What do you do to pamper yourself?

[andi]

I may be trying to justify spending $40.00 at Bath and Bodyworks but am feeling like I deserve a little pampering as I stick to my HLSG goals! What are others of you out there doing to add a little motivation to achieving your newly stated goals?

[Missi]

I splurge and get myself a manicure, massage, or pedicure. Something just for me that isn't a food-related reward.

[BeckyM]

Great topic! I know I probably should do more to pamper myself, but I start to feel guilty when I relax -- especially if the house is dirty, laundry's not done, etc. But I do have a few things I do to pamper myself.

1) Sit down with a good book and just get lost in it.
2) Take a bath in our big soaking tub.
3) Give myself a pedicure (with Bath & Body Works foot stuff)
4) Go for a walk, preferrably in a wooded park or other nature setting.
5) Light candles & play mellow CD's while stretching (kinda like yoga for relaxation)

This is a good reminder that I have been neglecting these things lately and that I really need to take time for myself. I also need to remember to use these as "rewards" rather than turning to high-calorie foods at the end of a long, stressful day.

[Laura]

Depends generally on my budget for the month! The utimate for me is to go to a day spa and get a seaweed wrap and salt rub. Heaven! However, those days are usually few and far between. On a more simplistic scale, I have a great tub; dim the lights, light candles, some good music and a glass of wine and let me soak my cares away and I am in heaven.

[Natasha]

Andi,

You definitely deserve it! Go for it and enjoy.

I'm not doing anything special to get into achieving the goals I set out on this board, but do have several things I like to do to pamper myself:

Like many of you, I also buy bath products and creams (I love Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, and some items from The Body Shop).

I also enjoy a good book or some magazines. I love all kinds of foreign magazines because I can escape without ever leaving home.

I admit that I also have a weakness for new workout clothes and equipment (shorts, Cool-Max shirts, neat jackets, shoes...). I can almost always justify the expense since they'll be put to such good use http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

And once in a while (okay, once in a blue moon these days) I have what I call a spa weekend. I don't go anywhere, but I spend as much of the weekend as possible cooking healthy food, sleeping well, reading and relaxing, taking more time to use bath & beauty products, playing with the dog, and just reflecting on life. Can you see why this doesn't happen very often? For those of you with kids, I bet it would be even harder!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif But it is an awesome way to spend a weekend, or even a day.

[lindrusso]

I'm not doing too much in rewards for my HLSG goals on a regular basis, but if I reach my goal, I plan to shop 'til I drop. Even if I do fit into the clothes I have in my closet that I've been keeping around, by the time that happens they will be outdated! I haven't REALLY shopped for clothes for years (except the necessities and the occasional dressy outfit). But that's easy to get away with when you stay at home.

As for time for myself, that's hard to come by with kids, but I do it or I'd be insane. Luckily my husband is very supportive and recognizes my need to get out. I go out once a month with my MOMS Club for a moms night out - a chance for adult-only conversation. My husband and I try to get out about twice a month together. I also attend scrapbook workshops that allow me to get out of the house and work on getting my pictures organized.

My oldest boy is in school all day now and my youngest just started preschool - I actually have 2 hours, 2 days a week to myself!!! I spent my 2 hours today cleaning - doesn't sound like that much fun, but I turned the stereo up loud and danced/cleaned - it's amazing what can be fun when you don't have little ones around tugging on you and asking for something every 2 minutes!! Not to mention that I don't have to hear complaints about my music being too loud - I guess it'll be me complaining about that in a couple of years!

[cookgirl]

After painting finals, esp in December, I get killer manicures (to make up for the way my hands look right now.
A hot soak in a tub always does the trick, though I wonder why I opt for a shower so much?I use to like to reward myself on paydays with a pedicure. But I just started taking Salsa lessons, and that is a really fun reward! I highly recommend them.

[andi]

What wonderful things you all do for yourselves! You've all given me some great ideas-I love the soaks in the tub idea with a manicure/pedicure and glass of wine thrown in there! Any suggestions on the music to accompany my soak????

Thanks Natasha for your comments!

Lindrusso, I'm pleased that I'm not the only one who cranks up the music to clean! I must admit my top choice tends to be the Backstreet Boys (Marvin Gay is pretty good too!)-

Personally, I think when we all reach our goals we should meet at a spa for the weekend and THEN shop till we drop!!!

[Laura]

Hmmm....

My age is probably showing with this but my music tastes are pretty eclectic. For cleaning (don't laugh) I blast the live version of Phantom of the Oprah and sing all of Christine's roles! If not that it is something likely from the 80's (my college years) Nothing like B-52's or Jimmy Buffet to get me going. Then of course there is my all time favorite Van Morrison. For soaking I vary, I love jazz, David Benoit, George Winston, the Rippington's, Michael Franks, Joe Sample etc. Three tenors are awesome if you like opera in the slightest. I think I might have gotten off the subject. Must be that it is late and I am still putting off working.

[cookgirl]

Originally posted by Laura:
Hmmm....

