The kids are all nestled all snug in their beds, and you’re up all night wondering what on earth to give your friends and family this holiday season.
Sound about right?
Maybe you’ve already finished your holiday shopping, maybe you haven’t. Either way you should take a look at this handy list – Regardless of whether you’re crafty, not crafty, on a budget or not, you’re sure to find something that will please just about anyone you’ve got on your list (even the person you forgot about until this morning. There’s always one!):
Bath & Body
Homemade Sleep Salve
Know someone (or a few people) that has issues falling asleep at night? Then you’ll definitely want to whip up a batch of this salve. You probably already have everything you need to start, and with the extra (I’d probably make a double batch just to make sure that there was), you can help yourself drift off too. Since this salve is mainly supposed to be used on your feet, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to wrap/bag it up with a pair of socks.
Directions: PopSugar
Rosemary Mint Shaving Cream
Have you ever noticed that after shaving your skin is left dry and flaky? That’s because most shaving creams are soap based. This one is oil based. It would make an absolutely perfect gift for anyone on your list that has sensitive skin or anyone that’s curious about switching to all natural products. This one can be used for both men and women, and you probably already have most of the ingredients you need to make it.
Directions: Food For My Family
Homemade Lavender Sugar Scrub
Sugar scrubs are pretty basic to master, and they’re super easy to make – Sugar, oil, optional (but recommended scent). That’s it! This is a handy link to not only the scrub, but also for making the cute little container that it comes in – I assure you that there isn’t a woman on your holiday list that won’t appreciate a good sugar scrub as a gift.
Directions: Soap Deli News
Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm
Is there anything more seasonal? Everyone has dry lips this time of year and many people end up going through tons of lip balm and gloss in an effort to curb that dryness – Why not gift all of the females on your list with this healthy, all natural lip balm that will not only leave their lips feeling kissably smooth, but is also void of that polyethylene and other preservative crap found in most of the commercial alternatives.
Directions: The Girl Creative (by Essentially Eclectic)
Citrus Salt Body Scrub
Winter is definitely the time of year for dry skin. Gift this salt scrub to any sufferer of especially dry knees, heels, knuckles, etc. and they’ll be eternally grateful (Just remind them to reserve it to the driest areas and opt for a sugar scrub everywhere else). You’re probably going to want to make a double batch of this too if you have dry skin as well.
Directions: Paula Deen
Homemade Vicks Shower Disks
No one likes to be sick. Everyone loves using anything that even might give them some relief – Enter these shower tablets. They’re super easy and super cheap to make (the most expensive investment is going to be in essential oils, but I promise you that it’s well worth it), and they’ll be super appreciated by anyone whose feeling a little under the weather.
Directions: Being Frugal By Choice
Rustic Cinnamon Hazelnut Coffee Soap
This one is a little time consuming, but it smells so good when you’re finished that the time and effort you put it seem meaningless (I tried it this past weekend just to make sure that it was worth putting on the list. It definitely is!). There isn’t a soul that isn’t going to love this soap as a gift; just remember to tell them that it’s soap – It really does smell good enough to eat!
Directions: Essentially Eclectic
Dinosaur Bath Bombs
These obviously don’t have to be made in the shape of eggs; the idea can easily transfer (Candy cane molds can probably be found at any craft shop this time of year). Epsom salts have incredible benefits! You’ll feel great about giving this gift to anyone on your list (and if you have little ones at home they’ll have a ton of fun helping you make them).
Directions: Wholesome Mommy
Kitchen Gifts
Homemade Apple Butter
I’m definitely making this one for my Dad. If you’ve never had the opportunity to try apple butter before, you should definitely run out and get everything you need to make this recipe (although you probably already have absolutely everything you need in your kitchen) – It’s so good! Whip up a batch of this and throw in some crackers and you’ve got a winning gift for sure.
Recipe: Practically Functional
Clementine Wreaths
The holidays are all about giving sweet sugar and sodium filled gifts; why not go against the grain and give every family on your list one of these festive wreaths. The clementines would be great on their own, but I’d almost consider also adding red and green apples as an alternative type of wreath that’s a little more festive. When the sugar rush wears off and body’s begin to beg for actual nourishment, your gift will quickly become the biggest hit in the house.
Directions: Omiyage Blogs
Friendship Soup Mix
There’s nothing better than a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter night which makes this gift a winner for anyone. If you do decide to put this gift together for your friends and/or family, I do recommend buying all of the ingredients in bulk – You’ll get a lot more for your money that way. You’ll get phone calls all winter long from the people you’ve gifted these to, thanking you for thinking of them.
Recipe: Pie Birds
Infused Olive Oils
Know someone that loves to cook? They’re going to absolutely LOVE these infused olive oils! They’re relatively easy to make, you probably already have everything you need to make them, and they’re all natural – What more could a cook ask for (Also, if you make the garlic one you get roasted garlic to use later – Everybody wins!).
