When my daughter asked me if we could paint her bedroom, I immediately told her no! I mean, think of how much time and money that would be! Not to mention the fact that we just redecorated her room less than a year ago!

After a few weeks of thinking about it and browsing ideas on Pinterest, I realized it would not take as much money and energy as I thought it would, and I became the one who was excited about painting her room! We could keep her furniture and bedding since they were white and would match any paint color, so all we would have to buy would be the paint and a few accessories. I think it turned out fantastic!

She felt like the original turquoise wall color was too childish, and also wanted to simplify her room by getting rid of some things on the walls.

We decided on a medium gray color for the paint, thinking that would be a good neutral color (so she wouldn’t change her mind again anytime soon!) and would also be a pretty contrast to the white bedding.

There are a ton of gray paint colors out there, so we bought three samples ($3 each at Lowe’s for a sample jar of paint) to test out on her wall.

The first color is “peppercorn” and we thought it was way too dark. It looked almost black once it dried. The last color is “antique silver” and it was way too light, and also had a brownish tint to it. The color in the middle is what we chose – “Dover gray.” It was the shade we were looking for, was a warm and relaxing color, and looked great with the dark wood floors and white accents. These colors looked a lot different on the wall than they did on the little color cards you can take home from the paint store, so I’m glad we decided to test the samples out first. Otherwise, we may have paid for paint that we weren’t really happy with. Now it was time to paint!

I started by taping off all the baseboards and trim, and removing all the switchplates…

I used a paintbrush to do the wall corners and around the trim, then a paint roller for everything else…

It actually went very fast – I was finished painting the entire room in just a few hours. It also dried quickly, so I could put the room back together the same day.

The gray looked so good contrasted with the white – simple and elegant, perfect for a teenage girl.

I found this rug on Amazon, and it helped to soften the room and tie in the gray from the walls. (Plus it’s beautiful!)

I replaced her striped curtains with plain white ones, and also got a new curtain rod.

We removed almost everything from the walls, and just a hung a few pictures in plain white frames instead. The less wall clutter makes the room feel bigger, and also helps the gray make a bigger statement.

All of this took only one day, and made a dramatic difference! Her room went from a young “tween” look to a more sophisticated “grown-up” look. She is so excited about her “new” room, and truthfully I am excited as well! I think it turned out so pretty! (And I’m proud of my handywork!) What a dramatic transformation for less than $150!

So if your son or daughter comes to you about changing up their room, don’t freak out! It won’t take as much time and money as you think!

• one gallon flat interior paint, paintbrush, paint roller, painter’s tape – $36 from Lowe’s
• two curtain panels and curtain rod – $30 from T.J. Maxx
• 5×7 area rug – $64 from Amazon
• gray throw pillow on bed – $12 from Burke’s Outlet

*I was also able to sell her old curtains and a few accessories from her room to help with the cost, bringing my total to less than $100!*

Thanks y’all!

– Nikki

This is by far my favorite pork chop recipe. It’s so flavorful, so juicy, and so pretty! The rice on the bottom layer cooks in chicken stock instead of water, giving it tons of flavor. The topping is a combination of sausage and vegetables, and the pork chops in between will blow your mind! Here’s what you’ll need…

• 1 package boneless pork chops
• 1 lb smoked sausage
• salt and pepper
• paprika (smoked paprika is even better!)
• rice (about 2 cups cooked)
• chicken stock
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 jar roasted red peppers
• 1/4 cup white wine
• olive oil
• parsley (fresh or dried)

Start by cooking your rice according to package directions, but using the chicken stock instead of water. This will give the rice a darker color, and also a rich flavor. While the rice is cooking, preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a large skillet with olive oil.

Season the pork chops on both sides with salt, pepper and paprika. (Smoked paprika gives this dish an even richer flavor, but I was all out so just used regular paprika.) Brown the pork chops in the skillet, about 2 minutes on each side, then transfer them to a baking sheet and finish cooking in the preheated oven.

Remove the casing from the sausage and chop it into bite-sized pieces, then brown it in the same skillet used for the pork chops. Next add the onion and garlic and saute with the browned sausage.

While that’s cooking, combine the roasted red peppers and parsley in a food processor.

(If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a blender, or just chop the peppers up really small.) Add the red pepper mixture to the sausage mixture, then pour in the wine and let it cook down for a few minutes.

After most of the liquid has cooked out, return the pork chops to skillet for just a few minutes on each side so they can soak up some of the flavor.

On a serving dish, layer the rice, then the pork chops, then the sausage mixture on top.

It looks so good! And it tastes even better than it looks!

I know it sounds like a lot of steps, but this only takes about 30 minutes to cook from start to finish. But it looks so fancy that your family will think it took you hours to prepare!

