The Spa

Spring has sprung, and it is time to spring your toes from close-toed shoes! If you are like the rest of us, you have probably neglected your tootsies over the cold Orlando winter. (It feels so good to be in flip flops again!) If your feet are in dire need of a pedi, get into The Spa ASAP.

 

This year's hot colors are HOT! Like Absolutely Alice from OPI's Alice in Wonderland Collection or Bling Dynasty from the Hong Kong Collection.   Have a professional get your toes ready for sandals at the beach and loose the dark, winter-polish colors. Of course, classics like pinks, reds and French are always in style, but if you are looking to shake it up, try a bright turquoise or orange!

 

Short on time? Try a 30-minute Spa Pedicure. Need some relaxation, how about an hour-long Signature Pedicure? (Don't forget that the Signature Pedicure is part of the ½ off club! What is the ½ off club you ask? Check it out http://thespallc.com/spa-newsletter.php)  

 

Regardless of what color suits your style, every gal needs pampering. So head over to The Spa, sit back in a relaxing massage pedi chair, enjoy a cool mimosa or The Spa Spritzer (The Spa's signature drink) and pamper your tired feet. While you are there, how about a mani to match your pretty toes?

Let's face it, we are all on a tighter budget these days, but that doesn't mean that we want to miss out on living life to the fullest! So, what if you could get half off your spa services? You can! (Seriously, keep reading…)

 

The Spa already has very reasonable, competitive prices on all of its services, and now prices are even better for loyal customers. By joining the newly launched ½ Off Club, you will receive ½ off of any of the ½ Off Club one-hour services at any time! That's right, no more waiting until the last minute to book your service, now you can book any time you want and get ½ off.

 

½ Off Club Services Include:

 

To make the ½ Off Club even more enticing, members also receive:

 

To join the ½ Off Club, there is a quarterly $25 fee associated with membership, which is prorated if you join after the first month of the quarter. (The fee is due at the beginning of each quarter, and you can cancel at any time with a 30-day written notice before the next billing cycle, either snail-mailed or electronically mailed to The Spa.) 

 

Before you turn down membership to the ½ Off Club because of the fee, let me remind you of all the savings you will get all year. If you book just one massage at ½ off, you will save almost the equivalent of two quarters of membership fees. Still not enough? We saved the best for last…

 

In addition to all of the discounts listed above, you will also get one FREE, one-hour service during your birthday month. That's right, FREE! Go ahead, book a $99 massage for free! Happy Birthday to you – new club member.

 

See, the membership more than pays for itself. Ready to join? Call now and book your first ½ off service – just tell them you are ready to join the ½ Off Club!

Calling all husbands, boyfriends and loved ones –

 

Women do not want another stuffed animal for Valentine's Day. I know stores have shelves filled with cheesy stuffed animals for the romantic holiday, but if you really want to score points with us this year – don't buy another stuffed animal! (Dads, that goes for our kids too, they may love it but we moms are tired of the house overflowing with stuffed things. Make mom happy; buy them a puzzle or something equally educational.)

 

Want to know the secret to what women really want? We want a moment to ourselves. Just one quiet, relaxing moment of peace… That's what we really want – not a box of chocolates either because we are just going to feel guilty when we finish the whole box. So, how do you wrap up a moment of peace and tranquility? How about a gift certificate to The Spa? Yes, a gift certificate – it's that easy! (Dads, you might want to throw in an IOU to watch the kids while mom gets pampered.)

 

A gift certificate provides us with just the reason we need to go and pamper ourselves for a moment. A massage, a manicure, a pedicure, a facial… ahh, imagine the possibilities…

 

You don't even have to spend a lot on said gift certificate. Sure a certificate in the triple digits would be great, but let's get real. We are in a recession after all. A $30 gift certificate will cover a 30-minute spa pedicure, while a $50 gift certificate buys an hour-long fancy pedicure. How's that for recession options – how about an express facial for only $50?

 

Still looking to strrrrrrretch that buck? Did you know that if you joined The Spa's Half Off Club, you could receive 50% off most services!! Now that is a Valentine's gift treat on a budget!

 

So, this year skip the stuffed animals and chocolate and buy the woman in your life what she really wants – a moment of relaxation…a gift certificate to The Spa!

 

PS – Women, help your sisters out – forward this to every man you know and make Valentine's Day extra special for your girlfriends!

