Posted by Maria on March 27, 2010 under Aromatherapy, Face, Green Living, Home spa, Homespunspa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Newspapers and Newsworthy, Uncategorized | 
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
Homespunspa is proudly committed to Earth Hour.
It’s Earth Hour tonight, on Saturday March 27th, 2010 from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is asking everyone on the planet to turn their lights off for one whole hour to take a stand against climate change.
Are you looking for a green activity to do by candle light? How about having a home spa pajama party and giving yourself a clay and cocoa facial? I think this Homespunspa idea is the perfect way to mark Earth Hour because it’s green and relaxing all at the same time. And it’s no accident that I’m highlighting clay and cocoa in this recipe. To me, these ingredients are the home spa epitome of “earthiness” because clay is loaded with treasures like magnesium, calcium, iron, aluminum, sodium, potassium and silica and cocoa is the colour of dirt.
So invite some friends over for an Earth Hour home spa get together. Have them bring their favourite pajamas and sleeping bags. Get the candles and flashlights ready and mix the dry ingredients of this recipe together ahead of time. Goopy green faces are always good for a laugh or two and this might be the beginning of a great annual event for you and your sistas.
Cocoa & Clay Earth Hour Facial
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup green French Clay — is a key spa ingredient because it helps remove surface dirt and dead cells from skin and the experience of resting while topped in mud diffuses tension in a most pleasant way.
- 2 TB cocoa powder — chocolate lovers will be pleased to learn that a facial made with cocoa will not only reduce tension, it will also soften dry skin.
- 1 TB orrisroot powder — used to fix scents in herbal preparations and for mild fragrance.
- 1 TB dried calendula flower petals, powdered or chopped fine — use in facials for all skin types to clean pores, balance pH, heal capillaries, relax facial expression and destress.
- 12 drops carrot seed essential oil — is valued for its relaxing, restoring and nourishing properties. It refreshes and firms mature skin by detoxifying pores as well as by stimulating cell renewal and skin elasticity.
- 1 TB sweet almond oil — is a very popular ingredient in natural skincare because it has moisturizing, softening, soothing and skin conditioning properties.
- 1/4 cup water — extends recipe volume and provides a base to blend ingredients.
- 1 cucumber, cut into 2 round slices per person — known as a remedy for puffy eyes, but also has cleansing, moisturizing, softening, toning and pH-balancing properties.
Method:
- Combine green French clay, cocoa, orrisroot and calendula in a bowl and set aside until you’re ready to start your facial.
- A few minutes before Earth Hour starts (around 8:20 pm), dilute 12 drops of carrot seed essential oil in 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil in a small glass jar with a secure lid. (You can substitute ingredients and use your choice of essential oils and carrier oil). Shake to blend. Pour over clay and mix in.
- Start with a 1/4 cup of water and slowly add enough liquid to make a spreadable paste.
Manner:
- Lay a towel over a pillow where you plan to lie down. Light the candles.
- Remove make-up and rinse your face with water.
- Turn the lights off.
- Spread about a tablespoon of the wet paste onto your face and neck, avoiding the area around the eyes. Smooth with your fingers.
- Lie back and place the cucumber on your eyes. Leave the clay on for 10 to 20 minutes. It will start to dry and harden but it doesn’t need to harden completely to be effective. Enjoy the nocturnal silence.
- Rinse off the crusty mask with plenty of cool-warm water and pat dry.
Storage: Store any leftover dry ingredients in a jar or bag. Will last indefinitely.
Enjoy your Earth Hour!
Posted by Maria on March 24, 2010 under Esthetics School, Fitness, Green Living, Home spa, Ingredients, Newspapers and Newsworthy, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Wellness |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
Did you know that in 1993, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 as the World Day for Water? I didn’t. I just found out from Dr. Phil that March 21st to 27th, 2010 is World Water Week and the funny thing is, I was already going to write about water on this post anyway. There must be something in the air.
Everyone knows that water is the universal spa ingredient. It works on the inside of your body as something you can drink and it works on the outside as something you can bathe or swim in.
But today I want to write about bottled water and how I don’t recommend it for your home spa or your home gym. I must admit though that I am guilty of buying bottled water on a regular basis. I buy it mostly for my Jazzercise classes because it’s a convenient way for me to hydrate myself while I’m exercising and I also like to have some on hand for my earthquake emergency kit.
But last year, one of my co-workers forwarded this PowerPoint presentation to all staff in my office and it really opened my eyes: water-disaster1. What a wake up call. From watching this slideshow, I was shocked to learn the financial, health and environmental costs associated with bottled water:
- Financial: Apparently, the average U.S. citizen spends over $400 a year on bottled water. As someone who is about to become a student again, I need to save money wherever I can.
