Ahhhhh.....Spring!

While we might not be royalty, we do deserve to treat ourselves that way. One great way is remind ourselves of our royal roots is by experimenting with potpourris.  The word "potpourri" comes from French and literally means rotten pot. Reference to potpourri are found in writings of almost every culture and every time period. As cultures evolved, fragrance became a symbol of class and wealth. Once a family created a personal potpourri recipe, everything would be saturated (bed sheets, clothing, candles, jewelry, soap and writing ink).

I've had a lot of fun making my own potpourri and thought it would be fun to share the recipes and tips.  A few tips to remember:

• Keep proportions in mind - potpourri with very large ingredients look out of place in a small bowl. Potpourri with very small, delicate materials looks lost in large bowls.
• I used narrow ribbons to decorate my bowls and baskets.
• When the fragrance starts to fade, you can place your bowl in a moist room (bathroom or kitchen). Moisture releases the natural fragrance of many plants. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, oil blend or fragrance oil.
• Don't do what I did, place your potpourri creation on a window sill - my masterpiece faded in color very quickly.

Here's a recipe I used and fell in love with it immediately. The scent takes you away from everyday stresses and into a mental garden of delightful relaxation.

For The Palace
  Materials:

• Rose geranium leaves
• Rose petals
• 3 parts lemon fragrance oil
• 3 parts geranium fragrance oil

How To:

• Dry the leaves and petals.
• Once dried, mix together completely in a large bowl.
• Add the fragrance oils - be sure to use only a  drops as you can add more if needed.
• Mix well with your fingers or with a plastic or wooden spoon reserved only for potpourri crafting. Place mixture into a brown paper bag and shake well.
• Roll up the bag tightly to remove air and place in a dark location.
• Shake the bag once a day for 7 days; then shake once a week for 5 weeks.
• Remove potpourri from the bag and place in a decorative container.

Have fun! There's so many variations, the sky's the limit.

And with spring just around the corner, what better time than to get stocked up with Sunscreen Lotion for you and your loved ones.  Visit our website to get the very best - our sunscreen is rated "0" for toxins.

Moms, our sunscreen works great under make-up because it's non-greasy and creates a nice "cover-up" base under foundation or powder. To get a nice even layer, dot around the face and blend with a cosmetic sponge as you would foundation.