http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/light_from_willow/ en willow@spawillamina.com Copyright 2010 2010-02-19T00:42:56+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/facial_exfoliating_grains/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/facial_exfoliating_grains/#When:00:42:56Z FACIAL EXFOLIATING GRAINS This is a quick and easy way to scrub away the winter blues.  In the winter our skin tends to be all over the place.  Dry, patchy, breaking out more; and maybe looking a little dull.  This homemade exfoliant has vitamin C grains providing lots of antioxidants and helping to brighten the complexion.  In the spring we want to spring clean the house as well as the skin.  Exfoliation helps remove dead skin and excess dirt and oil.  Supplies you will need: 1. 1 medium mixing bowl 2. Spatula 3. Glass spice jar with shaker lid 4. Coffee Grinder Ingredients: 1. 1 Tablespoon Vitamin C crystals or Immuni-C Emergen-C packets. 2. 1 teaspoon of Oats (quick cooking not steel cut) 3. 1 teaspoon of Cornmeal 4. 2 Tablespoons of dried Rose Petals 5. Pre-made Rose Water   Combined all dry ingredients in coffee grinder.  Grind until well mixed, leave a little grit.  Store grains in a spice jar with a shaker top. Rose Water: Fill a jar with a lid with 8 ounces of clean/spring water.  Place 2 fragrant/organic/your yard/ Roses in water.  Close lid and let sit in window for 3 days.  Essential Oils: Lavender: Antiseptic, calming, regenerative. Rose Absolute: cleansing and refreshing to dry, sensitive skin as well as all skin types. When ready to use the mixture, do not exfoliate more than 3 times a week.  Shake out about a teaspoon amount in small bowl.  Add 1-2 teaspoons of rose water with a few drops of lavender and rose absolute essentials oils. Apply to clean moistened face and work in.  Rinse well and moisturize.     Willow Light   http://www.spawillamina.com This material isn’t a substitute for a health care practitioner! Please do not reproduce without permission. Blessings!   Recipes 2010-02-19T00:42:56+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/therapy_bath_-_layered_salts_for_gift/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/therapy_bath_-_layered_salts_for_gift/#When:00:40:41Z Therapy bath – Layered salts for Gift Color and water therapy for wellbeing 1. 4 cups of Epsom salts Magnesium sulfate Relaxes muscles, reduces swelling, has anti-inflammatory effects, promotes healing, promotes the bodies production of serotonin. 2. 10 drops of red coloring Invokes courage, love, blood circulation, success, happiness, 3. 10 drops of yellow coloring Promotes mental clarity, stimulates creative thoughts 4. 10 drops of green coloring Hope, personal growth, nature and the outdoors 5. 10 drops of blue coloring Boosts happiness, increases confidence 6. 32 ounce jar with lid/ikea 5.99 Using 4 separate bowls, place 1 cup of Epsom salts into each bowl.  Add 10 drops of one color to each bowl giving you 4 different colors of bath salts.  Then add one color at a time into your jar, layering the colors. Recipes 2010-02-19T00:40:41+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/hydrating_shave_balm/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/hydrating_shave_balm/#When:00:39:11Z Hydrating Shave Balm 1. One 4 oz jar with lid/Ikea 3.33 2. 3 tablespoons of Shea Butter/ Fred Meyer 5.49 3. 3 tablespoons of coco butter/Fred meyer 5.49 4. 2 Tablespoons of Peppermint Castille Soap 5. ½ teaspoon of ground Cinnamon Whip all ingredients in a food processor or blender until consistency is like frosting.  Place in jar and enjoy a soothing, hydrating shave next time you use a razor. Recipes 2010-02-19T00:39:11+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/coconut_body_butter/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/coconut_body_butter/#When:00:37:11Z COCONUT BODY BUTTER 1. 8 ounce container with lid 2. 1 cup of Coconut Butter 3. 10 drops of Jasmine Absolute Essential oil/ beautifying 4. 7 drops of Ginger Essential Oil/warming tonic 5. 1-2 Tablespoons of coconut oil or other oils like almond, grape seed oil… Add 1 cup of Coconut Butter to blender or food processor.  