- Health: Because of temperature changes (which can be extreme) during shipment from the warehouse to the store to you, toxic chemicals from the plastic bottles can leach into the water and therefore into your body once you drink it which can cause serious damage to your health.
- Environmental: Producing cases of bottled water and transporting them by the truck load and then disposing the empties all have a significant (and often unnecessary) impact on the environment.
What really got me was the part about keeping the bottles of water in your car. I’m not doing that anymore.
The case for tap water
What happened to good ol’ tap water? Somewhere along the line we stopped trusting it. But as someone who lives on the west coast of Canada surrounded by majestic mountains, flowing rivers, vibrant lakes and the Pacific Ocean, I am blessed to have lovely, wholesome water delivered straight to my home whenever I want at the twist of my tap. So why am I buying water from France? It’s ridiculous if you think about it and one more point for the 100 mile diet.
You’ll be happy to know that ever since I saw the above presentation on water bottles, I have started bringing a refillable metal container full of tap water to class.
Access to fresh, clean water is a big deal for our planet but we take it for granite 
(as it’s often pronounced). But I think the tide is turning and people are becoming more and more appreciative of this resource every day. Even AVEDA, my esthetics school, has a policy of not allowing bottled water in the classrooms.
If you want to learn more about World Water Day and related events and how you can contribute, check out the UNICEF Tap Project.
And from now on, I pledge to drink tap water instead of bottled water. Right here, right now, I’m going to take a page from Oprah’s handbook and start my own pledge drive.
Homespunspa’s No Bottled Water Pledge
I, ____________, when given the choice between tap water from a healthy source and bottled water, pledge to choose to drink tap water. And, if I happen to buy and drink a commercially-made bottle of water, I will return the bottle for recycling and will get the deposit back. Every lit bit helps. Cheers!
If you would like to sign this pledge with me, please fill in this form below. THANKS!
Posted by Maria on March 17, 2010 under Aromatherapy, Green Living, Hair, Home spa, Homespunspa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Photo gallery, Pop-Psychology, Recipes, TV Shows, Uncategorized |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
As it tis St. Patrick’s Day today, I thought it would be fun to talk about beer as a home spa ingredient.
Body on Tap Shampoo plus Irish Spring Soap equals Magically Delicious
Before you go out on the town tonight to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, why not get into the spirit with some home brewed spa treatments. If only they still sold Body on Tap Shampoo. It was made with real Budweiser beer! Personally, I’ve never actually used this particular brand because I was underage at the time. I remember the ads from a lot of the shampoos from the 1970’s that don’t exist anymore like, Breck (“and they told two friends and so on and so on…”) and Gee your Hair Smells Terrific and “Squeeze and go from flat to fluffy, squeeze, with Prell Concentrate.” Good times. Good times. Hey, another 1970’s throwback!
With ingredients like green tea and silk amino acids, shampoo has come a long way in 30 years, (how much do you pay for a bottle these days?) but the idea of putting real beer in shampoo isn’t complete flimflam. What may seem like marketing shenanigans to us in 2010 actually has some validity. Not only does beer bring out hair’s natural shine and highlights, it also adds body and volume too. And some people may consider beer’s unmistakable scent as aromatherapy at its finest. So, if you’d like to make your own beer shampoo, here is a recipe.
St. Patrick’s Day Beer Shampoo
Ingredients:
- 2 bottles of Guinness beer — adds shine, body, volume and fragrance to hair
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar — astringent vinegar restores the natural pH balance of skin and hair
- 2 TB honey — has moisturizing and antiseptic qualities
- 1/4 cup regular, as unscented as possible, shampoo (optional)
Method:
- Pour the beer from one bottle into a glass mug and take a swig.
- Pour the other beer, apple cider vinegar and honey into a saucepan and reduce over medium-high heat to a half cup in volume. Keep your eye on the pan and stir occasionally. Adjust the temperature if necessary. Within 20 minutes, the mixture should start looking like thick syrup.
- Once the liquid reaches the desired consistency, take the pan off the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- If you want, you can keep this recipe as it is (as a hair rinse) without adding extra soap. You can also combine the beer mixture with pre-made, unscented shampoo and pour the mixture into a recycled shampoo bottle. Make sure to label it so you don’t forget.
Manner:
- Massage the beer shampoo into wet hair. Lather, rinse and repeat. Follow with a conditioner.
- Tell two friends about this recipe
Storage:
- The alcohol, honey and shampoo base should act to preserve this recipe without refrigeration for at least a couple of weeks, but you’ll use it up by then, anyhow, right?
