I shuffled a few pieces of loose leaf papers together on my desk and stapled them. I opened to the first page, put pen to paper and began to write out my short story, along with illustrations (my "books" always had illustrations.) The first page would always say, "Written by Shannon Crino" in perfect cursive penmanship. Then, dressed in my neatly pressed green plaid St. James school uniform, I would bring it to the front of the class and place it next to the other books my fifth grade teacher had organized for our daily reading time. I'd then sit and eagerly await my classmates to take one of my books and read them. I'd patiently watch their expressions as they would finger through the pages, and when they'd look up, their eyes meeting mine, they'd smile. That sealed the deal for me when it came to writing. I knew I wanted to be putting words on pages that meant something to someone. A way I could resonate with them. For the rest of my life. Later that year, as one of my newly written books sat on the coffee table in my parent's den, my father remarked, "Your illustrations and books are ordinary. There's nothing that stands out that makes them amazing. They're just..." (and I hung onto each crippling word) "plain." I was crushed. And with that critical statement from my father, I put down the pen. Approximately 4 years later, during my obsession with Rat (let's be clear--the rock band, not the rodent), I secretly began writing in a notebook crafting stories of how Warren found me so amazing and Robin was madly in love with my best friend, Tiffany. One notebook turned into ten, the pages filled with soap opera-like strife of love and betrayal. I would spend countless hours in my room putting the words that flooded my head onto paper. The notebooks would go into my closet each night to be hidden away from prying eyes. Once the obsession with Rat was over, so was the story writing. Eventually I just considered them clutter, and told myself no one would ever want to read about how a rock star fell in love with an average girl. I tossed them all out and put down the pen once again. During my final year attending Rhode Island College for my Bachelors in Psychology, my parents filed for divorce. Shortly after, the relationship with my boyfriend of 3 years ended as well.  The dusty pen found its way back into my hands and I took my sorrows out on paper. Once I became a wife and mother, it would get put to the wayside for many years...although instead of forgetting about it, I would yearn for it. I would lean more on what others thought I should be doing, all the while knowing that writing was what I was meant to be doing. On October 24, 2005 I took the leap and pressed Publish on A Girl's Gotta Spa! I've never thought of the blog name as just a title. It was (and is) an action phrase, a verb...hence why there is an exclamation point on the end of it (that many print and online publications seem to always leave out.) I grew up in the Calgon, take me away era and A Girl's Gotta Spa! has the same intention. Additionally, it is not Girls Gotta Spa (and to be honest, when people say that, it's like hearing nails on a chalkboard to me.) That indicates that "other girls" need to spa. "A" indicates singularity. And in that singularity, it means YOU. Girl's versus Girls because the apostrophe indicates possession. In the end, each part of A Girl's Gotta Spa! means that you, essentially, are taking ownership over pampering your mind and body. Blogging has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. It has been my creative outlet, it helped me create an income when there was none, it helped me make contacts and develop relationships outside of my tiny town in the Poconos.  Not only has my writing helped me to resonate with others, it helped you to resonate with me. Solving your skin care woes became my passion, and arming you with information about product hype encouraged me to always get to the bottom of those so called "claims." Long or short, each post I write, I carefully think through, like I am speaking with a trusted friend. Just in case you don't know, today I celebrate EIGHT years of beauty blogging. About one year (almost to the day) into blogging, my life would once change again when a NYC PR firm would approach me to work for them. And as I detailed in my About Time post, I doubted myself and my abilities (go read that post, it's really good!)  As we always say in Psychology, fear and doubt come from trauma in our childhood. I truly believe that one moment where my father made me feel like I wasn't good enough set the stage in my mind (along with countless other criticisms from people along the way), that I could never dream big. To that, I now say, "You are only confined by the walls you build for yourself." Instead of allowing the words of others to build me up, I instead put these things called dreams in a box and put them away as the words of others would tear me down. During these eight years of beauty blogging I've been in countless beauty magazines (online and print), I've been on TV, I've spoken at beauty industry conferences, I've been a mentor to new beauty bloggers, I've worked for a top beauty PR firm, I've become a social media consultant, I've helped launch small brands and I've helped large brands grow traction...I've become a mom to four wonderful boys, gotten a divorce, got remarried to my very best friend and finally began to feel comfortable in my own skin. Most of all, I have confidence in my abilities and who I am. Now, in year eight, we have a team of writers (all talented women, in fact), but while they write (and I continue to edit and do reviews too), I'm beginning to shift my focus to something I've wanted to do for a very long time. Have my own bath and body line. (You can check out our Indiegogo campaign.) I'm working very hard behind the scenes (YOU GUYS it is SO much work), but I feel just as much passion about it as I do about writing. While there are many (as in countless) days where I get down on myself and feel like I can't do it or that no one will buy it (except maybe my mom and mother-in-law), I keep reminding myself to dream big. I keep bringing myself back to be that 11 year old girl who desired to dream big and do what she loved. And so, with that, I want to clearly tell you that if you have dreams and aspirations--go for them! Don't let the criticisms of others become obstacles. Don't doubt yourself. Know your worth. Be your own inspiration. Respect your talents. But most of all, dream big and find your way to those dreams no matter how long it takes. Because IT WILL happen. To many more years of beauty blogging (and beauty products!) Thanks for always listening to me, Shannon Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Shannon on G+

