Brown Sugar and Raw Honey Scrub

The Raw Honey and Brown Sugar Scrub.

I am a strong believer in using kitchen ingredients to pamper and treat myself.

The Raw Honey & Brown Sugar Scrub is excellent for your face, as a body scrub and for  rough areas on your body, such as elbows, knees and feet. For a wonderful scrub that you can use once or twice per week, here is all that you need to do:

Ingredients:

• Raw honey: The use of raw honey gently exfoliates the skin and stimulates circulation without causing irritation and dryness. Raw honey is a humectant which has the quality of attracting and retaining moisture, so it balances the skin moisture to give a soft glowing complexion. Another one of the amazing raw honey benefits for skin is its protection against sunburns.
• Brown Sugar: Exfoliating the skin with a brown sugar scrub cleans and tightens pores giving the skin a more even uniform appearance; pores look smaller, skin tone more even. It can also diminish the damage to the skin caused by acne and other skin conditions. Using a brown sugar scrub improves your skin's ability to retain its natural moisture balance.
• Oil such as Olive Oil, Almond Oil, Tea tree oil or other body oil I add a few drops to make the paste more manageable.
• Essential Oil (optional) Scented oils such as lavender, eucalyptus and others, should never be used directly on skin so make sure to mix to oil or lotion prior to using.
• Wash Cloth

Directions:

• Mix 1 TBSP Raw Honey to 1 TBSP of Brown Sugar Add drops of  oil geared. If prone to   acne, some oils will help with controlling it . Consider peppermint, tea tree or rosemary for example.
•  Apply the mixture to a clean face in upward circular motions for 3-5 minutes. Take your damp warm wash cloth and gently wipe the mixture off of your face. Repeat until the scrub is completely removed. Follow with a cool water rinse. Tone. Moisturize.

Oh my Goodness, your face is going to faithfully thank you for this one. Your skin is going to feel extremely smooth as the facial removes excess oil and dead skin cells through exfoliation.
If dealing with acne  this scrub works overtime to relieve you from it
 And really, who doesn't want healthy, smooth, hydrated skin?

I try to do this facial scrub at least two times per week. I love this scrub because it's inexpensive and works wonders. Give it a try before you spend your money on chemical peels, commercial facial scrubs, etc.
Check more Pampering articles by entering pampering or self care in the search box.

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Natural Skincare & Green living: Ways To Reuse Coffee and Make a Coffee Body Scrub

"Hey!!!Don't waste this"!!! These are the words I tend to tell my husband, my kids and my friends when it comes to certain things. I make sure that leftover water and leftover tea are poured on plants and when it comes to coffee it's no exception. So, I just I wanted to take some time to share some of my simple ideas for re-using coffee and hope to learn something from you guys in return!

Picture taken at a local Starbuck!

As a plant lover I learned that coffee and leftover tea, are good plant food!,
Simply pour your leftover coffee on your indoor or outdoor plants. The coffee grounds can also be used as compost. I always make sure to get some extra leftover coffee grounds from the coffee shop. It's great nutrition for acid loving plants and I must say it also seems to do some good to all my indoor tropical plants.

In the kitchen I found that rubbing some coffee on my fingers with ground coffee work as a good odor remover, especially if I had handle fish, garlic or anything smelly.  It works well too in the garbage disposal to deodorize and disinfect.  The leftover coffee can also be used as a fridge deodorizer, simply  place a small bowl filled with fresh coffee grounds in your fridge.
I love the smell of coffee so much that it's my room deodorizer of choice during the winter months. I simply brew some fresh coffee when I need to fill the house with a pleasant aroma! You can actually put some leftover coffee grounds on a cooking sheet and place it in a warm over, but I just prefer brewing.
Leftover coffee can also be used to:

Picture taken at a local Starbuck.

• Make some frappucino
• Marinate your meat
• Replace red wine when cooking meat in recipes calling for wine!
• Flavor cake or waffle recipes ( replacing milk or water for coffee)
• Mix with condensed milk and freeze as popsicle.

