Aromatherapy Dream Pillows

Another Christmas gift I made this year was aromatherapy Dream Pillows.
I had seen the idea online and was struck by how easy they were to make, and useful!
Herbs have been known for years as being therapeutic not only for their medicinal properties but for their smell as well.
I wanted to make pillows that could be easily slipped into a pillow-case, that was stuffed with loose, aromatic herbs to induce a calmer, quieter more restful sleep.
In these pillows I stuffed:
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- Rose Petals
- Calendula
- Mullien

I can't say I actually measured anything, just divided the herbs evenly then poured them into the bag. I didn't stuff it tightly or with anything else other than the herbs.
I wanted it to lie flat under the pillow and not be bulky or over-stuffed.
These ones I did just simply sew shut - however if you wanted to re-use your pillow, a line of velcro could easily be sewn onto the opening so you can refresh your herbs every few months.
I would really recommend using fabric such as cotton or linen, something that air can easily pass through.
Another benefit is that these dream pillows can also be put with children, to help promote sleep as well.
If you decide to do this however, I would make a pillow that cannot be opened, or placed on top of the mattress but under the fitted sheet so playful babies don't suck on it like another toy.

Sweet Dreams!

My Big Little Home

I like to think we live big lives in a small space.
Our apartment is very teensy.
With just one living space and a galley kitchen, its so easy to feel 'over crowded.'

My mood with my little home swings back and forth constantly. Sometimes I feel like I have the coziest little cottage house that I adore, and the next second I feel like if I trip over one more basket, or one more big man boot, I'm gonna lose it!

Our home really is lovely, I think that sometimes during my blog crawl, when I see couples with beautifully decorated homes, and lots of space for intimate little areas, that green eyed monster of jealousy can get me; and suddenly my little home looks a little too little.
With Jeremie in school right now, working like a champ at attaining his second career, we're cheap..er...frugal, by neccessity.
I joined what I thought was a project: "Have a No-Spend Month", and chuckled with the realization that every month for us has to be a "no-spend month."

I look at these lovely tours of peoples homes, and I see their office, dining room, living area, all artfully arranged, and I get a little embaressed that to encompass all that in our home, would be one picture of one room.
However, I know that no matter where one lives there will always be issues or problems with your home. There will be parts of it you don't enjoy or wish were a tad better.
You could live in the most beautiful of homes with the most beautiful furniture and still be discontent.

Contentment has to rely on more than just material possessions. It's so easy to fall into the 'if I just had ________, I'd be content' trap.
I'm sure we've all done it.
It's changing your thinking from "if I just had" to "look what I have!"
And we've been blessed with so much.


As a homemaker my desire is to make a "home." So I naturally want to make my home as comfortable and beautiful as possible, and sometimes I think that means I need new curtains or better furniture, but a home is made when love dwells there.
No matter what you have, any dwelling can be a home.

Before we moved back home, Jeremie and I rented a house.
It was large, had tons of room and nice yards; but it did not become a home.
I wanted to be near family, and living such a long distance away had become stressful on me, and so, I put absolutely no effort into making it a home.
It was comfy, and well furnished, but it never was more than 'just a place where we lived.' because I didn't want to be there.
Whereas Jeremie and my first ever apartment as a married couple was a real dive. It was sub-level, dark, had orange shag carpeting, and an unfinished bathroom with a cement floor and drywall walls; yet somehow, it became a home for us and I loved it.

I've seen first hand how the building does not a home make.
So I willingly choose to love my little space, that fits my little family and thank God for it everyday.

Peace,
Jenny

Tea Time

There is nothing quite like a good cup of tea on a cool day, and nothing is better than sipping it from pretty china.

Even as a little girl, I loved tea sets. This was probably because my mother loved little tea sets and every so often I would suddenly be gifted a little porcelain tea set.

They were always very feminine, generally white with little flowers or designs painted on them.

I've had numerous tea parties during my childhood - I clearly remember filling up my miniature tea pot with water from the tap in the washroom, so I could then pour it into those minuscule cups and sip daintily from them, while discussing important issues with my collection of teddies and dolls.

Sometimes I would able to rope my little brother into a having a tea party with me, but somehow it didn't seem nearly as 'refined' as I thought it should be.

In middle school I even sent out little invitations to my girlfriends, inviting them over for a "Victorian Tea Party."

It makes me smile to think of my Mum pulling out the lacy tablecloths, setting out her "Old Country Roses" tea set for us to use, and even make us little cucumber sandwiches, all set prettily on fancy plates.

Right on time, my girlfriends showed up. All in pretty dresses, hats on their heads and gloves on their hands.

Mum let me wear one of her large brimmed straw hats, and tied a silk scarf over it and under my chin to make it look more like a bonnet. 

I thought I looked like one of those little Victorian girls I had seen in my books and felt beautiful. 

We tried to talk like refined ladies, and it was much later that my Mum let on how funny our conversations were, while she listened discreetly from the other room.

By the end I felt like a natural hostess and that the party had been a great success.

I very much look forward to introducing Eloise to tea sets and parties.

I hope she'll enjoy them as much as I did as a girl, and already in my minds eye I can see having little tea parties with her in the backyard - I'm probably more excited for that than she will be!

I found this picture a while ago, and I just loved the instructions and the image itself.

Have a lovely Friday!

Peace,

~ Jenny

Those Little Reminders

It's funny how helpful those little reminders are.
I've been wanting to memorize inspiring or helpful Bible verses for a while now, but found it difficult to do so.
I remembered it being suggested to put up the verses you're trying to memorize around the house. That way you see them all the time.

