Rub a Dub Dub, You Can Scrub..in the shower

Orange Zest Body Scrub

1/2 cup Sugar (white or brown) 1/4 cup Honey 1/2 cup unscented bath salt, either Dead Sea or European 1/2 cup Epson Salts 1/2 cup Coarse Sea Salt OR increase the Dead Sea or European Salts above, or mix to make 1 C 1/2 cup orange zest powder

10ml Orange (Sweet) EO 2 Tbs. Grape Seed Oil 2 Tbs. Jojoba Carrier Oil 1/4 cup Shea Butter This scrub has a fresh, clean, orange scent that will uplift your senses as it leaves your skin moisturized, soft and silky.

Warm the Grape Seed and Jojoba oils over a very low flame, slowly, being careful to not burn the oil. Once warm, add the shea butter. When the shea butter begins to melt, remove the mixture from the stove. Stir well and allow the mixture to cool, but not harden. Then add the other ingredients one at a time, in the order shown. Be sure to add the add the essential oil last, and stir well to combine all the ingredients. Then put the mixture into plastic containers and place in the refrigerator to cool completely and harden. The oils will rise to the top and form a soft butter. The other ingredients will settle on the bottom. When it is completely cooled you can scoop it out by the handful to use (make sure you reach to the bottom to get the scrub ingredients, not just the oil). Massage it into your skin from head to toe. This scrub contains a lot of oil, which makes the tub slippery, so be careful not to slip. If you wish, you can place a towel in the tub to help prevent slipping. Happy scrubbing!!!! The shelf life of this product is pretty long even without a preservative because of the honey, essential oil and salt, but be sure not to get any water into it as you use it, or you'll risk bacterial growth. As always, use the freshest oils possible for best results!

Honey Lemon Sugar Scrub

4 tsp lemon juice 4 drops Lemon EO 4Tbs. honey 1/2 cup Sweet Almond Oil 2 1/2 cups Sugar Combine the sugar and sweet almond oil in a large bowl and stir well to combine. Add the lemon juice and stir again. Finally, add the honey and lemon essential oil and stir again to mix. You should have a grainy paste. To use, stand naked in a tub or shower and scoop the scrub using your palms. Begin massaging body, extremities first, in circular motions to exfoliate and cleanse.This mixture is oily and so you will have to be especially careful that you do not slip in the tub! After you're finished, you can cleanse with soap or bath gel as usual if you'd like to remove some of the excess oil from your skin ... which should feel polished and luxuriant after your treatment! You can make this recipe ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator, but allow it sit before use until it reaches room temperature, then stir well to mix before using. It should last a few weeks if you use fresh ingredients and store it in an airtight container.

Gingerbread Body Scrub

1 tsp cocoa powder 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 drops Ginger EO 1 Tbs. Jojoba Oil 1 tsp freshly grated ginger Measure all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix well. To use in the shower, scoop up some of the scrub and rub it in circular motions all over your body. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry. This scrub really smells great!

Wrap It Up!

The Basics of Body Wrapping

While the treatments listed here are more time consuming than some of the facial or hair treatments, they are well worth the indulgence! In addition to the physical benefits brought forth by the various ingredients used, the rewarding spiritual effects cannot be ignored. So go ahead and wrap yourself in the ocean's best and emerge like a new creation, a mermaid perhaps?

