beauty that moves

remedies for the winter medicine chest

If my daughter ever returns to regular school, I promise you all... I am going to carry right on with these Home Ec classes - just me, myself and I. They are way too much fun to ever close the book on!

We do a variety of domestic activities in our homes throughout each day, all week long... but there is something sacred about setting aside two hours a week to honor the tradition of homemaking. In working with Emily and her friend, I try to use our time for making or learning something a bit special, indulgent even. It is a wonderful feeling for them to experience working in their own homes, with their own hands... taking care of life's essentials with skill and beauty.

During our time together last week, we were happy to use Herbal Nurturing: A Family Healing & Learning Guide, an e-book written by Michele of Frugal Granola, as our guide. I came across her book a few weeks back, and immediately purchased, printed, and tucked it into a three ring binder. I knew it would be a welcome addition to our wide open afternoons set aside for Home Ec.

We began working our way through the book, starting with Slippery Elm Lozenges and Immune Boosting Syrup (of course they had to be clever teenagers and rename them - Anitgen Away! Winter Warrior!).

The book focuses on simple, traditional remedies, with a special emphasis on "Learning at Home Options" - very sweet (I would say this part is geared toward younger learners). It's a great idea to pair this e-book with a companion herbal reference book if working with older children (or yourself!) to further understand specific herb descriptions, uses, cautions and contraindications.

I'm envisioning little baskets of homemade herbal remedies for holiday gifts this year... and I'm happy to support another blogging mama in her efforts at the same time. Michele's wisdom, hard work and thoughtful collection of remedies, are all things I truly appreciate.

Next up, I think we'll make the Scrapes Soother and Bedtime Tea... wonderful!

If you are interested in picking up a copy of Michele's book for yourself, you may click on the link below. Have fun!

Click here to visit Frugal Granola.

Please order from this link if you feel comfortable knowing I am signed up for Michele's affiliate program. A small percentage of each book ordered through the link above will help replenish our herbal supply basket. Thank you!

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~Amanda Soule

dining room redo

Remember the dining room? Well, a few months ago we did some painting around here. We've been in our home for six years, some corners were ready for a change. Our dining room was one of those corners, I talked about it a bit here. You all helped me so much with color suggestions, the most popular suggestion being one pretty shade of yellow or another. Being the ever different, not able to do as I'm told rebel (well, not really) that I tend to be... I went with blue!

Buxton Blue to be exact. One look at Alicia's studio and I just had to have some of that color in my home. It is so pretty, and everything she says is true - it indeed changes tone and color twelve times throughout any given day! Also, it is the perfect compliment to the butternut color in the living room. (Which I am ready to repaint too, but my family has denied my request. The troops have rallied and painted four rooms and part of the exterior in the last several months. They would like to put the paint brushes down for now... geez.)

I haven't shared many photos yet, to me the room isn't quite done. I am still in need of curtains (there is a temporary set hanging), and I keep hoping when I walk downstairs in the morning the perfect farm table will be sitting there... but then I realized, when is anything in life ever truly done? Take some pictures of those pretty blue walls already! And so I did.

What do you think? It really is a playful color, looking different with each hour of the day. It has a warmth that can be tricky to find in blue, and it certainly is lighter than the color we had before. I think it's working out just fine, with or without the perfect curtains, or the perfect farm table. 

When I do find the right fabric for curtains however...

I have a feeling it will be deeply inspired by the beautiful pattern on this cake plate. Or maybe the lampshade. I found the plate at the flea market the weekend after the room was painted, feeling it was my fabric inspiration. The man I bought it from really did not understand my excitement, can you imagine?.

Such a pretty combination of warm and cool. In order to balance the few moments when this room feels a little grey, I'm dreaming up curtains (and more art, please) with golden and warm pinkish red tones to cozy it up a bit. And green, of course there must be some green.

That golden honey farm table sure would be a welcome addition too...

the simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... the perfect November in New England morning. Cold, raw, rain and wind.

I am thinking... that I am over the novelty of being a "single car family" - and not feeling too proud of myself for that

I am thankful for... the fact that I don't need a car to walk my girl and her friend down to the library this afternoon to make duct tape wallets

From the learning rooms... gathering the ingredients to make slippery elm lozenges for home ec class this week

From the kitchen... quinoa, french lentil, and vegetable stew

I am creating... three new pieces of art. one is titled, peacemakers eat for free

I am going... downtown later today. I'm thinking a chai latte is in order while the girls are across the street at the library, lost in all things duct tape

I am reading... The Teahouse Fire

I am hoping... that I could scoop up a decent car for about a thousand bucks or so. I've got my eye on this one

I am hearing... the rain hitting the roof, and the wind. thinking of my husband who is sitting in a treestand, hoping all is well and safe in the windy woods

Around the house... feeling the need for a full weekday of cleaning, straightening, purging - a day of preparing for the winter months ahead

Thank you Peggy!

shop news for the holidays!

Well, I rearranged my studio yet again. It's always a sure way to inspire and motivate! Over the weekend I spent some time playing around with new fabric combinations, and today I'd like to share with you a little shop update... with limited time, holiday specials!

What's new and good in my Cash Budget Pouch Shop

• Three new colorways! See photos below...
• Quantity discount - save $15 on three sets! (see that big pile above!?) Many of you order multiple sets for your budgeting needs, I hope this simplifies that process, and provides you a nice benefit for ordering so many, which I so appreciate.
• Option to order any set (including the big set) without any words stamped if you'd like to give as a gift and use your own fabric ink and rubber stamps to customize for your recipient.
• Option to leave linen strip off entirely if you just want them to be zipper pouches (toss a nice bar of chocolate inside or a modest Starbucks gift card... you got the perfect teacher/friend/hairdresser gift). The excellent price for the two options above stays the same. I am happy to offer this convenience for you.
• If you would like either of these custom options, just write me a "note to seller" upon checking out.
• FREE SHIPPING for the rest of November... while quantities last. YES!!

I hope you enjoy the new colorways, this last one is particularly modern and fun.

Everything is in the shop now! Thank you for considering Beauty That Moves for your holiday (or personal) gift giving. I appreciate your support, as always, more than you could ever know.

Oh, did you see all the wonderful book recommendations yesterday?

Delicious! And thank you!