Throwback Thursday - River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC

Throwback Thursday to the Girls Weekend at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC.  

What is girl's weekend?  Every year a few girlfriends and I go on a girls weekend away instead of celebrating our birthdays with dinners and presents.  We save our money and treat ourselves to a weekend away from our regular daily life and instead take a much needed girls weekend away.

How do we choose our destinations?  It's never easy for the three of us to decide on a place.  It has to be during the weekend from Friday night to Sunday and close enough to return to Vancouver on Sunday.  It needs to have shopping, eating, drinking, spa-ing (luxuriating at the spa), or more drinking.

In 2016 we decided to go to the River Rock Casino in Richmond.  They had Trattoria (highly rated restaurant), the Buffet (which actually was our favorite), casino, Spa Utopia with hot tub and pool access, and shopping at Richmond Center.  It met all of our requirements for a girls weekend away.  

What was our least favorite part of this trip?  Well, I have to admit that I upgraded our room from two queen beds to a suite.  I thought the idea of a suite would be great!  Of course even though no one was smart enough to tell me that this was a bad idea and we should change our room, instead the other girls banned me from ever being in charge of the hotel room for the girls weekend because I would get enough bed.  At least this is one trip we will remember.

What was our favorite part of this trip?  Spa Utopia and the male Registered Massage Therapists who were excellent and after the treatment I had wished that I chose the longer one.  45 minutes was too short.  And The Buffet at the River Rock Casino.  Our timing was perfect so we didn't have to wait long for dinner and were so impressed we returned the next day for the breakfast buffet.  

Take a look at our suite in the Vancity Girlfriends video and you can decide if this is enough space for three?

Our 2017 Girls Weekend away will be in Kelowna, BC coming up in October!  Subscribe to Vancity Girlfriends on YouTube to see what we do in Kelowna.  

Travel Tuesday - Whistler Weekend and Spa Scandinave

This year we Vancity Girlfriends decided to have the Girl's Weekend Getaway in Whistler, BC.  Our hotel of choice was Pinnacle Hotel in Whistler because it had a kitchenette with a stove, fridge, microwave, and dishwater for our bottles of wine and tapas dinner.  Having a kitchen is a fabulous way to save money and cook at home.  

Pinnacle Hotel also has a jacuzzi tub which we did not use (except for storage) but if you wanted to return for a romantic weekend away, it is all ready for you.  It was the perfect affordable Whistler home for a girl's getaway.  We arrived on Friday night and tried to open a bottle of wine which was corked and were not successful even after efforts of attempting a YouTube experiment with a shoe and wall.  Perhaps we were not British enough to pull off that YouTube trick of opening a bottle of wine without a working corkscrew.  Alas, luckily we brought several bottles of wine and gave up.  We started with an easy individual sparkling wine bottles instead.  

The next day we slept in, had breakfast, and walked around the village before we got ready to take a taxi to the Spa Scandinave.  This is a real time saver and super cheap because from our hotel to the spa it is only ten minutes.  We could relax and treated ourselves.  Spa Scandinave is amazing.  There are hot pools, cold pools, saunas, relaxation areas and then you do it all again.  We went in the afternoon and it was really hot so definitely remember to hydrate and drink lots of water.  Once you enter the spa there is no re-entry so be ready to take it easy and relax.  Spa Scandinave is a silent spa so there is no talking allowed.  Since I'm an introvert this was my dream place.  I would definitely return but go back on a  summer evening when it is not so hot.  




Upon returning to the hotel after hours of afternoon relaxation, we put together our own tapas plate of crackers, cheese, grapes, prosciutto, and pepperoni.  This paired well with a bottle of white Greek wine.  

I love these Girlfriend Getaways that we do every year.  Whistler is a beautiful resort and I love it more and more every time I go.  

Vancouver Spa: Bloom Essentials Picasso Pedicure Party

Dear Vancity Girlfriends,

In June at the beginning of summer, Vancity Girlfriends Carolyn & I went to Bloom Essentials for their  Picasso Pedicure and I absolutely loved it.  My toes were painted pretty and they lasted for 4-6 weeks.  It was perfect for the wedding that I attended in London in July and the Picasso Pedicure lasted which was the most important part for me.


I was happily surprised when my work decided to treat the team there after our busiest time of the year was over.  A Bloom Essentials pedicure party was our incentive for meeting our targets.  Boy, did I work hard to try to achieve it.  When September came and it was the beginning of Fall, it was announced that we would be rewarded with a pedicure party.  I was thrilled.

We were the only ones in the spa for our private pedicure party.  Everyone chose to have Picasso Pedicures and we took over the spa for the few hours that we were there.  Since there were 8 of us they had prepared two rooms (each room fit two girlfriends for their pedicures).  The others waited in the comfortable lobby and chatted until the first four were done and then we traded.  

Bloom Essentials is a small, comfortable spa where I felt at home.  I freely went to the different rooms to check out the pedicures of my collegues and chatted with everyone.  Someone brought cookies and sparkling drinks to spruce up the occasion.  I loved it!  

Before I discovered Bloom Essentials, I would get a pedicure once a year, in the massage chairs at Metrotown where the Vietnamese girls would attack your feet and calluses without fear.  I never knew there was anything different, until I went to Bloom Essentials.  They are so gentle with the pedicure that you can truly relax and enjoy catching up with your girlfriend. 

I was really lucky because after the pedicure party, I saw a Groupon for Bloom Essentials for the Picasso Pedicure which is normally $65, but with the Groupon it was at a discount for $49 including a nail file.  I never imagined before that I was the type of woman to have pedicures regularly but after discovering Bloom Essentials and this money saving Groupon, I know that I will be back at the beginning of each season to indulge in the Picasso Pedicure once again.     

