When I was a wee lass, my mother used to bring me a massive fluffy towel after my bath. She’d give me a vigorous scrubbing to “warm the cockles of my heart” before “jammy time”. I did the same for my children.. and I still do the same for myself every day. Some things just…
This little button popped up on my birthday the other day and it was the icing on the cake. { Photos of my real little cakelet to follow on a later post. } The timing was perfect, after all, what kind of world is this, if a girl can’t win on her birthday? Unlike the…
I posted a “congratulation message” on your Facebook page, but just to make sure you see it: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Awesome job!
This salad is quite unique, I love everything about it – mango is such a cool addition. I might try to make a version using farro, as a friend of mine brought a 5 pound bag for me and I want to put it to good use.
I think green is a nice base color for your next design… go for it! 
Congratulations on your awards, what a wonderful birthday gift!!!!!
Love your new design, both the color and the layout.
My kind of salad, great idea with the addition of mango.
Happy birthday and congrats on your blog award!
Massive congratulations on the well deserved award and on your birthday..am doing a one man (or woman) mexican wave for you right now! Beautiful salad, just seeing those vibrant colours makes me feel full of energy 
Oh, this salad looks yummy! I’ve been staring at a bag of edamame in my freezer– now I have plan. Wonderful news of the award and you birthday–congratulations on both.
Great looking salad with wondrous ingredients. Green’s good – it makes me think of spring and that’s good for me and my mind.
Whoo Hoo! Congratulations Smidge!! You’re on fire Loving this salad too! I too have had my hand in the candy jar one too many times and trying desperately to keep my hand out of it. LOL! Lots of kale and veggies in my house at the moment. And Ranger Craig just brought me a lovely fresh kale/beet/carrot juice. I think I’ll have a breakfast cookie with this. Wishing you a delicious day.
I hope you kick some major tail in this competition, my friend!
I never seem to be nominated or even hear of these things, but I’m glad to see you have a shot at getting some much-deserved recognition!
Ah, thank you, Barb, something that looks great, and I can eat without feeling guilt !!!
Paul
Congratulations! Nice salad too
Great spoons!
Congrats Barbara, very cool! Your blog is quite lovely, I haven’t changed mine since the beginning!
What a great salad for such bone chilling temperatures! Gorgeous colours.
Happy Birthday my friend and BIG congratulations 
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Congratulations to one of my favourite ladies, and belated birthday wishes, Smidge. This is one blog that whenever I catch it in my reader, I can’t resist visiting.
Congratulations. You are my talented and amazing friend. Enjoy the feelings associated with your honor. How was your weekend?
Sharon
Sent from my iPhone
That really is too cold. If we have a day of +14C it makes the news because it’s just so cold. Love your green salad – it really does look not only good for you but inviting too xx
I am loving the new layout!! And this salad looks delicious, you can NEVER eat too many sweets..but eating too few greens in indeed possible!
Sprightly!
Smidge, that looks perfectly healthy and delicious, and just such a gorgeous colour! Congratulations on your win, and a belated happy birthday! xx
This would be a perfect accompaniment to my new Cross-Trainer. Which, incidentally, I need because I too swore I would give away 99.9% of what I cooked, but the decimal place slipped.
Huge congratulations on your award Barbara – very well deserved. LOVE your blog design, and green is my favorite color. This salad looks absolutely fab, with all that beautiful green goodness. Love the edamame/mango combination.
Congratulations Barbara! (And happy belated birthday) the salad looks and sound delicious
Congratulations! That is a lovely bright salad to brighten a winter day.
This reminds me about the salad I had in Seattle – it was wonderful, edamame beans I will have problems with … but I’m sure I can use another green bean. So I put this on file until the sun comes out and salads goes on the menu again. Congratulations to the award … and your Valentine cake will get it’s post this week. Fantastic cake .. take everything back that it was too sweet, the next day is was PERFECT!
Ooh, how very exciting – congratulations on the very well deserved award Smidge! Your salad looks good enough to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Mandy xo
YUM! and something that won’t leave me feeling guilty!!
