Emily Giffin’s Where We Belong: Teaser!

We got the priviledge of getting our hands on the next Emily Giffin book and once I did I couldn’t get my hands off of it! I read it cover to cover on a roundtrip flight. I even had the flight attendent say, “Ooh is that the next one? How is it?” So, how was it? Here’s my quick teaser for Where We Belong.

Marian Caldwell is a thirty-six year old television producer, living it up in Manhattan. She seems like the perfect version of how I’d like to see myself; the New York City dream. She has the perfect boyfriend that reminds me of Big from Sex and the City – only likeable. But Marian’s life isn’t as perfect as she portrays. One night Kirby Rose, an awkwad eighteen-year-old girl (a girl I more easily relate to) is the blast from the past that Marian thought she had left there. From the moment Kirby enters her picture perfect life, Marian’s life forever changes.

Of course, like any good Emily Giffin novel, there is more than one story. The chapters alternate from Marian’s first person account to Kriby’s. From Kirby’s point of view, the encounter throws her into a world of self discovery and acceptance. She is forced to grow up and find out who she is. Something everyone has at some point struggled with.

The story of the two women and their disconnected connection is both heart-felt and real. It’s a tale of life, love and the past and what happens when they all meet. It left me evaluating where it is that I belong. Also, I immediately called my mother.

In addition to loving her new book (on shelves July 24th), we loved hanging out with Emily at the 2012 Sping Spa Week Media Party. And besides her time, she’s also letting us borrow some of her favorite things, and we’re giving them away! There is STILL time to enter for your chance to win a prize package worth over $2,500 – all hand picked by Emily herself!

 

The Pretty Faces and Photos of #instaspaweek

At the break of dawn on the first day of Spring 2012 Spa Week, we launched a fun little photo challenge dubbed #instaspaweek. From beautiful close ups to moments of solace, here are ours, + a handful of yours that we thought were pretty and pretty inspiring.

moment of bliss - via @fashionoffice

moment of bliss - via @ladyshark

moment of bliss (aromatic organic soaps at LING spa) - via @spaweek

moment of bliss - via @nnapoles18

moment of bliss - via @parmie

the skin i'm in - via @gorgeousingrey

the skin i'm in (headstands prevent wrinkles!) - via @spaweek

the skin i'm in - via @parmie

the skin i'm in - via @sweetmissliss

the skin i'm in - via @michellejoni

the skin i'm in - via @kerriface1004

the skin i'm in - via @victorie82

the skin i'm in - via @studio747

hello healthy - via @jesserker

hello healthy - via @chiminie

hello healthy - via @spaweek

can't leave home without (inspiration!) - via @itspeekmedia

can't leave home without - via @jerrelrenee

can't leave home without - via @spaweek

can't leave home without - via @kerriface1004

my bathroom the spa - via @fashionoffice

my bathroom the spa - via @spaweek

starting the day off right - via @sweetmissliss

starting the day off right (sunrise in Palm Springs) via @spaweek

starting the day off right - via @kerriface1004

do not disturb - via @spaweek

do not disturb - via @fashionoffice

do not disturb - via @sweetmissliss

Day 7 - Do Not Disturb. Via @chiminie

See What All the Tweet is About

Tweedle-lee-dee-dee. Tweet. Tweet. Tweet. Tweet. Since the 2012 Spring Spa Week event launched on Monday, so many little twitter birds have been hoppin’ and a-boppin’ and a-singin’ a spa song. There’s been a lot of chatter about all those coveted #50dollartreatments. We love getting to read about everyone’s spa state of mind. There’s nothing better than getting lots of little reminders of how awesome the spa is and how incredible the deals are (not that we had to be reminded!). So if you have yet to book your $50 massage, facial, body scrub or whatever treatment you crave , it’s not too late! Take a break from tweeting and go to spaweek.com search your state, pick your treatment, call the spa and book something that will give you something to tweet about.

Check out some our favorite tweets @SPAWEEK below, they go through all the emotions of our spa tweeties.

Anxious:

Desperate:

 

Supportive:


Togetherness:

Proud:


Optimistic:


Exhausted:


Excitement:

Satisfied:

 

Thankful:

Loving:

(we love you all too)

Spa Week Media Party Recap – Spring 2012

It’s our party and we’ll spa if we want to! Last week on April 11 we returned to the spacious Altman Building and held our bi-annual Spa Week Media Party, a night dedicated to food, drinks, beauty, pampering and wellness. This year was extra special as it’s our Sweet Sixteenth edition of #50dollartreatments. And just like any sweet sixteen we spoiled ourselves by throwing a party fit for the especially sweet occasion. Well, we mostly spoiled our guests! What other party are you going to leave with smoother skin, waxed eyebrows, fresh makeup or a Vajazzle as party favors? Our main goal, as well as our sponsors, was to indulge our guests and showcase all the benefits and fun of the spa lifestyle. So who was on the guest list? Everyone in the biz, from TV producers and radio personalities to magazine editors and top bloggers, who all lined up to come out to celebrate the sweetest Spa Week yet!

