A Spa Life

Weekend Retreat

2012-01-28T05:17:00.000-08:00

When I was in 1st grade, we had a red padded bathtub in our classroom. Mrs. Parker would let us read in there when we were good. Maybe that's why I still love to read in the bathtub.

Source: prepaganda.tumblr.com via Shannon on Pinterest

I hope you all have a warm, relaxing, book and bath-filled weekend.

Lazy Day Links

2012-01-26T06:10:00.000-08:00

Here's some of what I've been reading:

The New York Times article about luxury hospitals. Kind of like going to a spa when you're sick. Must be nice. But it also makes me uneasy knowing that so many people can't afford decent healthcare.
On a lighter note, you might want to get a pedicure before you check in. Not into black and blue nail polish, Allure has a list of the most classic reds.
Remember me telling you about the great Fresh gift set I got for Christmas, well Fresh has a new gift set coming out on Feb. 1. It's inspired by the Veuve Clicquot vineyard in Reims, France.

Happy browsing. See you tomorrow!

My Trip to Canyon Ranch Miami

2012-01-23T18:57:00.000-08:00

I was very lucky last year because my sister took me to Canyon Ranch Miami for my birthday. It was a great trip, as you can imagine. But at the time I wasn't really blogging, so I decided it was about time I do some posts about my visit.

Canyon Ranch is one of the biggest names in spas. I think I first heard of Canyon Ranch on the Oprah show. The original resort was in Tucson. My sister and I prefer beaches over deserts, so we decided to go to Miami instead. There is also a Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA, and there are Canyon Ranch SpaClubs in Las Vegas and on some cruise ships. We'll talk more about that later.

My sister dealt with the travel arrangements, but I believe she purchased a weekend package that included a certain dollar value worth of spa services. She told me that the staff at the resort were very helpful in assisting her and helping her find the package that was right for us. After she made the reservation, we were contacted by a Canyon Ranch employee who helped us book our services for while we were there. They highly recommend that you make all of your appointments in advance of your stay, so that you get in everything that you want to do. Since the choices are a little overwhelming, the Canyon Ranch guy recommended some services to us. He gave great recommendations.

Once we were at Canyon Ranch, the service continued to be great. Everyone was super friendly, and helped us to feel comfortable and relaxed. Plus, as soon as we got to the hotel we got free tote bags and water bottles. What great souvenirs of our trip.

On my next post, I'll write about the accommodations.

Weekend Retreat

2012-01-19T17:46:00.000-08:00

You can barely see the bathroom in this picture. But the most important thing is that it's in Jamaica. I know we're all dreaming of warm weather right about now.

From Elements of Style

I hope you all have a warm, relaxing and bath-filled weekend.

Lazy Day Links

2012-01-18T16:15:00.000-08:00

Hope you're having a great week. Here are some of the things that caught my eye this week.

West Elm River Rock shower curtain at Everything Turquoise.
Comparison of gel manicures vs. regular manicures at A Girl's Gotta Spa.
Spa home treatments at Ulta.
Maybe if I use all of the products that PR executive and restaurant owner Kerry Diamond does, I will look like her. Check out her beauty tips on Into the Gloss.
Some great nail colors for your winter pedicure at Vogue.com.I want Essie Dive Bar.
And a little online therapy about dealing with in-laws from the Huffington Post. Too bad I didn't see this until after the holidays.

Until tomorrow. Happy browsing!

Getting Through the Winter

2012-01-17T16:23:00.000-08:00

I live in the Midwest, which means cold and dry winters. This winter has been a little weird, and we've actually had some pretty mild weather. But it's still really dry. So it's time to talk about some not very glamorous stuff. How do you deal with the dry, itchy skin that comes with this time of year?

Here are some of the products I use to survive:

To deal with constant hand-washing, I go straight for the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. This stuff is basically like petroleum jelly except not so greasy. As the container says, "just a dab heals dry skin." I keep this stuff in my desk at work, and I use it every time I wash my hands. It really works. But now someone needs to invent lotion that doesn't have to be reapplied after each hand washing.

Before I go to bed each night, I smother my feet, hands and any other particularly itchy body part with Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Original Moisturizing Creme. I first discovered this when my pediatrician recommended it for my kids' itchy skin. It comes in a big tub and is super thick. You have to really work to rub it in, but it's worth it. My manicurist has even commented on how good my hands and cuticles look and wanted to know what I used.

I fluctuate between different moisturizing shower gels. Right now I'm using Dove Sensitive Skin. It's unscented, which I like because it doesn't compete with my perfume. And it seems to do the trick.

Also, I take a ton of baths in the winter to try and stay warm, which is terrible for dry skin. To somewhat counteract that, I use Neutrogena Body Oil, which I've rhapsodized about before. It's definitely a year round staple.

I told you this wasn't going to be a glamorous post. But these products will make you winter much more bearable, and you can pick them up on your next trip to Target.

So how about you? Any winter weather bath and body products that keep you from wanting to rip your skin off? Let me know.

Do You Birchbox?

2012-01-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of Birchbox? Birchbox is a cosmetic subscription service. For $10 a month you can receive a box of beauty samples in the mail.

I love it. It's always fun to get a package in the mail, and it's really fun to get a box full of surprise beauty samples. Each month I get fun samples from brands like Jouer, Redkin, philosophy, Stila and much more. Plus, each month they add in a fun non-cosmetic gift, like a Kind bar or a cool ponytail holder. There are other subscriber benefits, such as free shipping on full-size version and Birchbox points when you buy products.

I highly recommend you try it out. I gave a subscription to my sister for her birthday. She loved it so much, she got a subscription for our cousin.

Try it out and let me know what you think.

Weekend Retreat

2012-01-12T17:07:00.000-08:00

This bathroom makes me want to paint my bathroom black.

I hope you all have a warm, relaxing and bath-filled weekend.

Travelling in Style

2012-01-11T17:14:00.000-08:00

Since yesterday's post was about travel toiletry basics. I thought it would be fun to look at some luxury travel items. Sometimes when I go on trips for work, I try to schedule a little bit of time (maybe one evening) for myself. With a full-time job, two young kids, a husband and a cast vying for my time, downtime is hard to come by. So I like to order room service, rent a chick flick and relax. It's also a perfect time for a little pampering action. Here are some great pampering products:

Aveda Balancing Ritual.This contains Sandalwood Single Note (essential oil), Chakra Balancing Body Mist, Foot Relief, and a Chakra Ritual Card.I love that this set comes with instructions! I think most of us could use some instructions on how to relax.

Bond No.9 New York Gift Collection The Voyage Travel Candle Set: These candles are beautiful. They are a little pricey, but they would certainly make me feel like I was having a luxurious vacation even if I was staying at the Holiday Inn.

vbeaute It Kit: I also picked this kit because of how cool it looks. I don't usually go for really expensive skincare, and I don't think I'm the only one because I couldn't find any review of this brand. (Anyone out there tried it?). It includes Undercover Agent serum, Rub Off exfoliater, Evidence Eraser cleanser, Buying Time moisturizer and Eye Never cream.

So, what about you? Do you like to take some "spa time" when you travel? What are your guilty pleasures?

A Moveable Spa

2012-01-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

I love travel kits. I know they are sort of wasteful, and I should just dispense my full-size products into reusable travel container. But that's no fun! Plus I always forget what I put in the containers. Is that conditioner or body lotion? And how long has it been in there?!?

One of the best things about travel kits is trying out new products. I am planning a trip to Las Vegas in about a month, so I might need (OK, want) to buy some new fun things.

I really want a kit that has shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and lotion. Let's check out some options:

philosophy The Travel Agent: This looks promising. It includes Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser, Hope in a Jar Moisturizer, Amazing Grace Shampoo, Bath and Shower Gel, Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion and a Amazing Grace Hair Conditioner. This has everything I need plus face cleanser and moisturizer. I love the Amazing Grace fragrance, so this would definitely work for me.

