I’ve been on team #treatyoself before it was even a hashtag. At some level, we all have. I mean, giving yourself a present just feels good, right? And when we get better at giving ourselves presents, we are better able to give others presents. It all comes full-circle. While some might associate the reference with getting a mani-pedi, calling in a personal day and going on a solo hike, finally buying those fancy jeans, or simply taking the time to bake a scratch-made, decadent cake, I’m talking about treating yourself in the form of a cocktail break.

A healthy-ish cocktail.

One that’s sparkling and filled with pomegranate juice, rosé, and the most delicious floral syrup.

Along with a long tub-soak in some DIY herbal rose bath salts.

I have your attention now, right?

Now that I’ve set the tone, I’ll share my inspiration. My friend Jules Aron just released TWO books that match perfectly together: Fresh & Pure: Organically Crafted Beauty Balms & Cleansers and Nourish & Glow: Naturally Beautifying Foods & Elixirs. I thumbed through Jules’ combined Pretty Zen collection of 150 recipes for healthy, natural body care and delicious drinks, meals, and small bites, and I’m sharing two of my favorites from Jules with you today.

And I’m giving away a copy of each to ONE lucky individual over on Instagram! Those of you, who have followed the blog for a while, might remember the gin-and-juice recipe I shared from Jules’ cocktail book, Zen & Tonic a couple of years back. Jules is a holistic health and wellness coach and green lifestyle expert. Her recipes reflect her educational credentials and her backgrounds in yoga, qigong, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

I had the opportunity of meeting Jules in person this past summer at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. We texted and somehow met up, among hundreds of sweaty, thirsty party-goers, at the Bacardí party. We waited in line for a freshly cracked, rum-filled coconut and held out a pretty solid conversation over the deep bass and flashing, Florida-reminiscent neon lights. We both laughed and agreed that even though this particular scenario wasn’t the best place to really talk, we were happy to share a hug – and a coconut – and a few laughs.

So, on to the topic of DIY beauty products. Have you made any, yourself? Do you shop for organic or natural products? I know from personal experience that making the shift from over-the-counter, chemical-laden products to organic, ethically sourced products can be quite daunting. Toss in the process of actually making those items yourself, and you might feel overwhelmed and want to give up entirely.

I’ve been making my own soaps, toners, lotions, creams, and masks for several years now. It’s been a slow and evolving process, but it’s actually proven quite fun. Jules’ book, Fresh & Pure: Beauty Balms & Cleansers, breaks down exactly what you need to get started on DIY body care. Her sound advice, along with her detailed-yet-simple recipes, make DIY-ing an educational and rewarding endeavor.

Jules is letting me share her recipe for herbal rose bath salts from her book, Fresh & Pure: Organically Crafted Beauty Balms & Elixirs. It’s a perfect remedy after a day’s worth of gardening or a solid workout. Or, in my case, a day’s worth of grapevine pruning, which commences in less than a month. Cue my face-wincing, head-shaking, and eyes-squinting response. According to Jules, these particular salts are excellent for “lifting your mood and balancing the system.”

God knows I need me some balancing, so you know I made sure to triple my batch.

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herbal rose bath salts

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• 1 cup Himalayan pink salt
• 1/2 cup dried rose hips
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 12 drops rose essential oil

1. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a medium bowl.
2. Add 1 1/2 cups of bath salts to a standard-sized tub while the water is running, to help it dissolve.
3. Fill tub 3/4 full of warm water and soak for 15 to 30 minutes to allow your body to absorb the benefits.

• Store in a sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place.
• For maximum freshness and potency, use within six months.

This recipe can easily be multiplied for a larger batch. In fact, I suggest serving the petal and bloom punch at your next get-together and making a large batch of the herbal rose bath salts for your guests to make, package, and take home. These make the most colorful, personal gifts. I know that Himalayan pink salt can be rather spendy, so I suggest this budget-saving tip, especially when making this in a large-batch fashion: use 1/2 cup Epsom salt and 1/2 cup Himalayan pink salt for the recipe above.

