Broom Love

You may think I have totally lost my mind with this post.  A post about a broom, Lindsay, really?  Well, that's what my mom thought when I called her and said, "I'm so excited for my new broom to arrive!"  And as I just wrote that, I realized, that it does sound pretty strange........what has my life come to?  I'm excited about a broom?  Someone over here may need to get a life........

Enough about my craziness, though, and let me tell you about my new broom.  I have really been trying to live according to this William Morris quote since we entered 2012.......

"Have nothing in our homes that we do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

I have done a pretty good job clearing out a bunch of clutter that we no longer need and the house is starting to feel more organized.  However, when I posted this quote over on The Cottage Mama Facebook page one of my international readers chimed in and said, 'how about.... do not have anything we do not know to be useful AND believe to be beautiful?  And I thought, yes, that's even better!

So I needed a new broom for our home and I took this Facebook conversation to heart and thought, "if I'm going to buy a new broom, it's going to be one I love and get excited to use."  And I'm a firm believer that you can buy just about anything on Etsy.com, so I headed there to begin my search and this is what I ended up with:

I ordered this handmade broom from the Broomchick on Etsy.  I had never heard of her shop, but she had great reviews and I just loved the natural style of this one, not to mention the fact that it fits in perfectly with our cottage.

I can't just name one part of this broom that is my favorite.  I love that it is handmade ~ that's a big thing for me, it's always great when I can buy handmade and support local, US small business.  I love the multi-colored broomcorn and I love the natural wood stick handle.  The Broomchick has many different brooms to choose from, but this is a multi-colored standard kitchen broom.

I am currently keeping this broom hanging on a hook in the kitchen next to our kitchen hutch.  It's too pretty to put away and hide.  My sister-in-law thought it was just for decoration when she saw it in our kitchen and my mother-in-law said she wants one for her birthday.

So sweeping is not the most exciting task, but why not get excited about it by using a tool you truly love?  Again, you still might think I'm nuts, but I'll tell you one thing.......I've never been more excited to sweep in my life than I am with this broom!

Pin It

Sodee Naturals Giveaway

Today I've got a really great giveaway from Sodee Naturals.  About a month ago I was contacted by this company and asked if I would be interested in trying out their products.  They specialize in all natural body care products that are safe for children and adults.  With having three children under the age of four, I believe that more natural the better. 

My daughter, Savannah, has keratosis pilaris which basically is just really bumpy skin on her arms and a little bit on her legs.  I had this a bit as a child and it is inherited.  It's very common and isn't too bothersome, but sometimes can be a little itchy.  She has always been incredibly sensitive to any skin care products we use on her, so I really liked the idea of trying out Sodee's eczema cream on her arms.  Granted, she doesn't actually have eczema, but their original formula has natural properties that are supposed to be good for other skin conditions.

Pictured above are the products they sent me to try.  They sent one of everything they carry in the scents of my choice.  They also sent me a sampling of the different eczema creams to find the best one to suit Savannah.  They are always willing to send out eczema cream samples to find the product that best suits your skin condition (which is really wonderful).  We ended up really liking the original formula and it has made her skin improve drastically.  And believe me, we've tried a lot of different products.

Aside from their eczema cream, the body butter was probably my favorite product.  I've tried body butters from other manufacturers, but what I really liked about this one is that it is whipped.  So instead of being really thick and hard to get out of the jar, it was nice and light, but still moisturized like the thicker body creams.  And the pink grapefruit scent........just lovely.

Another favorite, the Speriment Eucalyptus Shave Cream.  This was wonderful to use in the shower, left my skin feeling really moisturized and the scent was incredibly invigorating.

I had never used a shampoo or conditioner in a bar form, but it was pretty much like using a bar of soap.  You just lather it up and wash your hair with it.  They also have many different types so you can select the one that best suits your hair type.

Sodee Naturals is a family run business and strives to make great smelling products with all natural ingredients that really work.  If you love natural skin care, I'm going to recommend you give them a try.  Plus, I love supporting small, family run businesses!

Today Sodee Naturals is giving one lucky The Cottage Home blog reader a prize package of one of every product that they offer in the scents of your choice.  You will be given a gift code so you can order directly from their site (a $77.00 value).  So what does that include?

~1 Body Butter
~1 Shaving Cream
~1 Soap
~1 Hair Shampoo Bar
~1 Hair Conditioner Bar
~1 Eczema Cream

Also, Sodee Naturals is offering an exclusive discount for The Cottage Home blog readers of 10% your entire purchase with the code: COTTAGE

Here's how to enter the Sodee Naturals giveaway:

Visit Sodee Naturals website and tell us what product you would be most interested in trying (click here). 
Leave one comment below.

Giveaway is open until Sunday, January 15, 2012 at midnight (CST).

Pin It

The Beginning of Summer at The Cottage Home

I love my home, I really do, but I'm not going to lie...........I can't say I don't long for a garage, an eat-in-kitchen or a laundry room that wasn't in, what I call, the dungeon.  But would I trade The Cottage Home, with all its history and charm, for any of those things?  NO WAY!!

Today my husband, Brett, was home and we spent this late afternoon outside planting our vegetable garden and taking in the beauty that surrounds us.  And wow, I feel more blessed than ever to be the proud owners of this 1930's cottage!

