One Herb That Can Help Keep You Sane Through All the Holiday Chaos

Lavender can be your best friend for both the mind and body.

Probably about now you might be doing some last minute shopping, baking, cleaning or still wrapping gifts as you prepare for the holidays.  Perhaps, you’re even having out-of-town family and friends on their way to stay with you.  As much as you look forward to all that celebrating ahead, you also might find all the activities and rushing to get everything done on time can leave you extra tired and stressed.  You may think there is nothing much you can do, but there is something that helps restore your mood and body--lavender.

The lavender that I am referring to is not an artificial lavender aroma from a pretty scent, but the power of the real herb.  There are quite a few proven studies on the effects of lavender on the nervous system for calming, improving concentration, brightening your outlook to relaxing you enough to bring on sleep.  

Of course, you might be tempted just to burn a natural lavender aromatherapy candle that is made from its essential oil.  Though helpful, if you want to get all you can from lavender then you are better served using lavender essential oil and applying it to your wrist.  

Unlike many essential oils that need to be diluted first with a carrier oil, this is safe to apply directly to your skin.  Direct skin contact of lavender essential oil has also been shown substantially reduce blood pressure, the heart rate and its temperature.

So before you get tied up in knots this holiday season, think of yourself and those you love by looking into buying some lavender essential oil for your total well-being.     

Soothe Those Cares Away With My Relaxing DIY Bubble Bath Recipe!

Soaking in a tub with this moisturizing, stress-relieving bubble bath can do wonders after a hard day.

I never experimented with making a DIY Bubble Bath until recently.  My skin was extra dry and I wanted to see how well this homemade solution would perform compared to what I had been using.  Since I had the ingredients on hand, I decided to give the recipe a shot.

In a matter of minutes, I made enough for about eight baths of this homemade solution. With olive oil, honey, liquid castile soap, and one tablespoon of lavender essential oil, this mix will produce a mild, wonderfully moisturizing lather with a benefit of soothing aromatherapy from lavender essential oil as you soak.

Though you can use any type of olive oil, I recommend the extra-virgin variety since it has stronger antioxidants of its vitamins A and E for restoring the health of your skin as it soothes and moisturizes to keep it supple.  

Honey is a humectant.  This ingredient further helps in this recipe because it draws moisture from the air while warding off bacteria to better help the skin thrive.

The original recipe that I found used liquid soap.  However, I later made another batch and switched that choice out in favor of another.  I decided to use pure liquid castile soap.  Since the castile soap is pure vegetable oil olive oil, I thought it would pamper the skin that much more over the liquid soap with its unneeded extras of dyes and various other chemicals.

I hope that you try my recipe because it does lubricate the skin quite nicely while relaxing you at the same time.



My Soothing DIY Bubble Bath

1 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup of honey
½ cup of pure liquid castile soap
1 tablespoon of lavender essential oil

Using your blender is the best way to thoroughly combine the ingredients.  Start with the oil and then slowly add the honey, soap and essential oil to blend for about a minute.

Pour into a bottle or jar that has a lid.

Shake well before using.  You don’t need to store this in your refrigerator.

For each use, measure out about 1/4 cup and add to your tub as you run the water for your bath.

Crabtree & Evelyn’s Lavender Traveler Gift Set Review and ($24) Giveaway!–Ends December 11, 2014

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Crabtree & Evelyn's Lavender Traveler Gift Set

Lovely scented skin care is always one of my favorite gifts.  I love to indulge and wrap myself in luxurious fragrance whether to cleanse, silken or enhance the scent of the perfume or eau de toilette that I’m wearing. If you’re looking for a similar type of holiday stocking stuffer, a good choice might be a soothing lavender fragrance like what I experienced after being sent Crabtree & Evelyn’s Lavender Traveler Toiletry Kit ($24) for this review and giveaway.

This kit features their Lavender Bath & Shower Gel (50mL), Lavender Body Lotion (50mL), Lavender Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy (25g) and a Nail Buffer that is presented in a striking maroon cosmetic bag.

Unlike their original Classic Lavender, their new scent is softer and more of a powdery, fresher version that also gained warmth due to notes of sweet violet, jasmine, tonka bean, musk along with some invigorating brightness from lemon than the heavier herbal formulation. 

Bathing with their award-winning Lavender Bath & Shower Gel was, indeed, calming as I allowed that scent to work its magic as it cleansed and moisturized with its beneficial lavender oil and floral extracts. The formula has glycerin and is free of mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol or sodium lauryl sulfate.

After that blissful soak, I pampered myself with a good measure of the lavender body Lotion to preserve that peaceful state of mind.  This lotion absorbed quickly and did not leave me greasy feeling at all.

The Lavender Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy is not sticky or greasy. This hand cream is concentrated and sinks into irritated hands quickly, leaving lingering sweetness behind.

If you haven’t tried any of these products from Crabtree & Evelyn, this Lavender Traveler Toiletry Kit is a great way to sample it for yourself as well as for those on your holiday shopping list. Do check it out because I know that you will love its delicate beauty.

*Disclaimer: Free products were provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.*

Thanks to Crabtree & Evelyn, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States wins a Lavender Traveler Toiletry Kit of their own!

Giveaway Details and How to Enter–

Prize: One (1) winner will win a Lavender Traveler Toiletry Kit ($24)  from Crabtree & Evelyn that includes a Lavender Bath & Shower Gel (50mL), Lavender Body Lotion (50mL), Lavender Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy (25g), Nail Buffer and cosmetic bag.

Dates of entry: 11/25/14–12/10/14 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Eligibility:  Open to USA addresses.  No PO Boxes.  The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

How to Enter:  Please use the Rafflecopter widget if it works.  You can also enter by clicking this link or try to enter using another browser. You can return daily and log in again with your email to tweet.

