We are all beautiful. Never underestimate your own inner beauty. Let it shine for all to see. You are unique and beautiful.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
The Art of Feminine Beauty
The Art of Feminine Beauty
Women should be independent; we are not dolls on shelves, but
a woman should take pride in her beauty and strive for a timeless look that
still reflects her own unique style. Grace and eloquence have all but been lost
in the female of today. Why can we not retain these qualities yet still express
our own individualism? I fear that in our search for independence we have
digressed to a point bordering barbarianism in our femininity due to our lack
of pride in our appearance and manners and to our efforts to take our
expression of freedom further and further beyond the realm of reason; to the
point that we are cutting our noses off to spite our faces, as the saying goes.
So much too of the exterior appearance of the woman is due
to the interior state of confidence, or lack of, and the level of self worth. If
these things are low on the inside, this is reflected on the outside and of
course extends to every area of our life, including our appearance as well.
It is important for women to find a balance between the
inner and the outer, and then she will be confident in herself and this will
show in the woman whom she presents to society or at home to herself.
Being contemporary, independent, modern women should not result in the loss of our most precious, blessed and natural state; our feminine beauty and our comfort with it.The art of feminine beauty is available to each of us within
if only we will strive to bring it forth, inside and out.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Making Scented Sachets
It is the Christmas season and one thing I like to do every year is make herbal gifts. This year I am using the "shake" from my potpourri to fill sachets and they will be gifts for the elderly women in my area.
They are simple to make once you have your filler, which in my case, is my homemade potpourri. I grow, harvest and dry as many of the ingredients as I am able and early in the fall I make a huge batch. If you do not make your own, there are many alternatives that you may use such as cedar chips, lavender flowers, rose flowers, etc. Many of these can be purchased at the grocery or herbal store.
Cut a square of gauzy material, about 4x4 or 5x5 in., something sheer and porous so the scent can get out and the pretty ingredients are at least somewhat visible. Pour your filler into the center of the square. Gather the corners and tie with a pretty ribbon.
That's it; it's that easy! Now you have a beautiful gift. These are also great for weddings or wedding showers and it is quick and easy to make dozens of them.
Most women will love a sachet or two to drop in a drawer, a closet, their purse or just to sit in a pretty dish. Squeeze the sachet to really release the scent.
Visit my Etsy shop, Designs by Cheryl B. for more handmade gifts and vintage items
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Beautiful Homemade Rose Soap Bars
These beautiful Victorian-looking soap bars are easy and fun to make. You can order your favorite mold online from any soap supply company. I purchase the pre-made soap base at Hobby Lobby where they also have a limited assortment of molds. The base is easy to work with and a pack will make about eight large bars.
Put one square of the the base into a microwave-safe large measuring cup or medium bowl. Heat on high, stopping and checking every fifty seconds to see if it is melted and to stir the lumps. When all is melted you will mix in dried rose petals and stir. For coloring, I use paprika, Just keep adding until you get the color you want. If you want a truer pink, you may use food coloring but many people prefer the natural spice colors and do not want artificial food coloring, so that is up to you.
Next you will add the scent. Add about 15 drops of rose oil and stir.
Pour into the molds pre-greased with shortening (for easier removal but make sure it is smooth as any small lumps will show up later in the soap bar). Allow to set overnight so that they are good and hard inside.
Wrap or package into something pretty. Clear cellophane tied with a ribbon is nice as is vintage wrapping paper or something simple like strips of paper sack tied with raffeta. But be sure to store them air-tight to hold the scent in.
Now you have your beautiful rose soap bars for your own luxury, to give as gifts or to start up a soap shop!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Vintage Recipe for Silver Bells Christmas Cookies
This recipe was originally in an old cookbook belonging to my grandmother, I do not have it with me to reference but I believe it was published by one of the flour companies. We used this recipe every year as I now continue to do. It is difficult to find so here it is. It is the best recipe for simple Christmas cookies that I know and they practically melt in your mouth and the powdered sugar is the key to that.
Makes close to four dozen if using small cutters.
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted and divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups flour, sifted
1 to 2 teaspoons water
Food coloring, optional
1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and one-half cup powdered sugar until light and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla, and then the salt. Stir in the flour, a little at a time, until thoroughly mixed and smooth to form the dough.
3. Gather the dough and roll it to a thickness of one-fourth inch on a floured surface. Cut out cookie shapes from the dough.
4. Space the cookies about 1 inch apart on an un-greased cookie sheet and bake until just browned on the bottom but still light on top, about 10 minutes. Cool briefly on the pan, and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
5. Make the glaze: In a medium bowl, stir together the remaining powdered sugar and vanilla extract with just enough water to reach the desired consistency. To color the glaze, divide the dough and tint with food coloring as desired.
6. Ice the cookies as desired. To be more precise for the icing, it is your standard icing recipe. I use more like 2 cups powdered sugar just for the icing, a teaspoon of vanilla and two or more tablespoons of milk until the consistency is right. Too much milk and the icing will be too thin to spread so add a Tsp. at a time not to overdo. I usually separate the icing into small bowls and add food coloring so that I have white, red, green and yellow or gold. Top with any decorations like sprinkles, candies, etc.
Each of 4 dozen cookies: 70 calories; 1 gram protein; 8 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 4 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 10 mg cholesterol; 4 grams sugar; 13 mg sodium.
Enjoy! I suggest doubling the batch as they go fast and also make great gifts for friends and neighbors. Just pop a few into a baggie or holiday treat bag and tie with a beautiful holiday ribbon.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
My Darling Grandmother
My darling grandmother, Marjorie Ellen Smith (and later Yale), at the young age of seventeen in 1934. She was a beauty; French, Cherokee and Swiss German, born in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Read my story, A Grandmother's Angelic Paper Trail
Angel by Abbott Thayer
I love angels and recently discovered the work of American artist Abbott Handerson Thayer. This was his daughter who modeled for him and whom he painted in 1880. What an amazing painting.
Vintage Darling
I am working on colorization. This was from a public domain painting which I turned the background black and white.
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