You know what I love? A rainy day. To me they are the ultimate day of relaxation and perfect opportunity for self care. Being self employed and a single mom I rarely get a chance to partake in a lazy rainy day... but when the opportunity arises I dive in.

Sleep in

You know what’s delicious? Lounging in your warm comfy sheets listening to the rain fall outside the window, it’s one of life’s simplest and delicious pleasures.

Sip a healing tea cocktail

I like to maximize my tea time by “cocktailing” my cup. Hibiscus tea for cardiovascular health, ginger tea for digestion, and milk thistle for detoxing. There are so many combos just open your tea drawer and mix and match.

Journal

I can’t turn my brain off... it’s a Gemini trait. I’m always thinking, creating, deciding and having an ever going conversation with myself. It can obviously be mentally draining. I find writing down what I’m thinking can take it out of my head space and take it off my mental plate. I keep a journal of dreams I’ve had, poetry lines I’ve crafted for that book I’ll some day write, wellness ideas recipes and rituals for that other book I’ll someday write filled with all my thoughts. It’s said when you think of something it’s divine interaction, don’t down play that... thoughts come to us for a reason, capture them.

Pray

To whom ever is your God, your goddess, your creator. Mines is The Lord. What better time to take a moment and open your heart and let it all out. A good soul purge can leave you feeling light. When the rain comes to wash away the outside let its cleaning energy with the same magic on your inside. It’s a mindset. Find it.

Dance 

Turn on music that moves you and move your body. Take in the energy of The Universe and sway like the wind that pushes at the rain. It doesn’t have to be a cardio- pump session, it can be slow ,sensual rock. Wanna up the ante? Not scared to get a little wet, take it outside, with out the umbrella, barefoot. Feel your toes connect to the wet grass or pavement. Ground yourself to the earth and allow the rain to cleanse all things that are weighing you down. Let that heavy energy wash into the earth, sway and shake it off. Allow this simple moment of pleasure reset your spirit and your body. Breath in the clean wet air, let it fill you up, set the intention that at that moment you reset your day, your week , your life.

Wonderful Winter Skin

Winter is coming. Is your skin ready?

 Chances are it's not. Once the season changes and the air gets colder we really need to amp up our skin care regimens.

One of the most important things to do this Winter for your skin is to stay hydrated. This is the time of year that people drink less water leaving their skin thirsty and dry. We also have a way of over doing it with sweets and treats not to mention the booze. These holiday extras can leave our skin feeling less than wonderful. 

Need some motivation? Hot water with lemon is my go to cold weather tool. Not only does it keep me hydrated it helps to flush my body of excess water that adds on holiday bloat. So soak up some water, your skin will thank you.

Find a creamy cleanser. The cold air strips our skin of its natural moisture. A thicker creamier cleanser will coat your skin sealing moisture in.

Can't find a creamy cleanser you love? Get a cleanser packed with Vitamin C & AHA's. It brightens naturally and is great for an all over winter glow. My personal favorite is the Arbonne RE 9 daily cleanser.

Grab a facial oil. Remember what I said about sealing in moisture? This is the same idea behind a facial oil. Highly hydrating, deep penetrating bliss. Need a suggestion? 

Arbonne facial oil from the Arbonne Intelligence line. Personal favorite in and outside of the studio.

Invest in a probiotic.

Your gut and your skin are closely related. Because your skin is your largest organ it can be temperamental and reactive to your diet. It's the season of merriment and fun and it's also the season of people being lazy bones so we are a little extra relaxed when it comes to watching what we are eating and burning it off. No movement and a poor diet can lead to sluggish bowels and that can lead to breakouts, lots of them. Eating clean and moving will help. Adding on a probiotic is great tool for every season skin care. Arbonne Digestion Plus is my go to.

Pump the breaks on over exfoliating. I see a lot of over processed skin these days. Everyone is trying out a DIY treatment or two or four they have seen on the internet. What does that lead to? Over processed not happy skin. 

