our holiday season 2015

this holiday season was such a good one for us five.  we stayed home here in kansas city and made our best efforts to do a whole lot of nothing together.  there was lots of lounging.  lots of home-cooked eats.  only the very best of slow, winter offerings.  when i reflect back on this season, these past few weeks especially, i feel it can really be summed up into two choice words: baking & play.  but should it be any other way?  i don't think so either.  there is still a fine dusting of white flour on our kitchen's hardwoods and a glass container of cookies on the counter for mid-day nibbling.  i made oh, about four loafs of crusty no knead bread, and all of it is gone having been the source of yummy breakfasts along with raspberry jam and salted butter.  and as for play?  each of the kids had a ball with the magic of christmas and snow (finally!) and running around with their new toys.  there are dolls and cars strewn about in every room and crafts hanging here and there and new books piled up for reading before nap time.  this season we gathered.  we cozied up.  we wore jammies until supper and then took long baths in the evening.  we diffused pine and eucalyptus and lavender.  we stayed put and lit fires each night and sipped cocoa and watched funny movies.  we drank nice wine, topped our balsam fir tree with an angel stella made at preschool, and put taped cards of loved ones on our wall in the dining room.  we just really enjoyed each other's company which is what it's all about.  it was good and slow and joyful.  here are a few captures from this special time of year.  i hope yours was wonderful, too.  see ya in the new year, friends! 

handmade // holiday gift quote labels

to those looking for a last-minute, handmade, original way to add a bit of comedy to their gift holiday labels, this one's for you!!  i had my embosser laying around from when i made my all-natural essential oil diy gifts the other day and the idea came to me that this nifty tool would make one heck of a cute labeler for our holiday presents this year.  i typed out everyone's name and added a favorite christmas movie quote for a little chuckle on the side.  i had a ball coming up with quotes, there are so many good ones out there!

here are a few of our favorites, i am betting they are well known in all of your homes, too:

"SANTA!!!! I KNOW HIM!" - Elf

"KEVIN!" - Home Alone

"Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas" - Christmas Vacation

"Ya filthy animal" - Home Alone

"You'll shoot your eye out" - A Christmas Story

so fun, right!?  what are your favorite holiday movie quotes?  merry (almost) christmas! 

essential oils // rosemary citrus body balm + floral bath salt + lavender spruce linen spray

a few nights ago i stood in the kitchen after taking turns with andrew tucking our babes into bed with a newfound energy and unexpected vigor having it been so late.  musical beds has been a theme over here this week, if you have little ones, you get it.  after pouring myself a nice red and turning on some holiday tunes, i found i had a bit of lighthearted determination to make some holiday gifts with my oils.  i've always loved a good homemade gift over something bought from a store, and i tend to think most people feel this way too, because deep down we all can agree little intention goes a long, long way these days.  a homemade gift says, "hey, so i might be pretty busy but i carved out some time for you.  and i made this.  so enjoy, my dear."  because i wholeheartedly believe in this sweet sentiment, i like to pass out all the homemade goodies for christmas.  almost everyone we are gifting to will get something diy from the watters family, whether it be a salt dough ornament, a hand-rolled beeswax candle, or an oily treat.

the best part of making oil-based gifts for me, aside from the fact that i get so much joy from concocting remedies from healthful, natural products, is that i get to make them at home in my favorite space without having to go to the store.  i just head to my pantry, grab what i need, and soak up my mama time.  our kitchen is the place i most prefer when i need my mind to wander and when i want to create.  so naturally, i gravitate towards this space when making homemade products for my family and friends.

we have amazon prime, which i highly recommend so many reasons, and so a few times each year i restock our natural goods pantry with all the basic things.  i am putting together an oily pantry post for 2016, but for this specific post, you will need the following to make rosemary citrus body balm,  floral bath salt, and lavender spruce linen spray.

