Happy St. Patrick’s Day the Homespunspa Way

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 | 5 Comments to Read

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:

1. Pour the beer from one bottle into a glass mug and take a swig.
2. 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.
3. Once the liquid reaches the desired consistency, take the pan off the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
4. 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:

1. Massage the beer shampoo into wet hair. Lather, rinse and repeat. Follow with a conditioner.
2. Tell two friends about this recipe

Storage:

1. 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!

Three Wise Home Spa Gifts: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

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 | 3 Comments to Read

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.

Spritz and Spray some Christmas Cheer this Year

Posted by Maria on December 11, 2009 under Aromatherapy, Gift Ideas, Ingredients, Recipes, Stress Management and Relaxation, Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

By Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner

Here’s another idea to add to your home spa gift basket — Christmas Tree Room Spray. It’s like a breathe of fresh air.

I came up with this quick and easy home spa recipe many years ago. For better or worse, my family has had fake Christmas trees for the past 15 to 20 years and one year I wanted to spruce the tree up with an authentic piny scent. Once I discovered woodsy essential oils like cedarwood and sandalwood and juniper berry, there was no turning back.

Using this recipe really brings some extra Christmas cheer to the room and it’s a great addition to your home spa Christmas gift basket. And feel free to mix and match your favourite seasonal aromas, like fir needle or clove essential oils, into this room spray also.

Christmas Tree Room Spray

Ingredients:

• 4 drops juniper berry essential oil (middle note) — enhances dreams, treats exhaustion and worry, helps problem skin, puffiness, cellulite, detoxifying.
• 5 drops pine needle essential oil (top note) — calming and comforting, it reduces muscular aches and relieves nervous tension.
• 3 drops mandarin essential oil (top note) — brings cheer to the stressed and depressed. In massage oils, it heals problem skin and stretch marks.
• 1 tsp glycerin — A vegetable by-product which comes as a clear syrup and can act as a preservative.
• 45 – 55 ml pure water — Hydrates, lubricates and cleans. Extends recipe volume and provides a base to blend ingredients.
• 1 small, 60 ml or less, dark bottle with a tight-fitting and spray-top lid.
• 1 small funnel, optional

Method:

1. Wash bottle with soap and hot water and rinse with 1 tsp of bleach to sterilize. Let dry.
2. In a small bottle, add 4 drops of juniper berry essential oil (middle note). Use a funnel if you have one to catch any stray drops.
3. Then add 5 drops of pine needle essential oil (top note) and roll the mixture around the bottle to amalgamate the scent. Smell the result.
4. Then add 3 drops of mandarin essential oil (top note) and again roll the mixture around the bottle to blend the scent. Smell the result and adjust the balance to your preferences, if necessary.
5. Pour in the water to the shoulder of the bottle and cap it. Shake vigourously.
6. List your ingredients on the label and date the mixture.
7. Leave the concoction to mature for two days. Sniff and adjust the recipe as necessary.

Manner:

1. Spritz and spray your tree, wreaths, garlands, linens, sheets and the room to your heart’s content.

Storage:

1. Store out of sunlight. Shelf life will range from 3 to 12 months.

Let me know what you think of this recipe. Contact me if you are having trouble finding any supplies like bottles or essential oils and I’ll point you in the right direction. Cheers.

Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe — My Own “Top Chef” Challenge

Posted by Maria on December 8, 2009 under Ingredients, Recipes, Self-Care, Stress Management and Relaxation, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Weight Management, Wellness | 3 Comments to Read

By Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner

It’s always a challenge to come up with a quick and easy recipe to bring to a potluck party and after I was invited to a party last week, I really had to think about my options.

I love watching the TV show, Top Chef. I marvel at the contestants’ hot creativity. Each week during the “quick fire challenge” the players have to brainstorm a recipe concept and then somehow deliver a finished product in minutes — all the while keeping in mind details like, taste, plating design, specific ingredients, technique, originality and — and — while using tools like sharp knives and burning fire. Now that’s stress.

In my case, I had a few things to consider. The first involved my personal trainer’s specific dietary requirements. She has severe allergies to preservatives and that includes, but is not limited to, canned goods, commercially-processed foods and a few wild card ingredients like iceberg lettuce and grapes. She also gave me a bit of a lecture the night before the party on my own nutrition and strongly suggested I not eat anymore cheese or more than one piece of bread in a day. On top of all of that, the hostess of the party was completely off sugar.

