Wake up with a Coffee Scrub!

Mix up your morning routine with this coffee scrub.  

It's refreshing and invigorating.

Coffee Scrub Recipe

1/2 pint Mason or other jar

1/2 cup coconut or other vegetable oil

1/2 cup used and/or fresh coffee grounds

A few drops of your favorite essential oil

In a 1/2 pint jar, I mix together 1/2 cup of coconut oil (melted) and 1/2 cup of used coffee grounds.  I add a few drops of Whisper or Peppermint Essential oil.  As it cools it will harden back up, so you can press it into muffin tins and save them for use another time.  I just leave the jar in the shower.  

When you are ready to use it, just scoop out a little bit and scrub in circular motions from the tips of your toes and fingers toward your torso.  Work on one limb at a time too, using about a tablespoon per leg.  Then do your arms and don't forget to scrub the backs of your arms and those hard to reach places.  The shower will rinse away the grounds as you go so there's no need to worry about the drain.   

Its, just that easy.  So, what are you waiting for.  

Winter Sports Injury Series - Hips

Hips take a toll over the long haul.  The movement in the hips is very subtle.  When mobility is removed, like on icy conditions or when you are driving a lot, you can really stiffen up, causing pain and achiness.  

Massaging clients hips can be hard because most people are very guarded.  Even the most seasoned massage patron can unconsciously hold tension in the hips.  A skilled massage therapist (such as myself, just sayin’) and a trusting client can do really good hip massage.  

If you haven’t found me yet, I suggest stretching your hips.  Take the time to breathe through your stretching.  It's better to do one stretch right than three stretches incorrectly.  

I came across this great blog and have to re-share.  I can’t say it better than these folks do.

how-to-stretch-your-hip-videos

Thanks for coming to read Part 5 of my series, 5 Ways to Treat Yourself Better in 2016.  You can find posts in my archive to do your Daily Abayanga, Read More-Sleep More, Exercise for Fun, Pamper Yourself, and to Learn New Things.  My story about learning to play guitar starts below.

Learning to play guitar has been something I always wanted to do.  My dad was a talented musician, and I never learned to play an instrument as a child, despite the fact that there were always many instruments in the house. My dad was a drummer, so the other musicians would come to our house to play.  My dad always told us to learn to play a harmonica, because it fit in your back pocket.  I admit, it would be pretty hard to pack drums around with you.  

My brother and I, circa 1984-ish

About a year ago, I was telling all of this to a friend and he challenged me to stop my bitchin’ about it and try to learn NOW!  One thing leads to another, and before the night is out, he has me hooked up with my first lesson.  I have to go, in the morning, the very next morning!  He committed me to go and I don’t want to be a flake; so, I went.  

My goofy dad.

It was hard, and painful, and my poor tender fingertips will never be the same.  The first day wasn’t even the hardest.  It has gotten easier on the hands, and harder for my mind and my hand/eye/ear coordination.  I am addicted to it.  In fact, I am going on a bluegrass cruise (as a player) and I am n.e.r.v.o.u.s.  Nonetheless, I made a goal to perform with other people or play live within a year, so it's definitely time to stretch out of my comfort level to get better.

And that, my friends, is why I share this with you.  Treating ourselves better includes pushing ourselves to reach our goals, extending our goals to be outside of our comfort zone.  How to treat yourself better means don’t give up on your dreams.  It turns out learning new things will help you at any age.

Stay tuned and I will share a place you can see my personal pictures from the cruise.