Cheers and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Posted by Maria on March 11, 2010 under Green Living, Home spa, Stress Management and Relaxation, TV Shows, Uncategorized |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
As you may already know, my Homespunspa Ewesletter blog is all about living a home spa lifestyle. To me, “home Spa” is an umbrella term that covers everything from making homemade spa treatments for sleep and beauty to topics like wellness, nutrition, fitness, stress management and green living to name just a few.
Design is another branch of the spa world and designing and decorating a space that encourages people to feel calm and relaxed is one of the pillars of a successful spa. Some spa spaces just have a way of melting stress from a person even before they receive their first spa treatment! With this in mind, I want my home to be my sanctuary, a quiet haven where I can rest and relax and I want it to feel and look more like a spa. I’m doing everything short of installing a water feature — because that would be over the top. Maybe next year.
So, I’m in the throws of a massive spring cleaning campaign. At first I was just going to paint many of my mismatched pieces of furniture a shade of white that most closely resembles cream cheese but now that I’ve pulled that thread, I’m also in the process of cleaning all of the nooks and crannies that I normally gloss over in my regular housekeeping routine. I’m also de-cluttering stuff from my junk drawers. Why I keep half of the trinkets and t-shirts I do, I don’t know.
There’s No Clutter In Spa Land
Every now and then, I watch an episode of Hoarders — to let’s face it — light a fire under my butt to clean up my act — before things get out of hand. While I don’t have “mountain of things” like in the Tracy Chapman song, there is an ever so slight tendency towards pack-ratiness in my family and I must admit I do collect a few odd things. Like when I went through all of my cosmetics, toiletries and medicine cabinet while I was painting my vanity, I found 3 brand new Secrets. Not that kind of secret — I’m hoarding antiperspirant. I can understand having a spare — but three? I also have at least 10 mini shampoos and soaps from hotels that I never plan on using, but like to have, and tons of expired cough, cold and flu medicine, just in case.
I can understand how hoarders, when confronted with the questions, “stay or go” and “keep or toss” freeze at seemingly useless items. I picked up a broken key chain while I was sorting my things into “like with like” piles and I shutter to say that even after holding it in my hand and recognizing it’s flaws and thinking about it for a minute or two, I kept it. I like to scrapbook and I have a box filled to the brim with things that might eventually look good in a collage. So that’s where it went, probably never to be heard from again, because, surprise, surprise, I don’t scrapbook much these days.
Like Watching Paint Dry
How is the painting going, you ask? Painting furniture is posing it’s own challenges for me. Picking paint colour is one thing. Picking the type of paint is another. (I went with a greener solution — a special primer and acrylic-based paint combo because I didn’t want to fuss with oil-based paint, which is going to be outlawed in 2012, anyway). And then there’s a little thing called patience. I’m discovering I’m not as patient as I think I am. I have to remember that patience is a virtue and painting anything, whether it’s a piece of art or a wall in my basement, can be quite a meditative and zen-like experience. I’m learning I end up doing a better job if I take my time with all of the steps and don’t rush the brush strokes. So far, I’m really happy with the results I’m getting and I think this huge project will be well-worth the effort.
Over to you. Are you in the midst of spring cleaning your homestead? Are you having trouble getting rid of clutter or picking a paint colour? While you’re on a break waiting for the paint to dry, write a comment. I’d love to hear from you.
Posted by Maria on February 12, 2010 under Books, Magazines, Music, Fitness, Gift Ideas, Home spa, Pets, Photo gallery, Pop-Psychology, Sleep, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, Weight Management, Wellness, Yoga |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
The Olympics are here! The Olympics are here!
Yesterday, while I was in the midst of running on the treadmill (24 minutes non-stop — a new record for me), I was chatting with my personal trainer and she was telling me her plans for re-decorating her studio. I was surprised to hear that she has been planning to install a tv near the treadmill for quite some time.
I suggested now is the perfect time to set up her tv because in the past, I’ve found watching the Olympics while exercising myself to be a lot of fun. It just gives you an extra boost of energy and somehow you end up increasing your speed and your enthusiasm. She agreed wholeheartedly and said “It’s a great motivator” and “thanks for the reminder!”
Here I am after one of my workouts with my trainer.
If you’d like to add a home gym to your home spa, here are my suggestions. Start small and build as you can. And don’t just admire it, use it!
- Dedicate Space: Where will you workout? Do you have access to a spare room or is your living room multi-purpose like mine is? If you’re going to be setting up shop in your living room (I don’t recommend your bedroom because the equipment and the activity will interfere with your sleeping environment), then you’ll want to choose equipment that you can store and access easily. I have a treadmill that folds and stands upright against a wall and that works for me. I keep it next to the tv so when it’s time for a walk/run, I just move the coffee table and extend the platform and I’m off to the races.
