The Spa Lifestyle, Spa Deals and Life's Little Luxuries
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’ve got a big sale going on at Spa Week headquarters.
Pick up a Spa & Wellness Gift Card for yourself, a loved one, or use it for a couple’s massage. Whatever you do, you can do it at a discount: $100 gift cards are on sale for $84.99, and all other amounts are 15% off!
We’re throwing in free shipping and a free gift box, too. Need ideas on how to use it? Browse a list of our participating spas here.
Click here to learn more or purchase.
On this day of hearts and love, I can’t help but take a minute to think about those people I love whom I have lost. And I can’t help but recognize that so many of those people were taken by some form of heart disease. Heart attacks, strokes and cardiac arrest are the leading causes of death for women – more than all forms of cancer combined. This year, the American Heart Association’s collaboration with Elizabeth Banks has been very successful in getting the message out about the various warning signs of heart complications.
There are ways to prevent heart disease throughout your life that we blog about all the time: Do yoga, get regular massages, eat well, stay active and keep your stress level down (like with these 18 tangible ways to kick stress in the butt starting NOW). But after all the preventing, even the healthiest of us could fall victim to heart problems. The next best thing to do to protect your health is to verse yourself in the warning signs of heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest. Should you are anyone you know experience any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. The following is taken from the experts at heart.org.
A heart attack occurs if the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die. It is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States.
CHEST DISCOMFORT: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
DISCOMFORT IN OTHER AREAS OF THE UPPER BODY: Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
SHORTNESS OF BREATH with or without chest discomfort.
OTHER SIGNS may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.
SUDDEN NUMBNESS or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
SUDDEN CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding.
SUDDEN TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes.
SUDDEN TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
SUDDEN SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause
A cardiac arrest is different from (but may be caused by) a heart attack (myocardial infarction), where blood flow to the still-beating heart is interrupted (as in cardiogenic shock). Arrested blood circulation prevents delivery of oxygen to ”all” parts of the body.
NO RESPONSE to tapping on shoulders.
THE VICTIM DOES NOT TAKE A NORMAL BREATH when you tilt the head up and check for at least five seconds.
Like the heart scribble? You can buy it on stuff. We found it here.
Other sources besides heart.org: news-medical.net, www.nhlbi.nih.gov
“I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess inside…”
The words of the late Whitney Houston are emblazoned on our culture, especially in the wake of her untimely passing. Today’s Hot Mom Monday actually looks at things a little differently. Sometimes, your kids will show YOU the beauty you possess inside.
In honor of Valentine’s Day and the unforgettable messages Whitney has delivered for decades, here’s a little story from Hot Mom Tina Seitzinger about one of her great loves, and unlocking the beauty inside.
As mothers, our lives can be quite hectic from taking care of the children, running errands, cooking and cleaning, and at the end of the day there isn’t much time left over for ourselves. By the time the evening rolls around and I wrestle my kids into bed, I’m beat.
The other day I sat down after the kids were fast asleep and tried to remember the last time I got dressed up and put some make-up on, but I couldn’t remember! The next morning I got up extra early, jumped in the shower, put some makeup on and traded in my yoga pants for something nicer.
I felt so great and energized and realized I really need to make this part of my morning routine. I felt like such a girl again, and not just one of the boys!
Then, this past weekend I was getting ready for a night out with my girlfriends while my 5 year old laid on my bed watching one of his favorite shows. As I was getting ready to leave my room and head downstairs, he jumped off the bed and grabbed my hand.
“Mom you look so pretty today,” he said.
I was completely blown away! He has never said that to me before.
“Really, that is so sweet of you to say that to Mommy.”
“I really like that blue dress, it’s beautiful on you,” he continued.
I stood there for a few seconds, in complete shock.
The look on my son’s face, made me tear up. His blue eyes sparkled and he had the sweetest smile on his face.
He opened his arms and gave me the biggest hug.
There is nothing like your son telling you that you look pretty. Even if he is only 5 years old, I still believed it.
At that one moment I felt absolutely beautiful!
More on Tina: Tina is a wife, mom of two very active little boys and the voice behind Life Without Pink, a blog inspired by her boys and the endless quest for survival in a testosterone filled world. Tina is on a mission this year and focusing on one word: GROWTH. She is challenging herself to grow personally and take time out of her busy schedule to reconnect with herself. She truly feels that we need to feed our soul to help maximize our full potential and to feel happier and more fulfilled.
Tina is also the co-founder of Girls’ Lunch Out {GLO}, a networking group formed to give women in social media a place to connect, learn and share ideas all over lunch! When not writing, tweeting or socializing online, she can be found trying a new recipe of the week, watching bad reality TV or playing Super Heroes with her two boys.
Moms, do you have a story of when your kid made you feel beautiful and loved? Please share below!
Rest in peace, Whitney Houston, and thank you for the music and lyrics that will live on forever.
By Sarah Jenks
Many women can’t tell the difference between wanting food and actually being hungry.
We can easily crave food all day, getting that lip smacking need to have our mouths entertained while our brains take a nap for the amount of time it takes to polish off a personal pack of Oreos from the vending machine.
When we eat when we’re not hungry, we are using food as a distraction or an escape. As we all know, at least subconsciously, the best tool for escape or distraction is LOVE.
Do you remember the last time you were falling in love? You couldn’t be bothered with deadlines or flaws, you were too busy being swept away on a pink cloud of bliss. You were probably so distracted by romance, you forgot to eat.
Your body and mind know that the fastest way to relief is to feel love. For many of us, the fastest, easiest least complicated way to feel love, is to eat. Food never talks back, is not judgmental or complicated. It’s always there to soothe our wounds. But, as you’ve probably experienced, it has some pretty nasty side effects.
If you find yourself looking for love inside a bag of chips, consider this ninja move that karate chops your cravings and leaves chips, cookies and ice cream completely powerless: GIVE LOVE.
Give love because it’s the most effective way to feel loved. Isn’t that what we’re always looking for in every moment of weakness or pain?
There are a million and one ways to give love: write a love letter, call an old friend, make dinner for someone, kiss your husband for 30 seconds when he first walks in the door, give a gift for no reason.
I’m actually having a Valentine’s Day Party tomorrow where I’ll be sharing tons of ideas about how to give love, drop the food cravings and finally lose weight. You’re invited; will you join me?
Next time you reach for a brownie, try asking yourself who can I give love to? I promise the craving will go right out the window.
Sarah Jenks, founder of theBreathtakingBride.com, helps women fall in love with their bodies and lose weight through exploring the emotional reasons of why we eat. Sarah believes that you can talk about the benefits of broccoli until you are blue in the face, but real change won’t happen until we pull back the veil of fad diets and calorie counting to reveal the true cause of our over eating. Feeling lost about weight loss? Visit her website to download her free guide: “What to do if you feel fat, hopeless and ready to give up.”