We’re definitely going to have to try this. Baby Lady loves edamame and sugar snap peas. I love the brightness the mint gives the salad an the sweetness and tropical flavor of the mango. Pinning it now for later use.
I’ve never done anything with edamame – despite living surrounded by soybean fields! You, as always, inspire me.
Well how many ways can I say congratulations! Happy Birthday, and how absolutely tremendous to be honored for your creativity. I’m really delighted for you. Your blog is a gorgeous place for a reader and follower to luxuriate. Poetry, art, fabulous photography and the best food and stories! I love to visit, and I’m truly delighted to see you’ve been acknowledged! And this salad sounds just wonderful to me! It feels springlike—and yes, green! Don’t eliminate the roses on your banner too soon though! They are so lovely! oxo
That indeed looks healthy, we love edamame here
Hi Smidge ! Sorry for the hiatus – I was in the US for work for the last three weeks and am really in need of non-meeting food, or rich (and large portions of) American fare. I am a firm believer of “when in Rome”, but I do need a break (both from tastebuds and from waistline !) from burgers and fried food.
SO, this is a WONDERFUL inspiration for me to go and make yummy salads for my meals – thank you !
Belated happiest of birthdays Barbara and a big shout out and congratulations on the wonderful award! Soooooo well deserved!!!!
Congratulations! Well deserved.
Such wonderful news, Barb! Congratulations and belated happy birthday wishes, too! Love your banner photo. The roses are stunning, as are the rest of the photos that follow within the post. And then there’s the actual salad. It sounds delicious, a mix of tasty ingredients of varying textures with a simple dressing. This is a real treat!
Congratulations, Barb! You are so deserving!! By the way, I love the Mark Twain quote. He could not have been more right!
Well done! So much more rewarding to win. A juried competition! I will make this salad for Dave without the mango which he doesn’t like
Congrats on the award Smidge! Well-deserved!!! And happy belated birthday. I hope it was a memorable one and that you have an amazing year to come. I’m not much of a fan of peas, but sugar snap peas I actually do enjoy. I bet this salad would go over well at our table. And I’m with you – the color would be welcome right now. Love the beautiful rose up top as well. Very happy.
Congratulations Barbara on your much deserved recognition. I love your light and healthy salad and I kknow we all give about 90, well at least 50 pecent away and the teenagers inhale the rest. Loving the look of your new site always so fun to come and see new things. Take care, BAM
Congratulations on this award! How wonderful!! I’m loving this salad…healthy and beautiful too. I haven’t used white balsamic vinegar much, so thank you for a nice recipe with which to try it again.
I think farro would be a lovely switch out for quinoa.. I’ve got a huge bag of quinoa from Costco that needs using up first:) Thanks always for your messages, Sally!
Thank you, Norma, it was a great surprise! I sure enjoy changing my blog, probably too much someone would say, but it’s too much fun not to:) xx
Thank you!
Haha, thanks Chica.. waving right back at ya’!
Thanks so much, Alice. If you try this salad, I hope you like it as much as we did. xx
I love green, emerald green is the color for 2013 I hear. But reds and oranges won me over this time:D
Haha, yes, that candy jar AND the cookie jar need a lock in my house! Thanks so much:D
Well.. there are many categories, you should look into it another year:)
No guilt here, I promise!
Thanks:D
They were my neighbors, I think about her every time I use them.. she’s moved away and I don’t often see her.
I find it fun, digital photos and such are interesting for me.. almost as much as food, but not quite:D
A big thank you:D
It’s difficult to be everywhere on the blog reader.. I always appreciate you stopping in! xx
Thanks, sweetie:D It was a great escape, warm temperatures, great x-country and wonderful food.. xx
I really must get over to your country one day! So much traveling that needs to be done! xx
You’re a sweetie yourself!! I love that philosophy! xx
Thanks, Kathryn.. it’s lovely having you pop in:D xx
Thanks so much Celia! xx
Hahaha.. that darn decimal, I was never good at Math!!
I will have to incorporate more green next time.. at least there are green leaves in my photo:D xx
Thanks Giovanna.. It was a happy one:)
I know you love the color green.. just thinking of your garden makes me love the color green more:D Thanks so much!
