Joys of the season!!

May this special holiday time exceed your expectations for fun,frivolity,family and friends!! As we face some more difficult days in our country, it is more important than ever to hang together and help each other through the challenges. We hope that you will allow Wild Clover to help nurture you and yours!! Thank you for your support and your trust in us.

Merry Christmas from Chuck and Mary Sheahen and the entire Wild Clover team.


May 2009 be good to all of us!!

The Christmas Rush

'Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the house, the creatures were stirring (think the mouse is hiding!!)doing all the crazy Christmas activities: shopping, wrapping, sending, baking, cooking, eating, drinking, writing the annual letter and preparing the cards; whew, it is exhausting to think about. Christmas is so special but brings with it a happy kind of stress!!
But the elves at Wild Clover are waiting to help you manage that stress. Our massage elves( Abbey, Barb, Rach,Kamin,Lee, Jenn, and Emily)are preparing their stones to place on those tight "shopping shoulders". The towels for your feet are in the warmer, waiting to be placed on aching, cold feet.
The hair, skin, and tootsie elves( Amy,Hesper,Kari,Alisha,Danita) are ready to give you a great new hairstyle ( and maybe some different highlights too). They do many other services and would love to give you a hydrating facial and some great looking hands and fingers!! Paula, with her gentle hands and caring spirit,is waiting to help you exfoliate your dry winter skin and apply some nourishing Keyano body lotion. She can also teach you about your own skin type and treat you to one of our organic facials.You can follow that with a makeup lesson and application with our healthy Bare Minerals makeup.All of our elves are specially trained to teach you so that when you are at home with all the brushes and colors, you will feel confident when you walk out the door, looking shimmery and healthy!!
Jackie, the best nail technician you will ever meet, is eager to dip your hands and feet in paraffin, give an outstanding massage and paint your nails with one of the colors of the season and maybe even add a bit of nail art for that special party or event!!
And Alicia, Annette, Sara and Kathy are there to help you schedule your services, purchase gift cards and packages for those you love and assist you in buying just the right stocking stuffer or spa product as part of your "Gift of spa". Tasha will be bustling around, making sure that you have hot tea, fresh coffee or perhaps one of the tasty Chai teas we serve ( and sell..truly yummy!!)
Lastly, Mary and Chuck are there to say thanks for choosing Wild Clover as one of the places you visit to invest in your own health and well being. Blessings of the season to all of you!!

What to do when it is snowing?

Well, as the song says, "the weather outside is frightful"...winter has arrived, there is no doubt.Winter brings its crystal clear and cold nights, warm and dry houses because the fireplace is burning 16 hours per day, the desire to burrow under the covers and stay there till spring!!! But winter is also a great time to take care of yourself in a new and different way: learning self care and stress reduction.
As we begin the first month of our long, midwestern winter, how about making a plan that will not only take care of your body and mind, but will also start some new habits that you can take into spring ( when it is time to bring out sleeveless shirts and toeless shoes!!)
I have some thoughts: incorporate yoga or tai chi into your exercise program; add strength training to your fitness plan; give yourself a facial at the start of winter so that your skin care plan will match the dry and cold weather; learn about the benefits of mineral makeup and learn the correct way to use Bare Minerals to your best advantage; keep your feet and toes in good shape for that upcoming trip to someplace warm (even if it is the health club pool!!!); and find yourself on a massage table on a regular basis which will do wonders to offset the stresses of daily life and pressures.
Ask Santa Claus for spa gifts this year; who needs another cookbook or sweater? Give the gift of spa from Wild Clover and get a gift certificate for yourself as well (buy 125.00 worth and receive a 25.00 one for yourself or for another loved one!).
Happy Spalidays!!!

What's new at Wild Clover??

