Homemade Holiday Relaxation Gifts: A Milk Bath, Herbal Tea, and a Facial

Giving bath accessories says luxury. Why not give a milk bath? You will need a container, and a 1/3 cup-measuring cup for the gift. To make the actual milk bath grind 1/4 cup of oatmeal in a blender until it is of fine consistency. Add 1 cup of powdered milk and continue to pulse the mixer until the milk crystals are pulverized.

Pour this into a bowl that contains a mixture of 1/2 cup of cornstarch and 1/4 cup of baking soda. Stir until the mixture is blended. Add 2 drops of vanilla body oil and mix it well. If you want the milk bath to be more exotic try other essential oils. I like the vanilla, or strawberry, because it reminds me of bathing in a milk shake. Only pecans are better than milk shakes.

Type the following directions on hard stock paper.

Use one measure (1/3 cup) for each bath. Fill the tub half way, add the milk bath. Finish filling the tub.

Put the ingredients into a container, attach the 1/3 cup-measuring cup and the directions with raffia or ribbon, and decorate with bows, dried flowers or an ornament.

Give Some Relaxing Tea to Drink While Bathing

You can make mixtures of herbal tea to relax away the troubles of the bather. Include the tea with a tea strainer. I have received gifts of tea before, but had misplaced my tea strainer and didn't use them until I bought a new one. I hate to have loose herbs or tea floating around in my cup, even if a fortuneteller wants to read the leaves.

Some interesting herbs and blends:

Try just plain chamomile. I grew chamomile one summer and collected the dainty flower heads for tea. It is delicious, but takes a lot of collecting. I have bought my chamomile every since. It is much like growing peas.

You get so excited to see huge pots that took forever to pick, and then shell them in the same amount of time that you could run a five mile marathon, and end up with a small pan of peas for two. The most important part of growing your own herbs, is that you know that they are organically grown and pesticide free. It's your call. Chamomile is a must no matter how you procure it.

Use a little lemon balm. This herb is a wonderfully lemon scented marvel. It is a survivor, probably because it is part of the mint family. Grow a plant of the lemon balm and you can easily dry enough leaves for the neighborhood to have tea. Lemon balm relaxes and reduces anxiety.

Add some lemon zest to the batch. The recipe for lemon zest is in the article on lemon pepper. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/435229/homemade_seasonings_and_butters_as.html

Use mint. Peppermint or spearmint tea is absolutely yummy. You can grow it easily but it is far harder to contain. Try to find a chocolate mint plant. YUMMERS.

Passionflower, lavender, skullcap, and fennel are all good for relaxation. If you use fennel, it is said to be a good aid in weight reduction, also. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/364263/fennel_beauty_usefulness_and_a_great.html

Give the Ingredients for a Relaxing Facial.

Follow the directions and make a facial for a gift, or just make a kit to give. The article already has several relaxing facials.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/364140/recipes_for_relaxing_facials.html