I am so insanely excited about Ouidad Curl Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer!  I always feel as though my curls can never be moisturized enough and this product not only hydrates my curls, but also functions as a styling primer, meaning that I can apply it to my hair before other styling products. The Daily Conditioner/Styling Primer has a great scent and the texture is like the most decadently luxurious cream I have ever experienced.  It is really rich and I can feel the difference in my hair right away.  I love that my hair feels really hydrated, but not greasy with this product.  I've noticed that often times when I wear my hair curly, my bangs refuse to hold their curl pattern and instead form a loose wave.  However, with the Ouidad Curl Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer my bangs actually held their curl pattern, which was pretty exciting for me!  I've also used the Styling Primer in my hair before applying my blowout lotion and blow drying it straight and it left my hair really soft and shiny and also smelling delicious!  Just in case you can't tell by my usage of exclamation marks, I absolutely LOVE this product! Have you tried it? Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure

When Spry Living Magazine asked me if myself and two A Girl's Gotta Spa! bloggers would be interested in making over our moms, we didn't hesitate to say yes. Myself, Ashley and Hillary all participated in Spry Living's Take Year's Off Your Looks Instantly (web and print) story and Making Over Mom with tips. Each of our moms had challenges that prevented them from updating their look. My mom had hair loss/thinning hair, sagging skin, etc. all related to bariatric surgery she had two years ago. Ashley's mom has nerve damage and a disability when it comes to the use of her arm. Hillary's mom was nervous since losing all of her hair so long ago (but it has since grown back.) From skin care to hair care to makeup, here's the breakdown of the products used to transformed our moms. Paula (my mom): Thank you to Maureen Barnes, Katie Dietrich and George Serrano-Velez at Breathe Salon and Day Spa Hair: L'Oreal Professional Texture Expert Densite Thickening Primer Fine Hair Primer: Hard Candy Sheer Envy and on eyes Cover FX Anti-Age Smoothing Eye Primer Anti-aging products: Murad Sheer Lustre Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 15, then Freeze 24-7 Instant Targeted Wrinkle Treatment, Anti-Aging Eye Serum, and ArcticLift Firming Neck Cream. Brows: Beauty Never Sleeps Bailey Cosmetics Ombre Camel eye shadow duo Foundation: a mix of 810 and 825 of CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation Concealer: Ben Nye Powder: itcosmetics Anti-Aging Radiance Pressed Illuminating Powder Blush: Beauty Never Sleeps Bailey Cosmetics Universal Blush Eye Shadow: MAC Paint Pot Chilled on Ice, Smashbox Photo Op Enhancing Eye Palette in Softbox and Mirabella Cosmetics Mascara: L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara Lips: MAC Boldly Bare lip pencil and mark Coral Fixation Clothes: JCPenney Read my mom's story: A New Look For A New Body Beth (Ashley's mom): Thank you to Maureen Barnes and David Van Guilder at Breathe Salon and Day Spa. Ashley did her mom's makeup for this makeover! Primer: Hard Candy Sheer Envy and on eyes Cover FX Anti-Age Smoothing Eye Primer Anti-aging products: Freeze 24-7 Instant Targeted Wrinkle Treatment, Anti-Aging Eye Serum, and ArcticLift Firming Neck Cream. Brows: Beauty Never Sleeps Bailey Cosmetics Ombre Camel eye shadow duo Foundation: 810 CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation mixed with MAC N30 Concealer: Ben Nye Powder: itcosmetics Anti-Aging Radiance Pressed Illuminating Powder Blush: MAC Bite of an Apple Eye Shadow: MAC Paint Pot Chilled on Ice, Smashbox Photo Op Enhancing Eye Palettes Smokebox and Softbox Mascara: Maybelline Mega Plush Eyeliner: Maybelline Line Express in Soft Black Highlighter: CoverGirl Champagne eye shadow Bronzer: Sephora Aruba Lips: MAC Boldly Bare lip pencil and Bare Escentuals Buxom in Sugar Clothes and accessories: JCPenney Read Beth's story: Pain-Free Beauty Sue (Hillary's Mom): Hair Color:  L'Oreal Feria Soft Black Hair Treatments & Styling: Joico K-Pak, Moroccan Oil, Rusk w8less plus Hairspray Face: Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Lips: L'Oreal Rouge Absolut Lipstick in Creme de Maron Nails: Julep Freedom Top coat, China Glaze Keep Calm and Paint On mint Green Clothes: Willi Smith at TJMaxx Read Sue's story: From Comfy to Chic Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *affiliate links

