7 Cheap & Natural DIY Gifts You Can Make in Under 20 Minutes

I think you'll love these ideas for thrifty, handmade gifts that you can create with very little skill and time, using materials you probably already have in your home. These make perfect last minute holiday or hostess gifts.

Here are a seven supereasy projects from the blog:

DIY Rosemary Lemon Dishpan Hands (& Body) Scrub
DIY Espresso Mint Cocoa Body Scrub
The Simplest (and Prettiest!) Brown Sugar Scrub
DIY Whipped Body Butter
DIY Upcycled Christmas Tree Potpourri
DIY Easy No-Sew Floral Drawer Sachets

DIY Lip Balm (vegan-friendly recipe)

DIY Poop Secret: Natural Toilet Freshener Spray [Sorta Like Poo-Pourri]

Yeah, everybody poops, but if you don't feel like broadcasting your bowel movements to the world (or even those on the other side of the door), try this recipe for DIY Poop Secret.



Poop Secret is a totally natural spray that goes directly into the toilet before you go. It creates a powerful barrier of wonderful smelling essential oils that envelop your poops, and their associated stink, as they land in the toilet water.

Before you go thinking I'm a genius, I didn't invent this spray. It's based on Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray.

Okay guys, here's the recipe. Now you can eat all the collard greens and flax seeds you want. Keep some in your purse and you'll be the best studio apartment guest or tiny office mate ever!

DIY Poop Secret: Natural Toilet Freshener Recipe

You'll need:

• 4 oz spray bottle
• 1 tsp witch hazel (Substitute rubbing alcohol in a pinch, but it's kinda toxic)
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
• 25 drops essential oils of your choice (I used a combo of 10 drops lemon and 15 drops peppermint)
• 1/2 cup distilled water (minus 2 TBS)

DIY Rosemary Lemon Dishpan Hands Remedy

Are your hands rough, dry, and chapped from washing dishes? Mine are! Is the cold, windy weather making things worse? Absolutely! That's why I mixed up this batch of healing rosemary lemon salt scrub. I use it a few times daily to exfoliate, moisturize, and heal my hands naturally. 

Here's the recipe so you can mix up a batch too. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen. Keep some near your sink so that you remember to use it.

DIY Rosemary Lemon Dishpan Hands Remedy Recipe

You'll need:

• 1 cup kosher (coarse) sea salt or epsom salt
• 1 lemon
• 3-4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 6 drops lemon essential oil or about 1 T fresh lemon juice
• 6 drops rosemary essential oil (optional)
• 1/2 cup organic almond oil, more or less (substitute: olive oil has a strong smell, which you may or may not like, but is also suitable for this recipe.)

DIY Chocolate Espresso Mint Cookie Sugar Scrub Recipe

Nothing says Happy Holidays like this delicious smelling DIY Chocolate Espresso Mint Cookie Sugar Scrub.

This all natural scrub is a yummy treat for skin damaged by winter weather. Almond oil is moisturizing. Sugar and ground coffee exfoliate dry skin. Chocolate, coffee, and vanilla are rich in antioxidants, which help prevent and repair damaged skin cells. Honey is a humectant, so it actually draws moisture to your skin and keeps it there. Peppermint oil perks up your mood, chasing away the winter blues.

This bath and shower-friendly scrub is also great for use after washing your hands.

DIY Chocolate Espresso Mint Cookie Sugar Scrub Recipe

You'll need:

• 1/2 cup fair trade ground coffee beans 
• 3 oz fair trade brown sugar (substitute: white sugar with 1 tsp molasses blended in)
• 1 heaping tablespoon fair trade cocoa powder or cacao powder
• 1 tablespoon fair trade raw honey (vegan substitute: vegetable glycerine)
• 1/2 cup organic almond oil, more or less
• 10 drops French vanilla liquid stevia (substitute: 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean powder)
• 6 drops peppermint essential oil

My Very Un-Zen Meditations in the Omega Labyrinth

My husband and I enjoyed two days of R & R at Omega in Rhinebeck, NY last week. The retreat was a great way to take time out to reconnect with myself and reassess how I spend my (mental, emotional, and physical) energy.

We unplugged, ate wholesome food, and made new friends. We did lots of scheduled group activities like JourneyDance, improv, tai chi, yoga and meditation. We connected with nature by sleeping in a tent cabin surrounded by the sounds of nature, relaxing in a hammock while watching colorful leaves fall, canoeing in the lake, and walking in the woods. We even took a workshop to learn how to strategically align our lives with the phases of the moon.

Our last activity was a group meditative walk through a labyrinth. Labyrinth Society defines a labyrinth as "a single path or unicursal tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation." It's also important to note that, unlike a maze, a labyrinth has one path and no dead ends. You slowly walk the winding path, get to the center, and then follow the path back out. You're encouraged to bring a question you would like answered with you.

Here's what the labyrinth at Omega looks like:

photo credit

Frustrated would best describe my state of mind while walking to the center of the labyrinth. You might not be able to tell from the photo but it's probably about 4 yards wide in diameter. It's not that big. Still, it took what felt like forever to get to the middle. Also at some point during the walk in, I decided the question I had brought in with me ("What should I do about my coaching practice?") was completely wrong and insignificant. I was also angry and jealous because everyone else seemed to be in such a peaceful and meditative state. Grrr! I alternated between fantasies of leaping into the center and just walking out (because what was the point anyhow?).

My New Favorite Sustainable Clothing Shop - thredUP Review

thredUP is the largest online consignment shop where you can find like-new women's and kid's apparel (clothing, shoes, and handbags), choosing current styles from over 25,000 brands.

I recently made my first purchase. I spent less than $75 thanks to the discount thredUP offers new shoppers. The purchase included a mix of discount brands (like F21 and Old Navy) and slightly more upscale and unique pieces including a Hive & Honey dress made from recycled paper!

Then a day later I made another one! I spent about $120 but my haul was mostly designer stuff like J Brand jeans, 7 for All Mankind skinny jeans, and vegan Neuaura boots.

I seriously love thredUP online thrift store. Here's why:

It's super easy to find clothes that you love and actually fit.
No more having to dig through endless racks of clothes to find something you like, only to discover it's not your size. Their simple, user-friendly platform makes shopping a breeze! On thredUP you even can create a personal shop that contains your favorite brands, your size, and type of apparel.

7 Things You Need to Start a Health Coaching Business

Here's a list of everything you must have to start working from home as a health coach. I use these essential resources to grow my home-based online business.

1. Health Coach Certification
2. Website
3. Business cards
4. Online appointment scheduling software
5. Newsletter
6. Professional phone number
7. Online payment system

Keep reading for details about the affordable resources I used to start my health coaching business and continue to use today to operate my practice. I initially invested about $5K to start my business and spend under $30 a month to maintain it.

Health Coach Certification from Institute for Integrative Nutrition
Entering a health coach training program is the first step to starting a health coaching business. I recommend Integrative Nutrition. I'm a graduate!

During the Institute for Integrative Nutrition one year program, you will learn from inspiring leaders in the health and wellness industry as well as experts in business and marketing, connect with an amazing supportive community, and experience a remarkable personal transformation – all through a convenient online platform that makes learning on-the-go possible for anyone.