Flowers In All White

Lifestyle Tips For The Busy Moms

Enough cannot be said about the life of a busy mom. She can maintain the balance of her family with work, play, pets and love. Most moms glide easily through the day with the routine coming like clockwork. Others, like myself, need a bit of inspiratiom to get the day going. Meditation,  journaling, a good run and quiet time are just some of the ways we can take care of ourselves. As a member of the Busy Moms Elite, a spontaneous group I just conjured up to boost the morale of all busy mothers, I look for advice and ways to make my days better and my life more enjoyable. Vogue Australia has provided us with some great luxury lifestyle tips that are usable for all of us. It's like maintaining balance in style. Click here for the full story!

Relaxation Resolution

We are now post holidays and off to a fresh start with a new year. All of the shopping and eating have left most of us feeling a bit overwhelmed and in need of a break. Stress is a major factor in many health related issues from heart problems to dementia. We will always have stress in our lives whether it's from work, family or finances but we must learn to cope. Relaxation is healthy and it feels good to let go for a while allowing our bodies and minds to recharge. The benefits are endless but notably lowered blood pressure, better sleep and increased energy are just a few bonuses that relaxation brings.

A good spa visit is worth every penny but we have decided to re-create that experience at home for a money-saving quick fix that produces instant relaxation. 

Tip: Add a bit of lavender oil to your shower or tub to wake up your smell receptors & induce relaxation. Peppermint oil is also a great pick me up. 

A long bath or steamy shower are the ideal plans for your personal spa. If you have your own steam room or sauna that's even better but you are creating your own home spa so nothing fancy necessary. Run the tub a bit warmer than normal or as hot as you can take it. Allow the shower to run really hot for a minute before you get in to have a steamy affect. Give yourself 30 minutes and follow our tips to make relaxation one of your resolutions for a new year. 

The Perfect Tools
A good quality sponge, sensory enticing soaps and a big fresh bath towel are a good place to start. Choosing eco-luxury products, we paid close attention to our sponge selection. The Natural Body Sponge is from a sustainable region in Pompeii and lathers beautifully. We've also chosen a rich conditioner by Eco Store to give our locks a good pampering and much needed conditioning.

Tip: Rinse out your sponge after each use. A monthly soak offers extra cleansing power. Let it completely dry out before the next use.

Set The Tone
Turn up the music, light some candles, burn incense or open the window for a fresh breeze. Changing the space just a bit works wonders on your soul and will allow that mini escape that your mind desperately needs. It is your space so design it how you will best relax and feel comfortable.

Give Yourself Time
Taking these little moments for ourselves is vital to healthy living. Start the year off right by giving back to yourself. 30 minutes is enough time to revitalize a worn out soul and keep you looking forward to creating a weekly ritual out of it. Pass the kids to your partner and turn off your cell phone. This time is for you only.

Other at home Spa treatment options:

Choose white towels for your spa experience. The color is calming and gives a sense of luxury.

Do choose relaxing music or natural sounds.

Have extra time? Catch a nap after you spa. My mother in law used to say we could all use a nap a day at any age.

Drink plenty of water both before and after to cleanse and hydrate. Add a bit of lemon for zing.

Meditation is a good technique to add to your relaxation routine. You can chant, hum or simply enjoy the silence while in a comfortable position. Allow your muscles to let go and just breathe.

Hanmer Springs Offers All-Natural Family Relaxation

Steaming thermal pools with  chilly outside temps & sunshine

Today, we are just back from a quick family getaway with friends to The Thermal Pools & Spa in Hanmer Springs, New Zealand. This is a dream like destination and one of our first such expeditions since the big move. The family and I don’t get to ever really just relax together as our schedules during school terms are hectic and scheduled to the brim. But when our very adventurous and well-travelled friends presented us with the opportunity for fun & relaxation on Wednesday, bags were packed and ready Saturday afternoon. Sometimes the best times our family has had with friends are those events quickly planned. A spontaneous pizza night with family friends or quick afternoon coffee with the girls is the stuff real life is made of and I love it. Off we were to Hanmer Springswhere the thermal pools & spa at this amazingly scenic location offer up the most naturally luxurious experiences that the world has to offer.  Set against the backdrop of the Southern Alps, it is a premiere destination for travelers and locals alike. You can choose one pool to soothe the day away or bounce around to the different pool experiences boasting various temps & plenty of water lounging seat options to create your own spa experience. Today alone I saw people reading, ladies chatting and eyes resting right from the thermal pools proving the choice is yours at this unique, luxury experience.

Relaxing pools & spas

There are thermal pools, spa pools and sulphur pools that the family, friends and I experienced for hours of fun this weekend. The geothermal water provides some of the most natural water play anywhere and we soaked it all up. I have written about the luxurious American spa experience at Red Door Spas (the first day spa in the country) & you can check out my Worlwide Spa Rules: 101 here but the Hanmer Springs experience is all its own as is the case with most international spas. But the universally key goal of fun & relaxation was achieved by all. There are soothing jetted spas and massive play areas with slides for children so everyone is happy and that unto itself is just a relaxing thought. We didn’t make it to the spa for any relaxation treatments as this trip this was one for the family and needed to be kid-centric. But know that plans are presently in the works for a couples weekend.

Family friendly
With clean changing facilities and plenty of lifeguards overseeing the children’s various play areas and lazy river it has the feel of a safe & secure environment that you want with your little ones. On a budget? You really get your bang for your buck here so making the easy & uber scenic  drive for an entire day of fun for under $60 is very nice on the wallet. There is also a garden café on the grounds which we’ve heard offers up premium wines & light lunches to la carte items. We didn’t get to the on-location café this visit but perhaps the next?  You can also enjoy the super convenient location the pools have in the center of the Hanmer Springs Alpine Village with quick walks to posh shops, organic coffee & multitudes of landscape photograph opportunities. We dined across the road and the food was lovely. There is fun for all in Hanmer Springs, NZ and oh yes…we will return.

Sheep seen from the ride up are worth the ride alone especially for the children.

Super convenient

Located just 90 minutes North of Christchurch, you can make it a day trip with your partner, family weekend (like we did), or that much needed getaway with your girlfriends, this truly is the idealistic location for anyone seeking a far away experience just kilometers from the city.

Mountains surrounding the Hurunui Region where the pools & spa are located.

Thank you to J & P for both being spontaneous, adventurous & fun. You are our real friends. This was not the first or last time we all had fun like this but It will probably rank pretty high up there for a long time. Best of luck on wherever the world takes you & whenever we meet up again.

All content expressed in this review and photos are our own and belong to Real Life Salvation & The Salvation Blogs Series. All rights reserved.