Chamomile

Whether you drink the tea or use the essential oil, Chamomile is a very useful healing herb.  It is a digestive tonic and a soporific (there's a word for you - it means sleep-inducing). 

My favorite Chamomile Tea:

(mainly because it's Zhena's GYPSY tea)

Herbal Tea Uses:
-aids in digestion (neutralizes excess stomach acid)
-relieves headaches (especially those with nausea)
-aids in relieving insomnia

       For Babies and Mommies: 

- safe to use with children over one year of age - 

steep a tea bag and let it cool.  Pour half of the tea into a cup 

and fill it the rest of the way with juice or water.  

This will help your little one's tummy aches, it will soothe teething pain, 

and help them rest.

- safe to use when you are pregnant - 

it will relieve nausea, and provides valuable 

calcium phosphates to help you and your baby grow healthy bones.

Essential oil uses:
*NOTE* the oil is MUCH stronger than the tea.  It takes 25 tea bags to equal 1 drop of essential oil.

-aids in relieving insomnia - I like to put a drop or two on the bottom of my feet, massage in, and then slip on socks.  Very cozy.
-great in a bath to relieve stress
-anti-inflammatory and a sedative
-mild anti-depressant
-relieves the itching of insect bites
Remember to use a carrier oil, such as jojoba, sunflower, or olive (use 1-2 drops per Tablespoon of oil).
If you have any questions, feel free to email me (it's in the contact me section).  Have a lovely day!
jessica

Weekend Fun

Do you love ferns?  I do.  They are so low maintenance and yet can be so elegant.  I love the delicate curves and bright green color.  They make a lovely bouquet for your bedroom that is not too girly - if your husband cares about that.  

Mine DOES.  

Paired with these bright yellow wildflowers - it is a cheery thing to wake up to!

Bonus picture - Charlotte is OBSESSED with the book "If you give a mouse a cookie" - 

so Saturday we made her little mouse ears, a cookie, and got a yellow straw - just like the mouse has in the story.  We also painted little whiskers on her face - so fun!

Remember  - if you want a chance to win the 3 skeins of yarn and pair of knitting needles - you have until tomorrow to become a follower of this blog (or if you are already a follower, to add a comment).  Thanks to everyone who has joined already!

*Guest Post Thursday* - Delicious Zucchini Cornbread

Today we are graced with the presence of my little sister - Joanna.  She is a lovely little newlywed (1 yr) and keeps a lovely home.  This recipe is a great one and pretty inexpensive.  I actually made it Tuesday night and it is definitely Ryan and Charlotte approved.  It was amazing!  Let's have a look shall we?

Zucchini Cornbread

Of my small library of cookbooks, I always find myself reaching for the same one.

It is my favorite because I have filled it with invaluable family recipes and little meals I've jotted down from online that have proven themselves to be especially tasty.

Buy it here and fill one with your own family recipes that will suit your personal cooking needs.

One such treasure found in my cookbook is my mother-in-law’s Zucchini Cornbread Recipe. One of the many great things about getting married is that you inherit a whole new lot of family recipes to try. Zucchini cornbread is simple, inexpensive, has few ingredients, and the hands on time is only about 20 minutes!

You will need:

    2 Boxes of Cornbread Mix  
    1 1/2 cups of Cheddar cheese
    2/3 cup of milk
    1 Zucchini
    2 Eggs
    A little Crisco (for greasing)
    1/2-1 lb of sausage
    1-2 cans of black-eyed peas

Step 1: Brown ground sausage in a skillet over medium high heat for about 15 minutes 

or until all the pink has cooked out.

(Time Saving Tip: Cook the sausage up to 1 day in advance and keep in the fridge

until you’re ready to mix up the cornbread)

Step 2: In a large bowl, combine cornbread mixes, milk, and eggs (according to the box directions).

 Wash and grate zucchini with a cheese grater and add to the cornbread mixture.

Then add cheddar cheese, and browned sausage.

Mix well.

Step 3: Grease your pan well with crisco to avoid sticking 

and to give your zucchini cornbread brown crispy edges.

I use a dutch oven to bake mine in, but a cast iron skillet or a well-greased casserole dish would do the trick.

Step 4: Bake at 375 F for about 45 min. - 1 hour 

(depending on how deep your dish is - the deeper the dish, the longer the time).

**** Then do a load of laundry, sit down and relax, work on a quilt, or talk to your family while your zucchini cornbread is cooking for you : ) ****

Step 5: Heat canned black-eyed peas on the stove top in a small pot. Of course, you can use any kind of peas or beans that you like.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!

