It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but there’s no doubt that it’s also one of the busiest. With all the decorating, shopping, wrapping, cooking and hosting we can quickly get stressed and overwhelmed during the Christmas holidays. While all of the prep work leading up to Christmas is well worth it, it’s also important to have some slow days at home, days with no agenda, where you and your family can enjoy each other’s company, play games, watch movies and relax. During these busy times, we need to take care of ourselves and take the time to recharge and reset so we can be ready to take on the new year!
Our family is all about being home, we love those lazy days lounging at home in our pj’s, especially after all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. This year I’m looking forward to having my husband home for a couple of extra days and watching Cici enjoy her new presents. While those two are playing and spending time together I may sneak off and indulge in some self-care and in-home pampering.
One of my favourite things to do when I’m caught up on my To-Do list or can’t get rid of a chill is to fill up the tub and treat myself to a relaxing bath. If you have a little extra time, take your soak experience to the next level with some bath salts, bath bombs and a scented candle. I’ve put together some products found at Anna’s that are sure to make my next home spa treatment even more enjoyable.
Here’s a step by step on how to prepare a peaceful bath:
Step 1: Fill the tub with some hot water and a 1/2 cup of these rareESSENCE Dead Sea Bath Salts. The Rosemary and Mint offer an invigorating scent and these high magnesium salts are great for soothing sore muscles and joints, improving circulation and reducing inflammation.
An alternative choice would be to toss a couple of these Farmhouse Fresh Bath Bombs into your hot bathwater. Choose from Cranberry-Orange Bark, Whoopie Pie and Sparkling Passionfruit, they all smell wonderful!
Step 2: Set your bath tray across your tub and place your Talisman Soy Candle, Farmhouse Fresh Shea Sugar scrub, Guac Star face mask and your favourite magazine in their proper places. Light your candle.
I typically choose diffuser blends over a candle any day, but a bath just isn’t complete without one or two candles burning on the sidelines. I love these Talisman soy candles because they’re all-natural, they have a wonderful light scent (made up of clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and lemon essential oils), and the packaging is so pretty (sure to add style to any counter or shelf). Life is busy, so make sure you spoil yourself with a little extra love during the holidays. Giving your skin some much-needed attention is always a good idea, but especially during the winter months, you’ll want to scrub away any dry, dead skin and provide it with some extra moisture. The Farmhouse Fresh Shea face scrub gently exfoliates and moisturizes your skin and is the perfect first step to achieving a flawless and fresh complexion. Go the extra mile and apply this Guac Star revitalizing avocado hydration mask, another great way to deliver deep hydration and vitamins to your parched Winter skin.
Step 3: Slip into the tub and enjoy! Turn on some music and close your eyes or pick up that mindless magazine and take your time reading every inch of it. I hope you can soak until the water turns cool and your fingers get pruney.
Step 4: Once you’re done your bath, dry off with a nice fluffy towel then nourish your skin with this Farmhouse Fresh vitamin-rich body oil that hydrates and seals in softness. This Clementine scent is divine and this little product is the perfect way to end your self-care session.
Getting away to recharge and slow down is so important during life’s busy times, even if it is just to your bathroom, so make it a priority this holiday season!
We live in a world where our phones are our lifeline, they keep us connected to friends, family, the going-ons around the world and they entertain us with endless games and silly videos. During these days at home, it’s so easy to “spend time” sitting on the couch with our faces glued to our phones. Let’s all make a conscious effort to put our phones down and spend time actually engaging with our loved ones, let’s disconnect to reconnect. There are so many other fun activities to do around the house that don’t involve your phone or even the TV. I love sitting down to watch a good movie or two, but sometimes it’s nice to actually interact with the people around you or even have an engaging conversation.
Here’s a list of some activities to do at home or not far from home, that don’t involve your phone or TV:
• Play board games or cards
• Start a puzzle
• Read a book
• Bake some cookies
• Have a scavenger hunt
• Build a blanket fort
• Do a Winter craft
• Play hide and seek
• Sip hot cocoa
• Make indoor s’ mores
• Play Pictionary
• Have a dance party
• Have a colouring contest
• Bundle up and go for a walk
• Go tobogganing
I’ve always got my diffuser going and I love experimenting with different oil blends to create just the right one. Lately, I’ve been all about the festive scents and one of my favourites has got to be Peppermint and Grapefruit. I love the mint and citrus mixture, a sweet and refreshing blend that lifts my spirits and is perfect for the holiday season. There are so many wonderful oil combinations and I love that diffusing oils can help with your immunity, congestion, purifying the air and lifting your mood. Not only that, but oils smell wonderful too! If you’re an avid oiler like me, make sure you’re consistently diffusing and setting a cozy atmosphere while you’re home with your family. Have fun and get creative with your oil blends!
We’re less than a week away from Christmas and I can’t wait for all the excitement, the noise, the food and of course the downtime!
Remember to take time to slow down and savour all the magical moments during the holidays, and don’t forget to unwind and relax too!
Wishing all of you the Merriest Christmas and Happy New Year!
