Elan Sassoon is creating an empire of his own in the Boston and New York areas.  Although he is originally from sunny California, he is now living the cold of the Northeast.

The son of the legendary hair stylist, Vidal Sassoon, has been working on creating The Academy for Hair and Skin by Elan Sassoon since 2008.  It is scheduled to open soon.

The academy is a $22 million school near the Boston University campus on Commonwealth Avenue.  The academy is a 90,000-square-foot facility with dormitories, the first of its kind in the country and the largest. It offers training from international stylists in everything from hair history to hair etiquette.

More are eventually planned to be opened around the country.

Elan also partnered with Lord’s & Lady’s Hair Salon founder Michael Barsamian to open a 3,000-square-foot high-end salon, Mizu, next to L’Espalier restaurant at the new luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel and condominium complex on Boylston Street.  Another Mizu is planned for New York on Park Avenue.  At Mizu which in Japanese means “water” the haircuts and coloring services start at $125.

Elan’s also partnered for a line of spas called Green Tangerine.  The two partners have launched two new spa and salon businesses, Green Tangerine at Patriot Place in Foxborough and Legacy Place in Dedham. (more…)

As a self-admitted workaholic I often skimp on eating as healthy as I know I should.  I try, but sometimes when I’m in the work zone I really don’t want to stop to prepare and eat a healthy meal.

With that said, I do strive hard to always get 8 hours of sleep per night and have been doing that for the past five years.

(Image of Chives – Courtesy of Morderska – All Rights Reserved)

I also have gave up diet soda almost 10 years, coffee and decaf coffee for close to six months and rarely drink alcohol.

When I do, it’s usually a glass of red wine or champagne.  Even then, “rarely” translates to special events like Thanksgiving, Christmas and anniversaries.

Recently my horrendous eating habits and constant workaholic behaviors caught up with me.  My chronic candida went completely out of control and I felt terrible.  I decided to try a little harder with my foot and hit the aisles at Whole Foods were I loaded up on organic fruits and veggies.  I also dug out Oprah’s healthy soup recipe which calls for homemade chive oil and is very healthy.

Yes, I made the chive oil for the soup recipe which calls for blanched and iced chives pureed in the blending with 1/2 cup of organic canola oil.

However, I was befuddled about what to do with the leftover chive meat after I strained the oil out of the pureed mix.  Hmmm, I decided there had to be some good use for mashed chives, right? (more…)

I recently blogged about the fact that fashion designer Marc Jacobs hand picked OPI nudes for the hands of his models for his 2010 Collection.

The OPI nude shades Marc selected are truly gorgeous and I am definitely a huge fan of OPI anything.

Jacobs hand-picked OPI to provide best-selling shades including OPI Barefoot In Barcelona, Samoan Sand, Malaysian Mist and Dulce de Leche – topped with OPI Matte Nail Envy – as the finishing touch to Jacobs’ return to femininity.

(Image to the left of OPI Barefoot In Barcelona – image to the right of OPI At First Sight Fairytale Bride which is an elegant nude with a pink base – Courtesy of HairBoutique.com – All Rights Reserved)

In fact, as I sit here and type I have OPI Elegance on my fingernails and toes.  I love Elegance from the Diamond series because of all the little sparkles embedded into the polish.  Almost as if I had little diamonds sprinkled across my nails.

(more…)

Create the Perfect Bath Bucket…With a Little Help from Joyful Bath Co.

The perfect bath is one of life’s simple pleasures and Joyful Bath Co. strives to help make it happen every time with their Holiday Bath Bucket.

(Image courtesy of Joyful Bath Company – All Rights Reserved)

The Holiday Bath Bucket comes with three 8-10 oz. jars of luxurious bath salt blends that you can mix and match. All wrapped up in a 4 qt. galvanized metal bucket which can be used it to store your bath supplies.

Customize Your Very Own Holiday Bath Bucket by Choosing Three of the Following Blends:

• Citrus Buzz (Refreshing)
• Ginger Snap (Releasing)
• Green Tea Glee (Recharging)
• Mellow Yellow (Relieving)
• ‘Nilla Buttermilk (Renewing)
• Oatsy Floatsie (Relaxing)

The Holiday Bath Bucket is a wonderful gift to give or receive. It’s the ultimate escape into the warmth and comfort of a hot soak to calm and relax body and soul. (more…)

Normally my retreat mode means staying locked up alone for an entire weekend without my iphone, notebook computer, TIVO or other writing aka work tools.

