My spring fast this year was spiritual. People usually expect fasting to reflect a believers intention to inch closer to the beyond, God, in accordance to what many, including professor Ori Soltes, would call the divine sacer.

I have a life philosophy that revolves somewhat around this understanding: People need sustenance. In ones spiritual and emotional life, such sustenance can come in the form of love drawn from friends, family, hobbies and a personal connection with whatever you perceive God to be.

Physical life runs parallel to this intangible one, with food acting as fuel and nourishment. This may be a simple way of categorizing physical and spiritual existence though I doubt that one could completely separate the two but it certainly helps me live every day happily and healthily.

Restricting your diet is a way to find beauty in different health sources. Everyone is different, and finding a dietary plan that works for both your physical and mental health can be challenging and requires continuous adjustment. Just as human beings are ephemeral, so are their taste buds and bodies reactions to different foods.

I consider veganism as the most classic of all dietary restrictions. Once you go vegan, you can thrive in any special diet. After I conquered a vegan diet for the entirety of Lent last year, I felt that any dietary restrictive plan could be achieved. My experiences with the Paleo diet obviously taught me otherwise.

I speak on this specifically, because the vegan diet is particularly hard for people who have never restricted their diets otherwise. There are many reasons for someone to want to become vegan, different definitions and variations in adherence: A friend of mine from high school refuses even to use animal-based soaps or local honey, whereas some other vegan friends occasionally indulge in chicken nuggets. These personal examples should serve to show you how labeling rarely completes a picture.

My vegan experience at Georgetown was initially quite abysmal. It all happened before the days of Subway and Salad Creations additions to the meal plan, so my vegan Grab n Go options were pretty limited, and hummus on a sundried tomato bagel at Einstein Bros. Bagels ended up serving as the only suitable daily snack.

Luckily and I cannot stress this enough food service workers at Georgetown are amazing. Friendly and kind, they generally want to help you in any way they can. Frankie at Einsteins always remembered my vegan diet after chatting about it one day during closing time; the guys at the Grab n Go used to keep a jug of almond milk in the back for me to blend with cereal just because I asked. I do not know how Georgetown finds such a range of quality individuals, but sometimes I wish that my professors were as concerned about my health as they are about the integrity of my work.

Additionally, resources exist at Georgetown for students trying to go vegan or vegetarian. A student-run group called Animalia sponsors a mentorship program that helps students pursue their dietary and lifestyle goals. My stint as a vegan only lasted 40 days, so I spoke with Aine Boyle (SFS 18), former vice president and current treasurer of Animalia, for more insights. Boyle wants to help students understand Animalias work as well as paths to long-term veganism at Georgetown.

What does the mentorship program look like? Our vegan and vegetarian mentorship program is new as of this year. We match students up based on their reasons for going vegan or vegetarian. The main three reasons are health, animal ethics and environmental, so the member that reflects you the most becomes your mentor. Mentors and mentees cook dinner together, give food, recipe and multivitamin recommendations and much more.

Where do you usually go shopping? I shop just about everywhere. I love good deals, so I like to go to Trader Joes, Whole Foods bulk bins and Safeway depending on what I am looking for. Weekday lunches are often Trader Joes vegan frozen meals.

Would you say it is hard to go shopping? Do you like the new GUTS bus route on Saturday? I have a car, though the GUTS bus is great I might even consider using that instead.

What are the biggest challenges of being a vegan on campus? Being a freshman and eating at Leos, but that is the struggle for most Georgetown students. Leos in general, vegan or not vegan, is not great. Free events are hard and even environmental events tend to lack vegan food which is quite confusing. You pay tuition just like any other student, but you do not get to enjoy the full benefits that come with it. Georgetown claims to be super sustainable but fails to ensure that students who are trying to be sustainable have the options they need.

Nina Young is a junior in the College. BAKE MY DAY appears every other Friday.

Have a reaction to this article? Write a letter to the editor.

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BAKE MY DAY: Going Vegan For Dummies - Georgetown University The Hoya

According to an op-ed by a University of TexasAustin student, modern veganism is too focused on rich, white-people vegans, and it needs to become more intersectional and inclusive.

In an article titled Vegans must feed everyone, not just wealthy white people, Audrey Larcher opens by explaining that the modern image of a vegan is some hipster who is probably slender and definitely white and thats a major, major problem.

The caricature is indicative of underlying problems in the vegan community, Larcher continues. White veganism which refers to the dominant cruelty-free culture of wealth, privilege and exclusivity is not an option for most people.

If vegans want to promote sustainable and compassionate diets for the world, their communities must be intersectional, she continues.

For example, Larcher explains that people from many other cultures namely Indian, Ethiopian, and East Asian cultures have a lot of dishes that are plant-based or dont use dairy, and its a big problem that white vegans never talk about these cultures or their plant-based foods.

