Spa Girl says “A houana ka ka” -- thank you very much!

There are some days I look at my "stash" and laugh. I could open my own skin and body care store from all the goodies I have either purchased or been given. 

Many of my friends know I author Spa Girl, so I often receive little goodie bags in the mail full of great products they have discovered on their travels to all kinds of exotic places.  I am also a great one to pick up this and that to try, especially if it is organic, made from the sea, or all natural ingredients.

Always on the outlook for fabulous skin care products and anything to help my very dry hands, I recently purchased a tube of hand cream and it has quickly become my number one favourite.  It's call Out of Africa Hand Cream and is made with 20% unrefined organic Shea butter. And I'm a big fan of Shea Butter, using it in many of my own home made products.

Out of Africa's Hand Cream goes a long way and leaves my hands smooth and silky.  It is 100% natural with no parabens, it is eco-friendly and cruelty free, in other words, it ticks all the right boxes for me!

The company also has an interesting story...

THE STORY OF OUT OF AFRICA

Victor Lulla, a native New Yorker living in Los Angeles, has long nurtured interests in healthy lifestyles, the environment and social responsibility. After briefly considering an early retirement after the sale of his electronics firm in 2002, he instead created California Inside & Out, a manufacturing and distribution company that developed and marketed natural skin and body care products, based in Venice, CA. 

Gilles Adamon, owner of Natura Sarl, headquartered in Benin, West Africa, attended the 2005 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA hoping to find a distributor for his shea butter cosmetic products. As luck would have it, Victor was at the Expo looking for an interesting opportunity to help expand his product line. 

The two men found that they shared not only an interest in natural products, but in social responsibility as well. A friendship ensued and Out of Africa was founded later that year as an exclusive joint venture.

The founders agreed that Lulla would purchase state of the art production equipment and raw materials, while Adamon’s team, in collaboration with a West African women’s cooperative, would supply locally-source pure unrefined shea butter. The company-owned factory in Benin now produces 200,000 bars of soap a month, along with an expanding array of other shea butter products. The products are shipped to California Inside & Out for distribution under the trademarked brand Out of Africa. 

Out of Africa’s shea butter products nourish the skin with 100% pure unrefined shea butter direct from Benin, West Africa. A natural moisturizer and emollient, shea butter contains antioxidant vitamins A, E and F and beneficial fatty acids that leave skin feeling restored and refreshed. 

The Out of Africa line includes organic shea butter bar soaps, hand and body washes, body butters, lip balms, lotions, body oils and pure unrefined shea butter tins. The natural scents used in our shea butter products are also available in the Out of Africa line of aroma fragrance reed diffusers. 

Producing premium quality skincare products is only half of our story. Lulla and Adamon’s partnership supports several women’s cooperatives and helps to create jobs in democratic Benin, West Africa. Out of Africa shea butter skincare also sponsors a groundbreaking project in Benin called SCHOOL CHILDREN UNITE. A portion of all sales is being donated to this global leadership initiative.

Thank You! Your purchase helps to support education and local enterprise in Benin, West Africa. “A houana ka ka” *, thank you very much.

Shea butter is an all-natural product. It is a creamy-colored fatty substance made from the nuts of karite nut trees (Butyrospermum parkii or "butter seed") that grow wild in the savannah regions of West and East Africa.

The real key to keeping your skin healthy, glowing and youthful is generous and consistent hydration.   And no ingredient is better at lavishing every skin type with pure and natural hydration than the 100% organic, unrefined shea butter found in every Out of Africa product. 

Check out their website...

http://www.outofafricashea.com/about/birthofooa.html

Spa Girl spotted at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa

It was one of those weekends we just didn't want to end, so on route home from Vancouver my husband and I decided to take a detour to Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa.

The drive off the main highway into Harrison was stunning, cutting through mountains, crossing rivers overflowing with the spring run-off and landing at the resort which sits at the foot of the majestic lake Harrison.

In and around Harrison, a small quaint town, there is a lot to do if you like hiking, biking, water sports of all kinds, from a lazy cruise or jet boating on the Lake, to bird watching--autumn is famous for its influx of migrating bald eagles.  And I heard from another guest, one of the best gelato parlors outside of Italy along the board walk. 

The resort itself includes over 300 rooms, both newly developed in and around those from the original stately building with wide corridors and tall ceilings.  We stayed in the old section and the room was barely big enough to 'swing a cat', as my mom would have said.