This meal is very simple, yet the mixture of sweet cornbread and zucchini, hot sausage, salty black-eyed peas, and cheddar cheese makes it a satisfying meal.
Enjoy!            
               - Joanna

Thanks Joanna!  I hope everybody enjoys this delicious recipe.  If you would like to be a guest on Thursdays, email me at sewhomegrown@hotmail.com.  Thanks!  jessica

In case you missed it...

  Enchanted Forest Invitations Tutorial

I did this as a guest post on Mon. but in case you missed that, here it is.  My daughter’s second birthday is just around the corner, so I am in full party planning mode here at my house.  Today I wanted to share with you a free pattern + instructions on how to make these invitations that I created.
I think these would also be cute for a baby shower.

The theme for her party is “Enchanted Forest”.  It is inspired by this lovely post in Hostess with the Mostess.  We have recently moved to TN, and our home is literally in the middle of a forest - so it seemed that theme was fitting.  Now, I will warn you - these invitations are addicting to make.  Once you make one, you will begin a frenzy of toadstool crafting.  Seriously, I can’t stop - they are so fun!  AND so easy.  Are you ready?  
Ok here we go :)
You will need:
Crafting paper in various colors
Scissors
This free pattern
(the mossy hill needs about an inch added to the bottom - it got cut off...sorry)
Glue
Hole Punch

Begin by printing the pattern and cutting out the pieces.  

(It might be nice to print it onto something sturdy, such as cardstock).

You can cut them out in whatever colors you like - this is what i did:

Be sure to cut the little slits in the bottom of the toadstools.

Next, if you are going to print text, now is the time to do it.  That way you can glue your woodland scene around the text.

Begin with the mossy hill.  Glue it along the bottom of your invitation.

 Next, do the left tree.

Then the large toadstool.

Toadstool assembly:

Slip the “trunk” inside the front of the slit on the toadstool bottom.  

Glue the bottom to the top.  Now glue the toadstool to the paper.  

Using a regular hole-punch, punch out lots of little circles from the paper you would like to use for the toadstool spots.  Cut some in half, to be placed on the “edge” of the toadstool.  

This makes them look realistic ;)  

I attached the dots by pouring some glue into a bowl, and using tweezers, dipped each dot into the glue, and stuck it on the toadstool.  That sounds very “Martha”, I know, but it actually doesn’t take long, and kept me from saying bad words......because the glue and the dots just get stuck all over your fingers, and then all on the carpet, and on your favorite pair of cozy pants......

Anyway, now the evergreen tree- stack the pieces in reverse order - 4 is the trunk, then 3,2,1

.

Lastly the small toadstool.  

You are done.  You can add some butterflies and bugs if you like.

How fun and easy was that?

jessica

Birthday Bunting

So today I made this little bunting banner for Char's party.  I made it from red felt semi-circles and red ribbon with white polka dots.  It took about 20 minutes, and cost about $2. 

I think I will hang it from these trees during her party.  But here is my question:  do you think I should add letters - like "charlotte", or "happy birthday"? I  made 16 semi-circles so whatever I would add has to fit within those guidelines.  I could make the letters out of white felt and glue them to the red.  What do you think?

Hairbows and a giveaway!

So, I decided that Charlotte needed a few additions to her hair bow/clip selection.  

Yesterday, I made this large flower bow

two brown bows with pink buttons, and the two little red/white polka dotted clips.  

Then, I organized all of her bows and put them on this bulletin board!  

Much cuter than the jumbled up mess they were yesterday. 

 I also have my first give away today!!!  

Here's the deal:  If you become a follower of my blog sometime within the next week,

you will be entered for a chance to win these 3 skeins of yarn 

and this pair of lovely bamboo knitting needles (size 10). 

I am still on my quest to conquer knitting - 

and I have a friend coming over later this weekto teach me to knit European style - 

I'll teach you what I learn.  

This way, you can do it with me!  If you are already a follower YAY!!! thank you so much.  You can also enter to win by leaving a comment sometime this week ( I didn't want to exclude you - you have  been so loyal :) .  Becoming a follower takes like 2 minutes so come on and join!  Have a great day!

jessica

Good Monday friends,
Today I am guest posting over on Spartan Living!  She has a lovely blog about "finding contentment in the little things".  Head on over there to get the free download and tutorial for these Enchanted Forest Invitations.