Salish Lodge (right) overlooks Snoqualmie Falls (left). This time of year, the water flow is plentiful - that mist soaked both me and my camera!

For me, a visit to Snoqualmie Falls (note: the hiking trails are closed until 2013), typically includes a stop in at Salish Lodge and Spa. Perched literally atop the falls, this lodge is rich in history: originally an eight-room inn for weary travelers back in 1916, it was known for its hearty breakfasts to fortify its patrons before they continued on with their respective journeys, be it into the mountains or down to the sea.

In 1988, the building got a face lift and reopened as Salish Lodge; Twin Peaks was filmed there. They also have two restaurants – the Attic and the Dining Room – as well as a Spa on the fourth floor (which they recently renovated to include a quiet room). Both restaurants are fabulous spaces with great views that offer tasty treats. And the spa typically offers seasonal specials.

Take right now, for example: throughout the month of February, Salish is celebrating “The Month of Love” by offering two overnight packages, a five-course Valentine’s Day Dinner, and three special spa treatments.

The Salish Spa got a facelift with a new look (left) and quiet room (right). Fear not, however, for the soaking pools, complete with their own mini falls (center), can still be found on the fourth floor.

The overnights are called”Love at the Lodge” and “A Night to Remember.” The dinner is available in addition to their usual dinner menu tomorrow (February 10th, 2012) and Saturday (February 11th, 2012) and exclusively on Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 – Valentine’s Day.

This fireside massage table, complete with chocolate massage oil had a twin and was ready for a romantic couples massage.

About a week ago, I enjoyed one of their February spa treatments as a media experience: their Chocolate Massage ($115). A 50-minute treatment with a focus on Swedish-style of massage, but with Deep Tissue and Therapeutic massage components at the ready as-needed, this massage will definitely relax and inspire romance. The massage oil used is a chocolate-scented oil that will get you craving chocolate (big time).

The other two treatments for this month are the 50-minute Chocolate Decadence Body Scrub ($115) and the 50-minute Couples Chocolate Fireside Foot Revitalizers ($135/person, $270/couple). Of course, the standard spa treatment offerings are still available.

So if falling in love at the falls is your thing, there’s no better time to do it, dear hedonists.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable overage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

That said, sometimes folks just need a “fresh start” – a deadline/dateline that prompts one to get off one’s hedonistic hiney and (to quote the Nike motto): “Just do it.”

So here you Hedonista stands – well, actually, as I write this, sits – with her own health improvement: the social betterment of Heed the Hedonist.

How, you ask?

At last! Your Hedonista (and Heed the Hedonist) can now finally "connect and share" with all you fellow hedonists out there! Whoo-hoo!

Why, by finally creating that Heed the Hedonist Facebook (FB) page (http://www.facebook.com/heedthehedonist) that I confess I’ve been meaning to set up – OK, more like dreading to set up – since I began this blog in late 2009. Not that there’s anything fancy about it right now, mind you. In fact, it’s pretty bare (I’m currently working on my Jacqueline Pruner (Hedonista) page: http://www.facebook.com/jacquelineprunerhedonista). (NOTE: I also have a Twitter page – https://twitter.com/heedthehedonist – and handle: @heedthehedonist).

Granted, I realize that, although I am typically striving to be on the cutting edge, only just now I joined the some 800 million active FB users (the FB stats are quite interesting, if you care to have a look-see.) I’m even using bitly now – whoo-hoo!

However, I’m just thrilled I’ve gotten this far (with the help of a friend or two, to whom I am eternally grateful), so please feel free to reach out/”friend”/”like” whatever you crazy FB hedonists out there are doing these days. Also, any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated also, please just be patient as I evolve with this latest e-medium.

As for me, I promise to keep at it … and, with great satisfaction, cross one of my New Year’s Resolutions off of my 2012 list.

Enjoy the snow days while they last, dear hedonists … and be safe out there.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable overage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Today I tested three lip balms, provided by Metropolitan Market as a part of their month-long Wellness Fair January 4th through the 31st, 2012.

A lil' lip lovin', from top to bottom: Coffee Berry with Hemp Oil eye and lip balm by Ann Webb's Skin ($12); organic Calendula Lip Balm by bodyceuticals ($5.50); and Cocoa & Shea Butter Lip Balm by Alaffia ($2.99).

