DIY Life

I think most people would agree that bath products make a nice gift. Unfortunately, they're a little over-gifted, if you know what I mean. But, if you take some effort to make your own products and to personalize them, what was old-hat suddenly becomes new again. Whipup's bath bomb surprises are a perfect gift idea that you can personalize for anyone.

You'll need baking soda, citric acid, your choice of essential oil, a spray bottle with witch hazel, and your choice of trinkets to insert in the bath bombs. You'll also need a large bowl, a whisk, an ice cream scoop with a release mechanism, and a tray covered with wax paper.

To make the bath bombs, combine the baking soda and citric acid. Then slowly spray in the essential oils. Adding the witch hazel can be a bit tricky as you need just the right amount of moisture. Once the consistency is right, you'll be able to use the ice cream scoop to create the halves of the bath bomb. Then insert the trinket and put the two halves together. Whipup has the details.

Keep reading for different gift ideas with these "surprise inside" bath bombs.

Join me each week as I explore the naturally aromatic side of DIY. Helpful recipes for your "scentual" pleasure: from essential oils, herbs, and other botanicals, to soap-making, body care products, and other useful blends.

You have soft, smooth feet from our pedicure of two weeks ago. Your face is aglow with healthy skin after last week's facial. What about the rest of you?

Get ready to pamper yourself (or a loved one) with the gift of relaxation and cared-for skin -- all over!

After the break, I'll share recipes for relaxing bath salts, a detoxifying body scrub, a gentle hand scrub, and body oil, along with packaging ideas to make lovely gifts of these homemade products.

OK, this is a trick that I used to use when I was really, really poor. You know how it is; your bar of soap gets so small that it's really hard to use? Or if you happen to use Ivory, it always seems to break into unusable chunks prematurely?

Well, here's a solution. I salvaged one of my old cotton socks. Whenever a bar of soap got into one of the afore mentioned conditions, I would pop the chunks or slivers into the sock. In fact, I would do it early. Once the sock had a decent content, I would wash with it.

It seemed to be a great solution because it turned out to be soap and washcloth all in one. Of course, if you're handy with a needle and thread, you could grind out something a little more elegant. I probably would have, but hey, I was just a wild young bachelor!

The quiet stirrings of the water with every slight movement, the all-over soothing warmth, the big wet water hug. Can you tell I enjoy a good bath (as does my son in the picture!)?

Baths can be therapeutic as well as relaxing, and have been for years. Herbs and essential oils can intensify the healing properties of a bath.

Third Age has some great tips on how to create your own amazing bathing experience. They suggest dry brushing before a bath to stimulate blood flow to help release toxins more efficiently.

Some other tips they mention:

Green beer, green jewelry, green clothing; green shamrocks, green hats, and green sparklers. We break out these things and more to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style.

But green bath salts? You bet, and these are the all-natural kind. They won't dye your skin green, or clog your drain, so you have nothing to lose... except the stress and fatigue of a long day, with a relaxing soak in your green tub of water.

Rejuvenating Green Bath Salts

• 1 c. sea salt
• 1 tsp. jojoba
• 1 TB green tea, ground to a fine powder
• 1/4 tsp. chlorella powder
• 20 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops geranium essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions after the break!