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How To Make A Winter Toolkit
Winter is almost here and it’s our busy season! Living in San Antonio, our winters are pretty comfortable – not too cold or hot, just somewhere in between most days. So, we try to take advantage of the moderate temperatures by working on home repairs, landscaping, and other outdoor chores. It’s the best time of year for us to do these things because the summer months are usually way too hot for strenuous work.
Since the weather is starting to get cooler we have begun planning what we are going to do this year. So far, we have decided on adding a play structure to the back yard for the boys and to do some simple redecorating as well. My husband is going to build the play structure and we are thinking of something really cool like monkey bars, a slide, and a fireman’s pole. The boys are totally going to love it and I am sure we will be spending even more time in the yard together this year.
I want our backyard to feel cozy and welcoming and I needed some ideas. I went to Target to check out some new lighting options and maybe some throw pillows and other decor for the yard. While browsing the aisles I started thinking about last year when we worked on our deck and our flower beds. It was really awesome, working side by side with the hubby, laughing and just spending some quality time together. But when we were done, oh boy were we sore! My husband threw out his back and my entire body was aching.
On those nights after the kids were in bed, we both took hot showers and Tylenol® PM. Then we took turns rubbing each other with Ultra Strength BENGAY® Cream. Talk about romance, huh? Lol! Seriously, though, it would have been a rough night without them! I knew this year would be a repeat of last year’s aches and pains so while I was at Target I decided to put together a Winter Toolkit so that we can get through the sprains, pains, aches and soreness of this season with ease.
Grab Your Winter Toolkit Supplies
I grabbed some Tylenol®, Tylenol® PM, Ultra Strength BENGAY® Cream, a scented candle that we both love, a really cute pair of long socks (not to wear!), some ribbon, hand lotion, a couple of magazines and some candy. These are all things that will make us feel good after a long day of hard work. The Ultra Strength BENGAY® Cream really is a lifesaver because it helps relieves the minor aches and pains of muscles and joints that we normally aren’t so hard on. When I got home I put everything in a basket that I had on hand to make the perfect Winter Toolkit for us.
Assemble the DIY Cold/Hot Packs
Here’s what I did with the socks and ribbon:
- Get some uncooked rice from the pantry and fill each sock. You want them to be about ¾ of the way filled.
- Tie a ribbon tightly around the open end of each sock to close them.
Voila! We now have DIY His and Hers Cold/Hot Packs. We can either stick them in the freezer for about an hour to use as a cold pack or microwave them for 30 seconds to a minute (depends on your microwave, always check after 30 seconds to avoid overheating) for a heat pack. The great thing about these socks is that the rice makes them very moldable so they can be used anywhere from your neck to your back, knees or even ankles. They are even good for kids under 12, who are too young to use Ultra Strength BENGAY® Cream. They don’t get super hot like a traditional heating pad and they are perfect to place around sprained little ankles.
Next time you’re in Target, be sure to grab all of the supplies you need to make a Winter Toolkit to help your family get through the aches and pains of the season!
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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I totally feel you on the bengay I always have it in my house! I loved this post <3
I’m not sure we could make it through days like that one without Bengay! Ha! I’m glad it’s your go to!
What a neat idea to have a winter toolkit! I travel and am currently in Florida where there is barely a winter lol but great for me to keep in mind if we ever spend winters in a colder location 😀 Ty for sharing!!!
We don’t live in a cold location either (Texas) however, the activities we do in the “winter” leave us needing to use Bengay to make it through, haha! We like to do yard work when it’s not so hot out!
Great tips~~~
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed them!
I love the day hot packs. So cute, easy to make and handy when you need one.
Glad you liked them! We enjoy the ease of use as well.
What great ideas!
We love Bengay a lot too. It really comes in handy.
Yes, it sure does! We were pretty Bengay happy the other day haha!
I’m in Canada, so there’s now snow on the ground, with more expected tomorrow. But your Winter tool kit is a great idea for areas like yours. I was thinking as I was reading your post that your kit would also make an excellent Christmas gift for those that live in the same climate. I bet they wouldn’t think of putting together a kit like that themselves. You’d be solving a problem they didn’t even know they had…
That’s a brilliant idea! I know a few people who would actually love this for Christmas. Bengay works great in the winter anywhere. I know cold weather makes joints ache as well.
I had no idea you could use uncooked rice for heat packs??! this is a game changer!
It works wonders! I think you can used uncooked beans as well! It holds heat really well, plus it’s comfy because it conforms to your shape.
You guys are too cute. Together in pain and relief!
Ha! All the way! It’s the only way to get through life, am I right?!
Can I be honest – I leave home jobs to my husband lol I’ll do some small ones but otherwise its kinda his woman coz he is so good at it!
Oh yeah, my husband is the best at it as well but I like poking my nose in and learning or helping a long the way.
Se manifique! such an awesomely creative DIY. love it!
So glad you love it as much as I do! So handy! Enjoy!
I LOVE this idea. I think i might do this next year for myself and the kids. I think it could be fun.
I’m so glad you loved it as much as we did! That will be so much fun making them with the kids!
I want to buy bengay to relief my lower back pain and my legs. Those winter kits are cute and unique.
You will be happy you did! From personal use, I know how well it works! Glad you liked them!
These are great ideas, thanks for sharing.
Thank you, I’m glad you liked them!
It’s important to have everything you need especially for the aches and pains that you might experience during the winter! These are all lovely! Thanks for the tips!
Cold weather can bring on the joint pain, that’s for sure! We do a lot of work in the winter and it’s not very cold in Texas where we live but Bengay is still our best friend during this season.
Bengay is so good, I get back ache sometimes and It’s what I always reach for.
You can never go wrong with Bengay! Its never let us down and it sounds like its treated you nicely as well!
Those are all great ideas! It would be nice to have a toolkit during the winter to make sure that you have everything you need!
Especially during our winter when we do a lot of work! Ha!
I’ve always have soft fluffy socks:D
Me too! I love them! Who doesn’t?!
Wow! Great ideas!
Thank you! Hopefully they’ll come in handy for you like they did us!
My husband could definitely benefit from the hot/cold pack. These are great tips/tricks.
I don’t think people realize how much hot and cold packs help in general. I’m glad you enjoyed them!
I thought this was such a clever idea!! Definitely needed after snow shoveling! 🙂 -Erin at http://www.stayathomeyogi.com
Oh goodness, snow shoveling is intense work. I have no doubt our backs would suffer doing that!
These are a great ideas, I bet this is fun
Yes! It was super fun to put together and come up with. Plus, it was fun to do it together. 🙂
Outdoor projects can be the worst for aches and pains, especially when rocks are concerned!!! I need to make some of these socks, we are always getting sore muscles and bumps and bruises.
It feels like being sore is just a consistent part of adult life, haha. You won’t be sorry you made them!
We always have Bengay in our house. Never know when we need this rub. Really like the idea for hot pack. That’s very clever!
If you love Bengay, you’ll love the packs to go along with them!
I like that the rice makes them moldable too. Hurrah for a winter toolkit like this one!
Oh yes, the molding part is nice because you can basically use it anywhere on your body.
These are all such great ideas. We stay busy even in the colder weather and so these will definitely come in handy.
Bless your heart for the busy cold months! I hope these help!