Spa Gifts For Under $20

For delicious smelling gifts that bring comfort and joy home for the holidays, Urban Sanctuary is your one stop shop! Shop with us online or stop by the spa and browse our vast selection of eco-friendly, man-friendly, organic and natural gifts for bath and body, house and home. These are some of our favorite items available for under $20.

• Good Karma roll on aromatherapy $15
• Calm Bath Salts by Herbivore $18
• Fig and Honey soap wrapped in beautiful craft  paper $8
• Zum Body Lotion Sandalwood  $7
• Prayer Bead Bracelets handmade by our own Sheri Stout $12
• Clear Head Soy Candle Tins by Way out Wax $8.50-$14.50
• Lavender Chamomile Bubble Bath $14
• Vitality Tea handcrafted by Naturopathica $18
• Eucalyptus and Lime Bath Bombs $3 for one or $18 half dozen
• Menthol Cucumber Shower Bombs pack $7.99
• Hand In Hand Vetiver Candle $12
• Zum Goat's Milk Soap Bundles $10

How To Make: Peace Of Mind Body & Bath Oil Blend

This is a lovely aromatherapy blend combining essential oils that promote relaxation, well being, peace of mind and comfort. The blend is in an organic sesame oil base which makes it a great choice for a body oil, massage oil or a bath oil.

This makes a very nice hand made gift. An 8 ounce bottle of this blend lasts many months as a bath and body oil and has a fairly long shelf life if kept in a cool dark cabinet when not in use. It could last a year or longer.

For Peace of Mind Blend, you will need:

- 8 ounces of Organic Sesame Oil

- a blue glass 8 or 16 ounce bottle/lid

- Organic Grapefruit Essential Oil

- Clary Sage Essential Oil

- Organic Cedarwood Essential Oil

- Sweet Basil Essential Oil

- Wintergreen Essential Oil

Blend 20 drops of Organic Grapefruit Essential oil into your Organic Sesame Oil base. Drop in the Grapefruit, put the cap on your bottle and gently shake. Next add your Clary Sage Essential oil. 12 drops. Add 12 drops of Organic Cedarwood aromatherapy oil, 8 drops of Sweet Basil and 4 drops of Wintergreen. Fasten the lid tightly and shake the blend gently. Let it sit for 30 minutes before applying to your skin or bath to allow time for the essential oils to bind.

Rub Peace Of Mind oil onto your chest and temples at bed time to slow down a racing or restless mind. Use for therapeutic massage, foot massage. Use 1/2 ounce to a full ounce in a warm bath to release mental and emotional stress. Enjoy...

Great Gifts For Under $50

•  Half Hour Swedish Massage $45
•  Brocade Neck Pillows $44
•  Herbal Ease Canvas Neck Pillow $39
•  Asian Foot Massage Gift Certificate $45
•  Fig + Yarrow Hygene Kit $36
•  Patch NYC Stag Soy Candle $36/$48
•  Sweet Birch Mineral Bath Flakes $36
•  Scalp Massage Gift Certificate $45
•  Cardamom Coffee Body Scrub $48
•  Hot Stone Pedicure $40
•  Acupressure Neck Pillow from Bed Of Nails $39
•  Monarch Deluxe Spa Bathrobe $40

Headache Remedy: DIY Aromatherapy Blend

Headaches are a common by product of unmanaged stress. Sinus problems, dehydration, allergies, overworking, hormonal imbalance, insufficient sleep, excess toxins in the body, emotional distress, inflammation and muscle tension in the neck and shoulders are the root causes of most headaches.

If you are suffering from frequent headaches, drink more water, stretch, sleep, find a way to rid your body of excess toxins, stretch your neck, chest and shoulders and get a therapeutic massage. 

Aromatherapy from pure essential oils stimulates hormone receptor sites in the brain and can trigger a positive chemical reaction within seconds upon inhalation. Application and inhalation of a good blend could the release your nagging headache pain in a fairly short period of time. At least the headache tension will be reduced and at best your headache could be alleviated all together. 

Here is a blend designed to address tension, toxin and hormonal headaches. An alternative recipe can be used for sinus and inflammation headaches or TMJ.

