Very rarely do we take time out of our busy schedule to sit back and indulge ourselves for a few minutes. Usually, a soothing cucumber mask or an oatmeal, almond and avocado body scrub are fleeting fantasies during the day.
As soon as the stoplight turns green or a telephone shrills ten we must snap out of the calming thoughts of spa indulgences and return to our daily grind or screaming, whiny kids and demanding bosses sending emails on your blackberry after 6 pm every five minutes asking about the status of an overdue project…….
A day at a spa can easily be $300 and that is assuming you are just getting one treatment and not staying overnight or not having a fancy dinner. Add in an overnight weekend and suddenly your wallet is $1000 lighter.
This is for the couple who can’t get away to a spa but can luxuriate at with a romantic night at home spa experience with recipes for lotions, oils, rubs, scrubs, wraps and cuisine.
Things you’ll need:
Sunflower or vitamin E oil
Sugar or salt
Fluffy Towels
Bubble bath or bath salts
Wine or tea
Glasses or cups
Oatmeal, brown sugar and olive oil.
Fruit, Almonds or chocolate
Scented candles
Robe
Massage Oil ( Olive Oil will also work)
Shaving cream, razor, lotion
First turn off the phones ( yes that includes your smartphones), and send the kids to Grandma and Grandpa’s for the night.
Shower and Steam together. Crank up the hot water in the shower before you get in to fill the room with steam, then get in and scrub down. Use sunflower oil or vitamin E oil mixed with sugar or salt and rub your partner’s back in even circles to stimulate the skin.
Take a warm bubble bath together. Use scented bubbles or bath salts and sip a glass of wine or cup of hot tea while you enjoy the bath. A hot bath can reduce tension and anxiety and prepare your body for nurturing. Make your own body scrub using oatmeal, brown sugar and olive oil. If you’re feeling really decadent, nibble some fruit or chocolate while you soak.
Light a few scented candles and place them around the room. Turn off the lights and set the mood with some soft music. Have your partner lie on her stomach and get ready for a massage with lotion. Spend at least 15 minutes on the massage, paying special attention to the upper back, shoulders and neck, the spots where people tend to hold in the most anxiety and tension. Be focused on your intention to give love and healing. Check in with your receiver to see if the pressure is ok. If you feel knots, try to rub out the tight spots with your thumb. Have a fluffy robe ready for your partner.
Have you ever shaved your man? It is quite an exercise in trust to have a blade so close to another person’s face. Sit him up in a comfortable chair that provides support for his neck and apply hot towels to his face. For a close shave with less risk of nicks, use a razor with four blades. Start with a shaving cream or oil and massage it into his face and neck. Slowly shave his face in the direction of the hair’s growth. Finish with some shaving lotion. Give her a thorough, relaxing foot massage. Apply massage oil for about 15 seconds in the microwave in a heat-safe bowl. Have your partner sit in a chair and massage her feet while sitting on the floor. Use your thumbs to rub the soles and balls of her feet in a circular motion.
Have you ever had a romantic night at home spa experience? What did you guys do? How did it go?
I’ve been making my hottie hellenic hubby a bit wonky with all the natural beauty treatments I have been dabbling with lately. He’s actually limited me to no more than one beauty experiment a day (what century are we in that our men can try to impose rules on us anyway?) As I write this I am making my own rosewater from roses I plucked from our garden. Here are some wallet-friendly beauty treatments that I have been experimenting with lately. Most of these things you will probably have in your house anyway so no need to go out and buy a bunch of new products. I love all the beauty stuff at Whole Foods with their commitment to clean ingredients but my wallet feels so naked after I shop at this place. Some of them get a bit messy though and I had a few failures as well (don’t ever put a bunch of Pepto Bismo on your face…stained it pink!) .
These can be fun girls nights or slumber party stuff to do together instead of spending $150 a person at a local spa. Some of these will stay for awhile ( like the scrubs, Milk of Magnesia and rose-water toner) so I am even thinking about buying little containers , putting my own pretty label on it and giving them as Christmas presents.
Chuck your Toner and Grab Your Lemon – How much is toner anyway, like $20 a bottle? Yikes! Instead of using this, I just rub my face with a lemon, I actually use the same lemon a few times so I only need to use about 2 lemons a week. You could also buy some witch hazel at the $1 store if you aren’t partial to rubbing produce on your face.
Morning Face Rinse – You can use a tomato, splash of whole milk or lemon to rinse and activate your skin the morning.
Cucumbers – Next time you peel and seed a cucumber for a salad, take the seeds and put the green mush on your eyes while laying on the ground with a towel under you and some paper towels nearby to wipe up the drippings. You’ll lose about 5 years from your eyes. Put your legs up the wall as you lay down while doing this and you will get a restorative yoga pose out of this.
