Drink a cup of tea to avoid holiday stress

In my opinion, drinking a cup of tea is one of the best ways to create some ME time during the holidays to avoid being stressed. 

There’s nothing better than taking a few minutes in the middle of the afternoon to sip a warm cup of tea. Can you hear the kettle whistling? Have you warmed up your tea pot and tea cup or mug? – most people forget that step but doing it takes the flavor and the experience to a whole new level. Have you chosen your favorite tea blend from your stash? Have you invited a friend over to join you? Did you remember to put out the cream, sugar, lemon, and honey and of course a plate of cookies?

Here are some of my favorite quotes from literature on the pleasures of drinking tea to inspire you to sit down and have a cup of tea at least once before the new year and to give your friends the gift of a tea sampler (available from specialty shops or online) so they can enjoy some tea time, too.

“The Tea Party

I had a little tea party
This afternoon at three.
'Twas very small-
Three guest in all-
Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,
While I drank up the tea;
'Twas also I who ate the pie
And passed the cake to me.”
― Jessica Nelson North

“What kind of tea do you want?"
"There’s more than one kind of tea?...What do you have?"
"Let’s see... Blueberry, Raspberry, Ginseng, Sleepytime, Green Tea, Green Tea with Lemon, Green Tea with Lemon and Honey, Liver Disaster, Ginger with Honey, Ginger Without Honey, Vanilla Almond, White Truffle Coconut, Chamomile, Blueberry Chamomile, Decaf Vanilla Walnut, Constant Comment and Earl Grey."
-"I.. Uh...What are you having?... Did you make some of those up?”
― Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

“A cup of tea would restore my normality.” ― Douglas Adams

There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.” ― Lin Yutang, The Importance Of Living

“Tea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties.” ― Confucius

“Okay, this is the wisdom. First, time spent on reconnaissance is never wasted. Second, almost anything can be improved with the addition of bacon. And finally, there is no problem on Earth that can't be ameliorated by a hot bath and a cup of tea.” ― Jasper Forde, Shades of Grey

“A cat purring on your lap while you sip hot tea, is there anything better? Oh, and you’re floating in a zero gravity environment.” ― Jarod Kintz, Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal With Change by Deciding to Let Indecision Into Your Life

“Dad was at his desk when I opened the door, doing what all British people do when they're freaked out: drinking tea.” ― Rachel Hawkins, Demonglass

“If you are cold, tea will warm you;
if you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited, it will calm you.”
― William Ewart Gladstone

“Nowadays, people resort to all kinds of activities in order to calm themselves after a stressful event: performing yoga poses in a sauna, leaping off bridges while tied to a bungee, killing imaginary zombies with imaginary weapons, and so forth. But in Miss Penelope Lumley's day, it was universally understood that there is nothing like a nice cup of tea to settle one's nerves in the aftermath of an adventure-- a practice many would find well worth reviving.”
― Maryrose Wood, The Hidden Gallery

“I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side ..."
 (Englishman in New York)” ― Sting, Nothing Like the Sun

“Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea: "One table-spoonful to be taken at bedtime.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit

My kettle is boiling -until next time,
Helne

Four Warming Spa Treatments for Fall

October is a special month of the year. It’s halfway between July and December and now that summer is behind us and winter is ahead of us, it’s time to start thinking about getting cozy and spending more time indoors.

Begin by adding some new seasonal touches to your home like draping a blanket on a favorite chair, turning on the gas fireplace, bringing in some leaves and foliage that you’ve found outside, swapping your lighter waffle bath robes for the heavier, terry cloth ones and creating some aromatherapy blends with essential oils like vanilla, cinnamon, and clove.

Here are some fall spa services that you can receive in the coming weeks that will help take the chill out of the fall and winter seasons.

1) Hot stone massages are a great way to get warm. It feels like liquid heat is reaching the deepest part of your achy muscles as the smooth, basalt stones travel over your body. It’s truly a divine experience.

2) Dipping your hands and feet in a warm, paraffin bath is a must this time of year. The wax will lock the moisture in your skin and your hands and feet will stay soft for days.