While it's fun to try out these yogurt honey pepper peels or what ever you are seeing online please leave the heavy stuff to the pros. Scrubbing your skin with an apricot scrub 7 days a week is doing way more harm than good trust me.

Don't forget  your smooch! Lips take a beating this time of year. Cold air ...chapped lips. Here is a DIY I can get behind.

1 teaspoon of coconut oil

1/4  teaspoon table sugar

2-3 couple of drops of vitamin e 

2-6  couple of drops of your favorite essential oil or oils to make a blend  

mix in a bowl rub on your lips 

rinse and pat dry repeat twice a week

You can store this mixture in a tupperware and even make a big batch and give out as gifts in cute jars.

Invest in proper professional treatment and quality skin care. Give your skin the gift of reinvention by booking a treatment with your local skin therapist and buying good products. I always say your skin is one of your most important investments. You are going to be looking at your face for the rest of your life as so is everyone else so take care of it. www.absoluteblissskinspastudio.com

Shop this post at http://michellecastro.arbonne.com

A Return To Autumn

My all time favorite season is Autumn. I love when the days get shorter and the nights get cooler. I can often be found snuggled up in bed ready for an early nights sleep as the evening approaches. One thing I dislike about Autumn is the inevitable slow down that my body has as it arrives. Once I start seeing pumpkins arriving in the markets I know it's bulk up season. Which, isn't going to work for me. How am I planning on maintaining myself for these next few cold months.

Here are some of my plans

- Cut back on carbs. This is a tough one because in all honesty I'm a carbophile. But smart swaps can help. Zoodles instead of pasta. Butter lettuce leaves instead of bread for burgers and sandwiches.

- Go meatless one - two nights a week. I love my slow cooker this time of year but I plan on opting in for a few meatless salads and veggie heavy meals this season.

- More greens less fruit for my smoothies.

- Hot lemon water... Mix in a little bit of almond milk, cinnamon and skip those PSL's 

- Move my butt! The time to recommit to myself is now. Pump up the cardio, get a few more miles in as possible a week, challenge myself.

- Eggs they are eggcellent. I love making a frittata loaded with veggies on Sunday evening this gives me an easy lunch option during the week.

- Green juice. Mix a batch in the morning and stay sipping all day. Favorites to add

Sweet greens

Ginger 

Cucumber

Peppers

Lemon

Paprika 

That right there is a recipe for sweet success.

Self Care

September is one of my favorite months. September is the time that I always mentally reset. It's a time of new beginnings and routines. It's also the perfect time to recommit to self care. 

One of my favorite things to do to care for myself is unplug and have a regular bedtime. Your body and skin need sleep. I'm a firm believer in Gabrielle Bernstein's idea that sleep is also a spiritual practice. When you are running on a low frequency from lack of steady sleep and other energetic disturbances it really will start to show in your appearance. Unplug and get some zzz's. 

The Holidays are here and most of us are partying like it's 1999. But hey friends think about it. In 1999 not a lot of people were concerned with their wellness. It's a new day and a new way. That being said we are all still collectively living life and boozing up a bit too much this time of year. If you are making the holiday party circuit this weekend here are some great acupressure potent points that will get you on the road to mending that much faster. The names of these acupressure points may sound silly to you, but hey, they work. You gotta love traditional Chinese medicine.

I included acupressure points and names so you can do a little more research if  you need it.
Let's start with my favorite point of all time

The Great Eliminator (LI4) . Please note, this point is forbidden for you to use if you are pregnant. Also please use with caution while laboring at the end of your pregnancy. The great eliminator can stimulate contractions in the uterus.

The great eliminator is located in the webbing between your thumb and index finger. You'll want to search for and locate the highest point on the hand and press with intention down into and up towards your heart. Feel that little bump? That's the great eliminator. Not only is the great eliminator great to help cure a hang over its a great point to know and use for almost every aliment. Head aches, cramps, bloating, tension and pain. I use this point often in my massage and skin care practice and also at home.

