A Bit of This and a Tad of That

It's been cold, gray and overcast most of this week sending me into a bit of a hibernation. I guess laying on the couch watching movies and eating popcorn could be considered as doing something . . . couldn't it?

Other than watching movies I was busy putting together a new website. 'Loving Heart Reiki' is the name and it is all about Reiki. I hope you'll pop by and visit and maybe even book yourself a session while you're there.

Be still my heart . . .

Yesterday afternoon I decided to take myself out to see a movie . . . notice a theme here? I'd been wanting to see 'The King's Speech' since it came out (Colin Firth is sooooo dreamy!) and so with a large popcorn and iced tea in hand, I made my way into the movie theatre. This is only the second time I've ever gone to a movie by myself and I have to say it's quite liberating. I get to see the movie I want to see and I get to eat the treats I want to eat. Oh, did I mention I also got Raisinettes?

Anyway, I was engrossed in the movie from beginning to end. I could look at Colin Firth all day, but it wasn't just him that kept me watching. I love to watch anything that has to do with the English monarchy. I'm captivated by them. And learning more about how this young prince was raised was heart-breaking to say the least. And then being thrown onto the throne, well in my view he was a very strong and brave man.

Colin Firth did an excellent job portraying King George VI and Geoffrey Rush was a hoot as Lionel Logue. You could see the mutual admiration between both of these men, who remained friends throughout their lives. 'The King's Speech' is an excellent movie and I hope that Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush win all the awards the movie industry has to offer . . . they certainly deserve them!

And to round out my evening last night I made some more bath salts. I found the most fabulous jar at the hospice store I frequent - it's divine! Give these a try . . . if you like the scent of orange, you'll love these!

Orange Bliss Bath Salts

1.5 cups of Epsom Salts
1 cup of sea salt
Sweet Orange Essential Oil
(I buy my oils from Back to Basics Log Cabin on Etsy)
yellow and red food coloring to make orange
1 teaspoon glycerin
dried orange peels
peppermint leaves

Pour the Epsom Salts and sea salt into a glass bowl and mix well. Add one to two drops of Sweet Orange essential oil. Blend the yellow and red food coloring together and pour into the salt mixture. Blend well. Add one teaspoon of glycerin (make sure to keep this at one teaspoon or the salts will melt). Add the dried orange peels and peppermint leaves (or whatever herbs you'd like) and mix well. Spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and dry for about one to two hours. Place them into a pretty jar and enjoy!

Bath Salts and Sachets

I believe there's nothing more decadent than treating oneself to a hot bath infused with homemade bath salts or a bath sachet. Once the bath is drawn, you can light a few candles, turn off the lights and delight in the scents emanating from the water and let the world slip away. Ah . . . bliss . . .

The thing I like best about making my own bath salts and sachets is that I can put into them the scents and herbs that I like, making each with its own personality and one that fits with mine.

I made two recipes the other day, one to give-away and one to keep for myself. Below are the recipes I used, feel free to tweak them to suit your own personality.

Rose Petals Bath Salts

1.5 cups Epsom Salts
1 cup sea salt
1 teaspoon glycerin
red food coloring
small handful of rose petals
small handful of peppermint leaves
1 or 2 drops of Lavender essential oil

Mix the Epsom Salts and sea salt together well. Add one ingredient at a time of the Lavender essential oil, one or two drops of red food coloring to color the mixture pink and 1 teaspoon of glycerin (for soft skin - be sure not to put more than 1 teaspoon in or it will melt the salt) and mix well after each addition. Gently add in your rose petals and peppermint leaves (you can find these ingredients at most health food stores or places like Whole Foods). Lay the mixture out on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper to dry for two to three hours.

Lavender Fields Bath Salts

1.5 cups Epsom Salts
1 cup sea salt
1 teaspoon glycerin
blue and red food coloring
small handful of Lavender petals
small handful of peppermint leaves
1 or 2 drops of Lavender essential oil

Mix the Epsom Salts and sea salt together well. Add one ingredient at a time of the Lavender essential oil, one or two drops of each of the red and blue food coloring to color the mixture purple (I mixed the colors together in a teaspoon before I added them to the mixture - you might have to play with this for awhile until you get the color you want) and 1 teaspoon of glycerin (for soft skin - be sure not to put more than 1 teaspoon in or it will melt the salt) and mix well after each addition. Gently add in your Lavender petals and peppermint leaves (you can find these ingredients at most health food stores or places like Whole Foods). Lay the mixture out on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper to dry for two to three hours.

Once the mixture has dried thoroughly spoon it into a pretty jar or bottle (I found my smooth faced jars at Micheal's) add ribbon and embellishment and voila' you've made your own bath salts!

Bath Sachet

small cotton drawstring bags (I found mine at Willy Street Co-op, but I imagine you can find them at most health food stores or Whole Foods.)
Rosemary
Lavender
Chamomile

Mix the ingredients together and spoon them into the cotton bags. Use the ingredients in equal combinations depending on how many bags you want to fill. To fill three small bags I used about 3/4 cup of each herb. You can throw it right into the bath or put some pretty ribbon and embellishments on it to make a nice gift. Mine smelled so good I decided to put one of the bags in my undie drawer!

As you're making your bath salts or sachets it might be nice if you put your intention into the mix. I infused mine with Reiki energy, but any intention you have would work just as well. For instance as you put in each of the ingredients you could say, "It is my intention that this (Lavender) be used to create relaxation and well-being for me."

I found a lovely shop on Etsy that sells essential oils, bath soaps, lip balms and such. All handmade with natural ingredients. I purchased the Lavender essential oil and I have to tell you that it smells heavenly! Not like the store-bought brands. I also purchased a chocolate-mint lip balm and it's all I can do to not sit down and eat the thing. I just purchased the Rosewood Essential Oil and Sweet Orange Essential Oil and I can't wait to use them in some homemade salts! The name of the Esty shop is Back to Basics Log Cabin. Give them a try, I think you'll really like their products!

I hope you enjoy making your own homemade bath salts and sachets and that you delight in the bliss of using them!