September 15, 2011: Home Spa Facial and Foot Soak Recipes

I’ve shared several recipes in the past for home beauty treatments. Here’s a couple more I found in the latest issue of Spry magazine. For a relaxing “spa day” at home, brush on the facial mask while you’re soaking your feet, then follow with a nice, hot bubble bath!

Avocado and Honey Facial Mask

2 ounces mashed ripe avocado (about 1/3 of an avocado)

1 t. honey

1 t. molasses

2 T. orange juice

Few drops of chamomile essential oil

Combine all ingredients. Apply to face (using a soft paintbrush works well). Leave on for 30 minutes, then remove with a damp washcloth.

The avocado adds moisture to your skin while the honey and molasses pull out toxins. The orange juice is a very mild astringent while the chamomile oil is soothing.

Minty Margarita Foot Soak

1 T. Epsom salts

1 T. sea salt

Juice of half a lime

Half a lime, sliced thinly

Handful of fresh (or half as much dried) mint leaves

Fill a basin with very warm water and add all ingredients. Soak your feet for 10 minutes then gently towel dry.

The Epsom salts soothe aches while the sea salt acts as a scrub. The lime is a mild astringent and the mint is soothing and smells good – aromatherapy!

July 31, 2011: Blackberry Limeade Recipe

Recently my husband surprised me by coming home with two blackberry bushes, four grapevines, and three blue spruce trees to plant in our yard. I was absolutely thrilled! For so long I’ve been wanting to fix up our yard and turn it into our own little paradise on half an acre.

The blackberry bushes came complete with clusters of deep, dark berries ready to pick. With only two bushes, there wasn’t enough to pick to make a cobbler or a pie. I put on my thinking cap for a minute and came up with this recipe, which is for a small amount due to my lack of berries but can be easily doubled or tripled. It is incredibly refreshing, not too sweet, and the color makes it look even yummier.

Tip: If you don’t have any fresh blackberries available, try using frozen instead.

Blackberry Limeade

½ cup fresh blackberries
½ cup sugar
1 cardamom pod
½ cup water
½ cup fresh squeezed lime juice

In a saucepan, combine the berries, sugar, cardamom pod and water. Bring to a boil then simmer for about five minutes, until berries release all their juices. Strain into a pitcher or jar. Add strained lime juice and 3 cups water. Refrigerate or serve immediately over ice.

Makes 1 quart