One of the funniest shows on television (in my opinion) is Parks and Recreation. During a recent episode they embraced the powerful ways of the spa. Hey, public officials in Indiana like pampering themselves too! While Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson are in the wilderness with the Pawnee Rangers, Tom and Donna celebrate “Treat Yo Self 2011.” It’s the one day in the year that they allow themselves to buy whatever they want. I think I implement this too often with my online shopping addiction. Noticing that Wyatt was down on his luck, they brought him along to help him relax. Can my friends surprise me with a spa trip?!

The  boys look quite comfortable in their spa chairs and robes. Tom, a relaxation novice, educated Wyatt, a spa newbie, on the ways of the spa.  It was great to see some male bonding at the spa since most think it’s just a chick thing.

Donna enjoyed some acupuncture. I enjoyed her lessons in relaxation. Her first lesson: “Acupuncture. It’s great for your back and your rear.” Well I’m not so sure about the last part of that statement, but acupuncture has been known to help with back pains and arthritis.

I can definitely get behind this message: Treat. Yo. Self.

Do you know how much money men in the US are spending on grooming products each year? A few hundred million, you think? Nope… they’re spending four billion dollars.

Men account for 31% of spa goers in America, and did you know the most common spa packages offered are for men, with 45% of U.S. spas offering such a package? By incorporating no-frills, guy-friendly scents like sandalwood, mustard seed, eucalyptus and thyme, spas are able to successfully market to men. Men’s treatments are getting so popular that they made our Top 10 Spa Treatment Trends list!

However, some men can be very peculiar about the spa. See, my boyfriend’s heels look like the aerial view of a torrid California desert, yet he refuses to get a pedicure because, as opposed to his abnormally smooth body, keeping his feet rugged is his way of “claiming his man card”. And last night at our 1st ever Hot Mom Spa Night in NYC, we were joined by one solitary Hot Dad, famously known as DaDa Rocks. I had to force – FORCE! – DaDa to try a 20 minute mini-facial. Although feeling emasculated at the thought of it, afterwards he had a big glowing smile on his face, and he admitted that he actually kinda liked it.

Where does your man fall? While some women are fighting tooth and nail to get their man to do something about his unibrow, some have husbands spending more time at the spa than she is.

This Spa Week, October 10-16, we have many spas offering man-made, made-for-man treatments, but we wanted to put the spotlight on one of the pioneering spa and skin care brands that men are flocking to: Clarins. This internationally respected and followed brand has a complete line of skincare dedicated to men, and during Spa Week their spas are offering one special facial focused on their non-female clientele.

With 16 Clarins locations throughout California, Illinois, Florida, New York, Virginia and Massachusetts, all 31% of those spa-going gentlemen are sure to find their fresh manly face nearby. Find a location near you at spaweek.com.

Another fun fact… men have 15% more oily skin than women, so a facial is totally necessary.

Listen up gentlemen: The CLARINS Men Facial includes a complete treatment to hydrate, purify and detoxify your skin. It helps soothe the skin irritated by shaving.

Tell your boyfriend, husband, father and brother: Spa Week is October 10 – 16th!

Well look at what we have here. R&B singer Ciara (whom we got to catch in person at Lord & Taylor’s Ultimate Face-Lift event last year) was spotted at a Los Angeles spa taking a break from the flashbulbs to give her hands and feet some much needed TLC. Just last weekend at Grammys she wore a floaty Emilio Pucci gown and killer Givenchy heels, so there’s no doubt she was in need of a foot treatment.

A relaxing departure from donning sky high heels, she looks so comfortable and at ease in that spa massage chair. Take a note from Ciara and do the same with any of the spa deals below.