Instead of promoting the foods of foreign cultures, vegans go great lengths to reinvent traditional foods which rely on animal products to taste good, she explains.

According to Larcher, things like the vegan imitation-cheese industry are problematic because a lot of their products and the grocery stores that sell them are expensive, and thats an example of cultural exclusivity.

Being a white, American imitation-cheese-eating vegan definitely is a certain culture (I almost left it at cult) of its own, and one that certainly is available only to people with a certain means. But everything in the world is like that. For example, rich people also pay a ton of money to take spin classes at SoulCycle instead of just going for a run, and that, too is a culture (cult!) of its own. Take any diet or interest in the world, and there is automatically going to be some sort of high-end, snobby version of it where the prices are high just because there are wealthy people out there who will pay them (and then talk with their wealthy friends about how, like, amazing their $34 candlelit spin class was and that they totally needed to go because they ate way too many $24 zucchini-and-cashew-cheese enchiladas at Candle 79 before seeing Hamilton for the fourth time on Friday night.)

Yes, of course this life isnt available to everyone. It isnt available to me. But that doesnt mean that not eating meat and cheese isnt available. The truth is, plenty of vegan staples beans, nuts, rice, and even produce are very affordable. Maybe shes saying that there just isnt enough information out there for people who are dying to be vegan but think they cant afford it? Because if you Google vegan on a budget, youll get more than 42 million results. Perhaps just perhaps! the main reason that more people arent vegan is because they just dont want to be vegan.

But, according to Larcher, the cultural exclusivity thing is only the tip of an insensitive iceberg.

Most vegan communities offer no sympathy to victims of racism, appropriating minorities struggles to advance their own cause, she explains, linking to a tweet from a popular vegan account that reads: Black lives matter...more than Chickens or Cows lives...apparently.

Of course, Larcher is correct in calling this insensitive. Its true, people who are vegans due to radical animal-rights beliefs think that its unfair that a human-centric movement like Black Lives Matter gets more attention than their chicken-and-cow-centric movement, because they think that human suffering and animal suffering are the same. Yes, I understand that their logic dictates that they would say this about any popular human-centric movement, but still, talking about black lives in this way is obviously offensive. And there really is no image more vomit-inducing than a rich, white, hipster vegan tweeting little jabs at Black Lives Matter while he strolls through the farmers market on his iPhone.

According to Larcher, this kind of rhetoric can alienate potential vegans, and it shows a need for all vegans to unite behind a sensitive message in order to recruit more people. Now, just like Im not sure how many people are being turned off of veganism by cashew cheese prices, Im also sure how many are being turned off by the radical animal-rights rhetoric, but in a sense, shes right. Seeing something so inflammatory attributed to the movement certainly does show that the movement could benefit from avoiding that, getting together, and rallying around something more sensitive but it also shows why thats going to be impossible.

Clearly, things like that Black Lives Matter tweet dont represent all vegans but the truth is, nothing really does. People are vegan for so many different reasons. Some people are vegan for health benefits, some people are vegan because they heard both Miley Cyrus and her pig are vegan, some people are vegan because their rich friends are vegan, and some people are vegan because they think that chickens are slaves. Its going to be impossible for a group where some people are participating because they just think its healthier but dont think that animals are the same as people and some people are participating because they dont care if its healthier they just do think animals are the same as people to have a united voice. Think about it: A person who really believes that chickens are slaves is not going to just chill out and stop talking about it, because they believe that chickens are slaves. And a person who eats a plant-based diet because she thinks it helps with her acne or whatever is not going to declare solidarity with a person who thinks chickens are slaves because that person believes that chickens are slaves.

An anti-chicken-slavery advocate just isnt going to be able to fit into a group if its criteria demands that he stop talking about chicken like theyre enslaved. Despite Larchers best efforts and op-eds, its going to be impossible to have any kind of united voice for a movement when the movement has so many different and passionate sects especially considering that the only thing harder than getting a chicken-slave advocate to shut up about speciesism is getting a Whole Foodsadvocate to shut up about how their vegan coconut bacon tastes just like the real thing.

Katherine Timpf is a reporter for National Review Online.

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College Op-Ed: We Have to Make Veganism 'Intersectional' - National Review

Metro

Vegan Burd: The vegan chocolate taking Scotland by storm Metro Glaswegian vegan, blogger and chocolate fan Adele Rawlston decided to start making her own chocolate last year to recreate childhood sweeties that she missed. Us Scots do love our sweeties and the chocolate bars with comic names include Yer Bound ...

