Tub Caresses On My Tired Body

After a stressful day at work, I drive home as quickly as possible to fulfill my familial obligations. Bella, the puppy, starts yapping the moment I step through the doorway and I immediately head straight for the kitchen to prepare dinner. Within an hour after arriving home, dinner has been prepared and eaten. I also have found my way into a pair of pajamas and can be found sitting in front of the computer banging out a new post for my blog.

Sometimes I prepare my post in my head while I'm making my way home from work, so it is much easier to blog. Other times, especially if I'm stressed, my page remains blank as I stare trying to let go of the day.

I usually envision one of the following scenarios to coax my mind into a more relaxed state:

• I'm sitting in a little row boat surrounded by a peaceful lake and rich green forest. The sky is blue with big white, puffy clouds and the wind is just enough to make the loose hairs around my face move slightly. It is perfectly silent.
• It is the middle of the afternoon. The wind is blowing the white cotton curtains that frame the open window. I can hear the crashing waves on the beach and smell the humid, salty air. The bed is covered with crisp, white, rumpled sheets where I am making mad, passionate love.
• The tub is filled to the top with scented bubbles and hot water steaming around my face. I've slipped down into the tub so that only my head is above the fluffy whiteness. The tub against my body is like a silky caress. I'm always in a different tub, but with each imaginary soak, I am caressed by the smooth, silkiness of the water, bubbles and surfaces of the tub. Wouldn't it be lovely to slip your tired body into one of these lovely tubs...

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"The time to relax is
when you don't have time for it."
~Sydney J. Harris~

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Lemon Vanilla Body Scrub

Gardenia Bubble Bath

Cucumber Melon Edible Body Butter

Coconut Lime Fizzy Bath Balm

Brown Sugar and Fig Bath Soap

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Soft Rose Petals

floating on the bubbles

and scattered along

the edges of the tub

and on the floor

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Softly lit candles...

Sea Island Cotton Candle

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Candle

Apple Pie Spice Candle

White Tea and Ginger Candle

Sheer Freesia Candle

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Country Blue Crocheted Cotton Cloth

Coral Pink Bath Glove

Thick, Soft Velour Bath Towel

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Cucumber Face Mask

Oatmeal Yogurt Face Mask

Rich Clay Mask

Strawberry Chocolate Face Mask

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Night gives us an opportunity
to rest,
relax
and
clear our minds."

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Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Sparkling Water with a Lemon Slice

A Bowl of Fresh Whipped Cream

Ginger Snaps

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A foot,

leg,

arm,

hand,

neck,

and head

massage.

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After a long bath, caressed by an elegant, smooth tub,
filled with luxuriously scented water, I look like this...

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Well, almost.

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Ways to Relax #11 and Giveaway

I have four very important words that will help you feel more peaceful and better able to handle the stress in your life...


time

noun \ˈtīm\

Definition of TIME

: the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues
: duration



re·lax

verb \ri-ˈlaks\

Definition of RELAX

: to make less tense or rigid
: slacken



pam·per

vt \ˈpam-pər\

Definition of PAMPER

: to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention
: gratify, humor



aro·ma·ther·a·py

noun \ə-ˌrō-mə-ˈther-ə-pē\

Definition of AROMATHERAPY

: the use of aroma to enhance a feeling of well-being


Take the time to relax and pamper yourself by using aromatherapy.

Someone who knows how to create fragrant products that can be used to add peace to your life by helping you relax is Kia at Beacon Creations.

So let go of your computer mouse and take a moment to read this lovely interview...

1. What led you to open a shop for this type of product?

Everyone in my family is an artist. I grew up surrounded by sewing, crocheting, drawing, photography, beading….the list goes on and on. Almost 4 years ago I decided to stop working to stay home and raise my 3 boys. I knew that I wanted to go into business for myself. A lifetime of creativity along with my obsession with Bath & Body made this most natural choice.

2. How long have you been in business?

I’ve been mixing lotions and potions for my family and friends since I was a teenager. In school my nickname was "The Mad Scientist"! I decided to start a business selling my creations in the summer of 2008.

3. What makes your products special?

I think what makes my products so special is that they’re handmade… by ME! Sometimes it’s still hard to believe that I get to spend so much time doing what I LOVE to do. I draw inspiration from everything around me: the smell of wet soil and rain, my favorite ice cream (Edy’s Mint Chocolate Chip, yummy) and even my favorite books.

