The Word "Drama"

I started calling my son, "Drama," a few years ago, way before Johnny Drama from Entourage ever existed. The name came to me one night as I watched him drag his body across the floor in supposed agony when I asked him to brush his teeth before bed. "Let's go, Drama," I said. "No matter how much you complain those teeth are still getting brushed."

All this time later and he still gives it his best shot. My response these days? "Drama, have you ever known the theatrics to work on me?" Depending on how much rest and food he's gotten he either starts to laugh at himself or he lays on a little more umph to up his performance. Oy.

In any case, I've recently decided to retire the word "drama" entirely. I'm sick of everyone accusing everyone of being it. Sure, in perspective our problems as Americans are not really problems when compared to the issues faced by people around the globe. Still, the problems we face can feel really big. Yes, we usually get to face them on a full belly without a gun pointed to our head, but can't we own the fact that the simple balance of life as Americans can be challenging and tiring.

Last week on my birthday my uncle asked if I was excited to celebrate. Sure, I was excited, but I was more excited about a surprise party the following day for my aunt. I was even more excited about my cousin's wedding the day after that. Plus, I explained to him, in the two weeks prior, I'd graduated from school, had surgery to remove a melanoma from my leg, had taken my state boards and started a new job. "I just told my chiropractor how dramatic my family in Seattle is," he responded. Dramatic? Really? I understand that not one of the things I faced are anywhere near as bad as what a lot of others face on a daily basis, but they certainly seemed stressful and exhausting to me. Who is he, or anyone else, to judge?

As I meander through the spa each day I overhear bits and pieces of what different clients are going through and their strength and endurance amazes me. Life can be hard. Sure, we have to keep perspective of what's going on elsewhere in the world - insight into current affairs is crucial - but respect yourself enough to acknowledge, "Wow, that was tough and I'm pretty darn strong for getting through it," at some point. You aren't "drama" if you do, you're human.

Body Treatments

The Decadently Sugary & Swank Sugar Scrub
This treatment begins with a gentle exfoliation process that feels like the best back scratches you’ve ever had. Next a warm exfoliating sugar and essential oil scrub is poured over and rubbed into your body. Following a warm compress removal of this mixture you’ll be misted with a soothing and hydrating spray of essential oils.

Revitalize or Harmonize
Take a pick—either way you’ll enjoy be massaged from head to toe with lovely essential oils that naturally honor what your body is craving.

TriDoshic and Swank
According to Ayurvedic medicine, which dosha are you? Vata, Pitta or Kapha. The goal is to be a balance of all three. This body treatment combines all the goodies in Sugar & Swank’s arsenal into one signature body treatment in hopes of helping you find that balance so you emerge Tridoshic and Swank.

The Woo Woo Approach
All are great alone or added to other treatments.

Get Ohm’ed
Let the therapeutic sounds of acutonics release your pent up chi and deliver the Ohm.

Head First
Fall head first into skillful hands during this exquisite scalp and ear massage.

The Scent that Suits You
Experience the beneficial properties of aromatherapy while being massaged with essential oils combined just for you.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Are the ickies in your lymph a little stuck? Do they need a push? MLD helps get things draining properly.

Paraffin Hand Dip
Hydrate and relax your hands with this warming treatment.

Sugar & Swank Facials

No matter the facial you choose, it will be fully customized, just for you, based on your skincare needs and desires. In addition to a sugary foot soak sprinkled with flower petals, every facial includes cleansing, restoration of the skin’s pH, exfoliation, hydration and an extensive massage of the face, neck, & décolleté when applicable.

The biggest of your worries? Choosing between a complimentary hand or foot massage.

The Good Old Fashioned Facial
There’s nothing old fashioned about this good old fashioned facial – especially because it will make your skin look as good as new. Extractions, if necessary!

The Please Pop My Zits Facial
Oh, lovely acne! Whether it’s a lone surprise visitor or the houseguests that never leave, there are so many things that can be done to zap those zits away and scare them from returning again anytime soon.

