DIY - Body Wrap Spa Treatment

If you're a woman, chances are you've heard of those body wrap spa treatments that are supposed to melt away everything from inches to cellulite. I always thought they were bull until I researched it a little bit. Having need to shed a few inches and improve my skin tone I thought, "What the hell?"

I've got some scars I wouldn't mind fading and three dimples in my left thigh that just "magically" showed up at my last birthday. Ugh. What have I got to lose, right?

So, I reasearched all the common (and not so common) ingredients that might be used in such a wrap and tonight I made my own.

AND I LOST AN INCH IN MY WAIST! In only 45 minutes, I lost an inch!

Here is the recipe I used. Most of this stuff, I already had, like the herbs. I take lots of vitamins and herbs, so I didn't have to buy much:) If you don't see a particular measurement for an ingredient, that's because I didn't measure it. Ha. Ha. Ha.

You'll need:

Ace bandages - the large kind - can be purchased at most any pharmacy and Wal-Mart. As a matter of fact, you can get all this stuff at Wal-Mart.

Exfoliating mit

Plastic wrap

And the following ingredients:

Palmer's Body Oil
Witch Hazel
Sleepytime Tea - 1 individual serving bag
Evening Prim Rose Oil - 1 gel. cap.
Black Cohosh - 1 cap.
Milk Thistle - 1 cap.
Grapeseed Extract - 1 cap.
Cayenne - 3 caps.

2 sheets of seaweed - I found this in the Asian cooking section.

Epsom Salt - 1 cup

Warning: This will soak into your body, if you are allergic to any of the above ingredients, even putting it on your skin could be BAD.

Black Cohosh and Evening Prim Rose Oil can interfere with the effectiveness of some forms of birth control as these are for balancing hormone levels and regulating menstrual cycles. If you are taking the pill or shot or using anything that has to work by being in your system constantly, DO NOT use the Black Cohosh or Evening Prim Rose Oil. You can still do the wrap, but leave that part out.

For those with varicose veins: Grapeseed Extract is great for veins! You can put extra of this if you like and wrap your legs with it:)

Also, don't forget to sip some water or green tea both before and after as this will dehydrate you slightly.

Now, on to the wrap:

I mixed all the ingredients EXCEPT THE SEAWEED and let it come to a boil. If it's in a capsule, break it open and pour the ingredients into the mixture. If it's a gel cap, just let it melt. Oh, and don't forget to add about a cup of water.

Once everything boils, let it cool just a little. Only enough that it doesn't burn your skin. Now, you can do this part however you like, but this is what I did. I put some potholders on my bathroom counter and moved the still hot pot in there. Then, I dunked my bandages and let them soak for about 3 minutes.

While your bandages are soaking, use the exfoliating mit to gently buff the area where you're about to put the wrap.

Next, (of course you should be naked for this, if someone helps you with it, you can wear underwear, it will soak through) I held the 2 sheets of seaweed (still dry) over what I consider to be the worst looking areas of my stomach while my husband started to wrap the warm bandages around me. I only did my midsection from lower hips to just underneath my breasts. If you're only going to do a small area like this, one bandage might be enough.

Next, we wrapped this area with plastic wrap to hold in the warmth. I followed this with a beach towel and a thick bathrobe. Then, I piled up on the couch (underneath 2 blankets because you're supposed to stay warm) and watched about 45 minutes of Blazing Saddles. (This part is optional. LOL)

Thanks to the cayenne, after about 20 minutes or so you will start to notice a warming sensation. It doesn't burn and if you aren't allergic to peppers, it should not harm your skin in any way. It will eventually get hot enough to feel like you're wrapped in an electric blanket. Also, after I showered, my skin continued to feel warm in this area for about 3 hours. This is normal. Cayenne is commonly used to speed the metabolism (with continued use) and my hope is that it sped up the metabolism in this area.

Once you're done, just wrinse in the shower and apply some good lotion. Something with collegen elastin is preffered:)

Oh, and don't forget to measure before and after!

Farewell Macho Man

Many of you may have already heard the news, “Macho Man” Randy Savage is dead. His life was claimed by a car accident early this morning in Tampa, Florida. Reports say he suffered a heart attack behind the wheel; he was only 58 years old. I for one, will miss him. Even though I haven’t watched wrestling in years, some of my best memories as a kid are from watching him. Me and my dad (much to my mother’s dislike Ha Ha) would get in front of the TV and watch wrestling every week. I loved Macho Man’s bright outfits and to this day cannot hear someone say “Oh, Yeah!” without thinking of him.

Yes, I know there was much more to him than this. He was a real man with a real life. But what he represents to me is good memories of time spent with my dad, and funny impersonations by my older cousins. My point is … his performances mattered. And thanks to him I have some great memories to look back on.

I offer my sincere condolences to his friends and family. Please don’t think of this post as irreverent. I’m remembering him for doing what he loved. Isn’t that what most people would want after they pass on?

