Herbal Eye Pillows

Daughter L and I are in the mood to simplify holiday gift giving. (That's the intellectual way of saying we're in the midst of a budget crisis that might not get better any time soon.)

At the end of the garden season, right about the time the stock market collapsed, I decided to harvest lots of goodies: Lavender buds, Flax seeds, Mint leaves and more. Now it's time to put them to use.

Mint leaves always come in handy. If the stock market continues to collapse, we can mix up a gallon of Rum Mojitos...

Each week, leading up to the holidays, we're trying our luck at a homemade gift ~ spa goodies for the gals on our list.

Now that's not to say we're any good at this stuff. We're learning as we go along. So, count your blessings. If you were on my list, I'd probably give you one of these things and then you'd be expected to use it...

Herbal Eye Pillow Recipe
These are very cool! Enjoy it when you come home from work.
Warm in the microwave for 25-30 seconds, massage a bit to release the essential oils. Place over your eyes, relax on the couch with a glass of wine. If anyone who is fussing and fuming about this - tell them to cook their own damn dinner.

* Silk fabric 12 inches x 5 inches
* 2 cups flax seed
* 3/4 cup dried peppermint leaves
* 1 cup dried lavender buds
* 30 drops lavender essential oil
* 10 drops peppermint essential oil
* 5-10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Mix together dry ingredients first. Add essential oils slowly stirring constantly.

Hot Tip! You can dramatically speed up the packaging process if you simply drop the silk fabric off at a friends house and talk her into sewing the little pillows.

"I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex."

- Oscar Wilde

*Photos: Blue: Flax, Green: Mint, Purple: Lavender. Inferior Flax is often sold as Linum Oil. That's what gave us the grand idea of using it as a spa lineament.