I'm in love with a Doctor!

I'm in love with a Doctor's product!!!

Dr. Alkaitis is highly-regarded research scientist with a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. He generously send me a sample set of some of his line. My goodie bag included his Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser, Herbal Toner, Organic Soothing Gel, Organic Nourishing Treatment Oil, Day Cream, Night Cream, Eye cream & 4 Masks The Organic Flower, The Organic Universal, Organic Enzyme Exfoliating, & Cellular Regenerating Masks. 

It was a treat to sample Dr. Alkaitis's product. I will be doing business with him personally I love love love the lush smooth feel of his line. My face has never had a glow this brightly, and in the winter none the less! Since using his full line my friends and family can tell a difference in my skin tone and clarity. As a girl with sensitive skin I was worried about leaving my trusted product and trying a whole line of different materials.

You can find all of his products here http://www.alkaitis.com/


Purifying Facial Cleanser-
I used my original face wash as security blanket ... but no more! I learned that I was originally using a harsh cleanser when I first washed with Dr. Alkaitis's product. The wash is a smooth foaming gel. Its scent is a mix of jojoba and rosemary. It's calming and gently rids your skin of oils built from the day. I was primarily impressed with the scents of all of his products. Aromatherapy is an age old luxury, this group of products especially made a routine activity an escape from my day. For the past week I have come away from my sink relaxed and feeling that my skin was truly nourished. 

Herbal Toner-
This is my second favorite product in his the group that he sent to sample. I don't normally use a toner and I was worried what a major change in product would do to my face. Dr. Alkatits's product is made from only the finest essential oils. If i listed the ingredients in each product we would be here for days. The toner is not harsh in the least. The reason I stopped using toner is because I had a terrible burning sensation after I used any kind. However my problems with toners stopped here. 

Organic Soothing Gel-
I am in LOVE! I am so excited to share what amazing results I found with this product! This gel gets my absolute seal of approval!!! The gel deserves a rave review! The first thing I loved about using the gel is its calming aroma. Your pallet opens to a cool botanical sent. As soon as it touches your skin the aloe-vera calms your skin from all of the scrubbing, washing, and rinsing. I have red undertones in my skin and do every thing I can to try and sooth my face before I put on make up so that I am not using to much to reduce the redness. Right after applying the gel most of my redness IS GONE!!! I was shocked what Dr. Alkaitis's gel did for my face! I will be ordering a bottle immediately after writing this post! 

Nourishing Treatment Oil-
Facial oils are so good for the skin! And the great thing about oils is that they are versatile. Dr. Alkaitis's oil can be used on the face, scalp, and body! There are a lot of oils out there but not many that are healthy for all three surfaces. Oils make a girls best friend in harsh weather climates and cold winters! 


Day and Night Cream-
Both of Dr. Alkaitis's creams are like silk. They have a pearly sheen and slide against your skin like butter. Each with a different  soothing sent and purpose and both lush and luxurious. They did not clog my pores or cake over night. I was thrilled with the ease and comfort they gave my skin. 

Eye Cream-
It is a difficult task to find an eye cream that is just right for your age and specific issue. My trouble with eye cream is my sensitive eyes tend to burn with the slightest hint of perfume or acidic substance in a product. Dr. Alkaitis's eye cream has a base of aloe=vera which is soothing and not irritating in the least. It is the same consistency as his day and night creams. 

I was so pleased that my skin was not bothered at all by any of his products. My skin feels nourished and full of moisture. I have a healthy glow about my face. With the stress of classes and late nights up cramming for exams my skin was drained and in desperate need of a savior that I found in Dr. Alkaitis's products. I recommend his line for every one who is looking to totally change the appearance of their skin. The line is pricy as a whole but each product ranges from $60 to $80 dollars. I will definitely be spending some on this line! 


