Now that all of this  Royal Wedding hubbub has started to subside, we ‘re pretty sure the Royal Family will need to recuperate. What better way to relax and wind down from such an extravaganza than to enjoy a spa day? Wills and Kate will get to relax on their honeymoon (in Corfu? Australia?). And, we hope Harry and Pippa will relax in each others’ arms (Harry+ Pippa 4ever!), but what of The Queen?  What is the best way for Queen Elizabeth to unwind?  We asked some experts to weigh in:

What spa treatment would you recommend for The Queen of England? And why?

We got some really interesting and educational answers, definitely worthy of  The Queen… She should try all of these the next time she hops the pond!

Retin-A Facial with Collagen Mask

Why: Liz, the owner of Euro Laser Medical Spa in Rye, NY recommends that The Queen try this vitamin rich facial because it targets wrinkles and fights fine lines. Liz says that all fabulous women over fifty should try this facial, even if they aren’t going to a big event.

Thai Bomb Massage

Why?: Lucy, owner of Enliven Body Works in New York City explained to us that the massage contains a body wrap with, ” different kinds of herbs, like ginger and cinnamon that will detoxify body toxins.” This will help The Queen de-stress and feel her best after her grandson’s big day.

The Back Room’s Rose Petal Ritual

“When I think of the Queen I think of her gardens and my strolls through London and the beautiful gardens in Hyde Park,” says New York’s The Back Room Hand & Foot Spa at Carol’s Daughter founder, Lisa Price. “So, I immediately go to roses. What is more deserving of a Queen than to have her feet bathed in warm coconut milk with fresh rose petals?” A spa treatment fit for the English Rose in all of us!

Colon Hydrotherapy Treatment

Cleansing Concepts owner, Vanessa suggests this treatment for The Queen because, after all the post-nuptial luncheons and royal receptions, “it will leave her feeling less bloated.” Colon Hydrotherapy hydrates the colon. The treatment is a gentle internal bath that will aid Queen Elizabeth’s body in the detoxification process after all this celebrating!

Queen for a Day Package

Spa at Eaglewood in Itasca, IL has a royalty package that is without a doubt fit for a queen! The package includes: a Mud Wrap, a 60Min Swedish Massage, 60Min Facial, Paradise Mani-Pedi, Makeup Application with Consultation and Lesson, a Spa Lunch, the choice between a blow-out or an eye, neck, and décolleté treatment, AND a Spa Gift (retail value $50). Rachel the Spa Manager says, “The Queen would fit right in over here.” We couldn’t agree more!

Guest contributor: Healing Lifestyles & Spas

Get your brooms ready, because it’s time to sweep yourself into shape. Here is the plan: choose one of these exercises each day and do it for 5 minutes over a period of 5 days, and get fantastic results.

1. Marching squat - This will give you a burn that you love and a bum to go with it. You take a broom or a mop and stand it up in front of you at arms length. Squat down so that you have a diagonal line from your tailbone to your grip on the top of the broom. You are positioned like the chair pose in yoga, except your feet are shoulder width apart. Pull your ab muscles toward your spine and MAINTAIN your position. Start marching by lifting your feet about two inches off the ground, keeping your starting position stable. If you are a superstar, you can maintain this mini march for 5 minutes, if you are star, do it in 2 sets of 2.5 minutes.

Play your favorite two songs in a row to get through this beautiful, butt-lifting and quad tightening burn!

2. 5 Stage Plank- 1st stage- Get in plank position- your body is parallel to the floor, wrists under shoulders, hips at shoulder level, buttocks tight, neutral spine. Hold for 1 minute. – Rest 10 seconds. 2nd and 3rd stage- Go back to plank and extend right arm forward and left leg back. The foot will be slightly higher than butt level. Hold for 1 minute. Rest 10 seconds and repeat on the other side. 4th stage- Return to plank but this time, contract the abs and bend your knees until they are about 2 inches away from the floor- hold one minute, then rest 10 seconds. Final stage- go to plank on your elbows with, palms facing down and focus on your fingertips. This great routine will work your whole body by lifting just a little more than a finger.