Here's a little tour around The Cottage garden.........

Strawberries

Getting ready to plant our vegetable garden.

We have had our apple trees for 3-4 years and this is the first year we have apples!!

My hubby brews beer (I've mentioned that, right?)......anyway, here is one of his many hop plants that he grows to use in his homebrew.  It's growing on our coach house.

Pretty flowers in the window boxes on the porch.

The very beginning to our wine grapes - we make our own wine too!

Pink peony - I love this flower!

The chives have gone wild!

More pretty flowers.

And finally.........The Cottage Home.

Pin It

Homemade Cranberry Granola

I'm a huge fan of granola or anything with oats for that matter, especially oatmeal cookies!!  This afternoon I decided to try my hand at making my own homemade granola from scratch.  I just put the ingredients together that I enjoy and luckily it turned out (you never know when you are making up your own recipe)!

So if you have an extra minutes one of these days, whip up a big batch of this yummy granola for you and your family.  First of all this recipe will make your house smell A-mazing! It's also great for breakfast, served with milk or over yogurt, makes a healthy crunchy snaking food, and would be "oh so good" on top of some vanilla ice cream!

The Cottage Mama's Homemade Granola

Ingredients:

3 cups traditional oats

1 cup shredded coconut (sweetened)

1/2 cup pecan pieces

1/4 cup walnut pieces

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup honey (I used really good local honey)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon cinnamon (I love cinnamon, so if you don't, you may want to use less)

1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  

In a medium sized mixing bowl combine the following; oats, coconut, pecan pieces, walnut pieces, honey, and vegetable oil.  Mix until thoroughly combined.

Once combined, spread mixture out onto a large baking sheet.  Place baking sheet in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Oat mixture is ready to come out of the oven once it has reached a nice, toasted golden color.

Immediately after you remove the oat mixture from the oven add the brown sugar and stir to combine.  This will allow the sugar to melt into the granola.

After the granola has cooled add your dried cranberries.  Store granola in an air-tight container and enjoy!!

Cottage Mama's Note:  You can change up the ingredients easily with this recipe.  Add any type of dried fruit you like (i.e. raisins, apricots, apples, cherries) and feel free to change up the type of nuts you use as well.

Pin It

Reusable Coffee Sleeve Tutorial

I love coffee.  Now, it is VERY rare these days that I allow myself to purchase a Starbucks coffee.  Being a stay-at-home Mom means being on a strict budget which, of course, is SO worth it being able to spend all day with my two little ladies.  However, I know many, many of my friends and family that love to have their daily coffee fix from their local coffee shop.

When you purchase your coffee it comes with the cup, the lid and the cardboard coffee sleeve.  My goodness - that is a lot of waste for one coffee drink!  So, I thought maybe we could help eliminate some of the waste by creating a reusable coffee sleeve.  Just a small little sleeve that you could slip in your bag or briefcase and use when you buy your coffee.

I have seen so many of these for sale on etsy.com.  They are super-cute, but they looked easy enough to make, so I thought I would try my hand at making one myself.  If you know someone who is a coffee-shop addict (or you are one yourself), make them one of these reusable coffee sleeves and help our environment by eliminating waste.

Reusable Coffee Sleeve Tutorial

Supplies:

1/4 yard (or less) scrap piece of fabric

4.5" elastic

Fusible Interfacing

1 button

Thread

Scissors

Coffee Sleeve (for your template)

Paper Coffee Cup (yes, I was FORCED to treat myself for this tutorial - I had a giftcard!)

Directions:

Here is your basic coffee shop cup with the standard paper sleeve.

Here is the paper sleeve.

Unfold the paper sleeve to use this as your template for your reusable one.

Place your paper sleeve onto your fabric (fabric should be folded in half).

Cut fabric (using the paper sleeve as your template).  Cut 1/2" - 3/4" wider than template.

Cut one piece of fusible interfacing (I use Wonder Under) the same size as your fabric pieces.

Place your interfacing (paper side UP) onto the wrong-side of one piece of your fabric.

Iron interfacing onto fabric (leave the paper on when ironing).

Remove interfacing paper backing.  Pin both pieces of fabric right-sides together.

Cut your elastic 4.5" long.

Place the elastic in between the two pieces of fabric and pin it pointing inward.  You pin it inward so that when you turn it right-side out, it will be going the right direction.

Stitch around three sides (both long sides and the side with the elastic) of your fabric - 1/2" seam allowance. 

Clip the corners and the curves so that it will lay nice and flat when you turn it right-side out.

Turn the fabric right-side out.  Then fold under (the side you left open) about 1/2" and press.  Once you press your fabric, this will fuse the two pieces together really well.

Pin the open end in place and then top-stitch around the entire perimeter - 1/4" seam allowance.

This is what your top-stitching will look like once completed.

Then stitch your button in place - the center of the button should be about 3" from the edge of the fabric.  I used embroidery floss just to make it extra durable.

And there you have it - your completed coffee sleeve!  This project only took me about 30 minutes and it really is so easy.  Not only is this great for our environment, but it makes your coffee cup super-cute too!!

Cottage Mama's Note:  You can embellish your coffee sleeve many different ways by adding trims (i.e. rick-rack, ribbon, rhinestones) and fun buttons.  Have fun and get creative!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to comment or email me!

Pin It