Friday, August 30, 2013

Aromatherapy. Seamus Heaney. Friday giveaway.

Something that you don't know about me is that I love fragrance. I love perfume and candles and aromatherapy. I used to work at Pier 1 Imports. I would start my shift by putting a few votives in my pocket that I liked the smell of. When customers would walk in, I would greet them and ask them to smell the candles. I used to sell so many candles that way. I think we forget about fragrance and how important the sense of smell is to us. Did you know that in your brain, the place that registers memories is in the closest proximity to the place where we process our sense of smell. That is why smells are so powerful to us. Marcel Proust tastes (I'm going to use smell and taste interchangeably here, because to me, they are the same) the petite Madeline and is taken back to a time when he was a young man and we get Swann's Way (the first book in Remembrances of Things Past, anyone?)... I'm feeling a little bit literary today.

I mentioned that my mother-in-law is going to have hip replacement surgery next week. I wanted to make her some aromatherapy bags that could be used as hot/cold packs for her hip. Once I started, I couldn't stop:

aromatherapy hot/cold bags and pocket sachets

The large bag is for my MIL. The small, purple bag is for my daughter because she loved it. The small bags are something that I love - pocket sachets. They are a little pick-me-up that you can also use as a hand warmer - just pop it in the microwave for 30 sec. They also work well in your drawers or in your purse.

A few years ago, I was obsessed with the scent of eucalyptus. I used to put drops of eucalyptus oil onto a tissue and walk around smelling it. The scent was uplifting and relaxing and just wonderful. I'm going to be making up a whole mess of these pocket sachets in different scents. But before I do, I'm giving away a larger hand warmer/sachet in your choice of: peppermint, spearmint, lavender or eucalyptus (eucalyptus mint is also nice). Just leave a comment on this post and you will be entered to win. I'll choose a winner with help from Mr. Random next Wednesday, September 3. May the odds be ever in your favor.

In other news, Seamus Heaney died. He was an Irish poet - the poet of Soil and Strife. Some girl in my post-grad Chaucer class would just use his name to answer questions. I hadn't thought of him in a long time. I remember coming home and asking my husband if he knew the name since I had never heard of him before that and it was pre-google - I actually had to go to the library to find out who Seamus Haney was. Crazy. I'm old. Anyway. Happy Friday. Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts.


12 comments:

  1. Awww! How awesome. What is your method for putting these together?? I've thought of doing this for Christmas presents last year and never got to it.

    (I saw that Haney died and know he was prized in Ireland, but I'm going to have to Google! :-D)

    Your Simply Solid friend,
    Ramona (MonaPut)

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  2. Thanks for reminding me about making hand warmers! My grandson goes to college in a cold damp town and they will make a nice little gift for him. Honestly I never thought about scenting them. For myself, I would like to win a spearmint hand warmer :-)

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  3. What an intriguing post! I love fragrance too, but never thought of carrying it around as a hand warmer. I would love to know the ingredients for the filling. Hearing of Seamus Heaney's death today took me back to my grad school days too, as did your mention of Proust. Those names, like fragrances, bring back of rush of memories and impressions. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  4. Please don't enter me in the giveaway as this will be too heavy to post overseas, but just wanted to say I love the bag you made for your MIL. Those bees are just gorgeous!

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  5. I know what you mean about fragrances. They really can evoke strong memories. I would love to win a hand warmer with eucalyptus fragrance. I have never heard of Haney Seamus so I must google and find out who he was. Enjoy your weekend and thanks for the chance to win. Insure your MIL will be great full for your package.

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  6. Pocket sachets are a terrific idea! The bag you made for your MIL is so cute -- what a great fabric combo. I hope her surgery goes well!

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  7. Great idea. Love these bags and what a great idea to use the candles as a conversation starter as customers entered the store!

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  8. I have made these as gifts for various people, but never for myself! hanks for the giveaway.

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  9. I've made the hand warmers for my kids - they love them. They you for the giveaway.

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  10. I love the way eucalyptus mint smells :) Love the bees on the big bag! What a great idea for your mother in law!

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  11. I love aromatherapy stuff :) Eucalyptus is the best! I have a large collection of perfume oils I use instead of spray perfume, they're so much nicer to use :) I hope your MIL comes through her surgery ok!

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  12. Great ideas. Fun to do with kids during weekends to show their creativity side.

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Thank you for your lovely comments. I really appreciate that you took the time out of your busy schedule to write me a little note. I will do my best to respond to each and every comment that you leave me. Thanks again, and have a wonderful-stupendous-really excellent day!

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