Our staff at the spa continuously try to update the services we are offering and to always stay current with new techniques, new products and new ways to care for our clients.
To that end, we have added some wonderful body care products by Keyano. These are the wonderful aromatherapy scents that we use in body wraps, scrubs, pedicures and manicures. Close your eyes and imagine being wrapped in a healing lavender cocoon. Smell the chocolate scrub on your legs, feet or hands; add a cup of chai tea or hot chocolate and you will automatically relax!
I am sure that most of you have heard of Bare Minerals makeup; it is one of, if not THE, best selling mineral makeup on the market. We are now the proud purveyors of this makeup line. And our staff are trained and ready to show you the best way to enhance your natural beauty through healthy makeup application. The purity of the products not only is good for your skin, but also covers the "flaws" you may not like and smoothes and evens out the tone of your skin. Come in and have a complimentary makeup lesson and application; I can almost guarantee that you will fall in love with this product. We all like looking our best and a bit of good makeup increases our self confidence.
Our massage therapists are the best. Have you had a hot stone massage or a deep relaxation one? The stresses of our busy lives, especially with the economy these days, require that we find new and better ways to care for ourselves. Add massage to that list.
And don't forget your skin care! our Moire` exclusive products are the best. Remember serums!!!
We are waiting to take care of you at the Clover. Allow us to help you with your Christmas shopping too. Our "elves" can create a gift basket that you will love giving. And have a treatment yourself while you are there!! Our gift certificate special for the holidays gives you a 25.00 one for yourself when you purchase a total of 125.00 for someone else. Visit our website: www.wildcloverdayspa.com to learn more! I suppose you might give that one away also but think twice; treat yourself as well as you treat others.
Have a wonderful holiday season; remember to manage your stress as well so that the holidays will truly be what you want them to be.

Giving the gift of spa this year!

The holidays are right around the corner; is this the year when you decide to give the gift of self care, relaxation and rejuvenation? The stresses in our lives are many and the knots in our necks seem to get tighter and tighter. Close your eyes and imagine how good a massage would feel; wouldn't someone you love want that same sensation? So often we bustle around trying to find just the right gift and nothing seems to send the message of care and concern that we are trying to convey.
Investing in someone's health and well being is a wonderful gift. Spending a couple of hours at Wild Clover is guaranteed to soothe that tension, make those feet feel so good and look even better and begin the path to younger and smoother skin!
We recently had the privilege at Wild Clover to take care of an 86 year old woman who was having her first-ever facial. And she bought some of our excellent product to continue her care at home. Isn't that a super message: you are never too old to try something new and to care for yourself?
Forget about the other gift cards, forget about the gloves or mittens, forget about the sweater that may get returned. The gift of spa is one that those on your list will cherish and appreciate more than you know. We are in the business of caring and concern and we will do that for all of the loved ones that you send our way!
You can buy your gift certificates right on line. Just go to www.wildcloverdayspa.com and find the link for instant gift certificates. Call us at 877 332 9772 if you would like us to send a gift card with one of our wonderful baskets to your favorite folks. We can help you put together just the right gift!!
Remember this is the year that stress reduction and relaxation is the best gift you can give.

I have discovered serums!!!

In my last entry, I told you about my awesome facial!! Well, as a result of that facial and consultation with Paula, I have begun to use one of our moire` serums, Alpha Lipoic Acid Lifting serum. What a fabulous product! Since becoming a spa owner,I have learned a great deal about skin care and how to keep skin looking healthy and vibrant. But I had not introduced serum into my program until recently. I believe that my skin looks better than ever. The idea of a serum is a "non surgical" facelift "in a bottle". Well I totally agree with that notion. The serum has anti oxidant properties and firms, tightens and smoothes the skin. I am a happy customer!! Wherever and whenever you have your next facial (hopefully with us at Wild Clover of course), check out the serums that may be available. Anti aging is the name of the game, right? Aging is inevitable but looking older does not have to be!!!

Taking care of myself!!

I just had a facial; OMG!! The Wild Clover spa staff are all outstanding in their fields and I love to have treatments from all of them. My latest hour of "self care" was an awesome facial given by Paula, one of our skin experts. Having a facial is one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating treatments you can have. I was transported to such deep relaxation, it is almost hard to remember every minute. But I do remember these things: an excellent hand and arm massage with our chocolate massage lotion; a masque on my face that had a delicious aroma of pomegranate;a shoulder and neck massage with our tension relief balm combined with cranberry lotion; a spray of neroli at the end of the treatment that finished the fabulous experience. And my skin feels so clean and soft. The massage, that felt like a facelift with Paula's gentle touch, was the key to softening those age lines around my eyes!!
One of the ways to insure our health and well being during these times of high stress and anxiety, is to take care of ourselves!! While having a facial, a pedicure or a massage may seem extravagant, that is not the case; stress relief on a regular basis will allow us to cope with the anxiety of these turbulent days.
The facial I had not only took care of my skin but also reduced the stress level I have been carrying with me because of watching the markets, worrying about the economy and wondering what is next. As a nurse, I know about the illnesses that can be caused or compounded by stress and anxiety. My recommendation is to be proactive; keep your immune system strong by healthy eating, continuing to be active, and invest in your self care regularly!! And enjoying every minute of that facial or massage or pedicure!!! No guilt allowed at the spa :-)

Time to think about fall/winter care!!

