Women are often the head and heart of every household and family, so make sure the women in your life (including yourself if you’re one, too) are taking the time to take care of themselves, especially this week, which marks the 13th annual National Women’s Health Week.

While there are many ways to celebrate, including a visit to a healthcare professional, avoiding unhealthy habits, managing stress, being active, and getting enough sleep, you can also make health a top priority by eating fresh, in-season vegetables. Brimming with nutrients, much of spring’s bounty can—and should be—eaten raw, if possible, for optimal health benefits. A bonus? Many of these veggies are incredibly low in calories.

The week-long health observance, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, kicked off on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012, and is celebrated until May 19, 2012. As the theme for 2012 says, “It’s Your Time.”

Here are a few spring veggies that we look forward to every year that will satisfy your taste buds and feed your body.

Pea Shoots

These pretty greens are delicately crispy and can be prepared many ways, including raw in salads. With seven times more vitamin C than blueberries, pea shoots are a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the body from free radicals. They also contain eight times more folic acid than bean sprouts, which is needed to make healthy cells and blood; this is key for pregnant women as it’s necessary for the development of the unborn baby. And, with four times more vitamin A than tomatoes, pea shoots can benefit the skin and help keep the immune system healthy.

Watercress

Another green that does best raw, watercress is a slightly bitter, yet peppery and spicy green that can also be used in a variety of ways. From salads to stir-fries to soups, watercress is an anti-inflammatory that is said to have anti-aging properties as well as abilities to fight vision-impairing illnesses. It’s also said to be good for the liver and for the heart. Dieters: Watercress is also super low-calorie, containing fewer calories than broccoli.

Try these recipes:
Miso Salmon Salad
Zucchini Carpaccio with Crab, Pine Nuts, Chili, and Mint Salad
Indonesian Toasted Cashew Chicken-Mango Salad with Baby watercress and Tamarind-Lime Vinaigrette

Fava Beans

Unless it’s been unseasonably warm in your area of the country, keep an eye out for these in late spring/early summer. In a Harvard study from the International Journal of Cancer, 90,638 cancer-free women between 26 and 46 years old were monitored for eight years. Women who ate beans or lentils two or more times per week had a 34 percent lower risk of breast cancer than women who ate them one or fewer times per month. “Natural substances in beans appear to protect our cells from damage that can lead to cancer,” Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, author of S.A.S.S. Yourself Slim, says. “One in particular, called saponins, has been shown to block the reproduction of cancer cells and slow the growth of tumors.”

Try this recipe:
Spring Fava Bean Spread with White Truffle Oil, Shaved Pecorino and Crostini

Arugula

Low fat, cholesterol free, very low sodium, a good source of folate and calcium, and an excellent source of vitamins A and C, arugula is rich in phytonutrients, which may reduce the risk of several kinds of cancer, including breast, stomach, and colon. Look for bright green leaves that are delicately crisp, and stems that are neither withered nor slimy.

Try these recipes:
Beet Spring Salad
Mediterranean Sandwich

Through May 14, Skin Authority is accepting nominations for its TOUCH Transforms Teachers Contest. Students and parents can share a story of why their favorite teacher makes a difference in their life and nominate that teacher to win a Skin Authority spa facial experience at their local participating spa. Top finalists will receive a $50 Skin Authority gift card.

“We listen to teacher’s stories of struggling to keep their classrooms stocked with basic supplies,” says Skin Authority CEO Celeste Hilling, who is leading the TOUCH Transforms Teachers movement. “Teachers are America’s heroes. While we can’t give every teacher $500, we can give them a wellness lift and self-esteem boost.”

To show further appreciation, for every customer who purchases $50 or more of Skin Authority products from www.skinauthority.com or from a participating location through May 14, Skin Authority will donate a free $50 gift certificate to a teacher of their choice. The certificates will be delivered via email and will include a personalized message. Find a participating location.

