I’m turning fifty in April (insert a big gulp) … and like many of my best girlfriends, I’m refusing to grow old gracefully. I mean, us gals could sit back and let age take over. But why would we want to go and do a crazy thing like that?
Yes, I work out regularly, I eat healthy, and I step on the scale every single day. But even more important, I pamper myself. And no matter what stage of life you are in right now, you should too.
As a mom with four kiddos living at home, two who have special needs, it’s vitally important for me to stay as healthy and strong as I can. That fact clicked with me a long time ago. However, until fairly recently, I didn’t get the pampering part of the equation. As a result, I’m catching up on lost time.
To put it plainly, pampering is equal to air. Without it, we suffocate. I didn’t even know I was suffocating until I started making self care a part of my daily ritual. Now, I’d never go back. I think of it this way. If we don’t fill ourselves with love first, making sure to fill our tanks to the brim, how are we going to have enough love to give out to others? So … with that in mind, here’s a quick tip:
One of the ways I show myself love is to soak in a hot tub WITH bath bombs and a 1980’s love song playlist (thank you Spotify!).
Bath bombs can be found at most big retail chains for a variety of prices, but my favorite (so far) is the 100% Natural Bath Bombs from Natural Spa Bath. They are made in the USA with premium sourced essential oils and use no synthetic dyes or preservatives, which is all a big plus. They turn my bath time into sanctuary time and can be found on Amazon by clicking here . If you haven’t tried bath bombs yet, by the way, you haven’t lived.
What about when you don’t have time to soak? Do you skip the bath? No, no, no. Say these four words with me: “Never forgo the bath.” Seriously. When I only have ten or fifteen minutes for a bath, I make sure I still pamper myself by using a body scrub and a bath brush. Because bath time is self love time and plain water will never do:
My favorite body scrub is the Ginger & Cardamom Olive Oil Body Scrub by Bath and Body Works. The scent, for some reason, makes me feel like I’m Cleopatra in Egypt, and at only $6.00, it is an inexpensive extravagance. (Cleopatra, by the way, believed herself to be a living Goddess … I’ll bet you a dollar to a donut that she pampered the heck out of herself.) To follow up, since I’ve exfoliated with a scrub, I nourish my body with 100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil by Shea Moisture . Rich in Vitamin E, the Coconut Oil has natural anti-aging properties. As a bonus, it is also very good for people who battle chronic dry skin, psoriasis and/or eczema. If you combine these two products, I promise, your body will be as soft as a buttery biscuit. (You know, the inside, when you pull back the outer layers and it’s like a yummy cloud.)
And after my bath, I always pull on something super plush:
When you go to the trouble to get your body all soft and smooth, you can’t just throw on something scratchy. And not to digress too much, but speaking of smooth, ladies, can we all just agree to shave or wax our legs regularly? I get the whole movement toward “it’s our right and our bodies, so we don’t have to conform to society’s expectations” … but by shaving our legs, we are making our legs more beautiful. It’s a fact. Hairy legs are not pretty. I know I don’t want to feel prickles of hair against my jeggings or my leggings, do you? Lord, no! It takes five minutes to shave your legs. Just do it. Anyhow, this comfy sweater is from one of my favorite stores, American Eagle .
So, to wrap up. Pamper yourself and soak those darned troubles away.
~Mel
Brick Marshmallows 