Body Scrub – How much have you paid for these things? Up to $20 a jar? Take some olive oil, sugar and lemon and scrub them on your feet, elbows and knees. Yay! You’re all shiny and new.
Blond Brightener – Make a few gallons of chamomile tea and let it steep and cool. Rinse your hair with it to bring out your blond highlights. You can also put in a spritzer and spray on your face for a pick-me-up.
Brunette and Red-head Brightener – Take 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 2 cups water and rinse your hair with this after you shampoo and condition. Will be a bit sour smelling at first and then will go away. I’ve also heard beer works but I doubt hubby would want me to waste a can of his beer on my hair plus it will be stinky at first but then smell will go away.
Milk of Magnesia Mask – Most people have a bottle of this in their medicine cabinet and never use it. I think this one is one of my favorites, but also one of the messiest. Put on an old-shirt you don’t wear out of the house. Dab it on with your fingers and let dry for 30 minutes. Go up to the dog and yell “BOO!” since you will look kind of scary in this. Ideal for oily complexions, especially in summer.
Honey Face Mask – Dab your face with honey and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse and pat dry off and now you’re all silky.
Avocado Face Mask – Best for dry skin. Whatever parts of the avocado you don’t eat, just rub the rest on your face for 15 minutes and then rinse off. You can use this for other body parts, feet, hands, elbows. etc.
Banana Face Mask – Good for all skin types, Mash up 1/2 a banana and then apply and leave for 15 minutes and then rinse off. Now your skin is all dewy and radiant.
Oatmeal Face Mask – Good for all skin types, Whatever you don’t eat from your breakfast, go apply and leave for 15 minutes and then rinse off.
Rose Water Toner – Instead of chucking those roses once they start falling apart, combine with 1-2 cups boiled water , let them steep and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Petroleum Jelly – Rub on your hands at night, wear cotton gloves, go to sleep feeling a bit funky and kinky wake-up with baby-soft hands.
Lip Stainer – Either beets or cherry jello powder can be applied to your lips to stain them combined with a bit of petroleum jelly.
Bath Time – Get some herbal tea bags (not the black tea though) and chuck a few of these in your bath. Recommended flavors are chamomile and sage.
Stinky Feet? Get some black tea (not herbal) and boil a few gallons worth. Let cool and let your feet steep in this.
Teeth Whitening – Conventional teeth whitening can be pricey or can be painful ( my teeth always seem to hurt when I leave the bleach on). Take some burnt toast (the charcoal is what will take away the yellow) and rub, brush on your teeth vigorously for awhile. This won’t taste great but your wallet and tender-teeth people like me) will appreciate this technique.
What natural beauty treatments have you tried and what results did you get?
How often do you check your phone an hour? Every ten minutes? Every minute?
How quickly do you respond when you hear a ping?
Now that smartphones are wide-spread there is an expectation of an immediate response – both from family, friends and clients and bosses.
Although most of us are not carrying the nuclear codes or waiting for a call from Oprah so how available do we really need to be?
At night, when you are alseep in bed, do you pick up your phone when a test comes in? What is the first thing you do in the morning? For more and more people, it is checking their phone?
Feeling like we have to respond immediately or just be available electronically can lead to feelings of anxiety which over time can leave you feeling depleted.
What would happen instead of responding that instant to a ping, you looked at your phone hours later?
How do you think you would feel if you didn’t respond to any texts or emails after 6 pm?
How would you feel if you just left your phone at home when you went out for a rest or in the evening?
Is it inconceivable?
Make a conscious choice to wait at least 10 minutes before responding to a ping. Instead of looking at your phone when you are in line at Starbucks, stop to notice what is going on around you. Smell the coffee aroma… see the mom with giggling kids waiting in line. How does your world change when you unplug consciously at various intervals during the day?
Living in today’s fast-paced world can be stressful and tiresome. Each moment is full of people, conversations, events, and movements. Given the circumstances, it comes as no surprise that the majority of people feel burnout and exhaustion nearly all the time. That’s why it should be your priority to learn how to rebuild your energy and teach your little kids to do the same.
Fortunately, the key to the problem requires neither a lot of time nor plenty of money. In fact, it can be absolutely free and take up to 15 minutes of your time every day. The solution I’m talking about is yoga, and you’ll now learn why it’s highly advisable to get your kids used to a daily practice.
What are the benefits of yoga for kids?
The whole list of all advantages of yoga is winter long, but there are some major benefits I can’t help but mention. First and foremost, yoga can help your kids have better self-esteem and develop a new level of body awareness. Both are usually considered the weak points of children, so a little improvement in these areas won’t hurt. Secondly, yoga is great for physical development. Contrary to a popular belief, yoga is good for both strength and flexibility. And most importantly, regular yoga classes are linked to improved concentration and cognitive function. Get ready to congratulate your kids on being the smartest in their school.
