A few weeks ago I needed to de-stress and decided to treat myself to a relaxing massage.  I had heard about this wonderful new Day Spa located in the Domain.  I decided to sign up for their Perfect Day package.  It started out with a 30 minute with a hydrotherapy session which totally relaxed me and then had a fabulous 1 hour massage!  I also relaxed afterward in their Hammam a Turkish steam room!  It really was a Perfect Day!  One of the best things about Spa Re’veil is the great value you get with all of their wonderful services!  They also use all natural products , even in their nail services.  Spa Re’veil is a full service spa and have so many wonderful ways for you to treat yourself!  Below I have listed Spa Re’veil’s specials for the month of February and some pictures of this beautiful day spa!  Pamper yourself and your special someone today at Spa Re’veil!  Call 339-7000 or visit their website at www.spareveil.com.

February Specials:

Couples Ultimate:Couple’s Hydrotub for 20 minutes, a one hour massage, a one hour Pure Results Facial, and hour manicure and pedicure , followed by a 30 minute lunch! All this for just $225 per person

Valentines Bliss: A wonderul Lemon Verbena body treatment, a one hour massage, a one hour Pure Results facial and hour pedicure and manicure , followed by a 30 minute lunch!  3 hour and 50 minutes of treatments for just $250!

The Most Effective Herb Supplements  from Men’s Health Magazine
An Expanding Midsection and alergies –The remedy: Coleus forskohlii root extract

Why it works: Unlike the stimulant ephedra (now banned by the FDA), this supplement doesn’t hot-wire the central nervous system to ignite fat loss. Its active ingredient, forskolin, increases an enzyme that allows stored fat to be burned for fuel.

A recent study in Obesity Research reported that men taking 250 milligrams (mg) of C. forskohlii root extract (with 10 percent forskolin) saw their body-fat percentage drop an average of 4 points over 12 weeks. As a bonus, men in the same study increased their testosterone levels.  The pick: Vitamin Shoppe ForsLean ($29 for 120 capsules)

Toxic Intruders– The remedy:  milk-thistle extract

Why it works: Whether you’re inhaling secondhand smoke, recovering from a night of boozing it up, or popping ibuprofen, your liver is among the initial lines of defense against toxins.

Milk thistle’s active ingredient, silybin, modifies existing liver cells to create a protective barrier against these toxins. It also helps form new liver cells. Milk thistle has been shown in various clinical trials to be safe and effective in protecting liver cells from the toxicity of drugs.

Sleepless Nights — The remedy:  5-HTP

Why it works: 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is the chemical that tryptophan must convert to in order to boost serotonin, the sleepy-time hormone. Unlike tryptophan, however, 5-HTP has no trouble crossing the blood-brain barrier, so you’ll be sawing wood stat. For nearly half a century, 5-HTP has been used clinically to treat insomnia.

The pick: Natrol 5-HTP ($14 for 45 capsules)

For more details pick up the latest Men’s Health Magazine–you know the one with the sexy guys showing their 6 pack abs on the cover or here’s the link to their website with the 7 best herbal picks.

The Most Effective Herb Supplements  from Men’s Health Magazine
An Expanding Midsection and alergies –The remedy: Coleus forskohlii root extract

Why it works: Unlike the stimulant ephedra (now banned by the FDA), this supplement doesn’t hot-wire the central nervous system to ignite fat loss. Its active ingredient, forskolin, increases an enzyme that allows stored fat to be burned for fuel.

A recent study in Obesity Research reported that men taking 250 milligrams (mg) of C. forskohlii root extract (with 10 percent forskolin) saw their body-fat percentage drop an average of 4 points over 12 weeks. As a bonus, men in the same study increased their testosterone levels.  The pick: Vitamin Shoppe ForsLean ($29 for 120 capsules)

Toxic Intruders– The remedy:  milk-thistle extract

Why it works: Whether you’re inhaling secondhand smoke, recovering from a night of boozing it up, or popping ibuprofen, your liver is among the initial lines of defense against toxins.

Milk thistle’s active ingredient, silybin, modifies existing liver cells to create a protective barrier against these toxins. It also helps form new liver cells. Milk thistle has been shown in various clinical trials to be safe and effective in protecting liver cells from the toxicity of drugs.

Sleepless Nights — The remedy:  5-HTP

Why it works: 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is the chemical that tryptophan must convert to in order to boost serotonin, the sleepy-time hormone. Unlike tryptophan, however, 5-HTP has no trouble crossing the blood-brain barrier, so you’ll be sawing wood stat. For nearly half a century, 5-HTP has been used clinically to treat insomnia.

The pick: Natrol 5-HTP ($14 for 45 capsules)

For more details pick up the latest Men’s Health Magazine–you know the one with the sexy guys showing their 6 pack abs on the cover or here’s the link to their website with the 7 best herbal picks.

  Carole King turned 67 years old on February 9.  She is best known for her album “Tapestry” which skyrocketed to the top of the album chart in 1971, and stayed on the charts a total of six years.  It was by far the biggest-selling album of that time. 

  King, who was born Carole Klein, grew up in Brooklyn, and began playing piano when she was four.  While she was in high school, she formed her first band, a vocal quartet called the Co-Sines. 