Replace milk in your smoothy! Deliciouuuus!
Make ice cubes.  Why wait on a super hot coffee to cool down when you can just throw a coffee cube in?!
Well there must be many other ways to use leftover cofee in the kicthen but that's my little tried and true repertoire here!

It's also possible to use leftover coffee as a dye! You can use your leftover coffee to dye paper or fabric to give it an aged look.
Did you know you can also add it to the wash water when you wash your dark color clothes?! It's also a good dye as beauty hair treatment if you have dark hair. Apply about 5-6 cups of leftover coffee to your wet hair and cover and leave it on your hair from about 15-20 mns before rinsing! But it's only a temporary dye I can not claim that it will work like Garnier!

Since I love hanging at perfumes counters and shopping for candles I also learned to use it to trick my olfactory senses. Carry along some leftover coffee beans  or grounds and inhale them after smelling a perfume! It neutralizes the scent of the fragrance you smelled previously and help you to better sense the following fragrance.
And as to my favorite use of leftover coffee grounds, a little messy I should admit but very rewarding, I use it as a scrub! Yep! I love to use leftover coffee grounds as a facial scrub or a body scrub in the shower.

MAKING COFFEE SCRUB
2 cups coarse coffee. I prefer to just recycle the one I freshly brewed
1/2 sea salt or brown sugar. I skip that step most times
3 tbsp. oil such as olive, coconut, sweet almond, jojoba etc
A drop of scented oil of choices. Totally optional!


The only inconvenience is having the grounds over the shower floor and in...well...let's say that I advise wearing a swim suit bikini when you decide to use it as a full body scrub! I don't know if it's the pleasure of rubbing something totally organic on my body, or feeling like I am giving myself what could have been an expensive spa treatment from the comfort of my home, but I love love love the way my skin  feels afterward! It's best to use fresh ground coffee as it still have many of it's antioxidant property when it's fresh. Like 20-30 minutes after you have brewed some since it will need time to cool some.
So before you think it's a messy idea ( I am making a face)give it a try because you might love the way your skin feel afterward, it's worth trying!

So... no need to let that leftover coffee go to waste right?
What do you tend to do with your leftover coffee? If you tried or try to use is as a facial or body scrub please let me know what you think of it as a scrub! Have you heard that it's claimed to remove cellulite when used as a scrub on thighs and legs?

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• N'na

TEA TIME al fresco

I am so excited! Just received a package from my sweet friend K.A in Boston who just returned from Paris!
In the box were those precious and very special items!

The culinary treat, ha ha ha, are Madeleines au beurre, (butter Madeleines) they are so gooood and it has been years since I indulged in some! The magazines are as you can see Marie Claire Maison, (Marie Claire Home) and Marie Claire Idees (Marie Claire ideas or more Marie Claire arts & crafts). Most people probably know Marie Claire when it come to their fashion edition. I am not much of a fashionista so I stick to my passion for Home decor and Crafts!

Marie Claire Idees was introduced to me by a friend who visited me from Paris (France) about 6-5 years ago. She knew I loved art and crafts so she brought me back a few magazines and Marie Claire Idees were the ones I  mostly fell in love with! Every time I receive a package from Paris, in addition to treats I get some French magazines but it's been a while since I got a Marie Claire Idees. I was so excited I could not even browse it properly going from page to page excited to see what good stuff I would find...So I decided to take 25 minutes away from the children to indulge....

I normally would have had tea at this time of the day but Madeleines are to me a special childhood pleasure so I opted for a comforting drink that took me back to the most peaceful times of my life! French magazines, Madeleines and warm milk with honey and cinnamon...enjoying those with the voice of my favorite song by singer Andrea Bocelli....

My twin sister is the one who first introduced me to his beautiful voice and to this particular song. This song has had such a profound impression on me the first time she played it that each time I am in need of serenity I listen to his music. I found this one recently on the internet and it was like finding a lost loved one.  Listening to it send me into a deep nostalgic yet happy state.

 My tea time today was like therapy to reconnect to the best things of my childhood as my birthplace is suffering so many destructions. For months the city has suffered so many unpleasant things and this week has been the worst, so I needed something more special than a regular cup of tea!  My friend's gift arrived at the perfect time and nature embraced me with open arms as the weather was very conducive to having tea time in the garden!