I admire those who run marathons or half marathons or even 5Ks… (I am not a runner, you see.) So, hats off to The Spa's very own Andy for joining Team Burnham to run in the Disney Marathon!

 

Team Burnham is participating in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, January 9-10, 2010, to raise money for Burnham Institute for Medical Research. Burnham Institute for Medical Research is dedicated to discovering the fundamental molecular causes of disease and devising the innovative therapies of tomorrow. Burnham, with operations in California and Florida, is one of the fastest-growing research institutes in the country. http://www.burnham.org/default.asp?contentID=15

 

This will be Andy's very first marathon and his goal is to raise $2,500 by running the marathon. As added encouragement for people to donate to Andy's goal, if you donate $25 or more, The Spa will give you a $25 gift card to The Spa. The gift card can be used on any spa service including Happy Hours (January's is chocolate themed!). This is a great last minute gift for anyone on your list, or a great way for you to start off the New Year with a spa treatment! Donate $25 (or more) to charity; get a $25 gift card – now that's a deal!

 

To make donating as easy as possible, you can even make your donation online. Andy set up a web page to take donations and track his goal – as I type he just jumped to more than $400 toward his goal (with more than 2 weeks to go)! Visit http://www.active.com/donate/teamburnham2010/andythespa to make a donation and see watch Andy meet his goal. (I am sure he will take money in person if you are at The Spa too!)

 

So, if you are a non-runner like me, support Team Burnham by contributing to Andy's goal. If you are a runner, you can still contribute to Andy's goal and join the marathon!

 

Good luck Andy, don't forget to stretch, hydrate and breathe! Oh and make sure you book a massage before and after the race – I think you will need one!

Struggling to find the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for person this season? Skip the lines at the mall and jump online instead to buy an online spa gift certificate! Online gift certificates can be purchased for any amount and used towards spa services and products at the recipient's favorite spa. They're a great match for spa-goers of all ages, and give any spa addict a chance to indulge and pamper themselves any time of year.

Some of the top reasons to give an online spa gift certificate this year:

·      You're pressed for time and don't want to give another gift card

·      The recipient enjoys going to the spa or is due for a pampering treat

·      You don't have to pay shipping and handling fees

·      No stress to wrap the gift – an online spa gift certificate can be sent instantly via 

       e-mail        

·      You want to surprise the recipient with something different and unique this year

·      Can be used towards all types of spa treatments and products – in some cases, it's

       'same as cash'

·      Choose your own design and add a custom message for no additional fee

·      Choice of giving a predetermined amount or a service

Whether you're looking for a last-minute gift or want to give someone something extra special this holiday season, try an online spa gift certificate.   These personalized gifts can be a great way to brighten up someone's holiday season and treat them to a much-needed pampering session.

Are you looking for the perfect gift for that certain someone who is impossible to shop for? (Like everyone?!)   Speaking from personal experience, a gift certificate to a spa is ALWAYS welcome. What gal doesn't love a massage, mani/pedi or facial as a treat on someone else's dime? I don't know any! I don't know many guys who would pass up pampering either.

 

To make giving a gift certificate even better, The Spa is offering FREE add-on treatments with every purchase of a $50 or more gift certificate. You can use this free add-on as an extra gift – bumping the value of the gift without bumping your cost OR you can use the add-on treatment yourself! Ummmm shopping for others and getting something for free in return – I am in!

 

Each add-on treatment at The Spa is a $12 value. They do have a limit of 10 free add-on services per person, but that's a lot. You can choose from five different add-on treatments, which all sound divine!

 

1)       Revitalizing Eye Rescue

2)       Rejuvenating Lip Renewal

3)       Soothing Hand or Foot Paraffin Treatment

4)       Raw Earth Exfoliation & Cucumber Foot Treatment

5)       Peppermint and Eucalyptus Foot Masque Treatment

 

My feet are aching for one of the foot treatments just thinking about them. All that shopping on Black Friday wore my feet out.