Credit: Phase 4 Films

Sassoon started his career at the ripe age of 14 as a shampoo boy; he was responsible for mixing dyes, bleach powder, peroxide and ammonia. In 1954 he opened his first salon in London, where he became famous for the bob haircut as well as the pixie cut he gave Mia Farrow for Rosemary’s Baby. “We learned to put discipline in the haircuts by using actual geometry, actual architectural shapes and bone structure,” Sassoon told the LA Times in a 1999 profile. “The cut had to be perfect and layered beautifully, so that when a woman shook it, it just fell back in.”

Law enforcement sources said the icon died after an unspecified illness and that family was by his side. He had been fighting leukemia this past year after being diagnosed with blood cancer in 2009.

● Stressed moms! 97 percent of respondents say they are “occasionally” or “frequently” stressed out – the majority (51 percent) that they are FREQUENTLY stressed out

● Experience not things: 93 percent of survey takers would rather receive, or give, an experience than a thing this Mother’s Day

● Top 3 fave ways moms like to de-stress: 1) Go to spa/have a massage, 49 percent; 2) Watch TV/movie/play video games, 16 percent; 3) Read, 15 percent

● Moms overwhelmingly want a “spa day” for Mother’s Day: Moms’ top Mother’s Day gift wishlist for 2012 included – “Spa day,” 80 percent; Meal out at restaurant, 7 percent; Jewelry, 4 percent; Flowers, 4 percent; Clothing/accessories, 3 percent; Beauty products, perfume, 2 percent; electronics, 1 percent

Which is where we come in – enjoy round two of our hand-picked spa specials that celebrate mom! (View the Mom’s Day Specials – Round 1 here.)

Eau Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach – Manalapan, FL

Guerlain Spa at Waldorf=Astoria – New York, NY

Huntington Hotel and Nob Hill Spa – San Francisco, CA

Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Villas and Spa – Indian Wells, CA

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa – Farmington, PA

Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa – Miami, FL

Red Mountain Resort – Ivins, UT

Sedona Rouge – Sedona, AZ

The Spa at MODERN Honolulu – Honolulu, HI

The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa – Hallandale Beach, FL

Waterstone Spa at Ashland Springs Hotel – Ashland, OR

Courtesy of EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women

Hey, if you’re in L.A. this weekend, drop by the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women event. SpaFinder.com supports this great cause by being a sponsor, and we encourage you to help make a difference in the fight against women’s cancers, too. Whether you walk, run or cheer the participants on – whether it rains or shines – head to the EIF Revlon Run/Walk this Saturday!

What: EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women

When: Saturday, May 12

Where: The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park (with a finish through the historic Olympic tunnel)

The 2012 EIF Revlon Run/Walk kicked off this past weekend in New York City’s Times Square, finishing at the Health & Sponsor Expo in Central Park. Our SpaFinder team raved about the event’s fantastic energy (and our massage chairs were a hit at our booth, as well!).

Since its inception in 1994, EIF Revlon Run/Walks have distributed more than $65 million, with proceeds going to cutting-edge research, targeted therapies, new treatments, education, advocacy and outreach services to those affected by women’s cancers. Learn more about the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women, or register today at revlonrunwalk.org.

What better way to honor her (and say “thanks, mom!”) than with a day or overnight spa stay? Here are our editors’ picks for the Top 10 Getaway Spas where you and mom can bond.

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa – Vista, CA

Canyon Ranch – Various Locations

Golden Door – Escondido, CA

Joan Lunden’s Camp Reveille – Naples, ME

Mayflower Inn & Spa – Washington, CT

Miraval Resort & Spa – Tucson, AZ

Rancho La Puerta – Tecate, Mexico

Red Mountain Resort – Ivins, UT

The Oaks at Ojai – Ojai, CA

Villagio Inn & Spa – Yountville, CA

For more ideas, check out these hand-picked Mom’s Day Getaway Spa Specials or skim through the SpaFinder’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide!

