Olive Oil is the #1 Beauty Secret in Italy

After a fruitful summer, I’m taking a vacation and I’m happy to say that I’m writing this blog post from Italy. I’m inspired by the beautiful Italians around me and can’t help but wonder what their beauty secrets are.

As it turns out, olive oil plays a significant role in the Italian beauty mystique. It’s such a healthy ingredient and can be used in a number of ways to enhance anyone’s beauty.

Here are some quick, easy, and Italian-inspired ways to use olive oil in your home spa beauty routine:

1. Eye Make-Up Remover: Italian women are known for their long, dark, thick eyelashes and dramatic eyes and they use olive oil to remove their makeup. Olive oil has a gentle cleansing action and as a bonus, it helps strengthen and condition the lashes as it brushes across the eyes.

2. Lip Balm: Italian women often use olive oil in lip balm recipes to keep their lips kissable, soft and supple.

3. Face Mask: Not surprisingly, olive oil is a great ingredient to add to facial masks because it cleanses pores, moisturizes dry skin, and smooths wrinkles. It’s good for normal, dry, mature and even sensitive skin types and Italian women don’t let a week go by without applying a face mask with olive oil to their skin.

4. Hair Conditioner: Italian women are also known for their long, wavy tresses and once again, olive oil works to cleanse and condition their hair. Olive oil also adds shine and gloss and helps repair damage from the roots to tips.

5. Nail Treatment: What’s the point of wearing your gorgeous rings, bracelets and watches if your hands and nails aren’t looking healthy and polished. Soaking your hands in olive oil will help condition dry and brittle nails and will help your hands look and feel splendissima.

6. Foot Treatment: Italian stilettos make a fashion statement, for sure, but the feet have to look great by themselves before they slide into those lovely shoes. Use olive oil in your pedicure to cleanse the skin, soften rough patches and reduce swelling.

7. Massage Oil: As a licensed massage therapist, I know the value of a relaxing massage. Add drops of your favorite essential oils to some olive oil and apply it to the body to soften skin and soothe pain and take a holiday from stress.

8. Nutritious Diet: Italian women are also known for their curvaceous, hour-glass figures and many, including Sophia Loren, give the credit to olive oil. Olive oil is highly nutritious and full of antioxidants and it helps people stay slim and trim while still eating healthy meals. Eating olive oil also lowers high blood pressure and reduces the risk of contracting heart disease and cancer. 

Enjoy the rest of your summer! Ciao for now!
 

Kids back to school? Five steps to help you be calm and relaxed

During the summer, schedules are relaxed and you can stay up late and sleep a little longer. And while your sleep patterns change it's tempting to fall into "endless weekend mode".

But before you know it, the clock will rule the morning again. Summer is winding down, just a few more supplies to buy, and then the kids will be headed back to school. After a relaxed, easy breezy summer lifestyle, the end of August can be tough. Suddenly you are confronted with a much tighter schedule.

How can moms and kids adjust from the relaxation of summer to the schedules of school? Luckily there are lots of ways you can stay calm and relaxed. Here are 5 easy ways to ease your routine.

Be prepared. What worked last year may not be a perfect fit this year. Be open to new ideas and adjustments when necessary. Prepare ahead of time. Donate clothes that no longer fit your child. It's also a good opportunity to go through YOUR closet and donate clothes you no longer like or need.

Put your family on a routine and emphasize sleep. For bedtime, focus on relaxation and sleep will follow. Accept that sleep is a very important part of life. Plan healthy breakfasts and lunches. Remember that nutrition is an important factor in daily performance. Studies have shown that people who eat healthful, balanced breakfasts and lunches are more alert throughout the (school) day than those who have an unhealthy diet.

Create a stress-free morning routine. Plan for the mornings the evening before. Take out the uniforms or clothes for next day, make sure that backpacks are packed, and that lunchboxes are clean and, if possible, packed as well. Make sure you've put your car keys, cell phone and wallet with the driver's license in it within reach.