Westin White Tea Aloe Travel Set: I recently stayed at a Westin hotel, and I loved the scent of the in-room toiletries. I am thinking that when I run out of the bottles I took from the room, I may have to order some more. It's so great they have a Westin store online called Westin at Home. Since I have always wanted to live in a hotel, now I can pretend that I do. I would also like to try the other Westin scents, which include green tea grapefruit and chamomile lavender.

Malin + Goetz Essential Kit: I haven't tried out Malin + Goetz products yet, but I hear good things about them. I found this kit, which includes grapefruit cleanser, vitamin e face moisturizer, bergamot body wash, peppermint shampoo, cilantro hair conditioner and b5 body moistiurizer, on 3floz.com. Their motto is "for those who travel, those who are curious and those who can't commit." That pretty much sums me up, which is also why I love Birchbox (post coming soon).

So what do you think? Do you like to try out new products when you travel? Next time I'll look at some travel kits that are a little more fun and less utilitarian. So let me know if you know of any brands that do travel sizes and travel kits well.

Weekend Retreat

2012-01-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

It's almost the weekend. Relax!

This bathroom is a little more traditional than my usual taste. But with the French doors, the checkerboard tile and the 18th-century French buffet used as a sink, it does feel nice and cozy, like the bathroom at my (well, not mine but some rich grandma with really good taste) grandma's house.

I hope you all have a warm, relaxing and bath-filled weekend.

Christmas Goodies

2012-01-05T17:20:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, one of the best parts of Christmas was telling my best friend what I go. So I thought I would share a few of my favorite Christmas presents with you.

I got a Fresh Brown Sugar gift set from my husband that contained the perfume (shown below), a Sugar Rose Tinted Lib Treatment and Brown Sugar Body Cream. I love the smell of the perfume and the lip balm has a great color for when I'm going casual. I think I will use the body cream when traveling, so I don't have to pack the perfume bottle. I don't think this exact gift set is available any more, but Sephora and Fresh have plenty of other gift set options.

Next up, my mom bought me a Clarisonic. When I visited Canyon Ranch Miami last year and got a facial, the aesthetician used a Clarisonic on me, and I've been dying to get one since then. I didn't do a lot of research, I just told her I wanted the turquoise one. So far I've been pretty happy with it. It does feel great on my skin, and it gets me motivated to actually wash my face (instead of just using a makeup remover wipe, which is what I usually do). We'll see if the motivation lasts.

I got a bunch of other great stuff, like some slippers, a Silpat baking sheet, some jewelry and more. I know. I'm spoiled. But I'm dying to hear what you got. Do tell.

Happy New Year

2012-01-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

Since it's that time of year, I've been thinking about some New Year's resolutions, or rather some vague promises to myself. I would like this year to be a year in which I focus more on my accomplishments and less on what I'm not getting done. I would like to focus on learning some new skills instead of just acquiring new things. And, as always, I want to focus on taking time out to relax.

I hope that you all had a great holiday, and I wish everyone the best in 2012!

It's All About the Nails

2010-08-03T16:27:00.000-07:00

There was a time in my life, mainly college, when I did not believe in painting my nails. It seemed like a big waste of time, and I figured it was completely useless when it came to attracting co-eds. As I matured (a little), I realized that keeping my nails well-manicured was actually kind of fun and did add to the overall effect of being a well-groomed professional. Recently, thanks to a lot of the great nail blogs out there, I've become a little obsessed with all of the fun nail colors. I dress in a fairly conservative, classic manner, and I don't play around much with makeup. But I love changing nail colors. I even like to play around with blues and greens and purples, although I save those primarily for my toes. Judging from my husband's reaction, I still don't think colorful nails are a big turn on for the guys. But I think it's a chance for us girls to have a little fun, maybe even be a little wild or adventurous. So today, I thought I'd share some of the shades I will be trying out the fall.

Chanel's Paradoxal is the must-have color of the season. I already got my hands on some, but haven't actually put it on my nails. It looks pretty purple, but reviewers are saying that it's a greige with a purple tint and a little bit of shimmer. I think this is color just screams fall, and I can't wait to try it out.

I've been eying this China Glaze teal that's called Shower Together for awhile. I love blue/green colors, and I've been wearing the China Glaze For Audrey, which is a light turquoise, this summer. Again this is a great fall shade, and even though my toes won't get as much air time with this color on my feet I will enjoy looking at my gorgeous pedicure every time I go to yoga class.

I'm always looking for a good neutral nail polish that I can put on in a hurry and won't clash with my outfit or my toes. The other day on the Beauty Counter I read that Gisele wears OPI Bubble Bath, so I decided to give it a try. It's very sheer similar to Essie's Mademoiselle. It's pretty nice if not exciting. I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I used to love Essie's Ballet Slippers, but then I kind of got tired of that whitish nail look. So if you have any suggestions for a great everyday nail polish drop me a line.

If you love nail polish or think you could start, check out All Lacquered Up. If you really don't want to get hooked on the latest polish colors, stay away!

A Little Slice of Relaxation in the Middle of My Family Vacation

2010-07-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't have kids, you probably think of vacation as a time to relax. For those of with kids, vacation can be as much work (or more) than our actual jobs. I love my kids, but they can be a real handful. And when we're all holed up together for hours in the minivan and then in a hotel room, it can be almost too much togetherness. So I was really excited to find out that there was easy spa access on my most recent family vacation.

We went to the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, KS. It's a super fun hotel and huge indoor/outdoor water park. The kids, of course, had a blast, and I enjoyed a few trips down the Triple Twist water slide myself. But my mom and I did manage to sneak in pedicures at the on-site Elements Spa Salon. It was a small, but nice little Aveda Concept spa, that offered facials, mani/pedis and massages. (I wish I had scheduled in a massage after running after my kids all day, although I did sneak in some time at the adults-only hot tub in the water park.) There was a small relaxation room for waiting. I was offered water, but they didn't have tea or snacks available. My nail technician did a good job on the pedicure. My feet felt super smooth and my polish looked great. (I went with OPI Strawberry Margarita.) They carried mainly OPI. I think I saw one Essie polish.

They also have a Scoop Kids Spa for 4-12 year olds. I have boys, so I really don't know what to think about the whole kids spa thing. For pre-school and even young elementary kids it seems a little weird to me, but I can't really explain why. And I have to admit that I have painted my 4-year old son's nails quite a bit. He thinks it looks cool, and he really doesn't think of it as being a girl thing. He go for the blue or green polishes though.

Anyway, I would definitely give my experience a thumbs up.I think it's great that the Great Wolf Lodge provides a place to take a break amidst all of the buzz and craziness of the family activities. And next time I will make sure to schedule a massage!

My New Favorite Hand Cream: love + toast

2010-07-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

I don't have a lot of time to post this week. Going on a short trip with the fam, and somehow I have managed to misplace my swimsuit. Maddening!

Anyway, I did want to give a quick review of the love + toast gin blossom hand cream I picked up the other day. I saw this at a local shop and the packaging was so cute that I couldn't resist. And I'm glad I didn't. The scent is great but not overpowering. I have to say that I love a good G&T, so I loved this combination of gin with a nice floral scent. This cream is also nicely moisturizing without being overpowering. Only downside is that it doesn't have any SPF. I really don't know why all hand creams don't have SPF. When I am the ruler of the world, they will! Actually, I've been using my facial moisturizer with SPF on my hands, and I have been using this cream to refresh my feet before I go to yoga class. There are some other great scents, like Sugar Grapefruit and Mandarin Tea, that I'd love to try out too. Also, love + toast supports Girls, Inc., which provides vital educational programs to millions of American girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas. Love that!

OK, now I'm off to buy a new swimsuit. Ugh!

