At the first sight of snow, I retreated indoors for a DIY (do it yourself) spa day. Who better to do this with than two of my lady friends? We watched the snow fall out the window and shook our heads in disbelief. It was October after all. Who said it could snow before Halloween!? Cozied up on the couch, warm rose and chamomile tea in-hand, we let the easy conversation of friendship guide us on our day of self care.
We each brought a selection of pampering treats to share. I packed my bag with a mineral mask, Goddess taro cards, and a bunch of kale. My friend Aimee brought a homemade coffee body scrub. (It smelled divine and worked well to moisturize our skin.) Gretchen hosted and prepared a grounding root vegetable soup. Together, we helped nourish each other from the inside and out.
It seems so indulgent to block out an entire day for self-care but the restorative effects can reverberate for weeks. Your body deserves indulgent relaxation to heal from the stressors of everyday life. Your mind and heart need time to be in communion with friends to restore your perspective.
Below are some ideas on how to make the most out of your own spa day. I have also included Aimee’s salt scrub recipe and a great aftershave tonic that is much cheaper than its beauty store counterparts. Even if you can just do one special spa-like thing for yourself, do it, offering gratitude to your body.
DIY Spa Ideas
- Take a bath, as the water drains out, feel what you are energetically letting go of
- Yoga- bust out your mat and do a few sun salutations
- Do free writes on what you’re grateful for or what your soul goals are
- Mani/Pedi- bring colors to share- your same-old pink could be your friend’s new fave
- Watch woman-power movies. eg, Steel Magnolias; Thelma and Louise; She Devil; 9 to 5 or Fried Green Tomatoes
- Give yourself or a friend a taro card reading
- Cook a healthy meal together
Coffee Body Scrub
Courtesy of Ms.Aimee Brown
1/2 cup coffee grounds
2-3 tablespoons coconut oil
3 tablespoons sea salt
1/3 cup brown or cane sugar
few drops of essential oil (try peppermint for a nice thin mint cookie / refreshing vibe)
It is easy to substitute a different oil or more/less salt and sugar depending on your desired consistency.
Shake well before using, ingredients will separate. Rub in circular motion on wet skin to exfoliate then rinse well.
Aftershave Tonic
This is an old gem I’ve made for years. When applied after hair removal, it wards off irritation. It does sting a little bit but the sting goes away quickly. You can even try a dab on a pesky pimple to dry it out.
30 uncoated or light coated aspirin
8 ounces rubbing alcohol
5 ounces witch hazel
Crush the aspirin in a mortal and pestle, coffee grinder, or in a zip lock and roll a rolling pin over it. Crush until it is the consistency of a fine powder. Combine with liquids. Shake well before each use. Rinse hands after use.
Enjoy xo 
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