Goodbye, Chicago! (A hard-won list of service providers and health-practitioners)

This is my "Goodbye, Chicago” gift; a hard-won list of favorite practitioners & service providers, gained over 18 years. I'm picky/particular, so these are not offered lightly. I'm devastated that I have to re-create this list in Los Angeles, but hope this benefits Chicago pals. 

ACUPUNCTURE
Lincoln Square Acupuncture--My favorite community acupuncture spot; expect a roomful of folks reclining on chairs stuck with needles, with white noise & gentle music playing. David’s an expert at doing quiet consultations, even in a “public” space. And, there is a private room if you need individualized attention. Sliding scale, starting at $25/visit. https://www.squarenergy.com/

Essential Acupuncture Chicago
Leigh Stein—is one of two women at this women-centric practice, they do a lot with internal organs, digestion, fertility. Super comfy space and individualized attention. She did an amazing grief point for me that released energy and let me move on from some serious stuckness. http://www.essentialchicago.org

PHYSICAL THERAPY/CHIROPRACTIC
Michael A. Pontarelli at Windy City Wellness
Discovering Mike 10 years ago saved my bod. He’s helped me recover from various ailments, plantar fasciitis, sprained ankle etc. he is a kinesiologist and appears sporty but is a true "healer" in every other sense. He uses modalities like acupuncture, massage (sometimes covered by insurance, and stretching/diet in his holistic approach). http://www.windycityhealth.com/

MASSAGE
Jason Borecki also at Windy City Wellness—meaning you can sometimes get referred to him for a short therapeutic massage to complement chiro treatment. I once came out of a relaxation massage wearing my dress inside out & backwards because I was just that relaxed, ENOUGH SAID. https://www.beingbodyaware.com/

Jana Robinson Cheffings, Bloom Yoga—She’s great with musculoskeletal stuff i.e., carpal tunnel, tendonitis. Gentle yet skilled at getting all the bodily jankiness worked out. Love her, she’s brought me back from the brink many times. http://bloomyogastudio.com/…/bloom-c…/jana-robison-cheffings

Patty Oria, Bloom Yoga Studio—Uses a Feldenkrais approach which is really gentle & unique and is about creating better body movement in the long term. http://www.bloomyogastudio.com/a…/bloom-community/patty-oria

DOG SERVICES
Rover-Time Dog Walking & Pet Sitting
I am devastated to leave this service behind. My dog received regular walkers, who he adored. They take photos, have an online check in to let you know when the walk is complete, and are insured. So responsible, so great. Can’t praise them, or trust them, enough. Plus they do all these community engagement projects and events. Adore. Adore! https://www.rover-time.com/

Dog Training by Kiki Yablon
When our normally gentle dog started barking at a few pooches in the neighborhood, Kiki did a home visit/walk to help us figure out what was going on and how to discourage this behavior. Her approach is compassionate, behavioral/clicker-based, and "force free" (ie no weird/scary collars). She gave us common sense behavior-based advice and it helped a ton. https://kikiyablondogtraining.com/

VETERINARIAN
Brett Andrew Grossman, Illinois Medical Veterinary District, gave our dog next-level care. He took his time at our appointments, advising us on prescription food, preventive care, supplements, activities, and lifestyle stuff to keep our pooch healthy. He was also available for some home visits if emergencies arose! And was quick to respond, while offering sound advice a few times when Cody ate something weird and we were in a panic. https://medicaldistrictvet.com/

HAIR
Stylist, Becca at Maxine Salon—She specializes in cutting underlayers that add volume. Her cuts grow out beautifully. http://maxinesalon.com/staff_becca_panos/

Color, Yvette T Bentley at Edit Salon has given me natural looking balayage highlights for years. An expert color matcher and beautiful person. http://editsalons.com/

THERAPIST
Megan Greene, cognitive behavioral therapist (CBT), good with coaching clients through real-world scenarios and pattern-breaking, she helped me become unstuck in 2018 (& is conveniently located in the Lula Cafe building). https://www.megangreenecounseling.com/

