No I’m not actually at the spa. But I sure wish I was. You see, the hubs is coming home today. Yes, he’s been gone for almost a week now. I didn’t say anything cause that might be silly. I mean, to verbally announce I am at home by myself. Ya know? LOL.
Anyway, he was in Kona for the Ironman world champs. A few of his athletes were racing and he also needed to catch up with a few sponsors. I so wish I could have gone but I had to stay here and take care of our “Cotter” work. He owes me big. Just kidding. But really, I am so happy he was able to go. That’s our old stompin’ ground and it’s always nice to get back there. Plus watching IRONMAN KONA is like watching the superbowl for triathletes, except it’s an 18 hour day versus a 5hr day.
So, while he was gone, I worked my little booty off. Okay, so it’s not so little anymore but you get my drift. Today I am wiped. I needed a day to do my “thang.” Or at least part of a day to my own “thang.”
Yesterday I decided to pamper myself a wee bit. Now, pampering to me is different than most women. I don’t like to sit around. Yes, crazy cotter here. I like to treat myself to 2 kombuchas (exciting, I know), do a little retail shopping at Old Navy or Target, and maybe even take a bath. Whoa! And if I’m really pampering, I’ll wash my hair. LOL! 
Wait, there should be wine in there too. Yes, and drink a glass of my favorite wine with dinner. You betcha!
Pampering to me means just doing whatever I darn well please, no plans. I’m good at that too. It’s pretty….. MARVELOUS!
In fact, I busted open my KLUTCH box from September to help me do just that. Love last month’s theme too. A SPA box! Oh perfecto! I love that each month is a different theme. Keeps me on my toes and I like that I get a care package (that I sent to myself) each month.
I think my favorite thing in this box was the lip gloss and Zenify drink. Delicious!
Another thing I like to do when I get a day to treat myself is actually utilize all my “special” ingredients I have in the pantry. A few weeks ago I purchased some kelp powder. I’ve used it a bit here and there but last night I whipped some up with avocado and served it on side of some eggs and toast. Good stuff! Really, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.
So why Kelp?
I’ll tell you why. It’s one of those nutrients that does more than just nourish. It balances, it restores, it replenishes, it revitalizes. Too much is bad and too little is bad, so always start off in small doses. Use it a tbsp. each day for a week, then back off for a week, repeat. Get it? It’ full of minerals which help the build the immune system and balance the thyroid.
Here’s a little snippet about Kelp.
Kelp has a salty taste and is used by many people in place of salt. It has a high content of natural plant iodine, which is absorbed much more slowly and therefore more safely, than chemical iodine. Iodine is necessary for proper function of the thyroid, which is essential for proper growth, energy, and metabolism.
- Abounds in calcium, chlorine, potassium, magnesium, and other mineral including trace minerals.
- Good for nails and hair loss.
- Regulates the thyroid and pituitary glands (activates all glands of body).
- Helps to regulate body temperature; aids in chronic low body temperature.
- Good for pancreas and adrenals.
- Helps male and females organs, good for prostate.
- Builds cell membrane.
- Aids function of digestive and endocrine systems.
- Helps to prevent growth of tumors.
- Cleanse the body of radiation.
- Acts as an antibiotic; assists the thyroid in releasing iodine into the blood stream when infection is present. Iodine fights infection. Helps prevent disease.
I started using it a while back in order to restore my magnesium which was lost due to digestive problems and malabsorption. Also helps remover toxins from the bowel. These days I use it more for immunity and to fight infection. I think everyone will respond to it differently though.
Here are some ways to use kelp.
- blend in smoothies, yogurt, or in baking.
- mix into rice, noodles, etc..
- I like to mix mine into nut butter sometimes. Kind of like an algae peanut butter or coconut butter.
- stir into oats as a salty fix, then add in honey and banana/raisin. Great for post workout too!
- Toss onto salads or into soups.
Okie Dokie, I’m all “knowledge” out for a Monday. And I must go pick up the hubs from the airport! WOOHOO!!!
How do you pamper yourself these days?