3. Running Biceps  - Stand with feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, abs pulled to spine. Hold 3 to 5 pound hand weights at your side with palms facing inward. Begin doing alternating bicep curls, keeping your elbows at the waist being careful not to fully extend your arms. Increase the speed of your curls until you feel like you are sprinting with your arms. Do not let elbows move away from the waist and be careful not to move your shoulders side to side. Do this 5 times for 1 minute each and you arms will be faster than your legs!

4. Lateral leg lifts- Dust off your old broom and put it in front of you standing up vertically. Walk your feet back so that your spine is nearly parallel to the floor. Bend your knees slightly. Lift the right leg out to the side and hold it with your foot parallel to the floor for 2 straight minutes. After the hold pulse it up and down for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side. Try to maintain the shoulders level and even with the hips, think in geometric angles. Body at 90 degrees, Leg should extend at a range fro 45 to 90 degrees out to the side. This exercise gives a whole new meaning to getting in shape.

5. Dead Bug- Lie on you back with your arms and legs extended toward the ceiling. Hold 3 pound weights in your hands with your palms facing inward. Keeping the arms straight, extend them backwards towards your ears about 8 inches from the floor. Keep legs extended to the ceiling and point the toes and lower the legs about 6 to 8 inches depending on your flexibility. Keep the lower spine in contact with the floor. Hold this position for 5 sets of 1-minute intervals. Your triceps may start burning and your legs may shake, but breathe through it and remember…you are just Five minutes to Fabulous.

Courtesy of Tiffany Rothe, Center 8 Studio in Playa Del Carmen, MX. Photos by Cedra Stokes Photography

What a morning! Are your computers wearing tiaras yet? Have you decided you’ll  be wearing lace sleeves at your wedding, and you aren’t even engaged yet? Princess Catherine—and not to be overlooked her sister Pippa Middleton—could not have appeared any more radiant in their Alexander McQueen gowns by Sarah Burton. The royal bride and maid of honor have immortalized the late designer in the most extravagant way imaginable. Some say Pippa stole the show, but I disagree—that hourglass cut and her low chignon and pure I’m-in-love glow definitely had Kate shining like the princess she now is.

We had asked our favorite beauty bloggers to predict the hair and nails of the Middleton sisters, so let’s see how they did.

The bride’s nails were done by the Duchess of Cornwall‘s manicurist, Marina Sandoval from the Jo Hansford Salon in Mayfair, who used a combination of Essie Allure (a sheer, beige pink) and Bourjois Rose Lounge (a light, milky pink). – Amber from Beautybloggingjunkie.com got closest, guessing Essie Mademoiselle.

Rumors are buzzing that Kate did her makeup herself — possibly using Bobbi Brown cosmetics. Just last week, the bride-to-be was spotted making a purchase that included “eye makeup and basics that were a shade darker than she usually uses in the winter” at the brand’s cosmetic counter at London’s Peter Jones department store last week, a source at the company told Us Magazine. Her cheeks were rosy and her lips were nude—letting her strong, dark features shine—her eyes and hair. – Jeannine from Beautysweetspot.com got it almost spot on, according to this, predicting Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Blush.

As for Pippa, I’ve been having trouble finding reports on the colors she used. Apparently if you’re not becoming royalty, nobody really cares what nail polish you wore. But we did! It appeared to be a bright white/pink color – it popped from afar. And when I say popped, I mean showed up. Sharon from thefashionspot.com got that one closest with Deporah Lippmann’s Before He Cheats.

Her lips were nude with a slight touch of coral. Tracy from totalbeauty.com predicted she’d rock Nars lipstick in Niagra, and while she didn’t do anything this bright, she certainly had a touch of the tone.

As for makeup-smudging tears, this joyous occasion watched by 2 billion (really?) people, included none from either sister. April from bettyconfidential.com predicted that nary an eyelash would smudge, and she was correct!

Nice predictions, beauty bloggers! You know your stuff. Although agreed, someone should have worn No More Waity Kaity.

