Smells of Summer & Grandma's House

They say that the sense of smell is the strongest at triggering a memory from the past. I couldn't agree more!

I was riding my bike around the neighborhood recently. I was transported to the in the back yard of the home I grew up in. The smell of BBQ filled the air and it reminded me of summer days, swimming all day with my best friend. BBQ kielbasa sausages and taco salad were a summertime dinner favorite. It reminded me of swimming with my best friend from basically sun up to sun down, breaking only long enough to eat and take the requisite 20 minutes for our food to digest.

I was given the dining room hutch, and dining room table and chairs that belonged to my grandmother. I love family heirlooms to begin with. This is extra special because my grandpa told me how much she treasured these items. She worked so hard to earn them when they were first married. They are in my home now and I take good care of them. I love to open the bottom of the hutch because the scent of grandma's house always wafts up and reminds me of the good times we had when I was growing up. I can't really describe the scent, other than "it just smells like Grandma's house!"

It got me thinking and wondering what scents and fragrances will remind my own daughter of "the good old days." I thought it would be good to look into different ways of making our home smell warm and inviting. I like fragrances that bring feelings of general "warm fuzziness," like warm vanilla sugar, lavendar, and sugar cookie. I love candles, but they're not the most practical with little ones running around, pulling themselves up on the furniture!

I had forgotten all about reed diffusers until I came across a site for SabonNYC.com. I felt like a kid in a candy store as I looked around at the home fragrance products, hand made soaps, and bath bombs (another addiction of mine!)

June's Charity of the Month

There are so many worthy causes out there, doing good in the world. I have decided to dedicate a portion of my Avon earnings to a different charity every month. This month's charity is Operation Shower.

Operation Shower is a non-profit organization (pending 501(c)(3) tax exempt status) that recognizes and honors the sacrifices military families make by producing and coordinating baby showers and “showers-in-a-box” for pregnant and expecting military personnel and their families.

I will also be encouraging the members of my Busy Shopaholics Ning network to also participate, either by sending baby shower related items to Operation Shower, or by donating a portion of their commissions this month to this cause!

I believe we cannot out-give!

Whether you're a member of Busy Shopaholics or not, please comment here if you are going to participate in this Charity of the Month! If you are in direct sales or a party business, have an eBay store, Etsy store, or other type of business, please join the fun at Busy Shopaholics!