Well, summer is over and fall is upon us!! As the air cools, there is less moisture. Our skin tends to become drier and possibly rough and flaky. A bit of prevention as we move toward lower humidity and more heating will help to keep skin moist and healthy.
Starting this season with a customized facial is a great way to remove the remains of too much sun and the effects of summer fun, such as swimming, boating, walking, biking...all activities that take us out of doors. Having a skin expert analyze your current skin type and prescribe a plan that is meant just for you is the way to begin a healthy approach to winter skin.
And don't forget your hair as well: conditioning regularly helps to put the moisture in your hair that will keep it shiny and luxurious. Professional hair products have been shown to be better for your overall hair health,especially if you color or do other chemical treatments with some regularity.
Because our approach at Wild Clover is about health as much as it is about beauty, we take great care to pick products that we feel good about and feel confident in recommending.
We have just added Alterna hair care to our product line; be sure to try some the next time you visit. Our skin care lines, Moire' and Joi (our organic line), will be safe and nurturing to your skin, as well as easy to use in your daily skin care plan. Our mineral makeup is wonderful, guaranteed to make you think again about using makeup. Everyone who tries it is thrilled with their "new look". Ask for a makeup lesson and application when you visit us at the spa.
Winter in the midwest is inevitable; make this one a healthy one for your body,mind and spirit...include regular spa visits as part of your winter health care!!!

How about a "spa-cation"?

I just returned from taking myself to a fitness ranch/spa in honor of a rather significant birthday!! I decided that a celebration was in order for getting there!! And as I worked out and enjoyed some spa treatments, the thought crossed my mind: a few days at Wild Clover and the Irish Cottage could do great things for one's health and wellness without traveling as far as I did. Staying close to home for vacations and holidays has a much greater appeal these days, for many reasons.
So as I thought about that idea, here is what I came up with: 1. a fabulous pool and workout room at the hotel would allow you the chance to work out as often as you wished. 2. there is a great trail for walking, biking or jogging right along the river in Galena for some outdoor fitness work. 3. rent a canoe or kayak at Fever River Outfitters for some great upper body work. 4. the hot tub at the hotel will take care of those aches and pains after a vigorous workout. 5. And the spa..yes the spa...two or three days would give you plenty of time for self care and relaxation with a luxurious pedicure, fabulous massage, a delicious scrub or wrap and a facial to get that skin ready for the coming fall. How about trying a new style or color? And have you tried mineral makeup, speaking of healthy!!! 6. shopping and eating opportunities abound in Galena; artists and galleries are everywhere. You can explore Jo Daviess county for many other treasures. Check it out at www.galena.org or talk to one of our spa experts to help you plan your time. Romantic getaways or girlfriend getaways or just a one person retreat...we can help you !!1
We all deserve and need a break; this year come to Galena and have some money left to spend on yourself and your renewal, whatever that may look like!!! As I write this, I think to myself: I have this in my own location so I am going to do a "spa-cation" every week (well maybe not every week!!)

Wild Clover is 5!!!

Yes, Wild Clover has been a luxury destination in Galena since July of 2003. To celebrate our birthday, we are doing some great updates. As you saw, we now have three of our fabulous pedicure chairs side by side. Therefore ,we can do nail services for 5 people at the same time. What a fun way to spend time with your daughters, your sisters, your friends! It is quiet and relaxing but very conducive to lively conversation for groups. We have also added a second side by side treatment room; you can have scrubs, massages and facials together with your favorite guy or your best friend. This allows us to serve more clients at one time and also gives us better space to accommodate groups and getaways:-) Our services keep getting better and better. Our skin care products are some of the best we have ever used. Mineral Mine makeup is actually good for your skin too. Our full service hair salon can meet all of your hair needs. But most important to us is to give excellent service with care and concern. That has not changed since the day we were born...five wonderful years ago!!!

