Picture
“I think best in a hot bath, with my head tilted back and my feet up high."
So, lately, I have been extremely into semi homemade bath recipes. Last night I was really tired and worn out from a long couple days of... well, just being pregnant for one, but Noah also had a sleepover, Hubby has a bad cold, and all the excitement/worry/stress of planning a trip to Disney-- I just needed to put my feet up and let the hot water relax my body and my mind. When I finally fell asleep, I slept like a baby!

This recipe is more for general relaxation than for health benefits, unlike the others I have posted in the "Bringing Up Baby" section of this blog. You could probably use any other flavor of tea you wanted instead of pumpkin, such as lemon, orange spice, mint...etc. I just really love pumpkin ANYTHING.

Relaxing Pumpkin Spice Bath with Milk & Honey
1 or 2 bags of pumpkin spice tea (I used Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Rooibos- very fragrant) 
1 or 2 bags of Camomile tea (I like the chunky, almost loose leaf kind in the triangle shaped bags)
1/4 tsp of ground ginger
1/4 cup of honey

1/2 cup of Epsom salt
1/2 cup of milk bath mix (can be found at a local drug store or Walmart) 

The one thing I did notice about this recipe, mostly because of the 'spice' factor, is that I sweated a significant amount even after exiting the bathtub. Something about the "warmth" of the ingredients brings out impurities. 
Honestly, this recipe is one of the favorite ones I've tried which is why I chose to share it. The aroma (because of the pumpkin) and softness of the water due to the other ingredients is a sure fire knockout.
Enjoy!
 
So many people are telling me, "Better enjoy reading before the baby gets here!" But, why? Why can't enjoy it when my baby gets here? 

A friend of mine recently told me that she just read her first novel since the birth of her daughter...a year ago. Granted, everyone goes at their own pace and I go through spurts where I read more at some times than others. But, if I'm going to have a baby around the naps 4 times a day and I'm gonna take the advise to "rest when your baby rests", I can't physically take 4 naps in a day! I'll never  sleep that night. But, lounging on the couch with a good book? That, I can do!

I am currently in the process of reading, "The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems" by Tracy Hogg and Melinda Blau. (Unfortunately, I can't tag their website here because Tracy passed away late in 2004.) However, even though it's for the benefit of my family (which I why I am reading it allowed to hubby), it's not exactly what you would call leisure material. 

Since Jon and I got engaged I really haven't had the ability to read like I want to. But, who can blame you when you are planning a wedding, volunteering for 70+ hours a month, working 30 hours a week...etc? But, now that I am technically a stay at home wife and mom (with my part-time photography) I would like to make more time for small things I can enjoy and take advantage of even if I don't have that much time.


Hubby and I already read and study so much for work and volunteering and general knowledge that some people probably wonder what the fun is in reading even more for recreation during your time off the clock. My husband is already one of those people; if I don't read it to him, it's not going to get read.