If You Exchange Gifts With Your Girlfriends At The Holidays Try This.

With all of the upcoming festivities and hustle-and-bustle that comes with them, you might be more than ready to pamper yourself while enjoying your girlfriends' company. This year, why not share a spa day at home with your girlfriends instead of exchanging gifts? Spa treatments are a wonderful idea for the holiday season as everybody needs to enjoy a little time out for themselves during the holiday madness. A rejuvenating spa day is one gift that everyone is sure to love. Who doesn't want a relaxing, aromatic massage along with soft, supple skin?

A spa day is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas with your girlfriends. Yes, going out to a spa is fun - but most likely your group will get split up during different treatments and you will also have to tolerate the presence of other customers, who may be inclined to shush your group if they are trying for a quiet spa experience. The way to fix this is to bring the spa to you. You can create a spa experience at home by taking what everyone would have spent at the spa and use it to bring in a Serve The Goddess® licensed massage therapist and an aesthetician for facials, manicures and pedicures. Get pampered while sipping mulled wine with your girlfriends in the comfort of your home!

Taking advantage of a spa treatment not only alleviates some of the tension, but gives you a chance to treat yourself. Everyone needs a little pampering during this time of year so they can be fully recharged and enjoy the season, stress-free and relaxed. And with so many options to choose from our Serve The Goddess® Mobile Spa Services, we're sure you'll find a favorite or two!


If you're as busy and stressed as most of us, you may not take time out for self-care very often. However, personal pampering has many stress relieving benefits, and should be incorporated as part of a low stress lifestyle. A Christmas Spa Party in the comfort of your home is a fun way to hang out with friends while getting some much needed pampering. All of you will feel great afterwards!

Here are some fuss-free ideas to help you create an at-home Christmas Spa Party experience that helps you restore your spirit:

Get some "spa-like" decorations for your home. Keep it simple and pull together some of the things that say "spa": spa CDs with relaxing music, candles, maybe some fresh flowers. This will help to create a luxurious and relaxing atmosphere for your home spa day.

Serve simple food. Keep it light and easy with some finger food like vegetables with a dip or some fruit. Serve fruit infused spa water for proper hydration or some hot tea.

Feel The Love. Your Christmas Spa Party is about extending love and kindness to yourself -- and others. Make sure they feel the love.

A Christmas party full of wonderful spa treatments will leave all guests feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. What can be a better gift?

Happy holidays!

Looking for some “me time” then take a walk.

Yesterday, I decided to take a long walk in the late afternoon, just the three of us, me, myself and I, and had a grand old time. It does not snow around these parts, but I always like to take walks in my neighborhood during this time of year to see how the people who live on nearby streets decorate the exterior of their homes for the holidays.

On the one hand, some people keep things relatively simple and understated and just use props like candy canes in the yard, wreaths on the doors, candles in the windows and a string of lights to outline the house.

But on the other hand, some neighbors go all out and dress (or should I say, style) their houses to the nines with the reindeer on the roof, life-sized nativity scenes, inflatable snowmen families and color-coded lights of all shapes and sizes, all synchronized to festive music. It’s like walking in winter wonderland, California style. Tacky as it might be, it’s truly a spectacular sight to behold and I, for one, appreciate all of the effort that’s involved.

The thing is, it really doesn’t matter how elaborate the decorations are from house to house. Each home has its own charm and it’s just fun walking around from street to street, seeing all of the houses lit up like Christmas trees.

If you’re looking to carve out some “me time” for yourself this month, take a walk. Not only will you get some fresh air and exercise, you’ll also take your stress level down a few notches. And you may just happen upon a cute little cottage that looks like a gingerbread house! Walking is one of life’s simplest pleasures and whether you go by yourself or invite some friends, why not turn walking into daily habit all year round.

Enjoy the light show!

Until next time.
Helen.

Take This Mini SPA Vacation At Home Before The Holidays

Soft, glowing skin and a refreshed, positive outlook. . .  Although nothing really compares to leaving the work to the professionals, taking time for yourself is one of the best things you can do to restore and rejuvenate. Any woman can turn her home into a spa, chock-full of natural and totally good-for-you beauty treatments that are easy to do.

