Spanista » Self Care Rituals, Reflections & Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

  • Spa Style & Self Care Reflections, Rituals and Resources for Joyful Living

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  • About Spanista

    Ginny Shiverdecker, Creator of Spanista is Spa Wellness Enthusiast, Adventurer Seeker and Brand Builder.
    Ginny is……Read more

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Las Vegas Encore Hotel Experience Enhances Humanitarian Efforts. This early morning, a quick taxi ride took me to my first visit to Wynn’s Encore Hotel to an important meeting with a celebrity and agent for our humanitarian effort – Building AbodShelter Villages of the Future around the world. The first is planned for Johannesburg, South Africa in early 2016.

The courting process for this celebrity has been in the works for a couple of years. I have met the celebrity before and stuck up a great dialogue about the vision for our efforts and what this person could bring to the effort – awareness, content development and special storytelling expertise. The agent is the new player with an agenda that tends toward the commercial push. It will be a challenge to strike the right chord for all of this to fall into place – especially because the AbodShelter is a micro housing solution that focus on making a difference not making money.

Arriving early at the hotel allowed me the opportunity to absorb the atmosphere of the celebrated Wynn property which the bellman told me was booked solid for the next two weeks. As a lover of the color RED I was thrilled to see this architectural application of this regal color. The Encore environment feels magical with all the oversized design elements – flowers, butterflies anchoring the rugs. A bit Alice In wonderland like – but fully focused on Adults. You have seen the maze gardens that frame dramatic pool where a corner is seen through the window pic. Unfortunately the day is overcast, a rare thing in Vegas so it must be brilliant in full sun light.

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The meeting would be at Society restaurant  – again a lovely setting with cozy coffee tables, booths, a bar that was full of people at 8 am!

Happily we found each other and had our conversation over a deep rich blend of 100% Arabica Coffee. The high energy atmosphere spot is full of deal makers and deal making conversations. We contributed to that positive energy moved things forward – a bit further down the line – grateful for a constructive outcome. But still not clearance to go public. That will come at the right time – Spanista has to turn up the patience dial.

Las Vegas Encore Hotel Experience Enhances Humanitarian Efforts translates to – thank goodness for this lovely environment to do business in. Stay tuned for more – hope you enjoy the pics of the Wynn Encore Hotel.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Las Vegas Cuisine New Chart House Tranquility Personified is such a pleasant surprise, I just had to share it.  For foodies Las Vegas is in a class by itself with every notable Chef claiming their place in the culinary landscape.

This particular evening after a day of traveling and getting settled in the hotel, I am looking forward to relaxing with a dear friend over dinner.  This is someone I established a professional relationship over the years. We are meeting to celebrate the beginning of a new year and our partnership to advance our humanitarian work. He is a prince of a guy with a generous heart. I am blessed to know him. He came to Las Vegas to join me in a meeting with a high-profile celebrity and agent. I staged this meeting so I was anxious for us to advance the dialogue. This celebrity could be a big help to us with increasing awareness of our global humanitarian efforts for  ‘The AbodShelters Village of the Future’.

I discovered the Chart House when checking into the Golden Nugget Hotel at the new Rush Tower. Just below the bar pictured here, is the ground floor lobby where there is sleek desks that wraps the 75,000 gallon aquarium. It is surly the centerpiece. Just a few steps to the right is the entrance to the Chart House. A special place you are immediately draw too.

Gorgeous fresh orchids arrangements bigger than life flooded fragrance into the open air. Delicate orchids are a Spanista favorite. Every seat in this magical restaurant faces the aquarium. Once at your table you are surrounded and lost in an underwater world. You feel a rush of calm that settles into pure tranquility before the appetizer arrives.

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As we chatted through dinner, planning our strategy for the morning meeting which would be at the Wynn Encore Hotel, we enjoyed fantastic cuisine. It started with a serious adult cocktail, then moved into our first course which was to die for calamari. Now as a seafood lover who has enjoyed some of the finest in the world, especially in Australia and Asia, this rivaled the top end. Next we enjoyed their signature dish – sea bass prepared Asian style – OMG. Now this is the VERY BEST sea bass I have ever enjoyed!

