One of my favorite spa treatments is a hand manicure! Many women go twice a month or more to get their nails done/ have a manicure. This can add up over time and can get expensive! I do manicures myself at home and it is so much fun! You just need a few supplies which you can buy at your local grocery store, whole foods or local health food store, and you will get the same great results as you get when you go to the salon/spa! It doesn’t take very long to do a good manicure and its very rewarding to do it yourself. I’m going to tell you here step by step how its done, first I will give you a shopping list. Some of these things you might already have at home.
Supplies:
1. Nail clippers
2. Nail File
3. Brown Sugar
4. Sweet Almond oil/ Coconut oil
5. Lemon and/or Lavender essential oils
6. Your favorite organic moisturizer
7. Optional: Your favorite nail polish
The first step in a manicure would be to shape your nails. Cut them all down so that they are all even, don’t worry if some of your nails are too short right now, cutting them helps them to grow faster and they will be longer before you know it! Cut away any dead skin but DO NOT cut your cuticles! Cutting your cuticles can lead to infections in the nail, leave your cuticles as they are, they protect the stuff that’s underneath your nail, and keep your nails healthy! After you have cut them down and are satisfied, then you should file them and make smooth edges on all of your nails, give them a shape whether you like straight across or you like them a little rounded.
Now that you have a nice shape to your nails its time to buff! This is where the brown sugar comes in, take about 3 tablespoons of brown sugar and mix it in a bowl with about 1 - 2 teaspoons of the almond oil, just enough to make it a little moist. Now you can do this over your kitchen/bathroom sink because it can get a little messy, wet your hands and scoop up some of the brown sugar mixture, start to gently rub over your hands and even up your arm a little, pay special attention to any dry areas you have, make sure and give a good scrub to your nails, do this for a few minutes and now you can rinse it off. Pat dry and admire how soft your hands will feel! Doing this scrub/buff will also make your nails nice and shiny!
Now take the almond oil and put about 2 tablespoons in a bowl, mix in 12 - 14 drops of the essential oils, you can do a mix of both or just use one. After you have mixed these, dip your finger in the bowl and put a little drop of oil on each of your nails and gently massage your nails and fingers one by one. Massage them upwards from the base of your finger up to your nail, pay special attention to your cuticle area. Massage each finger for about one minute. Also massage with the oil up your arm a little, after your done with this you will notice that your hands and arms are extra soft and your nails look extra shiny and healthy!
Now if you would like you can apply nail polish, make sure and apply a clear base coat first, then nail polish, then clear base coat again to give extra protection to the nail polish. If you do this spa treatment with a friend you can paint each others nails, it makes it a little easier! If you are not very good at painting your own nails and you happen to get a little polish on your fingers, just put a little nail polish remover on a Q tip or a paper towel, and gently rub it off, be careful not to hit your newly polished nails in the process!
Now you are finished with your manicure, Look how beautiful your nails and hands look! Now after your nails dry you can apply some moisturizer to your hands and arms to keep them nice and soft and moisturized. You don’t ever need to go back to the salon again! Although it is nice to go out a get a manicure done sometimes as a nice treat to yourself, doing it at home can be just as fun and a little more cost effective. I hope you enjoy!
November 15th, 2008
I find the subject of nutrition very interesting. I like to stay healthy and learn about the foods I’m eating and what nutrients, if any , I’m ingesting. So I was reading the Better Nutrition magazine , October issue, and I found this great article on the mineral zinc. Up until this point I had never heard anything about zinc. What I read really surprised me and intrigued me to learn more. It seems that this mineral has so many great health benefits, that we should all be taking it in some form! It can help with the common cold, behavioral issues, diabetes and so much more. I liked the article so much that I decided to post it here so everyone can learn about the great health benefits of zinc. Enjoy!
Zinc, an essential trace nutrient, plays diverse roles in health, including immunity, brain development and reproduction. The mineral influences 100 different enzymes, which initiate or promote chemical reactions. Supplements may help improve glucose tolerance, lower the risk of some eye diseases, reduce symptoms of the common cold, and improve behavioral disorders.
