Have A Natural and Relaxing Valentine's Day


Happy Valentine's Day!!! For years Valentine's Day has been a day to celebrate me. It is a day for me to remind myself that in the midst of taking care of everyone else I need to also take care of me. This year in lou of my herbal studies I have decided to do an all natural Valentine's Day with a relaxing bath and homemade salts and scrubs (one for the face and one for the body). Followed by my favorite food, Thai food and a movie. Probably a Tom Hanks movie <grin> It is time for me to take a break, a breather, and a sip of hot tea as I find my relaxation. Lost in a good book I allow the warmth and the bubbles to take me deep into the story that is unfolding before me...

Relaxing & Romantic Bath Salts:


I blended these ingredients according to my likes and based on what I had in stock. You may choose to blend ingredients that work for you or to use some of these ingredients. I love floral smells that are deep and sweet and full of bright color. Of course there has to be rosebuds. But I also chose to add in lavender and lotus petals. I used lavender and oat scented bath salts as a base and added 3 droppers full of coconut oil and jojoba oil. Then I added about 15 drops of Eucalyptus and Patchouli essential oils and then 2 small droppers full of sweet orange oil.  


I mixed all of the ingredients together and put them in a small glass jar for storage.
Sprinkle bath salt mixture into bath water. Relax and sink in, allow the perfume of the floral and oils to fill your nostrils and fall into a deep nirvana. 

Crystals: 

To use for the heart chakra... I line my tub with them. Rose quarts, aventurine, amazonite, and emerald



Use Candles for a relaxing atmosphere: 

Stress Relief, Rose scented, Calming, other candle that speaks to your heart

Homemade Strawberry Face Scrub:

I made a strawberry face scrub, original recipe found here.

I used fresh strawberries bought at my local health food mart. I've been having horrible issues with my skin lately due to frequent mask wearing, (I recently ordered a good face mask to also help with this issue). And after reading through that strawberries are good for the skin I knew I wanted to make this face scrub and use good strawberries. 

I loosely added my ingredients, not following approximate measurements. My final product is a bit on the liquid side. My solution is to add more sugar before each use.

Gently scrub onto the face and allow the strawberries to work their magic! Soak a clean face cloth in warm water and wipe to remove scrub. Wipe face until it is clean.

Finish with your favorite hydrating spray or moisturizer.

Homemade Rose Sugar Scrub:

This is my favorite scrub, I am excited to try it! Rose is by far my favorite scent. So when I blended up the rosebud petals in my coffee grinder I was taken on a scent paradise. Rose is an effective skin toner and I use Thayers witch hazel with rose petal every day as a facial toner, so I knew that this was a scrub I wanted to try. A toner for my whole body. Winter really takes a toll on our skin. We need to be kind to our skin, it is our largest organ and protects our other organs from everything. Try this scrub for yourself if your skin can use a little pick me up as well.

Ingredients:

1/2 C Coconut oil

1 C Organic sugar

1 tsp Vitamin E oil

1/4 C dried rose petals (I used dried rosebud petals because that's what I had on hand)

15 drops of essential oil of choice (optional)

Blend the dried rose petals in a coffee grinder

Add all other ingredients to a medium mixing bowl then add in the blended rose petals. Mix all ingredients together. The color and scent of the final mixture is heavenly.

Use before getting in the bath. Scrub all over body, then dip into the hot water to rinse it all off.

Soak up the scents from your bath mixture and enjoy a nice relaxing Valentine's Day pampering yourself. <wink>

Heart Opening Restorative Practice:

Allow your heart to be open to new possibilities, change, growth, and relaxation.

Find one on YouTube or try out this one I've put together. Before you begin your practice be sure to set the mood with lighting, smells, and music. Something that speaks to your heart. <wink>

Restorative Heart Opening Practice:

Begin in Supported Supta Baddha Konasana, use blocks or bolsters to prop up your knees and with a propped bolster behind the back. - Hold for 10 minutes

After 10 minutes walk knees together and feet out - hold for 2 minutes

Move to Heart Opening Pose - Hold for 10 minutes

After 10 minutes move to Child's Pose - hold for 2 minutes

Move to Supported Fish Pose - with the use of two blocks or two blocks and a bolster, one under the breast bone and one under the head and a block over these two. - Hold for 5 minutes

Move to back and set up for bridge pose

Do 3 bridges or hold in supported bridge for 3 minutes

Move to Belly Down Twist Over Bolster (both sides) - hold each side for 3 minutes

End in Savasana - hold for 5 - 10 minutes

Love and Light, to you all...

However you choose to celebrate this holiday of friendship and love I hope it is filled with all kinds of love, compassion, and relaxation. If you feel inspired to make any of these scrubs I'd love to hear from you. Leave your comments in the comment section below.

Namaste, my friends.

Take care.

And remember to take care of yourself as well.

Remember you are loved. 

xo

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