A retreat gives you time to completely unwind, relax and find your center.  I think everyone, if its possible with their lifestyle and relationships, to take at least one 2-3 day retreat every year just to find your center.

(Image from Porah – All Rights Reserved)

Not only does it give you an opportunity to recharge your mind, it is the ultimate beauty treat because lots of peace and quiet will help you relax and rejuvenate.

Not everyone loves total solitude or giving up all their techno-toys for peace, quiet and hard core meditation.  For some a retreat means sharing and building bonds with like minded people.

For others the sharing and caring should go hand in hand with a spa retreat. (more…)

Green Beaver Products, Represented in US by Natural Products for Living,  Receives Coveted ECOCERT Designation

Vancouver, BC- June 15, 2009- Natural Products for Living, Inc., a distributor of organic Canadian-made personal care products, is pleased to announce that The Green Beaver Company, whom they represent for U.S. distribution, was awarded a license to manufacture certified organic personal body care products by ECOCERT.

The Green Beaver Company becomes one of 11 Canadian companies to achieve this coveted designation in the growing organic marketplace.

ECOCERT, a global leader in organic and ecological product certifications, requires that ingredients are subjected to vigorous product formulation and on-site plant audits. (more…)

Memorial Day has marked the dawn of summer, and although it is usually one of our favorite times of the year, it also brings days filled with activities and commitments.

(Image by Roger Kirby – All Rights Reserved).

We may be gaining a few more hours of daylight but the coveted “me time” just blew out the newly opened summer screened windows!

We welcome the kids home for the summer and friends and family into our backyards.

Our already filled-to-the-max schedules seem to be bursting at the seams with BBQs and playground dates. And this year more than ever we are faced with the challenge of finding more budget-friendly ways to pamper ourselves and enjoy the season.

So how to recapture a little of that coveted me time in midst of the summer haze? (more…)

Spaweek.com and WeddingChannel.com Give One Lucky Couple Their Dream Romantic Getaway

Even in the best of economic climates planning a wedding and the subsequent honeymoon can be costly and stressful for any couple. SpaWeek.com, WeddingChannel.com and The Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii have teamed up to eliminate this pressure and make one lucky couple’s dream honeymoon a reality.

During the months of May and June, visitors to SpaWeek.com (that are planning a wedding) can enter for a chance to win a 7-day honeymoon at the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii.

This AAA Four-Diamond Resort is located on the alluring and exotic Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island and has been revered as one the Greatest Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure. The Giveaway, valued at over $8,000, has it all: Gold Floor accommodations, a romantic beachside dinner, spa treatments and more. (more…)

Warm weather is here and little piggies everywhere and revealing themselves for the first time in months!

As women bravely strap on their gladiator sandals and opened toed heels for the first few times, they may be taking a look at their feet and saying, maybe I should have splurged for that pedicure after all!

(Image from HBM Media – All Rights Reserved).

With the economy struggling and more women forgoing their weekly manis and pedis, at-home spa treatments are quickly gaining popularity.

What was once thought of as a teenage bonding experience is now a necessity for professional women everywhere who want to keep their feet looking attractive all summer long.

According to Dr. Oliver Zong, a top podiatrist based in New York City, “at-home pedicures are a great option not only for women who want to save on money, but also people who want to avoid potentially dangerous conditions at their local spa.” (more…)

Serenity Meets Sustainability At Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel’s Newly-Renovated Ocean Spa & Fitness

Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel announces the re-opening of its 7,000-square-foot Ocean Spa & Fitness, an eco-conscious spa that embraces nurture and nature.

“As we continue to invest in our hotel, we feel a strong sense of responsibility to help protect our planet,” said Bill Doak, general manager of Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. “This project allows us to be environmentally responsible while still providing a luxury spa experience for our hotel guests, spa members and local residents.”

Designed and managed by Plus One Health Management, Ocean Spa & Fitness’ eco-friendly design elements include Ecoresin panels made from 40-percent post-industrial recycled resin, Armstrong sustainable ceiling tiles, reclaimed-wood furniture pieces, Mondo recycled rubber floors and Shaw carpet with Cradle to Cradle Certification. (more…)