DIY Floral Ice Bowl

I wanted to share this beautiful Floral Ice Bowl that I make for special occasions. It is so stunning and always impresses as a center piece for parties. Not only is it easy to make but it is gorgeous!



I love to add lots of greenery along with whole flowers and petals. Almost any flower can be used and I have found that lighter weight flowers work best. I actually prefer petals to whole buds as they tend freeze under the water line better. Every time I make one I try to use the brightest colors that I can find, and love to be seasonal. Holly and mistletoe work great in Winter too ! Herbs from your garden will also be breath taking embedded into the ice and is perfect for a Summer Garden Party!

This bowl can be made as small or large as your equipment will allow and can hold punch, fruit, shrimp cocktail...the list is endless! Just make sure that you keep an eye on the melting so as not to ruin your food items.

Let's get started!

Be sure to use a stainless steel bowl to hold the water as ceramic tends to crack under the freezing pressure. A small ceramic bowl for the inside seems to work out alright for me and has not cracked yet..



Choose your flowers/greenery and place inside SS bowl



Place small bowl on top of flowers inside SS bowl and pour water into SS bowl only without covering the small bowl





you want to be sure to center your smaller bowl exactly in the middle to create a 'bowl' on the inside. I have found that if you only put the water in to just barely lift and float the smaller bowl, it tends to stay in place better. Any more water than that and your smaller bowl will float while freezing which will leave you with a crooked center. It also is a good idea to keep checking for floating before it freezes completely.
Once you start to get a good freeze but can still see some water, remove SS bowl from freezer and add a tiny bit more COLD water to cover any petals that have risen out of the water and place back in freezer till frozen. If you do this after it freezes too much it will crack your ice, and you will have to start over.


Do not be discouraged when first attempting this, I have made many of them and will admit it usually takes at least 2 tries each time, but it is worth it for the end result !

Daytripping Through New England with the Dirty Housewife-The Isles Of Shoals

One of my favorite spots in New England is actually shared by Maine and New Hampshire! A tiny cluster of 9 islands about '2 leagues' from the mainland.The Isles of Shoals were named by English explorer Capt. John Smith after sighting them in 1614. These islands literally drip with New England history and were once frequented by the likes of Celia Thaxter, Nathaniel Hawthorne,Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Childe Hassam just to name only a few. If you were anybody in the arts, music, and poetry community in the 19th Century, you were probably out there at one of Celia's Garden Parties at some point. Celia's Father, Thomas Laighton, opened a summer hotel on Appledore which led to the Oceanic Hotel which is still there and used today.
A murder mystery from 1873 that has spawned many plays, books, and movies;still surrounds the islands today. Smuttynose Island was also known as the site of Blackbeard's honeymoon, and for the shipwreck of the Spanish ship called the Sagunto.


Daytrip #2

You can take your own boat or catch a ride from Rye Beach NH. Many places along the NH seacoast will take you there while offering daytrips and lunch at the hotel, long walking trips, and even over night stays at The Oceanic. There is a rumor going around that they have recently begun to let non-members of the Unitarian Universalist Association stay over night...
At the Oceanic there is a dining room to have lunch, a gift shop, and a small community of people who keep the grounds as close to history as possible.






You are welcome to explore the island yourself or go with a group and a 'guide'. The times we have gone, we have walked on our own as not to be rushed and on a schedule. We brought a lunch and sat cliffside on some rocks and shared our lunch with some new friends..




their babies were close by and they were keeping heavy guard. The gulls love to fly from the mainland to lay their eggs on the islands.


The islanders take great pride in keeping things the way they were








Celia Thaxter spent almost her entire life on these islands, and was said to long for them while spending long hard Winters on the mainland. I can only imagine what her life must have been like there. A primitive yet fulfilling life, I imagine. Celia had a garden and cottage on Appledore island where she is buried today. The garden is kept and tended to by a 'club' and is said to still grow flowers that Celia herself planted. I can only dream of how happy this would make her today after over 150 years!