The first is both a lip and eye balm: Coffee Berry with Hemp Oil ($12) by naturals Skin by Ann Webb. Ann Webb has a spa in Austin, Texas – with her best friend, Joanna Marceaux, she’s created a product line that focuses on “optimal skin care.” I put this one on first today – it’s a large, thick stick offers immediate relief in the form of a thin, oily coating of sunflower seed oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, shea butter, hemp seed oil, and cocoa seed butter. This stick provides immediate relief for dry, chapped lips, but needs to be replenished frequently throughout the day. I also tried it around my eyes and found it revitalized the area.

The Calendula Lip Balm ($5.50) is an organic product from bodyceuticals organic bodycare, a company based in Kirkland, Washington. Made with organic calendula oil, vitamin E and organic Pacific Northwest beeswax. Beeswaxy and floral in scent, this product comes in a .25-ounce mini jar. I applied the balm with a finger; not as slick as the previous product, this one is beeswax-forward, so thicker in its application while still feeling thin. Great for those who like to apply their balm with a finger.

Finally, there’s the Cocoa & Shea Butter Lip Balm ($2.99) by Alaffia. Dedicated to gender equality and poverty alleviation through the Fair Trade of handcrafted shea butter, this company is based in Olympia, Washington. Aside from the company’s fab do-gooder priorities, this one was my personal fav, because it comes in a small stick that easily fits in my purse side pocket and doesn’t require finger-application. Also, the blend of (certified fair trade) shea butter, beeswax, cocoa butter, palm kernel oil, and virgin coconut oil makes the application of the balm thick – a fact which I personally love (both because I like to feel well-coated and I like to limit the number of applications in a given day). Oh, and the low price point doesn’t hurt, either.

All of these products can be found both at the online shops of the respective companies, as well as Metropolitan Markets. The Metropolitan Market’s 2012 Wellness Fair has a list of events that include bone density screening, health and wellness-related book signings, and cooking demos. Their Wellness Department offers assistance with and education regarding sleep, nutrition, and immune system, weight, bone, skin, and cholesterol level health.

So if you want to nourish more than your heads, dear hedonists, you may just want to check it out.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable overage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

But there’s another option for those who want to step off of a plane and feel salon-like with a recent facial treatment in tow.

Air Repair Skincare Kit ($34.95). Think of it as a first aid kit for your face when you travel ... serious skin care.

It’s called the Air Repair Skincare Kit ($34.95). The two recyclable bottles (Soothing Facial Cleansing Milk and Complexion Quenching Facial Mist) and three recyclable tubes (Beauty Balm, Rescue Balm, and Super-Hydrating Eye Cream) are all 2 fluid ounces or less, so they’re carry-on friendly, but still large enough to last you weeks, rather than just days. These products come in a recyclable plastic see-through zippered bag (again, TSA-friendly) with a clip for easy access and storage in one’s carry on or purse. The kit even comes with its own “how to” instructions.

Your Hedonista received a media sample of this kit a few days ago; this morning, I finally gave the kit a try. First, I used the chamomile-scented cleansing milk – it took off the night’s “crusty sleep face” and left it feeling smooth and refreshed. Next, I spritzed on a bit of the facial mist, which furthered the refreshment by adding a tingling sensation (note: it can also be used – and applied – as a toner). I followed this by stippling on the eye cream. (I happened not to sleep very much last night, so when I awoke my eyes were darker and puffier than usual; this product seemed to help reduce the effects of that lack of sleep.) Finally, I applied both the citrus-scented beauty balm facial cream and the rescue balm lip and skin salve to my lips; the former tingled (it contains hyaluronic acid, apparently to aid in moisture retention) and the latter product is yellow in hue, geranium-scented, and feels and smells more like hair product than lip and skin salve (it is recommend using this product to line the inside of your nose when flying, to keep it moist and reduce nosebleeds). That said, its effect on the lips and skin was soothing and smoothing. The entire “treatment” took less than five minutes; I left my bathroom this morning feeling as if I’d just had a spa facial (that or a double espresso shot for my face).

Then, this afternoon, I spoke with San Francisco-based Visage Studio’s owner and Air Repair Skincare’s founder and CEO, Denise M. Spanek. A 30-year-plus veteran of the aesthetics/TV and film celebrity make-up artist biz and a licensed aesthetician, Denise had a history of seeking out niche brands and products throughout Europe, specifically in France and the United Kingdom. Seeking to create her own proprietary brand, in 2007 she began the concept for air repair skin care, which was launched at the end of 2008/beginning of 2009.