So with my little index cards handy, I quickly wrote up a few of my favourites and deposited them around the house.
I have three in the kitchen: one above the stove, sink and on the fridge.

I have one in the washroom, and another by the light switch in our bedroom.
It's been really helping me to remember them, and have already popped into my head more than once to be a reminder of God's promises.

And here's a picture of a sleeping baby because she's beautiful. <3
I hope you all are having a good day!

Peace,
~ Jenny

Dishes, Laundry and Baby Smiles

There is nothing more beautiful than the first smiles.
Watching her make eye-contact with me and just break into a huge smile.

It's impossible to feel more love than in that smile.
My mom tells me: "You are her whole world right now." and I feel it.
It's quite the feeling to be someone's whole world.
It's amazing.

I was able to get my chores done today, and what a beautiful day it was.
Though they seem mundane, I find such satisfaction in keeping my home and being with Eloise.
It's so much fun to see how excited she gets when Jeremie gets home, and how sweet it is to realize she misses him, just like I do.

I also have a great fondness for my baby swing.
I'm not the only one!
Eloise spends all of her day naps in it, and it just quiets her right down.
I think she just likes being perched there and watching me run around.
Though she did come out today to help me hang the laundry.
She sat happily in her bouncer and we chatted while working.

Peace,
~ Jenny

6:30 am

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
~ Philippians 4:6






There is something so nice about being up and about early in the morning.
It's calm and peaceful, I get to hear the birds singing and the church bells over the sound of the rushing water of the nearby river.
The house is quiet and sunshine leaves its trail of golden light along the walls as the sun climbs higher.

It will be a beautiful day today, and I will rejoice in it.

Peace,
- Jenny

Good News, Sad News and the In-Between

The last week and a half has been full.

It has finally just begun to settle back into routine and I am thankful for the peace.
This past Monday we said goodbye to Jeremie's Grandfather, who passed away peacefully at age 97.
Grandpa Fred was a real cornerstone of the family, and a very devoted Catholic. He loved visits and phone calls, and whenever you spoke to him, he would always say: "It's wonderful to hear your voice." "I love you so much." And would always, always end with a "God bless and keep you."

Jeremie and I had the honor of having him at our wedding, just three years ago, where he had me up and dancing, and gave a beautiful impromptu wedding speech.

He is very missed, but was so happy to move on into the Father's Glory.

***

Jeremie and I also had the wonderful pleasure this week of finding out that our little one is a GIRL!
I am so excited, having been feeling "girl" for a few months now.
As I enter month 6, I'm really feeling her move and thump around in there; I also think that this/next week I'll really "pop."
The pressure on my stomach has been intense, and I seem to be doubling size overnight.
Patrons at the Library are even staring to comment: "Last week I couldn't tell, but you're really starting to show now!!" Said one excited patron.

So we're thinking pink! Mum and my sister Vanessa are thrilled - so far there have only been grandsons, a little grand-daughter was a lovely surprise.

Jeremie has already admitted defeat, and knows he'll be wrapped around her little finger quite easily!

Other than that, we're still packing and preparing for the move. Just a week and a bit left!
I feel a tad overwhelmed, but am really starting to dig in now and get packing done. (Thanks Mum! ;) )

Hopefully I'll be able to update soon - but it may not be until after the move.

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Peace,
- Jenny

What It Takes To Be A Mother

Firstly I want to congratulate my Sister and Brother in law, who just 2 hours ago became parents for the first time, to little baby Charlotte. My new adorable little niece.

While I have been excited this entire pregnancy, I suppose it was fairly recently that my brain has started to wrap around the idea of "parenting" and the fact alone that I will, in just 4 months be someone's Mother.
It's a sobering thought to know that you are now responsible for this tiny human who will need you for years and years, and even when they're older and independent - still need you.

I've watched my own relationship grow, and I believe bloom with my own Mother.
Going from small child, to moody teenager, to clueless adult and now to being a Mother myself, with what I hope is a tad more wisdom.
Our relationship has grown into better than a friendship and better than a Mother-Daughter relationship.
I'm blessed with all the perks of being my Mother's daughter - knowing I'm always getting the truth, someone who will tell it to me like it is, but is still someone I can run to when trouble hits, and know without a doubt that I'll be supported and loved. Yet, at the same time have a friend I love to hang around with, laugh with and be silly with.

What an enormous blessing its been to me - and as I find myself moving into that "Mother" stage, all I can hope is that I can have that same type of relationship with my own children.

I'm re-defining myself, and much like I did when I was a teenager; going over all my morals and beliefs. Figuring out what's really important to me - how Jeremie and I are going to raise this baby and what values to instill in her. We will, of course, being raising her in the Christian faith and try to help her to love God as much as Jeremie and I do.
It is the everyday things I need to look at: Should we own this dvd? Keep this book? Would I want my child seeing this video game?
Of course, if I have any hesitancy with an item I own - I wonder if I should have it regardless of whether or not a child will soon be here. It's a lot to comprehend, and I still don't understand the half of it.

I am proud to soon have the label of "Mother" though, and have found being pregnant one of the most feminine, liberating thing I have ever done as a woman.
I am truly amazed every time the baby moves or kicks; and day by day realizing how much of a miracle it really is.

All I can do is my best, and thank God for surrounding me with such wonderful examples of Motherhood.

Peace,
- Jenny