Mustard foot bath

Since I broke my leg a few years ago, I've had foot problems. Wearing a boot for a long time changed my stride, and my left foot pronates more. In other words, I walk funny. 

As a result, I get all sorts of weird calluses and my feet hurt.

A friend of mine suggested soaking in a mustard bath.

Like...as in what I put on a hot dog? 

Well, sort of.

You need powdered mustard, from the spice aisle, hot water and a bit of Epsom salts.

Soak for 15 minutes, then Moisturize.

I didn't think it would work, but foot pain was gone, feet looked great and I had more energy.

Rock Hard Candy Mountain

One of my favorite indulgences year round are spa like goodies. I love how my skin feels after I use it. The downside is the cost of most scrubs. They can run 'html'><div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a title='Uploaded from BlogBooster' href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQjw3LeMFdCbhUVs5BbEuaxzPuGnKNU4fhKqgs8Vj95b7O7xYwmswDx4UO6hicschle_3VFJZH1yCZ4sVz5cvLyFJDJauvxjFvp4v039sy5JbyYw-ZjN-MrJbHrRszNjY-8utH9bLipA/'><img alt='' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQjw3LeMFdCbhUVs5BbEuaxzPuGnKNU4fhKqgs8Vj95b7O7xYwmswDx4UO6hicschle_3VFJZH1yCZ4sVz5cvLyFJDJauvxjFvp4v039sy5JbyYw-ZjN-MrJbHrRszNjY-8utH9bLipA/' style='border:none;'/></a><br/><br/>One of my favorite indulgences year round are spa like goodies. I love how my skin feels after I use it. The downside is the cost of most scrubs. They can run $15 for a small jar.<br/>But they are super easy to make! <a title='Uploaded from BlogBooster' href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGaRemrBa7cOOXjcSV203J28owUHckJgo2TUlC_9caFmGlCc4avZ-tuFtHnk7o7_NU-uFQ0NXhFMetYAsbMAX4HCb_cuF9Gj_qYrSLxQ11y_YxkRpZUi4oQwCVHHSHb2x5Wtb94hYRkU/'><img alt='' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGaRemrBa7cOOXjcSV203J28owUHckJgo2TUlC_9caFmGlCc4avZ-tuFtHnk7o7_NU-uFQ0NXhFMetYAsbMAX4HCb_cuF9Gj_qYrSLxQ11y_YxkRpZUi4oQwCVHHSHb2x5Wtb94hYRkU/' style='border:none;'/></a><br/><br/>To make one jar, you need:<br/>1 1/2 c sugar<br/>1 c coconut oil (softened)<br/>1/4 tsp peppermint essential oil<br/>Dash of red food coloring <br/><br/>Mix together and store in an airtight jar.<br/><br/>Also makes a great gift!<span id='BB_SIGN_BEGIN'><img alt='BlogBooster-The most productive way for mobile blogging. BlogBooster is a multi-service blog editor for iPhone, Android, WebOs and your desktop' src='http://theblogbooster.com/pixel.gif' style='border:none;'/></span></div>5 for a small jar.
But they are super easy to make!

To make one jar, you need:
1 1/2 c sugar
1 c coconut oil (softened)
1/4 tsp peppermint essential oil
Dash of red food coloring

Mix together and store in an airtight jar.

Also makes a great gift!

Heavens to Etsy! Lotions and Potions Edition

I love the whole spa concept. There's something that shouts to my inner high maintenance girly girl (which then matches my outward high maintenance girly girl!). Facials? Yes please! Scrubs? Sure! Super special soap? Bring it on! Researching this Heavens to Etsy was so much fun-and I think I have some serious shopping to do!

