How to Have a Lovely Day...

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Gift Pantry: More Gifts in Jars...

herbed sugar

pie in a jar

rosemary bread...baked in a jar

cupcake paper liners to embellish homemade jam in jars

cocoa mixes in jars

pretty pastel gumdrops in simple recycled jars

rose petal and sea salt bath scrub...in jars

Perhaps this is an obsession...I just can't seem to get jars off my mind these days! Here are some great uses for those jars we can't seem to give up. What are some of the ways use use your recycled and/or thrifted jars?



Sending love and good thoughts to all.


Warmly,


Tracey and Family x0x



Images: Source

Gift Pantry: Homemade Granola

"Necessity never made a good bargain." ~ Ben Franklin


Working ahead of Need: Christmas in July...


Most people begin preparing for Christmas in December but, as you probably already know, I prepare for Christmas all year round. My Gift and Craft Pantries are often bulging by the time winter arrives, which allows me to spend the bulk of my time during the holidays savoring the joy of organizing gift boxes and baskets, baking and putting the finishing touches on the gifts that I make. Why do I do this? To soothe the budget and to give thoughtful gifts that will impart that unique quality of things make by the human hand. My most recent project is a delicious, simple, budget~friendly granola/trail mix.

I washed and saved the jars from Mike's favorite salsa.


Painted the clean, dry lids with leftover white spray paint.



Then I made up a few batches of homemade granola adapting a basic recipe I found HERE. I didn't have all the ingredients on their list so I simplified by leaving out the wheat germ, oat bran and sesame seeds. Instead I used what I had on hand which were the rolled oats, shelled sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (aka Pepitos), snips of dried cranberry and ginger and substituted raw coconut oil (found at Sprouts or Whole Foods) for the vegetable oil. We like ours very spicy, so I added extra ground cinnamon and put in lots of ground nutmeg also. (Katie LOVES it!) I've already given a few jars away (note the gift bag in the collage!) So, truth be told, these probably won't be lasting until Christmas! That being said, it was so incredibly EASY to make, inexpensive (I bought the rolled oats in bulk for a song) and the whole thing took less than an hour for two batches, that I know I'll be whipping up variations on this recipe anytime I need a deliciously quick, pretty and practical gift! Include some specialty tea or a bag of gourmet coffee beans and you have a lovely hostess gift as well. I know we think alike regarding working ahead of need so I'd sure enjoy hearing what projects you're working on to stock your gift pantries!!! I'm always inspired by what you come up with. More soon my kind friends.


Sending love and good thoughts to all!


Warmly,


Tracey and Family x0x

For the Love of a Vessel...or two...or three...or....

Shakespeare tells us that "the empty vessel makes the loudest sound".

Personally, I can attest to the truth of his timeless wisdom in that my own scattered collection has been shouting at me for months. Their wish? To be reunited. (Photo above is a small portion of our very useful collection.)



While at it...I decided to collect my menagerie of chandelier crystals in a lidless apothecary jar for easy access. (Such a charming jar of positive energies...don't you think?!) While so doing I sought the wind of inspiration and spent far too much time combing the web seeking like~minded souls who've used vessels...both humble and grand...to create their own Order from Chaos! (Please see photos below for my discoveries!)















Sending good thoughts and love to all...as always!


Love,


Tracey and Family x0x



Images: 1 & 2, 3~14

Gratitude...

Was just appreciating those who gave so much...so that we could remain blessed.




Wishing a safe and lovely weekend to all...along with love and good thoughts.



Warmly,



Tracey and Family x0x

I've been germinating.



More soon my kind friends!



Sending love and good thoughts...as always.


Warmly,



Tracey and Family


x0x


Note: Real world duties have been holding my full attention these days. Nothing dramatic...just an abundance of life tasks! I must confess a tendency toward blog/internet addiction...entire afternoons have disappeared from the clocks as I wander through this wonderland called the internet. While that is always pure pleasure, my real world tends to suffer for these "Journey[s] Into the Ethers". Please know you are always in my good thoughts as I strive to find my balance between these two worlds!