Cheers,
LC
p.s.
two more days till the Healthy Bites winners are picked. Enter the giveaway!
p.p.s
Did you hear Blend Retreat? Oh yes, big news! Go here to find out the location this year!
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I need to try kelp… I like all things fishy LOL! And I want to try the kelp noodles too. Where do you find them? WHole foods? Manis/Pedis is how I pamper myself these days due to lack of time LOL! But that’s usually as girly as I get other than retail therapy which is a NECESSITY HAHA :-D. Well unless I go & get my hair done… which doesn’t happen often! Being a curly girl is much easier… no muss no fuss LOL 😉
yes, whole foods! i have a feeling you will like them. fishy fishy!
I like to spoil myself with internet time. I love the internet. Or new shoes. Or practicing piano or reading. Like the nerd I am. Happy your husband is home! I hate when mine has to travel!!
oh yes, those all sound great! except the piano, i can’t play for the life of me. haha
I received the same spa box, and also love the zenify drink. Tonight I want to try the mud mask!
Great post on Kelp, too. Now I am intrigued by it – pretty amazing health benefits. I take additional magnesium but this seems like another good product to add to my list. Do you actually like it’s taste?
Glad you were able to pamper yourself some! I cannot walk out of Target without spending more than $200! eeek.
The kelp? It’s salty. So I like it in place of sea salt. did you order any more klutch boxes? They are fun!
Sounds like the perfect way to pamper yourself :). Glad your finally getting your hubs home xo
thank you jessie. Yes, it’s good to have him home!
Oh yay. Glad you pampered. How did I figure wine would be involved? Ha ha. Kelp powder???? Interesting….. One more thing I need to get my hands on. ha ha. HUGS!
You know it! Now, go pamper yourself my dear.
I have used kelp but not in ages or consistently. Thank you for the reminder!!! Glad you had a little down time! And huray for hubs coming back. I read that an Aussie from my part of town won the men’s. Such a crazy sport, I didn’t realize how long the events were. Insane!!!
sure did! pete jacobs! he’s unreal!! like most aussie’s.
😉
Kombucha, Kelp, and freshly washed hair?! Why not, right? You’re tooo funny! Cheers to you! I’ve never had kelp powder just daily kelp supplements..ever since the tsunami in Japan.
i like the supplements too. but it’s always nice to eat in real food. Salt fix! ya know? <3
Sounds like the perfect kind of pampering. Who needs a spa? (Well, a spa would be nice!) Since I have two little ones at home, sometimes pampering consists simply of taking a shower. I could stay in there for ever. Going to a yoga class feels like pampering. It’s the little things in life.
oh yes, you moms need a spa day (aka alone time) at least once a day in my opinion. One where you can actually sit and be still too!
booch crazy!! 🙂 if i want to pamper myself i get my nails and toes did- it makes me happy!! and i’m really bad at doing it myself
oh me too. plus i can’t give myself my own foot massage. LOL
Fascinating stats about kelp! I wonder if i’ll be able to find it in Canada…hopefully somewhere!
Exciting about James being in Kona. That was a race!! I was out of town for a wedding and couldn’t tear myself away from the live feed!
Hopefully next year you can go with him to cheer him on while he’s racing!
My favourite way to spoil myself- a long workout with no plans after so I don’t have to rush, and then a massage or steam room after.
oh man, i was glued to the computer while making healthy bites. And then james was sending me updates. He’s raced kona twice and is dying to get back there. Love that race!
Pampering these days means getting my hair cut, painting my nails, and taking a nice long nap =) Perfection!
So glad that your hubs was able to enjoy Kona. I’m ITCHING to race again and start doing tris. If I ever make it to Kona, promise me you will be there =)
Hope you and the hubs are enjoying your Monday night !!
oh my gosh yes! promise promise!!
Two kombuchas? Girrllll how do you do it?! My stomach does somersaults after 1/2 of one, so I can’t imagine what 2 would do to me. Actually, I’d rather not try to picture it…
oh ya, my stomach loves 2 kombuchas! i’m a hardcore BOOCH lover. 😉
I’ve never used kelp! I might have to give it a try now 🙂
oh yes, let me know if you do!