The body uses Zinc to make copper zinc superoxide dismutase, a potent antioxidant, a lack of zinc increases free radical activity. Zinc also forms part of the structure of cell membranes and some proteins and “zinc fingers” (so named because of their shape) play roles in the structure and activity of genes. In addition, the body needs zinc to make metallothionein , a protein that protects the body from toxic metals, such as lead.
Because of zincs diverse biochemical roles, it can benefit many different health problems. Such as the common cold: When you feel the first symptoms of a cold, get some zinc gluconate or zinc acetate lozenges at the store and suck on one every two waking hours. Zinc inhibits the replication of viruses and enhances immunity. The lozenges can reduce both cold symptoms and duration, but the key is starting to take them on the first day of a cold, before the virus multiplies. One study found that doing so shortened the length of colds by almost half, from 7.6 to 4.4 days. Stop taking the zinc lozenges when you have recovered.
Behavioral problems: The lat Carl Pfeiffer, MD, noted that low zinc levels might result in a variety of behavioral disorders, including schizophrenia, paranoia, violence, and exacerbated feelings of stress. Such problems sometimes stem from high levels of lead, cadmium or copper.
Diabetes: Zinc deficiency may impact glucose tolerance and the risk of diabetes, as well as such related health conditions such as heart disease. The mineral is required for the synthesis and activity of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. It can also have insulin like affects. To improve glucose tolerance, look for formulas that combine the mineral with alphalipoic acid, chromium, and silymarin.
Scar tissue: Zinc is required to make collagen, the most common protein in the body. Supplemental zinc can reduce scar formation during wound healing and after surgery. It can also reduce fibrotic liver tissue, a type of scarring, in people with cirrhosis and hepatitis C. For liver disease, combine zinc with silymarin and N-acetylcysteine.
Macular degeneration: Zinc may help reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration (AMD) , the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. In studies with patients at high risk of developing AMD, both zinc and a combination of zinc with antioxidants reduced the risk of eye disease by about 30 %.
Some people are genetically predisposed to low zinc levels because they produce abnormally high levels of kryptopyrrole, which binds to zinc and vitamin B6. This trait is found in many schizophrenic patients and others who do not cope well with stress. White spots on the fingernails are a sing on zinc deficiency. High doses of zinc can cause nausea, so take with food. In addition, high intake of either iron or calcium may impair zinc absorption.
To read more check out the Better Nutrition October 08 issue, or chek them out on the web : www.betternutrition.com
November 8th, 2008
Halloween is most definitely my favorite night of the year! The whole month is a celebration of Halloween for me. From decorating the house to carving pumpkins to checking out some nearby haunted house attractions, Halloween holds a special place in my heart! There is an interesting history to the origins of the spooky holiday, and it originates with the ancient Celts. It was on this night of the year that the ancients celebrated what they knew as Samhain , pronounced “sawin”, where they believed the veil between the living and the dead was thin. It was the Celtic new year and they would hold rituals to honor those who have gone before, and then they would light a huge bonfire! It is also known that they would light a candle to put in the window, to help guide the souls through the night.
Today the holiday is much different, with kids trick or treating, carving pumpkins and other spooky activites. I’ve always wondered how the tradtional “Jack o Lantern” fits into this whole holiday, and I fouind this great article about the history of it and I would like to share it with you!
People have been making jack o’lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” Acocrding to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.
Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”
This article can be found at history.com
I hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween!
October 31st, 2008
We’ve added some great new products that we know you all will enjoy! Relax with our new bath oils, pamper yourself with our new body care products, or uplift your spirits with our new Shakti perfume oil. As always we offer you the finest organic ingredients in all of our products. Have fun trying our latest creations!
October 26th, 2008
For the next two weeks at http://buyindie.blogspot.com/ Sacred Herbals is doing a contest, and the winner will win one Dream Bath Bomb and one Gaia perfume! We want to thank everyone for participating and we hope the winner will enjoy!! We would also like to thank Andee at celtic goddess jewelry for sponsoring this! You can visit her website here : celticgoddessjewelry.com Have fun everyone!
