candle light collageAs small children, the five senses are drilled into us during our preschool years – sight, smell, sound, taste and touch, yet as we reach adulthood, we often forget their importance.

Within our loving, fun, chaotic home, I am passionate about engaging the senses. Why did our teachers have us memorize the five ways; because stimulated senses enable us to experience life. Our senses soothe us, comfort us, welcome us, alert us, nourish us, encourage us…and so much more.  When we stimulate the senses of those around us, it communicates love.

I really want you to think about that. Spending just a few minutes a day to stimulate the senses can communicate love to those around us in a new and fresh way.

If you’ve spent any time here at my tiny corner in the blogosphere, you know that I attempt to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of every day life. When it comes to decorating my home, and making it a haven, I’m continually on alert to things I can do better. Sometimes I get caught up in all the amazing decor that I don’t have, but then I remember that making it a haven, also includes the things that don’t require money, such as establishing a better routine, decluttering, or actually putting the laundry away after its done being folded. While I struggle with those, others things I do well, one of which is capturing the simple moment and embracing them. Often, those tie in with engaging the senses. Last year, I wrote a post about “Creating ambiance during meal time” and it struck a cord with many of you. I encourage you to read it. It has revolutionized many “Mac and Cheese” meal times.

glass shelf candles

Every day, I light candles. Yes, you read that right. I can’t begin to tell you the number of people who have a drawer full of candles and never light them. Why? Are you waiting for company or special day? Remember when I talked about waiting for “another day?” Today is that day!

Grab those out of your drawer , light them, and turn off a light. Are you up for the challenge of instant ambiance?

As I pluck away at the keyboard, the sun is slowly cresting over the trees. I’m groggy, but sitting here with my steaming cup of coffee, and my Country Spice Fall Fragrance Candle. It’s cozy. How is that possible when I am not a morning person? I’ve set a tone to engage a few of my senses, and with that comes a wonderful start to my morn.

candles

Practically speaking, many people assume that burning candles every day would be costly. Have you looked around Walmart lately in the candle area?
You can pick quality candles up for dollars, and they burn for hours and hours. I’m going to show you one of my “bedlam area.” It’s the bottom shelf of my hutch. Yes, I have one entire storage area just for my stockpile of candles and fragrance items. I mainly purchase candles with my coupons, but believe it or not, I’ve picked up candles at yard sales as well. My house is typically filled with smelly teenage boys, and there’s nothing worse than walking in our main entrance and that scent lingering in the air. It’s my Type A daughter’s pet peeve, and she has strategically placed her Glade air fresheners right by the door to squirt, then we light our “Welcome Home” candle that we burn as well. (Yes, it masks the problem, but it gives those big boys time to take care of it after practice. :))
As I continue to share ideas for 31 Days to More with Less, communicating love through engaging the senses is an easy, intentional and frugal way of Being More, by doing Less.

I am privileged to partner with Glade on this post. Considering that the photos of my hutch were filled with my personal purchases from before they contacted me, I love being able to share frugal ideas for brands I love. In the first photo, I took my $0.50 wooden yard sale find, which I love, added some fall hay, my Glade fall candle and voila…instant seasonal decor. They also know my readers love deals, so when they offered to supply a coupon widget where you can print unlimited coupons for their Fall Fragrance Collection of Country Spice, Cashmere Woods and Harvest Medley, I was all over it. There are so many great Glade coupons for candles that I stockpile them when they go BOGO free. Walmart has some fabulous deals on the Fall Collection, then pair it with these coupons, and you are set for the holidays. I am purchasing quite a few to spruce up gift baskets. The Harvest Medley fragrance is only available at Walmart this season.  The coupon widget is located on my right side bar. If you are reading this via email or reader, click on over here to print. You won’t be sorry when you smell them. 🙂