luxury for less

it seems as if this economic crunch is affecting every aspect of our lives. we're driving less, vacationing less, spending less, eating out less...you name it, we're cutting it back. today i realized that the one aspect of my life that i've cut back on the most is personal pampering.

now don't get me wrong. i'm not that girl that gets fake acrylics every two weeks, or gets a pedicure every three weeks. i don't spend too much on unneccesary beauty products and i don't indulge in a massage every month. and if you are that woman, amen to you sista. you are my muse.

i've invested a large amount of my paycheck into high quality beauty products, like dermalogica skin care that are proven to keep my face clear. i get a facial once every few months, or when i have a massive break out. the one thing i don't let get out of hand, my visits to the beehive every 6 weeks. no man likes a sasquatch, even if they say they don't mind it :)

if i had it my way, i'd go for a monthly massage at my favorite spa in san diego, spa velia. then i'd head to urban calm in east village for the best two hour facial on this planet. one of these days, it'll happen.

but for now, i'm pampering myself wisely and always looking for money saving deals. here are my top picks for incorporating pampering and luxury into your life and not spending a boatload for it.

1. one of the not-so hidden jems in san diego is the reader. those nifty papers are full of advertisements, crazy stories about party crashers, church of the week and where to get the best pho in kearny mesa. on the flipside, new and even seasoned spas, salons, tanning salons and waxing studios are all vying for your attention and your business. last week, i took advantage of a company offering a $24 brazilian wax. next week, i plan on booking an hour massage for half the price at a cute spa that i've always wanted to check out. always be on the look out for companies with offers to new clients. they are eager to show you what they're made of and it's your decision to stay with them or not as part of your monthly beauty regimens.


2. if you've had your eye on an upscale spa but never thought that you could afford their services, check out their website. if they have an email opt-in page, join it. if you're afraid about the spam, enter an email address that you don't use regularly. or, if you're a fan of a particular spa or salon, join their newsletter. you'll be kept to date on monthly events and special promotions. i'm on the mailing list of my neighborhood aveda salon, adora and i get weekly emails about last minute hair cuts and colors. since stylists are trying to book their appointments, the salon offers 20 percent off of particular services and particular times. since the beehive waxing salon is my waxing studio of choice, i'm also on their newsletter mailing list and have saved a good percentage on services throughout the year. this month, they're working with soles4soles and i can get up to $10 off a service just by bringing in a donation of gently worn shoes. and we all know that we have some shoes piling up and are ready for the donation bag.


3. pretty much every neighborhood in sd has some type of beauty college. whether it's for hair care, holistic massage, or acupuncture, our city is bursting with young enthusiasts looking to make a name for themselves in the beauty world. take advantage of this! scour the streets for these colleges and check out what services they offer. today, i got a 60 minute deep tissue massage for $50 at the vitality college of healing arts. the student was eager to get her hands wet, no pun intended, and worked out ALL of my knots and back pain. other colleges you might want to check out: paul mitchell the school in downtown, mueller college of holistic studies and the marinello schools of beauty.


4. if you're so lucky to be blessed with these people in your life, become buddies with an aspiring stylists or aesthetician. they'll need to get some hands-on training hours in and when they graduate and start looking for jobs, they'll need models like you to prove their skills to potential employers. i had a friend whom i met in college and she was pursuing her career in beauty. she needed a model on numerous occassions, which meant that i got a free hair cut or color and i treated her to cocktails and dinner. what a pleasant medium.


5. lastly, treat yourself at home. go into your favorite beauty supply store and browse the aisles for aromatic and natural beauty products. i'm currently into klean bath and body and indulging in the yuzu sugar body polish. just be careful while you're in the shower, things get real slippery :) and anything from bath and body works' true blue line is always awesome.
   

even though we're all in a bit of an economic spaz, it doesn't mean that you have to give up the things that make you happy and serene. with all of the stress you'll be going through about budgets, mortgages and finding a job, you're definitely going to need a few moments to yourself to unwind. just be smart about it and don't be afraid to look around for special savings.

the loft hair design

i went to the 10 year anniversary of the loft hair design last month and i discovered a great hair salon and my new favorite facial aesthetician. to celebrate their ten years of existance, the salon hosted a great party with music, drinks, food and raffle prizes.

lingerie designer and project runway season 4 participant ricky lizalde was also their to show his support of the local salon. ricky is also a escondido native and the cousin of a good friend of mine...small world.

san diego artist, cynthia colis also had her self-portraits on display and was auctioning one of her pieces that evening. i swear i was the muse for these images.

