There is a buzz about The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa this weekend.

No official announcement from the White House, but it seems most likely that President Obama and First Lady Michelle will be spending a romantic weekend retreat there. Will that be an early Mother’s Day celebration without the girls?

The Spa’s pool are at the Grove Park Inn is greatly designed with a glass skylight and waterfalls for that ultimate water experience.

What a getaway retreat without going to the spa? The White House couple can sample many of the unique Spa Treatments to release stress and tensions. Special spa packages such as:

‘Fire, Rock, Water and Light’ – Indulge in a rejuvenating full-body exfoliation, softening buttermilk and honey whirlpool bath, cozy body wrap, and a remarkable Vichy shower waterfall massage. How fabulous!

‘Sanctuary of the Senses Facial’ – The spa’s most extravagant treatment consists of a luxurious European facial choreographed to the music of the mountains. Spa gift products and Sanctuary CD are included to relive the memory at home.

‘Grove Stone Massage’ – A classic massage combined with warm, smooth basalt stones can certainly help them to de-stress and melt the tension away.

‘Aromatherapy Massage’ – Relax and reboot with healing oils rubbing through the skin for spa therapy. What a great way to renew the body and mind!

Well, with these pampering spa treatment packages, it sounds good for anyone who wants to check out this resort hotel for a little R& R.

Source/ Photos: Discovery Spas by Julie Register

Happy Earth Day!

Today New York City will be hosting one of the world’s largest celebrations at the Crossroads of The World, Times Square – launching the “E” Campaign as the new peace sign for the environment. 

What’s this ‘E’ sign and why?

Everyone can show their support for the environmental movement by flashing their right hand with the three center fingers sideways to form an “E,” as a symbol of their commitment to the Earth.  Doing so, you are making a commitment to preserve and protect life on Earth.  The E campaign is hosted at earthdayny.org which includes a social networking component that allows participants to post their own E pictures and exchange ideas on how to put sustainability into practice.

At Cozy Petal, we are featuring our wonderful Organic Skincare and Spa Products.  These Spa Gift Sets from Pharamcopia are 100% vegan and paraben free.  Get healthy, glowing skin, use natural, organic body-care and spa-products.  Good to your body and kind to Mother Earth!

Meanwhile, there are so many activities happening in New York today to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day.

Shop Green

Hello shoppers, if you are in New York today, go visit one of the world’s largest pop-up shops that transformed the Port Authority Bus Terminal.   TerraCycle will also use the space to collect over 30 different non-recyclable waste streams.  They are presenting over 100 products made from common waste materials such as food wrappers, yogurt cups, and glue bottles. 

Grown Green

Spend a day outdoor on Sunday, April 25^th and experience the gardening event of the season at Union Square.  New York Restoration Project and the NYC Parks Department along with the presenting sponsor of Organic Gardening Magazine has created this Free outdoor festival to promote community gardening.  There will be organic cooking demonstrations, Tree-planting workshops, Free giveaways and live music performances. 

I’ve enjoyed reading about this great article from Huffington Post about 9 Reasons Why Blue Is The New Green.  After you have attended all the Earth Day events, take some actions and commit to the E-campaign – help to maintain our planet’s resources – keep them green and bluer!

Source:  About.com / Huffington Post

Do you know that Earth Day will celebrate its 40th Anniversary next week on April 22?

Like some of you, I have been Living Green as much as I can.  Every little step we take helps our planet and kinder to Mother Earth!  Those who adopted a sustainable lifestyle can share and inspire others with their easy steps of green living.  Do you have a great recipe for your beauty ritual?  We would love to hear from you. 

I enjoy using natural skincare products, and spa-bath-body products infused with spa aromatherapy.  Usually these spa products are enriched with essential oils and other nourishing ingredients which will benefit the body.

Sometimes, finding reliable brands can be daunting, but there many easy steps you can do for a home-spa facial.  Yogurt and honey are key ingredients for DIY facial.  They are yummy in taste and also good for your skin.

Another fantastic eco-friendly hand softener recipe is mixing lemon juice and vodka with olive oil and sea salt.  This in-home spa treatment will make your hands nicely soft and smooth. 

On another note, green weddings on the rage, many brides apply their sustainable lifestyle to one of the major events of their lives.  There are many suppliers who offer eco-gift boxes & packaging as well as pretty-designed guest books and place-cards made of 100% recycled paper and products for your selections.  You can incorporate seed packets with your Wedding Favors from Tree Beginnings.  A wonderful gift for your guests who can enjoy the garden or landscape they grow from these seeds favors.

To celebrate Earth Month (April) and encourage everyone to plant a tree, Tree Beginnings will give you a free gift to plant your own if you place your order this month.

Green is not just a color, is a lifestyle.  Happy Earth Month!

Source:  Planet Green, Tree Beginnings

On my way back from a business trip several years ago, I stopped over to Bali, Indonesia for a little R&R.  It was one of my memorable trips. 

