The purpose of spending an afternoon or, dare to dream, an entire day at a spa is to be pampered, relaxed, energized – or all three, and shut off from the rest of the world. With a bit of planning and a Do Not Disturb sign, you can have a spa treatment in the most used room of the house any time you choose.

Begin your preparation with some “you” time. Ask yourself a few simple questions and use the answers to make a spa shopping list.

·    What do I really want? To be still and relaxed? Energized? Pampered?

·    What scent makes me feel most (fill in your answer from number one)?

·    Shopping item #1: scented candles   

·    What songs or sounds make me feel most (fill in your answer form number one)?

·    Shopping item #2: CD’s

·    What do I want to leave with? Newly manicured nails? A fresh face? To finish that novel?

·    Shopping item #3: New nail polish, apricot face mask, tub tray with book easel…

·    Shopping item #4: Bath pillow or home spa

Now that you’ve got everything on your list, it’s time to set up.

·    Place as many candles as you can safely around the bathroom. Dim the lights.

·    Start the music – a safe distance from the tub of course

·    Draw your steaming bath and add bubbles, salts or crystals and bath pillow or spa

Now soak! For the next hour or so, the time is yours. Sink into the hot bath, shut your eyes and listen to the sounds of the ocean on your meditation CD. Sing along to your favorite tunes as you apply your energizing mint mask as bath salts revitalize your tired muscles. Breathe deep and enjoy the vanilla almond candles that remind you of that quiet weekend at the Cape while you read the last two chapters of the book you started ages ago. As you continue to enjoy the massaging jets of your home spa, use quick dry nail polish on fingers and toes and apply a top coat of drying polish. Run nails under cold water to set and enjoy the final drying time in peace and quiet.

You get the picture. Cater this time to you and your needs. With a little thoughtful planning your shower can become a spa worthy of your only day off.

Want to take your spa to the next level? Bring along your favorite drink to sip as you soak. Add a scented body polishing scrub that compliments your candles, a new loofah, mint shampoo and chamomile conditioner to your shower (as an added indulgence to your spa day or any day) for a head-to-toe pick-me-up. Don’t forget a warm, fuzzy robe and slippers and after-bath moisturizer .

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