I used to kelp noodles all the time, I need to get me some of this kelp powder! Hopefully it will help with things.
Glad James had a great time! I enjoyed seeing his photos on IG, pretty amazing athletes
And that sounds like how I would pamper too!
i know, he’s was right in the action! He’s done that race twice and is dying to get back. Oh and the kelp, you ladies would love it smoothies and muffins for sure!
Isn’t it funny how we “save” precious ingredients in our cupboard and then forget to use them? At least that’s me. I’m jealous for you that James was in Kona. We were there for our honeymoon during the race. We were training for the NYC marathon and thought we were all badass running during our honeymoon but we felt like such slackers we we realized that the best athletes in the world were there. Our long runs didn’t feel so long anymore. haha.
i know! we love that race since we used to live there. It’s so inspiring! makes a marathon look like a cake walk… which it’s not! LOL!
James has done it twice and is dying to get back to racing!
haha – I’m the same about 2 kombuchas in a day! If I’ve had a really tough day/week at the office, I totally treat myself to 2 kombuchas. other “pampering” is spending $$ on organic berries and buying new lip gloss. I’m pretty lucky that B massages my feet every single night!
totally with the $7, right? And yes, B is quite good to those feet. But again, well deserved. Miss you!
Ha, we are so similar – kombucha, wine, bath = glorious, glorious joy. Love it.
Interesting, never tried kelp powder – will look into it.
I spied the magnesium powder in your little pack – my yoga teacher has just written her PHD thesis on magnesium, and how it IS the “missing link” for a LOT of people, as in the majority of the population is seriously deficient in it. Good stuff, no?
oh i so agree! magnesium is keyy!! I love it. Have you tried CALM yet? it’s on iHerb i think.
I saw some kelp powder in our WF bulk bins, I’ll be grabbing some next time. Sounds like a perfect smoothie mix-in to me and love the benefits! We don’t really do many spa days, but we do try to get a massage a month at Massage Envy. Kirk and I usually book the couples room, which I started doing because I don’t like people to talk to me while I get a massage. “hey, I’m relaxing here!” 😉
bahaha, me too! i like to me silent and enjoy the massage. No talking! too much effort.
2 kombuchas?! You are speaking my love language. 🙂
My idea of pampering myself (other than outside activities liking hiking or going for a run) is to be in my house by myself to just “be”. My husband thinks I’m crazy, but if I can just get him to take the kids and leave the house for a few hours once in a while = heavenly.
oh me too! i love just being home, no plan, just silence.
I am very similar in my indulgences…lol. I actually hate having mani pedis done. Well, I love HAVING them DONE, but getting them? ARgh. Aside from the massages it is entirely uncomfortable for me. Especially the pedi part when I’m up on this throne like chair and they are kneeling at my feets…Also I talk. I like people and I have never gone somewhere where I can click with the person. Language barriers and whatnot.
for my pamper lately?
i buy a NICE peice– well about a pound and three quarters — of one of my favorite fresh caught fish — the kind I have no business affording (cod, sea bass, corvina) and have the store steam it for me which they do for free.
Dinner to go. I admit I tear into it in my car. shrug. one person’s bag of McD’s with super size french fries = my delicious flaky melt in your mouth buttery smooth cod. omg I could eat it with a spoon.
I just wish amazing fish cost the same as a value meal. And yes, I most def eat over a pound in one night. (yikes!)
OM “enough about me” *blush*
sorry. (0:
we speaka da same language. Hunks of FISH? oh yes!
I’m so glad your honey is coming home!! You deserve your spa day girl… You are a go getter! Time to recharge and take care of yourself. I need to get me some kelp! I have a very low body temp!
i thought of you when writing this! you would love kelp for these reasons, yes!
Glad you got to recharge! I would have been sad not to go to Hawaii!!
i was sad, especially since most of our friends were there. but it was nice to get A LOT done here. that i can’t complain about, ya know?
So glad the man is home! Its tough when they’re gone for an extended period of time. My pampering is similar. It usually involves starbucks…maybe a shower without the peanut banging on the shower door the whole time (aka someone watching her while I shower) and a peaceful run with the stroller.
ohhh starbucks, now you are talking! and a shower, yes you (mama) need to be pampered with alone time.
