The Smell of Christmas!

Christmas is in full swing at our house.  Every morning our son rushes into our room (too early I might add) asking if it's Christmas Eve.  Yes, we are getting excited for the big day.  Even our senses are enjoying the fresh changes that the season brings.  Our eyes are feasting on the beautiful lights and bright colors that decorate our home and our ears couldn't be happier to listen to the magical Christmas music all day.  Even our taste buds are getting their turn because we had our first taste eggnog tonight! And thanks to Pinterest our noses even get to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.  While surfing my favorite site I found this interesting idea which really is an old an idea, of burning yummy concoctions on the stove just to make the house smell good.  A light bulb went off in my head "so, this is what they did before scented candles and Scentsy!"  I love the simplicity of it and my house does indeed smell like Christmas, without me baking!

You'll find lots of the different combinations all over the web but this one is our favorite and almost always on the stove.   All you need is some orange slices or peels (yes you can just use the peel), 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks and 2 to 3 teaspoons of ground cloves.

It can't be much easier that! Throw all of this goodness into a pot, cover with water and let it simmer.

You'll be surprised how quickly your house will smell good enough to eat!  The best part is that you can turn it on for a couple hours and then turn it off (especially when leaving the house) and then turn it back on.  It lasts for days!  Just use a pot you don't use very often and just let it sit out, you will have to occasionally add more water.  I am in LOVE with this smell of Christmas that fills our home so often now.  Enjoy!