Facebook is my Preference

Can you believe that Blogs are out-dated?! Well ... that's in my opinion anyway! With Facebook, I rarely write on the blog (hence the date of my last entry!). So allow me to first introduce you to "Like" BOTH of my spa and skincare pages on Facebook! "Spa & Esthetics Defined" on Facebook and also "Melissa June B., Skin Consultant" on Facebook. This is where you will find the latest updates of travel, spa info and education!

So since I'm on here, I may as well give a quick summary of updates of the past year! I'm still an adjunct faculty at Santa Barbara City College; they have made me "lead" esthetician (that's very nice of them). I LOVE teaching beginning estheticians and it's been 4 amazing years doing so!

I continued visiting spas and writing articles and I taught a spa writing workshop in Chicago for AWAI, the travel writer's association and that was one of my professional highlights this year!

I did really FUN consulting work for Guthy Renker and Meaningful Beauty and that was also a HUGE highlight (it seems the really good stuff started happening in the fall).

I started being a direct selling rep for NYR Organic, https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/melissab (thanks for the tip MOM!) and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

AND ... I STARTED MY OWN ADVANCED AESTHETICS ACADEMY! It's called Santa Barbara Aesthetics Academy! I will post classes on here, but also Facebook! I'm so very excited about this venture!

And lastly, I am working on a writing project of a lifetime ... wish me luck ... more to come later!

Esthetician Students Make Me Smile!

I have been having a ball with the esthetician class I teach! Make sure to check out the Spa & Esthetics Defined Facebook Page for recent posts on skincare and class outings! I love my students! In this photo we are researching OTC products and ingredients so that we can get an idea of how and why our clients feel overwhelmed!

Cow Cookies

Most people associate my travels and spa health with Santa Barbara, Napa, Hawaii and even Italy...but some of the best ways to relax and rejuvenate are with friends in the most wonderful, cozy towns.

I have two amazing girlfriends -- we met when we all lived in Boulder Colorado and worked at CU Boulder; years have gone by and now I am living the Cali life and they are in the midwest. We decided it was time to get together for a girl's weekend in Madison Wisconsin -- what a perfect spot!

My friend Kim and her new hubby live and work in Madison and my friend Jules (I call her Bub) and her family live in Bloomington Indiana. Bub and I ventured our way to Madison and met Kim. The short weekend was happy times for all of our spirits! We shopped at the farmer's market (yummy cheeeeeeese) and bought all of the veggies necessary for a bbq later. We got home, cooked, danced in the kitchen and laughed and laughed. It was one of the best spa health weekends to see two of my best friends and reminisce and laugh!

Harvest Time in the Wine Country

My friend Julia and I recently ventured to the Santa Ynez Valley, just 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara. We love it up there this time of year -- a warm wind, pumpkin patches, apple orchards and vineyards...makes you just let down your shoulders, exhale and ... ahhhh....

Julia and I visited Lane Farms; we skipped and laughed through the orchards, picking our own apples. After posing for a picture or two on the cool farm tractor, we headed to Los Olivos for the most delightful cupcakes and glass of vino at Enjoy Cupcakes. Kevin the owner, said we had to indulge in the dreamsicle cupcake...to say the least...we ate 4 different cupcakes that were divine.

Spa health this weekend meant apple hunting, tractor posing and eating the most delicious cupcakes imaginable.

Solitude on the Ranch

Being a spa health writer is fun...relaxing...and rejuvenating -- of course all of the words that are associated with "spa-ing". But really...most of my adventures and times of relaxation come from trips that bring epiphanies, characters, and things that surround the idea of spa health.

I recently took a roadtrip to Kay el Bar Ranch in Arizona. It was an amazing 3 days; the roadtrip itself lent conversation, adventure/laughter (ran out of gas in the middle of the desert) and a therapeutic value that made my heart smile. Ya see, I grew up on a cattle ranch; my dad was a cowboy and it was the most wonderful way to grow up. Spring time meant calving and branding season, summer brought rodeos and haying, fall and winter meant ice-skating on the frozen pond (my dad would scape the snow off with the tractor).

My dad passed away this past year and it has been an adjustment getting used to the idea of him not being here, but being at the Kay el Bar Ranch brought great happiness and memories. For me, it was just the "spa health" I needed; we rode horses through the desert, enjoyed the most wonderful meals -- presented with the meal bell ringing and of course the solitude of the big desert sky filled with beautiful stars.

I want to be a Travel Host!

The past 10 years have been amazing and thrilling leaps of faith and travel opportunities! Many of my travels have come from spa visits, but also roadtrips and mini vacations here and there just looking for the best kept secrets and meeting characters along the way. Living in Italy for 3 months sealed the deal on my travel bug fascination!

So what better way to continue my sense of discovery and exploration...and pushing my boundaries and comfort level...than to apply for a travel host competition!?

