Although going to the spa can never be an overrated experience, there is something to be said of being able to bring the spa to the comfort and privacy of your own home with you and a few of your closest girlfriends…or sometimes just solo.  The only problem with bringing the spa to your home is the quality of the spa products.  More often than not, spa products that I am able to get my hands on are never spa quality and being that neither me nor my girlfriends are professional estheticians, we need our products to do the job that we can not.  Which is why I love products from True Blue Spa by Bath & Body Works.  The brands products are spa quality without the spa prices, they really allow you to experience the true spa experience at home.

My two favorite True Blue Spa products are the 60-Second Manicure Hand Scrub and the Smoothing Foot Scrub.  The Hand Scrub is a sugar based exfoliating treatment that also contains moisturizing Shea Butter.  I love starting  my at home spa manicures with the scrub because it immediately softens my hands and cuticles and allows any moisturizing products that follows, whether it’s a hand lotion, masque or cuticle oil, to do a more effective job.  The scrub also has a great citrusy scent…like a blend of sugar and grapefruit.  Much like the hand scrub, the Smoothing Foot Scrub also smooths and softens, allowing moisturizing products to be better absorbed by the feet.  The foot scrub also has a great refreshing minty scent, due to the Peppermint Oil that is a part of the ingredients and that also stimulates tired feet.

I may never completely give up going to a spa in favor of spa-ing at home, but for those days when the spa budget is a bit too tight or if I just want to have a girl’s night in with my at home spa products and a bottle of wine, it’s great to know that I have two amazing products on hand that very closely captures the spa experience and results without the steep spa price tags or having to change out of my jammies.

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

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A few years ago when I went to The Lodge at Woodloch for a facial and massage, I swore that one day I would spend the weekend at their destination spa. The rooms are luxuriously appointed, the spa cuisine is to die for (I had lunch there during a recent event with Christopher Drummond Beauty) and the grounds are breathtaking. Although I only live about 40 minutes from The Lodge at Woodloch, the resort is tucked away here in the Poconos in such a way, that it felt like I was traveling far far away…

One of the first things I noticed about The Lodge at Woodloch, was their superior customer service. We (Bryan & I) pulled up to the gated entry to give our name for our stay and by the time we got to the valet, they opened my door calling me by name and once inside, the concierge, also motioned to me calling me by name…all of which made me feel like a valued customer and not just some random person checking in. We scheduled a spa treatment, 9 holes of golf at Woodloch Springs, Wake-Up kayaking for 7am the next morning and made a reservation for dinner. After a quick tour of the resort, Bryan sat down for lunch at Tree while I was whisked away for a Tension Tamer massage with Gwen.

If you haven’t heard me tweet and Facebook incessantly about how much I LOVE this spa, then you certainly need to stop by and try it for yourself. I chose the Tension Tamer massage, as sitting at my desk all day working has really had its way with my upper back and shoulders. At times, the pain has become unbearable. The Tension Tamer focuses on this key muscle group to help melt that stress away. And boy did it! At the beginning of the massage I told Gwen that I could barely feel any pressure from her hands in the area surrounding my neck because some of the area had gone numb. She worked her magic and within 30 minutes I was telling her that she was a magician. Suddenly there was feeling back in that area and the tension in the surrounding muscles began to ease up. I honestly did not want to leave after my 50 minutes were up. Gwen told me that due to my line of work, that I really needed to have massages focusing on that area more often. I completely agree!

After finishing up a lunch plate that Bryan brought me to the room, we made our way over to Woodloch Springs, which is a private community with an 18-hole PGA 2 golf course. Since I have never played golf before, we decided on just doing 9 holes. The course was gorgeous despite how wet the green was from all of the rain we’ve been having in the Poconos. Bryan taught me how to play and I have to say, golf is hard work! I have a new respect for pro-golfers now!

Dinner at Tree was delicious and we each had salad and chicken that was out of this world. At about 9pm we decided a swim was in order and made our way to their Aqua Garden (which has amazing waterfalls) and their Horizon Whirlpool. On a dark night with a view of the stars, it was breathtaking.

I slept like a baby that night and I honestly didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning because the bed was so comfortable! Made me realize that I’m about due for a new mattress for my own bed. The morning was a little chilly, but we made our way to Little Lake Teedyuskung for our 7am kayaking. Since the rest of the people who signed up for the session were no-shows, we had the guide all to ourselves! This 1:1 session was great as we learned more about the area we live in and got to take in all of the wildlife. Although the really ridiculous spider that kept jumping into my kayak, which almost made me flip over when trying to get it out, was not so amusing (at least for me, but Bryan and our guide thought it was pretty funny.)

After breakfast at Tree, my feet begged me for a Restorative Rosemary Pedicure at their Lotus Salon…and how could I say no? The view from my seat was beautiful and the bourbon vanilla soak helped soften my dry heels. I loved the seaweed wrap and Antoinette made my toes look pretty with SpaRitual’s Crystal Water nail polish.