October 23rd, 2008
The art of bathing is an ancient practice. The Romans are the most famously known for their public bath houses. People would gather here to socialize, relax or enjoy a nice dinner or some wine. Some of these bath houses had lounging rooms or saunas and exercise rooms. Although the Romans are the most famous for their baths, there are many different cultures around the world that also practiced bathing rituals. The Turks were well known for their public baths, they would clean the body first , then soak and socialize much like the Romans. The Turks believed in cleaning the body frequently as part of their religious practices, so baths here would remain popular. The Catholic Church in those days condemned those who attended bath houses frequently , as it was seen as a pleasurable act, especially for women. The bath also had great religious significance to some Pagan practitioners as well. They served as a place for worship, gatherings and personal re-purification. These cultures would also enhance their baths with herbs and oils for therapeutic qualities.
Today relaxing in the tub is as widely popular as it was then. One of my favorite things to do is to relax in the tub! It really is the most relaxing therapeutic act to me, and I always add herbs, essential oils, salts, milk or a bath bomb. Soaking in the tub has many beneficial qualities as well. It helps with circulation, relieves aches and pains, sore muscles and joints, and provides relaxtion and rejuvenation. A great relaxing bath would involve lit candles, warm water but not too hot, some sea salts or epsom salts about 1/2 cup , some lavender essential oil about 12 - 14 drops which you add after the tub is filled, now that your bath is ready to go just lie back and relax. Some people find that a nice glass of wine or a magazine enhances their bath as well. I personally like to meditate in the bath. Soaking in the tub provides beneficial quialites to meditation, the warm water helps your body to relax and any essential oils will also help your mind to relax. Everyone should take some time out for themselves with a nice relaxing bath. It teaches you that you need to take care of yourself and teaches you how to relax.
With the often hectic pace of modern life, it’s important that we take the time to truly relax and create a few serene moments when we can. You may be surprised just how good a nice relaxing soak can make you feel, especially when all of your senses can be simultaneously soothed. The art of the bath may be just one small way each of us can create a little oasis for ourselves!
October 11th, 2008
To eat organic or to not eat organic, that is the question! I try to eat organic whenever I can, although some organic food can be a little pricey, I’m sure its well worth the extra few dollars to keep eating healthy. Researchers have shown that there are certain produce foods you should buy organic and there are some that dont require you to buy organic. For example bananas you can buy conventional because the skin of a banana is quite thick, although when buying something like strawberries, a fruit with a very thin skin, you will want to buy organic because this type of fruit will suck up all the pesticides that are sprayed on it and you’ll bascially be eating harmful chemicals. So I found this great artcle about the pros and cons of eating organic and eating conventional. Hopefully this article will help any of you who are stuck as to which you should buy! Hope you enjoy!
Are Organic foods healthier than conventional?
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.” - World Health OrganizationNatural food in my opinion is a healthier choice.I will share with you why I feel eating natural food will provide better long term health benefits. When I say natural food, I mean food that is not man made.Natural food does not have chemicals, additives or growth hormones. Natural food is simply food grown organically the way nature intended.Why are we experiencing so much sickness today, particularly in the western world? I strongly believe it is because of the lack of knowledge when it comes to proper nutrition and not incorporating natural and organic foods into our diet.It seems as if the system is treating us like cattle, fattening us, then leading us to the slaughter. We are a society bred for disease solely to sustain the food and pharmaceutical conglomerates.If drug companies invented a cure for disease, they would be out of business. Realize that your body is a remarkable piece of machinery. It has the capability to heal itself. But upon the first sign of pain, we reach for a prescription or non-prescription drug.This may provide temporary relief, but does not change the cause of the problem. This is why I choose to eat natural food and live an organic lifestyle. Let me give you another example. Food manufacturers are pressed against time and have a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders.They need to mass-produce large quantities of their fruits and vegetables. How do they do this? They grow their fruits and vegetables faster and in huge quantities with the aid of chemicals.So the fruits and vegetables you buy at your local supermarket are laced with toxic chemicals. Over time these toxins can make you sick.are organic foods healthier than conventional foods graphicFor this reason, it is better to eat natural food that is organically grown. Are organic foods healthier than conventional ones? I think you may say yes.In the meat industry they also need to mass produce, so they feed their livestock chemicals and growth hormones, this way the animals grow bigger and faster. Could this be the reason our children are becoming obese at an earlier age? It is quite possible. The meat industry also uses sneaky tactics to trick consumers into thinking the meat is still fresh.You may have read recently about carbon monoxide being put into meat to keep that fresh rosy look. You can experiment by placing meat on your kitchen counter, leave it exposed for a few days and notice it will still have that “fresh” meat look. They add the carbon monoxide in small quantities through a procedure called “modified atmosphere packaging” and it’s approved by the FDA. This is not natural food and the practice is deceptive. Again are organic foods healthier than conventional ones? It would seem so.It is important to get educated when it comes to health. Today with the internet and the information age, there is no excuse. When it comes to our health, ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance can be hazardous to one’s health. Have more control of your health and your diet. Learn about natural food products and how you can include them into your dietary regimen.
