The power of a good shower

 When I workout I workout hard.  No ladylike glistening for me, I am covered in sweat.  Sometimes the only light at the end of the sweaty spandex is the thought of a relaxing shower.   I just have a regular ordinary old shower/tub combo (but at least it's mine, and not at the gym!).  No fancy jets, whirlpool tub, or even elaborate tilework for me - just a plain fiberglass tub surround.  Someday perhaps I will have a whirlpool bathtub with a huge picture window and the ability to soak my troubles away, but for right now I have what I have and so I make the best of it by having the right shower head, the best smelling shampoo, and the most decadent soap.

First the shower head.  Second only to good lighting in its importance in the bathroom, a great shower head can make up for whatever else the bathroom lacks.  Steve found one at Lowe's that has a sleek nickel finish, is low flow but still puts out a lot of pressure, and has this fantastic setting with a massaging blast in the middle surrounded by the regular rain shower.  Pure bliss I tell you.  Ours is made by Delta and cost about $55.

Next the shampoo.  Y'all know how much I love healthy-for-my-hair-healthy-for-my-body shampoo and my favorite is still the Nature's Gate Organics line.  It lathers without sulfates, isn't tested on animals, and contains no parabens.  Organic shampoo can cause sticker shock but I save money on the conditioner.  Conditioners frequently don't have sulfates because they don't lather anyway so I just find one that smells good and doesn't contain parabens (I like the J/A/S/O/N products).

Finally the soap.   I love soaps that have oatmeal, almond oil, or tea tree oil in them because I love the smells and textures.  We have a Lush store near us and the mixture of scents and textures can be quite heady and addictive.  Steve is an Irish Spring kind of guy and absolutely nothing will change his mind.  My daughter likes the Pink Grapefruit soap from The Body Shop.  Most soaps are made from palm oil which is creating some problems in the South American rainforests and many contain parabens but when it comes down to it, finding the right soap is more trial and error and personal preference.

When my daughter was a baby and I had to learn the art of Speed Bathing I kind of forgot how nice it can be to pamper myself.  I've been trying to allow myself a little more showering time each day so I don't have to rush so much or cut myself so often with the razor.  I don't think I truly feel awake and ready to face the world until after I've showered.

Whether it be first thing in the morning, after a workout, or the last thing you do each day, there isn't much that a little warm water can't cure (or at least make clean!).