Why air repair, which to me looks and feels like a blue and white travel first aid kit?

“I was tired of landing looking like a Shar Pei,” confessed Denise, “like I was ten years older.”

Be it a 2-hour puddle-jump or an all-night-long red eye, the stresses of environment, climate, and flight fatigue take a toll on any traveler, regardless of age or gender.

“It’s considered to be a ‘natural brand’ coupled with high-end ‘active ingredients’ but none of the ‘no-no ingredients’ like paraben, petroleum, and mineral oil,” Denise informed me.

Sounds like a balance of the best of both worlds.

This kit can be found at the air repair skincare online shop, at the two Seattle Tacoma International Airport Massage Bar locations, and at Metropolitan Market.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable overage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Cheating – specifically cheating on your hair stylist – is something many mane-maestros fixate on (personally, your Hedonista has two fav – and steady – stylists). However, when I was offered a media-comped blow job – er, I mean, “blowout” – being the good hedonist I am, I just couldn’t say no. Besides, going to a blow dry bar isn’t cheating; it merely fills the “in-between times” when you don’t need a cut and/or color from the salons. For a blow dry bar does no cut or color work, just a wash ‘n’ blow. The result: salon-styled hair without the cut and color for about a third of the price.

MANE's interior - accented with chartreuse, the signature color of Kate's grandmother and Judith's mother, the recently-deceased Marie Miller - is all about fostering a social community for women, much like the barbershops of old have done for men. Notice the TV above the jewelry "bar" where clients can enjoy a complimentary hot or cold beverage while getting blown out.

Take one of Seattle’s only blow dry bars as far as I know: MANE Blow Dry Bar. Located at 717 Pine at the Grand Hyatt in downtown Seattle, their slogans include “We’re all about the blowout” and “Wash. Style. Glow. $35.” Their soft opening took  place on December 16th, 2011 and their Grand Opening took place this past Friday on January 6th, 2012.

Offering $35 for a 45-minute (or less) wash, style, and blow, this treatment is geared to make its clientele glow. MANE also offers a series of potential add-ons; for example, add another $10 and also enjoy a 10-minute head and neck massage, dubbed the “MANE Touch” (which I highly recommend). The five styles available for $35 are as follows:

1) Au Naturale – one’s usual ‘do with “extra oomph & shine.”

2) Wave To Your Fans – an extra smooth ‘d0 with loose, sexy curls.

3) Up Down Diva – a glamor-pussed part up, part down ‘do.

4) Straight To The Point - very straight, smooth, and silky soft hair (I know, ’cause this is the ‘do I had done, chosen because my hair is naturally curly).

5) Va Va Voom – high-volume curls.

They also offer a deep conditioning treatment – which includes a hand massage and hot towel wrap – for $20 (the “MANE Tame” – I tried this before they introduced the hot towel, and loved it), an up-do for $60 (the “MANE Sweep”), and a “MANE Makeover” – $35 for a full face make-up makeover or $20 for lips and eyes only). There’s even a $24 “MANE Girl” treatment: royal blowouts for girls 10 years of age and under.

Kate Winquist, business consultant-and-attorney-turned blow dry bar owner, posing with one of the artistic touches to be found throughout MANE.

Although new to the Pacific Northwest, blow dry bars are not new in the United States: they are already established on both the east (think New York) and west (think Los Angeles) coasts. MANE – with a chartreuse logo that has a blow dryer as the “A” in “mAne” – is founded by the mother-daughter team of Seattleite originals (who’ve now returned): Judith and Kate Winquist.

Says Kate of the blow dry bar concept: “… I liked the way it made the women feel more confident, ’cause your hair can be your best accessory or your worst,” Kate confided. “And for me to just look good that one time every three months when I went to the salon, you know, it wasn’t enough. And until you can take your head off and put it on the table and turn it around, you’ll never be able to get the back of your hair looking smooth.”

MANE’s premise, in Kate’s words: that “A great hair day and confidence should be within everyone’s reach.”

With aspirations to be the “best blowout in town,” MANE is a “chemical-free” bar that exclusively carries the Neuma product line – an organic beauty line conceived by Jeffery Orrell, who is the creator of Pureology, which he subsequently sold to L’Oréal. Neuma products are sold MANE’s “boutique bar” along with fab accessories from both here and abroad).

