Category: How To

How To /

Spa Week Spring 2016 Event – Wellness and Fitness

Technology gives us a wealth of opportunities to have a more comfortable life. We have become accustomed to tech indulgences such as shopping online, working on our tablets, posting to social media and binge watching Netflix anywhere. Everything we need to do or share is a call, text or post away. While all of these modern lifestyle techniques are extremely convenient, they are doing actual physical harm to our minds and bodies. From April 11th-17th, Spa Week is back to remind us about the importance of taking care of ourselves by treating technology-related injuries and stress. Spa Week has successfully spread this message for over a decade and their biannual events enable millions to lead a healthier lifestyle. Hundreds of spa, wellness, and fitness facilities will be offering premium full-service treatments at a major discount of $50 each. During Spa Week, set your favorite technology device aside and allow yourself the time to truly rebalance and heal your mind and body.

Using tablets, computers, and cell phones on a daily basis leads to issues such as back and neck pain, poor posture, muscle fatigue, carpal tunnel syndrome, facial sagging (phone face), vision damage, sore thumbs, anxiety, stress and more. Technology dependence has become a part of everyday life. To help alleviate these symptoms and reverse the damage caused by technology overload, spas have created treatments that specifically focus on and alleviate these technology-related conditions. During Spa Week, from April 11th-17th, signature treatments will be offered at a special rate of $50/treatment (normally $100-$500) at participating locations.

This spring, Spa Week has teamed up with spas across the country to deliver healing and therapeutic treatments to combat the effects of technology. Long hours hunched over a computer can create a myriad of problems. Haven Spa in New York City offers a unique Geek Massage (Reg. $100, Spa Week $50) that was created to address and relieve the ailments that are created from hours of computer usage. Having your phone connected to your face all day and texting leads to clogged pores and wrinkles from squinting your eyes. Holistic Touch in Virginia offers Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture (Reg. $130, Spa Week $50). With this natural face-lift you will notice a great improvement in skin tightness, clarity and evenness of tone. Lines will show improvement and meditation exercises are taught during the session to help break the habits of expression that contribute to these. Anxiety brought on by our fast paced lifestyle can be healed through the power of water. The Elizabeth Adams Salon in Illinois touts their Spa Oceana Stress Relief Treatment (Reg. $100, Spa Week $50)– a water-based stress-relief body treatment. Long day at the office? KUR Skin Lab in New York City has created an Office Relief Massage (Reg. $125, Spa Week $50). This massage treatment with guided meditation will help heal you mentally by alleviating subconscious tension along with physical and mental strain. As we sit for hours a day, tight muscles and tense necks often occur. Red Door Spas nationwide are offering a De-Stress Body Treatment (Reg. $255, Spa Week $50) including exfoliation, an aromatherapeutic body wrap and a relaxing scalp massage to melt stress away and rebalance your spirit.

In order to receive exclusive information on participating spa and wellness locations and their $50 services, spa-goers should register on SpaWeek.com as early as possible. The complete list of treatments, available on March 21st, will allow consumers to begin booking their desired services. It is recommended that spa-goers sign up and book in advance on www.SpaWeek.com to ensure they reserve their top treatment choices. Visitors to SpaWeek.com also have the opportunity to spread the gift of wellness by conveniently purchasing the Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week®. Accepted at over 8,000 spas and wellness locations across North America, Spa & Wellness Gift Cards may be used during Spa Week or any time of the year without expiration. Recipients will have the freedom to choose from thousands of locations and services, all while knowing that you have their long-term health, balance and happiness in mind.

Spa Week was created and founded by Cheryl Reid, who hails from successful careers within the luxury spa industry and publishing spheres. Joining Spa Week for the Spring 2016 Event, sponsors include Exclusive Destination Sponsor: Sandals; Exclusive Cosmetics Sponsor: Hynt Beauty; Exclusive Apparel Sponsor: Yummie by Heather Thomson; and Exclusive Trade Association Partner: International Spa Association (ISPA). The event is co-sponsored by Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) and a portion of the proceeds from the Spring and Fall Events is donated to CancerAndCareers.org

About Spa Week Media Group, Ltd.
Spa Week Media Group, Ltd. is the leading health, beauty and wellness marketing company across North America. Through its website SpaWeek.com, millions of consumers from coast to coast benefit from an abundance of resources necessary to experience a healthier, well-rounded lifestyle, 365 days a year. Since its inception in 2004, Spa Week has continued to revolutionize the industry with the success of its biannual Spring and Fall Events with signature $50 spa services, life-changing promotions and a robust gift card program. Spa Week continues its dedication of delivering the best in health and wellness year round with its Spa & Wellness Gift Card, the premier spa gift card of choice by consumers. This gift card is accepted at over 8,000 spa and wellness locations across North America and is sold in over 60,000 retail stores nationwide including Target, CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and on SpaWeek.com. It’s never been more convenient to give and enjoy the gift of wellness.

