We heart cupcakes

May is here, which is hard to believe. Time goes fast here at Hela Spa and Ted Gibson. In the last few weeks we have worked our way through a few events, for example Spa-Week. This is a biannual event that we have developed a real love-hate relationship with...

We LOVE seeing all the new clients coming in to try our treatments, and sharing their experiences. We do not love as much the Mt Everest of laundry that Spa-Week creates, and that took us two weeks to get through... Yes, the laundry labor is so intense during and after Spa-Week that it made our massage therapist base a storyline for a modern dance piece on it! (Not kidding. We are creative here at Hela and TG).

What else have we been up to... Oh, we decided to spice up a staff meeting with a cupcake battle! As you all know, the cupcake trend reached DC a few months back and there is quite a few different shops dedicated entirely to cupcakes that each Washingtonian has to choose between when the cupcake tooth sets in.

We decided to let the two most popular vendors in Georgetown battle it out: Georgetown Cupcake and Baked and Wired.

Before the storm: Baked and Wired

Georgetown Cupcake....
Packaging is crucial. Georgetown may win at first glance, but B&W's stickers (which is a little hard to see on this picture) is very cool...

Kelly and Michael fighting over the cherry blossom special edition by Baked & Wired.
So what did we think? Who had the bests cupcakes? It was an quite an even race! Mr Ladner pointed out that he prefers the overall vibe at B&W. However, most of us agreed that B&W's products are sweet. Like, really sweet. To the point where you almost pass out from the sugar rush. (Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Unless you have to go back to work after the munching...)

Georgetown Cupcake on the other hand, had a more nuanced flavor, particularly the frosting. They were smaller though. Which didn't roll with most of us. Cupcakes need to not be cramped into tiny cupcake cups. They need space!

But I guess I do prefer a good tasting cupcake, no matter what size, over a less flavorful, but big, cupcake.

As I'm writing this, Kelly shouts that she thought Baked & Wired was way better. I asked her if she didn't think they were too sweet. She said that she likes sweet things...

As you can tell, it's not that easy to determine a winner. I guess we didn't have one winner. We had two.

To check out neighborhood pastry shops go to georgetowncupcake.com (cool interactive website btw) and bakedandwired.com.
Next time, at the next staff meeting, we are going to try the next big thing... Yes, yogurt ice cream. Hey, Sweet Greens and Ice Berry, better watch out!

The product crazy massage therapist

Our massage therapist Mary, is writing about her passion; massage cream...

Hela has changed me. When I started here three years ago my only concern about massage lubricant was the glide... with a vague notion that it should be more or less non-toxic (of course at that time I didn't mind that my skincare routine was ivory soap). I shudder at the thought.

I can pinpoint the beginning of my product obsession. It was when I got it into my head that Hela needed to have a customized massage cream... at which time I learned that I could choose things. Power. More eucalyptus for a sports massage blend, OK.... more natural, sure thing just keep it in the refrigerator. More earth friendly? Just use a emulsifier that comes from a different region of the world. That massage cream is like an expression of my soul.

But obsessions are endless and I wasn't completely satisfied. I had to find the perfect massage oil. I wanted more hydration, more omegas, more organic, more free trade, more Nordic.... nothing would satisfy me. And then finally, after a year of looking I found it. Cloudberry Seed Oil. It has been called the golden oil, and I see why. This is the dream massage oil. I almost cried when my sample bottle ran out. The only supplier is half way around the world and had not yet sold to the States yet, but it is almost year. Any day now my new oil is going to arrive. Its like being a kid at Christmas.... only much, much better.

Would you like to win your own massage cream? And maybe a body polish to get rid of that dry winter skin? Comment on this post and let us know how you heard about our blog, and we will select five winners who's names we will announce on Friday the 6th!

The eye cream that Georgetown is in love with

Everyone at Hela is feeling fresh and rejuvenated. Why? SkinMedica's TNS Night Eye Repair tightens and brightens your eyes to make them look fabulous...and seductive... ;-)

Some people take it a bit too far though. Here's Amber kissing her new BFF...

"i also believe in love at first sight, that candid photography is an art form, and that i can change the world."

These words come from the DC-based photographer Jaime Windon (a.k.a. the Blonde Photographer...).

If you haven't seen her work yet, you must go to blonde photo: have more fun! You will see the most exquisite collection of photography from many different events and places, both locally and from the around the world!




If there is one thing to be said about Jaime, it's that she truly lives life to the fullest, with an open heart. This I believe, can be seen in her work as well.



















The other day we had the honor of having Jaime at our location in Chevy Chase. Below are some of her photos from the session:

Before...
























After!










































Gotta love Jaime!

Valentine's Weekend Couples Massage Class

Looking for a way to continue your Valentine's Day festivities on Sunday, without having to get dressed up all over again? Or, are you boycotting the holiday altogether, and just looking for something fun to do with a friend that doesn't involve braving the February cold?

Hela has your answer. Join us at The Collection on Sunday, February 15th at 10:00 a.m. for a couples massage workshop.

The class will teach you, through demonstration and hands-on practice, the tools you need to share the nurturing, relaxing, therapeutic benefits of massage with your loved ones. The two-and-a-half hour workshop will include a brief overview of anatomy, the basic mechanics of giving massage (no more 'weak hands') and an easy to follow protocol for working on the back, neck, shoulders, hands and feet.

Though class is designed for couples, pairs of friends are welcome. All participants should be at least 18 years of age and in good health. Pregnant women in their second or third trimester are welcome and encouraged to join.

We will provide all of the supplies you'll need, but you are welcome to bring a pillow to sit on or a blanket to cozy up with, and wear comfortable clothes and plan to be working on the floor.

Our last batch of students had great fun, and were thrilled with what they learned. One reported back that she would never look at massage the same way again.

For more information or to register, simply contact the spa!

We have a blog!!

Make sure to bookmark this website in your favorites! This is where you will get the latest on Hela Spa and Ted Gibson!

For those of you who haven't heard about our new salon, we are very excited to let you know that we are now partnering with Ted Gibson!

This past week was quite a ride, with Ted's team traveling to DC over inauguration weekend. We had a lot of clients coming in for services, as well as stylists coming in to interview with Ted.

We also had a visit from someone you might recognize...




American actress and R&B singer Tatyana Ali (best known for her role as Ashley Banks in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air!) Here she is getting her make-up done. -- Check out her hair -- Ted's work!.

For those of you who haven't met Ted, and would like to know more about him, click here for a great article in Vanity Fair!

The man himself :) >

This partnership has been such a great way to ring in the new year! We look forward to the continuing excitement of 2009, and to sharing it with all of our Hela, and now Ted Gibson, family!

Check back weekly for new posts!!

And the Laser Saga Continues...

As most of our devoted (*and thankfully understanding*) clients know, poor Leon the Laser has been a bit more than "under the weather" as of late, so we have finally decided to send him into early retirement. We are hard at work "interviewing" the best, newest lasers on the market to find a suitable replacement. Here you see Amber and Brianne busy "training" with one of our candidates!!