About the Author : Samantha Fisher is a long time advocate for natural nutrition and organic foods. You can read her blog at Organic Food blog.
This article can be found : organicfoodinfo.net
October 4th, 2008
Meditation
Meditation has been a spiritual and self healing practice since the beginning of time. The earliest records of meditiation were found in Hindu scriptures dating back 5000 years ago. Today meditative practices are found in almost all of the worlds religions, such as, Buddhism, Judaism and Christianity to name a few. Many ancient cultures that practiced meditation , would meditate on the campfire flames or during ritual, and it would help them to reach altered states of consciousness. It is said that the Buddha, before he achieved his enlightenment as a Buddha, used meditation to get him there.
Today many modern cultures use meditation as a way to calm the inner thoughts, to relieve the body and mind of stress, to relax and to heal the mind and to improve overall health and well being. There are also many health benefits associated with meditating such as decreasing blood pressure, decreasing the heart rate, calming the nerves and promoting better sleep. I try to meditate everyday, it doesn’t always happen everyday, but when it does I feel like I am whole again, like I am at peace with myself and the world. If you don’t already meditate, you should try, just 15-20 minutes a day, or if you cant do everyday, try a few days a week. You will most certainly feel more relaxed and calm and more at peace with the world around you. The following are some basic meditation techniques and I hope they will help anyone who tries them! Enjoy!
Meditation Techniques
Sit in a cross legged position, get comfortable but keep your back straight, if you wish you may light some candles, burn some incense, whatever you feel is neccesary to help get you in a relaxed state. Now close your eyes, and start to breathe in slowly, taking a deep breath, then slowly breathe out, continue breathing like this, while, starting to clear your mind of all thoughts, worries, stresses, anything that is occupying your mind. Concentrate on nothingness basically, continue breathing for the entire session, also continue to push out any thoughts from your mind and just simply let your mind rest. After about 15 - 20 minutes or whenever you feel comfortable, you may stop, and simply get on with your day. Meditation is an art that requires practice to really understand exactly how to do it well, so don’t be bummed if you find it hard to completely clear your mind the first few times you try it, overtime you will and it will become second nature.
There are also meditaion techniques you may try once you feel more comfortable doing it, that involve visualization, concentraton on a particiular feeling, for example a feeling of happiness or positivity and other more advanced techniques. If you would like to further your quest in meditation, I recommend reading some books on the subject, or I happen to like this website : www.how-to-meditate.org
I hope you enjoy!
September 27th, 2008
Fall leaves
Fall is my favorite time of year, as it is for alot of people! The leaves are starting to change colors to beautiful reds, oranges and yellows and the temperature drops slightly giving us cool nights and breezy cool days. Today is the first day of Fall and it is also known as the Fall equinox. It is a day where sunlight and darkness are equal in length. From this point forward the nights will grow longer and the days shorter. Until we get to the spring equinox where the reverse is true. This is the time of year for the Fall harvest which has been celebrated for thousands of years. It is a time to give thanks to the land for her bounty and to prepare food storage for winter. In today’s world this is not necessary for most of us who live in contemporary society, but it was back before our modern world. It was a matter of survival, preparing for winter.
On this day familys would gather and have a feast in celebration of the Fall equinox, then they would have a ceremony in which they give thanks for the warmth of before , and prepare the for the cold that lies ahead. Many different cultures have celebrated this harvest, such as the Greeks, Romans, Germans and many other European countries as well as some Asian countries.
Some popular fall foods are breads and grains, fall vegetables like squash, corn and pumpkin, apples and wine. I have some great recipes for some fall dishes and I’d like to share them here. I hope you enjoy and Happy Fall!