I wanted to bring something everyone at the party could eat and would enjoy. I also wanted the dish to be healthy in the midst of all of the seasonal indulgences. And of course, the recipe had to be portable.

Let’s recap — the recipe for the potluck must be:

• tasty;
• healthy;
• without preservatives;
• without sugar;
• without gobs of fat;
• unprocessed;
• easy to make;
• easy to eat with one hand; and
• easy to move from point A to point B.

That’s a tall order. My first idea was to bring one of those shrimp platters because it’s basically lean protein. But, that’s too easy and has been done to death. It also occurred to me that someone at the party might have a shellfish allergy. So no go on the shrimp-o.

Then I thought about mushroom caps but I had no idea what to stuff them with (bacon? crab? artichokes?) and then the next morning as I was waking up, the radio station said something about “spinach.” That was my answer. I love it when that happens. I quickly leafed through several cookbooks and found three recipes that were close to what I wanted, but not quite. I had to come up with my own recipe and here it is:

Homespunspa’s Spinach-Stuffed Mushroom Caps

Homespunspa's Spinach-Stuffed Mushrooms.

Ingredients:

• 20 – 25 fresh whole mushrooms, preferably organic.
• 1 bunch fresh spinach, rinsed with stems removed.
• 2-4 cloves of garlic, minced.
• 1 TB extra virgin olive oil.
• 1/3 cup no fat cottage cheese, drained.
• sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.

Method:

For this recipe, you can make everything ahead and leave the baking for the party.

1. Cut off the stems of the spinach leaves and rinse under cold water, checking for bits of soil that may be stuck to the leaves.
2. Measure out a 1/3 cup of no fat cottage cheese and let it drain through a sieve.
3. Pour a tablespoon of olive oil into a large skillet. Add minced garlic and cook on medium high heat.
4. Quickly add the spinach and cook for 5 minutes or more until all of the spinach is uniformly cooked. Stir and make sure all of the spinach touches the garlic oil. The spinach will turn into a different consistency and will reduce in volume. Salt to taste and to brighten the green colour. Remove the cooked spinach from the heat into a separate medium-sized bowl.
5. Meanwhile, clean the mushrooms and remove the stems by twisting and pulling or with a knife. Finely dice the stems and set aside the caps.
6. Using the residual garlic oil from the spinach, pan fry the diced mushroom stems separately, about 1-2 minutes, to release some flavour. Now is a good time to add some freshly cracked black pepper because mushrooms and pepper really get along well with each other.
7. In a medium bowl, combine the spinach, mushroom stems and cottage cheese. Spoon the mixture into each mushroom cap.
8. (Note: If you’re planning to serve these right away, you can skip this step and go to step #8). Put the finished mushrooms in a re-sealable container. If your container is really big like mine is, I suggest putting something in between your stuffed mushroom caps and the lid so they don’t bounce around during transport. As a last minute burst of genius, if I do say so myself, I placed a small ceramic cooking dish over my stuffed mushrooms and not only did my mushrooms arrive in tact, I had a convenient cooking vessel at the party.
9. Once you’re at the party, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange the mushrooms on the baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes and voila! Serve while hot.

Please pack your knives and go?

I bet you’re curious to know what happened. How did the mushrooms turn out? “Did I pack my knives and go?” “Was I chopped?” “Did my cuisine reign supreme?” The jury is mixed on the results of my own Top Chef challenge. On the one hand, everyone who tasted them, loved them! They raved and raved. And there were no leftovers to take home. On the other hand, mushrooms, are a no-no on my trainer’s list, so she couldn’t eat any after all. It didn’t matter if they were organic and fresh and not canned. It didn’t matter how much love and thought I put into them. She just plain can’t eat mushrooms. Another one of those wild card ingredients. I was so bummed to hear that. I guess it’s back to the drawing board for me.

You be the judge

If you decide to try this recipe, let me know how it worked out for you. I would love to hear your comments and your feedback.

Cranberry Body Lotion Recipe

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 | Be the First to Comment

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!

