Learn about CryoStem Facials SUNDAY

Skin Essentials is hosting "Science and New Skin", an education night on the DNA CryoStem technology.

Dr. Noel Aguilar, a recognized and respected pioneer in biological skin therapy and creator of the DNA CryoStem Firming and Hydrating Facials will be speaking at Skin Essentials in Montecito THIS SUNDAY, April 26th @ 1:00

Don't miss this opportunity to hear about this revolutionary technology for skin enhancement and rejuvenation -- the CryoStem facials introduce an abundance of collagen, proteins, minerals, vitamins, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

Why should you attend? As if hearing Dr. A speak, learning about these facials, and eating Italian food wasn't enough ... I will be there creating customized skin cocktails for participants to take home! There will be a drawing for a CryoStem Cell Firming Facial, gift bags for each attendee and a drawing for a Jane Iredale basket.

The event is catered by Pane E Vino and tickets for this event are only $10! Seating is limited, so call soon to reserve your spot -- 805-695-8699

I hope to see you there! Happy Spa-ing this weekend!

Wellness Event @ Evolutions

Wellness to Riches

THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 5-8 PM
@ Evolutions 1309 State Street

At this fun, interactive and FREE event you will learn about (and experience) proactive ways to live a happy, healthy life!
~ Mini Vibraderm treatments (this helps obtain a beautiful glow on your skin!)

~ Thermal scans to determind the activity of your nervous system

~ Pressure Point massage

~ Guided meditation practice

~ Customized skin consultations and skin cocktails by DNA Health Institute

Sponsors include: Evolutions, Dr. Kara Gochnour, Sunshine Wellness, DNA Health Institute, Spa del Mar, Star Performance and Buddhafield

Call 687-0212 to reserve your space!

Chocolate and Yoga

One of my favorite websites to write for is Girlfriend Celebrations! In case you missed my monthly column for this month on my delicious experience at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa participating in a yoga and chocolate workshop, read all about how eating Vosge truffles inspired me to do the downward dog!

Burke Williams Spa

I recently had an invitation to visit and receive a facial at the new Burke Williams in Sherman Oaks. The invite came from a recent SBCC esthetician graduate -- Sarah, who is an amazing, caring woman and esthetician.

The Burke Williams Spa is located in the Galleria in Sherman Oaks; I arrived early and discovered a Paul Mitchell Academy, so I stopped in to browse and network!

This was the first time I had been to a Burke Williams Spa and according to Sarah, they each have different setting and decor. The Spa in Sherman Oaks seemed to have a bit of a Cape Cod or hunter's lodge type decor. I arrived early to enjoy the ammenities -- sauna, steam and jacuzzi, really though, I was just excited to have a facial by Sarah as she had raved about the education and thorough training process at Burke Williams. And indeed, the facial was beautiful and it was interesting because it was different than the "usual" facial protocol. Sarah performed mostly pressure point face massage (instead of effleurage). Sarah also had a great approach with her consultation and facial technique -- I could tell she was in her element and really loves being an esthetician.

Thank you Sarah so much for the pampering morning at Burke Williams Spa -- the are very fortunate to have you on staff!

Remember: Always arrive at least an hour early to enjoy the ammenities and calm your mind and body to prepare for your treatment.

Parents Love ZenSpa!

Spa Defined would like to congratulate Audrey and the other amazing ZenSpa staff for being recognized by SB Parent and winning FIRST Place in the Parent Choice Awards for Spa Services!

Want to know why they were voted FIRST PLACE? ... I could give you all of the dreamy details -- the best peels for rejuvenated skin, organic skin care, and ultimate pampering in a relaxing, zen environment! Oh ... and did I mention the staff is so smiley and friendly?! But ... why don't you stop by, get a massage or facial and find out for yourself why ZenSpa is FIRST PLACE material!

Certified DNA Practitioner Training

A few weeks ago, I attended the DNA Certified DNA Practitioner Training for two Days at the DNA Corporate Office. It was so much fun and I learned more about Ionic Chemistry from Dr. Aguilar and Heather and Jessica, both amazing staff at DNA, did such a good job organizing the event.

