If you’re ready to make some changes to your bathroom, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some top tips on creating a spa-like bathroom in your own home.

Neutral and Natural Colors

When you enter your bathroom to relax, the last thing you need is to be greeted by bright and bold colors. Stick to white, beige, cream, and similar colors. They will naturally relax your brain, rather than stimulate it.

There are many options for these colors with natural materials too. For instance, you’ll find them in tiles, natural stones, and wood. Add a few plants to your decor and your bathroom suddenly becomes part of nature.

Stand Alone Bath

It only takes a glance at a stand alone bathtub to understand why it says luxury. Stand alone tubs are an integral part of modern spa design, easily adding a touch of class to any bathroom. If you want to change your current layout to a stand alone tub, you’ll need the help of a plumber.  

You may need some underfloor work done in your bathroom to get the tub that you want fitted. It can also help if you have a private view out of your bathroom window to take in some scenery while you use your new tub.

Heated Floors

There’s nothing quite like getting out of a shower or bath and stepping onto heated floors. They’re especially wonderful on a cold day. Heated floors work well in a bathroom not only because they can help you to feel cozy but it’s also the room you’re most likely to always have bare feet in.

It can take time to install a heated floor but bathrooms are often quicker than any other rooms in the home because they’re smaller.

Soft Towels and Rugs

If you’re going to create a spa-like retreat in your own home, the last thing you want is towels that feel like cardboard. Make sure you stockpile thick, soft towels to keep on hand in your bathroom. It can also make a huge difference to use soft rugs across big floor space.

This is a great way to keep heat in the room but it’s also heavenly to feel a soft rug beneath your feet when you want to unwind.

Declutter

It can be difficult to relax in a cluttered room. If your bathroom is full of products, kids toys, and more, you may need to find some storage solutions. Keeping all of the clutter out of sight in storage drawers could transform the room and allow it to feel like a haven instead of another dump site.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, take a look at the others.

The post How To Create a Spa-Like Bathroom appeared first on InstantELLA.

The teen years can be a challenge, from the physical & personality changes, to the onset of the know-it-all attitude, to the outright age of rebellion. I can’t say I’m prepared for it all or if my teen’s going to go through it all. What I am prepared for is celebrating these years & what better way to start than a few fun Birthday Celebration ideas to ring in the Teenage years!

Video-Game Party or Arcade night

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Like it or not, exposure to the advances in technology & the competitiveness of gaming industry, has somewhat ensured that by age 13, most kids these days are into gaming. While I myself am not particularly comfortable with the idea of encouraging videogaming among teens, I can let down my guard for a day if it means contributing to a memorable birthday experience for my child. The best part is that you can’t really go wrong with this idea because most kids will welcome it.

My husband is a web developer, designer & gamer. My kids, have obviously taken after if with their gaming addiction. He owns most gaming systems from the traditional Atari & NES to the Dreamcast & N64 to the most recent  X-box & PlayStation and we have them at home with all the hook ups, controls & a library of physical and digital games – the perfect set up to have a Video-Game Party right at home. But if you can’t host your own party at home, an outdoor Gaming Arcade or Gaming Museum could be an alternative, albeit more costly.

Going to a Sports Event

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My boys play soccer and last year, they participated in an all-day Futsal tournament hosted locally by the YMCA in our town. That happened to be on the day of my son’s birthday. We made it up to him later by celebrating in the week, but he surprised us by saying he didn’t feel like he missed out on his birthday because he had so much fun, with his team & friends at the tournament.

Family sports entertainment is trending these days. So, if you’re running out of traditional party ideas, maybe try this one. Buy tickets and plan your party at a sports event – a basketball, volleyball or football game – locally or out of town. The possibilities are endless. If you go with the out of town idea, you get to enjoy a road trip too. Plus think of all the down time you get having to do nothing at the game except cheer on your kid and his favorite team at the game

A day at the Spa

This would be a good mother-daughter activity to ring in her 13^th Birthday. Invite her girlfriends & cousins over & make it a day of pampering & relaxation. Include Nail painting, face scrubs & relaxing baths for starters and then let you imagination & creativity run wild. If you’re the DIY kind & would like to host this at home, the advantage is you’ll have more flexibility & privacy. But if you’re feeling generous or want to take it up a notch, book a Weekend Getaway Spa experience instead. The upside is you won’t have to lift a finger and it’ll be a stress-free experience. Whatever you decide though, your 13-year-old will appreciate you for it and it may end up being the beginning of several mother – daughter mani-pedi dates

Craft Party Workshop

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If your child is the creative sort that loves to get their hands dirty, a craft party may be your solution to creating a distinctive and exciting experience for their birthday. You can plan this at home if you have the time & arrange for supplies but there are also professional & dedicated vendor services that offer craft workshops who will take care of the whole shebang for you.  From decorating cupcakes , paper art & fabric fun, this is an opportunity to watch your child get creative. As a child and well into my adult years, I’ve always had fun with art & this would create a cherished memory for your teen too!