- Big Equipment: I’ve already mentioned a treadmill because that’s what I use. I highly recommend getting one. They can be quite expensive and keep in mind that the cheaper ones will be noisy (which will annoy the rest of your household) and will not have a lot of extra bells and whistles, like built in heart-rate monitors or a cushy running base, but even a cheap one is good to have. If you prefer some other equipment or have a lot of extra room, you can look into buying an elliptical trainer, a stairmaster, a stationary bike, a rowing machine or a strength-training machine. You might even consider installing a pole which will work your abs like nothing else once you get past the hanging upsidedown part. Your home gym will be really high end if you also have access tennis courts and swimming pools and saunas. I have a friend you had a squash/basketball court in his house which was really cool, I always thought.
- Handy Equipment: There’s a ton of great equipment that you can use in your home gym. Start with a yoga mat for your stretches. Hand-held weights are useful to have — start with low weights (two each of 1-, 2-, 3- & 5-pounders) and work your way up to 7’s, 8’s, 10’s, 12’s, 15’s, and 20-pluses. There are also adjustable weights you can strap on to your legs. For more resistance, get some tubes or bands that come in green, red, pink and purple depending on their strength. Suzanne Summers’ Thigh Master is still a winner. There are also inflatable pilates balls that are very versatile but only buy the ones that say “anti-burst.” You can also buy a mini trampoline or a low-tech jump rope that will really save space. I also have a plastic step from the 90’s which I’m planning to use again one of these days. Remember to use the built-in stairs in your house, too. My trainer has a Bosu (that half-ball in the picture) and last week on the Biggest Loser, I saw an Olympic athlete balance on one foot while doing the hoola-hoop on one. It looked fun and hard to do at the same time. I wonder if you can buy those speed skating gliding strips that they also used on the Biggest Loser for home use? My trainer told me that those are way harder than they look and are great for building endurance.
- Extra Features: To make your home gym more enjoyable, design it with care. If it’s a dark and dingy room in your basement, you won’t use it. To brighten things up, install a large, full-length mirror so you can see your form while you’re working out. Also, having a tv within sight that plays your favourite workout videos will add variety to your exercise routine. A stereo is also good to have. I have a few playlists on my iPod that I listen to while running. Also hanging posters with inspiring quotes and photos of fit people also help with motivation. And have a place for your bottle of water. Remember also to plug in some fans to circulate air. Even though I always seem to forget this, have a clean towel handy. You might also like to buy tools like heart-rate monitors and pedometres to track your progress.
- A note on safety: Make sure your home gym will give you an effective workout and will also be a safe environment for you. I advise getting pets and small children out of the room while you’re exercising. Also, make sure the room is clean and uncluttered and there aren’t any tripping hazards or electrical overload concerns with your equipment. Read the safety manuals and use the equipment as intended. Clean your equipment regularly with disinfectant wipes, especially if many people are using the facilities.
I hope you use your home gym for many years to come. Invite your friends and workout buddies over from time to time so they can enjoy your gym too. Leave a comment and tell us about your home gym. And have fun working out while watching the Olympics — that’s what I’ll be doing for sure.
Posted by Maria on January 27, 2010 under Aromatherapy, Esthetics School, Home spa, Homespunspa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Uncategorized |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
I have a big announcement to make. I believe we intuitively lead ourselves where we need to go and after careful soul-searching, I’ve decided to go back to school. Starting in April 2010, I’ll be a full-time student at the Aveda Institute here in Victoria in the Esthiology program. Now all I need to do is learn how to pronounce, “Esthiology” and I’ll be good to go.
I’m really excited about this and it has been a long time coming.
The History of Homespunspa
The concept of my business, Homespunspa, was sprung from a sleep-over in January 1999 — eleven years ago! I was house-sitting for friends of the family in Sidney, BC and the water-front property on the edge of Vancouver Island was the perfect setting for a slumber party and a spa weekend retreat.
There were only four of us at the first, unofficial homespun spa night pajama party in Sidney. I invited my friends Mandy, Nicole and Lehna and we had been planning the event for a couple of weeks — we even had our dinner menu type up. Everyone was in charge of bringing a few things — “I’ve got the mayonnaise,”…”I’ll bring the cucumber,”…”I have some funky nail polish colours.” Lehna printed off some recipes from the Internet (the original recipe book has some interesting stains on it) and that’s what we used to devise our treatments.
The girls showed up on Saturday around tea time with sleeping bags, beloved pajamas, bags of food and manicure sets. And it was a great success. We started off the evening by making and eating an elaborate dinner and then afterwards, we fanned into the kitchen and picked home spa recipes to try. How can you not enjoy having egg goop combed through your hair? We talked and laughed and painted our nails.