                                                     ( Acupressure Potent Points
                                                         Michael Reed Gach )

                                                   
                                                            ( Acupressure  Potent Points

                                                         Michael Reed Gach ) 

The Gate of Consciousness. (GB20)  Located below the base of your skull. Feel for the hollows of your skull. They are located between your two major neck muscles. Feel for the hollows. Press with your thumbs or index fingers up into your skull, with intent. Hold this point for a few moments. This point is great for eye pain, dizziness and that irritation we all have after a long night of too much fun.

The Heavenly Pillar (B10) When looking for the heavenly pillar you'll want to spread your fingers out about a half inch from the base of your skull. Feel for the ropey muscles, outwards of the spine. Press with intent and hold for several minutes. If the muscles feel extra ropey not only are you hung over but you are in need of body work and should schedule a session with a trained professional. The heavenly pillar is a great point for exhaustion, burn out, eye strain and overall head heaviness.

Wind Mansion ( GV16) How to find it? Search with index finger for the large hollow in the center of the back of your head. This is a tricky one to locate. I suggest holding your head straight looking forward. You may need your index and middle finger to locate. Once you find it press with intention into the point. This point is deeper so press with a firm finger but don't over do it.

                                                           ( Acupressure  Potent Points

                                                         Michael Reed Gach )

Bigger Rushing (Lv3) There is a valley between your big toe and middle toe on the top of your foot. Say hello to  Bigger Rushing. Great go to point for every day life and also hangovers. To find bigger rushing walk your index finger just a smidgen to find the valley. Once found, press down then up toward the heart with intention and hold for a few minutes.


Maybe you're like what? What exactly am I feeling for? Well, Acupressure points are often tender little spots on your body. Sometimes they feel like bumps.  These points connect all of the meridians through out our bodies allowing energy or chi flow to circulate. A great reason to use acupressure not only when you are  hung over but in every day life is that often stimulation of one point will send a surge of chi ( energy) to another point in your body. It's a great self care practice and I highly recommend it.

Don't forget, drink plenty of water after a night of drinking. Alcohol dehydrates you. Feeling a little bloated after a party night, try and skip as many carbs as possible. Eat protein and drink water.

Happy Holidays and party on!

A Splash Of Color For Your Morning

I have been on a serious smoothie kick for weeks and weeks now. With the gloomy weather of Fall and  early Winter I've been whipping up some delicious, nutritious color. This fun blender cup had a vanilla protein powder, a handful of berries, blue berries, raspberries and strawberries. I also blended in chia seeds for extra fuel and biotin for healthy skin, hair and nails. A splash of almond milk and water and voila... magenta yum!

The Return Of Mermaid Life

It has been months since I felt ok enough with my conscious to soak in a bath. California is having a pretty serious drought. I have been working out a whole lot lately and my poor quads were seriously not happy with me.  Since it had been so long I allowed myself the indulgence and whipped up some extra fantastic ingredients to make sure my bath was as therapeutic and indulgent as possible.

So what was in the brew this go round? Well let me tell you.

3 tablespoons of chamomile flowers dried
1 cup of epsom salts
a squeeze of local honey, a kukoi body oil
1/2 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of dried passion flower
a few sprinkles of lavender essential oil

Not only was this bath aromatic and soothing to my achy muscles my skin was smooth and felt fantastic the next day. Oh and in the tea cup, chamomile tea. It was a long day.

Purple Potion

I have been on a serious smoothie kick lately. I really don't know what the heck took me so long to get with it, but here I am having a serious love affair with my Blend-Tec  and the produce section of my local market. This morning I was in need of something. I needed it to be quick of course and full of color since I love to start the day off bright. I whipped up this fantastic tasting smoothie.

