A Mother’s Day Recipe To Remember

The last time that I remember being truly pampered was in 2008. That’s the year I had gallbladder surgery. I was incapacitated for five days with nothing better to do than lay on the couch, sip lemon lime soda through a straw, eat peanut butter crackers, catch up on People magazine, and watch television all day. Not that I’m complaining. I really enjoyed those drug-induced hallucinatory power naps.

This Mother’s Day I want to relax, only without the anesthesia. I’m thinking breakfast in bed and a day (or at least a morning) of beauty. And it won’t cost a thing. Sound too good to be true? My idea is called “Scrumptious Spa,” and it’s like having your cake and eating it too, only this time the treat is edible facials. So easy and cheap even my kids can pull it off. Young children may need a little assistance from their dad or an older sibling, and teenagers might need a little bribery like, “Be nice to mom today or else______________. (You fill in the blank, such as “nobody gets fed dinner next week.”)

All it takes is oatmeal, yogurt, honey, olive oil, egg whites, a little bit of spice and a lot of love. And, of course, they have to clean up their own mess—that’s part of the deal. Your children will love to measure the ingredients and prepare these all-natural concoctions. Best of all, you’ll feel nourished inside and out. To start, your child can create a menu of services. For example:

“Mother’s Day Menu at Scrumptious Spa”
Honey-Olive Oil Mask: Perfect for dry skin, use one teaspoon honey or one teaspoon extra virgin olive oil. Leave on face for a few minutes, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
Or use a combination of honey, olive oil, and two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. Leave the mixture on face for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water, and gently pat dry.

Yogurt Mask: Apply a thin layer of plain yogurt on face, and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Oatmeal Mask: Grind one tablespoon oatmeal in a food processor. Add water to make a paste. Leave on face for a few minutes, then rinse and dry.

Oatmeal-Yogurt Mask: Combine one tablespoon ground oatmeal with three tablespoons herbs and 2/3 cup boiling water. Steep, cool, and strain. The infusion can be made with lavender, basil, mint, thyme, rosemary, parsley, lemon balm, or fennel, depending on the skin type. Spread on your face and let the rejuvenation begin.

Egg White Mask:Combine half cup hot water, two tablespoons plain yogurt, two tablespoons honey, one egg white, and one third cup instant oatmeal. Apply to face and let dry for a few minutes. Then wash off with warm water and pat dry.

Flax Seed Mask: Exfoliate and moisturize your face with a half cup honey and half cup of flax seed. Moisten your face with the wet washcloth. Dip your fingers into the clumpy mixture and starting at your cheeks, rub the mix onto your skin in circular motions. Cover your nose, forehead, chin and even below your neckline. Let sit for approximately ten minutes, then wipe off with a washcloth, and gently pat face with a towel.

To sweeten the deal, all spa treatments are served with your choice of a yummy strawberry smoothie, a bowl of wholesome oatmeal, and a fluffy omelet made to order using some of the same ingredients in your facial.

For an extra special act of kindness—and it still won’t cost a thing—they can download your favorite Adele songs to your iPhone, make a family scrapbook from their photo albums, wash your car, straighten up their rooms, give you a shoulder massage, and arrange a bouquet of assorted blooms from the backyard garden.

With all this love and attention, you’ll be glowing. Or maybe it’s the honey stuck in your hair.