This one is especially for my local ladies. As you know, most of my posts revolve around my adventures in Chicago to find the best food, facials, colorists, spray tans, etc.   Well, I am happy to report I have found the perfect spray tan right in my backyard! I have to start by saying I have traveled far and wide for a good spray tan. My first experience was in New York when I was there for work years ago and attempted the spray booth.  Think Ross on “Friends”….maybe worse, definitely worse.  Next was in L.A. when I had someone spray me at a hotel I was staying at. Marginal at best, it didn’t last long, and it was way more money than I would have otherwise spent. I previously posted about a great place in Chicago, but it is not convenient to drive that far for a spray tan that lasts a week…especially with these gas prices.

So here it is, THEE BEST spray tan I have ever had is right here in Woodstock at Renew Skin Spa. I have gone to this spa for facials, microdermabrasion, and other services and they have always done a wonderful job. I recently got their monthly email announcing they have the latest technology in spray tan called Versa Sunless Tan. It is an airbrush system that a technician sprays you with. They offer the pre-pH balance spray, the tan solution spray, and then the post moisturizer that locks the tan in and the very best part was that the solution spray and air that comes out is HEATED. YES, comfortable and warm ladies. If any of you have had a spray tan then you know it’s cold. There is nothing more uncomfortable than standing mostly naked in front of a stranger and being blasted with both a cold mist and cold air.

The color of the Versa Spray at Renew Skin Spa was natural and had a great glow, it doesn’t smell, and you can shower after 4 hours. For $35 this is a steal and right now they are running a special 4 for $100. I did some research and called other spa’s that offered this type of spray tan, including both New York and LA, and the tans were $75 EACH! So this is definitely a great deal. This is perfect for all of the fall festivities upon us and with winter soon approaching and the pale skin setting in, this is a great pick me up…. if even not for a special occasion. 

Call Tiffany at Renew to schedule your appointment. (815) 338-7546

A few months ago I received an email from a friend that had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is a married mother of two boys, she is young, she works out, eats well, and she is full of life. It just seemed unreal that she was about to enter the fight of her life. Not only that, but she is the type of person who doesn’t want anyone to make a big deal out of anything, she is strong beyond belief…and still fighting. She lost her hair from chemotherapy and ran 5 miles that same week.  

In the weeks prior to receiving this email from my friend, I had been having some pain in that area and went to see my doctor. My doctor thought I was too young for a mammogram, but because she knows me so well, she scheduled me one to put my mind at ease and see what was happening inside.  The night before I was nervous, scared of the pain (I had heard it hurts), scared that something would be found, and then opened my email to find the note from my friend who had just been diagnosed.  I didn’t sleep at all that night, thinking of my friend, her husband, her boys, and my appointment the following afternoon.

The following day my husband went with me to my appointment to help put my mind at ease. Truthfully, the mammogram was not painful at all.  It was quick, painless, the tech made it as comfortable as possible, and better yet, I received my results the same day that everything was in fact, fine. Mind put at ease for sure. I prayed and was thankful, but thought of all the women I know who had not received the same news and then became overwhelmingly sad.

A few months later I connected with Lindsay Avner founder of Bright Pink, the only national non-profit organization focusing on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women while providing support for high-risk individuals. I was touched to hear her story and thrilled to attend her event, “Pink Fling” at Quay in Chicago last month.  I so want to talk about the food and all of the lovely pink fashions, but for this post….all I want to say is, get your boobies checked! And check out http://brightpink.org/home/.

Next month Bright Pink is hosting a fashion show at Saks Fifth Avenue Chicago to raise funds and awareness for the cause. I would love to see you there!

Here is the link to get your tickets:

http://www.stayclassy.org/chicago/events/vipink-chicago/e19489

I think the hair Gods decided to throw me a bone recently and realized I was in desperate need of some TLC for my locks when I received a gem of a sample in the mail. I love when I get freebies in the mail from Sephora or with other orders I place!

Before I get to that, let’s talk hair for a minute. Admittedly, I am a bit neurotic and over the years have not been kind to my hair. When I was a teen I had long, thick, semi-wavy, luscious hair that I would even go as far as saying I would give up the pinky on my right hand (I am left handed) to have again. Sadly, I caved to the 90’s trends of bad perms, bad hair color, and oooh the best yet…let’s dye my naturally chestnut brown hair blonde. Hey, why not? I took for granted that my hair would always grow, would always be healthy, and most of all would stay thick. Unfortunately, and after countless bad hair decisions; like the time a stylist bleached out the front of my hair and while processing, I scratched the heck out of the itchy foil that it broke all the hair off in front. (Insert sad face) Or, when I was pregnant and allowed myself to be my ex-sister in-laws guinea pig when she got her first hair job and she dyed my hair jet black, let me rephrase; witch black. NO, I did not ask for that and why I thought it would be a good idea to let someone who I am not even sure liked me touch my hair while 8 months pregnant is beyond me. Clearly my judgment was clouded in those days. Oh let’s not forget the trips to expensive salons only to have Edward Scissor Hands bust out 3 or 4 sets of shears at once and do a number (read: semi-mullet) on me. And to top ALL of that off, I am really picky. NO red, no ash, no thinning sheers, (why do they love the thinning shears, NO woman willing wants thin hair!) more natural looking color with shine and dimension, a cut with bounce and body that will look exactly the way it is styled when I do it myself….is all of this too much to ask? It must be, because aside from having to mortgage my house to maintain that from the expensive salons in the city that actually can deliver it, typically it just does not happen.

So I have made a decision, I am not going to let anyone touch a hair on this head, for a while. I had a hair appointment in Chicago booked yesterday that I knew was going to be $$$$ so I did the responsible thing and paid the electric bill instead and decided to wait until my hair gets really bad, which by my definition is today…..but I am waiting.

Back to my sample, my lifesaver in the interim, my new hair gem that will hopefully get me though these next few weeks or months my hair is on strike and has asked to be left alone, I present to you Ouidad! Known for being the curly hair experts (I do not have curly hair) their products have made such a difference in my hair. Especially lately with all of this Chicago heat. Ouidad has refreshed my locks, given them some life without weighing my hair down, and has made my dry ends silky smooth. If you have damaged or dry hair the Ouidad 12 Minute Deep Treatment Intensive Repair is a lifesaver. It is a little on the pricey side at $25 for a 2 oz bottle but it is a miracle worker.
Ouidad Deep Treatment

I love this entire line and also hooked on the Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo & Conditioner.
Ouidad Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo

I feel like I am going through withdrawls by staying out of the hair salon for this long, but I will let you know when I find my way back there and how it goes. Hope everyone had a great weekend and if you have a must-have hair product please share it!