Thanks y’all!

   – Nikki

I love a good old framed photograph just as much as the next person for hanging on the wall. As a matter of fact, I have at least one hanging in every room of my house. But if that’s the ONLY thing you have decorating your walls, it can get boring.

Adding dimension and texture to your walls adds character and charm to your home. Here are just a few ideas I’ve used in my own home…

An old rake head ($5 at an antique store) doubles as a key holder by the back door. I’ve also seen these used to hang jewelry and wine glasses.

Wooden signs are a great way to make a statement in any room. You can find them just about any size, or if you’re really crafty, you can make your own out of a piece of wood.

This old window was cute by itself, but a small wreath ($10 at Hobby Lobby) attached to it gives it even more texture and color.

Shelves are awesome for adding depth and dimension to a wall. This one has a really unique shape, and I love that it is made of both wood and metal. ($12 from Hobby Lobby)

Hanging a basket on the wall ($12 from Amazon) is a great way to display something in a kid’s room.

Instead of a traditional headboard, hang something on the wall for added height and texture, like this decorative metal piece ($22 at Hobby Lobby). Other ideas are old wooden doors or old metal garden gates.

So get creative when you’re decorating your walls – just about anything can be hung on a nail! Many of these items were even cheaper than a picture frame!

Thanks y’all!

   – Nikki

If you’re looking for a chicken recipe that is healthy, delicious, and different, look no further – chicken piccata fits all three of those demands.

There are several steps to this recipe, but it is SO GOOD and only uses one skillet, so there’s not much to clean up afterward. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 4 chicken cutlets (thin sliced chicken breasts)
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lemons (1 for juice, 1 thinly sliced)
• salt and pepper
• flour (for dusting)
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1 tbs capers
• 2 tbs butter
• 1 tsp dried parsley flakes

My grocery store sells these boneless-skinless chicken breasts already “thin sliced,” but if you can’t find any, just take regular chicken breasts and pound them flat with a rolling pin. You can put them in a ziploc bag before pounding to keep your rolling pin from touching the meat. You want them thin so they will cook faster and more evenly in the skillet.

You can find capers on the pickle aisle at the grocery store. What are capers? I’m not really sure! They come in a brine, and taste like a cross between a pickle and an olive. They are tiny, and give this chicken dish a distinctive flavor.

Ok, now let’s get started! First, heat the olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. While the oil is heating, sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, and “dust” them with flour.

You don’t want too much flour because you don’t want to give the chicken a fried “skin.” I just used one spoonful for all four chicken pieces.

Once the oil is hot, saute the chicken about 2-3 minutes per side, until it is cooked through. It only takes a few minutes to cook them since they are so thin.

Once they are finished cooking, remove them from the skillet onto a plate and set aside for later. Next, “deglaze” the skillet with the white wine – all this means is pour the wine in and scrape/stir all the pan drippings while it cooks. Add in the minced garlic and cook until the liquid is almost gone.

Now add the chicken stock, capers, and the juice of one lemon to the skillet and bring back to a boil. Return the chicken to the pan and cook a couple of minutes on each side in this liquid, then put them back on the plate. (I told you there were a lot of steps! We are almost done though!)

Now finish the sauce with the butter, lemon slices and parsley. Once the butter is melted, return the chicken to the pan for the last time, and spoon the sauce over the meat.

If you look closely, you can see the garlic pieces in the sauce with the capers and lemon.

This dish is also very pretty! I love all the colors and textures in the pan!

The chicken will be very juicy from cooking in the sauce, and the bitterness of the lemon and capers combined with the savory chicken stock and garlic give it a distinctively delicious flavor.

This only takes about 30 minutes to make from start to finish, so it’s perfect for weeknight dinners. Your family will think you were in the kitchen for hours making this beautiful dish!

I made a salad and some fettuccine from a box to go with ours for an easy way to complete the meal. I hope your family enjoys this dish as much as mine does!

Thanks y’all!

   – Nikki

These zucchini “boats” have been popping up on my Pinterest feed for a few months now, and I’ve been nervous to try them. I mean, why in the world would you put something on a zucchini when you could put it in a delicious tortilla?!? Well, I’m trying to eat better for the new year, so I thought I would at least give these a try, and I’m so glad I did! I may never eat another tortilla again! Not only are these healthy, but they taste AMAZING! I was very surprised at all the flavor!

To start with, slice a couple of zucchinis in half lengthwise and hollow out the middle with a spoon to form a “boat.” (I also peeled mine because I don’t like the skin’s texture, but you can leave the peel on.) Next, just drizzle a little olive oil on top, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.