Of course, I took on the night in sequins and six inch heels, because that’s how I spa-rty. (More on the outfit coming later this week.) Let me be your hostess with the mostest love for spa and come along as I take you on a tour of our spa-cial night.

One of the first things to do when you entered the party, and one of the highlights, was to line up to get a chance to meet the five-time New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin.

Guests were given a copy of her new book Where We Belong to be signed by the author.

Emily was all smiles as she signed and personalized copy after copy of her new book.

Emily had a line of excited fans to meet her all night and she happily chatted with guests the entire party.

I loved interviewing  Emily on camera and getting the chance to chat a little off camera too. She is so excited to be the first author ever associated with Spa Week, and loves the “girliness” of it all! She pictures girls in spa robes curled up with her new book, waiting for their massages to begin.

What’s a sweet sixteen without some sweet treats? The “chocolate ladies” as we call them, once again brought the four tier’d chocolate fountain and you can bet that the chocolate flowed all night.

A night of indulgence provided by catering from incognito bistro. This Italian-American restaurant in Flatiron is less than two blocks from our office, and our go-to for company lunches and dinners. Go ahead, have seconds, and thirds, and fourths. (We went there after the party too… for fifths and sixths.)

Christopher Drummond and his beauty crew getting ready to touch-up guests with their organic, vegan make-up line.

Christopher working his magic. Did you catch his brand featured on Dr. Oz the other day? WTG, CD!

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas‘ COO Jeff Kohl chatted on camera about Spa Week and Red Door’s longstanding partnership. It’s all about giving everyone the opportunity to spa, regardless of budget. Red Door’s Smooth Sculpt machine was a hit! It’s an alternative approach to skin rejuvenation that will lift skin, reduce wrinkles and release built-up toxins caused by diet, age and the environment. Like a revitalizing workout for your skin, this wellness method uses mild suction, pulsing and homeopathic extracts to cleanse cellular debris, reduce puffiness, as well as fortify the immune system.

Our Design and Organizational Expert Bobby Berk takes a minute to reflect in his social media lounge space, designed from his collection, Bobby Berk Home.

Pillow talk with Bobby Berk!

Taking a food break and break from their heels in the Bobby Berk lounge.

It’s no secret that I’m going Completely Bare and here is the woman behind the laser hair removal that I love! Cindy Barshop, THE hair removal guru.

Matching arm and chest Vajeweles. A little high but just as sparkly.

Completely Bare was also giving out waxes. The pup, however, preferred the furry look.

American Laser Skincare taught guests about how to obtain beauty through technology and with their scientifically proven skin care line.

The ladies of Skintology showed off their recently relaunched line of skin products.

Behind the scenes eyebrow shaping from Skintology.

Our Whole Living Expert Keri Glassman and her nutritionists gave one-on-one nutrition consultations featuring Nutritious Life Meals. It’s never too late to start living a Nutritious Life.

The ladies at Spa Chicks On The Go offered a beauty pit stop for guests. Sit down, relax and be on your gorgeous way!

There’s always time for a little pampering.

Guests could grab a complimentary towel and chat with York Spa about their new product, which is a surgery-free alternative to botox.

J. Sisters showed off their impressive celebrity clientele and their skills for blow outs and styling.

Of course, we can’t forget to take a stop at the three bars that guests flocked to all night. Sake TY KU were serving up their all natural and premium sake Spatinis with fresh cut cucumbers. I love spa-ke! My TY KU ninja name is Ninja Turtle Michellangelo.

Seagram’s Escapes showed off their brand new Frozen Magaritas and Frozen Daiquiris. Just pour, recline, and you’ve got yourself the perfect beach beverage . (Doubles as an ice pack to cool your forehead, because man it’s HOT out there.)

As the night wine-d down Rioja kept pouring bottle after bottle of their delicious wine. Really, what goes better with relaxation than wine?

Photos by Michel Delsol for Spa Week.

Guests also sipped on Honest Tea and Honest Ade as a refreshing alternative to alcoholic beverages.

To see more photos of the party, check out the album on our Facebook page.

And thanks to Gorgeous in Grey for whipping up this video tour of the evening! Looks like you had fun. Spa Week’s official video soon to come!

8 Rock-n-Roll Beatles Manicures

I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND! Especially if it’s adorned in Beatles nail art.

Spa Week starts Monday, and in honor of all the spa technicians and massage therapists that will be rolling up their sleeves and rocking your body for the rock-n-roll price of $50 next week, today’s Friday fun is inspired by the band that changed rock-n-roll forever. We’re the Ed Sullivan Show of the spa industry, sweeping the nation with spa-mania! Replace the Beatle-screams with soothing oooohs, ahhhhs, and ohhhhs, as women everywhere fall madly in love with feeling amazing.

Betchya Maxwell’s silver hammer never bang-banged THESE kinds of nails.

First two manicures via

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