Gift Baskets Review

Well, not really away, just not into blogging.  I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since I last wrote anything.  It’s June and New York is beginning to experience the typical and unpleasant humidity.  The air conditioner becomes your best ally and heaven help you on a crowded subway.

I’ve also fallen out of the idea of a bath.  A quick shower seems just the thing these days.  Maybe batheing is just a cool weather activity.  Sometimes I fancy the idea of slipping into a cool bath that’s been festooned with one of my spa gift sets  but, the idea never seems to materialize.  Ah well.  I’m still thoroughly enjoying my Lavender Vanilla products…yes ideeed, they’ve lasted this long.  The scent of Lavender is so luscious and light.  Just the whiff of it carries me to Paris – clearly one of my favorite places on earth. 

Now, mind you, I have the feeling I’m in this blog by myself….is that so?  If you read these posts, however periodically, do let me know with a quick comment or two, will you?  I’d love to hear from you.

Bath Tea

I’ve been looking at tea concoctions designed for the bath and I’m quite fascinated by them.  Once again, here’s a product that has found its way from the kitchen to the bath with absolute alacrity.  The ingredients in these bath gift products are nothing more than tea and herbal fragrance.  The idea is to steep this specially designed (large) tea bag in bath water for 10 minutes, then remove the teabag before submerging for a relaxing soak. 

The spa gift set I have is sunflower and cedar wood but I recently saw this delectable combination:  rose buds, lavender, peppermint, strawberry/respberry leaf, orange petals, orange peels, lemon grass, chamomile, rosemary, sage and rosehips – doesn’t that sound fabulous?  I have the feeling that these products not only benefit the skin but also the olfactory senses.  I also have the feeling that this is a terrific option for men as well as women.  This definitely requires more exploration!!

Lavender Vanilla Bath Collection

I’ve recently written about how I sent myself a spa gift set called Lavender Vanilla Bath Collection.  It really is incredible how many bath gift products they tuck into this basket and what’s even more remarkable is the number of choices I now have when it comes to moisturizing my skin.

Now, maybe I’m easily amused with this stuff because I’ve always been a bit haphazard when it comes to lotions and such.  In fact, I once mentioned that to a guy friend who retorted “how can that be….you’re a girl”.  True, true.  Anyway, these new choices caused me to do some internet research where I found that body butter can contain ingredients like shea butter, vegetable oil, coconut oil or butter, grapeseed oil, and cocoa butter.  The whipped body butters usually include beeswax as well.  The advantage to using this lovely richness is longer lasting, all natural emollients for intense moisture and healing.

There is so much in this wild and wacky life that can dry our skin and the older we get, the worse it is.  I guess, in my case, it’s better late than never that I’ve become such a proponent.  I think I’ll continue sending myself (and others) spa gift sets. They’re fun to receive and full of good stuff.

I just ran across the most interesting spa treatment – this is truly a new one on me.  It’s a spa treatment scrub made of malt and barley which exfoliates and nourishes the skin and is designed to improve circulation.  The spa that offers this innovative treatment encourages couples to partake of a relaxing soak in an Ofuro tub while drinking a cold glass of Hockley Gold Premium Draft (apparently brewed locally).

Can you believe this?  Men finally have the perfect opportunity to convince their wife/sweetheart of the “medicinal benefits” of beer.  What could be more perfect?

Ylang Ylang

I know, I know….I have my needle stuck on the subject of aromatherapy but I’m more than just a little fascinated by it.  The scent that has my attention today is Ylang Ylang, which is pronounced ee-lang.   It’s not only a beautiful blossom that grows in rain forest habitats in locales like Indonesia and the Philippines but it’s used as an ingredient in many spa gifts and bath gift products.

The oil from the ylang-ylang plant flower is used in Asian and floral scented perfumes such as Chanel No. 5.  In Indonesia, the flowers are spread on the bed of newlyweds and in the Philippines, they are made into a lei (flower necklace) for women and also used to decorate religious images.

As a spa aromatherapy ingredient, it is said to relieve high blood pressure, assist with skin problems and is considered to be an aphrodisiac…and, you wonder why I’m transfixed by this stuff?

Bergamot Green Tea - Elegant Bath Collection

Many years ago, my Mom came to visit me in New York City over the Christmas holidays.  I always used to put a lot of thought into figuring out the perfect present for her.  This  particular year, I got the brainy idea to create a spa gift for her by hand-picking various products in my local bath/body store (that got pricey!), deftly placing them in a lovely basket and wrapping them beautifully.  She was crazy about it.  She talked about looking forward to dressing up her bathroom with the pretty new stuff and getting into using it.  The dressing up happened, for sure, but the using it…not so much.

What is that about?  Is it “too good to use”?  That’s what my Grandmother used to say as she folded up the new scarf or hankie and put it in the drawer…forever.  Is it that if you use it’ll be gone and you can’t possibly buy any more?  Or, is it just inertia?

I must say I always had mixed feelings when I would see that spa gift set sitting in her bathroom, year after year.  But, when I look back on it now, as I miss her presence in my life, I think maybe she just liked having it there because it reminded her of me.  Happy Mother’s Day.

Lavender Vanilla Bath Collection

Did you know that lavender is used for treating depression, amenorrhea, burns, acne, rashes, arthritis, athlete’s foot, carpal tunnel syndrome, psoriasis, vaginitis, insomnia, pain, palpitations, anxiety and nervousness?  There’s almost nothing that doesn’t become better through the use of lavender.  Plus, it’s a beautiful flower, it smells great and it makes a fantastic spa gift!

Lavender has long been used in love spells and sachets. Clothing rubbed with the fragrant flowers (or Lavender placed in drawers with clothes) attracts love. A piece of paper on which you’ve rubbed Lavender is excellent for writing love notes. Lavender also protects against cruel treatment at the hands of a spouse if worn.  The flowers are also burned or smoldered to induce sleep and rest, and are scattered about the home to maintain its peacefulness. The plant is so powerful that, if when depressed, you gaze upon the plant all sorrow will depart and a joyousness  will settle upon you.

Bath Products - White Peony

I’m usually a big fan of the shower but, it’s Sunday morning and, for some reason, I treated myself to a bath.  I don’t know why….it’s not the normal routine but considering how great I still feel, some two hours later, it might become a routine.  I recently ordered a spa gift set so I had some bath salts that I decided to try.  I started with very hot water so the salts would melt and the vapors would waft throughout the room.  When I slipped in, it was a little hotter than I expected but I managed to adjust quickly.

It was definitely the salts that made the difference.  Usually, I get into the bath and it’s nice for about 2 minutes and then I get bored.  This time I allowed myself to luxuriate.  Wow, what an amazing treat.  I still feel great – relaxed, soothed, and I can still smell the scent of the salts.  I obviously didn’t know what I was missing all this time and Sunday morning may never be the same.

If you know someone who is stressed out by work or family, or has chronic pain and body soreness, she might find great relaxation with a trip to the spa. But spas can be expensive, and not everyone has to time or the energy to go to one. However, you can replicate the spa experience and encourage your friend or family member to take time out for herself by putting together a spa gift basket for her. She’ll surely appreciate the time and thought you put into the gift.

You can create a spa gift basket with relaxing items like a lumbar back pillow, a warm neck wrap, a thick and creamy body scrub, a massager, and more. The idea is to create a spa experience at home with easy-to-use items. Include a face mask to replicate the feeling of a facial, and add some scented candles and relaxing CDs to create a calming atmosphere. Your friend or family member will be so grateful to you for giving her to tools to help her relax and relief chronic pain and soreness.