My sister had a $500 gift card to Cashmere Salon Spa in the Gulch (below the ICON). She bid on it in an auction and won. I was lucky enough to be included in the spending of the gift card because I am a kick ass sister. As is she. :)
We went on Saturday to redeem and to have a great sister day at the spa. We had looked on their website prior to making our appointment so we knew what we wanted. She wanted a full highlight and hair cut (was in desperate need) and a pedi and I wanted a facial and a pedi. We figured we'd come close to the $500 (which all needed to be spent in the same visit, mind you) and if we had anything left over we'd add something on at the end.
We absolutely LOVED this place. Every single person in there was super nice, not snobby or elitist, and they were more than happy to help us get to that $500, even though they probably knew that we didn't end up paying anywhere close to the full value of the gift cert at the auction, which is the norm for charity auction items. After my INCREDIBLE facial, Caribbean therapy pedi (mud mask on the feet and everything!) and noley's full highlight and cut, and nicole's planned pedi (I'll get to that in a minute) we were only at $380! I never in a million years thought that I'd have a hard time spending $500 in one day! They were so helpful and kept suggesting other things we could do; it was amazing.
I am extremely loyal to my stylist Courtney (at Salon YaYa, she's the shit) so I didn't want any hair stuff done....so I just had them do a gloss/shine treatment on my hair. My sister was about to start her pedi, and I was about to get a blowout when the power went out. And it didn't come back on. So she'll be going back for her pedi, and I left with wet hair. There was nothing they could do, poor things! At least the water worked and I could get the treatment rinsed!
They knew we were heading out to lunch so they put all this product in my hair and played with it so it would air-dry cute and beachy. I just felt like they actually cared and weren't just putting on a show. It was great. We ended up leaving with awesome products too because even after my facial, noley's hair, and two pedis (one to be had in the future) we still had about $50 left over!
I would definitely recommend this place for facials, let me tell ya. And noley's hair looks incredible too! Rebecca Shaw (who did my facial) is A-MAZING! I got "facial resurfacing" which included, for $125, 7 or 8 different types of creams and cleansers and fabulous things! It's an Aveda salon, so everything was super earthy and herbal and calming. On top of the various layers of fab that went on my face, it also included some sort of procedure that is powered by sound waves to push water deep in the pores to clean it out, an alpha-hydroxy exfoliating mask, AND a photo therapy laser treatment! NOT like the kind I had before where it was traumatic and painful, I couldn't feel this one at all. all of that, ladies, for a $125 price tag. Pretty, pret-t-y, pretty good (you Curb fans will get that one.)
4 or 5 different times, the hot towels went down on the decollete and face, and it was topped off with a massage of the face, chest and upper arms and shoulders, and then this great little spritz of a cool mist that was the perfect way to end it. I can't say enough great things about the experience. I was in there with the facial alone for a good hour. And, my skin looks incredible. I am definitely going to fit this in to my beauty routine somehow.
She mentioned a package where you buy a few and get one free. It was around $250 for the package. I'm doing it. I'll let everyone know when I figure out exactly what the deal is. But yes, I recommend. I DEFINITELY recommend!!
www.cashmerenashville.com
Monday, June 28, 2010
chicken wing? next best thing!
In my constant struggle to stay thin-ish while still enjoying the finer things in life, a.k.a FOOD, I experiment with healthful ways to enjoy the tastes I really, really love but shouldn't eat.
I was honestly (really, honestly) never exposed much to the chicken wings, buffalo sauce, blue cheese combo as a youth. I really wasn't exposed to it until about two years ago. I instantly fell in love with this whole buffalo chicken phenomenon. But it obviously is not a wise food choice if one is trying to keep a girlish figure.
Here's a salad I made for lunch today (and am currently enjoying) that is really the next best thing to a buffalo chicken wing. :)
- Lettuce base, any kind you like. I used baby spring mix.
- Some chopped cucumber
- 1/2 avocado
- Some chopped orange pepper
- 1 morningstar chick'n patty, cooked and chopped up
- a sprinkle or two of any type of cheese (i used trader joe's cheddar/Monterrey jack blend)
- some hot/buffalo wing sauce (I used Kroger brand medium "buffalo wing" sauce)
Mix that shiz all together and you'll almost trick yourself into thinking you're eating something much less healthy. :) No dressing needed, the wing sauce is enough to coat it all - and SPICE THINGS UP! enjoy!
Friday, June 25, 2010
went to ross.
went to ROSS (dress for less). I love calling it Ross Dress for Less. I don't even know if it's still called that, or if they've dropped the last part, but it's still fun to call it that.
so, went to ROSS dress for less today on my lunch break. as you may know if you've ever been to this store, you have to be in the right mindset for it. you can't go expecting to have a good time. you go, fully expecting a torturous shopping experience, but you're rewarded when you leave with several surprisingly cute dresses and tops that were significantly less expensive than they would be anywhere else.
today, i had a visitor in my dressing room. a small little boy, who obviously has no parents. i don't think he spoke English, so when i said sweetly, "oh, watch out" with a smile and nice inflection, he didn't understand me. So i said "NO," not so sweetly all while shaking my foot at him (don't give me grief - it was my first instinct - my hands were too busy covering my bod - and don't worry, it was just a shake, not a kick)!! I think he got the picture and he backed out of my room.