As for those who did NOT go neutral, can we take a moment to gush over Princess Eugenie of York and Princess Beatrice of York’s ensembles? They arrived at Westminster Abbey wearing two gorgeous outfits — a bright blue, floral-printed dress by Vivienne Westwood and a nude A-line dress from Valentino Couture, respectively. Beatrice’s hat is goes down in the books! Not to turn this back to me — but I totally would have looked like a mixture of the two of them in the Royal Wedding outfit I picked on Betty Confidential!

What was your favorite look of the wedding? Was it everything you’d hoped?

You may have noticed, I’m not one to gush over products. I don’t swoon for skincare and I don’t lose it over lipgloss, and if I did, you’d probably be reading about the latest moisturizer and the perfect eyelash curler here on the regular. Not my style—there are a gazillion beauty bloggers who were born for that! But that’s not to say I don’t have my many beauty secrets and product obsessions.

So, because I love you guys and think about you in my sleep (seriously!) I simply cannot hold out any longer from sharing my favorite products in world with you. Michelle’s Favorite Things it is! Also, I need a good excuse to start trying the 7,000 products stashed under my desk at work and piled up in the corner of my bedroom—the gift bag ghosts of parties past. I’ll be including a mix of tried and true favorites and all the great new stuff I come across. And I pinky swear: I will ALWAYS tell it like it is. Freebies don’t buy my love (clearly)—if I don’t love it, you won’t see me talking about it.

Today, I’m kicking off MFT (that’s the last time I’ll ever call it that) with one of my favorite simple girly rites: rosy cheeks. Summer’s a minute away and while the sun will be kissing your cheeks generously, a little extra rosiness never hurts. My skin tone calls for pinky/coral shades, and be warned: I like it on the bright side. Check out these fantastic cheek cheerer-uppers, and when you’re strapped, don’t forget you can always just give your cheeks a good strong pinch.

Posie Tint in Rose by Benefit

I’ve gone through 3 or 4 of these miraculous little Benefit cheek stains! You MUST read my Little Luxury Report for the full obsessive scoop. Apply by painting a few dabs on your cheeks, and then immediately (no stopping to check your text at this crucial moment!) with both pointer fingers at once, rub/blot it in to your upper cheeks. Say goodbye to blush! (Unless you’re like me and love the girly sensation of applying powdered blush, regardless. Read on.) - $28

Cheek to Chic Duo #5 by Napolean Perdis

I discovered this blush backstage at Elise Overland’s fashion on ice ordeal this past February. The models’ look wasn’t rosy (the freezing cold air outside The Standard did that for them) but if it was, this duo would have been perfect. I like to pile on the lighter color – it has just the right amount of hue and shimmer. The bright pink can be a bit scary if you use more than a drop, or if you’re wearing red. Use sparingly, embrace your inner Barbie. - $28

Blossom Blush in Sweet Mum (2nd color combo) by Jill Stuart

I’m not going to lie. The packaging won me over on this one. But… that’s not to say it’s not a great product. Using this blush makes me feel 5 again, playing Pretty Pretty Princess. It smells like roses and has sparkling jewels on the casing. You have to shake it strategically to get the right consistency of powder to surface on the netting, without dropping any on the floor. Five year olds love games. It goes on really softly and gently, and works well on top of a brighter color for a sweet angelic shimmer. - $57

Desire (shimmering pink) by Lorac

Every day, my coworker Dina comes in with perfectly rosy dots on her cheeks… and I may or may not have a slight crush. Blush is “her thing” and this Lorac color is her homeboy. I’ve borrowed from Dina on occasion—apply sparingly! Although I don’t own this color, this made the list because it looks darling on Dina, and I’ve also loved any Lorac products I’ve tried and find them to last longer on your skin than average -$20

Rouge Pur 52 Lipstick by YSL

Hmmm, it looks like a lipstick, quacks like a lipstick… this is indeed a lipstick. Not just any lipstick – my SOUL MATE lipstick. I love it so much, I keep one everywhere, much like people keep Chapsticks everywhere. This photo doesn’t do the color justice, it is so bright and coral and stunning! I have tried every comparable color in Sephora and Bloomingdales, and there is not one that compares to the vibrancy and splendor of my baby YSL. I wear it more in the spring and summer, but a dreary January ice storm can’t stop me from a hint of this Rouge Pur. Okay, now I’m gushing. But you are still wondering why the lipstick on the short list. Well, I’m not “recommending” you do this because it may or may have a bad reaction with your skin if it’s sensitive, but I use this as my blush all the time. Not because I ran out of Napolean Perdis, but because it simply looks the best. There. I said it. – $30

Now go get flushed, my pretties! But first, I showed you mine now show me yours – what are YOUR favorite blushes and secrets to rosy cheeks?