A Home Spa Manicure — It’s like a bubble bath for your hands

Posted by Maria on November 20, 2009 under Dating, Hands and Nails, Home spa, Homespunspa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Recipes, Self-Care, Spa and Sleep Dictionary, Stress Management and Relaxation, Uncategorized, Wellness | Read the First Comment

By Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner

It’s Friday and you’re going out on the town tonight. Maybe you have a hot date. Why not give yourself a quick home spa manicure and get some housecleaning done too?

In my last post, Dishwashing — Good Clean Fun, I mentioned that I would write a post on manicures at a later date. Well, here it is.

As some of you know, I have written a book called, How To Throw a Home Spa Pajama Party the Homespunspa Way and I have a whole chapter dedicated to manicures.

I think taking care of our hands is important because they really work hard for us. They are our primary envoys and ambassadors which we send out to investigate and influence our physical world. And like diplomats, we need to treat them like V.I.P.’s with the best of the best. And like diplomats, they need to be polished and well-groomed even during the toughest of negotiations.

Steps to a home spa manicure

• Soaking
• Exfoliating
• Cleaning
• Shaping
• Massaging
• Moisturizing
• Buffing
• Painting

The housekeeping part is optional, of course, and happens at the beginning of this process because no one wants to accidentally wreck their freshly painted nails.

Step 1: Soak your nails — While washing dishes, your nails and cuticles will soften and the dirt under your nails will loosen. This part will set the stage for the rest of the manicure.

Step 2: Exfoliate your hands — If you don’t have time for this step tonight, you can skip it. Here is a recipe for a quick scrub for your hands:

Milk and Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

• 1/4 Sugar (white or brown) — Brown and white sugar granules are abrasive and make sweet alternatives to salt in exfoliating scrubs.
• 2 TB Safflower Oil — Excellent carrier oil in massage and has conditioning properties that promote healthy skin and hair.
• 2 TB Evaporated or Fresh Milk — Moisturizes, nourishes and softens skin.

Method: In a bowl, mix together the sugar, safflower oil and milk into a creamy consistency.

Manner: Gently massage the mixture all over your hands to exfoliate dry skin and increase circulation. Rinse with warm water.

Storage/Shelf Life: Pour any left over mixture into a sterilized jar. Store in refrigerator for a couple of days. Discard if fresh milk sours.

Step 3: Clean your nails — By now, you should probably feel how soft your hands are. After you have rinsed the scrub from your hands, take a moment to clean under the nail tips with an orange stick or similar tool.

Step 4A: Shape your nails –Using nail clippers, cut your nails. For a rounded tip, cut both sides of the nail on the diagonal and trim the point off the top. Then, you can use a fine emery board to soften the edges but make sure you use long, sweeping strokes in the same direction to avoid possible splintering.

Step 4B: Shape your cuticles — Here is a quick recipe for cuticle oil:

Lemongrass and Rosemary Cuticle Oil

Ingredients

• 2 TB Olive Oil — Calms, soothes, nourishes, cleans, softens and moisturizes skin. This heavy, fragrant and stable oil can be used as a base in massage oils and moisturizing creams.
• 2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil — Lifts depression, erases fatigue and relaxes stiff muscles.
• 3 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil — Strong anti-bacterial properties and is useful for treating problem skin and acne.

Method: Add the drops of essential oils into a tiny, sterilized glass bottle. Roll the mixture around the bottle to blend. Carefully pour the olive oil up to the bottle’s shoulder. Replace the lid and roll again to compound the oils.

Manner: Dot each nail with the cuticle oil and rub in using the ball of your thumb. With an orange stick or similar tool or your thumbnail from your other hand, gently push the cuticles back to expose the lunula (whitish half-moon arc) at the base. Without using scissors, gently peel away any thin bits of extra skin. You should have a nice clean edge defining the area between your nail and your skin, the nail folds.

Storage/Shelf-Life: Label and date the mixture. Keep the bottle tightly closed and store in a cool, dark place for a year or so.

Steps 5 and 6: Massaging and Moisturizing — Make it a routine to massage your hands with moisturizer or massage oil daily. You can use the cuticle oil for this step also, if you’d like. Here are steps to a moisturizing hand massage:

1. Apply moisturizing cream.
2. Stroke down from your wrist to your knuckle.
3. Squeeze between each finger with the thumb and index finger of the other hand.
4. Massage between and along each finger with firm circular movements.
5. Scissor each finger with the first and second fingers of the other hand, pulling firmly and gently from the base to the tips.
6. Massage the palm of one hand with the thumb of the other, using a circular motion.
7. Using firm, upward movements, stroke excess oil from the palm to the elbow. Lift the hand away at the end of each stroke.
8. Massage the forearm from the wrist to below the elbow with more thumb circles.

