Five Star Award: It's our California Premier Stay Spa member, Montage Resort & Spa, in Laguna Beach, California. Nestled along the stunning coastline of Laguna Beach, Montage Resort & Spa is an intimate seaside retreat that reflects the culture and heritage of Southern California. This unique retreat offers a peaceful sanctuary to help you re-connect with nature - and yourself - through serene surroundings and therapeutic treatments. Our breathtaking indoor/outdoor oceanfront facilities, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows to fully capture the 160-degree vistas, feature soothing treatments and expert guidance to help instill a sense of well-being and more balanced living.

Four Star Award: It's our Florida Premier Stay Spa member, Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, in Orlando, Florida. A subtle bouquet of citrus drifts through the air, and all around you, the gentle spirit of the tropics prevails. At The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Orlando, Grande Lakes, you will experience a relaxing retreat from the world outside, a place where the sense of touch can relax the spirit and refresh the soul. The Spa comprises more than 40,000 square feet, 40 different treatment rooms and a 4,000 square-foot heated lap pool for the exclusive use of Spa guests; a co-ed relaxation conservatory; a full-service salon; and a Spa boutique.

Three Star Award: It's our Arizona Premier Stay Spa member, The Phoenician and Centre for Well- Being, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Phoenician is known for its lavish decor, a gilded lobby which commands one of the best views of the Valley of the Sun, and luxury suites and villas. The Centre for Well-Being is a 22,000 square foot spa offering comprehensive programs and services ranging from herbal body treatments to energy therapies to fitness classes. The facilities include cardiovascular and weight training studio, an aerobic studio, a Meditation Atrium, locker rooms with sauna, steam, whirlpool and Swiss showers, 24 treatment rooms, private offices for consultations, a full-service salon, boutique and Waters Bar.

Readers, when a spa is listed as a "premier" destination on Spa Index, you can be assured you are being guided to the best in spa travel. Spa Index Media congratulates its premier stay spa members from California, Florida, and Arizona on their awards.

In April: You should have started shopping for that fabulous swim suit. This will guarantee you have the biggest selection to choose from so you get the right style, cut and color for your body shape.

In May: Get your hair cut at the beginning of summer. Why? It is vital to cut away damage from the lack of moisture during winter months, blow- drying and flat ironing so you can hit the beach with hair that is in excellent condition!

In June: Get a bikini wax to look great for your first summer trip to the beach! Exfoliate before getting waxed. Exfoliating gets rid of dead skin cells and allows hair to break through. Post treatment: Prevent ingrown hairs, caused by dead skin cells, by exfoliating. Stay out of sun before and after your wax. Because skin is thinner and more sensitive after waxing, you are more likely to get burned. Ouch!

In July: Sand can be harsh, especially for your feet. If you have a pedicure, apply topcoat before and after you go to the beach. Use a pumice stone to slough away dead skin and then moisturize with body oil to keep your soles from getting rough.

In August: After all those hours at the beach, sunburns are a likely possibility. To soothe your sunburn, mix equal parts olive oil and vinegar and apply gently one hour before your bath.

Vasseur Skincare specializes in developing products that contain essential vitamins and nutrients such as A, C, E, coenzyme Q10, DMAE, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Idebenone to combat the visible signs of aging.

Spa Flyer Blog users will have instant access on their home pages, including "My Yahoo", "My MSN" and others, to daily and weekly time-sensitive spa vacation specials, health spa deals, spa contests and sweepstakes, spa product spotlights, spa resort grand openings, and more.

Starting in May, many of our spa members will be adding print-ready special offers available for your download -- be the first to enjoy special rates, discounts, gifts, and more, from our participating spa members. The list will be growing extensively over the coming months -- check our Spa Flyer blog on a daily or weekly basis -- or better yet -- subscribe to the newsfeed on your own MyYahoo or MyMSN page. Click the screen shot from MyYahoo, below, to see how you can be reading SpaFlyer Specials and get the news delivered directly to you!

TEN THOUSAND WAVES, Sante Fe, New Mexico, USA: The BED, BATH, & BUDDHA special, valid June 1-August 31. To really slough away the world, stay with Ten Thousand Waves and receive: Two nights in the Houses of the Moon lodgings; Two Buddha Treat packages (three-hours in a private tub, an herbal wrap, a 55-minute private massage, a salt glow, and signature Buddha soap to take home); plus an additional Regular Private Tub. Starting at $424, double occupancy.

