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Holiday Simmer Kit Gift

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This favorite holiday tradition takes me back in time to a world where simple homemade gifts, made with love, were what friends gifted each other. In the fast paced world we find ourselves in this simple tradition feels rebellious.

It all started for our family when I was trying to find a simple way to make a thoughtful holiday gift for our neighbors. We live on the best street ever and we really wanted to gift them each some holiday cheer.
Our kids were 5 and 7 at the time and baking holiday treats, lets just say was not something we did well! Then you add in all the various allergies of folks these days and it felt daunting to find something simple enough for my kids to help me bake and also free of all the things, so anybody with dietary restrictions could still enjoy. Then one day I had a dried out orange that I knew my family wouldn’t eat and I had a few fresh cranberries leftover from Thanksgiving, so I decided to toss them in a pot of water on the stove and simmer them with cinnamon & cloves. A friend stopped by for coffee and commented on how yummy our house smelled and the idea hit me! Why not assemble little simmer kits to hand deliver to each neighbor? It would make their houses smell festive, without any of the harmful chemicals found in so many of the candles, fragrance mixes and sprays that are sold today. The kits would be super budget friendly, while also being really easy for our family to assemble together. After that first year our neighbors couldn’t stop talking about how much they loved them and how much they look forward to receiving them every year and with that we have a tradition that everyone enjoys!

So if you too are looking for a simple gift idea for friends, family or neighbors, here is what we do!

Disclaimer: these are very perishable, so ideally they’re made and gifted within the same day or two as they could quickly begin spoiling. There are lots of simmer kit recipes that use dried ingredients, making them more shelf stable, this is NOT that type of kit. Everything is FRESH and vibrant in color.

The ingredients

  • 1/2 c fresh cranberries
  • 1 fresh orange (we get bags of the small mandarins – aka cuties)
  • 3″ piece of fresh pine stem (foraged from our backyard pine trees)
  • 1 spiced cinnamon sticks (*spiced with cinnamon essential oil, directions below – optional)
  • 1/2 tsp dried whole cloves (*directions below to enhance the clove scent – optional)
  • 1/2 tsp dried whole juniper berries (can find on Amazon or sometimes a local health food store will carry them)

 

ONE MORE STEP

If you’re going to add essential oils to cinnamon, cloves & juniper berries.

In TWO separate GLASS bowls (one for cinnamon sticks and one for cloves & juniper berries together). 

  • ADD ALL cinnamon sticks (if you’re making 10 kits, you’ll need 10 cinnamon sticks) to one of the glass bowls. Drop 10-15 drops of Cinnamon essential oil. Stir with a wooden spoon to ensure each stick got a little bit of essential oil. You could also just do one drop of oil on each stick if you preferred. 
  • ADD ALL dried cloves (1/4c of dried cloves & 1/4c of dried juniper berries for 10-12 kits). Drop 10-15 drops of clove oil to cloves & berries. Stir with a wooden spoon to mix oils into dried goods. If you have any fir, pine or evergreen essential oils, you can add a few drops of that to this mixture too. I love adding a little bit of siberian fir essential oil to boost the pine smell in the kit. 
These essential oil steps are completely optional, I just love how they enhance the scent when simmering. 
 
PINE BRANCH TIP: Don’t have pine branches easily accessible? You can often go to any place that is selling Christmas trees or fresh garland and they will have a pile of free discard pieces of the trees & garland that anyone can take. 

The Fun Part

Toss all ingredients above into a small paper lunch sack bag, or if you want to get fancy like we recently did, you can buy these bags from Amazon. 
 
We add the orange first, then cranberries, then 1-1 1/2 tsp clove/juniper mix, then the 2-3″ piece of fresh pine. After closing the bag we then attach a custom label. You can download my label HERE.
 

I use a hole punch to make a hole in the top of the bag as well as the top of the label. I then use red & white baker’s string to tie the label onto the bag. You can also simply use a stapler on a folded lunch sack to secure the label. 

I definitely recommend including what’s in the bag, who is gifting it, as well as clear directions on how to use the simmer kit properly.

Want a fancy glass pot to simmer this holiday goodness in your own home? You can see ALL my Amazon purchased ingredients for this kit and the glass pot we love to simmer ours in HERE.

Now Go Make a New Friend

Clean living isn’t about perfection – it’s about making intentional choices that work for both your schedule and goals. By being thoughtful about where you invest your time, you can create a lifestyle that is a magnet for relationships.

These choices work for my family, but I encourage you to find what fits your lifestyle and budget. Remember, it’s all about progress, not perfection, in creating a cleaner, healthier life.

I’d love to hear from you! What are you holiday traditions for gathering people and making new friends? Share your thoughts below!

Love this kit? Share you review below! 