However the real charm is the location, in addition to the lake view, the grounds are magnificent and include five different hot-spring-fed mineral pools, each at a different temperature and located both indoors and out.  We were there on a long weekend so the place was fully booked, we got one of the last three room available.

The resort was hopping with families, lots of kids running about and those out for a good time.  Not something I would recommend if you are looking for a quiet get-away.  

The medicinal properties and rejuvenating effects of the hot pools, used originally by the Coast Salish First Peoples has been attracting visitors for years.  Included amoung its guests, Clark Gable, John Wayne, Michale Buble, Robin Williams and Liam Neeson.  Gable was a big fan of British Columbia, also honey mooning at a remote fishing camp near Kamloops which still operates.  I spent a few days there with friends, it was rustic and heavenly right down to the ice boxes, still chilled by chunks of ice cut in the winter and stored for use during the summer months.

The Spa at Harrison Hot Spring Resort is nicely laid out, not a big space overall, however the treatment rooms are spacious and well appointed and the spa offers a variety of typical spa treatments: relaxation, shiatsu or reflexology massages; facials; manicures; and pedicures.  The one outstanding exception is their private healing mineral hot springs pool free from all the chlorine required in the public pools. 

The Spa offers everything from their five hour Grand Indulgence package priced at $465 to a 25 minute relaxing massage priced at $70.  Because it was fully booked, I took the last spot of the day, a 25 minute deep tissue (back only) massage, priced at $75.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa has it's charms, however I did find it a bit pricey, for the one night (in the old section) with an evening snack, breakfast and one spa treatment, we spent just under $400.

The Spa http://www.harrisonresort.com/Spa-Treatments.aspx

Spa Girl is a big fan of sea-based products

I had the good kismet while in Vancouver last week to run into a lovely Canadian from Palestine who recently established a business selling SEACRET™ Minerals from the Dead Sea.  I have tried these products on several different occasions and loved them, so it is apt to be able to write a post for my Spa Girl Blog supporting another great sea-based product and a new business entrepreneur. 

The Dead Sea lies below sea level and because of this has unique climatic condition.  This micro-climate makes areas of Dead Sea the largest natural spa in the world and that definitely works for me!

The Dead Sea has been well-known since the late nineteenth century,  its waters, the saltiest in the world and the historic and cultural sites and the surrounding wild landscape make it one of the most beautiful places on the globe.

For those seeking healing waters, the Dead Sea is one of the best natural healing sites in the world for various illnesses. In recent decades treatment centers have been developed which utilize the comprehensive medical know-how accumulated to the area's natural healing qualities. A large part of the Dead Sea salts and minerals penetrate the skin and this makes the Dead Sea the only area in the world in which the natural healing modality of climatotherapy is applied for treatment of various diseases.

One of my favourite products in this abundant product line is  SEACRET™'s Salt & Oil Scrub.   Enriched with Dead Sea Minerals, the Salt Scrub gently exfoliates the skin thus stimulating cell renewal. SEACRET™'s Dead Sea Salt has a unique blend of refreshing natural oils that moisturize your skin for a healthy, rejuvenated glow. I use this product almost daily on my hands, which are extraordinarily dry, and use it in the shower a few times a week to exfoliate my entire body.  The dual action of exfoliating mixed with the wonderful natural oils leaves my skin soft and silky smooth.

What they have to say... Discover the unique, beautifying benefits of the Dead Sea with SEACRET

Let the honest, pure and potent power of the Dead Sea bring out your natural beauty. SEACRET’s collection of skincare and spa products are extracted from the ancient, and some say mystical, muds, salts and minerals found only in one place on earth, the Dead Sea.  In a cosmetic world that often relies on half-truths and hype, and temporary solutions we believe everything we do must embody and reflect the same purity that originates from the Dead Sea, not only in our products, but also in our ongoing relationship with our customers.  SEACRET products are manufactured in Israel with supreme care, using the latest technology and best chemists. We offer our products with the promise that they will enhance your own unique beauty.  Learn first of the Dead Sea. Then learn of our high-quality skin care products. Try them. We believe you will quickly see and value their restorative effects.

OUR THREE CORE PROMISES

We promise never to compromise the quality of our product line. We promise to serve you with exceptional Customer Service.  We promise to conduct business with honesty and integrity.

