Wellness Wednesday- DIY Holiday Wellness Gifts
'Tis the season for frantic scrambling to find the “perfect” gift for your friend that has everything. Modern society has ingrained this mentality that it’s better to give something than nothing at all. While we love showering our friends and family as much as the next person, we want to remind you to give from the heart. We’ve lined up some easy, useful, and overwhelmingly kind gift ideas. Check out our yogis DIY gift giving guide!
Alyssa’s Gift of Soft Kisses:
Winter time is synonymous with holiday parties, delicious cookies, gift giving and of course, dry cracked lips. This DIY peppermint lip balm makes the perfect little gift for all of your parties or gift swaps. Best yet is it's so simple to make with only 3 ingredients.
DIY Peppermint Lip Balm Ingredients:
1 oz. bar of Organic Beeswax (I purchased mine on Amazon)
3 oz. organic Coconut Oil
20 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
10 ½ oz. Lip Balm Tins (available on Amazon)
Instructions:
Melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a small sauce pan over medium low heat until liquefied and fully combined. Remove from heat and pour into a measuring cup with pour spout (I used a Pyrex cup). Quickly add 20 drops of the essential oil and stir. Pour into tins and let set for a couple of hours. These set very quickly so you'll want to work fast when pouring.
You can add any essential oil to the same recipe to make different flavors - I love this peppermint for its mild tingly sensation on the lips and light holiday scent.
Alex's Gift of Silky Skin:
Begin the New Year with deliciously soft skin by using ingredients you already have! This homemade sugar scrub is the perfect remedy for weathered or dull skin.
DIY Sugar Scrub Ingredients:
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
2 tablespoons melted Coconut Oil
1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, mix throughly, and transfer to an airtight jar. Store in a cool dark place.
To use, apply to wet skin in the shower. Rub in a circular motion. Rinse, dry, go!
Melissa's Gift of Immunity:
This holiday season; give the gift of health to your friends and family! This Elderberry syrup is a must have for your house during the cold/flu season. Elderberries are full of immune boosters including Vitamins A, B and C. Buying this syrup in my local health food store, could easily cost me around $15 for a small bottle and it won’t last long. So I got on Google and decided to try the easiest recipe I could find and I have been making it ever since. It works just as well but for only $20 worth of supplies and I am making 4x's the amount! Even easier, I can find everything needed to make this recipe in downtown Ventura at Spicetopia!
DIY Elderberry Syrup Ingredients:
Makes: 1 Quart
2/3 cup Dried Black Elderberries (about 3 ounces)
3 1/2 cups of Water
1 cup Raw Local Honey
Mason Jar
Optional Add-in:
1-2 Cinnamon Sticks or Cinnamon Powder
2 tablespoons Fresh or Dried Ginger Root
2 tablespoons of Mulling Spices
Dried/Fresh Lemon or Orange Peel
1/2 teaspoon Cloves or Clove Powder
Options above are all depending on your taste. I added some mulling spices from Spicetopia last time I made a batch and it's my new favorite! It's a combination of orange peel/cloves and other flavors.
Instructions:
Pour water into medium sauce pan, add the Elderberries and any additional spices you've decided to add. DO NOT ADD THE HONEY YET.
Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 min, until the liquid has reduced by almost half. Take off the heat and let cool down.
Pour berries and liquid through strainer into glass bowl. Mash berries and get as much liquid out of them as you can.
Discard berries (or compost them!) and let the liquid cool down. Once cool, add the honey and stir well.
Pour into a glass jar and store in refrigerator. Done!
You may take 1/2 Tablespoon a day to keep your immune system strong and up the dose to 1 Tablespoon every 2-3 hours if you’re sick.
Lucky us... we got to try all these fabulous gift ideas out. We must say the gift of DIY is heart warming.
