DIY Peppermint and Lavender Foot Scrub (plus more holiday gift ideas)

I remember my first pedicure dearly. Not because of the scrubbing and scraping that was happening on my feet, but because of that chair. Have you ever gone to get a pedicure just to sit in their massaging chair? No? Yeah, me neither...

While pedicure visits were never a regular thing for me (I like to do them at home), I did love to sit in that massage chair and watch as flakes of dried skin went flying all over the place. My sister had some really dry feet. We mostly went for the experience -- to just step away from life for a moment. But we left with so much more. We put on our little plastic flip flops and stepped out of the salon with smoother feet, a relaxed back, and a whole new outlook on life. (Well, at least the relaxed back part.)

DIY Baking Soda Air Freshening Scent Jars

Are you one of those people that puts a box of baking soda in the fridge or freezer? Why do people do this? Well...because baking soda absorbs odors. (Actually, it neutralizes strong acids or bases.) Instead of just setting boxes of baking soda all over your house (That might be a little weird. Although I have put a box in my car. Don't tell anyone.), you can put the baking soda in cute little jars. The addition of essential oils and herbs gives each room a nice smell. 

DIY Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Back in January, I showed you how to make a one-time-only exfoliating scrub. I started with that because my sister always says she doesn't have time to make any of the homemade products I recommend. Understandable. Truly, it is. The kitchen-to-tub body scrub (as I like to call it) is quick and easy and you can make it as needed. But making an exfoliating body scrub to store for future use, whether for yourself or to give away, is also nice (and quick).

Today, I'm going to tell you how to make a very simple Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub. Before you run off because you don't have lavender, just wait...you can make this scrub with just the simplest ingredients that you probably already have in your home. Using lavender is optional (but highly encouraged).

Five Minute Freezer Fudge: Nut & Nut-free versions (paleo, gluten free, dairy free)

If you are familiar with coconut oil, you are aware that it melts at about 76° F. The cool thing about coconut oil's ever changing state is that frozen coconut oil makes for great candies and other goodies. I usually make candies out of coconut oil to keep in the freezer. I prefer these little frozen treats to baked goods, because it's easier to control how much I eat (and measuring is not absolutely necessary...and that is always a plus for me). If I see a batch of cookies staring at me every time I walk through the kitchen, I'll probably chow down on 3 or 4 a day. The candies are tucked safely in my over-packed freezer. If I really, really have to want some, I have to shuffle things around, potentially dropping jars on my toes, in order to grab a bite. (Truthfully, this has gotten a lot easier since my last Whole30. While I definitely enjoy some dark chocolate, this fudge, or something sweet occasionally, I don't indulge every night like I used to do. Now, I usually just eat some fruit. I love me some fruit.)

Dairy Free Double Layer Peppermint Bark

I'm not going to talk much today -- mostly because I'm stuffing my face with peppermint bark. I love Christmas, but I can't wait until the New Year. Then I will be able to replace all this sugary indulgence with alcohol. Just a little. Champagne is a requirement for bringing in the New Year. For me, it is. You don't have to agree.

Natural Sleep: Herbal Sleep Pillows

How many of you get at least 8 hours of sleep a night? More like 6? Or maybe you have trouble getting to sleep in the first place. Or maybe you have a child. A loving child who, at bedtime, suddenly needs to use the bathroom or is dying of thirst or is scared of the monsters under the bed.

As for me, I've always been a night owl. If there was an overnight shift available, it was mine. Not necessarily because I wanted it, but because they knew I wouldn't complain. And they knew I would have no problems staying awake.  Sleep has always been the one avenue to good health that I refused to take.

I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to stay up and do important things. Fun things. Just anything. Because if I didn't sleep, I had more time. You can sleep when you die, right? But I don't want to be a night owl anymore. I want to sleep. And I want to wake up with the sun and not be tired (at least until I have a baby). I always thought if I didn't sleep, I would be more productive. I would have more time to do things I needed or wanted to do. But I've been lying to myself. After years and years of living off 5 or less hours of sleep, I haven't gotten any more accomplished than the people sleeping 8 hours a night. Maybe I've been accomplishing less, because I'm so tired all the time.

Almond Pomegranate Chocolate Bark

I made this last night.