Aetherial Living

A Bouquet of Roses for Your Skin!

2012-02-09T15:52:00.001-05:00

There is a reason roses are the traditional gift from your love on Valentine's Day. The aromatherapy benefits of roses opens up feelings of acceptance, love and self-worth every time you inhale the beautiful scent. But did you know the chemical properties of roses are great for your skin, as well? (We're talking about REAL roses, not skin care products that are perfumed with a synthetic version of roses).

Real roses are calming and uplifting for the skin. They are also considered an anti-inflammatory and very balancing, both for your emotions and your skin.

Here is a bouquet of real roses that last! Open your heart to feelings of acceptance, LOVE and self-worth every time you apply our rose products. All of the following items are 25% off for the month of February.

Rose & Mallow Moisturizer - $36, on sale for $27

Lightly Moisturizes and Protects. Cooling and restorative, rose balances the complexion while mallow and almond soften and smooth for radiant skin.

Rose Water - $16, on sale for $12

Fresh Damask Rose Flowers are distilled to create this fragrant toner which acts to cool and cleanse, leaving skin beautifully refreshed and re-hydrated.

Rose Formula Antioxidant Facial Mask - $46, on sale for $34.50

Revitalizes normal and dehydrated skin. With Damask Rose and Gotu Kola to replenish the skin and encourage a fresher, brighter complexion.

Wild Rose Body Elixir - $49, on sale for $36.75

Luxuriously nourishes for beautifully radiant skin.

Wild Rose Beauty Balm - $63.50, on sale for $47.63

A cleansing and moisturizing treatment for smooth, radiant skin.

Wild Rose Daily Moisture Sunscreen SPF 30 - $36, on sale for $27

Nourishes and replenishes with a 100% mineral Sunscreen, antioxidant-rich wild rosehip oil milk thistle extract. Water resistant.

Wild Rose Hand Cream - $14, on sale for $10.5

Deeply nourishes and balances.

Ten Things I Love

2012-02-06T11:51:00.000-05:00

I know so many people who are cynical about Valentine’s Day. Most of my friends acknowledge that it’s a holiday designed byHallmark, and FOR Hallmark. I can completely see their point of view. Who wouldn’t?

What I prefer to focus on each Valentine’s Day is to take amoment to appreciate all the love and joy I have in my life. I do this more often than once a year, ofcourse, but with life being so busy most of the time, we often forget toactually say it out loud, so the people we love can hear it. Everyone wants tofeel appreciated. Remember, no one can read your mind.

Once I pause to think about my relationships, my heart expands to include all sorts of things that I love and appreciate. In honor of Valentine’s Day next week, Ifigured I’d say it out loud:

I love…

Fur babies – No explanation needed. Nothing brings joy like a content purr or a sweet puppy face that's always - without fail - happy to be near you.

Innovative people– I love “the crazy ones,” and Steve Jobs is at the top of my list. I willmiss him terribly.

Music – Whenever I’mfeeling stressed or bogged down by life, I always listen to Nina Simone’s “FeelingGood.” This song is my go-to reminder of the big picture: I breathe. Life is good.

Failure – When I liein bed at night, I summarize the day’s events as a series of successes andfailures. Some days I have more successes than failures. It feels great to achievesuccess, certainly! But there are other days when my failures outweigh thesuccesses. Failures teach me twice as much about myself. It shows me where tofocus my energy, and what I need to learn more about. Most importantly, if I’mnot “failing” at something, it means I’m not pushing myself forward and tryingnew things.

J.K. Rowling agrees. And Morgan Spurlock, the director ofSuper Size Me, has a new weekly show online, called The Failure Club, that documents several New Yorkersin their quest to do something they’ve always wanted to do. Watch them “fail.”It’s inspiring.

Meeting the wild face-to-face– When I was at Kripalu Yoga Retreat in early January, I went for a walk in 15degree weather. (This is very unlike me.I don’t like winter at all). When I paused to watch a babbling brook flow downa hillside, an ermine popped out onto a rock and quickly dodged underneath it.

I blinked – literally – and suddenly a red-tailed hawk was sitting on the rock,casually looking for the lunch he’d just spotted next to me. That hawk stood no more than 4 feet from mefor about 5 minutes. It was an extraordinary moment; one I haven’t stoppedthinking about since.

Food – Life istoo short for bad food, and one of my favorite resources in this area isCTBites.com. The gorgeous photography will make your mouth water, and they do agreat job of keeping you informed of the local food culture. Restaurants like Sugar and Olives, Artisan, Farmer’s Table, LeFarm and Lianna’s Trattoria, celebrate ahealthy, whole-food culture. We’reincredibly lucky to have the food culture we do in Fairfield County.

Not to mention, the ultimate “romantic evening” for me ismaking dinner with my husband. I call it “Slow Food Sunday.” The quality time we share while making dinnertogether, is the highlight of my day.

Organic – The factthat the organic food movement is growing everyday gives me hope for futuregenerations. And it isn't just about the food we eat. It’s about the productswe use as well. We all need to continue to demand better.

My job – I lovemeeting new people every day and learning about their lives. I’ve never felt sosatisfied by a job in my life, and it comes from running a small business.There is no question that its hard work and long hours, and I appreciate thesupport for small business that comes from resources like The 3/50 project andthe New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. Having this business has forever changed myshopping habits, too. I will go out ofmy way to support other small businesses. I get better service, a more uniqueselection, and a far more pleasant shopping experience. Most importantly, my money does more good for thelocal economy.

Feeling Cared For– My current career wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for my innate desire to feelcared for. No, I’m not a princess. I just believe everyone can stand to benefitfrom healing touch on a regular basis. Can you imagine what the world would belike if we all received a weekly massage? How glorious would our society be?

Life! – Stop and“smell the roses” in life. I’m pretty sure that was the original intention ofValentine’s Day, anyway. Forme it is, at least.

Happy Valentine's Day!

What is a good skin care routine?

2012-02-06T08:23:00.000-05:00

I had an interesting client the other day. She hadn’t had afacial in twelve years; had experienced an elevated level of stress lately; wassuddenly breaking out; and was quickly approaching 40. I could tell in hervoice that she was in a slight state of panic about her skin.

This situation is familiar to me after working at Aetheriafor 8 years. Many people perceive spa treatments to be a luxury; not somethingthat is beneficial to an overall health and wellness lifestyle. They thinkthey’re doing all the right things: eating well, exercising regularly, going tothe doctor for their annual check-ups, getting their teeth cleaned when they’resupposed to…the list goes on. As good asyou are, life still happens. Sorry to break it to you. We age. It’s inevitable.

Spa treatments aren’t a luxury. Just like brushing your teeth everyday isn’t aluxury. And good skin care begins with achoice to be healthy.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body, creating abreathable barrier to both release toxins in our body through sweat glands, aswell as creating a barrier to toxins in our environment. Your skin’s texture,elasticity, suppleness, tone, and color are a reflection of what’s going oninside your body, as well as a reaction to what’s going on in your environment.If you maintain a healthy lifestyle, your chances of preserving the skin youwere born with is substantially increased. But if you make poor lifestylechoices, it will show later on.

There is a long list of “have-tos” in our daily existence.As your esthetician, I completely understand the lack of time we have to geteverything done. But please understand that getting a facial once every twelveyears will have limited, and temporary, results. It’s really important to incorporatea good skin care routine into your lifestyle. Just like you would make avigorous work-out a priority for optimum health, a good skin care routine isrequired for optimum beauty.

Step 1: Choose tomake your skin care a priority.

Step 2: Schedule a consultationwith a specialist you trust and respect. Feel free to shop around for the rightspecialist. Every spa, therapist, dermatologist, and esthetician will have adifferent set of recommendations for you. I know it’s frustrating, but it’slike finding a good doctor. You’ll know who is right when you FEEL a connectionto that place and/or specialist. Trust your instincts.

Step 3: It’s a teameffort. Talk to your specialist about your concerns. Good skin care is likepiecing together a 3-D puzzle. You have a skin type (dry, oily, combination, normal),as well as skin conditions (acne, dehydration, hyperpigmentation, sensitivities),lifestyle habits (diet, exercise, stress-levels), and other information (genes,current routine and products used) that all need to be considered whendeveloping a treatment plan.

Step 4: Make it apriority. Set time aside every day to do your skin care routine. No matterhow busy your life is, it’s worth it to take 5 minutes for some self-care. Manypeople incorporate their skin care into their morning and evening ritual untilit’s a habit, just like brushing your teeth.

Step 5: Regular check-ups.We recommend regular facials every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on your treatmentplan. But at the very least, once a season is required. The environment plays arole in your skin’s health and appearance, so as the seasons change, you mayneed to update your products or routine to adjust to these changes. You mayhave noticed that your skin is more oily in the summer, and drier in thewinter. Good products are designed to supplement your skin with nutrients,hydration and oils that your body needs, so be sure you’ve got the right toolsin your toolbox to keep your skin glowing.

Step 6: Be patient.American culture has trained us to demand immediate gratification. There is nomagic bullet, though many product labels will lead you to believe that. Theskin is one of the most metabolically active parts of the body, and the body isturning over skin, hair, and nail cells on a daily basis. Any skin care routine (along with your lifestyle)is affecting the deepest layers of the skin. Visible results will take sometime to appear.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitateto ask us. We’re here to help you be the most beautiful, organic YOU.

Life In a Day

2012-01-23T09:10:00.001-05:00

I recently had a conversation with one of my friends about how it has been claimed that Facebook (and social media) is contributing to people's depression. In theory, people have access to more personal information about others lives and, in comparison to their own, it seems our lives are less exciting. We wake up, get dressed, go to work, come home, eat something uninspiring, eventually go to sleep, and the cycle begins again. Boring, right? Yet, when we log into Facebook to "catch up" with our friends, we see happy pictures of a trip from which they've just returned, or their status updates reflect a joy about life that we just don't feel inside about our own.

This conversation was rolling around in my head last night when I selected "Life In a Day" from my Netflix instant queue. I spent the next 90 minutes fascinated and inspired, ultimately feeling that as long as the sun rises, life is really, really good! There is tremendous beauty in the mundane.

Life In a Day is a historic film capturing for future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010. 4500 hours of film were captured in 192 different countries around the world, all filmed by people like you and me. It was a brilliant piece of filmmaking.

Feeling like your life is not extraordinary? Check it out:

Available on Netflix and YouTube.
The wonderful soundtrack is available on iTunes.

Who is Your Best Therapist?

2012-01-15T17:39:00.000-05:00

Everyone always asks me that. The answer is: they’re all excellent.

That may sound like a canned (marketing) response, but Iassure you it isn’t. The problem is with the question, not the answer. I can’tanswer that question effectively without a client telling me more about whattheir expectations are.

What kind of pressure do you like?
Do you have any health concerns? (For instance, are youpregnant?)
Do you have an injury or pain issue that you want addressed?
Have you had a massage before?
What did you like or dislike about your previousexperience(s)?
What is your motivation for getting a massage?

Your responses tell me which of my therapists’ skills wouldbe best suited to your needs. Guess what? We’re not your average spa. This isn’ta factory like some other places that you may have been to. We genuinely wantyou to have a good experience here. And we genuinely want you to be happy withthe quality of treatment you receive. In order for us to do the best possiblejob we can, we need more information about who YOU are, and what you need froma therapist.

I know a lot of people would be overwhelmed by all of thesequestions, so I don’t ask unless I sense it’s necessary to clarify what you’relooking to achieve. For the most part, people’s desires are fairlystraightforward: “I’d like deep pressure and a female therapist.” No problem! All of our message therapists are fully trained and licensed by the state of Connecticut. If those are your only requirements, we can certainly accommodate your request.

But if you have specific needs or expectations that require additional expertise, please take a moment tocommunicate with me when you call to make an appointment. We want you tothoroughly enjoy the time that you spend with us.

A moment of Zen in the Berkshires

2012-01-05T14:21:00.002-05:00

I've just returned from a three-day retreat to Kripalu Wellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts. It's been a long time since I had such a deeply peaceful experience.

Here is your moment of zen:

Kind (Self) Regard: The Day After a Night with Meat Loaf

2012-01-05T10:40:00.000-05:00

It is 3 in the afternoon on New Year’s Day. My sister and nephew should be almost home bynow. My mother and dog left long beforebreakfast. Now there is only the greatcleanup to tackle. With just one more dayleft to my week off from work, I have accomplished nothing I intended todo. And I’m not talking about fun stuff likeseeing the tree in Rockefeller Center; I’m talking about chores like fixing themoth hole in my favorite dress BEFORE I wear it again. I have, however, cooked, cleaned, set thetable and gone grocery shopping more times than I can keep track of. I have made: turkey, lobster, mussels,pizza, fish soup, shrimp, sweet potato grits, pancakes, oatmeal and toastedprobably a million bagels among other things. I drank white wine, redwine, prosecco, champagne, exotic cocktails and exotic vodkas. My desserts have included Buche de Noel,lemon tarts, Belgium brownies, plain old ice cream and raspberry tarts. Need I say more?

If I can still cross off at least three things on my to-dolist I will be pretty excited, but the odds are against it. Maybetomorrow?

At the moment, I’m mainly thinking about all I learned overthis holiday. First, I should never forget that all our holidays are documentedby the intrepid photographer in our family. So as I look at those photos instantly emailed around the world, I cursemyself for not remembering that, on these occasions, I should never venture outof my bedroom without being as carefully dressed as if I was going to work. I knowthat my hair has not yet recovered from the one time I cheated on the man whocuts it. Yes, it was me who said “hairgrows” just last month. But when it’sreally, really short – and its winter – that can take months of hair juststicking out here, there and everywhere.

I also learned that Tintin is not a dog and that Marley& Me is a pretty funny movie, even though you know it’s not going to endwell. I learned you can balance agyroscope on the tip of a pencil or the tip of your nose, that cranberry saucestains can be removed from white linen tablecloths with help from your iPad,vinegar, dish detergent, rubbing alcohol and diligence, and that Meat Loaf—thesinger, not the food-- is the perfect addition to one’s New Year’s Eveplaylist. And there was more, I’msure.

But now it’s January and the holidays that required so muchrunning around and dealing with mobs of people trying to do the same things youwere trying to do, are already a thing of the past. 2012 lies ahead. I’ll start my diet tomorrow, but for now I’m justhanging out in my comfy sweat pants (with no camera in sight) thinking abouthow much fun it was to spend so much time with people I love.

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Kind (Self) Regards: 10 reasons to smile

2011-12-07T08:42:00.008-05:00

Everyone loves a list, right? As we come to the end of the year, here are ten things that always bring a smile to my face, aside from the obvious joys of family and friends. This is a great exercise to reflect on what you have this holiday season. What does your top ten list look like?

1. The only exception to what I just said has to be my nephew. Because nothing consistently makes me smile more than he does, whether he’s giving me that first hug after the long drive up to visit, “making” me watch some crazy movie or telling me about his first hockey goal over the phone.

2. Dogs – I love them. I don’t have one of my own and who knows why. But a dog will always give you a little love when you need it. And get you up off your butt, running around like an idiot after a ball or stick. Given a choice between holding a baby or a dog, I’ll always choose the dog.

3. Little kids waiting at the school bus stop with their parents. To me, it seems a moment of pure innocence when there are only possibilities.

4. Skipping. You don’t see this very much anymore – or at least I don’t. But I saw a girl skipping down the street the other night and I thought that it was an expression of pure joy.

5. Many days on my way to work, I pass someone you might think is kind of scary looking – his face always hidden by a hoodie – walking a dainty, little dog. In the winter, that dog wears a sweater. I can’t tell you how much I love to see that duo.

6. The familiar. It’s not that I don’t like to try new things, but sometimes just driving down the road where I grew up, for example, makes me feel good. This is my territory. I know it. I can tell you a thousand stories about what happened here. I feel grounded and it feels good to know something this well. Dorothy said it best: "There's no place like home."

7. Vermont. I just couldn’t leave that off. For me, it’s where people and Mother Nature show their best side.

8. Emails from my friend who sold everything to buy a boat and sail around the world. He just left Africa and is heading for Trinidad. As someone who has said the familiar makes her smile, you can imagine how intrigued I am by his journey. And he’s funny.

9. Something new that changes the balance of my life. It could be as simple as changing the rug in my dining room. It could be my first angel meditation. It could be blue nail polish or an artist whose work I’ve never seen before. Anything that makes me feel like my life is in a forward, positive motion.

10. Good haircuts and great massages. Seriously. I have curly hair and I have spent countless days knowing “it will grow back.” So when someone knows how to make my hair look good, it will always bring a smile to my face. Thank you Bob. And Alissa, my favorite massage therapist and reflexologist at Aetheria. She is a goddess of massage. I might enter Aetheria with every part of my body hurting, but I will inevitably walk out grinning like the Chesire Cat.

So that’s my list for the moment. And if I could give you each a gift this holiday season, it would be at least ten of your own reasons to smile.

Happy holidays!

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Holiday Gift Guide: Alissa's Favorites

2011-11-30T07:05:00.003-05:00

I've been working at Aetheria Spa for a long time, and I never get tired of the wonderful smells that envelop me when I enter the spa. I love all the products we have available. Here are some favorites of mine, all of which make wonderful gifts for your friends and family this Christmas.

Eminence Organic Skin Care's Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant: It seems to last forever and it does a beautiful job smoothing my skin.

Get Fresh Grapefruit Creme: It smells delightful. It's not greasy and it's good for any season.

NYR Organic's Frankincense Toning Body Creme: I actually didn't think I would like this when I first tried it, but it has grown on me a lot. It's rich, feels nutritious for my skin, but it's still light and smells earthy. I love it.

Get Fresh Rescue Me Creme: This is definitely one of my favorites. The lemongrass scent is refreshing and the texture is perfect for the feet. I use it with every foot massage and reflexology treatment I do. Our clients love it.

Eminence's Stone Crop Collection: It's so hydrating! It never disappoints me.

Kick off your heels!

2011-11-28T09:07:00.003-05:00

Does anyone else have a problem with impractical footwear? It seems like the "amazon woman" trend is getting a bit out of hand lately. From the sky-high platforms Lady Gaga wears in her daily travels to the six-inch pumps that a pregnant Victoria Beckham wore for her Royal Wedding ensemble, ladies all over are rocking really high heels.

