10 best home pampers
you can buy or adapt from an old sheet or blanket and let your little treasures imagine it’s a castle from which the knight rescues the trapped princess. This make-believe castle could even double up as somewhere to sleep. How much fun would that make bedtime?
2 . Movie night
Is there a film which the whole family has been itching to watch but hasn’t had time because there have been too many outside commitments? Now’s your chance! Turn the lights down low, grab a bowl of popcorn, a side serving of crisps and a few bars of your favourite chocolate and away you go for two hours or so of pure escapism and relaxation. If you’re looking for suggestions of what to watch, check out the latest DVD releases which include Dolittle and Spies In Disguise.
3 . Let it glow
Strike a match and light a scented candle to create a cosy ambience and a relaxing atmosphere. The essential oils in scented candles have health benefits. Lavender can relieve anxiety and depression and, like vanilla, is good at alleviating stress. Orange, lemon and grapefruit lift the mood. Cinnamon helps with nerves and exhaustion. How about bringing the outdoors inside with geranium, jasmine, sandalwood, eucalyptus scented candles which not only smell heavenly but will make you feel healthier?
4 . Bath time bliss
Immerse yourself in a scented bath for half an hour or so and let your cares slip away. Bath bombs add essential oils, colour and fizz to the water. Available for adults and children in a variety of scents and shapes, bath bombs were invented in 1989 by the founder of a cosmetics company who was inspired by the effect that Alka Seltzer tablets had when dropped into water. You can make bath bombs at home using ingredients such as citric acid and sodium bicarbonate with guidance available online.
5 . Home sweet home
For sweet-toothed members of the family, there’s nothing better than a chocolate hit. Treat them to a box of chocolates where there’s sure to be something to suit all tastes. If you’re worried that the kids won’t be able to resist eating them all if left alone with the box, limit them to just one or two and keep the rest in a place where they won’t find it. After all, Easter is just around the corner and there will be a few chocolate eggs to tuck into.