The Graycliff Hotel: 300 Years of Bahamian History

The landmark hotel sits on land that was originally the site of the first church in Nassau, which was subsequently destroyed by the Spanish in 1703. Thirty-three years later, the notorious pirate, Captain John Howard Graysmith, built the mansion that we know today to be the main building of the historical Graycliff Hotel. While guests can stay in the main building, my travel companions and I were led through the back gardens and the casual Humidor Churrascaria restaurant and up a winding staircase to a second building where we’d be staying for the night. Between the kindness of the hotel’s owners, Enrico and Anna Maria Garzaroli, and the unique decor in each of the hotel’s 20 rooms, it’s hard to feel as though you aren’t just a well-loved house guest at a friend’s beautiful home. I entered my room, appropriately named “Pirate,” after one of the hotel’s best-selling cigars and its original inhabitants, and promptly changed into more temperature-appropriate attire (the Bahamas in January feels like New York in late spring; in other words, blissfully warm and inviting without the humidity that plagues a good blow-out!)

Guests can enjoy spa services provided by the British Colonial Hilton across the street from Graycliff, but the hotel itself offers an abundance of enjoyable amenities, starting with the first pool in the Bahamas! The pool’s hand-painted mosaic design gives passersby pause as they enjoy the sheer beauty and alluring call of the water.  Guests can relish in a delicious dinner at the Graycliff Restaurant, the first five-star restaurant in the Caribbean, which features an enormous, 300,000-bottle wine cellar underneath.  The wine cellar is the third-largest private collection in the world and has won the prestigious Wine Spectator’s Grand Award each year since 1988. Mr. Garzaroli has spent years perfecting his impressive collection, which includes owning one of the oldest and most expensive bottles around: the 1727 Rudesheimer Apostelwein from Bremen Ratskeller in the “Rheinghau” region, priced at a mere $200,000. The bottle is just part of the impressive company Graycliff has played host to over the years ─ from the Beatles to Winston Churchill to Al Capone, there is no end to the history housed in the mansion. Just ask its resident ghost!

One Love, One Heart. Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright at Marley Resort & Spa

The next morning we promptly checked out and were taken on a short drive to the Cable Beach oceanfront Marley Resort & Spa. As a huge Bob Marley fan, I could barely contain my excitement when, upon entering, I was met with a gallery of the most exquisite collection of photographs of the iconic reggae star. Mitzy Evans, a longtime employee of the Marley family, gave us a tour of the resort, which includes two free-form pools overlooking the ocean, mosaic tiles, limestone walls, the holistic Natural Mystic Spa, Simmer Down Gourmet Caribbean Restaurant (where I had the greatest conch fritters and curried chicken skewers!) and the Stir It Up bar. The main house of the resort was once a governor’s mansion until it became the Marley family vacation home in 1982; in 2004, Rita Marley, Bob’s wife, decided the retreat should be turned from a home to a resort for all to enjoy. Sixteen uniquely appointed rooms are named after Marley songs and come complete with hand carvings on the doors to depict the name. My favorite was the One Love honeymoon suite, perfectly appointed for lovers with a king-size bed, in-room whirlpool dual tub and a balcony with gorgeous turquoise water views

The Natural Mystic Spa, collaboratively designed by Rita and renowned spa consultant Linda Hall, is housed in the west wing of the main home. After walking through the blue-stained glass door to the spa’s reception area, you cannot help but feel Rita’s holistic inspiration for the spa: A rustic staircase made from one of the property’s trees leads guests up to the second floor loft, where they can enjoy manicures and pedicures with an ocean view. The two single treatment rooms and couple’s spa suite are situated on the ground floor along a stone floor hallway, with greenery planted along one wall and waterfall panels installed along the other, evoking a very earthy feel. The spa also features a Wata Passage hydrotherapy patio with hot tub, cold plunge and personalized herbal baths, and is the only spa in the Caribbean to offer Africology products during its Afro-Caribbean and Asian technique services. Sister Iyata, a woman who provided spiritual and physical care for Marley’s mother, comes sporadically to the spa to ensure the philosophy of holistic wellness and Jamaican warmth are a part of every visit. While we were at lunch with Mitzy, we learned that guests of the hotel shouldn’t be surprised if they encounter the family during their stay since they still consider the resort their Bahamian home away from home.