Open seven days a week (10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays), MANE covers everything from drop-ins (although appointments are a good idea) to planned parties.

But be forewarned, dear hedonists: the folks at MANE promise “head-turning, envy-enducing, habit-forming blowouts” … as one who’s recently experienced this, they may just be on to something.

Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 of my Give Your Head a Little Love series, dear hedonists….

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable overage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Take bubbly, for instance – no, I’m not talking Champagne, or sparkling wine here, dear hedonists – I’m talking bubble bath – or, as the folks over at Ombra Spa in Bavaria, Germany like to call it, Aromatic Foambath.

The Cook Street village Pharmasave carried seven of the eight scents when I was there. At $9.99 a bottle (plus HST), it's a real hedonistic deal.

I really love this product. (Your Hedonista recently bought some up at the Pharmasave in Cook Street Village in Victoria on Vancouver Island, B.C.) This aromatic, aromatherapy bubble/foam bath comes in eight options: Rose & Green Tea, Lavender, Camomile, Citrus Sage, Eucalyptus, Ginger Lime, Hops & Bergamot, and Juniper. What’s more, Ombra asserts that its products: use herbal extracts and trace minerals, aren’t tested on animals, and are packaged in environmentally-friendly packaging that is biodegradable. Apparently sold in Canada for over 25 years, this product is an affordable spa mainstay for Canadians.

But what about in the United States? Fear not, dear hedonists, for although this product isn’t found as widely, it is still available in the States: aside from Merz Apothecary in Chicago, Ombra products can be found online at both Smallflower and The Vermont Country Store. In addition to foam bath, Ombra also has an entire line of other products, including shampoos, body washes, creams, and aluminum-free deodorants.

My two fav scents: hops & bergamot and ginger lime.

The morning after: bubbles still in the tub hours after the bath bodes well for me, as I am disappointed with bubble baths in which the bubbles disappear quickly.

As for me, my fav by far is the bubble bath, for two reasons: 1) the scents seem to be truly natural and 2) the bubbles or foam really last – I had a bath last night with Ombra’s Hops & Bergamot Foambath product, and when I awoke the next morning there were still a decent amount of foam amassed around the drain. And although I’m typically one huge floral fan, I confess that my two favo(u)rite offerings lean to the more citrus side of things: Hops & Bergamot and Ginger Lime.

So if pampering is in the cards, Ombra just might be worth a frugally hedonistic try.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Which brings me to today’s article that I share with you here today. May 25, 2011 is World MS Day, which began on May 27, 2009 with some 200+ events in 67 nations. In response, World MS Day Seattle is taking place today, with approximately 70 Seattle Businesses banding together for a common cause: to help children affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) by donating a hedonistically healthy percentage of their sales from open to close: 30%, on average. Businesses such as Fresh Bistro, Joule, and Seastar (Bellevue).

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Demyelinating disease is a chronic, neurological autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms typically arise between the ages of 20 and 40 years, with women affected approximately two to four times as often as men worldwide. The cause of MS is damage to the myelin sheath, which is a protective nerve cell cover. This damage – which is caused by the inflammation that results when the body’s own immune system attacks its nervous system – affects the function of nerve impulses. This disease can be debilitating, even fatal.

What causes MS has yet to be precisely determined. Medical scientific researchers attribute viral, genetic, and environmental factors as likely causes, although the percentage and/or combination of these factors is as of yet unknown. Geographically, North America has the highest rates in the world, with Canada being the country with the highest rates of MS. It appears that nations located within the northern latitudes of the planet have higher incidences of MS; why this is remains uncertain, although less vitamin D from sun exposure is speculated to play a part, as is the affinity of MS for those individuals of Scandinavian descent. Thus, the Pacific Northwest has a lot of cases of individuals being diagnosed with MS, with the incidence of Washingtonians with MS high – one of the highest in the United States, in fact: over 1 out of every 700 people.

Will and his eldest son, Gabriel. Photo by Megan Khazaal, provided by William Khazaal, and used with permission.

Take William Khazaal, for example. Yesterday your Hedonista had the honor to conduct a telephone interview with him to discuss all of the work he’s done in the greater Seattle area in preparation for today’s World MS Day. A University of Washington business student and Seattleite, Will was diagnosed with MS in July 2009, at the age of 35 years. He has a wife, Megan; together, they have two little boys: Blakely, who’s 2 years old, and Gabriel, who’s 5 years old. When diagnosed, Will struggled with sharing this diagnosis and his fears for his family with them. Gabriel, who was 4 at the time, worried aloud with fears of losing his Daddy, of getting MS himself, and wondering why Daddy wouldn’t (physically couldn’t) play with him sometimes.