- beeswax pellets (stay away from the big bars, they are too much work)
- coconut oil (get the kind that is hard when cool, stay away from the liquid for this recipe)
- vitamin e oil
- shea butter
- epsom salts
- distilled water
- dried lavender flowers (optional, but really lovely)
- 100% pure essential oils (we use young living and i cannot say enough about the quality of their products)

it is best to buy organic when able. if you are going to all this work to make a nice natural product, it makes sense to ensure you are using quality ingredients every step of the way. it is also wonderful if you can purchases these items in bulk to both save money and stock your pantry for future creating.  i do this and have a special cupboard where i keep everything stocked so when i am feeling inspired or simply need a natural remedy, i am all set ingredient wise.

after making many, many body butters and salves over the past several years i have stumbled on what i feel to be the best ratio for what i am calling a balm.  you will need a double boiler or some glassware you won't mind getting a bit of wax on.  the beeswax is integral to these most of my oily recipes, and know it will ruin pretty much whatever you mix these ingredients in.  i use a pot of water  for boiling and a large glass pyrex mixing bowl with a handle and pour spout, that does the trick.  find what works for you and call it good. now for the recipes.

rosemary citrus body balm (or butter, depending on what label you prefer)

to make this balm, melt together 1/2 cup organic coconut oil, 1/2 cup organic shea butter, 1/4 cup vitamin e oil, 1/4 cup organic beeswax pellets.  once translucent and melted together, pour this liquid into small glass containers, mason jars work well.  depending on the size of your jar, add several drops of quality essential oils to your liking.  for the small mason jar i have in the photos above, i used 5 drops of orange oil, five drops of grapefruit oil, and five drops of rosemary oil so fifteen drops total.  the combination of citrus and herb is one of my favorite.  i usually lean towards pairing an acid with an earth element when making lotions, balms, and butters because the result is usually uniquly uplifting, yet grounding.

floral bath salts with dried lavender flowers

this is the easiest recipe ever, yet it produces a really beautiful and spa quality product, one that is calming for bath time.  pour epsom salts into your preferred container filling it half way.  again, i use small mason jars for this because i always have them on hand.  add ten drops of a floral oil of your choice, i use the young living oil blend called joy.  it is a blend of bergamot, ylang ylang, geranium, rose, lemon, coriander, tangerine, roman chamomile, and palmarosa.  it's warm and sweet and joyful, hence its' aptly chosen name.  after adding your desired amount of essential oil, throw in a few dried lavender flowers.  this not only adds a beautiful element to your salt mixture, but tell me, who doesn't love taking a good soak in a steaming lavender bath?  it's luxurious!  after this step, fill your jar the rest of the way with more epsom salt, leaving a little room at the top.  give it a good shake.  you're done! tell your gift recipient to add a palmful to their warm bath time routine and enjoy.

lavender spruce linen spray 

we adore linen sprays in this home.  in fact, they have become part of our bedtime routine, and a fun one at that, as am always changing them up according to the season.  i do however almost always add lavender oil as the base of my spray because it helps us sleep and is really soothing.  for winter, i prefer adding oils that reflect this season's nature, such as pine, spruce, and fir.  i chose idaho blue spruce for this blend and it smells ridiculously yummy.  to make this linen spray, add a small pinch of fine sea salt to a small amber spray bottle.  the oil needs something to hug and bind to, thus the salt.  add ten drops of lavender oil and ten drops of spruce oil to the bottle, swirl that around so the oil and salt marry.  fill the rest with distilled water and shake.  i like purchasing my amber bottles here, for the curious.

and for the final piece of this puzzle, labeling!  one can go about this however they so choose, but i have quite enjoyed using my handy little embossing tool to give my homemade goodies a fun and original label.  make sure to get a few extra rolls of tape for when you inevitably run out.  it's a bummer when you're mid-way through typing body butter and the tape expires, leaving you with the ever so lovely b o d y b u t t label.  come to think of it, some of your friends may favor your more clever label names.

