Spanista » Self Care Rituals, Reflections & Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

  • Spa Style & Self Care Reflections, Rituals and Resources for Joyful Living

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  • About Spanista

    Ginny Shiverdecker, Creator of Spanista is Spa Wellness Enthusiast, Adventurer Seeker and Brand Builder.
    Ginny is……Read more

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Give House Guests Perfect Self Care Spa Bath Experience when they come to visit this weekend or over the summer. If you are not traveling but instead expecting guests, there is no better way to make them feel special then indulging them in a wonderful spa bath experience while away form home.

Giving the gift of Self Care joyfully rewards both the giver and the receiver.

Here are a few ways to make the set the stage:

1. Spanista believes presentation is everything. It sets a mood that opens the heart and mind to relaxation. To begin with bringing the spa atmosphere to life. Keep it simple – but focus on the right elements.

2. Pick up cues from the season – a stylish bit of pop colors like orange of a sunset and cream of sand, starfish or shells bring to mind the seashore with  various textures to create a tableau of interest. Start with a small vase of white roses or an orchid and build around it to ad a touch of freshness.

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3. Select exotic, classy bath and body products to bring moments of self care joy. There are fabulous French Collections that function well to suit both men and women’s tastes. Set a tray with scented soaps, bath crystals, a natural body scrub mitt and body cream. Plus a spray perfume for the pillows to extend the scent longer and into restful bedtime. I like Cote Bastide Fluers D’Orange for summer.

4. Rich lightweight Egyptian cotton towels are welcome – the feel against your skin after a luscious spa bath is heavenly. Pick complimentary colors and use a unique way to tie them together like a gift package to open just for your guest.

5. Top off the experience with a white combed cotton robe ready after a quick shower or a luxurious bath. This can be hung on near the shower or tub with a special soap in the pocket and a pair of colorful flip flops to take home.

 

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Give House Guests Perfect Self Care Spa Bath Experience is a wonderful way to share your Spanista Lifestyle beliefs with dear ones. Introducing them to the rich benefits of Bath Rituals can help them enjoy time with you and allow them to feel comfortable and nurtured long after the visit.

It a true gesture of love.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Spanista Asks What’s Your Essential Self Care Travel Tonic? Given this is the kick off to the season of road trips, flying to long weekend excursions or an international holiday vacations on a super jumbo jets, having the right essentials within reach can make all the difference. Years of traveling have offered loads of lessons on packing right – especially when it comes to having the right Self Care creature comforts we take for granted when we are at home. Travel ups the need for personal preparation.

Before you step out the door take an audit of your stress reduction needs right now. What worked for you last summer mostly likely will require adjustments – we change more than we think. Here are Spanista’s Summer Essential Self Care Packing Tips to get you thinking. I would love to hear about your so please do share with our Wellness Lovers readers:

1. Berocca – For a healthy energy boost. Discovered this in Australia. It helped me transition into the extreme time zone change so I could be alert and fully engaged weather working, socializing or playing – Berocca works.

2. Music – For soothing the soul quickly it’s my personal playlist that adapts to every mood. Relaxation music helps me fall to sleep. Other times it closes out my seat mates desire to chat. Or when inspiration hits me from the locale fare I search and add it where ever I am at the moment. Playing them later  triggers fond memories of my travels.

3. Notebook – In spite of the digital age we live in there is something compelling about the simple travel notebook. The easy place to record ideas, thoughts and epherma that only come your way only once because you’ve taken a new road to travel. I feel the act of writing down experiences helps me capture details of event happenings and the people I meet so they are not lost. And it clears my mind for the next adventure to be captured. I collect them.

4. Rituals Yin Spray – While traveling from Hong Kong to London to spend a few days checking out the fashion scene on High Street, I discovered Rituals and Spanista fell in love. Especially keen on the impact of Rituals Yin Organic White Lotus Calming Spray has when stresses of travel set in. After spraying my wrist, I take three deep breaths that relax me after take off. Then again before bedtime if traveling long distances. It is my Ritual.

