Ouch. I’ve Been Ma’amed.
“Do me a favor? Could you say ‘senator’ instead of ‘ma’am?’ It’s just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it. Yes, thank you.’’
The widely played video clip of California Senator Barbara Boxer reprimanding a general for calling her “ma’am’’ has been making it’s rounds across the Internet and causing a stir for good reason.
“Can you believe this woman?” My boyfriend began, “She’s the worst. Clueless and arrogant! In the military you’re trained to address women this way. It’s a respect thing.”
Oh it’s a thing all right. And it’s tough to win when you’re a man ma’aming any woman these days. Allow me to share my most recent ma’aming humiliation….
The author, AKA ma'am.
Recently at Soho House, as I was sipping my second Prosecco with a group of male friends, I noticed an unusually tall, unusually strapping young lad at the bar. His stature was so striking (and my Prosecco so inspiring) that I felt compelled to hit on him in a totally joking I-have-a-live-in-boyfriend-of-5-years kind of way. The men in my group, boyfriend included, seemed to be making a big deal out of this guy. Why? I needed to find out.
“Pardon me,” I said casually as I looked up to his 6’4,” 225 lb frame. He had a boyish face. Mid-twenties. Adorable. I was feeling unusually witty. “Are you in sports?”
“Why yes, I am.”
“Football?”
“That’s right.”
Meanwhile in the background, the boys were clutching their stomachs in hysterics.
“The Yankees?”
“No, the Giants.”
“Oh, right.” I smiled coyly like a sports ignorant, sweet, young thing.
“So, you live around here?”
“Hoboken actually.”
“Really?” I tried to shield my disappointment. “I mean, do you like it there?”
“Well, it’s close to practice.”
He was sweet, and his cute Southern Accent made him even more appealing. I waited patiently for the moment he would say aw shucks and kick the dirt.
“So….Do you come here often?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ouch.
Suddenly this strapping young lad wasn’t so cute anymore. No, maybe I wasn’t so cute anymore—and with that one “Ma’am” my sweet, playful, “inner Miss” died like a wilting flower.
“My name’s Christina,” I politely extended my hand as if he were going to kiss it, rather than shake it. I was a ma’am after all.
“My name is Eli, nice to meet you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to catch up with some friends…It’s been a pleasure meeting you, ma’am.”
He ambled away. I turned to my male friends in defeat as they carried on hysterically at my miserable pick up fail.
“So What? He wasn’t my type anyway. Too tall.”
“That’s too bad. We thought he was a pretty good catch.”
“Nah. He ma’med me, total party foul.
“That’s too bad, because that too tall party fouling guy, was Eli Manning.”
Looking back I ask myself what was more humiliating–My ridiculous attempt at cluelessly cougar-pouncing a 28-year old football superstar, or that fact that he called me ma’am.
I think the latter.
- Christina Angelacos
Too Harried for the Holidays?
Last week on the D train a straphanger took extreme methods to safeguard her health and wellness when she physically attacked another passenger who refused to cover her mouth while coughing. The attacker remarked that she had no intention of contracting H1N1. While I can’t condone her actions, I can understand her concern—illness prevention. This should be on everyone’s minds during this holiday season.
Perhaps it’s nothing new, but for many the holiday season has evolved into a period of extreme stress. And with retailers desperate to scoop up diminishing discretionary income the traditional visual signals of the holiday season have come earlier than usual. As a result, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa related stress is ahead of schedule as well.
According to a post in the WSJ’s The Juggle, a blog on issues of life balance: Americans are simply too stressed to even take time to reduce stress and holiday planning will only make it worse. This is dire news considering ignoring mounting stress is a great way to lower your immune system making you more susceptible to whatever nasty germs—swine inspired and otherwise—are floating around. Not to mention, stress begets more stress. Preventative measures work, but sadly these measures are still often considered to be selfish instead of self-care.
However, the early onset of the holiday season can be used to our advantage—we can take the extra time to prepare our loved ones and ourselves mentally and physically to finish out this year and start the new one in good health. It begins with the acknowledgement that the preparation and execution of holiday tasks can take it all out of even the healthiest, happiest, most relaxed, most balanced, and (fill in your superlative) among us. Just imagine what it will be like for the rest of us mere mortals. Try to identify potential stressful situations and do what you can to make them less stressful, your immune system will thank you.