A Romantic Couples Oasis at Sandals Royal Bahamian

After lunch, the group took a short walk to Sandals, and once again we were met with a completely different vibe and atmosphere, proving there really is something for everyone in the Bahamas. From the moment we walked up the cobblestone drive and through the tall white pillars of Sandals Royal Bahamian, you could feel the love in the air. The resort used to be home to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s Balmoral Club in the 1940s, and the resort prides itself on continuing that high society tradition and treating each and every guest as though they are a royal. The resort gives guests two experiences in one – perfect for couples who are looking for a beach getaway, seclusion and pampering, and equally ideal for duos who crave activities, adventure and nonstop entertainment!

We were quickly whisked away by boat to the resort’s private island, where we enjoyed a poolside drink at one of the resort’s swim-up pool bars before we were taken to the amazing Red Lane Spa for an exceptional 80-minute ocean-side Tropical Bliss Massage. Performed in a private treatment hut, with the ocean breeze and the sounds of the waves as my ambiance, I couldn’t have been more pleased with the overall experience and found myself wishing that, like all the guests at the resort, I too could be enjoying this with my special someone (note to couples: while at Sandals, an ocean-side massage on the private island is a must!). Following dinner at Gordon’s on the Pier, we experienced how lively the resort can be ─ as well as how you can be at the resort yet be having a completely different vacation from other guests. As we left the quiet and serene dock on our way to the main pool, passing couples enjoying their private beach-side dinners (swoon!), we were received with the gradual beating of drums. The pool area was set up for a street party, with booths and dancers dressed to the nines in Caribbean flair.  As I sipped on  delicious “Sky Juice” (a blend of coconut milk, coconut water and gin), I watched all the happy couples thoroughly enjoying the party atmosphere and again realized how much love is in the air at a Sandals resort.

Aquatic Adventures at Atlantis

After the party, we headed to Paradise Island for our two-night stay at The Cove tower at The Atlantis Resort and Casino;, the closer we got, the more excited I became. This was the destination I was most looking forward to, and boy, did it exceed my expectations. As we walked into the check-in lounge, I felt as though I was walking through a dream. Ponds and streams full of fish rolled all around us as we made our way through the lush open-air passageways to the tower’s elevators. When I opened the door to my room, my jaw hit the floor. My suite was complete with a sunken living room, private balcony overlooking the ocean and the grandeur of The Atlantis Resort and Casino, a plush king-size bed and a bathroom with a large soaking tub. The exquisiteness didn’t end there: The Cove’s private adults-only pool allows guests of The Cove towers to enjoy poolside gambling, drinks in one of 20 private cabanas and fun in the sun while lounging on the red daybeds surrounding the 9,000-square-foot pool.

From the largest open-air aquarium in the world and the outrageous waterslides through the shark tanks, to the 14-acre Dolphin Cay and the luxurious restaurants, nightclubs and casino, you could easily walk around for an entire day and not even begin to experience all Atlantis has to offer!  The expansive and luxurious Mandara Spa covers 30,000 square feet, features 32 private treatment rooms, two couples’ villas and two couples’ spa suites with private bathing amenities. The women’s area features a private locker room, steam and sauna rooms, warm and cold plunge pools and the relaxing aromatherapy room. My facial was superb, and I left looking and feeling refreshed and ready for some free time to hit the beach before  our final stop: dinner at One&Only Ocean Club.

The “Oohs” and “Ahhs” of One&Only Ocean Club

With each and every place we visited over the course of our time in Nassau, we were met with an even more luxurious site. To say it simply, One&Only Ocean Club is nothing but perfection. As you enter the main building, you feel as though you’ve entered a country club for the elite; walk toward the back and enjoy a lush, manicured green lawn with towering palm trees and views of the turquoise water below. The plantation-like setup of the 34-acre resort rings true as you walk through the lush garden pathways; the gardens offer a taste of Versailles, where guests can view a 12th-centuy Augustinian cloister, which was shipped piece by piece from France. Resort guests can enjoy water sports, lounging by the resort’s two pools and golf on the 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed course, as well as all of the amenities at nearby Atlantis.