Turning this formidable challenge into his muse,Will teamed up with five of his UW classmates to create the MS Children’s Book ($14.95) – a poetic hard cover children’s book, complete with whimsical illustrations. The purpose of this book is two-fold: 1) to helps describe MS to kids in a way they can understand and 2) to raise funds to find a cure for MS for the next generation. All of the profits – that’s 100% – from the book’s sales will be donated to the fight against MS – specifically, to the CCSVI Alliance, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the National Pediatric MC Center. The goal of Will, as CEO of MS Children’s Books, and his team – all of whom are working compensation-free on this endeavor – is to sell and donate 10,000 books while raising $100,000 toward finding a cure. Books can be purchased online for friends and family or purchased and then donated on behalf of the purchaser to a child who is affected MS. Facebook pages exist for both MS Childrens Book and World MS Day Seattle.

“This is for the kids,” says Will. “By going out for dinner and drinks with family and friends, you’re helping get us all one step closer to finding a cure for MS.”

Tomorrow, Gabriel turns 6 years old, and on May 29th, Will turns 37 years old. On behalf of Heed the Hedonist and your Hedonista, a big hedonistic “Happy birthday!” to you both, with wishes for many, many more birthdays and years of happiness to come. The courage, strength, and dedication of you and your family is truly an example to us all and shows how hedonism – in the form of love for 1) those dear and unknown, near and far, as well as 2) good, local food and beverages – can in fact make a positive, healthy difference. Hopefully, one day, cures to diseases like MS will be something to expect, rather than to strive for.

In the meantime, today eat, drink, be merry, cherish every hedonistic moment, and support a future cure for MS.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Today's cool weather seemed to keep the crowds from becoming too packed, which was good for those of us who showed up in the afternoon, as the selection was still great.

Your Hedonista is talking about Seattle Tilth’s Edible Plant sale. Held annually each and every spring as a fundraiser for Seattle Tilth, now is the time to get out there and plan your garden, even if it means keeping those starters warm inside for (cringe) a few more weeks. First held this year back in March at the Interbay Urban Center in the Whole Foods parking lot (2001 15th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119) on Saturday, March 19th, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the next chance is this weekend, at Meridian Park (4649 Sunnyside Ave N., Seattle, WA 98103), on both Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

With speaking events, musical performances, books, booths, seeds, and over 20 tables laden with Pacific NW climate-friendly organic edibles such as strawberries, artichokes, tomatoes, peppers, squashes, cucumbers, eggplants, onions, leeks, corn, celery, herbs and leafy greens, this is a must-attend event for any green thumb (or green tongue, for that matter).

Your Hedonista's haul for the day: pepper, tomato, zucchini, eggplant, and cuke plant starters, all for $24. These little lovelies will remain in a sunny spot indoors for at least a couple more weeks.

The plant starters range in price depending on size: $3, $4, $5, and $7 per plant. They also offer a pre-selected, pre-packed “Garden-to-go” option for $50 or $65. Compost or potting soil is selling for $6, and memberships to Seattle Tilth range from $20-35 for an individual to $60 for a family. What’s more, all of the proceeds from these sales go toward the operation of Seattle Tilth’s educational programs. Just be sure to bring your own boxes, wagon, or plant flats, or be prepared to pay a buck for a plastic plant flat at the event.

Missed the March 19th sale and can’t make this weekend? Fear not, dear hedonists, for you get a third chance on Saturday, May 14th between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Issaquah Farmers Market, to be held at the Pickering Barn (1730 10th Ave NW, Issaquah, WA 98027).

IMPORTANT GARDEN TIP: Don’t put the heat lovers like tomatoes, peppers, or basil outside overnight just yet, as they like it to be 50 degrees F or warmer during the nights. They can be hardened off right now, however: just put them outside during the day to get them used to the cooler climes. But be certain to bring them in for the night!

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Saint Valentine’s Day (or, as some like to say, V-Day, or even VD Day) will soon be upon us. The holiday that celebrates love, romance, and intimacy betwixt the Winter holidays (cold and dark and perfect for snuggling and such) and the (hope connected with the coming of) spring. What could be more fitting than chocolate and roses?

