"If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." - Fred Devito

This week has been a tough one for me. I've struggled in week two with stress, anxiety and wicked cravings for chocolate. All women know "that week" once a month where we become an emotional mess, which always leads me down the path of feeling depressed about how I look and burying those feelings in ice cream and cake. But not this time. This time I simply...struggled. I didn't give into the cravings, which essentially made me feel like I was crawling out of my skin. Throw in my youngest son being diagnosed with Lyme Disease and my ex-MIL passing away, and it was a week frought with stress. I can feel that my size large shirts are becoming looser. But I beat myself up looking at the scale. Like it's taunting me. My weight fluctuated all week long. At first I had lost 2.5 pounds this week on Nutrisystem, only to end up gaining it back (even though I continued to eat the way I should.) Thank goodness for friends like Teri from Beautiful Makeup Search, who is also on the Nutrisystem weight loss program. I would email her about my struggles, about how I was putting myself to bed early just to avoid raiding the refrigerator, etc. That's also how I discovered that my shipment had come with an old Daily Planner that showed that a Nutrisystem dessert was to be eaten as an afternoon and evening snack. She directed me to the awesome app Nutrisystem has (free) and that not only showed that a SmartCarb should be eaten for the afternoon snack, but how many calories I'm taking in per day, a list of grocery items that fit into PowerFuel and SmartCarb, as well as logging my exercise, weight, measurements, etc. The app is super helpful! I'm glad I toughed it out through the cravings, but it definitely showed me that anxiety and stress play a major factor in my comfort food snacking. I would definitely love to hear your suggestions on how to make it through this without going crazy. So in week two, no weight was lost, however when logging my measurements into the Nutrisystem app this morning I realized that I have lost 8 inches since I started. While I know I should be thrilled, I'm still disappointed not seeing the pounds drop off when I am eating a much lower calorie count, exercising and eating healthier than ever before. What have your weight loss challenges been so far and how have you overcome them? Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog. 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: Sponsored

I like a simply smoky eye. So for this summer smoky eye how to, I'll tell you in 6 easy steps how I created a great daytime smoky eye that I was literally able to do in under 5 minutes.

Products used: Urban Decay Primer Potion, CoverGirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in Lime Green Flame and Crystal Flame, CoverGirl Flamed Out Eye Shadow Pot in Molten Black, CoverGirl Liquiline Blast in Black Fire and Revlon Lash Potion. 

1. Apply Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion from the bottom of the lid up to above the crease. (I used Eden.)

2. Apply CoverGirl's Flamed Out Eye Pencil in Crystal Flame from the inner corner of your eye across your lid, then use your pinky to blend out the color. (Otherwise you'll have some white patches that are darker than others.)

3. Apply CoverGirl's Flamed Out Lime Green Flame Eye Pencil in a V formation starting from the middle of your lid moving outward to your longest lashes. Make sure to get into your crease when making the V, then blend with your pinky finger.

4. Using a makeup brush, apply CoverGirl's Flamed Out Eye Shadow Pot in Molten Black in your crease and blending it upwards and out towards the outer part of your eye area.

5. Apply CoverGirl's Liquiline Blast Eye Liner in Black Fire along your lash line. For day, I chose not to blend it, but for a great transition to night, you can smudge it and even add in some flare of a cat eye.

6. Apply your favorite mascara. I had Revlon Lash Potion handy, so that's what was used here.

Whether or not you use a brow pen is up to you, I used TouchBack BrowMarker in Medium Brown (not shown.)

Voila! That's it. Super easy, quick and simple.