Best of all, One&Only Ocean Club guests can experience the One&Only Spa: I was blown away by the spa’s eight tranquil, ivy-covered private villas, all furnished with teak massage tables, a waterfall shower, day bed and jetted tub in a private open-air garden, as well as its spa treatments, a blend of traditional Asian techniques and natural Bahamian spices, fruits and minerals. Following each treatment, guests enjoy herbal teas and fresh fruit, which are presented in a Japanese Tea Ceremony.Following our spa tour, we walked over to the resort’s Dune restaurant, owned by world renowned restaurateur, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. As we approached Dune, we noticed the fresh herb garden out front, a wonderful homegrown touch. From start to finish, Dune pleased all of my culinary senses, and I left with a feeling of utter satisfaction and knowing I would be craving a repeat for some time!

Situated on the banks of the pristine Pastazas River lies Baños Ecuador, a popular tourist destination and weekend getaway for Quiteñas and other Ecuadorians, who come to indulge in the famous natural thermal baths, as well as partake in adventure activities.

From the moment I arrived, it was hard not to become intoxicated by the beauty of Baños.  I decided to take a bike ride on La Ruta De Las Cascadas (the Avenue of the Waterfalls), a popular route that runs 25 kilometers alongside the Pastazas River.  I cycled past more than 13 waterfalls and peaked with a hike to El Pailón de Diablo, a breathtaking waterfall a few kilometers off the route.

The ride left me with a sense of accomplishment and pride, but also with a desire to spend the rest of the day experiencing the indulgent side of Baños.  I made my way to El Refugio Spa Garden, a stunning property hidden by an unassuming entrance on a small, unpaved side street about a mile from the city center.

El Refugio is an ecological spa that offers alternative therapies.  Its mission is to treat the mind, body and Spirit.  To begin, El Refugio offers a meditation walk on the gorgeous grounds, which centers and relaxes you prior to treatments.

Along with traditional spa treatments, El Refugio is well known for its Baños de Cajon, a steam bath, which helps to relieve stress and relax muscles.  The Baños de Cajon is given in a stunning room on the north side of the spa.  One side of the room is a wall of windows, which overlooks the Pastazas River, and on the other side of the room sits a row of what would best be described as large wooden boxes.

Unaware of what to expect, I sat down inside one of wooden boxes, and my therapist wrapped a towel around my neck so that only my head was out of the box. I was then instructed to turn a lever, and the box filled with hot steam. The initial vapor was intense, but easily adjustable with the lever inside the box. I relaxed inside the steam-filled box, enjoying the views of Baños while sipping (through a straw) a refreshing jasmine tea.

After 10 minutes of blissfully soaking in the view, my therapist opened the box and had me walk across the aisle to a beautiful tiled bathtub, which sat just below the window through which I had been appreciating the river view.  I sat in the tub and was utterly shocked when my therapist poured ice cold water over my head and entire body.  The ice water shocked my body, and I must admit, I was beginning to question my decision to try this treatment.

I was relieved when I was ushered back into the box and was able to turn the hot steam on once again.  After another 10 minutes, I was instructed to go back to the tub where I was, for a second time, covered in ice water.  Fortunately, my body adjusted to the hot and the cold, and this time the ice water was a welcoming and refreshing experience.  This process proceeded for a total of 40 minutes, with four total ice baths.  By the time I had finished, I felt completely refreshed.  My sore muscles from the bike ride were now rejuvenated and feeling stronger than they had before.

I completed my day of activity and relaxation with a traditional hot stone massage – and a complete of sense of tranquility and bliss.