Our 3rd Pedicure Chair Has Arrived!!!

Summer feet...

Summer is here and everyone's feet are showing much more often...and many don't think about caring for feet as a part of a health and wellness plan!! I do think many men feel awkard having a pedicure before starting to wear open toed sandals and shoes. But think about the facts: feet are feet...and toes don't necessarily need to be polished during a foot treatment. Toenails should be trimmed and neat and checked for the presence of disease or fungal infection. And the massage, oh the massage!!! A good foot and leg massage is relaxing and beneficial for circulation and skin health.
How about bringing the man in your life in for a gentleman's foot treatment while you have a delicious spa pedicure? Mention this blog when you schedule your side by side treatments and receive 5 % off of each treatment...we want to take care of men as often as we can...they certainly deserve self care too!! They just seem to need a bit more convincing!!!
Wild Clover is open everyday all summer and we are ready to meet your summer needs such as healthy tanning, skin care during a time of more sun exposure, and healthy foot and hand care!!Summer heat and sun can take a toll on skin and hair...be sure you do some TLC for yours.

June is busting out all over!!!

Do you remember that old song? How true it has been these past couple of weeks...everywhere you turn, trees are in bloom, flowers are gorgeous, and the scent of lilacs is abundant!!!
This is also the season for fun "happenings"..graduations, weddings, showers , Father's Day, girlfriend getaways and just celebrating the summer days we dreamed of when it was snowy and cold!!
What better gift than the gift of self care? The gift of breathing deep and relaxing to the core...the spa is the place for that.
Surprise Dad with a massage or a gentlemen's facial. Maybe he would like to try reflexology which is an amazing service that does not require undressing. That bride will love the chance to get away from the planning and the stress and find an oasis in a quiet, soothing place.
And celebrating graduation with a summer makeover..whether it is on to college or on to that first big job...an updated hairstyle and learning about skin care that will give the best look possible.....what a great gift that would be.
Mention that you have read this blog entry when you schedule services or buy a gift certificate valued at 60.00 or more and receive 15.00 toward the purchase of spa products!!
And Wild Clover and Galena is less than a tank of gas away...so much to do that you easily could spend a week!!!

Summer is coming!!

Yes, we finally are believers..spring is here so summer cannot be too far behind!! And the joys of summer include packing up turtlenecks and heavy jeans and bringing out tank tops and shorts. Toes are now peeking out of those fabulous slides or sandals. Your hair is begging to be sassy and fun.
It is time for a summer tuneup....how about a scrub to exfoliate all that old dry winter skin? Maybe a safe spray tan, either total body or parts that are now showing with sleeveless shirts and shorter pants and skirts...get a head start on the season of "glowing skin". But with a WC tan, your skin will be safe and beautiful.
Maybe an updated hairstyle is in order. Summer makes want to feel carefree and easy. Short, well styled hair saves you time as well as gives you some bounce.
And those toes....they need pink or red or poppy!!!! Wearing sandals feels so good, make sure your feet match the great shoes you are wearing.
Bring your friends or your sisters and your mom..girls love to hang out at the spa. Relax and rejuvenate....summer is coming!! Summer time and the livin' is easy :-)

Mother's Day at the spa!

See more at...... www.WildCloverDaySpa.com

Going green at the spa

Well Earth Day has come and gone for another year. It is always such a good day to step back and see how well we are doing to save our earth and leave less of our own carbon footprint. The goal is then to put into action what we have learned about "being green".
Wild Clover has been focused on looking at our practices and our products to see if there are ways we can be better citizens.
There are a few things that we have focused on: using fewer disposables and recycling more. If you are planning to head for a spring time pedicure, take your own sandals or flipflops so that you won't need a paper pair. Bring back your old makeup containers and let us recycle for you. Or buy your makeup in a palette than can have the colors changed out as you change your mood. Our mineral makeup is healthy as well so those products will be good for your skin. Buy a professional brush rather than using sponges when applying your makeup.
We will gladly refill your Moire` products at less cost to you and to our environment.
Going green is very much on everyone's minds these days; let us all commit to making the changes we can to impact our earth for the future!!!

Spring brings out the sandals!!!