Whip until creamy like cake frosting.  Add Ginger and Jasmine and whip for 10 seconds.  Place in container and use all over your body.  It is wonderfully hydrating and Jasmine is a pick me up for the libido while ginger is oh so warming to the body. Recipes 2010-02-19T00:37:11+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/chocolate_love_drink/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/chocolate_love_drink/#When:00:24:30Z CHOCOLATE LOVE This wonderful recipe was inspired from love for me and love for others.  Damiana is such a magical plant, It can help relive tension; Damiana is famous for being an aphrodisiac and found to increase the libido. I am not one to recommend drinking; so if you’re not a drinker making it with vegetable glycerin is a wonderful alternative. If you want to take it daily the recommendation is 10 – 20 drops from a dropper bottle, (1 ounce). Research shows it’s been know to support hormonal balance.  It encourages a sense of well being. You will need a double broiler or you can also use a soup pot and a slightly smaller metal bowl.  Spatula, cheesecloth for straining the plant matter. (1) 32 ounce Glass Jar with lid. Mason jar is great; later you might want something pretty to put in smaller bottles as gifts. Ingredients: 1. 1 ounce of Damiana leaves/ Found at Peoples co-op Portland, or 503-674-2642 or http://www.newseasonsgrocery.com The Herb Shoppe on Hawthorne @ 503-234-7801. 2. Elderberry; wonderful flavor and useful for calming, soothing, flu and cold symptoms. 2. 1 ½ cups of Brandy or Vegetable Glycerin/ you can find glycerin in most health food stores or Mountain Rose Herbs@ 1-800-879-3337 or email them http://www.mountainroseherbs.com And you can order it online, they are located in Eugene Oregon and are very reputable. I chose a Loganberry Liqueur/ Liqueur from Portland Oregon,  http://www.clearcreekdistiinery.com Cooking alcohol over low heat for some time helps some of the alcohol dissipate. 3. 1 ½ cups of Spring Water 4. 1 cup of Honey; soothing, warming, antioxidant, anti-microbial; (kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi) great for someone suffering from allergies to mold and spores. 5. 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract: relaxing to the body, aroma is known to work as an aphrodisiac.  6. 1 Tablespoon of Rose water: 1 aromatic rose bud submerged in an 8-ounce glass of water for 3 days.Use the rose petals for a bath and store the remaining water in the fridge and use as a face toner daily. It should last for a few weeks. 7. 2 tablespoons of Dark Chocolate syrup; you can get it at http://www.almachocolates.com or Whole Foods has some with agave instead of fructose syrup.  It is packed with antioxidants, research shows chocolate contains phen-yl-ala-nine.  Phen-yl-ala-nine occurs naturally in the brain to help regulate your mood,  helps with stress management in the body.  Our brains produce it from the essential amino acid L-Phen-yl-ala-nine. Research shows low levels of “PEA” have been found in those suffering from depression and ADHD/ADD. Fill your double broiler or homemade version, ¾  water.  Get water simmering before placing brandy; damiana leaves, and dried elderflowers. Warm the honey at the same time. Once warm add to the brandy mixture.  Add 1 ½ cup of boiling spring water. Let this mixture simmer for 3 hours.  Using cheesecloth, strain over large mixing bowl.  You could strain the herbs Through one more time by making a nighttime tea and then hop into a nice hot bath. ENJOY!! Recipes 2010-02-19T00:24:30+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/rose_infused_honey/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/rose_infused_honey/#When:00:23:40Z ROSE INFUSED HONEY 1. 16 ounce glass jar with lid 2. 8 -10 rose buds firm 3. 14 ounces of your favorite honey Cut Rose buds at the base of the stem and remove any leaves.  Place Rose buds tightly together, face up.  Two rows on top of each other.  Pour honey over Rose buds slowly, so not to crush the Roses.  Close lid and let settle, about 1 hour.  If there is room, add more roses until the jar is full.  