Tips to Enhance Your Treatment

Prior to a treatment, make sure that you remove all lotion, perfume, deodorant, and dirt by taking a quick shower. It will be better if use a non-perfumed soap (an all natural soap is best, but a mild one will do). Warming the tools , towels, sheets and wrap ingredients will help with your body's heat retention, thus enhancing your experience. To this end, use of a space heater is also recommended. Placing it near your relaxation area will not only prolong the heat of the wrap for as long as possible, but it will increase your comfort level. You can further intensify your treatment, as well as raise your body's temperature by sipping on some hot herbal tea before your treatment. The cotton strips or sheet that you use to wrap should be immersed in water that is approximately 180 degrees F or 82 degrees C. Wearing rubber gloves to wring out the sheets will help you avoid burning your fingers. Begin by wrapping the strips snugly around your legs, then your arms, and lastly your torso. Make sure to tuck the ends of the strip under a wrapped area nearby to ensure a snug fit. Once you are finished, lay yourself on a plastic sheet (or a shower curtain) and wrap yourself up in it, then cover yourself with blankets, as this will help to maintain the warmth and heat helps activate your treatment. Once you are finished wrapping, put on a warm robe and sit and relax for 20 minutes, unless otherwise directed. Keep in mind that it is very important that you do NOT attempt any physical activity immediately after your treatment. It is usually best to slowly remove the strips and simply roll into bed after relaxation type wraps. Showering shortly after many treatment is not recommended, so please do so only if the recipe specifically mentions it in the instructions.

Recipes/Directions

To get prepared, select your relaxation spot, such as your bed, the bathtub or a lounge chair, then place the plastic sheet or shower curtain liner on it. Set up the space heater next to it and turn it on. Place blankets nearby.

Relaxation Wrap

1 Cup fresh, chopped, chamomile OR 1/2 Cup dried chamomile 1 Cup fresh, grated valerian root OR 1/2 Cup dried valerian root 1 Cup fresh, crushed lavender OR 1/2 Cup dried lavender 1 cotton or linen sheet cut into 3" wide strips 1 large pot for boiling water (a lobster or spaghetti pot works well) 1 plastic shower curtain liner or plastic sheet blankets Place the herbs in a large pot and fill with water, then bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for five minutes. With a strainer, scoop out as many of the herbs as possible. Then place the sheet strips in the pot and allow to steep for five minutes. Once your five minutes is up, remove the strips one at a time, as you use them, and wring out the excess water. Proceed to wrap yourself as described above, making sure to cover and relax for 10 minutes, after which you should remove the strips slowly and roll on into bed. Valerian has been used since ancient Roman times as a mild sedative, and is used today as a mild sleep aid and anxiety reliever. Chamomile offers calming and anti-spasmodic properties, while lavender lends its balancing, relaxing, and restorative properties, all of which combine to make this wrap the perfect end to a stressful day. Using this wrap just prior to bedtime will maximize its effectiveness, as will delaying washing until the next morning.

Detoxifying Wrap

1 Cup fresh, chopped lemongrass OR 1/2 Cup dried lemongrass 1 3" long piece of grated or minced ginger root 1 large pot for boiling 1 cotton or linen sheet cut into 3" wide strips 1 plastic sheet or shower curtain liner blankets place the lemongrass and the ginger in a large pot and filled with water. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to sit for another 5 minutes. Scoop out as much of the herbs as possible, then place the sheet strips in the pot and steep for 5 minutes. Remove the strips one at a time, as you use them, and wring out the excess water. Apply as instructed in the tip section above. Once completely wrapped, cover with blankets and relax for 15 minutes. After you remove the wrap strips, shower off. Ginger has been cultivated in Southeast Asia for over 2,500 years for its medicinal properties. It has been found to rid the body of flu-like symptoms, colds, and respiratory ailments, while the scent of lemongrass uplifts and rejuvenates moods. Lemongrass has tonic, invigorating and antiseptic properties, while ginger offers stimulating and cleansing effects, which makes this wrap perfect for part of your morning ritual.

