It’s true we are just days from Black Friday and you are all probably mentally working on lists of Christmas gifts for loved ones. Before you shop – consider giving the gift of services, donating to charities or making fun things that allow you to re-use containers while gifting creativity and caring.
Kimi hosted a handmade gift carnival last week that is chock -full of great ideas of simple things you can make.
My favorite is Wardeh’s Chai tea gift mixes.
Food in jars has some nice ideas in her pantry like this apple-cranberry jam which I can’t seem to link properly to right now.
Chiot’s Run is making beautiful seeded bread and stunning chocolate covered cherries.
Some other ideas:
I’m hoping once Thanksgiving is over and behind me I will finally have time to finish making lotion with the calendula/comfrey oil I made last June. I’ve made a small batch which was amazing stuff but it’s been gone for months now. It’s the perfect lotion for scaly wintertime skin or rough feet, knees and elbows.
I’m also planning some face cream from the now second round of facial oil I’ve mixed together. I can tell you that compared to what I was paying for my fancy pants facial routine this is pennies on the dollar and is working just as well to calm my aging rosacea-prone skin. Because it’s not lotion, which contains both a water and an oil, it’s not as effective at moisturizing so I’ve been first spraying my skin with rose water and then putting on the oil. It will be so nice to skip a step!
How about you? Any other ideas for thoughtful Christmas presents that won’t break the bank or clog up the waste stream?
4 responses so far ↓
1 Gabriella // Nov 24, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Hi Annette,
Love all your ideas. Would you share your face cream recipe? I too have dry aging rosacea-prone sking and have tried so many products that have been expensive and don’t work.
Gabriella
2 admin // Nov 24, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Hi Gabriella,
I absolutely will. For the oil I have simply used about 3 T of sweet almond oil (although apricot kernal is a good option too) and about 1 teaspoon evening primrose oil, 1 teaspoon borage oil and 1 teaspoon rosehip seed oil. To that I’ve added a few drops of rose geranium essential oil and roman chamomile oil.
Roman chamomile oil, sandalwood oil and melissa are all great for rosacea.
When I make the lotion I will also include coconut oil (which I have to use for my cooking – just like the rose water).
Montain Rose Herbs is a great source for essential oils as well as base products for lotions, soaps, tooth powder, etc. They have cute little containers for not too much money as well but I try to save and reuse lotion bottles or use 1/2 pint wide mouth canning or other jars both to save money and to reduce the footprint.
3 kitsapFG // Nov 25, 2009 at 9:52 am
For a select few of my family (those that garden and are interested in what I do in that regard) I am giving them my favorite salad spinner and a carefully made up package of several types of saved seed from my garden. Sugar snap peas, beans (several varieties), and pumpkins.
4 admin // Nov 30, 2009 at 6:34 pm
What a great idea KFG! I can’t imagine not having a salad spinner. It really prolongs the life of your greens dramatically to be able to keep them just lightly moist.
A quick dip in cold water is also great at reviving weepy greens but then of course you need them dry in order to get that salad dressed correctly.
Peas, beans and pumpkins are all so fun for kids to grow too because they grow so quickly and can all be started in ground. Great suggestions!
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