Set the breakfast table the night before, and make sure healthy breakfast foods are easy to reach. Also make sure sports bags or musical instruments are packed and ready to go.

Repeat a mantra. It can be something you recently read or one that you came up with yourself. When you start to feel yourself getting stressed and overwhelmed, repeat your mantra in your head over and over again. Close your eyes if you have to. You'll start to feel all the tension drain from your body and it will be replaced with a relaxed feeling and positive energy.

Focus on relaxation. Most women already know what the statistics say: You are still carrying most of the load. You juggle kids, work, home, volunteering and everything else in between. Of course, you know that running yourself on empty isn't good for your health or your family.

Take a relaxing, refreshing bubble bath, light your favorite scented candle, read a good book, or listen to calming music:

Why not plan some extra treatment and get a facial, massage, manicure or pedicure? No matter how organized you are, life can be challenging and you need some downtime to recharge your batteries! Do not be tempted to devalue the worth of relaxation.

One of the most effective ways to achieve a state of true relaxation is by booking a Serve The Goddess® Mobile Spa Services appointment and getting a massage in the comfort of your home. No need to travel (which might add some extra stress) - we bring the relaxation to YOU! A massage relaxes and refreshes your body in multiple ways. To function your best you need to feel your best. Why not invite some other moms and make a back-to-school Spa party out of it? Everything is so much better in a group. Just pick your date, time, and favorite services, and Serve The Goddess® Mobile Spa Services turns your home into a relaxation haven.

Get daily exercise. It is so beneficial to get daily exercise. Plan a walk in the early morning, or after you drop the kids off at school. Do a workout DVD, ride your bike or join a gym. Just find some way to incorporate at least 30 minutes of activity into your daily routine. The healthier you stay, the easier it is to be the best mom you can be to your children.

All these things can help you and your family have a happier, relaxed back-to-school experience without having to give up on that carefree summer feeling yet. Which reminds me: it's time to slap on some sunscreen and head to the beach.

The Beauty of Mobile Spas…

Recently, one of my spa party guests asked me, “Are you the spa on wheels?” and while I’ve never thought of Serve the Goddess® Mobile Spa Services in quite those terms before, I said, “Yes, yes, yes we are.”

There’s a certain beauty about mobile spas because we can travel anywhere. You can choose to have us come to your backyard garden, or to your hotel room, or to a more exotic location like the beach or a vineyard.

We can travel to the city, country or suburbs, in the morning, afternoon or the evening, on a weekday or on the weekend and we can cater to individuals, couples and groups.

In Southern California, poolside spa parties that include mani’s, pedi’s and massages are popular year round. If you have a pool and an upcoming special occasion to celebrate, then a spa party is just a phone call away.

We can also provide neck and shoulder massages to large groups as we did for an employee appreciation event in Paradise Cove, Malibu.

Of course bridal showers are a perfect pairing with mobile spas. We've done a bridal shower spa party right on the ocean at the Terrenea resort. This resort has a beautiful spa on the premises but these guests all wanted to be together in the same room and visit with each other while being pampered so they called Serve The Goddess®. As we gave each of the guests their massages, we were able to hear relaxing sound of the ocean waves rolling toward the shore.

The Langham Hotel in Pasadena was also a lovely location for a bridal shower. For this spa party, the guests wanted late appointments in their suite but the hotel spa was closed at that time. As a mobile spa, we were able to accommodate their needs.

Sometimes, the theme of the party is more exotic than the location and we've done Hawaiian theme spa parties where guests are served Hawaiian food while we give the guests lomi lomi massages.

My theme for Serve the Goddess® is Grecian and my inspiration Greek Goddesses. We drape everything in white sheets and all of the spa therapists wear white. Guests can pick from several Goddess Spa Packages and become a Goddess for the day!

Mobile spas are so flexible and versatile and we can go wherever your imagination takes us. The Beauty of Mobile Spas…

Is there really a National Relaxation Day?

