Another Esthetician Blog!

While catching up on some Spa Industry news online at Skin inc., I came across a great Esthetician Student blog called The Making of an Esthetician. I love the concept!
Remember, my students also post skincare info and news on their blog Nourish Your Skin!

Yoga Retreats in Italy

My friend Shanna recently asked me about yoga workshops and retreats in Italy, so ... I did a little research and found some great resources! Maybe I should take up Yoga?

I found these retreats in Italy on Yoga Finder which lists yoga retreats around the world! Here are the Italy ones:

Sunflower Retreats -- in Casperia, 1 hour North of Roma

Casa della Pace -- Pietralunga, about 1 hour from Assisi, approximately 2-3 hours from Rome and 3 hours from Florence.

The Hills that Breath -- Urbino, near Bologna

In Sabina -- Torri, 1 hour from Rome

Finding Balance in Italy sounds pretty divine to me!

Eco-conscious Hair Artist

Being in the business of Spa Health and visiting spas to try new treatments, I also visit salons as they are a part of the growing spa industry. I love the "business" of referrals and connections (best kind of advertising I think!) and I was recently connected with Shanna Sisney at Blossom Hair Boutique, next door to Treat in the Arlington Shopping nook (Steph, a lovely esthetician friend from S'Bia referred me to her!)

It seems ironic that I am so picky about my hair cuts and color when I normally I don't spend a lot of time styling my hair on a daily basis -- since I lived in Italy, simplified even more and have a hectic schedule, it's all about quick and simple for me -- wash hair, blow dry for maybe 2 minutes to give a little "oomph" (I guess that's the technical term) ... although the oomph goes away in about an hour ... maybe a little hairspray if I have some sitting around. And it certainly isn't that I don't care about my hair, I just like simple ... and let's face it, I spend more time on the skincare regimen (hey, I'm an esthetician, what do you expect?)

But I gotta say ... I loved my hair when Shanna cut, styled and colored it ... and I loved it because when she was finished, I didn't want to go home and mess with it to find my comfort in my new cut and color -- it was exactly what I wanted. I'm not a cosmetologist so I don't know exactly what she did, but I could tell the technique was different and it simply worked with my hair type ... Shanna and I actually have very similar fine hair, so I think she knew exactly how to handle mine. I couldn't have been happier.

Okay, so the hair is great, but ... there were a handful of other things that just made for a great experience overall with Shanna. The first one is that she is very eco-conscious ... in her overall lifestyle and she uses traditional and less toxic products. Shanna is trained originally Aveda, so the eco-friendly philosophy is there, but she lives it sincerely too. Picture this -- a naturally beautiful, mom of two, hops in her Hybrid Prius at 6 am to go to kick boxing, followed by brikram yoga (the sweat your butt off kind of yoga).

And isn't it an extra bonus when you meet someone and just like them? Shanna is genuine and passionate about her business. I recently went to LA for a casting appointment ... and me, being the "no hassle hair" person didn't even think about making sure my hair looked it's best. But Shanna was so excited and insisted on blow drying and styling my hair the morning of. Now mind you, I was in such a rush that morning that I slammed by finger in the door, arrived at Shanna's, sweaty, with a bloody finger ... calmly she gave me a cold press while she styled my hair (and her cute little Persian kitty Finigan nibbled on my toe the whole time I sat there which was ticklish, adorable and comforting all at the same time.)

So, as Stephanie recommended Shanna to me, I recommend her to you. Oh, by the way, I invited her to speak with my esthetician class and Juanita's (other instructor) cosmetology class on June 9; she will be presenting on being more "green" in your business and using toxin free hair color products.

Sleep Tips from Four Seasons Westlake Village

Top 10 Tips for Sleeping Well
Provided by California Health & Longevity Institute physicians and wellness experts including registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, lifestyle consultants, clinical hypnotherapists as well physicians of Western and Eastern medicine.

1. Create a sleep environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool. Make sure pillows and mattresses are comfortable and supportive.

