A short trip is a great way to de-stress but it takes time, money and effort to plan a trip. A trip to a spa is quick and very affordable. Contrary to the general consensus, going to a spa is not a waste of money and time. In this day and age where stress looms every second, you certainly need a short break to get away.

Spa Nautica is a Spanish-themed boutique spa with a very soothing ambiance. Located in Los Angeles’ only AAA Five-Diamond waterfront hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, Spa Nautica is a metropolitan oasis with soothing sounds of the ocean, harbor views that create the perfect picturesque backdrop for a day of relaxation. Established just this Spring, Spa Nautica is a unique resort spa featuring exclusive and revitalizing treatments ranging from organic spa treatments, spa packages, salon services, body treatments, facials and massage services. Spa Nautica also offers customizable experiences for powerful results. Customize your experience in a refreshing eucalyptus steam room, sample Mediterranean figs while curled up in the tranquility lounge, stretch out and bask in the sun on a comfortable lounge chair by the pool. Being environmentally conscious, Spa Nautica utilizes quality organic and vegan products and treatments to renew your state of well being while promoting balance and harmony with nature. Spa Nautica offers 7,000 square feet of serenity featuring eight treatment rooms including one couple’s suite along with a full service manicure and pedicure salon.

The therapeutic benefits that clients enjoy are vast. From physical to emotional stress relief, alleviating muscle pain to relief for arthritis, de-stress, getting healthy, detoxify impurities in the body, improving blood circulation, feeling and looking younger, and managing blood pressure.

Spa Nautica offers several unique manicures and pedicures. The La Pedicura is a custom pedicure that is accompanied by a morning coffee, an Afternoon Spanish fig tea or an evening Spanish Fly Cocktail. The Athlete’s Choice Pedicure is ideal for those who are often on their feet, helping to alleviate symptoms of pain, aid in the relief of inflammation and strengthen muscles and joints, this pedicure delivers stress-relieving and detoxifying properties by way of a targeted massage performed with golf balls to increase circulation. A cooling treatment gel is then applied to appease tired legs and comforts swollen ankles. The Diamond Manicure or Pedicure exfoliates your hands and feets fully with a shimmering diamond dust mud, which is removed with the use of a magnetic device. This rich exfoliation is followed by a revitalizing massage to alleviate and re-energize tired muscles. This plush treatment leaves the skin purified and illuminated.

Spa Nautica also offers various facial treatments. Direct Affect Facial is an anti-aging facial called Carboxitherapy that produces an explosion of oxygen resulting in a visible revitalization of the skin. Magnetic Skin Therapy is an organic treatment that combines magnetic therapy and herbs to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the skin. The detoxifying skin repair treatment mask stimulates cell reproduction and leaves your skin feeling energized. Diamond Experience Cryo-Repairing Lifting Facial is a revolutionary anti-aging treatment offered exclusively at Spa Nautica. It reveals rejuvenated skin by means of an intensive mio-facial lifting massage and exclusive ingredients to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin for optimum regeneration. The “cold lifting” penetrates deeply in the skin to repair damaged DNA, bringing intense hydration and regeneration while brightening the skin to a revitalized and youthful appearance.

There are a variety of spa packages for you to choose from. The Express Experience consists of a Spa Nautica Custom Massage and a Direct Affect Facial, each lasting 30 minutes. The Athlete’s Experience consists of an Athlete’s Choice Massage and an Athlete’s Choice Pedicure, each of which lasts 60 minutes. The Magnetic Experience uses organic products for its Magnetic Ritual and Magnetic Skin Therapy that lasts for a total of 2 1/2 hours. The Diamond Experience includes a Diamond Experience Cyro-Repairing Lifting Facial for 90 minutes, a Diamond Manicure for 60 minutes, a Diamond Pedicure for 90 minutes as well as a 60 minutes lunch.

Spa Nautica recommends arriving 30 minutes prior to your service to unwind in the eucalyptus steam room, heated swimming pool and whirlpool or just relax in the lounge with a book or magazine.

