Healthy Swellness: National Read in a Bathtub Day Giveaway with American Standard

** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Scroll to the bottom if you entered to see if you’ve won!**

Happy National Read in a Bathtub Day!

I have to admit, I think I’ve only taken a bath at home once. It’s always something I want to do; I save bubble bath products for when I get around to it, but then I never get around to it. I do sometimes take advantage of the luxe hotel tubs though when I travel (less things I need to cross off my list when out of my place, I suppose). But since I’m trying to slow down a bit this year, I’m adding more baths into my schedule, and yes, reading in the tub.

My tub is a standard condo builder type of tub, but I’d love a freestanding tub, you know when I grow up, haha. It’s usually the bathrooms in hotels that fill me with design envy. Soaking in this edgy Loft freestanding tub from American Standard (above) would be like staycationing in the hottest hotel in town.

And while I tend to like modern lines like the Loft, I’m possibly more drawn to the softer curves of this Serin tub. It’s elegant and a little more traditional yet still modern; the kind you’d find in the best spas…

In my chic cottage on the lake (hey, I’m doing a bit of dreaming here, ok?), I think I’d opt for the Ovale freestanding tub. The curves seem more reminiscent to me of traditional tubs of another era and this traditional look would suit the classic tiles I’d decorate my cottage bathroom in. Plus, it has a deep well so you can fill it up with water at just the right temp, plus, of course, plenty of bubbles…

But none of these tubs would feel complete unless you were to have a nice, long, relaxing soak while catching up on a great book. And to help celebrate National Read in a Bathtub Day, I’ve partnered with American Standard for a fun giveaway! Enter and you could win a $25 giftcard to a bookstore so that you can get a great book for your bathtub reading.

This giveaway is open to Canadian residents and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, February 16, 2015.

Here’s how to enter! You can enter in three different ways (each way counts as one entry, so go ahead and enter in each of the three methods!):

1. Email me at healthandswellness@gmail.com with your name and mailing address (it just makes it quicker for us to send you the prize  if you provide me with your address off the bat). Please put “American Standard” in the subject line.

2. Twitter: Follow both me (@healthswellness) and American Standard (@amstandardca) on Twitter, and then tweet:

I’ve entered to #win a giftcard for books to read in the tub from @healthswellness and @amstandardca. Enter here! http://bit.ly/1O2gRYn

3.  Like both the Health and Swellness PAGE on Facebook (at the top of the page) and the American Standard Canada page as well, and then leave a comment on the photo of this American Standard giveaway — tell me which book you last read in the bathtub was.

The prize is valued at $25 and the giveaway will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, February 16, 2016. Please note that this giveaway is open to Canadian residents only. The winner will be chosen at random. If I cannot reach the winner within five days, another winner will be selected. The winner’s name will be announced on the blog once confirmed with the prize winner.

But I’m not the only one doing a giveaway — American Standard Canada is as well! But hurry to enter as their giveaway ends at midnight Wednesday, February 10th! They have three $25 giftcards to be won to go towards a book or two to read in the tub. You can find their giveaway on their Facebook page.

Happy reading in the tub! And good luck in the giveaway! Oh, and for more info about product availability and your nearest store location for American Standard, visit www.americanstandard.ca

(sponsored)

Congratulations to Alison O., the winner of the giftcard to go towards your next great bathtub read! Check your email, Alison, for more details.

Leave a Comment February 9, 2016

Fitness Swellness: Epsom salt baths

Taking an Epsom salt bath is one of those things I know I should do after a long run, but don’t. I have had a bag or two in my bathroom cupboard for ages, and yet I just never am motivated to — I just don’t take baths, and then the times I’d like to try the Epsom salt bath, well, it usually would call for a major bathroom cleaning first, and so it just doesn’t happen then.

But I may be converted after visiting Body Blitz the day after running Around the Bay. One of the pools in the circuit is an Epsom salt bath and I felt better on Tuesday (and could it have helped my iffy ankle feel better, too?).

What are Epsom salts and how do they help with muscles soreness? Epsom salt is magnesium sulphite and this mineral can be absorbed through the skin, and it can help relieve muscle soreness as it helps to flush lactic acid from your muscles, explains Carene Coulter, the spa director at Body Blitz. She adds that the warm water you bathe in also helps tight muscles to relax. While you can use an Epsom salt bath at any time to help relieve or prevent muscle soreness, she recommends them before going to bed the day of your workout.

Other benefits of Epsom salts? You can mix a pinch of salts with your everyday cleanser to gently exfoliate your skin for glowing skin. Ache-y feet? A foot bath with Epsom salts will soothe them, and the anti-inflammatory properties will help reduce swelling.

And I might need to start traveling with some Epsom salts in my carry-on: traveling can take its toll on the body (dehydration, exhaustion, and jet lag) and these salts have a sedative effect, so you can relax your body and get the restful sleep you need when away from home.

To do an Epsom salt bath at home, Coulter suggests drawing a warm bath and adding two cups of Epsom salts and allowing them to dissolve. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes. “Then take a nice, cool shower to remove any salt residue, close the pores and stimulate circulation.”

2 Comments April 10, 2014