P.S. Thanks to The Simply Luxurious Life for the link to A Spa Life in her newsletter. Make sure and get on her mailing list!

I Don't Want No Scrubs

2010-07-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, the title of my post is a little harsh. But when I saw a post on Daily Beauty Reporter about the importance of body scrubs if you want celebrity-style glowing skin, it reminded me that I've been neglecting my exfoliation. Courtney over at Beauty to the People mentioned recently that even though she's a beauty editor, she never uses masks. So I think we all have our beauty steps that we prefer to skip. Mine is the body scrub.

I actually own the Soap & Glory Body Scrub pictured above. And really it's a pretty good scrub. It comes in a super-cute package, has a nice scent and seems to do the job. But I still almost never take the time to use it. I guess I just don't feel like my skin is that desperately in need of being scrubbed, although I am probably wrong about that.

If you do love a good body scrub, which one do you love? Fresh Brown Sugar and Origins Ginger seem to get a lot of press. I do love the smell of the Origins Ginger.

What beauty steps do you read about but never get around to actually doing?

Spa Envy: Umstead Hotel and Spa

2010-07-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

I just saw Travel + Leisure's list of the Top 50 Large City Hotels. A bunch of these are in my old stomping grounds and favorite city Chicago. Of course, I haven't stayed at any of these great hotels. I really should work on that!

I'm sure many of these hotels have great spas, but the only one listed as a hotel and spa was Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, North Carolina. It is described as a:

"Tranquil property with art-filled public spaces on 12 wooded acres, minutes from downtown Raleigh. The outdoor pool backed by pin oaks and a three-acre lake resembles an Alpine spa."

I really never have any reason to be in North Carolina, but I may have to go anyway.

Have any of you had a chance to stay at any of the great hotels listed on Travel + Leisure?

Bath and Body Deals

2010-07-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some coupons and deals that will help you relax even if you're trying to be a frugalista:

Time to Spa has 20% off the entire site with the code SAVE20. They carry some great brands like Bliss, GoSmile and Elemis.
The Body Shop has buy two get one free on their Body Butters. I may get Mango (a classic), Japanese Cherry Blossom (recommended by Vogue), and Love, etc. (just like the name).
Check out Crabtree and Evelyn's online outlet. They have up to 75% off some of their great products, including value size lotions and shower gels for $15.
Some of the coveted (by me) items currently on sale at Sephora include the Caudalie Spa in a Box, CLEAN Warm Cotton Gift Set, and the Bliss I Like Big Butter and I Cannot Lie Duo.

If you know of any great deals that I've missed, let me know. Happy bargain hunting!

Peace, Love and Happiness in a Soap

2010-06-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

I think we all love the idea of getting a great product and helping out a good cause. So I love the idea behind the new Peace Soap by Kiss My Face. Ten percent of the profits for this line go to the Seeds of Peace organization, which is "dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions of conflict with the leadership skills required to advance reconciliation and coexistence."

This soap is similar to Dr. Bronner's because it is a castille soap that is being touted as a multi-purpose cleaner. They actually list 101 uses for the soap on their site, including ideas for body, kitchen, home and outdoor. It is all-natural, vegan, biodegradable and all that jazz. I am also intrigued by the scents, which look a little more exciting than Dr. Bronner's. I am especially interested in the Lemongrass Clary Sage. My husband has a thing for this discontinued (I think) Crabtree and Evelyn verbena and sage body spray that I have, so I'm also checking out sage and/or verbena scented items to use as a replacement for when the body spray runs out.

Anyway, I'll let you know what I think of the Peace Soap as soon as I can get my hands on some. Let me know if you already have.

Memories of a Spa: Asha SalonSpa

2010-06-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg, IL

I have been meaning to review one of my favorite salon/spas from my Chicago days. But I started thinking about how long it has been since I've been to this salon, and I realized that I can't really review (or recommend) a place that I haven't been to in about 6 years.

But I can share my memories. Anytime I move someplace new (which used to be pretty often), I struggle with finding a new hair stylist. I have very straight hair. And while it seems that this should be the easiest kind of hair to cut, it turns out that it's actually quite difficult. Or at least hair stylists seem to make it difficult. Anyway, after going to lots of expensive salons in the Chicagoland area, I finally found nirvana at Asha SalonSpa at the Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg.

I think my stylist was named Angela. (I can't believe I can't remember her name.) She was the best. I could totally trust her advice about such important topics as, hair length, hair color and how to get a baby to sleep through the night. She cut the first bangs I had in years. And they were the best bangs I ever had. But enough about what's her name.

Asha was also a just a great place to have any spa or salon service done. It's an Aveda salon (I know, I'm boring you with all of my praise for Aveda), and they offered all the best perks: cucumber water, hand massages while you wait and aromatherapy neck pillows. I thought the prices were pretty reasonable, considering all of the extras.

We moved from the suburbs of Chicago to our current location, which is a town much smaller than Chicago. In my current town the haircuts are a little cheaper, but there are no perks. And I cannot find anyone who can cut bangs the way that Angela could. I finally just grew them out. (Although in fairness, I have not asked my current hair stylist to try. Maybe this fall, I will see if she is up to the challenge.)

Anyway, if you are in the Chicago area, you might want to check out an Asha SalonSpa. Let me know if you do. I wold love a full report.

P.S. I was just playing around on the Asha website and noticed that they now have a Kids Care room. How cool is that?

Share the Spa

2010-06-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

Check out the Summer 2010 Beauty Guide on Style.com. It features a couple of my favorite bloggers, All Lacquered Up and Temptalia.

The Daily Obsession announced that CLEAN perfumes have launched a new bath and body line. You know, I'm all over it!
Need a fun new yoga mat? Check out the Plank Photo Series mats, which were blogged about on Elements of Style.

The Energy Project is calling for us all to Take Back Our Lunch.I'm ready. How about you?

Which Pajamas Are the Cat's Pajamas?

2010-06-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

As a self-proclaimed pajama snob, I hate to admit this, but I am in desperate need of some new summer pajamas. My current nighttime attire: an old, gray cami that falls off of me because it's so stretched out and a pair of Target drawstring pants with pictures of pandas on them. Every time my sister sees these pants, she asks me what I was thinking. I guess I was thinking that pandas are kind of cute, and I'm too broke to buy some nice PJs.

Now, I know that at least half of you out there are wondering what the big deal is. Why don't I just throw on a tee and some sweats and call it a night? But from a young age, when my mom always bought me new pajamas for Christmas, I have been a big fan of real pajamas. I have all sorts of rules about the pajamas that I like, which I'm sure is way too boring (and weird) for me to go in to detail about. But the most important rule is no gowns. Also, I like both the tops and bottoms to be longish. I currently have some very cute Garnet Hill short pajamas, which I would recommend to anyone who wants to wear shorts to bed. Turns out that I don't.

So I'm on the hunt. Please help me out. Here are some options I've come up with, but I'm open to suggestions.

Frette Rigato Ara Striped Pajamas

Simply Luxurious blogged about this pair of pajamas seen on Cameron Diaz in The Holiday. I am wary of any pajamas that I might have to iron, but I do like the nice, classic look. I think they would work all year round too, just wear the bottoms with a cami in the summer. But the price ($150!) is a little steep even for this pajama snob. Brooks Brothers has a similar pair, but they are only mildly cheaper at $138.

The Pioneer Woman (I know, my choices of pajamas and blogs may be a sign of schizophrenia) blogged about these pajamas. Punjammies are sold by the International Princess Project, which advocates for women who are enslaved in prostitution. The pajamas are made out of Indian Sari fabric by women who were formerly enslaved in prostitution.100% of the proceeds from Punjammies is used to support women who made them. I'm really leaning towards these right now. The pants are sold separately, but they also have some cute organic tees and camis for sale also. These seem a little more hip and fun (read: affordable) than the Frette pajamas. Plus who doesn't love shopping for a cause?

