Spa Defined in Your Wedding Day Magazine

Be sure to pick up a Winter 2007 issue of Your Wedding Day Magazine before it goes off shelves! I wrote two articles for the issue! One article is about Blogging for Brides and the other article features the Italian spas I visited last spring while I was living in Tuscany. For my Italy picks, I wrote about: Terme di Saturnia (Tuscany), Linari (Tuscany) and Le Sirenuse (Almalfi Coast). For brides who want an Italian setting, but can't make it to Italy, I also suggested some of my favorite California settings with hints of Italy such as the Villagio (Napa), Bellezza Vita (Summerland) and Sycamore Hot Springs (San Luis Obispo). This is great exposure for Spa Defined and it's members! Does reading this article make you want to go to Italy as much as me??? I'm booking my ticket now...

All in a Day's Work

I have to admit ... I had a very "Santa Barbara" day ... the kind of day that my friends who don't live here, make fun of me for! So the day started out with me working on spa marketing and website design for S'Bia at the computer in my pj's (more exciting info to come soon on this medical spa!) ... then when I was good and ready, I went to a late breakfast with my friend Julia, who is an acupuncturist, at Steve's Restaurant -- a local place on De la Vina.

Just a hop, skip and jump down the street I stopped by Mishay -- a new boutique salon spa (I got a gift certificate!) I was there last week and got my hair cut, colored and styled by Angel Puente. What a cozy, chatty little place this is; everyone seemed to be having an enticing conversation with their stylist and I couldn't help but notice an adorable little boy making faces in the mirror while he was getting a haircut. The spa is located in the back ... darn, I didn't get a chance to see it! I liked the cozy friendliness of Mishay and the decor is warm and sheek. Angel did exactly what I asked -- great cut, style and color.

Today though, I stopped by because I decided I wanted a little more blonde added (I had debated about this last week and Angel offered enthusiastically for me to come back in if I decided I wanted more highlights). Okay, I admit it, I sort of became the client from hell ... asking for more blonde, adding more blonde, then I thought it was too blonde, so we added toner ... Angel was SO accomodating and friendly the whole time. And I was quite lucky because I just stopped by to schedule it -- but she was able to get me in right then and there and there I stayed for the next hour! I am delighted by the perfect color! Thank you Angel!:)

Then I stopped by Skin Deep for a little "research" ... they carry many of my favorite spa items -- Young Blood, Pure Inventions, Jaqua, and Sweet Spot. And I LOVE their after Christmas sales! ... Moving along to Summerland, I went to Bellezza Vita -- they have a new adorable boutique called "Room with a View" and this is indeed what it is -- while shopping you can practically dip your toes in the ocean it's so close! I bought a divine Kashwere sweater from the boutique for a dear friend and just on my way out I saw a very happy and in love couple walking down the street ... oh wait ... that's Ellen and Porshe!:) They were adorable together and clearly enjoying a leisurely day in seaside Summerland! We all enjoyed an iced coffee at Cafe Luna (not all together unfortunately:).

I zipped back to SB and stopped by a new Nail Lounge and Boutique called Michele Wilder (on Canon Perdido next to Nordstroms). Walking by, I noticed this quaint little place and made a mental note to check it out. I met one of the owners (co-owned by sisters) and she seemed super sweet and the boutique is so darn cute ... this precious little shop has trendy clothing and jewelry and then a little nook for the nail lounge -- all products used are organic. What a great concept -- shopping and pedicures -- brilliant! No time for a pedicure though ... I'm late for my brow wax at Walter Claudio by Yesenia -- thank you Yesenia! ..and before I knew it, it was a full day of spa visits, spa work and spa splurging ... and yes indeed ... another typical day in Santa Barbara!

Head South for the Winter

Head South for the winter ... well, at least for a weekend getaway! Have you been to the amazing resort spa at the Four Seasons in Westlake -- it's beautiful, with every ammenity you can think of and a spa menu from heaven.

This time of year you will find an abundance of spa promotions "under the tree." Here's a great one for the Four Seasons in Westlake ...
Make a Resolution to Immerse Yourself in The Spa at Four Seasons with New Unlimited Treatment Package in Westlake Village
(December 7, 2007) - For those whose New Year's resolutions include making time for more pampering, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village offers a new Spa Immersion overnight package including unlimited 50-minute treatments from January 2 through April 30, 2008 for one day of each night’s stay. Guests also enjoy lunch on the day of services at the Serenity Pool at The Spa or in the Lobby Lounge as well as access to the state-of-the-art fitness center and a daily schedule of fitness classes including yoga and Pilates. This package is available starting from $595 for deluxe accommodations, based upon single occupancy, and double occupancy from $935. Guests may select from a variety of massage modalities such as Swedish, shiatsu or Thai. For skincare, pure results, enzyme and triple collagen facials are available. Diverse body treatments include a eucalyptus-basil sea salt exfoliation or a relaxing aromatherapy immersion wrap as well as a menu of herbal baths to soak into after services. This package excludes alcoholic beverages, some signature services as well as treatments on Saturday and Sunday. The package cannot be combined with any other offer, and does not apply to groups. Named to Conde Nast Traveler’s elite “Hot List” for spas by the magazine’s editors in 2007, The Spa at Four Seasons is a destination unto itself with an outdoor Serenity Pool, separate men’s and ladies’ relaxation lounges and wet areas including mosaic-tiled whirlpools, eucalyptus steam rooms and dry saunas. The extensive menu of therapies infuses Eastern tradition with Western sensibilities featuring products from Kirsten Florian, True, Y Spa for Men, seasonal services from June Jacobs and, new for 2008, Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts. For more information or to reserve the Spa Immersion package at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, please visit www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage, call the Hotel directly at (818) 575-3000, or contact a travel professional.