Many of you can most likely relate to this scenario.  You have in your minds eye the perfect haircut or color that you think will look just absolutely amazing on you. You go into the salon and think that you do a pretty good job of explaining to your stylist what it is that you desire, but then you leave the salon feeling like somehow something got lost in translation because the cut or color you are leaving the salon with is not exactly what you had pictured.

So what happened? Did you not communicate clearly? Should you have brought in a better picture of what you wanted? Did your stylist think that what you wanted might not have been the best look for you? Maybe none of the above or maybe all three?

Either way, this scenario is all too common and with spring and summer fast approaching, many of you much like myself, will be looking to update your 'do a little...or drastically. In an effort to help our readers better communicate with their hairstylist so that they look and feel their absolute best this spring and summer, we reached out to the industry experts at Salon AKS in New York City for some of their tips on better communication between clients and their hairstylist.

We hope this will also shed some light on what your hairstylist, (if they are a good hairstylist), should consider before cutting and coloring your hair. 

Q:  What do you consider to be the key elements in the communication between client and stylist in achieving a client's desired cut, color or style and why? 
A: The key to great communication between you and your stylist starts by choosing the perfect person for you. If you see someone’s hair that you like, ask them who did it! Recommendations are the best way to find your stylist match. As in any relationship, honesty is the best policy. Be open about what you like and dislike about your hair and what your stylists have done in the past. Explain in detail what you’re looking for, but be open to your stylist’s advice as well. After all – we are the professionals! Listening to each other is key, and we take our time during consultations so that there is clarity in what exactly will be done to ensure your expectations are met.

A: Yes, this is so helpful because sometimes clients have a hard time articulating what they are looking for. We like to start by referencing pictures, and then defining what it is about the hair style that the client really likes. Sometimes it turns out they really don't want the hair style at all, and that they really like the color or the dress she is wearing! A: We encourage clients to always be open to modifying the look. A good stylist knows that every haircut should be tailored to the client’s face shape, size and skin color and it should accentuate their best features – so it is important to trust them. A: We always ask how much time the client is willing to put into their style. When someone tells me that they have no time for styling, I say a new look is exactly what they need. Not every style has to be high maintenance. It’s a win-win when we can choose a color and style for a client that when it grows out, it still looks great on them.

A: At Salon AKS, we train our staff to have a fine-tuned vision of the most flattering style for each client during the consultation phase. We account for all variables, including bone structure, height, body frame, hair texture, etc. so we can highlight the most flattering elements of each client.  We team up a stylist and colorist to consult on the client’s dry hair and take their time doing so, to also see exactly how that client’s hair grows out after each cut. We feel it is important to have two sets of eyes focusing on one look, and pride ourselves on providing the ultimate look for each client, knowing that consistency is key!

Salon A·K·S has been providing professional salon services in NYC  for 15 years.  They combine a relaxed, downtown attitude with uptown cutting-edge techniques and styles performed by the best stylists in NYC.  

In addition to having the best stylist and best colorists in NYC  and offering the best keratin and Brazilian blowouts in New York City.our full service beauty salon also offers eyebrow, makeup, and nail services as well as bridal services.  You can visit their website at http://salonaks.com/ or call 212-888-0707 to book an appointment. 

 

My favorite beauty treatments are those that I can create myself with ingredients from my own kitchen.  Creating my own beauty treatments makes me feel good about what I am putting on my skin because I know exactly where the ingredients came from and I know that they won't harm my skin.

