The Simple Touch of Pomander Balls to Bring in the Scents of Christmas

I love the smells of Christmas goodies baking in the kitchen! It makes things so warm and cozy with the aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, anise and cloves wafting through the air. But with the busyness of the season there might not be enough time to bake as much as we like. Adding pomander balls around the home is a way to bring in the same scents without turning on the oven!

Pomander balls go all the way back to the 15th century when they served as natural air fresheners for closets and drawers. Here are the items needed and steps below to create your own pomander balls.

• Any citrus favorite...oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruit
• Toothpicks
• Whole cloves
• Ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, anise, lavender or rosemary
• Resealable plastic bag
• Ribbon for hanging

1. Use a toothpick to punch holes in your fruit. Fill the entire space or create a design to make things festive.

2. Push the whole cloves in the holes you just created.

3. Once the fruit is studded with the cloves, place ground spices and pomander ball in the resealable plastic bag and shake until fruit is coated. You can even add powdered orris root to encourage quick and even drying.

4. Remove fruit from the bag and tie on ribbon to hang in hallways, on the tree or in closets. You can also place the pomander balls in bowls to create scented displays.

These wonderful creations also make great gifts! Not only will your loved ones cherish a gift handmade by you, but you'll also be filling their home with scents to enjoy the whole season and beyond.

5 Favorite Handmade Finds

Etsy is my favorite place (: A magical wonderland filled with handmade goodies from all over the world. For those of you who are new to Etsy, it's so worth checking out! Their mission is to offer a marketplace for all things handmade enabling people to earn a living making things and to reconnect makers with buyers. With approximately 170,000 shops worldwide you can come back over and over again and never see the same thing twice! With the holiday season fast approaching it's the perfect place to shop!

Here are a few of my favorite handmade finds that might help you begin your holiday shopping...

This lovely pendant designed by Color Shop Stained Glass Studio reminds me of an elegant stained glass window in a grand Victorian. A must for the 5 favorites list! It's made with iridized amber glass and handcrafted using the copper foil method and Silver Lead Free Solder.

Round Stained Glass and Filigree Pendant
http://www.colorshoppestudio.etsy.com/

Oh so cute and one of a kind from Sewn Natural! These baby gnome dolls are handcrafted of all natural and upcycled fibers that are durable and natural. Any one of them would make a perfect friend for your little one. With a vintage vibe, they are carefully crafted with beautiful details. Safe for baby or a wonderful treat for an older child.

Gnome Baby Upcycled Doll
http://www.sewnnatural.etsy.com/

Village Clayworks has a wonderful collection of pottery inspired by nature and this bowl is one of my favorites (: Teal is my color so I couldn't pass this one by, but there are so many fun pieces making it hard to choose just one!

Pinwheel Bowl
http://www.catherinereece.etsy.com/

Who doesn't remember playing bingo as a kid? Seems the vintage cards have more style and function than the mass produced ones of today. Bring the magic of years past to the present with these whimsical sketchbook journals from Soma Venus!

Recycled Vintage Bingo Game Sketchbook Journal
http://www.somavenus.etsy.com/

Lirola is one of my favorite designers and this top just makes my heart sing! Pair it with a long sleeve black top and it's warm and cozy for the winter, but then when summer rolls around this top doesn't have to leave the closet because of the short ruffle sleeves! So versatile yet so chic.

Romantic Wrap Top with Short Ruffle Sleeves
http://www.lirola.etsy.com/

Thank Your Local Protectors

Usually I begin Christmas decorating on November 30th, but this year things have been moving rather slowly. On one of many errands to gather Christmas decorations this evening I came across several accidents with fire trucks and rescue crews racing to the scene. While sitting in traffic I began to pray for those involved in the accidents as well as those rushing to offer help. Thankfulness for those who put there lives on the line embraced my heart. Thankfulness for the families who send their loved ones out each day, not knowing if they will return.