You’ll still get the body-soothing benefits without the extra expense.

This recipe for Jules’ petals and blooms beauty punch is not portioned for the solo-imbiber. The recipe serves 8 to 10, so definitely bookmark it for your next get-together. Don’t let that fact deter you from making the requisite syrup, however. I made a double-batch of Jules’ petal and bloom syrup – one for the punch and one for individual cocktails. The syrup is exceptional with a few ounces of bubbly and pairs perfectly with gin. It’s going to be a spring staple in my fridge, for sure.

Throughout Jules’ books, she gently preaches what she’s termed as “The Pretty Zen Philosophy.” It’s a way of life that’s rooted in “finding, balancing, and maintaining wholesome beauty in a modern world.” A natural outlook that embodies the #treatyoself roots, yet is balanced by an underlying belief that “there may be no greater pursuit than a life well loved.” Loving yourself by sourcing quality ingredients, utilizing whole foods, and eschewing harsh chemicals. And making it your own.

I couldn’t agree more.

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petals + blooms beauty punch

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• 1 cup petal + bloom syrup {see recipe below}
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/4 cup orange blossom water
• 1 {750-ml} bottle rosé wine {I used Winc’s 2016 Funk Zone Rosé}
• 1 {750-ml} bottle sparkling wine {I used Gruet Brut}
• culinary-grade flowers or berries for garnish

1. Combine all the punch ingredients, except the sparkling wine, in a punch bowl or pitcher and allow to synergize in the refrigerator for one hour.
2. Add the sparkling wine just before serving.
3. Garnish with colorful edible blooms and an assortment of berries.

• You can make this pitcher cocktail ahead of time. Just remember to wait until serving to pop the bubbly.
• I garnished my drinks with dried rose-studded ice cubes because that’s what I had on hand. They made for a gorgeous cocktail!

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petal + bloom syrup

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• 2 tablespoons culinary-grade dried rose petals
• 1 tablespoon culinary-grade dried lavender
• 2 tablespoons culinary-grade dried rosehips
• 2 tablespoons culinary-grade dried damiana {optional but encouraged}
• 1 cup hulled organic strawberries
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 cup coconut sugar

1. Combine all the syrup ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar fully dissolves.
3. Remove from the heat and let steep for 15 minutes.
4. Strain into a clean jar, cover, and keep refrigerated for up to two weeks.

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beauty food spotlight  —  damiana

“Indigenous to Mexico, the earthy damiana, with is fig-like flavor, is an herb best known for its aphrodisiac properties. It works to uplift the spirits, relax the nervous system, and balance hormones.”

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If you’re already following me on Instagram, you know that I’m hosting a giveaway for BOTH of Jules’ books. Just follow this link to enter. You can find Jules’ books over at Amazon, and you can give her a follow on Instagram, where she shares recipes and tips and gorgeous photos. You’ll be inspired; I’m sure of that.

Cheers to a fulfilling rest-of-the-week!

I made Steve promise me that we’d “call in sick” to the vineyard this Saturday and find a trail to hike, a recipe to make, and a movie to watch. I find that if I don’t pencil in those dates, either solo-dates or together-dates, they somehow fade out of ever happening.

Oh, and you can follow along with Jules’ BLOG TOUR of her book{s} release right here. She’ll be sharing links to some of her recipes posted by some amazing bloggers throughout the month! AND she’s hosting a massive giveaway with some of her favorite tried-and-true products from brands she loves and trusts.

I’m already planning on making Jules’ eye-friendly mascara, chocolate lip butter, and {what I’m most excited about!!} cucumber mint aloe face wipes! I have a strong feeling that I’ll be keeping a full mason jar of those in the fridge this summer.

Good luck and don’t forget to enter, once my Instagram post is live!

XO,

Jayme