Summer Spaaah Series Returns

Keeping the Valley Cool with the Second Annual 2007 Summer Spaaah Series

By Lisa Kasanicky

Let's be honest, the summers in Phoenix metro and beyond can be unbearably hot. So hot that you could fry an egg and cheese omelet on the sidewalk. But here's the good news: The blistering, three-digit temps also keep tourists to a minimum and give us locals free reign to fully enjoy the spoils of our beautiful desert environment. And that's where the Summer Spaaah Series comes in.

Last spring, ArizonaSpaGirls.com teamed up with a women's social networking group – Chat, Chew & Chocolate – to create a way to inject our sleepy summers with a dose of fun and camaraderie. The Summer Spaaah Series was launched in the summer of 2006 and has since become a Valley-wide phenomenon that unites top spa destinations with local residents through engaging, onsite events. Events boast an overflowing chocolate buffet, mini spa treatments, shopping, raffles, goodie bags, an exclusive opportunity to tour the spas that dot our landscape, and lots of smiling faces. And what's more, a portion of the proceeds of the summer-long tour goes to the Fresh Start Women's Foundation, an empowering Valley-based charity that assists women in transition.

Our inaugural year took us to six destinations that represented every spectrum of the spa experience at destinations across the Valley: Steven Paul Salon, Sibonné Day Spa, D'Armi Esthetics University, Aji Spa at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, VH Spa for Vitality + Health at Hotel Valley Ho and Body & Soul Spa. The 2006 events raised more than $18,000 for the Jewell McFarland Lewis Fresh Start Women's Resource Center, which included a full scholarship to D'Armi Esthetics University and generous donations from all the spas.

This year, our tour kicked off on June 10 at the Spa at the historical Arizona Biltmore and will take us on a ride through the Valley to XS Salon & Spa Featuring IntelliDerm Medical Spa, Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts & the Southwest Institute of Natural Aesthetics, Mozaik Skin & Body Studio and Aji Spa at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort. Our goal this year is to raise $15,000 for Fresh Start and increase awareness about the meaningful, empowering opportunities that they create for Valley women.

And yes, events are nearly sold out but because we learned last year what an voracious appetite Valley residents have for chocolate, spa treatments and generosity, we created several other ways to make this a community-wide effort. First, we created an interactive website (www.SummerSpaAZ.com) with a blog for you to share feedback, a photo gallery and comprehensive information on all our participating locations. We also wrangled in a handful of spas to offer specials with a portion of proceeds going to Fresh Start. And finally, we posted a handy donation tool that allows you to contribute directly to Fresh Start.

A final and very special thanks to all of this year's generous sponsors, booth participants and supporters: AJ's Fine Foods, Canyon Ranch, Arizona Woman Magazine, Avant Garden Florist, East Valley Woman Magazine, Elana Skin Care, Harrison Hurwitz Photography, Keith Pitts Photography, La Bella Rosa Boutique, Let Them Eat Cake, Mix 96.9 FM, Pevonia Skincare, Philosophy, Premier Jewelry, Revolution Tea, So Scottsdale! Magazine, Wei of Chocolate, Whish Body, Zoe's Kitchen and our army of dedicated volunteers.

Chocolate, spas and generosity – what could be better than that?

Visit SummerSpaAZ.com for all the details!