Love those shades hot stuff! You look great! I actually pampered myself on Friday with a mani/pedi and a blowout. GASP that’s a lot for this lady. It was for a date in NYC. I looked amazing, the date on the other hand, not so amazing. Happy Monday! xoxo
i cannot wait to hear details.
oh those two Kombuchas sound wonderful. I just bought two of them as well. took a mental health day off and am trying to nourish myself by relaxing and drinking my probiotics 🙂 so glad james is back today but so nice to have a day to just be for yourself. love me some old navy shopping too!
i think your next mental health day should be spent in austin.
😉
Good thinking on keeping quiet about being home alone–I do the same thing! You never know! And, I ALWAYS ALWAYS learn something from you here! Cheers!
another reason we need to be neighbors. SLUMBER PARTY!
That sounds like my kind of relaxing day – especially if my kids are out of the mix for part of it;)
I started using kelp to support my thyroid, underactive. I also started using spirulina, which I think has a lot of the immune boosting, revitalizing components of kelp – I really do feel great!
Thanks for the tips!!
yes to both! it has such amazing properties. When i had adrenal fatigue, this was a lifesaver for sure.
Kelp powder huh? I’ll look into it. Relax and do what you want with your free time! Two kombuchas is probably enough though, lol 😉
yes, 2 kombucha probably hurt my wallet more than me. LOL
GOOD for you, girl. That’s what I like to hear. Wish I was there to have a glass of Malbec with ya! 😉
Also – LOVE that CALM powder. I buy the full size all the time.
me too! gosh darn it, when is that gonna happen? soon please!
I’ve never used kelp.. but it sounds like good stuff! Pampering is always awesome.. I kind of wish I could get a massage here and there.. that is by far my favorite thing for pampering..
My pampering consists of a casual morning with coffee and blogs, a nice walk, alone time, a good HEALTHY meal, and a good long run. Yay for treating yourself well and double YAY for the hubby wubby coming home!
hubby wubby! hahahaha, i’m so calling him that now!
I have to admit, I get why bloggers don’t let on that their partner is away. But then I think about the bloggers who clearly live alone. They always blog while alone haha.
oh ya, never thought about that!
So smart NOT to announce that actually 😉 haha. Glad he is home though! must have been lonely!! I love a little pampering too! Like a face mask at home, on the couch, watching Chopped. Hehe 😉
this is when i need cable. I miss that show!
i love adding kelp seasoning to eggs!
thats my kind of green eggs and ham, yes? LOL!
I wish I could eat kelp, but things from the ocean make me sick – ironic as I practically grew up in the sea. Always a great feeling when family comes home!
really? Well maybe youre kelped out from living by the ocean, haha.
I don’t really pamper myself, but DAMMIT I could use a massage!!
you deserve one. WHen i pamper my husband, i give him a back massage and make him a steak. LOL! THat’s a man’s pamper.
I like your style, Lindsay!
I have kelp powder at home! I tried it on its own…and yah, not the best of my ideas;)
I’m glad you got to get some pampering in this weekend! You deserve it!
haha, i know. it taste like SEA water by itself. Use it sparingly!
Interesting – I’ve never heard about ways to consume kelp before! Thanks!
let me know if you try it kelsey!
i seriously miss having time to myself. I’ve not lived by myself for almost 3 years, and I miss it sometimes. Or even having an hour to myself without the beef or roommate around … I’d take that.
I like to pamper myself by running a hot bath with some salts, putting on a mask, shutting down the lights and lighting candles, and listening to some tunes.
i think you deserve it too! a weekend to yourself! all calee!
oh i pamper myself with spa time 🙂 getting my eyebrows waxed tomorrow and in 2 wks nate and i are getting pumpkin facials and an hour long massage for our 5 yr anniversary! never heard of kelp powder but i def know that seaweeds are a very great food to rotate into the diet now and then!
pumpkin facials and a massage? Oh man, can we join in? double spa date? LOL
That sounds like my kind of pampering!!! ;D Never tried kelp, but sounds interesting!
we shall pamper together someday friend!