Cielo has a blog!

Roxanne, the owner (and esthetician and massage therapist) of Cielo, just started a blog! Check it out: http://busyworkingmomsantabarbara.blogspot.com/

She started it to offer wellness and beauty advice for busy working moms like herself ... Roxy is a career woman, wife and mom of 3 (sound familiar to any women out there?!)

Speaking of busy, she also just revamped her menu and now offers facials using the Talulah Skin Care line!

Guess how many visitors to Spa Defined?

Spa Defined has had 216,000 hits since it's beginning -- two years ago! And I am seeing hits from all over the world!

This week in particular seems to be "international" week ... perhaps people are planning to vacation here over the holidays, but this week I have seen visitors and hits from: Canada, Brazil, Italy, France, Argentina, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, India, United Kingdom, Turkey and Czech Republic. Wow!

The majority of hits come from the U.S. ... this week for example: Virginia, NY, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Washington, Montana ... just to name a few.

The majority of U.S. hits are from California: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Paso Robles, San Diego and many towns I have never heard of in CA, but the majority of Cali's visiting Spa Defined are from .... SANTA BARBARA!

Thank you for visiting Spa Defined -- Santa Barbara's ultimate and only website directory highlighting area Spas!

A Nice Evening at Treat

I stopped by Treat's Holiday event -- I love this little boutique! Jamie, the owner of Treat, carries unique, high-end spa gifts and now has a new make-up line available -- Color Science. I may give it a try, but I love the Youngblood foundation that I have used for over a year for my skin. In fact, she has lots of new things -- candles, soaps, jewelry, skincare! I got to (finally) meet Sharon Bolton, a master perfumer, whose scents/perfumes have been on my "Gotta Have It" list for over a year and she is a doll! Her new (limited) Dream scent is so divine and is available at Treat. It's gifts like this -- unique to Santa Barbara, not from a department store and have a story behind the making of them, that make them meaningful gifts to share.

And since I was in the neighborhood...dinner at Carlitos seemed perfect -- Sitting outside listening to guitarist Derroy from Costa Rica ... it was a great Santa Barbara night.

Treat Yourself to a Holiday Party!

'Tis the Season to Treat Yourself to

something Glamorous, something Sparkly, something Yummy!

Treat Boutique downtown (just across from Arlington Theater) is hosting a Holiday Open House!

THIS Thursday, December 6th, 4-7 pm

1324 State Street

Enjoy Champagne and Shopping! Meet Sharon Bolton, (my favorite local perfumer!)

Get tips on Holiday make-up and more!

Lovely Facial at ZenSpa

Yesterday I had a facial bright and early in the morning; I went to the new ZenSpa on quaint street -- Calle Laureles (Who could imagine on this little street you can take dance lessons, buy lingerie, eat yummy Italian and get a facial!). Lately I have been getting more massages than facials – in fact before yesterday, I hadn’t had a facial in about 4 months (I encourage women to get facials once a month if they can!) This facial made up for not getting a facial for the past few months!

The facial was not the only thing I loved about ZenSpa! ZenSpa, is a cozy little neighborhood spa; I was greeted by friendly Amelia who offered me hot tea and hot foot soak with lavender essential oils – it was a cold, foggy morning, so this was so comforting (*tip: show up 15 minutes before your treatment so that you can indulge too).
Audrey Swanson, the owner of ZenSpa was also my esthetician -- my treatment not only made my skin feel and look great, but Audrey was so thorough and thought of everything to pamper! Let’s start with the heated bed … I love this and not all spas have this extra little detail. The facial included a lactic/kojic peel and thorough extractions, vitamin C mask, seaweed toner, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C serum and multi-vitamin eye treatment. This facial was not only incredible (yes incredible), but also thorough (yes, I know I already mentioned thorough -- but it was!)… Many facials charge extra for serum and eye treatments. Most facials include a hand and arm massage and even a mini-neck massage; this facial included both, but they were not light massages, but long, deep massages and just when I thought I couldn’t be more relaxed … a scalp massage was also included! So, not only did my skin feel great, but the tension in my neck was gone (I had been moving boxes the day before!) So what was my favorite part of the facial? … The peel (my skin looks refreshed!), the foot soak (details are so important!), the scalp massage (*tip: take a hat to wear after the treatment because your hair will look like a tumbleweed -- trust me, it's worth it!) and pressure point facial massage. Audrey’s 17 years of skincare experience is apparent and the experience was blissful!

So ... if you want to experience Zen ... they are located at 4 W. Calle Laureles, 845-4701.