Purple Potion Smoothie

1/2  cup of frozen berry mix
1/2 cup of coconut milk
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 tablespoon of oats
1 tablespoon of dried blueberries
1 tablespoon of almond halves
3 prunes

I love the super full feeling I had after drinking this smoothie and bonus the dried berries and prunes had me matching my manicure ... so fab!

Pomegranate Luv!

A couple of weeks back I popped into a local farmers market and picked up a fresh pomegranate. I love the fresh tangy  taste and delicious crunch when you bite down on this powerful fruit. What's crazy fabulous about pomegranates are they are great for your body and your skin. Pomegranates are the most powerful anti-oxidants of all fruit, providing you with anti cancer and immunity support effects. Pomegranates are also great a lowering blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Pomegranates are also ideal  for fresh clear skin. Feel a little dry? Don't skimp on the Pomegranate juice, it helps keep you hydrated and will recharge and replenish your dull dry skin. Pomegranate also helps to stimulate collagen production, battling wrinkles and saggy skin as we age.

Having a break out? Pomegranate is great to decrease inflammation and battle the redness that pops up on your skin near that wretched pimple.

Adding pomegranates into your diet or to your skin care regime will defiantly boost your shine. so go ahead and give it a whirl.

Here are two quick and easy ways to make it happen, like now!


Pomegranate juice is great to tone your skin with after you wash it.

Antioxidant Rich Smoothie 
Serves: 2 Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
4 cups organic baby spinach
1 cup pomegranate juice
1 cup blueberries, frozen
1 cup strawberries, frozen 
2 tablespoons flax seeds, ground
2 tablespoons of coconut oil 

Self Care... It's An On Going Thing

Here we are, October 1. I really loved September and all of the reminders to care for yourself. 

I decided to continue on and create another little calendar to give some more inspirations on how to and when you can carve out time for self care. I truly and fully believe in the caring of yourself. You can never invest too much time on you. 

Take some time and plan out when you will make the all important date with yourself and make this time an on going ritual. There are 91 days left in 2014. Recommit and reinvest in you. 

Autumn Has Finally Arrived

We have been having a serious drought here in California. The other day we had some over night showers that brightened many a smile in my neighborhood. I have been itching to break out my fall wardrobe, wedges, boots, scarves and sweaters. My body has been slowing down seeking the comfort of my bed earlier in the day. Needless to say, I was ready for the Equinox. I made an important date with myself to chill out and do less, crawl in to bed early and just be in celebration of its arrival.

My beauty routine changes during the cooler months. I find myself exfoliating more. Drinking more of my beauty elixir and applying warmed coconut oil to my skin especially my lips. It's been harder to stick to eating clean this last week. I have been on the hunt for foods that keep me full and are more hearty. I feel ready for hibernation, but I'm not a forest creature.

Do you notice how your body changes when the seasons change? How do you stick to a healthier way of life when the cooler months hit. It's easy to fall into not so wise choices as we prepare to "fall back."

It's The Yum: Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

I love pumpkins! I love their look and their taste. To me there is something magical about pumpkins. Maybe it's the whole Cinderella tie in or just when I see them I know my favorite time of year has arrived. Plus we are that much closer to Halloween.

I thought sharing my pumpkin pie smoothie recipe would be a great hump day post. This recipe was inspired by a posting I saw on greatist.com. I altered it a smidge to suit what I had in the house and to save me some calories.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
1 frozen banana
1 half can of canned pumpkin
2 cups homemade almond milk
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
1 teaspoon of tumeric
2 teaspoon of cinnamon
a squeeze of agave nectar
1 teaspoon of PB2

This was a hit at my house. It kept me pretty satisfied this morning  and has great flavor . Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A vitamin C magnesium, fiber and essential fatty acids. Plus, they are jam packed with antioxidants. Magnesium is great for you skin, fine lines in particular but the major plus side to magnesium is that is will really battle breakouts. Combined with fiber magnesium and the antioxidants in this smoothie will really work great for a flawless complexion.