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

Nothing is more exciting than watching the weight come off. Even better is knowing that your weight loss is as a result of committing to a healthier lifestyle. Today is check-in day for me. I started Nutrisystem one week ago with the goal of losing 43 pounds. I'll tell you at the end of this post how much weight I lost (the suspense!) What I really want to do is share some tips for those thinking of also starting Nutrisystem (or similar weight loss program.) Don't Run Away From Your Favorites I absolutely know that whether I am on Nutrisystem or off it, chocolate and frozen treats will always be a part of my life. So trying to avoid it would be futile and would most likely cause me to cheat, which I don't want to do. When writing out my meals in my Daily Planner, I make sure to include a Nutrisystem chocolate dessert for my afternoon snack. Typically I'd indulge in some sort of chocolateness around 2:30 everyday, so it only made sense to continue this, but replace the fatty high calorie version with Nutrisystem's perfectly portioned snacks. Some initial favorites are the Peppermint Cookie, and Thin Mint Crisp Bar. You may also remember that I mentioned eating ice cream religiously every night. I still can (and do) with the Fudge Bar, Ice Cream Sandwich and even the Red Velvet Whoopie Pie (which comes frozen.) All are to die for. Speaking of 2:30 chocolate snack, something I found this week is that by eating the right foods throughout the day helps me maintain a consistent energy and avoid that afternoon slump (which is probably why I would typically eat chocolate to get my blood sugar racing again.) Surprisingly, I never ran out of energy at all this past week. Plan the Food in Your Meals as You Normally Would It's easy to look at the list of Power Fuels and Smart Carbs Nutrisystem lists in the Daily Planner and randomly assign them to your meals. If it seems like an odd match now, it just won't flow when you're off the program. So I chose to make those items fit into the ideal meal. For example, for lunch one day I had the Chicken & Cheese Quesadilla knowing I needed a smart carb and power fuel to go along with it...and squeeze in a serving of veggies. So I sliced up some yellow peppers to eat and also diced some of the slices to add into the quesadilla, added a small amount of lowfat vanilla yogurt and a side of pineapple and papaya to offset the spicy with sweet. The same went for dinner one night when I had the Ginger Cashew Chicken. I chose to pair it with Soy Nuts mixed into the rice and a slice of pita bread. If the complete meal makes sense, it becomes easier to create the correct food pairings that are healthy. Be Ready for Stomach Issues If this is TMI for you, skip to the end, but it's worth the warning. If you are transitioning from being a junk food junkie (me) to a diet high in fiber, be ready for your digestive system to curse you (but then gently tell it that it'll all be worth it in the end.) By day 2, I realized pretty quickly I needed to aid my stomach a bit and quickly acquired Beano. I also plan to take Acidophilus, which you can get at any drugstore, and it is a great probiotic to help with digestive health. Eat Your "Dine Out/Take Meals" When You Normally Would Friday night in my house is always take out night. Typically it would mean Burger King or Pizza. The same goes for Saturday nights when my kids are with their dad and my husband and I are here alone (our favorite is Chinese food.) So last Friday I ate the Italian Herb Flatbread Pizza and Saturday night was the Ginger Cashew Chicken. That way my family doesn't have to feel restricted to my change of diet and I don't have to feel like I'm missing out on my usual non-cooking nights. You Won't Like Everything and That's OK Just as there are foods I am not fond of no matter what (green beans) and I typically don't like overly-saucy meals (mainly those with red sauce), there will be meals from Nutrisystem that you just won't like. There's already a few I know I won't order again, but then there are others where I said out loud "How did I not ever eat this before?! It is SO good!" If you want a heads up, the Fettucini Alfredo is outstanding! And now for my 1-week weight loss: 3.5 pounds! So I started off at 173.5 and now I'm 170. I'm so excited to start this new week knowing that by the end I'll FINALLY be under 170! I hope you are learning along the way as I am! Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog. 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: Sponsored

