It's one week until Christmas Eve, and I am so not prepared. Leaving my Christmas shopping to the very last minute is not a new thing for me -- in the past I've been a rather successful Christmas Eve power shopper. However, now that my family is spread across the country, waiting to shop until the night, let alone the week, before Christmas doesn't quite work so well given the additional time needed to allow for shipping.
Also, given that these days the nearest large shopping district is much greater than a five-minute walk away, any shopping I do either needs to involve some major strategizing, or it needs to be done online (insert angst about last-minute shipping rates here). : )
Since I can't take advantage of all those last-minute holiday sales, I think I instead need to grab the reins and think outside the box for holiday gifts this year. I thought I'd put together a week of handmade, less-processed gift ideas that can easily be made in the comfort of your own home from easily-obtained materials -- many of which may already be in your kitchen cupboards. Some of these ideas will be food-based while others will not.
I thought I'd start off the week with a not-edible, but rather tasty-smelling vanilla brown sugar body scrub. I love these scrubs -- but I don't love the price and some of the ingredients that can be found in store-bought versions. My body scrub contains the basics -- brown sugar, oil, and vanilla extract -- plus a few additional ingredients (jojoba oil and vitamin E oil) to make your skin super-soft and smell delicious.
Vanilla Brown Sugar Body Scrub (printer-friendly version)
makes enough to fill one 8-oz jar*
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup almond oil
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil
~10 drops vitamin E oil
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1. Add the brown sugar to a small bowl. Mix in the almond oil, honey, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
2. Spoon the mixture into a container with a lid.
3. To give as a gift, wrap the jar with a ribbon and tie on a little scoop.
*Use a shatter-proof container if you intend to keep this in your bath/shower.
makes enough to fill one 8-oz jar*
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup almond oil
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil
~10 drops vitamin E oil
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1. Add the brown sugar to a small bowl. Mix in the almond oil, honey, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
2. Spoon the mixture into a container with a lid.
3. To give as a gift, wrap the jar with a ribbon and tie on a little scoop.
*Use a shatter-proof container if you intend to keep this in your bath/shower.
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