Bali is truly a magical place fills with rich culture and artistic spirits.  I particularly enjoyed watching the locals creating their arts and crafts.  From silver jewelry, wood cravings to Ikat textiles, they are made with so much love and attention to details to their work.  They can transform a handful of simple twigs into a beautiful crafted basket.  The way to wrap little packages for their daily offerings to the Gods are exquisite and yet simple.  I often use this inspiration of gift wrapping for our Cozy Petal gift baskets.

While staying at Amankila (part of the luxurious Aman Resorts), I have enjoyed a few spa treatments at various hotels.  The word ‘Amankila’ means peaceful hill. Their 34 free-standing thatched roof suites are elevated which takes advantage of the spectacular views to the sea and natural surroundings of the hillsides. And what a view!

One of my favorite spa and beauty treatments was the traditional Balinese massage at my own suite.  The body scrub & wraps were used with natural ingredients of luxury spa products that stimulate and restore my body well.  Not to mention about the enjoyment of the ultimate relaxation at a gorgeous place.  Only if I could wrap it up as a Spa-in-a-box!

Guests can also enjoy their massages at the outdoor pavilion, or at the Beach Club where teakwood massage tables are hidden away in amongst the tranquil coconut grove and flower bushes.  I fell in love with the scents of Frangipani, gardenia and orchids that linger in the air through the day.  As I strolled down the garden path to dinner, I found myself less of a stressful New Yorker before my vacation. 

Aaah, I’ll always have Bali…

If you are a busy mom or eco-chic, multi-tasking woman who wants to get gorgeous (and be green) in less than one minute, Angela Jia Kim, Founder of Om Aroma recommends you to try her 1-Minute Ritual for radiant skin that is an age-defying skincare program with easy steps.

* Purify

* Tone

* Hydrate

* Repair

Om Aroma & Co. offers a line of luxurious organic spa and skincare products that are free of parabens, formaldehyde, sulfates, and other toxic chemical fillers.

‘We take our ultra-sensual ingredients — Caviar, Champagne, and Truffles — and fuse them with organic ingredients to create products that are deliciously sexy and naturally great for the skin’, said Angela.  Her ‘Sexy Green’ skin care and body care products won several awards in the beauty industry after its launch in 2007.  You can find Om Aroma in many upscale spas and retail stores throughout USA.

With organic ingredients that have proven scientific anti-aging resultssuch as Vitamin E, Rosehip Oil, Red Raspberry, and Meadowfoam and fabulous product names such as ‘Creme Bébé’ and ‘Om-To-Go’, how can you resist to be Sexy Green?

Aaah, Spring blooms…lovely time for weddings! 

For the Maid of Honor and bridesmaids out there, planning the Bridal Shower Party can be stressful.  What better than throwing a Spa Party to indulge and pamper that special bride-to-be and the rest of your bridal party for relaxing spa time.  Hosting a girls-only spa night at home is a fantastic way to get all your friends together for a wonderful evening event… a perfect ‘marriage’ – to merge a Bridal Shower with a Spa Party!

Don’t forget adding Goodie Bags or Spa Swag Bags for all your guests to take home with.  You can get various ideas from websites such as The Knot.  Shopping online for spa gift products to create these Spa Swag Bags are easy and fun.  Cozy Petal offers you a DIY feature (‘Design Your Own Spa Gift Baskets’) to create unique bridal gifts.  No time? Cozy Petal also offers many Pre-designed Spa Gift Sets, and relaxation Spa & Bath Gift Baskets to suit your occasion.  Besides selecting luxury French Soaps and Shower Gel, you can also add a soft spa robe, or personalized a pair of Rhinestone Flip-Flops with everyone’s names to make the perfect spa getaway gift in a box!

(Left) Mandarin Oriental Spa, Hong Kong/ (Center) Four Seasons Resorts Chiang Mai / (Right) Banyan Tree, Phuket Thailand

If your budget permits, here are some of the recommendations of Top Spa locations in Asia. 

Banyan Tree, Phuket, Thailand –

Bordered by the golden sands and gentle waves of the Andaman Sea, Thailand, amid a cluster of luxury resorts located in Laguna Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket Resort & Spa is a luxury resort in Phuket exuding rest and tranquility. A tropical paradise of extraordinary natural beauty, it is no wonder Banyan Tree Phuket Resort & Spa has earned accolades from leading magazines the world over. 

Read more http://www.banyantreespa.com/

Mandarin Oriental Spa, Hong Kong - To enter their spa is to step into a haven of serenity.  A rare space, where you can relinquish yourself entirely to their professional therapists dedicated to your wellbeing.  The Mandarin Spa has been created to soothe mind, body and soul through its sensuous spa treatment and intoxicating blend of 1930’s Shanghai textures. 