2. Try to eat at least two hours before bedtime. If eating early is not an option, a bedtime snack that is high in carbohydrates stimulates serotonin, which aids sleep. Suggested snacks include whole wheat toast with natural peanut butter, banana and honey served with chamomile tea or old-fashioned blueberry oatmeal topped with non-fat vanilla yogurt, almonds and honey.

3. Avoid caffeine after 2 p.m. Avoid spicy foods, protein and alcohol two hours before bedtime.

4. Try not to watch television or utilize a laptop computer at least 30 minutes before bedtime or in bed.

5. Establish a bedtime routine such as drinking a cup of non-caffeinated herbal tea, soaking in a warm bath or listening to soothing music.

6. Do not stress if you feel you are not getting enough sleep. Try not to look at the clock in the middle of the night.

7. Refrain from strenuous exercise two hours before bedtime. Try relaxing stretches and yoga.

8. If lying awake for more than 20 minutes, get up and engage in a relaxing activity such as reading.

9. To improve the 24-hour sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythms), establish consistent rest and activity patterns from day to day. Studies also show that regular exposure to bright or outdoor lights, especially in the late afternoon, stabilizes those rhythms, enhancing the quantity and quality of your sleep.Develop a ritual to break the connection between sleep and the day’s stressors. One method is to make a list of any pressing issues, along with a possible plan for dealing with them. Another is to keep a favorite photo nearby that has a calming effect.

10. Develop a ritual to break the connection between sleep and the day’s stressors. One method is to make a list of any pressing issues, along with a possible plan for dealing with them. Another is to keep a favorite photo nearby that has a calming effect.

Sleep Well Program at Four Seasons

Yes, I live in Santa Barbara and the lovely Four Seasons Biltmore is just miles away ... across from my favorite Butterfly Beach, but I have to admit ... my favorite Four Seasons in Cali is the Four Seasons Westlake Village-- the customer service, treatment options, PR events and their wellness center -- all so impressive and a perfect place for a weekend getaway.

Always adding to their menu and enhancing the overall spa experience, Four Seasons Westlake Village and the California Health & Longevity Center have created a "Sleep Well" program.

With more than 50-70 million people suffering from sleep disorders or loss according to a recent study released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), guests of Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village are invited to get a good night’s rest with a new Sleep Well program. Created with guidance from physicians, dietitians and other experts regarding what sets the stage for a restful slumber, the program includes suggested cuisine, soothing spa treatments, specialty pillows and even services such as guided imagery or clinical sleep studies offered through California Health & Longevity Institute.

The therapists at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village created a relaxing facial treatment exclusively for inclusion in the new Sleep Well menu. Performed in the privacy and comfort of the guest room, it begins with a mind calming ritual based in aromatherapy with the relaxing benefits of chamomile. After a gentle cleanse, exfoliation and purifying mask application, an extended neck, scalp and facial massage is performed. This treatment is 50 minutes and available for $225. Other recommended treatments include the Pure Lavender Body Treatment, infused with the herb’s known soothing powers for a full-body exfoliation and massage. Reiki, a Japanese energy treatment, balances the seven chakras, providing qi. A kamille (chamomile) bath can be paired with any of these services for a gentle, soothing ritual.

Complementary Therapies Clinical studies suggest that certain complementary therapies can result in better sleep. In partnership with California Health & Longevity Institute, located at the Hotel, guests have access to acupuncture and mind-body therapies such as clinical hypnotherapy, guided imagery and meditation. Additionally, physicians offer clinical sleep studies for those who have trouble sleeping at night, which can be monitored within the comfort of a Four Seasons guest room.

To reserve a good night’s sleep at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, please call (818) 575-3000, toll free (800) 332-3442

Spa Defined on About.com!

