If you can't go to Italy ...

Then read Eat, Pray, Love~

My favorite author, Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote Eat, Pray, Love, will be at UCSB THIS SUNDAY discusses her book and her travels to Italy, India and Indonesia.

Someone recommended this book to me last spring, ONE day before I was to leave for Italy for 3 months! I had never been outside of the U.S. and indeed I had culture shock and a bit of depression for the first two weeks in Tuscany while I lived with a host family and attended a language school. It was Elizabeth's book that made me laugh and realize what I was feeling wasn't completely crazy or out of this world. I had the opportunity to meet her last summer in Malibu at a book signing, when I returned from Italy and her character is the same as her writing -- funny and sincere.

If you want to hear fun stories about her travels, I highly recommend going to her discussion at UCSB. And if you haven't read the book ... it is the second best thing to actually being in Italy!

A Tour at Evolutions Medical Spa

This past weekend, Brian Perkins, Managing Partner of Evolutions, led a discussion and tour of Evolutions (4 treatment rooms, and a consult room) with 3 of the Esthetician Students in my class -- Kiz, Janel and Christy. Brian talked about Evolutions product lines (NIA24, Obagi, Neova), new equipment -- Veloshape for cellulite treatments, Vibraderm -- a new and improved exfoliation technique (instead of microderm) and the Mesoderm -- using electric current to open channels of pores for better penetration of product. The information was extremely insightful and helpful! Thank you Brian for taking time on your Sunday to inform future skincare therapists!

Health & Beauty Directory of Santa Barbara!

Spa Defined has partnered with Health & Beauty Directory Magazine! There's no question -- if you fit under the umbrella of "Health & Beauty", your business should be in the directory! Spas, salons, pilates and yoga studios, fitness gyms and studios, cosmetic docs and dentists, alternative healers ALL need to be in the directory.

Health & Beauty is an ANNUAL publication; if you don't get in this year, then your next chance to showcase your business won't be until 2009. A beautiful, full color, full gloss publication, H & B will be distributed (60,000 copies) throughout SB in hotels, gyms, spas and shopping districts.

This is a directory, so it is a COMPLETE listing of businesses. Every section (spas, salons, etc) has a FREE listing ... but of course there is space left to upgrade your listing with a logo, photo and 90 word write-up. To upgrade from the free listing, rates are very affordable!

This is affordable, creative, targeted marketing and advertising. If you are a Health and Beauty business owner, please email me at melissa@spadefined.com and let me know if you want to be in the FREE listing or if you would like to show the personality of your business with a display ad. Here is just a snapshot of the businesses you will see featured in the Directory:

Walter Claudio Salon & Spa
Michele Wilder Nail Lounge & Boutique
Treat
S'Bia, Santa Barbara Institute of Aesthetics
Skin Deep
Skin Resolutions
Cielo Spa
Underground
Montecito BodyWorks
Le Reve Day Spa
Santa Barbara Dental
Zen Spa
Blossom Hair Studio

And many more! I look forward to promoting Health & Beauty throughout Santa Barbara!

I'm an Esthetician Instructor

Three years ago when I was an Esthetician student at SBCC Cosmetology Academy, I thought to myself, "I want to be an Esthetician instructor!" I thought about it ambitiously brainstorming with my fellow esthesistas (Monica, Katy, Maggie, Kong, Melissa, Maria) saying, "Oh, I would do this, and this and this and change that and that and that."

Well, they say "Be careful what you wish for." Voila! I started teaching this past January -- I am officially part-time adjunct faculty at SBCC and teach the evening Esthetician students. Feels quite unofficial actually:), and indeed it has been a challenge being a new teacher, especially in a beauty school setting, but my former teacher Sherry Davis, has been a great mentor. Because there are so many things I want to implement into my class, it's a big challenge and overwhelming, but I also really like it ... because of the students. I suppose now would be a good time to introduce them ... I will most likely blog stories about my class, so I will blog about each one more in depth each week, but here are their names -- I can't wait for you to meet them, each one is so amazing and talented!!!

Future Estheticians (graduating around December 2008): *Booking Facials by end of April!

Amber
Jennifer G.
Rikki
Rachel
Denae
Kiz
Michelle
Chantrell
Lori
Christy
Thuy
Janel
Serina
Andrea
Jennifer O
Heather
Randi

Seniors (graduating in June 2008): *Available for Facial appointments now! Call 683-4191 for an evening appointment!

