A Clover On Main...Now Open!!!

Where is the summer going?

I cannot believe that it is mid-August already, everyone is talking about buying school supplies and the final days of summer are being spent cramming in lots of fun activities!! Shorter vacations seem to be the norm these days, taking advantage of places like Galena to spend three or four packed days of relaxation, sightseeing, shopping and of course, hitting the spa for some bona-fide self care!! A facial is almost a necessity this time of year to freshen up sun soaked skin. Sandals are still the shoes of choice so check out your toenail paint job....no chips please!French pedicures look awesome with any outfit. And a massage is a necessity in these stress filled days of a busy life!! Have your makeup done and maybe a new 'do too...the possibilities at WC are endless.
And we have big summer news at Wild Clover too...we are opening our second site at 205 South Main in downtown Galena. We will have a retail center for our Aveda and bareMinerals products, spa services for tired shoppers and for those who want just a quick pick me up. Stop by early September...we will be there waiting for you :-)
Teachers could use one last indulgence before school starts...take care of your favorite teacher ( esp if it is yourself!!)

Hooray..summer is here!!

As we struggled through all the cold and rainy days of spring, we longed for the warm and sunny days of summer! Well those days are here...90 degrees, baking sun and that wonderful feeling when you jump in the pool!! So I just want to remind everyone that extra care is necessary during our wonderful summer days: hair, skin,nails..the heat and sun can take their toll if we don't pay attention.
This is the best time to have a facial and learn how to care for your "summer skin". I know how good that first sun feels and before you know it, your skin is golden and parched :-) Unfortunately as good as the sun feels, it is equally hard on aging skin(which we all have).
Check out your nails. This is a great time to have some fun colors and some nail art; but it is more than that because your hands and feet need care too. Because we are wearing sandals, our feet have much more exposure to the elements...that means skin dries out faster and our need for good moisturizing lotions and cremes increases!!
I love summer, I love the feeling of warmth on my face and the fun of summer activities. I just need to remember that my skin loves the feeling of warmth and it also needs the feeling of cleansing, moisturizing and careful monitoring. I met a man recently who is undergoing treatment to "fix" the sun damage that he got while sailing every summer; it is much easier to do prevention than it is to endure "fixing".
We at Wild Clover have always focused on health and wellness in addition to beauty. We carry only the finest products that have been developed with health and wellness in mind. Take care of yourself..we only go around once and the old adage " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" really is true!!
Take good care...and still have fun and enjoy the "lazy hazy crazy days of summer".

Big news at Wild Clover....

We have begun using and carrying Aveda products!! We are all very excited since the products are so healthy and that has always been our approach to the spa biz: it is about health and well being as well as beauty and relaxation. The Aveda philosophy matches ours perfectly. We also use and carry Bare Minerals makeup, another healthy product " so healthy you can sleep in it".
Come on in and experiment with our new lines...I guarantee that you will fall in love with all of it. And for those of you who already love Aveda and Bare Minerals, you only have to travel to WC, not Rockford, not Chicago , not Dubuque...we are right here in Galena!!

It's May, it's May..the lusty month of May!!

I have always loved this song from the play/movie Camelot and the great weather in May makes me want to sing!!! Doesn't it feel good to be out and about without a winter coat and clunky boots?
With the boots put away and the coats in the back of the closet, we are suddenly showing parts of us that have been hidden all winter.Time for that spring tuneup; Wild Clover is ready to help you greet the warm ,sunny days and feel really good about how you look!!
The list is as follows: a pedicure to spiff up the feet and toes that have been under wraps for months, sandals and open toes are here!! Then perhaps a body scrub to exfoliate the dry skin of the winter and to soften up the skin that is now showing under skirts and sleeveless tops. A new do perhaps, maybe even a new color or highlighting. Saw a friend at the spa today right after Alisha had cut and softened her look with some great highlights...she was thrilled and is anxious to meet up with her old high school friends, looking and feeling good.
And a massage for stress reduction is in order; don't you agree it has been an extra stressful winter, with both bad weather and a tough economy! A massage is really not an indulgence but rather a bona fide stress treatment.
Don't forget to ask for a makeup application with our bareMinerals products...I guarantee you will be hooked after one time. But try a facial first; skin care is important to your health and well being..in addition to the anti-aging effect we are all striving to find!!
It's May, it's May and that means mom is on our minds...how about a gift certificate for an investment in her health...she loves flowers but she will love this even more!! Check out the Wild Clover website for an instant gift certificate or give the spa a call to set up side by side facials and pedicures with your wonderful mother. If my mom were still with us, she would be a great spa client, I am pretty sure.
Happy Mother's day to all of our WC moms!!!

Spring renewal and makeover time!!

