DIY Cocoa Spicy Sugar Scrub Hostess Gift Basket

Thanks to Coca-Cola for sponsoring this holiday post. All ideas and opinions are my own!

We know it shouldn't be this way, but for many of us, the holiday season can often be as crazy as it is joyful. From parties and travel to shopping, decorating, and even just dealing with unexpected weather, these weeks can often take a lot out of us.

This is why I'm so thankful for those amazing people in our lives who always seem to go above and beyond. They're the people you know you can always count on for help no matter how big or small, and the ones who go out of their way to make this season better, happier, and more magical for all of us.

This year, I've teamed up with Coca-Cola to help celebrate these unsung heroes in our lives. They are encouraging all of us to take a moment to recognize a few people in your life with a little something extra special beyond the typical holiday gifts or cards. I created a special homemade Cocoa Spice Sugar Scrub to pair with some store-bought spa products (think face masks, bath salts, etc.) and a set of personalized Coca-Cola glass bottles I ordered from ShareaCoke.com. It's the perfect gift for the unsung hero and holiday hostess who makes Christmas amazing for my entire family. In my case, it's my mom!

Each year, my mom decorates our family home, cooks us incredible meals featuring all our favorite dishes, and is pretty much the only one that ever remembers to buy stocking stuffers.

(Our stockings would seriously just be sad and empty and very-unstuffed without my momma.)

Puerto Ricans celebrate Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, and our tradition is to eat a late dinner followed by opening presents just after midnight. We'll stay up until about 2AM laughing and enjoying our gifts and each other's company, before finally wandering off to our respective bedrooms. By that point, it usually looks like Christmas exploded in our living room, with wrapping paper and ribbons and leftover party snacks left all over the place.

We always say we'll take care of it in the morning, but when we wake up the next day, the house is spotless with all the trash gone, presents sorted into neat piles, and dishes washed and put away.

We joke that it's a secret Christmas elf, but it isn't. (Elves don't exist.) It's really the work of my amazing mom, who insists on staying up until about 4AM cleaning and making sure everything is perfect for us the next morning.

So that's who I'm celebrating with my special gift this year!

This DIY Pamper Yourself Kit, is the perfect gift to give to the hostess in your life to take care of herself after all those days spent taking care of you and your family. It combines a sweet homemade gift (this scrub is so delicious and perfect for winter!), some fun store-bought goodies, and the unexpected and delightful surprise of personalized bottles of her favorite drink.

GIVEAWAY!
And here's a fun giveaway to help YOU celebrate the special person in your life!

Leave a comment below telling me who the unsung hero is in your life! One reader will be randomly selected to win one (1) six-pack of personalized “Share a Coke” glass bottles from ShareaCoke.com AND a $100 Visa gift card.

Your entry must be in by 12PM EST on Friday, December 16. You must include a valid email so I can contact you if you win. US Residents only.

Even better? All my readers can take advantage of this exclusive discount code for ShareaCoke.com so you can order personalized glass bottles for all the unsung holiday heroes in your life. Just enter the code HOLIDAY40 at checkout.

Enjoy!

This prize was provided by The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company is not a sponsor, administrator or connected in any other way with this campaign.

Cocoa Spice Sugar Scrub
Yields about 2 1/2 cups of scrub, multiply as needed

Ingredients
1 cup oil (coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, etc.)
3 tablespoons honey
2 cups dark brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup coffee grounds
2 tablespoons ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Hermetically sealed wide-mouth mason jars
Small plastic scoops

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well to create a thick mixture with the texture of wet sand.

Scoop the mixture into glass jars and seal. Decorate with gift tags, cinnamon sticks, and small plastic or metal scoops.

NOTE: This mixture should be kept in a cool, dry place. Don’t let water get into the scrub when using as it will cause it to dissolve. For adult use only, and please use caution and avoid gifting to the elderly or anyone with mobility issues who might slip in the shower.