RED MOUNTAIN SPA, St. Ivins, Utah, USA: The Summer Nature & Nurture Package, valid June 1- August 31. Starting at $209 per person, per night, plus $49 Red Mountain Massages All Summer Long! Picture yourself hiking in the unspoiled Red Rock beauty of the American Southwest by day, and pampering yourself by night with a Red Mountain Massage, when you reserve the Red Mountain Spa Summer Nature and Nurture Package. The package includes: Deluxe Accommodations, Life Enhancement Activities and Programs, Three Gourmet Meals Daily, Daily Guided Morning Hikes in a Spectacular Red Rock Setting, Full Use of Resort Facilities, Unlimited Fitness, Classes & Sports Activities including NIA, Yoga, Pilates and more, Spa and Salon Services, Golf, Outdoor Adventure Trips and Health & Fitness Assessments can be added to any package for additional fee.

CRANWELL RESORT, SPA & GOLF CLUB, Lenox, Massachusetts, USA: Don't feel like golfing, swimming, hiking, or over-exerting? Here's a unique spa package that's let you exercise your brain -- the Spring Into Culture Museum Package. You don't have to wait until summer to experience the vast array of visual arts at many outstanding Berkshire area museums. Cranwell's Spring into Culture Museum Package includes: One night resort accommodations, Two sets of two tickets (four total) to your choice of the following museums: Berkshire Museum, Clark Art Institute, Edith Wharton's The Mount, Hancock Shaker Village, Herman Melville's Arrowhead, MASSMoCA, Norman Rockwell Museum, plus full use of the Spa at Cranwell with heated indoor pool, whirlpools, saunas, steamrooms and Fitness Center. Spa Treatments are available on an a la carte basis. Valid May 1 - June 30, excluding Holidays. $250 for two, Sunday - Thurs.

Designer Elissa Margulies knows hats - in fact, she's famous for them. In the early 1980's, she and husband Michael Ross founded Forget Me Not, a hat manufacturing company that tapped into the Junior's market with a force. Picked up by major retailers like Contempo Casuals, Margulies' creations were discovered up by stylists, and before she knew it, Forget Me Not hats became the trademark of the hit television show Blossom.

After researching the sun protection industry and learning about what fabrics and colors function best, Margulies co-founded Physician Endorsed in 2002. Today, she's the creative force behind a dynamic line of hats, sunglasses and accessories designed for both style and skin care. Her hats are tested and endorsed by an independent medical advisory board, rated UPF 50+ (equivalent to SPF 30), and offer consumers a fashionable and safe way to spend time in the sun.

Every hat is packaged with a tube of Dermazone's Lyphazome® Moisturizing Sunscreen, SPF 30 skin care protection -- so truly -- no excuses! Your esthetician would approve.

Physician Endorsed hats are located within many fine day spas, nationwide, as well as upscale department stores. Visit the website to locate the nearest source. Or, be certain to watch for the June 2005 issue of Spa Index News for a special promotion -- you may win one of three (3) prize giveaways of Physican Endorsed Summer Sun Survival Kits, including hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and more!

In April/May, Spabox and Spa Index partnered to present a $100 gift certificate to one of our newsletter subscribers who penned an inspirational tale in honor of Mom, for Mother's Day. We've collected the award-entries for your enjoyment. From inspirational, to sobering, to down-right funny, we think you'll enjoy "The Mom Tales."

Prizes are enroute to our award winners, courtesy of Spa Box Apothecary, and, Spa Index Media.

2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ cup lowfat lemon yogurt
1 12-oz can solid white tuna in water, drained
1 ½ cups seedless red grapes, cut in half
1 stalk celery, diced
¼ cup chopped dates
2 tablespoons minced red onion
2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted
6 large green or red leaf lettuce leaves, washed and patted dry
 

In a medium bowl, combine first three ingredients, mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients except lettuce. Mix together well. Place about 1/2 cup of tuna mixture into center of each lettuce leaf and roll up. Garnish with additional red grapes, if desired. Nutritional Information per Serving
Calories: 326
Carbohydrates: 35g
Total Fat: 7.4g
Cholesterol: 50mg
Saturated Fat: 1.6g
Dietary Fiber: 3.5g
% of Calories from Fat: 20%
Sodium: 476mg
Protein: 32g