A beautiful day in the neighborhood!

My friend Julia and I enjoyed a gorgeous day in SB, Summerland and Carpinteria! First we got a cuppa joe at Cafe Luna in Summerland, then headed to Bellezza Vita Spa and was pleasantly surprised that they carried Jaqua products! Then just a block away we visited Amara Spa to see one of my esthesistas, Katy, who works there...and she spotted a celeb there today -- I'll keep it a secret though!:). Julia and I then headed to Carpinteria where we visited a few shops and the newly owned Enchanting Cottage Spa. The new owner Lisa is super nice and the spa looks fantastic -- I can't wait to try a treatment! She carries a couple of unique lines -- Tasha and Chi. We then jetted over to Hwy 192 to visit the Rose Story Farm which is one of my favorite little spots (but we were greeted with a less than friendly person:(...bummer as it was Julia's first time there! Last stop in Carp...well Bill at Surf Dog of course! We got a couple of dogs and enjoyed the ocean view as we ate our lunch!

Ooh-la-la at Peaches!

I had a refreshing facial at Peaches with Nicole -- I LOVED ALL OF THE MASKS she used on me! I got the "Red, White and Blue" facial which is packed with antioxidants! Red is the antioxidant cranberry, pomegranent enzyme peel, blue is for the blueberry, bilberry, mulberry salcylic acid peel that follows the first peel, and the white is represented by the rich Kaolin Clay Peaches Skin Care detoxifying mask. Nicole has a brand new exclusive Peaches line that she used on me! She cleansed with Peaches Skin Care "Classic Peach" creamy cleanser with lavender and geranium essential oils. The oxygen spray was used to apply a special A,C and E serum, and and then she moisturized with her favorite product the "Dew Well" serum, designed to hydrate skin on a deeper level with plant DNA, hyaluranic acid and too many essential oils to mention.We topped that off with Epidermal Growth Factor (perfect for post peel skin rejuvenation) She finished the facial with Cellex C SFP30 or 30+. WOW! I have been enjoying the compliments on skin -- thanks Nicole! I'm not sure what kind of fan brush she used to apply the masks, but it felt incredible and the scents of each mask were a delight! P.S. Nicole is a master extractor!

Spa in Montecito needs Esthetician

Riverblue Salon Spa is looking for a part-time esthetician. Yonka products are used for facials and available retail. Call Meghan or Suni at 805-565-1999 to apply.

Manicurist Needed!

Le Reve, an aromatherapy day spa downtown Santa Barbara has an available manicurist position. Person would start asap. Email info@le-reve.com or call 805-564-2977.

Couples Massage -- what a nice treat!

Cielo Spa (such a darling little place tucked away just off State Street) is now accomodating couples for same room treatments! This is a divine gift...and not just for the holidays! Roxanne, the owner and massage therapist at Cielo often treats couples from LA who want to come to SB for a little getaway, and what a great escape....massage and then perhaps a walk on the beach!

Holiday Glow Tips!

Thank you Destress Essentials for these awesome skin glowing tips!

• Drink lots of water
• exfoliate in shower
• Gently steam face using dried herbs
• See the good in others
• Love yourself!
  

Murad Spa hired an Acupuncturist!

I am very happy to share that my friend Karen, a recent graduate of SBCOM and recently licensed Acupuncturist, just got a job at Murad Spa in Santa Monica! Murad is in the beginning stages of opening a wellness center which of course includes acupuncture treatments. Murad is one of my favorite spas and I love their skincare products! Congratulations Karen!

My Favorite Surf Photographer!

I am thrilled to add Low Tide Rising to my Gotta Have It list (look for it by the end of the month!) Low Tide Rising is owned by my favorite surf photographer Branden Aroyan who lives right here in Santa Barbara! The company creates and sells awesome surf photos/prints and also men's and women's t-shirts with the surf photos on them (photos taken from Branden's travels around the world) and the Low Tide Rising logo. I also love adding this to my list because I wanted to have more gift ideas for men. Branden is very successful in his photography; I met him when I worked at Brooks Institute of Photography -- his portfolio blew me away. Definitely take time to check out his site -- you absolutely can not go wrong with a Low Tide Rising gift for someone on your list -- it's original, made by a local SB surfer and photographer and they are beautiful images! The men's shirts are 100% organic AND 1% of sales is donated to organizations working to preserve the environment -- how cool is that!
P.S. you can order from his website or they are also available at Samy's Camera downtown on Chapala Street!