1. Do your research; find a reputable salon with an excellent training program.
2. If your budget allows, make an appointment with the head stylist.
3. Go au naturale. Come in with your hair dry and in its natural state. This helps the stylist see your “true hair” (wavy, straight, etc.) and best determine the cut.
4. Be prompt! Arriving on time allows for a full consultation prior to the shampoo and cut. If you show up late, frequently you’re rushed straight to a sink.
5. Don’t be shy, ask the stylist questions during your consultation. Some top q’s to keep in mind – is my hair suited for this cut or style, will this be easy to maintain, how will the natural hair growth process affect the look?
6. Do your homework. If you have a specific cut or style in mind bring it with you. We may have some tips to alter it for your face or hair-type, but it gives us a jumping off point to insure you’re happy with the end result.
7. Practice makes perfect. Ask your stylist for a tutorial during the blowout process so you can replicate at home. Pay attention to the products used, and feel free to ask if there is a less expensive version that does the same. Sometimes salons have certain products they are required to push.
8. Relax and enjoy. This time should be all about getting away and pampering yourself.

“Ecoagents is a nonprofit organization created to defend and protect the Amazon Rainforest, its people and ancient culture from damage, pollution, and further destruction.” Ecoagents was founded in 1999, when Fabian Lliguin began conducting educational work with indigenous communities in Ecuador- province of Napo, deep in the Amazon Rainforest along the Curaray River.”

“Living in a sustainable, earth-friendly way that benefits the planet has always been an essential part of beauty for me,” explains Josie. “Petra and Angela are also so dedicated and passionate about the causes they support, and I wanted to share our enthusiasm with the world. We want to encourage everyone to join us in becoming ‘model citizens,’ and the limited-edition Argan Oils are a great place to start.”

Josie is a supermodel, mother and founder and CEO of Josie Maran Cosmetics, a company she prides on being good for users and safe for the earth. Josie’s design gives back to Women for Women International, providing female survivors of war the tools to become self-sufficient. Since its beginning in 1933, Women for Women International has given back to more than 299,000 women through a year-long program of direct aid, rights education, job skills training and small business development. The organization has donated $95 million in direct aid, microcredit loans and other program services.  “My mother, daughter, friends and coworkers are all women who inspire, support and challenge me every day. To empower each other, to hold each other up and to stand together is how we’ll change the world. I wanted my bottle to capture this powerful message and to reflect this truly important cause,” Josie says about her design.

In addition to being a well-known model, Petra is a host, author, philanthropist and founder of the Happy Hearts Fund (HHF). In 2004 she was injured in the tsunami that resulted from the devastating Indian Ocean earthquake; her fiancé at the time, photographer Simon Atlee, was killed. Channeling her loss into Happy Hearts Fund, Petra has created a foundation which rebuilds schools and restores hope and opportunity in the lives of children after natural disasters. HHF, active in nine countries around the globe, works after emergency response is complete and aims to implement sustainable practices that have a lasting impact. So far the fund has built and rebuilt 56 schools and kindergartens, which have benefited more than 34,412 children and 337,450 community members.  “Like the girl in the artwork, I hope all the children that benefit from HHF are uplifted from hardship to a brighter future after natural disaster,” Petra says about her bottle’s design. “That’s what the balloon hearts symbolize to me – a better life for those children. After what they’ve been through, they deserve this, and I will always make this a mission of mine.”

Like her fellow supermodels, Angela wears many hats. She is an actress, a mother and an active environmentalist and health advocate. Her charity, Healthy Child Healthy World empowers parents to protect their children from harmful chemicals by educating them of the toxic risks, encouraging easy actions and responsible lifestyle choices and advocating for corporate policies and government legislation to protect children from environmental health risks. “The simplicity of the dandelion symbolizes what I would like for the future of our planet: an environment free from toxins and harmful chemicals that grow and exist peacefully, and the promise of hope for the children of the world,” Angela explains about her design?. “From an early age, we’re taught to wish on dandelions, and I hope to inspire people to remember to be positive and to always look forward.”

To purchase any of the Model Citizen designs or to collect them all, go to Sephora.com; 100 percent pure argan oil, $48. (Argan oil is great for hair, skin and nails since it is rich in Vitamin C and essential fatty acids.)