Celebrate the Holidays with Recipes From Chef Bill

As I sit down to think of ideas for the various holiday meals that will be happening over the next few months, I often find myself in a "food rut." Sure there are the classic dishes that usually grace the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but who wants to eat the same thing every year? Glen Ivy's Executive Chef, Bill Wavrin, provided me with some of his best holiday recipes to try out this season--Cranberry Chutney and Orange Scented Sweet Potatoes with Oranges. From Chef Bill's kitchen to yours...enjoy!

Cranberry Chutney
(Yield: 6 1/2 cups)

Ingredients:

8 cups fresh cranberries
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
2 cups fresh squeezed Orange juice
4 cups water
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Method:

Place a medium saucepan over medium-high heat with the cranberries and apples and cook until cranberries start to crack (about 2 minutes). Add the remaining ingredients and simmer until cranberries have broken down and chutney is starting to thicken (25 minutes). Season with the brown sugar to taste.

Add to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. It is better overnight so the flavors can marry. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Per 1/4 cup: Calories 40; Protein 0g; Total Fat 0g; Carbohydrate 9g; Dietary Fiber 2g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 0mg.

Orange Scented Sweet Potatoes with Oranges

(Yields: 8 servings)

Ingredients:

2 pounds of sweet potatoes
6 cups fresh orange juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 orange sliced

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Wash the sweet potatoes and trim 1/4 inch off of the ends. Cut sweet potatoes in half. In a small bowl mix the orange juice with the cinnamon and vanilla.

Place the sweet potatoes in an oven proof dish and pour the juice and top with the orange slices. Cover with lid or foil and place into the hot oven and back for 50 minutes or until the sweet potatoes have cooked through and are tender. Serve hot or cold as a side dish for breakfast or for quick energy.

A Memorable, Meaningful and Enjoyable Experience

Here at Glen Ivy we know how lucky we are to have such amazing guests. Serving you and sharing in your experiences is what makes us happy and excited to come to work so we make it our goal to inspire memorable, meaningful and enjoyable experiences in everyone, every day. It is because of this mission that I wanted to share a letter that a guest sent to us describing her recent visit.

Good morning Meghann,

As you know, we kicked off our time together at Glen Ivy on Tuesday, October 27th and were celebrating a surprise cabana party for my Uncle Ricco's birthday.

We experienced a courteous reception at the front desk and a smooth escort with attentive care from James. From the surprise for my Uncle Ricco and Aunt Westlynn to the exquisite roof top accommodations, ALL of us were absolutely titillated with joy, thanksgiving, and appreciation.

Again, to the entire crew at Glen Ivy, you made the visit for our family and friends from far and near a happy lifelong memory. In fact, when another friend arrived from North Carolina days later, the raves about Glen Ivy persuaded some of the "cabana party" to return the following Monday.

Glen Ivy is truly my personal little paradise which I call the "Emerald Jewel of the Inland Empire." I simply love introducing and encouraging my friends and family to partake in the 'near fantasy' world of birds of paradise, exotic greenery, exfoliating, soothing mud, soothing water, and competent customer service providers that are enriched with new offerings and impeccable cleanliness. I could go on and on!

With sincere appreciation,
Sheila M.

Thank you to all of our fans who continue to show their dedication and support to Glen Ivy. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Q & A: Ask the Esthetician Part 2

Last week I sat down with our primary esthetician here at the Hot Springs to answer some of the most commonly asked questions from guests about basic skincare. This week we turned to Linda again to get some more answers to questions about peels, eye creams, and serums.

Q: What is a peel?
A: A peel is a chemical, herbal or enzyme exfoliation of the epidermis. Peels help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve texture, even skin tone, and treat acne and dehydrated skin conditions. The level of exfoliation ranges from very superficial to aggressive, so talk to your esthetician about your skin care concerns and desired results to help determine the right peel for you. There's a great article on Spa Magazine's website if you want to learn more about peels.

Q: Eye creams are so expensive - do I really need one?
A: Your eyes are the quickest area to show signs of aging so it is important that you do use an eye cream. At Glen Ivy, we use and recommend GloTherapeutics' gloEye Restore - it contains green tea which acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps reduce puffiness caused by fluid retention. It also contains Vitamin K and A to diminish dark undereye circles and crows feet. Not all eye creams are expensive, either, so shop around and find one you like. GloEye Restore is $36 and will last about 4-5 months.

Q: How can I repair my skin after sun exposure and damage?
A: Heal your skin first with an anti-inflammatory and antioxidants. To correct the damage, you need a combination of peels and a professional skin care regimen to do the trick. Consult and esthetician or dermatologist.

Q: What products do I need to add to my skin care routine as my skin matures?
A: You need to add products that exfoliate to encourage cell turnover. Look for products that contain peptides, retinol, and/or alpha hydroxy acids in them.

Q: Are serums necessary in my skin care regimen?
A: Yes! Serums pack the biggest anti-aging and treatment punch. Use a serum if you want to preserve, change or correct any issues with your skin. Serums are the most concentrated piece in a skin care line and will help you achieve the results you're looking to see.

A big thank you to Linda for answering all of our skin-related questions! Make sure to check out our Pomegranate Enzyme Facial available November 1-30 and our Winterberry Facial available December 1-31. If you have more questions, we have more answers - feel free to comment below!

Q & A: Ask the Esthetician

Before I began working in Social Media I worked in the Spa Salon at the Hot Springs. I often overheard conversations the estheticians had with guests regarding facials and skincare. Knowing that we all have questions and concerns about our skin (after all, we all want to look great), I sat down with an esthetician to get some answers about the most commonly asked questions.