His products are and I quote

"Only living ingredients are used – naturally all chemicals, synthetics, "plant derived products", trans-fats and GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) are rigorously excluded. 100% certified Organic Aloe Vera Gel is the Base of our products. (Not water).
We only use Certified Organic Alcohol, the drinkable kind, but better; your Gin’s and Vodka’s are not certified. We also clean our worktables with the same certified organic alcohol. Everything is made in-house, including our extracts. To maintain the integrity of the plants, our extracts are made using whole plants at room temperature, thereby maximizing their therapeutic potential. For instance the soap base for our Herbal Facial Cleanser has to mature for more than six months. Our products are never older than two weeks when we ship them. Our products are never tested on animals. There is no need for that simply because people have been using the same ingredients for thousands of years. Working in this tradition has the advantage that dangerous substances and their effects on our bodies are known, unlike the effects and damage that can be caused by synthetic products that have been in use for no more than 100 years. All our products are gender neutral. They are especially beneficial for people with dry, mature problem skin and for those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities."

Happy Birthday Daddy

My father takes such good care of our family and is always willing to give. He has guided me though out my life and is a true leader in the community and never has a harsh word to say. We celebrated his 57th birthday tonight. I am a blessed girl and I know because my father works hard and sets a responsible and successful example for me that I have become who I am today. I owe a major amount of my accomplishments to my parents.  I have so much respect for those who work hard and share love with others.

During winter break from university I am home playing with all of these beauty products with my mother and having a blast! My mother takes good care of my fathers skin and puts her expensive products on him when he is looking dry or  sunburnt. Yet our bathroom counters are full of beautiful bottles filled with organic and active ingredients and my fathers was empty. I thought it odd because he and I have often talked of the importance of skin health, because I have the skin of a porcelain doll and it is easily damaged by the sun. He has always encouraged a clean and presentable look when making appearances and networking for my future.

My father is an avid runner and when he is not working he is outside doing something adventurous. While living in the dry west Texas climate his skin takes a beating from free radicals in the air. He has aged well and is a very distinguished man. I was not looking to correct any wrinkles, only to moisturize and give him a healthy glow. I chose a product line featured in spas and also available in department stores.

Jack Black Mens Care line has a wide range of products including hair, skin, body and a shaving specific treatments. This line is of course ... you guessed it! Organic! It features eucalyptus, jojoba, shea butter and active peptides. Their slogan is "Real Ingredients Real Easy Real Results." and being aware that most men don't care to spend a large amount of time in front of the mirror this company sounded like the perfect mens line to gift to my father.

I put together a basket with the whole facial line of Jack Black products and some really fluffy wash cloths and hand towels and some personal treats. Daddy was thrilled! He and I stood at his sink and read through each products ingredients and usage directions. After he washed the exfoliated and moisturized his exact words were "I feel so refreshed and pampered." Looks like I did my job as Porcelain Girl Pampered for my daddy's birthday!

Signing Off,
XX Porcelain Girl

Porcelain Pucker

Whether there is a handsome guy standing under the mistletoe waiting for your kiss this season or you are kissing your visiting loved ones on the cheek, soft lips are a major objective in the winter. One sign your skin is healthy is whether you have supple lips or a cracked dry pucker.

If you asked what some of my favorite things are .... guaranteed to be on the top of the list is lipstick. I think I might have every shade of pink. Because since I was 5 I have wanted to be Barbie... or her more attractive counterpart! But lipstick can be drying and leaves your lips either tented for days or flakey and in need of exfoliation.  To my knowledge most young women don't think to exfoliate their lips when treating their face to a good scrub. Also because most facial scrubs (non organic) contain harsh chemicals that can cause your lips to peel or chap.

Most of the high end product lines carry a lip specific treatment line. It can contain products such as lip softener, lip exfoliant, chemical lip exfoliant, lip balms and butters. I have had several lip treatments in spas alongside facials that left my lips feeling decadent! But short of having a therapist on call to treat you to a silky scrub when your kiss in crumbly, an at home bottled remedy is the best option. You can make a simple sugar scrub with honey and sugar in the kitchen. Although your scrub will be missing some of those vital oils and minerals that are not so easy to get our hands on as a member of the general public.

