Have you seen the price of bath products lately? You know the ones I mean, bath salts, bath oils, those cute little round ball bath bombs.

Now, have you looked at the ingredients as well? I have, and let me tell you neither the price nor the ingredients in them makes me want to buy them. Far too many of the products we use these days are loaded with chemicals I can't even pronounce, let alone understand exactly what it is that they do.

Because of that, when I became interested in aromatherapy it wasn't much of a stretch to think about making my own bath products using my favorite essential oils. Not to mention the fact that you can save oodles of money making your own, rather than using store-bought. Plus, homemade bath products make great gifts for Christmas and birthdays!

So, how can you make your own bath products? And what kinds of things will you need? Well, it depends on what products you want to make. I'm going to share with you how to make your own bath salts, fizzy bath bombs, and homemade bubble bath.

After reading through some recommendations on lotions and products that make your skin really soft (I have rather dry skin, just needs more moisturizing), I clipped these pages from a couple of magazines I read and respect and headed to the store.

Yep, I splurged for a change -- on 3 hand & body lotions, as well as 1 bath & shower wash.

Up til now, there have been 2 big bottles of  Aveeno Daily Moisturizong Lotion and Jergens Ultra Healing lotion perched at my desk and near my bed. But I've still been having dry skin. Neither has the "wow" factor that I'm looking for in a lotion.

Perhaps their formulations are old? Perhaps lotion itself ages? (These bottles are over a year old.)

Either way, I was determined to try some of the newer lotions that are supposed to make your skin silky smooth.

By George, I think I've found it! During this trial, I actually found 2 lotions that I liked. One that I didn't. And a new bath & body wash that I am now using daily.

I used to go to the local drug store (CVS, Rite Aid, etc.) one a month and spend $100 or more on beauty products such as razor blades, depilatory cremes, hair conditioner, deodorant, lotion, facial cleansers, makeup removers, foot softening creme, eczema treatment, and more.

At the time, I thought these items were necessities, now I know better. There are some better (and cheaper) options!

I just saw a report on the CBS Early Show about how 'green' can mean big money for small businesses, fun products, and new careers.

My favorite part:
How big mega businesses gobbled up some smaller (but very popular) household brands.

Here they are...

I awoke this morning to find this...

What is it?
It's a bloody blue massacre featuring one busted shower gel bottle -- its entire contents puddled on the shower floor -- and one nifty little "bottle holder" that failed miserably.

And to think, I had such high hopes for this cool, new-fangled way to store & use shower gel (and shampoo) on a daily basis.

Notice the tall, black thing stuck on the wall -- above the little ledge?...

Men... Are you (or someone you know) dealing with thinning hair? Bald spots? Excessive hair loss? Male patterned baldness?

They've found a cure for baldness...
It's called acceptance!

At least that's the way Jim felt when he started losing his hair several years ago.

Following is a step-by-step photo collage of the process Jim went through the day he decided to shave his head and start living life as a bald man... by choice.

Before...

...After

Want a few tips from someone who's been there, done that? See how Jim did it -- and why he's glad he did ...

I was watching HGTV the other day... probably an episode of "I Want That" or something similar. And I remembered seeing an interesting new product called the Purse Pal.

What's cool about it is the fact that not only does it give you a place to put your purse -- so it's always within your sight and up off the floor -- it also gives you a place to put your other things like your hat, your scarf, your gloves, and your shopping bags when you're out & about.

Plus, it's small and compact, so it's easy to tote along whenever you're out shopping or traveling.

That one product intrigued me enough to want to check out HGTV's database of unusual products & ideas.

I found some even better one-of-a-kind items!...

Ever wonder exactly how many drops of Essential Oil you should use?

Here are some of the best (and most popular) ways to enjoy the benefits of Aromatherapy -- from basic inhalation methods and vapor mists to personal ointments and air fresheners.

Take a look at all of the fun ways you can use Essential Oils...

According to The Family Handyman (February 2006), the top upgrades and remodeling projects for bathrooms are:

1. Whirlpool tubs.
"Water-jet" tubs ($800 to $8,000) provide a more powerful water stream. "Air-jet" tubs ($1,200 to $20,000) massage by blasting air through tiny holes. When it comes to whirlpool tubs, some people prefer the tingle of air massage; others find it too gentle. Air-jet tubs are often louder and incoming air cools the water faster.

Did you know?...
When you look at prices for whirlpool tubs, remember to add at least $200 for the faucet, plumbing and electrical supplies. You may also want to replace your water heater, since you'll need one with a heater capacity at about 75% of the tub's capacity.

2. Soap & shampoo dispensers.
Push-button dispensers mean less clutter, more convenience, and quicker cleaning. Many even dispense three or four different liquids (soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion) from one mechanism. You can either screw it to the wall or fasten it with double-sided adhesive tape.

Did you know?...
Many shower soap dispensers have indicators on the side to let you know when it's time to refill -- before getting into the shower and finding out that they're empty.

Who knew, that I'd first hear about Mr. Clean Magic Erasers at a conference about blogging?

It's true. When Glenn Reynolds (a.k.a. "The Instapundit" and godfather of the blogging world) mentioned in passing how much he liked this handy household gadget, I knew they must be great. And when he commented on their ability to work on a wide variety of surfaces, rather than just those stated on the box, I knew this product would be right up my alley.

I'm not kidding when I say these Magic Erasers truly work miracles... and they're only about a buck apiece!

• These foam-like pads are extremely lightweight and resemble pieces of styrofoam.
• They are made of a porous melamine material that gets into hard-to-clean surfaces and tiny grooves... like magic!
• All it takes is a dab of water to moisten the eraser. No other cleaning chemicals needed (...and no elbow grease).

My Favorite Uses For Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

After a few minutes of wiping down appliances, light switches, and cupboards (also lightly textured), I was compelled to go all around the house LOOKING for stuff to clean... These things are great at getting into the tiny cracks & crevices of virtually any surface!

My other faves:

Removing scuff marks from floors, doors, and baseboards (...not only scuff marks, but also years of black grime & built-up hairspray on white baseboards in the bathrooms & door panels of cabinets/doors)

Making tennis shoes look like new again

Cleaning white grout effortlessly

Removing set-in tea stains in the Mr. Coffee Instant Tea Maker (pitcher & tea holder)

Cleaning the textured plastic parts of the computer monitor, keyboard & mouse

Removing set-in stains from drink coasters (...even those ceramic ones)

Cleaning in the tiny nooks & crannies of the electric can opener

...but wait, there's more!

When it comes to laundry, there are a few "unknowns" in my world, like...

...how to keep whites white

...how to rid men's softball pants of reddish-brown dirt

...and the right way to use Bleach (its safe with SOME colors? what about whites that have colored collars & trim? then again, sometimes it turns whites grey, right?)

Well, this weekend, I finally found ONE great resource for Bleach:
To remove the caked on mildew and grime that was growing on the back of our vinyl shower curtain liner!

Believe it or not I'm NOT the member of the household who likes to take baths! I mean, I USED to be. But lately, I've switched to showers cuz they're quicker -- no time for baths anymore.

JIM, on the other hand, takes a long, hot bath every week or so! Mostly because of his aching muscles after softball or a hard day at work.

He's always been a fan of the Mr. Bubble, but I think he's going to like this new bubble bath I found...

There's a new kid on the block (in the web world, that is)... and I like her!

She's Elizabeth Waverly, the new guide for About.com's BEAUTY site.

(...didn't think I'd be such a fan of beauty tips & such, did ya?)