Read more http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong/spa/

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand - Step into the spa and you enter a luxurious temple of harmony of body, mind and spirit – an indulgent sanctuary created exclusively for your pleasure and well-being.  The fragrance of specially blend oils, herbs and spices fills the air, and your body and mind immediately relax in anticipation of the exotic experience that awaits. 

Read more http://www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai/spa.html

Source:  Spa Finder, Travel & Leisure Magazine, Forbes Magazine

We are very excited to announce a new feature this month at Cozy Petal.  Our ‘Design Your Own Spa Gift Basket’ offers the customer a unique shopping experience.  For those who are looking for that wonderful spa & pamper gift for the bride-to-be or a special friend’s birthday, look no further.  You can now personalize and create your own spa gift basket for the recipients to suit any occasion. 

Try it out today, the steps are simple and quick.  Just select one of our keepsake baskets or containers, and fill up with our leading brands of spa and bath gift products , and spa accessories.  How about adding a soft spa robe, a pair of cozy spa slippers, a stylish sleep mask or a soothing Music CD for that ultimate spa getaway gift in a box?

Once you made your selections, we will do the rest for you.  All of the Spa Gift Baskets are hand wrapped with pretty ribbons and adorn with silk flowers.  You can also add a personal note to the recipient with our greeting card.  What a great way to create that unique and memorable gift for that special someone.  Whether you want to create a luxurious wedding gift basket, or surprise someone with a ‘Just Because’ relaxation spa gifts, we at Cozy Petal make your gift shopping a pleasant experience

As the cold weather leaving us, I can’t help but wonder what’s the best way to bring the dry winter skin back to life?

I have discovered the beauty of using natural or organic spa & bath products for my skin.  My body benefits from the therapeutic and premium ingredients of a line of skincare products of Pharmacopic.  All their bath and body products are paraben-free and vegan.  Their holistic approach to personal care promotes health and wellness inside and out by combining herbs and unique blends of antioxidants, vitamins and premium essential oils to help your skin young and healthy, naturally.

One of my favorites is ‘Body Basics’ Spa Gift Set.   The citrus scent of this Body Wash can also be used as shampoo.  I feel refreshed after a great morning shower and what a way to start the day.

By the mid afternoon, do you feel tired from the hectic work load as me?  So I take breaks to ‘reboot’ myself and dab a little Lavender Body Lotion from the ‘Go & Relax Spa Gift Set’ on my hands and around the temples.  What a great way to relax from the stress through the day.  For centuries, lavender has been cultivated for its soothing and healing properties.  This body lotion suits me well.  It nourishes and soothes my skin with avocado oils and essential oils.

For the cooler nights, I use the Rosemary Bath Salts to relieve sore muscle aches at the end of the day.  Putting on my favorite music CD from The Healing Garden, light a soy candle and enjoy a fabulous soak.  This therapeutic bath salts draw out impurities and relax my body for a home spa hydrotherapy experience.

Natural and Organic body care and skincare products – good for your body and kind to Mother Earth!

Anyone who had the chance to visit the Dead Sea Beach in Israel would tell you their amazing experience with the ‘First Spa Resort in the World’, and so would I several months ago.

The Dead Sea is really a saline lake.  It is located 400 meters (1,300 feet) below sea level and is the lowest point on the surface of the earth.  The waters of the Dead Sea are unique, not just by having a total salt concentration that is ten times higher than ocean water, but also by its unique composition.  I learned a lot from one the incredible places I have ever been.

Since ancient times, the medical healing properties of the Dead Sea have been well-known.  I read that Queen Cleopatra was well aware of the miraculous influence of the minerals and used the salts and mud from the Dead Sea to regain her youth.

The Dead Sea is an ideal spot for many people who seek relief from skin and rheumatic disorders.  Modern medical researches confirm that these Spa-Bath and Body Products have healing properties.  Many skin allergies such as psoriasis and eczema may be helped by using Dead Sea minerals.  If you don’t have the opportunity to visit this ‘First Resort of the World’, you can enjoy these benefits by purchasing from the many skincare products out there.  Buyer beware!  You should purchase from reliable sources to avoid getting garden mud in your face.

Though I have brought back several Dead Sea beauty skincare products and now enjoy them in the privacy of my own home, but it was that special fun experience when you smearing the black mud on your face and body as you float on the well known Dead Sea. Don’t fret for those non-swimmers…you just float…like sitting on the invisible chair in the middle of the lake! 

How divine!  Everyone felt like a kid that day…laughing and giggling as we played with the soft black mud, the salty water feels oily and slippery on your skin due to all the minerals in the Dead Sea water.  My skin felt extra soft and supple, and my body was so relaxed afterwards.

Nothing can awaken your best skin like these special spa products of Dead Sea Black Mud and Dead Sea Bath Salts.  You’ll experience a healthy luminosity form the finest Spa resource in the world.  

Bring your skin back to life with the rich minerals of the Dead Sea!