Enjoy this magical pumpkin smoothie!

Blissful Beauty Elixir

I pretty much stopped drinking coffee about 6 months ago. I was noticing that coffee really was not doing anything for me or my energy level. I was still feeling tired and come 3 pm I would have a major coffee crash. My skin was also feeling tired, dry and lacking all sorts of luster. I made a change for the better with my beauty elixir.

1 hot cup of water

1 slice of lemon 

few sprinkles of cinnamon 

few sprinkles of tumeric

a few sprinkles of grated ginger

Not only does this elixir taste way great its also good for you. Many people sip hot water and lemon each morning to jump start their bodies natural cleaning properties. Hot water with lemon is also very helpful to:

balance out pH levels
help with digestion issues
hydrate our lymph systems
give our immune systems a boost
clear up your skin


I have added herbs and roots to this morning ritual not only does it make it even tastier but there are tons of health benefits too:

Cinnamon is a great herb to help with arthritis relief, acts as an anti inflammatory and anti bacterial agent as well as regulates blood sugar.

Tumeric is helpful in fat metabolism and can help with weight management. Tumeric is also a natural detoxifier for your liver. Tumeric is also a  very powerful anti inflammatory herb.

Ginger root is awesome for digestion, it can reduce pain and inflammation as well as, prevent colds and flus, relieve migraines and menstrual cramps.

What I found was that it was not really coffee I required in the morning as part of my day as much as it was me needing to take in something warm into my body each morning. Switching my morning ritual from coffee to my beauty elixir has been something I really needed. Not only did I slim down from omitting the creamer and sweetener in my cup each day, my skin looks amazing. Literally its been glowing and I get even more compliments on it. I don't have the 3 pm coffee crash, I'm actually able to stay up later at night with out feeling too exhausted. I don't munch in between clients as much as I used to,  the lemon and cinnamon really help me regulate my blood sugar. I sip this elixir all day and I feel quiet satisfied.

Do you think you could put down the coffee and mix up your own elixir?

Full Moon Ritual- Intention Setting

I was out for a walk tonight under this last full moon of the Summer. A Harvest Super Moon. It was bright and beautiful. As I walked I took a little bit of time to reflect on whats going on in my world. What has happened during these last few weeks of Summer and what I'd like to see happen in the early Fall. There was a crispness in the air. I was bundled up, moon gazing. Feeling lucky and excited for a new approaching season.

What would you like to start this Autumn? Any intentions that need setting, goals that need reaching, magic that needs making? The time to start those tasks is now. Take a moment and make a list of things you want to manifest. Believe you can do it and get it done.

September Self Care

Schedules get so busy when September rolls around. How are you caring for yourself?

I think September is all about Self Care. What does Self Care mean to you? To me self care is the practice of putting into practice things that I NEED to do to care for myself and make sure there is balance in my life.

September is a great month to start implementing these rituals. Before you know it the even busier holiday schedules will be rolling around and we will be wishing we had started carving out time and making these important dates with ourselves.


Don't know where to begin with self care? Want to take some time to make it happen but where do you start? Here are some handy dandy suggestions.  Print and hang on your fridge, add in some ideas of your own and make September all about self care. I'll  be back next month with another calendar to give you some  inspiration.

Fabulous Fall Skin

It's that time of year again. Days grow shorter, weather gets colder and for most of us our skin feels these effects.

When the weather changes and we start dressing for colder weather many people forget to still care for their skin. This is a huge no- no. Your skin is your largest organ and should always be maintained to keep it healthy and glowing. Here are a few ideas on things you can add to your healthy well beautiful skin routine.

-Keep hydrated. Just because its getting chillier outside does not mean you should skimp on your water  intake. A great calculation to determine your water intake is the following

Take your body weight and divide that number by two.

Divide that number by eight. 

Your answer its the approximate amount of 8 ounce glasses of water you should be drinking every day. 