And sandals show off those feet that have been hidden in heavy socks and clunky boots for months!!!
Give yourself an hour and let the experts at Wild Clover work on those tootsies...I guarantee an awesome experience! Picture yourself in a recliner, after your feet have been soaked, exfoliated, scrubbed and filed, laying back in the very comfortable chair and having your feet and legs massaged with a deep moisturizing creme. The lights are low and the room is calm and before you know it, you doze off for some much needed relaxation. Pick out a bright spring color from our OPI collection and have your toes painted and ready for the sandals!!!! You will want to skip out into the sunshine :-) (PS put away that cell phone and Blackberry..this is your time)

those fabulous products....

...that I wrote about yesterday are all available in our online store. Check out www.wildcloverdayspa.net and you will love browsing through our extensive product line . You can learn what makes up each product and how it is best used. You can also call the spa and and speak to one of our skin care experts to ask your specific questions and to seek their guidance. (877 332 9772). Go Green for your skin too!!!

Fabulous organic facial

As we age, all of us become more interested in what we can do to prevent the effects of aging on our faces and our skin (includes our hands!!)
We have a new organic product line, joi, and the facial I had this past week confirmed the decision to bring in this line.
Listen to this delicious line up of product names: honey-oat apricot creme cleanser, pomegranete chamomile toner, honey banana exfoliating mask, mango and shea butter nourishing mask and grape gotu serum with a finish of red wine moisturizer and 23 Karat Bling eye treatment!!! And to boot, there were no calories included in this feast. And my hands were given the royal treatment too....
If you want to get your skin in shape for spring and summer and rid yourself of winter dryness and parched skin, this is the facial for you. You will be hooked!!

Springtime at the spa!!!

It has been a long, hard winter in the midwest..it is time for some warmth and sun. The sun is always shining at Wild Clover. Spring is a great time to organize a group of friends for a girlfriend getaway. How about a new, updated hairdo? Your skin needs a spring refresher, a great time for a facial!! Toes are about to be front and center with sandals and slides...a new, fresh color on your soft and supple feet...throw away the boots and heavy socks. You can even get a fabulous spray( code word: safe tanning) tan...in less than 20 minutes.
Check out the spa website, www.wildcloverdayspa.com and see what great treats await you.
There is a page there that tells you where to eat, where to shop, where to stay while you are here in Galena. Spring getaway at the Clover....try it this year and you will be back next year( or maybe even in the summer and the fall!!!).

We Believe.....

Our Hydrotherapy Tub

Have you tried reflexology?

I imagine that most of you appreciate a great "footrub", unless of course you are very ticklish. Foot reflexology is a wonderful therapeutic treatment that aids in relaxation, relieves tension, and promotes health and wellness. There are certain zones of your body that correlate with specific trigger points on your feet. When these trigger points are massaged, the effect can be found in the correlating body area.
Reflexology is a complementary treatment; it is not meant to be a diagnostic process or a treatment in lieu of medical therapies. This therapy may be contraindicated in pregnant women, since there are reproductive trigger points that potentially could induce contractions.
Reflexology is a great way to introduce yourself to massage if you are reticent to have a full body massage. You will realize how relaxing massage is and how much a massage or reflexology treatment helps you deal with stress.
Hands have reflexology points as well; why not try a hand and foot treatment?

Mary

Winter is a great time to go to the spa!!!

It has been a long and cold winter across the country and moods and skin show it!! This is the time of year when you need to pay extra attention to your skincare; long hot showers, basking in the warmth of the fireplace and cold dry air will take their toll on your glow!! Be sure to stick to your skin care protocols and include a good moisturizer even though your skin may be normally oily.
There is nothing like a warm chocolate scrub or wrap to exfoliate your dry skin and relax you after a day of fighting the cold and snow. A deep tissue massage works the kinks out of your back and shoulders after once again shoveling snow from your car and your sidewalk.
Wild Clover can renew and refresh you as you wait for spring to finally arrive; maybe you cannot hit the beach but you can visit the spa!!!

Mary

my first wild clover post

Hello. Today is the first day of Wild Days at Wild Clover....the best spa in the northwest corner of Illinois. WC has been making a difference in client stress levels for five years. Visit the website: www.wildcloverdayspa.com for a hint of what is in store when you come to Galena. The philosophy is self care and my background as a nurse and long time health care executive has contributed to our overall approach to the clients we have the privilege of serving. We look forward to making new friends at the Clover.


Mary