Friday Favorites

These were my FAVORITE handmade gifts that I put together for Christmas!  They all used Young Living Essential Oils and were gifts for most of the women in my family! The Toilet Spray was the most laughed at, but most talked about gift at my inlaws on Christmas Day.  The Thieves Hand Purifier was just small containers I ordered from Amazon filled with actual product from YL (gotta love BOGO for inexpensive gifts). The round containers are body butter and my personal favorite of all the things I made!

Here are the recipes I used:

Toilet Spray : 4 oz spray bottle, 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol, 25 drops essential oil of choice (I used Cedarwood/Lavendar, Peppermint/Orange and Cinnamon/Orange combos) and filled the remainder with distilled water.  You spray it 3 or 4 times in the water before you go, you know, stink it up and it keeps the bathroom fresh – it REALLY works.

Body Butter: 1/2 cup coconut oil, 1/2 cup shea butter, 1/2 cup fractionated coconut oil placed in a double boiler and combined until all melted and then placed in the fridge until almost completely hardened but totally cooled.  Add essential oils of choice (10 total drops was what I used this time of Frankincense and Orange,  but I think I’d use more next time) and dump into stand mixer and whip until fluffy (about 5 minutes).  Spoon into containers (I got these on Amazon) and store in a cool place.

I made the labels with my Cricut Explore Air 2 and some sticker sheets with my pens and cut out the shapes I needed.  They turned out SUPER cute I think!

These are my go to Christmas time appetizer and my family won’t let me come to Christmas Eve dinner without them.  They are a bit labor intensive to make, but OH SO WORTH IT!  The recipe is a long standing one with the ladies of my home church and someone ALWAYS made it after our Christmas cantata performance each year.

Here’s the recipe:

3 cans whole water chestnuts, 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup chili sauce, 1/4 cup Miracle Whip, 1 pound bacon. Cut bacon in thirds and wrap one pice around each water chestnut, secure with toothpick and place in 9×13 pan.  Mix sauce and pour over top and bake for 45 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees until bacon looks done.

I’ve made this No Bake Sugar Free Pumpkin Cheesecake twice now, the first time in a pie plate and this time in a spring form pan – and it’s been a hit both times. I found it online and made it directly from this recipe No Bake Sugar Free Pumpkin Cheesecake

These are a few of my FAVORITE first cousins on Christmas Eve…From left my Uncle Jim’s daughter Mallory, Me, my sister Jennifer, my Uncle Rod’s daughter Summer and her two kids Sunny and Sawyer and my Aunt Brenda’s daughter Becky.  Just a fraction of the first cousins that I actually have, but SO good to be able to celebrate with them.

My Young Living sponsor gave me these ADORABLE earrings from a local company called Bangles and Baubles…you can put drops of essential oil on them (I used Peace and Calming this time) and I LOVE THEM…She has some super cute items in her shop you should definitely check her out Bangles and Baubles Shop on Instagram and she has a Facebook page at Bangles and Baubles Shop on Facebook

That’s all the favorites I have for today!  I hope you have a good weekend and I’ll see you on Monday!

Blessings,

Stephanie