Remineralizing Wrap

8 oz dried or powdered seaweed OR 3oz fresh seaweed water (enough to make a paste) 2 Plastic sheet or shower curtain liner blankets This wrap is probably best executed in the bathtub for ease of cleanup. Put a blanket (or blankets, enough so that you are comfortable) on the bottom of the tub, then set the plastic sheet or shower curtain liner on top of the blanket(s). While sitting in the tub, on top of the plastic, cover yourself with the seaweed past or the fresh seaweed, then wrap yourself with a plastic sheet and blankets. Relax for 20 minutes, then slowly unwrap yourself, remove the blankets and sheets from the tub, fill with warm water and relax for an additional 10 minutes. After the treatment pat your skin dry, and don't forget to moisturize. *Make sure that you use the space heater for this treatment. Seaweed wraps are a quick way to remineralize the body while replenishing the body with nutrients and elements that are lost on a daily basis, such as amino-acids, calcium, copper, iodine, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, protein, and vitamins. The molecular formation of the human blood cell and that of seawater is very similar, which allows nutrients from the seawater to easily filter through the pores of the skin and directly into the bloodstream. The most popular type of seaweed used for cosmetic and healing purposes is kelp, which is the common name for the leafy brown algae that grows along colder coastlines. Although using fresh seaweed is optimal, a seaweed powder (mixed with enough water to create a mayonnaise-like paste) will give you equally satisfying results.

Soups On! Spa cuisine for your home spa day!

SOUP and DESERTRECIPES

Just a few notes, all of the salad recipes serve two, while the drink recipes are single serve I have not tried this recipe, but it was listed on two of my spa cuisine for the home books, so I am going to put it out here. To me it sounds questionable, but you never know if you don't try! -WATERMELON GAZPACHO 1 cup yellow watermelon, seeded and diced 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped finely 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped finely 1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped finely 2 scallions, trimmed and chopped finely 1/2 medium red onion, chopped finely 1 celery stalk, chopped finely 1 Tbs. fresh lime juice 1 Tbs balsamic vinegar 1/4 tsp. salt freshly ground pepper to taste 1 sprig parsley, trimmed and chopped for garnish Place the watermelon in a blender, pulse two or three times, until it is broken up. Strain through a sieve, discard the pulp and save the juice. In a bowl, toss the cucumber, red pepper, tomato, scallions, red onion, celery, lime juice, vinegar, salt and pepper. Stir in the watermelon juice and chill for an hour or more. Garnish with parsley just prior to serving. Serves two. -EASY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP 1 butternut squash, peeled nutmeg to taste 2 Tbs. unsalted butter 1/4 tsp. salt freshly ground pepper to taste 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped finely 6 cups of low fat or no fat chicken broth/stock

Cut the squash into 1-inch chunks. Melt the butter in a large pot. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add squash and stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until squash is tender. Remove squash chunks with slotted spoon and place in a blender and puree. Return blended squash to pot. Stir and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Serve. Depending upon the size of your squash, this will serve 4-8

DESERTS

-APRICOT MOUSSE

1/2 cup dried apricots

2 Tbs. honey

1/2 cup nonfat cottage cheese

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1/2 pack unflavored gelatin

Place the dried apricots in a bowl and cover them with boiling water. Leave them sit for one hour to rehydrate, then place in a blender, add the honey and blend until smooth. In a small saucepan dissolve the gelatin in 2 Tbs. of water, placing over low heat and stirring until the gelatin is well dissolved. Combine the cottage cheese and the yogurt in a bowl and whip with a hand mixer (or you can blend in a blender until smooth, then place in a bowl). Pour yogurt mixture into a bowl and slowly stir in the gelatin. Fold in the apricot puree and pour into two glasses. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

-PAPAYA BOATS

2 Tbs. fresh lime juice

2 Tbs. honey

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1 ripe papaya, halved and seeded

In a small bowl combine the lime juice and the honey. Gradually stir in the yogurt, making a creamy sauce. Pour this mixture into the papaya halves.

-CHERRY-VANILLA SMOOTHIE SHAKE

1 8oz can of pitted cherries, drained

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1 tsp honey

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped ice

Blend the cherries in a blender until completely pureed. Add all the other ingredients and continue blending until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

-HONEY ORANGES

2 seedless oranges, peeled and cut into wedges (save some peel for garnish)

3 Tbs. honey

1 cup of brewed orange pekoe tea, chilled

Place the orange wedges in a bowl. Dissolve the honey in the tea and add to the bowl. Chill for four hours before serving, garnish with some strips of zest (from the orange peel).