 

So the great debate when buying a gift certificate from The Spa for someone on your holiday list is, "To keep the add-on treatment for yourself or pass it along with the gift?" Maybe you need to buy two gift certificates… one to give and one to keep so you each get an add-on treatment. Now that sounds like a plan…

 

To purchase gift certificates or schedule an appointment call 407-898-7737.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The Spa has a great deal for holiday shoppers from now until the end of the year.   Right now when you buy a gift card with a value of $50.00 or more, you will receive a free gift certificate for an add-on service. This gift certificate is a $12.00 value and can be given as a gift or kept for yourself! These Spa gift certificates are the perfect gift for everyone from your spouse to your clients or staff. Who wouldn't appreciate a little pampering after all the holiday madness?

 

The add-on services are exceptional. What better way to end a perfect massage than to reward yourself with a Peppermint and Eucalyptus Foot Masque, a Soothing Hand or Foot Paraffin, a Revitalizing Eye Rescue, a Rejuvenating Lip Renewal or a Raw Earth Exfoliation and Cucumber Foot treatment? Just stop by The Spa and purchase some in-house gift cards to receive these fabulous free add-ons.

 

I know a gift card sometimes doesn't feel like enough of a gift, so that's why The Spa has cute, complimentary gift boxes, which you can fill with little travel-size Dermologica products to amp-up the gift presentation.

 

As always, you can also purchase gift certificates instantly on The Spa's web site and send them to your friends and loved ones via email. You can even choose your gift certificates' design!

As November rolled in, I couldn't wait to attend my second Happy Hour at The Spa. I had been talking it up to all of my friends, and I couldn't wait to go. Happy Hour again fell on the night my family had tickets to the Bob Carr (The Color Purple), so we decided to make a night of it. My parents joined my sister and me to enjoy Happy Hour at The Spa.

 

The November Happy Hour had an Asian-inspired theme complete with Hookah, Geisha- inspired facials, four-limb paraffin wax treatments, shiatsu massages and NAKED SUSHI! Since I don't eat sushi (I know, I am weird), I wasn't sure what to expect from naked sushi, but my sushi-loving family was all about it.

 

Upon arriving at The Spa, we were greeted right away by the naked sushi. Right in the front entry room lay the evening's male model decked out in sushi! He was adorned with leaves covered in sushi and greeted and chatted with guests who stood ready with their chopsticks, deciding which piece to try first. According to my family, the sushi was just as tasty as it looked.

 

Since we were dressed to go to the theater, my whole family opted for shiatsu massages.  Everyone agreed that they felt much more relaxed and ready to enjoy the evening after their treatment. My appointment was with Arturo and, as usual, my only complaint was that the massage had to come to an end.

 

One of the neat features about The Spa's Happy Hour is that all of the treatments are done with doors open so friends can chat while receiving their treatments. It creates a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. While my parents were receiving their massages, I joked with the therapist about the "knots" in my father's back. He really needed a massage, but convincing him to take the time to get a massage is next to impossible. Later that evening, at the theater, my father confided in me that he wished he could go back for another massage. (I scored some major daughter points!)

 

After about an hour of lying on display, it was time for the sushi model to take a break, and a female model relieved him of his post. I was amazed at her composure as she got into position. More than a few heads turned as this beautiful woman became the center of the party, gingerly covered in leaves of sushi. Once she was in place, people gathered with chopsticks in hand.

 

In addition to the centerpiece of sushi, Cuisiniers provided a display of other tasty appetizers, which I quite enjoyed! And to wash down my skewers of chicken, Flavored Sake, Kirin Ichiban Beer and Peach Bellinis flowed freely. My personal favorite was the Peach Bellini, served by a former high school pal, Kevin.

 

I am not sure my mom knew quite what to expect when I invited her to Happy Hour, but she is always ready to try new things so she gladly joined us. I am happy to report that she had a wonderful time and couldn't stop talking about how well done the whole event was all the way to the Bob Carr. So the evening was a huge hit with my family and from the looks of the other guests, everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves as well.

 

Unfortunately, The Spa takes December off from Happy Hours, so there will not be a Happy Hour next month. But I can't wait for The Spa's January Chocolate Happy Hour! Chocolate Ears, Cocoa Massage, Cocoa Rhassoul Chocolate Spa Facial Masque or Sweet Feet… hmmm which treatment will I choose?   Be sure to RSVP for this event early, Andy tells me this Happy Hour sells out early every year! See ya there!  

Once a month, the serene tranquility of The Spa is replaced with a hip happy hour. This October, I was invited to experience this monthly event, and I can't wait until the next one!