Don't get me wrong. I know that a sexy heel can make my legs look great, and capture the attention of the other gender, but c'mon! The pain in my feet after about an hour doesn't really outweigh the importance of comfort to me. Aside from the potential of doing a face plant - which I'm very likely to do in heels - there are significant risks associated with wearing impractical foot gear. Heels can be tough on legs, calves in particular and can put a huge amount of pressure on the ankles, toes and the balls of the feet. A 3 ¼-inch heel increases the amount of pressure placed on the forefoot by 76 percent. The higher the heel, the more out-of-balance your body becomes, placing undo stress on the muscular structure of your body to keep it erect. Over time, your body will "learn" that these tight muscles are the norm, causing all kinds of imbalances and tight muscles in your hips, back and neck. Ladies, is it really worth it?

One way to help reduce the damaging effects of high heels is to try a regular reflexology treatment. The practice of reflexology was imported to us from eastern medicine cultures which treat the body as a whole entity, not just diagnosing a symptom as in western medical practices. The eastern cultures believe that the feet are a map of our organ systems and by massaging the tiny muscles deep in the feet, it stimulates "chi" (energy) around the body, bringing us back into a state of balance (homeostasis).

Our lead therapist and certified reflexologist, Alissa, is phenomenal. The moment she touches my feet, I feel a wave of relaxation flow up my body and over my head. I breathe deeper, sink into the warm massage table, and my stress just melts away. It's an incredible sensation.

If you tend to use footwear as a means of looking and feeling taller, try a session with Alissa, or add the Mint Foot Masque to your next massage session. Your feet will thank you for it.

What's your passion?

2011-11-22T08:45:00.001-05:00

As the holidays approach, I always get a little introspective about the year that is coming to a close. Was my job fulfilling? Did I accomplish my goals? Have I made new friends? Have I valued old friends? Have I treasured my family and made them feel appreciated? Most importantly, have I valued myself?

I stumbled across a little exercise on the Oprah.com web site recently. It's a simple chart to help you determine what your passion is. Many of us suffer from a long list of responsibilities that always seem to push the priority of "self" to the bottom of the list. Then one day, we wake up and realize how many missed opportunities there have been and we have regrets. What if I had ... (fill in the blank). Try the exercise (PDF) - it takes 5 minutes - and see where your passion lies. Then look in the mirror and ask yourself if you're living your passion.

I'm happy to report I'm living my passion. How about you?

Kind (Self) Regards: The Age of Aquarius

2011-11-21T08:30:00.006-05:00

Yesterday it was August, and today it is almost Christmas. How did this happen? Time seems to go by faster and faster until we get to the dead of winter. And then it stands still. Will the snow ever melt? Will the sun ever shine again? Will we ever put away our snow boots? But that all lies ahead of us.

Now, it is time to turn our attention to the Age of Aquarius. Like many of my age, I thought that time had come and gone. After all, what was that ragtag cast that included Diane Keaton and Melba Moore singing about in that long ago scandalous musical called HAIR? But as it turns out, it is Friday, 11/11/11 that marks the passing from the Piscean Age into the Age of Aquarius. And so I am once again hopeful.

According to Yogi Bhajan: “It will be a new time. The entire psyche is changing. You must purify the mind, body and soul to be real, innocent, and sattvic (pure). Elevate yourself to be angelic. This age in which you will serve is an age of awareness and experience.” Now, I don’t know who Yogi Bhajan is, but I’m ready for change. Maybe I’m turning into a curmudgeon like the recently deceased Andy Rooney, but while I see plenty of change these days, there’s a quite a bit I’m not that crazy about.

And speaking of Andy Rooney, can you imagine what it would be like to be paid a lot of money to do nothing more than tell the world what you don’t like? I could excel at that job given a chance. Take for example, the iPhone 4s. I don’t need a phone to tell me what a weasel looks like. In fact, I don’t even think anyone needs a phone to do that. Why even get out of bed in the morning? Why not stay there and just talk to your phone all day? Ah well, as I said before, being Andy Rooney would have been my dream job. 52 weeks in a year; 52 weeks to tell the world what you think.

But I try to keep it on the lighter side of things. No politics, no world events, no economic insight. So…..back to November and Thanksgiving. One of America’s favorite holidays – I guess that’s still true, though I can’t ask my phone to confirm or deny. But I can go online and Google Brussels sprout recipes, buy my organic turkey locally and look forward to the company of my 10 year old nephew who will undoubtedly explain to me why, indeed, I need an iPhone 4s.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Final Words

2011-10-31T10:16:00.008-04:00

As expected, there has been an outpouring of love and gratitude to the man responsible for changing our lives in recent years: Steve Jobs. My favorite show of love was the image you see here, made up of twitter messages in the first few hours of the world hearing the news of his passing.

Death brings perspective to many.

Suddenly, one becomes aware of the value of life; The impact a person has achieved on your heart and mind over time; the void that is left behind when that influence is suddenly gone.

I've always been an iFan. I'm completely enamored with his ability to innovate and rethink the world. (Our world needs a lot of rethinking these days).

What I love most, though, is the perspective he brought to LIFE.

According to his sister's eulogy, published in the New York Times yesterday, his final words said it best: "OH WOW, OH WOW, OH WOW."

Perhaps we should all Think Different. And maybe the best way to start is for "OH WOW" to become a daily epiphany within our hearts.

Wisdom

2011-09-18T08:18:00.003-04:00

I watched the full documentary, and it was the wisest hour I've spent watching TV in months!

Enjoy this trailer. The documentary is available on iTunes for rental.

Ready? Set? Go!

2011-09-14T10:18:00.015-04:00

While sitting at the dinner table, I often think about my Southern roots. I stare at my plate of quinoa, nestled next to colorful vegetables sautéed in olive oil with fresh herbs and spices, and I sometimes wonder how I got here.

I’m a Southern girl, from the heart of Dixie. I grew up on a steady diet of meat and potatoes. Vegetables, if they existed on my plate at all, were generally cooked to within an inch of their life. It's difficult to envision these colorless, soulless portions of carbs and animal fat unless you've visited a restaurant south of the Mason-Dixon Line. If you have, you know exactly what I’m talkin’ about

Even with all the media surrounding our nation's declining health, and increasingly foolproof evidence that the American food "culture" is the primary cause of that decline, I don't see many in this country changing their deep-seated habits anytime soon. We are just biologically engineered to love fat, sugar and salt. It’ll take baby steps to make progress.

So, I start to think about the baby steps I’ve taken in my adult years while learning about more healthy food choices. In two decades, I went from the typical Southerner to a Fairfield County foodie. When I moved to the Northeast many years ago, I went into a mild state of culture shock. American fast food was far less ubiquitous here. The European influences in the New York area exposed me to previously unknown alternatives for my meal options. And the one advantage to being in such a densely populated area of the country was that the population allowed for these alternatives to thrive. I recognize it now as the first step in my whole food education.

Then I learned to cook.

Then I grew my first garden. It was disastrous, of course. But through the adventure, I still learned a bit more about what belongs on my plate.

As I matured, I traveled to international destinations and witnessed a food culture that went beyond just eating to survive. It was relationship centered. Food was at the heart of the community. People feasted, and were joyous in their feasts. And I realized the value of eating to live.

I now embrace a personal belief system: Food is medicine. It is the Spice of Life. Good food just makes everything about life more enjoyable.

My colleague and friend, Lisa Corrado, recently helped me reach the next level of my food education. She's a nutritionist here in New Canaan, and has developed a whole foods-based nutritional program called, "Ready, Set, Go! Detox!" Now, I've never really been a believer in detox programs. Perhaps, it's ignorance, but my theory was always that the sudden change in eating habits shocks your system, causing more damage than good. (I'm willing to admit I may be rationalizing the "need" for maintaining my toxic consumption habits of ice cream, chocolate and cheese).

I had looked into the trend of detox diets before, even purchasing the programs! But I never committed to anything. In the end, I thought, protein shakes don't seem very appetizing; let alone a joyous experience to share with friends and family.

Luckily, through the experience of Lisa's Ready, Set, Go! Detox! program, I learned how to minimize foods that she refers to as "noisy" foods. These are sugary sweets, baked goods, caffeine, alcohol, and the number one agent of evil: high fructose corn syrup. The idea is to gradually decrease these types of food, while increasing other foods that truly serve your body's nutritional needs. The program isn’t about protein shakes and supplements to sustain you. Just whole foods. Whole - healthy - food you can easily feast upon with family and friends. That's a detox program I can support!

Does the thought of removing all your favorite things from your diet sound like torture? Yeah, I thought so, too. But Lisa keeps you motivated with daily encouragement, wonderful easy-to-make recipes, and interesting facts about how our food supply affects our energy. I also appreciated the support of other detoxers in the program as well, some of whose comments made me laugh out loud most days. I didn’t feel so isolated knowing others were on a bumpy learning curve, too.

Check it out and consider whether it's a good move for you and your family. She has a new group starting September 25th.

Get Ready, Set, Go!

Kind (Self) Regards: Listening to the End of Summer

2011-09-12T21:43:00.008-04:00

It is slightly after 7 pm. I am wearing a black Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, Gucci sandals and the little antique diamond ring I never take off. In my hand is a pitchfork because two giant weeds in my garden -- which I let grow thinking maybe they were some exotic wildflowers -- had to be eliminated before they released a gazillion seeds that would turn into a gazillion plants next year.

There is something in the air that tells me the time for gardening has come to an end. This summer I have paid particular attention to my garden, which has given me a sense of pride in what I have created. Only flowers, of course. The chipmunks, woodchucks, rabbits and deer are simply too much of a force to be reckoned with when it comes to food destined to be put in either their stomachs or in mine. The vision last summer of chipmunks running off with that superbly ripe tomato in their mouths has left an indelible impression. No. No more food for me. I’ll stick to flowers.

Though I swam infinite laps in the pool for the past month, it suddenly no longer feels like swimming season. I hate to say it, but I need a jacket...by 8pm it is dark and, tragically, Autumn is on the way. You can smell it in the air. And yet, I have just returned from my summer vacation in Vermont and cannot quite understand how my favorite season seems to get shorter and shorter each year. In Vermont, the sky was that perfect blue, and even with the uninvited summer storms sweeping through occasionally, we were all in denial, still celebrating the bounty of summer.

Because I love Vermont, I worry about the fate of the people there. Last summer, the news was all about farmers committing suicide. This summer it was all about their reinvention as artisanal cheese makers, bread bakers and producers of various alcoholic beverages. On the road where my family has a house, two farmers are cultivating fields of grape vines. Initially, they intend to sell their produce to Vermont wineries, eventually one hopes to have his own production capabilities. And everywhere, the chefs that matter are turning to the local farms for “farm-to-table” dinners. We went to Cloudland Farm for dinner one night. Up, up, up a small dirt road until we came to the farm that Gail, the owner, explained had been in her husband's family since 1908. We shared a table with six other people and feasted together on dishes prepared by their young chef with ingredients from their farm or the surrounding farms. My friend who lives in rural Illinois laughs when I tell her of my farm-to-table excursions. That is how she grew up, but for me they are exceptionally unique experiences.

It is dark now and I guess it is crickets that I hear outside. Is it their farewell to summer song? As always, I will hold onto this sound as long as I can. I am not a winter person and there is still so much growing and tending that needs to be done in my garden, but for now it will have to wait until the peepers signal the arrival of our next spring.

NOTE: This was written before Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast and traveled up through Vermont, leaving my beloved little town under water and much of the state devastated. On the weekend of September 16th, the town was set to celebrate its 250th anniversary with a giant cake on the town green. Instead, the National Guard is ensconced in the local school doling out water and food.

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Stir the Pot

2011-09-12T21:31:00.007-04:00

You’re going to hit the treadmill every day this week. You are determined! Two weeks later, determination has fizzled and somehow Dance Moms or Toddlers & Tiaras and that glass of Merlot and the couch pull you in like a magnet.

Are you completely void of willpower? I doubt it. Most people find themselves quickly tiring of the same old (and repetitive) routine. Here are a few ideas to breathe more life into your exercise routine to stay on track.

Do one different workout each week - As a Jazzercise instructor, I teach classes most days of the week, so once a week I do something completely different. Sometimes it's a yoga class, a bike ride or rollerblading. I can always ensure that there will be one non-Jazzercise workout in my week.

Try a new sport or activity each month – I strive to try something new every month. I've tried belly dancing, Tai Chi, kayaking, Qigong, surfing, zip lining, horseback riding, boxing, and next month I'm trying a fencing class. Investigate sources like www.meetup.com, or your local Continuing Education program for low-cost options.

Mix up your music - Sometimes, just downloading a new playlist of fresh music can energize a workout that's lost its zip. Surf iTunes to get ideas for motivating playlists.

Plan an exercise outing or challenge – The past three years I’ve ridden in the Five Boro Bike Tour. It’s a 42-mile ride that is a real challenge, considering I don’t bike very often. It’s also now a tradition with friends, a physical challenge and an event I look forward to every year. Have you always wanted to run a 5K or tackle a triathlon? Make a plan to go for it.

Use technology to spice it up - Surf podcasts, apps and websites for material to mix up your workouts. There is a lot of free material available to add variety to your workouts. Check out Netflix for a variety of workout DVDs to sample and you'll have new material delivered right to your mailbox.

Try an active vacation - A hiking trip, white-water rafting, or a biking trip can be a great way to get out of a rut. This summer I went hiking in the Huangshaun mountains and climbed the Great Wall in China. The majestic scenery and breathtaking views made me forget it was a workout.

Get inspired and get moving!

Kristen Hallett-Rzasa is owner of Jazzercise and InterPlay Health, LLC.
InterPlay Health is a “whole-life” enhancement company dedicated to helping women get jazzed about fitness and nutrition as a way to total wellness. InterPlay Health offers a multi-dimensional approach that’s fun, fresh and informative — integrating the energy and effectiveness of Jazzercise fitness classes with individualized nutrition and wellness coaching. Kristen Rzasa 203-845-8856 or info@interplayhealth.com

Live Green CT!

2011-09-12T20:58:00.016-04:00

It's that time of year again! The annual Live Green Connecticut Festival at Taylor Farm Park in Norwalk, September 17 and 18!

(Check out the event from last year!)

The Live Green Connecticut! festival is at Taylor Farm Park in Norwalk, Connecticut, September 17th and 18th. This year, there are an exciting mix of featured attractions and exhibits including marine ecology and nature center exhibits, wind and solar displays, hands-on kid’s activities, environmental and conservation organizations and speakers, alternative fuel vehicles, landscape and garden centers, green careers and education, eco-art, eco-fashion, entertainment, food and beverages, and so much more!

Last year, Aetheria Spa showcased our Organic Skin care lines. It was an excellent two-day festival featuring many of Connecticut's best innovations for helping us live better lives in balance with the Earth's resources. I'm sure this year will be even better! Don't miss it!

Music performances on Saturday include:

11:00 am The Trummytones will be performing in the children's area at 11am. The Trummytones fuses tuba, drums, accordion and Vinny Nobile's high energy performance into an organic acoustic pop zydigo and reggae fun for all ages.

12noon Sarah Chesler will be returning for her 2nd straight year. Her music
draws heavily from alternative pop with jazz influences. Sarah is a
treasured artist and her remarkable band is a local favorite throughout
Fairfield County and beyond.

1:00pm Rhythm & Blues Guitarist Al Smith. Al's voice and extraordinary guitar
playing will simply 'wow' the crowd. From original music to 'covers', Al
Smith does it like no other, he's a musical genius. Once you hear Al, you
will become an instant fan.

2:00pm Run on the Sun. Run on the Sun's music is an “uber” sweet piano pop
rock band influenced by Coldplay, The Beatles and The Fray. Get ready to
rock with Run on the Sun!

3:00pm Norwalk native Scot Albertson. Vocalist Scot Albertson & Trio will feature Jazz Pianist Joe Utterback & Flutist Mayu Saeki from NYC. Scot recently released his 5th CD, "Vibination", which has garnered unprecedented accolades in the world of jazz. Scot and his trio are well on
the way to becoming musical legends so his performance at Live Green CT! is a must see performance!

Music performances on Sunday will include:

Darien native Sarah McGowan will be performing at 12 Noon on Sunday, September 18th. Her music has been described as "sweet, with an edge." Performing a medley of original and cover songs, she will be accompanied by her band, aptly called 'The Sweet Edge.'

P.J. Pacifico will be giving a special acoustical performance on Sunday, September 18th P.J.delivers a confident, upbeat collection of road-tested rock/pop music. With a radio-friendly sound that evokes Gin Blossoms and Matthew Sweet, and a storyteller's cadence that has been compared to James Taylor, Pacifico appears poised for mainstream.

There will be plenty of fun and educational activities to keep your kids engaged as well:

· Woodcock Nature Center nature exhibit
· Petting Zoo featuring goats, lambs, pot belly pigs, baby chicks, bunnies and more
· Curious Creatures' educational live animal show featuring turtles, lizards,
geckos, bearded dragons, snakes and more
· Author Jeanine Behr Getz and her book 'Kids Think Big!'
· Planet Fuel organic juices with for kids
· Norwalk Maritime Aquarium will be exhibiting
· The Trummytones will be performing music for kids
· Audubon Greenwich will be exhibiting
· The Farmer's Cow will be selling their delicious ice cream
· Faces by Wells Face Painting
· Front Yard Coop, the eco-friendly mobile Chicken Coop

See the full schedule at: Live Green Connecticut

The first 100 visitors each day of the festival will receive a goody bag from Aetheria Spa. Peek inside and one lucky Live Green CT visitor may find a gift certificate for any 60 minute treatment (a value of $120!) at Aetheria Spa, Fairfield County's Only Organic Day Spa!

On this day...

2011-09-11T10:33:00.001-04:00

We remember.

Meatless Protein Sources: Delicious and Nutritious

2011-08-18T17:03:00.006-04:00

When you need a physical boost, especially after an intense round of exercise, try eating some protein. As a building block for our muscles, eyes, teeth, skin, blood, nerves, lungs, brain, hair and nails, protein is a crucial element for strong, healthy bodies. Eating protein after a workout helps your muscles re-energize faster, too.

The recommended daily allowance of protein for a 150 lb woman is about 55 grams per day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pregnant women and those who engage in endurance training should consult their doctors for their ideal protein intake.

