CANDY WASHINGTON

WRITER | PRODUCER | ACTOR | MANIFESTATION + SELF-LOVE MUSE

experience

The Cloud 9 Experience: 3 Reasons to Get a Day of Rejuvenation at Exhale Spa

Candy WashingtonComment

Hi lovelies,

If there's one thing that I truly believe in, it's taking the time to celebrate life and to celebrate your self. We're all super busy heading from one meeting to the next, ticking off many of our 'to-dos' from our lists, and just rushing through life. 

I think it's time to stop and smell the roses, and take a few hours to pamper your self and unplug from over-connected-always-on-the-go lives. That's why I opted for The Cloud 9 Experience of a Day of Rejuvenation at the Exhale Spa, located in Santa Monica, CA, as a way to reset, restore, and rejuvenate. 

The Day of Rejuvenation includes a complete spa package that featured a relaxing and healing 60-minute Swedish massage, a refreshing and cleansing 60-minute true facial, and a pampering pure manicure and pedicure. 

See below for my top three reasons why you should treat yourself to the ultimate Cloud 9 Experience and take a day to celebrate your self with a Day of Rejuvenation.

3 Reasons to Get a Day of Rejuvenation at Exhale Spa

Loving this plush robe at the Exhale Spa in the Fairmount Hotel! 

Reason #1: You deserve it. 
The day of rejuvenation wasn't only about getting facials and my nails done, but it was about taking the time to truly take care of myself. While at the spa, I left other people take care of me, and the friendly staff couldn't have done a better job. In my day-to-day life, I'm taking care of my clients, being a loyal friend, a trusted sister, and a diligent daughter, but at the spa, I just got to be me and have my needs met. 

We all work super hard at taking care of our families, friends, clients, and careers. It's time to allow someone else to take care of us for a change. We deserve.

Reason #2: You get personalized attention and guidance
During my massage, my masseuse noticed that I was super tense across my chest and upper back. She was super friendly and kind and asked me about my lifestyle. After we spoke, I realized that I hadn't been stretching properly after my workouts and she told me to start stretching after my workouts when my muscles are warm. I've started taking her advice and I've already noticed a huge change in my muscles. She took the time to talk to me about my life and then provide personalized guidance on how to improve and take better care of myself. 

I had the same experience with the wonderful woman who gave me my facial. She noticed that I had really good skin but had breakouts in a few spots and suggested that I add a scrub to my skincare routine. This was the magic advice that I'd been missing. I started using a daily exfoliant and a weekly deep scrub and my skin has cleared up and smoothed out. 

Reason #3: You're able to unleash your inner creativity. 
I left my day of rejuvenation feeling absolutely relaxed and re-inspired. As a creative professional, I sometimes hit creative and inspiration roadblocks and just feel depleted. Taking the time to unplug and just let go, allowed my creative juices to flow. Some times taking a break and stepping away from work, allows you to see your world, experiences, and creative endeavors in a new light. 

So if you're ready to start celebrating your self and taking the time to take care of your self, then book your Cloud 9 Experience: Day of Rejuvenation, here.


The full scoop on your Day of Rejuvenation:
Your massage combines the best of therapeutic massage practices from around the world. This therapy uses specific rhythmic massage movements and potent herbal and aromatherapy oils to enhance the therapeutic effect. Choose from an uplifting, detoxifying or relaxing blend.

Enliven your skin with a customized facial appropriate for all skin types. A layer of a most coveted mushroom enzyme mask is used to lift away dull, tired skin and reveal a fresher, brighter version of you! Trust that all of your needs will be thoroughly addressed in this 1 hour facial - a true transformation.

Calm and soothe dry skin, leaving your skin youthful and firm with this luxurious manicure and pedicure. You'll begin with soaking your hands in a blend of Italian mandarin and ginger that will soften and soothe dry cuticles, followed by a gentle buffing with micro-algae and ginger essence. Organic ginger infused lotion will be used to massage away stress, followed by a rejuvenating light ginger mist. Finally, choose your shade of polish to accentuate your radiant hands.