Leave a Comment

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Let's Be Friends @becky.glaze
  • This favorite holiday tradition takes me back in time to a world where simple homemade gifts, made with love, were what friends gifted each other. In the fast paced, buy more and everything pre-made world we find ourselves in, this simple handmade tradition feels rebellious. And I’m here for it! Want the complete steps with a FREE downloadable label printable? Comment SIMMER and I’ll send it your way! **If your account is set to private, send me a message and I’ll share the link that way (private accounts won’t always allow me to directly message) @becky.glaze
  • Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
  • Because gifting #cleanbeauty is IN and I’m here to make sure you know all the incredible options out there! Have questions? Want to learn more about ways to save on your Counter order? First time shopper to this newly relaunched Clean Beauty brand, I’ve got a discount code for you- yes, even if you used to be a regular Beautycounter shopper, YOU are NEW to Counter, so you get a special discount to start shopping! Drop me a comment or send me a DM and I’ll share all! #brandpartner #linkinprofile #counterbeautyofficial #shopsafer #chooseclean #votewithyourdollar
  • This man of mine has the patience of a saint. From business issues to existential crises at 11pm, I’m a lucky girl. Being a small business owner isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you do have a faint heart, my hubby can probably help problem solve that too. Honestly though, this space of social media, small business things and creating cute content to show “my doors are open, I’m here, let me help” is the weirdest world of all. Yes, this is a reenactment. Yes I know my phone isn’t in the case. It’s for the bit. And content. You hate it? Oh well. lol. Can’t please everyone. Not even gonna try. #sorrynotsorry Taller the bun closer to heaven. Or so I tell myself when my hair looks insane. #cleanbecky #cleanlivingmama #cleanlivinginstyle #healthyhome
  • The juggling act of what is expected of humans on this planet at this point in history is wild. Did you know we are the first generation in all of human history with 24/7 access to all the world’s problems? Keynote: Technology has outpaced the human capacity to handle the information. We weren’t meant to process all the world’s chaos; and when we try, it only creates stress, anxiety and frustration. Have a general idea of what’s happening in the world (and in your specific community), but ground yourself in the peace of knowing that you can’t solve the world’s problems. We just don’t have the ability to fully hold each corner of gut wrenching story, let alone comment and have a grounded and informed opinion about each event either. Do what you can do to love your family, serve your community and make a positive impact where you can, but be wise in where you can lean in to offer a helping hand and where you need to lay these heavy, complex and anxiety inducing events at the feet of Jesus. Pray for wisdom in what He’s calling you to pickup and what you need to lay down. And fresh baked bread and touching grass are always a good idea😘. #empathymatters #familyfirst❤️ #fypシ❤️💞 #healthylivingdaily #findingpeace #guthealing
@becky.glaze
@becky.glaze
•
Follow
This favorite holiday tradition takes me back in time to a world where simple homemade gifts, made with love, were what friends gifted each other. In the fast paced, buy more and everything pre-made world we find ourselves in, this simple handmade tradition feels rebellious. And I’m here for it! Want the complete steps with a FREE downloadable label printable? Comment SIMMER and I’ll send it your way! **If your account is set to private, send me a message and I’ll share the link that way (private accounts won’t always allow me to directly message) @becky.glaze
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/5
Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
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Seriously though. When I hear a friend proudly announce that “I just threw away all that crap”, it makes me gasp. But why, Becky, you’re all about clean living? Well this is why and this is part of clean living too! 1. We throw away WAAAAY too much in this country. 2. We often only think about immediate impact of something on ourselves, versus the ripple effect of that choice. 3. Just because we won’t eat a particular something, doesn’t mean it couldn’t still bring the exact joy someone is needing in their day. 4. Farmers are STRUGGLING. If we buy pumpkins and then just want to throw them away, there’s an entire life cycle and food source that we are skipping. Donated pumpkins add needed nutrition for winter livestock needs. Often donation places do prefer the pumpkins in their most whole state, but it’s worth reaching out to your local groups to double check their specific requirements. Let’s all think beyond ourselves and our own convenience for a minute and consider the community impact we could have by opening our hands and minds a little wider. Sincerely yours in clean, Becky Ps: drop in the comments below if you have any other suggestions for where to donate these items! Love to crowdsource these things!
2 months ago
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2/5
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Because gifting #cleanbeauty is IN and I’m here to make sure you know all the incredible options out there! Have questions? Want to learn more about ways to save on your Counter order? First time shopper to this newly relaunched Clean Beauty brand, I’ve got a discount code for you- yes, even if you used to be a regular Beautycounter shopper, YOU are NEW to Counter, so you get a special discount to start shopping! Drop me a comment or send me a DM and I’ll share all! #brandpartner #linkinprofile #counterbeautyofficial #shopsafer #chooseclean #votewithyourdollar
2 months ago
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@becky.glaze
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This man of mine has the patience of a saint. From business issues to existential crises at 11pm, I’m a lucky girl. Being a small business owner isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you do have a faint heart, my hubby can probably help problem solve that too. Honestly though, this space of social media, small business things and creating cute content to show “my doors are open, I’m here, let me help” is the weirdest world of all. Yes, this is a reenactment. Yes I know my phone isn’t in the case. It’s for the bit. And content. You hate it? Oh well. lol. Can’t please everyone. Not even gonna try. #sorrynotsorry Taller the bun closer to heaven. Or so I tell myself when my hair looks insane. #cleanbecky #cleanlivingmama #cleanlivinginstyle #healthyhome
2 months ago
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4/5
@becky.glaze
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The juggling act of what is expected of humans on this planet at this point in history is wild. Did you know we are the first generation in all of human history with 24/7 access to all the world’s problems? Keynote: Technology has outpaced the human capacity to handle the information. We weren’t meant to process all the world’s chaos; and when we try, it only creates stress, anxiety and frustration. Have a general idea of what’s happening in the world (and in your specific community), but ground yourself in the peace of knowing that you can’t solve the world’s problems. We just don’t have the ability to fully hold each corner of gut wrenching story, let alone comment and have a grounded and informed opinion about each event either. Do what you can do to love your family, serve your community and make a positive impact where you can, but be wise in where you can lean in to offer a helping hand and where you need to lay these heavy, complex and anxiety inducing events at the feet of Jesus. Pray for wisdom in what He’s calling you to pickup and what you need to lay down. And fresh baked bread and touching grass are always a good idea😘. #empathymatters #familyfirst❤️ #fypシ❤️💞 #healthylivingdaily #findingpeace #guthealing
3 months ago
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