The AHALife Calendar of Daily Discovery

When’s the last time you had an AHA moment? “AHA is the universal sound of discovery,” as it is put by the brand new website that’s making a big splash in the luxury shopping space.

AHA is exactly what fell out my mouth when I discovered AHAlife; it was right before heading to a cocktail party the company hosted last week at their chic Manhattan office on Bond Street. Founded by Shauna Mei, a successful and wildly innovative New York entrepreneur, AHAlife.com is a breathtaking place to discover – and purchase – unique products from around the world. Since the website’s mid-September launch, one new product is launched every day, ranging from Greek superfood and organic beauty products to fur vests and exclusive digital cameras by Diane von Furstenburg. The online store is collectively curated by their group of influential tastemakers, resulting in a storyboard of diverse global inspiration.

ENTER: The Hammam

I am pleased to be the curator of today’s AHAlife discovery: L’Aviva Hammam Towels. A Hammam is an old Turkish bathing tradition – a structure that facilitates healing, relaxation and community. At a Hammam, bathers move from warm to hot steam rooms, enjoy invigorating body treatments and massage, dip into cold baths, and inevitably neeed something to dry off with and keep them cozy. That’s where the towels come in. Though Hammams became popular in the 1800s, these jacquard gems would give modern, sophisticated character to spa home, bathroom, and they roll up small making for a great travel companion. Luxuriously large, each towel is hand-woven and finished with hand-knotted fringe.

Read more about the Hammam Towels on AHALife.

They’re well-priced at $55, making them a wonderful, multi-use, spa-inspired holiday gift. Bathe in that for today, then sign up to discover something brand new tomorrow.

Click to read about Yours Truly on AHALife

It’s amazing how quickly six months can pass by – before we knew it, it was October 7th. We were serving up Spa Breezes and Rioja Wine in the lavish Prince George Ballroom at the Fall 2010 Spa Week Media Party. While some guests enjoyed PitiCures™ by Dove Deodorant, others enjoyed make-unders by Bare Escentuals. Many were snacking on DOLE Real Fruit Bites and getting silly in the Dole photo booth, then getting mini-treatments courtesy of Sphatika, Deva Spa, Vada Spa and Sothys, 4 top NYC spas. Let’s not forget manicures from the Spa Chicks and, oh, a sugar-rushing chocolate fountain to celebrate a whole week of $50 spa treatments!

The night rang in with the Spa Week crew, 430 editors, bloggers, producers and television personalities who all have a special affinity for the spa. Guests were spotted mingling and talking about the treatments they had lined up for the week. Smart crowd too – many took on the Hanky Panky Trivia Challenge on the red carpet, where contestants answered spa questions to win crystallized Spa Week Hanky Panky panties.

Guests concluded their evening by taking home the highly coveted Spa Week Gift Bag which included Febreze Flameless Luminaries, EcoTools ecoPOUF bath sponges, Joico Shampoo and Conditioner and Caswell-Massey Cucumber Eye Pads among many other pampering goodies.

We can’t thank you all enough for making Spa Week a success and helping us ring in wellness and relaxation in anticipation for the #50dollartreatments. View the full video recap below, as Michelle interviews guests on the red carpet and takes you on a tour de par-tay.

Yum! Pumpkin is not only fun to carve and delicious in pie crust, it’s a rich source of nutrients and antioxidants that can replenish your skin during the fall and winter months. This October-loving member of the squash family is a great source of Vitamin A, C, E and healthy minerals. Have your skin glowing like a jack-o-lantern by Fright Night by trick or treating on these Halloween inspired spa deals good through October 31st!

Choice of Pumpkin Peel for $65, normally $90, or October Harvest Organic Facial for $60, normally $85
Desert Bloom Skin Care Center
7110 East McDonald Drive, Suite B1
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
480.567.8180

Choice of Pumpkin Refresher Facial for $69, normally $95, Pumpkin Enzyme Facial for $59, normally $75, Pumpkin Delight Treatment for $65, normally $95, Pumpkin Peptide Peel for $75, normally $110
Bella Skin
1450 Frazee Road, Suite 101-4
San Diego, CA 92108
858.750.9559

