Duchess of Downtown Tacoma

Welcome to Wellness Wednesday, where its all about self improvement and being the best we can be, outside and in. I welcome your suggestions for wellness in the comment section below. Share with us what you do! Last week I tried something brand new. I already have eyelash extensions on my upper lashes  from Eye Candie (which I LOVE) then I got an offer from a friend at Clara Spa (Sylvia Sheridan) to have a new treatment done to make my lower lashes look darker and thicker too. The treatment is called Lash Dip. Its like a mascara that lasts 3 weeks and never flakes or smears. I stopped wearing mascara when I got my lash extensions so my lower lashes were kind of invisible. I didn't mind that look but this is nice too. The name "Lash Dip" is a bit misleading. She didn't dip my lashes into something, rather she painted a solution on to them. The process was not uncomfortable for me but my eyes did water a little. After she applied each coat of the solution she dried...

Sorry about the lack of Wellness last Wednesday. I was having a moment. You know how you sometimes just stop and say, "What am I doing?" It was like that. Lots of self reflection. Lots of trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Stuff like that. Luckily I am surrounded by Goddesses of inspiration and wisdom and got some great advice and support. I highly recommend inviting your best girl friends over for dinner and just saying out loud those loathsome things that you tell yourself but you really don't mean. If you don't have people around you that you can sort that stuff out with without judgement, try the technique in this video that a very smart friend of mine shared with me this week. This is Byron Katie. As my friend put it, "This is radical shit."  I know, right? OK, moving on.  Electra Spa 5209 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, Washington 98408 (253) 431-2039 www.electraspa.com Connect on Facebook Earlier this week I tagged along with a f...

This week I wanted to eat cherries with Sherry's. Unfortunately the Sherry's I know are very busy ladies! I wasn't able to coordinate scheduling with most of them but my good friend Shari Hart took time out of her busy schedule and we invited some of our other favorite people to join us for dinner. This time we decided to make our own dinner using only things we bought at the Tacoma Farmers Market. It was great food and great company. Two of my friends live in Sky Terrace Condo's and they have a rooftop gathering space with a couple of BBQ grills, a seating area, a swimming pool and a gorgeous view of downtown Tacoma and the waterfront. They were kind enough to let us use this as the venue for our dinner. Not only that, they also contributed food and helped us cook! It was perfection. Even the weather cooperated and we had a sunny warm dinner with the perfect breeze. It just shows you that sometimes plan B works out even better that plan A. My dinner companions were...

Hello Thrifty Friends!! I'm currently basking in wedded bliss, so please excuse my delinquency. Being married is pretty amazing in and of itself, but one perk? Now I'm included on my  new husbands health insurance. Don't be jealous, now you can have health insurance too!   Lack of health insurance can cause so much strife in ones life. What would seem a simple flu can escalate. Broken bones and deep cuts result in astronomic emergency room bills. If your employer does not offer insurance, if you are self-employed or if you are underemployed there's still hope! Now downtown Tacoma has a very thrifty healthcare option for individuals without insurance: A new clinic just opened up on Pacific Avenue, right here in Tacoma neighboring our own IGA City Grocer. It's called Paladina Health. You can join for only $99 initial set up and and  $99 a month and have access to a local clinic with one-on-one care. There might be some services for which you'd n...

Happy Monday everybody. This week I went to Johnny's Dock Restaurant and we tried dishes from their "Twilight Menu." Everything on that menu was just $14.95. Did you know that you can buy Johnny's Dock Seasoning Salt right there at the restaurant? I usually get mine at the grocery store but I noticed City Grocer IGA (which is the closest store to me) didn't have it. Now I know that I can just go straight to the source and get it at the restaurant! I also visited the Grand Opening of the South Tacoma Farmers Market at the new Metro Parks STAR Center and it was really great! You simply must go check it out one of these Sundays! Johnny's Dock Restaurant 1900 East D Street  Tacoma, WA http://johnnysdock.com/ Connect on Facebook The view from this place, even on an overcast day, is stunning. Steak salad - WOW! Doesn't that look amazing? Chicken Fettuccine - this was enough for two meals! I took it home and had it for lunch the next day. Del...