Now that you have these spa cuisine recipes, go to the grocery store, stock up and prepare for your spa day at home!

More Spa Cuisine For Your Home

You've got all of your items gathered, your recipes out, and you are ready to have your home spa day. You have your mineral water, your herbal tea, or your smoothie ready to go, but what else will you have with it? Why not try some simple salads, some healthful, yet tasty soups, and then you'll have room for some interesting deserts!

*SALADS*

-WARM LENTIL SALAD 1/2 cup dry lentils 1 cucumber, peeled and diced 1 tomato, diced 1/2 red onion, peeled and diced 2 Tbs. fresh, chopped, parsley 3 Tbs balsamic vinegar 2 Tbs. olive oil, EV (extra virgin) is best 1/4 tsp. salt Fresh ground pepper to taste Cook the dry lentils until tender. Once tender, drain and place in a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, toss well and serve while still warm. -SWEET HEALTH SALAD 2 cups grated carrots 1/2 cup sweetened, shredded coconut 1/4 cup raisins 1/4 cup almonds 1/8 cup chopped walnuts 2 Tbs. olive oil 2 Tbs. red wine vinegar 1/4 tsp. salt Freshly ground pepper to taste Place all ingredients except the pepper in a large glass bowl and toss. Season to taste with the pepper and serve. -TRICOLOR SALAD 1 cup cooked and drained white beans 1 yellow pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced 6 cherry tomatoes, cut in half 2 Tbs. fresh, chopped parsley 2 Tbs. red wine vinegar 3 Tbs. olive oil 1/2 tsp. salt white pepper to taste Place white beans, yellow pepper and tomatoes in a large bowl. Toss together, then add the rest of the ingredients and toss again. Serve. -BLISS POTATO SALAD 6 small Red Bliss potatoes, scrubbed 2 Tbs. fresh dill, chopped 2 1/2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar 3 Tbs. olive oil 1 tsp. Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp. salt 1 red onion, peeled and chopped freshly ground pepper to taste Boil the potatoes until tender (usually about twenty minutes), then drain and quarter. Combine the dill, vinegar, oil, mustard and salt and place in a blender. Blend. Place the potatoes in a large bowl , then dress with the blended ingredients. Season with the pepper to taste and serve. -PEAR SALAD 1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar 3 Tbs. olive oil 1/4 tsp salt 1 bunch of arugula, rinsed (discard tough stems) 2 medium Belgian endive, trimmed and julienned 1 Bosc pear, peeled, cored and diced freshly ground pepper to taste Blend the mustard and vinegar together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, salt and pepper. Combine the arugula, endive and pear in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss, then serve. All of these salads serve two, so you can share your spa cuisine with someone special! Next post will be soup and desert recipes, so make sure you keep following along!

Set Your Tude, Get Into the Mood!

