Back Away From the Cell Phone!

Once upon a time, in a far away country, there were no cell phones.

Gasp! No cell phones?! How did people survive?

They did pretty well actually. Stress was infrequent, families actually spent time together at dinner rather than text messaging their status to their social network, and the women were able to enjoy those few stolen moments alone without interruption.

We are all guilty of answering our cell phones when we shouldn’t. No matter where we are, or what we are doing, as soon as we hear that ringtone, we dive into our purse for our lifelines…I mean cell phones.

Out for dinner with the family…we answer the phone. Taking a bubble bath..we take our phones with us so we don’t miss a call. Even after a manicure and with our nails still wet, we will search our purses for that cell phone regardless of the damage to our fresh coat of polish.

A friend of mine recently shared a story about what happened during the birth of her grandson. I could hardly believe it when she told me, but unfortunately it is a true story.  Her daughter had endured eighteen hours of labor and was in the delivery stage.  In the middle of a huge push, a cell phone rings.

Everyone in the room, the Doctor, the nurse,  even the father-to- be,  reaches for their cell phone. After a few seconds, a chorus of,  “Not Me” chimed. Her daughter, red faced and annoyed, yells to the assembly, “It was me! Can we get back to work?”

We can laugh about the story now, but at the time it wasn’t funny at all.

I know this is an extreme example of our addiction to our cell phones,  but I am sharing this to make a point.  When you finally schedule those few precious minutes of  “me time”, turn the cell phone off! The world will soldier on without you for a while.

Make those fleeting moments of serenity worthwhile.  Enjoy your massage or manicure without interruption. Take that time to recharge and prepare yourself for the next battle of life.

The Best Massage……

What was the best massage you’ve ever had? Do you remember when, where and who gave it to you? Or do you just remember how you felt afterward? I distinctly remember a massage I had over 25 years ago. I don’t remember the girls name, where she lived or much else about her. What I do remember is it was springtime, she had a tiny apartment in the Highlands, the windows where open and there was a thunderstorm. As I laid down on the table, the sparse furnishings of her living room faded away, and the sound of that thunderstorm took me to a magical place of complete relaxation. The experience was intensely spiritual rather than just a physical manipulation of my muscles.

 

This mornings thunderstorm reminded me of a wonderful place that I strive to take my clients to. When you get a massage next time, I challenge you to let yourself go gently in to the hands of your therapist and let the experience happen to your body, mind and spirit. When you can get out of trying to control the experience by just letting yourself be (instead of saying to your MT, “I really just want you to work on my back today” or “Ouch, that hurts, can you go lighter, please” or talking through the massage about what’s bothering you at work, or even, God forbid, keeping your phone on the table with you, because “My kids might call”, try letting yourself completely relax in to the therapists able hands and see what happens. It just might be the best damn massage you’ve ever experienced!

 

Healing takes place when we allow our body to accept it. Try using your breathing to keep you relaxed when there’s a particularly sore spot (those Lamaze people really have something there!). Then just sink in to the table, let the music, your therapists hands (and maybe a random thunderstorm) lull you to that magical place between half asleep and half awake. I guarantee your experience will be more than you imagined it could be!

Share your experience of the best massage you’ve ever had. Comment here and I’ll send you a 20% off coupon for your next great massage! Thank you for your business!

Denise Willinger

Owner/ Massage Therapist/Esthetician

Serenity The Spa in Anchorage

Bridal Skin Care for Acne Prone Skin

Contributed by Dee Owens

Having acne is hard for anyone but when you are getting married the thought of your skin breaking out can be a terrifying experience. Take a moment to stop and think about your skin color, the problems that lead to acne and what you can do to resolve the issue.

When to start?

When should you start to worry or fix your acne problem? The moment you notice that you have a problem is a good time to start, however for some it’s not possible or you have tried to correct the problem with no real results. When you are faced with these it is time to consult a specialist. Your local Licensed Cosmetologists is a very good source of information and can help you deal with this problem. You don’t need to see a doctor or try hundreds of different products to only still have the problem. One such specialist in skin care is Denise Willinger, professional esthetician and owner of Serenity Spa in Louisville Kentucky.

Denise offers this advice to bride-to-be’s:

“I suggest the bride sees an esthetician for a consultation and a deep cleansing facial at least 3-6 months before the wedding. The Esthetician will suggest a treatment plan and a product regimen specifically for your issues. She will see you every week for the first 6 weeks with a glycolic peel regimen, or every 2 weeks for a Microdermabrasion series. That way she can reassess your product needs over time to assure your skin doesn’t become immune to the ingredients in the products. (Those of you who have used the popular mail order acne product, know just what I mean! It worked for about 2 months, then you started breaking out again, right?) We gradually increase the percentage of active ingredient or the frequency of use, to insure the skin continues to improve. This way, you never experience any down time with skin that is too red or irritated or peeling. Your skin will be beautiful and clear from the engagement party to the honeymoon and beyond!”