Five years ago my step-mom, Cindy Crino’s, life changed in an instant. One moment she was a successful science teacher in Hawaii, the next moment she was trapped in a school elevator that crashed three floors down, damaging her spine and spirit. Since that dreadful day in 2008 Cindy’s life path changed forever more as the accident caused permanent disability. No longer able to afford their home, they lost everything they had with the exception of their environmentally friendly cars. Five fighting years later in June 2013 it was those cars that helped them to make their way back to a much-needed family support system on the east coast. I remember visiting my dad and step-mom prior to her accident and, per usual, Cindy looked put-together and displayed a jolly spirit. However, when she arrived to my home this past June 2013 after spending five years in what she calls “the wilderness” of Utah (the first nearest spot they could afford to get to on the mainland after Hawaii) the toll of chronic pain, mild mobility impairment, and still needing to be a caregiver herself was apparent. My arms wrapped around her with a verbal reminder that she was now safe at home, as the tears streamed down our faces. This week a cleanly designed recycled bag of AVEDA's Heart Lands limited edition makeup line for AW13 arrived at my home. I opened the bag with excitement only to be moved by a clearly defined mission statement,

“Our mission at Aveda is to care for the world we live in, from the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society. At Aveda, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world.”

As an Americorps NCCC alumni and a nurse who believes strongly in treating body, mind, and spirit to achieve well-being and beauty, AVEDA's mission truly grasps the concept of beauty being more than just skin deep. As I scanned through their history, their open descriptions of natural ingredients used in their products, and their obvious vision for promoting holistic care and positive community impact I couldn’t help but be inspired to help transfer AVEDA’s bag of well-being to be that of Cindy’s. Products used: AVEDA Petal Essense Eyeshadow = Lid 991/Antique gold, Crease 989/hyacinth & 990/bronze patina, Outer and lower lid 986/dusk orchid, eye contour 992/juniper, lips lip liner 923/plum petals, lip glaze 921/honeytree My 20 minute makeover using AVEDA’s petal essence and nourish-mint makeup products from the Heart Lands collection on Cindy did wonders…note not only the obvious difference of her finished hair and makeup, but more importantly, the brightness of life that invigorates her smile and lights up her face. I loved turning her around to see her reaction! Cindy said, “Oh my word, oh my word! It is beautiful. I AM beautiful. I think I forgot how to care for myself over these years, but now I see it’s just a little bit of time to help me feel amazing!” It was also funny to me that Cindy noted (without reading my last post Quick Ways to Subside Caregiver Role Strain), “You know Courtney, one of the things that I noticed is that no matter what you have going on you take a little time to care for yourself and keep yourself looking nice. It makes me realize I can do the same too. I don’t have to let myself go anymore.” Were you inspired today? Please share, we LOVE to hear from you and pass along that inspiration to others! 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! Courtney on G+.