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Lavanila’s Vanilla Lavender Healthy Fragrance Review + ($58) Giveaway!–Ends August 4, 2014

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Lavanila’s Vanilla Lavender Healthy Fragrance

Classic vanilla scents have met their match when it comes to Lavanila’s Vanilla Lavender Healthy Fragrance.  Clean and fresh with a splash of warm vanilla, this fragrance is sure to capture your heart with its irresistible cozy feeling.

The scent opens with enchanting freshness from notes of Spanish lavender competing with Madagascar vanilla. The way the vanilla tempered the herbal lavender gives it less of a typical sweet vanilla influence.  Instead it adds a delicate herbal freshness that is beautiful to behold.  

Once combined with the notes of rose absolute and violet leaf, this gentle floral possesses lovely light sweetness the more it warms as those buds seem to blossom in the heart.  

As it dries down, the vanilla turns powdery and effortlessly graceful giving the fragrance a comforting embrace where you want to linger.

As with all of Lavanila’s fragrances, you never need to worry about the health hazards of petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oils, silicone, synthetic dyes, sulfates, and parabens.  Only essential oils and nurturing botanicals go into their formulas, which is something else that I love about this company.

If you’re passionate about vanilla fragrances, this one from Lavanila deserves your attention because it is an alluring sheer floral layered with a surprisingly soft measure of warm vanilla instead of a heavier dose of gourmand-like vanilla. 

The 1.7 fl. oz. Lavanila Healthy Vanilla Lavender Fragrance retails for $58.  Do check it out because I know that you would love it as much as this perfumista does!

Thanks to Lavanila, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States wins the Lavanila 1.7 fl. oz. Healthy Vanilla Lavender Fragrance ($58 value)!

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This giveaway ends August 4, 2014 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.

A Joyous Fragrance to Greet the Day!--L'Occitane en Provence's Lavande de Haute-Provence Eau de Cologne (Review)

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

L'Occitane en Provence's Lavande de Haute-Provence Eau de Cologne 

Discover how well lavender blooms among a fruit orchard is my first thought of how I would describe L'Occitane en Provence's  Lavande de Haute-Provence Eau de Cologne.   Unlike the original, the reformulated version of this unisex fragrance gained a light, appealing freshness and added femininity with the way the floral, fruits, and woody-musk notes play together.

With top notes of lavender, bergamot, and peach, Lavande opens like blossoms awakening to the sun.  You can almost smell the combined nectars of those ripe fruits and lavender in the air, naturally brightening the sweetness.  The effect is a new softness to the lavender, a delicate transparency that is serenely beautiful.

Once the freesia and marigold emerge in the heart, there is romance blooming as well in this updated blend.  

The fragrance is so inviting and comfortable.  At the same time, Lavande is also surprisingly sophisticated just as it is dreamy due to the woods and musk in the base notes.  This is an incredibly easy to wear fragrance that will lift your spirits with untold joy and happy expectations.

Honestly, I thought the original was a bit too masculine smelling and heavy on the lavender.  On the other hand, Lavande de Haute-Provence is what I consider an escape to a perfect and blissful summer day where you don't have a care in the world with how peaceful you feel wearing this lavender fragrance.  I simply adore it!

The Lavande de Haute-Provence Eau de Cologne retails for $52 for a huge 10.1 fl. oz. bottle.  Also available is an organic body care lotion, massage gel, hand cream, aromatic scented candle, and shower gel in the collection.  

Do check this product out on L'Occitane en Provence's website.

What a Luxurious Way to Unwind! L'Occitane's Lavande De Haute-Provence Body and Massage Gel Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

 L'Occitane's Lavande De Haute-Provence Body and Massage Gel

I uncovered an exquisite treasure when I received L'Occitane's Lavande De Haute-Provence Body and Massage Gel to review.  From the moment you open this gel-cream, you begin to relax as you breathe in those soothing fresh, clean vapors of pure lavender essential oil.  

This product was grown in a  government-sanctioned area of Haute-Provence, France, where floral beauty reigns.  If only I could walk through those fragrant fields, I would feel on top of the world, taking in all that invigorating sweetness.  What a rush that would be to be surrounded by what comes in this jar in endless, overwhelming abundance!

Of course, I was tempted just to keep inhaling that potent lavender fragrance after my shower, but I started rubbing some on my neck and tired shoulders.  This was so cooling as I applied it while it also softened my skin with that calming lavender scent, only not quite as strongly as when I first opened it.  

The experience was delightful as I worked small amounts over my arms and chest  next.  By the time I finished closing the jar, I felt less stressed from the benefit of this aromatherapy.  In fact, the deeper I took that scent in, the less tense and comfortable I was. 

L'Occitane's Lavande De Haute-Provence Body and Massage Gel is pampering aromatherapy that nourishes your skin in the process.  This product goes beyond just luxurious skin care for the way it works on your emotional state in the process.

My nights these days belong to L'Occitane.  I now have a new bedtime ritual using this one product  since it gently cares for my skin and does so much more than I had expected.  It enables me to sleep better due to that aromatherapeutic aid of that beautiful lavender scent.

Stress is a problem in all of our lives.  I give this product a great recommendation because L'Occitane has something wonderful to help restore your sense of well-being with Lavande De Haute-Provence Body and Massage Gel. 

However, I'm sure you would feel the same once you sampled this new aromatic treasure of mine, too.  You, too, would also want more of that sweet aroma and to find your way to those lavender fields as well.   

For now, we have L'Occitane to get us through that need for more lavender from Haute-Provence. The 6.7 oz. jar of Lavande De Haute-Provence Body and Massage Gel retails for $35 and is something you should experience firsthand!