We Remember – Plus Soothe Your Skin!

Today is Memorial Day in the US, and while it’s a fun, long weekend, and usually touted as the unofficial start to summer (unless you’re here in Pennsylvania this year, where it’s cold and rainy). However, it’s also a day where we remember those who lost their lives fighting for our freedoms. Today we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and the families of those brave men and women. We thank you for service, we thank you for your bravery, we thank you for our freedoms, and we thank you for your sacrifice.

In Flanders Fields
BY JOHN MCCRAE

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Quick DIY Skin-Soothing Roll-On

With this being the kick-off for the summer season in the US, I thought today I’d give you a recipe for a quick, easy, and soothing roller bottle recipe that you can whip up in just minutes. This roller bottle blend is great to have on hand in the summer months because it can soothe the skin after small burns, bug bites, scratches, sunburn, or even rashes caused by heat, poison ivy, etc. I like to keep a bottle of this close by because we use it so much, and I ALWAYS have a bottle on hand in my kitchen.

Ingredients:

Vegetable Oil of Choice – I like to use liquid coconut oil for this, can be fractionated or non-fractionated.

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Lavender Essential Oil

Empty 10 ml roller bottle

How To:

Add 4 drops of Tea Tree Oil to empty roller bottle

Add 5 drops of Lavender Oil to the Tea Tree

Top off roller bottle with vegetable oil – whatever you have on hand is fine!

Cap the roller bottle and roll gently between your hands to make sure all ingredients are mixed together thoroughly.

Happy Crafting!

There’s always one cheeky elf who pushes things a little too far—and this time? He’s covered in Grinch Gunk! This fun, fizzy Grinch Gunk Bath Slime is a gooey, giggle-worthy bath treat that looks mischievous but is totally skin-safe. It’s squishy, jiggly, and dissolves into the bath for a silly Christmas soak your kids won’t forget.

Whether you’re staging your Elf on the Shelf’s latest misadventure or putting together a “Grinch Spa Kit” for holiday gifting, this bath-safe slime is part sensory play, part bath magic.

Why You’ll Love This Grinchy Goo

Safe and fun for kids
No harsh ingredients—just skin-loving gentle goo
Doubles as sensory play before bath time
Can be poured into the bath like a bath gel
Perfect for Elf on the Shelf setups or DIY stocking stuffers
Customisable with scent, shimmer, and fun containers

Ingredients – Guar Gum Gel Version (Skin-Safe, Natural)

Makes about 1 cup of Grinch Gunk

1 cup warm distilled water
1 tsp guar gum powder (natural thickener)
1 tbsp glycerin or aloe vera gel (skin soothing + slip)
5–10 drops peppermint essential oil (or vanilla-mint blend)
Green mica powder or food-safe soap colorant
1 tsp baking soda (optional, helps soothe skin)
Small jar or squishy tub container

Optional:

A pinch of eco-safe glitter
Mini plastic Grinch or Elf toy
Printable “Help! The Grinch Got Me!” tag

Melt-and-Pour Version (For Squishy Soap-Like Texture)

½ cup clear melt-and-pour soap base, chopped
1 tbsp vegetable glycerin
Green soap colorant or mica
5 drops peppermint essential oil
Heat-safe jar or silicone mold

How to Make – Guar Gum Version

In a mixing bowl, combine warm water and glycerin.
Slowly sprinkle in the guar gum powder, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
Add baking soda, essential oils, and green mica. Whisk again until smooth and gooey.
Add glitter or shimmer if using. Pour into small jars.
Let sit uncovered for 10–15 minutes before sealing.

How to Make – Melt & Pour Version

Gently melt soap base in microwave or double boiler until fully liquid.
Stir in glycerin, mica, and essential oils.
Pour into jar or mold and allow to cool and firm up. The result: a jiggly, jello-like slab of bath slime!

How to Use Grinch Bath Slime

Scoop a tablespoon or two into the tub as the water runs
Rub between hands for silly slime play before rinsing
Watch it dissolve into a silky, minty soak
Store leftovers sealed, out of sunlight, for 1–2 weeks (guar gum version)

Note: As with all kids’ bath products, adult supervision is recommended. Avoid eyes and mouth.

Elf on the Shelf Setup

Here’s how to make your elf’s Grinch-y mischief come to life:

Place your Elf in a clear jar of green slime
Add a sign that says:
“HELP! The Grinch Got Me!”
Scatter a few green drops or slime trails around the counter
Leave behind a note that says:
“I tried to sneak a treat, but the Grinch left me stuck in goo! Scoop some into your bath—if you dare!”

Gifting Tips

Grinch Gunk makes an adorable DIY gift for:

Christmas Eve boxes
Classmate gifts
Stocking stuffers
Holiday bath kits
Grinch movie night party favours

Packaging ideas:

Green slime in mini jam jars
Labelled with: “Grinch Gunk – For When You’ve Been a Little Naughty”
Tie with black ribbon or pipe cleaner “antlers”
Pair with a mini candy cane or elf sticker

This Grinch Gunk Bath Slime brings just the right amount of holiday chaos to bath time. It’s festive, fun, and full of sensory magic—and the perfect way to turn a simple soak into a giggly, sparkly memory.

Have you read?