This morning my sister greeted me at her door with bright, glowing, soft skin sans makeup.  And since my sister is a walking  beauty encyclopedia, I had to know what got her skin looking so amazing.  Turns out it was her own concoction of coffee grounds, honey and lemon. The coffee grounds exfoliates the skin, functions as an anti-inflammatory and contains antioxidants.  The honey is a really great  moisturizer and leaves skin feeling soft and supple.  The lemon brightens skin and minimizes the look of pores while getting rid of oil.  I applied the exfoliating mask to my skin and left it on for fifteen minutes.  When I was ready to remove the mask, I applied a bit of water to my face and gently massaged my skin in a circular motion to exfoliate with the coffee grounds, then rinsed my face.  The mask rinses away easily and cleanly.  My face immediately felt softer and smoother and it looked great.  It was clearer and brighter and best of all the mask took about two minutes to make and all of the ingredients can be found in the kitchen. Have you tried making a DIY mask at home? I'd love to hear your recipe! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!     *Disclosure

We're heading into the colder months, which typically means making the switch from highlighted hair to warmer tones. My natural hair color is dark brown, but typically I lighten or highlight it in the summer months. Being that it is only 6 weeks until Christmas, getting my hair colored at the salon was not in my wallet's vocabulary, so I opted to color my hair at home. I made my way to CVS and decided upon John Frieda's Precision Foam Colour. I went with 4BG  (Dark Chocolate Brown.)

My highlighted hair before, colored immediately after and results 1 week later.

I have to say, I don't typically read the warnings on home hair coloring kits because I have been coloring my hair since I was 13 and they typically all say the same thing. However, I noticed John Frieda's included some things I have never seen before like you need to remove all accessories you are wearing and cannot use metal tools. Since there seems to be an issue with metal, I assumed that the accessories they meant were jewelry.  So I removed my earrings.

It also says you shouldn't use this product if you have a temporary black Henna tattoo, as it is likely to increase an allergy risk. If you wear contacts, you need to remove them also...however I'm not sure how you could put on your glasses since you can't have metal around. If you've colored your hair previously with compound hennas, metallic dyes or color restorers you have to wait until your hair has grown out and then cut. And don't try to put the foam on your eyelashes or eyebrows because it may cause blindness.

So, basically, by the time I was done reading that I was freaked out. Then I went on to read how to mix the product. It says you cannot shake the mix (you need to gently tilt it 5 times,) you cannot use the pump but instead have to squeeze the bottle to make the foam come out of the pump...which is psychologically confusing because you are holding a bottle with a pump...that you cannot pump. The bottle needs to remain upright at all times and you can only apply the foam to your hands first (in gloves of course) and not directly onto your hair. So basically I felt I was going to mess this up big time.

Application was tricky because the instructions state that you cannot get the foam on your face or ears at all. My hair is shoulder length, so good luck with that Shannon! Trying to prevent the foam from touching my skin, while trying to keep the bottle upright and not pump it was like playing a game of Twister.  

Additionally your hair needs to be "frothy" with foam in order to be "done." Ok, guess what? Foam evaporates or absorbs into your hair. Especially if you have long-ish hair and are trying to make sure you get each section equally. Wait time from this point is 30 minutes. I rinsed my hair, applied the conditioner, rinsed that out after 3 minutes and then blew it dry. I was pleasantly surprised with the color. I loved it. Tweeted about it. My 7 year old snapped my pic for me and I was happy I was still alive with great looking hair.

Fast forward 1 week and while my hair is still brown, as you can see from the picture...the color has significantly faded. Ugh. I do not wash my hair everyday, in fact I usually only wash it every other day. I also used sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, so I know it wouldn't have been the culprit to strip my hair color. I also hadn't washed my hair 24 hours before applying the foam as the instructions stated and I did not have any product build-up to prevent the color from adhering. So was it worth it to save myself the $60-$75 of coloring my hair at the salon? Not really. Have you used John Frieda's Precision Foam? I'd like to hear about your experience (good or bad.)

Guest post from The Spa at Ravella located at Ravella at Lake Las Vegas:

Cooler weather can lead to dry, flaky skin. Here are two tips from The Spa at Ravella, one for a spa visit and one for at home, to help keep skin soft and supple until warmer weather returns!

Next time you splurge on a spa treatment, The Spa at Ravella recommends choosing a facial treatment that uses serums or enzymes. You can talk to a spa professional when booking a treatment and discuss further with your skin therapist once you arrive.

