Click to View Latest IssueClick to View Latest Issue

Supporting Local Businesses Always Looks Good!

By  0 Comments

In the wake of COVID-19, many people are asking, “What can I do to help?” Keeping our dollars local will help with the recovery, and there are numerous thoughtful ways to show your appreciation for the essential employees in your lives who’ve risked so much to save so many.

After weeks upon weeks of social distancing and sheltering at home, I think most of us are not only going to want, but seriously need, some pampering along with some “retail therapy” to refuel our mind, body and soul. With Mother’s Day on the horizon, it’s the perfect opportunity to show them how much they truly mean to you. 

Pampering
I don’t know about you, but nothing lifts my spirits quite like a visit to the spa. Spa treatments are one of the oldest human practices, with everybody from the Romans to the ancient Byzantines building bathhouses, saunas, hammams and other facilities for communal bathing. While the spa experience has certainly changed a bit over the years, science has shown that exposure to essential oils can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, and that massage can lead to improved circulation and overall cardiovascular health.  I can’t think of any person who wouldn’t totally enjoy a pampering treatment from a spectacular spa in the area.  The Bliss spa package at Riversong includes a Swedish massage, relaxing facial, signature mani/pedi, and you even get to take home your very own O.P.I nail polish. While over at Regeneration Salon & Spa + Wellness Center, they offer several marvelous membership packages that involve getting a beauty box with new surprises every month, along with a discount on all of their other outstanding services and products. One of Erika’s custom facials at the Facial Boutique is guaranteed to make you feel serene while leaving your skin glowing and healthy. As a special for Mother’s Day and to honor all of the essential workers out there, she has put together custom at-home facial kits. The in-home healing kit features products that will calm, protect and revive your skin. You can purchase them now or buy a gift card for use at a later date. 

I’ll be honest and admit that I was not taking care of my hair the way that I normally do during my time in quarantine. Sure, I was still washing it, but I would let one or two days longer slip in between washes because really, who was going to notice? However, getting a new hairstyle or a blowout feels like a luxury similar to buying yourself a new outfit. It’s considered a special treat to so many people, and if the new ‘do looks amazing, it will boost your ego and confidence as well. Haircuts can be transformational and if you lop a good bit of your hair off, it can feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. One of the best gifts my husband gave me for the holidays last year was a gift card to a nice salon. I was so jazzed because sometimes I feel guilty spending money on things like that. We all deserve to give ourselves some love, so why not treat that special someone to a gift card from The Clip Joint or Blowout Fanatic? 

The Clip Joint has been serving clients for over 30 years and they have also been voted Best of Columbia for six years. Their two locations in Columbia consistently get rave reviews for their team of highly skilled and experienced stylists. One of my favorite things about them is that they use Aveda products, as they are considered to be leaders in environmental responsibility, not just in the beauty world, but all around the world. And did I mention that their holistic line of products all smell divine? Blowout Fanatic offers a multitude of services guaranteed to make anyone feel phenomenal. While enjoying your complimentary cocktail, you can choose from ten different hairstyle options for your blowout. Don’t forget to indulge in the ten-minute scalp massage; it will melt away any tension and leave you feeling completely tranquil. When you leave, you will have a perfectly coiffed head of hair to show off at that Mother’s Day brunch you planned. 

Retail Therapy
Nesting is something that I feel is a never-ending odyssey in my home. I love searching for items that will make my house feel chic, cozy and trendy all at once. And I’m also always on the hunt for amazing host/hostess gifts for when friends invite us into their homes (it will happen again, I promise!). Whether you are shopping for yourself or someone else, May Wynn has an excellent assortment of eclectic home goods to please any palate. I adore the long hanging basket and the Ojai bud vases, which are both perfect for presenting your hostess a beautiful floral arrangement in. For the host that loves to cook, the handmade-in-Rwanda berry basket would surely make a lovely gift filled with kitchen utensils or an aromatic assortment of herbs. 

In times of stress, I find that a little retail therapy helps to give me a mood boost. Poppy is one of those shops that just makes people feel joyous when they walk in, thanks to all of the beautifully crafted artisan-made goods, gifts and art that fill the space. It is chock-full of so many brilliant items that it is hard to choose the perfect one; that’s why their awesome staff will hand select an assortment of items for you to choose from once you tell them who you are shopping for. Shopping doesn’t get more customized than this. Some excellent choices for Mother’s Day and hostess gifts can be found here; among them are these adorably kitschy vintage-inspired tin recipe boxes that are offered in two floral prints. For that trend-loving gal in your life, I’m sure she would be pleased with a gorgeous pair of Here Comes the Sun drop earrings crafted with Japanese glass beads. They will be a perfect complement to any springtime frock that she wants to rock. After all the hand washing that we’ve been subjecting our delicate hands to, a luxurious small-batch hand cream is totally necessary and would be a much-appreciated gift. Poppy has Red Rose Saffron hand cream made by Farmacie natural skin care that will leave your skin overjoyed with delight. You won’t want to leave the store without picking up something for yourself and something for a friend or loved one. 

If there is someone in your life that you want to show gratitude toward, just go for it! It doesn’t have to be your own mother; it can be a friend who is expecting, a cousin who has been working non-stop because she is considered essential, or even you! Spread some love and happiness this spring; the world could sure use it!

Nicole Zabriskie’s resume since her 1999 graduation from Mizzou lists stints with Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Carlos Miele, Diesel and Michael Kors. Today, she lives in Seattle, Washington, and works as a freelance fashion stylist to spend more time at home with her daughters, Zoe and Campbell. As a freelancer, she has worked with luxury brands including Prada, Miu Miu, Lanvin and Alexander McQueen.
@EmeraldCityStylist  /  www.emeraldcitystylist.us