The Oasis at the end of the trail......

Y'all ever feel a ranchhand on a cattledrive, like that dusty trail is going on forever and ever....I have discovered that a girl needs some downtime. Now I don't mean downtime sitting on the couch folding laundry or starchin' up britches, it also doesn't mean working in your yard or cleaning your house......it means doing something just for you, something totally relaxing and enjoyable. Soooo that is just exactly what I did on a random Tuesday afternoon this week.

Now let me tell ya' I have been to some of the best spas in this great nation. Mud baths in Napa, massages in Vegas, pedicures in Louisiana and facials in the great state of Texas....but as y'all know, well they can be a little pricey. I was looking for something a bit relaxing with no regret, so I started going through my pantry. Now as I have mentioned before I cook, I don't mean that packaged chemically tasting stuff, I mean downhome cooked meals, so fortunate for me the pantry is usually stocked. With that being said, you should also know I measure weight loss in sticks of butter, rather than pounds. Doesn't I lost 20 sticks of butter sound so much better than 5 pounds. Alright, sidetracked again, back to the pantry.

Also you should know my best gal pals call me the potion queen......so I just mixed up a few potions and had two quiet hours of bliss. So amazing that I feel the need to share it with you. The items are simple and inexpensive, and even if Betty Crocker isn't your hero, you most likely have them in your pantry.

First of all ladies, clear everyone out of the house. If that means you have to take a half day of work off bc. the kids are in school and your hubby is out on the range, well then do it. It will be appreciated by all.

Second, go to your pantry and check for the following items, liquid oil (vegetable, canola, olive...doesn't really matter, but NO you can not melt Crisco and use it), brown or white sugar (I prefer a mixture of both, and don't go skinny on this ,sugar substitute won't work either, you are using on your body not in it, so go full flavor!!!), vanilla, any piece of citrus fruit that might be in your refigerator or if you have that immitation stuff heck pull it out too! One egg. Yes, one egg.

Third, go through the rest of your home and find the following, a candle, big fluffy towel and washrag (or whatever is clean...), some good smelling shampoo and conditioner, a sharp razor, and last but not least a magazine. Now not just any ole magazine, a smut magazine, or a gossip one, nothing self-help or about finances, remember this is a spa day!!!!

Alrighty now that you have gathered all your stuff up. There is a little prep work, but trust me well worth it.

In a bowl, butter, cottage cheese or whatever kind you please mix the following: 1 cup oil, 1 cup sugar and the juice of the citrus fruit or 1 tbsp. of the imitation stuff (if you don't have either, don't worry about it) and a splash of vanilla. Go set that on the edge of your tub.

Next, take your candle and light it by the tub. Grab your fluffy dryin' off goods and your smut, place them by the tub. And get that hair pulled up in a pony right on top of your head.

Now comes the good part, turn that water temperature on just to your likin' and get the trough filled up, as it is filling pour in 2 tbsp. Vanilla. Let er' run.

Get in front of the lookin' glass with the egg, a bowl and a fork and an old blush brush if ya' have one. Or go into your little ones' art supplies and borrow a paint brush. Crack the egg, keep the white and flush the yolk. Mix the white up, then paint it on your face (make sure you have taken your warpaint of first!) and neck in an upward motion.

By now, I think you are gettin' the drift, take off those skivvies (if you haven't already) and ease yourself into the tub. Set back relax and read your magazine. Remember that muddy looking grub you made, after soaking for a few, take it out by the handfull and slather it on, getting that ole snake skin all prettied up. Use it from neck to the end of your toes! Then relax.

Your pretty little face is probably feeling a bit tight right now, and I sure hope you followed that upward motion, if not you are probably starting to look like a sad sad clown. Leave er' on for about 10 minutes then rinse with clean water. So you are all soft and scrubbed now, and I do hope you been a readin' and relaxing all the while.

Now the next part I stole from my little Wrangler. Each morning she loves to lie in the tub and let her fan out in the water. So do it ladies, it is as liberating as all get out. Just lie there, and do nothing. Now you know the rest, suds up the hair, and as mama always said rinse with clean water til' it runs clear. But don't you dare stand up to do this, flip over on your back under the faucet and fell that water straight out of the tap, AMAZING. Apply your conditioner, yank that hair back into a pony on top of the head and relax again.....

How ever long it takes, stay and relax ladies, because unfortunately in this racehorse world we live in, and we all believe we are thoroughbreds, take a quarter horse moment and graze......

At the end of my own spa day, I like to stand up and rinse off, and rinse out the conditioning cream from my mane as well as shave my legs standing, but that is your choice....

Don't forget to slather on the lotion when you are finished, and maybe paint those toes a candy apple red!!!

Well better get back in the saddle!!!