Serums provide a powerful dose of nutrients and bioactive ingredients that penetrate deep into the layers of your skin much farther than moisturizers can, and work intensely to bring oil and hydration into balance, strengthen your skin, increase visible firmness and give a youthful glow.

Enzymes help slough away dead skin cells and encourage cellular growth, leaving the skin feeling great and looking dewy and bright. For similar results at home, The Spa at Ravella suggests creating a pumpkin enzyme mask; just mix left over pumpkin pulp with an egg, apply to face and let sit for 6 - 8 minutes. Tingling is normal, but if feels strong less time may be needed.

Pumpkin is a strong exfoliant that brings the blood to the surface of the skin creating a detoxifying effect. The lecithin from the egg yolk will tighten the skin while the enzymes in the blend will stimulate cellular growth, allowing skin to look its best.

We'd love to hear if you try it!

For dry skin body care, don't forget A Girl's Gotta Spa! natural bath and body products.

  When I first heard about Shellac, UV and LED gel manicures, I was over the moon excited. I could finally have polish on my nails sans chipping and polish peeling for more than 3 days and all without having to apply fake nails. In August, while at Cosmoprof, I received an awesome manicure from CND in Hot Pop Pink (pictured below.) The manicure took just as long as having acrylic nails or wraps put on (an hour) and the result looked just as amazing. I remarked to the manicurist just how gorgeous her own nails looked, as they were long and it didn't even appear to be naturally her own. She told me they were and that wearing the Shellac helped her achieve the length. I believed her, until my own experience has led me to believe otherwise. My CND Shellac lasted me 3 weeks. I was ecstatic. I applied CND's SolarOil to my cuticles and under the tips of my nails on a daily basis as instructed by the manicurist. My nails had grown a bit during this time and I was excited to go for round two of another CND Shellac at my local salon. This time I went for a French manicure CND Shellac. My nails were finally long enough to adorn some white tips and I was stoked. I went about applying the SolarOil again daily, but this time it only took 3 days for one of my nails to peel and the Shellac to come off. Day 4, one of my nails broke and it became clear how brittle my nails were becoming. By day 5, all of my nails were either peeling (the nail itself, not the polish) or breaking.  

Pros and Cons of Shellac and UV Gel Manicures: http://t.co/1C9RqsWdCJ pic.twitter.com/nOw1OpmR50 — A Girl's Gotta Spa! (@agirlsgottaspa) April 2, 2015

Looking at my very soft, peeling nails, I decided to not apply any polish at all for 2 weeks, but continued to put the SolarOil on them. But sadly, they didn't seem to recover. In the meantime, I had been sent the complete Red Carpet Manicure LED Starter Kit and as I was about to have my first television appearance, I knew my nails had to look amazing. So I used the kit, which comes complete with a portable LED light and is a DIY home LED manicure kit. Colors were gorgeous, time was still about 1 hour to complete the manicure and I used their Revitalize cuticle oil daily. But by day 3, my nails were peeling and even more brittle. I now had stubs for nails (even shorter than pictured above.) Finally I asked fellow friends in the salon business and fellow bloggers if they experienced the same of gel manicures, and it was a resounding yes. Pros: Manicure can potentially last up to 3 weeks No chipping Manicure is instantly dry upon last UV go round Mirror finish (nails look wet, but aren't) Can DIY and look just as amazing as at the salon Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous Cons: Very drying to your nails Repeated application (without a breather) will result in brittle and peeling nails Wear time gets less and less with each application If you don't apply the cuticle oil daily, your nails will dry out a lot quicker Costs add up, especially if the manicure doesn't last 2-3 weeks CND Shellac requires it's own Remover Wraps According to some doctors, the UV lamps can cause skin cancer (but the jury is still out on this) So it appears that, at least for me, a CND Shellac or UV gel manicure will only happen for special events (like holidays, TV appearances, events) and cannot be worn all of the time. Unless I want to continue having man hands with my stubby nails. In the meantime, I will be in nail re-cooperation with Qtica's Cuticle Repair Balm and Qtica Nail Growth Stimulator to regain my length.  I'd love to hear from you: what has your experience been with UV gel manicures? Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Shannon on G+ *Disclosure: affiliate links