For your pedicure, you will choose your aromatherapy choice from energizing eucalyptus, meditative frankincense, warming ginger, and calming geranium. Your feet will be fully exfoliated with an organic lavender scrub and then slathered in a moisturizing organic ginger mask while wrapped in hot towels. Your heels will receive extra pampering with an all natural callus remover and organic heel balm before selecting your shade of polish to top off your glowing feet.

The Ultimate At-Home Relaxation Experience with Aveda

Candy WashingtonComment

Hi lovelies,

One of the most paramount, and personal, lifestyle choices that I've made for my life, has been to consciously choose to do one thing a day to celebrate my self. I made the deliberate choice to seek joy and happiness in every experience that comes my way.

The trick to really enjoying this practice and doing one thing a day for your self, is realizing that they can be very small, yet joyful, things, and they don't have to break the bank. The things that I do to celebrate myself on a daily basis range from taking a bubble bath, taking 30 minutes to watch my favorite TV show, cooking my favorite meal, reading my favorite magazines, treating myself to a cupcake, writing a love letter to myself, taking the time to meditate, calling my best friend, and so on. 

The single most powerful insight that has come out of practicing this daily ritual of seeking joy has been realizing the power of gratitude. And one thing that I'm super grateful for is Aveda. They provide so many at-home relaxation experiences that have fundamentally helped me shift the way I think and live. Below are a few at-home relaxation Aveda products that I love and I hope they bring joy, happiness, and relaxation to you as well.

Chakra Balance Body Mists: feeling balanced is a gift

An authentic fusion of pure essential oils blended to balance the root chakra according to Ayurveda, the ancient healing art of India. Shop here. 

chakra™ 1 balancing body mist - grounded
chakra™ 2 balancing body mist - nourished
chakra™ 3 balancing body mist - intention
chakra™ 4 balancing body mist - harmony
chakra™ 5 balancing body mist - expressive
chakra™ 6 balancing body mist - insight
chakra™ 7 balancing body mist - wisdom

Authentic fusions of pure essential oils to help balance the chakra™ centers.


Wake up with luminous, wedding-day skin—every day. Ultra-rich creme masque brightens skin overnight, and contains a potent turmeric extract to help even the look of skin tone over time, leaving skin luminous and radiant. A powerful blend of plant stem cells and organic apricot seed oil work together to help support skin’s natural repair processes that happen at night. Get firmer, more lifted looking skin over time.

Aveda’s own pure-fume ™ aroma with certified organic jasmine, camomile, grapefruit and other pure flower and plant essences. Shop here.

• creates brighter, more radiant skin and helps to even the look of skin tone and diminish the look of dark spots over time. 
• works during the night, a key time for skin’s natural repair, to smooth the appearance of lines and wrinkles and give skin a firmer, more lifted look. 
• with continued nightly use, fortifies and strengthens skin’s protective lipid barrier, sealing in moisture. 
• inspired by the Haldi ceremony from India, a pre-wedding tradition in which a homemade turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom for glowing skin on their wedding day. 
• curcuminoids, a potent extract from turmeric root, helps brighten skin and promote a more even looking skin tone over time. 
• organic apricot seed oil helps support skin’s natural repair processes that happen at night.
• tomato, potato and red raspberry plant stem cells help support skin’s natural repair processes. There are over 587,000 plant stem cells in each 50 ml jar. 
• dermatologist-tested and non-acnegenic
• suitable for all skin types
• tulasāra™ means "moving toward balance™" in Sanskrit.


tulasāra™ wedding masque eye overnight

Wake up with wedding-day luminous eyes—every day. Ultra-rich creme masque brightens skin around the eye area overnight, and contains a potent turmeric extract to help visibly even skin tone by diminishing the look of dark circles over time. Algae extracts also help diminish the appearance of eye area puffiness. A powerful blend of plant stem cells and organic apricot seed oil work together to help support skin’s natural repair process that happen at night. Get firmer more lifted-looking skin over time.