Step 7: Buff your nails — With a nail buffing tool or chamois cloth, buff your nails until you notice a natural, healthy-looking sheen. Buffing is just applying some friction to the top of the nail and the cut edges to clean up any residue and to prepare the surface for nail polish. Buffing your nails helps boost circulation, even out ridges and seal nail tips. If you would like to add extra shine, dust your nails with some cornstarch before you begin the buffing step.

Step 8: Painting your nails — Starting with your non-writing hand and working from the pinky to the thumb, apply a clear, protein-enriched base coat of enamel to each nail on your writing hand. Have your hand lie flat on a solid surface and place the wet brush of clear base on the lunula of each nail and drag it evenly toward the tip — painting evenly from the left of the nail, then over to the right, then down the middle.

After the clear base coat has dried, (takes about 10 minites) apply a coat of polish in a colour that flatters your skin tone. Take your time and be careful not to let the polish spread across the nail folds (ridges that join your nail to your fingertip’s skin). If you happen to colour outside the lines, it’s no big deal, just clean it up with a hint of acetone-free nail polish remover.

Wait at least 10 minutes and after the first coat has completely dried, then apply a second coat of colour to each nail. After 10 more minutes, you can paint a final clear coat to add shine and have an extra layer of protection against chipping.

There it is, a home spa manicure. If you try any of these recipes, let me know how it worked out.

In Flanders Fields the poppies grow…

Posted by Maria on November 11, 2009 under Books, Magazines, Music, Face, Home spa, Ingredients, Newspapers and Newsworthy, Recipes, Self-Care, Sleep, Uncategorized | 2 Comments to Read

By Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner

Remembrance Day – the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Also known as Poppy day, Armistice Day or Veterans’ Day, it’s a day to remember the fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms.

I like the tradition we have in Canada of wearing a poppy on our lapel as an emblem signifying we will not forget the people who have put service before self to give us a better life.

The red flowered Corn poppy is the poppy of wartime remembrance. It is actually a common weed found throughout Europe, and specifically in regions of Belgium and France, also known as Flanders Fields.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps doctor.
First published in Punch magazine on December 8, 1915.

Because poppies are the flower of the day, I thought I’d offer a home spa recipe using this plant. Poppy flowers and seeds have a long and strong tradition of being associated with sleep. As a home spa ingredient, seeds can be ground into a milky, exfoliating paste which is useful for softening dry, cracking skin and the flowers can be blended in tea for sleeplessness, stress and tension.

When I lived in Belgium many years ago, a gardener asked me what my favourite flower was. “I love poppies,” I said. I had seen the wild, red flowers peppered across the European countryside in fields far and wide and they are quite a vision to behold. That was the day I learned the French word, “Coquelicot.”

I rummaged through my books and found a simple recipe, Lotion au coquelicot, in a book my mother gave me after her last trip to France a few years ago. The book is called, Les secrets de la beaute au naturel, written by Nicole Houques and Henri del Olmo and published in 2000 by Editions du Chene – Hachette Livre.

I’ll translate the “Poppy Lotion” recipe from French as best I can.

Lotion au coquelicot

Les secrets de la beaute au naturel, p 68

Ingredients:

• 60 g of dried poppy petals
• 1 litre of boiling water

Method:

Bring 1 litre of water to a boil and then extinguish the heat source. Throw the petals in the pot and let them infuse into the water for 15 minutes. Filter out the petals and leave the infused water to cool. Pour into a bottle.

Manner:

Apply the poppy petal infusion to your clean face. This lotion lessens fine lines and softens the skin.

Lotion au coquelicot

Pumpkin goes to the Spa – A Home Spa Pumpkin Facial Recipe

Posted by Maria on November 3, 2009 under Aromatherapy, Face, Green Living, Home spa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Photo gallery, Recipes, Self-Care, Stress Management and Relaxation, Uncategorized | 2 Comments to Read

by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner

Wanna look this relaxed? Photo by Maria Koropecky

Are you wondering what to do with your leftover jack-o-lantern now that Halloween has past?