I always have a counter full of products and a purse full of lip balm and butter. I go through chap stick like its candy... or loose it. There should be an award given out to the girls that can make it to the bottom of a tube of chap stick without loosing it! But I digress, As a glorified girly girl I tend to choose my lip treatments by smell, because what guy is going to want to kiss wheatgrass lips? I have found some amazing products that I cant live without and don't think that you should either!

Korres Lip Butter                                                                                    Clinique Repairwear

      The Lip Scrub (by Sarah Happ)

Mixing it up Porcelain Girl style

Simple Homemade Face Masks 

I am home for the break and have some time on my hands between Christmas parties with my parents and birthday celebrations. Both of my parents birthdays' fall in the month of December. If there is a better way to celebrate a birthday with your mother then to blend your own organic beauty products ... I don't know what that might be. As for my father, he must think its odd that the house smells like baking when there is never any sweets out on the counters. And I'm sure when finds so many jars in the refrigerator that are edible but may not taste the way they smell he's puzzled. However we know that in those little bottles we keep chilled in the top shelf do amazing things for our skin!

I always want to make sure that I am not sharing something I haven't tried my self. I don't tend to give my seal of approval easily... ask my friends and the men they date! So I have tried each of these recipes (some for fun, some for results) and now I am going to share them with you!

You should only put a mask on once a week. Some of the fruits & veggies can be very acidic and will leave skin raw if done too often. 





 Peach Bourbon Mask

 2 pitted peaches (blended until smooth)
 1 shot glass full of bourbon (well two if you drank the first one)
 Keep Refrigerated



Banana Mask (for acne/sensitive skin)

1 whole banana (preferably ripe)
2 tsp of honey (preferably local)
3-4 drops of lemon (or orange) juice
Keep Refrigerated



Avocado Mask (for dry skin)

1 whole avocado
1/2 a cucumber
2 Tsp honey (preferably local)
2 Tsp powdered milk
Keep Refrigerated






Yogurt Mask (for dry skin)

1 cup natural organic yogurt (goats milk yogurt works wonder)
1/2 cup organic oats
Keep Refrigerated




Sweet Strawberry Brown Sugar Scrub (acne prone skin)

6 fresh strawberries
1 tablespoon of organic honey
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Keep Refrigerated & Use Weekly



All of the ingredients must be blended well and work best if used immediately. Every mask should be applied to fresh clean skin and should only be left on for 15 to 20 minutes. Making homemade organic masks is a great group activity with its own party favor built in! I had a blast blending and testing in the kitchen! I hope you enjoy each of these as I did. Remember to enjoy life with others and share your love organically.

Signing Off,
XX Porcelain Girl

Homemade HowTo

 Porcelain Girl Pampered's Citrus Scrub 

I made my first attempt at a home made organic body scrub yesterday. I chose a citrus blend because in the winter months our bodies see an excessive amount of unwanted harsh outdoor elements. While Lemon is known for its purifying properties its acidity level is weak enough to leave skin soft and smooth without over drying. I purchased all of my ingredients in the backing isle at the market (grocery store) so most of you may have them lying around the house. Bakers have the best materials stocked away in their pantries without knowing it!

It took me just about 30 minutes to gather my ingredients and blend everything together. I started with a small glass bowl to zest the lemons, but I did all of my other mixing in a large metal bowl with the expectation that I would make a major mess. (I was correct) I got sugar and zest everywhere! However that might have been the best part because the house smelled amazing! After I finished zesting the lemons I poured my sugar in the bowl with my coconut Oil. I made the mistake of not heating the coconut oil before I mixed because I was very hard to blend with the sugar and Grape Seed Oil. While I worked with the oil and sugar I steeped a double bagged glass of Green tea. I always want to drink tea as soon as I put the bag in but I know it gets better as it steeps. The kitchen smelled like a summer spa. I will certainly be playing the scientist in my kitchen more often!

Here are the Ingredients for
Porcelain Girl Pampered's Citrus Scrub.

