OPI’S George Schaeffer Gives Support to Cedars-Sinai

I have been a fan of OPI nail lacquers for years (“I’m Not Really A Waitress” is my all-time favorite shade of red). And, in addition to the clever polish names for each collection, I am always impressed by the philanthropic work the company does, as well. So I wasn’t surprised when I recently learned that OPI’s founder, president, and CEO, George Schaeffer, recently donated money to fund the construction of the lobby for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion, which is slated to open in 2013. Says Schaeffer, “Cedars-Sinai is my neighborhood hospital of choice, and the great doctors and staff have provided wonderful care for me and my family, so this is my way of saying ‘thank you.’ I am convinced of the promise of Cedars-Sinai as a leading force in medicine, and it is a privilege to express my faith in the future through this gift.”

UC Irvine Extension Offers Free Webinar

Those looking to integrate wellness into your service offerings should mark Tuesday, June 21, on your calendar. From 11A.M.-12 P.M.(PST), UC Irvine Extension will be holding a free webinar titled “The Path to Wellness in Spas.” During the hour, Joanne Berry, director of spa education and recruitment for Bellus Academy will discuss new qualifications being offered at the academy in health and wellness. The interactive planning session will also include pre-registration advisement for those who are interested in UC Irvine Extension’s Spa and Hospitality Management program. To find out more and register, click here.

Bath By Bettijo Offers Relief in a Stick

Today marks the 12^th consecutive rainy day in New York City, which has put almost everyone here in a grumpy mood. Luckily, though, it is supposed to clear up by the holiday weekend, and Al Roker is claiming we will see temperatures hitting 80 F and sunny skies. I am really counting on that, as I plan to spend a few days at the beach. Almost nothing can turn my frown around faster than basking in the warm sun, feeling sand under my feet, and listening to the ocean. The one thing that has the ability to interfere with a perfect day down the shore, however, is the pesky little gnats and mosquitoes that seem to be especially attracted to me. Like most people, it makes me nervous to use most bug sprays because of the chemicals, and I usually just end up with itchy welts all over my body. So, I was excited to learn about the Organic Aromatherapy Urgent Care Tea Tree Blemish Stick from Bath By Bettijo. Although it is not a bug deterrent, this pocket-sized roll-on can come in handy after-the-fact, as it was designed to provide quick relief from bug bites, cold sores, acne, and minor cuts and burns. It contains a combination of skin-healing organic ingredients, including Tea Tree oil, to knock out bacteria, soothe the skin, and promote healing. Hopefully, I won’t need to even use it in the first place, but if I do, I’ll keep you posted on its effectiveness.

Guests Can Detox at Bauers Palladio Spa

I’m a big fan of detoxing, and I usually do some sort of juice cleanse at least every six weeks to keep me feeling healthy. Basically, I don’t eat for five days, drink the designated juices, get really crabby, but then feel super healthy afterward. But I just came across an email from Bauers Palladio Spa in Venice that made me think a trip to Italy might be the way to go. The spa offers the following treatments created to help guests detox and de-stress:

• Anti-Stress massage: This 50-minute treatment includes the application of hot oils to help spa-goers get their circulation flowing.

• Zen massage: A 90-minute massage makes use of both stretching and pressure point work to balance the body’s psyche.

• Fresh Lemon Bath: For 30 minutes, guests relax in a bath filled with fresh lemon juice and detoxifying Himalayan salts.

• Purification Rite: Spa-goers can spend 80 minutes getting a deep-body cleansing, an exfoliation using marine salts, and a purifying mask of seaweed.

St. Regis Bora Bora Offers Exclusive Wellness Retreats

While I do get to travel to some amazing places, thanks to this job, one place on my list that I have yet to visit is Bora Bora. In addition to being one of the most secluded and beautiful islands in the world, St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is now enticing spa-goers with another reason (as if we really need one) to visit this paradise. From June 17-23 and June 24-30, guests can opt to partake in an exclusive Wellness Retreat Package. In partnership with the Tirisula Yoga School, Singapore, the resort is offering visitors an opportunity to commit to a healthier lifestyle. Starting at $1,570 per night, the program includes the following:

• Accommodation for one or two persons in Overwater Villa

• Daily breakfast in Te Pahu Restaurant for one person

• Four two-course lunches in Te Pahu Restaurant for one person

• One cooking class at Lagoon Restaurant with Lunch for one person

• One-Day Hiking excursion with picnic lunch for one person

• Four three-course dinners in one of the three resort restaurants for one person

• One Polynesian buffet Dinner for one person

• Extensive daily yoga schedule for one person

• One Healthy Eating workshop for one person

• One 50-minute treatment at Miri Miri Spa for one person

• One farewell beach cocktail for one person

Who knew paradise could get even better?