For your headache blend you will need:

•  1/2 ounce of organic sunflower oil
•  Marjoram essential oil
•  Organic French Lavender essential oil
•  Fennel essential oil
•  Lemon Essential oil
•  Rosemary essential oil
•  Geranium essential oil (optional)
•  a 1/2 ounce  blue glass bottle and lid
•  7 clean pipettes or droppers

Blend 6 drops of Marjoram, 1 milliliter of Lavender, 6 drops of Fennel, half milliliter of Lemon, 8 drops of Rosemary and 12 drops of Geranium in your empty glass aromatherapy bottle. Close the lid and give it a shake for 10 seconds. Add your 1/2 ounce of organic sunflower oil. Not all of it will fit, just fill the bottle so that you have a 1/6 of an inch room from the top of the oil to your lid. Tightly fasten the lid and shake for 10 seconds. 

Let your blend sit for 30 minutes so the essential oils can merry together.

Apply your blend to pulse points, temples, sinus and or scalp for rapid headache relief. Inhale as needed. Wear your healing headache blend on your ears, neck or wrists for headache prevention. 

Use 12 drops or so in a warm bath or 5 drops for a facial steam or foot bath. 

Try a headache massage at Urban Sanctuary in Athens, Georgia. Relieving tension headaches is one of our specialties. Also recommended for chronic headache sufferers are our TMJ massage, neck, back and shoulder massages, Deep Tissue, Myofascial and Aromatherapy Scalp massages. It is good to get at the root cause of headaches to alleviate the problem holistically. 

Find ingredients for your headache blend online at Urbansanctuaryspa.com or in our spa store at 810 N Chase St. Athens Georgia 30601.   

Make Your Own Sleepy Time Bath

A night time bath is a great way to release the stress of the day and promote deep and restful sleep. A good blend of sea salts and pure essential oils for aromatherapy will nourish, relax and cleanse your body and calm your spirit.

Here is how you can put together a nice sleepy time bath blend to fill an 8 ounce mason jar or bath container. This makes a great hand crafted gift. It smells delicious and can be used as a bath or a foot soak.

You will need the following:

•  4 cups of sea salt or himalayan salt 
•  8 drops of Bergamot essential oil
•  12 drops of Cedarwood essential oil
•  6 drops of Organic French Lavender essential oil
•  1/2 ounce of organic sesame oil

Blend your ingredients in the order in which they are listed above and enjoy! 

Use 2 tablespoons for a foot soak or 1 half cup or more for an aromatherapy bath.

Miniature bath baggies are a fun gift idea. Portion out one cup of your sleepy time bath blend into 4 potpourri bags and tie with a ribbon or a bread  bag tie. Gift your salts as a one time bath or 3 foot soaks.

12 Great Gifts For Him

• Scalp Massage Gift Certificate $55
• Arnica Muscle and Joint Gel by Naturopathica $28
• Acupressure Neck Pillow by Bed of Nails $39
• Hour Massage Series Package of Seven $480- $540
• Konjac Loofa and  Body Sponge with Bamboo Charcoal $15
• Peppermint Volcano Soap by Level Naturals $6
• Herbal Ease Neck Pillow $45
• Alpha Fit Clarisonic Brush for Men $189
• Cedar and Bergamot Post Shave Elixer from Herbivore Botanicals $22
• Patch Fedora Solid Fragrance $22
• Ninety Minute Deep Tissue Massage $125

10 Great Gifts For Her

These lovely hand  crafted Lavender Neck  and Body Pillows can be used hot or cold.

• Four Seasons Herbal Steam Fig +and Yarrow $24
• Cucumber Wasabi Cilantro Soy Candle In Glass by Level Naturals $19.99
• Brass Cameo Locket crafted by My Sweet Nomsa in black or pink $36
• 2 Hours of Spa Time $190
• Little Barn Apothecary's Cedarwood + Rose Body Scrub $24
• Aromatic Alchemy Essential Oils Blends Kit from Naturopathica $98
• Meadow Bath & Body Oil from Fig and Yarrow $44
• Lavender Neck and Body Pillow by Whispering Willow $39
• Herbivore Botanicals' Coconut Milk Bath $18 or $32
• Queen For A Day Gift Certificate $302

DIY Gifts: Holiday Potpourri

Holiday potpourri can be created for under $2 per baggie. Aromatherapy Oils at Urban Sanctuary.

Do-it-yourself holiday potpourri. This is a very fun gift to make. Potpourri can be put together for less than $1 or $2 per baggie depending on what you have around the house or yard. Adding essential oil drops for aromatherapy will add to the cost, however it's probably worth it. Pure essential oil drops in the blend will make the potpourri last longer. It also transforms your potpourri from a lovely decorative gift to a lovely gift with healing and stress relieving properties.