Celia chronicled her failures and
successes for fellow fledgling gardeners in her book " An Island garden" in which she wrote of her final passages on being a gardener, but it was
her lyrical passages that enthralled:
I never forget my planted seeds. Often I wake in the
night and think how the rains and the dews have
reached to the dry shell and softened it; how the
spirit of life begins to stir within, and the individuality
of the plant to assert itself; how it is thrusting
two hands forth from the imprisoning husk,
one, the root, to grasp the earth, to hold itself firm
and absorb its food, the other stretching above to
find the light, that it may drink in the breeze and
sunshine and so climb to its full perfection of beauty.
It is curious that the leaf should so love the light
and the root so hate it.*

The islands were her muse...







Isles of Shoals is a must see for anyone Daytripping Through New England!

Daytripping Through New England with The Dirty Housewife: Mystic CT

Mini Vacations and Day trips are the perfect way to be tourists in your own backyard. No matter where you live, I am sure there are interesting places to see. I am not only the president of the DayTrip Society, but I am also a member. Okay, so there is no actual DayTrip "Society" so to speak, but that is what I like to call my family day trips. I am a transplant of New England by way of Atlanta and Delaware, and I am pretty sure I will call it home for the rest of my life. In the 7 years I have been here I have fallen madly, deeply in awe and love. There is no better place on earth for nature and Mother nature. All four Seasons to the extreme; mountains, oceans, lakes, culture, history... the list is endless, truly. I am still working my way through it all , surely to never see everything.

I am compiling a list of fun,breathtaking, cultural, and not so expensive things to do should you ever make your way here. This may also a great guide for the locals, I am always amazed to find a life long native who has never ventured through the back roads of Maine alllll the way to Bar Harbor and Acadia. I did it right when I serendipitously read the wrong directions from Hampton Beach. It was the real 'backroads' --12 hours of them, alone with my husband in a snow storm. The highway takes about 6 hours. Oh the beautiful , beautiful things we saw and did (you can read about that later). So get out there! Make your own DayTrip Society or follow along with mine through New England, and be sure to check out some of these places if you are ever in town.

Tonight's post is on Mystic Connecticut-the first place I ever found myself at in New England...




I fell in love with Mystic from watching the movie Mystic Pizza , the one that ironically had Julia Roberts ( an Atlanta native) as the star. The seaport filmed in the movie called to my soul with the rustic views, foggy days, and amazing foliage. Loved the story too! When we went, we stayed overnight and as soon as the sun was up, I was out walking in the crisp February sunrise over the drawbridge. I walked everywhere( it is not very big ) , all over the piers and ports, through the small town and had coffee at a quaint little coffee shop. At the end of town is Mystic Pizza -an actual pizza shop that is covered in movie memorabilia. The pizza was not anything to die over, but fun all the same.


The Mystic Aquarium is priced right and is full of sea life exhibits and shows. It is home to the largest outdoor Beluga Whale exhibit in the U.S.


I think my favorite thing was Mystic Seaport , an actual 'living history Maritime museum' and is most noted for the incredible collection of sailing ships and boats. It captures the history of this seafaring village with over 15 vessels. And if you find your way there in June, be sure to check out the Seaport Sea Music Festival for all the best 'sea shanties'

the Charles Morgan

Mystic Connecticut is the best way of introduction to New England that I can think of, like the Van Morrison song "Into the Mystic" says...
I want to rock your gypsy soul
just like way back in the days of old
then magnificently we will float into the mystic

The Dirty Housewife Holiday Gift Guide

As the Holidays are fast approaching, I wanted to give my readers and customers the gift of making shopping a little easier this year. I have put together this Holiday Gift Guide to show you all of the wonderful products and gift sets that will make any person on your list happy. I hope I will inspire some Holiday cheer...

Holiday Gift Guide

The Dirty Housewife is offering many Gift Sets this year. These are fun to give to one special person, or break the products up to give to many. There is something in each that everyone will love!



The Mermaid Collection Gift Set is packed full of gifts for ocean lovers. A salt bar shaped like a mermaid, Mermaid Hair products for that super sexy beachy look, A seaweed & sea salt full body detox, an Ayurvedic black ocean mud and kelp mask, and Cape Cod oceanic perfume!


