Nourish
Fitbit Ultra
January 20, 2012
Here’s the newest husband-approved gadget around our house–the Fitbit Ultra. Wear this wireless, paperclip-like device and track your daily activity and sleep. It all uploads to your computer, giving you detailed daily reports as to how many calories you burned, how far you walked, how many stairs you climbed–and even more impressive–it monitors your sleep. That’s right, in the event you want to know how many times you woke up in the night and how much sleep you actually got, this little thing is like an all-knowing elf. My husband is apparently not the only one obsessed. Check out the many reviews (like the following) on the site. $100
Lululemon Duffel Gym Bag
December 8, 2011
More gift ideas. (And, yes, more purple.) This one for the girl who likes to work it out. Spacious and stylish. Lululemon Designed For Greatness Duffel, $128.
Pura Vida Surf and Yoga Retreats
August 17, 2011
I just got invited on what sounds like the best 40th birthday party ever. A friend of mine is organizing a girls’ week at Pura Vida surf camp in Costa Rica. Daily activities include yoga, surf instruction, spa time, and excursions to local restaurants, etc. They also offer yoga retreats. Pura Vida has been recommended by Vogue and Elle and, well, just read the some of the glowing reviews on their website. Pretty sure you’ll want to sign up for what many have called a “life-changing” adventure/vacation.
Location: Costa Rica
Pong iPhone Covers Reduce Radiation
August 14, 2011
Pong phone covers are the only solution proven by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to protect cell phone users from radiation while not compromising phone performance. Given The World Health Organization’s classification of cell phone radiation as “a possible carcinogenic to humans, based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer,” can we agree that the Pong case is literally a must-have? Order one for everyone you know.
TaTa Harper 100% Natural and Non Toxic Skin Care Products
August 8, 2011
I’m a little late to the press on this one. You may have already read about TaTa Harper in Vanity Fair, Vogue, Allure, The New York Times, or on one of my favorite Texas-based blogs, Style and Substance. Right before I left for cooler weather, a lovely package of skin products was left on my doorstep. A month later I finally took a look at the contents of the package and accompanying press release. It pretty much had me at “1,200-acre organic farm in Vermont.” TaTa Harper products are all natural and toxin-free. The product line is made exclusively from ingredients found on Harper’s aforementioned organic farm, which is certified 100% natural and organic by Eco-Cert. Most of us are eating organic as much as possible, but we’re still fine with polluting our bodies with chemicals through our daily skin care regimens. I know I’m guilty of that. So this point, I’m thinking, please let these products work. Fast forward two weeks, and I am happy to report that they seem to be working as well as my previous chemical-infused products. I like them so much I booked a TaTa Harper facial at Equinox in Dallas, and it was one of the best facials I’ve ever had. Seriously, I am hooked. Another plus: the scents of the products are incredibly refreshing. Here are my favorites:
Keep this line in mind as a safe option for skin care, especially during pregnancies, but hopefully all the time. Available at Equinox and online.
Another J.T. To Add to Your Life
June 24, 2011
Equinox members are all abuzz about new spin instructor John Terlingo, who has just brought his talents to Dallas from LA. You may have heard of some of the clients he trained back in Hollywood: Drew Barrymore, Nicole Kidman, and Charlize Theron. His Dallas classes (mostly at the Highland Park location although there are some at Preston Hollow too) are already packed, and includes a following of some new fans who previously didn’t even like to spin! He’s also a mobile trainer, which means he can come to your house to train you. In your driveway or your living room or wherever–he brings everything he needs with him. John has a lot of positive energy that we could all use in our lives. And you could look like this…
Spin at Highland Park Equinox Tues. 7pm, Thurs. 6 am and 6:30 pm, and Sat. 8:30 am. Or call about mobile training (213) 435-8505.
Location: Dallas
Teen and Tween Spa Treatments at The Crescent Court Hotel – Dallas
May 7, 2011
A friend of mine recently had a spa day with her teen daughter, which included massages (in a shared room) and then a flower petal pedicure and manicure. This was the first I had heard of treatments geared towards tweens and teens. What a sweet experience for mothers and daughters! The spa at the Crescent Court Hotel has an entire menu of services for 8 to 14-year-olds. I hope it’s still around in 6 years!
Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
Location: Dallas
New Flavors from LARABAR
April 27, 2011
I was at Target stocking up on snacks for a trip and came across my favorite, LARABAR, in a flavor I’d never seen before…chocolate chip cookie dough! I was about to have a word with my neighborhood Whole Foods, but it turns out LARABAR has just added a bunch of new flavors. LARABAR is one of the parting snacks that the Ashram gives their guests, and was also featured on The Biggest Loser. The bars are made from unsweetened fruits, nuts, and spices and are made from 100% real food, so you get the nutrients the way nature intended. www.larabar.com
Equinox Spa – Highland Park
April 8, 2011
I guess it’s a good sign when the person who had the massage therapist before your appointment emerges with tears in her eyes because the experience was that good. That’s what happened the other day when I went to see Melissa Brandt for an “Equissage” at the spa at Equinox in Highland Park. (I am not sure how I got on the list for two complimentary spa treatments, but to the powers at be who arranged this….thank you!) Melissa is a pro massage therapist who clearly knows her stuff. She was very technical as she zeroed in on my problem areas, eventually releasing the “knots” and leaving me feeling so relaxed I could barely get up from the table. We talked at length about how certain areas of tension can lead to headaches, how my problem areas were responding, etc. In other words, this was not your average fluffy massage experience. This was the real deal.
I had a similar experience with the deep cleansing facial. Equinox seems to hire extremely talented and experienced staff who provide treatments that achieve results. I’ll be back for sure. www.equinox.com
Location: Dallas
Blue Pearl – Yoga, Hiking, Cleansing Retreat – Laguna Beach
April 3, 2011
So far we have personally remained loyal to The Ashram, the famous hiking and cleansing retreat in Calabasas that my husband and I have both greatly benefited from, but here is a similar program that is also getting good reviews. Blue Pearl follows the same principles–a rigorous six-night program of hiking, yoga, and other speciality classes accompanied by a detox diet and daily massages–for those looking to lose a few pounds and/or jump-start or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Blue Pearl is the least expensive of the three similar retreats we’ve mentioned on this site, with The Ranch ranking as the most expensive (but also getting very favorable reviews from our friends who recently visited).
Location: Laguna Beach