The I Want to Look 10 Years Younger Facial
The facelift is a last resort! In the meantime, there are a lot of tricks that can help tighten and tone the skin while diminishing fine lines and wrinkles - tricks that don’t require any time off from work.

The Feed Your Face Facial
Let nature’s purest ingredients Feed Your Face. Fresh fruits and vegetables are utilized to cleanse, tone and hydrate the skin.

The Men's Facial
This facial forgos the frill and flower petals and simply gets down to the business of treating the skin.

The I’ve Got Your Back Facial
Forget the face! Is it your other side that needs a little love? Don’t worry. I’ve got your back. I’ll tenderly exfoliate, gently cleanse, soothingly steam and carefully extract the skin before rubbing you down.

The Nooner
Only have time for a quickie? Get all the goodies of your favorite facial , minus the steam. Great when combined with a body treatment or for when you just need a little somethin somethin.

Exfoliation Treatments:
Say bye bye to icky dead skin cells, annoying lines and wrinkles, spotty hyperpigmentation, glaring zits and rough, dry skin because the following treatments are now at your disposal.

Glycolic Peel - Helps exfoliate dead skin cells and fight pigmentation, acne, fine lines & wrinkles. Great for decollete, hands, feet, elbows and knees too.

Salicylic Peel - The super-strong acne fighter.

Microdermabrasion - Great in conjunction with Glycolic Peels to help exfoliate dead skin cells and fight pigmentation, acne, fine lines and wrinkles.

Enzyme Peel - Eats away all the dead cells but leaves all the good stuff in tact.

Like Anita

I came up for a breath and looked around, confused. I was sure I'd just heard someone say, "I should be dead."

In the lane next to me Anita, an elderly woman I see at the pool everyday, was talking to the lifeguard. "Good for you," he replied.

"Yes, swimming saved me."

I probably swim 6 laps to Anita's 1, but bless her, she's there. She moves her body in the water as well as she can, works to get her blood pumping and does her best to loosen her joints. Truth be told, I may swim faster than Anita, but I can completely relate to her because swimming has saved me, as well.

I come from a family of active people. My mom walks every morning and loves it, can't live without it, and goes through withdrawal if she doesn't fit it in. My brother gets on a treadmill and runs until his clothes literally (and disgustingly) drip with sweat. My dad's exercise is usually limited to the golf course, but he loves an excerise bike. Until recently, however, I did whatever I could to avoid raising my heart rate.

That all changed one Hawaiian day in July when my son, boyfriend and I decided to go snorkeling. It felt so good and natural to swim through the water in fins and I thought, "I should do this when I go home." So as soon as I returned I bought a pair of fins, some goggles and signed up to swim at the local pool.

It isn't the fanciest pool, but it is about a 3-minute drive from my house, I can usually get my own lane and the people who swim and work there are lovely.

When I first started going I was a little shy about protocol, but I soon felt like a regular. There's a lot of comradery, support and encouragement amongst the swimmers I see. Jim always has a wink and a smile for me when he swims by on his kickboard. John Michael, the lifeguard, will walk back and forth alongside me so we can chit chat. Frank relentlessly bores us with his nutritional advice.

I'm just so happy thought to have found an excercise that I look forward to and crave. It feels so good to push through the water and I've figured out what strokes are relaxing and what strokes really get my heartrate up. I used to go to my back doctor once a week but haven't been since I started swimming. And best of all, since swimming I have corrected a bothersome elevated triglyceride issue I've been fighting for awhile. Now my triglycerides are way below normal, my good cholesterol is higher than normal and my bad cholesterol is lower than normal. What does all that mean? Simply put, as my doctor said when he delivered the good news, "Your cholesterol is something most would be jealous of."

So yes, like Anita,swimming has saved me. And given my family's history of heart disease, without swimming I might soon be dead.

I never thought I'd fall in love with any form of exercise, but I feel so lucky that I tried swimming and liked it. If you're like me and dread the idea of suiting up for the gym, keep trying different ways to break a sweat. You might just find one you actually like and working hard at it might just increase your chances of living a really long time.

Down There!

I called my boyfriend's mom to let her know I was accepted to The Euro Institute. (See blog below!) She was excited for me and asked just exactly what I'd be learning.