Visit their website to learn more...

http://www.seacretspa.com/Article.aspx?Item=789&Section=788&ln=en

Spa Girl gives a shout out for National Heart Health month

February is all about hearts.  Cupid's delightful Valentine's Day, where I hope you headed to the spa for a chocolate facial or fabulous couples massage; and February is also National Heart Health month,

Together, heart disease and stroke remain the principal causes of adult deaths and unhealthy behaviours places everyone at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, hypertension and strokes. A shocking four out of five Canadians over the age of 20 have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke--and that is four to many!

If you haven't already done so, it is definitely time to change our habits in order to live longer, happier and healthier!  And while it seems simple enough, it is hard to break old patterns, but do it for your heart!  So, get active, eat healthy, preferably organic balanced meals because a healthy diet equals a healthy heart, if you smoke, STOP, keep your blood pressure in check, maintain a healthy weight for your age and build, reduce stress, meditate, and limit how much alcohol you drink.

 

Moderation, moderation, moderation!

The Mayo Clinic, some of the most respected health professionals suggest eight steps in taking care of your heart. 

1. Control your portion size--How much you eat is just as important as what you eat.

2. Eat more vegetables and fruits--Vegetables and fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals. Vegetables and fruits are also low in calories and rich in dietary fibre.

3. Select whole grains--Whole grains are good sources of fiber and other nutrients that play a role in regulating blood pressure and heart health. 

4. Limit unhealthy fats and cholesterol--Limiting how much saturated and trans fats you eat is an important step to reduce your blood cholesterol and lower your risk of coronary artery disease. 

5. Choose low-fat protein sources--Lean meat, poultry and fish, low-fat dairy products, and egg whites or egg substitutes are some of your best sources of protein.
6. Reduce the sodium in your food--Eating a lot of sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease 

7. Plan ahead: Create daily menus--Create daily menus using the six strategies listed above. When selecting foods for each meal and snack, emphasize vegetables, fruits and whole grains. 

8. Allow yourself an occasional treat--Allow yourself an indulgence every now and then. 

The link below from the Mayo Clinic staff provides  important details surrounded these eight points, and offers suggestions on what to eat, the best oils to use and many other worth-while initiatives to maintain your heart health.

Enjoy February, spring is just around the corner and remember to remind yourself everyday that good health and beauty are no accident--you need to be diligent, because as the old adage goes... If you haven't got your health, then you haven't got anything.

The good news, generally you can turn the ship around by following these great suggestions on heart health.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Although you might know that eating certain foods can increase your heart disease risk, it's often tough to change your eating habits. Whether you have years of unhealthy eating under your belt or you simply want to fine-tune your diet, here are eight heart-healthy diet tips. Once you know which foods to eat more of and which foods to limit, you'll be on your way toward a heart-healthy diet.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-healthy-diet/NU00196

Public Health Agency of Canada

www.publichealth.gc.ca

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cd-mc/cvd-mcv/heart-coeur/index-eng.php

Heart Healthy Lesson Plans provide elementary teachers with a resource which promotes participation in physical activity. Each plan is tailored for a specific grade, from kindergarten to grade eight, with suitable lessons and activities for kids of all ages.

http://www.heartandstroke.on.ca/site/c.pvI3IeNWJwE/b.5115339/k.F062/Healthy_Kids__Heart_Healthy_Lesson_Plans.htm

Spa Girl continues her quest for Safe and Clean Cosmetics

It has long been said you are what you eat and the signs of good health, as our mom's and their mom's before them used to tell us, are healthy skin, shimmering hair and rose-coloured cheeks.

What we eat is equally important to what we put on our skin as many products contain chemicals and additives we should be avoiding.

I have blogged many times on achieving The Perfect Face and cautioned of the need to beware of certain additives and always, whenever possible, purchase organic products.

This week a fabulous book arrived in the mail titled NO MORE DIRTY LOOKS by Siobhan O'Connor and Alexandra Spunt extolling the truth about your beauty products and the ultimate guide to safe and clean cosmetics.

The book is an important wake-up call.  We need pay close attention to the ingredients in skin and hair products and be aware than many contain toxic ingredients that should be avoided.  After spending thousands of hours digging up facts not widely promoted by the beauty industry the authors carefully outline that safe and healthy alternatives can co-exist.

So if you are interested in making smart decisions about your overall well-being, and let's face it, who isn't, this is a must read!

Get Proactive Spa Girls...

