I’d like to start this blog post out by giving you the history of who I am as the writer of this post.  My name is Amy, and I am the wife to Jim Parker, the National Sales Manager at Unique Solutions, USA.  My father-in-law, Jerry, is the owner of Unique Solutions, USA. As of April 2021, I became the Administrative Assistant for this company working very closely every day with my husband and father-in-law.  Some may question how I can work with family.  Don’t get me wrong, some moments can be challenging, but I honestly wouldn’t want it any other way.  Putting all our qualities and skills together makes us a great TEAM.  As I write this, I’m realizing that this topic could be a great blog post to write about at some point. Oh, the stories I could tell! HA! All good things… all good things!

The blogs I plan to post will talk not so much about the business side of our products, but the personal side of life.  I’ll leave the business type posts to the guys.

I am a busy mom with two biological children, six bonus children and one bonus grandson.  Let’s also add that we have three dogs, two golden retrievers who at one time had a litter of ELEVEN puppies that we sold and then we also have a little Maltese Shih Tzu mix dog who weighs maybe 10 pounds soaking wet and knows she rules the house.  It’s true… we have a larger than a Brady Bunch family, so let’s be real and point out that life can and most of the time is busy and stressful!  I understand and believe, however, that a person doesn’t need all of what I have going on to be stressed. At some point in all our lives, we all get stressed. It doesn’t take a large family with too many dogs for this to happen. What’s important is that we recognize this and do something to manage the stress.

Over the last few years, we have heard a lot of talk about “Self-Care.”  What is Self-Care?
It is a conscious act one takes in order to promote their own physical, mental, and emotional health.  Maybe it’s going out for a walk or getting together with friends to socialize. Some take time to read a scripture or meditate.  Shopping, getting pedicures and manicures, taking naps, having a glass of wine… these are all things people do as their Self-Care.  Of course, I have done and enjoy all these examples I provided (minus having a glass of wine as I’m not a wine drinker); however, for me, one of my most favorite ways to give myself the love I need, mentally and physically, is to simply go for a nice hot soak in our hot tub.

I will admit that I’m picky about the times I love this. We live in North Dakota, so although a hot soak sounds appealing when it’s below zero out, I don’t find it fun.  It’s great once you’re in the hot tub with a beanie on your head but getting in and out in the freezing temps with the potential of slipping on the ice causes more stress on me than what it’s worth.  Fall, spring and summer are my favorite seasons to enjoy our hot tub.  I love what I call “calming/massage” music playing in the background.  I love the Tiki torches we have around our hot tub when they are lit at night not only for the view but also to keep the bugs away.  The lights in the hot tub casually switching colors every 15 seconds or so adds to the ambiance of my surroundings.  As the jets hit my back, I realize all the balls of stress I have physically in my body, and I just let the jets do their job. Our hot tub is outside and on a clear night, I can take in the view of all the stars in the sky.  I am a thinker.  My husband tells me I think too much. I mentally remind myself while I’m enjoying these moments to just let my mind rest.  I let my body rest. I usually don’t stay in there long and I don’t for a few reasons. The first reason is that I know it’s not healthy to be in a hot tub for too long especially if it’s really hot.  Secondly and frankly, I don’t have a ton of time.  I just make sure it’s enough time to give myself that moment… The moment to just relax and let everything go.  When I can take this time for my mind, body and soul, I feel refreshed and ready to take on this thing we call life.

So, here’s some advice I have for hot tub owners:

For the love of your water, use our Ahh-some products!  Besides being a thinker, I’m also a clean freak!  I love the fact that I can provide myself the self-care I need soaking in our very clean hot tub. It’s that way because my handsome pool man, (AKA Jim parker… I had to put that in here), is diligent in using Ahh-some products to keep our hot tub water clean, clear and safe!

Enjoy your hot tub!  Take in the smells and sounds around you.  Let your body mentally and physically soak in the benefits of what your hot tub provides you.  You got your tub for a reason. Use it!