A lot of childhood memories have come back to my mind since the events of this week in my birthplace. I needed to relieve the stress and after my mom's visit this afternoon and her sharing more details of some of the chaos going on in my hometown my stress level was seriously increasing. I don't like to cary stress in my mind or in my body so I needed something therapeutic and I needed quick!
A special memory I had today was how my siblings and I, (and every friend who would join us), used to take our afternoon snacks on the patio or spread a tablecloth on the lawn.  Unlike those innocents years, today I don't have time to spend hours enjoying myself in such a manner. Today I only had 25 minutes to recreate the best I could a peaceful memory with French reading materials and snacks. I needed that this Friday afternoon.

I needed to count my blessings, take some times to enjoy the afternoon breeze, create a moment of serenity in a busy day and in a week where all the distant news I have received were far from good.
I needed to give thanks and enjoy being so blessed with a wonderful family and wonderful friends who would send me a gift all the way from Paris!

I can not say it enough! Making time for oneself even if it's just 15 minutes a day can pay great dividend in our mental, emotional and physical health! I just wanted to share how I made 25 minutes a gift to myself just so that I can be better to my family! So you might not be able to afford tea time in a fancy restaurant but you can turn a little corner of your deck, balcony or home into a refuge for just 15-30 minutes!  If you spend the day caring for others you have to find ways to care for yourself for just a few minutes! This is actually very important if stress seems to be constant part of your life!

Tea time is a nurturing time for me regardless of if it's very early in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon or right before heading to bed!

Do you have such a nurturing time in your day? If yes what makes that time so nurturing to you?  If you don't do you see through this post a reason to create such moments for yourself? What do you like to drink you tea with? Do you have a favorite cake or cookie you use to accompany your tea?

N'na

Eating Al fresco and savouring my day in little ways...

Hellooo! How are you all doing today?!
Here the weather has been gorgeous for the past few days and I couldn't be happier!
On Saturday I got the opportunity to visit Huntsville Alabama and Sunday my husband and I went on a bike ride it was so pleasant! I will share the pictures with you very soon!
The week has started on a  pretty busy pace and today was another one of those very productive days!
I managed to squeeze a 20 minutes walk this morning. Better than nothing! I can't seem to function well unless I have exercised in the morning.  After my cup of coffee first thing in the morning I had to create 20 minutes to enjoy the outdoors after my morning stretch! No time for running today or going for an hour walk! I still savoured every seconds of this short walk!
On those busy days, even eating seem to be difficult to manage.I know that it's unhealthy to go hungry so I made sure to eat at least a yogurt for breakfast

and make some freshly squeeze citrus juice using one pink grapefruit, a lemon, and 4 tangerines.

Homemade fresh citrus juice

I had a very late lunch.  It was 3:00pm by the time I had the chance to enjoy something good to eat but it was worth the wait! I made it worthwhile by eating Al fresco! I love eating AL fresco each time the weather allows it!
My lunch consisted of a serving of lettuce with no dressings. I squeezed half a lemon on it and it was tasty enough for me! I also had a Southern Home Chicken & Wild Rice soup with a glass of water.

Al fresco healthy lunch lettuce and soup

Hummmm... finally...20 minutes of peace while eating on my deck! Enjoying the musical sounds of nature, having my cheeks kissed by a gentle breeze and smiling at the view of a bird perched on a branch,




Bird perched on a branch in the backyard while eating my late lunch!



an eagle flying over my head, he was too fast for me to capture him but he was gorgeous...I love days like those! Thank God for good weather!

Well I am sharing those pictures with you and I am off to my other tasks before the day end! Still have to make dinner! I just wanted to say before I leave...remember to pamper yourself and treat yourself even if you have a busy day! Make time for you even if it's only 20 minutes.  I don't care if you are eating lunch by yourself, with a friend, at home alone or in a public place, always find little ways to make your experience a treat!
 Learn to savour the moments in your days even if you only have 20 minutes to do it. Take a walk, stretch your body it needs it, massage your feet they serve you well or simply turn a meal into a pleasurable moment even if you are short on time!