But I do have to say, that I love all things Garnet Hill. And I've been eying these PJs. Aren't they adorable? Blue and brown is one of my favorite color combinations. And they have butterflies. I think that's better than pandas, but I'll have to check with my sis.

So what do you all think? Like any of these? Or do you have other suggestions?

You Don't Need to Go Any Further Than Your Own Backyard

2010-06-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

Yoga Bella Sculpture

Now that summer is almost here, the temperatures are warmer and the blooms are making our gardens colorful, I am longing to spend some more quality time outside. Of course, it's a lot of fun and good exercise to get our hands in the dirt and pull some weeds. But we should also take some time to enjoy what we sow. Here are some suggestions for relaxing in your own backyard:

Wake up a little early and go outside when it's still balmy and quiet. This is a great time to do some outside yoga or meditation. If that sounds too ambitious, just take your morning cup of tea or coffee outside and listen to the birds.
Take a nap in a hammock. This is something I've always wanted to do. I don't have a good place to put a hammock in my yard, and I always wondered if I could really fall a sleep in a hammock. But I could definitely relax with a few good books and some lemonade.
Enjoy a backyard fire. If you have a portable fire pit, light it up (it should keep the bugs away). And if you want to be a little decadent, make some s'mores.

We all dream of travel to far away places, but I think we forget to enjoy the beautiful homes, yards and gardens that we have created. So remember to take a few minutes to enjoy your own backyard and let me know your favorite ways to relax at home.

Bath and Body Deals

2010-06-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some coupons and deals that will help you relax even if you're trying to be a frugalista:

L'Occitane's Summer Sale starts today. There are some great items that are up to 50% off and there is free shipping on orders over $80. Might be time to stock up!
Aveda is focusing on the dads. You can get free 2nd day shipping (in time for Father's Day) with the code DADFREE2ND. (I won't tell anyone if you use the code to buy something for yourself.)
Makeup and Beauty Blog just reviewed Jouer Bath and Body Oil and Body Butter. If you buy both, you can get a free candle. I haven't tried these products out, but I may have to soon.
This week at Sephora, you can get Basil Lemon Body Scrub for $8.50. That's half off!
You can get a free Coconut Foot Cream from Burt's Bees if you make a purchase of $35 or more. Great for sandal season.

If you know of any great deals that I've missed, let me know. Happy bargain hunting!

Hamman: A Turkish (or French or Moroccan) Delight

2010-06-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

O'Kari Hammam

While playing around on the Internets the other day, I came across this post at Hip Paris Blog about Paris’ Hammam Scene. Turns out hammam are traditional North African or Turkish steam baths.

According to SpaFinder, 2010 is the year of the hamman (I've also seen it spelled haman). Basically, these are public baths (men and women bathe separately) that include a massage and exfoliation.

I'm not sure how I feel about public baths, and they don't seem to have caught on in the U.S. yet. But it sounds like they are a more economical and less chi-chi way to get a nice steam and massage. What do you think? Would you try out a hammam during your travels?

Share the Spa

2010-06-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some relaxing links to help you get the week started out right:

All Lacquered Up recently visited Isola Day Spa at Put-in-Bay, OH.

The Beauty Counter blogs about Lafco's new House & Home candles, which have been designed to complement specific rooms in your house. I really want the Geranium Mint for the patio and the Grass for the laundry room. OK, really I want them all.

The Daily Obsession discovers why they call Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castille Soap magic. I love it for travel since it can be used as a body wash and a shampoo. You could even use it to clean out your undies in the sink.

Kimberly Wilson at Tranquility du Jour has been blogging about her time in Costa Rica. She led a a retreat at Pura Vida Retreat and Spa. Could I be any more jealous?

Shopafrolic recommends Murad Firm and Tone Serum for Body. It's supposed to diminish the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks. Lord knows I need that. But it's pretty pricey and I'm always skeptical of such claims. Has anyone else tried it?

So that's it for this Monday. Hope you all have great week and get a few moments of relaxation and time for yourself! You deserve it.

What I'm Using Now

2010-06-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

This is my monthly update on the bath and body products I'm currently using:

1. L'Occitane Organic Lavender Gel: I have no idea how to pronounce L'Occitane, but I'm a sucker for anything French and anything lavender. So this works on both counts. My sister gave this to me for my birthday (OK, I told her to get it for me), but I think it's a great gift because it is simultaneously practical and luxurious. The scent is great, and it definitely does the job. Not super moisturizing though.

2. Aveda Foot Relief: This foot lotion is great because it moisturizes, exfoliates and deodorizes all at the same time. (Not that my feet need deodorizing! OK, maybe a little bit.) I am a strong believer that every day should end with exfoliation of the feet. This will really help you stretch out the time between pedicures.

3. Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey & Grapeseed Oil Hand Creme: I picked this up at my campus bookstore one winter's day when my hands were crying out for some lotion. This lotion works in a pinch, but I can't say it's my favorite. It's OK in the moisturizing department, but the honey fragrance is pretty strong. I don't hate honey, but I just don't want to be smelling it all day long (unlike lavender, see above). Also, my biggest gripe about this lotion is that there is no SPF. Hand lotion must have SPF people! Do you want to walk around with brown spots all over your perfectly manicured paws? I think not. Unfortunately I'm too cheap to just throw this away. By next month I hope to have a nice SPF product to share with you.

4. Aveeno Stress Relief Foaming Bath:You had to know I would be all over this lavender bath soak. But unfortunately it also contains chamomile and ylang-ylang oils. And something (I'm blaming the ylang-ylang) is overpowering the lavender. The first time I used this I decided I hated the scent. I tried again and it started to grow on me. But I doubt I will purchase this again. It does foam up nicely and it's not too drying, but I wouldn't say it's very moisturizing either. With the humidity in these parts, which is already out of control (people, it's only June!), I think this will work for me for now.

5. Olay Quench Advanced Healing Body Lotion: This lotion is a real workhorse. It's moisturizing without being greasy. And it smells like . . . nothing! That's exactly what I want in an everyday body lotion. No crazy scents clashing with my shower gel and/or perfume. I just wish it was in a cooler bottle since I have to have some next to my bed at all times.
So that's it! My go to products for now. What about you? Do you like (or hate) any of these? What have you been using lately to keep clean and supple?

Recommendations Needed for Spa in New Orleans

2010-04-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

My sister is headed to New Orleans and is looking for advice about at a nice spa there. I don't really have any, so please respond in the comments if you know of one.

Here are a few that look promising:

Travel and Leisure magazine calls the Belladonna Day Spa one of the 10 coziest spas in the U.S. (Note to self: visit all of these spas.)

They also mention the Ritz-Carlton Spa in an article about spas that use local ingredients. (I hope that means they serve Hurricanes.)

And the Guerlain Spa in the Roosevelt Hotel also looks promising.

Hope you have a relaxing trip!

The Irony That is the Gaim Living Catalog

2010-04-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

So the Gaim Living catalog came in the mail the other day and on the front it says "earth day, savings and solutions." I'm pretty sure the best solution for the Earth is not to print and send catalogs and not to buy a bunch of stuff.

But now that I've gotten that off my chest, there was plenty of stuff in the catalog I wanted. Here are a couple of items that will help the Earth (or at least make me happy).

This solar buddha fountain costs a pretty penny, but wouldn't it make me feel so peaceful when I saw it in my yard?

Again, this rattan meditation chair is way out of my price range, but I just know it would help me maintain a regular mediation practice.

If you too can embrace the irony, then you can sign up right now for a $500 Gaiam Shopping Spree.

Occasional Randomness:Great post at mnmlist: the only thing you can change.

Best Health Book Ever: Live a Little!

