In appreciation of our VIP Members, this month we are offering all VIP's a Complimentary Very Intent on Pampering Tote bag, double points on all services done in the Day Spa, & 20% off retail, plus 1 entry per service to win $500 Spa Dollars to be drawn and given away on March 31st, 2010.
It's not too late to join, become a member now and reap the rewards of this elite program! Ask a Spa Concierge for more details on becoming a VIP Member!
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Tips & Tricks To Cinderella Feet 1. When cutting your toe nails, do not cut too short. Fungus may develop and destroy your whole nail or produce an awful odor.
2. Don't forget to dry all of your legs, including between the toes. A moist spot is a breeding ground for bacteria.
3. It is basic personal hygiene requirement not to use you socks or stockings more than twice without washing it first. You feet sweat a lot and germs are developing in it. Therefore do not wear the same shoes 2 days in a row. Leave them to dry before wearing them again. (And that is why I need more shoes!)
4. If you foot is prone to athlete's foot, apply some foot powder or foot spray before wearing your shoes. Or you can purchase shoes with specially designed foot soles, which I don't find particularly useful. As much as I hate to say this, when buying your shoes, comfort and practicality should always come first before style. But hey, who says style cannot come with comfort and practicality? As long as you can afford it..
5. Try to wear high heels only for short period of time. On a daily basis, you should be wearing shoes with adequate width and room to wiggle. High heels and shoes that doesn't fit can put a lot of pressure on your feet, making you feel really tired. If you are suffering from "shoes bite" try sing heel grips and air pillow.
Here are some quick fix. To prepare you foot for pedicure, apply moisturizer and wear your socks before you sleep. Your feet will be soft and smooth, ready to be painted. To soften, smoothen and remove odor, mix some water with some lemon juice and soak your feet in it for 10 minutes. |
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The
Importance of Sleep Have you ever missed a good night sleep and then the next night stayed up late to watch your favorite rerun of Friends, Frasier or Scrubs...because even though you had seen it five times, you just couldn't get enough? And then the night after, you went out with friends for drinks and dinner, and it went later than you expected? Before you knew it, you were 4 or 5 nights in the hole.
I find that not sleeping becomes some sort of an addictive behavior and unless you break the vicious cycle...you end up feeling like I've felt these last four or so days...extremely sluggish and moody: Basically, falling quickly into a downward spiral. It is funny how, sometimes, although you might know what is best for you and might be able to give the best advice in the world, when it comes to yourself, you somehow forget it all and everything you "should do" goes out the window.
Sleep is more vital than people give it credit for and as we get older, it becomes even more important. It is harder to rebound from the late nights: you look like you've been out late for a year and you feel like you've been hit by a truck. I look back to the days I was an architecture student and I would literally, day after day, get up at 7am, go to school, teach one or two aerobics classes at night, stay up really late in design studio working on projects and then would finally go home and crash at 4am to then wake up again at 7am the next morning. This cycle would continue for 5 days out of the week straight. I don't know how I did it. Today, if I even thought of trying that shtick, I'd fall on my face. It would be virtually impossible.
Well, none of this is anything new to any of you, I'm sure. However, it is worth mentioning. It is worth reminding ourselves that taking care of yourself, letting your body rest and recover, letting it regenerate is really, really important. They call it 'beauty sleep' for a reason. If you deprive yourself of the luxury of sleep, you actually deprive yourself of life. The way I feel right now, I feel as though I've missed about 3 nights of sleep, and a couple of days of living. So tonight, when my favorite reruns are on, I think I'll pass. I'll crawl into bed and sleep happily.
So my friends...don't miss out on your sleep! Make sure you are getting seven to eight hours of your vital rest a night...
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5 Myths About Healthy Eating
Healthy eating and dieting are two very different things. Unfortunately, healthy eating is really misunderstood and there's a chance most people have acquired some preconceived ideas about healthy eating and what it actually entails. The following are some misconceptions about eating healthy.
· If you eat healthy, you must be on a diet. Too often the word "diet" is confused with the concept of dieting. Most people equate dieting with deprivation, especially as related to foods they love. Whether you are at your ideal weight or trying to lose weight, eating healthy is NOT dieting. It IS eating a healthy diet, however, which is a proactive lifestyle choice. If you want to eat healthy, you are choosing to do so. You choose to optimize the way you eat to look and feel your best.
· Eating healthy is boring, tastes awful, and is never satisfying. Truth be told, eating healthy can taste better...can be wonderfully varied...and can fill you up for longer periods of time than food that is unhealthy. Spa cuisine which is often well-balanced and nutritious, can often be extremely flavorful and fulfilling. Many individuals who make a long-term switch to a healthier diet swear that they don't miss the unhealthy foods they once ate. Some actually find them distasteful and unsatisfying! As you eat quality whole foods, your cravings for foods that lack nutritional value will diminish.
· There is a secret to weight loss. There is absolutely no secret, no magic pill, and no trick to losing weight. You are an individual with individual needs. As a result, fad diets and "secret weight-loss programs" may work for some, but not necessarily for others. Even still, those that find that these fad diets work...only do in the short term. Anything that seems too good to be true, often is.
· You need to count calories to be successful. Although food journaling is advisable, it isn't necessary. For the most part, calorie counting is a must for those people who don't eat REAL food that is REALLY healthy. It's when we eat unhealthy foods that we need to count and track what we ingest because we're consuming a lot of empty calories that provide very little, if any, nutrition.
· Eating healthy is difficult and complicated. Eating a healthy diet is not rocket science. It never has been and it never will be. All you need is common sense rules that are easy to remember and easy to put into action.
Next time you are considering going on a diet...think about the more appealing alternative: A lifestyle that incorporates healthy eating. Change your perspective and see the power it has on your overall health and well-being...not to mention your waistline! If you need help making healthier lifestyle changes, seek help from a weight management professional program that will give you some guidelines to follow.
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Foot Notes
Don't take your feet for granted! Give them the attention they need so they can always look and feel good. After all, they carry you the entire day. Anytime is the perfect time to be kind to your "footsies".
A Paraffin Pedicure is a refreshing,relaxing way to pamper yourself and help keep your feet healthy with 11 vitamins and minerals that nourish, soothe and soften tired and neglected feet!
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EASY, FILLING, VEGGIE SOUP
Make this ahead of time and keep it in the fridge to heat up for a quick, delicious lunch or dinner. With tons of vegetables, it provides vitamins and minerals, and the barley and beans contain protein and fiber to keep you full.
Ingredients
4 c chicken or vegetable broth
2 medium tomatoes - coarsely chopped
1 yellow onion - coarsely chopped
2 cloves of garlic - minced
2 stalks of celery - finely chopped
2 carrots - peeled and thinly sliced
1 c hulled barley (pre-soaked overnight)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp dill
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp salt
1 c corn kernels (cut off the ear or frozen)
2 c zucchini - sliced
2 Tbsp fresh parsley - chopped
Directions:
Combine chicken broth, tomatoes, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, pre-soaked barley, chili powder, dill, thyme, and salt into a large pot. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to medium heat. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Add in corn, zucchini, and parsley. Simmer for 10 minutes leaving the zucchini a bit crunchy for some texture.
Makes 3 Servings
Nutritional Value per Serving
Servings per Recipe: 3
Calories: 352
Protein: 14 gms / 12% of Calories
Carbohydrates: 73.4 gms / 80% of Calories
Fiber: 18 gms
Fat: 19 gms / 8% of Calories
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