Break Free from the Winter Blues

Spring has officially sprung! (...I type with my cozy sweater on behind fogged up glass in Columbus, Ohio.) And although the April showers and May flowers haven't reared their beautiful heads, I've got memories from my visit to Tucson Arizona's Canyon Ranch to get me through.

A couple of weeks ago my sister and I ventured to the wild, wild west (mostly to visit this incredible Tucson tradition and spend time with our incredible Aunt Tina) and soaked up the warmth of the desert sun. While we were there, we took a day away from treasure hunting to visit Canyon Ranch and treat ourselves to some much needed R&R at their 80,000 square-foot spa. Canyon Ranch is an all-inclusive resort where you can pretty much do anything your heart desires. They offer wellness classes, personal training sessions, beauty services, archery and even a high-ropes course to let your inner adrenaline junkie soar. (Bonus: you can grab a bite to eat while sitting on the outdoor patio that overlooks the mountains.

In true "treat yo-self" fashion, my Aunt Tina treated my sister and I to the detoxifying ritual.

The massage included a restorative body scrub (yes please), a rinse-off in a shower that had a minimum of 5 shower heads (swoon), a soak in a bathtub while drinking peppermint tea (the best) and an incredible massage by one of their wonderful licensed massage therapists. My massage therapist, Cynthia Rae, was knowledgable and extremely helpful. (She even showed me some exercises I could do at home to help ease the discomfort caused by early signs of arthritis!)

We were given the softest robes (is there anything better than a spa robe?!) to rock while exploring the saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools and private sun decks. It was truly a well-rounded, holistic experience that sent me soaring into spring.

I hope you get the chance to shake off the winter blues in whatever fashion suits you best. And if you can't take the time to venture west, I hope this brings a little desert sun to you. Let the swoon-worthy pictures commence!