My Seven Secrets for a Cozy Home

Christmas season is over and it's time to transition to January. I have to admit that I am a big fan of winter (Yes...strange, I know) but that's mostly because I love the feeling of a warm and welcoming home! And now more than ever we need that cozy feeling! Sooo...I am going to share with you my best secrets for creating that cozy feeling...just in time!

5 Ways to Use French Lavender in Your Home

Traveling to France is not in the cards for me right now but there are reminders of previous visits that always bring back wonderful memories....among them the scent of fresh lavender. So I am sharing one of my favorite ways to feel as though I have had a little trip to France…adding the wonderful scent of French lavender to your home! 

My Seven Secrets for a Cozy Home

Christmas season is over and it's time to transition to January. I have to admit that I am a big fan of winter (Yes...strange, I know) but that's mostly because I love the feeling of a warm and welcoming home! And now more than ever we need that cozy feeling! Sooo...I am going to share with you my best secrets for creating that cozy feeling...just in time!

5 Fun and Easy Ways to Use Apples for Fall

It's still hot and humid here in Georgia so I am trying to think ahead to the cooler days of fall. And for me, nothing says that fall will be here soon more than apples! I love adding them to my décor and having a hint of the smell of fresh apples in my home. So I thought I would share a few of my favorite ways to get that fall feeling with the help of some wonderful apple-y additions!

My Seven Secrets for a Cozy Home

Christmas season is winding down and it's time to transition to January. I have to admit that I am a big fan of winter (Yes...strange, I know) but that's mostly because I love the feeling of a warm and welcoming home! Sooo...I am going to share with you my best secrets for creating that cozy feeling...just in time!

Christmas Morning Simmering Potpourri

Can you believe that Christmas is only a little over a week away? The Christmas spirit has really arrived at my house and, to top it off, so has the smell! My secret...a special simmering potpourri that I keep on my stove all through the holidays!

My Secret for Transitioning into Fall

It's still hot and humid here in Georgia so I am trying to think ahead to the cooler days of fall. It's too soon to pull out the pumpkins so I am sharing my secret weapon for gently transitioning into fall...apples!  I love adding them to my décor and having a hint of the smell of fresh apples in my home. So I thought I would share a few of my favorite ways to get that fall feeling with the help of some wonderful apple-y additions!

Five Fun and Easy Ways to Use Apples for Fall

It's still hot and humid here in Georgia so I am trying to think ahead to the cooler days of fall. And for me, nothing says that fall will be here soon more than apples! I love adding them to my décor and having a hint of the smell of fresh apples in my home. So I thought I would share a few of my favorite ways to get that fall feeling with the help of some wonderful apple-y additions!

Seven Secrets for a Cozy Home

 Brrr! We are expecting our coldest temperatures of the season tonight along with blustery winds! I have to admit that I am a fan of winter (Yes...strange, I know) but that's mostly because I love the feeling of a warm and welcoming home! Sooo...I am going to share with you my best secrets for creating that cozy feeling...just in time!

All-Natural Spiced Apple Simmering Potpourri

In case you haven’t heard me say it, I love fall! It’s my favorite season…sweaters, bonfires, pumpkins and frost! (Yes…frost…so I can stop mowing the grass! lol) I love the smell of fall and the beautiful fall foliage! Only one problem here…

Five Ways to Use French Lavender in Your Home

I am so excited because it’s time for our Country French design group's monthly share! I love seeing what my very talented fellow francophiles have to show us each month! This time the topic is our choice so I chose one of my favorite ways to feel as though I've had a little trip to France…adding the wonderful scent of French lavender to your home! 