If it's your first time on this blog I suggest that you read one of my most popular posts:
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/pampering-yourself-is-good-for-your.html  and the following posts
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/02/shrimp-soup-for-soul-and-good-night.html
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/its-good-for-your-spirit-cest-bon-pour.html

This being said I am eager to hear from you...
When was the last time you took time to appreciate yourself and turn a mundane activity into a moment of pleasure? What small thing to you do to be good to yourself that turns out to have a big impact on the quality of you day and of your life?




N'na

Shrimp soup for the soul and a good night sleep

Hmmm

I slept soooo good last night!Woke up to another cold and rainy day though but I had a good night sleep and I am in a good mood! I love Saturdays so much!Don't you?! Be honest, yesterday you were probably going TGIF!!! I tend to put myself on a Sabbath come Friday evening. Last night I decided to unplug. No Internet, no TV. It has been a cold and rainy day and the week had been a  busy one but a very good one. All I wanted was as quiet night.
I got it by enjoying a warm bowl  of Shrimp bisque soup , talking on the phone to a new friend in Atlanta to get a recipe from her and spending an hour on a prayer conference line with over 3, 700 people on the line. After that I took 20 mns to write in my gratitude journal things I am grateful for.  I had so much to be grateful for, lot of good news, good things going on in my friends' lives, it always cheer me up!



Peaceful dinner with no TV and no Internet and soothing classical music.

   I then got ready for bed by starting my beauty sleep regimen after drinking my last cup of tea for the day.

I poured some almond oil in a small ramekin and started my beauty treatment by dipping my fingers in almond oil and rubbing it on my face in circular motion . I applied  some almond oil on my  hair before wearing my silk cap. I massaged my feet with almond oil before fitting them in my spa socks , and then massaged my hands with almond oil before heading for bed. I sprayed my sheets and pillows with some lavender linen spray and within minutes I was out for the count. 

My room was offering the right atmosphere since 8 pm. I had already dimmed all the lights, been playing some peaceful classical music in the living room to aid my children to fall at sleep and quiet my mind.  The air in my room was filled with the scent of chamomile and soothing my mind! Yeah to aromatherapy! (smiles)
 If you don't know it lavender and chamomile have relaxing  properties. Lavender and Chamomile teas are some of the best tea selection for times when you just need to relax regardless of the time of the day
Soooo.... if you need  a good night sleep, create a peaceful ritual and try aromatherapy, teas etc instead of relying on prescription drugs you see in TV commercials that have their ugly set of side effects. Try creating a sleep and relaxation inducing environment in your room, remove the clutter, have some nice light blocking curtains and blinds and treat yourself to simple things like soft music, a cup of soothing tea, the scent of a candle or room midst and a few moments to reflect quietly on your day and cast your cares. This is a cheaper and healthier alternative to running to prescription drugs as the only tool for improving your sleep. It's worth  trying!!!  Don't you think?!
Psalm 4:4 says  In peace I will lie down and sleep for You alone oh Lord will keep me safe.
I feel like connecting to God once again before bedtime gives me so much peace as I cast on Him my cares of the day and reset my mind for the day ahead.

My small bedtime basket. Keeping my goodies close by to remind me to pamper myself every night.

Well, this little ritual is my way of living, or sleeping I should say.  When I add all those ingredients like I did last night I am always guaranteed a peaceful night, sleeping tight like a baby (smiles).  I think we all deserve to spoil ourselves after a long day. That's my precious way of doing it. Work is important, so is a good night sleep, it's a reward and a necessity for a day well lived!
Well what about you? Do you have any problem sleeping at night? Do you have something that aid you relax and sleep more peacefully? What do you do to get your beauty sleep?

