DIY Bath Tea Bags

So here is another handmade gift that was included in the Christmas hampers: bath tea bags:)

I got my inspiration from here and then just ad libbed a bit...big surprise:)

First things first, what to use as a pouch- so many options and though I wanted to sew my own, due to time constraints, I opted for the Melitta heat & seal bags (got mine at HEB)- they're disposable (cringe) but also made from unbleached & bio degradable material.

Next I bought some organic hibiscus tea (from here of all places!), Epsom salts that included peppermint essential oil and baking soda (aids with hard water) and mixed it up (approx 1:1 ratio) in a glass bowl- avoid plastic as it absorbs scents.

Why this recipe?

Hibiscus: full of antioxidants, vitamin C and evokes a sense of renewal & pampering.
Peppermint: aids in mental alertness, soothes tired muscles, relieves headaches, nourishes dull skin, improves blood circulation & immunity, just to name a few!

Next I spooned the tea into the bags, folded over and sealed with my handy dandy iron on the cotton setting.  The filled tea bags were piled into an array of glass jars, ready for their recipients!

I attached handmade tags with simple instructions to steep for 5 mins, soak & enjoy!  On Christmas morning, once unwrapped, Mr. "Cue" mentioned he might just try them as they smelled so good:)

Planning on making some for me now and experimenting with different combinations:)

Thanks for looking,
Tiffany

Silky Peppermint Toothpaste

Today I'm sharing another update on our homemade toothpaste.  Here at "623 East 68th St." we've been faithfully using this crunchy toothpaste recipe for almost 7 months and have no complaints, however, I opted to include some in my Christmas hampers and thus wanted to spruce it up a bit (and of course I didn't snap a pic of these in my mad dash to finish before Santa arrived!!!).

I had just read about whipping coconut oil, so I promptly emptied my jar into the food processor and whipped away- it was lovely, silky & soft despite the fact that the house was cool enough to keep the coconut oil in a solid, block form.  I proceeded to make up the toothpaste as usual but also adding several drops of peppermint oil- I was very conservative since this was my first attempt, however next time I will add a bit more as 'Ricky' really likes it!

So why are we sold on this homemade concoction?

• Coconut oil is anti-fungal, antibacterial and helps towards fighting tooth decay.

• Xylitol works against plaque buildup and aids with re-mineralization.

• Peppermint essential oil is antiseptic & antibacterial

I also just had my teeth cleaned (it had been well over 1 1/2 yrs...cringe...) and was told my teeth looked great!  Since my dental hygiene routine has suffered drastically since Jonah's birth, the toothpaste must really be helping!

Happy brushing:)
Tiffany