You will need:

• 5 small fresh rosemary or juniper bush clippings
• 5 pine tree or fir tree clippings
• (I clipped my Christmas tree and wreath)
• a colorful, hardy winter flower
• a 6 1/2 x 5 7/8 inch BPA free sandwich bag
• 3 drops Bergamot essential oil
• 2 drops Frankincense essential oil
• 3 drops Wintergreen essential oil

Throw your clippings in a bowl. Cut your rosemary, juniper and fir into big pieces, thumb length approximately. Cut the winter flower and pine into smaller pieces to make shake. Suit your own aesthetic. Mix your pieces with bare hands or salad tongs.

Using a dropper, drop 3 drops of Bergamot essential oil, 2 drops of Frankinsense essential oil and 3 drops of Wintergreen. Mix again to evenly distribute the aromatherapy oils. Let your potpourri dry for 15 minutes and pour into a sandwich baggy. A ziplock bag will lock in the scent. Tie in the middle with a bow.

Multiply the ingredients above by however many gifts you'd like to make.
Variations: A large baggy leaves room to gather and tie at the top for a more dramatic presentation. Add pine cones for contrast. Substitute Peppermint or Orange essential oil for Wintergreen and Bergamot to cut your cost. Frankinsense is a warm and heady holiday scent, but not loved by all. Suit your own nose. You will have a large quantity of your essential oils left over after this project, since it only requires 8 drops per bag.

Read about the healing properties of essential oils and how to use them.

 

Body Oil ,Body Wash and Body Scrubs by little barn Apothecary

The wildly popular Coffee + Mint Body Scrub smells like chocolate.

We had the opportunity to meet with artisan product creators and Little Barn Apothecary founders, Joshua and Brad at Urban Sanctuary yesterday. It was amazing to learn the story of how they created their new natural products line. They shared their stories and a some of the science, art and love behind each holistically crafted blend.

Brad and Joshua insist on using only ethically sourced essential oils, herbs and ingredients in ALL of their products. This is not just lip service. They actually grow and harvest their own Thyme, Coriander, Mint, Lemon Balm, Eucalyptus, Lavender and more in their very own back yard.

The intelligence, artistry and love that goes into these products is incredible. After spending a few hours with Brad and Joshua, I can honestly say that we are star struck.

We will be adding their soy candles, face cleansing oils and several other aspect of the line to our inventory within weeks. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, check out the scrubs, soaks and body oils available at Urban Sanctuary now!

• Coffee + Mint Body Scrub is toning, tightening and renewing $26
• Cedarwood + Rose Body Scrub is softening, gentle and calming $24
• Rosemary + Juniper Body Scrub is invigorating and smoothing $24
• Honeysuckle + Grapefruit Body Oil is at once healing and  intoxicating $34
•  Lemongrass +Mint Body Oil is nurturing and refreshing $26
• Rosewood + Ylang Ylang Body Wash soothing and softening $16
• Ginger + Rosemary Body Wash detoxing and awakening $16

New Staff Highlight: Sheri Stout Massage Therapist

Sheri Stout specializes in Hot Stone Massage at Urban Sanctuary.

We are very pleased to welcome massage therapist Sheri Stout to Urban Sanctuary. After over 20 years as a licensed massage therapist, Sheri has landed in Athens where she is providing massage services to Urban Sanctuary clients every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Sheri is a level three Reiki practitioner. She performs Reflexology, Aromatherapy Massage, Body Scrubs, cold stone face massage, Swedish Massage and her favorite modality, Hot Stone Massage. For more than 8 years, Sheri has been traveling around the U.S. leading professional training courses to licensed massage therapists. She leads Hot Stone Massage training, customer service training and several other spa modality courses.

Sheri has lived most of her life in central New Jersey. Her mom has been living with her for the past 8 years and 2 years ago the 2 of them moved down south to join Sheri's sister, Kris, in Georgia so the two sisters could provide care for their mom together. The three of them live in Watkinsville, where Sheri and Kris raise perennials and small trees in their backyard nursery. Kris sells them at the Oconee Farmers' Market and to private clients who enlist her skills to help them create a beautiful year-round plant garden. In addition to raising plants and trees, they also raise worms! They make their own soil using compost and worm castings. Sheri and Kris are extremely conscious of holistic gardening and practice this in their nursery as well as their organic garden.