"O.M.G...omg omg omg omg!"  I shrilled in my most 12 year old voice ever when I accidently came upon an incoming link from SHAPE Magazine naming A Girl's Gotta Spa! a Top 20 Best Beauty Blog. I practically hyperventilated, then I called my boyfriend and then I told my friends also mentioned on the list. An email into SHAPE confirmed that I indeed was put on their list after being named by some of their readers as their favorite beauty blog. WOW and holy freakin cow. And I am SUPER excited! Because you know what? A Girl's Gotta Spa! turns 6 on October 24th! What better way to celebrate than to be given this accolade! But it doesn't stop there, SHAPE is asking that of the 20 of us mentioned, YOU vote for ONE as the BEST. I'd like to hope and pray that my readers would choose me. (And tell their friends to vote for me, who tell their friends to vote for me...and so on!) I have some pretty stiff competition. I am among a really incredible bunch and let me even say that my friend Kathryn of The Budget Fashionista is in there. Can I even begin to tell you how BEYOND that is for me? To even be named in the same category of fabulousness as her? Stick a fork in me, I'm done! Holy smokes! So here is what I need you to do: Click on the link to vote A Girl's Gotta Spa! as Best Beauty Blog. Then click the link that says "Vote for this blog!" It will bring up a voting form and then just click A Girl's Gotta Spa! And that's it! No registration is needed and you can only vote once. Voting ends on Oct. 28th. If I make it as one of the 6 finalists (there are 6 categories, not only beauty) then I would win a $100 American Express Gift Card (which honestly I don't plan to keep if I win it, but will instead gift it to a needy family here in Northeast PA), but if I am selected as the grand prize winner of the 6, then I have the opportunity to shoot a paid video series to be launched on Shape.com. (DUDE I totally want that!) Thanks in advance for voting for me and thank you to whoever the SHAPE readers were who nominated me to begin with! xoxo ~Shannon

Everyone loves to be indulged and to feel exceptional. Going to a spa can not only relax painful muscles but it can also relieve tension. While going to the spa can be nice, it is also expensive. Some people may be apprehensive about their budgets and spending money on a day at the spa may not be feasible. An alternative is to pamper yourself with an at home spa day. With these five simple steps, you can release your stress and calm your tender muscles, all without the high price tag. Here are a few guidelines to turn your home spa into a reality: 1. Taking a long, hot bath can be super relaxing. It can ease the muscles and provide a bit of rejuvenation. By slipping some lavender oil or bath salts into the water, you can wash your troubles away. Try putting an eye mask on, either hot or cold, as you soak. A bath pillow can also provide a great way to lounge in the tub. By lighting candles surrounding the tub, it creates ambiance and makes you want to linger. Another great tip: have someone throw your robe in the dryer for a few minutes. The warm robe feels wonderful after the bath! 2. Music can provide a peaceful calm after a long hard day. Put on some soft easy listening music and light some candles. Put your feet up with a glass of wine. Most spas concentrate on music and scents to create the mood for relaxation. Have a spouse rub your feet while listening to relaxing tunes. A foot rub is a great way to relieve pressure and can actually stop a headache. This is a great way to create a relaxing atmosphere in your own home, for free. 3. Getting a massage from a partner is another effective way to just diminish cares. Using essential oils and lotions, a massage can work out all those kinks in the neck and back and make you feel like a million bucks. Working essential oils such as lavender, Chamomile or Neroli into your skins can simply relax every bone in your body. 4. Doing home facial treatments, like mud masks or scrubs, are just the way to make your face feel fresh and clean. Spas focus on expensive mud treatments and body scrubs, for the ultimate poor cleansing and relaxation. Most of these products can be purchased at any beauty section in your local department store or even at your local drugstore. Mud masks come in many different types. For example, you can try a deep sea mud or a mud with honey, the choices are unlimited. 5. Manicures and pedicures keep a women looking fresh and coiffed. By trimming and painting nails it enhances a woman’s feeling of beauty. Pick a magnificent color to go with the seasons for a hip look. Manicures can be expensive to have done professionally, but cost little for you to do on your own. All you need is a simple nail file, some clippers, a beautiful nail polish and some time. The most important thing in creating your spa day is to make sure you are not interrupted. Let the relatives, friends, and especially the kids, know this is personal time. Turn off cell phones, TV’s, and all devices that can disrupt your perfect day. Everyone deserves to have a day of pampering, but who wants to spend hundreds of dollars, when it can be done for nearly nothing? By gathering a few basic items and clearing off a section of time, it can be possible to make your home a spa in a matter of minutes. About the author: Carleen Coulter publishes the beauty blog Beauty and Fashion Tech, including the popular buyer's guide on at home laser hair removal, with reviews of the top devices.