This season offer a gift of thanks to those in your community who help keep you safe...fire fighters, police, service men and women, the crossing guard for your local school, etc. Reach out and let them know they're appreciated. Make it a family affair and get the kids involved. Bake cookies and decorate handmade cards. It doesn't cost much, but a handmade gift means more than you would ever imagine. Contact your local USO to see what items they might need for the troops and put together care packages for service members. Christmas cards written with notes of thanks for their service would mean the world too!

We have a fire station close by our home so I'll be dropping by with a basket of cookies to let them know someone is thinking about them. Doing little things like this throughout the holiday season brings the true meaning of Christmas closer. It's not about presents or glowing Christmas lights, but it's about sharing the gift of love with those around us. So begin thinking of ways to give thanks this season and get creative (:

Small Kitchen? - IKEA is the Answer!

If you have a tiny kitchen the easiest way to get more space is to take things up! Up the walls, on the sides of things, on top of kitchen cabinets and refrigerators. We have a tiny kitchen and there has never been enough space for our pots and lids. Storing them in the oven got to be a bit much! The answer? IKEA!

Ah...one of my favorite stores (: This particular rail and basket series is BYGEL and only cost me $36. I looked everywhere for a wall system and couldn't find anything less than $250 for an entire unit. This system gives double the storage than any of the units I found and you can't beat it for under $40!!! Plus it allows space underneath for my rolling recycling bins. Here's a list of the items chosen and the cost:

• (2) 39 1/4" BYGEL rails - $2.99 each
• (4) 21 3/4" BYGEL rails - $1.99 each
• (3) BYGEL cutlery caddies - $1.99 each
• (3) 3 7/8x13" BYGEL wire basket - $1.99 each
• (2) 8 1/4x13" BYGEL wire basket - $2.99 each
• (4) BYGEL S-hooks - $0.99 each

7 Money Saving Tips That Put Over $4100 Back in My Pocket

Thanksgiving week was a great reminder of how truly blessed we are. Our family has grown smaller as loved ones have passed on, but their spirits filled the festivities as if they were still with us. The older I become the more simplicity stands out as a necessity. There are so many things to distract us from noticing the everyday touches of grace. Cell phones, email, TV, video games and even blogs seek to build barriers from experiencing that gentle divine voice from within (:

Economic times have also brought simplicity closer. Not only is it good for the spirit, but also for the pocketbook! I have to admit I'm a bit of a frugal gal. I'd rather create it, paint it, build it or sew it myself than spend the extra cash on something already put together. Over the years that frugal nature has come in handy, especially during financially challenging times. Here are some money saving tips that put over $4100 back in my pocket and hope they might help you as well.

1. Change Your Mobile Service
Is a Blackberry REALLY necessary? Switching my Verizon mobile service over to Straight Talk (a no-contract service of TracFone Wireless that operates on the Verizon network) was a no brainer! The same service for less! It includes unlimited minutes, messages and data for only $45 a month. With two phones it's brought down my cell phone bill from $135 to $90. This also affords me the opportunity to get rid of the home phone since the new mobile service is unlimited. Another $36 saved bringing the total to $81 so far! (Straight Talk also has a $30/mo plan including 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and 30MB of data making this option even more economical).

If you do still want a home phone, try Magic Jack. It works great and only costs $20 a year (or $70 for 5 years) and comes with free voicemail, free caller ID, free directory assistance and free call waiting. They even have a 30 day free trial right now. Try it before you buy it! I use 2 for business lines and am very happy with the results!

2. Negotiate Your Lease
If you're a renter and the lease renewal is coming up, see if they might be willing to come down in price. I asked for $50 less a month and agreed to sign a new lease for 18 months. To keep a good tenant they gladly accepted, especially due to the high volume of available rentals on the market.

3. Letting Go of Cable and Internet
Depending on your service, this could save you anywhere from $40 to $135 per month. Now, I know this may sound drastic to some, but I have a friend who did this and hasn't missed it at all. She hits the WiFi spots when she needs to go online (she uses this time to watch some of her favorite TV shows she just can't miss by watching them online), catches up on her reading and listens to the radio instead of watching hours of TV.

