DIY XMAS: Spa Salt

The Frugal Hostess is a big fan of bathing.  Just kidding.  But she does bathe.  Just kidding.  Who cares.  Let's just skip the formalities and get straight to the easiest gift to make ever: bath salts.  This is also super cheap, like about $2 for two to three gifts.  Just kidding.  But it's cheap.

OK, here we go.

Ingredients
Latching Mason jars (purchase for $1-$2 at the thrift store - not easy to locate at other stores)
Epsom salts (buy in the pharmacy section of your grocery store - $2.50 for about seven cups)
Food coloring (already had some,  no idea how much it costs)
Essential oils and/or extracts that smell good (orange, peppermint, almond, vanilla)
Carrier oil (which is supposed to be sweet almond or sesame oil, but can also be canola oil, which is much more frugal)

Directions
1.  Mix two cups of Epsom salts with 1/3 cup of oil.
2.  Add a few drops of oil or extract and a few drops of food coloring.  Stir until completely mixed.
3.  Spoon into jars.

Right?  Could this be better?  And by better FruHo means cheaper.  While The Frugal Hostess is making these for Christmas, they would make excellent birthday or Mother's Day gifts, or fun party favors for a baby or bridal shower.

A note on food coloring: So, you know how you've had the same four crusty bottles of food coloring next to your shaker of multi-colored sprinkles on the top shelf since your first apartment after college?  Well, TFH has some exciting news.  Umm, there are all kinds of new colors.  Neons ones.  Super exciting.  Get thee to the grocery store, post haste.

The Frugal Hostess hopes you bathe a lot. Like at least every other day.  Please comment. You can also join the Frugalistas on Facebook for exclusive content, follow on Twitter @frugalhostess, or subscribe so that you always know when a new post appears.

Junk Drawer Stocking Stuffers (Episode 1)

Man oh man, have you ever been out of town on Christmas Eve, ready to snuggle up to some eggnog, and realized that you didn't bring a single stocking stuffer?  How dreadful.  This has happened to The Frugal Hostess more times than she can count, and it is not only embarrassing to "run out to the drugstore for some Pepto" while you're hanging with the in-laws, but those last-minute items really add up.  Mini bottles of nail polish remover, crazy Christmas keychains, and Livesaver storybooks do not come cheap.

This year, it will be different.  This year, you will have Junk Drawer Stocking Stuffers.

Here's what to do.

1.  Get a shopping bag of moderate size.  Really, who cares what size.  But use one that can't be otherwise repurposed as gift wrap.

2.  Loop the handles over your arm.

3.  Walk from room to room, searching through every junk drawer and random collection basket for possible stocking stuffers.  You know just the thing - a promotional pen?  Check.  Golf ball your dog found in the park?  Check.  Tiny perfume sample bottle?  Check.  Handiwipes and peppermints that came with your BBQ takeout?  Checkity-check-check.  If it's too good to throw away and has landed in your junk drawer, it is good enough to stuff in a stocking. 

In The Frugal Hostess's anything but humble opinion.

Photo by Judith Angharad

The Frugal Hostess has quite the stocking planned for you, as long as you make a comment. You can also join the Frugalistas on Facebook for exclusive content, follow on Twitter @frugalhostess, or subscribe so that you always know when a new post appears.