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Vegan Burd: The vegan chocolate taking Scotland by storm - Metro

Now, more than ever, grocery stores are getting on board with offering plant-based options beyond tofu and old staples like Morningstar Farms and Boca Burgers. Its not just big chains like Whole Foods, which has always had a reputation for carrying (notoriously expensive) vegan options. Target, for example, not only carries its own in-house line of plant-based meat options, it also has an entire refrigerated section dedicated to just plant-based protein. Even Trader Joes has its own packaged, meat-free options, vegan mayonnaise, and vegan marshmallows. Regular grocery stores are so on top of their game in terms of carrying plant-based options that it may have had a hand in the worlds first vegan supermarket going bankrupt.

Still, we cant help but squee when a new, all-vegan grocery opens up because hey they inevitably end up carrying vegan products you wont find at the aforementioned establishments. And we can only imagine what kind of goodies will be available at the newest location of Australian vegan market chain, TheCrueltyFree Shop, when it opens the worlds largest vegan shop in Melbourne.

Are we jealous? Totally. According to recent research, 12 percent of Melbournes population eats little to no meat and with multiple plant-based restaurants and now, the worlds largest vegan market, the city is earning a name for itself as a vegan hotspot. But hey, New York isnt so bad in terms of vegan markets, either. At Riverdel, youll be overwhelmed, in a good way, by how many different brands of vegan cheese they carry. At Haymakers Corner Store you can pick up classic deli slices just like you would at the deli counter at the local grocery store and Orchard Grocer serves NYC Jewish classicsandvegan soft serve.

Okay,but we would be huge liars if we said that in spite of that, we didnt want to go to new The Cruelty Free Shop location on its opening day, April 12. Were always down for supporting new vegan businesses. Can somebody please mail us there?

Lead image source: The Cruelty Free Shop

Originally posted here:

Mail Us Here: The World's Largest Vegan Supermarket Set to Open in Melbourne - One Green Planet

Written by Katherine Sullivan | April 6, 2017

So youve planned the perfect vegan wedding menu, your bridal party is outfitted in cruelty-free styles, and even your wedding favors are veganbut what about your gift registry?

Brides and grooms are thinking outside the gift-wrapped box, ditching less-traditional wedding registries in favor of fun, new ideas. Your registry can be unique to you and your betrotheds personalities while also reminding guests of your cruelty-free, vegan lifestyle. Check out these nine vegan wedding registry ideas for a little inspiration:

Target and Bed Bath & Beyond are great, but if youre looking outside the big-box stores, you have optionsmany boutique retailers and specialty stores now offer wedding registries. Anthropologie, for example, has its own wedding and gift registry service. The store offers everything from dinnerware to bedding, furniture, and other cruelty-free home furnishingsthe Fireside Faux-Fur Throw Blanket and the Belgian Linen Angelina Sofa are just a couple of examples. Be sure to check the details of each item that you register for, ensuring that nothing on your list is made from leather, fur, down, or any other animal-derived material.

Unicorn Goods, the worlds largest vegan store, offers so many fabulous cruelty-free products and gifts that itll be hard to narrow your registry down to just a few. The retailer will create a custom collection for you to share with your guests. Just e-mail the company via its website to make this request.

Whats more valuable than a new crockpot or ironing board? How about making the world a kinder, safer place for animals? Charity wedding registry services such as The Knot and The Good Beginning let you choose from a variety of causes. If youd like to offer your guests the opportunity to donate to PETAs continuous work to stop cruelty to animals, our Change Makers page offers this option. The setup is simple, and this way, your guests donationsdedicated to the bride(s) and/or groom(s)will directly support PETAs vital work to stop animal suffering and abuse.

Are you and your soon-to-be husband or wife already established in life? Maybe you already have a vacuum cleaner and arent such huge fans of embroidered bath towels. If you do love wine, though, we have a solution: Encourage guests to contribute to your newlywed wine cellar. Request that, if they would like to offer a gift, they bring a bottle of their favorite vegan wine. Do you prefer red to white? Feel free to specifyjust be sure to remind them to check that their vino is Barnivore-approved. If youre a bit pickyno judgmentconsider creating a wine registry through Wine Enthusiast. This way, youll receive wines that are vegan and that you know youll enjoy.

If you and your fianc or fiance are indecisive about the best way to register, consider crowdfunding. Perhaps you both really want a new car with entirely vegan interiorsoh yeah, its a thingbut you cant really register for a car. Sites such as Deposit a Gift and Plumfund make it easy to raise money through your wedding registry and apply the funds to whatever you choose, without the tacky Please make the check out to memo on the wedding invitations.

Saving up for your big day can be difficult. Some brides and grooms opt for a potluck-style wedding in order to cut costs. Luckily, vegan alcohol is easy to find (shout-out to Barnivore). Let your guests know that you have all the kitchen appliances and bedding that you need but would love their help in making your wedding memorableor maybe not so memorable for some! Encourage them to contribute to your weddings open bar by bringing their favorite vegan booze in place of a more traditional gift.