If you lead a very physical lifestyle, working out etc you can add an additional two glasses of water into your final answer above.

Be sure to stay hydrated but don't over do it on the water intake. Water just like all healthy life style habits is about moderation. You don't want to be out of balance with water levels.

- Switch up your cleanser. Using a soapy gel based cleanser can leave your body feeling stripped of moisture during the Fall. Going soap free and switching up to a creamy body wash to scrub up can leave your feeling and looking its best. 

- Protect your hands and lips. Seek out a fabulous lip balm and a fantastic hand cream. These are two hand bag must haves for myself. I love having soft kissable lips and as a massage and skin care therapist I pride myself on my always soft hands. 

-Exfoliate I can never stress enough the importance of exfoliating your skin. Exfoliating sloughs off dead dry skin cells, revealing fresh skin. It will also help you with circulation and waking up your lymph system . I recommend exfoliating during your morning shower to increase lymph drainage. An oil based scrub is always a great way to go during the colder months.

Here is a quick DIY body scrub you can make at home.

Hello Autumn Body Scrub

1/ 2 cup of coffee grounds

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup carrier oil (olive, grape seed, kukui oil, sweet almond, avacado)

6-8 drops of clove essential oil

6-8 drops of  myrrh essential oil 

6-8  drops of sandalwood essential oil

Begin Again...

                                                         
September has always been a time for beginnings for me. Maybe its because I always loved school, but there is a freshness to Septembers energy. It motivates me. It inspires me. It has me thinking of reunions, reinvention and reinvestment.

On today the first day of September I am reinvesting my time here
on Absolutely Blissed. I have spent a big chunk of the Summer working on myself, my business and my family. It's past time to spread that energy here.

Life is about to get very busy. Children are back in school, Fall sports are starting up and the days will be getting shorter soon enough. Do you have a self care plan lined up this Fall? How will you be caring for the most important person in your life ... you?

I have been on a self care regime lately that has really been paying off. Eating clean and taking time to walk an hour every day is really changing my whole attitude and energy level.

Here are a few other self care ideas in case you need some new ideas:

-bubble bath.
-meditate
-wake up 30 minutes sooner, so you don't feel rushed
-schedule quiet time for you everyday
-enjoy a cup of tea
-get a massage or facial
-treat yourself (a new shirt, an ice cream cone, a lip gloss)
-unplug before 9 pm
- get  into bed by 9pm one day a week
-keep a journal
-make something
-dance around your living room to your favorite playlist

These are little things I have done in the past to take time out for myself. Making time for ourselves helps to create balance in our lives. When we are balanced our lives flow.

Serenity - A Practice

photo card Reiki Techniques 

How fitting right? I was going through my reiki cards today looking letting my fingers guide me to the work I need today. Low and behold Serenity. I tell ya there's magick in the air. This Reiki Technique is called -

Hado Meiso Ho

Say what? It's a breathing technique to improve the functioning of your immune system. It also helps detoxify your blood and tissues. This technique can also help you to come into a deep meditation.

How do you Hado Meiso Ho?
Well here's the skinny on this serenity breathing.

Sit down with your eyes closed. reach your hands up towards the sky in a funnel shape. Once you begin to fill the energy fill your hands, fan you arms out to the side of your body until they are parallel with the ground. Have your palms face downward. Bend each elbow with your hands moving in towards your body finger tips touching.Palms still facing the ground. On your out breath release a haa and push your hands down toward the ground.On the in breath fan your hands out to the side of your body and up in a circular motion. your hands should meet at your forehead fingertips touching palms facing your body.  Next move your hands slowly down the front of your body as far as you can go. all the while breathing out the haa sound. Repeat 5-6 times.

While you are breathing out picture your haa breath washing over you while you let go of resentment, anger and other awful ideas that cloud our egos and congest us with negativity. On your in breath, breath in goodness, benevolence, and joy.