And once we were tucked into our sleeping bags on the living room floor, I’m pretty sure I fell asleep, thinking to myself, “there has to be a way of turning this into a business.” And the word, “Homespunspa,” just came to me.
In November 2000, I registered www.homespunspa.com and in 2001 I signed up for some self-employment and business training.
In 2004, 2005 and 2006 I taught home spa classes at Commonwealth Place, a local community centre.
In 2005 and 2006, I researched, wrote and self-published my book, “How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way.” I plan on using my new knowledge from school to update the book and eventually turn that information into an e-book. I’m open to hear from publishers who would like to formally publish my work, so if you know of anyone, please introduce us.
In January 2009, I launched my Homespunspa Ewesletter blog and I have been posting more-or-less weekly ever since.
In January 2010, I enrolled in school. Now you’re up to date.
The Aveda Institute
Since I have been contributing to the spa industry in my own way for almost 10 years, I think it’s time I get proper certification. This way I can actually offer spa services like manicures, pedicures, facials, and massage to customers rather than just providing information.
Attending classes (1000 hours’ worth) will expand my knowledge tremendously. And this is not fluff. We’re going to be learning about Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry and Aromatherapy. And of course we’ll learn all kinds of techniques — hands on — like waxing (yikes ;>) tinting, exfoliation and make up application.
I plan on using these lessons as fodder for my blog and if you’re interested in hearing more about my studies, check back often. I’m sure I’ll have lots of fun stories to tell.
Posted by Maria on January 18, 2010 under Home spa, Ingredients, Pets, Photo gallery, Pop-Psychology, Sleep, TV Shows, Uncategorized |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
How do you like your eggs? Your answer may say a little something about your lifestyle, attitude and your sleep.
Today I thought I’d lighten things up with a cheaky eggspose and write about eggs and bring some yokey yellow to the January blues.
Without further adieu, let’s get cracking. Here is a list of a dozen egg dishes for you to eggsplore.
If you prefer your eggs:
- Poached – The word “coddled” comes to mind. So does “soft-in-the-middle” like in Paul Simon’s song, “You can call me Al.” Life is easy for you. You have a gentle nature and rarely lose your temper. You’re a regular at the local day spa because you love the mani’s and pedi’s. And breaking a nail means you’ve over-eggzerted yourself. But before you get spoiled from all of this pampering, I suggest turning the tables and returning the favour to someone else. Maybe open your own spa?
- Egg-Salad Sandwich – What could be better than boiled eggs mixed with mayo, celery, and green onion nestled between two pieces of white bread? The mayo, which adds extra eggy goodness, binds all of the ingredients together making sure everyone is together and tucked in under the covers. There’s lots of eggstra stuff on the bed like pillows and pets, but you don’t mind, the more the merrier. Your happy family is snug as a bug in a rug.
- Sunny-Side-Up – Obviously, you’re the glass is half-full type. Your positive attitude makes sleeping at night a breeze. You enjoy fun-filled flying dreams and haven’t had a nightmare in ages. You wake up refreshed and optimistic. However, since fast-frying is the quickest way to cook an egg and you have no time for fussing with any extra techniques, the down-side is, you may be a little impatient.
- Hard Boiled – I hate to break it to you but you’re a bit of a curmudgeon. You’re a stubborn yet immensely practical know-it-all. You sleep like a rock on the firmest mattress between crisp, clean, ironed, white, 5-star-hotel sheets. Maybe you should consider learning some new relaxation techniques and get a massage every now and then.
- Omelette – I recently watched the late Julia Child make omelettes on tv and it was hilarious. She jokingly said she’d give the one with the liver to her mother-in-law. With all of the egg flips, the omelette station that she set up was a circus act and that’s why I think the omelette lovers are the comedy geniuses of this group. Underneath that sophisticated and harmless poker face, you have a keen sense of humour and are full of surprises. And you like to watch the late night talk shows to put yourself in a funny state of mind before hitting the hay.
- Soufflee – When you show up, people are very happy to see you and when you go to the spa, for eggsample, you get the deluxe, Hollywood celebrity treatment. But you’re also what they call “high-maintenance” and are an eggstremely light sleeper. People have to tippy-toe around you day and night. Any uneggspected noise will wake you up and your sleep will be wrecked till morning. Just remember, if you lighten up, the rest is easy.
- Scrambled – By morning, the sheets and blankets on your bed are disheveled and twisted from all of your kicking and flailing and tossing and turning throughout the night. Your chaotic sleep leads me to think there’s too much stress and drama in your life and you need to go on a vacation to a spa on some tropical island soon. Like now.