Hey, no worries, Viveka.. it was an Ina Garten recipe.. everything she makes is “fully loaded” with butter and sugar. Reducing the sugar is not a bad idea at all! xx
Well.. maybe with a little egg right in the middle it would be good for breakfast:D
It’s tough to find recipes that are guilt-free and appealing, isn’t it? I’m finding more and more on different food bloggers sites though. xx
I hope Baby Lady loves it as much as we did.. if not, I know you would be able to tweak it to her perfection:D
I don’t usually either.. we typically buy the packaged edamame from Costco and steam the packages for snacks. Thanks for your compliments, Gretchen! xx
You always know just the right words, I feel so blessed to have connected to writers like you. I love those roses, too! They were my birthday bouquet:D xx
Glad to hear it:D
No worries, Carolyn, I hope you had some fun while you were in the US?? I look forward to reading more posts from you now! xx
Hey, Thanks Danny!!
xxx
Thanks so much, John. I wondered if you’d like those roses.. I also wondered if you have ones like that in your garden?? You’ve so many varieties, I couldn’t remember. Glad you liked this post:)
Isn’t it true?! Lol, it’s just not fair:D
Thanks, Tandy.. I’d love to know what changes you make.. then I could try this salad a new way:) xx
I think the color craving comes from our winter.. it does seem to drag on sometimes. The roses do make me happy:) xx
Thanks so much Bam.. you’re right about the teenagers. Congrats, by the way, on your new blog.. I can’t wait to see it!! It’s very exciting!! xx
Thanks:) I think we’re both cooking pretty healthy these days! Just wait ’til Valentine’s Day, lol, that’s when my good intentions go right out the window! xx
No, Barb, I don’t have any that special over here. You’d know if I did. I would have featured it in post after post.
Congrats on the award! you so deserve it! love the new colours on your page.
hmm this edamamae and snap pea salad looks like a lovely meal for one. So easy to put together too! I should really get down to some healthy eating myself!
I use a lot of sugar in cooking – specially my sauces …
Cakes I can’t eat if too sweet – but it came out perfect the next day and I made an other for mum this morning.
Today I posted your cake .. and put some romantic music to.
I love the new rose header, Smidge! How lovely. And I adore everything about this salad – the freshness, the colors, and the crunch! x
I want this salad badly! Can you think of an alternative to the edamame as I am allergic to soy 
I do not think one can ever eat too many sweets so long as they can still crawl out of bed in the morning. Cheers Barbara!
Wow, my friend, you are indeed the bee’s knees! What a string of well-deserved accolades and awards! I told you a long time ago (not to do an I-told-you-so ….. ok I told you so) there was to be no stopping you! You’re headed to the heights dear Smidge, and you belong there! This recipe sounds to-die-for though I don’t like that expression and can’t imagine why I used it! It sounds rather like one of those things to live for and to savor. Good salads are like that. A big and joyous Whoop! for you, Barb! Couldn’t be happier!
First, congrats and happy belated birthday, Smidge! The bright green of this salad just drew me in. I love edamame and the thought of it with mango is making my mouth water! BTW, love the new tweaks to the blog. The rose banner is gorgeous! You’re getting ready to bust out of winter, aren’t you? lol!
Love the green and the promise of spring it conveys! This salad looks like a winner to me! And, of course, your beautiful blog is a winner too. Congratulations on this well-deserved honour. You’re one of my blogging role models!
Barbara, how did I miss this? Oh yes, I have been overdoing the sweets too. And like you I really only taste and give the rest away. Congratulations on your awards, well deserved! Your blog is phenomenal on all levels. What a wonderful birthday gift!! This green salad looks delicious and refreshing! I absolutely love sugar snap peas and with all the rest of the ingredients it has to over the top delicious!!
I saw the title of this post and straight away saved it to my favourites. I love Endeme, the only time I’ve had them from fresh is when I tried to grow them (not very successfully I might add!) but I can get them frozen and so this WILL be ade. Thank you x
I would love to live in a place where I could even consider growing them, lol! Mine were frozen.. alas, they shall probably always be frozen:) But they still tasted great! xx
This salad looks so fresh and healthy and delicious! You have a beautiful blog!