Honeymoon registries can be a great alternative to traditional onesa win for both the engaged couple and their guests. Newlyweds can crowdsource their post-wedding trip, while guests can help the happy couple make memories that will last a lifetime. Perhaps you and your future husband or wife want to try snorkeling or scuba diving, or maybe a camping trip with your canine companion is more your speed. Animal-free circuses and theme parks, whale-watching tours, or visits to animal sanctuaries accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries are also great cruelty-free honeymoon activities. Regardless of where you decide to vacation, sites such as Wanderable can help happy couples get one step closer to their dream honeymoon.

Youre vegan, youre newly married, and youre in lovewhat better way to make the most of your honeymoon period than cooking nightly dinners at home for each other? To do so, youll need to be well equipped with a few kitchen essentials. Register at Williams Sonoma for your ideal slow cooker and then choose from these 12 vegan slow-cooker recipes. Add this doughnut pan to your registry and treat your special someone to baked vegan doughnuts. And dont forget to ask for the perfect frying panyoull need one to grill up all those delicious Beyond Burgers for you and your new spouse. But we get itnot everyone loves to cook. If your schedules are a bit chaotic or maybe your talents lie outside the kitchen, consider asking guests to contribute toward a vegan meal-delivery service, such as Purple Carrot, Veestro, or 22 Days Nutrition. Make it easy for your guests by specifying a meal plan or pack.

If you and your spouse-to-be already live a well-equipped life, consider asking guests to sponsor an animal who hasnt been as fortunate. If youre fans of majestic elephants, point guests toward The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. If youre passionate about protecting animals used for food, ask guests to sponsor an animal who lives at Farm Sanctuary. If chimpanzees have a special place in your heart, give guests the option to sponsor a chimpanzee with Save the Chimps. Just be sure to choose a sanctuary thats accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

*****

Still need help planning thefood,clothing,decorations,honeymoon location, and all the other details that go into wedding preparation? If its a cruelty-free, vegan wedding that you want, were here to help you make it happen! Check out our guide for help planning your perfect day:

How to Plan the Perfect #VeganWedding

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9 Vegan Wedding Registry Ideas for Compassionate Couples - PETA (blog) (press release)

Photo: Nourish Kitchen + Table

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Traditional Passoverfoodslike beitzah (a roasted egg) and zeroah ( a piece of roasted lamb)are pretty much as far from vegan as you can get. Even matzo ball soup is made with eggs.

But Nourish Kitchen + Tableis changing the game with avegan dishthat will keep you energized enough to get you through all those rounds of singing Dayenu. This year, the West Village restocreated a special crudit platterfora vegetarianspring seder,hosted by Jewish organization Arq.

The dish stars colorful fruits and veggies, served witha showstopping aioli made withbuzzy ingredientaquafaba(AKA chickpea water),which ups the protein. Its more unexpected than hummus, while just as flavorfuland its meant for sharing, but so delicious, you might not want to.

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Yields 4 servings

Ingredients 1 cup grated orange or rainbow carrots 1/4 cup finely diced red apple, peeled 1 1/2 tsp hemp seeds 1 Tbsp aquafaba aioli 2 tsp minced chives 1 1/2 tsp minced capers Pinch of nigella seeds (black cumin) Pinch of sumac Salt and cracked pepper to taste 1. Mix all ingredients in a blender.

2. Serve with unleavened seedy crackers or matzah drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt.

AquafabaaioliYields 1 pint

Ingredients1 medium clove garlic, minced 1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice 4 Tbsp + 1 1/2 tspaquafaba liquid (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 cup + 2 Tbsp grapeseed oil or extra-virgin olive oil

1. In a food processor, blend garlic through aquafaba liquid and salt and pepper.

2. Slowly drizzle in oil while blending in order to properly emulsify.

Each week we spotlight a healthy-delish recipe thats truly genius (and easy to make) from someone whos wowed us in the food world. Were talking buzzy cookbook authors and Instagram foodies to brilliant chefs.You can find more mouthwatering must-try ideas from the Recipe of the Week archive.

Heres what to make if you want to go vegan Beyonce-style. Plus, the low-down on why its about to get way easier on ordering a bleeding burger.

See the original post:

The vegan Passover dish that's stealing matzo balls' spotlight - Well+Good

Anyone who thinks vegan food can't be cheap and quick has never ordered right at Taco Bell.

While the fast food chain is beloved for its Chicken Chalupas and Beef Crunchwrap Supremes, the majority of the menu can be made vegan with a few simple swaps.

Vegetarians and vegans have flocked to Taco Bellfor years, and in 2015, the chain partnered with theAmerican Vegetarian Association in 2015 to create a certified vegetarian menu. Taco Bellsells 350 million vegetarian items a year, and there are 5.7 million vegetarian combinations. The possibilities!