Great kelp info, Lindsay! I’ve tried kelp before and found it to be too “seaweedy” for me. I wish that I could stomach it because it really is so nutritious!
So glad that you’re taking time for YOU. I wish that I could join ya for that wine. <3
oh me to friend! wine buds!
p.s.
have you tried kelp mixed in a little nutritional yeast? i find that helps taste.
I haven’t tried that! Great idea…I’ll have to get on that.
never tried kelp – easy on the tummy? i texted your hubby on saturday and it made him laugh, and then he called and left me a voicemail – he mentioned fruits with umm. crap. stones. fruits with stones bother your tummy so he asked if i had been eating them which was causing my recent GI distress. definitely could be…not feeling too hot these days 🙁 so treating myself to a much needed massage on friday!
I really like the kelp “noodles”, but that’s all I’ve tried. They are expensive, so they are more of a treat food for me. (I’m cheap.)
here’s what i do, combine it with zucchini noodles, GF noodles, or cauliflower rice. Then add a slab of meat on top. hehe.
I will mix kelp into my salad dressing before drizzling it on top of a salad.
I did see Lindsay’s announcement about BLEND. Boy, would I love to go! 🙂
oh salad dressing! great idea michelle!
Way to go taking a pamper day! I could really use one of those. And some more kelp powder! I had some a few months ago and never replenished my stash.
You better be coming to Blend!!!!!!
i know i know, i am saving up for blend. I need to meet ALL Of you! Really!
YAY for hubby coming home today! It is nice to have “you” time though and I like how your spa day rolls 😉
I have never tried kelp, sounds like it would be a great addition to add to my smoothies! Thanks for that info on it!
Love you! <3
i think you’d like kelp with your lovely smoothie concoctions. It so DIVA! hehe. love you
Sounds like a great way to pamper yourself if you ask me. I did some retail therapy and lunch with a girlfriend yesterday. It was perfect. If I’m really going all out, I paint my nails too 😉 Glad you took some time for yourself.
i need you to retail therpay for me. Really!
Kona was AMAZING. I def was thinking about you two this weekend!
Target – you’re so right – it is pampering yourself, lol!
do you miss target? I did when in NZ. ahh, the little things.
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve never heard of Kelp before but I’m sure my body would appreciate some of it! I’d mix into my Oats and/or smoothies 🙂
Your post made me smile. I like to pamper myself with a little workout, some good shopping, a massage or a pedicure (or both!), a nice dinner and a good movie 🙂 Talk about the perfect day!
Happy to hear you pampered yourself silly <3
oh man, i’ll come pamper with you anyday! sounds PERFECT!
You and I played the same game this weekend with not announcing we were home alone. I’m really weird about that too! I hung out with my boys and ate A LOT of fresh roasted pumpkin and kale. I think I was seriously craving some good fall eats! Thanks for the info on kelp! I’m definitely going to check that out! Enjoy your day my friend!
i should have come and stayed with YOU! hehe
thanks for the blend love, my darling! now go wash your hair! 😉
okay fine, i’ll wash it just for you!
Oh I’ve had that wine! I’m such a sucker for a good label, especially from place where we’ve traveled. And of course, being from Texas, anything cowboy themed gets extra happy points! Glad you had a great weekend!
oh yes! the label is the best. But the year of this wine is really where is shines! YUM.
Oooh I’ve never tried kelp before, but I bet it would rock with nut butter. Heck anything with nut butter rocks hahaha
Glad you had a pampering-yourself day! You deserve it my friend!! 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful Monday!
oh you’d like it a lot. It’s a SEA thing. hehe
Agreed! Everything is better with nut butter! I’ll give kelp a try!
oh let me know whatcha think Laura!
Brace yourself 🙂 I’m considering paying for a pedicure this week!!
I never do. It be time 🙂
And I’m so with you on the traveling hubby thing. It makes ME nervous when I see bloggers etc announce on social media they’re home alone :/
well deserved friend. Maybe after that tatoo?