2010-04-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

I blogged about this book awhile back when it was mentioned on the New York Times Web site. The thesis of the book sounded pretty good to me, but now that I've had a chance to actually read the book I have to say that I think that every woman (men too, but it is definitely slanted to a female audience) should read this book.

The authors, both doctors make the case that what most of us really want is to be "Pretty Healthy." And if you know the basics about living a healthy life style and are trying to do these thing, (you shouldn't smoke, you should do regular exercise, eat a variety of foods, etc.) then you are probably Pretty Healthy.

They go on to argue, that those of us who become obsessed (not that I would ever do that) with all of the health information floating around are probably making ourselves unnecessarily stressed out. They talk in detail about various diet and exercise studies and why many of them are inconclusive (despite the media hype).

In this book, Drs. Susan M. Love and Alice D. Domar offer some practical advice (backed up by research) about the range of activities that will (probably) lead to good health. And they make the very valid point, that we are all going to die (even if we run marathons and eat wheat germ every day). So why not just Live a Little!
Daily Randomness: Good post on mnmilst about not buying an iPad. Main point: I don't need one.

No Longer Waiting to Exhale

2010-03-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

So, I just got back from a conference trip to Santa Monica, CA. It was good trip. Weather was pretty good. I learned a lot and got in a lot of good networking time. I spent an afternoon at the Getty, which I highly recommend.

But, of course, the highlight of my trip was a visit to the Exhale Spa. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Santa Monica version of Exhale is located at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, which was several blocks from where I was staying. As it turns out the LA Marathon's finishing line was in Santa Monica, and it was wrapping up right when I was trying to get to my spa appointment. There were a ton of people milling around and a lot of barricades up, but I managed to make it to the Fairmont. No rain, nor sleet, nor crazy marathoners will keep me from pampering myself. I did feel a little bad when the folks working at the spa asked me if I ran the marathon. Are you kidding? I woudn't run around the block unless someone was chasing me.

But anyway, I managed to get over my guilt and enjoy my spa visit. The facilities were very nice. The locker rooms included both a dry sauna and a steam room, plus showers and lots of complimentary shampoo, lotion, etc. My massage therapist did a great job. Her name was Sherrie, and she was very nice without being chatty. I hate a chatty massage therapist. I was kind of surprised that she didn't ask me more questions about what I wanted, but I certainly can't complain because she did a very good job. The massage included a heated massage bed, some great aromatherapy and some OK (but kind of weird music.)

All in all it was a good experience. I wish I had time to take in a yoga class and some more spa treatments. Maybe next time.

Have any of you visited an Exhale spa? What did you think? Does Exhale live up to the hype in your humble opinion?
Daily Randomness: It's allergy season here in the Midwest. Ugh! Here's some info from Dr. Weil about allergy tests.

Philosophy: The Fun Kind

2010-03-16T14:52:00.001-07:00

I love philosophy! Not the kind that made your head hurt Freshman year in college. But the kind that you use in the bath and smells yummy! I got this sample box the other day from Sephora. It's called Classic Cookbook, and contains some of my favorite philosophy scents, including Cinnamon Buns.

Now I really should never buy this stuff because it has been known to make me crave things made out of butter and sugar. (Really, I crave that stuff most of the time anyway.) But I love the cute little 2 oz. size, and the fact that it's a three-in-one product that's great for traveling makes it worth it. Plus, it's on sale for $25 (under $6 a piece), a savings of $9. Now which one will I choose to take on my trip next week? What is your favorite philosophy scent?

And if you love philosophy too, you can enter their birthday party game. Enter to win a $1,000 shopping spree or an instant daily prize. I haven't won yet, but I'm going to keep trying.

Daily Randomness: I want to go to Morocco too! Check out these pictures on Elements of Style.

Meatless Monday

2010-03-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my hubbie who redesigned my blog! Doesn't it look good?

At my place of employment, a group of us make vegetarian dishes for each other on Mondays as part of an attempt to be more healthy and nicer to the environment. It's a really good deal because I just cook one dish a month and all of the rest of the Mondays I get a free, home-cooked meal. I definitely recommend you try this idea at your workplace. You can find out more about the Meatless Monday movement here.

Today I made a spinach and feta bread pudding that was really, really yummy. Doesn't it look delicious! Despite the whole milk, heavy cream and egg yolks, I'd say it was pretty healthy because it had spinach in it We also enjoyed lentil/pasta soup, vegan chocolate cake and whole wheat sugar cookies. Not a bad Monday despite the stupid daylight savings thing.

Recessionista alert!!! Bliss Spa is offering their Triple Oxyen Facial Treatment, which is one of their most popular services, for $135 (normally $160) for two weeks only. I don't live anywhere near a Bliss Spa. But hopefully you do and can take advantage of this special offer.

Daily Randomness: I finally saw Definitely, Maybe this weekend. Very cute!

Weekly Spa Envy: Exhale Santa Monica

2010-02-25T13:41:00.001-08:00

So last week I highlighted a spa that I will probably never go to. This week I decided to get realistic and pick out a spa I might actually visit on an upcoming trip.

I am going to Santa Monica in March for a conference. I am hoping to fit in a quick spa visit to Exhale. This is a chain of of 15 spas found primarily in big U.S. cities. Their spa philosophy is "merging the paths of mind and body wellbeing and fulfilling the need for an experience that improves and transforms lives in one environment." I'm up for that.

The spa is located at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, which unfortunately is not where I'm staying. Bu if I manage to sneak in a visit, I will report back.

Daily Randomness: Check out this great blog on Mindful Eating. I'm not very good at it, but maybe if I keep reading this blog I'll get better.

Wednesday Wellness: To Travel or Not to Travel

2010-02-23T12:55:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

We all know that it's important to take time away from work. And many people love to travel. I usde to love to travel. But with small kids and a tight budget, we don't travel much. And I find that the less I travel the less I miss it.

The New York Times article How Vacations Affect Your Happiness may explain why. According to the article, a Dutch study about happiness and vacations showed that most of the happiness comes from the anticipation of the trip. And after the trip happiness levels drop quickly.

In the comments for the article many people mentioned they just like some time off to putter around the house. I'm pretty much that way too. In our family we also try to take short trips. We've lived quite a few places, so it's always nice to see the stuff that's close by. A lot of people never do the cool things in their own city or state. And you don't have to get on a plane, which I think is probably the worst thing about traveling.

I haven't completely given up on vacations. Especially not spa trips if I ever get a chance! We're planning a long weekend trip to Chicago (hence the photo) soon. And we hope to get to Disney World in the fall (the things I do for my children). But I'm not going to get too hung up on the fact that I don't get to travel much these days. I will just plan some pretend trips if I'm feeling down!

Daily Randomness: Sticking with the New York Times, check out this interesting article about salt. Is it good or bad? Turns out, they don't really know.

Comfy Duds Update

2010-02-22T17:42:00.000-08:00

So I finally ordered a pair of Athleta Bettona jeans. The bad news is that they were too small, so I am having a hard time deciding if I like them are not. I have to say they are not overwhelming me. The fabric is 88% supplex nylon and 12% lycra spandex. I was hoping for a fabric that was a little more like the knit ponte that I recently bought from J. Jill. (Love!)

Also, the back patch pockets are a little small, and I don't love the metal rivet trim that is supposed to make these look like real jeans (I guess?). OK, so the more I am writing the less I am liking them. I still like the idea of something for the weekends that is dressier than sweats but more comfy jeans. I guess leggings serves that purpose anyway. But let me know if you have any suggestions.

Daily Randomness: So excited to find someone with my same philosophy about food. It seems like most people in this country have gone completely wacko on the subject.

Weekly Spa Envy: One & Only Resort

2010-02-18T12:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is a little bit of a stretch. But I may as well dream big. And the never ending cold and snowy weather is doing things to my head. So the spa I'm dreaming about this week, is the spa at the One & Only Resort in Cape Town. (See, I told you it was a stretch.)