And if you're avoiding animal products entirely, there's still plenty to choose from. In fact, the chain is so vegan-friendly thatvegan activist group PETA is launching anadvertising campaign on Friday to encourage customers to choose beans over animal proteins.PETA will be handing out free bean burritos at several locations. (FYI: You can swap beans for any meat with no extra charge.)

Worried a cashier might get confused by your custom order? You can use the Taco BelliOSapp to make your substitutions crystal clear.

Ordering the "Make It Fresco" option replaces cheese and sour cream for pico de gallo. Taco Bell's pico de gallo is certified vegan plus, if you're looking to lighten up your meal, it has significantly less fat and fewer calories than dairy. Be warned that checking "Make It Fresco" on the app often unchecks guacamole make sure to recheck it if guac is important to you.

Black beans and refried beans are certified vegan and they're also great plant sources of protein and fiber. No meat, no problem.

Taco Bell'sseasoned rice is not vegan. It is certified vegetarian but may contain milk. Do with that information what you will.

Taco Bellguacamole is certified vegan. Avocado ranch sauce is not vegan.

Taco shells, Gordita flatbreads and tostada shells are certified vegan. The taco salad shell is not.

"Hot" and "Mild" hot sauce packets are certified vegan but "Fire" is not. (And drowning beans with hot sauce makes them exponentially better, so don't forget to toss a few packets in your takeout bag.)

Getting hungry? Listed in no particular order, here are 10Taco Bell dishes you can "veganize" with minimal effort.

[Editor's note: Not every ingredient in the following dishes is "certified vegan" according to the Taco Bell site. Please check with your local Taco Bellto ensure an order meets your specific needs.]

Veganize it: Order without cheese or sour cream.

Veganize it: Order beans instead of meat and guacamole instead of sour cream and cheese. Add potatoes (not certified vegan but still delicious) if you're feeling wild.

Veganize it: Order it without cheese and sour cream. Grill it for extra deliciousness. Take or leave the rice depending on whether it bothers you that it contains traces of dairy.

Veganize it: Order it with no cheese and sour cream. Add salsa.

Veganize it: Order it without cheese and sour cream and add guacamole.

Veganize it: Order it with no beef, cheese or sour cream. Add beans and guacamole.

Veganize it: Order it with no cheese and no sauce. Add salsa, guac or both!

Veganize it: Order it with guacamole or pico de gallo instead of nacho cheese sauce.

Veganize it: Order it with no cheese, no sour cream and no beef. (Red strips, the small red tortilla chips, are certified vegan but the salad taco shell is not, so do with that info what you will.) Add guacamole and jalapeo peppers. Add potatoes if you want extra substance.

Veganize it: Order it with no cheese and no sour cream.

Read more here:

Taco Bell has a hidden vegan menu here are the 10 best dishes to order - Mic

Earlier this month, the moment Major League Baseball fans everywhere were waiting for finally came the season kickoff. After months of keeping abuzz with whos moving to which team or which college sports talent got recruited, its finally time to witness the majesty of one of Americas greatest pastimes. While you can stock up on the ingredients to make delicious vegan snacks for your game day viewing pleasure, going to the stadium is an entirely different affair if youve been trying to eat more plant-based foods. Everyone knows that hot dogs, chili cheese fries (and nachos), and burgers are pretty standard ballpark fare.

Luckily, in recent years weve seen an increase in the amount of vegan and vegetarian offerings at MLB ballparks and theres even a handy sitethats updated regularly that lets you know what options are available at specific stadiums. Which is great, because that beats having to bring your own veggie dog. This year, it looks like a lot of stadiums are stepping up their vegan and vegetarian offerings. For example, the Arizona Diamondbacks just added Field Roast frankfurters and burgers to one of their concession stand menus (yum). You can also find Field Roast options at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, but what were most excited about is that they now offer a vegan black bean burger, courtesy of Bareburger.

According to Gothamist, Yankee Stadium has also added the Chinese-inspired Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bao to their range of ballpark food offerings. We are seriously hoping that its vegan but even if it isnt, the prospect of munching on Field Roast Frankfurters and a Bareburger veggie burger are enough to tempt us to attend a Yankee game. If you dont happen to live near Yankee Stadium (or if youre a Red Sox Fan), then you can check out the options available at your home teams stadium here.

This delicious news is just another indication that the way we eat is evolving at a rapid pace. More people than ever are choosing to reduce the amount of meat they eat in favor of plant-based options, which is great news for the planet and animals as well. If the stadiums that house Americas favorite pastime are getting on board with vegan food, we think that is a pretty clear indication that the future of food is here.

Lead image source: Bareburger/Instagram

The rest is here:

Buy Me Some Peanuts and Vegan Burgers? Yankee Stadium Now Offers Black Bean Burgers! - One Green Planet

Spas and salons across Long Island and nationwide are offering steep discounts on select treatments for Spa Weeka national initiative equating into seven days of amazing savings at participating businesses, including $50 treatmentsrunning from April 17 to 23.

