I bet when you all think of having a "spa day" you would never think having one at a tanning bed, right ? Yeah I wouldn't either, until now. Hot Spot Tanning has always been my go to place if I ever need a last minute spray tan and where I have gone in the past years, when I tanned regularly. Their locations are convenient because just about anywhere I've ever lived (yes, I'm a gypsy) there always seems to be a location nearby. There are several in Murfreesboro(Memorial, Rutherford Blvd, Church Street, Rucker Lane) some in Smyrna (Almaville & Sam Ridley), even a Brentwood( Nolensville Road) and a Nashville( West End) location. With my busy schedule, convenience is key! I was lucky enough to get to try each of the new spa services yesterday & let me tell you, when I left, I felt ahhhh-mazing!

Before I begin telling y'all about my experience with each of the spa services, I want to talk a little about the atmosphere of their location on Memorial Blvd. beside the Murfreesboro Athletic Club or the MAC. This is their Hot Spa location but some of these services are offered at other locations too. When you walk in, other than there being tanning lotion for sale behind the front desk, it doesn't have a tanning bed feeling at all. Most tanning beds I've ever been to have been very bright and almost tropical feeling but this was very soothing. Calming colors and the smell of essential oils were in the air. I felt more relaxed as soon as I walked in the door.

Here comes the fun stuff:

Blue Light Therapy:Acu-Clear

This blue light therapy is Dermatologist recommended for people of any age with current acne breakouts or red spots. It uses medical grade blue LED lights to kill bacteria that causes spots and helps to prevent new breakouts, regulates oil production , calms and relaxes you as well as minimizing any scarring you may have on your face. I don't usually get breakouts too often but I tried this one so I could tell you all what it's like. When you see the mask and put it on it looks like something out of a Black Eyed Peas video. It was really futuristic and almost astronaut helmet feeling, but very lightweight. They place it over your head and you sit in a massaging chair the entire time (20 minutes) , you even get to put your legs up and they get massaged too. Very relaxing to say the least. The room was also very comfortable, smells great and they even offered me a spa robe and shoes. When I think about light therapy of any kind I would almost expect that it would hurt but it was completely painless and when I took the mask off it only made my face feel a little tingley and good. My favorite part was sending my friends snapchats, looking crazy. None of them probably even realize it wasn't one of those crazy snapchat filters until now. This service is $20 a visit.

Lumiere Excel

Anyone who is looking to slow down the aging process, correcting current aging effects such as minimizing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes , evening out pigmentation or someone who wants a painless, non-invasive anti-aging regimen; this is for you. The Lumiere is a twenty minute treatment and again completely painless. You sit in the same massaging chair as in the blue light therapy. You wear goggles and when they initially turn on the red light it's very bright, even with your eyes closed, but don't worry it goes away after about ten seconds so don't let it freak you out. This treatment uses red light LED therapy to restore radiance back into the skin, detoxifies, stimulates collagen synthesis and can even smooth out dry or rough skin. The red light therapy is able to penetrate deeper than just the surface. I really loved this treatment! I somehow have the wrinkles of a 90 year old so I will be back. This service is $20 per visit and they can discuss with you how many you may need.

Kwik Fit

The first thing I will say about this machine is that you stand on it for just 10 minutes and it's the equivalent of doing 30 minutes of cardio. How can you can really beat that? I personally hate doing cardio so I was sold !! It's perfect for anyone who has a very limited amount of time to work out or someone who has physical limitations to workouts at the gym. It has vibrating plates that help with arthritis relief, restoration of balance, strengthening bone, weight management, blood sugar balance, sleep improvement and a healthier heart. You will most likely feel silly on this machine, but you will definitely feel the effects when you get off! This is $10 a visit.

Believe Bed: Red Light Therapy Rejuvination 

The Believe bed is perfect for anyone wanting to add hydration back into the skin, relax muscles or improve scarring and uneven skin tones. This one looks like a tanning bed but it's actually your whole body getting the benefits of the red light therapy. This is more of an over all skin ehancing machine! I have some scars I want to get rid of so that was the most exciting part of this to me. It can fade scars or stretch marks and can reduce spider veins or broken capillaries. This also provides several benefits for people with injuries or pain by reducing inflammation and pain, increasing circulation, restoring range of motion and can speed up the healing of wounds. Only takes 15 minutes and $10 a session.

Cocoon Wellness Pod "The Pod"

I don't know if there are enough good words to say about this one ! I've never experienced anything like it or felt so good as I did when I got out. This would be great for anyone who wants a quick way to relax, relieve pain or muscle tension. This detoxifies the body, alleviates stress, helps with water retention , bloating and even cramps !! It combines heat, massage and magnetic fields to create a SUPER relaxing, healing environment. You put on a sweat suit (this will make you feel like you're in a Missy Elliot music video from the 90's), which is extremely comfortable, then lay in a bed which your body will absolutely melt into. It is almost like being in sauna, without the almost suffocating feel that comes with it because your head remains outside of the heat. Your neck and down will only be inside the cocoon and you are able to adjust the intensity of the massage speed and intensity on both your upper and lower body. There are even little holes that your hands come through if you need to make any adjustments. Being in "the Pod" you will burn up to 300 calories in just 30 minutes. The temperature inside by the time you will be done with your session gets up to 170 degrees, which sounds crazy but it's abslutely refreshing. If you ever get too hot you are able to get I don't think I have ever sweated that much in my entire life. I normally don't like to sweat at all but I guess there's a first time for everything. I think I fell asleep a couple times, which I think most people do in there, and when I left there I felt better than I do after getting an hour massage that I pay between seventy to one hundred dollars for! When you get out you will want to drink plenty of water(room temperature so that your body doesn't go into shock) which The Hot Spa provides you. There will be a towel to dry off your body, a cool wet towel for your face, spray deodorant and body spray so that you can freshen up. This was actually heavenly and really helped out with my super sore muscles from working out. I've had a pretty crazy week and it was just what I needed. I highly recommend this! A session is just $35.

Vevazz

This system is good for anyone with trouble fatty areas, anyone who would like to get a jump start on weight loss, has cellulite, needs skin tightening or diminishing stretch marks. This LED system is designed to contour the body by losing inches off specific body areas such as the waist, hips, thighs, arms and neck. You go to a series of visits to see a change but typically people will lose 2-4 pant or dress sizes in just 42 days. The LED alters the fat in the cells and allows it to seep out from the cell into space where it can be processed by the lymphatic system. The fat is either used by the body as energy or the body will process it out. They place 8 pads on your choice of troubled fatty area ( I chose my stomach to try) for 7 minute treatments, so this is very quick. I felt absolutely no pain at all, only little tiny pulsing. When I heard about this originally I was also expecting it to hurt but nothing at all me feel the least bit uncomfortable.

The salon manager Mitzi as well as Jami both thoroughly explained every single thing I was having done and made sure I understood it as well as felt comfortable the whole step of the way! They were extremely professional and I appreciated the fact that they believe in the services they provide. Any of these services can be available at a lesser rate and you can even take a tour of them all, everything I mentioned except for the Vevazz , for just $49.99. That is huge savings!! They also have an all access pass of those same services for $149 a month. There are other ways to save money on the services by becoming a member there. You can visit Hot Spot Tanning at http://hotspottanning.com/ or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Hot-Spot-Tanning-208396012535145/

Everyone there is awesome ! I highly recommend going to check them out for yourself, especially these new spa services. Thank you as always for reading ! XOXO -Amber

Hello again, it's me. It Is time to discuss my most favorite subject: food. I told you guys I am an avid taker of food pictures and to know me is to know I have an opinion, about any and let's just admit it, everything. I hope I can even write this while the Grammy awards are on in the background and all these opinions are going through my head, but I'm gonna give it my best shot.

Tonight I want to discuss my dining experience at Cork & Cow, located at 408 Main Street, in Downtown Franklin, Tn. Franklin is a 25 minute drive from Nashville headed South. If you have never been Downtown Franklin, you are missing out and my advice to you, go check it out. You will not be sorry you did. I can assure you will have a good time, even if you are just walking around. There are several really great paces to eat, but I especially loved Cork & Cow.

First let's talk about this presentation and the ambiance in there. It's almost dreamy, especially in the evening. With chandeliers, elegant white table cloths, dim lighting and my most favorite Edison lights hanging over the very well put together bar.

We started by ordering a Moscow Mule and a "Sugarbear". The Sugarbear was delicious an made of Picker's Vodka, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, rubar, bitters and soda. My favorite part about it was that it was not too sweet, and definitely not as sweet as it sounds. I'm not a Moscow Mule person, but apparently they have one of the best around. Next we got an order of fluffy bread, served in a small cast iron skillet that was very buttery and delicious as well as an order of one of my most favorite things I ate, the grilled lamb chops. The grilled lamb chops were served with Mint Pepper Jelly, Chimichurri, Fried Onion and let me tell you that mint pepper jelly sounded strange to me at first but when I tasted it, it made complete sense. Make sure you dip your lamb chops in it. SO perfect together. The next item that came out was the entrée, dry rub New York Strip. This steak was 14 ounces and topped with lemon butter & sea salt, served with complimentary house potatoes. I didn't realize when I ordered, that the potatoes came with it, and they were a very nice addition to the meal. Another one of my favorite parts of dinner. The steak was excellent and if you order appetizers and sides, you have more than enough steak to share. I am normally a filet person when I go to nice restaurants, but this was a nice change. For the sides, we chose the "Mac n Cheese" with applewood bacon and chilies mixed within as well as the sautéed spinach with grated parmesan. And let me tell you, it may have been the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had at a restaurant in my whole life. I am not sure I would order the spinach again, I would probably order an extra order of the mac n cheese again, ha. The spinach was good but I like calories and carbs a whole lot more. The sides are a la carte and the perfect size for sharing. They had a great dessert selection, but by the time I was finished with all of this I couldn't even dream of eating dessert, and I NEVER turn down dessert. SO FULL.

The food was very filling and I give it 5 stars!! I will definitely be back. If you go, I recommend sitting upstairs if they have it available. It's nice being able to enjoy seeing the beautiful décor from up there. Thank you all for reading. I hope if you go you enjoy it as much as I did. It's perfect for a date night or a special occasion. Be sure to check out my photos below. You can see their entire menu by clicking this link: http://corkandcow.com/menus . XOXO-Amber

6 New Ways to Look & Feel Gorgeous at The Hot Spa by Hot Spot Tanning

What's On My Plate: Cork & Cow