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“Chicago, Chicago… bet your bottom dollar you’ll lose your blues in Chicago…” (we feel like singing today, if you couldn’t tell…). Yes, we share Frank Sinatra’s deep love for Chi-Town with its magnificent piers that overlook the sparkling waters of the Great Lakes, notably original architecture, historic parks and cultural attractions such as their museums and theaters. Now you can add to that list: $50 spa treatments.

This Fall, October 10-16, we’ve got 57 Spas in Chicago participating in Spa Week! We are getting into the Second City spirit with 6 amazing giveaways from 6 of our Chicago participants. Check out (and book) these spas’ $50 Spa Week offerings below, and see what you can win from each spa. Massages, gift certificates and more! To enter, show each spa the lovin’ by liking on Facebook and/or following them on Twitter using the Rafflecopter entry form below. All giveaway details included below. Go to the Chicago $50 directory for all the spas participating, and to book those $50 treatments now!

Continuum Studio

This spa believes that healthy choices lead to a healthy mind. We need to remember to de-stress from our busy lives and take time for ourselves.

• 50 Min Computer Stress Relief Massage is designed for those of us who spend hours on the computer or typing on our BlackBerries
• 60 Min Continuum Signature Facial with Choice of Arm or Shoulder Massage

WIN: Computer Stress Relief Massage with a mini facial

Ruby Room

Their mission is to positively affect the energy and spirit of those who walk through their doors by providing and recommending quality services that promote healing and beauty from the inside out.

Take advantage of their unique $50 treatments:

• 50 Min Enerssage to Relieve Physical and Emotional Stress with Pumpkin Hand Treatment
• 50 Min Ruby Room Signature Spa Facial with Extractions Upon Request
• 50 Min Intuitive Reading with Energy Healer to Promote Clarity and Perspective

WIN: $50 gift card, to be used towards spa, healing or salon services. Expires  December 15th 2011.

Appease Mobile Spa

Spa-ing on the go was on our Top 10 Hottest Spa Trends and Appease is bringing the mobile spa to Chicagoans.

• 50 Min Signature Massage of Choice, includes Swedish, Deep Tissue or Aromatherapy
• 60 Min Organic Chocolate Facial with Facial Massage
• 60 Min Cellulite Be Gone Body Wrap

WIN: 50 min Swedish Massage. PLUS – Everyone who enters will receive a $20 eCertificate!* eCertificate cannot be used towards a Spa Week treatment.

Soulistic Studio

Their 4,500 square foot facilities features two fitness studios where you can receive personal training as well as sauna rooms for relaxation. They are part of the Green Yoga Association, which focuses on ecological consciousness in in the yoga community.

• 75 Min Customized Massage Package, includes 45 Min Customized Massage of Choice and 30 Min of Infrared Sauna or Steam Treatment
• 60 Min Organic Glow and Go Facial Package, includes 30 Min Organic Facial and 30 Min of Infrared Sauna or Steam Treatment
• 75 Min Mind/ Body Wellness Package, includes 45 Min Private Pilates or Yoga Personal Training Session and 30 Min Infrared Sauna or Steam Treatment

WIN: $50 Soulistic  Gift Card

Organic Spa Intelligent Beauty

This family owned day spa doesn’t believe in using chemicals and have the best facials around.

• 60 Min Massage, Choice of Swedish or Relaxing with Organic Essential Oil
• 60 Min Facial, Choice of Anti-Aging Berry Whip, Natural Facelift Facial or Customized Facial all with Organic Products
• 75 Min Organic Spa Manicure and Pedicure with Choice of Paraffin or Hydrating Masque Treatment for Hands

WIN: $25 towards a facial

Brennan Massage Day Spa

Minutes from the busy city, this spa is an 1800’s original farm house.

• 60 Min Full Body Massage and Scalp Treatment with Choice of Wild Lime or Deep Forest Aromatherapy
• 60 Min Fall Pumpkin Enzyme Peel Facial with Extractions Upon Request
• 60 Min Full Body Gilden Scrub Body Wrap with Exfoliation

WIN: 1 hour full body Swedish Massage

Ready… set… enter!

(more…)

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Unless you’ve been living under a hot stone, you know that Spa Week brings you luxurious, exclusive treatments for just $50 each. Even if you have already booked a soothing facial and stress-melting massage, you need to add another amazing service to your repertoire of pampering: eyelash extensions.

One spa in particular, Flutter Lash Studio in Chicago is an EXPERT in lash enhancement. They have lash styles, lengths and colors to accommodate each individual client’s personal style.

For a seductive look, a full lash line application will make eyes pop! For just $50 during Spa Week you can have your lashes permed to a sexy, eye-brightening curl. It lasts for several months and is way easier than fiddling with some lash curling contraption every day. Complete the glamazon look with Flutter Lash’s $50 eyebrow shaping Spa Week treatment, which INCLUDES lash and brow tint! Both tints will run you well over $50 anywhere this side of the Mississippi… add it to the shaping, you’re getting a HUGE deal.

