How-To with Massage Stones

1) Clean the stones with salt water making sure they are clean and free of any foreign objects.

2) Put stones in a pot using very hot tap water for quick usage.

3) The temperature of the stones should never exceed 125 degrees F. Generally if you can handle them comfortably then they are okay to use. Always ask if the temperature is OK. Also check the stones periodically to make sure nothing is getting burned.

4) First diaper drape both legs with a sheet. Make sure the subject is face down and place (1) stone on the upper left leg, (1) middle of hamstrings, (1) on the back of the knee, and also a small stone on the center of the calf. (Just do this to one leg for now)

5) Perform any regular massage techniques on the right leg and then use one of the largest stones to glide up the muscles of the leg toward the heart. Then place stones on right leg and remove the stones from the left leg and perform massage and gliding with a large stone. When finished remove all of the stones and cover the legs. Then drape for the lower back and make a small pile of hot stones on the lower back to warm the muscles while working on the left leg.

6) Then drape for glute work on the buttocks and follow with some massage strokes with a hot stone. The hot stones feel great when applied to both sides of the sacrum. Next cover the buttocks.

7) Drape for working on the back. Place stones on and around the shoulders and traps and (1) on the back of the neck. Remove stones from lower back and perform massage and follow with stone gliding. Each stone has a unique feel and can be used as a massage tool.

8) Remove stones from upper back and neck and perform massage following with stone gliding movements. Then cover the subject and pin one side of the sheet with your body and hold the other side up while the subject turns over face up.

9) Drape for both legs and place stones on the upper, mid, and low thigh of both legs. Place the small or thin stones between the toes of both feet. Let the muscles warm and go to the arms.

10) It is difficult to place stones on the arms so just do regular massage on them and follow with some stone gliding. When finished with the armsplace stones on pectoral muscles and lay a towel across them to help keep them from falling off.

11) Remove stones from left leg and do massage and then remove stones from toes on left foot. Massage foot and follow up with stone gliding on entire leg and bottom of foot. Cover left leg and repeat method on right leg.

12) If you do abdominal massage you may want to use the stones for gliding. Remember all abdominal work needs to be done in a clockwise manner as to go with the intestinal tract.

13) Remove stones from pectoral muscles and perform massage followed with stone gliding. (You can also place a stone on the forehead while doing the pectoral muscles) Then use a stone for neck work.

14) Finish your massage with the scalp and face. Using cooler warn stones on the face or scalp since it can be a sensitive area.

French Manicure Instructions Guide to the Right Design and Polish for a Natural Look Without Paying Big $$$

The French manicure is often considered the most elegant thing you can do with your fingernails, since it combines perfect polish with a natural look that looks smooth and classy. If you're going for a job interview or just want perfect hands to show off a new ring, the French manicure is ideal. The French manicure can easily be done at home, with some patience and the right tools.

Tips for Beginning any Salon Quality Manicure at Home

Any manicure starts with scrubbing your hands, filing your nails and caring for your cuticles. Use a diamond file instead of the cheaper metal ones: it's about a dollar more expensive, but it files much quicker and smoother. For a classic French manicure, your nails shouldn't be dragon-lady long, but should have a smooth, oval shape that's slightly elongated to make the most of the white nail tips. You're going to need:

Instruction Guide to a French Manicure

A base coat in a subtle, neutral color like pale peach, nearly-not-there pink, or beige. The contrast comes with the white nail tips, which point up the hint of color in the base coat.

1. White polish for the tips.
2. Nail tip guide strips
3. A clear top coat.

After filing your nails and tending to your cuticles by softening them and pushing them back away from the half-moons, paint your entire nail with the base coat color and let it dry. If you have chronic problems with getting the nails on your second hand painted cleanly, you may want to start by putting a little petroleum jelly on the skin of your fingers around the nail. The petroleum jelly keeps the polish from sticking to your skin if you should slip up while painting, making for easy clean-up and a neater look overall.