The menu does have a variety of offerings – but Master Chef Mina really does celebrate seafood sensationally if you are so inclined like I am. Wine list is exceptional too. Try to leave room for the Hot Chocolate Lava Soufle. (I was too full for it.) I was so into watching the fish I forgot to take pics of the food presentation ( so sorry) which is something you will juts have to imagine. BTW – Open Table’s rating is 4.5 stars.

By now we have a plan for the celebrity meeting, exceptionally creative given the atmosphere and talk moved onto the potential of meeting more like-minded companies who can help us at my appearance at The International Builders Show the next few days.

In other words, Las Vegas Cuisine New Chart House Tranquility Personified translates to – I did not want to leave this lovely dinning experience. I wanted to simply make the booth my resting place for the night -it was sooooo tranquil.

Hope you enjoyed this Spanista Travel Diary foodie experience. Tomorrow you will visit the Wynn Encore Hotel with me.

To Your Self Care Journey to Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Viva Las Vegas IBS Humanitarian Trip Creates Memorable Experiences in support of a cause close to my heart. Spanista believes Self Care Practices that involve ‘giving back’ creates a type of heartfelt of joy that lasts and sends positive endorphins through out your body – while humbling us to appreciate what goodness we have in life. Especially thankful when we see the living conditions of others in the developing world. Over 30% of the worlds populations live on less than $1.20 and dwell in squalor.

My humanitarian calling is to advocate better living solution – a quality low-cost micro home that can be built in a day designed for under privileged populations. My tip to Las vegas is to launch a call for sponsors to support our new “AbodShelters Village of the Future Campaign” at the International Builders Show (IBS).  Here I have the opportunity to meet loads of new people and network in search of support for AbodShelters.com effort around the world with first village to be built in a slum area of Johannesburg, South Africa.  It is designed by BSB Design, a premier architectural firm that designs scale communities through the US and internationally.

Arriving in Las Vegas means seeing familiar landmarks. This time I would be staying downtown due to the fact that three major trade shows were happening simultaneously and rooms on the strip were hard to come by not to mention insanely priced. Always ready for the next experience, the hotel was rated pretty well and  I uncovered the destination featured a newly built Tower called Rush at The Golden Nugget. Also it had a well rated Spa that I wanted to check out to share with you.  The only issue is it on the farthest end of the strip away from the Convention Center. But then again nothing is to far in Vegas.

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You can see my room was comfortable and spacious with a lounge area . Open space like heaven compared to my room in New York last week. The bath certainly sizable with a robe. Love robes. They add to the comfort factor. Now  the new area of the hotel called Rush Tower is the place to be – modern styling, upgrades in every way that rival the strip.

Once I settle in its off to the show to spread the world about building AbodShelters Villages around the while seeking funding to make it happen. Wish me luck, ok?  More on my trip tomorrow.

Where did you stay on you last trip to Vegas – how was it?

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Good News Monday: New Women’s Cab Service Alternative Timely Arrival in New York are welcome solution. And India’s New Pink Cabs for Women are sign of things to come. Spanista just discovered this good news and loves advocating innovative ways to assure personal safety as an Essential Self Care Practice.

As an Adventurer who travels to far off places for business and pleasure, I have frequently wondered how best to get from one location to another while alone. Especially in countries where the custom is to drive on the opposite side of the road or where the I do not have any command of the local language so I choose not to drive myself.  What is the right choice? Every woman or man needs to be keenly aware of safety.

A couple of years ago while attending a conference at Intel in San Francisco, I was told about Uber which had taken off in California so downloaded the Ap. I have turned to it when needed. Uber certainly has become a go to solution but is not always quicker or affordable. Uber is controversial for a few reasons beyond that and somehow still leaves me wishing for a better way.

I maybe making a trip to Northern India in the coming year because I am now having conversations with a new Foundation in New Delhi looking to apply into the humanitarian work I am doing as Board Member.  It is a new destination for me. While researching travel there, I was pleased to discover Meru Eve, dedicated to serving women riders. As pictured here, these Meru Eve women drivers wear pink and pilot white and pink hatchbacks making them easy to spot in the huge congested city. Dedicated women driver services are especially topical after a reported incident last month where a woman was allegedly raped by an Uber car driver in New Delphi. One wonders why this style of solution has taken time to emerge. Relieved – It will be my choice while there.