Here is an at-home spa ritual you can recreate anytime you'd like. If you don't have the time to do it all at once, savor it over the next several days; it's like a mini spa vacation so take it now in preparation of the month ahead!

Set the mood: Choose at least an hour of time during your day where you won't be distracted by work or the needs of your family. Light some candles and play some music. Choose music or sounds that are relaxing and reduce stress:

Start with dry skin brushing. To stimulate your circulation, use a loofah or a long-handled brush to dry brush your body. Your strokes should move toward your heart in long, fluid motions. Take a nice warm shower to relax your mind and body. Towel-dry your body and hair and put on your robe. Apply a deep conditioning hair mask to restore and moisture your hair. While your hair mask sets, apply a face mask to your damp face and neck.

Relax. Spend the next 15 minutes savoring the peace and quiet of your home spa experience. Take another warm shower, rinse the hair masque completely from your hair and gently remove the face mask. End your treatment with a cup of tea or water and take a deep breath. When you're finished, be sure to mark your calendar for your next at-home spa appointment.

Until next time,
Helen

Drink a cup of tea to avoid holiday stress

In my opinion, drinking a cup of tea is one of the best ways to create some ME time during the holidays to avoid being stressed. 

There’s nothing better than taking a few minutes in the middle of the afternoon to sip a warm cup of tea. Can you hear the kettle whistling? Have you warmed up your tea pot and tea cup or mug? – most people forget that step but doing it takes the flavor and the experience to a whole new level. Have you chosen your favorite tea blend from your stash? Have you invited a friend over to join you? Did you remember to put out the cream, sugar, lemon, and honey and of course a plate of cookies?

Here are some of my favorite quotes from literature on the pleasures of drinking tea to inspire you to sit down and have a cup of tea at least once before the new year and to give your friends the gift of a tea sampler (available from specialty shops or online) so they can enjoy some tea time, too.

“The Tea Party

I had a little tea party
This afternoon at three.
'Twas very small-
Three guest in all-
Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,
While I drank up the tea;
'Twas also I who ate the pie
And passed the cake to me.”
― Jessica Nelson North

“What kind of tea do you want?"
"There’s more than one kind of tea?...What do you have?"
"Let’s see... Blueberry, Raspberry, Ginseng, Sleepytime, Green Tea, Green Tea with Lemon, Green Tea with Lemon and Honey, Liver Disaster, Ginger with Honey, Ginger Without Honey, Vanilla Almond, White Truffle Coconut, Chamomile, Blueberry Chamomile, Decaf Vanilla Walnut, Constant Comment and Earl Grey."
-"I.. Uh...What are you having?... Did you make some of those up?”
― Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

“A cup of tea would restore my normality.” ― Douglas Adams

There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.” ― Lin Yutang, The Importance Of Living

“Tea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties.” ― Confucius

“Okay, this is the wisdom. First, time spent on reconnaissance is never wasted. Second, almost anything can be improved with the addition of bacon. And finally, there is no problem on Earth that can't be ameliorated by a hot bath and a cup of tea.” ― Jasper Forde, Shades of Grey

“A cat purring on your lap while you sip hot tea, is there anything better? Oh, and you’re floating in a zero gravity environment.” ― Jarod Kintz, Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal With Change by Deciding to Let Indecision Into Your Life

“Dad was at his desk when I opened the door, doing what all British people do when they're freaked out: drinking tea.” ― Rachel Hawkins, Demonglass

“If you are cold, tea will warm you;
if you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited, it will calm you.”
― William Ewart Gladstone

“Nowadays, people resort to all kinds of activities in order to calm themselves after a stressful event: performing yoga poses in a sauna, leaping off bridges while tied to a bungee, killing imaginary zombies with imaginary weapons, and so forth. But in Miss Penelope Lumley's day, it was universally understood that there is nothing like a nice cup of tea to settle one's nerves in the aftermath of an adventure-- a practice many would find well worth reviving.”
― Maryrose Wood, The Hidden Gallery

“I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side ..."
 (Englishman in New York)” ― Sting, Nothing Like the Sun

“Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea: "One table-spoonful to be taken at bedtime.”
― Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit

My kettle is boiling -until next time,
Helne

Attitude of Gratitiude

November is a month of reflection, and with Thanksgiving Day just gone, it is often a time to express thanks for all of the blessings in our lives. Through gratitude, we accept the good in all. Counting our blessings brings balance to those parts of us that are disconnected. Gratitude changes our attitude and helps us to stop feeling victimized by life. If you are feeling down, hopeless, or worried, you can bring your life back into balance simply by practicing gratitude.

