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Secret Santa and Host Gift Ideas

Today on Star 102.5, Ken, Colleen, and Kurt talked about the stress of being a Secret Santa. I think the same can be said of host gifts when you’re invited to a dinner party or gathering and instructed to “Just bring yourself!” Here are a few simple ideas that could work for both!

Spices from East Village Shops

My current favorite gifting spice is the Ammazza Suocera spicy Italian seasoning from Allspice (also available at Cooking with Alessandra.) This translates to “Kill the Mother in Law” so you may want to select something like the Everything Bagel seasoning or a pumpkin pie spice if you’re visiting a future or current mother-in-law.

Hydrating hand creams

Farmhouse Fresh Ginger Lotion from East VIllage Spa

A hydrating hand cream from Farmhouse Fresh, available at East Village Spa, is a great gift for anyone who’s preparing a big meal and cleaning for company. Bonus points for animal lovers. Farmhouse Fresh donates a portion of their proceeds to animal rescue and is situated on a farm animal rescue sanctuary!

Cute dish towels and recipe cards

Stop into one of our favorite gift shops in the East Village, Ephemera, for cute and locally crafted dish towels and recipe cards. These are great secret Santa gifts for the co-worker who is always bringing treats, and a perfect host gift when you’re told not to bring anything to share!

Room mists for a great cause

Thistle Farms Room Mist East Village Spa

Thistle Farms aromatherapy room mists in limited edition holiday scents are a perfect gift for a host or Secret Santa. Thistle Farms supports women survivors of trafficking, abuse, and addiction. These women craft their beautiful products and the proceeds from their products goes back into the helping with the amazing work Thistle Farms does. Available along with many other Thistle Farms products at East Village Spa.

At home foot treatment

The Farmhouse Fresh Pedi Delight set is a great gift option, with a foot or body scrub, lotion, and our top selling Hydrating Honey hand, foot, or body mask. This is great for a secret Santa and can be divided up over multiple days OR as a host gift for someone who has been on their feet preparing for guests! Available at East Village Spa

Need something in a pinch? Try an online gift card!

Did you forget a last minute gift? We’ve got you covered! East Village Spa offers online gift cards in any denomination that you can print and hand-deliver from your office! Purchase yours here!

Meet our Neighbors: Fleet Feet

This week, a new running store moved into the East Village right across from the spa building on East 6th. Fleet Feet specializes in running gear for athletes of all fitness levels and is a great place for beginning runners as they’ll work to outfit you in the right gear, from shoes that are best for your needs to staff trained in recommending the best sports bra type AND size (and I agree with the woman helping me out in the store when she said that for many women, a properly fitting sports bra is just as important as the right running shoes!)

The store doesn’t have a huge foot print (pun intended!) but fills their space with a good assortment of shoes, apparel (mostly Nike apparel), nutrition (including my favorite triathlon fuel, Stinger waffles, chews, and Jelly Belly Sports Beans), accessories (iphone arm bands, belts, water bottles, and such), and self care tools.

If you are new to running or walking, are looking for some cool new accessories to motivate you to go farther in your workouts, or are experiencing some pain, especially in your feet and lower body, definitely stop by their store, our employees are thrilled with the selection and we know you will be too!

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Fun ways to spend Valentine’s Day that are not couple’s massages

We love seeing couple’s for Valentine’s Day, but our schedule fills up fast (we can only do about 8-10 couple’s massages on Valentine’s Day and about 8 on the 15th so understandably, those spots go fast!) We do keep a waiting list for these openings so feel free to call us to add your name to the list!

We do encourage you to think outside the couple’s massage room this Valentine’s Day! First, a gift card to the spa is a good gift your sweetheart can enjoy anytime. You can get a gift card in the spa and we’ll gift wrap it with organic chocolates.

Now that you have your gift card in hand, I’ve got some great ideas of how you can present your spa gift card to your sweetheart!

1. Jasper Winery’s Wine, Beer, and Cupcakes Flight on Saturday February 15th: Can you get any better than wine, beer, and sweet treats all in one gorgeous location? Click here for event details. You can also call Jasper Winery for more information on scheduling a chocolate and wine or cheese and wine pairing. Sit in front of their crackling fireplace and present your sweetie with their spa gift card while you sip delicious locally crafted drinks.

2. Dinner at HOQ on February 14th: One of our favorite East Village Neighbors, HOQ Restaurant features farm fresh local meat and produce. They are great for meat eaters, vegetarians, and people with gluten sensitivities. Check out their Valentine’s Day menu here and call ahead for reservations!

3. Laugh with your love at Comedy Xperiment’s Valentine’s Day Show at the Stoner Theater. Tickets are just $10! Click here for info.

4. Make reservations for the “Not Valentine’s” 6 course dinner at Tacopocalypse. There are great options for vegan and vegetarians on their prix fixe menu too! Advanced tickets required, purchase yours here.

5. Catch a movie at Fleur Cinema, then take your movie stubs across the parking lot to Mezzodi’s for 2 for one drinks or appetizers! Surprise your date with a spa gift card while you dish about the movie you just saw!

6. Enjoy sophisticated dining at BOS at the Renaissance Savory hotel or a cocktail at CODA lounge. Click here for the valentine’s menu.

We hope this inspires some Valentine’s Day creativity and we look forward to helping you pick the perfect gift to go along with your fun Valentine’s Weekend plans!

Hoq’s Hot Toddy

Our neighbors at Hoq restaurant (on East 5th and Walnut, close to our old location) have an amazing Hot Toddy featuring Iowa Prairiefire Whiskey, Iowa honey and cider, and lots of throat soothing spices like ginger. I sipped this drink with my husband to warm up on New Year’s Eve and was glad to see it featured in Juice! Click here for the article and to learn how to get ideas on how to craft your own hot toddy to warm up or soothe a scratchy throat.

Meet our Neighbors: Gigi’s Pilates Studio

The spa clients who have known me over the 7 years I’ve owned my own massage practice/the spa know I have struggled with weight and while I LOVE working out now, it took a long time to get to that point. One of the best workouts I’ve found for toning has been pilates. I started seeing Lisa Lewis at Gigi’s Pilates over 2 years ago after several of my clients recommended her.

When we moved our spa to the new space, I had the brilliant idea to suggest that Gigi’s Pilates Studio look at the empty space next door and VOILA! Perfect neighbors (and my trainer can keep an eye on me!)

Many of our clients who walk by their studio often ask if those are “torture machines” but I assure you, while some days it might feel like it, the pilates machines, when used under the watchful eye of one of their great trainers, are amazing. Gigi, Lisa, and the rest of the team are great resources if you are experiencing pain or looking for a new toning workout. Many of our clients have really enjoyed working with them and have coordinated their sessions at the studio with their spa appointments. If you would like more information about Gigi’s Pilates, visit them on Facebook here.