BJs Wholesale Club /

Easter Celebration – Simple Lifestyle Tips

Easter can be an exciting holiday for everyone.  It’s the ultimate symbol of the Spring season and a time of rebirth.  Although celebrating Easter can be a lot of fun, preparation for this joyous holiday can also be overwhelming!

As a new mom (many years ago) I wanted to attack the holiday from all angles.  My eagerness stemmed from the excitement of having my very own children.  Over the years, I’ve learned to focus on what really matters.   The small details will come together once you concentrate on the priority of the day.

Easter Celebration Tips:

  1. Create your dinner menu – Decide whether your family will dine in or out.  Either option provides a good opportunity for quality fellowship.  Traditional Easter meals (if you’re cooking) include a honey glazed ham, roasted leg of lamb, baked salmon, green bean casserole, rice pilaf, scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or home-style dinner rolls.
  2. Coordinate Easter crafts with the kids – This particular tip can vary depending on your interest but the idea is to teach your family the meaning of Easter.  Quick holiday crafts include decorating eggs, planting a Spring garden, or designing Easter bookmarks.
  3. Consider taking Easter photos – Start thinking of the right location, lighting, and even the weather.  Also, we can’t forget to coordinate the perfect attire whether a traditional suit or casual spring outfit.
  4. Decorate, Decorate, Decorate – Nothing brings more excitement than putting out spring decorations.  Add a wreath to the front door, create a tablescape, or flower arrangement in the hallway.

Some of my favorite Easter traditions include Sunday morning worship, egg hunt, brunch, and spring photos.  What are some of your favorite Easter traditions, share them with us here?

Colors /

Keep Clothes Bright and Less Fading – Laundry Secrets from Downy Ball

Surveys show that Americans spend a decent amount of money on clothing. Women spend about $59 and men spend about $25 a month. The average family bringing in an income of $50,000 spends about $2,000 a year on new outfits. On top of the money being invested in new shirts, pants, sweaters and other garments, laundry can be a real pain in the neck. Stain removers don’t always eliminate the entire mark left behind by spilled coffee or mystery smears, and color-enhancing detergent only extends the lifetime of clothing for so long. To help prevent having to purchase new clothes there are tips to help keep darks from fading, sneakers from tumbling into pieces in the dryer and white shirts from having ugly armpits.

0037000357160_A1L1_ItemMaster_type_large

Downy Ball has compiled some of the best laundry secrets and shortcuts since the invention of the modern washing machine and dryer to help consumers look their best with minimal effort. These tips include:

  1. Buy a sneaker dryer bag to eliminate the loud banging from your shoes.
  1. To prevent color fading, toss your clothes in the wash with a teaspoon of salt for a brighter look.
  1. Wash dark clothes inside out to keep them from fading. The detergent won’t drain the color and this easy trick will keep favorite shirts and pants looking newer longer.
  1. Save time, energy and money by throwing a dry towel into the dryer with wet laundry – this will reduce moisture in the machine and speed up the drying process.
  1. Remove underarm stains with a homemade recipe instead of bleach or stain sticks. Mix Dawn dishwashing liquid, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda to create a scrub that gets stunning results.
  1. Remove grease stains with a piece of chalk. Even if you have already washed a garment hoping soap and water would do the trick, that stain isn’t a permanent part of your wardrobe and chalk can still save the day.

[youtube height=”720″ width=”1280″]watch?v=Fhp6bRjj-iM[/youtube]

About Downy Ball

No more waiting for the rinse cycle. No more cleaning out the dispenser. With the Downy Ball, fabric softener is automatically released during the rinse cycle. To enjoy the convenience of Downy Ball just pour the Downy fabric softener of choice up to the right fill line in the Downy bottle cap, pour into the ball, seal it, and drop it in at the start of the wash on top of fabrics. Downy Ball will release the softener on its own, making laundry less complicated.

IMG_3060

Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta /

Transitional Sweaters – Dryel Home Care Tips

When it comes to fashion, the laundry does not stop!  One discovers (very quickly) the proper care and treatment of garments is vitally important.  Each article of clothing has its own label that includes the fabric percentage, content and suggested laundry needs.

I have a few sweaters that I’ve started wearing to help with the transition of seasons.  In this region, the weather fluctuates; one day it’s cold enough to wear a cashmere tunic and the next day I’m searching for an open-front cardigan.

Dryel is such an important product (for your wardrobe) because it’s easy to use, inexpensive, and less damaging to your clothing.  The product contains 6 cloths and for hard to clean stains, the company provides a booster spray.