Once I discovered Meru Eve, I decided to explore such services in the US and came onto She Rides. She Rides, as a  is a new driver service for women available in New York. Who knew?

In NYC, the ease of hailing a local taxi has long been the acceptable solution, but honestly this is a move I sometimes regretted especially at night where a few times I found myself holding my breath in silent prayer while I whizzed down empty streets, winding down side streets I was not familiar with, hoping I would get to my stop safely. Glad to say I did. And sometimes during late evenings entertaining clients, I would think twice about simply catching a cab to get off the streets. Now I have a new choice.

Good News Monday: New Women’s Cab Service Alternative Timely Arrival is about informing women that these services are available. Spanista fancies that women realize offering a business for women’s safety is a smart alternative some women want for their own comfort. Please pass this news on to women who would benefit from it.

Would love to know, has anyone used such a service? Would you share your story for the benefit of others who travel please?

To You Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

P.S. Feature photo compliments of the NYTimes, “SheRides, a New York Taxi Service Aimed at Women, Finds a Loyal Following by Winnie Hu.”

 

 

 

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Spanista Friday Wellness Tip Discovered in The Magazine on Southwest Airlines Flight to New York.

Dear Wellness Seekers,

Friday Wellness Tip: Power Up Your Nap is a Spanista Self Care Essential for 2015.

Got 10 minutes? Want to improve your mood? Want to prevent little disagreements? While flying on Southwest Airlines I had a few minutes between official ‘electronic equipment turn off and landing’ so I picked up The Magazine to scan through its content. I find the editorial enjoyable – down to earth and full of practical tips on a range of subjects beyond the typical travel features. After a few pages I came to a feature titled “Power Up Your Nap”.

The article is based on research from the National Sleep Foundation. Kristen Knutson an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago and consultant to the National Sleep Foundation offers, “Research has shown that naps lasting less than 30 minutes increase alertness and reduce sleepiness, while allowing you to be active immediately upon waking.” Why?  Because short sleep segments allow rest but do not allow you to go into deep sleep segments called REM’s – short naps are non Rem, so you reap benefits but do not wake up feeling groggy like when you are in deep sleep.

So is there are good time for a nap? Ms. Knutson offers, “It is suggested to keep the time away from evening sleep hours as to not disrupt your night’s sleep patterns. But what seems to be effective for many is the early or late afternoon, as there is a natural dip in the circadian rhythms that works to counteract those factors.” Another report I read indicates more sleep proves to diminish arguments at home and at work which is noteworthy. How much time would work? Honestly 10 minutes can make a difference! But everyone has to experiment to see what works for them.

Interestingly, I also read recently in a historic biography of Jackie O that the Kennedy family lived by daily naps. She and John as well as extended family members would take a nap after lunch most everyday. This helped them manage their demanding schedules as high-profile political figures ( yes, even while in the White House) so they could endure long days of travel and activity and still be able to participate in command performances night after night.

Every Spanista needs to honor sleep as a means to wellbeing. Now I have been known to indulge in a nap on the weekends in late afternoon before I night out. I picked up this lovely Self Care Nap practice after working with professional friends in Miami who live the wonderful Cuban Culture. When we were collaborating on production projects together we work hard all day – take cuban coffee at around 4 pm – work to six go to the hotel – take a power nap, shower, change and head out for dinner at 9 pm. The power nap was so refreshing and helped me extend the day. I was more alert and productive when often meant business continued into the evening, hosting clients and the like. Of course once I moved out of the Florida these cultural influences diminished until I came to live in Melbourne Australia for periods of time. I have found 10 minutes of closing my eyes anywhere for a Power Nap makes a world of difference. Give it a try?

If you are on a plane soon, read The Southwest Magazine to find this Spanista Friday Wellness Tip: Power Up Your Nap. Ten minutes is all you need. Hope this provides you with a valuable Self Care tip to make 2015 better. Let me know how it works if you give it a try!

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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