Traditional sources of protein for those of us in the United States have largely been from animal sources: beef, chicken, pork, fish and eggs. But meatless protein sources are just as good – or even better – for our bodies. Try some of these:

• Quinoa – Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is said to be the oldest grain in the world, dating back more than 5,000 years. It cooks like rice: boil it in a pot or make it in a rice cooker; you can substitute broth for water for a heartier flavor. Make it lively by adding sautéed onions, garlic, peas or spinach before serving. Reheat it fried-rice style or eat it chilled on salads. Find quinoa in boxes or bags in the natural foods section of your grocery story or buy it in bulk at stores that sell organic foods. 1 cup cooked quinoa = 18 grams protein and 9 grams fiber.

• Lentils – Cook orange, yellow or green lentils in a pressure cooker with onions, garlic, red pepper, carrots, broth, curry powder, salt and cumin. In about 15 minutes you’ll have a pot full of delicious and protein-rich curry – and easy clean-up. 1 cup cooked lentils = 18 grams protein.

• Legumes (Beans) – It’s easy to incorporate beans into your diet. Try veggie chili with red kidney beans, black beans or even garbanzo beans. Canned beans are fine and make for quicker cooking. Eat chickpeas in falafel or hummus. On a warm day, top a cool, refreshing salad with beans. 1 cup kidney beans = 16 grams protein.

• Go Nuts – Nuts can be one of the most powerful sources of protein aside from meat. They’re delicious and highly portable – easy to eat at your desk or on the go. Pack a handful of almonds, cashews or walnuts for long drives, an after-workout snack or a between meals pick-you-up. 1 cup almonds = 30 grams protein; 1 cup cashews = 20 grams.

• Cottage Cheese – Cottage cheese is a protein champion. Liven it up by mixing in pineapple chunks, a little granola or berries. 1 cup low fat cottage cheese = 30 grams protein.

Have fun experimenting with alternate sources of protein. And as always, the key to a healthy body is a combination of a balanced diet and exercise.

Kristen Hallett-Rzasa is owner of Jazzercise and InterPlay Health, LLC.
InterPlay Health is a “whole-life” enhancement company dedicated to helping women get jazzed about fitness and nutrition as a way to total wellness. InterPlay Health offers a multi-dimensional approach that’s fun, fresh and informative — integrating the energy and effectiveness of Jazzercise fitness classes with individualized nutrition and wellness coaching. Kristen Rzasa 203-845-8856 or info@interplayhealth.com

Kind (Self) Regards: The Journey to Canyon Ranch

2011-08-18T10:34:00.000-04:00

When I lost my job several years ago, like many others, I found myself in a special level of hell known as "outplacement." This is where "caring" corporate behemoths send the people who have given them the best years of their life to learn how to find a job.

In reality, the biggest lesson I learned was that I was't alone in my predicament; there were countless other talented people in a similar situation. I don't think it was a coincidence that, for most of us, we were about the same age. Regardless, several of the people I met there are now among my closest friends. Some have found their place in the market, others are still looking for a home.

Outplacement, above all, is basically a huge support group. We were there for each other, offering any help we could, whether in finding a job or just lending a sympathetic ear. One day I was talking to a smart, wonderful woman about the spiritual tragedy that I had come to realize: when I had a job, I never took the time to enjoy myself. "Like what?" she asked."What did you want to do that you didn't do?" Well, some people wanted to trek through the Himalayas, or learn to skydive.

Me? I just wanted to go away to a spa.

Now, let me be the first to say there is no bigger fan of Aetheria Spa than I. For a brief, interim solution to rejuvenating the spirit, Aetheria is where I like to call "home." I had never taken the opportunity to truly indulge. I wanted the total experience of spending several days doing nothing other than taking care of myself.

"So let's go," she said. Tempting, certainly, but then the debate began in my head: We can't do it. We have no income. Why not? We should do it while we have the time. ...No, no. We can't do it, it's too selfish.

In the end, we did do it. While it would've been nice to fly off to Bali, we compromised by choosing a place within driving distance. Wouldn't you know it, on the way there we started laughing – something we hadn't done in quite a while. We arrived to find women of all sizes, ages and incomes running around in t-shirts and sneakers. Women who were there to get healthy or make changes in their lives. Women who could relate to each other and warmly pull new acquaintances into that special circle of sisterhood. Some came to see the doctors, some to see what the Tarot cards had to say. For the two of us, it was magical. A place where we learned about chakras and had our energy blocks cleared. A place where we did Tai Chi and lifted weights.

Ultimately, it was a place where we started to heal.

We made a promise to return every year.

My life is different now. I am still addicted to treatments at Aetheria. But I am also still learning to accept the changes that were thrust upon me. And that is why, on a recent weekend, laughter again filled my car as the two of us made our now familiar way up Route 22 to Lenox, Massachusetts.

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Rubbing It In: The Reverse Sexism of the Treadmill

2011-06-20T10:59:00.006-04:00

I had three main fears about taking a stress test:

• I'd have a heart attack on the treadmill.
• I would survive the actual test, but the results would definitively prove I did have something more than an overactive imagination causing my occasional chest pains.
• I'd survive, have a clean bill of health, but my wife -- who was also taking one that day -- would kick my ass in the time trials.

I readily admit that I have ceded most of my so-called manhood in this married life. She brings home the bacon, I save the drippings in a Martinson's coffee can for making gravy; she manages the household expenses, I clip coupons and take them to the Stop 'n' Shop on triple-bonus cash back day. I'm cool with all this because hey, the chicks dig it – once they pick themselves up off the floor from the laughter and call their husbands or boyfriends to goof on me.

However, I will not lose to My Love in a foot race.

She's completed four marathons and several half-marathons in the 20 years we've known each other. She's also kayaked across Long Island Sound – twice! – while I was sidelined with panic attacks and seasickness. However, on land, in anything under a few thousand yards, she's eating my dust assuming one creates dust when running, as I do, with the weight of an imaginary elephant on his back.

No sooner did I stumble out of the torture chamber, uh, stress test room, then I came across My Love in the waiting room, sipping on vitamin water with a wedge of lemon in it. (I might have been hallucinating from lack of oxygen, but I also think she had a little umbrella in it and she was using a Crazy Straw.)

"How'd (cough) you (hack) do?" I asked.

"I did well," she said. "Made the 'good health' category."

"So (blech) did (wheeze) I!"

"I could have made 'excellent' but it would have meant two more minutes of torture on that machine."

"Me, too! (groan) Wanna go make out (ack) in a supply closet?"

"Stop it."

"So," I asked, "what was your time?"

"I got the 'good' category."

"I know that, but what was your time?"

"I didn't know this was a competition?"

"It's not," I lied. "I'm just curious. I've given up on you ever telling me your weight, so humor me on this one."

"Bite me."

"Any time. Now what was your time? I did 22 minutes, 17 seconds. 'Fess up."

After throwing on my "concerned spouse" look and laying it on thicker than the foundation and crack sealer shoring up Kathie Lee Gifford's face, she admitted to doing a little more than 17 minutes.

"What?! Women only have to do 17 minutes to qualify for 'good'? What happened to equal rights? Did past generations of women just burn their bras in vain? I declare reverse sexism! GEN-der BI-as! (clap-clap-clapclapclap-clap) GEN-der BI-as!"

However, deep down, under the façade of protest and insult, I laughed the laugh of a man whose freshly shaved chest was swelling with personal pride.

Unless what I'm feeling in there is excessive cardiac fluid.

Can I get a defib over here, stat?

Kevin McKeever
Stamford native Kevin McKeever, a married father of two, is a freelance writer and editor. He also writes the humor blog, Always Home and Uncool, and is a contributor to DadCentric.com. He spent 10 years as a reporter and editor for local newspapers, another nine creating and running the employee communications program for a Fortune 200 company, and then he wised up.

His humorous view of health and wellness, "Rubbing It In," is featured regularly in issues of Aetherial Living.

Spice of Life: Home Cookin' for your Health

2011-06-20T10:09:00.012-04:00

Home cooking. Sounds a little quaint, doesn’t it? It brings to mind a picture of Grandma at the stove, clad in her well-worn apron, stirring a fragrant, bubbling pot of something good to eat. That used to be the way we all ate. There were no fast-food restaurants, no processed foods to simply open and heat. Each meal was prepared from scratch using plenty of fresh ingredients.

Times have changed and so has our way of eating. For many, it’s all about convenience now, and speed to table. Microwaves have replaced stoves and ovens; pre-packaged meals have replaced dishes of fresh food. Kind of makes us long for the old days when meals were more of a social event, a time for the family to come together, share some food and conversation.

This shift in culture is noted by writer Michael Pollan (Food Rules, Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food). At a recent gathering, he spoke about how everyone used to be in the kitchen cooking, now we hardly give it any time. We’ve become a fast-food culture, to the detriment of our health and well-being.

To get families back together in the kitchen (and then around the dining table), Pollan suggests making it a part of your child’s upbringing. When you’re in the kitchen, have your kids join in, giving them jobs they can do. One technique he used was to offer his son the choice between cooking tasks and washing the dishes afterwards. Not hard to figure out which one he picked.

Get groups of friends together for a dinner party. Instead of each one bringing a prepared dish or you making it all ahead of time, have the group prepare the dinner together.

Establish a meal-sharing agreement with a neighbor. Each of you makes one meal (with enough servings to feed both families) and split it up. That’s a nice way of cooking once and eating twice.

Of course, all of this means that you have to get back into the kitchen yourself and be the example. You can make it easier by hitting your local farmers market for ingredients. As Pollan points out, it’s a great way to buy food that’s raised in a way you can feel good about. A recent conversation with New Canaan Farmers Market Master Lexi Gazy supports that.

“People want to trust where their food comes from,” she said. “There’s been a grass-roots movement of people supporting their local farmers markets because they’re feeling more responsible for their own health.”

Markets like New Canaan are defined by the local food they offer. Gazy outlined the criteria for a vendor being able to set up a table:
“Top priority is given to Connecticut farms selling their crops. CT farms who make products are next, followed by vendors who make products with ingredients sourced from CT farms. Some exceptions are made for vendors who partner with CT farms, like the coffee stand who uses dairy products from a local farm.”

The local non-farming community is supported as well. Gazy says the New Canaan market has one space designated for non-profits to exhibit on a rotating basis, and one space for New Canaan artisans. More information can be found on the New Canaan Farmers Market website.

We have a whole bunch of other reasons why we love to shop at the Farmers Market. Tops on our list? You’ll buy really fresh food.

The beauty of “eating local” is that the food you’re eating is as close to picked as possible. Produce that travels from far away (sometimes from a whole other hemisphere) usually doesn’t have the luxury of ripening on the plant. Ripe fruits and vegetables don’t travel well or last too long, so they’re picked early and left to ripen (or not) on the store shelf. The food you buy from the farmers market came from a matter of miles away, usually from within the same state. That means that it’s retained more nutrients, plus it tastes fresher and better (and it’s probably nice and ripe).

When you shop local, you support local businesses and your local economy. You’re going to spend your money somewhere, why not in your own area? Spending money in your own community helps it thrive, making it a better place to live. You’ll help keep people working and contribute to the overall community.

There’s always something new to learn. These farmers know their stuff and they’re happy to give you new ideas on how to eat their crops. Need a recipe for greens? How about advice on how to grow the lettuce or tomato plants you’ve got your eye on? They’ll give you the lowdown on what you really need to know.

There’s always something new to try. Think of the market as an all-you-can-eat buffet with lots of healthy produce. The great thing about a buffet is that you can try a little of one thing. If you don’t like it, you haven’t made a big commitment. Same holds true for the farmers market. Interested in fiddleheads? Buy a handful and see if you like them. Never tried Russian Kale? One bunch will set you back just 3 bucks. When in doubt, sauté the vegetable in question with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.

It’s a great opportunity to teach your kids where food comes from. Farmers markets are great for showing your kids what types of foods grow in your area. If it’s not local, it’s typically not sold at the market. Find a farmer who’s willing to spend a few minutes chatting with your kids about what he’s selling that day. Kids will love the sensory experience of mingling with brightly-colored, fragrant produce. They’ll also learn about seasonality. It’s a great lesson to review what they saw at the market that week and compare it to what they see a few weeks later.

You can make some new friends too. Chat with the farmers each time you visit to get to know them a little bit more. Tell them how you prepared the food you bought from them last time and how much you enjoyed it. If you didn’t enjoy something, tell them that too and they might have a suggestion on a different preparation method next time. Interact with the other customers. Ask them how they plan to prepare what they’re buying. If, like this writer, you and another shopper are hesitating over the same bunch of parsnips, offer to split them in half so you each get the amount you want. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

It’s not just all about the produce. Many farmers markets (New Canaan included) showcase other local products like baked goods, grass-fed meats, milk products, coffee, soap, honey, plants and flowers. It’s one-stop shopping for a pretty fabulous meal.

New Canaan’s market is open every Saturday from 10 - 2 until November 19. You can check out http://ctnofa.org/FarmersMarkets.htm for information on the Farmers Markets in your area.

Lisa Corrado, M.S. is the owner and Chief Nutrition Officer of Lisa Corrado Nutrition. She makes busy people healthier with a combination of clinical nutrition and culinary training. Lisa recently added a twist to her already unique background of nutritionist/chef by becoming a cancer survivor. Learn more at LisaCorradoNutrition.com.

Her insights into food culture, "The Spice of Life," is featured regularly in issues of Aetherial Living.

Kind (Self) Regards: The Women's Land Army

2011-05-24T07:59:00.018-04:00

I recently attended the Domestic Violence Crisis Center's Spring fundraiser luncheon where Gail Collins, New York Times columnist and author of "When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present", gave an inspiring presentation about women's meteoric rise in status in the post-World War II era, continuing over the last fifty years into these modern times.

Her presentation inspired me to think of the women who came before me. But just as I have no memory of most of my life, I have no family history. I knew my maternal grandmother for a very brief time; and my paternal grandparents for much longer. But once you go back further than that, nothing. How can a family history just disappear like that?

But memories of my paternal grandmother will never disappear.

To me she was, and still is, a woman who made her mark on the world at a time when woman weren't supposed to make marks on anything other than the kitchen stove. I have the photographs that tell the interesting stories, and memories of her much later in life happily being the eccentric we thought she was.

She picked her own mushrooms for dinner -- which we always thought would one day kill us all. She put fabric together in odd ways to make quilts. She painted -- on everything from canvas (creating a "normal" painting") to fabric (to hide a worn or torn spot). My grandmother would have been born in the late 1800s. I'm not sure when she married, but I have seen the love letters sent to her by my grandfather who was fighting in World War 1.

But what was more interesting was that my grandmother was doing her own thing to contribute to the war effort. She donned a pair of PANTS (!!), and traveled far from her New York City home to a Bedford Village, New York, farm where she worked as a "farmerette."

If you Google “farmerette,” you’ll find that: From 1917 to 1920 the Woman’s Land Army brought thousands of workers into rural America to take over the farm work after men were called to wartime service. These women wore military-style uniforms, lived in communal camps, and did what was considered “men's work”…plowing fields, driving tractors, planting, harvesting, and hauling lumber. The Land Army insisted its farmerettes be paid wages equal to male farm laborers and be protected by an eight-hour workday. These farmerettes were shocking at first and encountered skeptical farmers’ scorn, but as they proved themselves willing and capable, farmers began to rely upon the women workers and became their loudest champions.

…the Woman’s Land Army…pushed into new, uncharted territory and ventured into areas considered off-limits. More than any other women’s war work group of the time, the Land Army took pleasure in breaking the rules. It challenged conventional thinking on what was “proper” work for women to do, their role in wartime, how they should be paid, and how they should dress.

And really, what more is there to say? I love the thought of a Woman’s Land Army! And I would have liked to have known her then because I can imagine the cheerful energy and creativity she would have brought to that time in her life. Even now, I think what she did was amazing – and I have to wonder if it was that spirit – someone imbued in our DNA – that helped lead my sister and me down the independent paths we took in our lives.

Kind (Self) Regards,

Vicki

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Slow Food Sunday: Food Rules Revisited

2011-05-15T20:22:00.021-04:00

I had a fabulous weekend. It was just one of those weekends where I was able to participate in a new adventure that turned out to be great fun and a wonderful learning opportunity.

My friend, Lisa Corrado (co-author of The Spice of Life articles on this blog) and owner of Lisa Corrado Nutrition here in New Canaan, got us tickets to see Michael Pollan, author of Food Rules and The Omnivore's Dilemma, speak at Stone Barn Center for Food and Agriculture yesterday. I had never heard of Stone Barn Center, and now that I've been, I can't wait to go back. Everything they're doing to increase awareness about sustainable farming and the benefits of eating whole foods falls right in line with my belief system.

We'll be sharing more about Michael Pollan's discussion later, but seeing him speak inspired me to read Food Rules again, and take action on the simple guidelines he offers.

Rule #44 - Pay More, Eat Less

"With food, as with so many things, you get what you pay for. There is also a trade-off between quality and quantity, and a person's "food experience" - a meal's duration or quotient of pleasure - do not necessarily correlate with the number of calories consumed..."

My husband and I took a road trip to Fairway Market in Stamford for our weekly restocking of the fridge and cupboards. For two people who live on a budget (like most in the world), it shocks us what our grocery bills come to when the cart is only half full upon departure. However, wholesome food is vitally important to us, so we rationalize the expenditure as an investment in our long-term well-being. Like Michael Pollan says, "you get what you pay for," and in this household, a $20 block of real, exceptionally good aged-Parmesan cheese trumps the cheaper alternative of boring ol' table salt to season a dish any day.

Rule #29 - Eat like an Omnivore

"Whether or not you eat any animal foods, it's a good idea to try to add some new species, and not just new foods, to your diet - that is, new kinds of plants, animals and fungi..."

I picked this new cookbook up last week at DEANE during the Design District event in New Canaan. It's divided into four sections of healthful recipes corresponding to what's in season. A recipe in the Spring section caught my attention, Cannellini Beans with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Ramps (detailed below). Um, what the heck is a ramp? Looking further into the ingredients, I get stumped again: what the heck is mirin? I couldn't envision what the flavors of the finished product would be like or whether it would be edible once I took the chance. But, hey, an opportunity to learn lay right in front of me, so I entered the quest and was pleasantly surprised by the results.

Ingredients:

8 Sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup water
12 ramps (wild leeks) [I couldn't find "ramps," so I used leeks instead]
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon Mirin (sweetened sake) [which I found on the same shelf as tamari and soy sauce at the store]
3 cups cooked cannellini beans [I used canned. Just rinse thoroughly before adding to dish.]
Sea Salt and fresh ground pepper [$20 Parmesan anyone?]

Place sun-dried tomatoes in small bowl. Bring water to boil, pour over tomatoes and set aside for 15 minutes or until soft. Remove tomatoes from bowl and save soaking water. Mince tomatoes and set aside.

Wash ramps, cut off and discard root ends and chop bulbs and greens into thin slices. In large skillet over medium heat, saute tomatoes in olive oil for 3 minutes. Add ramps and mirin and continue sauteing for 2 minutes. Add liquid from reconstituting tomatoes 1 tablespoon at a time as needed to prevent sticking. Add beans and 2 tablespoons more of the tomato liquid. Continue cooking until beans are heated through and there is almost no liquid remaining in pan. Season to taste with salt and pepper, remove from heat and serve. (Reprinted from Terry Walters cookbook, Clean Start: Inspiring You To Eat Clean and Live Well)

Rule #43 - Have a Glass of Wine with Dinner

"...There is now considerable scientific evidence for the health benefits of alcohol to go with a few centuries of traditional belief and anecdotal evidence. Mindful of the social and health effects of alcoholism, public health authorities are loath to recommend drinking, but the fact is that people who drink moderately and regularly live longer and suffer considerably less heart disease than teetotalers..."

This, of course, is my favorite rule. Being in the kitchen enjoying a slow food culture wouldn't be the same without it.

Bittersweet Goodbyes

2011-04-28T14:18:00.009-04:00

It’s a bittersweet day here at Aetheria Spa…

Our fabulous massage therapist and acupuncturist, Sarah, is finally moving to Maine to fulfill her lifelong ambition. If you’ve ever visited Maine, you can understand her desire to live amongst the beautiful trees, glorious fjordes, and down-to-earth wisdom of the Maine people. We’ve always known she would be moving someday, but it was always “someday,” not “next month.”

Sarah came to work at Aetheria over five years ago and in that time, many of our clients have grown to love her for her excellent massage therapy skills and dedication to alleviating chronic pain. She’s personable, sweet, and always focused on the long-term care of our clients. Always the one to pursue advanced studies in alternative healthcare practices to expand her skills, she became a licensed acupuncturist last year. Many of our clients have experienced positive results from her unique style of acupuncture.

It goes without saying that we are very sad to see her leave. She has been a fundamental part of the Aetheria culture since the early days of our existence. But we would be remiss if we didn’t confess our joy over the infinite potential she possesses as she takes on this new adventure. We know – with confidence – she will be successful in all of her future endeavors.

Yet when a door closes, a window opens. Literally! Because she maintains significant personal ties to the Fairfield County area, she will be returning often to visit for a “window” of several days. And since she can’t stand to be away from her treasured Aetheria family for too long, she will be taking limited appointments by request during her visits.

For advanced notification of her availability for massage or acupuncture appointments, please let us know you would like to be included on the mailing list by sending an email to info[at]aetheriaspa[dot]com with “Sarah’s list” in the subject line.

Throughout the month of May, she will maintain her regular schedule, Tuesdays through Saturdays (except Thursdays) until May 28, 2011 (her last day here). If you haven't had a chance to visit us recently, please be sure to give us a call at 203.966.6650 to schedule an appointment with her before she gets away! Appointments will fill up fast!

Rubbing It In: Mother Knows Medically Best

2011-04-27T08:24:00.006-04:00

Your mother may not be the first caretaker you meet on the way out of the womb, but you probably like her bedside manner much more than the doc who yanked you out, held you up by your ankles and then slapped your butt for good measure.

That's one of the myriad reasons why so many of us return home to seek the counsel of Dr. Mom about our own health. We do this even though, if they are like my 68-year-old mother, they learn of most modern surgical breakthroughs only if someone performs them on a Hollywood starlet then blabs about it to The National Enquirer. Why? Because we figured that if our moms survived this long despite going through the majority of their lives without using seat belts, hand sanitizer or water that's been purified through reverse osmosis by minimum-wage pixies in organic cotton gloves, then they must be on to something.

Therefore, in honor of Mother's Day, let's reflect on some of the medical wit and wisdom that my own Mom, and probably yours, has passed on throughout the years that has yet to kill us.

"Don't go outside with wet hair in this freezing weather! You'll catch a cold!"
In recent years, science (or at least people with white coats and clipboards paid for by the over-the-counter cough syrup industry) has discredited this long preached mom-ism linking the human rhinovirus to wet hair and chilly temperatures. Besides, what moms really should have been warning us about are the icicles that form in your follicles under these conditions. They can snap off and eventually hasten the development of the hairline condition called "isolated widow's peak" or, more commonly, "the David Letterman floating isle of hair." Coming soon -- a study on this phenomenon underwritten by the makers of Rogaine!

"Don't forget your rubbers!"
Oh, Mom! We naively thought you were protecting my good Hush Puppies from the mud and puddles! You were really protecting my boy parts from the clap! And protecting yourself from being called "Grandma" too soon.

"Sometimes you have to be your own doctor."
My mom is especially fond of this one. Not for me, but for herself. She uses it as justification for occasionally skipping a few handfuls of the 73 medications she's on for high blood pressure, a condition caused, obviously, by raising me. "If I take all these pills all the time, I'm running to pee every six-and-half minutes!" she tells me. Which raises the question: What's more disturbing – the image of my mom going to the bathroom or the image of my mom breaking out the stopwatch, calculator and spreadsheet to determine the exact length of time between her going to the bathroom?

"Just put some Mercurochrome on it."
This one shows my age because Mercurochrome has been banned for sale in the United States since around the time Monica Lewinsky was giving then-President Clinton sporty looking neckties. For you youngsters, Mercurochrome was the antiseptic of choice for my family and millions like us throughout most of the 20th century. It didn't burn like Bactine or hydrogen peroxide and it turned your skin an orangey brown red color that made any minor scrap look like you had just tried to settle a slap fight between Freddy Krueger and Edward Scissorhands. It. Was. AWE-SOME! Then some genius at the FDA, obviously not a mother, figured out that dabbing a toxic metal (yep, the "Mercur" is the name stands for "mercury") on an open wound might not be as good an idea as originally thought. Moms around the nation wept openly.

"Here -- let me kiss it and make it feel better."
No comment. I don't make fun of what still works.

Kevin McKeever
Stamford native Kevin McKeever, a married father of two, is a freelance writer and editor. He also writes the humor blog, Always Home and Uncool, and is a contributor to DadCentric.com. He spent 10 years as a reporter and editor for local newspapers, another nine creating and running the employee communications program for a Fortune 200 company, and then he wised up.

His humorous view of health and wellness, "Rubbing It In," is featured regularly in issues of Aetherial Living.

Top Five Movies for Earth Day

2011-04-21T21:54:00.007-04:00

King Corn - one of the most informative documentaries I've ever seen.

An Inconvenient Truth
If you love your children, you need to see this movie.

Wall-E
Fun for the whole family, and a not-so-subtle message about our future (it ain't pretty).

Tapped - The Movie
I haven't bought bottled water since I saw this a year ago. And you won't either once you have seen it.

Dances With Wolves
I've always appreciated the Native Americans' belief system of finding a balance with the Earth. Dances With Wolves is a great drama, with a wonderful message.

Bonus pick: Last but not least, it's always important to understand how truly insignificant we really are. Every once in a while, I'll revisit this map of the known universe on YouTube for a reminder.

What are your Top 5?

The Spice of Life: Slow Food Sundae

2011-04-21T08:45:00.032-04:00

The “Slow Food” movement is all about taking the time to learn where your food comes from, preparing it with love, and enjoying it with family or friends for a whole food experience. Ask anyone on the street and you may find that there is one type of food “experience” that holds a very special place in our heart from childhood: ice cream.

“My grandmother used to make homemade ice cream when I was a kid,” says Steve, a gentleman I met while taking a cooking class on ice cream at Sugar and Olives recently. “There were no fancy ice cream makers back then, so she’d sit me and my brother on the floor of the kitchen and make us roll a barrel back and forth between us to churn it. It was great fun. And now that I’m a parent, I see her strategy: It kept us entertained for hours!”

Everyone, no matter how old you are, has a favorite memory from their youth that involves ice cream in some way. Who isn’t immediately transported by the sound of a jingling bell to the memory of chasing the Good Humor truck down the street? And who hasn’t experienced the endless debate about which flavors are best? There is no right answer. Your favorite flavor likely has something to do with the first cold headache you ever had. To a child, the spectrum of flavors is a world of delight; a dream too good to be true. To an adult, considering the array of options rekindles our child-like imaginations somewhere in the recesses of our overworked and overstressed lives, even if it’s just for a moment.

Eggs, sugar, milk, cream. Mixed together with some flavorings and an icy blast transforms these simple ingredients into a treat that’s been delighting families for centuries.

I attended the Sugar and Olives cooking class with my friend, Lisa Corrado, a nutritionist here in New Canaan. We both believe in the value – going way beyond fundamental nutritional health – of treasuring a food culture in your home and the positive impact it has on relationships. We consider food the “spice of life.” So, the “spice girls” went on a mission to learn more about why this sweet treat has such an unrelenting connection in our hearts to pure, innocent joy. Or maybe we just created an excuse to eat more ice cream. You decide.

Meet Nuccia and Andrea Mazzonetto. They bring “slow food sundae” to life every day as the owners of Gelatissimo, an artisan gelato shop here in New Canaan. Lisa and I met with them on a very cold, rainy Saturday to understand the difference between ice cream and gelato, a staple of Italian food culture.

“It’s half the calories of ice cream, because it’s made with milk instead of cream,” says Nuccia. “It has a smoother consistency because it’s slowly stirred at a warmer temperature than ice cream and there’s less air whipped into it. Authentic Italian gelato is always flavored with real fruit or other ingredients, not manufactured syrups.” Gelatissimo has a wide variety of flavors to choose from: including choices made with fresh fruits like strawberry, cherry, apricot and citrus; plus staple flavors such as hazelnut, chocolate, cappuccino and chocolate chip (these sound even better when said in Italiano). “We make a base recipe for gelato that has been passed down through my husband’s family for generations and we add in whichever seasonal ingredients are available. To Italians, gelato can be a meal.”

“She’s the alchemist,” says her husband, Andrea.

What’s the wildest flavor she’s ever created? “Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine),” she laughs, and then thoughtfully ponders more of her past creations. “Cilantro and lime; pineapple and mint; rosemary and basil…and I harvested wild raspberries from Waveny Park once. It was wonderful!”

So why is it that ice cream sparks such memories and brings such joy to our lives, no matter our age? Nuccia believes it’s the experience of coming into a brightly-colored, cheerful shop. The display cases are designed so that kids can see all of the colors of the gelato flavors. And for adults, Gelatissimo suggests that adults enjoy “affogato”: an Italian word to describe a dish of gelato “drowned” in either espresso or liquor. A refreshing combination of fresh lime gelato with frozen vodka makes a great ending to a summer’s seafood dinner.

Of course, there are options for those who can’t comfortably ingest whole milk products or cream from cows. Lisa suggests trying non-dairy alternatives. Her favorites are a toss-up between Tempt, made with hemp milk and Purely Decadent, made with coconut milk. Both are very rich and creamy; neither are low-fat or low-calorie. You can also find treats made with goat, rice and soy milks.

For those wanting to create joyful memories at home, we’ve got the “scoop” from Sugar and Olives in Norwalk on how to make vanilla ice cream, with some flavoring suggestions. If you would rather take the family out for the memories, visit Baskin Robbins in New Canaan on April 27 for their famous 31 cent scoop night to benefit National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Or send the kids to bed, and enjoy some “affogato” with artisan gelato from Gelatissimo to wind down after a long day. Have two! The smile on your face is the easiest lasting memory to achieve.

Visit:
Gelatissimo at 26 Forest Street, New Canaan

Baskin-Robbins at 103 Main Street, New Canaan

Sugar & Olives at 21½ Lois Street, Norwalk (and their cooking class schedule)

Swirl Frozen Yogurt coming soon to Cherry Street, New Canaan

VANILLA ICE CREAM BASE
3 c milk
3 c cream
1 t best quality vanilla extract
1/2 vanilla bean, inside only, scraped out (keep the bean pod for future use)
1 1/2 c sugar
1 t salt
5 egg yolks

In a large stainless steel bowl, combine 1/2 cup of sugar with the egg yolks, and whisk. Cover with plastic and set aside.

Chill 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream for use later.

One: In a heavy bottomed sauce pan, combine the milk, 1 1/2 cups cream, 1 cup of sugar, vanilla bean and the salt. Set over medium heat and stir. Heat up until very hot but not boiling. Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract.

Two: READ THIS! Carefully combine the hot milk mixture with the egg yolks. Dribble the hot liquid milk mixture into the yolk bowl, while whisking, to slowly bring up the temperature of the yolks. This is called tempering. Once half of the hot liquid is mixed in with the egg yolk, you can start to pour it in faster.

Three: Now, pour the remaining cold cream (1 1/2 cups) into the ice cream base. Refrigerate for several hours and then spin this in an ice cream machine, and follow the manufacturer’s directions.

FLAVOR IDEAS?? ovaltine, fresh mint, cinnamon, bourbon etc.
For the ovaltine: add 1/2 cup ovaltine malt powder to base after step one.
For the cinnamon: add 2 T ground cinnamon to base after step one.
For the bourbon: after enjoying a shot for yourself, add 3 ounces (2 shots) to the base after step one.
For the mint: use 1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves, steep them in 3 cups of hot milk for one hour and then strain them out, before starting step one.

Lisa Corrado, M.S. is the owner and Chief Nutrition Officer of Lisa Corrado Nutrition. She makes busy people healthier with a combination of clinical nutrition and culinary training. Lisa recently added a twist to her already unique background of nutritionist/chef by becoming a cancer survivor. Learn more at LisaCorradoNutrition.com.

Her insights into food culture, "The Spice of Life," is featured regularly in issues of Aetherial Living.

We're Much Smaller Than We Think

2011-04-20T21:45:00.001-04:00

Happy Earth Day!

Kind (Self) Regard: Clues to Another Life

2011-04-19T08:56:00.005-04:00

I love tag sales.

They provide you with things you need, but never knew you wanted.

They are a great opportunity to look inside other people's houses and, sometimes, a bittersweet look into a person's life. Among my best finds from past years are a copper cupola for our pool house, and an 18th century dovetailed tiger maple Queen Anne chest of drawers. The latter I found sitting in someone's driveway one Saturday morning. They had been clearing out their summer house near Lake George and that had been among the items that needed to go. To them, it was just an extra dresser. To me it was so beautiful I never thought it could be real, but it was only $15.00 so I bought it anyway and sure enough....My father used to brag about this to his friends in the antique world as a sign of my tag-saleing prowess.

Sometimes you walk into a house and think: "What in the world has happened here?" It's as if the family just woke up one morning, got dressed, walked out the door and never looked back. Leaving everything behind. Sometimes, though, you know exactly what happened -- an elderly person stubbornly stayed in the home they loved, and had now died. Those can be the saddest, most interesting sales of all. Not for the "stuff" you might find, but for the glimpse into the person who had once lived there.

That was the case one recent weekend. It was a small antique house I had often driven by and wondered about. The windows always held a collection of sparkling, multi-colored bits of glass. As soon as I walked inside I knew. It was a house someone had once loved, but had long stopped being able to care for. Paint was peeling off the ceilings and walls. There was a walker in the corner of the bedroom, and that smell.

But there were also clues about the life that had been before. First clue: A woman’s business card advertising furniture “stripping by hand.” And lots of books about antique American homes. Second clue: A note from a daughter enclosing pictures of her grandson. So her daughter must not have lived near or visited often. And why did she write, rather than call? Were they not close? And then the third clue: A card announcing the opening of her psychology office in Baltimore, Maryland. So, she started life as a psychologist, had at least one child and, at some point, moved to Stamford where she established another business, based on her love of antiques, refinishing furniture.

There was so much more I wanted to know. Where had she gone to school? Did she have a husband? Did he bring her to Connecticut? Did she work because she wanted to, or had to? What did she look like?

But I felt I had overstayed my welcome into her life and so I left, noticing as I went out through the kitchen door that she also had a fondness for loose tea.

Kind (Self) Regards,

Vicki

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Secrets of Beautiful Hair

2011-04-19T08:47:00.005-04:00

We are what we eat and that applies to our hair, too. Hair products help, of course, but nutritionists and beauty experts tell us that healthy hair begins from the inside out.

Building blocks for great tresses include protein, Omega-3 fats, iron, biotin and foods that contain Vitamins A and C that help our bodies produce sebum, our natural hair conditioner.

Exercising is also key. The consistent physical movement promotes better circulation and increased blood flow which aids hair growth.

Here are some things you can eat for healthier hair:

- Swimmin’ Salmon – Salmon provides us with Omega-3 fats that help our scalps contain enough moisture to provide us with lustrous hair. A three-ounce serving of salmon also gives us one-third of our daily protein requirement. Not a fish lover? Take one tablespoon daily of ground flaxseed.

- Eat Your Vegetables – The darker and leafier the better to get Vitamins A and C that help our hair follicles produce sebum, a natural substance that keeps our scalp and hair from drying out. Also, iron has been shown to help hair grow so gravitate toward veggies with high iron content including spinach, broccoli, kale and chard.

- Lean Beans – Beans of all types are lean sources of protein, one of the most essential building blocks for healthy hair. You can also find protein in beef, chicken, fish and pork.

- Get Nuts - Nuts contain elements that are good for your hair as well as your scalp. Almonds, cashews and pecans contain biotin that has been associated with aiding hair growth. Nuts also pack a healthy protein punch to help keep our locks luscious.

- Diet Naturally - While watching your weight, be sure to eat as many calories from natural foods as possible to assure that you are taking in enough nutrients for healthy hair – and a healthy body. Avoid heavily processed or fast foods as they provide little nutritional support.

- Sparkling Attitude – OK, so it’s not a food but our attitude has a tremendous affect on our bodies, including our hair. Manage your mind by counterbalancing stressful times with a walk in a park, meditation, and quality time with family and friends. Have a few moments of time to yourself? Treat yourself to a massage that includes scalp massage. You’ll awaken your hair follicles and relax your mind.

Kristen Hallett-Rzasa is owner of Jazzercise and InterPlay Health, LLC.
InterPlay Health is a “whole-life” enhancement company dedicated to helping women get jazzed about fitness and nutrition as a way to total wellness. InterPlay Health offers a multi-dimensional approach that’s fun, fresh and informative — integrating the energy and effectiveness of Jazzercise fitness classes with individualized nutrition and wellness coaching. Kristen Rzasa 203-845-8856 or info@interplayhealth.com

Rubbing It In: The Red Blotch of Krill Ick

2011-03-15T16:07:00.003-04:00

"Let's try an experiment."

If my wife had said those words to me, I would have been intrigued. If she said them shortly after Anne Hathaway or that Goth chick from "NSCI" had wandered into our bedroom, I'd be wildly intrigued and, most likely, deep in the throes of R.E.M. sleep.

Instead, I was stone cold awake and hearing this phrase from a strange doctor I found myself stripped naked to the waist in front of this particular Saturday afternoon.

To make matters worse, he held up an index finger and walked around behind me -- a universal cause for panic in any guy over age 40 in a doctor's office. However, I relaxed when that finger started running up, down and across my back rather than down near my Lesser Antilles region.

"Interesting," he said. "I just wrote your name on your back with my finger, and it's showing up in a nice red rash."

The rash was why I was there in the first place.

A few days earlier, I had noticed long, diagonal red streaks in parallel lines from my lower rib cage up my sides. I had just come out of a hot shower and my skin was suffering from the normal dryness that comes from having electric baseboard heat in an exceptionally frigid New England winter, so I figured I must have scrubbed myself a little too hard while soaping up and left finger marks.

The lines never went away, though. More of them, plus some brilliant blotches resembling spaghetti-splatter started to appear on my arms, back and sides.

Naturally, I made the mistake of first turning to the Internet. The digital information age has given us many great things, but WebMD's Symptom Checker is obviously a tool of white-coated terrorists. Within a few minutes of pointing and clicking, I found that I might have leprosy, consumption and a few miscellaneous strains of the plague and VD. This, of course, gave me a definitive case of a panic attack.

Calmed down, I sought my wife and said to her the words nobody ever wants to hear from their spouse: "Hey, hun -- what do you make of this rash?"

She gave it a good look, asked a few questions and concluded it "may be shingles or maybe not." With two kids in the house, including one with a rare autoimmune disease, this was the one diagnosis I really didn't want -- that of a long-term, contagious virus.

My wife, who had shingles as a child, advised me to wait until Monday before going to the doctor to see if got any better since I didn't have any of the really bad symptoms like pain, burning, chills and -- seriously -- genital lesions. Immediately, I found an on-call doctor. As much as I love my wife and value her insight, she has a pretty bad track record on dispensing medical advice, like the time she suggested I pop a blood blister with my fingernail: I ended up in the ER in need of a tetanus shot.

Anyway, the doc with the creative finger quickly ruled out shingles and said I definitely had the telltale signs of a simple allergic reaction.

"Are you allergic to anything already?" he said.

"Penicillin," I said.

"How do you know that?" he asked, as every doctor I've ever informed of this truth does, in a suspicious tone that implies I enjoy lying about the fact that the most basic of the world's antibiotics could kill me.

"That is what I've been told since I was a kid, and I've never wanted to try to prove that wrong," I said. "What else?"

Then we ran through a laundry list of suspects.

New laundry detergent? Nope.

Change in brand of soap? Nope.

Eating any odd or usual foods of late? Nope.

"In fact, if been eating less of everything to try to lose some weight," I said. "The only other really different thing that's been going on in my life is I switched from regular fish oil pills to those red krill oil ones because I heard they may be better for my borderline cholesterol."

He looked at me seriously … as in, "Seriously, you haven't figured this out on your own? Don't you think the word 'red' might have tipped you off?"

A two-week course of prednisone and a change back to boring ol' fish oil pills later, and I'm a changed man -- changed from red back to my normal pasty shade of skin health.

Kevin McKeever
Stamford native Kevin McKeever, a married father of two, is a freelance writer and editor. He also writes the humor blog, Always Home and Uncool, and is a contributor to DadCentric.com. He spent 10 years as a reporter and editor for local newspapers, another nine creating and running the employee communications program for a Fortune 200 company, and then he wised up.

His humorous view of health and wellness, "Rubbing It In," is featured regularly in issues of Aetherial Living.

Join us on Thursday, March 24th, for Wellness

2011-03-14T20:41:00.011-04:00

As part of a nationwide effort to help people jumpstart healthier and happier lives, Aetheria Spa is offering a week of special rates on select treatments from March 21st to March 26th.

It is all part of SpaFinder Wellness Week™, when spa and wellness businesses nationwide will offer special pricing on certain treatments, services, and classes. Many participating businesses will also be offering free community wellness events, seminars, and workshops.

We cordially invite you to join us
for a casual open house wellness gathering
on Thursday, March 24 beginning at 5:30
to inspire you to take steps toward a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Meet, greet your neighbors while learning about healthy, natural skin care techniques, acupuncture treatments for wellness, the benefits of aromatherapy, make your own scented bath salts, and enjoy additional mini-spa treatments
for an enjoyable girl's night out! (FREE!)

Cinderella Ate My Daughter

2011-03-14T18:38:00.013-04:00

Pink and pretty or predatory and hardened, sexualized girlhood influences our daughters from infancy onward, telling them that how a a girl looks matters more than who she is. Somewhere between the exhilarating rise of Girl Power in the 1990s and today, the pursuit of physical perfection has been recast as a source - the source - of female empowerment,. And commercialization has spread the message faster and farther, reaching girls at ever-younger ages.

But, realistically, how many times can you say no when your daughter begs you for a pint-size wedding gown or the latest Hannah Montana CD? And how dangerous is pink and pretty anyway - especially given girls' successes in the classroom and on the playing field? Being a princess is just make-believe, after all, eventually they grow out of it. Or do they? Does playing Cinderella shield girls from early sexualization - or prime them for it? Could today's little princess become tomorrow's sexting teen? And what if she does? Would that make her in charge of her sexuality - or an unwitting captive to it?

Those questions hit home with Peggy Orenstein, so she went sleuthing. She visited Disneyland and the international toy fair, trolled American Girl place and Pottery Barn Kids, and met beauty pageant parents with preschoolers tricked out like Vegas showgirls. She dissected the science, created an online avatar, and parsed the original fairy tales. The stakes turn out to be higher than she - or we - ever imagined; nothing less than the health, development, and futures of our girls. From premature sexualization to the risk of depression to rising rates of narcissism, the potential negative impact of this new girlie-girl culture is undeniable - yet armed with awareness and recognition, parents can effectively counterbalance its influence in their daughters' lives.

Reprinted from the jacket of Cinderella Ate My Daughter, available now at local bookstores and online.

Want a signed copy? This month we're giving away a copy of Cinderella Ate My Daughter, signed by the author. Subscribe to the Aetheria Living newsletter for your chance to win.

Falling Out of Shape

2011-03-11T08:33:00.007-05:00

Whew! Life is busy. You just got a new promotion at work. Your kids are playing two different sports, not to mention music and art lessons. Your parents are coming to visit next month. Before you know it, you haven’t been to your exercise class in weeks.

If you’re like most women, you’re not looking forward to huffing and puffing your way back into shape when you return from your exercise hiatus. Unfortunately, while it seemingly takes eons to reach your target fitness level, it takes sheer weeks to fall out of shape.

If you’ve taken a little time off from exercise, it’s important to get back into your fitness routine as soon as possible. The longer you stay out of the fitness habit, the harder it will be to get back on track. Here are answers to some common questions about falling out of shape and how to get back on the fitness bandwagon.

How quickly can I fall out of shape?
It depends upon your fitness level and how long you’ve been training. Obviously, fitter individuals will see less of a decrease in their aerobic capacity and strength when taking a break than novice exercisers. As a general rule, you will begin to notice less aerobic power after just two weeks of non-exercise.

What does it mean to fall out of shape?
Falling out of shape essentially means that you lose the cardiovascular, strength, flexibility, and balance progress that you made when you were exercising. Typically, when taking a break from exercise, you will experience decreased cardiovascular endurance before loss of strength. According to the Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research in Dallas, you’ll lose 10 percent of your aerobic capacity after only two weeks of inactivity. If you take a break lasting more than six to eight weeks, you’re back to square one.

How do I get back on track?
Here’s the good news: If you were in good shape prior to taking your exercise hiatus, then you’re much better off than those who have never exercised. The best way to get back on track is to simply start moving. You may not be able to push yourself to the same difficulty level as you once did, so start at your current ability level and gradually increase your intensity from there.

Is it ever okay to take a break?
Absolutely! If you’ve been pushing yourself extra hard for weeks on end, then you probably need a break. Typically, a few days are all you need. Any more than that, and you may lose some of your progress.

How do I keep from falling out of shape when I’m strapped for time?
You don’t have to log fifteen hours on the treadmill every week to stay in shape. If you’re busy, seek to burn more calories in less time. Harvard University researchers studied more than 30,000 women and found that the overall number of calories burned is more important than the actual number of hours spent exercising. So, if you’re strapped for time, just increase your intensity level, and burn more calories in a shorter time span.

Kristen Hallett-Rzasa is owner of Jazzercise and InterPlay Health, LLC.
InterPlay Health is a “whole-life” enhancement company dedicated to helping women get jazzed about fitness and nutrition as a way to total wellness. InterPlay Health offers a multi-dimensional approach that’s fun, fresh and informative — integrating the energy and effectiveness of Jazzercise fitness classes with individualized nutrition and wellness coaching. Kristen Rzasa 203-845-8856 or info@interplayhealth.com

Kind (Self) Regards: Memory

2011-03-11T07:32:00.004-05:00

My mother is in her eighties. She lives with her dog in the house where I grew up. Her biggest fear is Alzheimer’s disease, yet her memory is flawless. I recently went to a funeral with her where she and her cousins stood freely trading stories of growing up in the Bronx. I, on the other hand, remember nothing – which by the way is the title of a book by Nora Ephron I recently read. In fact, my world is filled with “whatchamacallits” and “whatshisnames.” And I don't seem alone in this. My sister, who is six years younger, told me she puts a full glass of water outside of her shower every morning so she knows if she has taken her daily pills. Glass with water means take pills. No glass means I don't remember if I have taken them or not.

It is annoying enough when you can't remember your morning pills, but even more annoying when you can't remember the name of the man you lived with for eight years and your whole childhood is a blank. My mother will say do you remember this? Do you remember that? No. I remember nothing. But his name was Bob and we were as different as could be. He was dazzlingly beautiful and had an army of friends for whom he was the center of the universe. I was forever introduced as “Bob's girlfriend," which slowly drove me crazy. No, I wanted to say, my name is Vicki. But during those years I had no name. And so eventually our relationship had to end if I was ever going to achieve anything of my own -- or so I thought.

Even when I can’t remember his name, I can still remember the magnetic draw he had on people. I helped put him through law school and he occasionally appears in the news media once again defending someone I think should be sent away for life.

Imagine my surprise, then, when years after we went our separate ways my mom called to say you'll never guess what happened today. It seems that Bob had been in the area and, remembering where my parents lived, had stopped by to say hello. He told my mom that his son was dating someone who reminded him of me and that is something I do not forget. Someone who reminded him of me -- what does that mean? It just pops into my head at the weirdest of times. Is she curly haired? Does she see the world from left of center? Has she studied abroad? Or is there something more – something that speaks to the question of why...why me? Why did he choose me? What made me special? And really, isn’t that the question we all want answered?

Kind (Self) Regards,

Vicki

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

It's Oscar Night!

2011-02-27T10:28:00.005-05:00

Cast your vote for this year's top three Oscar awards and win a collection of spa products!

Hurry! Voting ends at 6pm EST, February 27th, 2011!

Who Will Win? Vote NOW!

Voting season has begun!

2011-02-26T08:08:00.008-05:00

It's time to vote for the best of Fairfield County in Fairfield County Weekly's Best of Fairfield County Readers' Poll.

Help Aetheria Spa win "Best Place to Get a Massage," "Best Place to Get a Facial," and "Best Spa for a Day of Pampering"!

Voting is easy, and you know you wanna help us win. You can find these categories under "Health and Beauty." While you're there, vote for all your favorite places you frequent all year long.

Click here to start voting!

Kind (self) Regards: Destiny and Love

2011-02-10T08:00:00.006-05:00

So you might think I’m going to write about the snow. About how water is dripping through my ceilings and how bad the roads are. But I’m not. Because what more can be said about that?

Instead, let's talk about choices. Let's talk about whether we are in control of our destiny, or whether destiny is in control of us. I'd love to poll that question among humankind and then look at the answers broken down by age, gender, geography and socioeconomic sector. What would the average Egyptian say? What would someone born into poverty in Mississippi say? I have my suspicions as to how it would go, but I'm not going to divulge it just yet -- if ever.

What got me thinking about this recently was a visit to an exhibit about the circus at the delightful Bruce Museum in Greenwich. What I saw there -- along with the Calders, Matisses and Toulouse Lautrec -- boggled my mind. It seemed that a lot of men who joined the circus in the early years ended us up as clowns, while the women tended to become human cannon balls, trapeze artists and sword swallowers. (Except for Mr. Leotard who, in the 1880’s, invented the flying trapeze act and what I guess was then a pretty scandalous item of clothing to be worn during the act.)

What in the world makes a person decide to choose one of those professions? To successfully swallow a sword, if I remember correctly, one has to get it down the one opening in the esophagus, between the lungs....gently nudging the heart aside....and into the stomach. I just can't imagine it?!

At the exhibit, I learned that Edith Clifford held the world championship title in sword swallowing for over ten years. Her most amazing feat was supposedly swallowing a nearly two foot long bayonet shot from a cannon.

Edith started sword swallowing when she was thirteen. You mean to tell me she sat down at the dinner table with her parents one evening and said: “Mom, dad… I've been thinking a lot about what I want to be when I grow up, and I’ve decided that I want to be a sword swallower”....or, did she wake up one morning snug under her covers to find her parents sitting on her bed: “Honey, we need to talk. You're getting older and it's time to think about what you want to be when you grow up. Your father and I would really like you to be a sword swallower.” Really, how does an idea like this enter a person’s head? Was it destiny?

Eventually, Edith could swallow up to 24 swords at one time. When she tired of that, she moved to Canton, Ohio, where she ran a corner grocery store with her husband, a former trapeze artist.

Somehow, somewhere, Edith Clifford decided to be a sword swallower. And somewhere along the line she realized she was good at it and -- came to enjoy it? I guess so. Now since this is February, you may also be wondering what this has to do with Valentine's Day. Simply this: It is my firm belief that whether choosing a profession or a partner you should always go where love leads you in life. And if it leads you to being a sword swallower, by all means try to be the best!

Kind (Self) Regards,

Vicki

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Valentine's Day Treat: Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Facial

2011-02-07T22:32:00.003-05:00

A deeply hydrating and decadent treat for your skin is a sweet treat for Valentine's Day. Hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that smooths and plumps skin to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, is added to a delicious recipe of hydrating cocoa and other organic ingredients to immerse the skin with moisture for enhanced smoothness, tone and texture, calorie-free!

View all of our Valentine's Day Specials

The New Canaan Indoor Sidewalk Sale Returns!

2011-01-19T16:47:00.001-05:00

Rubbing It In: Gimme Three Steps (To Get Away From That Crowded Stairmaster)

2011-01-12T11:18:00.007-05:00

Resolved to have a healthy 2011? Yeah, yeah, yeah -- get in line, pal.

No, not the line that's six-deep for a turn on the elliptical. Gyms crowded with the jiggling masses of resolute resolution-makers are the unhealthiest places to be in January.

Cardio equipment drenched in Staphylococcus-infested sweat!

Barbells bathed in rhinovirus-tinged skin flakes!

Stagnant air heavy with guilt over the 17 pounds of homemade peppermint bark wolfed down during the annual New Year's Day Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy!

January should be all about making a better you, but within the safe confines of your own home. Besides, considering the shape you're in, do you really want to wear those booty-hugging workout shorts in a public setting? Thought not. So, don't worry -- I got your back.

And your backside.

STEP 1: EAT WRITE

You could start with the latest fad diet. (What is it these days? The Cookie Puss Diet? The Cokie Roberts Diet?) However, the words "latest" and "fad" should clue you in that these are temporary solutions that will soon leave in breakdown lane of life's potholed highway.

Your best approach to reforming your gluttonous ways and developing better habits, at least according to all the chick magazines my wife subscribes to, is by keeping a food journal. (Aside: You women do realize these magazines just present new combinations of the same tips about sex, diet and fashion every few months, right? The most groundbreaking thing in each article is usually the level of hyperbole in each headline like "Learn the Naughty Skill to Dress Thinner! So You Can Powerfood Your Way to a Tighter Tush!! That He'll Love to Discuss Sensitively With You!!!")

How does writing down every little sweet, salty, fat-enhanced calorie make you lose weight? I'm guessing self-induced embarrassment. When you write down the fact that the half a box of Entemann's Rich Frosted Chocolate Donuts you devoured for breakfast meant you crammed 1,200 calories and 80 grams of fat down your gullet, you naturally start to re-evaluate your food regime.

You may be tempted to share your food journal, thinking you'll get much needed support and admiration from others. Maybe. Or maybe it'll be like that time Arbitron sent you two shiny little quarters to record your radio listening habits for two weeks and you kept misspelling "Howard Stern" as "NPR."

STEP 2: CLEAN UP YOUR ACT

You'd be surprised how much heart-healthy, calorie-burning exercise you can get just by doing the housework you've been neglecting or hiring others to do for you, you lazy elitist slob.

Let's start in the kitchen. When was the last time you moved your refrigerator so you could sweep out of the three feet of dust bunnies, lost takeout menus and fallen magnets from defunct dry cleaners? Defrosted your freezer using only your breath and an old toothbrush? Scoured the burnt-on stuff off each and every pan with just some elbow grease and a burnt waffle? I thought so.

STEP 3: LAY ABOUT

Stress is the silent killer of millions of Americans, although canned chili con carne is catching up. The best thing you can do for yourself at home to relieve stress, you can do lying down. And by yourself! That's right -- sleep.

A long-term lack of regular sleep has been linked to all sorts of evils, such as obesity, diabetes and making out with Snooki from Jersey Shore. To prevent this, you should aim to get a minimum of seven solid hours of ZZZZZs a day, and yes -- you can count any time you spent catatonic from the mindlessness of watching TMZ, infomercials or any movie featuring Ashton Kutcher.

Follow these three steps and by Valentine's Day, you'll be rested, revved and raring to hire a cleaning service and get to the nearest gym which should be fairly deserted once again.

Kevin McKeever
Stamford native Kevin McKeever, a married father of two, is a freelance writer and editor. He also writes the humor blog, Always Home and Uncool, and is a contributor to DadCentric.com. He spent 10 years as a reporter and editor for local newspapers, another nine creating and running the employee communications program for a Fortune 200 company, and then he wised up.

His humorous view of health and wellness, "Rubbing It In," is featured regularly in issues of Aetherial Living.

Kind (Self) Regards: Making the Ordinary the Extraordinary

2011-01-05T12:28:00.010-05:00

It’s New Year’s Day. I wake up with a houseful of sleeping guests and my mind is racing through a long list of things I need to do:

I go into the bathroom (so as to not disturb anyone) to sew a small moth hole in a sweater.
Then I wash the sweater.
I’m thinking about making breakfast…
cleaning up the house…
and all the other things I meant to do but didn’t do over this past week’s break from work.

Maybe if I were to really focus (which is not one of my strong points), I can still do them in the next day and a half. And there you have it:

It’s 7:15am and I have already broken one of my two New Year’s resolutions.

I am the kind of person who wakes up with a clenched jaw…
...whose beloved massage therapist comments on how “we” might work on loosening what she says is one of the tightest backs among her clientele...
...I want to know “why?” in a world where it seems there are usually no answers to the question...

I’m on a continual quest for perfection which, as you can imagine, frequently does not end well…leaving me even more tightly wound... All this is why I enjoy wine in the evening, massages as often as possible and yoga. I need someone telling me to just breathe and forget about all the other stuff. Someone who can help me take my mind from constant churn to a few minutes of clarity and peace.

And so, on Christmas Eve morning I headed off to a yoga class. My teacher started by asking that we set our intention for that day’s practice on making the ordinary the extraordinary. And while I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions, it seemed a shame to limit the intention to a single day. So it became my first resolution for 2011.

Now there are people who do this all the time. Tibetan monks do it by focusing on a grain of rice and seeing the universe. It is foundational to the creation of all art. Matisse did it with pieces of colored paper. Clowns do it with a bit of greasepaint and a wig. For most kids it is effortless. But for me, this will require great discipline and looking at the positive when I naturally gravitate to the negative. I’ll need a glass half full, not half empty perspective which, as I said, is not my forte. It will require me to wake up and take a deep breath before attacking the day’s must-do list. Will I succeed? Well I am hopeful because if I now look back at the past year -- a year I would have said was very ordinary -- and squint just the right way… I can already see the times that were, in fact, little jewels.

So making the ordinary extraordinary is my first New Year’s resolution.

And for the second, I have vowed to never ever again try a downward dog after two martinis.

Happy New Year and Kind (Self) Regards,

Vicki

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

New! Acupuncture at Aetheria Spa

2011-01-01T14:53:00.000-05:00

101 Ways to Be Healthy

2011-01-01T11:51:00.006-05:00

BE REVOLUTIONARY

Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

2010-12-15T18:25:00.021-05:00

Gift Certificates
Create any customized assortment of services or dollar amount in
a beautiful arranged gift presentation. Please call us at (203) 966-6650 to order your gift certificate today or download and print the PDF and send it to us by mail or email us.

NYR Organic Eye Shadows

100% natural mineral colors, available in Barley, Sage, Camilia & Truffle; Even lasting coverage; Soothing, moisturizing and protecting; Antioxidant white tea; Super-fine organic corn powder; No lead. No parabens. No talc. $18 ea.

Our Relief for Tattered Tootsies is a 3-step foot treatment that sloughs, buffs and moisturizes with skin renewing botanicals and lemongrass for instant relief. Includes pumice stone. $23 ea.

Tea Tree & Mint Hand Cleanser: Enriched with organic chamomile, aloe vera and tea tree oil, this nondrying, chemical-free alternative to harsh cleansers can travel anywhere with you to ensure clean, moisturized hands when soap and water are not readily available. The fresh aroma of iced mint and vanilla will energize your skin and your spirits with each use. 2 oz. $15

Shea Butter & Mint Moisture Balm: Smooth out rough spots naturally with organic avocado, tea tree and peppermint oils combined with soothing shea butter designed to help you treat dry skin on the go. Cracked feet, elbows, knees and other dry patches will surrender to this healing moisture balm that leaves behind newly soothed, touchable soft skin. 1.7 oz. $18

Vanilla Mint Hand Cream: Soften and soothe hands with hydrating organic shea butter and a delicate hint of fresh vanilla and mint. Cracked, dry skin will rejoice for this smooth finish. 2 oz. $15

Historically, goat milk has always been a crucial ingredient to quality soap-making. Rich in proteins, goat milk makes the soap richer, creamier, and less drying. It has proven to be beneficial for people with eczema and psoriasis. Various scents. $7 ea.

Archipelago Candle Travel Tins:

Hand-poured Soy Candle Travel Tins, convenient for home, office or travel. Approximate burn time: 55 hours. 5.7 oz/3" Diameter. Available in Agave, Ebonywood & Lemongrass: $12

Although small, our Mini Tins - available in Positano, Lanai and Cote Du Rhone - promises intense fragrance delivery and burns for approximately 6 hours. 1.39 oz: $8

To order these or learn of additional gift ideas, please contact us at 203.966.6650.

Holiday Gift Idea: For the Hostess...

2010-12-15T17:56:00.022-05:00

Plum Mini-Diffuser & Tin Set: includes a 2 oz. diffuser and mini tin soy candle - perfect for gifting. Diffuser 1.6 fl oz/Mini Tin 9 oz. $25 ea.

Our Hydrating Body Butter (Grapefruit) is packed with an exotic mix of antioxidants, botanicals, multivitamins, and tropical nut oils. This whipped creme wonder absorbs quickly, is never greasy, and leaves your skin supple and noticeably softer. Perfectly designed to protect your skin from the winter elements. $20

NYR Organic Frankincense Hydrating Cream

Anti-aging for all skin types, revitalizing and rejuvenating, reduces the appearance of fine lines, and helps boost the skin’s natural regeneration.

To order these or learn of additional gift ideas, please contact us at 203.966.6650.

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Mother To Be...

2010-12-15T17:40:00.009-05:00

A gift Certificate for any treatment on our Maternity Menu
Unique to Aetheria Spa, our Maternity Menu is especially designed to pamper and ease the discomforts of new and expecting mothers. Offered to women in their second and third trimesters, and new mothers one month after birth.

To order a gift certificate, please contact us at 203.966.6650 or by emailing spaconcierge[at]aetheriaspa[dot]com.

“From the Heart” Mini Tote Bag gift set from local company, Frittabello, comes with a set of 2 onesies (in pink) and set of color coordinated stationery notecards, custom-embroidered with pink triple-entwined hearts, 100% recycled cotton, convenient tie-wrap to secure contents, and solid handles for easy carrying. $60

Natural Mother & Baby Book

Celebrate the joy of pregnancy and motherhood with helpful insights, tips and a wealth of information, including advice on aromatherapy oils, treatments and therapies. Indispensible. $17.50

To order these or learn of additional gift ideas, please contact us at 203.966.6650.

Holiday Gift Guide: For Her...

2010-12-15T17:05:00.016-05:00

Gift certificate for a Ladies Day Away Deluxe

The perfect spa-cation close to home! Includes an aromatherapy foot bath, 60 minute Swedish or deep tissue massage, 60 minute deep cleansing facial, 15 minute mint foot masque, 15 minute scalp treatment, a light spa lunch and take home goody bag. $300/each (To order, contact us at 203.966.6650 or email spaconcierge[at]aetheriaspa[dot]com.

Exquisite Rose Collection

A beautifully indulgent gift, our radiance-boosting collection is infused with antioxidant-rich wild rosehip oil, a firming tri-peptide and a delicate natural fragrance. Perfect for all skin types. Contains: Wild Rose Beauty Balm 0.53oz, Exclusive Wild Rose Beauty Concentrate 1.01 fl.oz, Wild Rose Body Elixir 1.69 fl.oz, Organic Muslin Cloth. $78.50.

Archipelago Home Diffusers

Elegantly styled aromatherapy to recreate the spa experience at home. Available in: Havana (a blend of Bergamot, Tobacco Leaf and Ylang Ylang) or Sienna (a blend of Apple Noir, Cassis and Musk). $25

Candles available in Havana, Sienna, Positano (a blend of White Nectarine, Persimmon and Pomegranate), Lanai (a blend of Pineapple, Ginger and Mandarin) and Cote Du Rhone (a blend of Black Currant, Mulberry and Vetiver). $18 each.

To order these items or learn about additional ideas for her, contact us at 203.966.6650.

Holiday Gift Guide: For him...

2010-12-15T16:32:00.013-05:00

Gift Certificate for a Gentleman's Ritual Spa Treatment

Designed to relax even the most stressed-out husband, father, boyfriend or brother. Includes a deep tissue 90-minute massage, deep cleansing facial and take-home skin care gift. $300, Including Gratuity (To order, contact us at 203.966.6650 or email spaconcierge[at]aetheriaspa[dot]com.)

Archipelago's Hand Poured Soy Candle contains more than 70% natural soy wax - burn's longer and cleaner than regular candles, and has a fresh clean scent that the guys love. Approximate burn time- 90 hours. $30.

Available in: Sycamore, Arugula, Pear, Caramel, Paper White, Tangelo, Rosemary and Currant

NYR Men Gift Set

Give the gift of pure organic grooming with our innovative men's skincare collection. Infused with our signature NYR fragrance, he will smell as good as he looks and feels. $48

Contains: Rejuvenating Moisturiser 0.71 fl.oz, Purifying Face Wash 1.69 fl.oz, Invigorating Body Wash 3.38 fl.oz, and Close Shave Cream 1.69 fl.oz

Kind (Self) Regards: George Harrison's Girlfriend

2010-12-08T07:40:00.009-05:00

If you only know the Beatles because “they are coming to iTunes,” you can stop reading right now. But if you are more intimately familiar with the Fab Four, please continue.

I was shocked when a music critic recently said that the Beatles had only a passing impact on music, unlike the Rolling Stones who are still a major force. But I’m not going to debate the place of the Beatles in music history, just talk about their place in mine. Though I hate to mention things that establish my age, I do remember the Beatles debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. I was very, very young. I then lived in the house where my mother still lives – on a sparsely populated road bordered by the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, a 4,315 acre Biodiversity Reserve Area. Though there were long distances between the houses, there were three of us girls who were usually friends: Renee, Alison and me. That night we agreed to meet at Renee’s house to watch the show – something I ‘m sure we had never done before. Did our parents let us out of the house for this, or did we sneak out? I don’t honestly remember, but I do remember how dark and cold it was on that walk down to her house.

We watched silently, mesmerized by what we were seeing on the black and white screen. It was, of course, love at first sight, as it was for millions of others. For me, Paul was the one. I think now that was a very shallow choice. The show ended and it was time for us to go our separate ways home. I vividly remember the three of us walked outside to say good-bye and suddenly couldn’t restrain ourselves: As if on cue, we started screaming into the quiet black night. What made that happen? In his book, Life, Keith Richards says: “It was like somebody had pulled a plug somewhere…The music might be the trigger, but the bullet, nobody knows what that was.”

A whole generation of young people fell instantly and madly under the spell of four shaggy haired guys in Edwardian suits from Liverpool. Stonesmania followed Beatlemania and suddenly “the establishment” saw danger brewing. In our world today, where men hide bombs in their underwear to try and blow up planes, it’s hard to believe how much anger and fear could be stirred up by a bunch of teenage kids with long hair and guitars. The revolution had begun, or so we thought.

Renee became a nurse, Alison married a wealthy man and I am still trying to figure out my place in the world. I hadn’t thought about the Beatles in quite a while, but then my yoga teacher started playing Cloud Nine and the fantasy returned. This time I am not Mrs. Paul McCartney; I am George Harrison’s girlfriend. Together we travel to the ashram in India.

Together we return enlightened and at peace -- my holiday wishes for everyone.

Kind (self) Regards,

Vicki

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Holiday Party at Sugar & Olives

2010-12-05T09:46:00.029-05:00

This is the place for celebrating good friends and slow food.

The Aetheria Relaxation Team LOVES good food. It comes with the territory of working in an organic day spa. We inherently have high standards for the food we enjoy. Local, sustainable, organic (whenever possible) food is our preference. And restaurants that cater to these preferences are generally our favorite places to frequent.

So it was a natural choice to host our holiday gathering at Sugar and Olives in Norwalk.

I had no idea what we would be eating or drinking. I simply told Jennifer (the owner) how many people, and what the budget was, and she produced the most amazing meal I've had in months. (All due respect to Chef McCarthy, of course). Some things were consumed so quickly that I didn't even get a picture of it to share with you.

It all started with the Rosemary Flatbread, with hummus and an interesting olive dip.

We had Quinoa "burgers" and several fantastic shots of Pumpkin Butternut Squash soup for starters.

Then we got down to some real business with Lobster Risotto topped with Swiss Chard...

Granola-encrusted baked salmon. This one was the winner of the evening. Just one bite and everyone was raving about it. We all wanted second and third helpings of it.

It had the perfect hint of sweetness. Completely unexpected and delicious!!

...and glorious Lamb chops that melted in our mouths.

After dinner I became coffee-challenged and poured a little too much cream in my cup.

And Anna, like a proper Brit, enjoyed her Coconut Tea.

Dessert? I can't even describe the joy in my heart when this platter of sugary goodness was delivered.

Sugar cookies, ginger cookies, chocolate cookies, devil dogs and "olive oil cakes" for dipping in the warm, gooey chocolate you see on the left.

Toula was all about the chocolate!

Plus...

Wine-poached pears and caramel popcorn...

And exceptional butterscotch pudding!

We laughed a lot, especially our resident comediennes, Sarah & Alissa.

We ate a lot, too. It was on the edge of painful by the evening's end.

But there's nothing better than sharing good food with great friends.

Anna is the only normal one among us...but she's pretty new. There's still time for her to adjust to American life, Aetheria-style.

In the meantime...

Happy Holidays from your relaxation team.

...and a very special thank you goes to our celebrity guest, Ellen, for joining the fun.

Superficial, on the Surface

2010-11-21T22:20:00.013-05:00

Editor's note: Please welcome our guest blogger today, Kym Smith. Aetheria Spa is proud to be a sponsor of her in the Miss Connecticut USA Pageant, to be held on December 5th at the Hartford Marriott in Farmington.

As a contestant in the Miss Connecticut USA pageant, I’ve been asked a hundred times why on earth I’d ever compete in an event as shallow and dated as a beauty pageant. Growing up, I was a studious musician who began learning classical piano at the age of 3, and I attended Tulane University on a full scholarship. I’ve been told by various acquaintances that I don’t fit the beauty queen mold because I have substance and intelligence. Pageant contestants did nothing but wish for world peace while batting their eyelashes.

I'll be honest- there was a time when I held onto many of these stereotypes that I now constantly try to dispel. What I’ve learned is that beauty queens are very different than what people picture, and I fit into the pageant world more than anyone knew.

I entered a pageant for the first time at the age of 11. I scoffed at an ad for a local pageant with a talent competition and pointed it out to my mother. She saw right through my devious little ploy and entered me in the competition, figuring the experience would help me feel less shy about performing piano in front of large audiences. I was a very quiet, timid child who felt her heart race every time a school teacher called on her. I didn't win the pageant, but I did win the talent competition for my piano performance and felt both proud of my achievement and surprised by how much I wanted to compete again.

It wasn't until more than a decade had passed when I decided to re-enter the world of pageants, this time through the well-known Miss USA system, at the age of 23. After spending four years as the only female Computer Science major in my class at Tulane, I needed something light, fun, and girly, and a beauty pageant was all three.

The Miss USA competition consists of only three phases of competition - swimsuit, evening gown, and interview. Easy enough, I figured. I made a goal to lose 10lbs for the swimsuit competition and did what most people would do - exercised a little more and ate a little less. It was neither terribly difficult nor taxing on my schedule, and I figured everyone else was doing the same.

When I arrived at the pageant, I was stunned by the amount of preparation some of these girls had put in. One of the frontrunners had the most incredible, toned body I had ever seen in person - the product of exercising for close to 2 hours a day. She had all the confidence in the world as a result. I learned that she not only graduated from college a semester early, but also volunteered for a charitable organization and worked full-time as an accountant. Typical dumb beauty pageant contestant? Absolutely not.

The eventual winner was an incredibly poised, intelligent, and confident young lady with a love of politics. She had managed to juggle her last semester of college with preparing for the pageant. These women were neither frivolous nor simple-minded; they were accomplished, driven, and smart. I felt proud to compete with them and decided that my little venture with pageants was not over.

I returned the very next year. This time around, I, too, spent the 2 hours a day exercising, and met with a personal trainer monthly. I conquered my fear of the "scary man-weight area," as I liked to call it, and lifted weights to tone my body. I began eating 6 small meals a day, rather than 3 large, metabolism-killing meals. To prepare for the interview competition, I had everyone I knew ask me current event questions, and I thought about what my goals were for this pageant. I fully committed myself, and as a result, improved dramatically, placing 2nd runner up.

Competing on stage was thrilling and invigorating, and boosted my confidence. The most amazing part of that weekend was losing the nervous little butterflies that had plagued me for years in classes and performing piano for an audience. As a top 5 finalist, you are asked a question on stage in the spotlight, and, as is constantly shown on national television, some girls really choke on their answers. I managed to answer my on-stage questions flawlessly, and I still look back on that competition feeling proud that I was able to do this without being sick to my stomach. I couldn't wait to go through the whole process all over again. I felt I had it in me to not only improve, but win.

Now, I am 26 and have one more chance to capture the title. I still live in North Haven and work full-time in New York City, with a two and half hour commute each way. My schedule is even more rigorous, as I began a daily regimen of running at 5 am, and often sacrifice my lunch breaks to lift weights at the gym. I've worked 20 weekends in addition to my full-time job to save money for a beautiful gown.

I plan and cook my meals in advance, and fill our office refrigerator with chicken, fish, and vegetables that I eat at my desk throughout the day as I work. My co-workers often joke about how I would be the only person on the floor to survive a natural disaster, with all of the food I keep around me.

I can't help but reflect on who I have become through these experiences. The difference between myself now and 4 years ago is glaring. I am no longer the insecure, shy girl who indifferently wore t-shirts, jeans, and flip flops every day to class at Tulane. I am now strong, independent, and confident in myself, and can walk miles in high heels. I know my goals, my strengths, and my limitations, and believe in putting in old-fashioned hard work for attaining what you want in life. I'm not ashamed to say that these traits were developed and strengthened by my experience with pageants.

This is just my story, and I am by no means alone in the pageant world. While preparing for such a competition does require you to spend a copious amount of time focusing on yourself, I don't think this is necessarily bad for young women. Preparing for the interview competition forces you to organize your goals and be able to express yourself positively. The confidence you build speaking on stage in front of an audience is especially helpful in the professional world, when you are in high-pressure situations and need to articulate your thoughts clearly and effectively. The level of self-discipline required to prepare for a swimsuit competition is astounding, and the tips you learn on how to live a healthy lifestyle can be applied for the rest of your life.

Even the more trivial parts of competition - learning how to do your hair and makeup - provide women with the ability to both feel and look put-together and ready to tackle the world. Though we like to say that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, we still comb our hair and put on business suits for job interviews when we are trying to impress potential employers. I have met many more intelligent, driven, and beautiful young women in the Miss Connecticut USA pageant than bird-brained, plastic Barbie dolls. That is not to say there aren't any, but this is no different than any other field, with the definite exception of aerospace engineering.

And in true pageant fashion, I'd like to end this with a little thought on how to improve the world. Perhaps it really would be a better place if we looked a little deeper at the people we’ve pre-judged - even the contestants at your local Miss Mayflower County Fair.

A Berry Beautiful Holiday Treat

2010-11-17T13:58:00.009-05:00

Reveal younger, smoother skin with the new Berry Refined exfoliating and pore minimizing collection of vitamin and antioxidant rich skin care from Eminence Organics. Warming and fragrant, the Berry Beautiful Organic Holiday facial will ease away stress and give your skin a holiday treat!

Cleanse, hydrate and tone winter-weary skin with fresh vitamin-rich blueberries and oxygenating sugar plums. Exfoliate dryness and make skin supple with an aromatic strawberry rhubarb scrub infused with holiday berries and stimulating spices.

Wrap and massage your face with a confection of cinnamon spiced apples and rosehips to give your skin that youthful holiday blush of excitement.

Drench in a moisturizing dessert of whipped wild plums and fruits rich in vitamins and amino acids to ease away fine lines and give deep, lasting hydration. Indulge yourself with a very berry treat with zero calories; your skin will be toned, glowing and holiday radiant!

Just in time for the holidays, this facial will leave your skin feeling ‘berry’ wonderful! Learn more about our Organic Facials here.

Happy Holidays!

What's on your wish list?

2010-11-09T07:41:00.010-05:00

We want you to have everything your heart desires this season. Let us know what is on your wish list, and when your friends and family contact us to purchase gifts for you, we'll be sure to get it right! Just click the link below!

What's on your wish list?

Big Things Come From Small Boxes

2010-11-05T08:15:00.000-04:00

Remember, for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through payroll, taxes and other expenditures. Shop in a national chain, and only $43 stays here. Spend it online, and nothing comes home.

Before you shop for the Holidays, learn more about The 3/50 Project here!

6th Annual New Canaan Holiday Stroll

2010-11-03T08:12:00.000-04:00

The closest thing in our modern age to the fictional town in the holiday movie, "It's A Wonderful Life" is the annual New Canaan Holiday Stroll, which will be held this year on Friday night, December 3rd from 6 - 9 PM and Saturday December 4th from 10 - 5PM.

On Friday evening, residents of all ages and backgrounds gather on New Canaan's Elm Street, which is closed to traffic, to enjoy the festivities: singing Christmas carols and enjoying performances by the Norwalk Symphony Ensemble Orchestra as well as entertainment from a cast of holiday characters. Everyone warms up with delicious seasonal beverages provided by local merchants, as guests shop.

The Friday evening event culminates with the arrival of Santa on Ol' Faithful, as the holiday lights around the lampposts brighten the December sky. The Holiday Stroll continues all day Saturday with festive characters, in-shop events and pictures with Santa at Santa's workshop.

Many New Canaan residents who have traveled far and wide, have come to settle in this peaceful, idyllic town where "everyone knows your name," to enjoy George Bailey's dream as it is portrayed in "It's A Wonderful Life." No one can deny that the lifestyle represented in this movie is remarkably similar to life in New Canaan. It's a town with oh-so-many treasures to enjoy. The Holiday Stroll continues to be one of the reasons why living in New Canaan is A Wonderful Life.

To learn more about the Holiday Stroll, contact Tucker@newcanaanchamber.com or call the chamber offices at 203-966-2004.

Kind (Self) Regards: A Time of Thankfulness

2010-11-01T08:01:00.011-04:00

A time of grief…a time of courage…a time of thankfulness.

Fall, according to ancient Eastern teachings, is a time of grief and courage. Makes sense to me. A poignant sadness as we watch the trees turn color and lose their leaves. Courage as we face the deprivation of the winter ahead. Of course, what that’s really about is the grief we feel that comes with change…the ability to let go of what was and the courage to accept what is and what will be. Even as the dogwood tree loses its leaves, the flowers of next spring are already buds on its bare branches.

But so much for metaphors and ancient Eastern teachings. Fast forward to today in America when fall is election season, a time that seems to bring out the worst in us. Which could bring me back to the grief and courage notion, but that’s not where I’m going because fall is also the time for our collective “thanksgiving” – a time when we stop all the craziness for just a few hours and focus on all that we’re grateful for. We used to do this face to face at the dinner table, but things being what they are, this year, I’m sure it will be conveyed via Facebook, tweets and other social media that don’t really seem all that social to me. Perhaps we’ll even crowdsource the top 10 reasons to be thankful…

Since I am fascinated with history, I used to stop at this time of year and think about the Pilgrims and all they had been through to survive to that first Thanksgiving. But after seeing a recent PBS show about how we treated native American Indians, I’m staying clear of Pilgrims, Puritans and all our other early European forefathers and mothers. If you are lucky, current fathers and mothers – the steadfast love and support of your entire family -- are a better focus. And for that, I am grateful. But it is the kindness of strangers that continually surprises and delights me, adding a special richness to any day when I am so blessed. A landscape designer who I’ve just met gifts me with a rare plant…a neighbor I barely know finds my mother’s collarless, runaway dog that I am taking care of and walks him back to my house. A woman I stop and talk with at a tag sale invites me into her incredible secret garden. From out of nowhere someone who worked for me over ten years ago emails from California to say how special the time was when we worked together.

On a macro scale, humankind can be distressing. We seem to be caught in eternal conflicts, doing horrible things to each other in the name of god, greed, patriotism and who knows what else. But it is those one-on-one interactions that counter all that for me…that make me still want to get out of bed in the morning and see what each day will bring. In the end, we are all somewhat like the Pilgrims, moving forward into virgin territory with nothing but our faith every minute of every day. And I sincerely hope that my own kindnesses to strangers are paying back what has been given to me – because, after all, it is about the giving as much as the getting.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Vicki

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Slow Food Sunday: Ravioli Anyone?

2010-10-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

Experienced cooks can go ahead and laugh at me. I was bored. I have no life. And since I'd much rather do anything than watch TV, I cooked today.

All freakin' day!!

From about 3:00 to (no joke) about 11:00 pm.

It all started before noon when I was combing the web for inspiration of what to make for Slow Food Sunday dinner.

I thought about this...

And I thought about making this...

Our Facebook friends encouraged me to try the ravioli route. And things just got a little out of hand. Not only did I make Sweet Potato ravioli...

...but I made a batch of pesto ravioli...

...and Mushroom ravioli...

and lobster ravioli.

I must have lost my mind, right?

RIGHT! (I'm so traumatized that it took me a week to write about it).

I kid, I kid. It was a good experience. The naive know not what they do. Now I know this is the type of project you do on a day that you're snowed in by a big storm in February. NOT on a pretty day in Autumn when you can still enjoy the outdoors.

Here's the painful step-by-step truth:

Throw two 1 lb. critters in a boiling pot of water and cook them for about one minute. Remove them and break off the tail and claws to obtain the meat. Place the bodies in a big resealable bag. Reserve the meat in a separate bowl.

Gently whack the bag of lobster bones with a mallet to break them up into smaller bits. Put two tablespoons of butter in the bottom of a large pot on medium-high heat. Once melted, add 1 cup of chopped onion and a cup of chopped celery and saute until translucent.

Throw the mashed up lobster bones into the pot and cover with about 8 cups of water (until the lobsters are covered). Simmer for about 45 minutes.

Yes, I was totally skeeved...

While that's simmering, place two sticks of butter in a sauce pan on low heat.

I never promised you I was a nutritionist. I leave that responsibility to Alison and Lisa.

When it melts, add the lobster tail and claw meat to the pan and saute for a minute or so. You want it to still be tender, but thoroughly cooked. Reserve some of the melted butter for later.

Then chop up the meat into more bite-sized pieces.

Back over to the pot of bones: You want to strain the liquid of that pot into another clean pot, saving the stock and discarding the rest.

Then put the new pot back on the heat to boil. Continue at a rolling boil until it has reduced down to about a quart of liquid. (Remove half of the liquid and reserve it for any lobster broth-based sauces you choose to pair with this dish later on). Then add a 1/4 cup of some white wine and reduce again, this time as much as possible. (There may be only a tablespoon of liquid once it's reduced completely). I didn't happen to have white wine in the house. Once the temperature outside drops below 70 degrees I tend to switch over to red to stay warm through the winter. What I did have was this:

And of course, once you open a bottle of the good stuff, you really need to drink it while it's bubbly! Hey, it kept me focused while I started working on the ravioli.

The ravioli recipe I was following at A Cozy Kitchen said, "First, you add exactly one cup of hot water to exactly 2 ½ cups of flour. Resist the urge to add eggs; I know it’s probably difficult."

Then mix it up into a dough, split into two dough balls and roll out one of them, getting it as thin as you can without messing it up. It will expand once it gets cooked, so you don't want it to start off thick. It'll only get thicker!

I used a glass to cut out the ravioli shapes. Just place a glass upside down and gently apply pressure and twist until the dough separates into a circular shape you can use as the ravioli pockets.

Add the chopped lobster tail and claw meat into your food processor, with a little bit of the melted butter that you cooked it in, and puree until it's a nice paste. Add a touch of the wine reduction from the pot, salt and some pepper and puree it again to mix all the ingredients.

Fold in a few tablespoons of nice ricotta cheese to the mixture with a spoon until blended. Voila! Lobster Ravioli filling. Now take your cut out ravioli rounds, place a small teaspoon of the filling in the center, spread some egg white around the edges, and place another round on top. The egg white helps to seal the pillow together, and then you press a fork around the edges to create a "stitched" pillow.

By the time I got around to finishing this step, it was literally 10:45 at night. I had been on my feet all day, so it was pointless to try and cook them. I tucked my little creations away on sheets of wax paper on my freezer's ice tray shelf.

All of that work produced just 3 dozen raviolis. One dozen of the Pesto Ravioli. One dozen of the Sweet Potato ravioli. And One dozen of the Lobster ravioli. It wasn't that I ran out of filling either. It was that I ran out of energy to make the ravioli dough! That was the most time consuming part. Lesson totally learned.

During the week I stopped by A & S Foods to see if they had pre-made pasta dough I could buy. Like any good Italian food market, they did. (Whew!)

Trick or Treatment?

2010-10-29T12:56:00.005-04:00

All dressed up and nowhere to go? Schedule a revitalizing Pumpkin Latte Hydration Body Treatment before November 7, 2010 and receive a Halloween goody bag full of treats customized for your skin (valued at $30).

The Pumpkin Latte Hydration Body Treatment (or Facial) is great for Normal to Dry, devitalized skin types, and made from antioxidant rich Pumpkin Puree, nutritious oils, vitamin B to improve texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines, and the plant world's magical healer, Calendula.

Just give us a call at 203.966.6650 to schedule your appointment for anytime today through next Saturday.

Delicious!

Body Treatment and Facial are 60 minutes sessions for $120, including gratuity.

The Future of Our Food

2010-10-23T23:44:00.001-04:00

Watch more free documentaries

What's your favorite season?

2010-10-21T14:06:00.007-04:00

Rubbing it In: Yoga Meets The Ch'i Whiz

2010-10-14T08:20:00.001-04:00

Someone once told me that vacations only really help if you break routines and try new things. It’s advice that I solemnly repeat, with eyebrows waggling, to My Love whenever we throw down (waggle) our baggage (wagglewaggle) on the bed (wagglewagglewaggle) at our latest holiday destination.

In response, she always obliges by swapping which sides we sleep on. This indicates a clear lack of communication between us or, more likely, that even my most suggestive waggle suffers from a severe lack of lower forehead flexibility.

That's why I enthusiastically supported My Love's decision to spice up our annual beach trip by bringing in a yoga instructor for a few sessions.

Morning stretches on the warm sand.

A symphony of seagulls and crashing waves in our ears.

The scent of undispersed BP crude lubricating our lungs.

This would have to be better than my last attempt at yoga, which consisted of me lying on a cold basement floor getting the heebie-jeebies, via grainy videotape, from a sculpted and oiled yogi dude with a hipster ponytail who urged me to get in touch and breeeeeeathe.

This go round, a perfect harmonic state emerged even before we started. Not between my body and spirit or even between my body and alcoholic spirits, which is usually my idea of Vacation Zen. No, it came between our scheduled yoga time and high tide.

As my swimming skills are suspect, we immediately reconvened on the second-floor deck to the house. Being at a higher elevation should have offered a stellar view of the Atlantic waters gently caressing the shore and carrying off some lounge chairs we had left a little too close to the waterline overnight, however, the rising sun shone like a God's own laser pointer. It also roasted us like the suckling pigs we were determined not to become for once on this vacation. Normally I would have been upset that our spot on the deck meant the house blocked the mainland breeze from reaching us, but given it was already 87 in the shade that morning, I instead felt relieved we were only being cooked by conventional and not convection oven methods.

When I could see through my own perspiration and stench, I focused as best I could on our instructor -- your expected toned and tanned instructor who bore an uncanny resemblance to the sister of a friend of mine, assuming said sister had giving up her two pack of smokes and case of Miller-Lite-a-day habit. This, along with shear lack of coordination, contributed to an incongruity between my mind and body that not only prevented me from focusing on my breathing while folding and unfolding myself like an origami crane but also made me briefly forget how to breathe.

Instructor: "Breathe in. Feel your bellybutton rise slightly with the motion."

My brain: Wait -- wait! My bellybutton's going down. Quick - exhale. Exhale and reboot.

Instructor: "Now, slowly breathe out through your mouth. Notice your bellybutton as it falls slightly."

My brain: Exha- … ack! No air! Inhale, inhale! Through my mouth or nose? Why is my belly button moving the opposite way again? Is it? AHHH! I can't feel my belly button! Where is it?! AHHH!

As a blogger, you would think I'd be better at naval gazing.

Despite my internally idiocy and my dripping pores, something started to click. A calming feeling began to settle through my limbs. My eyes closed, and I listened for my own heart beating. And there it was: low, steady, pumping, thumping like a 10-year-old girl bouncing the deck stairs, one wooden tread at a time …

"Daddy," she called, "do you know where there's a plunger?"

Kevin McKeever
Stamford native Kevin McKeever, a married father of two, is a freelance writer and editor. He also writes the humor blog, Always Home and Uncool, and is a contributor to DadCentric.com. He spent 10 years as a reporter and editor for local newspapers, another nine creating and running the employee communications program for a Fortune 200 company, and then he wised up.

His humorous view of health and wellness, "Rubbing It In," will be featured regularly in future issues of Aetherial Living.

Training for the New York City Marathon?

2010-10-12T08:05:00.002-04:00

Sports massage, for both professional and amateur athletes, is used to relax muscles, improve circulation, and flush out toxins and waste. Vigorous training can lead to muscles that are rigid and inflexible, muscle strains, and aches. Sports massage can help reduce the frequency and severity of these ailments and help prevent injuries during competitions or workouts. Massage can help an athlete train more effectively, perform better, and recover more quickly. Incorporating massage into an overall fitness program can help muscles remain supple and healthy, thus ensuring the maximum effectiveness during workouts and peak performance during events.

When you are training for an event like this, it's helpful to have a supportive team behind you to help you achieve your goal. We want to help you to reach the finish line.

This month, purchase a series of five 60 minute deep tissue/sports massage sessions for $400, including gratuity. That's more than 30% off our regular prices!
(Sessions must be completely used by November 15, 2010.)

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

2010-10-01T20:22:00.004-04:00

New Canaan Youth Services and the New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership are seeking support to help raise awareness of Domestic Violence and Dating Abuse this month.

On Monday morning, October 4, at 9:30, please join us at New Canaan High School to encourage the kids to sign a proclamation vowing to prevent bullying, dating abuse, digital coercion and domestic violence. It's an important initiative, especially in light of recent tragic stories. It isn't just about physical violence anymore. The internet, texting, and social media have became a very powerful forum for our newest generation to become victims of a variety of abusive behaviors and cyber-bullying. The more we can do to educate teenagers about these dangerous behaviors, the more we can prevent needless suicides and deaths amongst our youth.

Please join us in raising awareness of this horrible social disease. Learn more at the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.

Kind Regards for Self and Others

2010-10-01T08:59:00.008-04:00

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s also the conclusion of the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week when you learn that outrageous writings like Harry Potter (irreligious) and James and the Giant Peach (socially offensive) are among the long list of books banned by some American schools and libraries. What do these both have in common? Bullies – a subject very much on my mind.

Let’s start with school kids. My nine year old nephew had a bully in his class. Or more accurately, a bully and his two-member posse. In order to provide adoration and do their bidding, a bully usually needs sidekicks. The bigger the bully, the bigger the posse. Think Genghis Khan. Think poor old England’s King George whose bullying led to the founding of our country. Anyway, the bully's parents evidently attributed their son's behavior to nothing more than "boys being boys." While it took several months for school officials to figure out there was something odd about kids coming in from recess with sprained ankles and other assorted mishaps, they eventually came to a different conclusion about that "boys being boys" concept. But when they approached the bully's parents, the father, an attorney, refused to accept the evidence and responded in his own bullying way. Good to remember that bullies are raised, not born.

