Pressing the Reset Button at Lakeview at Fontana

Oh my!  Earlier this month I had a chance to escape my day-to-day responsibilities of being a full-time mom to two highly-demanding tots and get away for a girls' weekend at Lakeview at Fontana--a rustic-chic resort and spa near Bryson City, North Carolina. It was exactly what this worn out mother needed. My husband, the incredibly wonderful man that he is, took a couple of days off work to watch the kids so I could fly down with a girl friend for three nights and four beautiful days to completely recharge my batteries. It was heaven on earth!

I did my research long before I booked the trip. The reviews were excellent and the price was affordable. Everything about the resort is geared toward relaxation from the location with views of the Smokey Mountains--which offers amazing hiking trails--to the spa treatments--the Green Tea Detoxifying Body Treatment makes you want to sleep like a baby. The morning begins with a gentle yoga class that completely sets the day off right: deeply relaxed.

What I love most about Lakeview at Fontana is that it is completely unpretentious. The staff all wear yoga pants and their signature RELAX t-shirts. I bought two!  To remind me of my stay and to relax.

When I returned home the afterglow lasted for about two and a half days. At first, my children's screaming didn't even phase me. I was at peace even in the mist of their tantrums. Even though that feeling didn't last forever, somehow that mini-retreat did something in me. It reminded me of what I was like before kids--carefree and easy going. It enabled me remember to take deep breaths when everyone is melting down around me and let go of the things I cannot start or finish.

Somehow my girls' weekend at Lakeview at Fontana was more than a little R&R. It pressed the reset button on my mind, body and spirit...and that is priceless.

Those Wrinkles May Be Telling You Something

Many of us gauge the status of our health based upon the number on the bathroom scale or our last cholesterol and blood pressure check. But simply looking at your face in the mirror can be a better indicator of your internal health.

Those laugh lines creeping up around your eyes may not mean you’re just a merry 'ol soul. Instead, according to Your Skin, Younger: New Science Secrets to Reverse the Effects of AGE, a wrinkle is not just a wrinkle. The authors of this comprehensive holistic beauty book--two dermatologists and a naturopathic physician--claim that an early onset of the visible signs of aging is an indicator of problems in the heart, kidneys and other organ systems.

Looking good on the outside isn't simply an issue about vanity. The things you do for a healthier body will actually make you look younger too. Before the dawn of the "advanced" skincare industry we have today, it wasn't that long ago that diet and lifestyle were considered important for beautiful skin.

Yes, too much time in the sun and genes have roles in how our skin ages, but they are just parts of a larger picture on aging skin. The things we do for a healthy body on the inside, like eating nutrient-dense foods and keeping stress levels down, are keys to smoother, more radiant skin.

So the next time you reach for a 'little hope in a bottle' to combat the signs of aging, help your whole body out and add some wild Alaskan salmon, leafy greens, yogurt, almonds, and fresh berries to your beauty routine. While you're at it, take a walk to bring down your stress levels too. The body from the inside and out will reward you.