Relaxation time.... some days I forget what that is with my busy schedule LOL One thing I have discovered recently is the health benefits of different teas. After I put the kids to bed and before I do my homework for my college classes, I have been making Green Tea to relax. I get the decaffinated kind. Green Tea is a grat anti-oxidant, helps lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar and new studies have shown it's weight loss benefits. Here's a good link about it http://www.japanesegreenteaonline.com/health.htm

I also like the Tension Tamer by Celestial Seasons.

I love green tea.

Some of my self-nuturing actives:
-applying lotion to my whole body.
-pedicures (well before I broke my back)
-facials
-listening to classical music
-stretching
-yoga
-eating strawberries
-going to bed early
-writing in my journal
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Ah yes Yoga. I am trying to find some good Tai Chi videos too. And don't even get me started on strawberries! My kids and I fight over them!

I must admit to being self-indulgent in my late middle years... I pretty much do as I please(and I have witnesses) I find posting in here to be self-indulgent as is surfing the net in general....I love to read a good book or take a long cool shower (it rarely works out well for the book to try these two at the same time!) Meditating is always nice or a nap but since the former always leads to the latter maybe I should just call it guided imagery napping....


as an aside: I have dozens of candles which I seldom light and I know that is absurd. Burning them must be better than looking at them...right? I am concerned about meditating with lit candles, falling asleep, and burning down the house! Cats are not good fire detectors...or I could out batteries back into the smoke detectors; hey there's an idea!

I take a warm bath, drink a cup of tea or just sit down to read.

My new discovery: I have been extremely busy this term at college (I took on a different work study position and I am working 18 hours on top of taking 3 1 hour classes 3 days a week. I am crazy I know.) When I get the luxury time of soaking in the bath, I have been putting slices of fresh cucumber on my eyes. It feels so wonderful! Try it sometime!

I self-nurture by painting my fingernails, talking long walks down to the ocean (about 2 miles from my house), or spending several hours with the phone turned off just reading a book.

I also buy myself fresh flowers pretty regularly. People always ask me at the store what the occasion is, and I tell them it's just to have them. They seem surprised quite often, so I guess most folks just don't do that for themselves.

Mint tea with just a hint of sugar.
an easy drive into work with the windows down and SRV on.
lying in my tent at night listening to pow wow drums.
watching my boyfriend sleep when I wake up before him.
and finally, painting my toes that perfect shade fo pink.

- coloring my hair (sounds weird, but I feel great when its done!)
- Bi-Weekly manicure/pedicure/waxing (we all need it sometime!)
- shaving my legs
- cocoa butter from head to toe after a shower
- crocheting when my kids and husband go to sleep (relaxes me)
- sleeping late on weekends (let daddy make them breakfast!)
- shopping alone when the kids are in school (whether its at the supermarket or the mall...just time alone for me!)
- talking to my best friend in Texas twice a week (I'm in NYC and miss her terribly!)

Some of mine are:

• Driving at night to music (and singing). <img src="/images/graemlins/music.gif" alt="" />
• Rubbing my lucky rock (in the shape of a flat, smooth, disc).
• Drink hot tea - two cups lightly sweetened.
• Back rub from hubby.
• Warm bath.
• Stretching.
• Alone time anywhere quiet.

Times are hectic. Work is crazy. Kids are a handful...and trying to get a web development business going with my SO. I agree, it is hard to find time to relax.

Deep breathing.

a nice hot bath, where i shave the legs, then do a deep conditioning treatment on my hair, then getting into comfy jammies, and reading a good book in bed, before i fall asleep.

Long hot shower, at night when I actually have the time, and then putting lotion on and flannel pajammas. Curling up on the couch with hot tea (an herbal tea with some lemon). Reading a book. Working on the garden. Taking my dog for a walk.

Self-nurture for me is my writing time. I also love candles and rainy days. On a rainy day (doesn't happen much here), I go on my lanai and have a cup of hot decaf and enjoy the smell of the rain. It becomes like an internal cleansing as well. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />