RELAX—JUST DO IT
DE-STRESS WITH THESE SURE-TO-PLEASE SOOTHERS

If the holiday rush has you frazzled and frustrated, you’re not alone. According to the American Psychological
Association, Americans are especially stressed out during the holiday season, listing lack of money (61 percent),
the pressures of gift giving (42 percent), lack of time (34 percent) and credit card debt (23 percent) as top causes
of all that stress. To deal with the pressure of the season, roughly one in five Americans say they either eat to cope
with holiday stress, while 15 percent report drinking alcohol to settle their nerves.

For a healthier alternative to stress-busting, what’s more relaxing than a day at the spa? Answer: A day at the spa with
good friends. The recipe for a perfect spa afternoon? Choose a few of your best, most low-maintenance pals and leave
the kids with Dad—or the grandparents—and schedule an afternoon of pampering and female bonding. Proof positive: the good folks at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas treated four groovy yet frazzled moms to a day of pampering in their brand-spankin’ new and oh-so-gorgeous Gaithersburg, MD location. After a Red Door Signature Facial, Red Door Signature Massage, Red Door Signature Pedicure and Manicure and makeup refresher, each mom reported feeling like a new woman, re-energized by the experience of others focusing entirely on her—as opposed to her usual day, which involves the converse. As if leaving with a blissful feeling wasn’t enough, they also sported glowing skin and shiny nails, so that when they returned to reality, they did so looking as good as they felt.

With 27 locations across the country, there’s bound to be a Red Door Spa in your neighborhood, so there’s no excuse to not treat yourself this holiday season. For pricing and to locate a spa near you, go to www.reddoorspas.com. 

	SAY SPAAAAAH Hot moms, Lauren Topf, Linda King and Melissa Horowitz take a break from Pampering to get pampered

CAN'T GET OUT FOR LONG? TRY THESE QUICK AND EASY STRESS-BUSTERS

If you’ve got 5 minutes: Drink a cup of tea It may sound awfully simple, but sitting in a comfy chair and drinking a cup of tea—decaffeinated, of course—truly heals the soul. Step away from your computer, turn off the ringers to all your communication devices and just sit. Feel the warm liquid run through your body, breathing deeply, picturing all your stress exiting your body as you exhale. Our brew of choice: Zhena’s Gypsy Tea in Red Lavender, a bright blend of Organic South African Red Bush and Organic French Lavender teas. ($8.99 for a 36-count teabag tin, www.gypsytea.com)

If you’ve got 30 minutes: Go for a brisk walk Bundle yourself up and take yourself for a walk—without your stroller, and even without your favorite furry friend. This time is for you, and you only. Grab your favorite tunes, and stroll around your ‘hood, noticing the trees and smelling the fires in others’ fireplaces and the crispness of the air. A brisk walk will get your blood flowing, increasing the supply of oxygen to your brain, which will result in a clearer head. A bonus: you’ll return home with cheeks that look flushed and flirty.

If you’ve got an hour: Get a hot stone massage We doubt Bob Dylan was referring to massage when he sang“Everybody Must Get Stoned,” but we imagine that if he had tried a hot stone massage, he may have changed his tune. A step up the relaxation ladder from a traditional massage, hot stone therapy massages incorporates — you guessed it —the application of heated stones to the body to deeply relax muscles. In addition to emerging with a pleasant, Jello-like feeling, you’ll feel so delightfully peaceful once the massage is over, you may identify—completely legally, of course—with Dylan’s song’s more commonly believed meaning. For the best hot stone therapy massages,  check out Aveda Bethesda Salon and Spa in Bethesda, MD ($135, www.aveda-bethesda.com) and New York City’s Haven ($125, www.havensoho.com).

If you’ve got two hours: Go for an indoor swim Though you may not be too keen on the thought of fitting your winter-white, post-Thanksgiving bod into a swimsuit, the sensation of your body being surrounded by water is a powerful stress-buster. Even if you’re not Janet Evans, don a swim cap (help your hair by slathering on a shine-creating hair mask like Oscar Blandi’s Trattamento D'Alternanza Exfoliating Treatment before peeling on the cap ($24, www.sephora.com) and make waves at a nearby indoor pool. You’ll not only burn calories, but that frazzled feeling will all but disappear.

—Chelsea Kaplan

Click here to read all about Chelsea's life with child in her blog, “I'm Somebody's Mother?”