This year, we've decided making our holiday gifts sounds like carols to our ears. That said, we're all pretty busy people with certain limited budgets. So, we're bringing you a series of Do-It-Yourself gifts that take those things into consideration and deliver thoughtful, healthy and beautiful gifts to pamper and nourish your loved ones. Here's Number One!

India's ancient science of life - Ayurveda - considers taking a bath highly therapeutic, especially in the colder months of the year when our constitutions can go out of whack and those winter blues set in. An Ayurvedic bath can enhance circulation, elevate energy levels, rehydrate skin, relax muscles, promote better sleep and balance out our whacky selves. Beware: These bath salts will be requested over and over and over again...

Giving your loved ones the gift of these seriously simple handmade bath salts could very well get them through the winter without turning glum. First gather the following ingredients tailored to the amount of presents you want to create:

• Salt of your choosing, but a good choice can be a mixture of sea and epsom salt
• Essential oils of your choosing, though for winter, Ayurveda recommends Chamomile, Sandalwood and Lavender (for more ideas, check out Pick the Right Essential Oils and Relieving Stress with Organic Essential Oils)
• A mixing bowl and large fork, spoon or whisk
• A container; mason jars with lids wrapped in straw and a homemade tag look great!
• Though optional, an all-natural dye to create a colorful bath

It's so easy to do we almost don't need to explain it to you, but here goes:

• Begin by mixing salts together in a bowl
• Add a drop or two of your essential oils and mix it up getting rid of any clumps
• Add natural food grade dye, mixing it in and adding until you get your desired hue
• Funnel salts into the jars and seal them, adding decorative labels of your creative choosing

Really, could it be any easier? Of course, there are ways to get much fancier with your bath salts - and they're all just a click or two away. One thing we like to do is add salt in layers of varying color into see-through containers; candy cane stripes quite apt.  

image: Craig Finlay