It started out as a totally normal week.. Seriously, who hasn’t had days like these? Still, I wonder, can we really “have it all” and is it really worth it? And often I think, something’s gotta’ give. So… anyhooo… After an intense four 8 hour days straight of house shopping with awesome clients, I’m finally…
They look and sound delicious… anything with white chocolate in it catches my eye. And the cranberries are so festive.
Hope the party was a raging success! I bet it was with your cooking. That’s a wonderful ad. It’s so true that young women think they couldn’t possibly have a heart attack. I don’t think I’d consider it if I started to feel not so good.
It’s great when a family morphs into elves and help get the cleaning done. I keep hoping Max will morph into something other than a problem. No luck so far but hope springs eternal.
I made cookies similar to these a number of years ago, using dried cherries instead of cranberries. I like your recipe better — and not just because I long ago lost the other recipe. Dried cranberries have more flavor and I like the bit of sour they’d bring to a sweet cookie.
Thanks for sharing your recipe with us, Barb. Speaking of sharing, if those elves of yours are looking for work, send ‘em my way.
I loved the video is important to take care of ourselves, even if is just because our family will be a mess without us…
Your Christmas deco is marvelous and those cookies deserve a A+ Congratulations!
Like a film set – looks great. Have a great party:)
No walnuts for me, please, and I bet your house is the prettiest in the neighbourhood. Merry Christmas, Smidge!
Beautiful decorations and absolutely lovely cookies Barb’! I’m getting my xmas cookie baking on very soon
I hope this week calms down so you can enjoy your decorated house. I love your wreath and mercury glass decorations. Our tree is still festooned in the motley arrangements of things a 10 year old picks to hang, but I’ve gone with the vintage glass ornaments elsewhere in the house. Lovely.
Good luck with the party – great cookies
Type A personalities…. they come with a heavy toll, but I honestly don’t think the type can be changed…. Maybe toned down a little for a day or two. (sigh)
Glad you are handling it all well, take care, and ENJOY!
Love your decorations and fabulous cookies!
Is bread flour like cake flour or am I missing the mark here! Love the photos, decorations, and recipe!
Love these beautiful festive cookies – lovely photos too!
I’m sure everyone had a fantastic time. Your home is beautifully decorated with the white and silver…love mercury glass.
Oooooh, how festive! Love your décor, Barbara, just beautiful! I have similar star ornaments but they aren’t vintage like yours 
And a beautiful, holiday inspired cookie. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Bread flour is not cake flour.. It’s much higher in protein I believe. It’s a “sturdier” flour than cake flour which is more delicate of that makes sense? xx
Sent from my iPhone
The ornaments tossed around the candles, so simple yet so elegant, you have such creative ideas. I am sure your party was a smashing success.
I think your neighbors are quite lucky to have you hosting, Smidge! Have fun:)
Love the video! Just like a woman to think about how dirty her house is while having a heart attack (or gall bladder, or kidney stones, etc.) Thanks for sharing the video and raising awareness — so important. Your cookies are so festive with the red and cranberry is at its seasonal best.
Chocolate Chunk Cookie … who care, when the post is stunningly beautiful into ever little detail.
Barbara, you are some indulgence cookie – yourself.
Great video – scary that so many women get heart attacks today – before it was something that only happens to men and rarely women.
You take it easy, Girlfriend – we don’t have time for any heart attacks.
The cookies I love everything about, maybe one day I will do them. This week the feedback on you CousCous will be posted. Have done it 3 times now. That dressing is to die for.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. So glad you have some help to make things a teeny bit easier on you. Have fun and enjoy! It sounds like a fun party. Thank you for the recipe, Barb. Cookies with cranberries always win around here, no matter the season. I’ll be trying these very soon!
Yum! Loving your photos – just getting me more in the holiday spirit:) Have a Great One!
I want to come over!! Your decorations look beautiful, as do these CHUNKY cookies. Chunks are WAY better than chips for sure.