Aroma-free. Shop here. 

• wake up to brighter, more radiant eyes and diminish the appearance of dark circles and puffiness with continued nightly use. 
• works during the night, a key time for skin’s natural repair, to smooth the appearance of lines and wrinkles and give skin a firmer, more lifted look.
• with continued nightly use, fortifies and strengthens skin’s protective lipid barrier, sealing in moisture. 
• inspired by the Haldi ceremony from India, a pre-wedding tradition in which a homemade turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom for glowing skin on their wedding day. 
• curcuminoids, a potent extract from turmeric root, helps brighten skin and promote a more even looking skin tone over time. 
• a blend of algae extracts, licorice root extract and molasses extract help diminish the appearance of dark circles. 
• plant-derived caffeine helps reduce visible puffiness.
• sweet almond seed extract helps skin feel instantly tighter. 
• tomato, potato and red raspberry plant stem cells help support skin’s natural repair processes.
• dermatologist-tested and non-acnegenic
• tulasāra™ means "moving toward balance™" in Sanskrit.


Scalp to soul awakening. Nourishing blend of certified organic sunflower oil for bath, body, and scalp. Invigorating aroma with certified organic rosemary and peppermint. Moisturizes and provides instant radiance. Body oil for bath, body, and scalp. Invigorating aroma with certified organic rosemary and peppermint and other pure flower and plant essences. 1 fl oz/30 ml. Shop here. 

                         

Sun Rider Winery Jeep Tours + Cloud 9

Candy WashingtonComment

Hi lovelies,

I was lucky enough to snag a spot on the Sun Rider Winery Jeep Tours, which featured a day of wine tasting, a catered lunch, and off-roading, in the scenic and serene Temecula, CA thanks to a Cloud 9 Living Experience. 

My friend Adria joined me and we started our day by grabbing some Starbucks and then taking a mini road trip from West Hollywood, CA to Temecula, CA. Once we got there we were greeted by our awesome and super friendly tour guide. We hopped in the back set of his Jeep, with its top down, and then started on our way for a day of wine tasting and off roading.

Our first stop was to Hart Winery. We got to see to see inside their VIP Barrel Room and learned how the wine was made, from red to white, and the different ways to age the wine whether it's in the wooden barrels or in the new metal large canisters. 

The second winery stop was Leoness Winery where we provided with an experience that included having our own designated attendee to educate us on the wines and serve us. The property was extremely beautiful and we got to do a walking tour of the grounds. 

After this stop we were treated to a yummy lunch outside where we could rest up until our next adventure. The last stop on our wine tour did not disappoint. We enjoyed our final round of wine tasting at the Avensole Winery where we ran into a fun group of girls hosting a bachelorette party.

I can't wait to go back!

Get the skinny of the Sun Rider Winery Jeep Tour:

  • Visit 3 wineries, explore a Barrel Room, sample wine grapes and visit Scenic Oak Mountain
  • Local guide will share history, tales and culture while riding in a 4-door Jeep
  • Sample more than 20 wines and & enjoy a gourmet lunch outdoors looking over the vineyards!
  • Discover the unspoiled, striking beauty of Temecula Valley wine country on this backcountry Winery Jeep Tour!

"Discover the unspoiled, striking beauty of Temecula Valley wine country on this backcountry Winery Jeep Tour!

Not far from Los Angeles or San Diego, the Temecula wine region abounds with stunning views of rolling hills and vineyard vistas. The micro-climate of the South Coast wine region, Temecula Valley, is perfect for wine production. Morning mists, cool summer nights and ocean breezes produce wines that have fresh fruit character and true varietal flavor.

Enjoy 3 sets of tastings at 3 wineries where you'll taste over 20 wines and learn about the vineyards and local history. Savor a delicious picnic lunch overlooking a winery estate.

This charming wine country tour promises a personal experience and will satisfy the wine palate of the novice and experienced wine country explorer alike."