Ritual Wellness

These last several months of lunches, events, parties, and galas have been a whirlwind of fun.  I've oft neglected this blog as I was so busy doing too many neat things to actually have time to post about them.  Bad Min Ji!  But this blog wasn't the only thing that's suffered from the social merry go round of the last few months.

All the yummy food and tantilizing cocktails, in addition to the lack of sleep, have made me slow, groggy, and sluggish.  Although I'm a fan of organic hormone free products, that's been extremely difficult to maintain while at parties and dinners.  During the busy social season, I often feel bloated and exhausted, and I can't help but put some blame on the chemicals, additives, and hormones added to our food, water, and air supply.  

Not too many companies or restaurants can claim to be 100% organic and 100% recyclable, but local Orange County company Ritual Wellness can.  They source all their fruits and vegetables from local organic farmers while rigorously maintaining the high level of cleanliness that they're known for. 

Being one of the most highly renowned and trusted juice cleansing companies in Orange County, I decided to do the Rital Cleanse Reset for the second time. 

 
Ritual Cleanse Reset does exactly what it sounds like.  It resets your body to its ideal balance by cleansing your system of the toxins and pollutants it's exposed to on a daily basis.  The basic cleanse is a three day package of 6 juices, although you can add the Shred juices if you want to work out.

The first day will always be the hardest, as your body is craving the caffeine it's become addicted to, while trying to establish the right ph balance.  As this was my second time doing this juice cleanse, I stopped drinking coffee a couple of days before I started.  This was a HUGE plus in making this a much easier process, as the headache and nausea coming off of caffeine is not fun.  By not having any caffeine withdrawals, doing the Ritual Cleanse was easy and tasty. 

I drank six different juices every two hours, with plenty of water in between.  These six drinks equal 15lbs of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables a day!  My absolute favorite has to be the seasonal juice, which was mango, pineapple, green apple, and young coconut water.  Holy shiz!  This tastes like something I should be drinking poolside while cabana boys fan me with organic palm fronds.  teehee

I adore the packaging, from the uber stylish and 100% biodegradable bottles used to the great grocery tote and carrying case included.  Ritual Wellness was one of the first juice cleanse companies I've heard of that not only tries to maintain a healthy body, but has such a strong commitment to a healthy planet as well. 

At the end of my three days of the juice cleanse, I lost a bit over 5lbs, my skin was clearer, and my stomach felt healthier and flatter.  Truly, it wasn't that difficult to stay on the program, and I could easily see myself doing it for a longer time period in the future.

Ritual Wellness is offering OCRewind readers a 15% coupon to try their juice cleanse.  Just put OCREWIND15 as you check out, and this coupon will be available until July 10th, just in time for swimsuit season!  You'll love it as much as I did.  Happy juicing!

www.ritualcleanse.com

Korean Spa

Part of my beauty routine has to be my monthly visit to the Korean Spa.  I've often had people remark on my skin, and the must-do maintenance plan involves various body lotions & butters(adore adore!), and the monthly scrubs I get.  After talking to a few friends about it, it has slowly evolved into a fun Girl's Day involving the spa and a long lunch, but truly only for the ones not so faint of heart. 

Spas often invoke the idea of plush robes, soothing music, cucumber strawberry water...  Well, the closest thing you'll get to that at a Korean Spa is water...from Arrowhead.  This ain't no prissy girl's spa! 

Once you make a reservation, you'll pay first at the front door and get handed a towel, key, and an obnoxiously colored outfit of a badly fitted tee and elastic shorts.  You find your locker, drop off all your clothes and hit the shower before soaking in the various hot pools, steam rooms, and saunas.

ISpa in Irvine. Most Korean Spas are located in nondescript business or industrial parks.

Shoe lockers

The pools and saunas are no place to be shy.  You'll see women of all ages and shapes in the buff, lounging without a care in the world.  The first couple of times there, you'll hide behind posts, small towels, and even your hands, trying to overcome your shyness while maintaining NO EYE CONTACT with anyone.  A couple more times and you'll walk around nekkid as a bluejay without a second thought.  Trust me; it's not a big deal.  ;) 

You'll be called by your locker number by a Korean woman wearing a black lace bra and panties.  Soooo less sexy than it sounds...  You can't speak Korean?  No biggie.  They'll communicate with a variety of taps and one word instructions.  "Turn.  Side.  Side.  Back."  After getting crazy amounts of dead skin scrubbed off, they'll have you rinse off and it'll be time for your hot oil massage.  Don't let your modesty get you now.  They push, pull, pound, and practically sit on you while giving you a firm, strong massage.  I've often left my massage wondering if the massuese and I hit second base.  Kidding!!!  Sort of...   ;)

After your scrub and massage, if you've got the time, visit the Jjimjjilbang, where you can get Korean dishes and nap in various treatment rooms.

Well, this certainly isn't the Gucci Fall '12 line...

Fresh pressed watermelon juice

Kimbap - traditional roll with various vegetables, egg, or meat

Shaved ice with fresh fruit, frozen yogurt, and condensed milk

Chargrilled egg - smoky and delicious

After some food, take a nap in one or all of the treatment rooms.  It's supposed to be a quiet relaxing experience.  Definitely not something you do with your rowdy friends...which I do all the time.  Do you know how hard it is to stop giggling while getting shushed for laughing too much???  And there's no shame; plop right there on the floor and go for a snore.