I love the video entertaining and yet delivering such and important message. I felt your stress when I read about four intense eight-hour days and then coming home to host the neighborhood Christmas party!
These are wonderful Christmas cookies!
Yum, the cookies look fantastic!
Once again, wonderful post, lovely photographs and a wonderful recipe. I really do enjoy your blog.
We’ll get to your cookies later. For starters lets talk about how pretty your halls are decked, from your front door to your chandeliers! Let’s talk about what a generous soul you are to have the whole neighborhood to your house for a Christmas party, not once, but again next year! Let’s talk about how you manage a marathon house hunt for clients, take swimming lessons, write a drop-dead gorgeous blog, deck your halls, write poetry, paint, bake, play cello, walk the dog…and then, on top of all that, provide a public service announcement just in case there’re any young active healthy type A’s out here! (hmmmmmmmmmm! Know any?)
Now…to your cookies…they sound Just Perfect…and of course – they would! xx spree
Great looking cookie! And fun video. Definitely something to try. Good stuff – thanks.
Smidge, does your whole home look like this? Seriously, it’s better than visiting the spa when I come to your page… so relaxing and darn inspiring. I definitely recognized parts of myself in that video… although that woman seemed a bit more organized in her disorder than me . Your cookies look de.lightful! And, the fact that they are your new favourites makes me think I should maybe add them to our Christmas cookie list – I’ve barely had time to make any yet this season so these might make up for the lack – go with a big bang, you know.
I have got to try these! Everything so magical in your photographs. I know your house looks like a winter fairyland with the addition of the baking smells. Yum. Looking forward to the school break and baking and cooking with the family, too.
There are parts of that video that ring very true — except for the heart attack! I am sitting here now reading because I literally can’t move from the day’s activities. I’ll bet those cookies are as delicious as they are festive! Lovely post! (wish I was your neighbour!)
Yum!
These will be on the menu for my Christmas Open House this Sunday – thank you for the inspiration and of course the recipe. (I’ve already made Nell’s sugar cookies, and my, they’re so good, all the better because of the loving story of your grandmother that accompanied the recipe). I love your decorations; your home must look so festive! Apart from the tree, my decorating approach is quite, shall we say, minimalist, but I would love to create a beautiful atmosphere like you do. There’s always next year!
These look like Christmas Barbara
Your decorations are beautiful! Paperwhites are my favorite holiday flower and scent as well. I have two groups of them blooming right now and the house smells wonderful! The only thing that would overpower them would be the smell of these cookies baking! What a wonderful smell that would be! Great cookie recipe!
Everything is beautiful. Love your cookies with cranberries and white chocolate. Delicious!
Such pretty pictures! Sets the mood perfectly!
A serious but very funny video. Thanks for sharing and hope you’re having a good week!
a very serious video indeed – thanks for the reminder. heart attacks are a cause of concern for ALL women regardless of being type A or type B or type whatever – ALL women – and do tend to be overlooked/mis-diagnosed.
sorry my type A being just had to remind people of that least someone feel she can’t be having a heart attack simply because she is not type A ….
You are the great multi-tasker, Smidge! I’m so impressed that you could host a neighborhood holiday party after having such an intense work schedule. You do all things with a lot of style. The cookies are really beautiful for Christmas, with the red and white as standouts! I also love the silver and glitter and polish! I am sure that your guests felt very special!
Just a little heart attack…! Thanks for putting the reminder out there as do you know this time of the year we have a peak in incidence in the ER. I am sure that everyone in the neighborhood had a lovely time enjoying your beautiful decorations and cranberry white chocolate cookies- my favorite. Please do take care of yourself this holiday season. BAM
You have “totally normal weeks”?
Kidding! Seriously, great post and recipe! My mouth is watering. I think I better get looked at…
Oh Barbara, these cookies look absolutely amazing and delicious! If only I can get my hand inside that cookie jar!
Oh Smidge, I feel like that’s been my whole year. So I can relate. I have no doubt you threw a delightful party – beautiful in fact! And I’m sure these cookies were a hit. I hope you’re having a fabulous holiday season.