All in all, it was a relaxing and fun-filled weekend that we truly enjoyed. So whether you live locally and are looking for a staycation without feeling like you are really still local or are looking for a Pocono getaway, The Lodge at Woodloch should top your list of places to go. If you’ve visited or have had a spa treatment here, please share your experience in the comments!

Find them on Facebook and Twitter, too!

*Some images from The Lodge at Woodloch’s website; disclosure: a portion of this stay was gifted.

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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Laying on a beach in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida on a perfect  80 degree day after an amazing seafood lunch and visit to the Salvador Dali museum, I was feeling pretty content and thought there was just no way that life could get any better that day.

Well it did,  as soon as I checked in to the Innisbrook Resort to prepare for an entire day of pampering at the Indaba Spa.  You might wonder exactly how does one prepare for a spa day…well in my case it involved checking into one of their amazing suites, donning the ultra plush robe that greeted me as soon as I entered the bedroom and letting my mind and body completely relax… before my scheduled day of relaxation…it seemed like the right thing to do…

The Indaba Spa is absolutely beautiful, I love and appreciate that it did not have a gimmicky feel nor was it trying to be one of those uber trendy spas that people tend to forget after the hype is over.  It was just very inviting, beautiful and calming, to me everything a spa is supposed to be.

My first order of business was to choose what I wanted for lunch (this is a part of The Indaba Experience), then off I went to my locker to change into my official spa gear…a snugly robe and mildly massaging slippers.  My first treatment of the day was the Signature Facial.  All of the products used for the facial were from a natural and organic skincare line called Eminence Organics and with names such as  Lemon Cleanser, Pineapple Enzyme Peel and Apricot Lip Moisturizer, I felt like my skin was getting the nutrition that my body is so deprived of. The neck, shoulder and foot massage that Jennifer administered (and are a part of the Indaba Signature Facial) left me so relaxed I didn’t think I needed the full body massage that was next on my schedule of services.  Well after Melissa (my masseuse) was finished with me, I realized how silly that notion was.  I wondered if I had morphed into the bad guy from Terminator 2…my limbs felt like liquid!

Next up was my lunch of salad, water and white wine that I ordered upon arriving and which I had the choice of eating inside in the lounge area or outside in the wonderful Florida sunshine surrounded by nature (I also had the option of laying out in the shade or sun on one of their super cute lawn chairs.)

I ended my spa day (or as I now refer to it my outer body experience) with a Coco-Lucious Manicure and Pedicure (I just love saying Coco-Lucious!)  All of the products used for the mani and pedi were also from Eminence Organics and smelled absolutely heavenly…nothing less expected with names like Coconut Scrub and Mango Enzyme.

I highly recommend either arriving early or staying late…or both, to partake of the steam room, hot tub or laying out with a good book or magazine.

In addition to being completely relaxed and pampered from head to toe surrounded by absolute beauty, I also gained some valuable beauty knowledge from my esthetician, masseuse and nail technician.

1)      Brushing my lips with a toothbrush (which I read in a fashion magazine), was not a good idea as there are great lip scrubs out there.

2)      There is a very big difference between a Physical Therapist and a Physical Terrorist.

3)      The nail shape that I prefer has a name….squoval

4)      Try to moisturize your hands after every wash (prevents dryness and hang nails)

5)      And last but definitely not least, people in Florida really pay attention to your hands and feet, especially feet…so keep up with those mani’s and pedi’s on a regular basis…thanks Indaba Spa!

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

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Do you have cracked heels? You know the kind…where your skin is so dry that you actually snag the sheets with your feet as you slide into bed? I’m not sure why, but most people focus on foot care only when they’re ready to slip on the sandals. I’d like to start a revolution that a pedicure should be done 1-2 times per month all year round. Super soft feet, pretty polished toes…neglect them no longer! 

While getting gas one day a few weeks ago in Honesdale, I noticed 5th Avenue Hair Color Studio and Spa beckoning me from across the street. Not literally, but my feet were begging for attention, so I decided some spa time was in order. Without a reservation, which I don’t normally recommend, I popped in to see if they had any availability to do a Pampering Marine Pedicure. Within 10 minutes I found myself relaxing in their pedicure room (pictured), soaking my feet and chatting away with the owner, Theresa. (Ok, I was chatting with @ftlob on Twitter too.)

5th Avenue’s Pampering Marine Pedicure ($37) consists of Plantogen’s Seaweed Mask, Sole Cream and Sole Repair. You also get a 5 minute massage on each foot, which is nice for those of us who sometimes spend our days running around. While the spa has OPI and Essie polishes on hand, I always bring my favorite nail polish brand along with me, which is Zoya Nail Polish of course, in Burke (a red.)

It was the very end of the day, so it was nice to have the pedicure room to myself. While the paint on my toes were drying, Cassandra (who does massage) came over and gave me a hand massage, which was great for all of the typing and texting I do.

5th Avenue Hair Color Studio and Spa does everything from manis and pedis to massage to hair color and cuts to facials. They’re located in a small plaza on the Texas Palmyra Highway between Walmart and The Alpine (delicious food, the Chocolate Chambord cake is TDF!) Check them out at www.5thavenuespa.com and let them know you heard about them from A Girl’s Gotta Spa!