You can also Make Your Own Gift Set .


In this set you will receive:
Your choice of one bar soap
Your choice of one roll on perfume oil
Your choice of one lip balm
Your choice of one 8 oz. bath salts


The Ultimate Gift Set is wonderful for moms or yourself. It is formulated with maturing skin, 30's and up. Aging is a serious privilege but it does not mean we have to look it.





This set includes:
1 "Gaaaa Im Gettin Old botox bar soap 2.5 oz
1 Clarify Mask 2 oz.
1 Callidora Facial Toner 4 oz.
1 Gaaa Im Getting Old Face Cream 1 oz.

A complete skin care regimen for 30's and over skin.

And I am sure everyone is up for a Menage a Trois Gift Set



This set includes 3 All Natural, handmade lotions. Many scents to choose from



Let's not forget about Stocking Stuffers!





You will have your choice of 4 roll on perfume oils in this set

If you are looking for Seasonal Products, here are some great

Great Gift Ideas

Santas Baby Perfume



Dazzle Santa with an essence he is sure to love! Santa's Baby perfume is perfect for the Holiday season with notes of cool Iced Lemon, Frozen Acord, Menthol, Woodland Moss, Spearmint, Wet Snow and a hint of twigs, berries, and warm vanilla.

Comes packaged for gift giving.

Dazzling Winter Ruby Soap



This soap screams Red! Bursting with juicy ruby red grapefruits, red currants, and jewel toned pomegranates. Sweet,sour, and juicy!
ruby red with a slight glitter of silver & gold


Sugar Plum Body Polish



Sugar Plum is sweet sweet sugary holiday berries,plums,lemon drops,and a lot of Holiday cheer!

Roasted Chestnuts Candle Did you know that only 9% of Americans actually 'roast chestnuts' ?



Winter Peach Bath Salts can be like a warm hug on a cold wintry night!



Winter peach is made with Dead Sea Salts and Jasmine Flowers. Winter Peach is warm and fuzzy with satisfying notes of fresh peach slices,sandalwood, oakmoss, juniper, and a hint of wood

The Lake House soy candle is perfect for the woodsy lover and fragrant like a Lake House. Balsam, fir, evergreen, cedar, berries and a hint of the forest. Perfectly Delightful..for the upcoming Autumn/ Winter Season and all year round!



The Dirty Housewife even has a gift for the picky one on your list! The Soap of The Month Club is a full year membership that will let your loved one try a new soap each month. Along with samples and a special soap for their Birthday Month, you can make them feel special all year. This steal also comes with FREE shipping! I also have 3 and 6 month memberships available too.



Gift Certificates are also available in any denomination and can be delivered virtually or by snail mail.



Please remember that all orders must be placed on or before December 15th for arrival by Dec. 24th. I am also available for custom orders, party favors, questions, and holiday cookie tasting :)
I hope everyone has the best Holiday yet and enjoys their family and friends this season!
Love,

www.thedirtyhousewife.net

Cooking with Garden Herbs

Don't know what to do with all those yummy garden herbs you have planted? Or curious about the grocery store packages? Herbs are the very best way to flavor your food, not only naturally but aromatically. In cooking, these are called the 'aromatics'. It is also one of the easiest ways, almost fool proof once you master which herb compliments what.
Those little grocery store packages are great, but are not as fresh and your garden. It is also best to fertilize organically as well as pest control if needed. I always try to use the freshest possible herbs in my recipes, however dried works best in some recipes.

I wanted to start this series off with something basic and simple yet incredibly flavored.
You will find I am at times a basic cook using basic ingredients, but that is the beauty of the herbs making them even more powerful while they do all the work. You can also adjust these recipes to serve the number of people you are cooking for.