[...] Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies* [...]
I just got a bucket of this from Mrs Higgins (cookie shop here), If I just know you will be posting this I would never had bought it. Love this cooking flavour
Oh my I’d be popping one of these cookies in my mouth every few minutes ! Love the white chocolate and cranberry combination.
So glad you had wonderful party, Smidge! A good time well deserved after all that hard work!
Smidge… I had to drop in again to tell you how you and this post inspired me to buy paper whites and an amaryllis to decorate our Christmas home… (something I rarely splurge on) but your sense of style and mostly peace/serenity work wonders for me! Thank you and have a beautiful holiday.
Love the video! Don’t we all have days like that! Your photography is stunning! Thank you so much for linking up! These cookies look delicious! The recipe looks easy and fun….the perfect combination!
Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas!
karianne
For all the frantic feelings during this time you may have it’s interesting that your posts always have a calming effect on me. Maybe it’s the place where you feel this too.
Enjoy these last few days till the 25th. Peace….x wt
PS – Am out to stock up on white chocolate for these lovely cookies. Might throw in some oats for that little natural mood booster
Just wanted to follow up and tell you I made these cookies and love, love, LOVE them! I didn’t have bread flour so used all purpose. Mine were not as high as yours, but oh my goodness, the flavour! These will be part of my repertoire now. So good!
Aren’t they just the best? I’m so glad you liked them.. and I’m so glad I didn’t mess up the recipe! I’ve had two different mistakes pointed out this past week.. so now I’m checking 3-4 times when I type:D xx
It’s so busy these days, I think we’re all making more typos and the like. Thank goodness we can go back and edit any time!
Dedicated to the memory of Cate, Tim and all the friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and countless brave people who have fought the battle with cancer… Your Witness Hard, strident hum of bike tires on pavement Cranking and turning, your steep ascent to heaven Drafting me upward, with you chasing the lead Let me be…
by Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
Oh Smidge, what a wonderful post! That quote is very beautiful, particularly the way it ends. The world is not a hostile place – what a great thing to remind ourselves of and be open to. And this scrub! I love anything rose-related. It’s like the scrub equivalent of a rosewater rice pudding, comforting and warm and sweet. Great stuff.
Thanks! I might have to make that rice pudding now.. I’ve got some rosewater:) xx
The scrub looks wonderful! When I need a bit of mental scrubbing I lean toward the poetry of Rumi…
I had the lovliest client years ago who seemed to say things I needed to hear. She was a lovely little Italian woman. A woman of few words and a gentle spirit. She said once that if we have a certain something on our mind and can’t seem to work it out, make it the last thing we think of before drifting off to sleep. Our sub-conscious will work it out overnight and by morning we may have an answer. Your post just reminded me I haven’t done this in a while. A little off topic. Sorry! I do try to read a bit of light reading before bed but lately I’ve been reading cookbooks. Not a good idea. I cook in my sleep!
Smidge you amaze me with your talents! I absolutely adore this rose petal scrub. I have coconut oil, rose oil and now all I need are the rose petals.
Oh jammy time. *sigh* Miss that time with my kids!!
This scrub looks gorgeous! As does your pink February friendly blog coloration! I love the idea of cleaning your mind before bed. I am so on that!
This really talks to me – but the ingredients massive problem – Would love to do this – because I don’t have a lot of my chocolate scrub left and it cost an arm and leg too. Love this .. so pretty – I say that every time. *smile
Loving your post – pampering does a body good:) Happy Thursday
I love the framed hearts in the background on the first image. So not crafty…living vicariously through you.
Just have to find the rose petals and I’m all over this!
Valentines month…such a great time to finally think about taking care of yourself too.
So perfect for Valentines day my friend, this looks so beautiful
Cheers
CCU
These pictures are absolutely gorgeous! I just want to be in a nice warm bath right now (we’re expecting a huge snow storm)
And I LOVE your new site design. It’s just lovely Smidge!
You may have the most beautiful blog on WordPress, Barbara!
I can’t just go and collect rose petals from the garden? Such a pretty gift, Smidge.
