Remedies for Dry Winter Skin

I hope you had a lovely few holidays! I went back to my parents for about a week. It was nice to visit, but it sure is wonderful to be back home.

This winter has been especially harsh on my skin. It's very dry here in Puget Sound right now, and my skin is taking the brunt of it. My feet are so dry that they're cracking and peeling. Gosh, it can be painful. This has never happened to me, so naturally, it freaked me out. After trying several products and steps, I think I have found a good solution.

Step 1 - Soak your feet in a nice foot spa that can bubble and keep the heat. Add bath salts to the water for your soak. You can even find foot soak fizzies, which I love.
Step 2 - Use a pumice to smooth your feet and remove the dead skin. Pat dry.
Step 3 - Using a cotton ball or cotton pad, apply olive oil to your feet. Massage in.
Step 4 - Once the olive oil has been soaked up, apply a strong lotion, preferably one for feet as they tend to be thicker.
Step 5 - Put on socks right after you apply the lotion.

I have been doing this a few evenings, and I can tell a difference. Olive oil...who knew?

Home Remedies

Lately I've been getting into home remedies and homemade goodies. It's the closest I'll get to willingly cook. I don't know about you, but I would rather try something natural first before I turn to the pharmaceuticals. Since the cold season is upon us, I thought I would pass along some remedies to you. In a little bit, I'll be making lotions, lip balms, and other goodies, so keep an eye out for them! My family will be getting those for Christmas this year because I'm tired of shelling out money; we all are. Actually, we're just going to enjoy a fun time together, but I'm going to surprise them with it since they know I hate to cook.

Burns
Mix equal parts of vinegar and baking soda. Cover over the burn.

Sore Throat
Heat 1 cup water, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 and a half tablespoons of honey. Stir and drink.

Sleepless Nights
Mix 1 teaspoon of honey (they also make lavender honey, which works best for this) in lukewarm milk. Drink.

Stomach Ache
Mix 1 teaspoon of honey, half cup hot water, half a lemon juiced, and half teaspoon freshly grated ginger. Ginger is optional. Drink.

Cough Syrup
#1 - Mix one-fourth cup molasses, three-fourth teaspoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon butter. Heat. Drink.
#2 - Mix one-fourth teaspoon cayenne pepper, one-fourth teaspoon ground ginger, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons water. Warm. Drink.

Heartburn 
Dissolve half teaspoon baking soda in 1 cup water. Drink. Quickly.

Colds, Indigestion, Cough
Combine 8 ounces pineapple juice, 2 teaspoons honey, one-fourth teaspoon grated fresh ginger over low heat. Drink.

I tend to get coughy and sickish during the winter, so I'm hoping these will hold them off a bit. I hate going to the doctor when I can avoid it.