Spring is officially here! Buds are showing on the trees, green shoots popping through the once frozen ground,days are getting longer; the world is renewing itself!! And it is time to invest in our own renewal as well.
So...take a look in the mirror and analyze your hairstyle. Imagine how you might feel with a bit more color or a new bouncy style. We have discovered a fun new book at the spa: Staging your Comeback!! It is fun to see the difference a bit of color on a face or a new cut makes in a woman who just wants to feel better or look different. Our experts can teach you the benefits of mineral makeup and will do a complimentary makeup application with our fabulous Bare Minerals makeup line.
Skin care is a part of our health regime that we don't always think about or give the necessary time to. But starting out the new season with a renewing customized facial is a good place to start. Have one of our experts analyze your skin type and your care needs. Using professional products will be less expensive in the long run and will be far better for your skin. Men should also have a skin care plan that goes beyond shaving and scrubbing with soap!! WC has a specialized men's facial and the staff can help to set up an easy but effective plan.
And don't forget your nails! Sandals are on the horizon and gloves are put away. A manicure and pedicure will start the season off well. Nail health is also often overlooked and having an expert technician take a look will be a good way to assess if your nails are healthy. Our own nail expert, Jackie, is now doing gels nails with a product that she researched and found to meet her and the spa's standards. Try them out for a new look as well as a way to support nails that may be soft and suffer from easily breaking.
Massage and body wraps or scrubs are also a good way to invest in your health and wellness with stress reduction and relaxation time. In these times of high stress and anxiety, a bit of investment in yourself will serve you well.
We at Wild Clover are here to take care of you; our approach is about wellness and health as well as your beauty and good looks!! See you soon, we hope!!

Spring break time!!!

Hooray..today is March 1st!! Can tulips and daffodils be too far away?? The end of winter is in sight and that means spring break will be here to help us all over that final hump!
Wild Clover is definitely a place to spend part of your break. Traveling to Mexico or the beaches of the Caribbean may be cost prohibitive this year. But who wants to just stay home? A trip to Galena, the jewel of the midwest, would satisfy the need for a new landscape and a place to forget the stress and strain of everyday life.
At WC we can help you warm those winter bones with a delicious wrap or an enticing hot stone massage or signature facial. We can get your toes in sandal shape with a pedicure and foot massage that you won't forget and will actually make you feel like you spent a bit of time in a far away place. How about a makeover: maybe a new hair color and hairstyle and a new look with the best mineral makeup ever, Bare Minerals.
Mention this blog and have a complimentary makeup lesson!! It is just not the same watching the makeup artist on cable TV apply this outstanding makeup on someone else, we will have you walking out the door ready for a night on the town or a romantic dinner with candles and flowers!!
Next year the beach may be part of your plan but don't stay home this year! Let us help you take care of yourself, your significant other or your girlfriends. We can help you plan your time in Galena so that you won't miss out on the great things the town and the merchants have to offer!! Shopping, dining, history, wine tasting. gambling, entertainment...all of this awaits either before or after your time at Wild Clover. We look forward to your visit!!!!

Take care of the one you love!!

It is officially the month of love!! February brings with it cupids, hearts ,flowers, chocolates and the ever present question: what to give the love of my life that will show how much I care? Of course, we at Wild Clover may be a bit biased but what about the gift of spa?? You can do treatments together or just leave the love of your life in the capable hands of our WC experts!! We offer complimentary champagne or wine; you can toast before you allow yourselves to be carried away by the stress reducing treatments that you have chosen.We can play cupid with you; just ask and we will try to assist you in making the spa experience the best one ever and that one that will make this Valentines Day extra perfect.
Check out our instant gift certificate option at www.wildcloverdayspa.com Get great value for your money;shop online for a gift that will be long remembered because you showed how much you care about his or her stress reduction and well being.
The 14th is just around the corner; don't wait too long so that you will need to run to the corner drugstore to buy chocolate at the last minute!!

Don't give up your stress-reducing spa services!!

Welcome to the already tough winter of 2009!! Blowing and drifting snow, temps below zero, stressful economic news..it is enough to make you want to pull the covers over your head and stay put in the morning!!
With all that is going on with our world, it is no secret that we all will benefit from investing in our self care. And there are ways to do that so it will fit into the budget you are so carefully monitoring. Let us give you some tips on how you can still have a massage, facial or nail service and not feel guilty!!
These tips are:1. Check your spa or salon for weekday/off season pricing. Most places will do that since the staff are still available to take care of customers but the customers may be less likely to venture out in mid-winter.
2. Try a service that is called "express or mini". These services will still give you relaxation and stress reduction but will be less expensive as well.At Wild Clover we have an express facial, mini manicures and pedicures and a 30 minute intense back massage.
3. Gather a group to join you; most spas love taking care of groups and will be open to discussing group pricing. If the spa cannot negotiate pricing, ask for some upgrades, such as a paraffin dip or complimentary makeup lesson or application. You will be ready to go out on the town when you walk out of the spa.
4.Make an offer; you never know what result you will get. I heard a graduate school professor who teaches negotiation say" you can negotiate everything, even retail prices at Walgreens". Now I have not tested that theory at Walgreens but why not? If staff and timing is available,perhaps pricing could be negotiated.
5. See if your spa or salon has new staff members who are trying to build their client base. That person may be willing to take care of a new client with an introductory offer. It never hurts to ask that question.
6. Find a regular spa or salon and become one of their very special clients. At Wild Clover we offer special options for that list of our regulars. Call it "frequent flyer" points...pays off in the long run.
We hope to see you this winter at Wild Clover because we are here waiting to take care of you and help you with the incredible stress that has settled in your face, in your neck or in your feet!!