Now this is incredibly creative, I wish I was on your valentine list! Such a cool and unique thing to give out. And the little cards are absolutely precious. Shall we start calling you Martha?
This looks awesome! I’ve been wanting to try a DIY scrub with coconut oil!
xo
Nicole
I think reading your prayer today was an unexpected and gracious encounter for me Barbara. What a lovely prayer. I always love the thought of reading a great book in the tub but never have. I really should change that shouldn’t I!?
I have all of those ingredients and I just love a body scrub. I had no idea they would be so easy to make! What a great idea, Smidge and I bet the aroma is sensational. (My mother used to rub me raw when I got out of the bath and yes, my kids can testify, I’ve done the same to them) xx
Hi, you can use this for your face but very gently. It should keep for quite a while, you will be able to smell when it is rancid. I love homemade body products and rose is a lovely essential oil
Inspiring. Thank you. xx wendy
Another beautiful post, Barb. I’ll admit that I’m not one for bath salts and scrubs but the prayer, and its vision of the Universe, is something in which I firmly believe. Your pink hearts remind me of Mom’s last Valentine’s Day. Each night after she went to bed, I made and hung dozens of hearts around her home. Even her bathtub was filled with hearts in shades of blue, some spewing from the spigot. And the next day I snuck over to Zia’s house and hid handfuls of hearts all over. To this day, a heart might fall if she pulls an old cookbook from a shelf. I’ve long since forgotten where they all were hidden, so, seeing one now is as big a surprise for me as it is for Zia.
What a beautiful post and stunning photos – that rose in the header is incredible. When I can’t get roses I make a simialr scrub with almond oil, sea salt and lemon. Roses are so beautiful for Valentine’s Day!
I love body scrubs and this one is so gorgeous! The rose petals make it seem very extravagant. Lovely, lovely photos and words as usual!
I read the Artist’s Way nearly a decade ago!
It’s a good read and it made some profound differences in my life at a time I needed to make some. Enjoy the read. This body scrub sounds heavenly. I could use a good long hot soak too. 
Beautiful photos of roses, were they roses from your summer garden? Enjoyed the post, love the body scrub.
beautiful beautiful smidge! and a post nearly as pretty as you.
coconut oil is so good for the skin (and good too for what lies beneath it!) (and by the way, i worked through the Artist’s Way years ago…I’m quite sure you’ll love it.) again, so very pretty Barb!
I may have to forward this post to my boyfriend so he’ll have an idea for an appropriate Valentine’s Day gift.
What a beautiful post! I love the body scrub. It is heavenly! I use coconut oil on my body and I am going to try this recipe. Your site looks exquisite. Love the header
I love this body scrub! I have had many recipes through the years, but none quite like this one, with the roses so visible! I love it. I really encourage you to read The Artist’s Way. Years ago I was in a writer’s group and we used this book as centerpiece. I know you would find it very encouraging, although, I think you’re already tremendously talented and I don’t think you’re really needing much assistance in finding your creativity!
Well now I have two things to try: this and the little soap “recipe” you shared recently! This was a lovely post. I can imagine myself relaxing in the tub with a good book (as you suggested) and this body scrub. Now that would be perfect!
A wonderful way to celebrate a benign universe, Barbara
Thank you!
Such a lovely, inspiring post, Barb. The sugar scrub recipe was a bonus! It sounds wonderful. I’d like to try making my own sugar scrubs; it’s good to know exactly what’s in them and that it’s all natural and pure. My sweetie gave me a sugar scrub for Christmas and I used it for the first time recently. Yours sounds much nicer, by the way. I’m wondering … after I used mine the next day I found the tub extremely slippery. Have you noticed that after using your scrub? No pun intended, but I had to scrub the tub.
John, this may be the sweetest thing I’ve ever read. I’m sure that everyone who reads this will be as touched as I was by your wonderful gesture for your mother and your aunt. You’ve warmed my heart with this story.
I just realized I wrote “Barb”. Sheesh! Sorry Mar!
Now I’m really confused and going to bed. Tomorrow will be better.