Weekend Road-Trip – Camping & Sightseeing Adventure

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Who doesn’t love this one? A road-trip is fun at all ages It’s an excellent opportunity for the whole family to get involved. To avoid disappointment, start panning ahead – take suggestions from all family members, giving extra weightage to the birthday boy or gal’s suggestion.  While the road trip itself will be the main experience, It’s not all about the destination; it’s about the journey. Get creative by including sight visits along the way, stopping by your favorite out of the way restaurant & even including a hike or camping trip. The sky’s the limit, just load you travel gear, pack some snacks, hop in the car, prepare a great playlist, and hit the open road.

Celebrate at a Theme Restaurant

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Dinner out with kids can be a nightmare – they can never get their orders straight, neither can they sit still, asking to be excused to use the restrooms just as dinner’s being served, there’s always a problem with the meal, someone throw’s a fit even at the mention of ‘veggies’ and before you know it you’re asking for the check and haven’t even got through your meal.

Themed Restaurants and Family-Friendly Interactive Dining will assuredly solve most of these problems, by keeping the kids entertained well past dessert and have you feeling like a kid again. While Chuck E. Cheese & Funquest have been traditional options,  there are multiple locations all over the country , especially in New York & Chicago, offering breakfast at an amusement park on a Ferris wheel, miniature golf, watching medieval knights jousting & building your own LEGO figures. The Lemon Tree Kids & Family Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA has mini-train, face painting, and ball pit – he makings of the best party ever!

Every kid should experience this at least once – a birthday celebration is a great opportunity! Such Restaurants have varied themes to choose from- Robots, Medieval Times, Aquariums & jungles, Outer-space & Sci-fi & Old Western Salons & Taverns – but all offering a crazy fun good time while you eat your meal & celebrate your birthday!

Movie Night, Snack Contest & Pajama Party

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I read that aloud to myself & almost want to be a kid again – it sounds like pure fun & literally personifies the phrase ‘going to have fun till the sun goes down’. Lol

My younger son went to his first sleepover at a friend’s recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. They watched movies, ate pizza, played basketball & helped make breakfast the next morning.

Since this a birthday, you can make it exciting by having a movie marathon. Ask the kids in advance if they have any preferences or look up some fun movie ideas for kids yourself. When the kids start getting hungry, introduce a snack contest. Most kids – boys and girls alike – just love getting their hands dirty in the kitchen. The snacks don’t have to be elaborate. There are several fun, easy & healthy snacks that teens can make on their own with minimal supervision.

If the party is going to be indoors, then crafts, board-games, reading time & hide-n-seek are great indoor entertainment options to fill up the evening.  Finally end it all with a pajama party and pancake breakfast the next day!

To sum up….

It should be noted that you may have the best intentions when it comes to celebrating your teen’s birthday but it may be wise to give a thought to the planning process as well. My advice is to brainstorm some of these ideas with friends & certainly run them by your immediate family. Decide if you are going to party at home or elsewhere. Finally, pick a theme or activity, choose a date & make a few calls to check on availability.

If you’re reading this and researching ideas, you’re already doing an awesome job as a parent & on your way to having the best 13th Birthday party ever!

The post 13 going on 30: Fun Birthday Celebration Ideas to Ring in the Teenage Years! appeared first on InstantELLA.

But sometimes, we take advantage of our body and don’t treat it with the right care, whether that’s rest, a session with a Massage Therapist Near Me, or a combination of a few different things. We keep pushing it to carry out tasks for us without checking in to see how it’s doing. There are a few specific body parts that we use daily and need to pay a little more attention to the signs that they give.

Feet

5 Important Things Your Feet Are Trying to Tell You about Your Body

How often do you use your feet? Even if you aren’t a marathon runner, your feet still do a lot of work for you. Carrying you to and from work, around your house, to walk the dog, to chauffeur kids around, you get the picture. So, how much do you really pay them any attention?

