Spa Water, Drinking Fruit and Veggies

   It is well known that fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs are vitamin and antioxidant rich and promote a healthy body. It is also well known that proper water hydration is essential to a healthy body.   "Every system in our body depends on water", says the Mayo Clinic.  Good hydration keeps our skin fresh, youthful, and glowing.

   Personally, I am not a water drinker.  I just don't like to drink plain water.  Period.  But not anymore.....this past week I have drank more water than I have in months.     I found a great marriage of the essentials in fruit and veggies combined in fresh water to make what is known as Spa Water.  I got inspired
by Pam Wenzel's book "A Guide to Creating World Class Spa Water at Home" and website called,   myspawater.com      The recipes are great, easy, inexpensive.  Incredibly fresh and beautiful creations. 
She has a great Youtube video demonstrating her recipes that you will want to see.

Here is my version of one of Pam Wenzel's recipes.   I made this for my grown daughter's tea luncheon.  She served fancy tuna and cucumber sandwiches, coleslaw, homemade pico de gallo with pita chips, fresh coffee strudel, and a decadent chocolate dessert.   The Spa Water was so gorgeous that it made everything just a bit more festive, and lent a loveliness to the table.    Everyone had to try it, and even the non-water drinkers
loved it.   Several gals went home and made their own versions.  What a hit.   Check out the links above and try this lovely, simple and healthy alternative to plain water.     

My spa water was half gone before I had a chance to get a picture of it!  How cool is that.

Spa Water Recipe

photo by Rebekah Drennan

This post shared with:

A Humble Bumble: Healthy Tuesdays blog hop

Chocolate and Honey Facial Recipe

  Yum is the only word for this facial, the scent, the richness.... incredible.....

   Eating dark chocolate  is well known to be healthy. And if it contains 70% cocoa it is touted as a "superfood".  But did you know cocoa is healthy for the skin also? It is full of antioxidants that promote healthy cellular tissue thru out our bodies.  Pure cocoa powder has twice the amount of flavonols (antioxidants) as dark chocolate by the way.  By applying cocoa directly to the skin we can improve it.   Here's why: Our cells produce free radicals as they metabolize and our body produces natural antioxidants to neutralize these free radicals.  Things that stress our skin like sun damage, smoking, unhealthy living, etc cause an excess of free radicals that can cause damage.  Eating antioxidant rich foods like chocolate, drinking green tea (an explosive trend right now) and even applying cocoa directly to the skin surface is all beneficial.  
   Personally, I don't get stressed out about all the trendy talk of free radical damage etc,   I just love to make  and use natural body products.  We've got to keep things in balance and keeping a proper perspective on all the hype is essential. Don't get stressed out about all the things that are suppose to cause us stress!  Try my luscious facial and enjoy God's provision!  It's gonna be a great day!

• 1 teaspoons cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 1 teaspoon honey  (great cleanser, antibacterial, calms the complexion, moisturizer )
• 1 teaspoon yogurt  (excellent natural peeling agent, soother, softener, hydrator )
•  makes 2 masks

Avocado Hair Conditioner and Hair Mask Recipe

  Is your hair subjected to alot of chemical hair products or styling tools that dry out and damage your hair and scalp?  External stresses on the hair cause our hair to be brittle, break easy, look dull, and inhibit growth. Here is a great natural treatment to make your hair soft, healthy and less prone to breakage, while promoting growth.
  The avocado, ahhhh..... what a truely remarkable fruit.  Yes, avocados botanically are fruits, not vegetables.  Great to eat, and great to use on your hair.  Historical evidence shows the early Egyptians using this natural hair remedy.
   Avocado quickly penetrates the hair shaft, moisturizing dry and damaged hair.  It's high fat content helps hair to be more elastic, less prone to breakage.  It is rich in vitamins B and E which both strengthen and protect the hair.  Vit. B promotes hair growth, while the vitamin E aids in repairing damage done to the scalp.
   My 14 year old daughter has thick, long red hair. It tends to dry out and have "fly aways".She's been using an expensive name brand leave in conditioner, so I sought out a home remedy for her to try and she loved it. Results were fabulous. Soft, silky, healthy looking hair.   Give it a try.  Money saving tip on freezing avocados below.

• AVOCADO HAIR CONDITIONER
• 1 avocado
• 2 Tablespoons milk 
• 1 Tablespoon honey  (hydrates hair and scalp, natural antibacterial)

Blend all ingredients well, into a paste.Warm the honey and milk or water together, blending into a smooth consistency, add this to mashed avocado, making your paste.
Comb thru just washed, wet hair. Cover with towel for 10 - 15 minuets.  Rinse well in warm water.

• AVOCADO HAIR MASK   
• 1 avocado
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 Tablespoons water

Blend, mash all ingredients well into a nice paste. Apply to hair working it into hair and scalp,  wrap head in towel, leave on 20 minutes.
This is a great mask for your hair to promote growth, leaving hair silky, smooth, healthy.
TIP : Avocados are not cheap to buy, so stock up when they are on sale and freeze them. They don't freeze well whole or chopped up. The trick is to mash 1 avocado up with 1 Tablspoon lemon juice, then just put it in a small freezer bag or freeze first in an ice cube tray then put the cubes in freezer bags.

Facial For My Russian Friends: humid weather recipe

   We have Russian friends coming to visit for the week here in the States.  We live in the hot, dry desert climates of  Southwestern USA, and our friends come from a climate that is decidedly more humid.  They will very much feel the difference in their skin!

   Humid weather affects skin making it more prone to imbalances and breakouts.  So, in honor of our Russian friends I offer you a simple, natural skin care routine for humid climes.

Facial Steaming, Green Tea Facial Recipe

   Updated: Jan.2017 In doing my research on facial steams, I've discovered that it is one of those areas that the skin and beauty experts don't always agree on.  They swing from never needing to do it to you can do it weekly. Hmmm......

   First off, doing a home facial steam is better than at a salon because YOU control the heat level and how close your face is to it, not a machine.  And of course, at home is free!  You just don't want to overdo it, as steaming too often can actually dry out your skin.  Every couple of weeks to once a month is sufficient, there is no set frequency, you just want to be sure and not over do it. Steaming also helps with blood circulation.  I'm also told that a warm, moist facial towel draped over the face will also open your pores if you don't want to steam.  This at home spa treatment does not take a lot of time to do, trust me, I do not spend a lot of time in the powder room,  and you will reap the benefits with a sparkling clean, glowing face.

  For this recipe you will need:

•   one cup of cold green tea made ahead of time
•  1 tea bag green tea (or loose 1tsp)
•  water
•  large bowl
•  towel 

Anna's Quick Tips :The Humble Cucumber for puffy, dark circled, overtired eyes

   Cucumbers are roughly 90% water, so they have a natural hydrating effect on our tired, often overworked eyes. Natural beauty experts say that cucs reduce the puffiness around and under the eyes, but can't quite agree why.  Is it the water content, or the fact that the cucumber is cooler than the skin?   Cucs are also a well known natural way to reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes by increasing blood circulation in the area.  With the area hydrated well around our eyes it is less prone to fine lines that appear from the dry skin stretching.  Leaving the area soft and leaving us feeling refreshed.