Mermaid Life

I just love me a bubble bath. Slipping into hot scented bubbles turning down the lights and turning on some mellow tunes, is the life I'm all about. The Mermaid Life,
 I like to call it. My life is busy. I'm a parent, a business owner, a daughter, sister, and  a friend. Often my own self care gets pushed to the way side. This is an issue I am always trying to remedy. Of all of the activities that fill my work and personal calendar, I am always sure to keep one appointment on the books. My Sunday night bubble bath. It's become my ritual. I love rituals they fill my life with whimsy, balance and a little bit of magic.

I don't just soak in a bubble bath to pamper myself, although if I'm being honest that is reason enough. I take bubble baths because they are good for you.

Bubble baths can:

Soften your skin
Induce relaxation
Provide relief for sore muscles
Increase blood flow
Help to induce a peaceful nights sleep.

I add a little bit of everything to my bath. From essential oils, sea salts, and also homemade bath teas. I like to think of my appointment with myself as bubble bath extravaganza.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes.

Mommy Needs Some Beauty Sleep Bath -
has it been a long day, week, month? maybe this time change has you wrecked? This is the bath for you.

a handful of dried lavendar or chamomile flowers
10 drops of lavendar essential oil
10 drops of rose essential oil
5 drops of peru balsam essential oil

Achy Breaky Body Bath -
too many downward dogs, one too many miles on the track, or your feet are killing you from power shopping... soak this up.

 2 handfuls of epsom salts
 10 drops of camphor essential oil
 10 drops of geranium essential oil
 5 drops of ginger essential oil

* this bath is very effective after a  work out or after you receive body work. when you work out or get body work your muscles get toned. this toning will release lactic acid that can leave you feeling achy for a few days. i find this bath very effective in helping with the process of flushing your body free of the lactic acid. wanna step that flush up? drink a large glass of ice cold water with lemon while in the tub.

Time To Be Queen Bath
because you know you are.

5 cups of  Vitamin D milk
1/3 cup of honey
5 drops of patchouli essential oil
5 drops of sandalwood essential oil
4 drops ylang ylang

*milk baths are great to soften your skin because of the lactic acid in milk.make sure you soak and rinse. do not clean yourself with the milk as its not soap.

Bliss Tox Bath
because sometimes we go overboard on the weekend.

one handful of epsom salts
one half cup of baking soda
5 drops of peppermint essential oil
2 drops lavendar essential oil
2 drops ginger essential oil

Date Night Bubble Bath
soften and scent your skin for a good old time, a roll in the hay? well that's totally up to you.

2 teaspoons of avacado oil
5 drops clove essential oil
5 drops rose essential oil
3 drops jasmine essential oil

Serenity

I love energy work. It ups my vibration. Keeps me buzzing and open to receive the chi all around me. I find it also helps me to really tune in when I am giving to a client. Something I have been doing a little while is referring to these beautiful little magic cards I picked up. They are called The Witchlings by Paulina Cassidy. Each little witchling has a beautiful magick lesson to share. I have found these teachings to be very timely as I select one card to focus on each Tuesday. This evening I wanted to share with you my magick lesson.This week I will be focusing on serenity.

Serenity -the spirit of serenity brings calmness to the connectivity of all that is.

I find this card to be very on point for me this week. I have been under a little storm cloud. Home sick with a little guy, under a mountain of busy work I keep pushing away.  I have had some time to think and ponder the ideas that are swirling in my head. Things have been out of balance for me a few weeks and I feel I am getting to where I need to be. I consciously made a decision to make a change and now I need to focus on the impact of this change. I removed a distraction from my life that was unnecessary even before I selected this card this evening. Pulling this card to me emphasizes that I am where I should be on my path, and I am feeling at peace with it. I feel calm about it all. And being calm is a great place to be.

Finding serenity in all will be what I am focused on this week. Forgiving myself, not taking things so literally and just accepting whatever the day, each day throws at me.