may photo journal ♥ day seventeen ♥ sparks J O Y

sparks J O Y ...

hot chocolate in the evening...I usually don't make it so decadent, but I was feeling in the mood for a bit of freshly whipped cream and a spoonful of mini chocolate chips on top. It was divine!

This may be a bit weird, but one of life's little pleasures I'm unashamedly obsessed with is seeing lights on inside homes from the windows, especially little lamps lit in windows. There are few things in the world I find as cozy and as homey as this. In the photos in this post, I was walking up our driveway from doing some yardwork and noticed how charming and welcoming our kitchen window looked with the light dimmed and our twinkle lights on the shelf. One of my favorite things to notice in the evenings, whether I'm on a walk or in the car, is the gentle glow of light coming from windows of people's homes...it's such a comforting sight.

I recently completely redecorated my bedroom. I didn't buy anything new or add anything different. I simply took everything down from my walls and shelves and just redecorated with the same things. It's made my room feel refreshed and I love it. My mom and sister helped me out quite a lot with hanging my shelves, which is definitely NOT a one-person job, and with arranging the frames on my walls. Even though it was such a simple project, using what I already had, it was such a fun thing to do and made me feel creative and inspired all over again.

Another thing that's sparked joy in my life is continuing my self-studies of herbalism, aromatherapy, and holistic wellness. This has been an ongoing interest of mine for years now, but it's only been in the last couple of years that I've really begun studying it through some online courses and videos as well as reading different material...and it brings me endless joy. I recently made a batch of our very favorite medicinal salve, which is always a fun afternoon project for me. Do let me know if you'd be interested in me sharing about herbalism, aromatherapy, holistic wellness, and things like that. It's one of my biggest passions!

What's been sparking J O Y in your life lately?

jars of posies ♡ five little things ♡ june 27

Five little things from June . . .

♥ strawberry hibiscus iced green tea

We steep 3 bags of decaf green tea and 4 bags of strawberry hibiscus herbal tea (we get the Walmart store brand) for 15 minutes on the stovetop. Then we pour that into a gallon jug, top off with cold, filtered water, and enjoy over ice. It's my summertime obsession, and I cannot drink enough of it! So cooling and yummy and delightful!

♥ lightening bugs

Watching the little twinkles fluttering around our garden is no less magical now than it was when I was a little girl. Absolute summertime magic! I cannot imagine living somewhere without lightening bugs in the summer. 

♥ chickpea blondies 

Okay, okay. I know this sounds super weird, but before you turn your nose up at this recipe, hear me out. I do not like chickpeas. I hate them. Like, really, really hate them. But we have a few cans on our shelf that I'd rather not see go to waste, so I've been searching high and low for a recipe (or two) to try that sounds good. I went out on a limb here and totally took a risk and gave this recipe a shot. I was hopeful that I wasn't wasting ingredients, but sometimes you just have to take that chance. And very surprisingly, I was so glad I did!! These blondies are so delicious! There is no way anyone would ever guess there are C H I C K P E A S in them! I do recommend following the tip of allowing them to chill in the fridge for awhile after they cool in the pan. I let mine sit in the fridge overnight and I really think it helps the blondies be extra fudgy. And that's never a bad thing! I also used semi-sweet chocolate chips, and not vegan chips, I used mini ones which I think mixed in better than the regular sized ones. This recipe is totally going into our favorites section!

You can find the recipe here.

♥ tangerine and lime essential oils in the diffuser 

I do about 8 drops of tangerine and 3 drops of lime in my diffuser, top it off with water, and enjoy the summery scent. It is blissful!

♥ Gilmore Girls

I've been watching Gilmore Girls again lately before bed and it's still a favorite. Sometimes if you haven't seen a show in awhile, you wonder if you still love it as much as you did or if it's still a favorite, and yes, I still love it and it's still a favorite. {{smiles}}

What's brought you delight in June?  

jars of posies ♡ five little things ♡ may 30

Little delights from May . . .

♥ True Justice: Family Ties

We love mystery movies and Hallmark has made several of our favorite series. It's been awhile, however, since we watched a new Hallmark mystery that we really enjoyed. This one was so good! I absolutely love the vibe of this movie and the group of friends solving mysteries. It was for sure one of the best ones I've seen in a long time, especially considering that they are no longer making new movies in our favorite series. I really, really hope they make more in this series!

♥ nourishing banana bread

recipe coming in my next post! :)

♥ my evening mug of herbal tea

My current favorites are lemon balm, wild sweet orange, and hibiscus. The first and last teas are from Traditional Medicinals, and the second one is from Tazo. Favorite teas from favorite brands in a pretty mug with a bumble bee and ladybug on it with flowers...so perfect for summertime.