DENTIST
Jeffrey Kapp DDS I was referred to him by a bunch of Columbia College folks. Located downtown on Michigan Ave, he steers you towards preventative care and doesn’t try to upsell. The crown I’ve gotten from him has lasted, and so has the little “chip” he filled in on my front tooth. He considers himself an artist/sculptor and I love that about him. And he's training his partner in his methods for when he eventually retires. https://www.kappdental.com/

Jeff Stolarz, Whiting, IN. A childhood pal and Chicagoan, Jeff opened his business in my hometown, where he offers cutting-edge services. (Beautiful office with state-of-the-art equipment and Jeff has a kind and gentle (& funny!) chair side manner.) Prices can be lower than Chicago, comparatively. http://www.drstolarz.com/

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN
Mary Kay Barron, at Northwestern.
Technically a nurse practitioner, gyno, but she does it all. She has a blend of Western with Eastern approach (mind-body-cognitive). Offers warm and brisk advice + a fun note: she was personal nurse for Mr. Walgreens until he died. We’ve gone to her for 14 years, I’ve also sent numerous friends/fam to her—everyone loves her. https://www.nm.org/docto…/1952315582/mary-k-barron-gawne-apn

HOUSECLEANERS
Gingerella: Chicago's Green Cleaning Service
A “green” cleaning service; they bring their own supplies, you can schedule by email and they’re insured and pay workers fairly. You can pay by Venmo, after they’re done. http://www.gingerellacleaning.com/

SPAS:
Including because I’ve reviewed a bunch of them. Note: I remain sad that all-woman Thousand Waves Spa closed
-->Peninsula Spa—Relaxation lounge and pool is everything. https://www.peninsula.com/…/wellne…/luxury-hotel-spa-chicago
-->Aire—Baths, essential for winter. https://beaire.com/en/aire-ancient-baths-chicago
-->King Spa—Co-ed spa in a mall-like environment. Read this fish-out-of-water review by Joel Reese. https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Mag…/April-2014/King-Spa/
-->Kohler (Yeah the faucet company). https://www.americanclubresort.com/spa/kohler-waters-spa

Eucalyptus Steam-Room Hack

Allergies and sinus-infections are rampant right now, and lately at the gym, all I really want to do is hit the eucalyptus steam room. A few weeks ago, I wrote about how to do an hourlong detox bath ritual, but when you've only got a few minutes to spare, this refreshing and sinus-clearing eucalyptus shower is a great sub. Not to mention, it wakes you right the hell up. See DIY instructions below.

Buy a bunch of eucalytpus; flower shops and floral departments at grocery stores keep them behind the counter as filler; a bunch is $5-$8. Mount it somewhere around your shower (using floral twine if you've got it; rubber bands or string otherwise). Sprinkle 15-20 drops of eucalyptus and any other of the essential oils listed below on the sides of the tub. Turn the shower on hot, close the door, wait for five minutes and return to your own personal spa/steam room. Breathe deeply. 

Supplies: 

Fresh eucalyptus
Eucalyptus essential oil
(Opt) Peppermint essential oil
(Opt) Rosemary essential oil

How to Take a (Deluxe and Healing) Detox Bath

Along with almost everyone else I know, I’ve got a bad cold right now. To cope, I'm planning on spending an exciting Friday night in my bathtub. I realized that with all my years of reviewing spa treatments and learning about handcrafting body products, herbalism, and self-care rituals, I’ve got a lot of accumulated knowledge, so I’m sharing tips about taking an detoxifying bath at home. This type of bath is particularly helpful if you’re sick, because it can help you clear your sinuses (see eucalyptus mention below), sweat out toxins, and just cleanse the lymphatic system. And it's much less weird and extreme than the (INVASIVE) Calistoga mineral mud baths or "meditation color-therapy" baths I've written about in the past. 

I always emerge from my detox baths renewed and I hope this helps you, too!