In anticipation of this extraordinary beautification celebration, some of the Morey Publishing staff were assigned the very tough job of experiencing spa treatments so we could report back to readers what to expect.

Ali Magno enjoyed a rejuvenating facial at the Center for Pain Relief and Wellness in Babylon, Marisa Giannico received a soothing microdermabrasion facial at Blue Salon and Spa in Stony Brook, Danielle Esposito was treated to a luxurious hydrafacial at Buglino Plastic and Reconsructive Surgery in Woodbury, and Jaime Franchi was spoiled rotten at Fantastic Spa and Nails in Bethpage, with a facial, massage, VIP pedicure and body scrub.

Although the treatments all differed, they were all equally relaxing and enjoyable. If youre in the market for luxurious pampering, Spa Week offers discounted treatments so you can spoil yourself.

Go ahead. You deserve it!

Ali:

The Center for Pain Relief and Wellness is nestled in the heart of beautiful Babylon village. This Long Island spa offers an array of treatments from massage therapy to body and skin care treatments. I was lucky enough to receive their one-hour deep cleansing European facial, and wow, was it amazing!

I was greeted upon arrival with the relaxing sound of birds chirping, scent of lavender, and a wonderful receptionist, Carrie Ann. I filled out a form that asked various questions about my skin, what kind of skin I have (dry; is winter over yet?!) where my problem areas were, if I had any allergies, and more. After a very brief visit to a warm and comfy waiting area, Kim, my facialist, came out to greet me. She was welcoming, friendly, and immediately made me feel comfortable and relaxed.

Once in the treatment room, Kim asked a few more questions about my skin to ensure she gave me the best treatment for my particular skin type. (We even swapped our favorite DIY treatmentsshe advised that I use brown sugar and olive oil to treat my dry hands!) The room was equipped with spa essentials to help me relax: dim lights, relaxing music, and a comfy heated blanket to lie under.

After a long winter, this facial was everything my skin wanted (needed), and more. This treatment consisted of various steps, including steam, exfoliation, extraction, and brightening.

The amazing exfoliator Kim used removed the top layer of skin that had braved the cold weather, leaving me with a smooth-to-touch complexion. Kim massaged a mango papaya lotion (which smelled good enough to eat) into my face to brighten my skin and break up any dirt that was in my pores. She also used pumpkin papaya face mask which, on top of smelling like a tropical oasis, helped my skin soak up much-needed moisture. In addition to all of this, I was treated to amazing shoulder, head, and hand massages.

This experience was the epitome of relaxation. After my treatment, my skin felt fresh, clean, refreshed, bright, and incredibly soft and smooth for days afterwards. It was like months of harsh winter weather and stress were erased. I cant wait to go back to the Babylon Wellness Center and see Kim for another facial, something Ive promised to treat myself to every time the seasons change.

Danielle:

Tucked in to the winding industrial park roads of Woodburys Crossways Park Drive, Buglino Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is a much-welcomed oasis of spa treatments and cosmetic surgical procedures that will rejuvenate you from the inside out.

Headed by Dr. Anthony Buglino, this newly renovated location is clean and warm, with modern artwork, comfy furniture, and a pristine VIP room stocked with Keurig coffee and snacks.

The happy, welcoming receptionist greeted me and gave me a short questionnaire to fill out before getting my first Hydrafacial, MD treatment. Before long, I was whisked away by Dana Minkin, an esthetician, who gave me a tour of the spa and explained what every room was used for. Whether a patient is looking for a medical spa treatment, injections, or cosmetic surgery, Buglino Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery can accommodate them comfortably (and privately!).

Settled in to my leather reclining chair, Dana prepped my face for this one-two punch of a facial. Where other facials only do one thing or another, the hydrafacial is like the one-stop-shop of beauty treatments. This non-invasive procedure packs a scientific combination of hydradermabrasion, a chemical peel, extractions, and nourishing antioxidants into one quick session that leaves you glowing almost instantly. In just one session, your skin reaps tons of benefits, including: reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, increased elasticity and improved firmness, balanced skin tone and evenness, vibrancy, a smoother texture, a reduction of oil and congestion in the skin, minimization of enlarged pores and the diminishment of advanced signs of aging.

Once the hydrafacial began, I was in total relaxation mode, listening to the serene drumbeats on the speakers mixed with Danas soft step-by-step explanations of what she was doing. Not at all painful, the hydrafacial felt like an in-depth cleaning from beginning to end, like cool water massaged over my face. Finishing off with red and blue light therapy followed by a leave-on mask, I left the office, glowing.

If youre looking to hydrate and rejuvenate your skin, clean out your pores and reveal a fresher you, stop on by Buglino Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for their phenomenal hydrafacial. This is one spa treatment that youll be going back for, again and again!

