I love how the white just brightens up the space!

One of my favorite things in our bedroom are my monogrammed pillow cases! Our sweet Ms. Carolyn embroidered them by hand. What a treasure! It makes me happy every time I crawl into bed, and every time I make it up. I just love the personal touch it adds to the room!

This view shows you how we moved the doorways around to make the master bath add-on make sense.

It worked out great that we ended up sheet-rocking over the fireplace. Now we have a solid wall that provides enough space for our dresser.

Our most recent addition to the bedroom has been a sweet little crib for Lila! Throughout our journey in foster care, one thing that we have realized is how uncertain things can be. We decided to just plan on Lila being in our room for a little while, while we get used to this baby thing! We had plenty of room to put the crib over by the windows.

It has been a sweet thing to look over and be reminded that she will be here so soon.

As we anxiously await her arrival, we have prepared as much as possible! I can't wait to see her sweet face, and bring her to this house we've made a home. I hope she grows to love it as much as we do.

Need a little something new to freshen up your space? Shop our favorite selections HERE!

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Repost: Summer Travels

7/11/2019

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Roxie

I was truly blessed growing up to be a part of a family that traveled. Since my parents were both school teachers, we had plenty of time in the summer to pack up and hit the road! Keep in mind, my parents were school teachers, so these were not glamorous vacations full of ski trips, water parks, restaurants and hotels. Our road trips consisted of tent camping (thank you K.O.A.), dinners from the cooler (a.k.a. cooler crud) and finding all the cool stops along the way that were free or cheap! While our trips may have been a strain on the family budget, they were full of fun and happy memories (somehow you forget the stressful times when it is over). My brother and I were really lucky to have gotten to see so much of the United States of America!

July Curated Collection

7/5/2019

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Summer is certainly here, along with all the fruits and vegetables that we all love! There's just something about biting into fresh locally grown produce - whether it's from your own garden or a farmer's market - that just makes you want to slow down and enjoy life, and maybe live a bit more simply.

You may already have your favorite recipes for putting up fruits and vegetables, but if you don't, check out some of our best-loved blogs for ideas. Ms. Carolyn's Southern Sweet Pickles are a great way to use up those cucumbers, while Roxie's Fresh Summer Salsas will make good use of tomatoes. Or, if you need some relish to go with your peas, read Peas and Relish. If it's fruit you have, see Jams for Sale or It's Putting Up Time for jelly-making ideas.

Of course, this time of year, there's an abundance of such delicious, fresh from the farm produce to enjoy. Want to share that feeling with family and friends throughout the year? We have just what you need in our July Curated Collection!

Our Canning Kit is the perfect way to dress up the jars you're putting up this summer to give throughout the year as hostess gift, teacher gifts, or any other occasion to show a little thoughtfulness.

With tags, fabric circles, and string to tie them all together, it's easy to take your hard work and make it a cute gift!

This cute little wooden spoon is great to tie onto the jar, or keep it for yourself! And, for more jelly-making ideas, our Jams and Jellies in Less Than 30 Minutes cookbook is full of quick and easy recipes to make and share! Just in case you don't have time to whip up something yourself, we are also including a jar of our homemade jam!

So, if this month's collection looks like something you'd love to help savor the taste of summer, head on over to the store and order one today!

Shop Now!

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Re-post: Fresh Summer Salsas!

Beech Street Bungalow: The Master Bedroom

Repost: Summer Travels

July Curated Collection

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