The first picture is before they went in the oven, and the second is when they were done cooking. Roasting the zucchini not only makes it tender, but gives it both a sweet and savory flavor that is delicious with whatever you choose to fill it with. I used taco meat for mine, topped with cheese, lettuce, onion and fat-free sour cream.

My family members are not as adventurous as I am when it comes to trying new foods, especially healthy ones, which makes this the perfect meal. Instead of cooking an entire other meal for the boring ones in the house, I just put the same filling in tortillas for them. Now everyone is happy!

I’ve also seen these filled with fajita chicken, buffalo chicken, Italian sausage, other vegetables…  Pretty much anything would go well with the roasted zucchini’s flavor.

I cannot say enough times how GOOD these were! The sweet flavor of the zucchini was so surprisingly delicious! I did not miss the tortilla AT ALL, and I sure didn’t miss the carbs that come along with tortillas!

I hope you’ll give these a try! I promise you’ll be glad you did!

Thanks y’all!

– Nikki

When it comes to eating healthy, I have one major weakness – Mexican food. Chips and salsa, queso, chimichangas, but especially quesadillas!

These “healthy” quesadillas still give me my Mexican food fix, but without the remorse. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. 1 pack of Carb Balance whole wheat tortillas (8 count)
2. 1 block Monterey Jack cheese, grated
3. 1 sweet potato, boiled and mashed
4. 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

These “carb balance” tortillas are fairly new, and they taste more like a flour tortilla than the regular wheat tortillas do, and they are even healthier than a regular wheat tortilla. The texture is also more similar to a flour tortilla.

Start by spreading some of the mashed sweet potato onto a tortilla, then top it with a generous amount of beans and cheese.

Place another tortilla on top, and cook in a quesadilla maker until the cheese is melted.

*If you don’t have a quesadilla maker, you can cook them in a skillet, pressing down with a spatula and flipping over halfway through. I think a quesadilla maker is totally worth the investment though – they are only about $20, and I use mine all the time.*

That’s it! Only four ingredients, and just a few minutes to prepare. The beans give them a “meaty” taste and are full of protein and fiber, and the sweet potato makes you feel full faster so you don’t eat as many.

You can also add any other veggies to these you’d like – purple onion tastes great in them, and bell pepper does as well. If you have to have meat, grilled chicken is great in them too.

You can also dip them in fat free sour cream or guacamole for some added flavor.

What an easy (and tasty) way to start a healthier new year!

Thanks y’all!

   – Nikki

When I was in junior high I took a home economics class. I don’t remember who all was in the class with me. I don’t even remember my teacher’s name. But I do remember these babies – snickerdoodles. We made them in class and I remember thinking they couldn’t possibly be any good with such a silly name. I was wrong. These may be the best cookies I’ve ever tasted.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
•  1-1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar

… and for rolling:

• 2 tbs sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Start by creaming together the softened butter with the sugar and brown sugar in a mixer on high speed.

Add egg and vanilla, and continue mixing until smooth.

Combine remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then slowly add to mixer until dough is well blended.

The dough will be very sticky, too sticky to work with, so put it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (an hour is even better).

After the dough has set up, preheat your oven to 300 degrees and combine the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl for rolling.

Roll dough into small balls, about 2 tbs each, and then roll on all sides in cinnamon/sugar mixture. Slightly press each ball onto greased cookie sheets.

Bake at 300 degrees about 12-14 minutes. The cookies will look raw – don’t get nervous! They are supposed to appear undercooked.

They will continue to develop after they come out of oven, and will flatten out as they cool.

The end result are these soft, chewy, delicious cookies…

These cookies involve a lot of ingredients and many steps, but they are so worth it! My husband would eat this whole tray of snickerdoodles if I let him!

Thanks y’all!

   – Nikki

It’s a brand new year, and what better way to start fresh than to update your living area in your home? Oh, that’s right… we are all flat broke from Christmas! Trust me, I understand, so here is how I updated my living room and kitchen for less than $75…

It’s a sad day in the Camp household when the Christmas decorations come down, so to cheer myself up I decided to give my house a small makeover. My favorite color has always been blue, so that is the color I went with. It is amazing how simply changing out my accent color made this house feel brand new.

1. Accent rugs

Large area rugs are super expensive, so I have a neutral color in my living room so I won’t get tired of it. But these little guys are cheap, so it’s easy to change them out every so often. This navy blue and white rug was only $12, and it’s the first thing I see when I come in the back door.

2. Blankets

Another cheap item to change out is a throw blanket. This navy blue one gives some color to this corner of the living room, which consisted of only neutral browns and creams before. Throwing blankets over chairs or couches, or just stacking them in a basket on the floor is a great way to add some color to your room.