DSC_0387

From my personal experience, the kit was simple and resulted in my sweaters smelling great.  I opened the Dryel ultra cleaning cloth and placed inside of the bag (with my sweaters.)  After tumbling in the dryer for 30 minutes, I removed the sweaters and put them on a satin hanger.   This was an easy laundry process for a lady on the go!

DSC_0394

Check back with the site (over the next few months) and I will share additional tips from Dryel At-Home Cleaner. 

 

Sponsored Post

Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta /

Fashion Tips with Dryel At-Home Dry Cleaner

Dry cleaning your wardrobe can be costly!  We love to wear cashmere sweaters, wool coats, and boucle’ slacks but the care for such garments are expensive.  One can purchase these items on sale but must calculate the price of dry cleaning in their shopping budget.

As a Style Expert, I always share that fashion girls (and guys) must properly care for their clothing to maintain a stylish wardrobe.  It’s more than dressing fabulous and owning several pieces.  In this day and time, we have to take our budget into consideration and be realistic about our clothing expenses.

FullSizeRender-47
On-set for The Scandal Shopping Series
FullSizeRender-45
Hanging out with the clothing rack

Truthfully, I also like to mix and match my own clothing.  It’s a personal preference for several good reasons. Number one, I am obsessed with closet organization. Number two, I like to come up with various ways that I can style one item. Number three, I’m a mom and my shopping list consists of additional household products.

FullSizeRender-48
Love my Velvet Hangers

I was excited to be selected as a Brand Ambassador for Dryel At-Home Dry-Cleaner. Over the course of the year, I will share product reviews and cleaning tips! As a reader, you will also have the opportunity to follow my journey via Twitter Chats, Pinterest Boards, and so much more.  Let’s get ready to learn more about the special care of our clothing with the help of Dryel.

FullSizeRender-46
Dryel Starter Kit

 

disclosure: I’m a compensated Dryel Ambassador – all opinions are my own. 

Accessories /

Wardrobe Care and Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus – Lifestyle Tip

Most people never make it to the dry cleaner as often as they need resulting in a pile of laundry in the closet or laundry room that is waiting to be dropped off for cleaning. Instead of reducing the availability of your wardrobe simple because of the inconvenience of a trip to the cleaner, you can now refresh dry clean only clothes with a spritz, tug, smooth and hang dry.

Rosie-Huntington-Whiteley-celebrity-closet-THUMB
Celebrity Closet

With a quick spray of Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus on your clothes, you can tug out any visible wrinkles, smooth the fabric, allow your garment to dry and be wrinkle, static and odor free in less than five minutes. Silicones in Downy Wrinkle Release Plus grip the fabric fibers in garments making it possible for them to slide against each other rather than being frozen in a crease. And instead of running to the dry cleaner after every few wears, you can refresh clothes and get more life out of them before your next trip to the dry cleaner.

14711579

Beauty /

Lady Gaga: Winning Red Carpet Look and Hairstyle

2016 Golden Globe winner, Lady Gaga, looked stunning with an old Hollywood glamour look on the red carpet of tonight’s Golden Globe Awards. Celebrity hairstylist, Frederic Aspiras, created these voluminous waves and curls with the help of KMS California products. Here, Frederic shares how to get Lady Gaga’s red carpet look.

 

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: 73rd ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Pictured: Actress/singer Lady Gaga arrives to the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: 73rd ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS — Pictured: Actress/singer Lady Gaga arrives to the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

 

1. Start with clean towel dried hair. First apply KMS California TAMEFRIZZ smoothing lotion (18.99) from root to tip and comb through for even distribution.

2. Next, spray KMS California ADDVOLUME volumizing spray (18.99) at the roots to create big voluminous hair.

3. Give a light mist of KMS California FREESHAPE quick blow dry spray (21.99) to reduce drying time and get a smooth fly-away free result to your blow dry.

4. Next, section the hair for blow drying. Using a medium round brush, drying with an up and around movement to get full volume.

5. Using a 1-inch curling iron, take 1-inch sections of hair and curl the hair all back and away from the face. Take a velcro roller and set each curl after you curl only using medium to small curlers. Allow rollers to set and cool. After, 15-20 minutes remove curlers.

6. To finish, brush the hair out with a sable bristle brush. Use KMS California HAIRPLAY playable texture ($20.50) to spray waves and curls in place but still maintain a soft bouncy look.

KMS California products are available at salons nationwide, please visit http://www.kmscalifornia.com/en-US/salon_finder.aspx to find a salon near you.

Accessories /

Packing Tips for The Everyday Girl – Infographic

It’s no secret that I’m a Pinterest addict and this week would be no different!  I’m packing for a holiday trip and want to ensure that everything’s organized.  My biggest obstacle is planning my attire for the entire week.  There’s nothing worse than realizing I left something at home and instantly start to locate the nearest Target.