Diet. It's truly an ugly word. To me, it means something that is short term. My goal when deciding to do the Nutrisystem weight loss program was to attain both short term and long term goals. In essence, a lifestyle change. This is my first week (I officially began on Monday July 29: You Had Me at Weight Loss Nutrisystem) and I can honestly say I've learned a lot so far. I'll give you my weigh in on Monday (and yes, only a few days and I've lost weight!) but for now I just wanted to share some things I have learned in just a few short days. Organization I've never been one for meal planning or even charting what I eat. When I received my first shipment of pantry and frozen meals I was overwhelmed. Not to mention, I still had to go shop for grocery items (veggies, fruit, etc.) The Daily Planner that Nutrisystem provides is a lifesaver. It helps me to breakdown (and plan in advance) what my meals each day will be, my smart carbs, power fuels, veggies, how often I'm drinking water and exercising. My household has 5 other people in it (my 4 boys and husband), so it was important to me (and my sanity) to plan my dinner meals along with what they'll be eating. I figure this will help me to feel normalized when eating. For example, I planned one night lasagna for me and lasagna for them, grilled chicken for me, grilled chicken for them. I believe this will help my mindset for when I've met my weight loss goal and resume non-Nutrisystem foods and allowing myself to realize I can eat small, healthy portions of what the rest of the family is eating. Knowing in advance what is considered a smart carb (fruit, berries, whole grain, etc.) and a power fuel (eggs, nut butters, nuts, lowfat yogurt, 1% milk, etc.) is also helpful when at the market. It really helped me to focus in on what I needed to buy and made me pay more attention to the produce aisle. Scheduling Along the lines of organization, learning a new way to live healthy also requires scheduling things! I work from home, so my schedule is fluid. In a typical day I would eat breakfast (typically a very large bowl of Kelloggs cereal) and then snack and snack until dinner time (and those snacks were anything but healthy...I'm looking at you chocolate.) Then around 9 or so, I would indulge in a bowl of ice cream (many times accompanied by a warm brownie/cookie/piece of cake.) On the Nutrisystem weight loss plan you have plenty of opportunities to eat (6 times a day!) and they have ice cream, muffins and other delicious goods to consume so that you're not craving them and go on a binge. I found that using the Daily Planner and scheduling in my meals, water consumption and exercise has helped me tremendously with time management and making sure I am eating the way I am truly supposed to. Smaller Portions, Eating More Often When people think diet, they automatically think about what is being taken away from them. That's why this is a lifestyle change not a diet. Nutrisystem has shown me in just a few short days that I can literally remain full all day by eating more often, just in smaller portion sizes. I honestly was nervous that I would be starving, but that hasn't been the case. Even to the point that it has been difficult to get in 4 servings of veggies per day because I am honestly too full to eat another bite! I'd love to hear from you if you are doing Nutrisystem or are trying to lose weight yourself. What are some things you are learning along the way? Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog. 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: Sponsored

When I was younger I would always say, "If I get to X weight, then I'll go on a diet." "X" would always vary based on what was going on at the time. I always had a cap weight though. 170 lbs. I'm only 5'1" and knew that this was too much weight for me. I recall with my 4th son I reached 170 during my pregnancy. I gave myself the excuse that I was pregnant and that it would go away once he was born..and some of it did, but not all of course. People would try to say nice things like, "Well you did have 4 kids, so of course you'll be out of shape and have some weight on." At some point full length mirrors disappeared from my house. One summer I took up walking around the lake in front of my house with my friend Barb. I loved having a friend to chat with (I hate doing things alone, I get super bored.) We walked religiously 6 nights a week, first just doing one time around (1 mile) and eventually we built it up to 2-3 laps a night. Before the summer was over, I had lost 25 pounds and looked and felt great. But then life got in the way, and being a single mom didn't warrant time for me to do anything for myself anymore. I maintained that lesser weight for a while and it was only in the last two years that I began to gain it back. And as of my wedding, I weighed in at 173 and my mind went back to that young girl who told herself 170 was way too much. I look at the pictures of myself and often refer to myself the way I felt that day: Porky Pig. I remember when I was about 20 and weighed 125 pounds that my doctor told me I was obese. She said that someone of my height should only be 100 pounds. So imagine my mindset at just being shy of 39 years old and 173 pounds. I feel like if that doctor saw me now she'd be having me scheduled for bariatric surgery. Over the years I've watched some of my blogger friends try Nutrisystem (#NSnation) and successfully lose the weight (and keep it off.) Of course, there are the ones that struggled too (and that's OK, we all struggle at some point.) I'm most inspired by my friend Nancy of Beauty411 who lost 100 pounds on Nutrisystem. She has been in maintenance mode for a while now and is a great resource. What is odd to me is that I am a size 10 still in my jeans and a size 12 in dresses. Most of my weight is in my chest...but I've always been big busted, and in my stomach. OK, and maybe my butt too. Yet, even when I weighed 125 I was a size 10, so I'm confused how my weight can vary so much yet still be the same clothing size. I know that realistically there is no way I could get myself to 100 pounds and maintain it. And quite honestly, I think that would look just as unhealthy as 173. So I've set a realistic goal for me of 130. And even 43 pounds sounds overwhelming to me, but I'm motivated to learn to eat healthy and incorporate more exercise into my life. I also want to be happy with what I look like, and I am oh so unhappy right now. I don't look at Nutrisystem as a diet though, but more like helping me to understand (and stick to) portion control. Let's be honest here, those words haven't been in my vocabulary up to this point. My husband mentioned putting a full length mirror on the back of the door in the bedroom and I cringed...but I'm hoping at some point to be ready to say OK. So I hope you'll follow my weight loss journey over the next couple of months; I'll be starting in the next week once my shipment arrives and will be posting weekly about my progress. I hope you'll leave me encouraging comments here or on Facebook, and tweet me @agirlsgottaspa. I'll need all of the positivity I can get! Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog. 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: Sponsored