Here are my questions for Ross Dress for Less: Sadly, I already know the answer, which is the same for every question. BECAUSE IT'S ROSS DRESS FOR LESS!!
Why don't the dressing rooms have locks?
Why does the security guard stare at me like I've already stolen something the moment I walk in the front door?
Why do they need a security guard?
Why were there no carts?
Why does the one cart I finally found have a tall beacon on it?
Why did the dressing room attendant make me feel like a criminal and make me hang my clothes on a rack so SHE could count them, because I'm obviously going to lie about how many items I bring in?
Why is this child climbing under my dressing room door?
Why can't I get this dress over my head? Oh, it's labeled as a Medium, but it's really an XS.
Why is this seam HERE?
Why isn't there a pocket on this side too?
Why is there a pile of trash and dust in the corner?
Why must I put my purse on every time I go back out to exchange what doesn't look good for more items?
Why can't I wait to get home and wash my body?
Why are there 30 people in line and only one cash register open?
Why are the other employees standing around and not opening up cash registers?
Why is this taking entirely too long?
Why is the security guard STILL staring at me?! I'm NOT GOING TO STEAL ANYTHING!!
Whose child is this?
I could go on.... all these questions go through my mind whenever I go to Ross Dress for Less.
HOWEVER - and this is a big however - even with all of the nonsense, I love you, Ross Dress for Less.
I love you, because I got nine dresses, two tops, and a Christmas gift for my dad, all for $90.
so, went to ROSS dress for less today on my lunch break. as you may know if you've ever been to this store, you have to be in the right mindset for it. you can't go expecting to have a good time. you go, fully expecting a torturous shopping experience, but you're rewarded when you leave with several surprisingly cute dresses and tops that were significantly less expensive than they would be anywhere else.
today, i had a visitor in my dressing room. a small little boy, who obviously has no parents. i don't think he spoke English, so when i said sweetly, "oh, watch out" with a smile and nice inflection, he didn't understand me. So i said "NO," not so sweetly all while shaking my foot at him (don't give me grief - it was my first instinct - my hands were too busy covering my bod - and don't worry, it was just a shake, not a kick)!! I think he got the picture and he backed out of my room.
Here are my questions for Ross Dress for Less: Sadly, I already know the answer, which is the same for every question. BECAUSE IT'S ROSS DRESS FOR LESS!!
Why don't the dressing rooms have locks?
Why does the security guard stare at me like I've already stolen something the moment I walk in the front door?
Why do they need a security guard?
Why were there no carts?
Why does the one cart I finally found have a tall beacon on it?
Why did the dressing room attendant make me feel like a criminal and make me hang my clothes on a rack so SHE could count them, because I'm obviously going to lie about how many items I bring in?
Why is this child climbing under my dressing room door?
Why can't I get this dress over my head? Oh, it's labeled as a Medium, but it's really an XS.
Why is this seam HERE?
Why isn't there a pocket on this side too?
Why is there a pile of trash and dust in the corner?
Why must I put my purse on every time I go back out to exchange what doesn't look good for more items?
Why can't I wait to get home and wash my body?
Why are there 30 people in line and only one cash register open?
Why are the other employees standing around and not opening up cash registers?
Why is this taking entirely too long?
Why is the security guard STILL staring at me?! I'm NOT GOING TO STEAL ANYTHING!!
Whose child is this?
I could go on.... all these questions go through my mind whenever I go to Ross Dress for Less.
HOWEVER - and this is a big however - even with all of the nonsense, I love you, Ross Dress for Less.
I love you, because I got nine dresses, two tops, and a Christmas gift for my dad, all for $90.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
rave review.
As I may have mentioned in previous posts, I had some pre-cancerous moles taken off back in February. Since then, I've been a pretty big proponent of not frying like crazy in the sun, if at all possible.
I have had a few sunburns this year. One pretty bad one on my legs (how did i put sunscreen EVERYWHERE but the front of my thighs?!?) but I've been really trying to not lay outside and literally bake my skin.
In my efforts to keep the big C at bay while still enjoying the self-esteem boosting effects that a sun tan has to offer, I've resorted to self tanning spray. I LOVE IT!
This product, in particular, has the least "fake tanner" smell of any that I've tried or been unfortunate enough to smell on others. It's airbrush, 360 (so i can turn the can upside down while trying to get the rear regions of my bod) and I've noticed a gradual bronzing of my skin since I began using the product! HoRrAY!
So, my rave review, folks, is for L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Self Tanning Mist, my shade is Medium Natural Tan. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
enjoy, ladies and germs.