♥ Sunflower by Alice Peacock 🌻

I first heard this song on the movie, Because of Winn-Dixie, which is one of my all-time favorites. All the music in that movie is a vibe, and it never fails to make me smile. This song is perfect for summertime...I can't stop listening to it. 

♥ organic, all natural Hawaiian guava and citrus perfume roller

 

 I got this perfume roller a few years back at Sprout's and I totally forgot about it at the back of my cupboard. I found it and I'm loving using it every day! It's made from essential oils and doesn't have any crap in it...so big win! And on top of that citrus oils are great for relieving stress, and goodness knows I need all the help in that area I can get. Oh, and it's such a summery scent, too!

♥ adding to my DVD collection/library

 Earlier in May, our local thrift stores as well as the library were having sales. Not only did I get some amazing deals on a good selection of books and clothing, but I also scored big on so many DVDs. I absolutely love adding to my DVD collection and get the biggest thrill in seeing my library grow. The DVDs were $1 with 50% off at the library and 2.99 with 40% off at the thrift store. I even got several with the packaging still on them!

What are some of your delights from May?

jars of posies ♡ five little things ♡ january 21

... a collection of little things to delight ...

 

♥ The Mallorca Files ♥

After Christmas, my sister found this series on BritBox and we binged it over just a few days. We loved it! The setting is gorgeous, the characters are funny and the storylines grab your attention. I've seen that the third season is (hopefully!) supposed to be coming out later this year and we absolutely cannot wait! Highly recommend!

♥ Mushroom Cookies ♥

We have been focusing on making healthy treats instead of sweets full of refined sugars and such. My sister has done a fabulous job of finding several recipes that use bananas as the sweetener. And I was excited to find this recipe on a blog that I enjoy learning from. These are a simple cookie sweetened with honey, but boy, are they good! They also have mushroom powder in them, which is something I've been adding to my daily drinks/meals. I love using reishi mushroom powder in this recipe. And finally, before I baked these cookies, I placed a dark chocolate chunk in the center of each cookie dough ball. The flavor was so yummy! (I'm also trying to get used to dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, as dark chocolate has good health benefits.)

You can find the recipe for these delicious cookies here.

♥ Jo Dee Messina ~ Heads Carolina, Tails California ♥

I've been loving listening to 90's and early 2000s (and some 2010s) country music. I lived on this music as a teenager and for so long now, I've felt embarrassed and whatever for liking this music. But now I say, who cares! I can listen to whatever I like! And I am having the most fun listening to these songs that bring back sweet memories for me. This is one of them...if you want something fun to listen to, give this one a listen. This happy music makes my heart feel so alive!

♥ lavender, rosemary, and geranium ♥

I have been making this essential oil roller blend for a few years now and it may well be my favorite. I simply do equal parts of lavender, rosemary, and geranium oils and then fill the roller bottle up with fractionated coconut oil. It smells divine and I love it! All of these oils have calming, relaxing, soothing benefits. I don't wear perfume because this smells so lovely! And best of all, it's not full of crappy ingredients that are unhealthy for you. 

♥ Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce ♥

I have a small stack of books that I'm currently reading. I hope to share more on them soon. But in the meantime, I'll share about this story that is charming me in every way. I'm listening to the audiobook whilst I read along with the book. This is my very first audiobook experience and it's read by Anna Popplewell (Susan Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia) and she really does a phenomenal job making the story come to life and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Let's hope it continues to be wonderful!

What's delighting you currently, kindred spirits?

From My Inglenook ♥ July Ponderings

for the beauty of the earth

Green. Lush green. That's what my world looks like these midsummer days. The skies have been full of rain clouds the last few days and our days and nights have been filled with the sound of rain pitter-pattering against the windows. Our plants are very much appreciating this rain, as are we. Last week, I went for a short walk with my mom in our neighborhood and the weather was rather pleasant for this time of year in the early evening. It was just as the sun was beginning to descend beyond the horizon so its heat wasn't streaming down on our heads. Our walks were nice little breaks in between rainfalls and it was such a breath of fresh air...literally. I was craving some fresh air! {{smiles}}

musical treasures 

Broadway soundtracks have been bringing me endless delight these late nights of writing, puttering, organizing and tidying. Anastasia and Newsies are our favorites! My sister and I also enjoy listening to some classical-style music whilst we paint. And, of course, my Celtic melodies are always, always playing. I just cannot escape them, but why would I want to?

bookish ramblings

Last month, I completed my very first Elizabeth Goudge novel, which was one of those small dreams I'd had for several years now. It was ever so sweet and just as lovely as I'd hoped. Pilgrim's Inn is the perfect place to start with her books, if I may say so. That's what I'd heard from several bookish sources and they were indeed correct. I also finished the first book in the Penderwicks series, which was a calming, gentle read and perfect for summertime. Though, I must say it would be perfect for autumn or winter as well because it was quite a cozy read. 

