amonkie

I've reached the end of my day a little more frazzled than I planned, and have the hugest urge to just relax again. I thought it might be a cool idea to see what everyone else does for those days where you just want to kick back and have some "me" time.

My thing that I love: Heating a huge bowl of water, putting in some bubble bath, and dumping about 30 marbles at the bottom, so I can roll my feet over them while they soak. It feels REALLY good, especially since it gets those really sensitive spots sometimes, and the glass takes in some of the heat.


Anybody else have something they want to add? Kind of a cool place to check in on those days where you just can't afford the trip to the masseuse or the nail salon, yet still want something relaxing.

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

Sweetpea

Since both my jobs are on the physical side . . . my hands and wrists are often sore, esp. after my physical therapy job.

I get out some lotion and massage it into my hand and fingers . . . it feels very thereputic and works out the kinks . . . plus your hands are nice and soft afterwards

Cool topic amonkie! I hope to get some other good ideas from everyone!

Sweetpea

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Gilda

I love a hot bath with bath oil beads, turn the dimmer switch down to about a third brightness, put on some music--Beethoven's 8th is wonderful, or some Hayden--and light up a couple of scented candles, and have a glass or red wine while soaking.

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sillygirl

Honestly... I love a good trip to the gym, then a hot shower, then rubbing lotion into my feet and hands/arms/etc, and just lounging around the house. Doesn't happen very often these days...

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Grancey

What a wonderful idea. I can't wait to try this.

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snowy

I don't have a bathtub so I take a long, hot shower with a cold beer--I exfoliate myself from head to toe, wash and deep-condition my hair, and then shave everything. Before I get out of the shower I scrub my face really well. Once out of the shower I apply lotion from the hips up and baby oil from the hips down, bundle myself in my terry cloth bathrobe and apply a face mask. Then I'll usually give myself a manicure and pedicure.

After all of that I feel clean, refreshed, and very relaxed.

I always listen to music in the shower depending on my mood--Muse's "Origin of Symmetry" is a perennial favorite, the Killers, Sade, Floater...totally depends on how

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sexymama

Great ideas! I can't wait to try a few.

As for me, a mother forever now (almost 20 years) I order out. It is amazing how simply not having to cook dinner can give me time and space I need.

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Squishor

Excellent topic! I love that thing with the marbles, I'll have to get me some.

As for me, well, I'm not sure what I do to pamper myself, except for taking a long bath and paying some attention to my grooming, as people have described already. Then I lie on the bed naked on my towel, pet the cat and stare at the ceiling doing nothing. This will tend to motivate me to get up and feel active again in a little bit.

Grasshopper Green

That marble idea rocks. I'm definitely going to have to try it.

I pretty much do what everyone else does...take a long hot bath, usually with a book, or maybe some music. Or take a nap. A nap is such a rare luxury for me nowadays.

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Supple Cow

For me? All the usual grooming, ordering in, and listening to relaxing music goodness. Being naked helps a lot. Plus I touch myself... () first I rub my neck, shoulders and lower back to release some of the tension, then I stretch my whole body at a leisurely pace. Finally, I park myself in a cozy place (the bed or the futon) and gently play with my boobs. When I'm really stressed, I just sort of hold them and breathe deeply. I'll have to try that marble thing for when I spend too much time on my feet - what a great idea.

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cowgirl02

Wow that sounds really good!!!!

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lurkette

My yoga teacher taught me this one:

Take 2 old tennis balls and duct tape them together so they make a kind of figure-8-shape (put a rubber band around the duct tape between the two balls). Put on some nice relaxing music, turn down the lights, lay on your back on a yoga mat (or just on the floor) and put the balls under your neck so they're centered on your spine, putting a little bit of pressure on either side of the spine. When you've lain there for 3 breaths or so, roll up on the balls till they're a few inches further down your spine and rest there for a few breaths. Keep rolling on the balls and resting on them a few minutes at a time on each new spot till you've basically massaged all the muscles up and down your spine. It feels really good - better than the chiropractor, IMHO.

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ColonelSpecial

This might sound weird but I like to get dressed up; make-up, hair done, jewelry, skirt, cute shoes, etc. I work at a restaurant and have to wear jeans and the uniform shirt everyday. Even if I am just going to see friends for a bit that evening or a meeting, it helps me feel relaxed. When I get home, I take my time with a mini-facial and lotion all over.

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Meditrina

wow. all of these ideas sound great. I will definitely have to try them all. I have yet to find something to do to relieve my stress.

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SparklingDot

I will sit down, away from everything, and do yoga to stretch and relax my body. Even just 20 minutes can do wonders.

I make my own scrub with a little bit of sugar and a little bit of honey. Warm it just slightly (and I mean about 5 seconds) in the microwave and you have a heavenly face mask and body scrub. Leave it on your face for about 10 minutes (it won't dry because honey is so sticky anyways), then add a little water when you're ready to rinse, and scrub gently. Thin the mix with water for a great body scrub. I love how yummy I smell afterward.