If you can’t get to an esthetician, here are a few tips:

Don’t pick it!! At least not right away. First, use a warm compress on it for about 10 minutes. Make sure you hands are clean, and then test it by putting both forefingers side by side (not fingertip to fingertip) and gently pressing upward from the bottom of the blemish. If it’s still red and hard, leave it alone!! Apply a little Benzoyl Peroxide and a tiny bit of a clay mask overnight (my favorites are DDF Benzoyl Peroxide Gel 5% and DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask™ a dynamic duo for banishing blemishes quickly!!) The next morning it will either be ready to extract or it will be gone!”

You can read more about how to care for your skin and body, and find out other amazing advice by visiting Denise Willinger’s Blog.

Dee Owens has published two novels and a variety of articles online. You can learn more about her at http://deeowens.webs.com.

A Busy Woman’s Day of Bliss at Serenity Spa

Contributed by Sheryl Brennan

There is no doubt in my mind… I’d hit the wall. You know the one, where even the cute grins of your children and significant other rub you the wrong way and you just want to crawl into a cave and not emerge for about a week. The one where all you crave is silence from the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day grind you call your life. Yup- I was there in full force.

I am a single mom to three teenage girls (talk about hormonal overdrive), a full time candidate in a fast track MBA program, a business owner in start up mode, and freelance writer. Needless to say, I am VERY busy. Sometimes, there are days where I feel I need a schedule just to keep up with my schedule. So as I said previously, I’d hit the wall.

My friends offered lots of advice, but the one solution that stood out was a “pamper me” day at a local Louisville spa. I did a quick internet search and found one that sounded exactly what I was looking for: Serenity Spa of Anchorage. Ahhhhh. Just the name implies relaxation!

Their google hot link pointed me to an informative website with a listing of services and spa packages sure to entice the stressed. The Timesaver package, Serenity Experience, and Day of Bliss lured me in with their descriptive phrases detailing all the wonderful services included in them. In the end, I chose the Day of Bliss because face it, I REALLY needed a day of bliss.

Serenity is tucked along the main thoroughfare of the village of Anchorage, Kentucky. If you don’t know anything about Anchorage, it is among the short list of historic suburbs of Louisville. It’s well manicured lawns, mini-estates, and English Village charm draws you in immediately. All of the specialty shops, café’s and restaurants are within a couple of square blocks, so you can walk to each of them with ease during a leisurely day trip excursion.

When I entered Serenity Spa, I felt like time had stopped. The friendly staff greeted me with smiles, while tranquil music softly played throughout the cozy building. Almost immediately, I was served chilled green tea in a wine glass. Now if that doesn’t start your Day of Bliss on the right foot, I don’t know what will.

My blissful day included an Anti- Aging Facial with Vitamin C mask and Eye Treatment, a 60 minute Massage, Seaweed Body Wrap, Spa Manicure & Pedicure,  Lunch and Champagne. Five full hours of pampering for me and only me! I gladly turned off my cell phone and sipped the luscious green tea as I bid the hectic world good-bye for a while.

We started with the Seaweed wrap. Now if you’ve never had a seaweed wrap before, it’s definitely not what you envision. Your massage therapist coats your skin with an emulsion derived from seaweed designed to draw out toxins from your body, then wraps you in a thermal blanket for a short period of time, all while you rest on a warm massage table and listen to relaxing music. No kids arguing with each other, no phones ringing off the hook, just you… drifting in and out of repose while the seaweed does its job in extracting all the ickiness from your system.

I could tell it was working when my massage therapist arrived and I immediately needed to use the restroom. I think the combination of the seaweed wrap and the green tea was definitely helping my kidneys and bladder kick it into overdrive and remove the toxins from my body.

Onward to the massage…ahhhhhh. My masseuse applied pressure to my muscles at just the right depth to release all the tension built up from months of stress. When my hour was up, I just wanted to fall fast asleep on that warm massage table, but my bladder protested. It appeared I was a little more toxic from all that compounded stress than I thought and my body was just waiting for this opportunity to release all those evil substances from their dermal prison!