3) Body wraps are also ideal spa treatments during this time of year. Not only will you be wrapped in a cozy cocoon of blankets, some body wraps are purposefully made with self-warming ingredients like Spirulina and Moor Mud, that will help increase your circulation which will raise your body temperature.

4) And what’s a spa without a bath? Taking an herbal bath is a great way to warm up. Infusing some chamomile or Earl Grey tea into your bath water will definitely benefit your skin and will help you relax and keep you warm from head to toe.

Remember to light some candles and make a cup of tea and which ever warming spa treatment you choose first, you’ve got a recipe for a nice spa day at home in October.

Renew your inner and outer beauty this fall

Nothing beats fall when it comes to a sense of renewal. It's the beginning of a new school year, your favorite brand introduces new fall fashion, and you have nothing but cooler weather and the holidays to look forward to. What better time to adjust your beauty routine than the new season?
 

 

The change of seasons is a good time to cleanse your system, inside and out. The best way to prepare for the colder season is to get a facial, a body scrub, and a massage, and then check your diet and get plenty of sleep. This time of year is good for warming soups and stews, cooked vegetables and for a treat: fruit pies. It's also a good time to enjoy the health benefits of a cup of hot green tea and to detox before Halloween with all the candy.  

As summer surrenders to cooler temperatures, there is no better place to renew your Inner Goddess than with a renewing massage or spa service. Our tips will help you to prepare for your best fall season ever:

Detox At Home: Detoxing isn't just a dramatic one-time event, or something you do when you're at a detox spa. It's an ongoing process. And you can do much of the important work of detoxing at home by changing the way you eat and taking a closer look at what you put in your body.

Hydrate adequately by drinking eight to ten glasses of water every day. This flushes your system and replaces the water your body loses just through respiration and elimination. If you're bored with plain old water, try spa water, which is fruit-infused water. Get great spa water recipes at myspawater.com and Pam Wenzel's Spa Water book. Stop eating sugar and refined carbohydrates like white flour. They have no nutritional value and give you a sugar "high" that leaves you hungry and craving more sugar.

  

Get healthy fats into your diet. Essential fatty acids can be found in unrefined flax seed oils, walnuts and especially olive oil.

Sleep: Make your sleep a priority. Build boundaries around your sleep by sticking to a set bedtime, and by not eating or working in bed (no iPhone in the bedroom!). Avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they both interfere with normal sleep patterns. Prepare for healthy sleep by making a smooth transition from waking activity to quiet sleep. 

Facial: Face fall with a healthy glow, and select a facial that will clean, soften and smooth the skin. Summer sun can leave skin dry and damaged, so you'll feel relaxed and rejuvenated. Of course, it's impossible to think of fall without thinking of pumpkins, and spa pumpkin-based treatments. Though many think that the pumpkin found its highest calling in a Thanksgiving pie, the reality is that the familiar orange flesh provides tons of phytochemicals that nourish and treat the skin. An exfoliating pumpkin peel contains powerful natural enzymes and is an excellent way to instantly brighten post-summer skin by sloughing away dead skin cells and dull pigment.

Body Scrub: Fall skincare involves doing away with summer dryness and pampering your skin. For an utterly pampering experience, schedule a body scrub in the comfort of your home. Your skin is pampered and polished with essential oils and sea salts giving you a luxuriant glow. We add skin brushing to exfoliate, detox and rejuvenate. Your skin will look as great as it feels: heavenly smooth. For your daily routine, switch to a heavier moisturizer that will protect your skin as it adjusts to new, cooler temperatures.
 

Massage: For many of us a massage is the most relaxing wish-it-went-on-forever treatment. Aside from the sheer pleasure of having stubborn knots eased away, skin benefits greatly from nourishing oils. Depending on your needs you may find your massage therapist choosing a blend of delicious-smelling essentials oils to enhance your relaxation.

The great thing about fall is that it gives us all a chance to start anew and to make positive changes. May it be your best season of change yet .