2 1/2 cups White Sugar
1/2 cup Coconut Oil
1.2 cup of Grape Seed Oil
4 table spoons of Steeped Organic Green Tea
4 Lemon's Zest (makes about 2 cups of zest)
3 - 4 drops of orange essential Oil

I loved getting my hands dirty (not literally) in my mothers kitchen. My small apartment at school does not allow for much mixing room. Any one can do this, and as for me I have found my christmas gifts for my friends and close family members! Making my own bath products is way too fun not to share. Although I am not an expert and will be leaving most of my skin care to the professionals. 

Signing Off,

XX Porcelain Girl 

Texas Big Healthy Hair

Texas, Texas, Texas, My great state is home of full-size hair and home grown goods. While there are other beaches to brag about, a moon lit bonfire in the Corpus Christi sand is always a memorable night. Spring break 2012 I chose to spend with my family instead of with crazy friends boozing away. We found a hotel across the street from the beach and walked from small boutique to ice cream shops talking about our studies and what our parents have been up to at home with an empty nest.  We rented some surf boards and tried to surf the nonexistent waves and ended up laughing lying on the flat choppy water. My mother and I left the beach to find a spa while the boys fished on the bay. We came across Anthony's Aveda Concept Salon & Day Spa. We got massages hair treatments. While Anthony Aveda is not known for his Spa, he has several celebrity clients for hair care. Because of the lack of creativity in his spa menu, my mother and I decided to see what his hair care was all about. He has a special line of product he developed that does wonderful work on damaged hair. His prices are extremely reasonable! And his work is wonderful. I loved my style and it grew out beautifully. His Aveda Damage Remedy Renewal Treatments are magic! “This intensive professional treatment offers a holistic approach to repair, strengthen and restore damaged hair while bringing perfect balance to your scalp. Organically-grown quinoa protein and tamanu oil, an intensive moisturizer, are used in this botanically active treatment.” And of course I couldn’t say no to an organic treatment. It lasted about thirty minutes with two rinses and a low level blow dry. I recommend a daily usage of argon oil. It’s a simple and inexpensive natural way to keep your hair well fed and shiny. Healthy hair is rich with nutrients from what we eat and the products we put in daily. Organics are defiantly not just for your skin. Hair is a living part of your body and deserves to the best care.  And what else are we going to twirl in our fingers or flip when we are flirting with the boys!

Signing off,

XX Porcelain Girl

 

Gushing About Green Tea

Lately I have found myself fixed on Green Tea products. Everything from Teas to Masks and Exfoliates line my shelves. The wonderful things about picking an organic herbal substance to be fixated on are the extensive health benefits. It's difficult not to gush about green tea. While there is more than a decade's worth of research about green tea's health benefits, particularly its potential to fight heart disease has been more than intriguing. Some of the studies about green tea's role in lowering cholesterol, burning fat, preventing diabetes and stroke, and staving off dementia are over looked, BUT not by this girl. When I heard of its body balancing and weight control I had to have it all!  My first venture into the botanical world of Green Tea was a weekly mud mask. I am pleased to say it softens and purifies skin!  Because clay is one of the oldest and frequently available natural materials on earth its ability to heal was so obviously meant to use for beauty! Green Tea has the exceptional ability to draw impacted impurities to the surface, and to deeply cleanse and purify pores. The second approach I took to green tea was a body scrub. My favorite weekly ritual, especially in the winter! This organic botanical based scrub has a calming aroma and awakening property. When you step away from your shower not only will you feel soft and supple but like the moisture is permanent. The specific scrub I used contains coffee that stimulates skin cells to tone and reduce the signs of aging, while the sugar cane polishes skin with natural alpha hydroxy acid. The sign of a great scrub is its list of pure ingredients. This product includes Organic Raw Sugar Cane (Saccharun Officinarum), Coffee (Coffea Arabica), Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii) Fruit, Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Leaf, Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius) Oil, Soybean (Glycine Soja) Oil, Silica (Silicon Dioxide), Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate). The benefits of organics are endless. Instead of drinking green tea, some people apply green tea bags to their skin to soothe sunburn and prevent skin cancer due to sun exposure. Green tea bags are also used to decrease puffiness under the eyes, as a compress for tired eyes or headache, and to stop gums from bleeding after a tooth is pulled. So when you pass a box of green tea on the shelves at the market ... don’t just think “yum that would go great with sushi!” but “Yum that’s good for my body!”