Currently, I've begun a new book...but I must admit that I am anxiously awaiting my birthday next week because something tells me I am getting a large book stack as part of my gift. I may have picked out the titles myself and am excitedly awaiting getting to open those packages. 

in the world of TV and movies

Oh boy! My mom, sister, and I have begun watching The Hardy Boys series on Hulu this weekend. We are already five episodes in and we are completely hooked. It is captivating, mysterious, family-centered, set in a cute small town, and addictive. Have you seen it yet?

I'm also rewatching Call the Midwife, Blue Bloods, and Gilmore Girls. I'll watch one or two episodes of one of these shows in the evenings and oh, these are such comfort shows. I never forget why I love them so much, but each time I watch them, I love them a bit more. And I've been falling asleep to Full House, which I haven't seen in probably a decade. That was the show I loved most as a child...and it's been fun to revisit. (Oh, it's still as wonderful as it was in my little girl days!)

a grateful heart

Rainy days and nights (my favorite!), iced tea and lots of it!, baking bread with my mom and sister, going on long drives through the countryside, instrumental music, tall and endless piles of books, recipe collections as messy as mine is, new shows and movies to discover and watch, finding new music that makes me happy in every way, essential oil roller blends, looking out my window and seeing leafy green trees, cute hair clips for hot days, and the sound of crickets making music late at night.

from my kitchen

Last night, I took a turn making dinner for my people. I made Korean chicken, green beans and peas and a wonderfully refreshing, and perfect for summertime, mandarin pecan salad. The salad was a new-to-us recipe and we loved it. I love finding new variations for salads and this one was ridiculously simple but insanely delicious. And as a surprise for my sister, because she'd been craving them, I made homemade peanut butter cookies for dessert.

fashionable fun

Summer sundresses are what July days are made of. And today is no different. A spaghetti-strap sundress with a tropical pattern that makes me feel like I'm in Hawaii it is for today.

home and hearth

Nothing crazy or out of the ordinary. Just tidying up and going through things to sort through the garbage and good stuff to keep. And cleaning out my bookshelves of books I no longer want/don't like/etc. I'm forever making room for more books.

my cup overflows

 Iced raspberry leaf tea is being drunk quite liberally these days.

these are a few of my favorite things

♥ diffusing a mixture of vanilla and lime essential oils...this combination is divine!

♥ the Harry Potter movie series...I think I'm in love.

♥ homemade vanilla iced coffee...seriously yum! 

for the love of words

Finding yourself is not really how it works. You aren't a ten-dollar bill in last winter's coat pocket. You are also not lost. Your true self is right there, buried under cultural conditioning, other people's opinions, and inaccurate conclusions you drew as a kid that became your beliefs about who you are. 'Finding yourself' is actually returning to yourself. An unlearning, an excavation, a remembering who you were before the world got its hands on you.

(Emily McDowell)

crafting and creating

A few weeks ago, my sister and I began painting in the evenings. We bought some canvases at the shop and pulled out our paints and just have fun painting whatever we fancy. So far, I've ended up with five paintings to hang on my walls...I'm certainly no van Gogh, but this is a fun hobby and way to spend hours upon hours in the evenings and I love having some handmade artwork on my walls.

.....................................................................................................................................

What is filling your world with delight these July days, dear friends?

Sweet Citrus Essential Oil Spray {& Diffusing Blend}

Living an earthy, natural, organic life is extremely important to me...not only is this way of living good for the earth, it's also hugely beneficial to your own health. I believe that the earth provides many healers. Nature is a bountiful pharmacy created by God and given to us as such a blessed gift right at our fingertips.

My family has been on a journey of living more naturally and healthily for the last few years. It really began in 2015 and we haven't stopped since. We've learned tons and made many switches to earthy, plant-based, natural products, from cleaning to body and beauty and everything in between. We still have a long way to go, but we're sure a heck of a lot further along than we were when we started. We even experiment with vegan cooking from time to time and find that there is such a vast variety of meals to cook when you are "tied-down" to only plants...and the dishes sure are prettier and tasty, too!

Essential oils are just one of the things we have embraced in our home. We love making up different blends to diffuse, both for a pleasant aroma and for health benefits too. I can't tell you the number of times they have saved our back when one of us has gotten a sore throat or head congestion...they're little miracle workers.   

And one of my most favorite things to do with essential oils is to make room sprays...I've come up with a few recipes before and the one I'm sharing today just might be my new favorite. (Though I say that with every new concoction I come up with!) Sometimes I like to do a seasonal blend, but this particular one is a calming, soothing, peaceful blend. I love just going around the house and spraying a few mists of this magic stuff in each room...it's especially nice right after you've cleaned. And if you can't get your nose away from the bottle, don't blame me! It's such a sweet, citrusy scent, and you won't be able to get enough of it!