Autumn Renewal Treatment: includes 50 Min Swedish Massage and Pumpkin Oatmeal Body Polish for $169, normally $189
Skinsational Skin & Body Day Spa
300 Carlsbad Village Drive, Ste. 124
Carlsbad, CA 92008
760.434.8118

Choice of 50 Min Pumpkin Harvest Facial, 50 Min Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub, or 50 Min Buttermilk Bath.
Special: $95 Each; Originally: $115
The Catamaran Spa
3999 Mission Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92109
858.539.8820

Choice of Pumpkin Pedicure for $50 or Pumpkin Aromatherapy Massage for $75
WELL Spa at the Platinum Hotel
211 East Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89169
702.365.5000

Fall for our fabulous Pumpkin Peel that exfoliates, softens, brightens and purifies your skin. Purchase One Peel and receive a free SkinMedica Travel Size C+E, purchase Two Peels and receive a free SkinMedica Travel Size C+E and your third Pumpkin Peel is 50% off, or purchase three Peels and receive a free SkinMedica Travel Size Gift Set and your fourth Pumpkin Peel is complimentary. Individual Peel Price is $115.
SkinMD
1551 Northwest 54th Street, Suite 101
Seattle, WA 98107
206.525.0903

Image Courtesy of bharatstudent.com (facial mask) myreadablefeast.com (pumpkin)

Step Up Women’s Network is a national, non profit organization dedicated to connecting and advancing women and girls. Spa Week’s Founder and CEO, Cheryl Reid is a mentor in this program and has been invited to dispense her pearls of wisdom to the ambitious women’s organization in aim to inspire and encourage. On November 9, 2010, the Step Up Women’s Network will be hosting the official Step Up Soiree: An Evening of Pampering & Philanthrophy hosted by Junior Board Members Danielle Abraham & Ritu Khanna in conjunction with Manhattan Magazine and Deva Spa.

Giving back has always been a big thing for Cheryl, who launched Spa Week in New York City in 2004. (Read more: Cheryl and her Spa Week story) so she is thrilled to help a community of women attain their goals. “If I can lend my expertise to young aspiring entrepreneurs to help them succeed, it is my absolute my honor,” Cheryl says.  The night will feature complimentary mini spa services, cocktails with hors d’oeuvres generously donated by Edible Arrangements, prizes and lots of networking and advancement opportunities.

To register for this event click here.

The most costume-y holiday (unless you pull out an Easter Bunny suit every spring) is nearly upon us! While it’s a given that you’ll snag some adorably diminutive candy this weekend, whether it be from your own candy dish or your kid’s trick-or-treating haul, not all All Hallow’s treats are created equal. These are the tiny ghouls packing ridiculous amounts of calories in their miniscule little bodies.

While we certainly don’t advocate depriving yourself of that chocolatey treat if you really, really, really want it, if a party pack of Skittles or a tiny Twizzler would satisfy your sugar craving just as well, this list might convince you to opt in that direction instead.

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins—At Halloween and Christmastime, Reese’s transforms their flagship cup into the shapes of teensy pumpkins and wee tannenbaums in the spirit of the season. In an accompanying spirit of overindulgence, those treats can pack a serious caloric punch. Each Halloween pumpkin will set you back 180 calories, which is a lot for something that might go down in less than a minute.
2. Peanut M&Ms—A Halloween favorite because of its ability to induce amnesia (you know you’ve daintily nibbled one, ignored the bag for 20 seconds after finishing, and then started the process all over again as though it never happened), that cheery yellow fun pack will run you 93 calories.
3. Mr. Goodbar—This deliciously simple concoction of milk chocolate and salty peanut chunks is oh-so-so good. One fun-size bar in your trick or treat pail is 90 calories, which isn’t so bad until you factor in the utter difficulty of eating just one. Curse you, Mr. Goodbar.
4. Rolos—There’s nothing not to love about this delicious chocolate/caramel concoction. Chocolate and caramel are a perfect pairing, a most holy union, and yet one snack-sized pack contains 171 calories. A truly cruel trick by any measure.
5. York Peppermint Patties—Snarfing down these minty delicious rounds may leave you with fresh breath and a burst of sugar energy, but at a whopping 165 calories per patty, they just might be the most expensive breath mint you’ll ever eat, diet-wise. We recommend eating 4 rolls of Mentos for a similar effect and calorie punch.