Linda Stamp, Primary Esthetician,
Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa

Q: How often should I be getting a facial?
A: Once a month is ideal so we can do a deeper cleanse and a skin analysis to keep you on track. Most importantly, we'll make sure your routine at home is consistent with your skincare needs and that the products that you are using will achieve your desired results.

Q: What products do I need to be using?
A: Everyone needs a good cleanser, exfoliant and moisturizer. Your cleanser and exfoliant will remove makeup, oil and dead skin to prep for your moisturizer. In turn, your skin will be ready for a more even makeup application.

Q: My pores are really large, can I shrink them?
A: Pore size is genetic, that's what give us our particular skin type (i.e. dry, combination, oily) but the good news is we can make them look smaller! Exfoliating will refine the pore and keep it clear. Scrubs, retinol products and peels will also help pores look smaller. (We'll talk more about peels next week!)

Q: What's the best way to get rid of clogged pores and blackheads on your nose and upper cheeks at home?
A: The best way to get rid of clogged pores and keep them clear is exfoliating. Getting regular facials that include extractions will help rid the pore of congestion; at home using a product with salicylic acid such as gloPurifying Gel Cleanser will help the cells of the epidermis to shed more readily, preventing the pores from clogging.

Next week Linda will be back to answer more questions about peels, eye creams, and serums. Stay tuned and if you have any questions for Linda, post away!

2 for 1 Admission is Back!

We just enjoyed our first day of 2 for 1 Admission at Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa in Corona. Available Tuesdays and Thursdays now thru December 24th, when you purchase one regular full price admission you receive a second admission for free (a $38 value)! So make it a spa day for two and save!

We asked a few of our guests what they like best about "2 for 1" and here is what we heard:

--“I FINALLY get to bring my boyfriend! He really loves it, but I need the deal to convince him.”
--“It’s a chance to bring my friend as a gift to her and thank her for all the wonderful things she does for me. We get to enjoy some relaxing time together and have a girl’s day.”
--“With the money that I save I can upgrade my massage to 80 minutes!”
--“Since my friend and I saved on admission, we both got to try the Grotto for the first time!”

What is your favorite thing about 2 for 1 admission? We would love to know!

Sunless Tanning

For weeks I've been hearing about the new Infinity Sun Sunless Tanning Service that's now being offered at Glen Ivy Day Spa, Brea so last week Elizabeth and I hopped in the car and made a beeline for Brea to give it a try! The whole team in Brea is really excited about this service and they've raved about the Infinity Sun sunless tanning formula - it's enriched with antioxidants and Vitamin A and E so it helps skin stay hydrated and looking great!

I should start out by saying that Elizabeth and I are both pretty tan but with the summer sun fading away so is the sunkissed look we love.

Here's how it went:
The first step to ensuring an even spray tan is showering with a scrub to fully exfoliate your body. After we scrubbed, the spray tan was applied by a trained spa professional (Melissa, one of the massage therapists did ours - thanks, Melissa!) with a hand-held spray over the entire body (face optional - we did!). The tanning experience was fairly quick, lasting about 10 minutes including the aloe-based neutralizer spray primer to help the skin absorb the tan evenly and last longer. Because a spa professional applies the formula with attention to detail to make sure it's even and smooth, the time will likely vary slightly for every person (unlike a machine). As with any tanning product, you should wait until everything is completely set and dry before redressing. I'd also recommend wearing darker, loose fitting clothes.

Results:
At first Elizabeth and I only noticed a slight difference in our skin tone but the next day our natural-looking golden brown glow was back!

Spray Tan Treatments:
1st Time Introductory Rate.......$49
Single Tan Treatment.......$55
Series of Three.......$145
Series of Five.......$225
Anti-age Upgrade.......$15
Shimmer Upgrade.......$15

If you have a special event coming up or if you want to look tan without the harmful effects of the sun, be sure to try the new Infinity Sun Sunless Tanning at Glen Ivy Day Spa, Brea!

Have you ever had a spray tan or do you use any sunless tanning products? I'd love to hear about your experience and results!

Fall Into Bliss Treatment Featuring Farmhouse Fresh Products

I'm so excited to tell you about the new body treatment for fall at Glen Ivy Day Spas in Brea and Valencia - the Fall Into Bliss body treatment features Farmhouse Fresh products, which are absolutely amazing! The 80 minute full body experience includes a back of body massage with Sweet Cream Body Milk, heated stones on the back, a Sugar Maple Back Scrub, and a full body wrap with a Sweet Honey Mask. Sounds divine, right? Well, there's more! This blissful treatment is finished off with a head, neck and shoulder massage while wrapped in a cocoon of aromatic warmth. ($145)

Yesterday Jennifer and I took a trip up to Spa Salon at the Hot Springs to play with the new Farmhouse Fresh products and we immediately “oooohed” and “ahhhhed” when we saw the display and unbelievably cute packaging (there’s a box that says “Our cows eat cookies”--too fun!). We didn’t waste any more time before we began our usual routine when testing out new products. The salon staff were quickly alongside us encouraging us to “Smell this one!” and “Wait…you HAVE to try that one!”

Since I am obsessed with having smooth skin, I went straight to the trio of Fine Body Scrubs (an Oprah favorite and now mine) available in Sugar Maple, Sweet Cream, and Whipped Honey scents. Yummy! If only there were a scratch and sniff available for computer screens!

Meanwhile, Jennifer was lathering on Sweet Cream Body Milk, smelling her arms, and raving about the adorable the glass pour-spout cruet packaging. Here's a neat detail: the products are signed by ther person that handpackaged them. By the end of our visit to the Spa Salon we came out smelling sweet and feeling soft! In our book, products that give us our sugar fix AND smooth skin are always welcome!

Make sure to try out these products during your next visit to any of the Glen Ivy locations -they're now being used in all our nail services and the cute, handpackaged products also make fabulous gifts so you can spa at home!