What can warm you up and help you keep your cool all at the same time?

• A. Candles
• B. Wine
• C. Cooking
• D. It depends
• E. All of the above

If you answered “D” or “E” you are correct. Apparently not everyone loves wine or cooking. Who knew?

But enough about them, right now I am obsessed with two of the three choices above…which two, I’ll never tell.

Yes I will.

I’m obsessed with candles. There’s something about the warm glow, and in some cases the aromatherapy, that helps me on my quest to strike workout/work/life balance.

So when I was stuck at home on Saturday because of a blizzard, I busted open a bottle of wine lit a few candles and decided to personalize a few gifts, using an idea I read in the January issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Let’s just say if it wasn’t nailed down, I was adhering it to a glass candle holder…

or a wine bottle…

I printed pictures of friends from Facebook pages and scanned Christmas card pictures, I cut up some stationary and printed quotes onto photo paper, and went to town.

Here’s What You’ll Need to Make These Personalized Presents:

• 5 minutes
• A glass candle holder or wine bottle
• Spray adhesive (Martha didn’t use this but I felt it was necessary to achieve a flat edge)
• Self adhesive corner holders that you can find in the scrapbook section of any craft store and my Target (optional)
• A photo or other personalized item

Do I really need to tell you that all you have to do is spray the adhesive to the back of the paper, affix the corner rounders, and stick it to the glass? I didn’t think so.

I think this is a great gift for a birthday girl like my Mom (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!), a hostess gift, or a Christmas gift for anyone that likes candles, wine, cooking, or all of the above.

Now I really must go burn off some calories but before I go I want to thank you for stopping by Fitness & Spice today…

Congratulations to these Fitness & Spice readers for winning the Revival Soy candle drawing:

Heather, Liz, and, The Candid RD!

Please email your mailing addresses to fitnessandspice@gmail.com and we’ll have your candle shipped to you.

Thanks to everyone of you for taking the Random Acts of Fitness & Spice challenge. Now make sure you follow through and pamper yourself this weekend! Break out the good candles, the good perfume, the good towels, the good shoes, the good candles, or do whatever it takes to make your weekend merry and bright!

I thought I’d share a few more ideas with you to give for fitness! This is my third list so if you need a refresher on my first two gift giving guides click right here.

This list contains a few things you can start whipping up quite easily over the next few weeks. I think yule spread a lot of Joy if you make any of these presents on…

THE FIT LIST

Hot Chocolate Protein Kits

I am a bit obsessed with hot protein drinks now that our temps have reached below zero, but who’s complaining?  Not only are protein lattes and mocha’s packed full of protein, but they taste ahhhhmazing, too! Bundle up 3-4 servings of Protein Freeze inside a cellophane bag, top with dark chocolate chips and/or marshmallows, tie with a bow, and tuck it inside a really cute mug. Be sure to include the recipe for a Whole Latte Protein or a Peppermint Protein Latte with your gift, too!

You might want to give Hot Chocolate Protein Kits to: Your training buddies, your personal trainer, your favorite high school or college athlete, and your really hot friends.

Protein Ice Cream Kits

Protein Freeze makes fantastic ice cream! Make ice cream kits by scooping up 3-4 servings of vanilla or chocolate Protein Freeze into a cellophane bag, top with dark chocolate chips and/or marshmallows, and tie with a bow. Package up your protein packets inside an ice cream bowl and maybe even include an ice cream scoop. Be sure to add some brief instructions, too. Something like: Blend 3/4 cup Protein Freeze, 3/4 cup water, 2T Peanut Butter and freeze! Top with dark chocolate chips and enjoy!

You might want to give Protein Ice Cream Kits to: Your coach, your teachers, or your really cool friends.

Personalized Notepads

One year my niece and nephews made notepads for their parents for Christmas gifts. They drew up some masterpieces and then we hit the local copy shop and had them made into pads of note paper. You can easily design some paper on your computer, too, with a great quote, your gift recipients name or initials, or something personal for the lucky recipient.

You might give Personalized Notepads for: Aunts, grandparents, coworkers, friends, and your favorite blogger.

Candles

Nothing says, “You light up my life” better than a candle. I retired my glue gun many moons ago and replaced it with double stick tape. I dressed up this candle with some ribbon I found at Super Target last week. Simply stick the double stick tape to the jar and adhere the ribbon on top. Try this same technique with ornaments, too.

You might want to dress up a candle for: A hostess gift, your neighbors, and your really bright friends.

Now I really must wrap this up so I can pack up my whey and fly to the gym!