American Royalty’s Approach to Pampering

Bucket lists; I had never given thought to a list of things I wanted to do before I die because frankly I have not reached a point in life that I consider myself not actively living every day to its fullest potential. My mother however has made a list of her childhood desired designations and we, as a family, are bringing some of those dreams to fruition. One of the places on my mother’s list was the Biltmore Estate one of the early estates of the Vanderbilt family during the rail road era. This beautiful 8,000 acre property is home of the most Brilliant Christmas tree lighting in North America. Explore George Vanderbilt’s extraordinary home, beautiful gardens, and Antler Hill Village & Winery, nestled in the mountains of Asheville, NC. A fifty foot live Christmas tree is cut into pieces and then reassembled in the great hall of the manner every year. My family spent thanksgiving 2011 viewing the same lush landscape that presidents and great world leaders frequent. These luxury accommodations make a young girl feel like 18’Th century royalty; and what are Vanderbilt if not American royalty. When you wake you find Lush grounds filled with adventure. Bow hunting classes and Fly fishing and Special Christmas tours of the Grounds. As a family we rode horse back to the top of one of the larger hills on property and had lunch waiting at the top with a beautiful view of the estate. I felt stately, almost as if some of the elegance and sophistication taught me something and will stay with me ceaselessly.

After touring the main house of a woman who was waited on, hand and foot, I was in the mood for some pampering myself. While the spa is not located within the estate its self, It is in the luxury Inn located on the estate grounds. On the second floor above the library with a single glass pained door as an entrance, you would miss it if you were not looking for it, I found the spa. While not as spacious as the gorgeous Biltmore Estate, It was quaint. Because most do not frequent the Biltmore to be pampered but rather to see how the other half lived in the 1800’s, I did not expect to be dazzled because I was already so smitten with the whole experience. There was a very small waiting area, more like a broom closet really with hard wooden benches covered with silk pillows. When I entered I was not awed. The therapist quickly came for me and led me through a narrow hallway to a room with no view, or shower, or tub. I was not going to complain because, it looked to me like the facility was lacking so there was no other option for a soothing ambiance. I will say the saving grace of the spa was its use of fine product. When being pampered all I can really ask for is the thoughtful choice of botanicals when considering my skin. The hotel staff however rose above the job obligation to show us a fantastic time while we visited. I have nothing but high reviews for the lavishness that is the Biltmore Inn.

Signing off,

XX Porcelain Girl

Serenity at Sea

My family loves to travel, whether it be individual or with each other. My mother, father and I took a cruise while my brother took the opportunity to ski with friends about 2 years ago. Before the Royal Caribbean Cruise I turned 21 and was so thrilled to relax on a boat with a lemon martini (my favorite) and a magazine in the shade. We made dinner plans and shore excursion plans before we started our trip. I was especially excited to swim with the dolphins for the first time in Mexico and zip line through the jungle of Jamaica! My parents while they work tirelessly always seem to have an exuberant amount of energy to play! They are really thrill seekers at heart. My father chiefly has always motivated me to live as much as I work through his own endeavors. While swimming with live sea creatures and swinging through the trees were some of the most memorable moments I have with my parents thus far, the activities left us hot and sticky with sweat, in dire need of a body nourishing refreshment.  Within the next few days while the ship traveled through the middle of the sea, my parents indulged my wish to have a treatment at the spa. I was weary of the size of the facility because on a cruise ship everything tends to deficient of a lot of room to spread out and relax with exception of the deck. None the less they had a treatment I was excited to try. I had never used a dry exfoliate before. The treatment started with a soft dry brush over my skin, followed by lush organic aromatic oils that seeped quickly into my skin with the amount of salt water that I had been playing in for the last few days it was a welcome change in moisture. The next step to this treatment was the dry scrub. The granules were finer than the normal sugar scrubs I was used to being pampered with. My skin took to it brilliantly. The polish also followed by a steam shower and a cooling cucumber body cream. I was a glowing sight to see after the dry scrub treatment. I loved the look so much of course I bought a jar for myself. I still have the rather large mason jar it is about a third full and I use it for special occasions when I want to glow. Adventure can and should always be rewarded with pampering. My philosophy is to forever keep my mind and body pristine and polished so I can remain the porcelain girl!