I've heard so much about the healing powers of the Dead Sea salts, and I know what the power of mint can do for you, so this scrub seems perfect...and at $6.50, it's the fraction of the cost from those mall kiosks selling similar products.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/99427074/sweet-mint-peppermint-spearmint-handmade?ref=cat1_gallery_26

It's almost garden time in the upper Midwest. I'm ready to go play in the dirt and get my flowers and vegetables on. Despite my best intentions, my manicure (and the rest of my hands) start to look raggy after a while. This gardener's companion looks like it might help solve that problem.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77668381/gardeners-companion?ref=sc_2

This super seedy face cleaner reminds me of something used by a local spa in their facials. Sounds heavenly!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95011309/super-seedy-face-cleaner?ref=cat1_gallery_15

Three of my favorite scents in one soap? Awesome!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91566842/verbena-mint-thyme-olive-oil-soap?ref=cat1_gallery_25

Coconut oil is so good for you on so many levels. It's supposed to be a wonder cure for dry skin and hair, as well as for your insides.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/99429750/grapefruit-coconut-oil?ref=cat1_gallery_19

Do you like piña coladas? Yes, please! This soap sounds so yummy!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73661765/bath-whips-body-frosting-in-tropical?ref=cat1_gallery_30

I am a jersey girl, with my own personal hole in the ozone layer, thanks to copious amounts of aqua net used over the course of my teenage years. Unfortunately, my hair still bears the brunt of it. This hair spray sounds like it might be good all the way around!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/28736512/beautiful-hairpeppermint-hair-spray?ref=cat1_gallery_2

The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

We quickly morphed from winter to very warm spring in my part of the country. In other words, we went from boots to sandals, seemingly overnight. As a result, winter feet need to become summer feet, overnight.
One of the biggest problems with winter feet is the lack of maintaining smooth skin. Sticking feet into socks, tights, boots and all that jostling can lead to a build up of calluses and cracked heels.
Other than looking ugly and having the ability to turn panty hose into unrecognizable remnants, cracked heels can be incredibly painful. Fissures can develop in the skin, which is where it opens up and can even bleed!
If that is the case, you need to treat the fissures first, before you do anything else. A podiatrist can help remedy that situation, and heal your feet.
No fissures lead to some other treatment options. The primary goal is to get rid of the calluses. There are a wide variety of commercial products out there, but I like my home remedies best!
First, soaking your feet in a mixture of warm milk and water will soften the calluses. Lactic acid in the milk will make it easier to exfoliate. Rinse your feet and dry lightly.
Next, use a pumice stone on your calluses. This bit of volcanic rock is a miracle pedicure tool!
Soak your feet again in warm water.
Dry them and use a thick cream on the heels. Wear socks overnight and the next day you should see an improvement.
For tougher cases, you need to step it up a few notches. Using tea tree oil, a natural, fragrant antiseptic, will help heal your heels. Soaking in a combination of warm water and Epsom salt, and then applying coconut oil to the heels (with socks going on) will help make your feet sandal ready soon.
To stop this from going into crisis mode in the future, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Staying hydrated helps your skin. Drinking at least 64 ounces of WATER (the rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in water-if you weight 150 lbs you should drink 75 oz, and so on).
If you are overweight, you are more likely to develop cracked heels due to friction and pressure.
Regular maintenance helps. Weekly pedicures, either in a salon or at home, will keep your heels looking soft and sleek. Nightly moisturizing also helps. A thick cream or coconut oil, with socks, will prevent you from needing to panic when the temperatures soar.

digital bath

There is nothing more luxurious than a nice, warm bath.

 And to make it more of a wonderful experience, add bath salts to the water to help you relax.


1 c rock salt
1 c Epsom salt

2 tbsp essential oil (optional)

Mix together, store in an airtight container. Add several tablespoons to warm bath water.

Blue Sky Mine

 
 
When your hair is shoulder length or longer, it takes a lot of damage and abuse. As a result, it doesn’t always look great.
 

 
You can tell a lot about a woman by how her hair looks. Chances are, if she doesn’t take care of her hair, she isn’t going to take care of a lot else.
 

 
 One way to keep your hair moist is using a hot oil treatment. There are a variety of commercially prepared ones, and then there are that you can make at home. ½ c olive oil (more if your hair is longer), heated in microwave
 
 

wrap in a Towel, run through a dryer and is nice & warm Work oil through hair, starting at the root to the tip. Wrap head in towel. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, shampoo thoroughly.