If you’re a falsies newbie and are just looking for a subtle oomph, try the “Cat Eye” look (originally priced between $150-$175 and ONLY $50 during Spa Week). Individual lashes are seamlessly applied onto your own natural lash, leaving you with the flirty drama you so desire, without making you feel like Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Flutter Lash Studio is offering the following services for $50 during Spa Week:

• Eyebrow Shaping Including Lash and Brow Tint
• Lash Perm
• “Cat Eye” Lash Extensions

Flutter Lash Studio
1627 North Clybourn
Chicago, IL 60614
312.265.1563

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FlutterLashStudio Twitter: @flutterlashes

Not in Chicago? Check out all the $50 lash extensions near you for next week.

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The windy city was awfully tranquil last night.

Spa Week Daily co-hosted Celebrate You: Chicago, a party at the 6000 square foot, newly re-opened, and quite beautiful Joseph Michael’s Salon & Spa in downtown Chicago. Why? To celebrate the independent lifestyle, the August 16th Chicago/West Coast launch of the $50 treatment directory on Spaweek.com, and of course, you.

Following Joseph Michael’s annual participation in Macy’s Glamorama earlier this past weekend, bloggers and Chicago scenesters joined us for a relax-and-mingle evening of manicures, mini-massages, lip treatments, blowouts, wine, sushi, desserts and freebies, and the first thing everyone noted upon arrival? WOW— Joseph Michael’s employees are SO NICE! It’s true, the moment you walk in the door, you’re family.

The owner Paul (front left) made a great point about how he hires his staff: “You can always train people to get better at what they do and master techniques, but you can’t train people to be have a better personality.” Allison, who I had the pleasure of working with to plan the event, is an absolute doll. Paul says of Allison (standing next to Paul), “I never dreamed I’d find someone who I felt could run my spa without me. She does everything the way I would want it done, and that is priceless.”

Hair and makeup artist Ronnie (below with Afrobella) who shaped a lot of eyebrows last night, possesses one of the most coveted qualities you could want in your salon employee: It is impossible to meet him and NOT want to make him your new gay bestie. (Hayyy boo!)

It turns out a lot of the attendees had been slacking on split end maintenance–including me (and Jessica of Beauty Woo Me below). Hair stylist Eileen dished out some much-needed trims and blowouts, leaving everyone with voluminous locks and one less thing on their to-do lists. Very thankful!

I loved meeting a whole new set of bloggers, including ones I’ve enjoyed working with for months now. Congratulations to Kim who writes The Stylish Life– she took home the $50 Spa Week Gift Card raffle prize. I asked her where she was going to use it and she said: “Definitely Joseph Michael’s. I love it here!”

See the rest of the party pictures on our Facebook page.

To put on the event we partnered with Sherri Lamgburt, founder of SingleEdition.com, whose mission is to enhance single life via her consumer-facing site, and also to connect non-mommy bloggers and give them means to monetize their talent, something often taken for granted in the world of blogging. Know your worth!

All sorts of ways to celebrate you, but start here: Sign up for Spa Week and book one (or more) of the three luxurious $50 services Joseph Michael’s Salon & Spa is offering during Fall Spa Week (September 13-19).

• 45 Min Lomi Lomi Massage
• 45 Min Water Lily After Summer Soothing Wrap
• 45 Min Microcurrent Turbo-Lift Facial

Joseph Michaels Salon & Spa
1313 North Ritchie Court
Chicago, IL 60610
312.482.9800
http://www.mychicagosalon.com

Twitter @mychicagosalon

Award-winning Joseph Michael’s Salon and Spa delivers uncompromising care in a relaxing, unpretentious atmosphere. Voted Citysearch Best Spa, Best Facial and Best Massage 2009 and named Best Chicago Day Spa by Allure magazine 2009.

Photos by Jessica Lapidos

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Getting regular facials and overall maintenance of the skin was ironically not top priority for beauty blogger, Jessica Teas of Beauty Woo Me. Well, until we sent her to investigate Spa Madness! Jessica explored lands once unknown, in Chicago’s Gold Coast to experience the Microcurrent Facial at the one week old, Joseph Michael Salon & Spa. New treatment, new salon, we applaud your bravery! So what exactly is a Microcurrent Turbulent Facial aside from being a really long name for a spa treatment? It’s a very intense facial that involves rounds of cleansing, exfoliating and positioning a thick cloud of steam over the face which extracts those creepy black heads. Finishes touches include a high frequency wand ran across the skin and a cool gel mask to lock in the glow.

Read about the good, the meh, and all the details at Beauty Woo Me.

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Carol Calacci hit the nail on the head: “…beauty trends change. But underarm hair is a no-brainer. I don’t want hair there! In the many years of shaving under my arms I never think, ”Oh yes, I want hair there now!’ I really don’t see a Woodstock movie performance in my future.”

We sent Carol from Second City Style to test out permanent underarm laser hair removal for SPA MADNESS at A Beautiful You in Chicago, one of our $50 Spa Week treatments. Not only did she dash all rumors of her and Ang Lee scripting Woodstock Returns, she also zapped the rumor that laser treatments are painful. One ouch was all!

Read the full blog post about her Laser Treatment, and relive the moment through her Tweetment, we snagged it for you here: