Confession #23: The Scheduled Escape of Inner Me
Sometimes I feel like unzipping. You know…setting the inner me free.
Inside is my inner me waiting to climb out of the suit the outer me is wearing.
Sounds like a science fiction movie, doesn’t it. The heroin, wearing the old lady disguise, unzips her flesh and the youthful and energetic younger version of herself emerges, old-lady flesh and tired clothing dropping to the floor.
There are days when my inner me longs to be set free.
She dreams of a beach vacation and a good book.
She dreams of a long soak in a jacuzzi tub with no knocks at the door followed by, “Mom…I need…”
She dreams of a weekend away with the hubby, sitting on a porch overlooking a lake, temperatures in the mid-60s, a bottle of wine, an outdoor fireplace, and the sound of crickets.
She dreams of free time to be more organized for the busy times. You know, organized closet, organized sock drawer, organized catch-all drawer in the kitchen.
She dreams of an hour a day to practice piano and discover new favorite pieces and composers.
She dreams of never being rushed or in a hurry, but instead having the appropriate amount of time to get things done right.
She dreams of a Wal-Mart where the lines are short. (Just had to slip that one in.)
At our house, we have frequent conversations about super-hero powers. If you were a super-hero, what would your super-power be? And with my daughter anywhere near, you are going to get multiple hilarious answers.
One day, her answer was, “I’d have super-skates and could skate anywhere as fast as I want.”
On Saturday evening, Reagan and I enjoyed dinner at the American Girl Doll bistro in Dallas, Texas with her Girl Scout troop. They sold a bazillion (exactly how many is that?) boxes of cookies and earned a weekend trip to Dallas which included ice skating, swimming at the hotel, and the magical visit to the American Girl Doll store.
On the table was a small gift box filled with questions. The questions circulated the table and served as great conversation starters. The best and most discussed question was, “What super-power would you choose? To fly? Or to be invisible?”
Of course, Reagan and I had fun with that question because it is frequent conversation between us. She chose flying. But I chose being invisible. I’m pretty sure it had something to do with that inner me who’s trying to get out. Inner me needs a little peace and quiet, and being invisible could be a handy tool for getting away without going far away.
So what does your inner me say to you?
Perhaps your inner me is like mine. She needs some rejuvenation. I think that’s typical of women in my age group (and men, too). We are moving through the busiest time of our lives. We are juggling the activities of children, spouses, extended family, friends, work. There’s not much left over for ourselves.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as my children have gotten older and busier is that I need a little time to unwind. And setting aside that time is the priority that gets pushed aside most often.
So what to do? Even if it’s only 30 minutes, that investment in your own rejuvenation will pay dividends the rest of your week. And everything will get in the way of your rejuvenation time unless it is SCHEDULED and you have ACCOUNTABILITY for that time.
So go ahead. Schedule a facial. Schedule a masssage. Schedule a yoga class. Schedule lunch with a friend. Schedule a girls’ night. Schedule a mani/pedi with your daughter. But do something.
Your inner me is waiting…
Elizabeth Haynes Drewett
Elizabeth Haynes Drewett: a hormonal woman rumored to be somewhere between the age of 30 and 50. Her job: Managing Partner of SPRING Media USA, a boutique marketing firm in Ruston, LA. Her training: BA in journalism degree from LSU and a BFA in piano performance from LA Tech. Her life: wife of C.P. Drewett, Jr. and mother to Langdon, age 13, and Reagan, age 7. Her passions: the state of Louisiana – as Miss Louisiana 1992 she devoted her year of service to breast cancer education; lover of music – choir director and piano teacher; lover of a good game – job experiences include PING Golf Equipment and the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Her favorite things: an underdog who overachieves, a good laugh, a good book, a good word, and a good hair day. Follow her on Twitter or Pinterest and see what she’s up to today.
Ask An Aesthetician: Q&A with Lisa Best
Lisa Best, Licensed Aesthetician
She’s no johnny-come-lately. Lisa has been in the beauty business since 198…well you get the idea. She knows a thing or two about helping you look your best. Lisa is certified in many different skin procedures including: Microdermabrasion, Intense Pulsed Light, LED treatments and much more. She has extensive knowledge about the skin through practice and advanced education both in the U.S. and abroad.
You’ve asked, and we’ve listened. Seasons Aesthetician, Lisa Best, is here to answer some common questions you have about your skin! If you would like to see your skincare questions answered on our blog, email: office@seasonswc.com with the subject line: Ask An Aesthetician.
Q: Some people think freckles are “cute” but I don’t. Is it possible to get rid of my freckles?
A: Freckles are cute but if you want to get rid of them, I can help. Freckles are dark spots of melanin that occur on people who are pale or fair-skinned. To fade freckles, we suggest having a photofacial and using a lightening product with hydroquinone (like Obagi Clear). Photofacials make your skin more youthful by making freckles less noticeable. Photofacials use thermal energy and light to promote collagen production in the skin dermis. The freckle absorbs the wavelength and the pigment is broken apart. The fragmented pieces are absorbed into the body. There’s barely a trace of the original freckle. For best results, we recommend having a series of photofacials, use Obagi NuDerm Clear and use a broad spectrum SPF daily.
Q: My skin is starting to show signs of laxity/sagging, is there a facial that will help?
A: Yes! The Hydradermie Lift. The Hydradermie Lift uses muscle stimulation to tighten your muscles. Its like an exercise for your face! But just like exercise, you can’t be do it once and expect to get the best results. For best results it should be done in a series – usually 4-6 treatments once a week and then once every 2-3 months for maintenance.
Q: I have age spots on my hand and chest! Is there anything I can do to get rid of them?
A: Photofacial treatments (IPL) on the hands and chest work great for fading age spots. The IPL treatments may take a few treatments before noticing a major difference, but eventually the spots will fade. You will need to wear sunscreen everyday or they will come back!
Q: Facials, facials, facials. How will I ever choose? Is it ok to tell my Aesthetician that I would like something in particular?
It is absolutely ok for you to tell the Aesthetician that you would like something in particular. To help you choose, decide if you want a more relaxing facial, corrective facial or a little of both. If you aren’t a seasoned spa-goer and still aren’t sure, we are here to help. At Seasons, we provide clients with complementary consultations and we use a VISIA skin analysis machine to take pictures of your skin. The VISIA gives us a detailed picture of your skin and shows skin damage, texture, wrinkles, giving us a good idea of where we need to start on your skin care regimen.
Q: I wash my face every morning and every night but I still have blackheads. What should I do?
A: We are all plagued by those pesky blackheads. Blackheads are created by a build-up of excess oil in the pores. When this oil is exposed to oxygen, it turns a dark color. To get rid of them, try a product that has Benzoyl Peroxide 5%. Apply a thin layer of the benzoyl peroxide to the blackheads and allow it to dry. Repeat this process at night before bedtime, and your blackheads should disappear. At Seasons – The Spa, we have lots of great products and facials to help with blackheads.
Q: I am starting to get wrinkles! Is there anything I can do to prevent wrinkles without getting Botox injections?
A: You have probably heard about the Clarisonic Pro but what about their newest gem, the Opal? The Clarisonic Opal uses sonicare waves penetrating serum deep into the skin resulting in a smooth appearance. I would also suggest using Retin A every night. Retin A increases collagen production and helps prevent the signs of aging (consult a skin care specialist or physician before using Retin A). Obagi products are also great for transforming your skin and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Q: I have Rosacea. Can it be cured? If not, is there something I can do to suppress the symptoms?
A: Unfortunately there is no cure. But you can suppress the symptoms during a flare up. Depending on your skin and the severity, we would try procedures such as IPL and red light treatments to help strengthen capillaries. Products such as Obagi Rosaclear and Guinot Red Logic are also really good for clients with Rosacea. Make an appointment for a consultation with your Aesthetician to make sure you are taking advantage of all of the great procedures and products for your skin – and aren’t doing something that could make it worse.
Celebrate the Peach Festival with Healthy Peach Recipes
Ruston is known for harvesting delicious peaches. During the month of June, Lincoln Parish celebrates this fabulous fruit by hosting the Squire Creek Louisiana Peach Festival. Seasons – The Spa is celebrating the Peach Festival with our brand new Peach Facial. We want to help YOU celebrate by creating delicious, low-fat peach dishes with fresh fruit from the Ruston Farmer’s Market.
Peach Facial. This sweet scrub exfoliates and softens while it moisturizes and brightens your skin. The Peach Facial includes cleansing, exfoliation, aromatherapy, steam and extractions. The pampering continues with an upper body massage followed by a custom mask and a moisturizer to finish. 60 minutes, $65. To schedule your appointment, call 318-255-3223.
Peaches à la mode
You will need:
- 2 medium peaches, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup low-fat granola
- 1 cup fat-free vanilla ice cream
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a small baking dish with cooking spray.
Place the peaches in the baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and granola. Bake until the fruit is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes.
To serve, divide the ice cream into two bowls (1/2 cup each). Top each with 1/2 of the baked peaches. Serve immediately.
Serves 2. Under 200 calories per serving!
Peach Honey Spread
You will need:
- 3 ripened peaches
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions:
In a large bowl, add the peaches, honey and cinnamon. Using a fork, mash until the mixture is a consistency of chunky applesauce. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serves 6. 60 calories per seving.
Recipes adapted from Mayo Clinic.
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Spa Treatments Can Restore Confidence
A lot of my patients want to look better. So naturally, I want to help them with that. At our spas, Seasons Medical Aesthetics and It’s Permanent, we help restore a woman’s youthful appearance and so restore her confidence.
We are a full service medical spa with a wide range of offerings: facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, acne treatment, hair treatment, hair removal, treatments for hyper-pigmented areas of the face, even a natural lift of the face without any kind of surgery. We address wrinkles with botox and dermal fillers.
We’re a visual society. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to change elements of your physical appearance. For many women, looking better means having more self-confidence.
A visit to a spa can also be a kind of a spiritual renewal for many women. They walk away with confidence. They’re able to say, “I feel good about who I am.”
