gift ideas Archives - Page 4 of 8 - Feathers in Our Nest

DIY Aftershave Balm

January 29, 2016 by Aliesha

Over a year ago, Tad started using shaving soap, a brush, and a safety razor instead of an electric razor. He loves this method (very manly). Here’s what he uses: razor / stand / brush. We buy the soap here, but I made the pre-shave oil and the aftershave balm myself. The pre-shave oil is a mixture of equal parts castor oil and olive oil, but I will share the recipe for the aftershave balm today!

Aftershave balm soothes the skin after shaving and makes the skin so soft. It’s wonderful for providing relief if there are any little nicks from shaving.

This balm is really a lotion, and it’s not just for men! It’s lovely for legs after shaving too!

You can add essential oils to this if you want. Really nice additions would be sandalwood, rosemary, frankincense, or eucalyptus.

DIY Aftershave Balm

Soothing to the skin after shaving, this aftershave balm is easy to make (and nice for legs as well as the face)!

Author: Aliesha @ Feathers in Our Nest

Ingredients

⅓ cup shea butter
⅓ cup coconut oil
¼ cup olive oil

Instructions

Combine ingredients in a quart mason jar. Place jar inside a heavy saucepan or pot filled with a few inches of water.
Heat water on stovetop, stirring mixture inside jar until it is fully melted.
Remove from heat and pour mixture (Carefully! Jar will be hot!) into the base of a stand mixer or a metal mixing bowl.
Chill in the fridge until it is opaque in color but still soft. (Think, consistency of Crisco.)
Whip the mixture for several minutes with a stand or hand mixer. It should resemble frosting.
Add any essential oils desired (suggested: sandalwood, rosemary, frankincense, or eucalyptus) and whip again.
Ready to use right away! Store in a glass jar.

Sources: shea butter / coconut oil / essential oils

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to companies I use and love. All opinions are my own, and I was not paid to write this post. If you choose to make a purchase through my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.

Aliesha Caldwell is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Hot Chocolate Mix – Just 3 Ingredients!

November 6, 2015 by Aliesha

As soon as there is a hint of a chill in the air, my kids start begging for hot chocolate! (Yes, even on the days when it will be in the 70’s by noon!)

I love having this mix pre-made in my pantry so that we can have hot chocolate whenever the mood strikes!

I have to credit Martha Stewart for this recipe. I wanted to try it since so many hot chocolate mix recipes call for powdered milk, and I wanted one that I could just whisk into milk we have on hand.

When I make the hot chocolate for our family, I heat a larger amount of milk on the stove and add the appropriate amount of mix to the pot. I love to froth the milk a bit with a hand frother!

Hot Chocolate Mix - Just 3 Ingredients!

easy hot chocolate mix with just three ingredients!

Author: Aliesha @ Feathers in Our Nest

Recipe type: Beverages

Ingredients

3½ cups white sugar (or evaporated cane juice)
2¼ cups good quality cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. sea salt

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients.
Store in a glass jar or other airtight container.
To serve, heat 8 ounces of milk (whole is best) and whisk in 2 Tbsp. of hot chocolate mix.

This makes a lovely Christmas gift as well!

Note: Pictured in the pictures is a “half-batch” of this mix, so that should give you an idea of how much a full batch makes.

Enjoy!

Aliesha Caldwell is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Gift Ideas for a New Mom

August 4, 2015 by Aliesha

Have you ever wanted to bless a new mom with a special gift that is just for her? I remember receiving a care package in the mail after one of my babies was born, and it was filled with lovely gifts just for me… stationery, lotion, pens, stickers, and a sweet note of encouragement (the best part!). It was such a blessing to me at a time I really needed it!

Maybe you’re visiting a new mom in the hospital, or want something to take to her when you go to drop off a meal. Or maybe she had a baby three months ago and could use some encouragement because her baby hasn’t been sleeping so well lately!

Here is a list of ideas for you of things to give to a new mom (and, of course, most of the items on this list would be loved by any woman, mom or not)!

Gift Ideas for a New Mom (that have nothing to do with baby!)

short devotionals

When a new baby arrives, time for lengthy quiet times is greatly reduced! I have found that short devotional books are so encouraging during those sleep-deprived days. Some devos for women can be a little weak theologically, but these by Lydia Brownback are so rich (even though each day’s reading is just 2-3 pages). I have read Joy, Contentment, and Trust. They are all very good for reading while feeding an infant!

hair ties

I sell this kind in my Etsy store, but you can find them other places as well.

dry shampoo

I make my own now, but this is my favorite commercial brand. It’s so awesome for keeping your hair looking great in between washings! (At Target, you can grab a little travel size version of this for around $1-$2).

earrings

After having a baby, it feels like nothing fits right (maternity clothes hang awkwardly, but regular clothes are still too snug), so a new pair of earrings can be a true mood-lifter! These would brighten any outfit. (I’ve ordered from that Etsy shop several times and recommend it!)

mug

I know I always thrived on coffee when I was up several times a night with my new babies, and I would have loved this beautiful, encouraging mug! Bonus points if you include a favorite variety of tea or coffee! (This mug is made by mompreneur Kristin Schmucker!)

Scripture print

Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think about the things that are true. One way I like to do this is by filling my walls with truth from God’s Word! An art print would be a lovely gift for a new mom so she can mediate on God’s truth all day long. Love this one from Gracelaced (made by mompreneur Ruth Simons).

snack box delivery

I totally didn’t realize how hungry I would be after having a baby and while breastfeeding. Not to mention, too mentally and physically exhausted to even figure out a good snack to eat (one-handed, at that!). Subscription snack boxes have been so helpful in making sure I have relatively wholesome snacks to munch on! I’m subscribed to two (you can pick the frequency of delivery that works for you!): NatureBox and Graze. NatureBox includes 5 larger bags of snacks (several portions each), while Graze offers boxes with either 4 or 8 snacks in individual portions. (Good to know: NatureBox offers a free trial. And you can use code “ALIESH64P” to get your 1st and 5th boxes free at Graze… my referral link.) NatureBox allows you to pick out the snacks you want in each box (or be surprised), while Graze chooses for you (but allows you to rate previous boxes so they get to know your tastes as time goes on). Either of these boxes would be appreciated by any new mom!

notebooks

Whether she uses these to jot down thoughts, keep track of feedings, or to use during her devotional time, pretty notebooks are always a useful gift. These are just lovely. (I have them and I have also gifted them!)

blank notecards

The amount of thank-you notes a new mom writes is astronomical, so a pretty set of blank notecards will be put to good use! I like these die cut ones, but there are often really cute notecard sets in the dollar spot at Target.

lip balm

This Pretty Balm from Root is my favorite. I like it in Gossip, Waverly, and Doll.

one line a day journal

Okay, so this gift is a little bit about baby. It’s a five-year journal where mom can record a line or two each day about anything… how she’s feeling, what milestones the baby reached that day, what they did as a family, etc. Doable, and so sweet.

robe

I bought this beautiful new robe to wear after baby comes, and I think any mom would love one! This etsy store carries lots of amazing floral prints and the robes are handmade in India.

chocolate

Currently, I am obsessed with these Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels from Aldi. They taste very gourmet, and I would totally pay more for them. Chocolate is always a win!

What would you add to this list?

ALIESHA CALDWELL IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

DIY Aftershave Balm

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to companies I use and love. All opinions are my own, and I was not paid to write this post. If you choose to make a purchase through my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.

Aliesha Caldwell is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Hot Chocolate Mix – Just 3 Ingredients!

Aliesha Caldwell is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Gift Ideas for a New Mom