Marisa:

When I walked into the Blue Salon & Spa in Stony Brook, I instantly knew I was going to enjoy my visit. The atmosphere was calming and the people were friendly. It was amazing how relaxed I felt before my appointment even started!

The receptionist Victoria couldnt have been nicer, greeting me with a big smile and a warm welcome. My esthetician, Billie, who was equally as welcoming, came over to introduce herself shortly after. I couldnt wait to get started.

Billie referred to the sheet I had filled out when I first arrivedin which I shared information, such as the different skin care products I use, and any allergies I may haveas she asked me questions to learn more about my skin.

Although Ive had several facials before, I had never experienced microdermabrasion. Having acne-prone skin, I cannot tell you the amount of time I have spent at my dermatologists office over the years, and all the different medications I have tried to get my acne under control. And not only must I deal with breakouts, but I also cannot escape the scars that serve as daily reminders of past breakouts whenever I look in the mirror.

As a result, I was curious to see if this treatment would help my skin look and feel betterand I was not disappointed.

Since Billie knew that I had never had this done before, she explained that the microdermabrasion would feel kind of like a cats tongue on my face, helping get rid of dead skin cells. This can fade the look of scars and age lines, as well as even out your skin tone.

Im not sure how long the microdermabrasion lasted, as I was way too relaxed to check the time. In fact, it was so relaxing that I almost fell asleep as I was lying there. From the comfortable bed I was in to the tranquil music in the background, I now know what being in heaven feels like!

Steam gently hit my skin as the facial began. This helped cleanse and hydrate, in order to ensure that it would be left looking brighter and feeling smoother afterwardswhich it did. Next, were the extractions, which are not my favorite part of the process, but I knew they had to be done. And Billie checked in with me throughout the entire session to ensure I was comfortable and relaxed.

My appointment finished with a hand and arm massage. I had the choice of a blueberry, cranberry or coconut scrub. (I chose blueberry!) My hands are always dry, so to say I appreciated this is an understatement. The scrub felt amazing on my skin and smelled fantastic!

Before I left, Billie was extremely informative and kind as she spoke to me about things I can do to keep my skin looking great. I felt as if I was talking to an old friend rather than someone I had just met.

Blue Salon and Spa is definitely a place to visit during Spa Week. The hospitality, accommodations, and services are like nothing youve ever experienced before. And your skin will surely thank you for giving it a much-needed day of pampering.

Jaime:

Fantastic Spa in Bellmore is nestled in a shopping center on Jerusalem Road. Once inside, half of the space is used as a bustling nail salon, while the other is a gorgeous day spa. Together, they become a rejuvenating, relaxing place to get luxuriously pampered.

Upon my arrival, Rachel, the manager, led me from the nail salon through the frosted glass doors to the private day spa, where the gentle sounds of flowing water and soft music greet each guest. The colors are subdued grays and browns, and automatically, I felt my shoulders relax. The friendly staff knows their stuff. Fantastic Spa has been thriving in two locations for more than 10 yearsand it shows.

Rachel introduced me to Sophia, who was going to give me a Swedish massage and deep-cleansing facial. As I later discovered, shes earned a well-deserved loyal following since she started a decade ago. I began by lying face-down on the heated table, covered with a light sheet. Sophias skilled hands took long sweeps down my entire body before working each muscle area with concentrated pressure to relieve all of my built-up tension with a sweet-smelling organic lotion. She spent long periods focusing on the crunchiness in my shoulders and neck, before soothing my lower back with her experienced hands. From there, she massaged my legs, ankles, and even my feet before she gently asked me to turn over. With my eyes closed, I drifted off as she massaged my shoulders and neck, then my arms and hands, working each finger and the pressure points in the palm of my hand.

I may have snored. If so, Sophia was kind enough not to mention it.

My facial was a 60-minute relax-fest, as Sophia deeply and methodically cleansed my skin. With a warm towel placed over my eyes, Sophia opened my pores with hot aromatic steam. She exfoliated my skin and carefully extracted any unwelcome blackheads that have made themselves known on my face. According to Rachel, the next step, which is so crucial, is often not included by less-professional salons. Sophia carefully covered my face in a rich anti-bacterial gel, meant to soothe the sites where blackheads have been extracted and protect against infection. With all my pores open and my face feeling so fresh and clean, my skin has no protection against irritants like dirt or make-up. The antibacterial gel is an important step, letting me know Im in the hands of real pros.

Next, Sophia covered my face with a mask customized to my skin type. As it set, I may have dozed off for a minute or more! When all was said and done, I felt refreshed, with a smooth, dewy complexion that my husband later praised the moment I walked in the door of our house.

But thats hours later. I wasnt done yet at Fantastic Spa.