How old is old enough?
One of the most frequently asked questions is how old kids should be to start yoga. And although there is no single answer to this question, it is safe to say that as soon as your kid can consciously repeat your movements and stay focused for more than 30 seconds, feel free to give it a try.
Yoga studio vs. home Practice: what’s better?
It all depends on your own proficiency. In case you’re a newbie and still look at beginners guides to yoga to make sure you’re doing things right, it might be a good idea to attend some classes with a professional instructor. If you’re well-versed in the topic and feel confident about your technique of basic asanas, feel free to incorporate short sessions of yoga in your home routine.
Whatever approach you choose, make sure to enjoy this beautiful infographic with best yoga poses for you and your kids:
Sitting at a computer all day or driving in the car a lot can make for cranky and stiff shoulders and a stiff neck. While I aspire to get a once a week massage at a luxurious spa, for now I’ve found a technique to get rid of this tightness without leaving the house.
This works best on a hard surface like a floor but not so well on a soft surface like a bed or a coach.
Budget the time to really be able to work your entire shoulder region since just giving yourself 8 minutes for this is not going to make a big difference.
Turn your cell phone off ( I promise you there is no where in your cell phone manual where you will find the directions that say your cell phone must remain on at all times.
Turn the lights on low or off or have a scented eye pillow nearby.
Have some plinky-plonky music.
Tell others in your household that you are not to be disturbed for the next (at least) 30 minutes.
You won’t feel like talking or even thinking once you surrender to the pose and you will feel yourself dropping to a deep place of stillness and relaxation.
Solid Benefits You Can Experience from Yoga
You hear so much about Yoga these days, and there are so many Yoga styles to choose from, that it is advisable to research a particular Yoga style which suits your needs. Some Yoga classes are gentle, restorative, athletic, cerebral, spiritual, meditative, or hot. Therefore, research the style of Yoga which attracts you most. Then visit a local Yoga studio, or wellness center, for further information. If you have any concerns, you could set up an appointment with a Yoga teacher, and share your thoughts about your specific needs. Do research online to see what kinds of reviews the studio and teachers have received. For those looking for a gentle yoga practice in Philadelphia, there are many options.
There are many benefits you can expect from regularly attending Yoga classes, but the five of the most common benefits of Yoga are listed below.
Reduce Stress through the practice of Yoga. This is a universal benefit of all styles of Yoga. If you have stress, when you walk into a Yoga class, you will have much less when you leave. You might feel sore or invigorated after your first class.Some Yoga schools use a variety of methods to purge stress from the body, but the most common are Pranayama (breath techniques), Asana (posture), Mantra (sound), Meditation, and Relaxation Techniques. After a few classes, you will know what works and what does not.
Positive Thinking is a by product of most yoga classes, with the rare exception of a dogmatic Yoga teacher. If you discover you are in the midst of a “drill sergeant,” disguised as a Yoga teacher, you have to make a decision based on your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Do you want to be challenged or do you want to feel supported during your class? Consider this: If you feel negative after listening to your Yoga teacher, you should not return to that class. You may find another Yoga teacher in the same facility or at another Yoga center.
Sleeping Better is a result of the first two, above-mentioned, Yoga benefits. For the most part, the physical styles of Yoga release muscle tension through Asana (movement) and Pranayama (controlled breath work). The less physical styles may focus on Mantra, Meditation, and Relaxation Techniques and often delve more into yogic philosophy.
Yoga has helped many to have a more objective point of view on situations and people. Instead of judging people, you come to realize that most people are doing their best for their level of consciousness and you develop greater compassion for others. Yoga has assisted in stemming the feelings of pain, fatigue, doubt, confusion, self-delusion and despair that we all feel. Yoga helps to make your mind steady and clear so decisions are made from a place of clarity and strength.
I’ve been making my hottie hellenic hubby a bit wonky with all the natural beauty treatments I have been dabbling with lately. He’s actually limited me to no more than one beauty experiment a day (what century are we in that our men can try to impose rules on us anyway?) As I write this I am making my own rosewater from roses I plucked from our garden. Here are some wallet-friendly beauty treatments that I have been experimenting with lately. Most of these things you will probably have in your house anyway so no need to go out and buy a bunch of new products. I love all the beauty stuff at Whole Foods with their commitment to clean ingredients but my wallet feels so naked after I shop at this place. Some of them get a bit messy though and I had a few failures as well (don’t ever put a bunch of Pepto Bismo on your face…stained it pink!) .
after you shampoo and condition. Will be a bit sour smelling at first and then will go away. I’ve also heard beer works but I doubt hubby would want me to waste a can of his beer on my hair plus it will be stinky at first but then smell will go away.