The Mayo Clinic warns us about the physical demands of the season, which can also lead to diminished immune systems and ruin plans. And of course remember to exercise daily—yes daily. Social engagements can also run you down especially if you over commit or are just not the greatest social butterfly. If you are an introvert consider setting limits on how hard you hit the social circuit. It’s not good flitting from party to party if the small talk is causing you high anxiety. And keep an eye on what you are scarfing down at all those events—holiday eating can be tricky. Get organized with your gift giving or get creative with the whole gift giving tradition and simplify it to reduce anxiety around these tasks.
Get your family and friends on board for your mission to have a stress-free holiday season. They will thank you and so will your immune system.
-Jacquetta Szathmari
Mommy Makeovers: More Common Than You Think.
It’s no secret more moms are opting for post-op”Mommy Makeovers” to help them rejuvenate their bodies after the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth have taken their toll. According to he American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 10.2 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States in 2008 alone. That’s a lot of tummy tucks.
So last month, I posted what turned out to be a provocative question on the InnerRewards community forum: Mommy Makeover Plastic Surgery–Yay or Nay?
To my surprise, the responses were slanted more towards the positive.
6/10 of the women who responded said they either already had, or were considering such procedures in the future. 2 were neutral. 2 were opposed. Granted my random sample wasn’t huge, but the results still surprised me. It’s clear we’re becoming more comfortable with augmenting our appearance through means other than the traditional, such as banging out miles on the treadmill, following The South Beach Diet, or dabbing on Crème de la Mer.
Let’s face it; no amount of push-ups or sun salutations will add what nursing an 18 month-old has taken away. So yes, I’m all for cosmetic surgery for mommies or others if it’s approached with a healthy and realistic attitude. But I also understand it’s the healthy and realistic part that can get tricky. Seek and you shall find obvious examples of those who have taken plastic surgery too far, and we all know who they are. But as with anything in life, if it’s done in moderation I see no problem with someone enhancing his/her beauty by going under the knife/needle. Be it the straightening of a nose to balance the face, the zapping of a laser to tame the bikini line, or the nip, tuck, and lift to rejuvenate a post-baby body, as long as your new look gives you confidence and makes you feel good, I say go for it. After all, do you think Angelina just rolled out of bed looking that way?
Essential Oil Studies from the Aromahead Institute
Our newest addition to InnerRewards - Aromahead Institute, a School of Essential Oil Studies - offers aromatherapy education, certification, advanced graduate level programs, and intensive seminars for business owners and health care practitioners. The Aromahead Institute offers intimate class settings in Sarasota, Florida, and Ithaca, New York. Students can also opt for self-study, online classes if they cannot make it to Sarasota, FL. Online classes allow for students to study at their own pace and in the privacy of their own home.
For more information about Aromahead Institute’s aromatherapy certification program, watch this short video tutorial:
If you have an interest in essential oils and aromatherapy, Aromahead Institute offers a free, online introduction to essential oils class. The Aromahead Institute uses only high quality, therapeutic grade essential oils, from Aromatics International, an Aromahead Institute created company that offers certified organic, wild crafted, or unsprayed oils that are free of herbicides, pesticides, and chemicals.
Aromatherapy is gaining popularity in the United States. First coined in the early 1900’s, most people still think of aromatherapy as a great way to fill a space with beautiful scents, or create a natural body fragrance, but aromatherapy is traditionally used to treat or prevent disease with essential oils. Aromatherapy can help address many issues, from acne, headaches and depression, to allergies, colds and flu, and insomnia. This easy-to-make sleep lotion from the Aromahead Institute website addresses insomnia:
Insomnia Sleep Lotion
Uses: To support deeper, calmer sleep
Ingredients:
• 6 drops Chamomile, Roman
• 6 drops Rosewood
• 2 oz. Jojoba Oil - Certified Organic
Directions:
Add essential oils to 2 oz. of Unscented Lotion
Apply to your chest, feet and neck before bed.
To see more recipes and learn more about the Aromahead Institute, visit their website, read their aromatherapy blog, or connect with them on Twitter.
Fall Spa Week(s) - Happening Now!
Spa Week is Spectacular!
Spa Week is a spectacular, bi-annual (spring and fall) event involving over 500 spas across the country in over 27 cities. During Spa Week, hundreds of spas offer full-service spa treatments for a mere $50 each.
The Fall 2009 Spa Week Event will be taking place for one week in September and one week in November. The first one is going on now in the Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Nevada, Arizona, and San Diego areas from September 14th-20th.