Using French Manicure Stencil or Template Products

Once the base coat of polish is completely dry—never try to rush this step—put the nail tip guides on your fingernails. Apply the strip guide to the area where your actual finger ends. The white tip of your nail shouldn't comprise more than 20% of the overall fingernail when you're done. Make sure to place the guide strips on each finger so that the tips of your nails are the same length for each.

Once the guides are in place, you can brush white polish onto your fingernails. This is a time for especial care, so that you stay with the guides and get no white polish on the lower part of the nail. Don't remove the guides until the white polish is completely dry, or you'll ruin the tips.

Once the white tips are dry, remove the guides. If they leave any sticky residue behind, use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to take it off. Don't forget and use nail polish remover or you'll ruin your whole manicure!

Professional Salon Finish to Any Mani or Pedi

Finish your French manicure by painting the entire nail with the clear top coat of polish. This does two things: it helps your manicure stay fresh longer by protecting it, and it gives a shiny and unified gloss to each nail.
You can buy a manicure in a kit, great for the new DIY nail maven, because they come with designs, color options, style ideas, instructions and all the products you need for a manicure or pedicure. You can try the new manicure polish pen, buy fun stencils and templates or go for a natural look with a brand like Sephora, Opi or Sally Hansen. For professional looking fingers and toes, you don't need a history of salon work: you can get everything you need online or from your local drugstore. And for a quick version of the French look, you can buy a nail whitening pencil. Slide it under the edge of your nail to white the tip, et viola—instant (not as elegant, but very nice) manicure!

How To Make Scented Bath Powder

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
1/4 teaspoon oil or a few drops of your favorite fragrance


Mix the cornstarch and arrowroot powder in a bowl. Add the oil stir
until well mixed. Sift the powder through a sifter until it's lump free.
Store the powder in a box or covered tin.

How To Make A Dream Pillow

8 parts dried mugwort leaves
4 parts dried rose petals
4 parts dried mint leaves
1 part whole cloves


Combine all ingredients and tie into a cloth bundle or use to stuff a small pillow or sachet.

Place the dream pillow where you can smell it while you sleep. This is said to promote vivid dreams and clear recall.

Make your own essential oils

Health food stores and specialty supermarkets carry essential oil in
small vials. When buying essential oil, it is prudent to check to see
if what you have in your hand is pure essential oil and not one that
is diluted. Sometimes it is hard to find the essential oil you want
and have to special order it. Essential oil is a little pricey to
begin with and if you have to special order it, the price goes even
higher. Essential oils are always mixed with carriers which are oils
that are mild and have no scent. This is because using essential oil
at full strength can irritate your skin.

Making your own essential oil at home is not hard, just have to have
some patience. You can use any herb or flowers to make essential
oils, it just depends on your preference. Let' say for the purpose of
this project, you want to make mint essential oil. ( If you are using
flowers, do not use petals that have been sprayed with pesticides,
i.e., flowers from florists.)

What you need:

Organically grown mint
A clean jar with a lid
Carrier oil: Sweet almond, jojoba, safflower (pick one)

The amount of mint you need will depend on the size of your clean
jar. You will need a fresh batch of leaves everyday for the next
week.

1. Crush the mint leaves with your hands and pack them loosely into
the jar.

2. Pour the oil into the jar and fill it to cover the leaves. Cover
tightly and set aside in a warm place.

3. Next day, strain the oil off the leaves and crush a new batch of
leaves. Pack into the same jar with the strained oil. Top off with
new oil, close the jar and set aside in a warm place for a day.

4. Repeat step three for the next five days.

On the last day, pour into smaller bottles and label them carefully
and refrigerate to extend its shelf life. You can make your own
perfume by adding about 15 drops of essential oil into a half ounce
of Vodka or Everclear. Another thing you can do is to add 30 drops
of essential oil to 8 ounces of your body lotion (unscented).