Body Beauty, Naturally

As wives, moms, home managers and the million other titles we have, we don't always have the time or budget to treat ourselves or our bodies the way we should. But our mindset and attitude affects our entire household. "When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" Thus, we must take time for ourselves to rest and reboot, even just for a few minutes.

Our theme for 2015-2016 is A Fierce Flourishing and includes Celebrating Lavishly, Embracing Rest and Noticing Goodness. Refresh your body by making a flavored water using strawberries and mint. Turn your bathroom into a mini-spa by lighting a few candles (those special smelly ones you've been saving), put some jazz on low and rest and relax by using one of the scrubs to smooth out some of those rough spots. Or if you are short on time, use the foot spray for a quick pick me and slather on a light lotion. You are worth the time and your family will benefit from a rested and relaxed mama!

All Over Scrub

½ Cup Sugar

¼ Cup Olive Oil (Or sweet almond oil or jojoba oil or coconut oil or grapeseed oil or avocado oil)

1 Tablespoon Lime Juice (You can use lime juice or lemon juice or essential oils if you have them) 

Mix sugar, oil and lime juice together. Let set about 15 minutes and check texture/consistency. Add more oil or more sugar as you desire. (We made something like this at MOPS and used ½ C sugar to ½ Cup oil.) 

In the winter, I use brown sugar, extra virgin olive oil, a bit of honey and vanilla. You can add in a little Vitamin E if you choose. Customize this to what you like!

Put in a clean container with a tight lid and store in a dry, cool spot. I use this all year long and have never had it go bad, but I tend to go through it within a month. So use within 6 weeks.

I use this on my face, neck, elbows, bum, ankles, all over! But it is for external use only.

Best Foot Forward Scrub

(From Ecobeauty by Lauren Cox with Janice Cox, pg 100)

½ Cup rolled oats/old fashioned oats

½ Cup cornmeal

½ Cup coarsesalt/sea salt

½ Cup olive oil

Mix together until you have a grainy mixture. Spoon into clean container with tight lid and store in a cool dry spot. Will keep about 4 weeks. Massage about a tablespoon-1/8 cup into each foot. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse well with warm water. Dry feet well and add a lotion to help keep your feet soft.

There is a product by Earth Therapeautics that I love called Foot Therapy Tea Tree Oil Foot Spray. I first started using it when I worked on the floor. It was perfect for after I worked 12+ hours to help combat that stinky foot issue. But I can't always find it and I wanted a foot spray for flip flop season that was quick, easy and inexpensive. I think I found it!

Foot Spray

I forgot to put the witch hazel in the picture!

(modified from Ecobeauty by Lauren Cox with Janice Cox, pg 104)

2 oz distilled water

1oz witch hazel

15 drops tea tree oil

5 drops peppermint essential oil

Pour ingredients into a 3 oz spray bottle and shake to mix. Spray on your feet  to help combat stinkiness or just for a quick pick me up. This is a nice size to take to the beach or on vacation. The scent is light and its not too "girly" smelling, maybe even spray a little on the husband or kids as you walk by!