SETTING THE MOOD

Before you are really ready to pamper yourself (or another) with a home spa treatment, you need to begin to adjust your attitude and gather some items to enhance the mood! So here are some basics that you need have on hand, and some items that will enhance your spa treatment and your over-all experience. You can find most "basic" items that you will need right in your kitchen cabinet. The basics are the items that you will need to make, mix, use and/or store your treatments. Try to avoid tools that have silver, copper, aluminum, teflon, or cast-iron finishes. Stay with stainless steel, enamel, or glass utensils, as these will not react with any of the ingredients in treatment recipes. To create the best spa type experience, one that will bring you complete relaxation, rejuvenation and even luxury, you will need to add a second category of "basics", and those are the mood enhancing basics. These are items that will bring in the personal touches, and that will add an extra dimension to your experience. By adding these "basics", you will elevate your experience to the next level so to speak, raising it to the high level of a purchased spa package, and all for a fraction of the cost! Sooooooo, before you begin looking at books and creating recipes, make sure that you have the following on hand and ready to go! -A blender or food processor-a glass one is better than the plastic -A spice mill or coffee grinder-used to finely grind herbs -A wire whisk -Tongs-a must for picking up the hot sheet strips in body wraps -A double broiler- heats easily and melts without scorching -A x-large pot for boiling (a lobsterpot or stock pot works great) -Glass bowls for mixing -A few 2 or 3 quart sized ceramic or plastic bowls for holding seaweed, clay, salts and/or water -A very large bowl or basin for facial steams -Wooden spoons for mixing/blending -Vegetable peeler for peeling citrus fruits -Knives and a chopping board for cutting -A funnel -Glass jars and bottles for storing your preparations. Old mayonnaise, pickle or jam jars are great for this! -A strainer -Plastic bottles w/ flip top lids for storing shampoos and conditioners -Glass mason jars aka canning jars for brewing teas and making infusions -Glass measuring cup -Measuring spoon set -A dropper, preferable a glass one for measuring essential oils -A loofah sponge or bath mitt for applying body treatments -A natural bristle brush for skin treatments. This is a short-handled brush with a head about the size of your palm. -A pumice stone -Plastic wrap, a shower cap, or a plastic bag for hair treatments that need to be left on for a time period. The plastic intensifies the effect of the heat and is useful for hot oil treatments and for certain conditioners. -Disposable rubber gloves are useful when handling mud or seaweed, or applying hair treatments. -Towels- 2 or 3 over-sized bath towels to wrap up your body in, 2 standard-size towels for facial steams, or to wrap your hair in, 2 hand-towels to pat dry with, and 2 washcloths for compresses. -Cotton bed sheets- 2 or 3 for laying on and for covering yourself to maintain body heat after a massage or wrap. It is best to use unbleached, all-natural fiber sheets. -Cotton twin sheets-2. One to be cut into strips for body wraps (twin size is probably okay for this) and one to be used whole for the full-body wrap. Again, all-natural, unbleached cotton is best. -Pillows to raise your head or feet. Goose down is usually more comfortable, but synthetic fibers are easier to machine wash in case of spills. -Blankets for keeping warm after a bath, massage or wrap, or for using over the sheet. Although wool may be warmer, an all cotton blanket will be easier to wash if some of your treatment gets on it. -Shower curtain or plastic sheet is greta to retain the heat of a body wrap and/or to protect your laying surface. -Muslin sacks are great for preparing your herbal bath teas, sachets, and soaks. Those are all the basic BASICS you should need. Now for the Mood enhancing basics. These are highly preferential and you may use all or a combination of your favorites. -An Answering machine or Voice Mail will handle all of your messages, so turn off the phone ringers and leave the outside world outside! -Aromatherapy candles will enhance the effect of a bath and accentuate the mood. Make sure that you use the scent that will benefit you and your needs the most.

• Balancing; Geranium or Lavender
• Headache Relief; Lavender, Marjoran, or Peppermint
• Healing; Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, or Rosemary
• Meditation; Cedarwood, Patchouli, or Pine
• Stress Relief; Bergamot, Grapefruit, or Lavender

-A Bathrobe will add warmth and comfort to your experience. -A Bathtub tray will help keep your extras right at hand, and your book dry. -Beverage. Make sure that you choose water with lemon, lime, or orange slices, herbal teas, or healthful type drinks. Alcoholic beverages will increase your heart rate and your body temperature, so therefore should be avoided. -Books are a great indulgance while you are soaking in a tub. So pick your favorite before you hop in! -Flowers. fresh cut flowers are a treat for your senses and make a great addition to the over-all spa type setting. -An Inflatable neck pillow will add comfort while soaking. -Music can be a distinct mood alterer, so IF you choose to use it, make sure that you choose a peaceful, relaxing cd. You can find lots of mood music in most stores, including the dollar tree, so try going outside your (musical) box. You certainly don't want to be banging your head in the tub! lol. It rather defeats the purpose. -Slippers are great for comfort and warmth after treatments. -A space heater will help keep your body warm after a massage or body wrap. *Make sure that you never leave the heater unattended.* Now that you know all the basics that you will need, take inventory and go shopping if need be. Then set aside a few hours and prepare to treat yourself to a home spa treatment. Look in back