Ladies of Stepford, the holidays are over, the halls undecked, the Christmas cards out the door, and life has returned to it's normal state of frantic chaos.  But if your life is like mine, the only difference between the chaos during Christmas and the chaos that goes on the other 11 months of the year is a lot of colored lights, a tree in the living room, and at some point I'm promised to get presents for all my trouble.

Let's face it, in order to pamper our houses, we have to pamper ourselves first, it's a simple fact. 

One of my favorite quick-pamper solutions is an exfoliating bath scrub.  Every other day, I use an exfoliating scrub in the shower, and it leaves my skin soft and smooth and shining.  Now, my favorite scrub is from the True Blue Spa: Island Getaway line from Bath & Body Works, called "Need a Margarita?"  It's positively delish.  But the stuff costs $13.50 for only 6 ounces, can you believe that?!  I think that was even the sale price. 

Luckily, this Stepford Wife is not only got an eye for the luxurious, but also an eye for the frugal.  So I've created a knock-off that works just as well, for mere fraction of the price.  You could use my version every day for a month and it'd still cost less than one pot of the store brand.

Now, forgive me, but I usually make this concoction based off of sight and not measurements.  But making this stuff isn't an exact science, so I'm sure you all are smart enough to figure it out.

• Powdered Margarita Mix, 2-3 packets
• Sugar
• Baby Oil
• Lime Juice
• Lemon/Lime Oil (optional)

In a glass jelly jar or other dish, combine the powdered margarita mix with about 1 1/2 - 2 cups of sugar.  Combine with enough baby oil to completely moisten the sugar.  There should be more sugar than oil in the mixture, and little to no standing oil in the mixture (but if there is, the world won't end, it'll still work fine).  Add a splash of lime juice (maybe 1-2 tablespoons), and a few drops of lemon/lime/ or even coconut oil, and stir. 

Store in the jelly jar, making sure to have a layer of plastic wrap between the lid and the mixture.  If it appears to dry out a bit, a splash more baby oil or a splash of water will wake it right up.