Safe Cosmetics

wwwsafecosmetics.org

NO MORE DIRTY LOOKS BLOG

http://nomoredirtylooks.com/

The Story of Cosmetics

http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-cosmetics//

Buy the Book

http://www.amazon.ca/More-Dirty-Looks-Products-Cosmetics/dp/0738213969

Spa Girl rings in the New Year at Le7Ke Spa

Quaaout Lodge Main Lobby

Mount Peter and Paul, Kamloops British Columbia

After a few weeks exploring the California coast, a number of spas and a week in Palm Desert which included a fabulous day at Two Bunch Palms my sister and I headed back to the chilly winter which had settled into the interior of British Columbia.  

We spent Christmas in a winter wonderland at my brother's ranch and after a pretty lazy week, we started to prepare for a New Year's celebration at the renowned Quaaout Lodge and;Talking Rock Golf Course and their new Le7Ke Spa.  We were there to celebrate the ringing in of the New Year at the wedding of a dear friend.

Le7Ke Spa pronounced La--(pause)--Ka meaning "I am good" in the Secwepmc (Shuswap) language has been in operation just over a year and I have had it on my Spa radar to visit, so this was ideal. As part of the complex, the Spa also offers an Aqua-fit Water Fitness program in the pool.

Known as the "Land of the Great Spirit" Quaaout Lodge is owned and operated by the Little Shuswap Band.  The lodge is located on the beautiful shores of Little Shuswap Lake with panoramic views of the Lake, snow-capped mountains, and many natural scenic wonders including an abundance of wildlife.  In the summer the flora and fauna of the area are a photographers dream and while I am not a golfer, I gather it is a golfers paradise.  It literally leaves you breathless!  

The Spa "welcomes you for some serious pampering with a philosophy of Holistic Wellness" and offers an array of treatment options for both men and women.  Le7Ke has also created its own line of skin care products with First Nations principals in mind whereby many of the ingredients are certified organic and grown under organic conditions without the use of synthetic preservatives and fertilizers. They also use Julia Lawless Aqua Oleum pure essential oils.

What they say...

Quaaout Lodge and Le7Ke Spa offers you a place of holistic renewal and rejuvenation in a setting of complete tranquillity.  

A sense of well-being is enhanced by infusing First Nations medicine with today's spa modalities.

Our “Philosophy of Purity” includes clean energy sources, eco-friendly manufacturing, fair trade ingredients, recyclable materials and cruelty-free practices. Our products are free of Parabens and synthetic preservatives, animal products, GMOs (genetically modified organisms). 

Le7ke Spa products are good for your skin and good for the planet! 

"Aqua Oleum is a company with a long history, starting with Julia’s late mother Kerttu, a Finnish biochemist.  Kerttu studied essential oils and had a lifelong interest in herbs, as did her mother before her. Family knowledge goes back at least three generations and our interest in essential oils pre-dates the advent of Aromatherapy in the UK by many years."

Of the many treatments offered including: Facials, Manicures, Pedicures, Massage, Exfoliation, Body Wraps, Makeup Application, Infrared Sauna, Vichy Shower and hydrotherapy treatments, I opted to end the year in style and enjoy five hours having the ultimate Shea butter salt scrub and Vichy shower (50 minutes $89), relaxation massage which included the use of hot stones (50 minutes $89 / 80 minutes $125) and wrapped up with a classic facial (80 minutes $139).

The Spa's Vichy shower is absolutely stunning; the newest technology in a seven-headed shower system with a table that was especially crafted for Le7ke in the shape of a fish and made in Australia out of a beautifully designed solid and slatted wood drainage system.  It was the first Vichy shower I have ever had--and I have had many--where I didn't feel Iike I was going to drown. The Shea butter salt scrub left my skin feeling total soft, gently ex-foliated and ready for the heavenly Aqua Oleum essential oils used for my massage treatment.  As for the facial, my face was glowing after, however, by the time the therapist started on my face I was fast asleep and entertaining her with the music of my elegant (I hope) soft snoring.

Le7ke Spa is very tastefully designed and laid out in a modest space, with First Nations art decorating the walls, specially designed doors to the treatment rooms, top quality sterilization equipment, rich robes and towels and simple spa shoes.  Being the spa girl that I am, I always bring my own robe, foot wear and of course a linen towel.

Happy New Year everyone. May 2013 be kind to all of us, and that we take the time to look after ourselves, and that means of course, a regular agenda of Spa visits.

