Winter Survival Pack

We are lucky that we are able to meet back home for Christmas every year. This year we had a lovely brunch to catch up.

I usually have a special hand-made gift for the special girls in my life. In the past I have made aprons, tree necklaces, egg nog, and many more. And this year was no different. This year I set out to bring cheer to the dreary couple months ahead with a winter survival pack. This pack included Rainy Day Tea to keep warm you warm, hand warmers to fight off the cold, and sugar scrub to keep your hands soft. It was a perfect gift and fun to put together.

I got this recipe from my mom who named it Christmas Vacation Tea and gave it to the parent volunteers in her classroom. Inspired by the rain of Portland, I changed the name to Rainy Day Tea.

Mix together and store in a tight container. A small jar is the perfect amount for a gift.

Mix 2 T of mixture per mug of hot water.

I found a pre-mixed instant tea and lemonade and used 2 cups of that instead of the separated teas.

These are my new favorite things. I keep a couple around the house and took a couple to work. They are perfect at my desk because my hands always get so cold. Especially the hand that has to sit out alone on the mouse. JoAnn’s had an extensive selection of flannel so I had a blast choosing a few patterns. This is also a perfect thing to make with extra fabric from past projects. Or fat quarters you just had to buy.

The bags are about 4×4 inches and filled with rice. Throw them in the microwave for about 30 seconds and they are nice and hot.

Nothing makes my hands softer than this home-made sugar scrub. Here is a recipe I used that seemed to work well:

I found a 3: 1 sugar: oil ratio gave the best texture. I used grape seed oil because it has no scent and then added vitamin E oil for an extra boost. I wanted to add coconut oil into the mixture but the scent was too strong. If I try this again I might look for a different coconut oil that might have a more natural coconut scent.

I had fun playing around with the essential oils. I settled on lavender and sweet orange and made two different sets. The scent of the oil will become stronger after you let it sit for awhile so don’t get too carried away with the essential oil like I did. I first bought the oil at Michaels but it was cheap and didn’t smell very good. Spring for the good stuff – it’s worth it! I found a large selection at Whole Foods or you can always order it online.

All these items went perfectly together but they would be great on their own as well. I have a few left over that I will keep around in case I ever need a quick present to give.