Pamper Evening Needs

So things lately have been a little on the stressful side and when that happens it's really beneficial to treat yourself and have some relaxation time for yourself. It's okay to pamper yourself every once in a while and I daresay it's even a good thing to do. I put together a little pamper evening for myself and thought that I would let all of you in on the process!

First off, I love baths. Taking baths and all the things that go with it; soaking in the hot water, bath salts and bath bombs, bubble bars and body conditioners, and just all around relaxing. So the very first thing that I started my evening out with was running a hot bath.

While the water was running I took one of Lush's little bubble wands and ran that under the running water for some wonderfully, intoxicating sent and some fun foamy water. I had a couple of candles lit and placed them around the tub which helped to add an even further relaxing effect. Also, I made sure the bathroom had some nice low-lighting going to help set a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Next, I took a bath bomb from my tiny selection of bath bombs and placed that in the tub to fizzle away. (The bath bomb that I used I made myself. If you are curious to know how, I made a video about it and you can watch that here! ---> https://youtu.be/grKX2V44wdY ).

While the bath bomb was dissolving and doing it's thing, I put on a face mask. I like doing face masks because my skin always feels great and refreshed afterward, and that's what this evening is all about. Refreshing yourself and relaxing. I only own one face mask however, and it's by Sei Bella, which is a brand by the company Melaleuca. So I took that, rubbed it around and slathered that onto my face to sit while I soak in my bath.

After I applied my face mask, my bath was ready and waiting for me to plunge right in. And all there was left to do with the bath was to just sit and soak up all the beneficial things and aromas in and around the water.

After a good long stay in the tub (or however long you please), you get out to take the face mask off of your face. I normally just stay in until the water starts to grow cold. But once you are out and have dried yourself off as you like, take a nice, clean washcloth to dampen so you can wipe the mask off. Run it under some pleasantly warm water and gently scrub it off until none of it remains.

The after bath is another great part of the evening of relaxation, where you get to cozy up and hunker down for the night. I do a number of things after I get out of a hot bath depending on what I am in the mood for that evening. One thing that always must be done though is popping yourself into some comfortable clothing. I went for some nice pajama pants, a cozy, warm sweater and some fuzzy slippers. That way whatever it is that I choose to do next I'm doing it comfortably. And plus, I feel that it's a lot easier to stay calm and relaxed when you wear something that you can continue to relax in and be comfortable in.

After that has been accomplished comes the part where it depends on my mood. Some nights I like to make myself a nice, warm cup of tea and cuddle up in a soft blanket. Maybe even curl up with a good book. Sometimes it's nice to pick out a movie and zone out on that until you go to bed. Or even just to watch some YouTube for a bit. Really any of these or any combination of them are things that I love doing on a pamper evening to have some down time. What I did this pamper session however, was curl up with my hubby and our dogs, watch some shows and YouTube and then went to crash in bed.

I was not paid by any of the brands mentioned to promote their products. I just really like and enjoy them and they are products that I use.

Disneyland Hong Kong

When Kyle and I were in China, we got the absolute pleasure of going to Hong Kong as well, where we saw things like The Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery which you can read about here: http://brandinoelle3.blogspot.com/2016/01/tian-tan-buddha-and-po-lin-monastery.html. However, while we were there we got to spend two of those days in Disneyland Hong Kong. (Well, more like one and a half days). My whole family lives and breathes Disney, so this was a major chance in my eyes. They had an awesome Disney train that you had to transfer to from the main train that took you to the entrance of the park.

For those who have been to Disneyland, just the one in good ol' California in the United States, it was extremely similar in many many ways save a couple of different lands. But things such as entering the park, main street, and Fantasyland were borderline identical. They had minor differences in them but were pretty trademark Disney as far as their parks go I feel. (Granted I have only been to three Disney parks; Disneyland, Disney World and Hong Kong Disney. Even if that is more than most). Also, when we were there, they had all their Christmas stuff still up and were in the middle of celebrating their 10 Year Anniversary! So it was an awesome time to have got to go visit the park.

It says 'Happily Ever After'.

The castle was also as stunning as ever. As every Disney castle is.

As previously stated, Fantasyland was one land that was very similar to other Disneys. We rode all the littler-kid rides and watched some pretty cool 3D shows there. Like the Philharmagic show and riding the carrousel.

Entrance to Philharmagic.

This was a cool picture spot that they had set up right on the other side of the castle in Fantasyland.

In and around Fantasyland they had a couple of little garden areas. One was a meet and greet character spot.

And the other was a little Disney Princess walkthrough. It had a whole bunch of different princesses and their castles and etc. with little areas in the garden set up for each and each was interactive in a different way. For example, if you cranked a wheel under Rapunzel's tower she would appear at the window lifting Flynn Rider up via her hair. Things like that and other cute little things were set up in it.

Another land that they had that was fairly similar was Tomorrowland. It wasn't necessarily the same in set up, but it was in the same area of the park and had a lot of similar attractions and rides.

They also had a corner of the park dedicated to Small World. A classic ride. And by that ride they had the most amazing ice-cream bowls. And let me tell you, the ice-cream in China and Hong Kong is sublime. I don't know why, but it was just so dang tasty.

One of the lands that were different from the lands you'd find in Disneyland California was Grizzly Gulch. This land housed one of the only roller coasters in Disneyland Hong Kong. It was a fun little area with a lot of water effects and places to play and explore. No water rides though, they don't have any water rides there.

Another fun land they had was Toy Story Land! A whole land dedicated to Toy Story where as soon as you enter you feel as if you had just been transformed into one of the toys themselves. They had cool toy themed rides and fun little places to take photos and such.

We thought these blocks were really cool because my maiden name is Brandi Harlan and my favorite colors are green and blue. My husband's favorite color is red and his name is Kyle Cochenour. So, it was meant to be.

One of the last places I will talk about is Mystic Point, another different land that they had there. The main attraction of that land was the Mystic Manor ride. The only thing comparable to it would be the Haunted Mansion. However, it was the sort of ride that told a story, and it was the story about an explorer and the whole land was based around the story in the ride and his findings. It was pretty cool actually.

Mystic Manor

A couple of the 'relics' inside the line for Mystic Manor.

It was an all around really cool experience and again, I am so grateful that I got the chance to see it and live it. Though it may be a small Disney, but it is a mighty Disney. Really though, it was a very small Disneyland but it was incredible. I got to see and experience things at that Disneyland that I wouldn't have gotten to do at the others if I didn't go. So I am definitely happy for it.

:)