Signing Off,

XX Porcelain Girl

Love for Lavender

I turned 20 years old and my birthday fell on the same weekend that everyone was celebrating Easter. So being the privileged girl that I am and with the loving family that I have my brother and I flew to Dallas Tx to meet my family. My mother of course booked a beautiful brunch in a gorgeous hotel in downtown. We broke bread as a family and because this is a rarity for two college students and their parents we wanted to make merry of the entire weekend. Taking our celebrations to the roof of the hotel we where we were staying “The Jewel Dallas Texas” we exchanged Easter Baskets and my parents surprised me with an in room massage. The Jewel is not equipped with a fully accommodating spa but an on call therapist. While my parents and brother spent time by the pool I went to the room to find a massage table already set up and a plush robe and some of my comfortable cloths set up on the bed (by my mother no doubt) taking the extra time to concern yourself with details makes of an amazing treatment. As pampered girls we all want to be attended to with the utmost detail. I have my mother to thank for teaching me my stellar attention to specific facet.  While I love citrus because of its increasable aroma and skin toning principles, this was the first time I had been scrubbed with Lavender. I got undressed and laid down to find a soothing bouquet calming my stressed mind and body. The therapist was attentive and careful and it was no wonder she was doing house calls, a well trained masseuse is hard to come by.  She left me with the mostly full bottle of scrub in the spirit of cleanliness and lack of contamination.  From that point on if my weeks are epically stressful I still find myself soaking in a lavender bath or using a lavender lotion before bed.

Signing off,

XX Porcelain Girl

Vegas BabySoft

I turned twenty one and my mother and her best friend from college and my best colligate friend and I took off on a jet and landed in sin city! This trip is one of my favorite girl trips I’ve taken so far! If your girl friends are ever lost for places to find some relaxation don’t discount this wild city. The jet landed and we did not stop for 5 days! Parties, Concerts, Comedy clubs, and Mimosa Breakfasts to recharge and start all over again! One of the most memorable things about the trip was the beautiful Palms Spa. With our stay in one of suits in Palms Place we gained daily access to the spa and gym. This is a beautiful indoor refuge! This facility has something I had never seen before. The Palms spa has a mosaic-rich co-ed steam bath will cleanse you with sensual steam as has been the Turkish custom for many centuries. This beautiful catacomb of steam is exactly the place you want to be when you are drained from nights of partying. The staff at the Drift Spa at the Palms is quick to get you anything if asked. The rich treatments at this spa match its rich texture in design and well deserved attention to detail by the staff. As you may be able to see by now but I am a big fan of Treatments in particular, Scrubs! I had the

PURE BLISS

This exfoliation treatment whisks away dry, dead skin cells to allow new, healthy skin to emerge. Spend a few minutes in a warm shower to rinse away any traces of purifying polish and prepare for a finishing application of hydrating cream that will leave the skin refined and restored.

