A Frugal Merry Christmas #2

 Another group of my favorite stores for gifts:

1.  True Leaf Market carries a variety of seeds and propagation supplies, including one of my go to Asian seeds from Kitazawa Seeds.  Use coupon code Holiday24 for 15% off items from their holiday gift guide.

2.  King Arthur Baking has something for everyone, but if you are shopping for someone with a gluten allergy they have some of the best gluten free baking mixes.

3.  Calamity Ware carries calamity themed ceramics.  I sent my brother the coffee mugs one year and he loved them.

4.  Burpee Seeds is offering 25% off plus free shipping on orders over $50.  I love their collapsible tomato cages.

5.  Warmies are stuffed animals, slippers and scarfs filled with heating beads and lavender.  Heat them in the microwave and climb into bed for a peaceful sleep.  My daughter loves her sloth and my husband loves the slippers.  They are offering a BOGO for the weekend.

6.  Voluspa is a candle company that sells candles made of coconut oil.  Their Noble Fir scented candles smell so authentic that you will think there’s a Christmas tree in the room.  They are 20% off for Black Friday.

I hope you get some inspiration from this list of my frequently used and favorite stores.

God bless,

Pam

Frugal Christmas Gifts #3 and Life Happens

So, I had quite a few pre Christmas posts planned, but life was derailed this past Thursday.  My dear husband had a heart attack and has been hospitalized.  But good news, today I brought him home!  We will be celebrating Christmas with just the three of us quietly at home.  We've cancelled our plans, so he can rest.  I feel so blessed.

The Ulta ad today shows that many of their Holiday gift packs are 50% off.  From skincare to cosmetics this is a great time to pick up something extra for a friend (or yourself).  The same is true from the hardware store (mine has cute seaside themed ornaments), to the drug store (CVS had Yankee Candle decorations marked down).

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.

God bless,
Pam

Homemade Bath Salts

This is another frugal Christmas gift idea.  Today I was given some fresh rosemary and I decided to make an invigorating herbal bath salt.

Find a decorative jar (found mine at Target), fresh herbs, essential oil (optional), vitamin E oil (could also use almond oil, olive oil or jojoba oil) and epsom salts.

Basic Ingredients

Place a cup of epsom salts in jar or bowl.  Finely chop your herbs to release their essential oils.  Today I am using rosemary which some people are sensitive to, so I recommend testing this herb on your inner elbow to make sure it won't irritate your skin.

Mix the chopped herb into the epsom salts.

This mixture smelled nice and strong to me so I chose to not add the essential oil.  If it is not fragrant then I would add 10-20 drops of essential oil.  Since I did not add essential oil I decided to add a heaping teaspoon of vitamin E oil.

Stir and stir again until the oil is mixed throughout the salt.  It will all come together, just keep working at it.  At this point it is ready to use as a bath salt.  If you want to turn it into a salt scrub add more oil (olive, almond or jojoba) until it reaches a scrub consistency.

I like to add a pretty shell collected off of our local beach to use as a scoop.

The lid of the jar can be labeled and decorated if you wish.  Get creative and enjoy!

God bless,
Pam