Last Friday, the 30th, I was invited to a “Carve it Up” pumpkin carving potluck Halloween party and this photo shows my handiwork. (Thank goodness he didn’t end up like some of his buddies cracked open on the pavement). I can’t remember the last time before this that I dabbled with pumpkins — it may have been 20 years ago for all I know — but it all came back to me quickly — just like riding a bike.

It’s a cheap thrill

There’s something to be said about the cool sensation of plunging into a fresh pumpkin and hauling out all of the stringy fibers, seeds and goop with your bare hands. And of course the smell will unlock distant childhood memories too. My inner artist was very content and it was quite a therapeutic experience for me.

Pumpkin’s Fringe Benefits

Pumpkins are an excellent spa ingredient for all kinds of reasons. Pumpkins are a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, as well as Zinc, Alpha and Beta Carotene, Potassium, Magnesium and Iron.

Pump-skins can be used in all kinds of spa treatments including: shampoos, shower gels, bubblebaths, soaps, massage, salt and sugar scrubs, manicures, pedicures, enzyme peels and facials. Although mild and gentle, pumpkins are excellent exfoliators and leave your skin feeling pillow soft.

The pumpkin flavour goes well with apples, brown sugar, coconut, cream, ginger, honey, mint, vanilla and yogurt.

Here is a quick and easy home spa pumpkin facial recipe that I developed and tested yesterday. And today my skin feels extra soft and smooth:

Pumpkin Facial

Ingredients:

• 3 TB pumpkin puree (plain and unseasoned) — Loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals, pumpkins exfoliate and soften skin.
• 1 TB extra virgin olive oil — Pressed from juicy olives, this lovely fragrant, heavy oil calms, soothes, nourishes, cleans, softens and moisturizes skin.
• 1 TB maple syrup — helps Maple trees survive Canadian winters and has made its way into the spa world as a skin conditioning treatment.
• 1 TB plus 1 tsp witch hazel distillate — makes a popular pore-tightening liquid toner for oily and blemished skin because of its astringent, anti-inflammatory, cooling and cleansing properties.
• 2 tsps cornstarch — lends a silky and luxurious feel to recipes, making skin feel smooth and soft.

Method:

To make the boiled pumpkin puree:

1. Hollow out your pumpkin if you haven’t already. Reserve the seeds for roasting.
2. Cut the pumpkin into large (1 and a half to 2 or so inches) cubes. (I only ended up using half of my small/medium sized pumpkin which yielded 6 cups of puree).
3. Throw the chunks into your biggest cooking pot and cover with water like you would potatoes. For a spa recipe, you don’t need to add any seasonings like salt — in this case, the plainer the better. And please don’t add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to boost the aromatherapy because those spices can really irritate the skin.
4. Boil, covered, for at least an hour but check at the 30 minute mark. You want the pumpkin pieces to be fork-tender.
5. Once cooked, remove the pieces from the pot. Cut off the skin and discard. Drop a few pieces at a time in a blender. Add some water from the pot for extra liquid. Blend to an even consistency. Let the orangey puree cool to room temperature before applying it to your skin.

To make the facial:

1. Mix the pumpkin puree with the olive oil, witch hazel and cornstarch in a small bowl. It should be the consistency of apple sauce. You can substitute another oil, like corn oil, sweet almond oil or sunflower oil for the olive oil if you prefer. You can also add a few drops of your choice of skin-friendly essential oils, like carrot seed essential oil, to this recipe to further customize it to your skin type. The possibilities and combinations are endless.

Manner:

1. Drape a towel over a pillow and create a space to put your feet up and relax.
2. Apply the pumpkin mash to your freshly cleaned face with your fingers, covering everything to the hairline and down your neck, except your eyes and lips. (You can also apply this recipe to your hands, feet, hair and back at another time if you’d like).
3. Lie down, close your eyes and relax for 10 to 20 minutes. (Note: although this is unlikely, if your skin feels irritated and if you feel uncomfortable soon after applying the recipe, discontinue the treatment early and rinse of the pumpkin from your face. I felt a little mild tingling but I wasn’t concerned).
4. Rinse the pumpkin from your face with warm water and towel off. It’s a very thin recipe so it shouldn’t clog your plumbing.
5. Finish your treatment with more Witch Hazel. Apply Witch Hazel with a cotton ball to tone the skin and to remove any excess residue left behind from the treatment.