"Facials, body wraps, waxing."

"Waxing?" she inquired. "Do you know what I heard? I heard that some women get waxed down there. You aren't going to be doing that are you?"

"You know what, I hadn't even thought about it, but I suppose I will be."

It was my friend Greg's first question, as well. "Brazilians?" he asked with hope. I don't get quite as excited about the idea, but maybe that's because I was married to a Brazilian for 5 years and any fascination with the country is now gone.

In any case, the bottom line is that yes, I will learn to wax "down there" but Brazilian training is an advanced course that I can only take after graduating. I'll also learn to wax other areas of the body, as well, so keep Sugar & Swank in mind when you are looking for a waxer . . . and a facialist. . . and a make-up artist.

The Euro Institute!

They say to do what you're passionate about and thus far, that's what Sugar & Swank has been about. But the business has been missing one key component about which I'm extremely passionate: The Spa.

When I drive into the Bellevue Galleria parking lot and inhale a refreshing whiff of calming aromatherapy oils accidentally emanating from the Gene Juarez spa I instantly relax - even if I'm just going to grab a bite to eat at The Tap House or hitting a movie at the theater upstairs. I relax because the smell is comforting. I relax because the smell means peace. I relax because I just absolutely love the spa.

Ask my son and he'll tell you that when all else fails, get Mommy a spa gift certificate. But not just any spa. I want a spa with unique treatments that nourish the skin and body. Treatments I can't get anywhere else such as the banana leaf facial I got at Esperanza's spa in Cabo. I want a spa that prides itself on customer service and actually delivers. I want a spa with luxurious decor that I can enjoy while snuggled in my fluffy robe. The thing is, I haven't yet found that perfect spa so I plan to train hard until I can open one on my own.

The first step is to study at the Euro Institute, Seattle's premiere Esthetician academy and I'm excited to announce that I was accepted to their program. I'll officially start there on November 26th and will need to complete 700 hours of intense training before graduating sometime in May or June.

No worries, Sugar & Swank will operate after 4 pm on weekdays and on the weekends so keep booking those appointments.

Please email me with any great spa experiences and suggestions you have so I can open the most fabulous spa in town!

Finally, Be Sugar & Swank and find your passion and go after your dreams!

An Epiphany!

I've been very commited these past few months to getting my body in order. I always want to weigh less, but as I've gotten older it has gone beyond that. I have begun to understand that thin or fat, the bottom line is being healthy. Not that I've given up the hope of being thin, but after fighting some days of not feeling so good, I appreciate the fact that feeling good is a lot better than looking good.

I currently have the most fantastic specialists fighting to support Team Jen's Body Watch.

Sally Reed - Hypnotherapist - 206/719-6660
Matthew Davies - Endocrinologist - 206/386/9522
Lisa Porad - Acupuncturist - 206/295/2166
Jennifer Adler - Nutritionist - 206/595/0376
Karen Coshow - Naturopath - 206/523/9000

I'm eating well, I'm on the right medications, I'm exercising. So when the weight doesn't come off and I appear to have more of a donut top rather than a muffin top when I wear jeans, it is hard not to get discouraged.

Lisa, the Acupuncturist, explained that some bodies just aren't meant to be thin and that no matter how many of the "right things" you do, your body might just balance out at a certain weight. I like that idea. It makes me feel less like I'm failing at this whole thing.

After swimming laps the other day I stopped by the grocery store to buy a steak to cook for lunch and the words of a stranger helped relieve me even more of my body burdens.

"That steak looks good," said the man in line in front of me.

"Yeah," I replied. "I'm hoping to borrow some of the cow's blood to boost my energy."

"Well, it looks as though you're taking good care of your body."

"I'm trying!" I told him.

"Good for you. You know, we are made in God's image so we have to appreciate, love and care for our body because it is divine."

