CrysGarris*

Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts

Miami 2020

At the beginning of what we now know as the Covid 19 pandemic, things in the world started to change rapidly and my anxiety took a turn for the worse. I decided that I needed an escape and booked myself a flight to Miami, Florida.

Dress: Boohoo, Shoes: Louboutin Fossiliza

I stayed at the W downtown because I was only going for a quick overnight trip. The location is close to restaurants, museums and anything else I’d need. That includes the Icon Brickell Spa: the most gorgeous spa I’ve had the pleasure of laying my eyes on so far. It was absolutely fantastic!

I was pretty tired after flying from New York and checking in to the hotel, so I decided to have a quick dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Addikt. The view was gorgeous, the air was warm but breezy, the music was bumping and the food was delicious! I made a new friend from the UK and we had a really good time. They invited me to hang out, but I was so tired I just went to bed; I had an early spa day planned anyway.

You know you’re having a great time if you go to the gym on a quick getaway. I woke up so refreshed and energized but I was too early for the spa. The gym was right next to the spa and had a gorgeous view so I figured it can’t hurt. (I should’ve been consistent in the gym years ago but, whatever.)

When I finished, I went back to my room, showered, drank a post-workout smoothie and went on my fabulous way to be pampered.

Bikini: Ebay

What. A. BEAUTY!!!! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had seen photos before, they don’t do this place justice. The ambiance was so calming as soon as I walked in the door, and once I went in the locker room, forget it. I cancelled all other plans and spent my day relaxing around in the sauna, and exploring various temperature pools and jacuzzis. I was the only person in there for a while but even when other people came, I still felt (and had a photo shoot) like I was there alone; It was THAT peaceful. The attendants were very helpful and kind, Jessica even helped me get some bomb pictures!

Before I knew it, it was time to go catch my flight back home, I thought of extending my stay but previous commitments prevented me from doing so.

It was a super short trip but as I always say, everything happens for a reason. A few hours after I landed in NYC, the country was shutting down and flights canceled. As beautiful as Miami is, I wouldn’t have wanted to be stuck there.

I can’t wait to go back and I can absolutely see myself being a regular at this hotel. Shoutout to the W! Everything a classy and fabulous woman like myself can ask for.

Outfit: Mall Boutique, Sunnies: Tom Ford

Til next time. xo,

Nike Air Society - A Night of Inspiration

Nike Air Society is NikeWomen's network in New York, LA, Chicago and more recently Toronto. It's created and lead by powerful women to empower, connect and inspire creative-minded women through curated experiences and workshops.

The event I attended was "A Night of Inspiration," which was an evening of creativity and conversation. During the event, there was a panel of speakers, a group meditation, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and so much more.

Attendees had opportunities to get skincare tips and goodies from Dr. Jart, press flowers with FloraBrook NY, create fragrances with Maha Rose NYC and choose our mantra with a keychain from Ok Real. We also got adorable backpacks from Baggu that had acrylic frames for our Polaroids.

I'm looking forward to more Nike Air Society events, in NYC or other cities. For more information check out their website.

xo.

Asanda Spa Lounge: Delta Sky Club JFK

Asanda Spa opened a new location at the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 4 of JFK airport.

If travelers have access to the club, they'll have a chance to enjoy the Asanda/Stay Well experience. Passengers can relax, enjoy and restore with massages, facials or one of the mind body services to create a wellness refuge from the stresses that travel bring.

In the spa lounge, you can rejuvenate with a Nap26 power nap, listen to a guided meditation by Deepak Chopra or admire Louie Schwartzberg's moving art. Recline and enjoy the lounge's aromatherapy and enhanced air quality, and so much more.

I tried Deepak Chopra's Dream Weaver Light, Sound and Mind machine and it was AMAZING! I honestly thought I was flying through clouds. Using a combination of LED lights and sounds, you're sent on the journey of your choice and feel similar to how you would in a meditative state. Talk about B-L-I-S-S.

I meditate regularly and have never felt an experience like that one. Luckily, the Deepak Chopra experience is available for purchase at the Asanda Spa so you can take it with you and have them regularly on your own.

The spa uses and sells products from Italy-based brand Davines, including their Comfort Zone skin care line. I quickly fell in love with their OI line and purchased a hand cream, but I also took samples of some of the Comfort Zone hydrating products.

This spa is just a taste of what Asanda Spa has to offer, as they have two more Delta Sky Club locations: one in Seattle and an upcoming in Atlanta. They also have two stand alone locations in Manhattan that have more services and the full Davines product line, I can't wait to check those out!

I recommend The Asanda Spa Lounge at the Delta Sky Club in JFK to anyone who gets the opportunity to try it. Increased energy, improved productivity and reduced stress help optimize your well-being and travel experience and that's something we can all appreciate.

Stay Positive

We all go through obstacles, whether we're vocal about them or not. Learn to look for the silver lining & stay positive.

Here's how if you need help:

1. Accountability. This is YOUR life. You chose (to accept) whatever happened in the past. More importantly, even if your past situation was out of your immediate control, you have the power to control your future and your mindset.

2. Solutions >>> Complaints. I'm an ex spoiled brat so I know all about this game. Eventually I had to realize, complaining just wastes time and that's the only thing in life you can't get back or count how much more you'll get. Treasure your time and focus on finding a solution!!!