Why should that be? Why should the simple act of thinking about who and what you are grateful for make such a big difference in your life?
Just a few reasons:

It reminds you of the positive things in your life. It makes you happy about the people in your life, whether they're loved ones or just a stranger you met who was kind to you in some ways.

It turns bad things into good things. Having relationship problems? Be grateful you have a relationship. Be grateful you have challenges that you can learn from and that help you to learn. Be thankful they make you a stronger person.

It reminds you of what's important. It's hard to complain about the little things when you give thanks that your loved ones are alive and healthy. It's hard to get stressed out over paying bills when you are grateful there is enough food in your fridge.

It reminds you to thank others. The simple act of saying "thank you" to someone can make a big difference in that person's life. Calling them, texting them, stopping by to say thank you . . . just taking a minute to tell them why you are grateful for them is important to them. People like being appreciated! It's so easy to make someone else happy. And making someone else happy in return will make you happy.

Living a life of gratitude is easy. Simple acts of gratitude don't cost you much, but they can make a huge difference. If you want to give practicing gratitude a try, here are some ideas:

Morning gratitude session. Take 2-3 minutes each morning to give thanks, to whoever or whatever you're grateful for. Don't forget to include yourself! You don't have to do anything, other than close your eyes and silently give thanks. This can make a huge difference.

Say thank you. Whenever someone does something kind for you, however small, always try to remember to say thank you. And really mean it.

Give thanks for "negative" things in your life. There's always two ways to look at something. Many times we think of something as negative. But the same thing can be looked at in a more positive way. Giving thanks for those things is a great way to remind yourself that there is good in just about everything and that nothing happens without a reason.

Learn a gratitude prayer. There are many prayers, religious or not, that can remind you to be grateful. Search the internet and find one that resonates with you and print it out, or write your own. If you're not religious, it doesn't need to include the concept of God.

Love expressed as gratitude demonstrates itself in small acts of kindness and connects us to each other and to ourselves. What accomplishments can you be grateful for? I'd love to hear your comments.

Give the Gift of Yoga

Before things get out of hand and you find yourself stressed beyond measure, make a promise right now to carve out some ME time during this upcoming festive, holiday season. Take a look at your calendar and make sure, while you have the chance and before your time gets booked up with other obligations, to schedule at least 15 peaceful minutes a day for yourself --- and then honor that time.

Taking a few moments to quiet your mind is the key to enjoying this special time of year and practicing yoga is one of the best ways I know to stay calm and relaxed.

Some of the many health benefits of practicing yoga on a regular basis include:


Stronger immune system
Increased energy
More efficient breathing
Better digestion
Balanced hormones
Improved muscle flexibility and strength
Straighter posture
Healthier body weight
Improved sleep
Decreased pain
Improved balance
Increased sense of well-being
Better mood
Decrease in anxiety, depression and anger
Improved concentration and memory
Decrease in total cholesterol levels
Lower blood pressure


You can also use yoga as a theme in your gift giving this year. Encourage your friends to join you in a yoga class with a gift certificate and buy everyone things like yoga mats, yoga pants, instructional videos, thoughtful books, relaxing music, water bottles, eye shades and a special bag to carry everything in.

And since everyone’s feet are bare during yoga class, how about throwing in a gift certificate for a pedicure, too? It just might help your friends who may be new to yoga, to start things off on the right foot, so to speak.

I realize even the most basic yoga moves can prove quite challenging for some people, but with consistent practice, the health benefits of yoga will far outweigh any awkwardness that may surface initially. Yoga is one of those things that you have to stick with for awhile but it’s worth it. You just might find that adding some yoga stretches to your daily routine will really help make this holiday extraordinary.

Halloween spa party anyone?