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

One of the most under-protected parts of your body when it comes to sun exposure, is your lips. I'm definitely guilty of applying lip gloss regularly, most without SPF, which is like a big UV magnet. Anyone willing to admit the same?

Let's face it once summer arrives, for us naturally curly haired girls, there is absolutely no use in trying to battle with what our hair naturally wants to do...which is to suck up the summer humidity and curl to its utmost content.  And why would you even want to spend precious time indoors trying to battle with your hair anyway when you could just wash, apply a bit of product and just go enjoy summer in all of its glory? I plan on spending most of my time at the pool or on the beach and the last thing I want to worry about while partaking in is frizzy straight hair that wants to go curly or weird, crunchy, "jheri curled" looking hair.  So in an effort to embrace my natural texture but still have soft, smooth curls, I decided to give Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls a try. First of all I went weak in the knees by the scent of this product.  I am a huge fan of clean, fresh scents...especially during the warmer months and this product has the most amazing clean, fresh but still feminine scent--exactly how I would want my hair to smell...all of the time!  I followed the suggested application process, which stated that I should squeeze a quarter size of Jelly Soft Curls into my palms and apply it section to a section of my damp (not wet) curls.  I loved that this styling gel never felt sticky or tacky in my palms during the application process.  I actually took a gamble with this product using it a few hours before a photo shoot and I was ecstatic with the results.  For the shoot I had curls that were bouncy, shiny, soft and full of movement.  My curls never went limp or got crunchy and frizzy.  This was my first time trying Miss Jessie's products and I am definitely a fan and cannot wait to try a few of her other products.  Needless to say I shall be embracing and reveling in my natural curls all summer long!

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

One of the many reasons I love living in the Poconos, is that there are a variety of things to do. Since the area is a popular tourist attraction, especially now that the Jersey Shore is still being rebuilt, there's not too much you CAN'T do in Northeast PA. Back in 1998, Mount Airy Lodge was the location chosen for my honeymoon with my first marriage. Unfortunately it did not live up to expectations when it came to cleanliness, activities and overall impressiveness (and I'm sure my ex-husband would agree.) Soon the Lodge became an eyesore and an undesirable place until the DeNaples family were given a gaming license and completely demolished the old Mount Airy Lodge and crafted an amazing luxury experience that is now Mount Airy Casino Resort. The transformation is amazing. The resort is continuing to transform as it adds outdoor cabanas and a pool to their luxury spa. I recently had the opportunity to stay for a weekend with my fiance. This is my review:  Mount Airy Casino Hotel: The hotel at Mount Airy Casino is stunning. As soon as you walk into this AAA Four Diamond Award hotel, the air smells of vanilla. I loved it because casinos and the smell of cigarette smoke typically go hand and hand. This was refreshing, especially seeing that the casino entrance was just above check-in. There is an elegant waterfall feature in the center of the lobby with sparkling blue lights to illuminate the water and a seating area to the left and right. On the right hand side there is this amazing art design of fire, giving the illusion of a roaring fireplace. Just down the hall from the hotel elevator is the entrance to the spa. We stayed on the 5th floor and our room had a gorgeous view of the 18-hole championship golf course across the street. Even when laying on the posh bedding, you could still see the hillside of lush greenery and the well-maintained course. All rooms are non-smoking, although that didn't keep the person staying in the room next to us from smoking in the hallway. The rooms are spacious and the bathroom was luxe. It was very quiet with the exception of a few enthusiastic guests in the middle of the night discussing their winnings in the casino as they strode down our hallway. If you place the do not disturb sign outside your room during the day, housekeeping respects your privacy and won't come in. They do leave a note hanging on your door that if you want them to come back, they will.

