Monday, Monday

The beginning of a bright new week, and some friends and I from Make Mine Pink have declared this a week of happiness and good news. Too many of our friends and family have had some very serious issues over the past few weeks. So, with positive thinking we are hoping for a better stretch ahead!

I am off to spend a day at the beach with my grandkids, how much fun is that? I miss the ocean so much and cannot wait to stick my toes in the water!

Christmas in July at Nasvhville Boutiques and Victorian Heart Shoppes is winding down. The Shop Hop at Make Mine Pink is now officially over. Good luck to all who participated, I have my fingers crossed for you!

Keep an eye out for the national ads that will hit this week for Nashville Boutiques, yours truly is in there! Can't wait to see Patricia Rose in a popular magazine. Let me know what you think!

At Make Mine Pink, we are getting ready for this week's Pink Friday, Pillows and Purses. This should be an amazing week. If you've never seen the amazing tuffets made by Sharon over at C'est Chouette you will have to go take a gander. Amazing confections! Our other pillow queen is Janet of Janet's Creative Pillows. Creative is an understatement! You will not believe what this lady can do.

I have spent a busy week studying for my Certification in Aromatherapy at Aromahead Institute. I cannot believe how much I am learning. This is turning out to be more interesting than I had thought. For what I have taught myself over the years, I am now really understanding why these essential oils work! Go take a look, I have it linked. Tell them I sent you!

And before I dash off, I have a little helpful hint that I learned through Aromahead Institute, at the first signs of a throat infection (annoying tickle, aggravating cough) put 1 drop of Tea Tree Essential Oil in a glass of warm water. Swish it around and gargle with it. Don't worry if you swallow a bit but try to spit most of it out. Do this for 3 days. Easy, peasy and it really works - go figure! Tea Tree Essential Oil is very anti-infective so it's a goody. If you do this, please make sure you are using only organic essential oil, I'm not sure you want to be gargling with pesticides! Buy your oils from a reputable source. Aromatic International is a good source and reliable. You can mail order.

So have a wonderful week, all. I'm off to play in the sand and the water - ahhhhhhhhh!

Pat

Christmas in July,

Hi all, sorry I missed you all last week. My schedule got a bit crazy and then I had Blogger issues. I blogged and Blogger didn't! Simply was no time to redo, so here I am, phew!

Midnight tonite, Christmas in July Shop Hop begins and will run through July 26 at Make Mine Pink. Now, people, we have had this discussion before. Get in there and register, find those bags, you can do it!!! I really, really, really want someone I know to win a prize this time. Limber up those fingers, the more bags you find the bigger the prize you are eligible to win. While searching for shopping bags check out all the wonderful boutiques. You know them all and how beautiful everything is. Ready? WUH, WUH, WUH--START CLICKING!

Christmas in July continues through the end of the month at Nashville Boutiques and Victorian Heart Shoppes. Stopping by at the Victorian Heart Shoppes and entering the $100 gift certificate drawing will be fun! Lots of great boutique and shoppes to browse through at both locations.

Here is a peek of this week's project-

As some of you know, Chloe and I were involved in a terrible glitter accident. It has been suggested I change Chloe's name to Sparkle. It was a fun project until the glitter and glue got the better of me!

One other tiny little catastrophe this week. While playing with my essential oils I knocked a bottle over. You have no idea how powerful these oils are until you get an overload! My word, the dining room still smells of clary sage! These old wood floors of mine just soaked that right up! As I am working on my studies at Aromahead Institute, I should be paying a bit more attention to the safety chapter, I guess. If you want to learn about essential oils and their uses and why they work in the first place, this is the place to go. I am finding that by looking at the class of an oil I am beginning to know what it is going to be good for. Love when you find that key to unlock a mystery.

With all the rains we have had, the plants (and weeds) have taken off like the rain forest. The weeds are winning at this point. UhOh! After a few dry days I have gotten arm fulls of plant material in and drying. Now if the weather will just cooperate so everything doesn't mold, it should be good. Lots of pesto in freezer (and in our tummies if you must know), think we may have some tomatoes this week. Here's a recipe for a really simple but delicious pasta salad -

Millie's (my sister-in-law) Bow Tie Pasta Salad

1-1pound box of bow tie pasta, cooked and drained

In a separate bowl, mix:

2 cloves minced fresh garlic

2 or 3 chopped tomatoes (can use canned if fresh not available)

6-10 leaves fresh basil, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Add this mixture to pasta. Serve room temp or cold.

Have a wonderful week all. Don't forget to find those shopping bags,
Pat

That Yellow Thing In The Sky Is The Sun

After the rainiest June on record, we have had two days of sun. It is just gorgeous outside! The blue skies, fluffy white clouds, temps in the 70's and the most gorgeous breeze have really improved my mood! Amazing how all that rain and gray can pull me down, not good.

Well, it is one very busy month here at Patricia Rose. Christmas in July is in full swing at Nashville Boutiques

and Victorian Heart Shoppes.

The Christmas in July Shop Hop at Make Mine Pink will kick off on July 20th. We have barely had a whisper of summer and I'm thinking about Christmas, geesh! Crazy business this retail! I have started a Christmas Shoppe on the website, http://www.patriciarose-apotpourri.com/shopping/the_christmas_shoppe/page_1.aspx, so go take a peek. Christmas items will be on sale for the month of July and these special events only. Then back to regular price.

This coming week's Pink Friday is The Summer Porch and Garden. At least it finally feels and looks like summer up here. I have started making Porch Pockets to help you get through the dog days of summer -

These are so handy to tuck your necessities in (let's face it, there are no pockets in bikinis!). Large enough to hold your phone, a book, a bottle of water, a bottle of sun screen and hang it on the arm of your chair or a hook on the porch railing.

You could also fill this with our all natural insect repelling potpourri to keep the pesky bugs at bay while you relax.

You can find these on the website as well.

http://www.patriciarose-apotpourri.com/shopping/findings-the_spice_of_life/page_1.aspx

I have had such an enjoyable week with my studying at http://www.aromahead.com/. This has been such a great thing to have embarked on. I can hardly wait to show you my first salves and ointments. I will be starting that this week, I am so excited. This course just takes everything and makes it so understandable but so thorough. I know I sound like a broken record, but if you have considered studying aromatherapy this is the place to go. Take a look and let me know what you think. If you should decide to take one of their courses, tell them I sent you!

Well, I think that is all the news for this week. Hope everyone is enjoying some of this gorgeous weather we have been blessed with.

Please leave a comment if you visit, I just love hearing from you. And just a little mini poll, if you don't mind. What fragrances would you like to see introduced at Patricia Rose? There may be a little sumpin', sumpin' for those who respond - just saying.

Have a terrific week,

Pat