It was fun to network, learn and mingle with all of the estheticians from Evolutions, Coastal Skincare, ZenSpa, SBCC Esthetician Program, Skin Essentials and Kiz, Christy and Michelle from Santa Barbara Skin Therapy. What an amazing group of women, now ALL utilizing the DNA protocol -- their clients will love them even more!

Global Spa Summit

On behalf of the Santa Barbara Spa Community and DNA Community/Family, I would like to congratulate and recognize Dr. Noel Aguilar -- a good friend and colleague, for his invitation to the Global Spa Summit this May in Switzerland!

Rock Star Toes

I've been wearing peek-a-boo heels lately or my Italian sandals from Capri to show off my Rock Star BLUE toes. A friend treated me to a pedicure at Aqua Nail Bar and encouraged me to "go outside my comfort zone and take a risk" in choosing a color ... Metallic Blue to be exact. But that sounded like a dare to me ... and I do like taking risks, so now I have blue toes (goes well with the new Red hair by the way) and I Love my "outside of my comfort zone" toes. What color would be out of your comfort zone??

The pedicures at Aqua are so fun and I "heard" that they will be offering more organic pedicure options starting in May -- yippeee tippy toes! It's always fun to see friendly and familiar faces there too -- Hi Mickey! Hi Claudia!

With summer just around the corner, I will need a pedicure at least once a month!

I want my next job to me coming up with the names for a Polish Series. How about the "Cowboy Nail Colors" and they would be:

country girl
Rodeo queen
spurs
bareback
I reckon
giddy up
bullrider
8 seconds

OR how about the "Bella" Collection:

Ciao!
Capri
Toscana
Vino
Venezia or Venice
Trevi
Siena
Palio
Magari (If only!)
Gelato

What would YOUR Collection be??

Hosting Italian Massage Therapist

I recently had the pleasure of hosting Paolo, an Italian Massage Therapist, visiting from Italy (near Milano). How this came about ... last summer, he found my website when he was Googling spas in California. He began emailing me asking for information and help regarding spas in Santa Barbara. Remembering how helpful every Italian was while I was in Italy, I happily answered his questions. Several months later, he was determined to make his American dream come true to live and work here, that he came here, for the first time, and we spent a couple of days touring the spas and resorts in the area! Paolo is actually a quite famous massage therapist, working at Terme di Salsomaggiore and has letters of reference from famous Italian designers (can't give the names, but you can guess I'm sure) and articles written about him as a massage therapist.

Paolo and I had so much fun driving my Miata around to Bacara, spas in Santa Barbara, Four Seasons Westlake, and Ojai Valley Inn. Imagine me and an Italian, in the Miata, speaking English and Italian ... we were laughing most of the time. I saw so many traits in him, being in a strange country, that reminded me of how I felt in Italy; this was so comical to me. "Parli lentamente per favore" (speak slowly please) and then he would imitate what I sound like talking English "fast". Then we actually got caught in a minor mud slide on the way to Ojai and it scared us both so much that we were ... laughing hysterically after the whole incident. As we drove through the hwy 150 pass, we came upon a minor slide; I stopped the car, got out to move a big rock or chunk of mud, but then I could hear the mud coming down again and so could Paolo. He started screaming in Italian, then I started screaming in English "Andiamo! Andiamo!" "Okay! Okay! Oh My God!" His final comment -- "Women same everywhere"

Paolo gave me some beautiful body products from Salsomaggiore -- mi piace molto molto! and also taught me a few techniques for facial massage. Paolo will be back in July to further pursue his dream of living and working here! A presto Paolo!