Regardless, there are some girls that get it right (in terms of packing.)  We all know them and recognize them in the airport. They’re the ladies wearing dark sunglasses, a Tory Burch Carry-On, bottled water, and portable cellphone charger.  This elite group of women are effortless, cool but most importantly have not left anything.

To help the rest of us (that are like myself) with packing tips, I want to share the infographics below.

Click on the photos to visit the site that provides more details for proper packing.

Beauty /

Holiday Travel Essentials – Must Have Products

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what essentials you need to bring for your holiday travel needs.  Pack light by bringing only the most important essentials.

Your 6 Holiday Travel Essentials

Travel Essentials
1. The Refresher: During this crazy time, you want to clean and refresh your face AM and PM. For one that refreshes skin and foams away makeup and impurities –

Lumene’s Bright Tough Refreshing Cleansing Foam ($10.99, CVS)

2. The Best Face Base: You want to look airbrushed, who doesn’t? For an optical line and pore minimizer with instantly beautifying effect –

Lumene’s Bright Now Line & Pore Minimizer ($19.99, CVS)

3. The Perfect Brows: For easy shaping and filling go to the all-in-1 helper –

Smashbox Brow Tech To Go ($28, Sephora)

4. The Winter Glow: Get the perfect rush of color with a silky powder blush –

Smashbox Blush Rush ($24, Sephora)

5. The Perfect Red Lip: Pucker up with the perfect pout in your favorite holiday shade –

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick ($20, Sephora)

6. The Secret Weapon: Through all the highs and lows of the holiday season, make sure you have a spot treatment on-hand to fight against any surprise breakouts –

DDF Acne Control Treatment ($46, DDFSkincare.com)

Accessories /

Prime Now: Amazon Holiday Items to One-Hour Delivery

Just in Time for the Holidays: Prime Now Adds 4,000 New Items Available for One-Hour Delivery

From top gift-giving items across toys and electronics to wrapping paper and baking supplies, Prime Now has added thousands of items this holiday so you can skip a trip to the store and stay focused on doing the things you love

Starting today in Manhattan, Prime Now has added delivery of beer, wine, spirits and items from Eataly to the service

In under a year, Prime Now has grown from one location to more than 20 metropolitan areas across the U.S.

SEATTLE–Dec. 10, 2015– Amazon.com announced that it has added more than 4,000 items to its Prime Now service just in time for the holidays. Whether it’s a big-screen television, top toys and gift-giving items or supplies for yuletide baking, Prime Now has everything customers need to skip a trip to the store this holiday season.

“In the year since we first launched Prime Now for customers in Manhattan, we’ve grown rapidly to more than 20 metropolitan areas across the U.S. and we are excited to continue to expand our offerings whether that’s adding beer, wine and spirits in Manhattan starting today or continuing to increase the number of local stores and restaurants in the service,” said Stephenie Landry, worldwide director of Prime Now. “This holiday, we’ve also added thousands of products to Prime Now and we’ll be delivering up until midnight on Dec. 24—we are a procrastinator’s dream, offering tens of thousands of items that can be delivered right to your door in an hour or less.”

Prime Now is offered exclusively to Prime members:

Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, Orange County, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Seattle and Richmond. In select cities, in addition to the products offered by Amazon, the service also includes deliveries from local restaurants and stores. Through Prime Now, one-hour delivery is $7.99 and two-hour delivery is free.

Some highlights since launching Prime Now include:

  • The fastest order delivered to date was a four-pack of Starbucks Vanilla Frappuccino to a customer in Miami. The delivery was made in under 10 minutes;
  • In Seattle where the company offers one-hour delivery of beer, wine and spirits, the top-selling beer is Elysian Brewing Company’s Space Dust IPA and the top selling wine is Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon. Starting today, Prime Now is adding beer, wine and spirit delivery in Manhattan;
  • Prime Now customers in Baltimore, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle enjoy free, for a limited time, one-hour delivery from local restaurants. The most popular cuisines ordered through the service so far are American and Thai; and finally
  • Delivery from local stores is offered through Prime Now in Chicago, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Portland and San Diego. The most popular items ordered by customers for one-hour delivery from grocery stores include organic bananas, avocados, tomatoes and organic apples. Starting today, Eataly is being added to the lineup of local stores offered in Manhattan and Prime Now Chicago is adding local store delivery from Plum Market, Sprinkles Cupcakes and My Fit Foods.

You can see some of the top-selling items by city through Prime Now in the accompanying infographic. To learn more about Prime Now, visit www.amazon.com/primenow.

zS91CvXIA6WwFvMvZ1MrRD42nHBXpBciBKKwjCYhz7IE0Xnc3