Frugal Bath and Beauty

Visit ChinDeep.com every Tuesday for new, simple bath and beauty home spa rituals that pamper your body and refresh your soul.

penelope’s rosemary-mint sugar & salt scrub

December 27, 2011
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penelope’s rosemary-mint sugar & salt scrub

~ penelope’s  rosemary-mint sugar & salt scrub ~ I just love making homemade pampering products for family and friends. They add a personal touch to any gift basket, and you can let your imagination run wild while dreaming up new scents in your little kitchen “apothecary.” Today I decided to get the ingredients together to make a rosemary-mint sugar and salt scrub. My friend Alice sent me a whole BUNCH of fresh rosemary to play with, and so far I’ve baked some into savory muffins and batter bread, scented my favorite garlic roasted, baby bliss potatoes and chopped up a little to add to this beautiful scrub! To make: In a glass bowl, mix 1 cup sugar,  1 cup epsom salts,  1/4 cup fresh rosemary, chopped fine, 1 cup...

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teatime tuesday ~ chai bath soak

November 15, 2011
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teatime tuesday ~ chai bath soak

Here’s a little home-spa treat for you! From page 82 of my book, Welcome Home. Happy Teatime Tuesday! Enjoy, XO, ~Melissa

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six senses saturday

August 6, 2011
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six senses saturday

~tasting~ creamsicle shakes 1 bottle Stewart’s orange cream soda 1 cup orange sherbet 2 cups vanilla ice cream 1/2 cup whole milk Mix all in blender until smooth serves 2 ~hearing~ the lawnmower ~smelling~ rosemary, lavender and lemon that I just used to make this scented water ~seeing~ nectarines ripening on the counter to top another one of THESE CAKES and this fabulous new cookbook… I can’t wait to try these recipes! ~feeling~ like spending the day HERE ~knowing~ “Every now and then a mind is stretched by a new idea and never shrinks back to it’s original proportion.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes What are you doing today? ~Melissa

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fresh herb tea

August 2, 2011
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fresh herb tea

~fresh herb tea~ “Teaism is a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence. It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order.” ~Okakura Kakuzu, 1906 We have a ton of fresh herbs growing in the container gardens out back on our deck. I’m still wondering how we’re going to possibly use all of them! So far it’s been wonderful to add them to scented spa water, salads, pizza and spaghetti sauce, savory shortbread, montrachet, pesto, Chermoula, and meat marinades. I made a loaf of Twisted Herb Bread I even baked some rose geranium into a cake! While looking for new ideas, I was pleasantly inspired to see a quick, easy way to make fresh...

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Ritz Carlton Ginger Tea

May 31, 2011
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Here is a wonderful, natural drink that is not actually tea, but a ginger infusion. I know a lot of people who suffer from seasonal allergies, so I thought I’d pass this little recipe along. Ginger tea is a fantastic home remedy for indigestion, nausea, and to help cure colds, the flu and ailments associated with seasonal changes. It’s easy to make and can be enjoyed hot or iced. Ritz Carlton Ginger Tea Recipe • Raw ginger: 4-6 thin slices • Water: 1½-2 cups • Lime juice from ½ lime • Honey: 1-2 tablespoons • White sugar: 1½ teaspoons Bring the water to boil in a small saucepan. Place the ginger root in a small glass bowl. Pour the boiling water over. Allow to steep for 10 minutes. Strain...

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a home spa day

April 13, 2011
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a home spa day

“I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex.” ~Oscar Wilde Time to wash winter away and indulge in a rejuvenating, spring spa! I bet you have most of the ingredients for your spa experience in your cupboards, pantry and refrigerator.  If you do need to take a trip to the market, I think you’ll be surprised at how frugal a day of luxury and pampering can be. Get a group of ladies together, rent a chick flick, make THIS or THIS for lunch, and have fun putting these easy, beautifying spa treats together. Go ahead, you deserve it! These are all recipes that can be found in my books, Chin Deep in Bubbles and Welcome Home. “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, old time is...

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5 Easy Detox Secrets

January 21, 2011
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5 Easy Detox Secrets

There’s no need to buy expensive supplements to detoxify your body. The following tips are just common sense, healthy, easy ways to help your body detoxify naturally. 1. Hydrate by drinking lots of purified water. 8-10 glasses a day with a little fresh lemon is perfect. Lemon boosts the detoxifying effects of water. 2. Eat plenty of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and drink freshly made juices. A three day water and juice fast can help your body rid itself of toxins and make you feel wonderful. 3. Add more natural fiber to your diet. Whole grain pastas and breads, lentils, beans, quinoa, bulgur, oatmeal, and nuts are wonderful sources of natural fiber. 4. Take antioxidants in the form of fruit and berries. The best fruits for this purpose:...

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Tangerine Dream Hand Cream

December 28, 2010
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“I carry the sun in a golden cup, the moon in a silver bag.” ~William Butler Yeats This hand cream smells citrusy and feels wonderful on chapped, winter hands. Great for moisturizing elbows, knees and feet too! This recipe is from my book, Welcome Home, and is easy to make. Enjoy! ~Tangerine Dream Hand Cream~ In a small container, combine: 4 Tablespoons thick hand cream (such as Nivea) 2 Tablespoons organic cocoa butter cream 4 drops tangerine essential oil Mix well and cover tightly. ~Melissa

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Essential Oils and Their Qualities

December 10, 2010
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“When we send down water upon it, , it quivers and swells, and puts forth herbs of every joyous kind.” ~The Koran For those of you new to my blog, website and facebook page, I am the author of two lifestyle books on home-spa rituals, taking time for yourself, and luxuriating in your own relaxing retreat at home. It is such a privilege to help make your world a prettier, more comfortable place. For those of you who have been friends and fans for the last 10 years, I have so enjoyed hearing how these books have inspired you to indulge in life’s little luxuries with wonderful body treatments, aromatherapy, spa cuisine, and home caring rituals. From pages 39 & 40 of “Chin Deep in Bubbles”— Essential Oils and...

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Relaxing Ritual~Iced Sleepytime Vanilla

October 8, 2010
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Relaxing Ritual~Iced Sleepytime Vanilla

Well…it’s 86 degrees outside! Time to make more iced tea! I love icing tisanes (herbal ‘tea’ infusions) for sipping in the evenings when the temperature gets above 80. One of my favorites…Iced Sleepytime Vanilla by Celestial Seasonings. mmmmmmm….. ice some and see for yourself. It’s all at once relaxing, refreshing and healthy. Enjoy! ~Melissa

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