Sure, there are the traditional chocolate and roses offerings, but another option is of the more unconventional organic chocolate spa treatments variety….

Enter Sweet Beauty – a company that was founded in 2006 – with a tag line of “If you wouldn’t eat it, why would you put it on your skin?” – this company was founded by (CIDESCO Certified) esthetician and spa chocolatier Lisa Francoise Schafer – who also has a culinary background and who approaches the creation of her hand-made spa products as cooking rather than some chemistry experiment in a laboratory. All Sweet Beauty products begin with the same foundation: organic, fair trade certified chocolate and cocoa butter from Seattle’s own Theo Chocolate.

This season's featured products are all rose and chocolate (left to right and back to front): "rose oil" massage and body oil, "rose pot de crème" body cream, "love potion" dark chocolate and roses sugar scrub, and "rose" chocolate lip balm. (Notice Sweet Beauty's "kitchen" in the background, where all the magic happens.)

Why chocolate? Aside from Lisa’s chocolate-rich background,  both chocolate and cocoa butter contain glycerides and fatty acids, which are natural softeners that moisturize and protect the skin and thus make ideal skin care product ingredients. Chocolate, which begins its life as a seed – is also laden with phytonutrients – an that contain anti-aging properties. And the phytonutrients – more specifically the flavonoids – in dark chocolate with a 70% or greater cocoa content serve as antioxidants. (Sweet Beauty blog, which contains a post from Lisa – entitled Chocolate For Your Skin? – in which she talks about how chocolate can have more antioxidants than both red wine and green tea.)

What’s more, Sweet Beauty’s schtick is that its ingredients are 100% natural: naturally preserved and acquired from responsible sources. They are “free” of a lot of the usual suspects – artificial colors, fragrances, parabens, pthalates, silicones, sulfates, and synthetic emulsifiers. They say they test this product on friends and family members – both internally and internally. (Note: although Sweet Beauty’s spa products generally aren’t made to be eaten, their ingredients are natural and thus one could eat them without negative consequences.) Your Hedonista recently received a sample from each product in Sweet Beauty’s rose and chocolate line – their featured products for Valentine’s Day – to try (and even taste) for myself.

The “Love Potion” Dark Chocolate and Roses Sugar Scrub ($22) - this sugar body scrub is made with organic cane sugar and turbinado sugar, this scrub goes on like a softening exfoliant that leaves behind a lovely softness that at the same time doesn’t make you feel like you’ve been greased up like a baking pan. This scrub smells like chocolate truffle icing with a rose infusion (and actually tastes good – the best-tasting of all the rose and chocolate products, in fact: like creamed butter and sugar with chocolate sauce and rose petals thrown in).

Rose Oil, 4 ounces ($22) – this rose and chocolate massage and body oil smells more like chocolate than roses, but is laden with all the good oils, so it served its purpose well. (As for flavor, it tastes like, well, oil, with a touch of rose.)

Rose Pot de Crème Body Cream, 4 ounces ($15) - this rose and chocolate body cream smells like chocolate rose cupcake icing, goes on soft without feeling greasy and leaves the skin feeling smooth (and tastes like rose infused cacao butter).

Rose Lip Balm ($5.50) - the lip balm was Lisa’s first Sweet Beauty product; this chocolate and rose lip balm has a light rosey-chocolate scent, is chocolate brown so thus adds a hint of a shadow of brown color (and tastes slightly chocolately, but still balmy).

ONLINE HEED THE HEDONIST DISCOUNT: Simply make any purchase at Sweet Beauty’s online store and type in the coupon code “hedonist20″ to save 20% on the products purchased (offer expires February 16th, 2011).

Just in time for you and that special someone – or someones – for V-Day. And if there’s no such special someone(s) with whom to celebrate, given this 20% discount, a little self-love and pampering just may be in order!

P.S. – Sweet Beauty’s products can also be found at several retail and spa locations – including Suncadia’s Glade Spring Spa – as well as stores of the romance industry, including local lingerie stores. Sweet Beauty even makes a natural, organic, and vegan Babeland edible body chocolate ($7 for 1 ounce and $22 for 4 ounces) that tastes just like chocolate frosting … or so I’m told, dear hedonists….

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the give venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Wendell Dyck - now a new fav massage therapist of your Hedonista.

