Your Time Can Be At Home Spa Time

It's Monday - we could go through all of the groaning and moaning about how the weekend isn't long enough, we never feel like we truly 'relax' and how the 'to do' list remains undone.

We'll all been there. No worries - new choices arise every single moment - so now, why not choose to spoil yourself like crazy after work or school or dinner with the kids later tonight? Set aside some time now - psych yourself up and alert the media (not literally, silly - but tell those who may decide that tonight is a great time to interrupt your plans) - it is all about you. Others will understand, and when you tell them - they may even be impressed. If you already have plans, you'll want to do this on another evening very soon.

The steps are simple - and you can decide to do whatever you like - make up your own steps.

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Find your favorite beverage.
Remember: Water is also a beverage.

Vamp it up with some fresh fruit infusion!

Tune out the world while tuning in to yourself.
If you'd like to hear some of your favorite music, do it! If you are more of a reflect in silence type of person, by all means leave the music off. Design your own time.

Relax, close your eyes and drift - you may choose to do this in a hot, bubbly tub of water or out on a hiking trail - heck, go for a hike and then enjoy the tub.

Whatever you choose to do for you - do it.

We can be those 'super folks' who do it all, never need a break and are always smiling with nothing wrong - but if you know any of these people, you can see beneath the very thin veil of stress they enamel themselves with and one day, this façade will crack and they will require some time. OK, a lot. If children are involved, then a relaxation break for parents is an absolute necessity.

So, the easiest, most cost effective way to take some time? At home, of course! I have included a few more at home spa treatments for your enjoyment! I especially liked the skin moisturizer. The egg yolk on my face - not so much.

I prefer Bentonite Hydrated Healing Clay for spa facials. I used to love putting on those peel off masks - I'd let them sit and peel them off in one big sheet if I could - then you'd always be left with incredible feeling skin - and a snake-like replica of your own face.

The fun never lasted long (try getting the peeled off face wet - done!) - and when I found out what was in some most of the products on the market today, I couldn't let one dry on my face without thinking about it.

There are so many incredible at home recipes we can create with ingredients we already have at home! Living in the country, it isn't always easy to get the things on your list right away, so anything made from the basics is always a good thing. I won't mention the money saving....ohhhh looks like I just did.

Here are some recipes you can test out at home;

Honey Mask: Clean your face with water. Now dip a napkin in warm water. Place it on your face for about 5 minutes. The warm napkin will help in opening of the pores. Apply honey on your face. Leave the honey on for about 10 minutes. Wash your face with warm water. Wait for a minute or two and then wash your face with cold water. Washing your face with cold water will close the opened pores. You can use this mask once a week to get beautiful skin.

Oatmeal Tomato Lemon Juice Mask: In a blender, make a smooth paste of two tablespoons of oatmeal, one small to medium size tomato and juice of one lemon. Apply this mask to your face, let it dry. It will take about 15-25 minutes to dry after which, wash your face with cold water and pat dry.

Cucumber Mask: Take 3 tablespoons of oatmeal and add some cucumber juice to it. For oily skin add yogurt and for dry skin add full cream milk to the mixture. Mix all the ingredients well. Apply this mask and leave it on for 20-25 minutes. Rinse it off with cold water.

Turmeric Mask cum Scrub: This is a traditional Indian homemade facial mask. It is usually used by brides-to-be, everyday for seven days before the wedding. You will need 3-4 tablespoons of gram flour, 1 teaspoon of turmeric, two teaspoons of sandalwood powder, two teaspoons of almond or olive oil. Make a paste of all the ingredients using water and apply it to your face. After the paste dries off, rub your face so that the mask is removed. Once the mask is removed wash your face with cold water.

 

There are more recipes to be found over here: How to Make Facial Recipes at Home

 

When we let the world drift away, even briefly - we have time to think......thinking is good for us.

We can't always be thinking about to do lists and reasons why our kid bites (mine doesn't, I'm not outing her) or how to get hot lunches to school stuffed in thermoses or when book orders are due or when the bill for the.......

 

Ohhhh dear. It must be spa time.

 

Looking for more?

Check out my archived post with more recipes for a great spa day at home.

 

Rock your day!

 

Wellness Waffles Recipe

I have an amazing mother. Her name is Sharon and she has been exploring her own wellness for years. She shared a recipe with us a few years ago for a waffle made with spelt, flax, millet and almonds. I wasn't a huge fan of waffles to begin with, not even when they were made with all the whiteness of the world (flour, sugar, milk, eggs etc) - but she kept insisting these would be different. That's kind of what scared me.

As with most things I try for the first time, I was astounded at how great these waffles were! She had adjusted a recipe she had found on her own - tinkered with it until it was just right and then shared it with us. I was so grateful! On this journey, one of the toughest things to let go of for me was the bread - so when a bread-like replacement was found that I loved without having to 'get used to' the taste - I was in!

I make a double batch of waffles on a Sunday. I freeze some of them and my little family can claim independence by popping one of these wellness waffles into a toaster and voila! A hearty, stick to ya kind of breakfast that fills you up for the whole morning - not just until that 10 am coffee tea or lemon water break.

Couple the waffles with fresh fruit or sprinkle crushed nuts or seeds on top. Any way you want it - the waffle is yours to explore.

Want the recipe now? OK......

WELLNESS WAFFLES
Ingredients:

1/2 cup ground flax
1/2 cup spelt
1 cup millet, ground
2 cups water
Pinch of sea salt

Mix all ingredients together.

If you find your recipe too thick, add a bit of water until it is waffle batter texture.






Heat waffle iron (make sure your iron has been seasoned).
Make your waffles - this is the fun part! This was the first time I had made them that they actually worked out! I had given up on the entire waffle making endeavor, but a waffle iron from a friend and the recipe from mom and we were back in business. I was a waffle convert!



Once your waffles are done, be sure to save one or two for your breakfast the next day. You will wish you had. A toaster 'Wellness Waffle' in the morning is great because it is fast. We even use these waffles as bases for bruschetta, pizza buns or veggie sandwiches.

Those little squares hold a lot of flavor! Enjoy!

Let's Make a Date.....Paste.

We're always looking for ways to sweeten things we make without using sugar. We have tried them all - even agave which we later learned is worse for us than high fructose corn syrup if you don't get the truly raw stuff. Due to it being so ridiculously expensive, most of us aren't buying it or even being able to locate it with ease - so we turn to other more financially viable options.


Want to learn how to make date paste?

I knew you would!

It is super simple - take a cup of dates (without the pits) and soak them in 1 1/2 cups of water until soft. You could even soak them overnight.

If you stick around to watch, the dates will go from this hard, candied like object and turns into something that sort of resembles a cockroach in a swimming pool. I know, not pretty......but wait!

While the dates are soaking be sure not to stand there watching too long. There are other things to be doing....we'll come back when it's time.....

 ONE OVERNIGHT LATER:

It's time!

We soaked our dates in a bowl and then tossed it into the blender/Magic Bullet

**(Note to self: Talk to the Magic Bullet people about all of these selfless promotions I am giving them).

 The mixture will look like this.

The sweetness offered by this natural method saves so much time and we know exactly what is in this blender. Dates and water.

When a recipe calls for a certain amount of agave, be sure to add double the amount of date paste.

Blend the heck out of this stuff until it is creamy and smooth. I tend not to wait, so mine may have little bits in it - but by the time you toss it into a recipe, it isn't going to matter much.

I use my date paste a little thinner than usual, but you can make it whatever consistency you prefer.
We discovered this little treat and now we add it to so many dishes! Store in the fridge up to a week or two!
Enjoy - and let me know what you think! Comment below. :)