Natural skin care: The benefits of almond oil for skin care and beyond skin care

I was reading some posts on a new blog I follow and I thought it was super funny. In one of her post, Nisha was talking about how she spent money on cosmetics and mentioned that her aunt believes in the virtue of natural products.
I had planned to write today about the benefits of almond oil and in introducing this post I think it's worth mentionning one thing. I believe in " old-wives tales" as Nisha put it in her blog entry " Face value" . (smiles)


  I believe that God in His divine wisdom had initially created the garden of Eden with more beauty, power and mysteries that we could ever fathom. The more I learn about the benefits of a fruit, a vegetable, an oil, the more I am mesmerized by the amazing gifts the universe have freely doted us with. I don't have a bananas tree, a coconut tree or a avocado tree in my backyard like I did as a child and today more than ever I wish I did.

I took so much for granted as a child but we still take much for granted as adults. Sharing the benefits of natural products is my way to embrace the best of nature and of God's gifts to us. It's also  my way of living a better life with as few chemicals as possible.
Today I wanted to talk about Almond oil. Some know it as a carrier oil for massages, some are aware that it's added to many cosmetic products on the shelves in our beauty stores but very few people know it's many benefits...I hope that learning more about it will encourage you to add it in your beauty regimen and your daily life because it's benefits exceed skin care...

Almonds are some of the healthiest nuts to eat but they are not just healthy in their solid form. Almonds are greatly beneficial even as oil.
Almond oil is one of the many vegetables oil that is often used as a carrier oil in aromatherapy. It's a great base oil for essential oils used for massages because it's not as oily as other oils, it a great emollient and moisturizer and it's very absorbent. 
Rich in vitamin E it also contains magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D.
Did you know that almond oil is similar in composition to the oil  babies excrete to keep their skin and hair healthy?! I think it's a better substitute to Baby oil that contains toxic minerals. Sweet almond oil is pure and healthier.
So in addition to being a great massage oil,  almond oil is great  for your hair, for your health and for your skin. It's great for all skin types and a great treatment for dry skins.

Benefits of Almond oil for your hairPour a few drops of almond oil in your palm. Dip your fingertips and apply gently on your scalp. Massage slowly in small circular motions and feel the comfort.Almond oil adds luster to the hair. I personnaly love to use it on my hair to add shine to them and because it doesn't weight them down, plus it seals them so well.

•  Add shine to the hair
• Nourishes hair and smooths hair cuticles
• Promotes hair growth
• Protects hair from breakage

Benefits of almond oil for your health
Consuming almond oil is beneficial for the digestive system. When used in aromatherapy it has calming and cleansing effects. Almond oil also relieves pain. It is used as an effective painkiller .

• Regular consumption of almond oil helps reduce cholesterol
• Nourishes the brain and nervous system
• Enhances the intellect and endurance
• Application of almond oil provides relief to strained muscles ( massage benefits)

Benefits of almond oil for your skin

•  Nourishes the skin, making it smooth and soft because it's an emollient
• Moisturises deeper and better
• Delays aging process
• Improves complexion and helps your skin retain or restore its glow 
• Soothes skin irritation and inflammation
• Relieves dry and ichty skin
• Lighten dark circles under the eyes
• Heals chapped lips and body rashes
• Relieves irritations, soreness and burns

Remember that almond oil is rich in Vitamin E , the vitamin that's marvellous for anti-aging and skin protection from sunburn. So there you have a natural oil that's great for your skin and much cheaper than many of the cosmetics brand you rely on for anti-aging and skin protection.  But please keep in mind that uses of almond oil is not safe for people allergic to nuts and that only pure and sweet almond oil is the kind of almond oil you want to use.

Now... with this being shared, when you consider that a bottle of almond oil will cost you less than $10.00  but very few products on the cosmetic aisles are that inexpensive and that rich in natural benefits wouldn't you say that the "old-wives tales" have a lot of truth to them?! ( I am smiling and thinking about Nisha).  If you want the very best for your skin and things in their most effective form  you will have to admit that few commercial products can brag to do so much for us. 

Well, I have personally fallen in love with natural products and believe in them more than ever. But what about you?! Are you one who always have to purchase the best cosmetic advertised on TV  or in the magazines?! Or do you believe in beauty practices that are easy on the wallet but strong on their rewards?!  Do you often use almond oil?! How do you use it?!

