One of my favourite parts about being an author and CEO of a publishing company, is my ability to set up cool contests that are win-win… I get what I want and I get to give away stuff that other people want and need.

Being on tour as an author and publisher may seem glamorous; the travelling to exotic places (like Regina and Ottawa), tv appearances, radio spots, newspaper articles and book signings, and it really can be exciting and action packed! But it is also physically exhausting and a bit draining on even the most driven, sane person. Travelling alone, by plane and by car, is time consuming and can be boring if you don’t plan to occupy yourself accordingly. The traffic in places like Toronto is enough to break anyone (and when your car breaks down on the way to a television spot, it can really throw you for a loop…if you let it!). Early morning tv, late night book signings in heels for 4 hours, sleeping in a different hotel by yourself every night, mixed with the pressure of getting your pictures from the day up on your social media sites is a different kind of physical strain than a 9 to 5 job!

I knew that after 2 months of touring with ‘Be That Mom’, I would need a little relax and rejuvenation to recharge my soul,  so I planned an amazing spa day on the last leg of my tour in Vancouver. The spa I chose was Calixica Holistic Spa Boutique located on Robson Street in a very trendy area of downtown Vancouver.  There are a lot of spas to choose from in Vancouver, but Calixica really stood out as the one for me. Their focus on “embracing green practices” is a clear fit with my way of thinking. Founder of Calixica, Andrea Pierce, “only allows products into the spa that are safe for clients, colleagues and the environment.”  We need to take charge of our own health, and we have the ability to choose what we are exposed to!  I choose to go natural!

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While I was excited to hit the spa on my own, I am also the kind of person that likes to share the love and goodness… so I created a contest as a way to “earn” some company for my spa day. (Admittedly, I pay to make new friends sometimes…what’s wrong with that?) As women in North America, we are stressed to the max with stuff to do… groceries, meals, work, cleaning, laundry, friend and family maintenance, personal care, running kids to and from all of the activities that they NEED to do, and add time with your husband to that list — suddenly your personal recharge time becomes even more precious and even harder to get! That’s why I was so excited to reward a few lucky ladies with a day at the spa… gosh darn it,  they deserved it!

It was a beautiful rainy Sunday in Vancouver when my niece Brooke and I drove to the spa. Contrary to the snowy -20 degrees Celsius weather in my hometown of Calgary, Alberta, everything was still green and spring-like in Vancouver– even in November! Glorious!

Parking was easily found behind Calixica; a bonus considering it was downtown prime Vancouver real estate. Brooke and I walked leisurely past the Starbucks and found ourselves outside of our oasis, Calixica. We met up with my two contest winners, Nicky and Caroline, and then “The Fantastic Four” was ready for our day in the sun (or rain, or spa…).

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Inside, the spa was elegant and cosy, with 4 chairs set up in a circle with large bowls on the floor in front of each one. I could tell right away that this was not going to be a traditional spa experience. Greeted by Tia and Linda, we were served a delicious selection of breakfast pastries, warm, invigorating tea and celebratory Mimosas. We took our shoes and socks off and got settled in while Tia and Linda filled our bowls with pure, boiled water. Tia explained that our bowls were filled with pink Himalayan salts, river rocks, and rose, and that by soaking our feet in this blend, we could successfully transfer toxins out of our feet and into the water. Gravity combined with the flow of blood makes the feet an easy target for toxins to get stuck and the goal is to get those toxins out! Tia educated us on the healing properties of each item in our foot bowl. Rose, for example, levels out the energy in your feet, and it’s the salt that’s the real secret to removing toxins from your body. The browner your water turns by the end of the session, the more toxins you let go of, so it was a true dirty water contest!

Each of us in turn was treated to a mini-facial while our feet soaked. Warm water was consistently added to our bowls, and we always had fresh tea and snacks. While I knew I was hosting a girls spa day, I found myself getting increasingly quiet. There to enjoy some serious relax time, I found myself breathing more slowly and easily.  I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of someone taking care of me. I loved the facial and really did not want it to end. ~sigh~ It began with some aromatherapy where I selected the scent that I preferred (a perfect example of how your body intuitively knows what you need). I loved the smell and feel of the Benedetta products used for the facial and Linda truly knew where to touch me to induce healing in my body. A hot facecloth combined with a caring touch is all I need!

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We were then treated to manicures and this is where we learned all about the chemicals used in mainstream nail care products.   It it not okay to keep using stuff with chemicals just because you are not aware! We must take charge, ladies, and seek knowledge to keep ourselves and our families be as healthy as possible! I was introduced to an incredible line of water based nail care products called Aquarella, available at Calixica, that is non-toxic and quick drying (best of both world’s, I say!).  I will never put chemicals on my nails again and I will take it upon myself to educate my children about this too! This is important. We poison ourselves with beauty products that contain detrimental chemicals everyday, and the companies that make those products are NOT thinking about our health.  I loved the manicure, and found it especially interesting that Tia gave us each a “message” while she was working on our hands. Her connection to the Universe is clear and strong, and her messages were relevant and personal for each of us (a bonus you won’t find at your traditional spa). The Isun Rose Quartz Body Oil used for our hand massages is a must have in any woman’s purse and vanity; the smell will have people stopping you to ask what it is, and the way it feels is incredible!

Our final treatment was a fabulous foot treatment that included a delectable foot and leg rub. Not sure what it is, but when another person touches me with such devotion, care and attention, I can really feel them transferring their amazing energy and vibration to me. I always close my eyes and enjoy the moment, all the while praying that they will never stop. I love to be touched and rubbed, and my body always feels rejuvenated afterwards. My feet were overjoyed to have this kind of down time after the amount of book signings I had made them work through!

There were some really nasty looking brown bowls left behind when the girls and I left the spa… proof that we unloaded some of our unwanted toxins! We also left behind a lot of worry, stress and cares. We made time for us. We cared for and healed, our bodies. We nurtured each other, built friendships and broke bread together. The Universe was smiling on us all that day, and we were all creating a better future for ourselves, together.

At Calixica, you can recharge, heal and beautify yourself naturally. By putting the focus on the natural beauty that exists within each of us, and adding pure, natural elements to your routine, you can unveil your amazing true self.

I love the idea of nurturing ourselves holistically and focusing on sustaining and encouraging natural beauty, rather than disguising ourselves behind masks of products that may, in the end, actually destroy our beauty and health.

What a way to end a tour!  Thanks Calixica…you made my day, and helped me create a better future 🙂

Hugs and Sunshine,