I have never had a facial before, so this experience was another new journey for me. At age thirty-something, I admit I’ve been assessing the appearance of a few “wisdom markers” in the mirror wishing they would go away. My esthetician analyzed my answers to their client profile questions and decided an anti-aging facial was the best choice. The products smelled heavenly, not at all what I expected, and my face felt clean and smooth afterward. As a former Mary Kay consultant, I thought I knew a thing or two about skin care. For fourteen years I have been religious in using my cleansers and moisturizers, but after Serenity’s anti-aging facial, I truly felt fabulous. And I swear those little lines between my eyes and above the bridge of my nose are gone!

After my facial, I was treated to a gourmet lunch from one of the local restaurants. It was such a nice day, I probably could have walked, but my legs were still wobbly from that relaxing massage. LOL!

My last two services were the spa pedicure and manicure. Have you ever had paraffin on your feet? Well let me just tell you now that it is the bomb diggity! Serenity Spa uses The Perfect Sense paraffin treatment which comes in your very own sanitary, single use  slippers, eliminating risks of bacterial and fungal cross-contamination. No more worrying about whose feet were in the wax last.

For my manicure, I did something a little different and opted for the new Shellac manicure. This revolutionary product is a manicure that doesn’t chip. Ever! Polish lasts for 2 weeks! I am here to attest that it does just that. I can’t tell you how many women have tried to carry things for me because they think I just got my nails done and didn’t want to ruin the polish. When I tell them about Shellac and Serenity, they BEG me for the phone number. I’m tellin’ ya gals- you GOTTA try Shellac!

My spa day ended with a relaxing walk under a canopy of trees where my car was parked. The birds were singing, bees were buzzing, and I was definitely blissful. Even my kids noticed the non-stressed Mom that came home.

Do yourself a favor ladies, and take a mental health break with one of the spa packages at Serenity Spa in Anchorage. Denise Willinger and her staff will guarantee you a Day of Bliss that you will not soon forget.

Shellac Attack! The No Chip manicure takes Serenity Spa by storm!

Does your manicure look this shiny and perfect after a week and a half? This manicure has not had one chip and still looks great after 10 days. The new Shellac nail polish from Creative is an amazing gel/polish hybrid. This half nail polish, half gel stays as perfect as the day it was applied. Up to 14 days with no chips, peeling, or dullness, all while protecting the natural nail from breaking. The service takes about the same amount of time as a regular manicure, but with no drying time. That’s right, no drying time! The nails are cured with a UV light so as soon as the last coat is cured, your nails are completely dry!

Imagine being able to have a manicure any day of the week and still look great on the  weekend. Go ahead, wash your hands 20 times a day and it won’t soften or peel like other polish.

Knowing the proof is in the proverbial pudding, I decided to test out the claims of the product with my next manicure. I’m a massage therapist, so after my manicure last Wednesday, I immediately gave a massage. Over the past 10 days, I did about 20 services with these hands, washed my hands before and after each one, did dishes, pulled weeds in the garden and planted flowers. This picture is of my hard working hands (really!) after 10 days. I even did a few manicures  and if this were a regular manicure, the polish remover would have ruined it immediately.

I’m going to a makeup class this weekend and if I’d had a regular manicure, I would be begging Jamica to fit me in today because it would look like crap! Now I can skip the frantic Friday afternoon rush at the nail salon and go in to the weekend with my nails looking great.

Shellac comes in 12 colors, from elegant french to siren red. This product is so popular that it’s  now on backorder for weeks at most beauty supply houses. We are lucky to have all the French manicure colors, and several of the more popular shades. Click here to see the colors, read about the technology and see frequently asked questions. If you’ve already heard enough and are ready to try it, click here to schedule an appointment!

Denise Willinger

Owner/ Massage Therapist/Esthetician

Serenity The Spa in Anchorage

What women REALLY want for Valentines Day!!

Hi guys,

You really don’t have a clue what she wants for Valentines Day, do you? Do you know what makes her happy, makes her smile? Any idea what means the most to her? I’ve been in the spa business a long time, and after working so closely with so many women for so long, I’ve learned a few things I’d like to pass on to you. As a disclaimer, I’d like to say that no two women are alike, so don’t take any advice unless it rings true for your woman, including anything you read here. But if you have ever heard your wife or girlfriend say any of the things I’m going to share, you might want to pay attention, because if you really listen, she’s already given you an idea of what she needs.

Unfortunately, men and women sometimes speak two different languages. When she says, “I am exhausted” she might mean “Can you PLEASE cook dinner tonight, so I can rest” or she might mean “There is no way I can keep up with the house the kids, my job and all of your needs, too, so don’t EVEN go there!” You might hear “After a short nap, I’ll be fine and will make your dinner, then give you a back rub!” So you say “Honey, why don’t you go lie down for a few minutes” and are confused when she yells at you “I don’t have time for a nap!” Sometimes when a woman makes a statement, she doesn’t want an answer or advice on fixing it, she wants you to listen, understand and work with her to find a way to meet everyone’s needs.