- Over-Easy — You start on your back and flip over right before you wake up. You have an easy-going attitude and have more patience than the average bear. You like to sleep in on the weekends and learned the word “snooze button” at an early age. “Just 10 more minutes” is your mantra.
- Free-Range Organic – No pajamas for you. You’re footloose and fancy free. On any given night, you don’t stay on your side of your king-sized bed. You like to travel across the landscape of the bed and maybe even down the hall. A naked sleepwalker? Oh dear :>
- Benedict — I always think of Benedict Arnold, the infamous American traitor, when I see Eggs Benny on the menu. Now I get the connection. You’re a clever pillow and blanket hog and you hide under the cloak of the Hollandaise sauce.
- Quiche – You speak with an accent (maybe a fake one?). You’re pretentious and flaky at the same time, like an actor. You enjoy the finer things in life but are on a limited budget. If that’s the case, home spas are a good way to go.
- Devilled – A party favourite, you get snatched up pretty quick. Whoever heard of left-over devilled eggs? Even if they’re bad they’re good. You have a twinkle in your eye and a prankster nature. You were the one who short-sheeted the beds at summer camp. Your A.D.D. makes it difficult for you to fall asleep for long so you may be prone to taking sleeping pills as a quick fix solution. Try breathing exercises instead. Yeah right.
I hatched this list out of my own imagination so there’s no statistical validity at all. I’m curious if I’ve ruffled any feathers or if I’m on to something here. Have I cracked the case wide open or am I just full of B.S? Let me know what you think.
Posted by Maria on December 21, 2009 under Aromatherapy, Bath and Body, Books, Magazines, Music, Gift Ideas, Hands and Nails, Home spa, Homespunspa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Photo gallery, Recipes, Self-Care, Sleep, Spirituality, Stress Management and Relaxation, Uncategorized |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
Winter Solstice is here. Today, December 21st, is the shortest day in terms of day light hours of the year. The sun will set in these parts at 4:17 pm and the day is already gray and overcast to begin with. On the bright side, the days are going to start getting longer again for the next six months starting tomorrow.
It seems like only yesterday I was writing about Summer Solstice and talking with my Swedish friends about how they sleep in broad daylight. I suspect they’re not having too much trouble in that regard these days.
My version of the star of wonder -- it's actually a photo I took of a lunar eclipse in March 2007.
All of this talk about astronomy is leading me to think about the night sky and how the three Wise Men followed the brightest star that would eventually lead them to the baby Jesus so they could deliver their gifts. If you want a refresher on the story, here are the words to the Christmas carol, We Three Kings of Orient Are, words and music by John H. Hopkins.
We Three Kings of Orient Are
(1) We Three Kings of Orient Are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
(chorus)
O, star of wonder
star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.
(2) Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign. (chorus)
(3) Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him, God most high. (chorus)
(4) Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb. (chorus)
(5) Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and sacrifice.
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Earth to heav’n replies. (chorus)
Back in the days of yore, gold, frankincense and myrrh were considered the creme de la creme of gifts — if you had to shop for a king or queen or royalty of any kind, these presents would have been the way to go. These days, you don’t hear much about frankincense and myrrh, but of course, you still can’t go wrong by giving someone gold, (hint, hint:>).
Have you ever thought about adding gold, frankincense and myrrh to your home spa?
If you want to use frankincense, here is a lovely recipe for a Shower Sachet. Hanging this herbal sachet from your shower head as the water runs will generate a steamy aroma to take care of your mood, skin, hair and breathing passages all at the same time.
Shower Sachet
from the book, How to Throw a Home Spa Pajama Party the Homespunspa Way, by Maria Koropecky, page 78.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp cardamom seeds — Helpful in the home spa as a tension reliever, digestive aid and skin conditioner.
- 1 tsp thyme — Good for sleep. Adds shine and strength to dark hair.
- 1 tsp spearmint — Makes a refreshing, aromatic tea which chases away feverish colds, aids digestion, freshens breath and cools skin.
- 1 tsp sage — Combines with other herbs to induce sleep. Treats normal or damaged hair, giving it extra shine and covers gray stands.
- 1 tsp Frankincense crystals — Enhance deep breathing and meditation.
- 1 tsp fennel seeds — Used to tone the scalp and to wash normal hair.
- 1 tsp yarrow — Used for insomnia, headaches. Improves hair’s manageability. Excellent for oily or problem skin.
- 1 tsp lemon peel — Can be massaged into temples for headaches or added to bath products for zesty aroma.