Pampering yourself is good for your health!

I am not writing here about going to a spa every week and spending money on yourself that will get your husband to remind you that it's time to save not splurge on 'uneccessary things'.
Here I am talking about learning to take care of yourself without breaking the bank and being creative if you do not have a lot of time on your hands.
As a mother of three children, I've learned the importance of taking care of myself. I am still in the learning process actually but in spite of the fact that I do not have any family around to help with the kids and that I lack a strong support system I have created small ways of pampering and loving myself.  I have learned that:
I can not give what I don't have. So I have learned to give to myself  some love throughout the day so that I can love my children and husband. I consider pampering myself an act of love to myself and a gift to those that surround me because taking care of myself in the best of my ability and resources help me to take care of others. You all know the scripture that ask us to love others as we love ourselves. Well, we have to have a healthy love for ourselves if we are to love others.                                  



Gift basket by Nnakodesigns.All rights reserved.



Gift basket by Nnakodesigns.All rights reserved.

                                                 
My first acts of love to myself every morning are:
Kneeling for prayer even if its just 5 mns. Aside from my daily prayer time I just kneel briefly in the morning as an act of gratitude and reverence for God.        

Stretching my body.  It's important to get the blood to flow and my body's energy 'reset' for the day. I will write later on the importance of stretching. 

Seating somewhere with a cup of Green tea and fresh mint preferrably from my garden. During the spring and summer time I sit on my front or back porch and enjoy the calmness of my surroundings before the kids are up and before the neighbors start leaving for work. 

Going on short walk with Cotton my maltese if time and the weather permit.
While on those walks I love to pay attention to the sound of the birds, and all my surroundings.
I consider those short and simple actions ways of pampering myself because they leave me feeling grounded and ready for my day .  

My bedtime ritual consists of :                 

Lighting only table lamps in the bedroom

Burning a vanilla or lavender soy candle

Spraying my pillows and sheets with lavender linen spray

Placing a glass of water by my bedside

Applying some oil or lavender lotion on my feet, rubbing them and putting on some spa socks for the night
Once in a while I do the same for my hands by rubbing and massaging them in oil before fitting them in my spa gloves for the night!

Reading something inspiring or writing in my journal things I am grateful for and

Saying a last prayer of gratitude for the day

                                                              

                                                          


Another way of pampering myself that is dear to me is my eating ritual.
Unless we are eating dinner as a family, I prefer to eat all my meals peacefully and quietly with or without the sound of music in the background.  I also drink my water in a very nice glass and always use my nicest dishes and a nice cloth napkin.
I know that most people reserve their best dishes for their guests. I do not reserve any 'special' dishes for my guests. I use it for myself too. 
                                         

                                     
Once a week, generally Fridays, I take a block of time to soak in the tub, give myself a  manicure and pedicure and just take it easy
 I do no housekeeping on that day and limit my activities. Well, simply put its my Me Time (smiles). Come 6pm I consider myself on a Sabbath. Every chores will have to wait Saturday evening or Monday.

                                            

Of course, I love the benefits of a professional massage but I do not get to indulge as frequently as I want.
The one thing I indulge into weekly is getting my hair done. I am picky about getting my hair done at the end of the week.
 However, I am not picky on who does my manicure and pedicure and I actually love doing this myself.  My reason for it  is that it gives me the flexibility to choose the music I want to listen to, I am not waiting to be helped, I can read a book or watch any TV channel I want while I am doing my manicure and pedicure. I am very picky about the kind of music that's played in public places. At home, I can enjoy pampering myself and enjoy the silence or the music I choose to listen to.
                                                            
 In addition to that, I make my own beauty treats, even throw some of my dried rose petals in the water and instead of soaking my feet in commercial products I simply boil my own herbs, add some oil of my choosing and soak my feet as long as I want to.
Once in a while I get myself pampered from head to feet at a Salon. But for days when it's not convenient to do it professionally I can pamper myself from the comfort of my own home without spending any extra money.
The other thing I love to do which I consider is pampering myself is dressing myself nicely, putting some perfume and a few jewelries on even if I am staying at home most of the day.
My theory is that I want to inspire myself when I pass by the mirror even when I am in comfortable 'home clothes'. I want to see something pretty every time I step in the bathroom and it's important because it keeps me in a good mood.
I do not keep nor wear any piece of clothing that has a hole or a stain on or that looks worn out. Comfort to me means that comfortable clothes are also nice clothes.