Women like to take care of everyone. It’s what we do. We just try to do too much of it, and get easily overwhelmed and depleted. So we complain that we’re tired or frustrated when we can’t fit it all in. Sometimes guys try to be nice by giving us a gift certificate for a meal out, a spa day, or to buy something nice for ourselves. If the woman in your life is already overloaded with things to do, she may perceive this as adding one more thing to her to do list. She’ll be grateful “Oh honey, thanks, that is sooo sweet!” and then it will sit in a drawer for a year. She finds it, feels guilty she hasn’t used it and then frantically tries to find time to fit it in to her already stressed life. Here’s an example: A customer bought his wife a 4 hour spa package. She has two-year old twins. She called 3 times to try to schedule it, then cancelled each appointment, twice because of babysitting issues and once because one of them was sick. She finally made it in and then kept her cell phone on the entire visit-even answering it while getting her massage.  This gift, while incredibly sweet, actually caused her more stress than it relieved.

What could have made the gift to this really stressed out Mom better? If Hubby had given her the gift certificate with a note saying:

To my beautiful, amazing wife,

“I know how hard you work to make everything wonderful for our family, so for one day, I want to give you some time for yourself. Your spa package is scheduled for ______________. I’ve already taken care of clearing your schedule, and I will be watching the kids, so take this day to be pampered! I love you!!”

Your Husband

On the day of her appointment, make sure to be ready to drop her off, give her cash for the gratuity, and make a huge deal to the kids about how Mommy is going to go to the spa to be treated like the queen she is! It’s super important that the kids know that Mom deserves some time for herself, and that the whole family is helping to make this a special day for her. While your wife is at the spa, you and the kids all work together to clean the house! Hey, the kids will be so excited to do something special for Mom, they will pitch in and help, (Kids love games. You can turn pretty much anything into a game and they’ll get excited about it-even cleaning!)

Now if you want to make the day really special, after picking her up, give her some time to relax and get ready for a special dinner out. Have your Mother in law keep the kids overnight and  take her out to dinner, or cook a romantic dinner for her at home! Do you see where this is leading?

OK, let’s talk about something most spa owners and almost all massage therapist avoid-sex. Men do things for women in hopes that they will get to have sex later, right? Valentines’ Day is a loaded “Hallmark holiday?” and all retailers are trying to convince you that if you buy what they are selling for your wife or girlfriend, she will fall willingly in to bed with you. After 30 years of working with women, I have heard some things that may shed some light on this subject for you.

 Remember earlier how I said women like to take care of people? Here’s a secret that many women don’t share-They sometimes just want someone to take care of them. With no strings attached. If you have laid the foundation by showing her you appreciate her, you’ve listened and worked to plan a special day just for her, she will be relaxed and happy, which is just the mood women need to be in to be responsive to your romantic overtures. 

So here’s my professional advice. Rather than running to Kroger tonight to get her a last-minute card, candy and flowers, let’s plan a really nice day for her to relax and be pampered. Click here to purchase an Instant Gift certificate to Serenity Spa. It doesn’t matter which package you choose, just pick whatever is in your budget and we’ll make it very special! Print it out on nice paper (photo paper works great!)  Click here to go to our online booking service   http://serenity-the-spa-in.genbook.com.  Book the appointment for her on a day you know she’ll be free and you will be available to take care of the kids. Now, pick up the phone and call your Mother, Mother-in-law or a babysitter and find out when they’re available to help you with your plan to pamper your wife. (Mother-in-laws LOVE this kind of thing!!) Now you can go to Kroger and buy the sweet, mushy card, put the beautiful gift certificate inside and write her a note telling her what you’ve planned for her! She will be so impressed at your thoughtfulness that you may very well get the hoped for romantic interlude  you really wanted anyway! Plus the bonus special night together on the day of her spa package!

Here’s wishing you and your lovely wife a Happy Valentines Day!

Baby, it’s cold outside!!

The first snow of the season is gently falling outside my window right now. I’m cozy and warm, inside my house, but soon will venture out in the chilly morning air. When the weather changes, it’s time to change your skin care routine to adapt to the environment. Cooler weather outside means drier skin, and dehydration due to indoor heating. Protection is key to maintaining your moisture levels during the winter months.

If you have an esthetician who knows your skin, you can make an appointment to assess your skin care regimen. He or she will adjust your routine to nourish and protect your skin during the winter season. This is a great time to treat your skin with a skin lightener such as Dermesse with Hydroquinone, to reverse the sun damage from the summer sun. It’s also a great time to use a serum under your moisturizer (Dermesse 10% Vitamin C serum is a great one!)