Method: The easiest thing to use for the shower sachet is a pre-made (drawstring included) organza gift bag that you can find in a craft store. Or you can make your own pouch with cheesecloth and some ribbon. Place the herbs in the small bag and secure the opening.
Manner: Squeeze the bag with your fingers to release the aroma and tie it to the shower head so the water hits it as it runs. Turn on the shower and step inside. The steam from the shower should intensify the aroma of the herbs and your tension will evaporate. Your hair and skin will also benefit from the herbs.
Storage / Shelf-Life: Shelf-life will last at least 3 months, depending on the freshness of the original ingredients.
And if you want to use myrrh, here is a recipe for an exfoliating scrub. Ground rosehips add delightful red flecks to this purely luxurious recipe and you’ll be surprised by the depth of fragrance coming from the myrrh.
Sugar & Myrrh Massage Scrub for Hands
from the book, How to Throw a Home Spa Pajama Party the Homespunspa Way, by Maria Koropecky, page 56.
- 1 cup sugar — Granules are abrasive and make sweet alternatives to salt in exfoliating scrubs.
- 1 TB myrrh gum powder — Rich, exotic, velvety and smoky. It is known to treat dry skin and gum problems.
- 1 tsp rosehips, ground — Antidepressant and sedative. Add to beauty recipes for scent, colour and for their astringent, anti-inflammatory and wrinkle-reducing properties.
- 1/2 cup grapeseed oil — Ideal for massage because it is light, non-greasy, odourless and leaves a satin-smooth finish on skin.
Method: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly.
Manner: Massage mixture on your hands for a minute. Rinse off with warm water.
Storage / Shelf-Life: Keep leftovers in a sterilized jar in the fridge. Use within 3 months.
So I’ve got the frankincense and myrrh covered, but gold in a home spa treatment, you ask? Yes, it’s possible. Nowadays, you can find edible (food grade) gold leaf to add to your home spa recipes. And gold is not just a pretty face. Gold smooths out wrinkles, draws out impurities, softens skin and reduces puffiness. Gold gets glowing reviews all around. Apparently, Cleopatra, the mother of all home spa beauty secrets, slept with a gold mask on her face every night.
The thing is, I haven’t developed or tested a home spa recipe using gold yet. That’s on my to do list over the holidays. But here’s your chance to contribute a recipe to this blog. If you have a recipe using gold, by all means, post it here. You can leave your golden home spa recipe in a comment and I’ll make sure it appears online. I would really appreciate it. And as always, if you don’t know where you can find any of these ingredients or supplies, ask me and I’ll shed some light on the path for you.
Posted by Maria on November 28, 2009 under Aromatherapy, Books, Magazines, Music, Gift Ideas, Home spa, Ingredients, Pets, Sponsors, Stress Management and Relaxation, Uncategorized |
By Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
Books, books and more books. Someone asked me if I was an “information junkie” the other day and I had to raise my hand and say “yes.” I love books.
In this post, I would like to recommend five fabulous home spa books that I have in my own library that you can get online through Amazon. Shopping online is a less stressful way of getting all of your Christmas shopping done because you don’t have to fight the weather and the crowds. You just have to be organized and get it done early enough to have things shipped on time.
Book recommendation #1: Home Spa
My mother gave me a book simply called Home Spa by Anne Harding and Janice Biehn. I was delighted when I read the names of the authors because I went to school with one of them. Janice and I worked on the student newspaper together. The authors talk about how to remedy stress with nutrition, exercise, massage, aromatherapy, skincare and show you how to organize your own day at the home spa. It’s an excellent reference.
Book recommendation #2: Fragrant Herbal
Crabtree and Evelyn’s Fragrant Herbal, Enhancing Your Life with Aromatic Herbs and Essential Oils by Lesley Bremness is one of my favourite home spa books. I can remember when I first discovered the Crabtree and Evelyn store when I was in high school. I couldn’t get enough of the peach and apricot bubble bath. My sister-in-law gave me this book for Christmas many years ago and it has been my go-to book for inspiration ever since because flipping through the pages whisks me off to an English garden. It’s a definite “must have” in your library.
Book recommendation #3: Herbal Teas
Herbal Teas, 101 Nourishing Blends for Daily Health & Vitality by Kathleen Brown and Jeanine Pollack is a book I refer to again and again. Not only do they give unique recipes, they summarize the health benefits of all of the plants involved. My favourite recipe is the Anxiety B-Gone Tea because of the lemon verbena.
Book recommendation #4: Making Natural Liquid Soaps
Learning how to make soap, especially liquid soap, is on my to-do list. I recently bought Making Natural Liquid Soaps by Catherine Failor and can’t wait to dive in. Wouldn’t it be great to learn how to make your own herbal shower gels, conditioning shampoos, moisturizing hand soaps and luxurious bubble baths? There’s even a chapter on dog shampoos!