Purple Potatoes with Rosemary

1-2 pounds of purple potatoes (if these are not available in your area, red ones can be a delicious substitute.
3 sprigs of fresh Rosemary leaf (stem included) chopped fine
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (dare i say EVOO? ) lol

cut potatoes into small quarters and place in a large bowl with evoo, herbs and salt and pepper to taste (fresh cracked black or pink peppercorns work best)
Mix well

You can make large aluminum foil packets from a roll or buy the already made ones. Divide into even portions in the foil and roll seal the packet. I like to fold the corners to prevent leaking.
Bake at 450 degrees for 50 min. or grill for 1 hour.

Rosemary Lore: aids mental clarity and stimulates the central nervous system

Parsley Lore: aids in digestion, freshens breath, diuretic and blood purifier, and stimulates appetite and metabolism

Culinary Uses: Teas, Soups, Stews, Sauces, Salads, Pastas, Vinegars, Dressings, Meats and Fish






Caprese Salad

A main staple in my house, this salad is so simple yet earthy and elegant at the same time. I like to also mix entire salad with cooked pasta noodles on occasion and served chilled.
Traditionally, this salad is served with fresh basil leaves on the top of the salad, but I like the mozzarella to absorb the balsamic and oil.

This recipe is for one serving, but may be increased by doubling and so on

Fresh Basil works best in this recipe and can be grown in the kitchen as well as garden. here is my kitchen basil- i seriously have 2 plants in the garden in between my tomatoes for flavor and this one in my kitchen to have on hand. Have you ever seen such a large basil plant?? I'm so proud :)




1 large tomato
however many slices you get in your tomato is how many basil leaves you will need
evoo
garlic powder (optional)
balsamic vinegar ( i like lots of vinegar so this amount is to your taste)
fine ground sea salt and cracked black pepper
fresh mozzarella cheese

Mozzarella should be as fresh as possible and usually comes in a ball packed with juices. It should be soft and slightly salty with great texture. Do not skimp on your cheese-no processed stuff here!

Slice tomatoes and place flat on a plate and layer with 1-2 basil leaves depending on how big they are.
Top with 1/4-1/2 thick cheese slice.
Sprinkle spices and balsamic and a splash of oil.

I told you it was easy!

Basil Lore:

Properties: Antispasmodic, antidepressant, antiseptic, stimulant, tonic, febrifuge, diaphoretic, nervine, antibacterial, expectorant, appetizer, carminative, galactagogue and stomachic

Magickal Properties: Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Flying, Protection, Visionary, Fertility, Funeral, Consecration, Immortality and Purification

Culinary Uses: Teas, Soups, Stews, Sauces, Salads, Pastas, Vinegar?s, Dressings, Meats and Fish

Redefining your skin with Grape seed Oil

Did you know that Grape seed oil is a by product of wine making? It is the oil pressed from the Vitis vinifera grapes. It can be used in a wide variety of cooking but is perfect as a preferred cosmetic ingredient for skin that is stressed and in need of repair and rejuvenation. It contains exceptional regenerative and restructering qualities as well as the strong ability to retain moisture. Grape seed oil is a very light oil and actually contains the lower percentage of oil but packs a strong punch and leaves a rich emollient on the surface.
The oil contains palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, as well as alpha linolenic, icosanoic, icosenoic and docosanoic fatty acids. Linoleic acid is very important for the health of the skin as well as cell membranes. It is light and and finely textured. It also contains proanthocyanidins which are serious antioxidants that help to fight free radicals and sun damage with it's high restructering properties. This oil is also highly noted for repair around the eyes.
I absolutely love this oil, it goes on light and non-sticky and has cleared up my winter skin issues! I am now making body/bath/massage oils with a base of Grape seed as well as others like hemp, rice bran, coconut, and olive. They are a wonderful addition to your skin care routine and make a great alternative to lotions or can be used with them for added moisture. Like I always say, Our skin is at it's finest when we properly nourish it. My Organic oils contain no fillers and actually nourish your skin. Our skin is our largest organ and everything we put on it is absorbed, you can use them with confidence. The essential oils are high quality and very potent and the fragrances are always phthalate free! Try it all over or just problem areas and especially great for the feet!

You can also find these oils in my new Butter Whip soaps!