i've had the best luck lately and won three facials from the loft's aesthetician. my mom, younger brother and i went back to the loft a couple weeks later to receive our facials and we all plan on getting another round of pampering soon. morgan, our aesthetician, was great. she was well-informed on the dermalogica products and the different types of skin between the three of us. it was the first facial that my brother ever had and even he had a great experience. now that says something. she even offered to switch the soothing spa music to some rock tunes to make him more comfortable.

the staff at the loft were welcoming and the services were definitely up to par with other trendy salons around the area. check them out soon!

oh, birdrock, how i love thee

i've been going to my hair stylist, lynnzee valerio, for almost a year now. we met a few years back when we worked at the same coffee shop and i followed her when she started her professional hair stylist career. LOVE what she does to my hair, she's amazing.

seven or eight months ago, she opened up her own space, muse salon, in birdrock, la jolla. her space is adorable and private enough to feel like your own private sanctuary. you can check out my photo album to see how she transformed by hair color and style. anyways, i was early to one of my appointments with lynnz so i walked around la jolla blvd to check out the local businesses.

Embody Yoga Therapy is a quaint studio with a huge space to practice your balance and postures. i loved their yoga wall and it helps to improve your spinal alignment and open your body up to positions that you may have thought you were never able to reach.

Embody offers several classes, including Happy Back Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga for Women, Pilates Mat and Vinyasa/Anusara flows. private classes are also offered, as well as massage therapy and nutritional counseling.

i also checked out beaumont's for late lunch/early happy hour. their beaumont burger was awesome and was topped with sun dried tomatos, balsamic glazed onions, feta and basil aioli. and don't forget to try their sangria. everyone there was beautiful to look at and i'd recommend taking a seat on their patio for the best in people watching.

birdrock is a beautiful beach community right in between the overly priced la jolla village and college-student crowded pb. check out the spot for awesome shopping, hair salons, dining and friendly neighbors.

where the boys go...

Here's a piece I wrote for DiscoverSD.com about the best hair salons for the lovely--and not to mention, sultry--men of San Diego.


From spiked-up fohawks to thick dreads, Kanye-inspired buzz cuts and surfer shag styles, our local men scout the best San Diego hair salons to keep their tresses looking perfectly coiffed. You think they just roll out of bed looking that cute? That may be the look they're going for - but we know better than to believe that.

Dudes look for something a little different in their hair salons of choice. While the ladies may love serene spa environments, guys prefer edgy design, open bars, 'do discounts, and, of course, hot stylists. Discover the top ten San Diego hair salons for men.

Disconnected Salon
Men love Disconnected Salon in North Park because of the ultra-modern furniture, sweet beats from the DJ booth, art gallery walls, and hot stylists - just hopped out of the American Apparel catalogue to give your tips a trim.

Alpha Male
Men aren't afraid to show off their metro sides when they head to Alpha Male for the impromptu masculine combo: haircut, hot lather shave, shoe shine, wax and manicure, and whiskey on the rocks.

Well-Heeled Salon and Spa
Tame your locks with the finest stylists in East Village in the Porsche-designed salon setting that overlooks PETCO Park. Stay awhile with a complimentary cocktail and you might get a front row seat to a ball game.

Michel Benaroch Hair Studio
Michel Benaroch is a recent Beverly Hills transplant, now the latest addition to upscale hair care in Rancho Santa Fe. His celebrity client list is stellar and he was voted Best Colorist in the hills. Local guys in-the-know only visit Michel for a color and cut.

The Electric Chair
Rockabillies, rockers, and reggae aficionados hit The Electric Chair in Ocean Beach for a laid-back experience with all fun and no fuss. Come in, cut and color, get out.

DK Hair Salon
Hillcrest's DK Hair boats a salon setting abundant in chrome, leather, handsome stylists, and cutting-edge talent. Need we say more?

Seth's Chop Shop
The fellas come in for a trim and leave with a nice piece of ink at Seth's Chop House in Ocean Beach.

Indigo Home for Hair and Body
Indigo Home is Hillcrest's favorite oasis retreat for hair care in a laid back atmosphere.

Dimension A Hair Salon
Monday is fun day and men get 15 percent off all men's grooming services at Dimension A Salon on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach.

Hip Hair
Seaside locals and tourists love Hip Hair for the electric hued, graffiti-clad walls, Suicide Girl stylists, and because they can step outside and show off their newly tamed hair at the nearby beach of any of the popular Pacific Beach bars.