It's just a week and a half until Christmas and our earlier preparations are helping us make the season bright even amidst small trials.
We've pulled out air dry clay to make nature wreaths, cut down a Christmas tree, dried orange slices, and made paper bag stars (tutorial here)
I spent one afternoon making a homemade body butter, and a quiet evening after everyone was asleep was spent creating perfume for the five girls who will be waking up here Christmas morning.
Body Butter Recipe
⅓ cup shea butter
½ cup cocoa butter
½ cup olive oil or coconut oil
10-30 drops essential oil
Gently melt the butters and oil over a double boiler, stirring ocassionally.
Chill the oils slightly until the edges are beginning to solidify.
Add the essential oils to the oil and whip with a hand mixer until it is fluffy and lighter in color.
Place in small mason jars and give as gifts or enjoy yourself!
With so many obligations this month, I needed to prepare in order to make the holiday special.
But it's not the activities that make Christmas memorable anyhow, it's your attitude.
If you get to celebrate with the Peaceful Press Holiday Book Flood and make sparkling memories with your children, that is a gift. But if you've got too many activities scheduled and it's making your attitude one of stress and strain, it's a good idea to step back, take a nap while the baby naps, and simplify.
The Holiday Book Flood just includes 4 simple and playful prompts each day, but maybe for you this year 1 or 2 is enough.
Unearthing Wonder Advent pairs gentle readings about animals in winter with heartwarming commentary from scripture, but maybe you finish in the twelve days after Christmas.
Don't feel bad if you aren't getting it all done. Doing small things with love is the key.
If you need more help nurturing a peaceful home, stay tuned in January when we open the Restoration Home Community.
Check out the newly updated Peaceful Press Planner!
It includes 12 months of calendars, weekly planning sheets, end of month reflection questions, menu planner, reading log, grade tracker, attendance sheet, and more!
It's just $12! Grab yours and begin dreaming about a wonderful new year.