When it comes to Christmas, a little ambiance goes a long way. Nothing shouts "Christmastime" quite like entering a house to the SMELL of the season. A fresh new Christmas tree may do the trick, or a really good scented candle or two, but if you want to add a little humidifying scent to your home without doing any baking or rigorous cooking, try the following recipes, adapted from this week's giveaway book: 365 Ways To Prepare For Christmas, by David E. Monn.
Seasonal Fragrance(s)
Place fresh orange rinds, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and fresh ginger in a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Simmer on low heat and enjoy the scent that will billow into your home from the kitchen.
Or:
"Combine an ounce of cinnamon sticks, an ounce and a half of whole cloves, half an ounce of fresh or dried bay leaves, and simmer for two minutes. Set out in a decorative bowl."
Or:
"Warm the oven, turn it off, then sprinkle cinnamon on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven." *
*p. 104, 365 Ways to Prepare For Christmas, David Monn
There's another kind of ambience that goes a long way during the holiday season, too: keeping your expectations at bay. As women, we sometimes don't notice that our attitude and mood can affect the entire household. It's like that popular t-shirt that says, "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."
So-- make an effort to, yes, be happy! You'll give your entire household a lift.
Don't forget to leave a comment after any post to enter the current giveaway. This week's winner will get a copy of 365 Ways to Prepare for Christmas, by David Monn!
4 comments:
Great advice and needed advice. When I learned that my sister was going to visit, I lit candles all over my house. I live in a small, very old apartment and sometimes it doesn't smell the way I want it to. I am praying that this living arrangement is only temporary. :)
Definitely enter me to win this book, as I really need it. ;)
what wonderful ideas to have the 'fragrance of christmas' become a part of your home during this beautiful season
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the hints! You reminded me
that mother used to place orange rinds
in a baking pan in the oven. The warmth
from the pilot light sent the scent
through the whole house. I'm putting
oranges on my grocery list.
Pat C.
Hi, ladies, I'm glad you found these ideas handy. Deb, since your apartment is small, getting the Christmas scent to fill the place will probably work beautifully for you. Karen, I hope it works for you, too, and Pat--what a simple idea! I think I like it better than the cinnamon on a baking dish because the scent of cinnamon would make me want to eat~! (The scent of orange peel seems sweet without the NEED for sweets coming to mind!) We don't have a pilot light, but putting the oven on WARM would probably do the trick. Thanks, ladies. You're all in the drawing. :)
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