Cover Me

Coffee scrubs are great for polishing your skin. Basically, they get rid of all the dry, dead skin on top and help you “glow”

Plus, it’s a great use for coffee grounds!

1 c coffee grounds
½ c mineral oil
½ c baking soda
½ c rock salt
2 tbsp essential oil (optional)

Mix ingredients together, store in air tight container.

Sugar Sugar

I love, love LOVE how my skin feels after using a sugar scrub. There is just something that makes you feel all sensous and like a Victoria’s Secret model. They, however, are quite expensive, so I came up with my own recipe with stuff I’ve got in the kitchen and bathroom.


1 c brown sugar

1/3 c mineral oil

2 tbsp essential oil (optional)

Mix together, stir in an airtight container. Use in the shower!

Splish Splash

One of my favorite spa like indulgences is soaking in the tub.

I love all sorts of spa goodies and services. I am, however, frugal and refuse to spend the money if I can make it at home. One item happens to be an oatmeal scrub. It helps soften tough skin and “polish” it. If you went to buy one, they are an average of $18 for a jar, to make one at home…about $2 for a big container


Ingredients:

1 c oatmeal

½ c mineral oil

½ c baking soda

2 tbsp essential oil (optional)

Mix oatmeal, baking soda and oils together. Store in an air tight container

Untouchable Face

I have a confession to make. I never had a professional facial until I got to use the spa after my surgery. It was wildly indulgent, and something I can easily replicate at home.

To start, I use St Ives Apricot scrub. Love, love, love this product. Its my secret weapon to keeping my skin looking fresh and young. Exfoliate my skin, and it gets ready for step two, which is steaming things open.

I have a facial spa, and it gets a lot of gunk out of my pores.

After I am done, I use witch hazel to freshen my skin before I move onto the next step.

Another product I love are the Freeman line of facial masks.

 I put my mask, lay back with a few cucumber slices over my eyes, and relax for about 15 or so minutes.

To wash off the mask, I use Aveeno radiant scrub.

I finish off with serum and I feel like a princess.

My daily indulgence to keep the princess feeling alive is spraying my face with rose water (you can find it in an health store).

Ancient beauty secret that works wonders today!

Ani DiFranco is an absolute rock star on so many levels. She started her own label to put out her own music, on her own terms. Even though her music isn't punk in sound, its punk in attitude. Rock on!

Bubble Toes

I love pedicures, however, they are very expensive. I won’t lie-I’d rather my son have a book or a toy than me having a professional pedicure. So, I instead, will do one at home. I invested in some tools

And a foot spa

Before I do anything, I take off my old nail polish color.



Next, I start with filling the foot spa with warm water, a tsp of Epsom salts and a few shakes of peppermint oil. I let the foot spa do its magic for about 15 minutes.

After I dry my feet off, I use my ped egg to get rid of my calluses.

Then, its getting down to business. I trim my nails, clean up the cuticles, and get ready for a nice burst of color. Right now, I am digging blue toes.

To finish off, I use JR Watkins foot cream and use it daily to keep the pedicure looking great.

To help keep things happy and sandal ready, I use Ms. Pedicure foot scrub daily.