Organic Spa Manicure and Pedicure. Special: $58
Fingers & Toes, A Nail Retreat
743 S. University Blvd
Denver, CO 80209
303.955.1920

Chocolate Truffle Pedicure for $58.
INDABA Spa at Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort
36750 US Highway 19 North
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
727.942.2000

Peachy Keen Pedicure: includes Home-Made Peach Scrub, Warm Peach Paraffin, Therapeutic Massage using Peach Shea Butter and during your indulgence enjoy a Peachy Keen Cocktail for $85
Lush Day Spa
7 East Main Street
Ramsey, NJ 07446-1922
201.327.7615

Choice of Chocolate Covered Strawberry Manicure for $38, Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pedicure for $61,
Suede Salon, Spa & Body
500 Route 73 South
Marlton, NJ 08053
856.985.0700

Rosemary Mint Manicure for $10 and Rosemary Mint Pedicure for $20
Joseph Christopher For Beauty & Wellness
254 West Park Avenue
Long Beach, NY 11561
516.889.3900

Manicure and Pedicure for $39.95.
Spa Catchi
115 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
212.980.3880

Choice of Goddess Ritual Manicure and Pedicure with Cabernet, Grapes, Rose Petal and Can Sugar for $75, normally $100, or Rose Petal Ritual Manicure and Pedicure with Coconut, Peppermint and Tapioca for $53, normally $65.
The Back Room Hand & Foot Spa at Carol’s Daughter
24 West 125th Street
New York, NY 10027
212.828.6717

75 Min Rose Petal Pedicure for $55, normally $75, valid Monday – Friday only.
Riviera Spa
4445 Travis Street, Suite 102
Dallas, TX 75205
214.521.2112

Choice of 45 Min Signature Pedicure for $42, 25 Min Signature Manicure for $22, or 75 Min Signature Manicure and Pedicure for $59. Available Monday through Thursday until February 28, 2011.
The Spa at The Crescent at Rosewood Crescent Hotel
400 Crescent Court
Dallas, TX 75201
214.871.3232

Choice of 3 Hour and 30 Min Be My Valentine Package: includes 30 Min Aromatherapy Massage, Honey Vodka Face Wrap, Chocolate Spa Manicure and Chocolate Spa Pedicure for $150.
Ambiance Salon & Day Spa
369 Independence Boulevard
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757.497.5511

Images Courtesy of essence.com and dgfever.com

A while back, we enlisted a “Spa Week Spa Tester” via a contest ran on our Facebook page (25,000 fans and growing, won’t you join us?). The winner had to be a bonafied lover of the spa, have a knack for writing honest reviews and game for the ultimate challenge of sinking into total relaxation at the spa. We sent Janna Meyrowitz Turner to test and review a treatment at Zuri’s Petite Spa in Brooklyn. She says:

Zuri’s Petite Spa is designed to make you feel like you’re simply popping in to see your friend for a treatment. Based in a residential building in the center of Fort Greene, Zuri’s Petite Spa is a second floor oasis where YOU are the center of attention. The oversized bathroom feels like a personal locker room and Zuri’s calming demeanor make you feel instantly at ease. During my massage it was immediately evident that she was tuned in to my muscular needs without my having to tell her where I was tight or where I wanted her to focus.

Zuri prides herself on use of predominantly organic and natural products, and her energy and enthusiasm for the products she carries is evident and genuine. I would recommend Zuri’s Petite Spa for those looking to develop a long term relationship with their neighborhood facialist/masseuse/manicurist because you can tell she genuinely cares about her clients’ health, wellbeing and beauty.

Zuri’s Petite Spa
108 S. Portland Ave. Ste 2-A
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718.624.4149

Celebrity Suspect: Cathy Cruz Marrero

Case: We know, another name to make you go, “who? huh? what?” Face it, after Antoine Dodson, Ted Williams and many others, viral videos are quickly becoming the accidental career boosters of today. Here we’ve stumbled upon another hilarious jewel. On a texting frenzy while leaving her job in the mall Cathy Cruz Marrero accidentally fell into a huge water fountain and it was all recorded by the mall’s security cameras.

Spa Treatment Sentencing: In an ABC News interview Cathy explains it took mall security 20 minutes to respond after she had fallen and she might file legal action. A little distressed but luckily unharmed, it will take Cathy a while to adjust to her unsought fame. To help we’re sending Cathy to get pampered at The Spa at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, PA for an 80 Min Mimosa Champagne Body Treatment. This sentence includes a delicious blend of Champagne grapes and Orange Essential Oils tantalizing the senses to renew and soften your body, a Full Body Mimosa Exfoliation followed by a 50 Min Mimosa Champagne Massage for $150. Watch the clip below.