Celebrate the winter solstice with these creative nature crafts, supporting wildlife in winter, warming food recipes, and experiences. When the last leaves fall into the dark of early December, we all feel it. The skies are cold, no matter if they’re grey or blue. Blasting wind batters our faces, but most of all, we lose the light. Dark days crowd in, the commute feels longer, and by the time we finish work or the daily chores, it can be pitch black outside. It can be grim, even if Christmas is ... Read More about Creative Ways to Celebrate the Winter Solstice
Ideas from Lovely Greens
Simple Yule Log Cake Recipe for the Holidays
Delicious and chocolatey Yule Log Recipe to celebrate the holidays. It's a shallow cake that you spread with cream and then roll up and decorate. The first time I was introduced to a yule log cake was in French class. Called a Buche de Noel in France, it's a traditional Christmas cake made to resemble a yule log. A big traditional log put on the fire to burn at Christmas. The cake is rich and chocolatey and no doubt inspired by ancient European traditions surrounding the winter solstice. Now ... Read More about Simple Yule Log Cake Recipe for the Holidays
How to make Cocoa Mint Cracked Heel Balm
When the weather is cold and dry, cracked heels can be a painful problem that is hard to fix. Cocoa butter comes to the rescue here, as it is super moisturizing and can help to repair very dry and cracked feet. Making natural skincare is far easier than you would think, especially when your aim is to condition and protect. Rich oils like cocoa butter make your skin more supple and beeswax creates a thin protective layer. This layer seals in moisture and the other ingredients and slows the work ... Read More about How to make Cocoa Mint Cracked Heel Balm
Rose Facial Soap Recipe + Instructions
Make this nourishing rose facial soap in an afternoon and use it the same day. The recipe uses all natural ingredients including madder root, fragrant essential oils, and an easy-to-use soap base. I share a lot of natural soap recipes but they're usually made with the cold-process method. It's fairly involved and includes an aspect that beginners shy away from: handling lye. That's why I'm so excited to share with you this rose facial soap recipe from Jan Berry's new book, Easy Homemade Melt ... Read More about Rose Facial Soap Recipe + Instructions
An Honest Guide to the Best Gifts for Gardeners
Buying a gift for someone with a passionate hobby is tricky. That's why I'm sharing three gifts for gardeners that you can't go wrong with, and a list of garden gifts to avoid I imagine that there are two types of people who are reading this. One, someone who is not a gardener and scrambling for ideas. You have no clue what to buy Aunt Jane, who is forever sharing photos of her garden on Facebook. You also quietly un-followed her during the height of dahlia season. Or it could be that you’re ... Read More about An Honest Guide to the Best Gifts for Gardeners