This spa is located on its "very own lushly landscaped private island." I have nothing more to say.

Daily Randomness: Has anyone been playing around with Google Buzz? I haven't figured it out yet. Let me know if you think it's worth figuring out.

Wellness Wednesday: PT to the Rescue, I Hope

2010-02-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

Image by otisarchives4 via Flickr

So despite all of my yoga and my occasional foray into Pilates, my lower back has been killing me. My husband got sick of hearing about it, so I went to the doctor. He sent me to the physical therapist, which is what I was hoping for.

So far, so good. She gave me some very specific target stretches and strengthening exercises, which really do seem to be helping (although I'm still early in the process). Even though my back pain was probably pretty minor compared to what many people go through, it was really getting to be an annoyance. I really didn't like the idea of not being able to do things because of my back. I may be middle-aged, but I'm too young to just give up. And I have small children I need to keep up with.

Several people have expressed skepticism that there is much you can do for back pain or that physical therapists really work, but my experience has been positive so far. Do any of you have experience with physical therapy? What about pack pain? Do you think it's possible to ever get rid of it? Here's hoping that I'll be back in fighting shape soon.

Daily Randomness: Check out the blog Unhappy Hipsters: It's Lonely in the Modern World. Hilarious!

In My Humble Opinion: Hip Tranquil Chick

2010-02-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

I'm a little behind on writing about Hip Tranquil Chick: A Guide to Life On and Off the Yoga Mat, since the author Kimberly Wilson is currently on tour for her second book, Tranquilista. (Review coming soon.)

But I really wanted to write a little about this book, because it is such a nice combination of yoga, wellness, creativity, style and a little bit of business advice. This book really made me realize that you can combine all of those things. In fact, we do combine all of these things in real life. But often self-help books have a pretty narrow focus.

Kimberly is self-described as a "teacher, writer, do-gooder, entrepreneur, and eco-fashion designer." You can learn more about what she's up to on her blog Tranquility du Jour.

Even though I don't have the same style as Kimberly, I love that she seems so enthusiastic about her life and the things she loves and she makes no apologies. On her blog, she has mentioned several times that her favorite restaurant is Olive Garden. Not a very cool, or yoga-ish, thing to admit.

So go check out this book if you want a light (but serious) read that will get you inspired to take better care of yourself.

Daily randomness: Have you been watching the Olympics? I am loving the skiing and figure skating. Not so much the luge. I am now totally freaked out by it, plus it's a little boring to watch. What is your favorite Winter Olympics sport?

The Cure for the Wintertime Blues: Aveda's Tourmaline Mask

2010-01-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

Has your seasonal affective disorder kicked in? Mine has. We know what we're supposed to do when we start to feel the blues (or the mean reds for that matter). We're supposed to eat right, get more sleep, exercise, blah blah blah. But I say what we need is a little bit of pampering and a little alone time to wallow in our sick-of-winter-already state.

So I recommend a hot bath. Throw in some Epsom salts to relax your muscles, and some bath oil so your skin doesn't get dried out. Light a candle and maybe play some relaxing music. My trick for blocking out sound from the rest of the house is to use the exhaust fan as white noise. And then treat your SAD self to a nice facial mask.

I am a big fan of Aveda's Tourmaline Charged Radiance Masque (French spelling is always a good sign). Here's the breakdown:

Packaging: It comes in kind of an icky green colored package, but that fits with the "natural" thing that Aveda is into. But it works well and it's easy to get the right amount of product out. Check out their Web site to read about their Responsible Packaging info. They do try to use a minimum of 80% PCR in their packaging.

Ingredients: The important ingredient here seems to be the tourmaline. But who the heck knows what that is? It's actually a crystal silicate mineral. Ok, that doesn't really help. What is it supposed to do to skin? Aveda claims that it is "one of nature's most energizing minerals—boosts skin's energy, while natural exfoliants help skin gently shed dull, lackluster surface cells—revealing new radiance." Paula Begoun, beauty product reviewer extraordinaire, says that there is no research that shows that tourmaline actually does any of these things, but she also says it won't hurt anything. Paula also states that this is a pretty good moisturizing mask.

Scent: There really isn't one, which is probably just as well because any scent could be problematic for your skin. Add a few drops of essential oil to your bath if you are looking for a little aromatherapy.

Function: I think this mask works great. I don't think it works miracles. But I try to use it once a week, and I have been very happy with the results. My face seems to look a little firmer and clearer after I wear it, and it does not cause breakouts. I recommend wearing it for about 10 mintues. The longer you wear it, the more moisturizing it will be. And don't forget your neck and decollatage when applying.

So I hope you get to take a little time this week to pamper yourself. Do you have any other ideas for keeping your spirits up when temperatures are down?

Daily Randomness: I know I'm late to the party, but my favorite Golden Globes dress was definitely Gennifer Goodwin. I don't know why these actresses don't do more color when they're dressing up. I get the black because that always looks good. But they rarely pull of those pale and nude colors that they seem to gravitate to. What did you guys think? Overall the dresses seemed a little lame.

Give Yourself a Break

2010-01-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

Over on the New York Times "Well blog," there is a post about a book called, Live a Little! Breaking the Rules Won't Break Your Health. The author Dr. Susan M. Love argues that most of us are actually living pretty healthy lives and that we shouldn't let all of the rules about health stress us out.

Now, I don't know about most of us, but I bet if you are reading this blog and you think a lot about your health, you are already pretty healthy.

And I agree that trying to keep up with all of the latest information about nutrition and exercise can make us nuts. It certainly make me nuts sometimes. So I hope to read this book and I'll get back to you on Dr. Love's ideas about how to Live a Little!

Important Daily Randomness: My thoughts and best wishes to go out to the people of Haiti. If you can help out, please go to the Red Cross Web site and donate now. Every little bit helps.

Comfy Duds: Loft Lounge

2010-01-12T14:02:00.000-08:00

I ran into Loft (the store formerly known as Ann Taylor Loft) the other day on my way out of town looking for some leggings or something comfortable to wear while traveling. And I hit the jackpot.

Loft has a new Lounge line of clothing. I got some great black leggings. They are a nice substantial, non see-through material and they have held up well to a few washes. I also got a great black, long, ribbed cardigan sweater that I wear everywhere. It is unfortunately no longer available online. But here are some other sweaters from the collection.

I've also noticed that Ann Taylor has a new Luxe Lounge collection. Love!

And get over to Loft (in person or online right now) for 25% all purchases!

Daily Randomness: Has anyone seen Men of a Certain Age? I have no idea why I enjoy watching middle-aged male angst, but I do. Maybe because it's interesting to see what the other half is actually thinking about.

Showdown: Burt's Bees vs. Neutrogena

2010-01-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

I ran out of my favorite secret weapon against dry winter skin, Neutrogena's Body Oil. So I went to Target to get some more, but they were all out. (What's up with that?)

Anyway, I was desperate for a replacement. Not that I don't enjoy that awful itchy, parched skin feeling, but I thought others might not enjoy watching me do the entire body scratch that is necessary to stop the itching. I came across Burt's Bees Lemon and Vitamin E Bath and Body Oil, and I decided to give it a try.

So here's the comparison:

Packaging: They both come in easy-to-use plastic containers that aren't too exciting but aren't too offensive either. According to the Burt's Bees Web site, they are a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (sounds good), which means they "strive to use the most environmentally responsible packaging systems available that meet or exceed regulatory, product and customer requirements." Neutrogena doesn't really make any claims about their packaging, but it does come in a #1 bottle, which is easily recycled in most areas.