 

Each happy hour has a special feature, and in October the feature was an Oxygen Bar. In addition to enjoying the oxygen bar, happy hour with a Watermelon Martini and music by DJ Mixwell, each attendee receives one of the evening's mini spa sessions. My sister joined me for happy hour, and we chose the Space Age Pedicure -With Hand Paraffin Treatment. The evening'sother options included a Deep Breath Mini Massage, Burned O2 or Oxygen-Infused Facial.

 

Upon our arrival at The Spa, I noticed that the reception desk had been moved outside to greet guests. After checking in and confirming our pedicure, we were given a tour of The Spa and an overview of the regularly offered services. After our tour, my sister and I settled in for our pedicures. Ahhhhhh.

 

In oversized, plush massage chairs, we relaxed and sipped watermelon martinis while our feet were pampered. As an extra treat, a paraffin wax treatment was applied to each of our hands. While I felt like a boxer with my hands all wrapped up, I thoroughly enjoyed the warm, moisturizing treatment that left my hands silky smooth. I only wish I had paid more attention to the name of the OPI polish color I chose because I have decided that it is my new favorite!

 

While waiting for our polish to dry, my sister and I snacked on the delicious appetizers provided by Cuisiners Catered Cuisine and Events, sipped martinis and chatted with The Spa owner, Andy, while bopping to the music. By now The Spa was filling up and everywhere we looked happy hour attendees seemed to be enjoying their treatments and relaxing with friends.

 

I don't know what either of us expected to be at the oxygen bar, but I don't think we envisioned the hospital-grade oxygen tubes we would place in our noses! (I fear the photo Andy had taken of us with our oxygen tubes!) It wasn't the most attractive look, but I was determined to try all 12 aromas: peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon, gardenia, orange, lemongrass, cherry, wintergreen, almond and vanilla. Lemongrass was my favorite, followed closely by cinnamon!

 

While we sipped free-flowing martinis and breathed in pure oxygen, we could feel the stress of the week melting away – whether it was the martini(s), the aroma therapy or just the general atmosphere, I am not sure. But I am sure that I was so pumped about my first happy hour experience that I am bringing a whole posse with me to next month's event! I talked it up so much to friends and family that everyone wants to check out The Spa's happy hour, and November's happy hour promises to be just as exciting with Naked Sushi and Asian-inspired spa treatments.

I'm very picky when it comes to getting a pedicure treatment at the day spa because there are only a handful in Orlando that offer a truly relaxing experience and use only high quality products. The Spa wins   on both accounts with its Signature Pedicure, a 60-minute treatment that leaves your feet and lower legs relaxed, rejuvenated and looking beautiful.

Renee is one of The Spa's licensed nail care specialists, and her friendly demeanor and positive attitude made for a great spa experience. As she filled up a large foot bath with hot water and salts, I had the chance to relax in the oversized pedicure chairs lined set up on a platform near the manicure stations. The soothing music and relaxing environment helped me wind down after a busy afternoon of errands.

 

The Signature Pedicure service began with the application of Gehwol® lotion and a few minutes of soaking in the foot bath. After my feet were dried, Renee shaped and buffed my nails and pushed back my cuticles. My feet were soaked again for a few minutes, and this was followed by an invigorating callus treatment that helped buff away dead skin cells and left my feet super smooth.

 

A super-soothing foot mask was applied after the callus treatment, and hot towels were wrapped around my feet to intensify the mask. The peppermint-based mask helped to soothe and relax my achy feet, and the mask was removed with the hot towels after about five minutes. After the mask and hot towel treatment, Renee performed a relaxing foot and lower leg massage. This was followed by a warm paraffin mask that was left on for about five to six minutes to rehydrate and nourish the skin.

The final step was the application of nail polish.   I had the opportunity to settle in for another 15 to 20 minutes in The Spa's relaxation area as my toes dried off, and enjoyed the relaxing ambiance.

 

The Signature Pedicure at The Spa is a much-needed monthly treatment for your feet, and you can take advantage of a pre-booking special offer for a discount on your next service. The Spa offers free polish changes and also serves complimentary wine, juice and other beverages throughout your service.

More information about The Spa's nail services can be found here http://thespallc.com/nail-services.php .

