Monday, February 8, 2010

February's Giveaway!

When Kandyce and I were talking over this month's theme, we laughed that one of the only ways a mom can truly have peace and solitude is by taking a bath. The bathroom is the only room in the house with a lock after all. My son can push open the doors in our old house in a second, but there's still a sense of "this time is all mine" when I soak in the tub.
So, this month's giveaway includes two different kinds of bath salts made with 100% pure essential oils. You can find a variety of bath salt recipes here. The winner of our giveaway will receive the "Peaceful Bath" made with Ylang Ylang, Rose Otto, and Jasmine oils as well as the "Relaxing and Warming" soak made with Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Lavender, and Tangerine oils (I haven't been able to find Ginger locally). The bath soaks will be wrapped in the reusable fabric gift bag above. (The photo is a little bit of a cheat--I will make the soaks fresh right before I mail them). Kandyce and I will also be putting together a CD to include with our favorite songs for relaxation. We'll post our play list sometime during the month and we hope you'll make song suggestions too--we're always looking for new music to sing along to.

One quick note about the gift bag. I bought this fun printed fabric at my favorite vintage consignment shop. There was only one little scrap and it looks like someone used it for beginner sewing practice. I decided to leave the original sewer's seam across the top. I like the soft fraying it allowed and I also love wondering who touched this fabric first and what did they make out of the rest of it? The ribbon, believe it or not, is from a wedding gift my husband and I received 3 1/2 years ago. We saved yards and yards of ribbon and are still using it to tie up special gifts today.

We also saved all of the tissue paper from our wedding gifts. If you look at the wall in the background of the picture above, you can see a plaster-like texture. Our house, as I mentioned, is old and most of the original walls were covered in wallpaper. When we took the paper down, we found that the walls in our dining room and up the staircase were damaged and would have needed replastering. Instead, we painted on a flat base color, crinkled up sheets of our wedding paper and stuck it to the wall, and then painted over it again. When that layer dried, we applied a slightly darker glaze. Cheap and easy treatment that really does look like Venetian plaster, reused a lot of paper we really couldn't wrap new gifts with, and made our wedding day part of our first home together.

As this month unfolds, we hope you find a little space and some time alone: maybe to soak in a warm bath, maybe to sit quietly and meditate on peace. I'm using my alone time this month to focus on breathing deeply and making peace with my body with cancer. I had a minor surgery this week (to implant chemo beads directly into my liver). My nurse suggested that I say the mantra "I have a healthy liver" over and over because the body will try to match what the mind envisions. I believe this. Recently, the sentence, "I have the healthiest liver in the world!"came into my head out of nowhere and made me laugh. Now, I say it everyday. My nurse, by the way, gave me a wink when the surgeon came in. I don't think we would be able to convince him that our plan could work as well as his.

If you're willing to share what peace and solitude mean to you, you know we'd love to listen.

23 comments:

  1. This inspires me to find that peace and solitude my life is missing right now, although having Kelly feeling better today lifts my spirit to unbelieveable heights!

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  2. Kelly, your words always leave me feeling inspired you are such a light in this world, I am so happy to be blessed by your spirit! I love that your home has pieces of your wedding, what a beautiful thing to be surrounded by! You made me smile at the beginning of your post, yes a bath certainly is a mama's relaxing spot isn't it! I am thinking of you and will be saying your mantra along with you "KELLY HAS A HEALTHY LIVER" KELLY HAS A HEALTHY LIVER" "KELLY HAS A HEALTHY LIVER" "THE HEALTHIEST IN THE WORLD" !!!!! xoxo

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  3. This is such a beautiful give away. After spending a good chunk of January redoing my living room and subsequently having the house be besieged by various colds, I have been craving a little peace. I love baths and always light candles to enjoy a warmer light while soaking. A book and a nice glass of wine usually acompany me as well. I so wanted to go out for dinner on the weekend to spoil myself, but ultimately decided that a babysitter would be more appreciated if I could at least enjoy someone's company for dinner. I love my children, but crave a little more adult time too. One day a handsome prince may ride into my life, but for now soaking in the tub (maybe with some new bath salts!) will have to give me the peace I seek. Thanks! (Healthy liver! Healthy liver! Healthy liver!) :)

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  4. Okay, I LOVE a good soak. And, though I'm not crafty (like AT ALL) I'd be interested in attempting to make bath salts. So I just might surprise you gals....