I have had a few sunburns this year. One pretty bad one on my legs (how did i put sunscreen EVERYWHERE but the front of my thighs?!?) but I've been really trying to not lay outside and literally bake my skin.
In my efforts to keep the big C at bay while still enjoying the self-esteem boosting effects that a sun tan has to offer, I've resorted to self tanning spray. I LOVE IT!
This product, in particular, has the least "fake tanner" smell of any that I've tried or been unfortunate enough to smell on others. It's airbrush, 360 (so i can turn the can upside down while trying to get the rear regions of my bod) and I've noticed a gradual bronzing of my skin since I began using the product! HoRrAY!
So, my rave review, folks, is for L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Self Tanning Mist, my shade is Medium Natural Tan. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
enjoy, ladies and germs.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
what's up.
Oh, what a month.
My cousin has been gone almost a month. I'm still not sure if it's completely hit me yet. I won't give too much detail out in the bloggisphere, but he was shot and killed. It was so tragic, so violent, so awful. We're still coping. We will be coping for quite some time. The horrible human beings who did this to him were charged with aggravated robbery and murder one. Hopefully, they'll be in jail forever, never able to do this to another family ever again.
I've been having nightmares ever since. There have been some other family health scares over the past month. My uncle (my cousin's dad) has actually been very sick and in the hospital having major surgery. My grandfather on my mom's side was in the hospital for a week with a failing epiglottis. He was breathing in food and water and got pneumonia from it.
Needless to say, it's been hard. Really hard. Between the nightmares, the stress and pain of losing a close relative, and the complete anxiety of every time the phone rings freaking out thinking that another tragedy has hit me, I'm exhausted. I keep a smile on my face because it's who I am, but I'm beat. Mentally, physically, emotionally beat.
It's been a very tough month.
So, what else...
I'm really liking my new place, although I've been in such a stress-fog that I haven't really taken the time to sit down and enjoy it. Photo stuff has been great, but busy, so the little bit of time I've had to sit, I've been editing. But pictures are my happy place and I love it. The photos I sold for the flood was a huge success! I was able to donate $350 to Hands on Nashville. They sent me a very sweet thank you letter. I was happy to be able to raise a bit of cash to send their way. They're doing such great things.
Cord and I are doing well. I see him, like, never... but I am so in heart with him still. Maybe that's the key? Never see each other and then the little time you do get to spend is valued so much more? We just booked a trip to Chicago for late July. I'm so, so, so excited. The last "vacation" we went on was in August of 2007 to Disney World. We were in such a different place then... we were kids, for sure. Hell, we're still kids! We're staying at the Dana Hotel and Spa downtown Chicago. His bro stayed there recently and said it was amazing. I'm super excited!
My Maryland trip over Memorial day was when we ended up having my cousin's funeral, so the trip was obviously not the trip we had planned for. I hope to get back to MD again this summer to get over to see everyone. I miss home so, so much.
Until next time...
My cousin has been gone almost a month. I'm still not sure if it's completely hit me yet. I won't give too much detail out in the bloggisphere, but he was shot and killed. It was so tragic, so violent, so awful. We're still coping. We will be coping for quite some time. The horrible human beings who did this to him were charged with aggravated robbery and murder one. Hopefully, they'll be in jail forever, never able to do this to another family ever again.
I've been having nightmares ever since. There have been some other family health scares over the past month. My uncle (my cousin's dad) has actually been very sick and in the hospital having major surgery. My grandfather on my mom's side was in the hospital for a week with a failing epiglottis. He was breathing in food and water and got pneumonia from it.
Needless to say, it's been hard. Really hard. Between the nightmares, the stress and pain of losing a close relative, and the complete anxiety of every time the phone rings freaking out thinking that another tragedy has hit me, I'm exhausted. I keep a smile on my face because it's who I am, but I'm beat. Mentally, physically, emotionally beat.
It's been a very tough month.
So, what else...
I'm really liking my new place, although I've been in such a stress-fog that I haven't really taken the time to sit down and enjoy it. Photo stuff has been great, but busy, so the little bit of time I've had to sit, I've been editing. But pictures are my happy place and I love it. The photos I sold for the flood was a huge success! I was able to donate $350 to Hands on Nashville. They sent me a very sweet thank you letter. I was happy to be able to raise a bit of cash to send their way. They're doing such great things.
Cord and I are doing well. I see him, like, never... but I am so in heart with him still. Maybe that's the key? Never see each other and then the little time you do get to spend is valued so much more? We just booked a trip to Chicago for late July. I'm so, so, so excited. The last "vacation" we went on was in August of 2007 to Disney World. We were in such a different place then... we were kids, for sure. Hell, we're still kids! We're staying at the Dana Hotel and Spa downtown Chicago. His bro stayed there recently and said it was amazing. I'm super excited!
My Maryland trip over Memorial day was when we ended up having my cousin's funeral, so the trip was obviously not the trip we had planned for. I hope to get back to MD again this summer to get over to see everyone. I miss home so, so much.
Until next time...
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