Giving gifts that are both useful and beautiful is something we like to practice in our home. Something you can spend time making together and take pride in, is even better. Over Christmas we gifted some of our favourite people with soap we hand made. My 6 year old was so proud, he took a bar in for show and tell. So here we are again, this time sharing how to make lovely bars of soap for the mother’s we love so much.

Materials:

melt and pours soap

empty milk carton or soap mold

essential oils in your favourite scent

dried flowers (optional)

paper

pen

water color

twine

There are some pretty soap molds out there but we kept it simple and used an empty milk carton.

Chop the soap block into smaller pieces and place in a microwavable bowl. Once they are melted you can add a few drops of your favourite essential oils and pour into the milk carton to set. We sprinkled dried roses on the top of ours.

While the soap sets, you can make your packaging. A set of water colors, and ink pens can make some beautiful designs.

After your paper has dried, and your soap has set, you begin packaging with some simple twine to bind the paper around the bars. You can get 5 to 7 bars of soap depending on the size that you cut them.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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An adventure is always best when shared.

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
“I don’t much care where –”
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

One of our favorite adventurous girls is back, this time Alice is beautifully illustrated by the wonderfully talented Anna Rifle Bond. Lewis Carroll’s story has lasted the test of time, and inspired many. Follow Alice down the hole and after the White Rabbit and into a classic Fairy Tale adventure.

“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” 

Anna’s art work is highly recognizable, a modern Georgia O’Keeffe, as her floral illustrations have an unmistakable style. Anna found out she was pregnant and has since given birth to her son, there are hidden due dates and beautiful details throughout the pages of the story. This is a book you will want to have in your home, beautiful and classic.

“Mad Hatter: Would you like a little more tea?
Alice: Well, I haven’t had any yet, so I can’t very well take more.
March Hare: Ah, you mean you can’t very well take less.
Mad Hatter: Yes. You can always take more than nothing.”

We are big on the read-aloud revival, if you have books on your Christmas list, you will want this book. Sit down, cuddle up and enjoy it with your children over the holiday break. It’s not just enjoyable for kids — mamas and papas love it too!