While I am a spiritual and religious person, I do not generally share my religious thoughts and beliefs with strangers. What's more, I do not particularly like it when strangers share theirs with me. However, in this instance it was somehow soothing and made sense. I won't go into my version of God here in this blog, but suffice it to say that I do believe in a higher power that loves me, no matter how I look. And maybe my path in this life is to experience what it is like to live in a body like mine. What a nice perspective! Come on, things could be way worse!

By the way, I am excited to say that I received blood test results yesterday from Dr. Davies who reported the results "are something that others would be jealous of!" I was thrilled to see hard evidence that my efforts are paying off because big or small, I want to live a long, long time.

October 3rd Party Was So Much Fun!

The Sugar & Swank party held on October 3rd was so much fun! Guests sipped on cocktails and munched on a variety of treats such as fresh shrimp, homemade pulled chicken sandwiches, spanakopita. Favored by all were the delectable creme puffs!

Jennifer Worick, NY Times Bestselling Author, Allure Magazine Beauty Contributor and RealSelf.com Beauty Editor spoke about beauty and gathered many beauty confessionals from agreeable party-goers which will soon be viewable on the RealSelf.com website. To learn more about Ms. Worick visit her website at www.jenniferworick.com. Her lastest book, The Prairie Girls Guide to Life is now on sale and can be purchased on Amazon.

Darcey Pickard, owner of Starjuice Aromtherapy, discussed the benefits of aromatherapy and how helpful it can be for the body. To learn more about Starjuice visit the website. www.starjuiceonline.com.

Sugar & Swank demonstrated the Galvanic Spa, the at-home facelift and facial machine, and did several makeovers with the new Fall colors such as Toast, Eggplant and Bronze Shimmer. Visit the Sugar & Swank website for more information on the Galvanic Spa and to tips on how to improve the look of your make-up. www.besugarandswank.com.

Just a Trip to Costco

It was just a trip to Costco, but I couldn't find a thing to wear. Just a trip to Costco to pick up some basics, not even anything fancy like a grand piano or 25-piece set of Tupperware, yet I truly could not find a single thing in my closet to wear.

I didn't feel like pulling on my Fall of 07' go-to outfit of tunic, leggings and ballet slippers. My jeans felt snug. I tried on some sweatpants, but with what top? Grrr!

As my bed heaved with rejected options resting on top of other rejected options, my boyfriend, Jim, came in to chat. Just to chat.

"This has nothing to do with you," I barked, "But now is not a good time. I can't find anything to wear."

With a look of confusion, he started to back out of the room. "Are we going anywhere after Costco?" he dared to question.

"No." I responded.

"Then why . . . do you . . . does it matter what you wear?" he stammered.

His question annoyed me at first. Didn't he get it? But then I started to laugh at his response to my behavior. It wasn't that he didn't get it, he simply couldn't get it. Jim, like most men have it easy. Size "medium" always fits and always looks good. He just pulls on jeans, slips on a t'shirt and a slides into a pair of loafers or sneakers and off he goes.

He also couldn't get that it was exactly one week before I was to get a friendly monthly visit from Aunt Flo and that I never think anything looks good when she's on her way.

The thing is, it doesn't matter where you're going, we all want to look good and most importantly, feel good about ourselves when we get there. Not always easy. So when one of those, "I Don't Know What to Wear" days strikes, and it will, and most likely, without warning, Sugar & Swank suggests to:

- Nurture yourself
- Take the time you need to make the clothing (or hair, or make-up) choice that will make you feel best about yourself
- Try falling back on an old favorite you know always looks good
- Remember that you're probably wearing "Messed up Aunt Flo Wacked Out Hormone" goggles and that, in all reality, you look much better than you think.
- If all else fails, call Jennifer at a Sugar & Swank for a pep talk

Good Luck!

Special Website Related Offers!

SPECIAL OFFERS!

Book an appointment through the website and receive 15% off all

Sugar & Swank products (Exluding NuSkin as it is already offered at a discount)

Refer a friend to the website - If they book an appointment you will receive a free one-hour personal shopping trip or a free one-hour closet organization session

Offer Ends August 1st

Contact Sugar & Swank to Book an Appointment or to Order Products

Jennifer Muscatel
206-351-3213
jennifer@besugarandswank.com