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Funny! I make a lot of craft items for Christmas gifts and this year I decided to try bath salts made from Dead Sea Salt. I add my own essential oils and blend it. In the past I mixed Kosher Salt with Epsom Salt to make bath salts but nothing can compare to the Dead Sea Salt. It makes the skin feel so soft and heals skin irritations, etc. It advises on the bag that it is not for eating due to minerals in it only found in the Dead Sea that are bitter to the taste.

I also grow my own Loofah sponges to give with the bath salts and I make glycerin/goat’s milk soap. They are all a big hit at Christmas. I hate shopping but I love to hand make things.

I make old-fashioned homemade Jim Beam Bourbon Balls for the guys in the family. :-)

That all sounds wonderful. I learned herbal medicine in the '90s, even went to a school for it, and came in contact with a lot home crafting ideas like that. Home made soaps, lotions and other 'back to the basics' kinds of things. Even home brewed beer, root beer, ginger ale and other brewed beverages. All good things to know I think although I didn't take them all up myself.

Your guys must be very happy with their presents. ;^)

Here's a recipe for homemade Irish Cream my sister sent me a couple of Christmases ago. She also sent some of the product and it was quite good.

Stir blend: 2 eggs.
Add: 2 teaspoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon instant coffee
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon each; almond and vanilla extracts
Add: 1 C. vodka
1 C. blended whiskey
1 C. half-n-half
stir frequently and keep refrigerated

pinging pandy because she is a big fan of salt and sugar scrubs for the skin. Separately I think.