Guest contributor: The Chefanies

The wedding of William and Kate is big news. What will she wear, who will be invited, what will they serve?  While these are all valid questions, here’s what WE want to know: what will YOU be eating as you watch the ceremony in the middle of the night? We decided to give you something fun to cook to keep yourself awake until the Royal Nuptials.

When I was first writing this post a lot of ideas came to mind.  Hot Cross Buns, Yorkshire Pudding, Cornish Pastries, Fish & Chips, Bangers and Mash, and Boddingtons.  While all this sounds fine and dandy, it came to my attention that the Wedding starts at 4:30AM for you East Coasters and 1:30AM for us West Coasters and the last thing I want to eat at that time of day is a heavy meal. After mulling this question around in my head I was torn between Spotted Dick, partially because my immaturity got the best of me and saying Spotted Dick is oh so much fun, and Scones. After doing a bit of internet research I came to the conclusion that Spotted Dick includes far too obscure ingredients to come up with on the drop of a pence.

With all that in consideration I decided on the perfect treat fit for the Royal Highness herself – Currant Scones with Lemon Curd all to be washed down with the perfect cup of tea.

FACTS ABOUT SCONES

*  Scones is actually pronounced Sc-ahns, which rhymes with John.  Thanks Rosie Pope!

*  Scones although still British actually came from Scotland.

*  Scones can be eaten anytime of the day, but are usually served at breakfast or with Afternoon Tea.

*  Scones are served with jam, butter, lemon curd, and clotted cream.

*  Scones are delish!

This recipe has been taken from the Queen of English Cooking herself, Nigella Lawson and in true Chefanies “healthier cooking” fashion we turned it into a more dainty and light version. We substituted whole wheat flour for the All Purpose Flour and used low fat buttermilk but by all means go ahead and use the whole fat products if you please. We also made them mini because everything looks cuter when it is small. We used Currants because they are high vitamin C and antioxidants which is great for keeping you looking young!

Cheerio!

CURRANT SCONES

Makes about 20 mini scones

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 heaped tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 4 tbs butter
• 1 ½ cups low fat buttermilk
• 1 cup dried fruit (currants & chopped apricots work well)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 450F Place the flour salt & baking powder in the food processor & whirl together. Add the cold butter (in pieces, not whole) until the mixture is fully integrated & resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2. Shake the buttermilk. Place the flour/butter mixture into a large bowl. Add the buttermilk and dried fruit.  You may need to add a little more buttermilk. The mixture should be a little wetter.

3. Place the mixture on a floured bench & gently pat out into shape with a quick knead (only 5-6 times) & use small round glass & cut out rounds. I used a juice glass.

4. Bake at 450F for about 10 mins.

LEMON CURD

INGREDIENTS

*  3 to 4 tablespoons lemon zest (rind)
*  1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice (4 to 6 lemons)
*  1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 
*  6 tablespoons salted butter, cut into pieces
*  3 eggs, lightly beaten

DIRECTIONS

1.  Zest the lemons using a zester or a peeler

2.  Juice the lemons after removing the zest.

3.  In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar.

4.  Bring just to a boil.  Then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 5 minutes. Add butter and stir until it has melted. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

5.  Beat eggs into cooled lemon mixture until well blended. Return to heat and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, 10 to 15 minutes or until mixture thickens and coats spoon.

6.  It will continue to thicken

The Chefanies is the blog of 2 Stephanies cooking up a healthy storm using fresh, seasonal and organic ingredients. We focus on everyday cooking that is impressive enough for entertaining and hearty enough to enjoy solo. Go to thechefanies.com for more!