Another creative way I pamper myself is to display my dish soap in a nice soap dispenser,

                                                                                                      

 keep a scented hand lotion and hand soap by the kitchen sink                                                   and                             some nice hand towels around versus old raggedy kitchen towels. Next to it stand a small vase of fresh flowers.  Considering all the time we spend in a kitchen I think it's important to add small things that will bring us pleasure. Pampering myself is surrounding myself with cute things in every room and keeping every room very orderly.

Order and cleanliness throughout the house from bathroom counter to living room sofa is for me a way of pampering myself because chaos create stress but order is restful. 
And rest is what we want when we pamper ourselves. Pampering is not just something to be done in an expensive spa facility it's something that can be done daily in small increments that add up to a healthy life


                                            

So to people who do not have time or money to go regularly to the salon, get a professional manicure and pedicure, know that you can pamper yourself even when you feel like it's a luxury. Get the best cosmetic product you can afford, get yourself some new towels, replace your pillows or bed sheets, get a fancy glass cloth napkin and plate set, keep your favorite things around, take a shower or bath light some tea candles and turn some soft music on and start treating yourself even if it's just 15 mns a day. Turn a daily routine into a special ritual . You deserve to value and treat yourself after a long hard day. 

Treat yourself by offering yourself a clean and clutter free home ( and car)  and add little touches of beauty around you. I am confident that it will improve your emotional/mental health and impact other areas of your life.
Taking good care of yourself is a necessity and it's okay to indulge yourself daily. You just have to be creative about it, but it starts just where you are.
Please let me know how you pamper yourself on a daily/weekly basis and if any of those suggestions worked for you let me know which one are now part of your daily routine.

2 creative uses for ripe bananas: facial mask or frozen for smoothies.

If you are like me you probably have one or two bananas on your kitchen counter that you don't feel like eating but that will spoil unless you do something with them. Instead of discarding them, there is a simple way to put your ripe bananas to good use.
Bananas are a nourishing and moisturizing fruit that can be used in face as well as hand masks because it's gentle, and exfoliating . Bananas contain magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, B6, B12 and A. They are rich in dietary fiber, low in Sodium.
There are two things I like to do with my ripe bananas. One is for beauty in your home spa , the other one for nutrition.


Beauty use for ripe bananas:  Make a facial mask
To prepare the mask smash 1/2 banana, mix with a 1 tablespoon of honey and 1-2 tablespoon of sour cream. The mask can also be done with natural yogurt instead of sour cream or just banana and honey.  Apply on your face avoiding your eyes areas. Leave on  for 10-20 minutes and then rinse gently with cold water. Considering that its also a delicious mask should you swallow some of it you should relax knowing that its chemical free. (smiles)
This mask is great for all skin types especially normal and dry skin.

Nutritious use for ripe bananas: Freeze them to use in homemade smoothies.
For those bananas that you can't get to finish, if they  are still good cut them up and freeze them so that you can use them up for homemade smoothies.Natural yogurt, frozen bananas ans strawberries make a delicious smoothie for a breakfast on the go or for a nutritious meal replacement. I often add coconut milk or almond milk to my smoothies with  or without the yogurt . You can also use unfrozen bananas it's just that adding frozen fruits replace the need for crushed ice. I often add blueberries to my smoothies and a few spices and herbs like cinnamon, fennel and even flaxseed.
Keep in mind that bananas are already high in sugar so when making a smoothie with them do not use more than one banana,  and avoid adding any sweetener to your smoothie. Adding cinnamon to your smoothie is a great way to regulate the sugar level.

If you have any healthy suggestions for ripe bananas feel free to share. Do you have any smoothie recipes that you would like to share? There are many smoothies ideas in our Facebook albums.

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