Before I share the recipe, I'd like to share the benefits of each essential oil I've chosen to use in this particular blend:

Lemon, Orange, Tangerine- 

helps reduce stress and anxiety, enhances moods, reduces anxiety and promotes positivity, fights against depression, promotes feelings of happiness, energizing, uplifting, cleanses and freshens the air

Ylang Ylang-

lessens tension and stress, calming, promotes positivity

Patchouli-

contributes to a grounded, balanced atmosphere and emotions

To make the spray, simply fill a spray bottle half way with witch hazel and half way with water. Then, depending on the size of your bottle, add equal drops of each of the above oils (lemon, orange, tangerine, ylang ylang, and patchouli). I did about three drops of each in my bottle, which was on the small to medium size, but I like a very fragrant aroma.

To diffuse, simply clean your diffuser according to manufacturer's directions and fill with water accordingly. Depending on the size of your diffuser and the room it's in, add equal amounts of the above oils. For my befroom, I added about 4 drops of each oil to my diffuser which runs for about 18 hours intermittently. 

The main thing with either the spray or when diffusing this blend is to add equal amounts of each oil. The scents together really create something calming, peaceful and sweet...and then the oils do their magic!

For my other oily blends, check out these posts below:

 a lovely springtime blend

a warming blend for autumn and winter

Exploring the world of essential oils is something I'm becoming more and more passionate about. I plan on sharing much more about this topic, as well as natural, earthy living in general, in the future.

What are your favorite oil blends? 

A Lovely Way to Add a Touch of Spring to Your Home

A cheerful Wednesday to you, lovely friends! 

Spring isn't quite in full swing around here just yet...

the temps are still on a roller coaster, and it seems like spring is taking her sweet time this year.

However, just because it may not feel like springtime outside on a daily basis quite yet,

that doesn't mean that I can't have a little spring in my home. 

Today I have a lovely, simple recipe that I made up just the other night. 

You see, we have become obsessed with essential oils here in our home. 

My mom has been collecting them for about a year now, and we just love them.

She diffuses a blend every day and changes it up throughout the week for a bit of fun. 

They sure make our home smell delightful and they also have calming and relaxation effects, too.

Last October I shared a similar recipe to the one I'm sharing today. The Warm Autumn Room Spray recipe that I posted was just that...a room spray with a warm, spicy scent, which was perfect for Autumn, Thanksgiving, Christmas and going through Winter. However, I like to make this special for each season, and I don't necessarily want a scent that is warm, spicy and reminds me of trying to get warm and cozy when it's 100 degrees outside. I like citrus, fruity, floral, and lighter scents for the warmer months. So, behold...a lovely spring and summer scented room spray. 

I rummaged through my mom's large collection of little essential oil bottles and

chose orange and jasmine, simply because they smelled so very good to me! 

Surprisingly, when I mixed them together, they smelled just like the 

honeysuckle that we have growing wild and free on our back fence. 

I LOVE that scent and was pleasantly surprised to find that the combination of those

two oils gave me that. 

I love just spritzing a bit of this spray all over the house whenever I walk through. 

It smells so good, you'll want to just cover the entire house with it!

I hope you will make up a bottle of this magical potion!

Wild and Free Honeysuckle Room Spray

Equal parts water and witch hazel

25 drops orange essential oil

10 drops jasmine essential oil

Combine all together in a spray bottle, shake to mix well, and then enjoy the lovely, almost-honeysuckle scent that will fill your home.

A Simple Way to Bring Warmth into Your Home

For today's post, I am rearranging my planned schedule of themed posts on Sundays. I have several themed posts that will be coming up toward the end of this series, as well as quite a few that will flow over into November. For today, though....

During the summer, I had some fun experimenting with different essential oils to create a sweet smelling room spray. I love spritzing a bit of something lovely here and there, but most of the products you will find in a grocery store are loaded with chemicals and things that you don't really want to breathe in. I came across a base recipe for natural, healthy room sprays and have since had so much fun creating seasonal scents. 

Here's what I came up with for Autumn, and it could well go into Christmas and wintertime, too. It smells delightfully inviting and full of a warm, cozy feeling. Spritz just a bit, and your whole room will smell delicious!

Warm Autumn Room Spray

Equal parts water and witch hazel (or vodka)

15 drops Clove essential oil

15 drops Orange essential oil

8 drops Cinnamon essential oil 

Combine all together in a spray bottle, shake to mix well, and then enjoy the scent of a warm, cozy atmosphere!