Do-It-Yourself Day Spa

Admit it. We've all done it. Surfing the websites of spas like

and

. Wouldn't it be nice to spend a week luxuriating in self-discovery and a bit of pampering? But who has the time, money, or both? With that in mind, Beliefnet offers up a do-it-yourself day spa. Don't feel like you have to be a slave to the schedule. If you feel like getting up late, sleep to your heart's content. If you want to lounge in the tub, feel free.

The whole point of a day spa is to have time for self-reflection and relaxation, so make sure to have all supplies bought, the house clean, and recipes whipped up ahead of time. Create the right ambience by surrounding yourself with beautiful things. Here's a checklist of things to make sure you have:

Flowers	Potpourri
Candles	Soothing music (leave the hip-hop out of the CD player)
Comfy robe and slippers	Notebook
Manicure/Pedicure supplies	Bath oils or bubbles
Your favorite movie on videotape	Plenty of water (it's very important to remain hydrated)

Rid yourself of distractions, including spouses, kids, high-maintenance pets. Turn off the TV, the phone, and the radio. Tell friends not to drop by--unless, of course, you are having a spa party--and get ready to relax.

You know the old saying: Breakfast is the most important part of the day. Well, it's true. Your metabolism needs to be jump-started every morning by vitamins and nutrients that your body doesn't store.

An

will give you just the right jolt of vitamin C to start the day, while

fortify you for the day ahead.

Continued on page 2: Take a lovingkindness break... »