Perhaps Sitting Bull said it best: “Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.”

While it may not be swimming weather yet, the season of sunscreen and pool chairs is rapidly approaching. With a forecast of ‘90 and sunny’ undoubtedly on the horizon, pool owners need to take this last spell of cool weather to prepare their backyard oasis.

For most of us, work is stressful. But for Avani Nayak, her job actually makes her more relaxed. “We have a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere; and it always smells wonderful in here,” she says of her Avani Day Spa in Frontenac. “And I love seeing the looks on people’s faces when they leave: They’re smiling and have more self-confidence, and they feel relaxed and invigorated.” We asked her about the rough and dirty business of getting the best care for your skin.

Spring is coming, a perfect time for a party to celebrate a holiday, special occasion or simply the arrival of warmer weather! These local party planners share ideas and tips for the perfect spring soiree.

With a background as a flight attendant, Terri Tatum’s current career as an esthetician might not have been the obvious choice, but it’s one she’s glad she made. “I’ve always loved helping people feel better about themselves,” she says. And as a consultant in the Renewal Room at Soft Surroundings, she does that every day. We asked her for insights on how to look and feel your best.

In the world of professional gardening, winter brings on different tasks. Hopefully, most of these jobs will be indoors when the weather is at its worst, as snow-shoveling and ice-chipping rank near the very bottom of our favorite jobs list. About the only things lower on that list are cleaning up the bird messes under the seed feeders, mucking out the pond on a cold spring day or spreading ripe manure in the heat of the summer. Gardeners usually use the winter season to plan future plantings, research new materials, order specialty items and peruse plant catalogs.

Facial plastic surgery is no longer one-size-fits-all. In fact, the profession has been evolving for years, and new techniques continue to provide patients with individualized combinations of procedures designed to address specific concerns.

OSEA founder and ‘chief seaweed officer’ Jenefer Palmer comes from a long line of healers. In fact, her grandmother was one of the first female chiropractors in the world, who always told her granddaughter, Always read the label. She took the advice to heart when working as spa director at Murrieta Hot Springs, which at the time was a premier holistic destination spa. But what she found came as a surprise: Many of the most expensive products used inexpensive and sometimes dangerous synthetic ingredients. Palmer now uses 100 percent natural marine-based organic ingredients in her products, which are carried at luxury spas around the world. We caught up with her on a recent visit to Soft Surroundings, St. Louis’ exclusive provider of OSEA products.

The cold winter winds are coming! And while we always pull out our coats and scarves to protect our bodies, sometimes we forget to protect our skin, as well. We caught up with Kate Somerville, skin care expert to the stars, to talk about caring for your skin during the holidays and beyond.

When it comes to wrinkles, it’s easier to prevent than erase these early signs of aging. Procedures ranging from laser resurfacing to Botox to dermal fillers are available weapons in the war on wrinkles, but no one can ignore the importance of a good skin care regimen and top-notch products to help postpone the need for more invasive tactics.

The war on wrinkles really is a war on aging, says Dr. Joseph Muccini. Beyond just wrinkles, the enemies in the fight include skin damage, laxity, changes in tone, surface and color. With more than 20 years of experience in dermatology, Muccini is equipped to help his patients wage that war at MidAmerica Skin Health & Vitality Center. “Wrinkles don’t occur in isolation; you need to consider everything in context to find the best approach for the patient to achieve the desired results.”

Encircled by America’s volcanic past and ringed by mountains, Paradise Valley in Arizona encompasses a mere 15 square miles, primarily residential. And within this area rest 12 luxury resorts, making it one of the country’s premier tourist destinations.

In China, the peach is a special symbol for longevity. Native to China, peaches have been in cultivation there for thousands of years. Records indicate orcharding practices from 1600 B.C. and ornamental garden usage since about 500 A.D. Easy to grow from seed, they traveled the Silk Road to Persia and on into Europe by about 300 A.D. The peach tree was first introduced by settlers in Florida or on the Gulf Coast in the middle of the 16th century. They were so fast-growing and popular with Native Americans that they were spread throughout the South and naturalized to the point that early botanists thought they were native to America.

In early 2004, Patricia Schellhardt Malone had a mole on her leg that was changing in appearance. Unfortunately, she chose not to have it checked right away. By the time she had it removed later that year, she was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. After fighting the disease for 2 1/2 years, she lost her battle on June 21, 2007.

Memorial Day marked the unofficial start to summer. Most swimming pools are now open, which means kids are going to be spending more time outside. This is the time of year that we need to reiterate the importance of sun protection. It only takes one episode of blistering sunburn to increase a child’s risk of future skin cancer. More than half of a person’s lifetime ultraviolet (UV) exposure typically occurs during childhood and adolescence.

May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. In Missouri, the topic even gained the attention of state legislators who considered a law (HB 1475) that would require in-person parental consent before anyone younger than 17 could use a tanning bed.

Summer is a time for fun: vacations, swimming, ball games, picnics and trips to the emergency room. WAIT! Let’s work on avoiding the latter. This summer, almost 3 million children will visit the ER for treatment of trauma and almost 2,000 of them will die from their injuries. Simple preventive measures and close supervision can reduce this number. Think safety whenever you and your children are around water, riding in the car, playing sports, out in the sun or around fires.

You’re probably stocking up on the sunscreen in anticipation of the warmer months ahead. But let’s not forget that hydration is just as important as protection when it comes to your skin.

A nip and a tuck may not be for everyone, but we still want to maintain a youthful glow for as long as possible. Aging gracefully means different things for different people, and slowing the natural process may be ideal for some. That’s why there are so many over-the-counter (OTC) anti-aging products. But are they all they claim to be?

Although the St. Louis winter hasn’t been as severe as some years, we still have a long way to go before spring. And if you’re longing for the sun-kissed look of summer, you do have options. In fact, since sun exposure is so damaging to skin, sunless tanning is your best bet any time of year.

Three months ago, everyone seemed to be moaning about the heat and humidity. We blotted our sweaty brows and dusted oilabsorbing powder on shiny noses. Today it’s a different season and a different skin-care story.

The sun is the primary culprit once again. Not only does it cause wrinkles, premature skin aging and skin cancer, but it’s the sun that most often leads to the ugly brown spots that mar faces, hands and other exposed skin as we age.

Opening last week to a chorus of Wow! that echoed throughout the dozen-plus gorgeous rooms, the Ladue News Show House, at #15 Washington Terrace, is a must-see. Over the past few weeks, we’ve introduced you to some of the talented designers who’ve brought this historic property to life. In this issue, read about six more partipating designers and their favorite things.