After she worked her magic on me, Sophia introduced me to Chelsea, who served hot green tea and a snack of sliced apples and trail mix in the VIP pedicure room, a private area with only two reclining chairs and a lovely, peaceful decor in soft browns and golds with gentle music playing in the background.

Leah was on hand to treat me to the spas special pedicure, a deliciously chamomile-scented treatment that fills the room with a soothing aroma. This therapy helped me relax in my soft leather chair as Leah soothed my feet and legs with what seems like endless packets of different lotions. First, she soaked my aching feet in a chamomile bath, then rubbed my dry winter legs with a soothing scrub that sloughed away the dead skin cells. Next, Leah covered my legs with hot towels moistened with a chamomile mixture and filed my toenails.

Then, it was time for my favorite part of the experience. She lowered the lights, instructed me to relax, reclined my chair, and treated me to a 20-minute foot massage with an aromatic lotion. She coated my heels with a chamomile balm that made my winter feet almost unrecognizable. Finally, she painted my toes with a pretty blue polish that I cant wait to show off once the weather finally warms up and I can put my boots away!

Because I love everything they gave me, I plan to go back to Fantastic Spa for the fourth part of its special offer for Spa Week: its white sugar honey polish, a soothing treatment that exfoliates, nourishes and rejuvenates the entire body in a relaxing experience. Its the perfect way to wash away the dreary winter and step into spring. I cant wait!

Blue Salon and Spa

Buglino Plastic Surgery

Butterfly Garden Spa

Center For Pain Relief & Wellness

Deep Blue Med Spa at Long Island Plastic Surgical Group Babylon

Deep Blue Med Spa at Long Island Plastic Surgical Group East Hills

Deep Blue Med Spa at Long Island Plastic Surgical Group Garden City

Eastern Breeze Nail & Spa

EBJ Skin Care Center

Fantastic Spa Farmingdale

Fantastic Spa Bellmore

Joseph Christopher For Beauty & Wellness

Laser Plus Spa Bellmore

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa

nu glo medi-spa

NuZen Spa

O Spa

Orange Skye Body & Beauty Bar

Red Door Spa Bellmore

Red Door Spa Garden City

Red Door Spa Woodbury

Red Door Spa at The Garden City Hotel

Smooth Generation Skin Rejuvenation Spa

Somatic Massage Therapy

Spa LacQua

Viana Hotel & Spa

Vita Ageless Medical Aesthetics

Read the original here:

Spa Week Offers Soothing Savings April 17 to 23 Across Long Island & Nationwide - Long Island Press

Floor Staff is songwriter, producer and composer Anthony Donnelly - a Dublin-based artist (and fellow D'Angelo obsessive)who explores social anxieties and expectations through his innovative take on pop music.

Singing in a beautiful falsetto, Donnelly says he tracked down the emotions captured on the album by playing and recording random objects with engineer Christopher Barry.

He's putting out a new EP,Convictionson 14 April - ahead of that we're premiering the shimmering new track 'A Love Sublime'.

Give it a listen below:

What have you been listening to recently?

Ive been listening to Beach House almost non-stop for the last 2 weeks. Mainly Teen Dream and Bloom. Its just the most relaxing music. Everything builds so tastefully. On the surface its quite simple and comforting. Then the clever chord changes and rhythms sneak up on you.

Im listening to a lot of Frank Ocean at the moment also. Really enjoying the Endless visuals album, the way its mainly a group of short musical ideas but it also has what can be considered a full song dotted now and then throughout. Its interesting how that kind of structure can be a very engaging 45-minute listen.

What are your plans for 2017?

I have some new musical ideas and approaches Im looking to experiment with this year. I think Ill be more confortable introducing very new or unrecorded ideas into the live shows. I can learn from the way it feels in a live setting and it should keep the shows fresh and interesting for my band and myself.

Ill be announcing some shows shortly for this summer and there will be some touring of Ireland and the UK. Writing wise Im still pushing forward and recording with another release hopefully before the year is out.

What was the first gig you ever played and whats been the best so far?

When I was 16 I fronted a band called Prime Stroking Position. We entered our schools battle of the bands. We took 2nd place at our first ever show. This was most likely down to our incredible rendition of ACDCs Highway To Hell. After this dizzying high the band dissolved but our lives would never be the same again.

With Floor Staff, my favorite solo show was probably a piano set I did in the Workmans Club Dublin for a charity called Syrias Vibes last Christmas. I had only started playing piano during the summer.

This was the fifth attempt at a show like this and the first time I felt I was really free to perform on that instrument rather then just playing it.

In terms of a full band show, my favorite so far is the 2014 Other Voices festival in Dingle. It was just a great atmosphere on stage and we met a lot of our favourite artists for the first time who were on the line up.

Convictions - the new EP from Floor Staff - is out on 14 April

Visit link:

New music to listen to this week: Floor Staff - The Independent