Rave Reviews for Walter Claudio!

I was very happy (not surprised) to get an email about how "divine" Maggie's facials are at Walter Claudio. Maggie is one of my "esthesistas" -- we went to esthetician school together and she really is a wonderful esthetician and Massage Therapist! Here is the review I received from her client:
"I got a facial from Maggie last Friday at Walter's.... Oh my, it was divine! She is amazing - I seriously felt more relaxed afterwards than I do when I get a 2 hour massage! It was heaven!" --Sara Caputo, Radiant Organizing

Buttercream Frosting!

Have you seen the Gotta Have It list on Spa Defined lately?? It is fantastic and has become one of my favorite projects. Since I moved to Santa Barbara I have fallen in love with all of the wonderful and unique products and shops unique to SB. It is so much fun to discover these products! Jaqua is a product line just added to my Gotta Have It list (the Jaqua founders and sisters -- Jennifer and Sara are pictured here); I could go on and on about their products! The scents are so yummy, but the ingredients in each lotion, body butter or shower syrup are SO good for your skin -- ingredients like ginseng and fruit extracts, Macadamia and kukui nut oil, Kaolin Clay -- just to name a few! One of my favorites is the buttercream frosting body butter; I also love the Rose Body Mist. I always recommend SB products for gifts -- Women especially LOVE to get SB gifts especially if they live where it is cold and snowy this time of year! Jaqua products have delightful packaging which resonates with the SB community. Check out my list for more thoughtful and wonderful SB gift ideas such as Sweet Love Chocolates and Sharon Bolton Scents!

A facial for Julia

My friend Julia and I often do trades for treatments and she gave me a great cupping treatment for my injured arm. I treated her to a facial yesterday and used Jurlique to pamper her with aromatherapy (lavendar and rose) and Dr. Murad to cleanse (AHA/BHA cleanser), hydrate (hydrating mask with chamomile) and exfoliate (fruit enzyme mask). I also tried Zia Pumpkin Enzyme Mask which I really loved for her skin! I hope you enjoyed your treatment Julia!

Grand Opening! @ Central Coast Massage Supply

Central Coast Massage Supply is having a Grand Opening this upcoming Monday, December 18 from 6pm-9pm. CCMS carries high-end and organic products for professionals in the spa industry (my favorite is the Comphy Co. Sheets!). Purchase a $10 ticket for a raffle drawing to be held at 8:30 for a new Earthlite Spirit or Astralite Venus III Massage Table. Location: Downtown 1213 State St. Suite M. 957-4838 or ccms-sb@cox.net for more information!

Spa Front Desk Position

Le Reve Aromatherapy Day Spa is hiring for morning and afternoon reception shifts. HOurs include mornings- 9:30-2:00 evenings 2:00-6:30
Must be great with customer service and enjoy working in a relaxing tranquil environment. Please fax resumes to: 805-564-4314 or call 805-564-2977

Manicurist Needed

Le Reve Day Spa is looking for a full time manicurist to work in a busy day spa. A wonderful place to work with great clientele and co-workers. Please fax resume to 805-564-4314 or call 805-564-2977

Holiday Newsletter with all kinds of Goodies!

The secret's out! Check out Skin Resolutions' holiday newsletter- featuring
their experienced Aestheticians' lists of favorite products and services!
Available in store and online at www.skinresolutions.com

Buttercream Frosting Hand Cream!

Jaqua's Buttercream Frosting Hand Cream is one of my favorite hand creams -- it smells SO delicious! Jaqua products will be added to Spa Defined's Gotta Have It list very soon -- be sure to check out ALL of their yummy products -- Peach Parfait, Pina Colada and Pink Champagne are just a few of the scents they carry. Jaqua is available all around town including the Aqua Nail Bar. And the line is created by Santa Barbara sisters Jennifer and Sara Jaqua -- I love SB made products!

Walter Claudio Rediscovered!

One of the many things I love about my job is finding the quaint, "best kept secret" spas in Santa Barbara. However, I recently visited the well-known Walter Claudio Salon and Spa for a facial and brow wax. Even though just about everyone in town knows about the Salon, I think the spa is still one of the best kept secrets, but it won't be for long! I got a balancing facial by one of the estheticians Yesenia. It is evident that Yesenia LOVES what she does! I loved the facial which also included scalp, shoulder, arm, hand and foot massage. The atmosphere of the spa is really cool and very "Santa Barbara"; the walls of the treatment rooms are actually the original brick walls of the historical building -- lots of character. Yesenia also did a brow wax and shape before my facial -- my face was glowing when all was done. Thank you Yesenia and Angela for a great day!