Foot care is so incredibly important if you want to keep doing these daily tasks. So, here are some things that you can do to care for you feet:

• Wash and dry them. (Drying them is especially important for preventing fungal growth.)
• Massage them.
• Pay attention to aches and pains, and take a break.
• Wear comfortable, non-restrictive footwear.
• Trim your toenails.
• Let your feet breathe. Take your shoes and socks off for a little time every day.
• If there are any abnormalities like lasting blemishes, aching joints, or other problems with your feet, go see a podiatrist.

Hands

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We probably do as much or more with our hands than we do with our feet. Whether you do manual labor, type on a computer all day, take care of children, etc., your hands are the ones doing a lot of the work. So, what do you do to care for your hands?

Here are some things you can do to make sure your hands get the attention they need:

• Wash your hands. This is for your hands, but also for the benefit of your entire body and keeping germs away.
• Protect your hands. Use the right kind of gloves when doing yard work or exercising.
• Massage them and moisturize them.
• Pay attention to aches and pains, and again, take a break.
• Trim your fingernails regularly.

Back

7 Ways to Pamper Yourself This Holiday Season

Your back is part of your core, without that, you aren’t going to be able to do much. So, here’s that question again – what are you doing to care for your back?

Back pain and problems with the back can be debilitating and can keep you from doing the things that you enjoy or even the basic tasks you need to accomplish each day.

Here are some ways you can give your back a little extra care:

• Get a massage. (Seeing common theme here?)
• Take a bath.
• Avoid lifting heavy things (or know your limits at least).
• Use correct posture when exercising.
• Pay attention to aches and pains, and take a break.
• Get a good bed and pillow.
• Stretch daily.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

Do what you can to give your body the extra care that it needs. After all, it does so much for you, so make sure you take a little time to give back.

The post 3 Parts of Your Body That Need More Care appeared first on InstantELLA.

The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most hectic and stressful time of year for many.

It can require many trips to the mall, lots of driving, working overtime before the holidays, and also dealing with a lot of family members and friends.

It can leave you a bit frazzled and tired, and make you wonder if you are going to make it through it ok and have the energy to start of the New Year on a good foot.

Something that you can do to make sure you don’t turn into the Grinch this holiday season is to give a little time back to yourself and find some time to relax and rejuvenate.

Here are seven ways to pamper yourself this holiday season so that you are feeling your best and everyone is getting a well-rested and well-cared version of you.

Take a nice long bubble bath

If it seems like your schedule is jam-packed but you know that you need just some time to yourself a bubble bath is a great way to do that while still being able to fit everything else in.

The nice thing about a bubble bath is you can do it at home anytime you have time, especially in the evening when all the kids have finally gone to sleep.

Throw in a couple of bath bombs, light a few candles, and allow yourself to relax into the warm bubbles.

Get a manicure and pedicure

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Just like getting your hair done, getting a mani and pedi feels luxurious while not necessarily being so.

Take a couple gal pals with you as well who may need a break from their hectic lives as well.

Just make sure if you are diabetic to ask your foot doctor if it’s ok to have a pedicure done to make sure you don’t get any kind of harmful infection.

Get a massage

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This is one you can do alone or with your significant other, in fact, it could be a special Christmas gift for you and them as well. Booking yourselves in for a swedish massage in St Louis Park, MN or another more relevant area can be a great way to loosen up any tension and unwind together.

It’s something you both will love and help you to both relax and feel pampered as well.

Rent a hotel room

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If you really need to get away from it all drop off the kids at their grandparents and take a staycation at a local hotel.

That way you don’t have to worry about cooking and cleaning, and you can just lounge around all night and sleep in in the morning.

Eat some yummy treats

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This is one that is great when you really can’t take any time away from everything that is going on but can instantly perk up your mood and let you indulge.

Get your hair done

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No one will question you if you say you have to get your hair touched up and it will also help you to look fresh and fabulous for your all your holiday parties.

Get your hair washed, cut, and styled and maybe even add a blowout.

You will be able to relax while everything is getting done and take some time away from the everyday tasks on your list.

Take some alone time

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Even if it just means going to the grocery store alone or taking a walk alone, take some time to be with yourself and you will find it will help to center you and find a little bit of peace and quiet.

The post 7 Ways to Pamper Yourself This Holiday Season appeared first on InstantELLA.