Le Sorelle Cucina: This is Mount Airy Casino's luxury Italian Restaurant. It only opens at 5pm and requires a reservation.  The interior design and artwork depict the DeNaples mother and sister's in paintings, as well as the DeNaples family crest. The DeNaples name may come with a bit of controversy in our area, however, you can't help but appreciate the warm, friendly and family atmosphere of Le Sorelle Cucina. A variety of warm rolls and drinks are served immediately, appetizers (Insalta Caprese and Roasted Beet Salad) came out about 20 minutes later and dinner arrived approximately 1 hour after being seated (Chicken Parmesan and Pan Seared Day Boat Scallops). The food was out of this world and delicious. The serving size was generous. However, it did seem the 40 minute wait from when we received our appetizers (which only took 5-10 minutes to eat) until dinner was served was a little too long. We had two waiters, who were very friendly and attentive throughout our meal. Betty's Diner: This is Mount Airy Casino's 50's style diner. It has a jukebox playing duwop (and a lot of Cher) at the front of the restaurant, as well as a poster-sized picture of the old Mount Airy Lodge. The photo is a reminder of the stark contrast of old and new. The diner is open 24 hours and is affordable to most guests. We ate breakfast here, which was delicious with an attentive waitress, but food here also took a while to receive (although less time than Le Sorelle.) Portion size is good and we left feeling full. Red Steakhouse: This luxury steakhouse has an incredibly decadent feel to it. Upon entering, there is a piano to the right of you with live entertainment on Friday's and Saturday's that can be heard throughout the restaurant. Since Red Steakhouse and Le Sorelle Cucina are adjacent to each other, they share a lobby with a bar separating the two. While both restaurants themselves are completely separated, there is this amazing 10-person room, with frosted glass doors on either side that can be reserved, in the back center of the restaurants. Guests who reserve it, can choose from the menu of either restaurant. Additionally, there is another private room off to the back right that has a curtain that can be used to make the room more private. There was a bachelorette party going on in this room while we dined there. (Bachelorette parties were a common theme during our stay with many happy brides-to-be on the casino floor, and hosting private parties in the hotel rooms.) Dinner begins with warm rolls, butter and a hummus red pepper spread. My fiance ordered the Classic Cesar Salad as an appetizer, but I chose to skip an appetizer here. The steakhouse was very busy on the evening we ate there and it took 1 hour 15 minutes from the time we sat down and ordered until we received our meal, while we had two people waiting on us, only one was really attentive. We both ordered Filet Mignon, which was mouthwatering and cooked to perfection. I had a side of asparagus (delicious!), baked potato (literally the largest potato I have ever seen) and roasted wild mushrooms (out of this world in a sauce that tasted almost sweet and cinnamony.) He chose to get steak fries as his side, which paralleled the size of my baked potato. For dessert, he chose the cheese cake and I had the chocolate mousse pyramid. Both desserts were decadent. The resort has other places to eat as well, such as the Noodle Bar, Starbucks and the Buffet. So you are not without options for the type of food or price range. Spa & Salon: My favorite place of all (of course!) The spa and salon is open to both resort guests and non-guests. The first level of the spa consists of a boutique, hair and nail salon and top of the line fitness center. You take the elevator to the bottom level where you'll find a gorgeous waiting room with a water feature, the steamroom, sauna, changing rooms, showers, bathrooms and women's lounge. The air is scented and you feel immediately relaxed.