Wow! Look at those Eyelashes!

Skin Resolutions is now carrying Revitalash --it's an incredible lash growth product. It stimulates growth and regrowth of both your lashes and eyebrows to make them thicker, fuller and longer. It was created by an opthomologist for his wife who lost her lashes due to chemotherapy.

Holiday Special from the Skin Resolutions Staff: If you purchase 3 Facials gift certificates, you will receive a free gift box from Decleor! Happy Holidays!

I have an article in the Independent!

Be sure to pick up an Independent this week -- I have an article on NOT giving cliche Christmas gifts! Gifts that would fall in the category of good, original and unique gifts are listed on my Gotta Have It list!:) One of my suggestions for a gift idea is of course the gift of rejuvenation -- gift certificates to spas! Happy Shopping! Share some of your favorite gifts that you received or gave to someone else!

Chocolate -- You Gotta Try This!

Soon to be added to Spa Defined's Gotta Have It List is Sweet Love Chocolate. I recently met with Tatiana Wild, one of the young women who is the founder and creater of this new company that specializes in making truffles with raw chocolate. These truffles have NO sugar and are sweetened with agave nectar or raw honey. So....are they good? Honestly, I doubted a bit, but I sampled the "Cherry High" and "Ancient Wisdom" which had cinnamon and cayenne spices (I know, I know, I have a tough job!:). They were delicious...blissful...and the splurging felt even better knowing there was no sugar!

Check out the Gotta Have It list for other Santa Barbara-made and other unique spa product "finds" that I LOVE!

New Gorgeous Spa in Los Olivos!

Last weekend I went with my friends Julia and Nicole to see the tree lighting in Los Olivos. We got there just in time to see the little angel (a little girl named Theresa Johnson with a halo and wings!) magically light the tree. As we strolled through town, we sipped on hot cider and heard Christmas music. All of the stores were open including the beautiful new Divine Spa. The spa once called "Spa Vigne" is now "Divine, A Wine Country Day Spa". We toured each treatment room and the retail space. The new look is breathtaking and I can't wait to indulge in a treatment. I believe they are using Susan Ciminelli and Sampar product lines. If you visit before I do, I'd love to hear about it!

My hair got pampered!

Who knew that blow drying one's hair was an art?! I had the pleasure of visiting Walter Claudio this past Tuesday and received a scalp massage, wash and dry by Anita. She used Aveda oil for the scalp massage -- I love Aveda's scents. I didn't realize how much tension I was holding in my scalp, but as she massaged my eyelids were getting very heavy! Anita spent 20-30 minutes blow drying and styling my hair -- It looked great! Anita, do you think you can come to my house every morning??

Holiday Boutique Party and Trunk Show

Treat, a beauty product boutique downtown, is hosting a holiday party featuring Makeup, Jewelry and Champagne December 8th (this Friday) from 4-7pm! Learn more about Jour, an innovative make up line and meet Shannon Len and view all of her exquisite jewelry pieces! Treat is located at 13424 State Street. P.S. Also available at Treat is my new favorite scents from Sharon Bolton! Treat has so many TREATS for holiday gifts!

Lavender Gifts!

Aromas for Living Holiday Open House
Sunday-Wednedsay, December 3-6
10:00am - 8:00pm
13545 Nightsky Dr
Santa Rosa Valley, CA (Camarillo)

Browse website to preview gifts Aromas For Living, http://www.aromasforliving.com
Join our friends for shopping, lavender lemonade and holiday cheer!

Sharon Bolton Scents

One of my favorite items, Sharon Bolton Scents -- www.sharonboltonscents.com is now available at Aqua Nail Salon, www.aquanailbar.com. Maybe treat yourself with a pedicure when you stop by to get these beautiful oil scents. SB Scents are also available at Treat, www.treatthyself.com and Angel in Montecito and Wendy Foster downtown.

One of my fave products!

Yahoo!!! I am so excited; I just received Skin Deep newsletter and they are now offering Sweet Spot products -- they are one of my favorite products and listed on my "Gotta Have It" list! Check them out www.skindeepsalon.com and let me know what you think!