Welcome back to another in my summer re-run series. I’m glad I can take the opportunity to bring forth a few of the posts I’ve enjoyed in the past. I know many of you are way too busy to scroll around and find posts for topics you may have missed but would very much like to enjoy.

This is a great topic for the summer – foot soaks.  We’re busy running around having fun this summer and our poor feet are suffering.  Mostly, they’re hot!  A little pampering goes a long way with our feet.  They work so hard for us, don’t they deserve a special treat?

Here’s a post I think you’ll enjoy, especially after a long, hot day.  Relax and enjoy:

Most people fall into two categories when it comes to their style of energy-level-maintenance. Some folks run around all day at top speed, then need something to help them slow down and relax, sort of shut the engine off before bedtime. Then there are the folks who run around like crazy, then in late afternoon, their battery runs down and they need something to re-energize them to get them through until bedtime. Whichever model of busy homemaker you are, have we got a treat for you!

Foot soaks are one of the most inexpensive, but most rewarding, luxuries you can do to pamper yourself. There are many store-bought varieties of foot soaks which are excellent in their way. However, oftentimes we’re way too busy to think about taking the time for a foot soak let alone actually going out and buying one. Rather than deny yourself the pleasure of taking ten minutes out of your day for a foot soak, let’s check the kitchen and bathroom cupboards for ingredients to see what you can do today to create a few moments of luxury at home.

Relaxing Foot Soak

Let’s start with a foot soak for the “run around like crazy, need to relax” homemaker. Here are some simple ingredients when put together in a tub of nice, hot water will cause you to say “awwww… that’s just what I needed.”

• A generous squirt of honey.
• A drizzle of vanilla extract.
• A drizzle of almond extract.
• A squirt of shampoo.

Grab a big supply of towels and a washcloth. Take a dishpan or tub that just fits your feet and place it on the floor, fill with ingredients, then pour nice, hot water in, just enough to cover your feet, and swoosh around. Grab a hot cup of chamomile tea for the ultimate relaxation drink and soak your feet for about ten minutes, then gently wash and pat dry.

Recharging Foot Soak

Now, how about if you are the “run around like crazy, need to recharge” homemaker. There are many invigorating ingredients that will work for you. Here is a simple recipe for a foot soak that will have you up and running around again in no time.

• A handful of Epsom salts (keep the box nearby).
• A handful of baking soda.
• A drizzle of olive oil.
• A generous squirt of lemon juice.
• A few crushed mint leaves if you have them, or substitute some peppermint oil.

You’ll need a big supply of towels and a scrubber brush, loofah, and washcloth. You want to be re-energized, so your feet need some soothing mixed with a bit of gentle scrubbing and stimulating massage. Use a dishpan or tub that fits your feet, fill it with the ingredients and nice, hot water and mix gently. You’ll want a cup of tea to invigorate, like green tea with mint. Soak your feet for about five minutes. Then, sprinkle another handful of Epsom salts into the water, gently rubbing the salts on the bottoms of your feet, then on top, and up your ankles, until the salts dissolve.

Massaging Marbles Trick

One other “ingredient” that works for both relaxing and invigorating your feet and body, is marbles. If your child happens to have a collection of marbles, see if you can borrow enough to cover the bottom of the dishpan. While you are soaking, gently glide your feet over the marbles, giving your feet a little “marble massage.” As I said, this little trick will magically both relax and invigorate your feet, depending on what you need most.

These are just a few combinations of ingredients you can find around your house to build a nice foot soak for yourself today. Don’t be surprised if you start looking at your pantry with luxury in mind instead of baking!

Welcome once again to my summer re-run series. Many of you have expressed your appreciation for my bringing these topics back up to the forefront so you don’t have to spend time scrolling around searching for the things you need to read. I appreciate your not wanting to spend time at the computer browsing.  So, today I bring you a fun little item that I posted a while back.

This topic is near and dear to my heart. Since I enjoy a nap, a rarity in my house, and I need to make decisions that are often difficult about running a household and taking care of my family, this particular topic remains one of my favorite.

Please take a moment to enjoy this post from the past:

I don’t usually get a nap in during the day, but I think I’ve found a reason to schedule the time.  Like most people, I’ve got one or two or a dozen decisions that I need to make; decisions on issues that are important to me and my family.  No matter how many times I list and re-list the potential solutions to these problems, I just end up right back where I started… nowhere.  So, another week goes by and I still haven’t decided what I should do.

