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Repost: A Little Food Goes a Long Way

9/28/2018

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Life Update:
Over the past month, Roxie, Jorjanne and Tara have been busy attending IMPACT classes to be certified to become foster parents!  You can imagine how lengthy this process is, and how much paperwork you must complete, so we are excited to be one step closer!

Our training was two nights a week, from 5:30-8:30 for the whole month of September.  After a long day of work, we were struggling to make it through each session! 

Members of local churches, Called to Care volunteers, local businesses and members of the community pulled together to provide us with dinner each night.  We can't begin to tell you how much of a blessing this was to our group!  While we were physically and mentally exhausted,  we were so encouraged and felt so loved. 

Though providing dinner may seem like a simple task, it is proof that A Little Food Goes a Long Way.  Not only were we able to share meals together, but we also shared stories, laughs, advice, ideas, burdens and dreams.  Thank you to those who have supported us along the way!
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PictureTara
Something special happens when you invite someone into your home for dinner.  I believe that same magic is present when you bring food to their doorstep.  Preparing and cooking a meal takes time, it takes thought, it takes love.  A casserole has the ability to minister to someone where words can't reach. 
 
Here in the South, it is customary to deliver a casserole to someone when certain life events take place.  (Deaths, births, sickness etc.) Whether the event is tragic or filled with joy, sending food their way is an opportunity to communicate that we care and are willing to help in a time of need. 
 
I believe cooking and baking to be one of my love languages.  I blame it on my Southern roots as well as generations of good cooks and caring women.  I love having people in my home and at my table.  We share more than food--we share life. 
 
Only recently have I started this venture in loving people through food.  Now that I am married with a home of our own, I find joy in filling the freezer with delicious casseroles (to make dinner for a hectic night easier, or to share with others).  This Christmas I decided to make lots of cookies and casseroles to share.  When choosing a casserole, I decided on one of our favorite dinners: Chicken Pot Pie.  Who doesn't love Chicken Pot Pie?!  I found a recipe last year on Pinterest from Lovely Little Kitchen that we just love.  ​

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​​After tweaking it a bit, I have finally perfected it for us--and for freezing!  I would like to share this recipe with you, in hopes that you might share it with others!  
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To Freeze: 
Wrap casserole with saran wrap to ensure that it is sealed.  
Cover with tin foil, labeling what it is.  
*I like to use cute labels, making sure that I give clear directions on how to bake, if it is a gift.  
If baking straight from the freezer, uncover, remove saran wrap, and place the tin foil back over the casserole.  
Bake at 400 degrees for an hour, or until bubbling.  
Be sure to remove the tin foil during the last few minutes of baking to brown your crust!

If thawed, just follow the directions on your recipe card!

*I found that I like to cheat and use canned biscuits to make my crust, but you can use any type of crust you like!  This dough works well with freezing, so if you change it up, I would just suggest that you do a little experiment before gifting it!

**Also, if you are having trouble weaving your crust, here are a few helpful tips at Gimme Some Oven! 

Sometimes showing love to those around you looks like making a plate of food and taking it to the widow next door.  Sometimes it looks like dropping off baked goods at your local DFCS office.  Sometimes it even looks like buying canned goods for a local shelter.  There are so many ways to love the people right around you, and often times we are too busy to notice.
 
Though feeding people may be one of my love languages, what is yours?  You don't have to bake a casserole to show someone you care--that's just one idea!  This world is desperate for love and attention, and if we don't show it to them, they will search elsewhere. 
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I heard Jen Hatmaker once say that your physical neighbors were not placed there by chance.  We were chosen to live alongside one another and care for each other--and if we can't love those directly around us, how can we love the world?

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I would like to challenge each of our readers to think of someone in your community who may need a little love.  Whip up this Chicken Pot Pie, bake a few slice-and-bake cookies, or take them a vase of flowers.  Let's consider what others around us may being going through and let them know we care.  In the busy-ness of life it is often easy to miss opportunities to love--so let's make one.
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If you're looking for more great casserole recipes, try out one of our favorite cookbooks, Southern Casseroles!
Shop Now!
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Tips for Hosting a Fabulous Football Party

9/21/2018

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PictureTara
This past weekend we had the privilege of hosting a couples shower for Phillip's sister, Mary Beth, and her fiancé, J.D.!  We love them so much and we were so happy to be able to honor them in such a fun way.  

When we started the planning process, we knew that on any given Saturday, there would be a UGA game that our guests would hate to miss.  We decided to incorporate the love for the game into our party.  Mary Beth and J.D. loved this idea, considering they are huge fans--and so are their friends!  We had a blast and everyone enjoyed the laid back environment of a football party.  Today, I will share with you a few fun tips for making your next Football celebration a hit!