Ticking and Toile Star Anise Wreath

Here’s an idea I’ve been wanting to try for a while…using star anise to create a little wreath! I love the look and smell of star anise and thought that the little star shapes might add some interest and texture to a mini wreath…plus make the house smell wonderful! I was afraid that finding enough of it at a reasonable price would be a problem…

Easy Lavender Goats Milk Soap

I am so excited because I finally tried something that I have had on my to-do list for a long time but have postponed, thinking it would be too hard…wrong! In fact, it was really easy and so much fun that I have it on my list to try again…making my own soap! I love soap, especially French milled soaps in all of those fabulous scents that remind me of Provence…but especially lavender! And I have to admit that I have a sort of obsession born of regret…

Homemade Lemon and Lavender Simmering Potpourri

I am excited to join eighteen other bloggers in a fun tour…the Homemade Beauty and Household Products Showcase, where we are sharing our secrets for creating our own products to keep your home fresh and clean and to keep you beautiful! My secret…homemade simmering lemon and lavender potpourri!

It’s so easy and inexpensive…and leaves your home with a clean, fresh scent! It only requires three ingredients and a little time.

Click here for a printable version of the recipe.

HOMEMADE LEMON AND LAVENDER SIMMERING POTPOURRI

from Confessions of a Plate Addict

INGREDIENTS:

• One whole lemon, sliced
• One cup of dried lavender (I used both the leaves and flowers saved from last year’s French lavender.) Place the lavender in cheesecloth if you wish.
• One teaspoon of vanilla extract
• One quart of water
• (Optional: You may add two or three drops of lavender essential oil if you prefer a stronger fragrance.)

 DIRECTIONS:
Bring the water to a boil.
Add the above ingredients, squeezing the lemons and adding both the rinds and the juice.
Allow to boil for a few minutes to release the scent, then reduce to a simmer.
In about 30 minutes, your whole house will smell wonderful! You can put it in the fridge and reuse it for several days. Be sure to keep an eye on the water level when the potpourri is simmering.
Please note that this is a recipe for potpourri and is not intended as a beverage.

From Confessions of a Plate Addict
http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
Click here for a printable version of the recipe.

In just a short time, your home will be filled with a light, fresh fragrance that will chase away that stuffy winter feeling from living for months with your windows closed! And for me, the smell of lavender evokes memories of a wonderful vacation spent near the lavender fields of Provence!

And just in case you missed it, here is the simmering potpourri that I shared at Christmas…a spicier version that leaves your home with that wonderful cozy Christmas smell! However, I like to use it all winter long, too!

Click here for a printable version of the recipe.
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS SPICE SIMMERING POTPOURRI
From Confessions of a Plate Addict

• First bring a quart of water to a boil. 
• Next add half of an orange cut into smaller sections (I usually squeeze the juice into the water and then add the peel).
• Finally, add two cinnamon sticks, two bay leaves and 10-15 whole cloves. Place the spices in cheesecloth if you wish.

Let it boil for a few minutes, then turn it down to a simmer and leave it on the stove. In about 30 minutes, your whole house will smell wonderful! You can put it in the fridge and reuse it for several days. I have even frozen it and pulled it back out on a really cold night to make the house feel cozy. Be sure to keep an eye on the water level when the potpourri is simmering. Please note that this is a recipe for potpourri and is not intended as a beverage.

From Confessions of a Plate Addict
http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
Click here for a printable version of the recipe.

Our Miss Kitty has a suggestion…how about a catnip simmering potpourri? It would bring back memories of wonderful sunny days on the patio…enjoying the potted catnip! Hmmm…I’m not so sure that’s a good idea, Miss Kitty! But I do hope that you will try my recipes and check out the other bloggers to see what they are sharing!

Please be sure to visit the following blogs for the 

Homemade Beauty and Household Products Showcase:

Friday, January 24th

The Everyday Home

Sondra Lyn at Home

Crafts à la Mode

Domestically Speaking

The Happier Homemaker

Cupcakes and Crinoline

Mom Home Guide

from Gardners 2 Bergers

Saturday, January 25th

Confessions of a Plate Addict

An Alli Event

Shabby Art Boutique

Town and Country Living

A Delightsome Life

Sweet Pea

Denise Designed

White Lace Cottage

Garden Therapy

On the Way Home

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed my recipes for simmering potpourri! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures, Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays , No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays, French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday
See you next time! À la prochaine!

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