Searching around the internet the other day, I stumbled upon a Harvard Medical School dream study authored by Deirdre Barrett, Ph.D.  I’ve always been interested in dreams, so I gave it a glance.  What I found was very encouraging to me and I quickly developed a plan around it to reward myself with a nap.

The study indicates that people who focus on a specific decision-making problem as they fall asleep, dream about a solution to that problem within a matter of a week or so.  Because our brains are less likely to be distracted as we’re in the deep-dreaming sleep stage, we will dream about the solution to our problem.  The idea is, we already know the answer, somewhere, but just can’t reach the conclusion we need until our brain relaxes enough to “dream up” the solution.

Now, if that isn’t an excuse to take a nice, long nap today, I don’t know what is.  Hire a babysitter, lay down when your baby takes a nap, call in Grandma… do whatever you need to do to get a nap in.  Get out a pad of paper and write down one decision you need to make or problem you need to solve.  Concentrate on one problem at a time.  After you’ve written out your problem, curl up under a big pile of covers, close your eyes, and relax.  Lights out, no television, no music… just pure quiet.  And sleep… perchance to dream.

Dreams and decision making.  This may be the craziest excuse I’ve ever heard to lay down and take a nap, but, as they say, it just might be crazy enough to work.  If not, you’ve gotten some well-deserved rest.  Treat yourself to a nap today.  Your world, and your family’s world, will be a little brighter.

Sitting in front of the television late at night after the house is finally quiet is one way I like to relax.  Summer television is often filled with re-runs, which is fine with me because I miss some fun shows during the school year.  This mindless entertainment is one of my guilty secrets – it’s mind numbing and sometimes that’s all I need.

This got me thinking about some of my favorite topics here on my blog that you may have missed when you were busy.  And I thought “why not post some “re-runs?”  So, I’ve been rummaging through some old posts and found this one that I know you’ll appreciate.

I am a big fan of Jamie Oliver.  His cooking style is very rustic and down-to-earth, which I can appreciate.  When I ran across his recipe for this particular smoothie I realized he has quite a sense of humor, too.  I mean who can’t appreciate the decadence of this wonderfully rich and simple concoction?  I hope you’ll try it.  It’s a great break from your otherwise nutritious diet… and we all need a break once in a while.  Enjoy this “re-run.”

Today, just for a few minutes, forget nutrition. I know, I know… I’m all about good nutrition. It keeps us strong, it keeps us healthy, it keeps us bright and energetic. But, everybody has to indulge once in a while.

So, for just a few minutes, forget about eating right and counting calories and fat. I believe that we work so hard planning and making nutritious meals for ourselves and our families that if we don’t take a break once in a while, we become exhausted. And what happens when we become exhausted? We start driving through the fast food place again because it’s too hard to think of something for dinner. It’s a vicious cycle.

Most people who develop nutritious eating plans know that they need to include a few “slips” every week just to keep the stress of meal planning at a bare minimum. Then, after we’ve had our little indulgence, we feel so good when we get back on track.

Okay, so here’s what I found that is absolutely decadent. Right off the scales in my diet, but so well worth the slip. This little recipe comes from Jamie Oliver’s second book, The Naked Chef Takes Off. Well worth a read. When you’re ready for your 15 minutes of escape today, throw this drink together and you’ll be on your way. Here you go.

Malted Milk Balls Smoothie

• 1 package of malted milk balls
• 1 cup cold milk – use skim if you like. It actually froths up better and is better for you.

Put the malted milk balls into your blender or food processor and pulverize them into a powder. Then add the milk and give everything a real whirl until your drink is nice and foamy.

When I read this in Jamie Oliver’s book I thought, “Oh, I can’t imagine actually drinking anything so bad for me.” But, in the back of my mind, or was it the bottom of my tummy, I thought “Oh! This is going to be so wonderful! The man’s a genius!”

So, thank you Jamie Oliver for your wonderfully sinful, yet heavenly, indulgence. For dinner I will make a huge green salad chocked full of goodness, but for now, I’m sinking into a creamy, cold, sweet, and decadent fifteen minutes of blissful sipping. I suggest that all you hard working homemakers join me.

You may not want to routinely indulge in this particular smoothie, so I’ve included a couple links here for other delicious beverages to try that are equally as relaxing and soothing. Give them a try the next time you need a lift.

Creamy Rich Hot Cocoa Mix

Swiss Mocha Coffee Mix

Toffee Coffee Mix

Magic Milk Shakes

Orange Nutmeg Coffee Mix

photo credit: _neona_