The Pine Salt Scrub at Pinehurst

A dear friend of mine said to me last week, "You seem so happy and relaxed!" Only momentarily stumped as to the cause of this elation, he followed this declaration with a quick, "When was the last time you went to Pinehurst?" I laughed and confessed it had been only two days earlier.

When it's big decision time I believe there is a historical precedent for retreating to a quiet, peaceful place so that one might better hear the inner voice. Why not carry out said retreat at a spa where they regularly ask "Would you care for a complimentary smoothie?" and "Can I turn the jets on for you?"

In this particular case the decision was school or fantastic (completely unforeseen) job offer. Seeing as the universe had afforded me such abundant choices I decided to afford myself the The Pine Salt Scrub, a forty dollar price increase over my usual Bath Escape.

This full body exfoliation uses the highest quality pine salts to slough off the outermost epidermis. After a quick rinse, your lovely spa attendant soothes every last inch of you with a rich sweetly scented moisturizer. If you didn't take my advice after the Vichy Shower at Bliss, please afford the luxury of having another adult bath you in this completely fantastic spa ritual. The scent of Pinehurst's signature treatment is crisp and refreshing, like pine needles on the forest floor freshly fragrant from a spring rain. Delicious. After being reduced to a non-verbal blob I decided I was down with the abundance idea and went for the job. Enjoy!

Beauty's SPOT visits an American classic, The Spa at Pinehurst, and informs you on the ultimate beauty bargain - a four star spa and resort on $40 a day or $499 for an all inclusive renewal weekend.

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The Spa at Pinehurst: A North Carolina Classic on A Modern Budget

Perhaps your husband is a golfer who dreams of playing the famed Pinehurst #2. Perhaps you are a college student who needs relief from the pressures of academia and basketball. Perhaps you are, like me, plagued with a taste for opulence but saddled with a small budget.

Young or old, well-heeled or of humble means, local girl friday or international Golfer, The Spa at Pinehurst is an item for the bucket list. Book any treatment beyond a salon service, and you’ll have all-day access to the four star, 31,000 foot facility - tranquility, pool, steam, sauna, and Southern charm included. Built in 2002 as an addition the original property, built in 1895, the spa boasts 28 treatment rooms consisting of 16 massage rooms, 6 facial rooms, 2 body/wet rooms, 1 dual/couples massage room,1 hydro-tub room and 2 waterscape tub rooms.

The least expensive item on the spa menu? A Hydrotherapy listed simply as a "Bath Escape" for a mere $40. Other popular treatments include the Magnolia Facial, the Hot Stone Massage, Golfer’s massages, Gentlemen’s Facial and Sportsmen’s pedicures. And no matter what treatment you receive adorable men in matching brown uniforms will approach you and say things like, "Would you like the jets turned on?" and "Can I offer you a smoothie?" Yes and Yes. Juice, coffee, tea, spa snacks, and several large bowls of ice and wash clothes are refilled constantly. The iced wash clothes are a necessity if you plan to spend any time at all in the true to its name steam room. I spent 3 hours hoping from women's hot tub, to co-ed hot tub, to steam room, to juice bar, to pool and back again. If you ever doubt that stress holds a physical presence in the body spend three hours at The Spa at Pinehurst and I promise, you will feel it leave. Deliriously relaxed I spent the last 30 minutes of my visit in a gardenia scented bath escape.

Sold? Perfect timing. The annual Spring Renewal Weekend is March 13-15, 2009 and there is still space available for last minute travelers. The cost is $499 per person – and it's loaded with value. Yoga, spa cuisine, $100 towards spa treatments(!), and two nights in what is, in my humble opinion, the best resort on the East Coast. Package details below. Enjoy!

Spring Renewal Weekend at the Spa at Pinehurst – $499 per person

Includes
-Two night’s accommodations at Pinehurst’s historic Holly Inn
-Continental Breakfast each morning
-Spa Luncheon featuring Mimi Donaldson, author of “Bless Your Stress – It Means You’re Alive!”
-Spa Opening Reception Friday
-Gourmet Dinner and Wine Tasting Saturday
-Series of Seminars including: How to Spa at Home, Aromatherapy, and Nutrition 101
-$100 Gift Card for spa treatments
-Loaded Spa Gift Bag
-Morning Fitness/Yoga Classes

Beauty. By Dooney and Bourke.

Next to my desk is a three tiered metal sheet holder. For a few months now a fairly harmless page, torn from the Nordstrom's Catalogue, has occupied the second shelf. Not urgent business, just a red bag and an inkling that this was possibly the One. Made for me. Perfect. The stuff of fairy tales.

Upon visiting the local Nordie's there were no samples of this specific model in the large size. There was one medium brown version. Yuck. Being a fairly curvy girl, I like my bags big. With well cut lines and leather that reminds me of my first horse's dressage saddle.

After my glorious Sunday at the Spa at Pinehurst (story forthcoming) I strolled with one of my besties through the shops inside the Carolina. That's where I spotted her. In red. In the large size. Full sentences are escaping me. I nearly knelt down to pray but instead shouted "Oh my god you have it! Nordstroms doesn't even have it." All told I spent about twenty minutes with Dooney and Bourke's Large Hobo bag in red. It is ridiculously large, covering the majority of my torso but the absurdity of carrying a piece of luggage as a day bag is as endearing to this laptop totting blogger as well, a straight man who can talk skincare. At $265 there is no way I can justify buying it, unless of course banks start accepting editorial product samples as currency. (Given the Times article about Annie Leibovitz borrowing $15 million against her life's work, I'm thinking beauty banking may not be too far off.) For those of you who do invest in this, the most beautiful bag ever, enjoy!