Storage / Shelf Life

You will have lots of pumpkin puree leftovers. The good news is you can freeze the bounty for another treatment down the road or you can use the puree in baking recipes, like pumpkin loaf.

You can refrigerate the leftover spa treatment mixture and use it within the next 3 days.

Your Turn

What did you do with your Halloween pumpkin? Write a comment and pass on your ideas.

And let me know if you like this recipe. I would love to hear your feedback. And for more recipes like this one, buy a copy of my book, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way available through www.Homespunspa.com.

Stay Cool as a Cucumber this Summer

Posted by Maria on August 2, 2009 under Bath and Body, Home spa, Homespunspa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Pets, Recipes, Self-Care, Sleep, Stress Management and Relaxation, Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

By Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner

Is it hot enough for ya?

Somehow I’ve managed to stay pretty cool during this past week’s record-breaking heatwave on the West coast.

Sleeping through the night hasn’t been much of an issue for me. For once I’m grateful for living in a basement apartment. It stays pretty cool without air conditioning.

Water on the Inside

I’ve also increased my water intake during the day. Staying hydrated is key.

And the same goes for your pets. You can tell if your animals aren’t getting enough fluids if they’re panting or if their muscles are twitching. Of course, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make ‘em drink. At least have some bowls of cool water available to them in case they do get thirsty.

A few weeks ago, I asked my personal trainer why I was feeling so tired when I woke up in the morning even though I went to bed early and thought the quality of my sleep was pretty good. She said I wasn’t drinking enough water and recommended drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning and sipping water throughout the day, especially since I’m exercising more.

Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. I don’t recommend drinking beverages that have extra sugar, sodium, caffeine or alcohol, however. These ingredients will dehydrate you and will get you back to square one – that is, being uncomfortable in the heat. Being dehydrated makes you sluggish, tired and fatigued – which isn’t fun at all.

On the other hand, keeping yourself well-hydrated during the day will help you regulate your body temperature at night, which in turn will help you sleep better, which will make your days brighter.

Take a page from the book of cucumber

Cucumbers are mostly composed of water. The expression “cool as a cucumber” stems from the fact that the inner core of a cucumber is known to be significantly cooler than the outer skin, in spite of the external room temperature.

According to folklore, cucumbers are said to be “ruled by the moon” and everyone knows that the moon influences the tides and our moods and affects our sleep.

Cucumber Water

Ingredients:
1/4 English Cucumber, thinly sliced in rounds – is widely known as a remedy for puffy eyes. Its soothing, cooling and toning properties also work on general skin problems including wrinkles.
1 Litre of fresh water – Drinking water hydrates skin, lubricates joints and muscles and helps the body flush out toxins.

Method:
Wash the cucumber and cut into slices. Place the cucumber slices in a glass pitcher. Fill the pitcher with cold water. The taste of cucumber will infuse the water over time, making a refreshing drink.

Manner:
Keep chilled in the fridge. Pour over ice in a nice, tall glass. Alternatively, you can freeze the cucumber water as ice cubes and then add them to your favourite drinks like tomato juice.

Water on the Outside

And don’t forget, water and cucumbers work well on the outside of your body, too. Taking a cool bath or shower before bed could make all of the difference for you when 2:00am rolls around.

Cucumber Bath for Hot Summer Nights

Soaking in a bath cleans the body and relaxes the mind.

1 cucumber, pureed – Matches the pH level of skin and is good for all skin types. Contains potassium and Vitamin C. Helps relieve the pain from sunburned skin.
1 12″x12″ piece of cheesecloth or sieve.

Method:
Wash the cucumber and cut into chunks. Place the cucumber in a blender or food processor and puree to an even consistency. Put the pulp in a sieve and strain out the water or achieve the same result with a cheesecloth. Reserve the cucumber water for your bath. If you want, you can add the pulp to a salad or apply it to your face as a face mask.

Manner:
Draw a cool/warm bath before bedtime. Add the reserved cucumber water to the bathwater. Sit, soak and cool off.

I hope these tips help you enjoy your summer more. If you have any comments about this post or have any sleep-related questions, please let me know.