Book recommendation #5: The Herbal Home Spa
The Herbal Home Spa, Naturally Refreshing Wraps, Rubs, Lotions, Masks, Oils, and Scrubs by Greta Breedlove is one of several in a series by different authors from Storey Books, including the Essential Oils Book, the Herbal Home Remedy, Natural BabyCare, The Natural Soap Book, Milk-Based Soaps and the Herbal Body Book. I’ve learned a lot from these books over the years.
If you would like to see more home spa books, music cd’s or videos, browse through my Amazon store. If you can’t click through from here, try going to my Fantastic Gifts Ideas page on my website, www.homespunspa.com and click on the Amazon Store link, under Accessories, to the right. Of course, you can always go straight to Amazon through my affiliate link located on the sidebar of this blog and do a search that way. There are many books to choose from on this topic and I’m confident you’ll find something of interest. Happy shopping!
Posted by Maria on November 26, 2009 under Aromatherapy, Gift Ideas, Green Living, Hands and Nails, Home spa, Homespunspa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Recipes, Self-Care, Stress Management and Relaxation, Uncategorized, Wellness |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday of the year because it’s all-inclusive and not restricted to any one group of people and it doesn’t have commercial hype surrounding it. I don’t know why Thanksgiving isn’t more popular outside of America and we’ve been basking in this gravy boat since the mid-1800’s. It’s about celebrating the harvest, being thankful and spending time with your loved ones. And I love the Thanksgiving day dinner menu — turkey and mashed potatoes and stuffing and Brussels sprouts and pumpkin pie, etc., etc., etc. This year, as my neighbours south of the border are celebrating Thanksgiving, I’m thinking about cranberries.
The fourth Thursday of November also marks the beginning of the Christmas holiday season, so I thought I would put together a series of home spa gift ideas and recipes for people to make themselves and give as gifts this year, all on a modest budget. I’m all for hand made and home made Christmas gifts. This recipe is my first post of this series:
Cranberry Body Lotion
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp cocoa butter — Used in skincare for its moisturizing and cleansing properties.
- 1 tsp coconut oil — Moisturizes skin, conditions hair and the scent can whisk your imagination off to a tropical beach.
- 1/2 cup apricot kernel oil — A popular carrier oil since it is emollient and nourishing and leaves the skin feeling soft.
- 1 tsp beeswax — Can be used in many applications around the spa but is most often used for its comforting scent and to thicken cosmetics.
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice — Cranberries are loaded with Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. The juice can be taken internally as a drink or applied externally for healthy skin. Cranberries have anti-bacterial properties which act as a natural preservative in the recipe.
- 1 tsp aloe vera gel — Soothing, cooling and is an anti-irritant. The gel-like substance is an excellent natural remedy for any skin problem.
- 1/2 tsp glycerin — A vegetable product which comes out as a clear syrup and is a natural moisturizer which adds body to beauty recipes.
- 1 tsp honey — A natural humectant, honey has moisturizing and antiseptic qualities. It’s ideal for treating chapped lips and wrinkles.
- 1 Vitamin E oil capsule — Vitamin E can be found in over-the-counter capsules in pharmacies or in liquid form or in foods like vegetable oils, whole grains, wheatgerm and nuts. It helps prevent scar tissue and may reduce anxiety. It is also widely used as a natural preservative.
- 5 drops orange essential oil — uplifting orange eases depression, calms anxiety and lulls nervous tension. It also softens and hydrates skin, making it a pleasant addition to bath products.
Method: Melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil in the microwave or in the top pan of a double boiler. Blend in the apricot oil over low heat.
In a separate deep bowl, using an electric hand mixer or wire whisk, mix together the cranberry juice, aloe vera, glycerin, honey and Vitamin E.
To combine the two liquids, drizzle in a small amount of warm oil mixture into the bowl with the cranberry juice and beat or whisk vigorously (as if making an emulsified salad dressing). Continue to drizzle and blend until all of the oil is infused with the juice. Stir in 5 drops of orange essential oil.
Manner: After a lengthy soak in the tub or hot shower, apply the lotion to your body to help the skin retain moisture.
Storage/Shelf Life: Pour into a sterilized container and label. Shake the contents of the bottle as the mixture may have separated since you’ve made it. Will last up to 1 year.
I hope you enjoy making this recipe and get good results. The cranberry juice will add a pink tinge to the lotion and will be festive for this time of year. Make a note to come back to this blog over the next few weeks for more home spa gift ideas and quick and easy recipes.
And please let me know what kinds of recipes you would like me to showcase here. I’m open to suggestions.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