Spa Nautica’s menu will fulfill each guest’s intention within a day’s visit. Whether you are a local resident or traveling for business or pleasure, rejuvenate and pamper yourself in the latest spa therapies at Spa Nautica that are designed to stimulate your senses and cleanse your mind, body and soul.
Plus if you’re a doggie owner Spa Nautica is offering a free doggie massage on May 18th, 2013 from 12PM-4PM so reserve your spot today by visiting the Spa Nautica website at www.spanautica.com

Reserve your spa appointment now at www.spanautica.com

Calling all Creative Chefs! This month, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, ENERGYbits® has partnered with Mac n’ Mo’s Morselicious vegan treats to bring you the healthiest, greenest cook off you’ve ever seen!

At California Life HD, we invite you to take part in a fun and creative contest hosted by ENERGYbits® and Mac n’ Mo’s Morselicious vegan treats. The winner recieves a goody bag prize pak that includes ENERGYbits® and ENERGYbits® swag! In addition to some great and green prizes, the winner will also have their recipe posted online by ENERGYbits®!

Interested in entering? All you need to do is simply submit a recipe and a photo of your delicious creation to the ENERGYbits® facebook page or send ENERGYbits® a quick tweet at their twitter handle @energybits. Your delicious treat can be baked, cooked, steamed or greened as long as you are using ENERGYbits®! Anything and everything counts as long as YOU whipped it up and used ENERGYbits®, so put those creative caps on and get to cookin’!

Check out California Life with Heather Dawson statewide on your local network, or online at Californialifehd.com, for more health and wellness stories.

Remember when your GREEN inside…you’re CLEAN inside!

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

California Life visited Spa Nautica for the Grand Opening reception and we’re treated to a preview of the spa services~ tours and Spanish themed cocktails. The spa features a full-service menu with seven treatment rooms, nail salon and outdoor treatments on The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey’s pool deck.

From exclusive and revitalizing body treatments to organic manicures with vegan nail polish, Spa Nautica offers customizable experiences with powerful results. Located in Los Angeles’ only AAA Five-Diamond waterfront hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, Spa Nautica is a metropolitan oasis with picture-perfect harbor views. Immerse yourself in the latest spa therapies that are designed to stimulate your senses and restore your mind, body and soul. Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway or just a day of relaxation, Spa Nautica invites you to transform yourself. Relax. Breathe. Release.

For more information, please visit www.SpaNautica.com

Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier is hosting the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Resource Fair (for ALL VETERANS) and Homeless Veterans Burial Service and Concert event on Sunday, March 24 (3888 Workman Mill Road, Whittier).

It’s free and open to the public. This year’s theme is “Bridging the gap: from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq.”

The Veterans Resource Fair begins at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. and is designed to provide information, support, and services to ALL Veterans in a single, convenient location. Businesses and non-profit organizations will provide services including individual and family counseling, education and training, employment assistance, financial matters, government programs, health care, legal and business matters, and housing, among others.

The musical concert and homeless veteran burial service will begin at 6:00 p.m. up the hill from the Resource Fair at SkyRose Chapel. We invite everyone to attend.

Together, we can honor our fellow Americans whose contributions to this great nation can never be repaid. The Rose Hills Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Resource Fair and Concert is sure to be an unforgettable tribute.

For more stories on the Best of California visit www.californialifehd.com

Children will be transitioning back into school mode with the start of classes, practices and after school activities. Bring on the extracurriculars; bring on the carpools! BubbleBum, the inflatable booster seat designed for on-the-go families, knows the importance of safety and travel. Below are the best safety tips for carpooling families and friends heading back into the school season.

Always buckle up. Parents are responsible for all passengers on board, including their carpooling guests. Be sure your guest riders are buckling up, and wearing their seat belts properly. For more information on seat belt safety, check out the Safe Kids website.
Make a schedule, make a plan. Whatever your carpooling needs, discuss your schedule upfront with all parents involved so their isn’t confusion who goes where, and who picks up who on each day. This can get tricky but if there is clear communication right away, parents will know what their responsibilities are and where each child needs to go. Having a printed schedule for the carpool is always a safe bet.
Equip all children with the proper seat. Before you pick up the first child for the carpool, be sure you and the other parents have prepared a schedule for each child and what he/she needs for a safety seat. If your traveling guest needs a booster seat, do you have a spare or is the family providing one for the trip? These plans should be worked out before the very first ride so everyone is ready to go on time!
Have all the “extras” on hand. Check in with each parent about safety and medical concerns their children have. Share with other parents your children’s needs as well. If you have a child on your carpooling schedule that has allergies, make sure you are carrying the proper medications and know how to use them in case of an emergency. It’s always best to be prepared for the worst case scenario!
Keep toys in the car. For travels that get a little long, having non-distracting toys in the backseat is not a bad idea to keep your kiddos inline and occupied for the drive. Puppets, handheld games, dolls and action figures are all safe bets for the car that won’t make a mess.
Have all parents’ contact information at your fingertips. Compile a list of people, addresses, phone numbers and backup phone numbers for each carpooling family. Keep the list in your vehicle so you can easily add an address to your GPS or dial a phone number. Also, make sure all contacts are in your cell in case you need to get a hold of someone fast.
Model safe behavior for the little ones. Backseat riders are tuning in on mom and dad during the travel, so make sure you are practicing safe behaviors while driving. Avoid texting and taking phone calls while driving and insert addresses in your GPS before you take off. Playing loud, fun music is entertaining for the kids, but don’t overdo it. Teaching children safe driving practices will only begin to prepare them for safe, smart driving when they reach their teenage years.