Tips for your Bloom Essentials Pedicure Party.  (1)  Book early  (2) Have an even number of guests - each room has space for two  (3) Bring drinks and goodies for everyone

Website:  Bloom Essentials

SoColours

Before the Picasso Pedicure

After the Picasso Pedicure

Subscription Boxes - Fortune Cookie Soap Box (Summer Edition)

Hi Vancity Girlfriends,

We are BACK this SUMMER with our VLOG!  It has been awhile but we waited for you before we opened up the Fortune Cookie Soap Box (Summer Edition) with the theme of CANDY AISLE!

Fortune Cookie Soap Box is a quarterly subscription box which is nice so you are no overwhelmed with goodies.  Instead you can wait and anticipate to open up the next box.  

CANDY AISLE was the Summer theme and it has a fortune cookie that tasted like peppermint and dark chocolate (oops!  dont' eat your soap).  But that's how good it smelled.  So good that I wanted to taste it.  Also included were samples of whipped butter cream, sparkle mist, hand santizer, lip sugar, face scrub, and a body scrub bar.  Confetti paper and a couple of candies to top it all off.  Now that's real candy that you can eat.  The small box is packed with goodies!  Watch the Fortune Cookie Soap Box (Candy Aisle) vlog to see it all! 

Fortune Cookie Soap Quarterly Subscription Box is $28 for the Canada Soap Box and $19.99 for the US Soap Box.    

Vancouver Spa - Bloom Essentials Picasso Pedicure for Two

 Hi Vancity Girlfriends,

Carolyn entering Bloom Essentials

I love to escape to the spa to take a break from the busy, stressful city life and to relax at the spa.  Now that's a treat to do with your Vancity Girlfriends.  Now I've been to spas for massages, facials, but Vancity Girlfriend Carolyn wanted a pedicure!  Initially I found a Groupon for a spa but as most groupons go, you have to plan ahead, otherwise it is very difficult to find a time to get two appointments at the same time.  I had a time crunch since I wanted my pedicure before my two week European vacation began.  

So I decided to go find out where the "Best Spa in Vancouver" was that specialized in pedicures.  Bloom Essentials was came up on Yelp so I explored their website to find their "Sole Mate Survivor for 2" with a Picasso Pedicure.  I called and booked our appointments with ease.  

Bloom Essentials Waiting Area

Bloom Essentials is in Kitsilano on 1st street near the Burrard Street bridge.  It is on the ground floor, basement level of a character style building across from Sukis and Ron Zalko.  When I first stepped into the small spa, it is like a cute boutique.  The front space is well lit and there is a comfortable waiting area that looks like it could be your cozy living room.  

I imagined that for pedicures we would be in chairs sitting next to each other, but at Bloom Essentials, you get to have you pedicures in bed propped up with comfortable pillows.  Cozy girlfriend chat time!  Such a creative and comfortable way to have a pedicure.  

They also had Picasso art on swatches so you can choose easily.  They had one for nail colours as well so as your feet are being pampered you can review the colours at your leisure before it's time to choose

My pedicure was picture perfect!  I loved the Picasso artwork and I can't stop looking at my pretty toes.  It was so gentle and professional.  I am happy that I splurged for Vancity Girlfriends Picasso Pedicure.  

BEFORE my Picasso Pedicure

  

AFTER my Bloom Essential Picasso Pedicure

Close Up of Bloom Essential Picasso Pedicure

Update as of February 2016 - Bloom Essentials has permanently closed for business.  If you have bought a Groupon, please contact them for credit.

Vancouver Spa: Miraj Hamman Spa

Relax.  Revive.  Rejuvenate.

I've always struggled to find the balance in life with work and play.  But when work overwhelms, then it's time to take a break.  I've realized the value of spa days as my mental break and oasis.  As a working professional, we ALL deserve our spa days.  

I heard about Miraj Hamman Spa as a rejuvenating spa that is worth every penny.  Now I'm a little bit of a coupon fanatic so when I found out the name and realized that the normal price was a bit too expensive for my liking, I did my regular search for a coupon.  Lucky me!  Perfect timing!

Travelzoo had just released the Miraj Hamman Spa coupon deal so I grabbed one so I could experience the Middle Eastern Oasis.  After my treatment at Miraj I understood why the Miraj Hamman Spa coupon sold out so quickly!

I walked into the spa with a small entrance and was kindly greeted and asked to take off my shoes and put on the spa sandals.  Now these are nothing fancy.  They are large brown sandals.  Then a woman wearing a sarong and a bit steamy asked me to follow her to the change room.  No one else was there.  And there was a door that led to the steam room.  I was given a locker to put my things in and a sarong to wear.  I stripped down and put on the sarong.  

Then I walked into the marble covered steam room which was foggy with steam.  I could barely see and my skin was immediately dew wet and the eucalyptus oils drifting among the steam.  I was the only one in the steam room.  The high temperature steam was amazingly refreshing.  I have been to steam rooms but not ones that were so hot that you need to have a cool silver pitcher of cold water to keep you cool.  Rejuvenate like never before.  

After the steam I lay down my sarong and then lay down on the marble slab.  My skin was rejuvenated from the steam lifting out the toxins is my guess.  Then it was time for the 'gommage' part of the experience which is a moroccan soaping and exfoliation of you skin all over your body.  This is an intimate treatment but the end result is super soft skin and a reviving experience.  

After that you put on a robe and wait for the masseuse for the body massage, facial part.  Relaxation.

Post massage I was brought to a lounge with tea and snacks and ample time for me to read magazines, or lounge, or do nothing.  My entire experience was private.  A perfect spa for one!  

Overall the "hamman" steam and "gommage" were the memorable experiences at Miraj Hamman Spa and I would return to have the opportunity to rejuvenate, revive, and relax.