​Invitations
As I have stated before in a previous post, "the invitations make the first impression on your guests!  They set the tone and provided a sense of expectation for this wonderful day."  I just love crafting the perfect invitation for each party I throw.  I want the guests to be excited about attending the event from the moment they open the envelope!  It is important that you carefully think about the theme of the party when deciding on an invitation.  I love finding new fonts that help make a statement.  My favorite font from this project has to be the Collegiate FLF font.  And it's free!  Just click on the image below to download.
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Team Colors
Keep team colors in mind when choosing your decor for the party.  Don't go overboard, but your team of choice should be obvious by your selection.  Stick with prints and patterns that could be used every day to show sophistication.
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Decorations
​Little touches go a long way.  Chalkboard art is always a fun idea to spice things up and customize the party!  If you don't feel confident taking this on, recruit a friend with perfect penmanship to help you with this project.
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Have a little fun and keep the theme going throughout the party.  An easy way to do this is to make banners and food tags that coordinate with the invitation.  I printed off letters to spell "Go Dawgs" in the same font that I used on the invitation.  Cut them in the shape of a triangle and wallah!  I did the same thing for the food tags to tie it all together.  The ribbon I chose for the banner matched my fabric choices on the food  table.  You're sure to make an impression by carrying out your theme!
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Menu Choices
​Have a little fun when it comes to the menu!  Stick with fan-favorites, like Chips and Dip, Cheese Burger Sliders, and Lemonade.  
All of the bridesmaids brought a finger food for guests to enjoy.  This worked out great and we had plenty to choose from!  
​When it comes to dessert, you can get a little creative!  I chose to make Red Velvet cupcakes to go along with my color scheme, but the possibilities are endless!  Cupcakes are fun since they are easy to grab and totally customizable.  
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*Use baskets lined with napkins, for items like chips, to add an extra layer of look and create interest on the food table!
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Keep it Simple
Remember, this is a football party!  Relax and have a little fun.  Don't stress about the details, just focus on creating a comfortable environment where people feel at home and are able to enjoy the game.

We put a TV outside on the porch so people could enjoy the game wherever they were.  Although it was hot, we had a great time celebrating Mary Beth and J.D.  Though I didn't have time to capture many pictures before the party started, here are a few pictures I snapped during the festivities!
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If you're looking for a few great appetizer ideas for your next party, add "Southern Appetizers" to your cart!  It is full of delicious menu ideas your guests will love!
Shop Now!
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House Paint Colors

9/14/2018

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PictureRoxie
Lately, it seems, I can't stop thinking about house paint colors!  I don't know if it is because I have been spending too much time on Pinterest or if I have been inspired by Tara's freshly painted house but I have been dreaming of a new color scheme for my little home.  

I just painted my house about three years ago so I don't think I will be changing it right now, but a girl can dream! You might remember the color scheme for my little house from my Alder St. Renovation blogs.  I do still love these colors but I will be honest, if I could afford it (or had the energy to do it myself) I would probably change my inside and outside colors more often.  I just love fresh paint!

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For those of you feeling a more neutral color pallet, here are my ideas for house, trim and doors.  I loved the grey/green feel of "Gina's Eyes" by Valspar.  I don't know who Gina is, but I can see why her eyes inspired this beautiful color! I found it very soothing and a color that one could love for a long time.  I chose "Extra White" for the trim and "White Pistachio" for the doors.  You could even do a flip flop if you were looking for a lighter house color and use the "White Pistachio" for the body of the house and use "Gina's Eyes" for the doors.  Or choose a bolder door color to have a nice pop!
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I have seen a few dark green homes go by on Pinterest and I think they look so quaint!  I also love to mix different greens together so I chose "Hunt Club" for the body of the home and a light green, "Slow Green", for the doors.  My go to off white colors for interior or exterior are "Greek Villa" and "Alabaster", both by Sherwin Williams.  These two colors are almost exactly the same and I use them both a lot.  I rarely want a bright white, I like a toned down, off white color. 
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Now for my bolder choice, "Peppercorn"!  I love, love, love a dark grey house.  I have even seen a few black houses, and yes, I am the crazy person that likes them!  If done tastefully, a dark grey or black color can be very elegant and not spooky. I went back and forth between "Peppercon" and "Urbane Bronze" by Sherwin Williams.  I almost painted my house "Urbane Bronze" and then I chickened out.  If you are feeling bold, I say go for it!  I chose to keep the trim and doors very simple.  I love the idea of stained doors and/or stained shutters with this dark grey.  
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Here is one of the homes that I found to be inspiring on Pinterest.  I love this bold, yet quaint, home and it is just the look I'm going for.
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As you scroll down you can see that all of my choices are really in the same color families.  I guess I am stuck on a grey and green kick!  If you are thinking of trying any of these colors, here are a few important tips I have for you: 
-Always remember that colors look very different in real life than they do on your computer screen. 
-Get a sample to paint on the exterior of your home and live with it a little while.  -See what the color looks like at different times of day and in different lights.  
-When picking a stain color, remember that stain colors will change based on the kind of wood you are staining.  You will want to try the color you pick in a small spot to make sure it will dry the color that you want.  

If you are not feeling brave enough to change up the look of the whole house, just paint your doors.  Painting your doors can make a huge difference in the look of your home.  If you need a little door color inspiration, I've got a blog or that too!  Just click here.

If you do take on a painting project, we would love to see your progress!  You can always send us an email at southernmercantile@fourthandcherry.com.

Happy painting!
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