In recognition of National Relaxation Day we just got booked to do neck and shoulder massages for Tommy Bahamas at The Grove Los Angeles for their customer appreciation.  Yes they'll be a lot of relaxed shoppers that day! Imagine that; we do need it don’t you think?

We live in stressful times. Everyone is always so crazy busy! August 15th is National Relaxation Day, which is a great opportunity to take a break from our hectic lives to relax and regroup. It is important for your overall well-being to take time to de-stress and give your body and mind time to rejuvenate.

Healthy relaxation habits can help to ease the stress of everyday life. They are very important to prevent you from overwhelm and burn-out.
Relaxation can reduce the levels of toxins that contribute to many major diseases. Practicing how to relax is really easy. Just incorporate a few simple changes into your daily routine and create habits to relieve stress. Read on how to make relaxation a habit.

Breathe. Take a deep breath! Breathing relaxes the mind and body. Sit quietly in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and relax all of your muscles starting with your feet and slowly moving to each area until you reach your face. Slowly inhale and exhale deeply through your nose. Start with five minutes and build up to ten.

Listen to calming sounds. Do you listen to relaxing music to de-stress? Choose music or sounds that are relaxing and reduce stress. Once your work day is over listen to this relaxing spa music, close your eyes and breathe to unwind from the day's activities. You'll feel the serenity right away...

Get a massage in the comfort of your home. Enjoy the benefits of de-stressing massage. A massage provides many benefits, including relieving stress, relaxing tense muscles, and relaxing the mind. One of the best ways to achieve this state of true relaxation is getting a massage in the comfort of your home. No need to drive and get stressed out by traffic or worry about finding a parking space.

Spend time with family. When was the last time you spent some quality time with your partner? Combine time with your hubby with a relaxing couples massage to increase your relaxation. Indulge in blissful aromatherapy massages side by side for you and your beloved, in the comfort of your home.

Let us know if you have anything planned and happy relaxing!

Treat Yourself Like the First Olympians with an Aromatherapy Massage

I love watching the Olympics especially when my home country England is hosting! So with all the awe and wonder of the Olympians I thought it fitting to discuss how the ancient Olympians looked after their bodies.

There’s a spa scene in Homer's The Odyssey, one of the first stories ever recorded. It's true. You remember Odysseus, the Greek guy who spent much of his life sailing around the world trying to make his way back home. Well, when he arrives on Circe's island, she gives him an incredible spa treatment that he wouldn't soon forget:

“When the bright copper [cauldron] was boiling, she sat me down in a bath and washed me with water...mixed with cold to a comfortable heat, sluicing my head and shoulders till all the painful weariness was gone from my limbs. My bath done, she rubbed me in olive oil, and clothed me in a fine tunic…”

See, I told you. Ancient Greeks and Romans used massage and aromatherapy to keep their Olympic athletes and VIP’s in top form.

 

If you’re looking for an Olympic treat, try a massage that uses aromatic oils from ancient Greece. 

Here’s a list of essential oils and their healing properties that may have been used in the ancient Greece that still can be found in spa, beauty and massage treatments today.

Basil: Add to massage oil to relax, encourage a good night’s sleep, lift depression, help digestion, calm nausea, and tame cold symptoms.

Bay Laurel: Add sparingly to massage oil to relax muscles, reverse insomnia, soothe muscle aches and pains, strengthen breathing, smooth cellulite, and improve digestion.

Black Pepper: Add to massage oil to relax, inspire romance, soothe muscle pain, detoxify, aid digestion, bring heat, reduce arthritic pain, and calm muscle cramps.

Chamomile: Add to massage oil to relax, get to sleep, prevent nightmares, lift depression, soothe muscle pain, and strengthen breathing.

Clove: Add sparingly to massage oil to relax, inspire romance, soothe muscle pain, lift depression, relieve headaches, add heat, add scent and for antioxidant and anti-fungal properties.

Doesn't this just make you want to schedule an aromatherapy massage right now?