Of course we love any excuse to have a spa party, but Halloween is the perfect opportunity to let your imagination take over. Time for the ghouls and goblins to come out; and they might be heading straight for your house... Halloween is here, and if you want to throw any party this year, why not gather your female friends for a grown-up Halloween spa party at home? It's a great way to enjoy your time with friends while indulging in a day or evening of pampering.

Because of the occasion you can get creative with the decorations and amaze your guests with your thoughtfulness. Replace trick-or-treat by presenting each of your guests goodie bags filled with spa supplies. You could even create your own spa version of a haunted house, with individual stations set up for various treatments. The sky is the limit, and we have many ways to help inspire you.

Check out some of our favorite treatments that feature the superstar of Halloween, pumpkin:

Your guests can enjoy a spin on the traditional manicure and pedicure with spooky nail designs like ghosts or spiderwebs. Or you can treat them to a Serve The Goddess® pumpkin peel facial, which rids the skin of dull, dry cells and promotes younger looking skin.

Containing natural pumpkin and multi-fruit complex, our pumpkin peel has powerful enzymes that act like alpha-hydroxy acids to rid the skin of dull, dry cells. Alpha-hydroxy acids have been shown to promote smoother, younger-looking skin by increasing the rate of cell renewal. Not to mention, it smells absolutely divine and elevates your at home spa experience to a whole new level.
Your facial begins with a deep cleansing treatment, then follows with a wonderful exfoliating pumpkin mask that gently removes impurities. Your treatment will also include a moisturizer that will restore hydration to the skin.

Halloween is the perfect time to evoke the supernatural with some palm reading. By discovering your inner goddess, untapped gifts will be unearthed and your own goddess intuitions will be validated. The challenge of your life's purpose and the beauty of your life's lesson will be revealed-- all in the palm of your hand!

Until next time.
Happy Halloween.

Pick A Pumpkin For Your Next Spa Service

For the past few weeks, as I’ve been driving around the outskirts of town for my mobile spa appointments, I’ve noticed many patches of land bejeweled with brightly colored orange pumpkins, just waiting to be picked for Halloween, along my routes. Did you know that California is the second largest producer of pumpkins in the U.S. after Illinois? And did you know that pumpkins make excellent spa ingredients?

Pumpkins are good for the skin because they contain skin-friendly Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Alpha Carotene, Beta Carotene, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, and Zinc.

It’s easy to add some mashed pumpkin (raw or cooked) to facial masks and body wraps. The pumpkin will gently exfoliate your skin and leave it feeling soft and smooth. Applying nourishing pumpkins to your skin will also help moisturize dry skin, enhance your skin’s radiance and reduce inflammation associated with acne blemishes. It’s also mild enough for anyone who has sensitive skin. It smells good, too.

Pumpkin pie, anyone? If you want to nourish your skin from the inside out, then add pumpkins to your favorite baking recipes or use them in a savory side dish. The possibilities are endless when it comes to cooking with pumpkins.

And don’t forget to lightly roast your pumpkin seeds after you hollow out your jack-o-lantern because they make a tasty and healthy spa snack. Also, pumpkin seed oil, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, can be applied to skin to help heal rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, burns, wounds and scars. It’s a great boost to any massage oil blend.

It’s no wonder spas like to feature treatments with pumpkins on their menus!

Don’t miss out on the fun. Halloween is quickly creeping up on us so pick your pumpkins as soon as you can and use them to decorate your doorstep, feed your family and clear your complexion.

Four Warming Spa Treatments for Fall

October is a special month of the year. It’s halfway between July and December and now that summer is behind us and winter is ahead of us, it’s time to start thinking about getting cozy and spending more time indoors.

Begin by adding some new seasonal touches to your home like draping a blanket on a favorite chair, turning on the gas fireplace, bringing in some leaves and foliage that you’ve found outside, swapping your lighter waffle bath robes for the heavier, terry cloth ones and creating some aromatherapy blends with essential oils like vanilla, cinnamon, and clove.

Here are some fall spa services that you can receive in the coming weeks that will help take the chill out of the fall and winter seasons.

1) Hot stone massages are a great way to get warm. It feels like liquid heat is reaching the deepest part of your achy muscles as the smooth, basalt stones travel over your body. It’s truly a divine experience.