Directions: Just Putzing Around The Kitchen
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Hot chocolate is another winter staple, but none of the commercial options taste very good and most people don’t have the time or patience to make their own on the stove. That’s where this recipe comes in – It will allow your friends and family to enjoy a delicious steaming mug of healthy hot chocolate without any fuss. It’s a little bit of work to make, but the smiles you’ll get when your recipients unwrap this tasty gift is definitely sure to make all of that effort well worth it.
Recipe: Live Simply
Instant Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal
Another appreciated dish on a cold winter day is oatmeal. Apple and cinnamon not only smell like the holidays, but they’re good for you too! This is the perfect thing to make for a family with children because they’ll be able to make their own hot breakfast without having to bug mom and dad to make something for them on a Saturday morning (and any parent appreciates a little bit of extra sleep).
Recipe: I Love My Disorganized Life
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Not only will this make an amazing gift to any baker on your list, but it’s a handy recipe to know how to make for yourself. Truthfully, you won’t be able to make this one before the holidays hit (it has to sit for 8-12 weeks), but if you know a baker with a birthday coming up in the next few months (or if you’d like to make your own extract for next year’s baking), you’ll definitely want to remember it. Like most other things, homemade vanilla extract is so much better than the stuff you buy at the grocery store.
Directions: Food Apparel
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies In A Jar
Everyone loves cookies, but so many of them are given in their baked state during the holidays – Go against the grain this year and opt to give these (so incredibly good) cookies in a jar so that the recipient can make them whenever a cookie craving hits without having to go out and purchase all of the ingredients.
Recipe: Chocolate Covered Katie
Salted Trail Mix Dark Chocolate Bark
Bark is super easy to make, and this one is actually really good for you – Make some and package it up in cellophane with some holiday ribbons and you’ve got a healthy gift that any mom will appreciate (Whether or not that mother will choose to share, I can’t promise. You might want to throw together a double batch).
Recipe: Mountain Mama Cooks
Christmas Pancakes In A Jar
If you substitute a homemade pancake mix for the boxed mix in this recipe, it’s sure to be a huge hit (and – if only slightly – healthier). Perfect for giving and enjoying anytime over the holiday season, and you probably won’t need any syrup or anything (so again, healthier).
Recipe: Make Bake Celebrate
Homemade Pasta
Have you ever had homemade pasta? If you haven’t you definitely should. It’s super easy to make, but it can be finicky and time consuming so most people don’t bother. You should. And so should everyone on your holiday list – Why not show them why using one or more of these recipes (there’s even drying instructions. Don’t think you need anything fancy to do it either – A wire hanger works just fine.
Recipe: Spoon Fork Bacon
Other Gift Ideas
Suet Feeders
Is there someone on your list that loves bird watching? If you answered yes, you’re definitely going to want to make them these adorable little suet feeders. They’re cheap to make and I assume that they’re probably better for the birds than the stuff they sell at the stores (I’m not completely sure about that one, but I assume that like with everything else, homemade is better).
Recipe: 5 Orange Potatoes
Mason Jar Candles
There are a ton of different versions of these available online, but the oil variation is probably one of the most economically friendly – As long as they’re made properly they’ll burn for ages, and there are so many different things you can put into them to give them different scents (and they’re just so pretty!).
Directions: Ms. Dawn
Homemade Heating Pad
There are a hundred different ways that a heating pad can be used, and there isn’t a person out there that wouldn’t appreciate getting this as a gift (if only to help keep them warm during the cold winter nights). The essential oils in this recipe can be skipped of course, but I strongly suggest that you make the investment in them (they have so many beneficial uses!).
Directions: One Good Thing By Jillee
DIY Kitchen Chalkboard
This doesn’t necessarily need to be made for the kitchen, but that’s generally where I (and I presume most other people) would probably use it to the most. This would be a great ‘whole family gift’ or –with just a little more personalization and thought – an awesome gift for a kid’s room.
Directions: Homegrown And Healthy
Festive Wreath Earrings
These are an adorable holiday gift. I assure you that any female (with pierced ears, of course) will absolutely love them. The great thing about these is that they can be used for years to come, and because they’re only worn during the holidays, they’re less likely to get lost or broken. Fair warning: Beading isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do, but when you complete a project I promise you get quite the sense of accomplishment.
Directions: Fusion Beads
Natural Air Freshener
Everyone loves to have their home bursting with holiday scents this time of year, why not give them a much healthier alternative to those chemical laden grocery store versions by making one of these? To make it smell super Christmassy, I’d use apples, cinnamon, vanilla, and possibly nutmeg; you can use basically whatever you happen to have on hand.
Directions: Healthy Food House
Kids In A Homemade Snow Globe
Anyone with children will absolutely LOVE receiving this as a gift. Alternatively, putting pictures of passed on loved ones will give the recipient a handmade memory that they can cherish for quite some time (if not forever).
Directions: Our Best Bites
Making any one (or a basket) of these gifts is sure to be an absolute hit for this holiday season!
If you’ve already finished your shopping for the year, pin this article so that your can easily find it next holiday season! And don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest and Google+ as well so that you can keep current with all of our diet, fitness, natural beauty, organic living, and healthy lifestyle news.
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