I enjoy taking care of my skin and body and try surrounding myself with things that invoke feelings of comfort and relaxation. To have the ability to create products that allows others to share a piece of what I love is priceless.

4. Where can we buy your products?

You can visit my online shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/beaconcreations

5. Tell us about you… hobbies, goals, dreams

My name is Kia and I am married to my best friend. I have the privilege of being “Mommy” to 3 AWESOME boys: Nicholas (9), William (6) and Ian (3). I am a vegetarian so finding new recipes for meals is always an adventure. When I’m not creating I can be found with my nose buried deep in a book.

My most immediate goal is to continue expanding and improving my product line and brand. Right now I’m preparing sugar scrubs, bath salts and body oils that launched this summer.

My dreams for the future include a large piece of property, a couple of goats and chickens, fruit trees, LOTS of homegrown vegetables and countless days surrounded by my family.

Thank you so much for such a wonderful interview Kia! Isn't she lovely? She has offered to giveaway any soap of choice to one of my readers.

Mmmmmmm....I can almost smell it...I think the Coconut Lemongrass looks beautiful?!!


But that isn't all! I will also buy you any soap of your choice from Beacon Creations soaps as shown below.

Now can you smell them?!

Try the scratch and sniff method on your monitor.



Did scratching and sniffing your monitor to experience the fragrance of the soap work?

It didn't for me either, so don't feel bad. (snicker, snicker)


Mandatory Entries:

1. (1 entry) Publicly Follow on Google The Redhead Riter and leave a comment telling me are already a follower or that you are a new follower now.

2. (1 entry) Visit Beacon Creations and leave me a comment telling me what other type of product besides the soap that you would like to try and why.


Extra Entries:

1. (2 entries) Like me on Facebook

2. (1 entry) Follow @RedheadRiter on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TheRedheadRiter

3. (1 entry per Tweet) Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below...(can be done 3 times per day with at least 2 hours between each tweet. Please leave a link to your tweet EACH time)

"RT ♥ #giveaway I want to win 2 soaps of my choice from Beacon Creations and I entered at http://TheRedheadRiter.blogspot.com ♥ EASY "

4. (3 entries) Fave me on Technorati

5. (20 maximum - 1 entry for each comment on non-giveaway post) Leave me a new comment on a "Non-Giveaway" post on TheRedheadRiter (http://theredheadriter.blogspot.com) then come back and leave the name of the post. All the little square pictures above my header are linked to posts too.


Additional Information:

Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents Only, 18+ years old.
Giveaway ends October 8, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.

I will be given the same product that my winner receives.
I will use Random.org to choose the winner.










Stretched out in the tub with a coconut and lemon sitting on the side
while I dream of my new smooth and aromatic Coconut Lemongrass soap,

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Ways to Relax #10 - Chop It Off!

There are several things that rank high on my ways to relax and tonight I will share one of them.

Every month I take a nice little drive to see Thomas, my hairdresser-beautician. I don't even know what the proper term is, but I can say he is the friend that cuts my hair. That makes it really simple.

I like to go early in the morning before everyone else arrives or before the traffic gets too bad since I have to drive to Williamsburg which is about an hour and half away. I don't mind the drive at all because on the way back I often see beautiful country scenery and I always find nature relaxing. If you are still gasping over the long drive, let me say that Thomas has clients that live as far away as New York and Tennessee! So from that perspective, I live rather close.

When I get to the salon, the music is usually already playing rather low and the chairs are empty. Sometimes I'm late because I get stuck in beach traffic or I've overslept (I feel like such a heel!), but he always fits me in and is willing to chop it off. Not literally, but I find it so refreshing and rejuvenating to have my hair cut. Don't you?


All the tools of the trade are visible everywhere. The round brushes always make me laugh because of a "now" funny memory. When Alyssa was ten, she got a round brush stuck in her hair near the back of her neck. To be accurate, the nape of her neck. That sensitive spot where you don't want your hair pulled. The hair was intertwined in every way possible requiring it to be separated from the brush one hair at a time.

Tedious.

Her hair was past the middle of her back.

That was one experience we didn't ever want to repeat, so round brushes were banished from our house for many years.


Another thing about the salon is the lovely smells of shampoo and conditioner.