Hallmark should expand their business

Warning: You will find much sarcasm (and possibly hostility) in the post ahead. No names or specific incidences will be mentioned, but I do let go just a little with how I feel. If sarcasm offends you, turn back now.


I was just sitting here, repainting my toenails and trying to collect my thoughts for my current work in progress. I finally have a moment (or two) of silence to reflect and realized that I am still irritated by something that happened last week.

This incident, which I'm not going to gossip about made me realize that there simply are no words to say (not politely anyway) some things that you may need to at some point say to friends or acquaintances.

If Hallmark could find a sweet, mushy way to say these things, they would certainly get my business.

Let me give you some examples. "I'd rather you not come over any more because you're loud, rude, and obnoxious. You make me nervous and you give my dog diarrhea." LOL See what I mean?

Or how about ... "We don't hang out because you're a drunk and have no desire to change." Could also be worked in with, "I don't like to hang out in bars, but I wish you well."

Or ... "Just because our husbands are friends doesn't mean I want to be yours, but I wish you all the best." That one may sound a bit harsh, but trust me on this one. The person I'm referencing should probably be in a mental institute. Every time our husbands do something together I get put in a very awkward position.

Last but not least, why don't they make a card that says, "It's not you, it's your kid." This one is probably the most irritating. I don't think there is anything more rude than to bring your child to someone's house and let them tear the place apart. Especially like in my case where I am a very nervous person to begin with. How inconsiderate. There is someone that I actually liked very much, but haven't seen in years because she refused to discipline her child. It really is a pet peeve of mine. If anything, I expect my child to behave better at someone else's house just out of respect for those I care about. I would never go to someone's home and expect them to just deal with an out of control kid. I could go on about this, but I won't.

Like I said, sarcasm. (And that darned hostility that is provoked with these subjects.) The point is (besides me needing to vent) if you have loved ones that you visit, please don't treat them like this. If you do, you might put them in an awkward position like me ... not knowing what to say or how to say it and knowing that none of them will read this and just get the point.

Guest Blogger - Wynter Daniels

My Writing Buds

When I left my day job five years ago to pursue my dream of writing romance, I never realized that I was taking two special friends on the journey with me. Not only have they been at my side (or at least, at my feet) every step of the way, but they’ve commiserated with me when I stumbled and celebrated with me when I achieved.

Tinker is the female and she’s reminded me that even when my heroines must kick some butt, they still have a feminine side. She’ll hunt down a lizard then take up a dainty position on the rug. Check out her ladylike pose.

And just like most of my heroines, she often finds herself in a jam. As evidence, see the next photo.

Bloo, my other companion, can be domineering and bullish, but he has his sensitive side. Just look at him exposing his soft underbelly!

In fact, he shows that feminine side a lot. His favorite toy is a pink beanie baby bear that he carries all through the house then wrestles with. And check out his bed.

Okay, so maybe he wants me to write M/M romances, but I’m resisting. He’s very different from Tinker. He is a purebred Russian Blue and we suspect he was abused or at least neglected before we adopted him from a pet rescue association. He was three or four years old and no one could tell us exactly what he’d been through. He’s lived with us for six years and he spent the first two years learning to trust us.

Tinker, on the other hand, also came to us by way of a pet rescue person, but the difference was she was born there. She was still a kitten when we got her and she’d been cared for from birth. I must admit, in the ten years she’s been with us, she’s been a totally pampered puss.

My two cats come from completely different worlds, but they now live together in relative peace. Will and Megan, the hero and heroine from Protective Custody also come different worlds. Will’s family is wealthy, the country club set. Megan was raised by her working class grandmother after her father ran out on her and her mother died. Will they get their happy ever after? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

Do you have a special pet or pets that help you do your job in some way?
Thanks so much to Tracey for having me here today!

Protective Custody – Available from Carina Press
Witness to a murder, but no one will believe her…

Shocked by the brutal crime she witnesses through the window of her small office, Megan Jackson calls the police and is devastated when they question the truth of her story. With no body and no evidence of a crime, she’s written off as a nutcase.

Megan suspects the killer saw her face. Terrified, she calls the only person she can trust—her ex-boyfriend and former police officer, Will McCoy.

Despite a devastating breakup, Will jumps at the chance to help the woman who broke his heart. When the killer ramps up the stakes, Will is forced to take her into hiding—where the passion they once shared reignites, deeper and hotter than ever. But can Will keep Megan alive long enough to win back her heart?

Wynter Daniels lives in Central Florida with her husband of more than twenty years and their two nearly grown children. They are all the slaves of two very demanding cats. After careers in marketing and the salon industry, Wynter’s wicked prose begged to be set free. She writes for several publishers including Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave, Loose Id and Red Sage.

Join her Facebook fan page HERE and her Yahoo! Group HERE. She loves to hear from readers, but only if it’s good.

Find Wynter on the web at http://www.wynterdaniels.com/

Visit her blog at http://wynterdaniels.blogspot.com/

Text Copyright © 2011 by Wynter Daniels
Cover Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.