plus other good stuff: gifts

11.23.2012

Homemade Holiday : Bath & Body Gifts : Avocado Hand Cream

Welcome to Homemade Holiday! Today is the second in a four week series of homemade gifts, hosted by MAK, MAM, Plus Other Good Stuff, and Road to 31. Each week of the series, the host site will post a unique gift idea and multiple links to other homemade gifts in the same category.

Last week, Jill at Modern Alternative Kitchen shared a great tutorial on homemade Herb-Infused Vinegar.

This week, I'm sharing a recipe for Avocado Hand Cream! I've given this lotion as gifts for at least three years, and it has received high praises. It softens and hydrates rough, dry, chapped winter hands like nothing else!

But before I show you how to make it, here's what you have to look forward to in the next two weeks:

Nov. 30 — Homemade decorations (hosted by Road to 31)
Dec. 7 — Homemade “misc.” (hosted by Modern Alternative Mama)

Now let's get started!

Notes on ingredients:

Mountain Rose Herbs is an excellent source for almond oil, avocado oil, beeswax pastilles, essential oils, and metal tins.
I get a good deal on Extra-Virgin Organic Coconut Oil by buying it through Soaper's Choice by the gallon. You can also find coconut oil at health food stores. For this purpose, you want unrefined oil that smells like coconut, as it is more healing to the skin.
I bought my Grapefruit Seed Extract at my local health food store. It's expensive, but a little goes a long way and I will get many batches of lotion out of this little bottle!
You can choose other essential oils to scent this cream. I chose lavender and spearmint because lavender is excellent for dry or neglected skin, and spearmint can alleviate the itching that comes with dry winter skin. And they smell so good together!

Avocado Hand Cream (with lavender & spearmint)

(adapted from Better Basics for the Home)

First, gather your ingredients. You will need:

1/3 c. Coconut Oil
1/3 c. Sweet Almond Oil
1/3 c. Avocado Oil
2 T. beeswax (pastilles or grated from a block)
1 c. Distilled Water
2/3 t. Grapefruit Seed Extract
essential oils of your choice (I chose lavender and spearmint)

Then gather your equipment. You will need:

A saucepan
A glass bowl that can rest in the saucepan - it doesn't have to fit completely. (I used a 2.5 qt. Pyrex bowl) (Note: you can also use any type of double boiler or glass measuring cup inside a pot. I chose to use the bowl I'd be mixing in to save on dishes)
A wooden skewer (optional)
A hand mixer
Measuring cups and spoons
Tins or Jars to put lotion in (I like these 4 oz. tins, or 4 oz. ball jars)

You'll want to make sure your supplies are very clean so no bacteria is introduced into the lotion.

Fill the pot about two thirds of the way with water, and rest the glass bowl on top. (You may have to adjust the amount of water so it touches the bowl but isn't going to overflow once it boils.) Turn the stove on to medium heat.

Add 1/3 c. coconut oil.

Add 1/3 c. almond oil and 1/3 c. avocado oil.

Add 2 T. beeswax.

I like to stir it with a skewer to help the wax melt. Then I don't have to worry about cleaning wax off of utensils.

Once the wax is melted (this may take a few minutes), turn off the heat. Remove the bowl from the pan and set it on the counter. Poor in 1 cup of distilled water at room temperature.

Mix with a hand mixer until the lotion is thick and creamy.

Measure 2/3 t. of grapefruit seed extract. (I eyeballed it.) Add it to the bowl and mix again.

At this point I chose to remove some of the unscented lotion for a family member who is sensitive to scents. Then I added the essential oils to the rest. For a full batch, add 30-50 drops. I scented about 3/4 of the batch with 20 drops of lavender and 15 drops of spearmint. This gave it a light and not overpowering scent. Rub a little into your skin and smell it to test the amount of essential oil.

Mix again to incorporate the essential oils, and then pour into tins or jars.

The avocado oil gives it that crazy color!

Let cool to room temperature, and then close the jars. Store in the refrigerator if you will not be giving them away right away. The shelf life is about 6 months, but tell the recipients to discard if it starts to smell funky. We want to make sure our homemade beauty products are safe!

You can also make a cute label! I just use rectangular labels, trace the shape of the tin, and cut them out. Then my husband uses his artistic skills to make a super-sweet label. Then I cover it with laminate paper to make it a little more waterproof.

More Bath & Body Gift Ideas from the Modern Alternative Mama Team

For variations on the lotion theme, try Lavender Body Lotion, Lotion Bars, Lotion for Your Mama or Peppermint Patty Lotion
Stuff stockings with Homemade Chapstick: great for men, women, or children!
This Sugar Scrub looks ridiculously easy!
Have a friend who needs to relax? How about some Herbed Bath Salts or Stress Relief Bath Salts
Laundry needs to bathe, too! How about homemade laundry detergent?

Are you planning on making any homemade bath & body gifts this year? Tell us about it in the comments!

This is part of: Natural Living Monday, Make Your Own Monday

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

11.09.2012

Five Baked Goods to Give as Gifts

I can't really believe it's time to start thinking about the holidays. I'm a terribly last-minute holiday planner, but I'm attempting to be a little more on top of things this year. I already have some vanilla extract brewing in my basement, and I'm planning some very fun gift-related posts for you in the coming weeks.

All my gift-related posts are going to be a part of a four-week series by the Modern Alternative Mama Team, of which I am a part! Starting next Friday, a different blog will host Homemade Holiday each week for four weeks. I'll be hosting one of the weeks and I'm SO excited! The host will also link to related posts on other MAM team sites. So you're going to get a ton of awesome gift ideas!

So, do you need some no-brainer gift ideas?

I know I do. I've been trying to make almost all the gifts we give for Christmas for the last several years. Some years, this has been rather stressful, as I try to make something really special for each person. It has become more stressful with two kids in the mix. So this year, I'm trying to go even simpler. Baked goods will definitely be a large part of the gifts we give this year!

Why give baked goods?

Baked goods don't fill people's homes with more stuff.
If you already bake, it's just a matter of baking a little more and giving it away. Easy!
If you have kids, baking is a great way to involve them in the gift-making process.
People love to eat!

But you realize, of course, that we're going to to this "Real Food" style. I don't want to fill people's lives with more white sugar, white flour, and hydrogenated oils. I want to fill them with delicious nourishing goodness.

So here are five [nourishing] baked goods you can give away as gifts.

Five Baked Goods to Give as Gifts

#1. These Cranberry Orange-Ricotta Muffins scream "holidays" to me. Made with sprouted whole wheat flour, real butter, and pastured eggs, they are loaded with nutrition! Put a few in a little basket lined with a pretty cloth napkin, or wrap in a paper bag tied with twine.

#2. Have some rhubarb in the freezer? Remind your friends and family that spring will come again with a pan of this delightful Rhubarb Coffeecake.

#3. Who doesn't love a loaf of homemade bread? This Soaked Honey Oatmeal Bread is a nice reprieve from sugar-laden treats. This would make a great gift for a teacher or the host of a holiday party.

#4. Last year I gave away pint-sized jars of my Perfect Soaked Granola to extended family members. I make this granola all the time so it was a breeze to make a big batch and jar it up. And they were so cute!

#5. Breakfast Brownies: They're breakfast. They're dessert. They're both! These brownies are loaded with oats, nuts, & dried fruit, making them a hearty and satisfying snack anytime of day. I wrapped them up in parchment and tied with kitchen string for a quick & easy package.