It always seems to me that no matter which shampoo and conditioning products I purchase for my hair, nothing smells as good as when someone else is washing my locks. Besides, Thomas gives hair washes/head massages that make you feel that you are floating in heaven.

No, seriously.

Heaven.

I must admit, that I do love getting my hair cut, but nothing beats the head massage. If the salon wasn't so far and I was rich, I would get my hair washed at least once a week by Thomas just so that I could have the head massage.

Now you know why I drive an hour and a half.

Oh, he's sweet too, don't get me wrong.

We can just say he has Heavenly Hands. I say that totally on the up and up, so don't let your mind wander.


I sit in the chair totally enjoying myself the entire time. Chatting and watching pieces of my hair fall on the floor. Totally grateful that I'm not nearly bald like I was years ago.

By the time this fat brush comes out, the hair experience is over for another month. I love this brush because I can relate to it. It is fat and soft like me.


I totally recommend taking the time to have a monthly hair salon experience as my #10 Way to Relax.

Of course, I prefer Thomas.





Neatly coiffed by Heavenly Hands,

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Ways to Relax #9 - Hit or Squeeze

In moments of stress, sometimes it would just feel good to hit or squeeze something really hard without breaking the bones in your hand!

There are so many stressors in our lives, but there is a way to find a little relief. For instance...

Someone's baby in the grocery store won't stop screaming? Squeeze a stress ball.
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Boss making unreasonable demands?Squeeze a stress ball.
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Neighbors dog keeps yapping? Squeeze a stress ball.
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Computer problems? Squeeze a stress ball.
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Can't sleep? Squeeze a stress ball.
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Flight canceled? Squeeze a stress ball.
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Deleted the photos on your camera accidentally? Squeeze a stress ball.
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Burned dinner? Squeeze a stress ball.
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Someone ate the last popcorn ball? Squeeze a stress ball.
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Power just went off again? Squeeze a stress ball.
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Can't get the children up for school?Squeeze a stress ball.
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Sick of hearing your wife nag?Squeeze a stress ball.
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Husband getting on your last nerve? Squeeze a stress ball.
No image necessary.









Loving all the men in my life,

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Ways to Relax #8 - Bubblegum and Candy Apple

I believe there are some things every woman should experience at least once in their lifetime.

When I was the General Manager of a hotel, I worked eighty hours a week and never stopped moving the whole time I was in the building. It was an extremely stressful job, but once a week for about a year, I would take my lunch hour and get a manicure with my dear friend Mary.

It was truly the one thing that I did just for myself...literally.

When I changed careers, it was no longer convenient to go at lunch and my nails took an unsatisfactory back seat. Instead, I had to be happy painting them in the middle of the night and leaving my hands hanging off the bed to prevent blanket marks. How many times do you think that didn't work?

Sometimes I still take the time to pamper myself and that was the case tonight.

Alyssa and I both had our nails manicured. We chatted with the nail tech and each other as the stresses and problems of the day drifted away with the soft music and trickling waterfall. Not only is it a wonderful experience for an hour having my nails prettied up and being with my daughter, but the lovely moment continues for at least a week because I feel better with feminine, well manicured nails.

My #8 way to relax is to have a manicure or pedicure in a relaxing environment.

Alyssa chose "Bubblegum" nail polish with acrylic nails...


Of course, I forgot to have Alyssa take a picture of my manicure before she continued her evening with a long bath. With a lovely computer keyboard as my backdrop, I took the photo of "Candy Apple" nail polish on my real nails...


No one can comment about the contrast in Alyssa's lovely tan and my glow in the dark skin. Sometimes I just can't believe I got ripped off with the tan gene!

Oh, I almost forgot...My mother hasn't ever experienced the loveliness of a manicure at a nail salon...EVER. So Mom, if you don't give in to this lovely experience before Christmas, guess what Santa will be putting in your stocking?

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Ways to Relax #7 - Pamukkale

Relax: to make less tense or rigid; to relieve from nervous tension.

I hope you will find relaxation in the following wonder of nature.

There's a place in Turkey called Pamukkale which means "cotton castle." In the River Menderes valley, there are hot springs and terraces of carbonate minerals that are left by the flowing water. The temperature in the seventeen springs range from 35 °C (95 °F) to 100 °C (212 °F).

Sounds and looks just lovely.

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