2) Dipping your hands and feet in a warm, paraffin bath is a must this time of year. The wax will lock the moisture in your skin and your hands and feet will stay soft for days.

3) Body wraps are also ideal spa treatments during this time of year. Not only will you be wrapped in a cozy cocoon of blankets, some body wraps are purposefully made with self-warming ingredients like Spirulina and Moor Mud, that will help increase your circulation which will raise your body temperature.

4) And what’s a spa without a bath? Taking an herbal bath is a great way to warm up. Infusing some chamomile or Earl Grey tea into your bath water will definitely benefit your skin and will help you relax and keep you warm from head to toe.

Remember to light some candles and make a cup of tea and which ever warming spa treatment you choose first, you’ve got a recipe for a nice spa day at home in October.

Renew your inner and outer beauty this fall

Nothing beats fall when it comes to a sense of renewal. It's the beginning of a new school year, your favorite brand introduces new fall fashion, and you have nothing but cooler weather and the holidays to look forward to. What better time to adjust your beauty routine than the new season?
 

 

The change of seasons is a good time to cleanse your system, inside and out. The best way to prepare for the colder season is to get a facial, a body scrub, and a massage, and then check your diet and get plenty of sleep. This time of year is good for warming soups and stews, cooked vegetables and for a treat: fruit pies. It's also a good time to enjoy the health benefits of a cup of hot green tea and to detox before Halloween with all the candy.  

As summer surrenders to cooler temperatures, there is no better place to renew your Inner Goddess than with a renewing massage or spa service. Our tips will help you to prepare for your best fall season ever:

Detox At Home: Detoxing isn't just a dramatic one-time event, or something you do when you're at a detox spa. It's an ongoing process. And you can do much of the important work of detoxing at home by changing the way you eat and taking a closer look at what you put in your body.

Hydrate adequately by drinking eight to ten glasses of water every day. This flushes your system and replaces the water your body loses just through respiration and elimination. If you're bored with plain old water, try spa water, which is fruit-infused water. Get great spa water recipes at myspawater.com and Pam Wenzel's Spa Water book. Stop eating sugar and refined carbohydrates like white flour. They have no nutritional value and give you a sugar "high" that leaves you hungry and craving more sugar.

  

Get healthy fats into your diet. Essential fatty acids can be found in unrefined flax seed oils, walnuts and especially olive oil.

Sleep: Make your sleep a priority. Build boundaries around your sleep by sticking to a set bedtime, and by not eating or working in bed (no iPhone in the bedroom!). Avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they both interfere with normal sleep patterns. Prepare for healthy sleep by making a smooth transition from waking activity to quiet sleep. 

Facial: Face fall with a healthy glow, and select a facial that will clean, soften and smooth the skin. Summer sun can leave skin dry and damaged, so you'll feel relaxed and rejuvenated. Of course, it's impossible to think of fall without thinking of pumpkins, and spa pumpkin-based treatments. Though many think that the pumpkin found its highest calling in a Thanksgiving pie, the reality is that the familiar orange flesh provides tons of phytochemicals that nourish and treat the skin. An exfoliating pumpkin peel contains powerful natural enzymes and is an excellent way to instantly brighten post-summer skin by sloughing away dead skin cells and dull pigment.

Body Scrub: Fall skincare involves doing away with summer dryness and pampering your skin. For an utterly pampering experience, schedule a body scrub in the comfort of your home. Your skin is pampered and polished with essential oils and sea salts giving you a luxuriant glow. We add skin brushing to exfoliate, detox and rejuvenate. Your skin will look as great as it feels: heavenly smooth. For your daily routine, switch to a heavier moisturizer that will protect your skin as it adjusts to new, cooler temperatures.
 

Massage: For many of us a massage is the most relaxing wish-it-went-on-forever treatment. Aside from the sheer pleasure of having stubborn knots eased away, skin benefits greatly from nourishing oils. Depending on your needs you may find your massage therapist choosing a blend of delicious-smelling essentials oils to enhance your relaxation.

The great thing about fall is that it gives us all a chance to start anew and to make positive changes. May it be your best season of change yet .