3. Keep an attitude of gratitude, even for the smallest of things (fingers, feet, food, LIFE, etc forget material!! ). Remember, life could always be much worse, even on the hell days.

xo.

Eden Day Spa

I visited the Eden Day Spa in Lower Manhattan with my friend to celebrate her birthday. Although it's not the biggest place, the atmosphere was beautiful, relaxing and everything we needed to rejuvenate.

We chose the 60 minute massages since they were running a special for the week and definitely got our money's worth. In addition to the snacks, there was a complimentary lunch provided. I chose the pasta with shrimp, chicken and mushrooms and it was delicious.

After the massages and lunch, we were exhausted so we steamed in the sauna for a few minutes then left. I would recommend this spa if you're in NYC on a budget. I'll know I'll definitely be back to see Sam for another amazing massage.

xo.

Peter Thomas Roth: Meet Your Mask

Peter Thomas Roth is one of the best and most popular skincare lines out right now. What attracted me most to the brand is that the majority of the products I had seen claimed to give extra moisture and with dry skin, that's something I look for first.

As with most things amazing, Peter Thomas Roth's line can be pretty pricey. That's why I was so excited when I saw they came out with the "meet your mask" kit. For $25, you get a sample of 6 masks: blue marine algae, rose stem-cell gel, 24k gold, irish moor mud, cucumber gel and pumpkin enzyme.

Although the bottles were small, I was surprised to see each sample makes about 3-4 masks. That's great because you can see how your skin reacts to the samples and then choose which ones to stick with and splurge on. I'm personally having a hard time choosing because I love how soft and bright my skin feels after the gels.

(Tip: Put the gels in the fridge for an extra cooling sensation)

I absolutely recommend the meet your mask kit if you're looking for new masks to try and with that price, it's WELL worth it.

xo.

What's Your Love Language?

The weather outside is frightful..

Okay maybe not yet but it's getting there which all means it's "cuffing" season. Now, whether you have a new boo or you're still riding out with the same one, know that one of the most important things in a relationship is communication.

That's why knowing your and your partner's love language is essential. Knowing how your partner gives and receives love will make a world of a difference and is a highly recommended for a harmonious relationship.

Here's a quiz you can take to find out your love language. I originally did one from Gary Chapman's "The 5 Love Languages" book, but I posted the website's PDF versions for singles and couples below. There are actually more tests for other languages as well; including apology, appreciation and anger assessment. Save the quiz for later, print and/or share.

Singles | Couples
5lovelanguages.com

Bath Bombs

Okay, I think I'm addicted to bath bombs. If you don't know, bath bombs or fizzies are hard-packed mixtures of essential oils combined with other varying ingredients, from glitter to pop-rocks, to make your normal bath an experience.

"Dragon's Egg" - Lush Cosmetics

I usually get my bombs from Lush Cosmetics but, in an effort to support small businesses, I ordered a few from AustinApothecary on Etsy. I mix my bombs with my favorite Neutrogena Rainbath shower/bath gel and body oil.

The majority of my bombs have 24K gold mica powder, so on top of the great fragrances and soft skin, I can walk around sparkling like the golden goddess I am.

I was even sent a small "Golden Sun" bomb as a bonus. So far, I'm in love with this brand.

As temperatures continue to rapidly drop in NYC, I'm sure I'll be purchasing more and more so I'll be sure to give an update with my favorites. The holidays are coming and these make amazing little gifts. Stay tuned.

xo.

Crystals & Stones

l to r: opalite, green aventurine, moonstone, pink rhodonite, citrine | Venice, Italy

For those unfamiliar, crystals and (gem)stones are from the earth and they are here to help you. Since this is an overview, I won't get too in depth, because it gets DEEP, but they can be used for a wide variety of reasons from personal healing, growth, guidance, protection, manifestation and even the transference of information (another day, another post but inquiring minds can look up Lemurian crystals).

Namaste Bookstore | Union Square, NYC

The most prominent use for me is balancing my chakras, or the energy vortices of the body. I find that my thoughts and words manifest, and that my intuition guides me better than any outside force. Everyone is different so the stones may work better for you and life is unpredictable, so you never know what you'll need.

Selenite Wand

For those just starting out, the amount of stones and their uses can be overwhelming. Think about what you personally need or want in your life right now to get an idea where to start. If you like, you can take a chakra quiz and find out where you are imbalanced. If you just want to start using crystals, clear quartz is a great essential stone and the easiest to work with. It's a high vibrational crystal that helps to balance all chakras, although highly resonating with the crown.

Crystals and stones at a flea market | Pisa, Italy

How you use the stones vary as well but mainly depend on your reason for working with that particular stone in the first place. I was wearing/using crystals before I knew what I was doing. My mom got me a wrapped green aventurine in elementary school and a wrapped pink rhodonite in high school to wear. Both of those are for the heart chakra and help with focus & self confidence.

Wearing green aventurine at my elementary graduation

I started a collection but some of them were "misplaced" from under my pillow* in Barcelona. However, it's said that when you no longer need your stones they may leave you for someone that does. I'm starting to believe it's true because I lost my replacement citrine right after I got it. People misplace them for period of time and they seem to magically reappear, if necessary.

Here's a gemstone guidebook that I usually give to people when they contact me for information. It's great for beginners. I'll be posting about more about chakras, crystals and stones later but feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

xo,

Crys.

*I told you, it gets deep. Sleeping with stones are a great way to work with them, as with everything else, depending on which stone and it's uses.

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