Personally this was a tough one. Working from home means high speed internet is a must and the only TV shows I watch are on cable channels. So instead of cancelling I called the cable company in hopes of negotiating a lower price, mentioning that the preference would be to lower the cost instead of cancelling service. They immediately offered a deal to lower my bill by $35 on the condition that a 2 year contract was accepted to lock in the price. Well, of course! This might be a concern if the cost would lower in the next few years, but our services are actually increasing in price so the contract worked in my favor.

4. Cut Out the Non-Essentials
Last year I rented a storage unit to hold my father's items after he passed away. Because his death was unexpected, I wasn't ready to go through his belongings. The plan was to gradually sort things week by week, but the weeks turned into months. That year gifted perspective and the time to grieve which in turn gave the strength to sort cherished mementoes. Closing the storage rental saved $50 a month.

5. Eat at Home
This is a simple common sense tip, but one that can sneak up on you. These days it's so easy to meet friends for dinner or to pick up something on the way home from work. Plan ahead. On the weekends prepare and freeze meals that can be heated up during the week on busy family nights. These same meals can also work for an impromptu dinner party for unexpected guests. Lasagna and garlic bread are favorites in our freezer! Add a salad, wine, good music and voila! Instant dinner party! I used to eat out around 3 times a month. By inviting friends over and eating at home I save $30 a month!

6. Declutter and Make Money
Clutter not only takes up physical space, but it takes up mental space as well. Purge, purge, purge and let Craigslist be your best friend. As you open your living areas you'll be bringing in the green! Go through closets and get rid of pieces you haven't worn in over a year. Search through decorative items and loose what no longer represents the person you are now. Are your library shelves overloaded with books you no longer need? Add them to the list of items to sell. What about pots, pans and baking sets you never use? Free up that space! Once you've collected everything for sale, take good photos and describe the items in detail. Include the color, size, name brand, and any imperfections. I never used Craigslist before and was a little skeptical, but I sold clothes, accessories, furniture, books, magazines, craft items, kitchen pot sets, home decor and so far it's added up to over $800. Not bad for stuff just sitting around the house (:

And the purging never ends. The "1-in, 1-out" rule has served me well. If a new item comes in the house I look for something that can leave. Each week I reevaluate my surroundings and continue to post listings as new items are found. If they don't sell after one month then the items are donated to a local charity.

7. Shop at Goodwill
Why would you pay full price for a perfectly good designer suit when the same suit could be purchased at Goodwill for under $15? Now is not the time to be snobbish. Much of the clothing donated to Goodwill has never been worn and many times tags are still on the garments. My mother lost a lot of weight and purchased quite a few new pieces from her favorite clothing store only to loose more weight. The new pants and shirts she just purchased no longer fit. Mom didn't want to spend even more money after the first investment so, off to Goodwill we go! We were able to purchase 1 fitted blazer, 3 pairs of dress pants, 1 pair of jeans, 2 cardigan sets, 4 sweaters and 4 blouses for under $70 and almost all of the items were designer names. She would have easily spent over $500 for the same items had she gotten them from the original stores. Set a budget, look for basic key pieces, build a wardrobe that suits your lifestyle and spend some of the money you've saved on great shoes that will last. Not only are you spending less, but the money made at Goodwill is going to a good cause and helping the community.

That makes $246 saved each month by lowering my monthly bills equaling $2952 for the year, plus the $800 earned by selling things just sitting around the house and then saving $430 on a new wardrobe. That brings the total to $4180 back in the pocket at the end of the year!!

Those tips didn't dramatically alter my lifestyle, but by tweaking just a few things I was able to save in a big way. Can you imagine what might happen if you tweaked your food budget or your purchasing practices? More to come on those so check back!

Tuesday Treats...Pumpkin Pasta

This Tuesday treat is a favorite that Mom and I both love!! We use it to usher in the Fall and to celebrate the harvest of the season. This recipe is from Rachel Ray of 30 Minute Meals. It's a simple dish that's fast and easy, but packs a LOT of flavor...

