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February 2008
The cure for what ails athletes
Attention all athletes! I have come across the cure to all aches, pains and sore muscles.
It’s the Hit the Trail Retreat, an hour-long sports massage followed by a sports pedicure at the Milk + Honey Spa located in the Second Street District. I’ve had some pretty intense workouts the past couple of weeks with the Austin Sports and Social Club Boot Camp, so this could not have come at better time.
After I arrived and checked in I was taken to the lockerroom to get changed into a provided robe and sandals, then shown to a locker where my belongings safely resided for the duration of my stay. The locker room has a shower so you can get clean and refreshed after hitting the Lady Bird Lake trail — and before your pampering begins. I, being the big dork that I am, was a little confused about this part and thought I would actually be instructed to take a shower, but this is something you have to initiate on your own. (Just a little tip so that you don’t repeat my mistake.) Because of my confusion I had to involuntarily skip out on the shower, but luckily it had been a few hours since I had worked up a sweat.
After getting changed and storing my things, it was off to the waiting area, which completely sets the mood for what’s to come with the soft lights, comfy sofas, magazines, flavored water, tea, fruit and muchies. I didn’t have to wait long till I was led to my room, where Matt the masseuse asked me some questions to get a feel of what it was that I wanted out of the massage. I told him I was attending boot camp and that my muscles were sore, but not so sore to where I couldn’t move — as the case was the week before. That seemed to be just the information he needed.
Matt then gave me a few minutes to get situated under the covers on the heated table. There was no way for me to prepare myself for what was to come next — the only word I know to describe it is “amazing.” Or maybe “nirvana.” Wow! It was the most rejuvenating massage I’ve ever had — and it amazed me how a complete stranger could be so in tune with my body and muscles. But all good things must come to an end, and so did my sports massage.
I still had a sports pedicure coming my way though. That in itself was another great experience. The girl who did my pedicure said the sports treatment was her favorite because of the exfoliant she gets to use on each client’s feet and legs. (My legs, by the way, have never been smoother). I chose a dark purple for my nail color and it’s so cute!
The day ended with a smile on my face and a bottle of sunblock in my hand for skin protection on trail trips to come. I had a great experience at Milk + Honey, and would definitely recommend the Hit the Trail Retreat to all you active people out there. It’s great for the mind, body and sore muscles — or just as a treat to yourself for getting out and working hard.
And please remember to tip!
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Spas
Wax on, wax off
Waxing is a personal experience — no matter which part of your body is being worked on — but some waxing is definitely more personal than others.
AnnMarie Skincare is a small aesthetician’s office at East Fifth Street and Interstate 35 offering an array of services, including waxing and facials at very reasonable rates. AnnMarie herself is friendly and efficient and, for the now-popular Brazilian wax, uses a hard, pink wax that speeds the process and reduces the pain involved. Why doesn’t everyone use this kind of wax? I asked her that once, after having fallen asleep on her table. She just shrugged and smiled, as if she knew some wonderful secret.
She does. Hair that wants removing wants removing by AnnMarie.
AnnMarie is meticulous about her work, and no more so than during one of her facials. The skincare products she uses are of exceptional quality, and her office has an atmosphere of total relaxation. Being a small office, she sees only one person at a time, and the privacy and personal attention is well worth it. Prices range from $40 to $145 for facials lasting 30-105 minutes, and $10 to $60 for waxing services. Brazilian waxes are $55.
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Indulge yourself, all month long
The kids are at school and you’ve got errands to run, so you throw your hair in the usual ponytail and hightail it out the door to check off things on your to-do list.
Well, add one more thing to that list this month: indulge. Or, really, “Momdulge” and treat yourself at Birds Barbershop.
School’s in, so rock out and get some extra love in February. For $39, you can enjoy the Ladybird wash, cut and style. This includes an organic extreme moisture rinse from Mop and the one thing we all love, a momdulgent scalp massage. Who wouldn’t want one of those? And to top it off, you’ll get a Mop conditioning treatment to let nutrients soak into your hair. There’s also a half-off sale on Mop shampoos, conditioners and other products.
You don’t have to have kids to take advantage of this deal, but do keep in mind it’s only offered during school hours — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“You never get anything for yourself — its all for your kids,” Michael Portman, owner of Birds Barbershop, said. “We figured we’d up the ante for moms because it’s not about multi-tasking, it’s about taking time for yourself.”
Even though, I’m not a mom I decided to spend my Friday afternoon student-dulging (taking a break from my busy week of school and work) and treated myself to the special. When I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised by the inviting atmosphere. Portman was spinning records in the 1980s, retro-themed interior at the front and introduced me to my hair guru and stylist, Sarah Statham.
She washed my hair with lemongrass-infused Mop shampoo and worked her magic, giving me a scalp massage. I was then whisked away to sit under the heat so that nutrients could soak into my ever-so-thin hair. She gave me many tips on what to do to add volume to fine hair as she snipped away. I came out feeling like a rock star with my new ‘do, ready to hit the town this weekend. I’m definitely going to indulge at Birds Barbershop more often.
It’s no wonder Birds Barbershop was voted the city’s Best Beauty Salon in 2007. They offer such versatility “from punk-rocker to mother-in-law,” as Portman puts it. So moms, take a break, stop multi-tasking and go Momdulge before it’s over.