i have linked all the oils i used for these recipes for your connivence and so you can read about them if you're an oil user like me or if you're a novice and simply want to know more.  if by chance you're wanting to incorporate essential oils into the rhythm of your everyday, give me a holler!  i'd love to chat more about this with you.  happy crafting, friends, and don't forget to make a few extra of these for yourself. ;)

homestead // a gifting philosophy

it's the first of december.  our mantle is decorated with soft pine greenery and a spiced soy candle is almost always burning.  we have been diffusing a lovely mixture of clove and orange oils right after waking to get some holiday spirit in the air while keeping us well and good, and chopped wood logs are stacked near our fireplace ready to crackle and keep our toes warm as we hunker down for a slow, restful season.  alas, christmas time is drawing near and it starting to feel so very cheery in our home.  i have completed all of our holiday shopping (hallelujah!) which is a pretty splendid feat, given that we have not yet chopped down our tree nor have we sent out christmas cards.  all in good time i keep telling myself.  and honestly, i am in no rush this year to get any of that done.  we are taking this season one step at a time and it feels good to take small strides and not overdo everything so quickly as instagram tells us we should.  i think we'll end up enjoying the holidays much more this way.  but i must say, having the gifts all done so early is one major check off the ol' list.

so let's talk gifting, shall we?  in keeping with what we've done in seasons past, andrew and i have chosen to keep gifting rather simple again this year, especially now that we have another little elf to buy presents for.  it is so very important to us that our kids learn to cherish what they receive and not get caught up in the unappreciative cycle of wanting more and more as the season progresses and opening presents becomes a regular occurrence as the weeks march on and we celebrate christmas with different parts of our family.  that being said, and i know gifts are far from being the most important part of christmas, but that morning after santa has plopped himself down the chimney and put presents under the tree is pretty darn neat and such a special part of childhood.  i remember waking much earlier than my parents to peek into the living room to see the beautifully wrapped boxes waiting to be shaken, the red bows begging to be untied.  thinking about that time in my life gets me so giddy to play the role of santa with andrew on christmas eve as we tip toe around the creaky floorboards, our three babes tucked in their beds.

more often than not when looking for gifts we turn to toys and books and art supplies that help grow their imaginations and spark creativity.  we also love items that are well-made and we opt for quality over quantity, taking into account that less really is more when it comes to just about everything, gifting included.  here is a lovely gifting philosophy we are following this year and i am so happy to share it with you.  some of you may have heard of this before, it is such a brilliant idea. it's called "want/need/wear/read" and it's simple and straightforward.  i really love it.  it keeps things easy when shopping and sets the tone for what your kiddos will get so you don't feel the pressure to outdo the year before.  we are following this simple yet thoughtful gifting philosophy for each kiddo and then getting them a few small things to fill their stockings that hang on the fireplace.  we also decided to add a few family gifts from santa to the mix, some games we can play together on christmas day.  this year we are getting jenga and spirograph to play after we open presents.  so fun!

why keep things simple and not go crazy when it comes to gifts on christmas?  well for one, the toy situation can get out of control pretty darn fast if you let it.  i just did a post on how to organize all that chaos right here.  and then there's wanting to keep a clutter free and intentional home.  by giving your kids heaps of stuff that minimal lifestyle really isn't possible.  in our home before the holidays arrive, we do a toy purge and donate a bunch of items to local thrift stores.  toy drives are great for this too, and we try our best to follow the "one toy in, one toy out" rule.  but the most important reason we feel for not going overboard on gifting is so our children will appreciate what they receive while learning about the specialness of this time and how it is more about love and kindness than the number of things to unwrap.

we've seen and experienced present overload before, have you?  a tornado of gifts with wrapping paper flying in every direction, ultimately turning the moment into an overwhelming mess where little to none is savored to appreciate.  when given too many things at once, we have noticed that our kids really don't have the energy to focus on what they have been given and therefore end up dissatisfied and overstimulated.  that is unfortunate for everyone and not the point of giving in the first place.  the times we've given just a few quality gifts for them to cherish the results have been gratifying because they were much more invested in playtime, and in turn, so much more appreciative!  so when it comes to holidays (and birthdays, too) we focus on getting our babes a few nice things and move onto spending time together, whether that be in the kitchen making cookies or cozed up on the couch watching a movie.

