Ellie@Home by Nicole Kapise-Perkins

It's that time of year again, when you and everyone else in the world is prone to sneezes, snuffles, and worse. (My household has already been hit a couple times now.) If you're reluctant to pour DayQuil into everyone, try these helpful tips from Michelle Schoffro Cook instead: 6 Potent Healing Herbs for Cold and Flu                                  283 tweet 80 12                      By: Michelle Schoffro Cook December 25, 2016                        Follow Michelle at @ mschoffrocook ‘Tis the season of comfort and joy as the carol remind us, but it is also the season of socializing and with that comes the spread of cold and flu viruses. Fortunately, you don’t just have to suffer. There are many great herbs for colds and flu—both to keep your immune system strong to prevent these nasty infections or to help your body fight them off. Here are some excellent choices: Echinacea —Who

Never mind giving these as gifts; I want to make a bunch for myself! However, the wonderful people I work with will definitely enjoy these.   11 Homemade Beauty Gifts For Everyone On Your List December 3, 2016 by Daria Patrunjel It’s the season for giving and, as always, we’re all about taking the homemade route. There’s so much joy and care in making your own gifts, plus you get to save some dollars and your own sanity (who wants to go to the crowded malls this time of the year? not me!). Give the gift of homemade beauty with these 11 ideas: 1. Rosemary & Eucalyptus Soap can be made in big batches in no time with this easy melt-and pour-technique. Bundle two or three together for a lovely stocking stuffer. 2. Sandalwood Vanilla Solid Perfume  works for everyone and it’s easy to customize the containers with a pretty, seasonal label. 3. Creamy DIY Lip and Cheek Stain is the perfect multitasking beauty product to give your BFF! You can p

This information comes a bit late for me, as I am on day 2 of Rest At Home following the sinus infection from Hell. (I'm going back to work tomorrow, no matter what it takes!) Still, a little second-hand info isn't all bad; it may help keep me from a second bout of the plague. And if you haven't been struck down yet, here's some advice on how to avoid becoming so: How to Avoid Getting Sick When Everyone Around You Already Is By: Zoe Eisenberg November 16, 2016 It happens every year. The holidays approach, the weather cools, and just as the season really begin to get busy, you begin to feel sick. We all know the feeling: fatigue, headache, sore throat, low energy. Why does the winter seem to be married to illness? The answer, according to Dr. Anthony Lyon with the Ash Center in New York, is a combination of overtiring our bodies at the exact time we ask them to battle the cold weather. And when you add the element of enclosure—more people are cooped up

   Those of you that have been reading steadily will know that my family is of Swedish and German heritage, and my husband is of Finnish and Polish descent (among other things). As a result, we have learned about various traditions from these countries, and by far our children's favorite is of course St. Nicholas Eve, which was last night, December 5. Our little boys set their boots by the door and left a carrot for Santa's pony, then we read a story I wrote (which I will not post here, but you can find it at Goodreads.com if you are interested: https://www.goodreads.com/story/show/515087-santa-s-pony-a-tale-of-st-nicholas-eve )      Santa doesn't leave many things when he stops by on St. Nicholas Eve, just a few trinkets to let good children know how much he appreciates their efforts at being good. Today each of the boys found a small hand-sized ball, a pair of holiday-stripey socks, a wooden car and a small package of gingerbread cookies. Nothing fancy. Nothing electron