I’m late to the party:) John.. this is such a beautiful, beautiful gesture, your mom must have been in tears.. I know I would. She must have deserved every single one of those hearts if she inspired such a creative display of your love for her. And how sweet to find hearts spilling out all over the place. I think I might just have to do this on Valentine’s day.. I couldn’t think of a prettier way to celebrate than to scatter love hearts all around. xx
I’m so behind in reading comments.. I am so with you on this, Mar.. it is really a touching story. I think it must be written on John’s blog so everyone can read it, don’t you think?? xx
Haha.. if it softens skin, it must make a tub slippery:D I use mine in the shower, so I haven’t noticed. But I have found it much more effective than some, I have to be careful not to rub my skin raw, lol! xx
Yes, I agree. That’s too special not to share.
I find so much inspiration right here in my little blogging universe.. every time I visit your blog and others I feel inspired:)
This is something I, too, need to make more time for!
Thanks! I like to change things up.. especially when it’s brown and cold here:D
If you’ve loved it.. I know I’ll love it as well, spree.. we’ve so much in common, I trust your opinion on these sorts of things.. I’ll have to pick up a copy! xoxo
That’s so great to know.. I can’t wait to pick it up and start making my way through it:) xx
Just a Martha doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it;D *sigh, I’m content being just me, I guess, lol! But thanks so much for your kind words, Eva! xx
Now I used to have rose petals in my garden but now I only have snow.. so by all means.. pluck away!! xx
Thanks, Emilie!! It’s fun to change things up, isn’t it? I saw on the news your snowstorm was really something! I hope you are safe and warm in a tub right now! xx
I think if you can get coconut oil.. then all you need is sugar. The scent and petals aren’t really necessary. In fact, a lemon scrub would be wonderful as well.. with a little zest added?? xx
Me too!!
That wasn’t off topic at all.. I think it’s a great technique for working things out.. especially when one is tired and really “stuck” on something. My dreams often point the way for me, I think. Now dreaming about food.. well, I do that when I’m awake as well;D xx
I’ve come across some work by Rumi.. I should look for that book as well!
Love the sound of lemon scrub – I will have a look around in all the shops for the oil – we don’t have like special grocery shops in Landskrona. I will let you know if I found coconut oil.
Don’t be confused.. just share your story for Valentine’s this week.. please..
Divine Smidge! Such a beautiful gift idea and nothing beats home made.
Mandy xo
Thank you Mandy! xx
One thing I ought to be clear about though Smidge …. The Artists’ Way is best suited (in my opinion) to the artist who’s feeling stuck, uninspired or fearful of proceeding. There’s quite a bit of soul-searching and examining aspects of your past, messages you’ve received, re-inVisioning you as an artist especially if you have a bit of trouble seeing yourself this way. That’s not to say there wouldn’t be value for ANY artist… But to truly follow along with this book requires a very large time commitment! I could be wrong but as I recall it was 90 days and each day requires something of your time, and some days quite a bit more than others. I say all of this because it would appear there’s no stuckness in you!!
One thing I came away with though is the idea of An Artist’s Date. A date you make With and For yourself, once a week….it could be a trip to a garden, a gallery or museum, the beach or the woods, an antique store, a glass factory. It doesn’t matter so much as its Your time to take in an experience and be freshened by it! 
xoxo
It was lovely.. lots of petals in the shower though:D
You know so much, Tandy, thank goodness you do!!
the almond oil must be just wonderful!xx
Thank you, April! xx
If it were summer.. they would be, but alas, they are from a local store that sell edible rose petals..xx
Hmmm.. it might be better bought as a summer read and practice then.. If I’m stuck these days.. it’s only in honey;) But I think anyone can benefit from something like this. I do try to make a Date with myself.. almost every day or I go crazy.. I’m a bit of an introvert.. well, a lot of an introvert:) xx Have a wonderful Sunday, spree!! xx
I think you’re thinking just right about the book! And like you, I’m a lot of a introvert too!
which (we know) doesn’t mean we don’t LOVE people! Just means we replenish in our own company! Have a wonderful day Smidge! I’ll write you very soon! Xx