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  5. Now that I am a mama too I truly know what you mean! Sunday when I should have been unpacking from returning a week ago and doing chores, I instead savored a long bath during Maddie's morning nap and read the hundreds of catalogs that had come while we were in Taiwan. Love the bath salts and bath and your mantra. I believe in it too.

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  6. You're so brave! I've never taken a bath during Ari's nap because I'm afraid he'll wake up and I'll have to go running upstairs in a towel:) If I was there, I'd let you take a bath every morning while I played with my niece!

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  7. I believe in your inner crafter, Lis.

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  8. You're such a mama:)

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  9. I love how you once pointed out that I kept writing "lived" instead of "Liver" in our emails--I'll always remember that:)

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  10. Katherine--a babysitter for a bath, why didn't I think of that before?! It would be so worth it! I'm not sure if you'll check back here, but I'd love to have your address if that's not too intrusive. Well, it is intrusive, but I won't show up on your door:) My email is: kjfeinberg@gmail.com

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  11. Is it unfair for me to be entered into the giveaway, too? I'm following the directions and leaving a comment. I really want that bag!

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  12. gretchen from lifenutFebruary 9, 2010 at 10:19 AM

    I'm a napper. I'll always chose a nap over a bath, but the ultimate is having a hot soak then a long nap. Sigh.

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  13. If you thought about me for a minute, you could probably guess what peace and solitude mean to me: walking with my dogs and boy at Lee Martinez Park, or hiking with them (we went up to Horsetooth Rock this Saturday, my first hike without Obi, so it was a little sad too).

    Maybe off topic, but I've been running with my trainer one day a week. I want to run a 5k at some point, even though I HATE to run, but I want to be able to do it. There are all kinds of tricks that I use to get myself through each run, but what always comes up for me when I really think I can't go another step is you. I do it for you. I have been just saying "Kelly. Kelly. Kelly." over and over again, but I think now I'll substitute it with "Kelly has a healthy liver."

    I LOVE this blog, but not quite as much as I love you.

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  14. If you thought about me for a minute, you could probably guess what peace and solitude mean to me: walking with my dogs and boy at Lee Martinez Park, or hiking with them (we went up to Horsetooth Rock this Saturday, my first hike without Obi, so it was a little sad too).

    Maybe off topic, but I've been running with my trainer one day a week. I want to run a 5k at some point, even though I HATE to run, but I want to be able to do it. There are all kinds of tricks that I use to get myself through each run, but what always comes up for me when I really think I can't go another step is you. I do it for you. I have been just saying "Kelly. Kelly. Kelly." over and over again, but I think now I'll substitute it with "Kelly has a healthy liver."

    I LOVE this blog, but not quite as much as I love you.

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  15. If you thought about me for a minute, you could probably guess what peace and solitude mean to me: walking with my dogs and boy at Lee Martinez Park, or hiking with them (we went up to Horsetooth Rock this Saturday, my first hike without Obi, so it was a little sad too).

    Maybe off topic, but I've been running with my trainer one day a week. I want to run a 5k at some point, even though I HATE to run, but I want to be able to do it. There are all kinds of tricks that I use to get myself through each run, but what always comes up for me when I really think I can't go another step is you. I do it for you. I have been just saying "Kelly. Kelly. Kelly." over and over again, but I think now I'll substitute it with "Kelly has a healthy liver."

    I LOVE this blog, but not quite as much as I love you.

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  16. I am with you gretchen...I always go for the nap! But a good soak is great too...

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  17. I love it, Jill! Your new chant kind of rhymes. I want a picture of you when you run that 5k (and I'll be picturing Obi running it with you). Love ya, kel

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  18. Yes, both is best!

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  19. Just sleep in the tub... that's what I do. Is that safe?

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  20. Oh, Kelly! Bless you for your sweet, positive, generous spirit! You are so inspiring and I send prayers and love your way every day.
    For me, peace is found in the quiet, simple moments of my day. With 5 kids, 20+ goats, chickens, ducks, horses, bunnies...those moments have to be grasped as they fly by! But seening a beautiful sunrise or moonrise, pulling a few weeds, milking the goats, noticing all the new growth and remembering to stop and breath for a moment and feel gratitude. That is peace.
    xoxo
    Beth

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  21. Thank you for your post, Beth! I love the sound of your day (and I know your day has a lot of sound:) I agree with you that stopping and realizing how much we have to be grateful for is a wonderful thing. Kelly

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  22. Thanks! (I'd do the same for you: )
    Btw - Michael was home and we have the baby monitor so it's no big deal to jump our of the bath if I need to. Usually little Maddie is pretty consistent in her nap time so I can time it pretty well.

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