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon
1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage
4 cloves garlic, cracked and chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
4 to 6 sprigs sage leaves, cut into chiffonade, about 2 tablespoons
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken stock, canned or paper container
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup (3 turns around the pan) heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, ground or freshly grated
Coarse salt and black pepper
1 pound penne rigate, cooked to al dente
Romano or Parmigiano, for grating
Pumpernickel or whole grain bread, as an accompaniment

Directions:
Heat a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and brown the sausage in it. Transfer sausage to paper towel lined plate. Drain fat from skillet and return pan to the stove. Add the remaining tablespoon oil, and then the garlic and onion. Saute 3 to 5 minutes until the onions are tender.

Add bay leaf, sage, and wine to the pan. Reduce wine by half, about 2 minutes. Add stock and pumpkin and stir to combine, stirring sauce until it comes to a bubble. Return sausage to pan, reduce heat, and stir in cream. Season the sauce with the cinnamon and nutmeg, and salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer mixture 5 to 10 minutes to thicken sauce.

Return drained pasta to the pot you cooked it in. Remove the bay leaf from sauce and pour the sausage pumpkin sauce over pasta. Combine sauce and pasta and toss over low heat for 1 minute. Garnish the pasta with lots of shaved cheese and sage leaves.

Serve pumpkin sausage pasta with pumpernickel or whole grain bread and Spinach Salad with Apple and Red Onion.

Spinach Salad with Apple and Red Onion:
1 pound triple-washed spinach, de-stemmed
1 small Golden Delicious apple, quartered, cored, and sliced
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons (a couple of splashes) apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon grain mustard
1 tablespoon (a good drizzle) honey
Coarse salt and black pepper

Place spinach, apple, and onion in a salad bowl. Place oil, vinegar, mustard and honey in a small plastic container and fit lid on container. Shake dressing to combine, 1 minute. Pour dressing over salad, toss, and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Yield: 4 servings

Monday Musings...Birthday Lessons

Turning 40 is something I've been looking forward to for a long time. Yes, I'm turning 40 and LOVING it!!! For some reason, in my mind, the fabulous 40's have magic fairy dust attached to them (:

The past couple of years have been very challenging for our family. My father passed away, then my grandmother last Christmas Eve with my other grandmother passing a few days later and we almost lost my mother. This time has greatly shown me what is truly important in life. It's not what you have, who you know or what position you hold. Life is about legacy and the love that is shared. I've been blessed to learn so many life lessons from the cracked nuts called my family (:

So in honor of those who have gone before me, I'm continuing a birthday tradition my mother started back when I was in college. Instead of having parties where people bring gifts for the birthday girl/guy, a charity is chosen and guests are asked to donate items for that particular charity. People can either bring a monetary donation or items that the charity might need. For the first of year our new tradition we chose the local Ronald McDonald house. A meal was prepared for the families staying there in honor of the birthday girl.

This type of party also frees up any gift giving anxiety (I don't experience this, but many people do). Your friends may be limited on funds but the spirit of giving can still be experienced during tough economic times. If your charity is for a homeless shelter, then your guests can prepare like we did or perhaps go through their closets and bring clothing they no longer use (or maybe several of their most cherished pieces). If your charity is the local animal shelter, guests may have extra blankets or animal products on hand to donate. If your friends and family only have $1 to spare, then that's $1 any charity would be thankful to receive. It's not the amount of the gift, but the intent behind it.

This idea is also a great way to begin teaching your children the art of giving. Discuss several charities, how they help others and allow the children to choose the charity for their party. It could even be a themed celebration. The kids could come dressed as their favorite animal if the charity is for the local animal shelter or they could dress up as their favorite book character if you're donating to the library...the options are endless!! Have fun with it!! Halloween shouldn't be the only time of year to don your favorite costumes (:

I'm using this same idea for a Christmas party this year. We'll collect items and cards for the troops and then spend the evening packaging the goodies and writing letters to our men and women in service.