I chose the Bamboo Massage with Allison. I was in heaven with the amount of pressure Allison used (medium to deep), as my neck and upper back are always in constant pain from working at my desk all day. You are given the option to include aromatherapy into your massage and I chose Purification, which is an oil from Young Living. First Allison uses her hands to massage one quadrant of your body, then repeats the massage using bamboo sticks. The ends of the bamboo sticks are covered with fabric so that it doesn't hurt you. The bamboo provides a much stronger and deeper massage than Allison does manually. She was very accommodating when it came  using a lighter pressure for a few sensitive spots (like my neck and the underside of my knee.) This type of spa treatment is definitely for those who do like a stronger, more aggressive massage. (Which I do.) I would definitely return in the future and request Allison for another massage!

Mount Airy offers a variety of spa treatments, some unique and some traditional. 18-hole Golf Course:

Just across from the hotel and casino are the stunning grounds of the Mount Airy golf course. While my fiance loves to play golf, it was only my second time hitting the links. On this particular day, there was a charity golf event scheduled in the afternoon, so guests and non-guests were trying to squeeze in a round of golf prior to kick off. (That included us.) This meant that due to so many people on the course, that we had to be paired up with another party. While the guys we were paired with were nice and understanding of my lack of skills, they were far more advanced than either my fiance or I. This proved to be frustrating for us in the beginning because we had a hard time keeping up. (They'd hit 4 on a par 4...I'd hit 8 on a par 4.) By the third hole, management came by in their golf cart and told us that the line was backing up waiting to play and that there was a 2-hole gap ahead of our party. We were told that if we couldn't hit the right pars designated for each hole, then we'd have to pick up our balls and just let the guys we were paired with play through. While we understood why we were told this, it still didn't make it feel any less unpleasant. We asked the guys we were paired up with if this was usual for this golf course (as they said they've played here many times before) and they said that on weekends it is, but the same holds true for other golf courses in the area as well and wasn't just specifically Mount Airy. We chose to skip a hole or two (we only played 9 holes) so that the guys could play through and we didn't back up others waiting to come onto the course. Once we had no one visibly behind us or ahead of us, we chose to let the guys play on their own, and we went at our own pace. Golf, to me, should be relaxing and fun, and certainly not rushed. Aside from this, I have to say that Mount Airy's golf course is fun, challenging and absolutely gorgeous and well-kept. The views are also spectacular. At one point there was a small pond aside a hole that had huge bass in it! You could see their huge shadows from atop the hill. At another hole there were mother and father geese with their new babies waddling by a pond. I liked that this course wasn't predictable, but also appreciate that it isn't for a beginner like myself! It was probably by the 7th hole that I felt more "warmed up" to the clubs I was using and began to really hit the ball far down onto the green. My fiance had a great time as well, which is making me consider giving him a round of golf here for Father's Day. Casino: While neither my fiance or I gamble, we did marvel at how large the casino floor was. Gaming tables are in the center with slots surrounding them on all sides. There are also high value slots in their own room, as well as high playing tables in their own rooms as well. One side of the casino allows smoking and the side closest to the restaurants do not. The air does not smell of cigarettes though, which is great for a non-smoker like myself. There is also a nightclub here as well called Gypsies, and entertainment galore every weekend. Mount Airy also is a great place to hold indoor and outdoor weddings, as well as the reception. The outdoor space is alongside the large pond adjacent to the golf course. I can only image how beautiful this must be! If weather is not accommodating, they have ample space indoors to hold the wedding as well. On the day we were leaving it was raining and they were setting up for an indoor wedding. I was hoping I would've caught a glimpse of the bride! All in all, it was a great weekend at Mount Airy Casino even despite a few hiccups. I would definitely recommend booking a weekend here, or if you live locally as I do, checking out the spa, golf, casino and nightlife. For all upcoming events and casino/hotel details see www.mountairycasino.com. 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: This review was made possible by a media trip.