Ingredients:

Epsom salt
Baking soda
Essential oils (whatever your favorites are; I like neroli, rose, lavender)
Body brush (with stiff bristles)
Moisturizer (I recommend jojoba or shea butter)
(If desired) Ground ginger
(If desired) Himalayan or sea salt
(If desired) Dried herbs like rose, lavender, rosemary
(If desired) Muslin bag for dried herbs
(If desired) Badedas Classic Bubble Bath has fresh, woodsy scent notes like chestnut, cedarwood, and light patchouli, and basically makes me feel like I'm taking a bath in the middle of the forest
(If desired) Kneipp Sweet Dreams Herbal Bath with Valerian and Hops has sleep-inducing valerian infused in the ix. It turns the water a disturbing shade of blue but does seem to help me sleep

How-To: 

1. Set aside 45-60 minutes so you’re not rushing, and defeating the purpose.

2. Get a huge bottle of purified water to drink while you soak.

3. Set the tone: i.e., light candles; dim lights.

4. Put on some chill music. Lately, I like Solange, Cecilia Bartoli (Italian opera singer), Charlie Haden (jazz bassist), Cesaria Evora (Cape Verdean ballad singer), Paco de Lucia (flamenco), Lhasa De Sela (Mexican-American chanteuse), and Jose Gonzalez. But you know what relaxes you best: If it’s Enya, Sinatra, or Massive Attack, godspeed.* Alternatively, listen to a guided meditation or 45-minute meditation talk by Tara Brach, Washington, DC-based Buddhist teacher and therapist. They are 45 minutes and filled with insights, funny/goofy stories, and Brach’s trademark empathy.

5. Start filling the tub with warm (not super-hot) water.

6. Dry brush your skin while you’re waiting for tub to fill: If you’ve never done this, find out more here. The most important thing to remember is to start at your feet and hands and use long strokes, sweeping towards your heart. The idea is to help your body shed dead skin layers and help the lymphatic system eliminate waste.

7. Add Epsom salt to water (recommended amount for adults is 2 cups; when I’m stressed or achy I do more like 5 cups).

8. Add 1-2 cups baking soda; (it softens skin).

9. Add a handful of Himalayan or sea salt (the cheaper alternative). 

10. Add your favorite essential oils and/or bubble bath. To de-stress, I use neroli/lavender/rose/ylang-ylang. To clear sinuses, eucalyptus and rosemary are helpful. Dry herbs like rose, mint, lavender, or rosemary are nice too—just put them in a porous bag like this muslin one, so they don’t leave a mess in your tub.

11. (Optional) Add a small amount of ginger (1-2 Tbsp) to help you sweat out toxins.

12. Swirl the water around to dissolve the salts.

13. Soak for 20-45 minutes.

14. Brush your skin again (in the same motion, from the outer limbs towards your heart), with the dry brush or just your hands.

15. Apply a moisturizing lotion like shea butter or jojoba. (Or, for deluxe moisturization that also can be kind of messy, rub a mixture of olive and castor oils all over; stand there for two minutes, and then shower it off.)

16. Drink lots of water—with lemon if you’ve got it. 

17. Sleep like baby.

Summer Perfume & Aromatherapy for Mosquito Magnets

Any other mosquito magnets out there? I've been researching what scents repel mosquitoes (apart from citronella). Turns out the varmints love florals but hate "green" smells, citrus, lavender, cedar. (They also hate bananas, so I'm taking blueberries in my cereal until October.) Since I love good smells so much, nixing perfume--or wearing Deep Woods OFF--all summer isn't an option for me, and I've been investigating non-floral scents, opting for woody/cedar-y, green, citrus, and lavender smells instead. Based on some internet research, I snagged appropriate samples from Nordstrom, along with some lemon oil and lavender body wipes. So far, this INCREDIBLE Aqua Di Parma scent makes me feel like I'm on the Italian Meditteranean with the Clooneys, and does seem to keep the critters at bay with its basil, cedar, and myrtle. The other two samples are Guerlain’s slightly more flowery Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca, hearkening an English garden with notes of lemon, spearmint, green tea, and cyclamen, and Guerlain's strong, fresh, Aqua Allegoria "Pamplelune" Eau de Toilette, with vibrant notes of citrus (grapefruit, bergamot, neroli, and with a base of vanilla and patchouli). 