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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It is sandal weather my friends and I don’t know about you, but I cringe when I see people out and about with calloused, cracked, dry heels and unkempt toenails with the polish chipping off. Consider your feet an accessory to your wardrobe and make them look great! I’ve previously reviewed butter LONDON’s nail lacquer, so I am excited that they have launched a new pedicure collection. Feet will now officially be fabulous (and sexy!)

Powder Finish Foot Creme (Dry Creme for feet): Imagine a product that contains the same active ingredient found in your anti-perspirant, infused into Shea and Cocoa butter. Add a touch of Camphor for cooling, some Triclosan to prevent microbial growth, and you are looking at one special foot creme. This miraculous Powder Finish Foot Creme instantly hydrates, yet leaves a soft, powder finish to help keep your feet dry and odorless. You may never wear socks again!

Stiletto Stick (Hydrating Heel Balm): Extremely dry, cracked heels are difficult to treat, since most products are heavy, greasy and not at all shoe-friendly. With Stiletto Stick, your heels will benefit from both a high Urea content and Macadamia Nut Oil, keeping heels silky, soft, and never greasy, due to the unique “solid formula.” Genius! It’s the easiest way to heal your heels.

Pumps (Energizing Foot Spray): Spritz puffy, tired, overworked legs and feet with Pumps! This energizing foot spray tightens and revives feet, while helping to reduce swelling, stimulate blood flow, and deodorize. The combination of Caffeine and Menthol constricts blood vessels in the legs and feet to tighten and “de-puff”, while simultaneously cooling and refreshing. Added Triclosan prohibits bacterial growth, leaving the treated area clean and fresh.

Silk Stockings (Finishing Gel): Not just a pretty pair of legs? Well they can be now! Silk Stockings is a luscious, light-reflecting gel that will glamorize your gams and hide any blemishes. Contains marine biology, multiple plant extracts and added Collagen to detoxify, lift, and smooth your pins. This shimmering gel firms and smooths skin leaving legs bright and flawless.

Rock Off (Callus Remover): Filing your heels may tone your arms, but does little to control hard, thick, yellowing soles. Enter Rock Off, butter LONDON’s hit callus remover that effortlessly breaks down stubborn dead skin cells. Rocks are for fingers not feet! This product will ensure you have supple soles throughout the year! Use with butter LONDON’s double sided foot file.

You can find it all at www.butterLONDON.com

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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I recently got to try out Spasensials Intensive one-step moisturizing and conditioning socks and gloves. Both are infused with Vitamins A, b5, E, Aloe and Jojoba and both are geared to get the job done within a 15 minute time period.

The socks and gloves are lined with a thin layer of gel and the outside is cloth with ridges, there is a fresh clean fragrance to the gel. While this particular kit didn’t come with the exfoliating buffer for the feet (such as the one sold through Amazon) , it is highly recommended to exfoliate both your hands and feet, sloughing off the dead skin, before using these products to get the full effect of the moisturizer easily absorbing into your skin. You can read more about the benefits of exfoliating on Beauty Pro.

Both the socks and gloves say “One size fits most.” I found the socks to be a bit too small and struggled a bit to get them on my feet (my foot is a size 7), so if your feet are any bigger you may just have to cut a small slit at the top to allow more room for your foot to slide in. Once my foot was in, the sock wasn’t tight at all and it appeared the main issue had to do more with the opening to the sock than the actual size of the sock. The gloves were the opposite, as they were a little larger than my hands, but then again I am only 5’1″ and have pretty small hands.

You should only use one product at a time and should start with the socks. The directions do advise caution as your feet will be slippery within the sock and if you walk around you could slip. I personally chose to walk around because I found that the ridges on the outside of the sock tended to massage my feet as I moved. This made my feet feel great, as did the cooling sensation of the gel. For my hands, I chose to massage each hand with the gloves on as the ridges again played an important role in massaging my skin.

After 15 minutes you take the product off and further massage in the gel. It dries in about 1-2 minutes and your skin will feel great. My hands felt very moisturized and the callouses on my hands were substantially minimized. Even the day after using these products my hands and feet still felt very soft.

The SpaSensials kit is a nice treat and a great way to pamper yourself. The kit costs $11.99 and comes complete with 2 sets of gloves, 2 sets of socks and 2 buffers. All SpaSensials products are sold exclusively through Amazon.

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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The Sole Scrub is a once a week exfoliator made with apricot seeds, peppermint, tea tree oil, menthol and chamomile. The scent is refreshing and invigorating and this scrub feels oh-so-good on your feet. So much so, that I also used it to exfoliate my hands.

The Sole Repair Cream is non-greasy and chock full of moisturizing goodness: shea butter, avocado, extra virgin olive oil, menthol and peppermint. The menthol and peppermint make an interesting minty scent. The Sole Repair Cream will leave your feet feeling so soft.

Plantogen is sold at salons and spas throughout the country, you can find a location nearest you through their website. www.plantogen.com

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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