Now it seems to me that bullies have existed since the beginning of time starting with that snake in the Garden of Eden that bullied Adam and Eve into taking a bite of that apple. I can't think of any major women bullies, but I'm sure there must be some. Women, after all, are the "fairer sex" and have practiced the more "genteel" kind of bullying known as "managing" their servants and slaves. And the rise of girl gangs and female suicide bombers makes me think women are probably doing their best to break even this glass ceiling.

In fact, it seems to me that we are seeing a distinct spike in bullyism at the moment. Insurance companies bully their customers by raising premiums and cutting services. Wall Street seems to bully just about everyone. Special interest groups bully politicians who, in turn, bully the people who elected them by putting their constituents’ needs behind special interest demands. Men fly airplanes into buildings to make a point or take television station employees hostage because they don’t agree with the programming. And on and on and on.

Former President Theodore Roosevelt’s “speak softly and carry a big stick” was inspiring at the time. Now we seem to have devolved into “scream loudly and use your stick whenever you can.” Where does it end? Perhaps the answer lies in Kind Regards for Self AND Others, rather than just Kind Self Regards ONLY.

Kind (Self) Regards to all,

Vicki

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Live Green CT!

2010-09-30T08:28:00.000-04:00

We had a great time meeting so many new people at the Live Green CT! Event in Norwalk a couple of weeks ago. We were featuring our Organic skin care lines to introduce our Organic day spa to the public.

NYR Organic is the leading organic skin care line in the United Kingdom since the 1970s. They are well known for their efforts to develop effective and holistic skin care products while having the least amount of impact on the planet.

We also featured the new Biodynamic skin care line from Eminence Organics.

Did you miss the event? Well let me show you around...

It was really nice to run into my friend, Anthia. She's the owner of Urthchild.com, a site devoted to organic, safe, and eco-friendly products for you and your child. I should've assumed she'd be at this event, because she's currently renovating her home in Darien to be completely eco-friendly. No carbon footprint at all. She told me about...

...Trillium Architects, who helped her create a plan for her home renovation vision.

Kids were encouraged to Think Green!

Sydney Waitekus, visiting the event with her family from Massachusetts, caught a big wave...

My favorite herb gardens, Gilberties, was on site with a truly lovely display of plants. I picked up some new dried lavender for the spa. I just love lavender.

Plenty of fresh fruit and food was available.

I couldn't get enough of the raspberry lemonade at the booth of Taste, by Karla Sorrentino.

...The Fairfield Green Food Guide is a great resource in the area. They also sponsored an event I thoroughly enjoyed back in the spring, Food for Thought.

There was an outstanding performance on the main stage by Sarah Chesler. I loved her music and her voice.

Gorgeous jewelry by Pam Older Designs.

And some of my favorite places in the area for wellness services:

...The Magdalane, Norwalk, offers reflexology and Ayurveda therapeutic treatments.

Arogya has a wonderful tea shop and yoga studio in Westport.

I caught pieces of Dr. Ballard's presentation about the health of our oceans. Really fascinating.

And not one, not two, but THREE Tesla's which I was able to drool over! I look forward to the future of transportation if the automobiles are as good looking as these.

It was a beautiful weekend and an event that was worthy of participation. I look forward to attending next year as well.

Words of Wisdom

2010-09-27T20:52:00.004-04:00

“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.”
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900);
scholar, writer, philosopher

I've taken on a new project that is teaching me a lot about myself. Things have been a little bumpy (but manageable) so far, but I thought this inspiring quote was very appropriate for what I'm dealing with.

Need a little inspiration? Here's one of my favorite sites to loiter on when I need a little push.

Biodynamic® vs. Organic

2010-09-16T07:12:00.003-04:00

Just as our society is catching on to the importance of organic foods versus conventional foods, there comes a new system of agriculture in town and a new label to look for.

It's called Biodynamic® farming. This is organic farming multiplied by one hundred. A hyper-stringent system of agriculture that creates a contained, fully-functional, eco-system all its own. No pesticides. No chemicals. No introduction of man-made products of any kind. Ever. It's the Earth in its purest form possible. As it should be.

I had never heard of this before, until earlier this year I attended a regional meeting with Eminence Organics, our skin care line. Always leading the way in developing holistic skincare while supporting and protecting the Earth, they have developed a specialized skin care line using only biodynamic farming methods.

So what is "Biodynamic®" farming?

"A controlled Biodynamic® farm must meet organic standards, such as the prohibited use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fungicides. The Biodynamic® approach goes even further, requiring disciplined soil enrichment, labor-intensive fieldwork, constant observation, and ongoing, intuitive awareness. A Biodynamic farmer maintains a close connection with the land and develops a self-contained ecosystem, harmonizing the cultivated land with the surrounding environment where, ideally, only farm-produced organic composts and manure amend the soil and pruning, planting, and the applications of special preparations are done with the lunar cycles."

According to an article I found in Organic Spa Magazine by Mary Beth Janssen, a gentleman named Rudolph Steiner developed this hyper-regimented concept of agriculture in 1924. He was a scientist, philosopher and founder of the spiritual science called Anthroposophy, meaning "the wisdom of humanity."

This is the new label to keep an eye out for. Demeter USA is the only certification agent for Biodynamic farms, processors and products. You can learn more about Demeter here.

The article's author goes on to say, "What distinguishes biodynamic from organic agriculture is the way the earth is seen as a living, breathing, metabolizing entity. There’s a deep consciousness of the interconnectedness of all living things. Water provides the circulation system, the movement of the seasons acts as a pulse—expanding in spring and summer; contracting in autumn and winter, the soil and plants blanketing the landscape act as the skin. So it can be said that biodynamics honors the cosmic rhythms, the natural rhythms of the earth. These cyclical rhythms — circadian, seasonal, lunar and tidal—are reflected in the universe, the earth, and within our own mind-body physiology. Humans and plants evolve with an intimate connection to their environment, including the movement of the sun, the seasons, and the lunar cycles. In biodynamic agriculture or gardening, cultivation is done in accordance with these rhythms. Aligned with this, the biodynamic approach harnesses the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water by classifying plants according to which part of them is most developed and harvested: fruit (fire), flower (air), leaf (water) or root (earth). Thus, as the moon passes through each of the 12 constellations each month, plants are worked on according to which ones the moon is currently governing."

This system sounds intense to manage as a farmer! At the same time, it makes perfect sense to me that agriculture should have always been managed this way. If it had, we probably wouldn't be in our current situation with regard to diminished natural resources, out-of-control global health issues and industrialized food systems would've never been developed. (I've often fantasized about an alternate reality where McDonald's didn't exist).

Aetheria Spa will be featuring Eminence Organics' biodynamic skin care line at this weekend's Live Green Connecticut expo in Norwalk. Stop by our booth and check it out. I've been using the Echinacea Recovery Cream for several months now and I'm delighted by how light and gentle it feels on my sensitive skin. Register to win a collection of skin care products (valued at $350) and learn more about Biodynamic vs. Organic. It's a positive, harmonious approach to wellness, both for us and the Earth.

=========================
Live Green Connecticut
Taylor Farm Park, Norwalk
Saturday, September 18th, 10am-4pm
Sunday, September 19th, 11am-4pm
LiveGreenCT.com

Living Vicariously Through CTBites

2010-09-15T09:26:00.003-04:00

If you've always wondered what the food is like at a high-end destination spa, jump on over to CTBites.com for this wonderful review.

My mouth is watering!

Kind (Self) Regards: Simplicity

2010-09-15T09:10:00.004-04:00

I woke up this morning and reached for a jacket on my way out the door. I left my iced coffee in favor of hot. How can Mother Nature be so in sync with Labor Day? It’s as if she just flips a switch and suddenly it’s fall. But I’d like to take one last loving look at summer despite my yoga teacher’s instructions to live in the present. I just can’t help it.

Everyone has a favorite summer spot that brings “that look” to their eyes when they start talking about it. A friend went to Tuscany one year and it has remained the bell weather by which she measures everything. For me, it is Vermont. I am not a snow person, so Vermont has little attraction for me in the winter, but it speaks to my heart in every other season – and especially summer when the little town where my family has a house hosts concerts on the green for crowds of 25 and holds the statewide Zucchini Festival where adults measure the length and girth of a zucchini with the same intensity that some of us track the Dow Jones.

Vermont is a place I associate with my dad (who, you may know, is no longer alive). So every trip starts with picking one thing of his to take with me. IF my dad ever again makes his presence known to me, I am sure Vermont is one of the places where it might happen. So I hope and bring along a talisman. These days it’s a pair of cool leather rimmed Ran-Bay Aviators he owned. I carefully pick my car music and we hit the road. And then it happens, without fail, somewhere in Massachusetts I start to think more and more about my dad, and I start to cry. I usually cry until we hit the Vermont border. The scenery becomes too beautiful to be doing anything other than focusing on where I’m going, as opposed to where I’ve been. I instantly perk up.

Days in Vermont are filled with nothing: Breakfast at Crow’s Corner where current day free spirits (not crows) make fresh bread and granola. Then reading, farmer’s markets, walks down to the neighboring farm and, if I’m lucky, yoga in a glass house with nothing but blue skies overhead and green fields all around. Days filled with nothing, yet everything that’s truly important.

But the most special time is at night when you sit on the porch and every star shines with its own special intensity. It’s a night sky we don’t see here. Maybe you’ve had a glass or two of scotch (because it’s chilly) and maybe you are listening to Simon and Garfunkel, remembering when life was scary and wonderful (in a completely different way from today). Back then, it wasn’t about a shrinking 401k. It was about the war. Kids killed by the National Guard, others gassed in the streets of DC. I remember the gas exploding....running through the streets. And finding a phone (yes, a pay phone) to call my parents (collect) to say I was OK -- but really just to hear their voices, assuring me I really was OK. A time when we were united enough to come together and end a war.

Back in Vermont, a light rain might start falling and the mountains fade from view as a dense fog creeps up the valley. Tomorrow I’ll stand on the porch looking at the mountains and fields around me…trying to burn the image into my mind for safe harbor until our next visit.

Enjoy the simplicity.

Kind (self) regards,

Vicki

Vicki Wray lives in North Stamford, and until recently spent most of her waking hours in New York City as a corporate communications executive. Working for companies like Pfizer, Revlon and AOL Time Warner has allowed her to meet wonderful colleagues and a slew of interesting personalities including the president of the United States, supermodels and star athletes, famous artists and a Justice of the Supreme Court. She is a natural observer, type A personality, and a life-long "spa junkie". Vicki firmly believes in the health benefits of being kind to oneself; taking a moment to breath, relax and finding simple joy in our every day existence.

Her column, Kind (self) Regards, will be a regular feature of the Aetheria Spa blog. If you enjoy her point of view, or would like to share your ideas, please contact her at vicki@aetheriaspa.com.

Learning to Live Green

2010-09-13T12:54:00.000-04:00

My friend, Scot Weicker, read my last blog post about my internal dilemma to do what's right for the planet, and sent me an email to assure me I'm not alone. "With so many educational opportunities at Live Green Connecticut!, if everyone walks away with the knowledge of making one small change in their lives, the ripple effect will be the true measure of success on our environment and our natural resources."

Scot is the co-founder of the Live Green CT event this weekend at Taylor Farm Park in Norwalk. As an organic day spa, I signed up to exhibit at the event long ago, seeing it as an opportunity to educate the public about the benefits of organic skin care as part of a healthy lifestyle. After all, why would you put something ON your body, that you wouldn't want to put IN your body?

I really didn't realize at the time how diverse and rich with information the Live Green CT event would be. I want to see Dr. Ballard, Discoverer of the Titanic, speak about our oceans and the BP Oil disaster. The details of the disaster have pretty much vacated the front page of the news. What's out of sight, appears to be out of mind as well. But I want to know the lasting repercussions of such a heinous crime against nature; against the fishermen and their sole source of income; against the birds and turtles that nest in those protected marshlands of Louisiana. I bet that will be an enlightening presentation.

The presentation by Chef Michel Nischan will certainly empower my decision to feed my family organic and sustainable food. Chef Nischan is the owner of The Dressing Room in Westport, cookbook author and media personality, as well as CEO of the non-profit, Wholesome Wave Foundation, dedicated to the increased production of - and access to - healthy, fresh and affordable locally grown food. I'll inevitably be inspired to cook something, so it'll be convenient to have the Westport Farmer's Market on site at the event as well.

Last but not least, I hope to address my dilemma about my love of cars and the impact our choice of transportation has on the environment. In some respects, I could be worse. I certainly don't support America's addiction to mammoth-sized SUVs. It annoys me to no end that I can't see what's coming at me when I try to back out of a parking space at a store, because I'm flanked on all sides by these beasts.

Disappointing, but true: America is addicted to their cars. Most of America was created in the era of the car. 99% of us have to commute long distances to get to work. A bicycle just isn't an option. Public transportation is a fine idea if you live in the city. The 'burbs? Yeah, not so easy.

What's a Formula 1 fan girl to do? Because I'm not a fan of hybrid cars either. I've learned that the negative impact on natural resources those batteries produce do not really make hybrids a genuine eco-friendly option. But how about an all-electric Testla Roadster?

Nice!

Um, what? The roadster is $120,000?

Yeah. I'll consider that later in life when they become a wee bit more affordable.

How about a Chevy Volt?

More affordable, but not quite as sexy.

Decisions, decisions...

“People are always asking what they can do to use energy more efficiently in order to protect our environment and natural resources," says Scot. "There are so many extraordinary Connecticut companies that have the products and services that do just that. LiveGreenCT! will bring them all together so that people can see and experience first hand how it all works. From solar panels to renewable energy to environmentally friendly vehicles to green building materials and design to the latest sustainable technology, individuals and families will be able to learn, ask questions and see how these products and services can fit into their homes, their businesses and their lifestyles.”

I'm looking forward to learning more this weekend.

====================

Come visit Aetheria Spa at Live Green CT!
Saturday, September 18th, 10am-4pm
Sunday, September 19th, 11am-4pm
LiveGreenCT.com
Taylor Farm Park, Norwalk

End of Season Blues

2010-09-11T14:15:00.000-04:00

It's time to euthanize what's left of my herb garden.

This time of year always makes me blue. The daylight hours are shortening. It's flannel PJ season.

The prospect of not seeing my beautiful green babies waving at me in the summer breezes for another eight months or so is a bummer. I'll miss them so. I'm going to try a preserve their goodness through the winter by drying them.

Sage and Rosemary are excellent additions to hearty winter recipes.

I'll smile and remember you warmly, my little babies.

A Thirst For Knowledge

2010-09-08T12:00:00.023-04:00

My friend, Donna Callighan, has a tar ball from the BP Gulf oil spill in a glass vial sitting on her desk.

It inspires her work as an Internationally exhibited environmental artist. You may recognize some of the pieces of art at Aetheria as being part of this series. I love her work. It's beautiful.

Her recent work is a "visual commentary on our continual path towards committing ecocide."

But what can we do? If there was one predominant emotion I felt back in the Spring when the Gulf Oil Spill first happened, it was pure anger. Anger at the short-sightedness of our culture. Anger that our collective instinct is to blame someone - anyone - else for such a disaster. Anger at the ineptitude of our government to prevent companies such as BP from being too greedy and abandoning what's morally right for the whole tribe and allowing them to line their pockets with profit at our expense...

...but I realized quickly that I was just lashing out at everyone else, when I should fundamentally be angry with myself. It's my responsibility to act in such a way as to protect the planet that is generously providing me with the air I breathe, the food I eat, and is the primary source of my survival.

That is a tremendous sense of responsibility descending on our shoulders, if we look at it from an isolated viewpoint. I, like many others I suspect, become overwhelmed by all the changes required in my daily life to actually walk the walk. I have seen Tapped, and stopped purchasing bottled water when I'm running around town. I've seen The Cove, and become more selective about where I purchase fish. King Corn, The Movie, taught me about the atrocities against our society's health that High Fructose Corn Syrup causes and the grim factory feed lots in the Midwest that perpetuate the skewed economics of corn farming. It's the main reason I'm such a food snob. I've seen No Impact Man, and, frankly, I think he's crazy (but I admire the initiative).

I make some things a priority, like eating organic food and (being the owner of an organic day spa) using organic products on my skin. But I also, along with my husband, enjoy going to the Montreal Grand Prix each year. There isn't a greater waste of gasoline than a Formula 1 auto race to satisfy my entertainment and competitive whims. Doesn't this make me a hypocrite? What does it take to feel as though we've done enough as individuals to have made a difference in the long-term sustainability of this planet, thereby having a positive impact on our tribe for generations?

Luckily, the Live Green CT Festival is next weekend. I plan to visit every single exhibitor to learn more about what I can do to contribute to the wellness of this beautiful planet of ours.

The Dog Days of Summer

2010-09-03T08:09:00.012-04:00

Back in May when I wrote about The Pampered Pup, I don't think I realized at the time how much work it would be to execute my vision of a dog festival on Cherry Street in New Canaan. Somehow, we accomplished the goal, and last Sunday, beautiful four-legged creatures came out to enjoy the party we were throwing on Cherry Street in New Canaan for the Dog Days of Summer event. Fun was had by all, especially our canine companions.

I want to thank my clients, colleagues and friends who came out to enjoy the fun and furballs running around: Anna F, Fern P, Melissa M, Jenny E, Barbara D, Kevin M (and Murphy), Teal & Jeff, Diane R, Kendall S, Anita M, BJ, Heather G, Houston B, Lisa & Fred (and my favorite redhead, Riley), Nanette G, Scot W, and especially...my co-chair at Village Critter Outfitter, Shirleen, and the uber-pawsome, Tucker Murphy of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce.

Monty, my favorite Italian Greyhound, enjoyed his canine massage.

This little peanut stole my heart.

Riley, our poster dog, was having the time of his life. It didn't matter to him at all that he placed second in the Dunkin' for Hot Dogs contest. All he cared about was getting to eat the hot dogs.

There are many more pictures from the event posted on the Facebook page, to see just how much fun was had by everyone.

Two paws up!