LATHER Up in Support of Sweet Dreams

I’ve been dieting for exactly two weeks now and I’ll admit, I miss cheese. I miss butter. I so want to pound a mound of Fettuccine Alfredo and sop up the sauce with a hunk of crusty Italian bread. I … am … starving. But my posterior has once again managed to push its way past the borders of my big-girl pants and I can’t afford a new wardrobe. So besides weaning myself off sugar and fried foods (I miss French fries!), I’m also seeking out calorie-free ways to reward myself for the tiny triumphs of daily life. And truly, the only thing that comes anywhere near to satisfying an I-deserve-this craving for say, a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting from Wicked Bakery in Phoenix (maybe I could dip into my savings for that new wardrobe … no, no, be strong!), is a wickedly divine beauty treatment that I can smother myself in at home.

That’s why I’m counting the days when I can bust through the doors of my local LATHER store and pick up an indulgent sweet treat off their heavenly scented shelves. I could go now but starting Monday, July 14th and continuing through July 31st, LATHER Boutique at Kierland Commons in Scottsdale is offering a 15% discount when you bring in a new or gently used book for children under 10.

LATHER is partnering with Project Night Night, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of homeless children by providing them with blankets, books, and stuffed animals for comfort and care. So here’s the deal: donate a great kid’s book, feed your cravings with a healthy reward and save a buck or two. Not a bad deal.

I’m torn between the Lavender & Eucalyptus Foot Creme ($18) or the classic Bamboo Lemongrass Foaming Body Scrub ($38). They’ve also just introduced lip balms with SPF 15 in unscented or two sweet, all-natural flavors ($6.50). Hmmm. Good thing I have a week to dream about it.

Photo: My personal favorite, LATHER’s Balancing Sea Kelp Body Oil with Evening Primrose, is my annual splurge at $36. I mix a few drops with my body lotion after a shower or just open the bottle and take a deep inhale when I feel anxious (or hungry). The scent is intoxicating and the seaweed and essential oils feed your skin a dose of health.

More at www.lather.com.