My at Home Spa Day

Posted in A Healthy Self, Self/Spa Saturday by katrina2182

I can not stress enough that you have to take care of your self before you can ever take care of anyone else. Yes, that means you can be selfish. Have someone come over to take care of the kids or put them to bed early, lock your self in the bathroom and you an at home spa day! Below is what I try to do every other week or once a month.

SETTING THE MOOD

Lock yourself in the bathroom.
Get rid of all distractions.
Put on your favorite music.
Have a glass of wine or hot cup of tea to sip on.
Light candles, dim the lights and/or have an oil burner going.

MY PERSONAL SPA STEPS

Start a hot bath and add Epson salt, essential oil (I love peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender), carrier oil and prepare your towel or robe. (I suggest heating it in the dryer)
Put on face mask. (See below recipe)
Put on hair mask. (See below recipe)
Prepare foot mask and wrap. (See below recipe)
Put all items you will need near the tub. (I like nail clippers, nail file, dental floss, wash cloth, body scrub and anything else.
Get in tub and relax. Breath in all the essential oils and just be at peace.
Rub muscles and us body scrub to exfoliate body.
Put on foot mask and foot wrap.
Floss teeth.
Push finger nail cuticles and file nails. Rinse and rub feet and push cuticles and file toes.
Shave your legs.
Drain and relax.
Turn on hot shower and rinse.
Shampoo and deep condition hair.
Enjoy the steam by breathing in and out. I envision white light doing in and black bad going out.
Wrap up in your warm towel.
Message and put on a thick lotion or personal oil. (See below recipe)
Paint your finger and toe nails.
While they dry sit, meditate and breath more.
Put on comfortable clothes.
Open the door and rejoin reality.

Happy SPA Time!

MY FAVORITE RECIPES

Oatmeal Face Mask

If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up that will leave you feeling and looking better, give yourself an oatmeal facial. Combine 1/2 cup hot—not boiling—water and 1/3 cup oatmeal. After the water and oatmeal have settled for two or three minutes, mix in 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 small egg white. Apply a thin layer of the mask to your face, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. (Be sure to place a metal or plastic strainer in your sink to avoid clogging the drain with the granules.)

Source: http://www.rd.com/health/beauty/homemade-facial-masks-recipes/

Detoxifying, De-Puffing Mocha Mask

The caffeine from coffee grounds in this cocoa-licious mask helps to reduce swelling and puffiness, while the antioxidants in the cocoa help to reduce aging, and the yogurt replenishes lost moisture.

2 tablespoons freshly ground coffee
2 tablespoons pure cocoa powder
1 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoons yogurt or sour cream

Blend all of the ingredients together, spread evenly over skin, and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. When you rinse it off, massage your face gently to exfoliate as well. If there’s any mask left over after you wash your face with it, add a bit of water to it and use it as a scrub for the backs of your arms and any other body part that could do with some smoothing.

Source: http://inhabitat.com/7-diy-face-masks-for-a-gorgeous-spring-and-summer-skin/

Olive Oil and Lemon Juice Hair Mask

If you have a dry and flaky scalp, this is the mask for you! All you have to do is mix 2 tbsp fresh of lemon juice with 2 tbsp of olive oil and 2 tbsp water. Once this is done massage the mask into your scalp with damp hair. Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes and then wash your hair regularly. This treatment can be applied to your hair every other week.

Source: http://allwomenstalk.com/7-best-home-made-hair-masks

Banana Foot Mask

Half a banana

1 tsp of honey

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Put banana and honey in a bowl and stir well.

2. Add the mask mixture to both feet before wrapping feet in plastic wrap.

3. Leave mask on for at least 10 minutes before washing it off.

4. Use pumice stone on soles of feet before applying moisturizer.

Source: http://www.youthfulhabits.com/body/beauty/best-homemade-foot-soak-foot-mask-recipes#sthash.Ip1heQZ1.dpuf

I hope you can enjoy a personal spa day with no interruptions very soon.

What are your best at home spa treatments?

20Mar2016

Acupuncture for the Soul

Posted in Self/Spa Saturday by katrina2182

#acupunture #HealthyMillennialMom Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine involving thin needles inserted into the body at acupuncture points. Acupuncture is commonly used for pain relief, though it is also used for a wide range of other conditions. Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture

For me acupuncture is the best. I’ve been to a couple of acupuncturists over the years but in May of 2014 I found an amazing fertility acupuncturist. I do credit her for helping conceive my son. Even though my goal and purpose was to have a child, I still go to her for relaxation and maintenance. In fact, I just saw her yesterday.