Salt room

Salt

Getting comfy! heehee



The Korean Spa will get addicting, but try not to go more than once a month.  Too much scrubbing will thin out your skin and you'll start getting more susceptible to scratches and scars.  Men are also welcome in their own side.  I would definitely use a word of caution, as my hubby refuses to go back after an unfortunate incident of a strategically placed hand towel gone awry...  Shy guys need not apply.  ;)
There are a variety of Korean spas throughout Los Angeles and Orange County.  Find one that suits your needs, in terms of location and size.  You'll end up loving it as much as I do!

Roger Vivier

The Grand Opening Party of the Roger Vivier Boutique in South Coast Plaza was a night filled with champagne, hors d'oeurves from Marche Moderne, and live music.  Guests were able to meet the charming Bruno Frisoni amidst the chic shoes, bags, and clutches.  You could see his design asthetic in his personality; classic French style with bits of humor and unexpected charm in details. 

The boutique was a carefully planned juxtaposition of vintage Parisan accents and sleek, modern pieces.  Old French mirrors stood side by side with white linear leather sitting pieces, all placed carefully amidst the glorious shoes, bags, and jewelry.

My eyes went immediately to his purses.  The detailing in each piece was unexpected, quirky, and fun.  These pieces would be conversation starters and keepsakes that you'd pass on to your daughters.  As I have a boy, I'd obviously pass this to my daughter-in-law after a series of rigorous trials and tests.  Who are we kidding??!  I'll wait to give them to my granddaughter.  ;)

*image via Roger Vivier site

After the event, we were invited to candlelight dinner with Bruno Frisoni at Marche Moderne.  How lovely and fresh the patio looks!  This was the perfect ending to a fantastic evening celebrating Roger Vivier, Bruno Frisoni, and the amazing shoes and purses from this design powerhouse.

Best party favor!

Mother's Day at the Club

Mother's Day at the Pacific Club has become a bit of a tradition for us.  Hubby, Knolton, and I usually take his mother, my parents, and friends along for the traditional Mother's Day buffet brunch.  Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I hate buffets.  Hate. Sharing. Food. Period!  I cringe at the idea of eating something that someone else might have touched, breathed on, looked at funny...  I will flat out refuse to share food on my plate with anyone, even friends and family.  "If my food looked so good to you, you should have ordered it yourself!"  Yeah, I'm that girl.

But I definitely make an exception for the special occasion buffets at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach.  Why?  One word...Bloody Mary Bar.  (OK, that was three words, but they should always be fused as one.)  This year was a bit more fun as they added a juice bar for the champagne, with choices of blood orange, mango, strawberry, tangerine, raspberry, and peach.  What a great and simple idea!  I'm definitely doing that for the next backyard party we throw.

Bloody Mary & Juice Bar

 If the Bloody Mary Bar weren't enough, they have a carving station, seafood station with king crab, lobster, oysters, shrimp, sushi, Dessert Bar with a chocolate fountain, and a Shortcake Station!  Yum!  My favorite is still the Bloody Mary Bar while Knolton was all over that chocolate Fountain; think he even took a cup to fill.  They have an amazing man-made lake next door to walk the kids to see ducks.  So cute!

Dessert Bar

Individual pound cake bites and marshmallows for dipping in the chocolate fountain

Carving Station

Seafood Station

Strawberry Shortcake Bar

Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!  Knolton (and hubby) bought me a new camera, so hopefully you'll be seeing better pictures soon...

*photos by Knolton Clark

Susan G Komen Pink Tie Ball

Susan G. Komen of Orange County held their annual Pink Tie Ball in Laguna Beach at the Festival of the Arts, where the Pageant of the Masters is held every summer.  The Pink Tie Ball Committee chooses unique venues each year, from the ball field of Angels Stadium to the private airport hangar of Atlantic Aviation.  The Komen Foundation strives to eradicate breast cancer by donating community grants to Orange County non-profit facilites that can offer free screening to residents. 
Art was the feature of the evening, with painted works by breast cancer survivors, donors, and volunteers in collaboration with renowned artist, Jerome Gastaldi, being featured and auctioned off. 

Guests purchased lanterns from the Tree of Hope, for a chance to win a $10,000 18-karat gold and diamond bracelet, generously donated by Black Starr & Frost.  Guess this wasn't my year, as someone else walked away with the bracelet by the end of the night.  But I did manage to win (or as my hubby puts it, "pay more than anyone else wants to" lol) the opportunity for a child to announce "Play Ball!" before an Angels game!  Lucky Knolton!


Carolyn Ausman, myself, Analisa Albert

Hubby and I, wearing Brunello Cucinelli

Festival of the Arts,
where the Pageant of the Masters is held every year

Pink cocktail of the evening, adorned with a starfruit

Great concept of paying $50 for a surprise wine pull to enjoy at dinner

Cathie Lawler and Bill Peters of Louis Vuitton

myself, Lori Kenyon of Ritual Cleanse, Richard Farley II

The family plus a buddy for Knolton!

"Play Ball!"



photos coutesy of Osusan Haraikawa, Tyler Jo Gaines, Richard J Eldridge, and myself

To donate or get more information for the Susan G. Komen Orange County Foundation
www.komenoc.org