A must have beauty essential for the winter season is Aquaphor from Eucerin. You can get it over the counter at a drug store and it’s great for chapped lips, rough scaly elbows, or to protect those rosy cheeks when you’re out playing in the snow!

If you are unsure how to adapt your skin care regimen for the chilly winter months, give us a call at 245-6484 to schedule an appointment for a complimentary skin care consult.

Dear Light Touch Customer:

Words can not express the sadness I feel that you’re favorite spa, the Light Touch has closed. When I heard they were closing, and that the customers were not allowed to redeem their gift cards for the service that was paid for, I realized the unfairness of this and offered to accept the gift cards at our charming spa in Anchorage. There are a few things I would like for you to know. First and foremost, we are not being compensated by the Light Touch for the gift cards. We are doing this as a service to the customers and as a gesture of goodwill to the community. The last thing I want is for customers to think that all spas are going to rip you off. So we are willing to do the service without payment to create lifelong spa customers that will be as loyal to us as they were to their former spa. There are just a few things I’d like to ask of you in return.

• Please let us know you will be using a lt gc when you book your appointment.
• Please be generous to the person giving your service. She is working for her hourly wage, without commision, as a courtesy so your needs will be met.
• Please be patient, we can only do so many complimentary appointments each week, so you may have to wait a few weeks to get in to see us. We will accept the gc’s through June, 2010, so there’s plenty of time!
• Please be honest-we have no way to check your gift card’s balance, so if you have a gc over 100.00, please bring proof of purchase.
• Please use the entire card at your visit, no cash or credit will be given, and you can not use your card toward gratuities.
• My last request is that you choose to purchase any future gift certificates from us! We make it very easy with Instant gift certificates that you can create, purchase, print and e-mail immediately.

Happy holidays- we look forward to meeting you soon!

Instant Gift Certificate

Serenity Spa Website

You’re really doing this? Are you getting paid for it? No? Are you crazy, why would you do that!?

After offering to accept the gift cards of a local spa that was suddenly closing it’s doors, much of my week consisted of conversations sounding something like this:

“Hi, I just saw on television that you were going to be accepting Light Touch gift cards after they close, is this true?”  “Yes, ma’am, it’s true.” “Really? My daughter just bought this for me in October and when I heard they were closing, I tried to make an appointment to use it and they wouldn’t let me. When I heard you were willing to take the gift cards, I didn’t believe it. Thank you so much! That is the nicest thing!! I guess now I have a new spa, when can I make an appointment?”

Trust me, there were times after I made the decision I wondered if I really was crazy!  What on earth have I gotten myself into? After all the positive feedback from everyone and seeing the benefit to my business, I know I ‘m really crazy like a fox. This is one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made. I knew that The Light Touch, who were in business for 28 years, had a very loyal customer base. By giving the customer more than they bargained for, we are creating goodwill that will last a very long time. I just knew that if I could get those customers through my doors, I could earn their  business.

My bread and butter is the regular customer. We have folks that have been coming to Serenity since it opened 6 years ago, and a handful that have stayed with me for over 25 years!  The value of a long-term customer is worth far more than the time we’ll put in giving a complimentary service. Are we getting paid for the gift cards? No, we’re not. But my staff and I are willing to forgo our commission on the service in order to earn the repeat business of the customer. We are confident that the service you receive will wow you, and by earning your trust we’ll earn your business. Then when you decide to treat a friend or loved one to a spa experience, you can purchase one of our gift cards with the confidence that we will not only be here to fulfill their service, but it will be the best darn spa experience they’ve ever had!

Here’s the fine print:

Small spa with big heart offers to accept Light Touch Gift cards after they close their doors on November 14. Serenity Spa in Anchorage has offered to honor The Light Touch Gift cards until June 2010. Up to 10 cards will be accepted each week for services including facials, massage, manicures, pedicures, microdermabrasion, glycolic peels and waxing. Unfortunately, we can not accept expired gift cards or unused packages. However, we will send a coupon for a 1/2 price service to any former Light Touch customer that signs up for our e-mails at Please call 245-6484 to schedule an appointment.

Join our Mailing List and get a 1/2 off coupon!

Last weeks facial Winners!

Congratualtions to Jessica Hall, a facebook commmentor, and Shelley, a blog commentor! You have won our free facials for last week! Please contact me at Serenity Spa to arrange your prize.

Congratulations, you beautiful souls!
~ Denise
Serenity Spa
502-245-6484