And, for quick/easy application of lavender, I'm stocking great-smelling Herban Essentials towelletes in all my purses. 

I'll also be making an essential oil blend this week, using knowledge from my natural botanical perfumery class. Herbal blends are less effective and have to be applied more often, but it's worth it to not smell like the strong DEET repellents. If all of this sounds extreme, keep in mind that the critters throw a party when I step in the vicinity and start swaming around me immediately. If any other mosquito-magnets wanna try out my home-blend, let me know & I'll send a sample!

Mud Baths in Calistoga, CA

Photo from http://www.drwilkinson.com

I love spa treatments, and over the course of my life I've done a lot of unusual ones: Aromatherapy "color baths" with light lasers, a gong bath, cupping, a facial with a "tesla wand," high-end seaweed wrap, no-touch reiki massage, etc. But immersing in a 4-foot tub of volcanic-ash mud last week in Calistoga, CA was by far the oddest treatment I've ever undergone. Dr. Wilkinson's has been around for over 60 years, and the retro look and feel of the buildings and locker rooms doesn't hide this fact. 

Here's the procedure: You lock up your things, grab a bathrobe and are escorted by attendants (of your gender) into a large tiled room that has two large, rectangular tiled baths, mounted a few feet above floor level. They're filled with sulfuric-smelling "volcanic-ash" mud. THIS IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH. You strip down and the attendants assist you into the oozing, bubbling, stinky tubs, while reciting some science-y factoids to try and convince you that this is not the most disgusting thing that has ever happened to you.

 Sinking into the mud is not as easy as it sounds: It's very thick (and did I mention BUBBLING), and it takes about a minute to get yourself fully immersed, up to your neck. If you're me, this is where some mild panic sets in, (AS THE MUD SINKS INTO EVERY CORNER OF YOUR BODY). Your attendant then gives you a pillow to rest your head on, and places cucumbers over your eyes, and instructs you to relax for ten minutes (easy for her to say). Once the time is up, you are escorted out of the tub and proceed to take the most complete shower of your life. Next is the wet-sauna (the attedants hand you glasses of cucumber water through a little window), for another ten minutes. Then, you head to an old-fashioned clawfoot bathtub behind a curtain (in the same room), which is being pumped full of hot-spring water. Last, the attendants have you shower one last time, and lead you to a relaxation cube, where you're wrapped loosely in towels for ten more minutes, while your body temperature returns to normal. 

You can't take pics inside the spa of course, but my pal and I stayed in one of the cottages Dr. Wilkinson offers, and hit the outdoor tub later that night. And if you're curious about what the tubs look like, you can see images here.

The below pic is of a late-night moonlit tub, which we welcomed with some local CA bubbly. 

Natural Botanical Perfumery class at Chicago Botanic Gardens

I've taken soap- and candle-making classes at various organizations including Abbey Brown, and I'm also very interested in natural botanical perfumemaking. A year ago, I read a wonderful book about the history of NBP, Essence and Alchemy, by perfumer Mandy Aftelier. Among other things, it goes into the "primal" nature of scent, the history of perfume and why she chooses not to use synthetics (a unique perfumery choice.) 

Today's natural botanical perfumery class at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, taught by the talented and generous Jessica Hannah, (who has studied with Mandy and is influenced by her). I learned so much, and love the vetiver-heavy custom perfume I made today.  Jessica spoke passionately and emotionally about the proper and sustainable use of essential oils, and got me even more excited about delving into this world of NBP.  Now, I feel ready to make some blends of my own; starting with a mosquito-repelling blend (using things like cedar, lavender, citrus--all proven to repel the pests).