The second fall spa week will be happening from October 12th-18th and will cover the areas of: Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Boston, Denver, D.C., Detroit, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Virginia Beach and Toronto, Canada.
To find out which spas are participating in your area, visit the website and sign up for free. Then, simply find a spa nearby, see their list of treatments offered, and call them to make an appointment.
If you would like more information about Spa Week, visit them all over the web:
Happy Spa-ing!
Discounts on Affordable, Luxury, Exotic Wellness Retreats!
Though the economy may be uncertain, one thing is for sure: taking time to relax, rejuvenate and focus on your health and well-being is one of the best things you can do for yourself, no matter what the circumstances. In light of this very well-known fact, InnerRewards and Escape-to-Shape have partnered up to bring some of the best deals available for luxury de-stressing in exotic locations at an affordable price.
These budget-friendly spa getaways combine yoga, fitness, and healthy eating with comfort, culture and community. Created for women, these weeklong getaways not only deliver fitness, health, pampering and luxury, but also give women a way to make meaningful new friendships and connect with others of like mind to uplift the body, mind and soul.
This partnership between Escape-to-Shape and InnerRewards offers luxurious getaways at a 10% discount for InnerRewards.com members. The membership to InnerRewards is free, and offers not only a 10% discount on weeklong getaways, but also comes with many perks – such as earning points for website interaction that can be used toward free spa treatments, a place to give and get advice on the latest information about natural health, fitness, beauty, food and nutrition, and life balance, and a way to find the best health and spa articles, videos, photos and events going on around the world. In addition, you can search your favorite spa for reviews, add your own reviews, and be connected to a healthy community.
Currently, two retreats are available.
Escape to Zihuatanejo
The first retreat includes 6 nights of accommodation at The Tides-Zihuatanejo (based on double occupancy), a full gourmet meal plan, Yoga and fitness classes (power beach walks, interval training, Pilates-based body sculpting classes, and surf lessons), cooking instruction, local excursions, a massage at the hotel spa, and round-trip transportation from the Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa airport to The Tides.
For more information on the Zihuatenejo retreat, click here.
To select the week that is perfect for you and book your Tides-Zihuatanejo retreat right away, click here.
Click here to see the week program and activities schedule for Zihuatanejo.
Escape to Cartagena
The second retreat includes 6 nights of accommodation in a restored 16th century private mansion (based on double occupancy), a full gourmet meal plan, Yoga and fitness classes (Salsa, power beach and city walks, Pilates, and body sculpting classes), cooking and language instruction, local excursions, a 1-hour massage, and round-trip transportation to and from Cartagena de Indias, Rafael Nunez International Airport. Additional spa treatments, excursions and a drinks plan can be arranged at an extra cost.
For more information on the Cartagena retreat, click here.
To select the week that is perfect for you and book your Cartagena retreat right away, click here.
Click here to see the week program and activities schedule for Caragena.
Don’t miss out on these amazing getaways! Sign up for InnerRewards.com now to save 10% and treat yourself to health, fitness, wellbeing, comfort, luxury, and new friendships! Grab your girlfriends for additional savings!
Win a Free Facial with A-List Facialist, Jillian Wright!
Contests are fun! Not so long ago we gave away a $1,000 gift certificate to the spa of your choice for you and mom for Mother’s Day, another $1,000 spa gift certificate for a romantic spa-cation, and a $1,000 gift certificate for a Pro-Fitness Package. Here are our winners:
This time around we have a very special gift: a FREE two-hour facial with Jillian Wright at the Glow Skin Spa in New York City. Wow! Jillian has an exceptional roster of clients that trust her with their skin, including Alicia Silverstone, Ivana Trump, Heather Graham, Tea Leone, Gabriel Byrne, and Kristen Wiig. Her professional advice and tips have appeared in top-tier media outlets, including In Style, Marie Claire, Glamour, Teen People, Redbook, New York’s Daily News and Post, and The Howard Stern Show.
To see more about Jillian, watch her professional video profile:
How Can You Enter and Win?
Simply visit our Contest Page for details. Write a quick post or upload a video in the New York Local Guide about why you feel you are most deserving of a celebrity facial. Invite your friends and family to vote for your post via the “Like It?” link beneath each post. The most “Liked” post wins!
Be creative! Be clever! Have fun! We want to hear from you!
Contest begins on Tuesday, July 7th 6am PDT and ends Friday, July 17th Noon PDT. There is still PLENTY of time to enter and win. Someone is going to win, why not let it be you?!