Natalie
Destini
Joseph
Maricela
Claudia
Thao
Brittany
Barbara

Master Waxer Needed

Walter Claudio Salon and Spa, downtown Santa Barbara is seeking a master waxer. They would like someone who specializes in waxing, loves waxing, can be an excellent and efficient waxer. Please visit www.walterclaudio.com and call 963-7579 and ask for Jeannine or Angela.

Blissful Back Facial

After receiving the most blissful back facial from Stephanie at Serenity, I can't believe the last time I indulged in a back facial was in esthetician school! (And it certainly wasn't as heavenly as Stephanie's!)

Speaking of esthetician school, Stephanie graduated and became licensed only 2 years ago, but you would never guess that with her confident, relaxing and effective techniques and knowledge. In fact, Stephanie has her own business, but also works part-time at S'Bia -- an aesthetic and aging management clinic. Stephanie assists with the medical facial treatments such as peels and injectables.

Back ... to the back facial ... I arrived at Stephanie's ready to relax and be pampered. One of the many things I noticed about Stephanie is that she is so enthusiastic about doing treatments -- what I mean is she is excited for the client, that they are getting pampered; she'll have a huge smile on her face and sweetly and excitedly say, "Are you ready for your back facial?!" Don't get me wrong, all estheticians are passionate about skincare, but I can tell that Stephanie just LOVES giving treatments (and the girl is just crazy about waxing!)

Her treatment room is little, but quite cozy -- picture this, if a small white cottage on the beach could be just a room, that's what Stephanie's treatment room feels like. A pleasant surprise for me when I get treatments is when I slip onto the massage bed and it's heated -- I love it (not all spas have this indulgence!). I was so relaxed and the treatment hadn't even started. Stephanie proceeded with the back facial -- cleansing, exfoliation, steaming (feels lovely!), extractions, a clarifying mask and a deep massage (my favorite part!) Actually, since it's a back facial, each step of the back facial feels like a mini massage. I think I actually dozed off for a few minutes ...

I have a lot of sun spots on my back and shoulders -- not just cute little freckles anymore! Stephanie made a great recommendation to get IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) to remove the spots. This procedure can be done at any medical spa; since she recommended, I think I will get that done at S'Bia where she assists with those types of treatments.

I pamper the skin on my face everyday, so I'm glad I got a back facial finally to treat an area that I can't see or reach, especially since Spring and Summer are just around the corner and I will be wearing tank tops and summer dresses. Stephanie radiates friendliness, an in depth knowledge base of skincare and amazing work ethic (she is from the midwest afterall!:) for the facial aesthetics industry.

Trust me, with spring coming up, a back facial is a must! To schedule with Stephanie, call 805-450-9881 or email at serenitybystephanie@hotmail.com. Serenity by Stephanie is located at 1815 State Street -- I definitely found Serenity on State Street!

Busy Spa Weekend

I stopped by the new cutie patootie Michele Wilder Nail Lounge & Boutique (yes, I said "cutie patootie" -- but you would too if you saw it!) I got a gift certificate for a perfect pedicure ... and since I was there -- why not get myself a treat? I found the prettiest blouse by Sweetees; this is why I love Michele Wilder so much -- I can get a pedicure and shop for clothes! Atoiya, the boutique manager helped me find the perfect little top and showed me the new nail colors -- she was wearing "It's raining men", by Spa Ritual, which was a purplish metallic neatly polished on her toes! The new spring colors are so pretty!

Then I ventured to Evolutions for my second Platinum Facial Mesoderm treatment. This treatment opens the channels in the skin for unbelievable penetration of B5 and DMAE (one of my favorite skincare ingredients!). Fine lines feathered away and my skin has been so plump and hydrated -- I love it! Leslene was my esthetician and she also included my neck in the treatment -- thank you for a great second treatment! I was also curious about one of the products Evolutions carries -- Neova with Copper Peptides, so Carrie the spa coordinator sent me home with some great samples -- can't wait to try it!

Saturday spa work was wrapped up in the afternoon when I met with Roxanne at Cielo and three of my esthetician students -- Serina, Christy and Andrea -- they were able to take a mini "tour" of Cielo and hear from Roxanne about her business. The gals went home with some goody samples of Babor and Olivina -- Thank you Roxanne!