An evening at the spa...

The kids are back to school and chofesh gadol is over. The crazy juggle of what to do with the kids, who is with the kids, picking up school supplies, shopping for new clothes... all that finally is over and we are back to our (still busy) routine!

It's really important to take some time now to recharge. The last month was crazy and some of you (and me!) felt like there was never a quiet moment to think or to relax. I'm sure many of us moms (and some dads too!) were found asleep in our kids' beds at 8pm!

Personally, I'm a big fan of spa treatments. Before I had kids, I loved getting facials, pedicures and manicures. But nowadays 24 hours just doesn't seem like enough time in the day to accomplish everything i need to to so taking off a day to go relax doesn't seem like a good use of my time. It's also pretty pricy. And then going in the evening, well, aren't we all just too tired after the kids' bedtime routine?

I started spending one night per week giving myself an "at-home" spa treatment. It's so relaxing to not have to leave my home, not worrying about the expense, and still feeling pampered. There are so many great all natural treatments you can make yourself for a DIY spa night.

My favorite, super easy recipe for a moisturizing face mask is just blending 1/2 a ripe avocado, 1/2 a ripe banana, and 1 tbsp of olive oil. For Israel, where the sun is strong and my skin gets so dry, this is a really simple DIY facemask that replenishes the moisture. For oily skin, you can make a simple mask of 1/2 a cup (cooled) cooked oatmeal, egg yolk and a teaspoon of tumeric. For more mask DIY mask ideas see this awesome article from Allure Magazine. There is no reason to spend a lot of money on expensive products, when you can make your own.

If DIY isn't for you- because, let's face it, some DIY stuff can be messy!- there are so many great products to try that feel indulgent in the comfort of your own home. I've tried so many, but my favorites are always the handcrafted and all natural Etz Adin products. Allyson Marvin makes an amazing sugar scrub, and if your feet need a little extra bounce in their step, the peppermint foot cream is like a pedicure in a jar. Its made with real peppermint and that with a little nail polish makes my feet look like they've just had a pedicure. I call that my miracle foot cream. For face masks, my favorite store bought ones are Alba Botanica Pineapple Enzyme Mask to rejuvinate dry skin or Origins Out of Trouble mask for purifying clogged pores.

Don't worry about needing so much time. What I love about DIY spa night is that you can get your face mask on, put your foot cream and socks on, feel relaxed on your own couch while enjoying your favorite tea or a glass of wine. I mean, seriously, after a long crazy summer, does anything sound better?