Serene House Introduces “Scents” of Style

My sister, like most people, likes for her house to smell fresh and clean, yet inviting. For years, she kept a different scented candle in each room to evoke a mood: apple-pie scented in the kitchen, a vanilla aroma in the family room, a freshly cleansed linen smell in the bathroom. But now that she has three young kids running around the house, having open flames obviously isn’t a good idea, but the alternatives weren’t pleasing to her either. She didn’t want to spray anything in the air and didn’t like the way those plug-in fresheners look. Well, I think I just discovered the perfect solution with the Scentilizer Collection from Serene House. This fragrance collection offers seven  scents available in a variety of super-cute designs. They gently release a combination of essential oils and water into the air, producing a fragrant vapor that also reduces the dryness of indoor air. The coolest part? Select Scentilizers come with a built-in speaker and a stream of pre-programmed relaxing music, or users can plus an MP3, MP4, or CD player right into the unit to play their own music! Perfect for the treatment room or as a retail item, this fragrance collection will help anyone enjoy the sweet smell of relaxation.

Spa Mirbeau Introduces Spa Evenings

Guests with an appetite for both spa-ing and eating can choose from three options that will satiate both of their desires at Spa Mirbeau (Skaneateles, NY), which recently introduced Spa Evenings. Visitors can choose among three options:

• Touch of Class (starting at $215): This package includes a choice of any 50-minute spa treatment, plus dinner at the resort’s acclaimed French Steakhouse.

• Monet’s Palette (starting at $350): Guests who choose this will enjoy either two 50-minute spa services or one 1 hour 40 minute-treatment of their choices, as well as dinner.

• Balanced Romance (starting at $390): This couples-only option features any 50-minute couple’s massage and dinner.

All dinners include appetizer, entrée, and dessert.

Miraval Offers Girls A Reason to Get Away

Ladies looking for a healthy escape will find just that at Miraval, the well-known all-inclusive resort in Tucson, AZ. Starting at $399 per person per night, with a minimum three-night stay, Miraval’s Girls’ Getaway package includes:

• Luxury accommodations

• A $130 resort credit per person per night to be used on additional services of the guest’s choosing

• A complimentary spa robe

• Healthy meals, snacks, smoothies, and non-alcoholic beverages

• Unlimited participation in daily programs, such as fitness and yoga classes, cooking demonstrations, and outdoor adventures

• Full access to Miraval’s resort amenities, including the golf courses and tennis courts

• Round-trip transportation to and from the airport

• A Miraval tote bag and water canteen

The offer is available through Sept. 30, 2011, so ladies have the entire summer to plan the perfect getaway.

Bloom Spa at The Sebastian Offers Soothing Relief For Both Skiers and Relaxation Seekers

I just returned from an amazing trip to Colorado last week, where I spent 6 days on the slopes in Beaver Creek and Vail. It had been a while since I last skied, and I am not exactly what one would call athletic (or coordinated), so I’ll admit it was rough going the first couple of days, and every bone in my body definitely took a beating. Luckily, I had an appointment for a deep-tissue massage at Bloom Spa at The Sebastian, Vail’s newest boutique hotel. Not only was I impressed by the charming five-treatment-room spa but I also liked the fact that, in addition to basic services, the menu also includes a variety of unique offerings designed to help guests acclimate to the high altitude of the Rockies. For example, the 8150 Elevation Attunement includes oxygen inhalation, a high-altitude massage, and an oxygenating elixir, while the Morning Glory treatment combines oxygen inhalation, stretching, and a foot balm and sunscreen application to help spa-goers start the day refreshed and ready to hit the slopes. Although I only had time for a massage, it was just what the doctor ordered. I left the spa feeling so relaxed that I opted to take the day off from skiing and instead hit up The Sebastian’s Frost bar, where I put my feet up and enjoyed a pain-free cup of cocoa to top off my amazing spa experience.

The Leading Hotels of the World Offers
Club Members Hometown Benefits

As Bon Jovi likes to ask, “Who says you can’t go home?” (Yes, that’s the Jersey girl in me shining through.) And now home is even more enticing for members of The Leading Hotels of the World’s Leaders Club if their hometown is London, New York City, or Paris. Club members residing in the metropolitan areas of those three cities can now enjoy “Home Benefits,’ which includes specials and food, complimentary cocktails, spas products, and more at Leading Hotels in their home city. The program was launched in these particular locations because they all have multiple Leading Hotels and large numbers of Leaders Club members. “Home Benefits are an exciting new way to engage our Leaders Club members,” says president and CEO Ted Teng. “We are constantly looking at way s to provide value to our customers and increase business to our member hotels. These extended Leaders Club benefits encourage members who live in the vicinity of London. New York City, and Paris to experience the exceptional facilities and services of nearby hotels without spending the night away from home.” To find out more about the program, click here.