Amazing how quickly this year has passed. I want to express gratitude to Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial for hosting this wonderful series of In My Kitchen glimpses from around the world. It is fascinating to see what is different and what we all have in common.
Being the first of December, it is time to start using the “holiday china”.
Lenox Holiday China
I use it the entire month of December and put it all away on New Years Eve. Actually, the china gets pulled out while putting away Thanksgiving dishes. That’s because we seem to use every dish in the house for Thanksgiving and while everything is out of the cabinets, it’s easy to reach the holiday stuff before replacing everything we just used.
I’ve been studying “The Taste of Herbs” course and have been ordering many herbs for the exercises. The ‘homework’ has resulted in making some of my favorite lip balm. I’m one who can’t leave home without lip balm. It’s always in my pocket. Since it is something that goes on the lips, it is also ingested so I prefer using all natural products.
Lips All Natural Soothing Balm, my lip balm! Yes, I actually made it.
And wouldn’t you know, it can get expensive and not always ‘perfect’. So one of the assignments was this lip balm. I ordered the tubes online and made a small batch. This stuff is amazing. It is my new go to solution for all my lip balm emergency needs.
Ever made Chai at home from scratch, rather than bought tea bags?
Homemade Chai Spiced Tea
Well, if you want a home with an amazing aroma, and an entire body warming that feels like a great big bear hug, you’ve got to try making your own. I simmer the concoction in a crock pot on low either overnight or during the day. If you simmer it on the stove top, it is ready to sip and feel dreamy after an hour.
We’ve been enjoying using my tea pots and tea cups. They were in storage for so long, it’s nice to be using them again.
Cups and pots on the shelf
Each day we make at least two pots, one traditional orange pekoe black tea and an herbal tea. We sip them both hot or cold, sometimes we need to make more, depending how cold it is outside.
I am gearing up for Christmas with gifts and cookies from my kitchen.
A plate of Christmas Cookies
I’ll be doing posts on ideas and things as the month progresses. I refuse to be part of the shopping hoards, just refuse. I need to be practical though because how many would actually appreciate a bottle of Burdock Root Tincture?
A pile of herbal supplies
Related articles
- Frugal Tips: Peppermint Lip Balm (homefront.prudentliving.com)
Spoon Feast 
Yes, the lip balm is in her pocket even through the wash cycle!
Thanks for the rescue!
Pamela, I can’t believe how organised you are for Christmas, fantastic.
LOL, really not ready or organized at all. Just lots of ideas, “hey, how ’bout this?” . . .
Wish we lived closer; would love to visit!
I love the Christmas holiday as much as you seem to- I set out my Christmas dishes Dec 1. And enjoy using all month. We decorate the Christmas tree the weekend after thanksgiving also. So house is festive for all the holiday activities. I look forward to your Dec posts. Hope you have time to check in on my dec preparations. Sue
Womenlivinglifeafter50.com
Thanks Sue, I will definitely be visiting your site! I wish I had the energy to have decorated this weekend, perhaps this weekend I’ll get to bring out all the decorations. I love the scents and sights of the holidays!
i’m very impressed you make your own lip balm! Well done! Great IMK post!
I’m posting how you can make some too, in the next few days. I may be a bit biased, but I like it better than all the commercial ones out there. Make some and let me know what you think!
What beautiful china. Despite the fact that we’ve started to sell Christmas trees, I’m trying to ignore the fact that we’ve reached December. You seem very well prepared though – maybe it’s all that tea!
Oh my, not really prepared at all. Don’t look behind the curtains! December seems to have come along rather quickly this year.
I absolutely love that you have holiday china!
🙂 Mandy xo
I could have china for every week of the year if there were enough storage space. I adore dishes!
Pamela, your homemade lip balm is fantastic and your post made me feel all Christmas-y! Thanks for the lovely peek in your holiday kitchen.
Thanks for peeking!
So many wonderful things in your kitchen. Christmas dishes, chai tea and your homemade lip balm. I have not made my own chai tea but my sister did once bring me a box of authentic tea from India and it was delightful.
It’s my new favorite drink! I love the aroma and the flavors, so exotic and comforting.
Pamela, you’re so organised! I’m with you, I don’t like having to shop at Christmas! So most of our presents are homemade too! I love your China set, and how clever of your to make your own lip balm! Thank you for your kind words, love x
To me, homemade gifts are the best! It could be a pot holder or a candle holder, it doesn’t matter. It’s the thought someone put into making something that means so much.
Your chocolates are certainly a hit at Christmas!
I agree, Pamela- a gift made for friends and family is far superior to something bought on Black Friday! I have family that waits for the Christmas Brunch in a box I make every year. Frozen quiche, assorted muffins, homemade chai tea and fruit compote is the regular fare in a large food box or picnic basket.
I make lip balm, too, with beeswax, peppermint oil, vitamin E and coconut oil.
How does your chai recipe compare to mine? I’d love to see what all you use in yours. I like to top mine with a few shaves of fresh nutmeg too.
Peppermint balm is next on my list! Thanks Heidianne!
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Loved your homemade lip balm. I can’t live without it and Mr Tiffin was grizzling last night as we’ve run out of our regular natural one and had to resort to one with suncreen in it. I’ll point him in this direction – if he’s really keen, he can make it. Great grab bag of things this months and cute and festive snowflakes too!
I’ll be posting how to make the lip balm hopefully by tomorrow. It’s a great thing to have tons of on hand!
home made chai spiced tea..that would be perfecttt for me!
I made some in the crock pot overnight; it’s such a joy to sip it this morning!