Savannah Spa Day: Glow Med Spa

Thus far our vacation has been wonderful! It’s included lots of cooking , movie watching , a few great workouts , and family time.

Today, after a visit with my grandmother in the hospital, my mom and I treated ourselves to a holiday spa day. We both were in need of some rest and relaxation and our dry skin was crying for a hydrating facial. Luckily, via Twitter and South Magazine, I discovered a new to us spa which specializes in skin treatments.

Glow Med Spa & Beauty Boutique opened three years ago, which brought a science and beauty spa together under one roof. It brings the future of cosmetic medicine to Savannah while also offering traditional spa services for those people who aren’t willing to take their beauty to the next level.

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Glow’s bright walls immediately greet you as you walk through the doors. White walls and counters, detailed with bright aqua blue, welcome you to the beauty oasis while relaxing music soothes the soul. A friendly receptionist, welcomes guests with a “Hi y’all, how may I help you?”  and offered champagne or water to my mom and I.

We were quickly escorted to our room, including two tables, since we were enjoying an afternoon of treatments together. This meant that we’d share one room, with each aesthetician and masseuse coming into our room versus us having to move after each treatment. It really was such a treat to be pampered together. Our room featured dim lights, two heated tables, and beautiful mood music, relaxing us more and more by the second.

We enjoyed three treatments today:

A Not So Basic Facial

Glow’s twist on the traditional facial. This treatment combines skin-type specific cleansing, exfoliation, extractions and an individualized treatment mask chosen to suit and soothe. This facial is the perfect jumpstart to get you back on the road to beautiful skin. Ideal for frequent facial fans or maintenance between our more intensive facials, it can be further customized with a variety of facial build ons.

Glow Signature Massage

This tension-melting marriage of tension taming massage techniques is a virtual
countdown to ‘butter’, so climb out of that standard-sixty-minute-rub rut and onto
a perfectly-warmed massage table, where we’ll loosen you up, target your most
troubled muscles.  And to put a little more pampering into your massage-we even apply an anti-aging warm hand treatment to leave you soft all over.

Body Scrub

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Each treatment was an hour long and took place in a warm, lit room. My favorite was definitely the facial as it was everything I expect of a wonderful facial- relaxing, purifying, and enhancing. I entered the room with dry skin, dulled from the harsh winter wind and weather. By the end of the hour treatment my entire face was moist, supple, and quenched- including my lips. The aesthetician, Ursula, put together a specialized mask and scrub based on my skins needs. I have never had a facial which included a 10 minute fingertip facial massage. This portion of the treatment was absolute bliss!

I fell asleep for most of the massage but was quickly awaken when the masseuse found my IT Band. Even though I’ve only enjoyed 4-5 mile runs lately, my legs are still tight and sore. I did however love the soft scent of their massage lotion as it wasn’t overwhelming or headache inducing.

The scrub was the most awkward of treatments but the results are amazing. My mom and I felt like holiday turkeys, rubbed down and put in the oven, during the entire hour long treatment. We were rubbed down in a salt, moisturizing mixture which both exfoliated and hydrated our skin before wrapped in heating foil to “marinate” for 5-10 minutes. After doing the other side we were left with baby soft skin free of any white or red dry patches.

I highly recommend a relaxing spa day the next time you are home with your mom or sister. We caught up, laughed, and relaxed during these three hours of uninterrupted pampering. There were no cell phones, no demanding family members, or errands. Instead, we enjoyed some quality girl time and have already promised ourselves that this will become a Savannah tradition every time I’m home visiting.

For more information, head over to Glow’s Med Spa’s website or Spa-Finder to find a wonderful spa in your own hometown.

What is your favorite spa treatment?

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Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

After yesterday’s wonderful cold weather run, we spent the afternoon curled in front of the fire watching movies. Yesterday’s selection included the following:

Something’s Gotta GIve- one of our all time favorite movies

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps- disappointing

Sweet Home Alabama- My grandfather requested a romantic comedy and this definitely delivered

My grandfather is staying with us for a few more days as his part-time care taker is stranded in Connecticut due to the snow. Therefore, yesterday afternoon revolved around Papa’s request to watch a few movies. My grandfather hasn’t really watched and enjoyed a movie in quite a few years so yesterday when he requested a few good movies it was a treat to watch him enjoy each one. I haven’t heard his hearty laugh in ages so just seeing a few smiles and hearing a big laugh was the best gift of all. What is your favorite movie to watch with family?

After a few hours of relaxation, Bo and I returned to the kitchen with one goal in mind: make a shepherd’s pie using all our leftovers!

With some direction and inspiration from this recipe we were able to create a delicious, hearty meal that everyone loved!

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Healthier Sweet Potato Casserole

Every holiday season, I give thanks for a small yellow cookbook which has been with my family for over 20 years. My dad bought this cookbook for my mom back in 1983 when we lived in Franklin, Tennessee.

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Over the years this book has become stained, dog eared, and even torn in a few places due to our constant use and reference, otherwise known as loved. Her decadent banana bread recipe and of course, my all time favorite, sweet potatoes have become a staple in our family. When family members or friends are sick or feeling blue, her moist banana bread is the best of remedies. But, her sweet potato casserole, topped with delicious crunch and heart warming brown sugar brings a smile to everyone’s face and signals that the holidays have arrived. 

If you are at a loss for what to make for tonight or tomorrow’s big meal, I highly recommend adding this as a healthier side item. Over the years my mom and I have tested out different versions of this recipe. Two years ago we finally settled on a healthier version which also passes the taste test of born and bred southerners who are more concerned with taste than anything else.

So, head to your pantry and refrigerator to gather the 11 simple ingredients to make this delicious, and filling side item.

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A Healthier Version of Miss Daisy’s Sweet Potatoes

1 large can yams (you can use fresh if you desire and cook them ahead of time0

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 egg whites

1/4 cup Smart Balance

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients, both wet and dry, together in a large stand mixer bowl or a bowl with which you can use a hand mixer.

Pour well mixed ingredients into a 9×13.

.Topping

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1 cup chopped nuts

1/4 cup butter

Now mix the topping together in bowl, insuring the butter is cut in with the other ingredients

Once all your topping is mixed well, sprinkle on top of the sweet potato mixture.

Bake for 35 minutes in a 350 degree oven and enjoy!  The picture above is clearly before it goes in the oven. Trust me, after it goes in the oven it is a gooey, delicious mixture of brown sugar, nuts, and sweet potatoes! For an added sweet bite, cover part of the sweet potato mixture in mini marshmallows when there are 2-3 minutes left in the oven!

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