50 minutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This amazing treatment gave me just the energy I needed for one last memorable night in Vegas with some of my favorite people. Above anything else good service is key to an enjoyable treatment in a spa. Because I am always looking to mix adventure with my relaxation Vegas makes a perfect destination for a vacation.

http://www.palms.com/pools/las-vegas-hammam-drift-spa/?gclid=CPup-qPM8LMCFS-RPAodDDcA6g

More In Texas

My home state may be flat and hot but it is not lacking in beautiful and luxurious spas! My mother and I were in Dallas TX shopping and enjoying a girl’s weekend. My mother has this uncanny ability to find the best hidden treasures when booking vacations. We just happened to be at a newly renovated hotel called the Stoneleigh. I had never heard of the hotel but apparently it is a favorite spot for the Dallas Cowboys and their better halves to relax. And that is just what we accomplished at this beautiful quante hotel. Not only is the hotel staff sweet and willing to offer a hand when asked she spa is handsome and quit. A quiet spa is a feature that makes the event worthwhile. As you sink into their two giant hot tubs (clothing optional) there are an assortment of salts to massage into your skin and then let slip away into the perfect temperature in bubbles that surround you. This is all before you shower and head into the quiet room to await your treatment. I have been back to the Stoneleigh several times because I enjoy all their treatments. The therapist are well trained and always kind and quiet.

http://www.luxestoneleigh.com/

Daddy and I at Gaylord Relâche Spa

My father travels for medical conferences and School board conferences at least twice a year for further education. He is a dedicated man who works hard and plays hard. I am blessed to have parents that take the time to focus on family. I am a native Texan and I’ve spent several summer weekends and school breaks in various luxury hotels in Dallas and Austin Texas. Some of the best spa experiences I have become a veteran to were in Texas. I was lucky enough to accompany my father to a conference in Grapevine TX. While he was in meetings all day I spent some time in their luxurious spa. I make it a habit to try a spas signature treatment because each spa mixes produces differently and each therapist has a unique way of pampering. The Gaylord Relâche Spa has an amazing citrus scrub treatment that left me so silky smooth! The Treatments called the Tropical Island Glow. I loved the product so much I took home a jar for self treatments in the shower! But the best part of that trip was seeing the Bush family and recommending the spa to Jenna Bush on vacation with her father just like me.

http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-texan/grapevine-dallas-day-spa/index.html#

 

New York New York

My second memory of being pampered until I was swept into serenity was in New York New York in 2007. I was a senior in high school. It was only supposed to be a choir field trip, but it turned into much more. The first day we got to the big apple, we sang in honor of those who lost their lives in the 2001 taliban attack on the Twin Towers in the small church that sat opposite of ground zero. In the latter part of the week after touring our voices, we got the opportunity to explore the city. My sweet mother who tagged along as a chaperone (but mostly to spend time with me in the city) told me she had a surprise for me. We went promenading down the fashion district and stopped at a large grey building that looked like nothing more than an old factory turned into office space. We walked through hell’s kitchen to get to this hidden jewel. But for the life of me I cannot remember the name of this spa. Once inside the thick metal door we climbed a concrete staircase and after cautiously stepping down a long hallway not knowing if we were in the right space we entered an arch with silk draped in the corners we entered into this hidden oasis.  My mother and I both got sea weed body treatments. And after being pampered we ate lunch on a gorgeous garden patio overlooking the city.  Holding my mother’s hand she smiled at me and told me that privilege is a blessing and comes from hard work and perseverance. I have been working since that day to create a future filled with blessing for myself and others.  

Signing off,

XX Porcelian Girl

Premirere Pamper

My first experience with a fully accommodating spa was my 16^th birthday in 2005. My mother flew me to Florida in mid June. We stayed on Disney Grounds. She took me to each of the different spas on premises, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and A Disney Spa at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. We each got a different treatment at each spa. I was taken back in a plush robe and introduced to my first taste of holistic wellness in massage. We were so impressed by the staff and comfort at Saratoga Springs that we went back for another treatment later in the week. My very first scrub was a citrus, ginger, chamomile blend. I remember my skin being able to breath for the first time. I was hooked. My premiere occurrence became something I would not soon escape, not that anyone ever wants to slip out of the tepid robe and get back into chilly coarse street cloths.

Signing off,

XX Porcelian Girl