Ingredients: Again, Burt's Bees is marketed as environmentally friendly and all natural. I don't like to delve too deep into the issue of "natural" because it starts to make my head ache. The ingredients do include six different types of oils, including canola so it's heart healthy too. The main problem with all of these "natural" oils is that I'm sure some of them can cause allergic reactions, so be forewarned. The Neutrogena Body Oil contains one oil, sesame (I can't remember if that one is heart healthy, or not) and it contains four other chemical sounding ingredients.

Scent: Burt's Bees oil smells like lemon (hence the name). It doesn't smell like Pledge though. It smells fresh and it's not overpowering. But I think if you are putting it on your body after a bath or shower, you might want to be careful about the other fragrances you are wearing that might clash. I think the Neutrogena fragrance of sesame oil is more subtle, and I don't worry too much about it overpowering my perfume. I had a friend in college who swore that the smell of this oil attracts guys. I can't really vouch for that, but it is defintely the sexier of the two scents.

Function: You can really use body oils in two different ways, as an oil to put in your bath or as an after bath/shower moisturizer. In the winter it's definitely not overkill to do both. As a bath oil, Burt's Bees won me over. I put a couple of tablespoons in the bath and it definitely felt like I was getting moisturized but the bath wasn't greasy. But as a body oil, I still love my Neutrogena. The key thing with body oils is to put them on before you dry off. I really didn't feel like the Burt's Bees was quite as moisturizing as the Neutrogena.

Conclusion: Either of these body oils will get the job done and release you from the torture that is dry winter skin, but I think I would still pick the Neutrogean Body Oil, Sesame Formula over Burt's Bees Lemon and Vitamin E Bath and Body Oil. I like the more subtle scent and the after bath feel was just a little nicer. But if you are concerned about natural ingredients (or your stupid Target store runs out), the Burt's Bees is a great alternative.

Daily Randomness: I finally watched the finale of Iron Chef: Super Chef Battle. The battle was between Mario Batali with Emeril Lagasse and Bobby Flay with White House Chef Comerford. The secret ingredient was anything growing in the the White House garden. I was so jealous of the judges. All of the food looked great, and I think it is great that Michelle Obama is setting such a good example with the White House Garden. Maybe I'll plant one this summer. OK, I probably won't. But I will enjoy the tomatoes my husband plants. Does anybody else have plans to plant a garden this spring?

Do You Detox?

2010-01-05T14:02:00.000-08:00

Image by kahala via Flickr

Yesterday the Martha Stewart Show was all about detoxing. I like the idea of detoxing, but I'm pretty sure about 2 hours into it I would get a terrible headache and start eating everything sight. And yes, this would probably be a psychological reaction.

I'm a big fan of my juicer, and juicing is a big part of detoxing. But I'm not a big fan of eliminating food groups from my diet. I know all about how great I would feel if I quit eating meat or dairy or wheat or sugar or everything. But I just can't do it. Whenever I start one of these elimination diets (yes, I've tried), I just start to feel bad.

But maybe I'm doing it all wrong. So let me know if you have a detox plan that works for you. If you're looking for a detox plan, check out Martha's plan at Whole Living.

Happy detoxing!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T14:15:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

My New Year's resolution is to update my blog regularly. I want this to be a place where we can talk about "taking care of ourselves with joy." This is a phrase that I heard used in a loving kindness meditation, and it really describes what I am covering on this blog.

So often taking care of ourselves seems like a chore. We have to do more of this and less of that, and who can even keep up with the latest news on nutrition and exercise?

But really, most of this stuff is common sense. Michael Pollan makes this point in his latest book, Food Rules.

So during this new year (and decade), I resolve to take care of myself with joy. I hope you will join me!

Time for Links

2009-11-17T14:32:00.001-08:00

Here's what I've been reading. Hope you enjoy!

Already Pretty shares her thoughts on slips. Love 'em or hate 'em? I kind of hate 'em, but this post may have changed my mind.

Cranky Fitness discusses the frustration of reading New York Times health articles. This post was written before this article was published: Panel Recommends Mammograms at 50, Not 40. Ugh! Now I'm cranky too.

Allure lists the Best Baby Products for Grownups. I'm thinking maybe I'll buy some of that Baby Bee Shampoo and Wash for the whole family.

Dr. Weil has strategies for teeth grinders. I need to work on this. My jaw has been killing me. Anyone else have this problem?

Thank you Alpha Mom for these turkey downloads that my kids can color for Thanksgiving. Maybe this will give me a few moments of piece.

How's your Tuesday been? Mine's a little dreary. Hope to have more energy tomorrow.

DIY Spa: It's Time to Retreat

2009-11-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

I had a great experience last weekend. I went to an all day silent meditation and yoga retreat. It was part of a wellness class that is being offered at my place of work. I know, I'm really lucky to be working some place that has such a great wellness program. I will blog more about that later.

I was little worried about the retreat, which was 7 hours long, although we did talk some in the last hour. I was worried about not being able to talk, about being bored, hungry, sleepy or all three. But actually it was great. We were in a church that was beautiful with lots of windows. The trees were beautiful, and the day was gorgeous. And it turns out that I loved not talking. I really didn't want to stop not talking. It's such a relief not to have to make small talk with people I barely know. But then I am an introvert. It might drive extroverts crazy.

At the end of the day, most of the participants talked about how great it was and wanted to know when the next retreat would be. And I too will sign up for the next opportunity, but I also think we can do our own silent retreat at home anytime we want to. Or anytime we can take a day off of work or get a babysitter to watch the kids.

In fact, I found this great book at the library, called Spiritual Spa. I highly recommend it because it gives a great schedule of meditation, stretching and spa treatments, even menu ideas, that you can do at home.

The key to having an at-home spa day is to have everything set up in advance. You don't want to spend half of your day running errands so you have the right groceries, toiletries, etc. And don't forget to unplug the phone!

So what do you think? Would a day of silence be good for you? Or torture?

There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub. ~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Spa Review: Spa of Colonial Williamsburg

2009-11-03T13:50:00.000-08:00

Because of my limited budget and because of two little chains tying me to the house (AKA my darling children), I don't get to a lot of spas. But last spring I went to Williamsburg, VA on a business trip and so I booked myself a massage at the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg. I chose the WIFI massage. Here's the description:

"Step back in time and enjoy a true getaway from technology! Our WiFi massage soothes and treats points of wireless sensitivity and overuse. This full-body massage includes a focus on your hands, arms, neck, and shoulders. A soothing eye treatment relieves eye strain."

First, the facility was beautiful, both the buildings and the grounds. It's definitely easier to relax when you are in such a peaceful environment, and this spa is actually in the historical section of Williamsburg, which contributed a lot to the atmosphere.

The massage was great. I like my massage to be almost painful (so I feel like I'm getting something for my money), and the therapist (I wish I remembered her name) used great firm pressure. There was also some great aromatherapy touches, including the use of some herbal tea that smelled delicious.

I wish I had a chance to use some of the other facilities, such as the steam room or the whirlpool. They also had a really nice boutique, but I refrained from buying anything.

My only complaint (and this is not exactly about my massage) is that the signature scent used by the spa and the hotels in the Colonial Williamsburg resort, where I was staying, had a very strong lemongrass smell. I kept walking around the hotel wondering why so many people were wearing the same perfume. Turned out it was the smell from the complimentary bath products in the room that were created especially for the resort. I'm not super sensitive to smells, but it was way too strong for me. I would recommend that they make a fragrance adjustement to their freebees.

Despite the lemongrass debacle, I would definitely give the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg an A. Check it out if you have a chance.

