Pamper Yourself At Home

Love your body, love yourself. What better way is there to show your body some love than to give it some pampering home spa treatments? You get to luxuriate at a fraction of what it would cost to have the same treatment at a spa and your body will be as pleased as a purring cat. Here's how:

Take 30 minutes for a nice hot tub heated to 82 degrees. This is the temperature of a heated pool. The temperature is important because it helps stimulate the circulation of the small blood vessels. Add a cup of Dead Sea salts (the Ahava brand is excellent) and soak for a quarter of an hour. Then wrap yourself in a toweling robe and curl up on your bed for an after-the-bath rest for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Puffy Eyes

Did you wake up with puffy eyes? Try an at-home stone facial. It takes only ten minutes.

Go to a florist and purchase some inexpensive river rocks. You should also buy a synthetic paintbrush with silky-soft bristles from a crafts store.

Next, place the stones into a bowl of ice water. Smooth on some regenerating serum—brand of your choice—with the help of the brush, using upward, circular movements. Place one stone beneath your eye at its innermost corner. Using gradual movements, push the stone toward the opposite, outer corner. Repeat these steps, this time treating the upper eye area and then your other eye, using a second stone. The woman in the mirror looking back at you will look so well-rested.

Glowing Skin

An energizing herb scrub takes no more than 15 minutes of your time. Choose herbs like sage or rosemary which have a stimulatory effect on your digestive and nervous systems. Crush the herbs and mix them into 4 oz. of Epsom salts plus 1 oz. of (unscented) oil. Rub the mixture into your skin. Shower, and finish off by applying rosemary-scented body lotion. Your skin will glow.

Is your skin dry and flaky? Take 30 minutes to make a moisturizing body masque. Mix together jojoba cream with jasmine and grapefruit essential oils. Apply this to your skin after a shower. Then wrap yourself in a cocoon of plastic wrap followed by a cuddle under your blanket for 20 minutes.

How about some refreshing, light spa-like cuisine? Whip up this summer soup in your blender. It's addictive and takes just minutes to prepare. Here's the recipe:

1 cantaloupe, seeded, peeled, and diced

1 14 oz. can of light coconut milk

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 medium-sized seedless cucumber, peeled and diced

1 cup melon cut into small cubes

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves

1 Tablespoon of honey

1) Blend cantaloupe, coconut milk, and lime juice.

2) Pour through sieve into large bowl.

3) Discard the pulp left behind in sieve.

4) Stir cinnamon and chili powder into mixture in bowl.

5) Stir in cucumber, diced melon, and mint leaves.

6) Add honey (can add more to taste).

7) Chill for an hour, serve.

Makes 6 servings