I happened to ’stumble upon’ this post that offered some recipes for homemade Christmas gifts. I thought it was really cool and am going to make some of this myself. Well, since I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off to get ready to leave for Germany I may not get it made, but I’m putting it on my list of what I’m going to do if I suddenly find myself without anything to do. Credit for the recipes goes to Losing Proposition.

They are all items you may put in a jar. To decorate your jar for gift giving, use scissors to cut a circle from fabric of your choice. Center fabric circle over lid and secure with a rubber band. Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band. Attach a gift card with the directions and you are finished!

Kitchen Potpourri

1/4 C whole cloves
1 C whole allspice
8 small bay leaves
4 whole nutmegs
3 T star anise
2 T whole cardamom pods
10 cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces

Combine all the ingredients, mixing well. This mix will keep indefinitely at room temperature if you shake or stir occasionally.

Moisturizing Bath Mix in a Bag

1 C regular oatmeal
1/2 C rosemary, lavender, mint or lemon verbena
1/4 C rose petals

Mix the ingredients together. For each sachet, place a few tablespoons of mix in the center of a six-inch square of fine cheesecloth or muslin. Bring the four corners together of the fabric together and tie with a washable ribbon, making sure that the mixture is secure. Oatmeal is good for the skin, and the rose petals and herbs add fragrance to the mix. Each sachet may be used several times.

Herbal Bath Salts

Epsom Salts
Sea Salt
Zip-type bags in which to mix the salts and oils
Essential oils
Potpourri herbs of choice (my favorites are rosemary, lavender, mint or lemon verbena)
Glycerin (optional)

In a large pan, mix 2-to-1 proportions of Epsom Salt and sea salt to make your bath salt base. Measure about 1 cup of the salt mixture into each zip bag. Place 4 drops of essential oil into the salt mixture in each bag. Zip the bag closed and mix the salt and oil.

Tear herbs into small pieces and add to the bags. Zip the bags closed and mix. Add more salts or herbs for the look and smell you prefer. Add a few drops of Glycerin to help moisten the skin.

Keep the mixture in the zip bag and mix it once a day for 2 weeks. Then, pour bath salts into decorated bottles. Add a small scoop if you wish.