After a long and hot Orlando summer, I was well overdue for a body treatment that would buff away dead skin cells and give my skin a much-needed boost. I settled in for the Purifying Back Treatment with Angela at The Spa to get a deep cleanse, exfoliation and massage of my back and shoulders.   This treatment is unlike any other body treatment because it's designed to target only your upper and lower back. It's a great treatment for clearing up blackheads and restoring the skin after the heat of the summer.

The treatment begins with a deep-cleansing scrub that polishes away dead skin cells and doubles as a light massage treatment. This process softens the skin an opens up the pores for extractions. Angela explained what the key ingredients in this particular scrub were, and pointed out that the scrub was only available for use in spa treatments.   It turns out it's also one of her favorite Dermalogica products.

 

The Spa uses several popular Dermalogica products for its body treatments, and I can attest to the fact that the quality and effects of the Dermalogica line are unmatched. Dermalogica uses only all-natural ingredients in all of its products, and has developed special lines to target acne-prone skin, aging skin and to treat other skin imbalances. For the Purifying Back Treatment, a combination of scrubs, masques and soothing toners were used to cleanse and rebalance the skin.

 

After the scrub was removed with hot towels, Angela performed a series of extractions to get rid of a few trace blackheads. She used gentle pressure and made it a relatively comfortable experience. The extractions were followed by a masque that further drew out impurities and helped to soothe the skin. Once the masque was removed with warm towels, I was treated to a relaxing massage that helped de-stress my back, shoulder and neck muscles.

 

This 60-minute treatment is an excellent choice for restoring dry and imbalanced skin each season. It left my back clean, polished and smooth, and the entire experience at The Spa was a much-needed retreat from a stressful work week. The Spa also offers a lineup of soothing and hydrating treatments such as the Body Therapy Power Recovery Pack, an Exfoliating Body Scrub and the Enzymatic Sea Mud Body Treatment (next on my spa wishlist!).

Learn more about The Spa's body treatments here http://thespallc.com/spa-body-treatments.php .

It had been far too long since my last massage. As a mom, I tend to put everyone else in my family above myself – insisting that my husband get massages for his back pain, but ignoring my own advice for headaches… After battling a headache for weeks, I finally called my friends at The Spa and made an appointment.

 

My neck and shoulder muscles were like rocks, so I requested a Deep Tissue Massage. I needed a lot of work! My massage was scheduled with Arturo who, in addition to being a massage therapist, is also The Spa's Chinese Therapist. Before my massage began, we talked about Tui Na, a type of Chinese therapy offered at The Spa that I was not previously familiar with. Arturo explained that he tends to work a little Tui Na into all of his massages as that is his specialty and background, and I was excited to get the extra benefit of this different style of massage.

 

I think when most people think about getting a massage they probably envision a Swedish massage, characterized by long, flowing strokes. This is the classic massage, but there are many more types of massage. Wikipedia lists more than 30 types of massages including Aromatherapy Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Hot River Stone Massage, Prenatal Massage, Tui Na, Thai Massage, Fire Cupping and more – all of which are offered at The Spa. I have decided that my new goal is to try them all! (I know… it's a goal I will have to suffer through! HA!)

 

The Deep Tissue Massage I received from Arturo was more than just relaxing, although it was certainly relaxing, too; it provided relief deep within my muscles to tightness I had been feeling for weeks. At the end of my massage, Arturo and I discussed my tight shoulders and he suggested some easy stretches I can do at home. We also discussed other options for treatment such as Fire Cupping in combination with Acupuncture, which he believes can provide even more relief.  

 

When it was over, I felt loose all over and ready to start my day refreshed. It was a great way to start the day. If you haven't experienced a massage in a while, I recommend making an appointment at The Spa with Arturo. You can learn more about the types of massages offered at The Spa on this site, but if you still aren't sure what you want I am sure Arturo can help you figure out what style is right for you.

This April, get your stimulus at The Spa. We're having a Spa Stimulus Happy Hour, and you're invited! Plus, if you book this Happy Hour, we'll give you your stimulus package, a $35 gift certificate. See full details on our web site.

Hello all, This March, The Spa is having a St. Patrick's Happy Hour. Our services are all green, which means we'll be great on the environment! From our Eco-Friendly Facials to our Green-Apple Martinis, we're all about being as green as a four-leaf clover. We are going to be serving all our regular drinks as well, so don't feel left out if you were looking forward to something else! We hope to see you all there.