I live in Southern California currently. The water bill down here gets expensive, mainly because SoCal has to get a lot of it’s water transported from Northern California. Well I don’t pay the water bill but have seen it. Being the environmentally conscious person I am, I would like to also do my part as the person who isn’t paying the water bill and save water. Pocket and Earth-friendly is the way to be.
Face of Spanish Fly Hair Garage
Bird's Nest View of Spanish Fly Hair Garage
I was the daughter who was never allowed to cut or do anything to her hair or eyebrows, or even leg hairs at that. In sophmore year of high school I was finally allowed to add some low-lights and highlights; barely noticeable. My parents got a divorce and it was on. Hair color changed all the time. But I always remained the girl that wouldn’t let anyone, not even myself touch my hair unless it was by a “professional”. The first and last time I gave in to someone dying, or should I say bleaching my hair, I wound up with a platinum blonde, two inch mohawk in the part of my hair, while I had long black hair with extensions. I needed it to somehow be fixed. I wound up talking to a friend I worked with (now that I was living in the Sacramento area) about who she went to and how I wanted a more high fashion stylist because it was time to move up in the world of beauty and I had always believed you get what you pay for and short-coming yourself on your very own head of hair would be a shame. The difference in quality an expert hair stylist can bring to your physical beauty, as well as confidence, was worth it.
I was referred to Erin Flores at Spanish Fly Hair Garage in downtown Sacramento. A straight up rock’n’roll, red wood floor, white brick walls, post and beam ceiling, metal-chain-framed mirrors, tool boxes for stations, plasma screens, art hanging from suspended cables above stations, and of course guitars, kind-of-salon. Not to mention amazing natural lighting, a great layout, with a patio corridor and a separate salon in the back, booming sound system, and alcoholic beverages being served. Yup, there was no way this salon wasn’t going to affect me. I wanted to be apart of this. If not this one, one of my own, or better yet a specialist and owner in this industry. This salon is where my passion for the fascinating influence a pampering environment can bestow upon your being…just by the matter of walls, elements, space plan, imagery, professionalism, characters and aesthetics, and oh yeah…a good hairstyling. You walk in feeling drab, then during you feel apart of something great, and walk out feeling fabulous, new, revitalized.
I put myself out there and asked the owners, as a student of design, if I could come in and sketch the layout of the salon and they were more than obliged. I needed to see such a business on paper. I had only, at that point in my schooling, seen residential rooms drafted onto paper. I needed to see the space plan and function-flow of a business/salon. So I did it. And here are my sketches:
Front Salon, Reception, Stations, Sinkbowls
Outside Patio Corridor, Lounge Area
Back Salon, Lounge/Seating, Stations
Go easy, I was in the very beginning of my schooling, especially with drafting let alone sketching and scale of things. I may redo and label the sketches of the salon and attach them to this post at a later time so it makes more sense to the untrained eye.
But, this is where it started, this is where I still go almost 5 years later, and now Erin and I are great friends. Speaking of, we just finished having a drink together which inspired the importance of posting this monumental epitome I had at age 21. I knew if this is what I were to put my mind to, I would have a career I would be happy to wake to everyday and would do anything to make happen. Every day since, I seek my niche and how I can make my plans come to fruition. Day by day, skill by skill, person by network I solidify my dream.
Aqua Star Spa @ The Beverly Hilton
I tend to treat myself-for my birthday. So, my 23rd birthday I headed down to Los Angeles, California with two friends of mine, to have a birthday weekend to remember. And that I did. I’ll leave out the minor details and get to the major. A spa experience was at the top of the trip’s list; the choice being: the glorified Beverly Hilton Hotel’s “Aqua Star Spa”.
As I approached the actual hotel, I saw the floor to ceiling, wall to wall, glass doors and windows that encompassed the roundabout area where I was dropped off. I entered the premises to take a stroll through the building, down the stairs, and into the lair for the spoiled. Opening the vault-like door I came to understand the reasoning for such a thing: seclusion, a safe entrance to another world, and peace of mind. I was greeted and checked in by a lovely, knowledgable staff member. Well-timed was the approach of the massuse who would be conducting the start of my stay at The Aqua Star Spa. Gentle in her approach, and swift in the explanation of our itenerary I was escorted to the changing room where I put on a fluffy robe, slippers and checked my worries at my locker.
Respectable and soft in her touch at the same time, I’d never felt the feeling, when my eyes are closed, that I could see and feel the tension being released through rainbow colored, smoke-like energy bursts out of my body. It was an incredible feeling of physical liberation. I sensed the root of my passions rationalization.
After my massage I headed to get a facial. Something I’d never been quite interested in, but am now coming to the age of understanding the importance of doing, as my face slowly shows it’s earned wisdom. It was absolutely delectable to the skins nourish-seeking taste buds. Not only did I receive a physically beneficial service but of greater value, my esthetician shared her knowledge with me as I kept to my inquisitive ways.
I took to the lounging room to enjoy my stay a bit longer with a cup of tea and a small biscuit cookie while relishing in my replenished body in the peaceful ambiance of the texturized yet simple room. 
I changed into my clothes and decided to top my experience off by lounging pool side to soak in some southern California rays.
For a first time, full-on spa experience in such a prestigious area and hotel, I feel like I got an experience that sets a standard and was well worth my money. I appreciated the neutral territory and atmosphere most of all-it kept me focusing within myself while not thinking about a single thing.
Today, was a lazy day. & on this lazy day I got my nails and toes done. A manicure and pedicure-respectively in speech, opposite in time frame. The place of choice, as always, is in downtown Sacramento (the capital of Cali) at Melody’s. Not sure who Melody is. BUT, I do know who Rose is. I’ve known Rose for a good 6 months now. She gets me. She gets my funkier style, my need for change and attention to detail. She’s a delight.
Melody’s is located in a grocery shopping center. One stop, everything you need kind of location. Melody’s aura is a sunshine-y , happy, busy, spa-ish feel. After going a few times they stepped up their artwork which I was quite satisfied by because of the known taste of most asian nail salons; gold frames, white matte frames with a hand that looks like it’s straight out of the 80’s.
Not much more to say about Melody’s besides the fact that downtown Sacramento’s character is a joy to visit, service is sweet and swift and the nail salon’s layout is advantageous for it’s square footage. Even though there are probably 100 nail salons between where I live and downtown Sacramento, I will go to Rose to get my nails prettied up until I possibly can.
Good tips on how to play it safe in the salons when getting those summer nails done!: Do’s and don’ts for fabulous summer feet.
Melody's
Hello everybody!
My name is Sable. Welcome to my new found, very first blog. Please take a look at the ‘About’ section. You will get a large grasp on what this blog is all about. In the mean time, I will be perusing around California(to start with), stopping into salons, spas and wellness centers alike to bring back what I took from my experience with their business, products and services. I will also keep you updated on healthy recipes, new health and exercise tips and methods, new salon openings, new treatments, designs and everything that pertains to the industry of health and beauty. Stay tuned if you fancy feeling fancy!
Ciao!
Sable
to BE inspired 