Natural Beauty Enhanced: Vapour Organic Beauty

2009-10-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty skeptical about "natural" beauty products. First, nature isn't always a good thing. Things that people are allergic to, like peanuts and pollen, are natural. And it turns out that a lot of things that are put in "natural" products, like peppermint oil, are skin irritants. Second, just look at the list of ingredients on some of these products. They don't look very natural. But they get away with saying they are natural because they were derived from something natural. Of course, they skip the fact that it took chemicals to turn the natural ingredient into something you would want to put on your skin or hair. And last, an awful lot of this emphasis on "natural" doesn't seem like very good science. They try to scare us about certain chemicals, based on very little evidence, and then they say that some natural ingredient will solve all your problems, again based on very little evidence. See Paula Begoun for more on this subject.

All of that being said, I do like to support companies that are environmentally aware and I think that there are probably some "natural" products that are better for the environment and for us. There is a new line out called Vapour Organic Beauty that I would love to try out. The products look really interesting , the packaging is very sleek and they even have some credibility behind their nature-y claims. The USDA has certifed their Lux Organic Lip Conditioner, so we know that it is actually made of organic ingredients. In fact, sll the products are at least 70% organic.

But the important question is does it work? Let me know if you have tried out any of these products. I plan to try out a few myself, and I will let you know.

Comfy Duds: Clothes for Travel

2009-10-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

I love to think about traveling. I like to think I'm a good packer, and I can spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to pack and what I need to buy for a trip and how organized I'm going to be. But the truth is I often wait until the last minute to do the actual packing, and I don't really do such a great job after all.

Also I have the "rule of one" when I travel. This means that I will always forget one important thing. No matter how much planning and expert packing, I must forget one thing that will cause me annoyance throughout the trip.

With all of that in mind, I am starting to think about traveling at Thanksgiving. We always go see my mother-in-law. It will be a quick trip and we will fly. Oh, and this is very important, I have two sons. They are 3 and 6. So I am always struggling to find something cute to wear while traveling that is also practical and comfortable. You can check out Star's Airport Style for ideas about what I probably won't be wearing.

So what should I wear? I generally try to steer clear of the tunic and leggings look, but I'm wondering if this would be just the occasion for leggings. I know, Tim Gunn would say no.

I've also been dying to buy these jean-styled yoga pants. Could I get away with these at the airport? (Sorry, Tim. Please don't have a heart attack).

Or should I just tough it out and wear a pair of jeans? I guess they aren't that uncomfortable.

Any suggestions?

Moments of Zen: The Mystical Arts of Tibet

2009-10-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Today through Thursday there are Tibetan monks, sponsored by Richard Gere, in my place of work. I bet you didn't think it would be cool to work in an academic library, like I do. But it turns out there are a lot of cool things that go on here and this is one of them.

So you may be curious about what they are doing and why they are here for several days. They are sand painting. To learn more about this, you can visit their Web site.

But basically, they painstakingly place millions of grains of colored sand onto a table using a metal funnel to create a beautiful pattern called a mandala. The mandala is used as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants.

On Thursday, they will destroy the painting and share the sand with the audience. I really want to get some of that sand. It seems like it would carry some very good karma.

Anyway, I just thought some of you might be interested in this. If there is no mandala sand painting going on near you, check out on YouTube.

Martha Monday: Grilled Vanilla Peaches

2009-08-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

I had a great weekend because I got to see Julie and Julia. I've been dying to see this movie because I read Julia Child's My Life in France, and I loved it. Also, I'm sort of obsessed with Martha Stewart the way that Julie, the blogger in the movie is obsessed with Julia Child. I really have nothing insightful to say about this movie, but I loved it and everyone should go see it.

Because I love Martha Stewart, I have been a faithful readier of the Martha and Me blog. MarthaAndMe has just started a weekly joint venture called Martha Monday. This is how she describes it: "Each week we will cook, craft, or do a Martha project together on Monday, with the goal being to add a little Martha to our lives." I jumped on this right away because I love doing all things Martha, and it's so great to have some like-minded crazy people to connect with on the Internets.

Anyway, this Monday's project was to make Grilled Vanilla Peaches, page 78 of Martha Stewart Living August issue (keep watching the Web site if you want the recipe). I made them last night, and they were delicious. (Since I'm new to this I forgot to take a picture.) This is a great healthy-ish dessert idea. You just peel and halve some peaches. Brush them with a nice vanilla and cinnamon mixture. Stick them in a foil packet and cook them on the grill for 15 minutes. Then voila! you have a great topping for vanilla ice cream. Or if you were being super healthy. you could go for some frozen yogurt of even eat them plain. It was sort of like having peach pie without the crust (and the work). My whole family (I have a 3-year old and a 6-year old and a husband) thought it was "delicious!" So far this Martha Monday thing is working out great. Can't wait to see what's up for next week.

You may be wondering what this has to do with A Spa Life. I believe that good food is an important component to having a full and healthy life. And I believe that cooking at home is one of the best ways to enjoy great food. We can't always be at a great restaurant and most of us don't have personal chefs, but we can all enjoy simple, delicious recipes at home. And instead of waiting until we can make it to the spa, we can enjoy great healthy, spa food at home (with occasional indulgences). I will be blogging about healthy recipes (and my idea of healthy is pretty broad) from time to time, and I would love it if you would share some of your favorite recipes.

Comfy Duds: Weekend Wear

2009-06-16T14:24:00.001-07:00

I was recently having some real issues with being comfortable but stylish during my down time. I have my work wardrobe under control. And I have some cheapo workout clothes from Target that seem to do the trick (although I would love to upgrade), and I have even found pajamas that are cute and comfortable (thank you Garnet Hill). But on the weekends, I really struggle with clothes that I can run errands in and maybe even leave on while I'm hanging out with the fam.

But I finally came up with a solution, and it involves an overall change in my philosophy of clothes. This philosophy consisted of wearing pants almost all of the time. For some reason I decided that pants, jeans or capris (almost never shorts, oh the horror!) were comfortable and dresses and skirts were not comfortable, but good for wearing to work or dressy occasions. But due to the fact that I can never find pants that fit exactly the way I want, I finally decided that this philosophy of dressing was completely delusional. So now I am all about the skirts.

Really, I don't know what took me so long. It is much easier to find skirts that fit. You don't have to worry about hemming a skirt so that it will go with one particular heel height, and you don't have to worry about a few pounds lost or (more likely) gained. One thing that helped spark this revelation was reading a blogger (sorry, I don't know wear) discuss her love of skirts. She stated that she can do anything in a skirt that she can in pants, except a cartwheel. Read Already Pretty's Pant Rant for some more skirt love.

So I have solved my what to wear on the weekend problem with knit skirts. I have two tiered knit skirts in both black and brown from Ann Taylor Loft that I got several seasons ago. And lucky for me, tiered skirts are still in style. I also bought this knit skirt by Velvet. It is sooo comfortable and sooo swingy. And if I want to step it up a notch on the weekends, like go to a restaurant that involves being served by a waitress (it does happen occasionally), I can switch to a knit dress (I know, I'm living on the edge) or a more structured skirt.

Moral of the Story: Skirts=Comfy Duds

Welcome!

2009-06-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

Image by BadrNaseem via Flickr

Welcome, to A Spa Life. This blog is all about rest, relaxation and pampering. It's not about rest and relaxation so that we can be better workers or parents or just people. If you, like me, are lazy enough to think that the reason we work is so we can relax, not the other way around, this is the blog for you. There will be posts on comfy (but stylish) clothes, simple beauty, at-home spa ideas, lazy recreation and, on a slightly more serous note, yoga, meditation and a tiny bit of spirituality. I will also provide spa reviews on the rare occasion I get to visit a real one. But hopefully, you all can help out with your own spa reviews to share.

Please join in the conversation and let me know what you would like to hear about. So everyone, let's get ready and relax!

I was so excited (and a little jealous) to see the spas posted at elements of style today. They all look gorgeous. I will put these on my wish list for when I win the lottery. I know, I know, you actually have to buy lottery tickets for that to happen. Anyway, enjoy and don't drool all over your computer! It's bad for your keyboard.