Other than missing the ocean, Sheri says that southern living has been really great.
I asked Sheri why she became a massage therapist and here is her story:

"Years ago, I was a nursing assistant in nursing homes. Being witness to contractions and bed sores, I thought there was a better way to prevent these in our elderly. I began massaging these sweet folks to help lower their anxiety levels and help them fall asleep. I would give hand and foot massages as a way to soothe away their aches and pains. I decided then that massage therapy was not only wonderful for the elderly, but wonderful for everyone, so I decided to become a professional MT."

And the world is a better place for it...

I also asked Sheri to give details about her jewelry making and design.

"I specialize in Navajo design earrings/necklaces. But I also do wire wrapping as well as assorted bracelets. earrings, anklets, etc. I started making pieces 30 years ago, but put that on hold to raise my 2 children. When my children became adults, I became care-giver to my mother and while staying home to care give, renewed my interest in jewelry making. I no longer have an Etsy account (but may renew it). I sell in 3 stores, one in NJ, one in Fla. and one here in Watkinsville called Ann Peden's."

Book an hour or an hour and a half massage with Sheri by calling 706-613-3947. She has warm hands and a very soothing, nurturing touch. Make it a hot stone massage for a deeply relaxing experience. Urban Sanctuary is open 7 days a week. Check our prices, gift certificates and spa service menus online. 

New Staff Highlight:Scarlet Ryan

 Scarlet's  staff profile  is on our website.Click staff on the tool bar, then facials.

Scarlet brings over 16 years experience in day spa skincare to Urban Sanctuary. She holds a medical esthetics license and is expert at speed waxing, microdermabrasion, advanced facials and makeup application. She gives an amazing facial! Here we share with you a few interesting details about Scarlet's life and career.

Scarlet moved here from Knoxville, Tennessee. She and her 10 year old daughter, Keira, live in Watkinsville with their cat. Keira attends Malcomb Bridge Elementary School, plays softball and studies contemporary dance 3 or 4 nights a week. Scarlet and Keira go to the Athens Farmers Market at Bishop Park almost every Saturday morning.

Scarlet's sister lives here and other family as well. This was what brought Scarlet and Keira to the area. They are enjoying being here and meeting all of the new people and personalities in Athens, as well as being with family. When Scarlet gets a night off between Keira's dance class and softball practice, she likes sitting on the Patio at Fuzzy's downtown sipping margueritas.

Born in Rochester, Scarlet lived in upstate New York and in the Atlanta area at different stages while growing up.

Scarlet tell me about your family and friends.

" I have family and friends all over the country and visit as often as possible; I really love traveling. My family is extremely Irish and celebrate their heritage any chance they get. We all have shamrock tattoos. Lol."

What do you like to do to relax when you are not at work?

"I love to cook and entertain, but can't  follow a recipe or measure ingredients. LOVE sushi if I get a grown up night. I like reading murder mysteries and I really like Pinterest. I get lots of great ideas for crafts and gift making on Pinterest, which usually turn out pretty well when I try them."

What got you interested in the field of esthetics?

"I actually worked at Glamour Shots in the 1990's when I was in high school. Remember Glamour shots? That was so fun. I also freelanced makeup of events and makeup for department stores. I was really into it. I really love makeup. People told me I could make more of a career out of it if I  got professionally trained:That is what had me look into esthetics school, originally."

"Once in school, I discovered that I just absolutely love skincare. It was makeup that got me there, but I discovered I love all of it, the science behind skincare, the service of giving facials and I love to know the chemical compounds in skincare products!"

How have you managed to learn the details of skincare chemistry? 

"Well, we were taught some of that at International School of Skin and Nail Care in Atlanta. However, after school I worked at Spa Sydell where they used to train all of the staff in the science behind skincare. It was fascinating to me! The owner created her own product line and we would learn the chemical compounds in all of the in house skincare products. I was hooked back then and have been ever since."

You have lots of  professional training and certifications under your belt. Can we name a few?

"I've had specialized face and neck massage classes, extensive chemistry and product knowledge training and hold a medical esthetics license. I learned speed waxing techniques with Renee Poignard. I've also had stage makeup classes, runway, fantasy and bridal makeup training."

Scarlet ran the skincare department at Spa Visage in Knoxville, Tennessee and was lead esthetician at Spa Sydell in Atlanta for many years prior to that.. She is a true gem. We are very fortunate to have her with us at Urban Sanctuary.

Book a facial, makeup application or waxing appointment with Scarlet by calling our front desk at 706-613-3947. Or purchase a gift certificate online and send a friend in. Urban Sanctuary is open seven days a week. Scarlet works Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Browse our Facial Menu, Advanced Facials, Microdermabrasion, Makeup Services and Waxing.