Baked Corn with Red Pepper
Ingredients:
- 4 to 6 ears fresh corn
- melted butter
- 1/3 cup diced sweet red bell pepper or roasted red bell peppers
- ground black pepper, to taste
Preparation:
Remove husks and silk from ears of corn. Place each ear of corn on a piece of heavy duty foil then brush with melted butter. Sprinkle about 2 to 3 teaspoons of diced red pepper over each ear of corn. Sprinkle lightly with ground black pepper. Wrap foil around corn and twist each end. Bake at 450° for 25 minutes.
Serves 4-6
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
- 1 large butternut squash, 2 1/2 to 3 pounds
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks, cut in half crosswise
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cups chicken broth
- dash ground ginger
- dash ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- salt, to taste
PREPARATION:
Using a vegetable peeler, peel the squash. Cut into chunks, removing seeds and soft fibers with a spoon. Put in a bowl; add apple cider, brown sugar, and cinnamon stick pieces then drizzle all over with the melted butter. Pour the mixture into a 9×13-inch baking pan; cover tightly with foil and cook at 450° for 1 hour, or until very tender.
Meanwhile, cook diced onion in a large saucepan in the 2 tablespoons butter. When onion is very tender, add chicken broth; bring to a boil; remove from heat and set aside. When squash is very tender, remove from oven. Remove cinnamon from the squash. With a slotted spoon, transfer the squash to the chicken broth and onion mixture. Add about 1/4 cup of the roasting pan juices to the saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Working in about 4 batches, puree the squash mixture in a blender; return to the saucepan. Stir in the ginger and nutmeg and the heavy cream, along with salt, to taste. Heat through.
Enjoy!
September 21st, 2008
Cleopatra
When new is old and old is new…..
For years now, I’ve been a student of aromatherapy and the use of essential oils and botanicals for everything from medicinal uses to the simple joy of their beautiful and varied scents on my body and within my home. I also have another passion, and that is history. So it should come as no surprise that when I learned about the uses of these wonderful natural gifts through out the millennia, I quickly developed quite an affinity for Cleopatra. Among the rest of the brilliant details that form the story of Cleopatra, she was one of the worlds great lovers and students of natural perfumes, aromatic botanicals and essential oils. What I find so interesting in this aspect of history is that today we are able to share, literally and exactly the same beautiful scents that so enamored Cleopatra over 2000 years ago. The essential oils of rose, jasmine and sandalwood today are the very same as those blends that drifted through the warm halls of Cleopatra’s chambers in ancient Egypt.
Though Nefertiti proceeded Cleopatra and also shared a keen interest for these botanical scents, it was Cleopatra’s passion and fascinating use of these that etched her story so deeply in my mind. Cleopatra’s barge was announced, even before coming in to view along the Nile, by clouds of perfumed breezes. In fact, Cleopatra was so interested in perfumes, she wrote a recipe book for making perfumes titled Cleopatra gynaeciarum libri. Cleopatra’s perfume factory is at the south end of the Dead Sea, 30 km from Ein Gedi. Amazingly, residues of ancient perfumes were discovered there during modern excavations. But it was her most famous love affair with Mark Antony, when she literally perfumed the very sails of her ship upon their meeting. Antony was swept off his feet….he had never before seen such a dream, and that truly is something considering the excesses and luxury he left behind in Rome!
Though the use of perfumes predate Cleopatra by almost 3000 years, the romance and the passion found in the essence of these botanicals was truly her calling card. All of our senses have the ability to enchant, in one way or another, and it is this enchantment that Cleopatra brought about through her extravagant use of oils, incense and perfumes. I knew that I wanted to capture a little bit of that magic in the products I make for Sacred Herbals, to the extent I created a special perfume in her namesake. As an aromatherapist, a perfume maker and a student of history, it is a proud duty, to me, to carry that legacy in my own small way.
Some people gaze out over a horizon and let their minds wander far away, but it is the scent….the beautiful scent of antiquity and purity that carries me back to a place only my mind has been. What a wonderful gift to our imaginations and to our tanquility our senses can be. I hope some of you discover a new found joy, while learning about these these special and very old aromatic blends.
September 17th, 2008
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