BubbleBum is the world’s first inflatable, portable booster seat making carpools and family travel easier than ever.
For carpooling families, parents can feel secure knowing their child is getting the proper booster seat he or she needs during all their travels! BubbleBum is the first inflatable and lightweight booster seat so after use children can easily deflate, roll up, and place it in its handy sack for easy transportation. Children may store BubbleBum in a backpack, locker, or trunk until the next car ride. The excellent design makes after school trips to a friend’s house or practice easier than ever!
BubbleBum retails at $39.99, sold online, www.bubblebum.us, and now available on Target.com and BabiesRUs.com. For more information on BubbleBum, visit them online: www.bubblebum.us. Follow them on Twitter, on Pinterest and “like” them on Facebook.

From the www.facesinwine.com website!

Faces in Wine: Monique Soltani Wine & Food Journalist to Judge at IWWC in November

October 6th, 2011

Lots of students struggle with Math. Now students are using the Ti Nspire navigator from Texas Instruments, for an interactive experience in the classroom. Students are connected with their teachers through this high-tech calculator. Via web, teachers can send problems, assignments, and tests, directly to students through the handheld device. Students love it: Welcome to the Nintendo generation. For more information, go to education.ti.com.

Magical Makeover Earns Disneyland Hotel 4 Diamond Award~ by Audra
Stafford for California Life!

For the first time in 25 years, the Disneyland Hotel has earned AAA's
coveted 4 Diamond Award!

The Disneyland Hotel is one of Anaheim's oldest hotels. When it first
opened in 1955, there were just 7 motels in Anaheim, and none catered
to families. Back then, the hotel had just over 100 rooms. Soon, there
will be more than a thousand rooms, along with two brand new dining
experiences, and a spectacular new pool!

The pool features two monorail-themed water slides, and pays homage to
the original Disneyland Hotel sign.

As part of the Disneyland Hotel's massive magical makeover, two new
over-the-top suites were also added--the Big Thunder Suite and the
Adventureland Suite (which comes complete with a grotto, that uses light
and sounds to simulate either a rain forest or an African savannah.)

When you factor in the existing Pirates of the Caribbean Suite, Fairy Tale
Suite and Mickey Mouse Penthouse, the Disneyland Hotel just might be the
happiest hotel at the happiest place on Earth!

During a recent press trip, I got a chance to check out all of these sweet
suites for myself!

Be sure to tune in to California Life this week for a sneak peek inside!

Enter the Inland Empire United Way organization: A non-profit organization that has more than just filled in the empty spaces that the government budget has left. In the Inland Empire, 1 out of 5 children live in poverty, 31% live with a single parent, and only 21% are considered fit. These are just some examples that families in need are facing. That’s where the Inland Empire United Way organization comes along; To help make ends meet, and assist with children in need.

For more information, please visit WWW.IEOW.ORG, or call (909)980-2857. Better yet, simply dial 2-1-1.

America has spoken–the dancer often described by the judges and choreographers as a “beast,” Melanie Moore, is the Season 8 champion of So You Think You Can Dance! She easily beat out the other three finalists, earning 47-percent of the Top Four vote.

I was in Hollywood to cover the season finale for California Life, and spoke to the final four and the judges on the red carpet!

Be sure to watch California Life  airing Statewide this week for a look at all the excitement from the big night!

http://youtu.be/Gfpmy1ChLd8