Check out the Quaaout Lodge & Talking Rock Golf Course and Le7Ke Spa

http://quaaoutlodge.com/

Hot Stone Massage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtDh985Wv5U

What is a Vichy Shower

http://spas.about.com/od/bodytreatments/a/vichy.htm

Julia Lawless pure essential oils

http://www.aqua-oleum.co.uk/

Spa Girl enjoys the lead up to Christmas @ Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa

The "Grotto" at Two Bunch Palms

Quite literally an oasis in the desert the renowned Two Bunch Palms has a fabulously interesting history.  Located on the geological fault at Miracle Hill with its life-sustaining artesian mineral well, it was inhabited  by First Peoples for thousands of years, prior to the building of a get-away retreat for the notorious Al Capone. 

Enticed by the magical allure of the mineral waters, natural beauty and the therapeutic relaxation,  many guests including celebrities needing a much needed escape  have come to make their spiritual mark on Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa.

Fondly called two Bunch, it is located in Desert Hot Springs, California and is nestled in a unique location that is sacred because of the natural elements.  Home to one of the hottest artesian mineral wells in the country, it is quiet (whisper only) and respectful atmosphere, offers renowned treatments in its very humble Spa facility dedicated to contemplation and rejuvenation.  You can also expect gourmet dining, yoga meditation, various water activities including watsu, qi gong, mud baths and of course the Grotto where you can just float about in the healing waters.

Whisper Only Policy @ Two Bunch

Dr. Augustus Broue, a native of Australia and master metallurgist, chemist, geologist and physicist, visited Desert Hot Springs in 1938. Dr. Broue had spent many years traveling around the world analyzing naturally occurring curative waters. The following statement was made by Dr. Broue after analyzing the waters found beneath Desert Hot Springs:

"I made an investigation of the waters found in Desert Hot Springs, also the soil and geological formations. From the analysis of these waters, I have not found the like of them in any country I have explored…. It would appear to have qualities far superior to any waters known to me. Under proper directions, Desert Hot Springs could become a very important health center."

Situated on 56 acres you are invited to take hikes, borrow a bike and go for a ride, or walk the many trails and photograph the various wildlife, fragrant plants and majestic mountain views. The property also supports several tennis courts, an outdoor pool,  barbecue area, dry sauna and tee time at several local golf courses.

What they have to say about the healing waters...

From the cradle of time deep within the Coachella Valley, nature created one of the hottest mineral wells in the world. These famed waters of health emerge from the Earth at 148 degrees Fahrenheit and descend from the geological fault at Miracle Hill to the mineral springs and resort of Two Bunch Palms. It is here at our world-renowned resort that the mineral waters cascade into a temperature-controlled grotto with two pool areas carved from stone. The smaller pool maintains a temperature of 104 degrees while the larger pool is a steady and constant 99 degrees. We are proud to have one of the few mineral pools with no sulfurous odor, simply a woodsy scent that is reminiscent of a long-lost era. A canopy of trees filters the desert sun during the day but allows for the shimmer of moonlight and sparkle of stars to shine on the waters of The Grotto. Whether shared as a romantic indulgence or solitary pleasure, The Grotto at midnight is a heavenly delight. 

The main Spa is located in a very humble building and offers more than 50 unique and soothing treatments to select from.  All the therapists are highly qualified some being at Two Bunch for over 25 years.  There are also several outdoor treatment gazebos to river rock alcoves, outdoor showers, mud cabanas and newly renovated facial rooms.

Casino Restaurant

Two Bunch Palms Resort and; Spa has been recognized many times: Spa Finders Readers Choice Awards: 2007, 2008, Spa Magazine's Silver Sage Readers Choice Awards: 2007, 2008, and one of Ten Greatest Places to Relax Your Mind and Body by USA Today: November 2008.

Two Bunch Palms also welcomes day guests and I opted for their fabulous World Away Spa Day package, available from Sunday to Friday for $165.00 per person and Saturdays for $185.00 (retail value $215.00).   This amazing package includes one 60 minute Spa Treatment (choose from 12 different treatments.) with Day Spa Fee waived, 15% gratuity for spa treatment, $15 credit for lunch in the Casino Restaurant and unlimited soaking in the "Grotto".  I opted for the Mud Bath/Poultice and added a personalized facial for an additional $99.00.

After a day at Two Bunch not only was I relaxed and rejuvenated, but I felt detoxed, and oddly thinner!  

I would like to extend a very special thank you to Ana Davis who took care of me with such grace and style. 

Two Bunch Palms Resort and; Spa website

http://www.twobunchpalms.com/the-resort.htm

Take a tour

http://www.twobunchpalms.com/virtual-tour.htm