Part of the competition and selection for interviews is based on the number of votes I get! So...please, please vote for me (and you can vote once, everyday) and spread the word! Here's the link; watch the 1-minute video and vote for me! www.paradisehunter.com/vote/Melissa-June.html

Facials at La Colina Junior High in Santa Barbara

I am so honored to volunteer with Partners in Education in Santa Barbara. The leadership and team in the organization is both inspiring and motivating. Thank you for honoring me as a volunteer of the month! I look forward to another year of working with the organization and the students supported by Partners!

WAY Cute Tee's for Estheticians and Students!

After teaching for almost three years, I have found my (esthetician) sense of humor! I am starting to turn that into fun, educational and promotional products for estheticians and esthetician students!

I just finished two tee-shirt designs and one tote bag. I love wearing my
Es-the-ti-cian t-shirt and have already gotten inquiries about it "Oh you're an esthetician?" The market research worked!:)

If you would like to take a look at these cute t's...just visit Esthetics Defined and also look for Spa and Esthetics Defined on Facebook!

My Oprah Adventure

As I mentioned in a post a couple of weeks ago...I'm about a year "behind" in blogging about all of my adventures, so...this is old news, but NEW to me!...

I am a contributor for Girlfriend Celebrations (one of my fave websites for us girls!) and the readers chose the write-up about my Oprah adventure as one of their top 10 favorite stories of 2009!

Read about my trip to Chicago...and how I managed to get Oprah tickets!

My new hobby

I'm not quite sure how one can top visiting and writing about spas...it's the best hobby ever! However, in the past several months I have enjoyed adding to my travel experiences -- I have been visiting boutique hotels. And what I love about it is that it is still unique enough to offer an experience...not just a same ole' chain hotel or resort.

I think we can all agree that Facebook is a great way to network (and let's just admit it -- it's fun!). Several months ago, I connected with Larry Broughton of Broughton Hospitality Group. We were connected for two reasons -- first that I am a traveler and reviewer of spas (and hotels) and it seemed like we would be compatible FB friends AND ... (this is the cool coincidence part)...we have the same last name!

It's a small world...turns out 3 of the Broughton properties are in or near Santa Barbara where I live! Larry and I met over coffee and discussed his cool story of how he came to be who he is -- speaker, entrepreneur, author...and seriously one of the coolest cats I've ever had the pleasure of getting to talk with.

So in the past couple of months I have visited a couple of the Broughton properties: The Morgan near San Simeon and the Andreas in Palm Springs. Both are *amazing*...unique in character, history, details. I adore these boutique hotels! The Morgan is named after Julia Morgan -- the architect who designed and built the Hearst Castle; there are original architecture sketches of her plans throughout The Morgan. While staying there, I would highly recommend visiting the local wineries and also the Hearst Castle.

Andreas Hotel and Spa in Palm Springs, a completely different atmosphere (hot desert vs foggy beachy San Simeon), but so quaint and with 24/7 WARM weather, the pool is open all night. Swimming under the stars in the warm evening...gotta love it. While in Palm Springs, I would recommend going on the Tram...going up 8000 feet...a great view and good way to get a feel of the cooler weather.

Did I visit a spa while at these properties?...nope...didn't need to -- my "spa" and getting away was simply enjoying these charming boutiques. Next on my boutique list...Kay el Bar in Arizona and...Bali in December. These Broughton properties won't be the best kept secret for too much longer...how did I not know about them before? Either way, what a tremendous find!

Travel Writer's Conference

Just when I thought my "work" couldn't get any more fun and diverse, I was invited to speak at the annual AWAI Travel Writer's Conference in Santa Monica at Hotel Delfina. 80 travel writers from around the world wanted to know about my lovely, little niche writing job as a spa health writer and reviewer.

An hour or so power point shared photos of spas from all of my travels (that was my little secret to keep their attention and based on the oo's and aahh's it worked!). I spoke about what perspectives to write from and all of the different topics to cover in articles. It was SO much fun!

It's amazing what hard work, preparation, FUN, and networking can do! This all started with a referral and networking with Valerie at Changing Course. I then had the opportunity to meet Lori Allen, the director of AWAI, Carey Sauls (marketing) Jen Stevens, and so many other amazing writers!

My hope is that this leads to other workshops...abroad...and perhaps hosting a spa travel show. Would that be amazing or what?...THEN I WILL need an assistant for all of you who have asked me that question!

Spa-ing in Vegas!

For the past few years, I have been living the life spa-ing in all of the dreamy places... Santa Barbara, Napa, Kauai and Italy. So I was SO excited when I got an offer to be the spa columnist for Caesars Player Magazine...and spa in Las Vegas!

This will be fun...and different than the other places I have visited. I can play all night and then spa all day. Sounds good to me! Look for my first article on Body Wraps and Oils, highlighting a Signature treatment at Caesars Palace in November!