Pocket Hand Warmers

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Pocket hand warmers!

I'm one of those people that does not do well in the cold.  No matter how high I turn up the thermostat, my hands and toes are always frozen.  Here's a great idea to keep warm during these chilly winter days.  And these are the perfect size for stocking stuffers.

Pocket Hand Warmers

Pocket Hand Warmers

flannel fabric
thread
uncooked rice
essential oil (optional)

Cut two pieces of fabric 5 1/2" by 4 1/2".  Sew right sides together, leaving an opening at one end.  Turn right side out and fill with uncooked rice.  Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.  OnGuard and Holiday Joy essential oil blends have a nice Christmas-y smell.  Lavender is always soothing.  And Balance has a nice, woodsy scent.  Sew the open end up, and you are finished.  Include a small card with instructions to heat in the microwave for 1 minute.

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E-mail me for a free sample of your choice of essential oil.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas!

Lavender Eye Pillow

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A soothing lavender eye pillow!

The scent of lavender helps you fall asleep.  This eye pillow is great for a quick nap, relaxation, to ease a stress headache, or to add scent to your lingerie drawer.  Make some to give away, but be sure to keep one for yourself!

Lavender Eye Pillow

Lavender Eye Pillow

Fabric of choice
Flax seed or dry rice
3-4 drops lavender essential oil

Cut fabric approximately 8" x 10".  Fold in half and sew inside out three sides.  Turn right side out and fill with flax seed or dry rice.  Add lavender oil.  Finish sewing the fourth side.

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E-mail me for a free sample of lavender essential oil.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

Sugar Scrub

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Moisturizing sugar scrub!

Sugar Scrub

Here's a super simple recipe for making a great moisturizing sugar scrub.

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup oil (fractionated coconut, almond, or olive are all good choices)
3-5 drops essential oil

Combine all ingredients together and pour into a decorative container.

Chocolate mint truffle:  add 1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and use peppermint essential oil.  Remember, peppermint is a strong oil, so use sparingly.
Lavender eucalyptus:  use lavender and eucalyptus essential oils.
Dreamsicle:  use Citrus Bliss blend essential oil.

Give this with yesterday's scented bath salts for a Night and Day Spa gift.

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E-mail me for a free sample of the essential oil of your choice.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

Scented Bath Salts

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Scented bath salts.

Everyone loves relaxing spa products.  And while you could spend $15 or more for scented bath salts, it is much less expensive to make them yourself.

Bath Salts with Essential Oils

Bath Salts

4 cups sea salt, kosher salt, or Epsom salts
5-10 drops essential oil
Dried fragrant plants such as lavender or eucalyptus (optional)

Mix ingredients together.  Pour into decorative container for yourself or as a gift for others.  Use a few spoonfuls of salts per bath.

Try some of these essential oils:

Lavender, for stress relief and relaxation
Breathe, to ease congestion and soothe during a cold or flu
Deep Blue, to soothe muscle pain

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E-mail me for a free sample of the essential oil of your choice.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

Christmas Fudge

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Fudge!  Fudge is a great treat to have on hand for those unexpected carolers, or to give as a gift.  Try this twist on traditional fudge to give it an extra Christmas-y flavor.

Orange or Peppermint Fudge

Orange or Peppermint Fudge

2 c. sugar
2/3 c. evaporated milk
¼ c. butter
¾ c. chocolate chips
1 c. marshmallows
1 tsp. vanilla
6-8 drops peppermint or wild orange essential oil*


In a saucepan combine sugar, milk and butter at medium heat. Boil, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, pour into buttered pan. Cut when cool.  Enjoy!

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*Use only PURE essential oils.  Check the label to make sure they are safe for internal use.

E-mail me for a free sample of  peppermint or wild orange essential oil.  And come back tomorrow for Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas!

Kicking Colds and Flu

Kicking Colds and Flu

With the holidays upon us, no one wants to be left out of the fun because of a cold or flu.  Luckily, there are many things that we can do to protect ourselves during this season.

Exercise.  Many of us get so busy during the holidays that our exercise routines suffer.  But people who exercise for at least 20 minutes five days a week suffer from half as many colds as those who get moving just one or two days a week.  Even if you don't get formal exercise in, remember any movement is good -- including fast walking with your arms loaded with shopping bags or cleaning your house before guests arrive.

Don't be touchy.  Be conscious of how often you touch your face and try to stop doing it.  Flu germs enter the body through the nose, mouth, and eyes, so even a quick rub of the eyes can cause a week of the sniffles.

Less sweets.  With all the holiday goodies around, this may be a tough one, but a diet low in refined sugar strengthens the immune system.  When baking yourself, opt for natural sweeteners such as stevia.

Get your rest.  Skimp on sleep and you are three times more likely to catch a cold.  Aim for at least seven hours a night.  If you find yourself with an unavoidable late night or two, try catching up on the weekends.

Wash, wash, wash!  The single most important preventative measure you can take to stave off colds and flu is to wash your hands often.  Skip the hot water and lather up with lukewarm.  It works just as well for killing bacteria and won't dry your skin, which can cause skin to crack and leave you more susceptible to infections.

Try this:  Make your own foaming anti-bacterial hand wash.  Purchase or reuse a plastic foamer bottle (I bought mine at www.aromatools.com).  Add about a teaspoon of dish washing liquid or regular hand soap.  Add five drops of OnGuard blend essential oil.  Fill with water.  Shake to mix.  Enjoy the fresh scent and feel confident you are doing what you can to protect yourself and your family from germs.