Lifestyles with our Sponsors

An Oasis Facial “Pick me Up”

I was feeling a little sad post a break up.  I took note of a Fall Facial special at Oasis Day Spa, and thought, heck, this might be just the pick me up I could use.  Oasis has been a generous sponsor for years in Inside Chappaqua and I have had a variety of services there since its opening in Dobbs Ferry and have never once been disappointed by any number of their massage therapists. I’m always happy to make the trip too; it’s an easy 15 minute ride from Chappaqua down the Saw Mill Parkway.

I’m very glad I did this time, because I managed to achieve a state of deep relaxation during 75 minutes of luxurious pampering with a Kate Scarlett whose cheerful demeanor and kind observations about my skin struck just the right note.  And all the while my face was being so thoroughly cleansed and pampered.

Because I wasn’t taking notes, of course, I asked Kate to send me a list of what exactly transpired while I was transported into la la land.  Here is a step by step report by Kate.

• Double cleansed skin with milk cleanser
• Prepped Skin for your Glycolic Peel
• Applied Peel to skin
• Applied Rescue (hydrating mask with cherry) to hands and put warming mitts on each hand
• Removed peel
• Applied toning and tightening mask (intensive exfoliating gel) with Steam
• Performed extractions
• Microdermabrasion with Diamond tip all over face
• Massaged face with Stem Cell Serum and Steam Cell Cream from GMCollin to infuse into the skin
• Applied Algo Mask (hydrating and anti aging) which includes ylang ylang oil, rosewood oil, olive fruit oil to calm the skin and plump out fine lines, hardens on skin to remove all in one piece
• Massaged neck, arms and hands
• Removed mask
• Applied hydrating toner, Stem Cell Serum, Stem Cell Gel Cream And Stem Cell Eye Contour, massaged until penetrated into skin. Topped off with SPF 30 and lip balm.
• Did oxygen infusion spray…Finished!

According to Kate, this “Stem Cell Facial:”

• reverses the signs of aging with the most advanced technology derived from Swiss Apple Stem Cells.  She highly recommends it for repairing and improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and overall firmness of the skin.
• The microdermabrasion, meanwhile, she says, reduces fine lines, improves scarring and diminishes hyper pigmentation, smooths and evens out texture.
• Glycolic peels lighten hyper pigmentation and is the perfect treatment for reducing fine lines.

To conclude, following  the Oasis Fall Facial, I appreciated my skin’s softness and glow, but even more so, I felt vastly better on some raw emotional level. The facial managed to reduce my stress level and instill a sense of inner peace too. Talk about multi-tasking!  I can honestly highly recommend this treatment to anyone looking for a superior, “notch above” facial.

Celebrating 5 years! Anniversary One Day Sale!

Oasis Day Spa

Saw Mill River Parkway Exit 16
50 Livingstone Ave (GPS directions)
Dobbs Ferry, NY
914.409.1900

Friday, October 11, 2013 • 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

This retreat will offer a morning of respite from your everyday routine as you experience four different areas of wellness to address your whole body and mind. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we will discuss breast cancer prevention and other women’s health issues. If you have never experienced yoga or meditation, this is a perfect opportunity! If you are a seasoned yogi, come meet and practice with an exceptional yoga instructor with over twenty years of experience…and who couldn’t benefit from some sound nutritional advice?

Small groups will cycle through all four sessions:

1. Yoga-for all levels
2. Nutrition and Weight Reduction
3. Coping with Stress and Mindfulness Meditation and
4. Women’s Health.

Please bring a yoga mat if you have one.

Location:

49 Stornowaye, Chappaqua, NY (Map)

Fee: $65.00 per person, includes coffee, tea, juice, healthy snacks, and spa lunch

Go here to register https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8413425783

Facilitators and Presenters:

Jodi Baretz, LCSW, HHC, is a psychotherapist and certified health coach. She is the Director for Health and Wellness at Consulting for a Cause and has training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. Baretz will offer insight and strategies on coping with day-to-day stress, and lead a brief mindfulness meditation.

Susan Kullman, a positive, energetic and spiritual life force, is the founder and principal of Intentional Wellness and Yoga Center. She has over eleven years of yoga experience.

Corinne Menn, MD, is a board certified gynecologist and fellow of the American College of OB/GYN with a private practice in Chappaqua. She focuses on preventative care and wellness for women of all ages, from adolescence through menopause as well as the unique health concerns of cancer survivors. She will lead a discussion and answer questions on Women’s Health.

Stefanie Schwartz, RD, MS, CDN, a registered dietician and founder of Nutritionally Yours in practice for seventeen years, will educate you on good nutritional choices and advise on weight loss and management.

By Rick Reynolds

Throughout modern history there have been hot wars, cold wars, undeclared wars, marital wars, and in election years, class warfare–but I’m not just talking about washing machines in general. The hottest, most contentious “Mother of All Wars” war is the Dishwasher War. This underreported conflict has been raging for, well, as long as there have been dishwashers and loaders to load them. Are you a casualty, too?

Some people like me are just naturally gifted at optimizing small volumes for optimal loads. Take the car, for instance. When our daughter went off to college with everything she ever owned, my wife suggested we rent a large U-Haul truck to avoid having to make several trips. Undeterred, I was able to squeeze everything into our SUV (with the exception of our daughter, who regrettably had to take the bus). And when going on vacations, there is no limit to how much stuff I can get into a car–or with Gaffers tape, onto it. His and her dogs, bicycles & kayaks–no problem. And not to brag, but I once brought home an antique couch, jelly cupboard, six Windsor chairs, and crystal chandelier in my 2-seater sportscar–and with only minor damage (mostly to the car behind me).

So when I pack a dishwasher, I use all my analytical skills in an exercise that is part art and part science. Bridging aesthetics with hydrodynamics, I calculate all the angles for a superior wash. When I’m finished interlacing every dish, glass, and pan, one would be hard-pressed to squeeze a credit card between them. What a vision; a perfectly-solved puzzle! I’ll sometimes stare in awe at my work: before me, every dish from a dinner party of 16–joined in one dishwasher load! Now that’s conservation.

So, along comes my wife who without shame or hesitation, moves every single plate, bowl, and wine glass–even the overarching 16-quart lobster pan. Then, in a final act of cruelty, she’ll move the spoons! Now, why on Earth would she move the spoons? And this after I’ve so carefully nested them all into the front-most basket just so the dishwasher emptier (being her) doesn’t have to lean in too far!  Make no mistake: this is not your dishwasher-safe war!

Mind you, this does not simply occur with big loads. Even when it’s just a few dishes, she’ll move the cheese grater, flip the carving knives blade down, and remove the arguably flammable wooden salad tongs, just because she can. Even when space is no problem whatsoever, she’ll move my placements. To say it’s a little demeaning to have your efforts tampered with in this way would be a gross understatement. Over time, draconian appliance compliance can drive one into therapy.

In defense of my wife, sure, on occasion with my loading method there might be a stray Corn Flake baked onto the side of a cereal bowl, but hell, it’s sterile! No need to panic. And seeing a tea bag stuck to the teacup after the drying cycle is not the end of the world–the active ingredient is long gone. But my wife will redo the entire load because of one little mishap. It’s not like it’s contagious. The vast majority of dishes have no visible food on them at all. Come on, this is America. This is a democracy. Can’t free loaders live in peace?

My advice to my fellow comrades in the Dishwasher Wars: If it gets too hot, stay out of the kitchen.

Chappaqua alumnus and 35-year resident of Chappaqua, humorist Rick Reynolds resides in southern New Hampshire with his wife, daughter,
and two dogs.