So, how will you celebrate this year? Just remember, you are the gift to those around you...go forth and share your light (:

New Posting Schedule...

I'm so excited to announce our new posting schedule! Not only will this prevent my own chaotic ramblings, (What? No one else rambles on their blog?) but it will let our readers know what comes next. Here's the line up...

• Monday Musings – A day focused on really anything that might pop into my head (: Possibly things that might inspire creations, experiences that offer reflection, things that give me enjoyment or maybe something that’s just fun and fanciful.
  
  
• Tuesday Treats – I love to cook and share recipes and found that simplicity in the kitchen has freed up a lot of frustration. A little preparation can go a long way and it’s made all the difference in how my cooking space is organized. Tuesday is when Natural esSCENTials from the kitchen are shared. Feel free to post tips and recipes from the heart of your home. The more the merrier (:
  
  
• Wednesday Works – This will be the day I share what’s going on in the studio. It could be shots of upcoming new designs, work just posted in the shop or photos on the progress in the studio. It’s a total mess right now! I’m getting back to basics and cleaning up the space!! I’ll bring you along and share what I’m doing and offer ideas that might help you tidy up your own spaces.
  
  
• Thursday Thankfulness – I think being thankful for what we have is so crucial to maintain that quiet, still inner peace. It doesn’t matter where you are right now or how much you have lost, there is always something to be cherished. When we focus on the blessings, more come our way. It’s not just about being thankful, but reaching out and giving back as well. Even a smile directed to a stranger in the store might change their life in ways you could never imagine. Thursday Thankfulness will be a day to share things for which I’m thankful and ways that might inspire you to give back.
  
  
• Friday Favorites – I love Etsy and the handmade community! There are so many talented people out there! Each Friday I’ll share my list of 5 Favorite Handmade Finds...items discovered on my holiday shopping journey.

I hope you'll stop by on your favorite days and join us.

New Products

We've started filling our shop with notecards and magnets so stop by and see what's new.

About Us

Natural esSCENTials is a family business that began out of a passion for all things natural and has turned into a shop that is simply about living, giving and helping others to create a home naturally reflecting their true spirit.

Our blog will have tips and suggestions for those wanting to create a home haven, steps on how to integrate a simple living lifestyle in your own journey, links for inspiration, workshop opportunities teaching how to make home decor items yourself that would cost much more if purchased in-store, ideas on how to offer gifts of thanksgiving and gratitude to others, and of course we'll be featuring products that are near and dear to our hearts.

With the uncertainty of the economy, more people are seeing the advantages of getting back to basics and living a more simple life. But "living-simply" does not mean "living-less" and can actually bring more fulfillment.

My Grandmother was a woman who followed this philosophy to the letter. She passed away last Christmas Eve, but I feel the essence of her spirit with us as we work on things for our shop. She inspired me, always encouraged me to follow my dreams and she has forever changed how my eyes view this life.

Grandmother was a woman of grace, integrity, and love and she never missed an opportunity to give. No matter what she had, if someone needed it, she gave. I still have fond memories of a magical spot in her home called "The Gift Closet." It was a place that held treasured pieces, wrapping of all kinds, tissue in a rainbow of colors and cards for any occasion.

When she saw an item on sale or found things that others might discard, my Grandmother would takes these things and turn them into a gift of love that anyone would be honored to receive. She prepared for opportunities to give. If a child stopped by her home with a parent who was bringing a holiday present, Grandmother wanted to make sure she had something for that child too so he or she would feel special. Grandmother knew what it was like during tough times...times when others were getting dolls and candy for Christmas, she received socks and an orange.

So, we're on a journey to embrace the simplicity that makes life fun and magical...a path that was forged by my Grandmother and my Mother. Both of these women have passed down a legacy of what giving means...love from the heart. As we craft items for our shop's "Gift Closet" filled with the Natural esSCENTials of giving and living, we hope you join us. You never know what you might find to fill "The Gift Closet" in your own home (: