Nighty night, sleep tight

Sleep.

We all know it’s important, but for most of us, we’re just simply not getting enough. In fact, approximately 33% of American adults don’t get enough sleep at night.

We live in a world that seems like it’s go, go, go, all the time. We try to squeeze every last second out of our days, and we’re oftentimes so busy that the first thing we sacrifice is our sleep. Sleep is the last thing we should be sacrificing though because while we’re sleeping our bodies are still hard out work. Our brain processes information and develops memories during our sleep and sleep time is when the majority of waste products are removed from our bloodstream and our metabolism finally has a chance to rebuild itself after a day of working hard. Sleep also helps boost our mood, helps us to focus, and boosts our immune system.

It’s fair to say we’ve all had a night where we just didn’t get good sleep and felt pretty bad the next day, right? Lack of sleep can have some disastrous effects. It’s estimated that 100,000 vehicular crashes a year in the United States are attributed to sleepiness. There’s also a risk of your immune system becoming suppressed, and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Studies have also shown that sleep deprivation and mental illness share overlapping pathways within the brain.

So, what can you do about your lack of sleep? Aromatherapy, or the use of essential oils, can help us to get more sleep. When using essential oils for sleep, the two best ways are to diffuse 3-5 drops of essential oils 30 minutes prior to bed, use a personal inhaler and take a few deep sniffs prior to bed, or making a linen spray that you can spray your pillows and bedding with prior to sleep. Today, I’ll be giving you a diffuser recipe you can use to help you get a good night’s rest.

Essential Oils for Sleep:

1. Lavender
2. Patchouli
3. Sweet Orange
4. Vetiver
5. Roman Chamomile
6. Sweet Marjoram
7. Bergamot
8. Petitgrain
9. Sandalwood
10. Valerian

Sleepy Time Diffuser Blend:

3 drops Lavender

2 drops Sandalwood

2 drops Sweet Orange

Add all oils to your diffuser and diffuse for 15-30 minutes prior to going to bed.

Other Sleep Tips:

1. Make sleep a priority.

2. Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet.

3. Try to keep consistent bedtimes and wake-up times.

4. Have a relaxing bedtime routine.

5. Limit caffeine intake and avoid caffeine later in the day.

6. No screens 60 minutes before bed, or at the very least, use blue light filtering glasses.

7. Don’t lay in bed frustrated. If you can’t sleep, instead of tossing and turning, get up and do something relaxing (such as reading) and go back to bed when you feel tired.

I hope these tips help you to start getting a better night’s sleep. Good sleep is absolutely crucial if you want to live a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Happy Crafting!

This Apple Tart Soap is such a sweet little soap-making project, and I love how it turns a simple melt and pour soap base into something that looks almost good enough to eat. The idea of using clear glycerin soap with apple pie fragrance oil, cinnamon, and a whipped white soap topping gives this project a warm, cozy dessert-inspired feel without making it overly complicated.

What makes this project especially appealing is how beginner-friendly it is. Melt and pour soap is one of the easiest ways to get started with handmade soap, and this recipe keeps the ingredient list short while still creating a finished soap that feels fun and gift-worthy. The whipped topping detail is a clever touch because it instantly makes the soap look more like a tiny apple tart or bakery-style treat.

I also really like the packaging potential for this project. These soaps would look beautiful wrapped in clear cello, brown kraft paper, or a small handmade gift box. Adding dried apple rounds, a cinnamon stick, twine, or a rustic gift tag would make them perfect for fall gifts, teacher presents, craft stalls, Christmas hampers, or homemade bath and body gift baskets.

Because the soap uses cinnamon and fragrance oil, I would treat this as more of a novelty hand soap or decorative gift soap rather than something for very sensitive skin. As with all handmade bath and body projects, it is a good idea to use skin-safe fragrance oils and soap-safe colorants where possible.

Overall, this is a charming little melt and pour soap project with lots of handmade gift appeal. It is simple enough for beginners, pretty enough for gifting, and has that cozy apple pie scent that makes it especially lovely for autumn, holiday markets, and homemade Christmas gifts.

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