  In the early 60’s, King partnered with composer Gerry Goffin (they would eventually marry), and the pair wrote over a hundred hits, done by such performers as the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Monkees, the Drifters, and the Chiffons. 

  While King attempted to launch a solo singing career in the 60’s, it wasn’t until the release of “Tapestry” that she became a bonified superstar.  The album scored a pair of hit singles, “So Far Away” and “It’s Too Late”, which hit number one.  She followed that album with “Music” later that same year, and it also made the top of the charts.  Her “Rhymes and Reasons” album hit number two in 1972.  “Wrap Around Joy”, which produced the hit single “Jazzman”, hit number one in 1974. 

  Enjoy the music!

  Carole King turned 67 years old on February 9.  She is best known for her album “Tapestry” which skyrocketed to the top of the album chart in 1971, and stayed on the charts a total of six years.  It was by far the biggest-selling album of that time. 

  King, who was born Carole Klein, grew up in Brooklyn, and began playing piano when she was four.  While she was in high school, she formed her first band, a vocal quartet called the Co-Sines. 

  In the early 60’s, King partnered with composer Gerry Goffin (they would eventually marry), and the pair wrote over a hundred hits, done by such performers as the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Monkees, the Drifters, and the Chiffons. 

  While King attempted to launch a solo singing career in the 60’s, it wasn’t until the release of “Tapestry” that she became a bonified superstar.  The album scored a pair of hit singles, “So Far Away” and “It’s Too Late”, which hit number one.  She followed that album with “Music” later that same year, and it also made the top of the charts.  Her “Rhymes and Reasons” album hit number two in 1972.  “Wrap Around Joy”, which produced the hit single “Jazzman”, hit number one in 1974. 

  Enjoy the music!

Vintage Kitchen Tips - Tipnut.com These kitchen tips are a collection gathered from a variety of vintage books, cookbooks and magazines from the 1940’s and 1950’s. To keep cheese from getting hard, cut off enough for immediate use and spread the remaining portion with a thin film of butter or margarine. Put it in a cool place. This keeps out the air and prevents the cheese from drying out.

To thin a small portion of peanut butter, use orange juice. It makes it spread much easier and adds taste appeal

A corner cut from an envelope and pierced at the point makes a good funnel for filling salt and pepper shakers.

Sprinkle pantry shelves, window sills, and door sills with a mixture of red pepper and sage to rid them of ants.

To clean and freshen wooden chopping blocks, counter or rolling pins, sprinkle table salt on these surfaces when they are wet and scrub dry.

When in doubt about an egg, make this test: add 2 tsps. salt to a cup of water and put the egg in it. A fresh egg will sink, a doubtful egg will float.

Lemons will stay fresh longer if you store them in a bowl of cold water in the fridge. They’ll keep up to 3 months this way.

A little salt sprinkled in the frying pan will keep fat or lard from splattering.

To make peeling hard-cooked eggs easier, butter your thumbs.

James Taylor is coming to the Bass Concert Hall on April 23rd.  Tickets go on sale this Friday February 13th.  All this week you can win tickets before you can buy them!  I will have rows 5, 4, 3, 2 and Front Row this week.  Listen to win and get ready for Sweet Baby James to come to Austin!

  The daughter of a music legend is having a birthday this week.  Natalie Cole is 59 years old as of February 6. 

  Natalie’s father, Nat King Cole, was certainly well-known in jazz and pop circles in his time, but Natalie has made her own mark.  She signed with Capitol Records in 1974, and ran off numerous successful albums and singles for the next eight years. 

  Several hits topped the R&B charts between 1975 and 1977, including “This Will Be” “Inseparable” “Our Love” and “I’ve Got Love On My Mind”.  Through the wonders of electronic technology, natalie recorded “Unforgettable” along with her father’s vocals, and that album earned several Grammy Awards and went to #1 on the album chart in 1991. 

  Happy Birthday, natalie. 

  Enjoy the music! 

  The daughter of a music legend is having a birthday this week.  Natalie Cole is 59 years old as of February 6. 

  Natalie’s father, Nat King Cole, was certainly well-known in jazz and pop circles in his time, but Natalie has made her own mark.  She signed with Capitol Records in 1974, and ran off numerous successful albums and singles for the next eight years. 

  Several hits topped the R&B charts between 1975 and 1977, including “This Will Be” “Inseparable” “Our Love” and “I’ve Got Love On My Mind”.  Through the wonders of electronic technology, natalie recorded “Unforgettable” along with her father’s vocals, and that album earned several Grammy Awards and went to #1 on the album chart in 1991. 

  Happy Birthday, natalie. 

  Enjoy the music! 

You may love football or  you may not but you have to admit the Superbowl halftime show with Bruce Springsteen was amazing!  Well Springsteen fans that halftime show  will be coming to Austin Sunday April 5th!  Bruce Springsteen and the EStreet Band’s  “Working On a Dream” tour  will focus on over 4 decades of great music!  Don’t miss this show!!  The tickets go on sale this weekend , Saturday February 7th at 10am!  For more details go to