His name is Wendell Dyck – a former Vida Spa massage therapist, he incorporated Massage for Seattle Inc. in 2005 and first began to see clients in a spa-designed massage treatment room located in his Columbia City home in January 2006 (he also occasionally sees corporate clients at their offices). Last month your Hedonista first tried out his services for a reduced rate – specifically his “Swedish” Fusion Massage ($75 for 60 minutes, $100 for 90 minutes, $125 for two hours) and then, early this month, his Hawaiian Temple Style Lomilomi ($125 for 90 minutes, or a 60-minute Spa Lomilomi for $85), brand-new as of this month.

Wendell's treatment room has everything a soothing spa facility has - right down to the lit candles and small waterfall.

The “Swedish” Fusion massage – so named because he incorporates the traditional Swedish deep tissue, pressure-point style with the broad forearm strokes of the Lomilomi style – is lovely. And his Hawaiian Temple Style Massage is much more than a massage – it’s an entire rebirth ritual and sensual reconnection. There’s even a Lomilomi Protocol that outlines this very intimate and intense treatment, so the client knows exactly what to expect (for example, clothing is optional and a full-body anointment with oils takes place, with traditional Hawaiian chanting and music in the background all the while). It’s also worth noting that this nurturing treatment takes place in a realm of both the utmost trust and professionalism (and of course clients can opt to keep parts of their body covered as they see fit, depending on individual comfort level), for this is a physical, mental, and emotional treatment. Here are Wendell’s words about this unique massage treatment, taken directly from his website:

Symbolically, it is a rebirth ritual. The massage itself is very satisfying, intuitively moving to find and meet the cravings of the body. The pace and flow varies, like waves on the beach, but the current of motion is continual, collecting and redistributing mana, or energy, over and over. The physical work is wonderful, one of the most blissful massages you can receive. And, if you receive it only on that level, you will be satisfied. If, however, you allow yourself to fall through the openings in the walls of your emotional and mental states, to go to that source that is dark and hidden, and yet the glowing place inside us where we sometimes touch the divine, but which is largely walled off from our everyday existence, then Lomilomi can be transformational. I don’t know how it happens, and it is very humbling, but the work has allowed me to see tremendous and powerful changes happen on the table.

The body scrub - used as a part of the initial foot treatment prior to every massage - is made with the following recipe: ½ cup Wendellworks # 8 body lotion, ¼ cup honey, 1 ¾ cup kosher salt, and 1 ml tea tree oil.

Your Hedonista truly enjoyed this very unique Lomilomi treatment and can vouch that his use of the word “blissful” is accurate (although the coconut-scented oil used was too toasted coconut smelling; Wendell is currently working on finding another “island” scent). Wendell also offers his Hot Stone Massage ($100 for 60 minutes, $125 for 90 minutes), which I have yet to try (perhaps next time)! Wendell also offers a lovely product. Dubbed WendellWorks #8 – Wendell names his products like Coco Chanel did, according to the number of attempts to get it just right – this body lotion is made from avocado oil, water, coconut oil, natural beeswax, shea butter and cocoa butter, with the following essential oils: lavender, tangerine, geranium, Ylang-Ylang, and eucalyptus and served up in a bottle etched by Melissa Eakman. The 4 ounce glass bottle costs $20 (includes $5 shipping); the 8 ounce plastic refill bottle, $25 (includes $5 shipping). Wendell sent your Hedonista a product sample of this product and it was well-received; the lotion truly moisturizes, the scent is relaxing, organic and slightly floral, and a little goes a long way – it’s good for both massages and daily moisturizing. He also blends his lotion in a salt scrub that he applies to his client’s feet, along with a lovely hot  herbal foot soak, prior to every massage treatment (typically during the client intake form filling and overall check-in of the client’s overall state).

Another present for you hedonists: much like the couponlicious folks at BuiltBurger, during this holiday season Wendell has generously offered 35% off any treatment up to $100 (for the “Swedish” Fusion Massage, that’s a 90-minute treatment for $10 less than the cost of a 60-minute treatment, dear hedonists). Simply print out this coupon (or show it to Wendell on your smartphone) and save:

Wendell takes appointments online for Monday to Friday sessions that take place between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; he will also book between 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on weekdays as well as weekend appointments, but you must call him to see if he’s available (he DOES have a life, after all). Here’s wishing you a stress-free holiday (trust me, a massage from Wendell will help)!

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the give venue/meal/performance/product/service.