Yamaguchi Suggested Strawberry Blonde/Red

I've had good qi (energy) lately with the Yamaguchi family and staff! It started a few weeks ago when I met Pat, the business manager of the Yamaguchi Salon in Ventura. Not only was she down-to-earth and a good story teller, she gave me some Yamaguchi signature face oil to try for facial massages (my favorite part to do in a facial). I LOVE it; it has a nice slip for face massages, good ingredients (no chemicals or parabens of any sort). The facial oils are categorized by the Elements -- Earth, Water, Wood and Metal. Based on an assessment, I am Earth and Water

I had heard so many wonderful things about Melissa Yamaguchi -- that she was a mover and shaker (love those go-getter women!) and I couldn't wait to meet her. My first introduction was through Facebook! Then I met her officially at the Women's Expo in Ventura where she was one of the speakers. She is so full of energy and genuinely interested in sharing her enthusiasm with others.

Finally, I got my hair cut, colored and styled by the Billy Yamaguchi! Full of a calm energy, he started with a consultation to gain insight into my personlity and lifestyle. While he cut, colored and styled, I met two of his interns and they were so helpful and adorable! I also met Rebecca, the esthetician, who is on her game about skincare and that was refreshing to talk with her (all the while with foils in my hair) about DNA products and chemical peels.

I was completely pampered by the staff at Yamaguchi ... I went in as a brunette with flat hair with sad split ends and left ... a strawberry blonde with sexy layers! I love it! It matches my freckles:)

I'm excited too by the fact that Yamaguchi is also in one of the most lovely spas -- the Four Seasons Westlake Spa (Eastern and Western treatments!) and he will also be at one of my favorites -- Lake Austin Spa!

Thank you so much to the Yamaguchi staff for the new summer sleek look!

Spa Health Weekend on a Walnut Farm

I recently had a getaway weekend at my best friend Marj's home on a Walnut Farm in Northern Cali not far from Chico. I gave about 15 facials in two days -- whew!, but it was well worth it as the women LOVED the facials and pampering and they had NEVER had a facial! Those are my favorite kind to give:)

Weekends like this with Marj and a great group of amazing women with the funniest and most inspiring life stories -- I was laughing or crying all weekend! We ate a lot of fudge (with walnuts in it of course!), drank wine, ate homemade cinnamon rolls (Mennonite recipe) and sat in front of the fireplace or in the hot tub, perfectly located under an orange tree! My rejuvenation for the weekend was giving facials to others and laughing at life stories and observations ... ahhh the simple pleasures!

Esthetician Students Waxing Nose Hairs

Ouch! These girls have it down to a science, but watching them learn how to wax nose hairs had me in stitches! This is a popular service though now is spas! Thanks to Samantha at JaCo for showing them the best technique!

Esthetician Class is just TOO Fun!

A new esthetician class of 10 started this past January; combine that with the 12 seniors and it's an ecclectic and amazing group of women!
We have had the most incredible speakers and trainers and just a lot of laughs and smiles and support of one another coming to class 4 days a week for 4 hours a night!
Visit the student blog and you will see why students make me laugh and inspire me every night! We really need to make beauty school into a reality show -- it is so entertaining!

Spring break is a good time to catch up on Blogging

I miss blogging about my spa adventures and travels and it's because I have been on a whirlwind of spa travel and work that I can't find a moment to blog about it. That's a bad excuse ... the spa writer can't find balance to write about her spa experiences?? Well, it's true, I am unbalanced and I am hoping that reassessment and spring break this week will help me refocus and catch up on what I love the most -- WRITING about my experiences (can you believe I actually like writing about it more than the actual experience sometimes??)

The last couple of months have been so FULL of spa adventures and experiences! Here's the catch up you can expect from blogging to come:

* My experience with Botox (aren't you curious?!)

* Spa in Dallas, best reflexology on the planet (who knows, they might have reflexology on Pluto?)

* Catch up with esthetician students and our recent adventures (oh the drama -- hello reality tv show!)

* Ojai Valley Inn -- paradise just over the hill from Santa Barbara

* Adventures in DNA Skincare -- that would be my favorite skincare line!

* New Spas in Santa Barbara -- Yes! In this economy spas are OPENING!

* Shirodhara Treatment in Santa Barbara -- Oil on the 3rd eye

* I hosted an Italian Massage Therapist -- Ciao Paolo!

* Celebrity Hair Stylist Yamaguchi makes me a strawberry blonde -- and it's working for me!

See you in the spa!