It's cold outside--like, really, REALLY cold; winter is almost here. The days are shorter; the air is frigid, and you need some serious TLC to get through the season. You need some Lush in your life!

Lush Cosmetics is famous for its fresh and handmade products; their stores offer everything you need to look and feel fab from head to toe. They are known for their indulgent bath bombs and bubble bars, and they carry plenty of other goodies, too: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, massage bars, shower gels, face masks... I had read many glowing reviews for Lush, but since we don't have a store in Alabama (the closest brick and mortar Lush is in Atlanta, BTW) I thought I would never get to try out their goods. This was a major bummer for me-- I'd been lusting after those bath bombs for what felt like an eternity.

A few weeks ago my BFF, Tia (hey, girl, hey), went to ATL and came back with a present for me: my first-ever Lush bath bomb! It was a brightly colored little disk, and it smelled like heaven. Tia had brought me "Granny Takes a Dip," one of Lush's newest bath bombs. The first thing I did when I got home that day? I filled the tub up with obscenely hot water and dropped the bath bomb in.

Check out Lush's 'Granny Takes a Dip' in action! And yes, I have a pink bathroom. Some say it's hideous, but I wouldn't trade it for all the HGTV makeovers in the world. (Meg Summers/TSM)
Check out Lush's 'Granny Takes a Dip' in action! And yes, I have a pink bathroom. Some say it's hideous, but I wouldn't trade it for all the HGTV makeovers in the world. (Meg Summers/TSM)
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It fizzed away, releasing essential oils and swirls of color in the tub. As I soaked in the sweetly scented water, my skin softened and my stress melted away. One bath bomb was all it took--I am now a Lushie for life.

My First Lush Haul (Meg Summers/TSM)
My First Lush Haul (Meg Summers/TSM)
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I don't know why I never did so before, but I immediately ordered an array of bath bombs and bubble bars from Lush North America's website. I mean, really--it's 2014. Everybody has a website. I have no idea what made me think I couldn't get what I wanted online. You can buy everything on the internet.

My Most Recent Lush Haul (Meg Summers/TSM)
My Most Recent Lush Haul (Meg Summers/TSM)
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I've hooked it up with two hauls from Lush so far. I've tried their bath bombs, bubble bars, soap, lip scrub, and FUN (more on that later). I haven't found a product that I didn't like--it's all quality stuff. It can be expensive (shipping is ridic--it's based on weight, so if you order a ton, be prepared to sell a kidney to pay for that S&H), so I try to think of my Lush purchases as a special treat to myself.

It's a solid plan so far--if I've had a rough day, I draw a hot bath, pop in a bath bomb or bubble bar (or both!), and soak until I look like a prune. It's better for my waistline than stress-eating a pint of Blue Bell, and the essential oils the products release always put me in a better mood.

My favorite bubble bars are A French Kiss (it's like dying and going to lavender heaven) and Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds. Pro Tip: you can break these bad babies in half and STILL get a mountain of bubbles. It's a great way to get more bang for your buck.

When it comes to bath bombs, I'm crazy for Northern Lights, Big Blue, Granny Takes a Dip, Luxury Lush Pud, Sex BombButter Bear, and Golden Wonder. Lush even has a bath bomb for kids--the Ickle Baby Bot. My daughter LOVES it; I do, too, because it releases a calming scent which makes bedtime a little easier at la Casa de Meg. I thought the Sparkler bath bomb was lots of fun (it smelled like roses, which was awesome), but it turned my water dark yellow which was... ew. Maybe I am crazy, but yellow bath water is not fun. Also, all of Lush's bath bombs contain essential oils to soften the skin, so heads up--they can make the tub a bit slippery.

I bought the Snow Cake soap for the Holidays--it smells like marzipan and has almond oil to keep the skin nourished in winter. It's the only Lush soap I have tried so far. I like it a lot, but it's much softer than my Dove Beauty Bar. I read reviews that suggest slicing your Lush soap into smaller pieces, and I need to give that a whirl. I hate seeing such expensive soap vanish before my eyes.

Lush carries a product called FUN, and it totally lives up to its name. FUN is available in an array of colors and scents. It's like play dough for the tub--you can shape and mold it into whatever you want. It's a great value because it's a serious multi-tasker, too--you can crumble a bit under running water for a bath, and you can later it up and use your FUN as a soap and shampoo. My kid is crazy for FUN. I've purchased the Blue FUN and the limited-edition Snow Man FUN, and they're both worth every penny.

My last Lush love: lip scrub. I'm all about the bubblegum flavor. It's made with sugar and food-grade oils, so you can literally lick it off your lips when you're done. You get to pamper your pucker AND have a treat. It's amazing.

Winter is definitely a BLAH time of year, but that doesn't mean you have to turn into a BLAH-Humbug. Treat yourself to some Lush! I don't think you can go wrong with anything you buy, so just go for it... and while you're ordering, go ahead and buy your favorite DJ a Christmas present. JUST SAYING.

If you're already a Lushie, share your faves in the comments below. Tell me what I should try next--and if you've got any tips on how to make my Lush stuff last longer, share those too!

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