Yesterday, we worked on milk production, liver cleanse, hormone levels, energy and my back has been a little sore because I carry my son everywhere. I told her today, I forgot how much I appreciate quiet and an hour to myself where no one needs anything.

As I laid there face down, listening to Nora Jones I realized how good acupuncture is for the soul and it inspired me to blog about my experience and encourage other woman to try it. It’s not for everyone. If you are interested get someone who is experienced but also someone you can emotionally connect with. Sometimes my sessions are like therapy. She listens to my issues and problems and then sticks a needle in my head and all my thoughts clear.

At first it was so hard for me to lie there for an hour with needles in me and because my body was not healthy a lot of them stung for a minute, the stings calm and then you are completely relaxed. For some, like my dad and best friend acupuncture energies them, for me it Zens me out and I’m like a wet noodle after.

Again my main purpose in the beginning was for fertility. She cleaned me out, regulated my hormones, relaxed my mind and helped over all health. I started in May 2014 and was pregnant by March 2015. Less than a year. Now please know I was also doing yoga, walking a ton more, eating healthy and sleeping well.

If you are curious and have never tried, start with a Groupon, friend recommendation, school or coupon. Acupuncture can be expensive and most insurances do not cover. I prepay for my sessions and split with my dad making it cheaper.

Speaking of my father, he has also gone to acupuncture and loves it. He was on like 20 medications and felt awful, now I think he us on three and he has been going to her for less than a year. My best friend in a different state uses acupuncture for pain management of a sport injury. Again for her and my dad acupuncture energies them. It works different for everyone.

I say give it a try and let me know about your experience. Feel free to recommend someone if you like them.

Happy Saturday to all I hope you are getting to do some self care and relax today.

Keep Calm and Practice Self Care

It has taken me a while to learn this but when I take care of myself I am happier to take care of others.

Once again, I am not getting to my blog until late, but that is because I was able to partake in some self care today. Not much but oh what a long shower can do for the soul.

My son has been on fire today. Now that he is four months I am starting to put him on a sleeping schedule and in his crib. My son was six weeks early so we spent the first month of life in the NICU and hooked up to machines, so when he came home in December I started to co sleep with him. I was worried but also I felt I missed that first month of cuddles with him. Now that we know he is doing great, we have decided to wean him by six months, so I have started the task of breaking our habits. It’s weird I already miss him.

With that said, today was very difficult day one. He can feel we are changing him routine so he is extra aware and crabby. Instead of holding him nap or putting him in his Ergo Baby, I feed him, rocked him and put him in his crib. I am actually proud because today he did two 30 minute naps in his crib, but as you know that is not enough for a new baby.

By 4:30 pm I was over it and handed my screaming baby to my husband, who tried to calm him down while I took a 30 minute shower. Yes, I have a new baby and I cranked the music, put on a mask, plucked my eye brows, brushed and flossed my teeth and took an extra long shower, where I was even able to deep condition my hair. I put lotion on, brushed and dried my hair, sat on the toilet just to meditate for a minute, breath and remember how much I love my family.

I opened the bathroom door and was greeted with a screaming child. I threw my dirty clothes in the hamper, thanked my husband and took our son from him. With a huge smile on my face I kissed him and started walking and bouncing him to calm him down. He eventually settled. Right now, four hours later he is back with his dad, fighting to go to sleep.

I learned this lesson a couple of years back. Before my husband, kid and dog I worked as an admin. I feel admin is one of the hardest positions because you are everything and paid little. I don’t know, I love it and I am good at admin. I can multi task, remember everything and I majority of the time have a smile on my face.

How did I do it when I had deadlines, people screaming at me and a to do list a mile long. I walked away counted to ten and went outside and smoked a huge joint. Joking. But there were many times, I left went shopping, called my BFF, walked, worked out or took myself out to lunch. I got away, took care of my self, my needs and then returned with the expectation it was going to be a shit show for the rest of the day. I embraced my work because there are many people out there that A. do not have a job, B. are bored at work or C. are not appreciated. I have and love my job, I am never bored and everyone loves and appreciates my hard work.

And all it took was to stop and remember to breath and take care of myself first. With that I have created Spa or Self Saturday. We have to remember to have mommy time weekly. Even if it is just a 30 minute shower.

Thank You to my husband for taking the little guy off my hands for a bit. I appreciate the long hot shower and mommy time.