Squeeze some lemon verbena into your home spa

Posted by Maria on July 5, 2009 under Aromatherapy, Green Living, Home spa, Homespunspa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Photo gallery, Recipes, Self-Care, Sleep, Stress Management and Relaxation, Uncategorized, Yoga | 6 Comments to Read

By Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner

I went to the 5th annual Organic Islands Festival & Sustainability Expo with my friend Faith. What a lovely way to spend a summer’s day.

Held at Glendale Gardens in Victoria, BC, this was not something to rush through. I’m glad we got there at 10:00 am just as the gates were opening because that gave us time to stroll through the whole place and chat with vendors along the way as we nibbled on the free samples made with organic ingredients. We were there under the hot summer sun for 4 hours!

I was mostly looking for ideas and products that would fit in nicely with the Homespunspa philosophy of stress management, self-care and sleep. Although I didn’t find a close match, I realized that meant there would be room for Homespunspa next year. Time to start planning.

As we walked through the gardens, we learned about local yoga classes, shea butter, hemp, agave syrup, juicers, composting, old-growth forests, vegetarian diets, etc., etc., etc. I bought some organic salmon treats for my cat, Charlie — which he gives a thumbs up to — and I gave a couple of dollars to the Green Party of Canada. Faith bought a lovely purple scarf. We each sat in the air chair to test it out and to me, it was like sitting in a space shuttle. Fun, fun, fun.

My favourite moment was when I stumbled upon some lemon verbena. I bought a cutting from certified organic, Echo Valley Farm and was so excited, Faith had to buy one too. Everyone who was in earshot of us wanted to buy their own also, but we took the last two.

The next time you come across a lemon verbena plant, rub the leaves with your thumb and forefinger and you’ll immediately fall in love with the bright, lemon fragrance. It’s a perfect ingredient for a home spa. It’s also, as I learned in my research, Scarlett O’Hara’s mother’s favourite herb.

Organic lemon verbena plant.

Because it is one my faves too, I have many recipes using lemon verbena in my “How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way” book ($24 CAD plus shipping).

Tea made from lemon verbena leaves is mildly relaxing yet refreshing at the same time. Drink a cup for sleeplessness, nervousness, irritability, bronchial and nasal congestion, indigestion, nausea and flavour.

Here is a recipe for Loungey Lemony Tea from page 93 of my book. Drink this bright and cheerful tea to help you manage stress and relax.

Loungey Lemony Tea

Ingredients:

• 2 TB lemongrass — Tones oily skin and leaves hair feeling soft and conditioned. As a tea, it can be taken to diminish headaches, digestive problems and fevers.
• 1 TB lemon verbena — Tea is mildly sedative. Fragrance lends itself well to baths and is soothing for puffy eyes. Not recommended for pregnant women.
• 1 TB lemon balm — Calms depression and restlessness. Useful in treating inflamed skin, conditions oily hair.
• 1 TB oatstraw — Helps manage stress. High in B vitamins, calcium, iron and zinc, tea also nourishes bones, teeth, hair.
• 2 tsp passionflower — Makes a sedative tea useful for anxiety, insomnia, PMS, tension. Soft on skin in beauty recipes. Use only Passiflora incarnata. Not for pregnant women.
• 2 tsp rosehips — Anti-depressant and sedative. Can be added to beauty recipes for fragrance and for their astringent, anti-inflammatory and wrinkle-reducing properties.
• 2 tsp calendula — Good for all skin types. Antiseptic, astringent, cleansing, moisturizing, toning.
• 2 tsp skullcap — Steep as a relaxing tea to strengthen nerves, soothe headaches, reduce muscle cramps, calm anxiety, help digestion and clear away insomnia.
• 1 tsp lemon peel — Can be massaged into temples for headaches or added to relaxing tea blends for flavour or to baths for their zesty aroma.

Method: Combine dried herbs and flowers and store in an airtight, light-proof canister.

Manner: Place 1 tablespoon of loose tea in a tea pot. Boil 2 cups of water and pour over herbs. Steep for 5 minutes. Strain out the herbs and pour into cups. It’s also great cold, over ice.

Caution: Prolonged use may cause stomach irritations, photosensitivity and may irritate skin. Not recommended for pregnant women.

In addition to drinking this tea, Loungey Lemon Tea is a great recipe to pour into an aromatherapy bath that will soften your skin and inspire sweet dreams.

For more information on Canada’s largest outdoor green festival, visit, organicislands.ca