When serving Rose tea, boil 8 ounces or so of water.  Using tongs place one rose in teacup and let steep for 10 minutes; makes a wonderful sweet treat on a chilly day Recipes 2010-02-19T00:23:40+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/party_ready_facial_mask/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/party_ready_facial_mask/#When:00:20:00Z “Party Ready” Facial Makes one Facial Mask 1. 2 tablespoons of pureed pumpkin/trader joe’s packed with vitamin a/regenerating, softens skin vitamin c/anti-oxidant, fights free-radicals, brightens complexion. zinc/soothes irritation 2. 1 tablespoon of honey Hydrates, soothes and calms 3. 1 tablespoon of vitamin c crystals Natural exfolliant, brightens, stimulates collagen 4. 1 egg white beaten If not using right away; times the recipe by 6 and scoop 6 equal parts onto plastic wrap and seal well, place in the freezer and when ready to give a home made mask just thaw Firming and lifting action 5. Dash of cinnamon Great for circulation, gives a healthy glow Combine all ingredients in a bowl.  Apply to clean dry face.  Leave on 10 to 15 minutes.  Rinse with warm water. Recipes 2010-02-19T00:20:00+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/anti-aging_home_remedies/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/anti-aging_home_remedies/#When:19:53:14Z Sleep: It is important to get enough sleep. When we sleep our body and the systems in it need this time to regenerate, rebuild and renew. Without enough sleep you can’t fight the aging process. Relax: Take 10-15 minutes every day to close your eyes. Begin by taking 3 deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Visualize your body relaxing starting at your toes, your shins, your knees, your hips, your belly, your chest, your throat, your face, head, shoulders, and hands. Once relaxed, take three more deep breaths. Remind yourself how important your health and well being are to you. Slowly open your eyes and take three more deep breaths. You are now on your way to a happier and more focused day. Stress causes the body to make an unhealthy amount of cortisol (belly fat) which is toxic and causes free-radicals to attack your system which results in pre-mature aging. Water: Take your body weight divide it in half and you have your ounces calculated for your daily intake of water. Water flushes the system of impurities; balances body temperature, and helps all organs function efficiently. Liver Function: Metabolizes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to provide energy and nutrients. Stores vitamins (A, E, D, K) minerals and sugars, filters blood, helps remove harmful bacteria. Creates bile (stored in gallbladder) which breaks down fats. It is the organ that represents vitality and longevity. 2009-10-06T19:53:14+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/willow_light_on_better_portland/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/willow_light_on_better_portland/#When:19:40:22Z Spa Willamina owner and Willamina Modern Apothecary creator Willow Light was invited on Better Portland to demonstrate her homemade sugar scrub! Follow the link to watch the demonstration http://www.kptv.com/video/21185620/index.html 2009-10-06T19:40:22+00:00 http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/sugar_scrub_recipe/ http://spawillamina.com/index.php/spa/spablog/sugar_scrub_recipe/#When:19:37:24Z This body scrub can be made very quickly and it leaves the skin so soft. Ingredients * 1 cup brown sugar * 1 cup raw sugar * 1 cup olive oil * 1 tablespoon coffee grounds * 1 tablespoon vanilla extract * 1 pinch of cinnamon * 1 teaspoon nutmeg Supplies * 8 oz jar with tight fitting lid * Label * Tissue Combine brown sugar, raw sugar, coffee grounds, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Then add olive oil and vanilla extract. Mix well, until all the lumps are out. Place in jar. Wipe clean with tissue. Gently exfoliates the body leaving it soft and renewed. Coffee is a wonderful ingredient used to stimulate the circulation when used topically. Olive oil is packed full of anti-oxidants that protect and rejuvenate while hydrating the skin too. 2009-09-29T19:37:24+00:00