5. Novel Reading – Nothing takes the place of the great escape a vintage hardcover novel can offer, if it possesses a rich story that threads into the past where imaginative characters come to life. Right now I am captivated by The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly…one of a series I discovered strolling the aisles of Barnes & Noble including Tea Rose and Winter Rose.

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Finally, Bagging It with Tumi – Picking the essential bag is a very personal matter. Spanista prefers flyweight leather that is pliable so it can expand and contract as needed. The stylish side of Tumi offers colorful yet durable bags. Mine have traveled around the world several times while attracting compliments along the miles. It is made well to take the trama and the distance while fits easily into tight spaces. Currently my kelly green Tumi captures my mood.

Spanista Asks What’s Your Essential Self Care Travel Tonic? Now that Spanista has shared my favorites I would love to hear from you. What helps you enjoy the journey while keeping your Self Care a priority?

Spanista would love to hear from you with recommendations for fellow Wellness Seekers to enjoy too!

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Sea World’s Beauty Inspires Summer’s Spa Chic Style arrives just in time for this big kickoff weekend in Summer thanks to Memorial Day. There is a select group of inspired fashion designers who brought to the runways the beauty of the magnificent Sea World. An informed and fresh take on the underwater world we rarely see.

In the last issue of Elle Magazine, the editors captured the highlights of this vibrant point of view that celebrates natures amazing color palate, textures and organic shapes. This caught my attention as a perfect expression of Spa Chic Style this season. Stella McCartney, Valentino and Stone and Strand are my favorite choices – so sensual, relaxed yet so sophisticated.  Perfect for the summer’s multifaceted Spanista lifestyle.

Elle says the designer drew her inspiration from the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Eastern Australia, which is home to 1625 species of fish and including 1400 coral reef species.  While working with for an extended period along the Gold Coast, I spent time at the Australian Barrier Reef wonderland.  It captivates you and stirs your emotions like nothing you have have ever experienced. An embarrassment of riches for a creative soul to draw from.

Interestingly, Stella spent considerable time in Australia when she did a capsule fashion edition for Target when I was Brand Strategic Advisor staging a Custom Designer Series. Her British centric collection was a huge hit. During that time she came to love the unique Aussie beach lover’s sensibility that centers on life in, by, on the water with the ocean’s rhythms 365 days a year.

My favorite pieces featured in this Elle edition are Stella McCartney’s Story of flowing multi level layers of colorful coral reef patterns in free spirited dresses for day  or night. And the extraordinary natural stone ring by Stone and Strand Story so artistically styled in rose gold vermeil and garnet stone. To die for. It reminds me of an investment piece I purchased while visiting the reef.

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On a personal note, the natural shell strands and silver embossed statement piece shown here, was purchased at an stylish boutique while at the Great Barrier Reel – I treasure it for the special memories and feelings it evokes.

Spanista Takeaway: Sea World’s Beauty Inspires Summer’s Spa Chic Style is so right for a summer you. The seas call to us to embrace its gifts – especially in summer so welcome them into your life and bring them close to your skin to release their  special powers on your summer experiences. Find your look within this lovely theme, that special piece and wear it well – you will love the way you feel in it morning, noon and night!

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Good News Monday: Table Settings Possess Self Care Power. Really? Really! As we move into the summer months we all think about shifting our eating habits for a host of reasons. They all point to a seasonal lifestyle change that can be enjoyable. But have you considered doing it with out sacrificing your self care and better yet enhancing it? Changes include: You may plan to enjoy the seasons bounty of  fruits and vegetables, the heat may call for lighter fares and menus, or you may be conscious of having a beach bound body – What ever the reasons, you might consider more than your food in supporting your Summer Self Care enjoyment. Here is curious Spanista News I found for Wellness Seekers.