this year, santa will get several quality items following the "want/need/wear/read" philosophy and tell the grandparents to do the same.  one gift they want, one gift they need, one gift they can wear, and one gift they can read.  practical but special.  if that doesn't suit the givers, we offer suggestions of things to do with the kids by giving experiences in lieu of items.  giving experiences is a great solution when living in a small space or when wanting less stuff around.  this year my parents are giving our family tickets to see peppa pig down town as part of our christmas gift, a real treat for andrew and i as we will get to take both theo and stell on a date to see their first show.  in years past, grandparents have given ballet lessons, movie tickets, zoo passes, aquarium visits, and other fun things to do around the city.  we love suggesting these ideas as they create beautiful memories and keep the focus on togetherness.

how do you tell your loved ones you really don't want them giving your child an overflowing pile of stuff for christmas?  i say, just tell them outright, plain and simple.  if they chose to go their own route, know you will always have the final say about what your little ones get to keep and what is allowed to come through your front door and into your sacred space.  i feel that the gift is in the giving, not in the actual present itself, so once it's yours feel free to do with it as you please, even if that means it goes straight to the donation box or return pile.  and if nana and papa want to give your baby a gigantic sound machine, tell them to go for it!  but then to keep it at their place so your darling has something to play with when they visit.  problem solved and you don't need to have that contraption in your home.

what are we giving this year?  i have put together a little list of some of my favorite online shops for kids along with some of our favorite items from these lovely places.  it's worth mentioning, we either currently own these items and love them or are gifting them this year so i can speak to their quality.  if you've got little ones ages 0-4 here you are some great ideas if you still have some shopping to do!

brimful shop: wooden teether // colorful snail sorter // art print // blankie book // louise doll // playsilk // paci

darling clementine: baby lit book // paris book // bloomers // pom bonnet // hair clips

brookfarm general store : baking set // name train // farm animals

noble carriage: mouse doll //  bow tie // safari puzzle // high seas outfit

we love plan toys, too.  they make wonderful sustainable toys for kids and their website is categorized by age!  that makes it so easy when searching for thee perfect treasure.  theodore is getting this car garage from his nana and papa and stella loves this pastry dough set she got for a past birthday.  she loves playing with when i am baking in the kitchen.

for beautiful well-made clothing check out willaby + red creek handmade + mabo kids.  we have purchased several items from each of these companies and adore their heirloom quality.  kim, katie, and emily create pieces that you'll want to pass down and save forever.

and some other fun gifts ideas that are for sure making it under our tree this year: tool bench for theodore's want // spirograph, remember these? // bitty booties for alfie's wear // felt cowboy hat for theodore's wear // clock puzzle for stella's need (we need to practice numbers) // jenga for the family // mini drudgery tools for stella for stocking stuffer // classic jump rope for stella's want 

for other gifting inspiration check out my pinterest board on gifting to little ones.  read more on storing and managing and organizing and recycling toys here.  and if interested on tips about maintaining simplicity and joy in your home, head here.

halloween 2014

andrew and i returned from our little trip to the caribbean just in time to enjoy halloween as a family.  this year, stella chose her costume.  after watching hocus pocus, which she hilariously calls "pocus pocus pocus," she decided classic was how she was going to play this game.  alas, we've had ourselves a little witch running about casting spells on us for about a week or so.  i have been turned into both a unicorn and a rock.  but because stella strives for originality, she insisted that an ordinary witch would not do, thus the laughing witch was born.  so we painted her little face emerald green and listened to her sweet cackle for strangers that coaxed her with their sugary treats.

and theodore.  oh my word.  he was all set to be a tiny, innocent turtle but as soon as andrew got home that changed real quick.  he scooped our darling boy up with one arm, whisked him away to our bedroom, and thus emerged a fierce one year mutant ninja turtle clad in arm, knee and a band.  this was one hard-core turtle, friends.  i had never seen anything so darn cute in all my life.  i think i spent the rest of the evening kissing his chubby ninja turtle cheeks and squealing in a high-pitched mama voice, "you are the sweetest little turtle, yes you are!"  lesson: dads know how to halloween.  and what do you suppose our ninja turtle baby did when we got home?  ate candy?  nope.  he fell asleep on our bed and slept through the whole darn holiday.  i secretly wished i could have joined him for the evening.