My age is probably showing with this but my music tastes are pretty eclectic. For cleaning (don't laugh) I blast the live version of Phantom of the Oprah and sing all of Christine's roles! If not that it is something likely from the 80's (my college years) Nothing like B-52's or Jimmy Buffet to get me going. Then of course there is my all time favorite Van Morrison. For soaking I vary, I love jazz, David Benoit, George Winston, the Rippington's, Michael Franks, Joe Sample etc. Three tenors are awesome if you like opera in the slightest. I think I might have gotten off the subject. Must be that it is late and I am still putting off working.


Laura...That is so funny! I can't believe you like Michael Franks. Me too. I thought he was so obscure!
I also LOVE Van Morrison.

[Laura]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cookgirl:
[B] [QUOTE]Originally posted by Laura:
[b]Hmmm....

My age is probably showing with this but my music tastes are pretty eclectic. For cleaning (don't laugh) I blast the live version of Phantom of the Oprah and sing all of Christine's roles!

OH MY GOSH!!! I cannot believe I wrote that! I must have been more tired than I thought. Did anyone else catch that! I meant to say Phantom of the Opera! I am here rolling on the floor at what you folks must think of me. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif

[Pat58]

My favorite new pampering item (in addition to those B&BW Shop delectable bath products!) is the Caswell-Massey three piece hand kit I got from QVC. It consists of a wonderful beeswax cuticle cream, to-die-for rosewater hand cream and a pair of white cotton gloves. I massage the cuticles and do a thorough hand massage with the rosewater cream every night - the smell is a raphsodic experience alone - then put on my silly little Jackie Kennedy gloves while I read in bed before falling asleep. I garden and cook and work very hard with my hands, and this little ritual has done wonders for my poor hands. Even my arthritis feels better from the love and attention.

OK we have a thread about what we listen to while doing housework. First favorite, Metallica - followed by Sound Garden, Rage Against the Machine, old Stones and Zeppelin, Hendrix, Cream or Blind Faith, and Santana. For cooking I like blues-y rock like Black Crows and Stevie Ray Vaughn, or play classical music (Bach is a fave) or Big Band music (love Benny Goodman), depending on my mood.

[andreajackson]

I love to go shopping whether it's after I've had a bad day or if I just got paid it seems that I never get tired of this activity.
I also love to lay on the couch and read my favorite book of the moment. I somehow seem to get lost in a book and actually sometimes feel like it's realistic! The best would have to be laying out at the pool with a book! That is my favorite hobby!

[Carisensei]

I definitely am putting off what I need to be doing which is cleaning the house but I just saw some cool tips for using cleaning as a addition to your workout. I know it sounds lame but the woman was talking about how to get better muscle work and stretching. I also didn't realize how you can do thing differently and not get a backache the next day.
My favorite music for cleaning is the local "Dancing Oldies" station. It has lots of good Motown to get me going!

[andi]

I'm putting off paying the bills here but wanted to add this while I was thinking of it. My latest pampering discovery (this may go along with the luminous skin idea) is Keri lotion with sunblock and alpha hydroxy. I have never had such smooth, soft skin! Even my tough elbows and bumps on the backs of my arms are gone! I've had two family members develop skin cancer and a friend actually die of malignant melanoma so the sun screen is another plus. It's a bit expensive but well worth it!!

[MrsReber]

I believe in a good, professional massage. I go for a few of them each year. Pure heaven.

I missed out on the music part of this thread! I LOVE to clean to my absolute favorite, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Steve Miller Band works nicely, too. The Chili Peppers really get me moving- I have all of their stuff on CD! They work good a the gym, too! Now for cooking, I like something a little more mellow- maybe James Taylor or Carly Simon. I have a very very wide variety of music.

[andi]

Originally posted by MrsReber:
I believe in a good, professional massage. I go for a few of them each year. Pure heaven.



You are sooo right! I had an awesome massage therapist during my pregnancy that really took away those aches and pains! He had a "belly table" that had a hole for my expanding belly. He was terrific! Now that you're pregnant it just might be something to indulge in still!
You know, my music tastes change a bit when I'm cooking too-I tend to listen to classical and mellow stuff. I love Carly Simon too! Her "Best of Carly Simon" is my favorite. I'm noticing my return to the 80's lately during exercise. I guess that dates me but I love all those songs. My husband makes fun of my "Hits of the 80's" CD but it gets me moving!

[MrsReber]

Oh, Andi, you are not alone! My husband laughs at me because I bought the Living in Oblivion cd set! It's a five cd set of all 80's music! I am going to schedule a massage for Nov, 10th, after my next dr's appointment since I am taking a personal day. I was wondering if there was anything different they'd need to do since I'm pregnant. That's neat that they have a belly table!

I have Carly Simon's best of and No Secrets. My mom used to always listen to No Secrets when I was much younger. I like to cook and sing along with Carly when my husband isn't home!

[andi]

Ahhh Mrs. Reber! I must check out Amazon.com and look for this 80's CD set! Sounds quite perfect! I'm sure it would help me burn off another few pounds!

On the subject of massage, you might want to check to see if your massage person is certified (or at least familiar) with pregnancy massage. I wasn't aware there was such a thing until I met mine. For example, apparantly there are pressure points on the soles of your feet that can trigger labor (good to know if you are overdue!), plus just positioning when you get "bulkier". We also learned infant massage from a Lamaze coach and boy does my little one love it! Something fun for you and hubby to do later down the road! Have a good weekend!