Sometimes, just taking the time to make a yummy but indulgent treat is all you need.

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Nancy

I put on some of my favourite albums (all genres really but preferebly classical music or jazz) and listen to 'em on my headphones as I lay in a sunspot on the floor. And I stay there until I've fallen asleep

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cellophanedeity

I sort of have a ritual when I'm stressed.

I'll take a hot shower and use a nice light scented soap. I agree with cowgirl that boobs are strangely comforting, and the shower gives you a good chance to just hold them. Then when I get out of the shower I slather myself in body lotion, then go to sleep as is. It's nice to just take the extra time with myself and wind down.

I also find that wanking and good music helps stress levels every time.

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ShaniFaye

Im more on Gilda's page

Nice hot bath with smell good stuff (usually heather oil or salts scented with heather), a celestial journey cd or celtic cd in the background and my clove candles around the bathtub and a glass (or two depending on the stress level) of white zin and a good trashy romance novel.

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snowy

Another thing I do to destress is this: I grab my old "security blanket" from childhood and nap with it. Having my old blankie around immediately calms me down.

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superredhead

relaxing is rare now a days. once in a while i slice up some limes, lemons, and oranges and place the slices in a pitcher of ice cold water. it tastes great. then i take that with me to a nice hot bath where i spend lots of time grooming. its so nice to spend time on making yourself feel better, and there's nothing like air drying after a hot hot bath!

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icksters

I love sleeping in, waking up around 10:30/11 watching The View, eating breakfast at noon. Then I like to wash my face with one of those "exfoliating scrubs" with the little beads, then ill get in the shower and afterwards, as gross or silly as it may sound I go crazy and pluck all the unsightly unwanted hair (usually when I don't feel like getting my eyebrows waxed). Then I put lotion on all the necessary places and get dressed, by this time my boyfriend has prolly called a few times asking if im ready...hehe, he doesn't understand what it is to be a girl. I only do all that when I have the time tho, usually its just wake up, eat, shower and get dressed.

Wow, sorry if that was really drawn out and long

la petite moi

Since I still live with my family, and share a bathroom/room with my messy sister...the best pampering I get is when no one is home and I can sleep during the day.

However, when I'm with nwlinkvxd and we have alone time (his parents aren't home/my family isn't home), I like having my hair petted or a good back pet.

KinkyKiwi

i like to add some soothing essential oils like lavender or chamomile (or during the summer peppermint) and mix them with a oil like hazelnut or almound (you can make a bottle of it and store it) then pour some in a huge pot of hot water and stick towels in it...mix it so that the towels are wet and steaming..then take them and wrap them around your chest, arms, torso, legs..just all over and let the essential oils sooth and clean your skin..plus it feels amazing sooths your mind and body. lol and your skin feels SO soft after!

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Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

JustJess

One nice thing to add to the shower/bath pampering is these new in-shower moisturizers – they’re like a conditioner for your skin. They smell great and make me feel SO moisturized and soft!!
If I have time for a nap or to sleep in, it’s a seriously spoiled-Jess day. Sometimes, I save up a bit so I can afford a massage – or I beg Quadro… or whoever happens to be in the same room… massages make me feel so much better, so much like a better person. I love them with an almost unholy glee. Speaking of, I think I have a phone call to make…

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KinkyKiwi

lol jess i do that too...i'll randomly demand massages from people..hell i've gone to parties and weasled them out of total strangers

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Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

maleficent

The warming trick should apply to body lotion as well, now that it's getting warmer, nto so much, in the winter, I'd always leave a bottle of hand lotion on the radiator, when I'd use it it would be nice and warm... so much nicer than putting cold lotion on you -- and it would sink in a lot quicker.

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KinkyKiwi

mal, i use one one of those cream warmers..i got it at bed bath and beyond..it was like $12 bucks..lol it works well for lube too

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Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

JustJess

I've done that too!!!! Sometimes strangers are more receptive, really...
I find that cream soaks in a lot better if someone else warms it for you. Seriously... the best nights alone, I light candles, have some wine and takeout - or maybe I cook just for me, exactly what I like - and I read or watch bad tv... and it's perfect and quiet. I love that.

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My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

amonkie

Anybody else have a lip gloss that if they wear, it just makes the day seem better?


Victoria's Secret has Sweet Talk lip gloss that is THICK - but it stays on for a while. Sometimes I'll put some on before I go to bed, and for some reason it relaxes me. It's almost like a mini aromatherapy too, because the gloss is scented.

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

maleficent

Lancome's Juicy Tubes are like that... and aren't really expensive for Lancome - I think it's 12 dollars a tube, it stays on for a while, and it lasts...Still has a really nice one.. that has a built in brush - and comes in great glossy colors.

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