Jeffrey Lawton & The Power Breakfast
I’d like to share with you one of my favorite recipes and videos from the site. They are both from Jeffrey Lawton, a nutritionist and private chef located in San Francisco, CA.
I love when someone not only gives you a recipe, but shows you via video just how easy it can be!
Here is Jeffrey’s Power Breakfast:
In case you’d like to print the recipe out, here it is:
Gluten Free Power Slow-Cooker Breakfast Cereal
- 2 Tbsp. Coconut Oil, for Crock-Pot
- 1 Apple, Green, Diced
- 1 Banana, Diced
- 1 cup Millet
- 1 cup Quinoa
- ¼ cup Amaranth
- 5 cups Water
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 1 Vanilla Bean Pod, Scraped
- ½ cup Mixed Power Berries (Inca, Goji, Mulberry)
- Pinch Sea Salt
Toppings: Raw Almonds, Sprouted Flax Seeds, Raw Butter, Raw Honey, Dried Fruit, Cacao or Cocoa Nibs
Directions: Coat a Crock-Pot with coconut oil (or butter). Combine all ingredients and set on low for 4-7 hours. Each Crock-Pot is a bit different, so watch for scalding. If necessary, add more water. Once finished, top with your favorites and enjoy!
Benefits of the Power Cereal ingredients:
Apples: Fiber & vitamin C
Bananas: Fiber, vitamin C, potassium and manganese, vitamin B6.
Millet: manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium.
Quinoa: High in complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids. Not only is quinoa’s amino acid profile well balanced, making it a good choice for vegans concerned about adequate protein intake, but quinoa includes the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair.
Amaranth: Most cereal grains, such as wheat, are low in lysine. Amaranth is rich in this amino acid, containing approximately twice as much lysine as wheat ounce per ounce, about four times as much calcium, and twice as much iron and magnesium.
Sprouted Flaxseed: Sprouting flaxseed offers more nutritional benefits than whole flaxseeds, which are difficult to digest. Sprouting also increases the seed’s vitamin content.
Green Spa Network – Greening and Sustainability for the Spa Community
The green movement is sweeping across the globe in every area of leisure and business, and the Green Spa Network (GSN) is on the forefront of greening and sustainability in the spa industry. A non-profit organization, GSN hopes to educate and promote green values within a billion dollar industry that has the ability to merge planetary health with personal wellbeing.
Green spas offer a more relaxed and healthier experience by reducing pollution, limiting toxins and offering treatments that are more natural, and therefore gentler, to the spa-goer and the environment. The Green Spa Network website offers tips to spas wishing to reduce their environmental footprint, and also offers a ‘Green Spa Toolkit’, a guide to greening spa operations, for members.
One of the founding ‘seed spas’ for GSN is Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary. They offer a one-of-a-kind treatment from Japan called ‘Cedar Enzyme Bath’:
Green Spa Network – Greening and Sustainability for the Spa Community
Founding Seed Spas are:
The Kura Door Holistic Japanese Spa
For information about becoming a member of the Green Spa Network, visit: The Green Spa Network
GSN has a goal of facilitating research, education and alliances for sustainable business practices in the spa industry. To reach that end, they held the first Conference on Spa Sustainability in San Francisco in April with over 60 spa industry professionals. The conference, Essential Tools for Green Prosperity, was a wonderful success.
For more information on the Green Spa Network, visit: http://greenspanetwork.org/
Win a $1000 Spa Day for You & Mom!
We just HAVE to share our Mother’s Day special with you. It is so easy to sign up and win!
Simply sign up (it’s free!) to be a member of Inner Rewards and start earning points for your participation. The person to earn the most points between Thursday, April 30th 6am PDT (TODAY!) and Thursday May 7 Noon PDT and InnerRewards.com will give you a $1000 Gift Certificate to the spa of your choice. Yes, ANY spa you want!
It’s easy to win points:
Become a Member of InnerRewards (25 pts.)
Invite Friends to Become Members (25 pts. per new member)
Review A Business (25 pts.)
Add Vibes To A Business (5 pts.)
Start A New Discussion (10 pts.)
Upload A New Photo (10 pts.)
Post a Comment on an Article, Photo, or Discussion (5 pts.)
Purchase A Deal (50 pts.)
The best of luck! Feel free to share with all your friends!!!
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InnerRewards