3. Accent pillows

By changing out my old turquoise pillows to these navy blue and cream ones, it made this feel like a brand new living room. I didn’t have to paint the walls or buy new furniture, I just swapped a couple of pillows out. These were sold in a pack of two for only $20 at Bed Bath & Beyond, and that $20 gave this room a whole new feel.

4. “Knick-knacks”

Adding a few “knick-knacks” on your shelves and tables is another cheap and easy way to bring in your new accent color. I already had some blue items in other rooms that I moved into the living room and kitchen, and I found a few more new things that only cost a few bucks. It’s the little stuff like this that ties everything together.

5. Dish Towels

Our kitchen is open to our living room, so having the same accent color in both rooms is necessary to make everything “flow.” A few dish towels with navy blue on them does the trick for just a few bucks!

6. Declutter

Keeping small stuff in baskets or trays is a good way to keep your house decluttered and look more “put together.” It’s also much easier to clean up when a ton of little stuff isn’t sitting around everywhere.

I hope this post has given you some ideas and inspiration for your own home! If you stick to neutral colors on the big stuff like walls and furniture, then it’s easy to switch up your accent color anytime you want, making your house feel brand new. And what better time to make a fresh start than the new year?!? Happy decorating!

Thanks y’all!

   – Nikki

I feel like Buddy the Elf every December. I absolutely LOVE Christmas. Getting together with family, watching my kids get excited over their presents, drinking hot chocolate, watching Christmas movies – I love it all. But if you’re spending all your time getting your house decorated for the most wonderful time of the year, it’s hard to actually enjoy it. So I’ve put together five simple and quick ways to decorate for Christmas.

1. A tiered tray

Over the years I’ve accumulated several small Christmas decorations, many of them gifts from friends, and was running out of places to put them. I had this tiered tray on my kitchen counter holding fruit and random kitchen things, so I moved it to my entry table and used it to display all of my little holiday treasures.

2. Holiday pillows

One of the easiest things to do is just swap your regular throw pillows with Christmas pillows. These are made of a really soft sweater material, so they are perfect to snuggle up with while watching Christmas movies! (pillows from TJ Maxx)

3. Christmas card display

Card holders can get expensive, but you can get resourceful and use something you already have to display your Christmas cards. I used this old wooden shutter, which just happens to be a pretty Christmas green color.

4. Table centerpiece

Table centerpieces can also be expensive. And if you make one yourself, they can be very time-consuming. A few pine branches around a candle is perfect for a centerpiece, and there’s still plenty of room on the table for actual food!

5. Ornaments as filler

When it comes to ornaments, “think outside the tree.” I used some to fill this lantern, bringing Christmas colors to another part of the house.

I hope these ideas have given you some inspiration for your own house, and proven that Christmas decorations don’t have to be expensive or complicated.

Merry Christmas everyone! And happy birthday Jesus!

Thanks ya’ll!

   – Nikki

Everyone has a certain way to cook their peas. My grandmother cooked hers all day with a ham hock. I don’t even know what a ham hock is, or even if I’m spelling it right, let alone where to find one in the grocery store. I also have a full time job and two busy kids, so I don’t have all day to cook peas either.

Over the years, I’ve come up with a way to cook my peas that packs a lot of flavor but doesn’t take a lot of time. I’d love for you to share your pea recipes with me as well!

We have a friend who owns a pea farm, so we always have plenty of purple hull peas in our freezer. I’ve cooked black-eyed peas and butter beans this way as well, and they are just as good. (If you’re using fresh peas, soak them in water overnight before cooking.)

First, cut up a few slices of bacon into bite-sized pieces and throw into a pot.

Cook the bacon on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it is just starting to get crisp. Next, add in some onion and garlic, and cook with the bacon. No need to add butter or oil – the veggies will cook in the bacon grease.

Once you add in the veggies (I use about 1/3 of an onion chopped up and 2-3 cloves of garlic minced), you will wish someone would create a candle that smells like bacon, onion and garlic cooking. It smells amazing!

After the vegetables are tender, add in the peas. Season with whatever you like (I use Tony’s) and add enough chicken stock to just cover the peas.

The chicken stock will add lots of flavor, making the peas taste like you’ve been cooking them all day.

Now bring this to a boil, then reduce heat and cover. The peas will take about an hour or so to cook. They are done when they are tender and a little darker in color, but you can’t overcook them. The longer you cook them, the better they will taste.

These are a wonderful side dish (especially for fried deer steak!), but they can also be a main dish when paired with cornbread, especially in the fall and winter months.

I know these aren’t “your grandmother’s peas,” but they taste just as good and are much quicker to make.

I would love to hear how you all cook your peas! I’m always open to new ideas!

Thanks y’all!

  – Nikki