Wow! I don't know how it happened, but Spa Defined is a listed resource on the very popular About.com for California travel! I found this out by checking Spa Defined statistics and website hits and click throughs (one of my favorite daily activities to see how many hits we have and where they are from!) Statcounter allows me to see where a site visitor came from -- whether it's from a partner site like santabarbara.com or spasofamerica.com or a Google search for "Santa Barbara Spas." In the past month or so, I have seen several hits from About.com -- awesome!

Gotta love stats, click throughs, hits, website traffic ... I think I'm becoming a computer geek!:) Oh well, it's fun to see that someone in Italy, Japan, Ireland, England ... New York, Texas, Arizona, and so many other places around the US and the world are visiting Spa Defined!

Teddy Bear Foundation

Today Walter Claudio Salon and Spa teamed up with the Teddy Bear Foundation to pamper moms whose children have or had cancer. I volunteered as one of the estheticians to give facials and 5 of the esthetician students -- Kiz, Michelle, Karen, Barbara, and Vanessa, also volunteered their time and assistance. Kiz and Michelle assisted Nancy -- an esthetician from Evolutions and Barbara and Vanessa assisted Leslyne of Evolutions while Karen assisted me -- it was really fun and rewarding! In addition to facials, the moms also got pedicures -- Claudia from Aqua Nail Bar had her team there; the moms got massages from Carrie of Evolutions, Maggie from Walter Claudio and Joy from Montecito Bodyworks! AND the pampered moms got their hair washed with a scalp massage and a blow dry -- whew!!! I hope they felt pampered because they certainly deserved it!

It was great to see everyone and fun to see all the spa women from different spas in town all at Walter Claudio for this event! Thank you Angela, Antoinella and Nikki and your teams for organizing this heartfelt event!

Nicole at Peaches

Peaches was recently featured in Heart Magazine, a publication out of Las Cruces New Mexico! The Associate Editor of the magazine, Charlotte Tallman, indulged in a facial during her recent visit to Santa Barbara. Read her praises of Peaches and other Santa Barbara favorites! Congratulations Nicole for your recognition and getting to show the uniqueness of Peaches Skincare!

P.S. Nicole just added a new serum to her Peaches skincare line -- it's a Vitamin C + Collagen Serum! This is a great treatment to put on at night after cleansing your skin. This product is great for hydration and skin refining. It's one of her best sellers!

A Celebrity for a Day

Last Friday could have been "Princess for a Day" or "Celebrity for a Day" ... or just plain and simple -- a fun (and funny) day!

I needed to go to Burbank for a project ... which required a little primping -- I needed to look my best. A group of my best gal pals pulled together, last minute, a great beauty team and by the time they were finished with me -- I looked and felt great!

