Scented Bath Salts

Learn to make your own scented bath salts at home and give a delightful gift to every stressed out mom you know.You may feel a little intimidated by those expensive bath stores that sell Scented Bath Salts for $15.99 or more but forget that! These homemade bath salt ingredients can be found at your local stores, and you CAN do this!

In a large metal or glass bowl, stir together.

2 cups Epsom Salt or Dead Sea Salt - or 1 cup of each (Do not use table salts, they will dry out skin! And when using Dead Sea Salt, be sure to remove any dark pieces that may have slipped through processing.)

1-2 teaspoons of baking soda, if desired (Softens skin!)

10-12 drops of essential oil (Lavender is best for a relaxing bath, Vanilla and Eucalyptus are also fabulous!)

You can also add a small amount of food coloring paste (the kind used for cake decorating) if desired, but it's not necessary.

Next

Stir the salt really well for at least two minutes. The more you stir, the more the wonderful scent begins to come through. Pour the salt into pretty glass jars and attach lids.

For the Glass Jars.

Use clean mason jars, baby food jars, or even spaghetti and jelly jars. They are all perfect for homemade bath salts. Whatever you do, do NOT spend extra money on expensive jars, they are completely unnecessary! Though your children may be past the baby food stage, ask a friend if you can have some of their empty jars. They'll be happy to get rid of them, and you can send a special "thank you" scented bath salts gift jar on it's way in return.

To Finish

Tie a pretty ribbon around the top of the jar and decorate or paint the lid if desired. I recently used a spaghetti mason jar that was simply gorgeous, but the lid had writing all over it that I didn't want on my gift - so I painted it! Lastly, attach a cheerful label, something like... "Spa Treatment Just for Mom!" And if you'd like to include instructions, write "Add several Tablespoonfuls of Bath Salt to warm water for a relaxing bath, ENJOY!"

Create Mom's Own Oasis

One of the best ways to show Mom you care is to give her the day off. Even though Mom will love spending the day with her children, it is also important to provide her with some time to relax on her own.

Create an oasis for Mom this Mother's Day. Set up a quiet area in the house where Mom can sit and relax on her own if she chooses. If it is in a room with a television and DVD player or VCR, get some of her favorite movies and set them out for her to pick one. Another option is to lay out some of her favorite magazines or create a cozy area where she can curl up and read a book. Create a tray with tea or other beverages and some edible treats for her to enjoy. Mothers often need a break from their hectic everyday schedules and the fact that you have taken the time to recognize this will mean a lot.