Did you know that research has shown the context of your meal can have  significant influence on the way you perceive flavor?  That’s right – the color of the plate, the shape of the glass, the type of background music and ambient lighting can all significantly influence the way we perceive flavors.  A University of Oxford study reveals that even a meals smallest details – the forks, knives, and spoons with which it’s eaten can also affect our consumption and contentment. This Spanista discovery was made while reading an article called “Fork It Over” in Experience Life Magazine.

Vanessa Harrar who conducted the study says that being more mindful of utensil selection can increase our sense of novelty and encourage us to eat more mindfully. “Choosing an unfamiliar fork or using chopsticks, for example, might slow consumption and allow us time to make better food choices. It may also increase our awareness of what we are eating. Using odd environmental cues forces us to stop and taste – and actually perceive the situation,” offers Harrar. She suggests trying new table settings – new plateware, and different cutlery to refocus on the food you are eating. By incorporating one of more uncommon elements, she notes, we’re more apt to appreciate flavors and textures we could easily miss when you eat on autopilot. Variations in cutlery – size, weight, shape, color, or even your choice of utensil – can have a significant cognitive impact.

Spanista Takeaway- Good News Monday: Table Settings Possess Self Care Power points out as humans we develop expectations of how food is supposed to taste based upon previous experiences. Defying such assumptions by introducing unfamiliar elements may increase our awareness and satisfaction with a given meal even if the food itself is unchanged. That can lead to higher levels of joy and satisfaction through mindfulness.

So weather your setting summertime meals in Manhattan, Montana, Melbourne or Manaus, you can unleash Self Care Power with a little creativity. It is within your power to enhance Wellbeing with a little attention to changing things up on many levels depending upon the setting and who will join you. So make it fun while enhancing your self care experience for the better,

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

 

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Friday Wellness Tip: Freedom Gratitude Salute Armed Forces Day is a heartfelt way to bring about both external and internal goodness that heals hearts. This balances the giving and the getting for those that go beyond what is expected of us by serving in the military to protect us.

Tomorrow May 16th is Armed Services Day!

Commitments to serve takes special individuals – our Freedom comes at a price and we need to sincerely say THANK YOU AND HONOR those that watch over our country’s protection. Salute them and pray for their safety.

If you are reading this post and in the service of our country….WE CARE AND APPRECIATE YOUR CHOICE AND WHAT YOU TO DO YOUR BEST TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY.

Military roots run deep in my husbands family as it does mine. How fortunate we were not to loose a loved one to WWII – between us we had six family members serving throughout that arduous war and lost no one in spite of being put in harms way in the worse possible scenarios. The most decorated was my husband’s father who served in The First Special Service Force composed of only 1000 lads in the US paired with 1000 lads form Canada. They were the first Green Baret’s we recognize today. His medals are treasures that remind us of the number of times he fought in critical battles and survived – it is frightening to think about it. Hitler recognized them as the Devil’s Brigade.

The Congressional Gold Medal for members of the First

In fact this past year their troop was awarded GOLD MEDAL OF HONOR after 70 years. My Father in Law just passed away in fall of 2014. The medal service was earlier on Feb 15, 2015. This humble guy, never spoke much about it but after he got to know you his pride surfaced in his medals. They spoke volumes. he would just point to them on the wall. Salute to you and your friends from the USA and Canadian Team’s we know you stayed in touch, attended reunions and  loved them like brothers. Here is Bill Shiverdecker’s WWII Special Services Medal Collection.

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WW II Army Special Forces Member, Bill Shiverdecker – We Remember

Friday Wellness Tip: Freedom Gratitude Salute Armed Forces Day calls for us to touch someone in the Military tomorrow in a positive way.  Acknowledge their efforts and give them encouragement to go on in the fight for freedom. Spanista believes this act of gratitude flows through us with positive energy that lasts. The photos here are by Susan Walsch an AP photographer who was lucky enough to attend the service.

What price FREEDOM? We take so much for granted. Supporting their efforts can make a huge difference in  their lives. If you are American, step up. You will love the way you feel.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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