On a day to day basis, I'm very SB casual ... loving jean and flip flops, but because of Shanna, Monica, Steph and Jamie -- I looked pretty darn cute!:) But ... there was drama the morning of. I woke up bright and early to pick up the Mercedes (yahoo!). It was so hot on Friday, that I couldn't imagine driving to LA in a Miata with no AC after I just spent all of this time getting dolled up, so Enterprise hooked me up again. That morning Jamie from Michelle Wilder Boutique dropped off 6 outfits for me to choose from to wear! Who knew -- me in a dress?! And A few days prior Steph hooked me up with a mini facial, eye brow tinting and waxing (at this point I can't believe how much effort goes into all of this!). I loved my eye brows! Friday morning, I was rushing out of the house to get to Saks to have my friend Monica do my make up ... and ... are you ready for this ... in a hurry, I run out the door, and ... SLAM! (that would be my finger in the door!) It took about 3 seconds for the pain to hit my brain. I was still in rush mode simply having a conversation with myself "I can't believe you just slammed your finger in the door." Then I noticed blood everywhere, I rush to the bathroom, soak my finger ... and ... wow...am I feeling faint? dizzy? I keep having this conversation with myself "No, you're fine...you're late...don't worry"...but I was not feeling well at all! In a matter of seconds in the bathroom, I realize I am NOT fine and I am dizzy, so I decide that I should lie down on the bathroom floor before I pass out ... and about half way down to the floor, well... that's all I remember. I passed out, maybe for just a minute and opened my eyes covered in sweat. Luckily I had wrapped a washcloth around my finger. Still with the final goal in my mind, I lay there for a few minutes trying to pull it together, then I get myself up and out of there (hoping I don't get any blood in the Mercedes!)I make it to Saks ... late ... explain to Monica what happened. Despite my sweaty skin, she still manages to make me look great ... (she's awesome). The whole time I'm sitting in the make up chair, with this bloody wash cloth wrapped around my finger, thinking to myself "I can't believe I slammed my freakin' finger in the door." 20 minutes later, I run out of Saks, on my way to my friend Shanna who would be doing my hair (thank God because I just wash and run usually.) I arrive late and explain my situation. She is, of course, calming, humorous and understanding. I was relaxed as she blow-dryed my hair and her white persian kitten Finnigan nibbled on my toe the whole time. It made my morning and made me forget about the throbbing in my finger ... (note: white fluffy kitty nibbling on my toe is good medicine for my throbbing finger.) Only 20 minutes later, my hair is fab. Can you believe I leave SB at noon ... my meeting in Burbank is at 1:00. All the way to LA, my finger is still bleeding. I arrive 38 minutes late, but it is no big deal. At one point, a photo was taken, the photographer said "smile" and then he stopped and said, "Does that light bother you? Is it too bright in here?" I just laughed and said, "No, the light is fine,...see, the thing is my eyes just naturally close when I smile; it's just the way it is -- the light doesn't bother me." and then I laughed and he laughed. I processed all of the events of the day as I was driving home. Really the only other thing I noticed was the sign off the highway in Summerland for "The Big Yellow House" that now reads "HE BIG YEL OW HUE". Anybody else notice that?

Thank you so much Jaime, Robyn and Atoya, Monica, Steph and Shanna for your support, humor and beautifying talent! You made my day!

Spas in Napa

I recently took a roadtrip to Napa Valley to visit a Spa. I reviewed Spa Terra, an amazing spa in a cave, situated in the hillside of a vineyard! I will be writing the review for Spas of America and also sharing the juicy (literally with facial treatments utilizing grapeseed extract) details soon! I just wanted to give you a teaser:)

While in Napa Valley, I also toured the newly rennovated Villagio in Yountville, complete with spa suites and Solage in Calistoga -- both amazing facilities that I can't wait to review!

More info on Napa spas coming soon...!

Blog for Esthetician Students!

The SBCC Channels Newspaper did a write up about the Esthetician Students and our Blog, http://www.nourishyourskin.wordpress.com/! Be sure to check it out! Thank you to Ricky Mia for taking an awesome photo for the newspaper and the Health & Beauty Directory -- we had so much fun posing!

Articles featuring Spas in SB, Napa, Italy!

Okay, I admit it, I am behind in my blogging! If you're tracking my spa travels and treatments, I have lots to catch you up on! So check my blog daily! All of Spa Defined's members and friends are so busy with fun summer events and promotions, I can't wait to tell you all about it.

The first piece of news is an article I wrote titled "New California Spas Calm Bridezilla" for the Summer and Fall 2007 issue of Your Wedding Day Magazine -- the article is now online and features: Cielo, Walter Claudio, Spa Terra, The Four Seasons Westlake and The Divine DaySpa!

You can also read an article titled "Blogging for Brides." This was a fun piece to write because I love blogging so much and thought it would be a great way for brides to let off some steam (in addition to getting a spa treatment!)

In the current issue of YWD, the article "Amore della Vita" is about the Italian spas I visited -- Saturnia, Linari and Le Sirenuse. The article also features a few California spas with hints of Italy -- Bellezza Vita, Sycamore Springs and The Villagio Inn. It's on newstands now and will be online soon!

Your Wedding Day Magazine is an amazing publication and I really enjoy working with the Editor, Thea M. Lignos. With an increased distribution, Brides benefit from the array of wedding details presented in the magazine as well as the informative and inspiring articles!