Spa Time

(this actually is a continuation of a blog post I had started to write a long time ago, but never finished-until now!)
One of my favorite things to do is to pamper myself. I admit that I am even a little hedonistic about it. I love facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, the whole nine yards. My biggest issue with all that is that I am too darn cheap to go and pay for all these services regularly. So I went out and bought a facial steamer (on sale + a coupon & gift card), a foot spa (also on sale and used a gift card) as well as a really cool manicure set (sale, gift card). A few years ago the Big Man got me a massage cushion that totally rocks. I love bubble baths or epsom salt baths (similiar to a spa's mineral bath).
I have all the tools I need at home to make a spa experience possible except one complete element...taking the time for me. I actually put an hour on my calendar every week to have my spa time. Yet, I don't seem to do it. I do little elements here and there, but I really don't do the whole nine. It really wouldn't take more than an hour, and the benefits would be huge.
When the Big Man worked overnights a very long time ago, I would occassionally take a bubble bath before bed and it was a very nice treat. I honestly don't remember the last time I did that. It mainly has to do with the fact that if one turns on the water in that bathroom, the puppy dog runs in fear, so I don't do that more than I have to. And it also has to do with the current schedule of life. If the Big Man is going to get 5 hours of sleep, he needs to go to bed by 8 pm. There isnt any time for me to soak in the tub and take a bubble bath.
Maybe some weekend. Maybe.
In order to maximize my time, I could soak my feet and do a facial steam at the same time. All I need to do is fill up the reservoirs and plug in. There done. Takes 15 minutes. Then I just need to give myself a pedicure, change the polish and feel pretty. Next up would be a manicure, and make my nails look pretty as well. while the polish is drying I could put a mask on and run the water for a bubble bath. If I really wanted to go all out, I could put some olive oil on my hair for deep conditioning and add shine (same basic ingredients as VO5 hot oil treatment). Taking 2 used tea bags (recycling!) I can try to reduce the pillows under my eyes. I can relax in the tub and let Calgon take me away. (making sure I get all the oil out of my hair!)
There you have it-one hour and complete spa like results.
In between weekly spa sessions, there is daily maintenance that helps keep me looking great. A few days a week there is the coffee ground scrub-I'm not going to claim it gets rid of cellulite, like I've heard from others. It does help get rid of the super dry skin I deal with. Its cheap and simple to make-coffee grounds and a dash of baby oil (hey its environmental too!). On other days I use regular body wash on a scrubby. I just feel very luxerious and decadent when I do this (although I have to really wash the shower down afterwards. I don't think that the Big Man wants to shower in a Starbucks)The other thing that helps is doing a vinegar rinse on your hair a few times a week. I laughed when I first heard about it but it really does work. I put a lot of product in my hair (mousse or gel and a ton of hairspray-hey I am still a Jersey girl!) and the vinegar works its magic my hair looks a lot healthier too. As I've gotten older my formerly awesome, low maintance skin has started to change. I now have mostly oily skin which requires a little more maintance than what I used to do. A few days a week I use an oatmeal scrub (oatmeal and baking soda, pureed in a blender) on my face (once again, needing to make sure I clean it up very well because it does look a little gross after its been sitting around for a while)and it helps keep me looking fresh & rosy. I switched from using toner to actually straight witch hazel which seems to work better in controlling oil build up. I am still trying to find a moisturizer that really works well that doesn't look or feel greasy.
My biggest issue are the bags under my eyes. They are so big that Louis Vuitton & Kate Spade are following me around...I've tried every eye cream out there. I try to get enough sleep. I try depuffers. I try neti treatments. Nothing seems to completely deflate them, so I've gotten very creative with concealer. I'm open to suggestions!!
At night, I really have to focus on taking off the war paint because that's just going to make my skin look icky as more time to go on. I do notice a huge difference when I use a night cream too, because my skin looks less tired (even if I am). The biggest difference I see though is when I drink enough water and keep myself hydrated. I just seem to look better (and feel better too!) and my skin looks less blah and wrinkly.
When I really indulge myself, I break out the massage cushion on a daily basis. That 15 minutes really relaxes me. I've been told by both a chiropractor and a massage therapist that I am one of the most tense people they have ever encountered. I guess that's not something to be proud of...but doing the massage cushion helps relax me and loosens up the tension that seems to build up between my shoulder blades. I also spend some time meditating or praying the Rosary (yes, there is a tradition of the Anglican Rosary) which relaxes me (once again, keeping the spa effect alive) and clears my mind. One of my biggest issues overall is shutting my mind down. Some people have no problem in shutting down their minds-I have incessent chatter going on and a continual to do list that goes through my mind. Actually, its the never seems to get done list-the little things that I know I should do, but don't ever seem to make the time for-cleaning the grout on my floor, waxing my shower, washing my curtains/drapes, etc etc etc. Its these little things that drag out my psychic energy and can really start one moping about.
But I digress...the topic at hand is spa time. The main reason a person goes to a spa is to relax primarily and then to look better secondarily (or at least that's been my experience). I need to remember that when the hustle & bustle of my life really hits and I feel like I'm about ready to explode...just think ahhh...spa.