Relax at Home...Sleep Better

I am always preaching about relaxing and rejuvenating at home. With the economic road so bumpy, it is more important than ever to take time to create a spa experience at home. Whether that is lighting soy candles for eco-friendly light and comfort, or taking a hot soak before bed for a better nights sleep.

We are not immune to stress at home ourselves. With basically two new businesses still finding its legs, there are still some stressful days and evenings.

A couple of weeks ago my husband was very stressed and feeling down in the dumps. It was a Friday night and he was tired from a long week and stressed. I got out my soy candles and put them around the family room, lit them, and turned out the lights. You could almost feel the stress leave my husband in a Whoosh. Within 15 minutes, the aromatherapy scent was filling the room and my husband was much more relaxed and feeling happier.

Last night I wanted to test a new natural fragrance in our bath salts I am contemplating and thought I would treat myself to a hot soak. While the tub was filling, I got my book and a fluffy bath towel, washed my face, and then got into the tub. I've written in previous posts about how water temperature heals and how water therapy has been used for centuries. Ever hear of the saying "taking the waters". I felt so wonderful after my soak. My skin was super soft and my muscles were much more relaxed. I lathered on some lotion I made and got into my bath robe.

The most important area I want to emphasize is that I slept like a baby. For the 20 minutes I spent in the tub, it translated to 8 hours of blissful sleep. Today I heard on the news that more prescriptions for sleep were written in 2008 than ever before. Take a hot soak..its almost free....I would rather see people addicted to hot soaks than to pills.

The moral of all this....you need to find ways to create an environment of peace and tranquility at home, and treat your body to the healing waters in your tub or shower in these extreme times of uncertainty and stress.


Anne Keefe

If I were a flower.........

This is fun, just let your imagination flow. If you were a flower, what type of flower would you be and why? Having trouble picking one, write more than just one.....

I'll go first............

If I were a flower, I would be a red rose because they are soft and pretty and smell amazing. I had red roses in my wedding bouquet,and remember the day when Michael sent me dozens and dozens of roses before he moved in. That is why I made some bath products with the fresh scent of red roses.


Okay, now your turn...........

What is Gotu Kola and Why Is It In My Shower Gel?

I get asked this question alot because Gotu Kola is not a ingredient you see often. Gotu Kola has been used as a medicinal herb in China, India and Indonesia. It is a perennial plant native to Japan, China, and India.


In ancient China, Gotu Kola was the principle ingredient in a famous elixir called Fo Ti Tieng, a brew that had an astounding reputation as “Fountain of Youth”. Gotu Kola works specifically to stimulate the production of collagen in the skin, as well as the manufacture of new skin cells. This translates into beautiful, renewed, supple skin.


Gotu Kola greatly enhances the integrity and vascularization of connective tisue and skin, hastens wound healing, improves elasticity and rejuvenates blood vessels for improved circulation to the skin. It is also the first ingredient in our organic shower gels. Need I say more?

49 million people can't sleep!

I was stunned to find out that doctors wrote prescriptions to 49 million people last year who complained that they couldn't sleep. That is 1 out of every 7 people with a sleep disorder.

Whether it is stress from work, home, finances, or whatever else is bothering you, lets look at some more natural ways to improve your sleep:

1. Avoid caffeine, especially in the afternoon. Get your decaf on at Starbucks instead!

2. Do not work out 2 hours before going to bed

3. Avoid a heavy meal 2 hours before going to bed

4. Try taking a hot bath using lavender scented products such as our organic sugar, soy & tea bubble bath, lavender bath salts, lavender & vanilla massage oil which can be used as a bath oil and body moisturizer too. While in your bath, imagine being somewhere happy, perhaps Hawaii, or Mexico on a deserted beach with someone you love. Fantasize about something you want to do..............

5. Turn off the TV when you are in bed so you won't be tempted to stay up and watch a TV show

6. Do not check your work email before going to bed. Leave work-related thoughts out of the bedroom.

7. Drink warm milk before bedtime

8. Have Sex!

9. Treat yourself to some really luxurious pillows

10. If you are a light sleeper then you might need to invest in ear plugs or a "white noise" maker


Sleep is necessary to function properly, allowing the brain and body to recover from the day's events. The ideal amount of sleep needed per researchers is between 7-8 hour of sleep every night. The more rested you are the better you will function.

Remember our core message at EclipseSpa...Spa at Home Tonight. Taking a hot bath or shower before bed will make a difference in your sleep.


zzzzzzzzzzz,

Anne