iwa Spa, Blue Mountains, ON

For our birthdays, Gord and I don't buy each other anything ... instead we gift each other a massage.  So we just had an hour long “Wine and Dandy” massage at iwa Spa in Blue Mountain Village. 

The hot towel compresses smelled of crème brûlée which was followed by agave nectar massage oil. Very nice! 

Then a half hour laying in the Ganban Volcanic Rock Studio listening to a relaxation meditation ... had it been longer, I would have fallen asleep!

Rather than get our wine to-go, we enjoyed a glass of Pinot in rocking chairs on their patio. 

Laya Spa & Yoga, Toronto, ON

For our birthdays, instead of buying each other something, Gord and I treat each other to the spa.  His birthday is tomorrow so we spent a couple hours today at Laya Spa & Yoga (Queen Street W/Ossington Avenue).  It's in our 'hood and surprisingly, though we've walked by it about a million times over the years, we've never checked it out.

Escape the high energy of the city and step into Laya, where every detail is considered and put in place to make sure that your experience is nurturing. Our mantra is health from within, living beautifully inside and out. We are an Ayurveda inspired spa and our aim is to bring forth the practices of Eastern Medicine as a platform for healing. We offer nourishing and wholesome services that help support your body in good health.

Laya is housed a modern space that blends exotic Moroccan textiles and North African design with the edge and urbanity of West Queen West. Our large range of traditional services include signature treatments like herbal hand & foot treatments, hair removal and natural facials, massage therapy and other unique body treatments that are medicine for the soul.

Movement is medicine, our daily yoga class offerings include a variety of unique classes that honour all levels of practice. We host weekly events and workshops that support expansion and reconnection to the Divine Feminine.

​ The space houses a steam room that can be added to any service to enhance your experience. We offer a community shared workspace in our lounge area and outside patio in the summer where we serve Morrocan tea with fresh herbs. We welcome you to join us for morning tea ceremonies, monthly ecstatic dance rituals, meditation and so much more. Please check out our events page for more details.

Spa My Blends by Clarins, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, ON

For our birthdays, instead of buying something, Gord and I take each other to the spa.  Last week was my birthday and today we went to the Spa My Blends by Clarins at The Ritz-Carlton to celebrate.  It's the first time we'd been there.

Because we were having a 60 minute massage, we had a complimentary spa day pass which granted us all-day access to the salt water lap pool, hot tub, sauna, experience showers, eucalyptus steam room, green tea infused vitality pool, relaxation lounge and co-ed sanctuary.

Here is the women's area.

Locker room

Elmwood Spa, Toronto, ON

Rather than buy each other things for our birthdays, Gord and I instead treat each other to the spa.  My birthday was at the end of July but it's been a busy summer so today we celebrated today at the Elmwood Spa (Yonge Street/Elm Street).  We've been there before many times and like it.

We started off with "water therapies".

Then we had a couples bamboo massage.  I'd never had one before.  Hot bamboo sticks are used in addition to hands.  It felt like a hot stone massage ... it was nice :)  Valentino did a great job and I was so relaxed afterwards.

My bed was the closest one

Purebeauty Salon & Spa, Toronto, ON

Gord's birthday was Thursday.  Rather than buying each other stuff that we don't need, we usually take each other to the spa for our birthdays.

This afternoon Gord and I spent the afternoon at the Purebeauty Salon & Spa on the 31st floor of the Trump International Hotel & Tower (at Bay and Adelaide W).

Where we waited for our masseuses

The Spa at the InterContinental Toronto Centre, Toronto, ON

For our birthdays, Gord and I don't buy each other anything ... we usually take each other to a spa.

My birthday was last Sunday and Gord and I spent the afternoon at the spa at the InterContinental Toronto Centre (Front Street W/Simcoe).

The 8,000 square-foot Spa InterContinental, an AVEDA concept location, offers an essential blend of spa services to refresh your body and mind. Located on the third floor of the InterContinental Toronto Centre Hotel, the spa specializes in massage, body therapy, skin care and aesthetic services. Guests with spa appointments are invited to indulge in this calming oasis and its beautiful solarium, which features 10 treatment rooms and a highly trained, welcoming staff, a 48 foot saline pool, salt hot tub and a scenic terrace.

Gord got us the "Together" package ... a 60 minute side by side massage, a spa lunch and then a 60 minute side by side pedicure.

Here's the ladies' room.  There were two washrooms, two showers with shampoo, conditioner and soap (though one was out of order), a steam room, a vanity with hair dryers, combs, etc., and lockers (you are given a key).

There is a pool, hot tub and loungers ... we got there about 45 minutes to enjoy them.

There is a sundeck where you can lounge.

The CN Tower to the west

Mosaic Spa, Fergus, ON

Rather than give each other something for our birthdays, Gord and I instead treat each other to the spa.

Today was my birthday gift from Gord ... services at the Mosaic Spa in Fergus.

I started with a 60 minute massage with Kate ... very nice!

Then it was Gord's turn to have a 60 minute massage with her.  While he was doing that, I was getting a facial with Ashlee.  I haven't had a lot of facials and enjoyed it.  When I asked her, Ashlee said for maintenance everyone should have one with the change of the seasons.  Sounds good to me!

Finally Gord and I got our pedicures together.  There were lots of colours to choose from and I chose Mason.

Nouvelle Maria Spa and Salon, Toronto, ON

Today was Gord's birthday.  Rather than buy each other things, we take each other to the spa for our birthday.

I took Gord to Nouvelle Maria Spa and Salon (King Street W/Yonge), which is in the King Edward Hotel.

We had a pedicure and a couple's massage.  Part of the massage package included mimosas ... yum!

Gord

First up were our pedicures.

Gord got clear polish ... I had to choose the polish for my toes.

Novo Spa, Toronto, ON

Rather than buy each other something for our birthdays that we don't need, Gord and I treat each other to treatments at a spa.  This afternoon we went to Novo Spa in Yorkville for my birthday ... we'd never been there before.

Here's the ladies' change room ...

Elmwood Spa, Toronto, ON

Today is Gord's birthday.

Rather than buy each other things we don't need, we treat each other at a spa.  Today I took Gord to the Elmwood Spa (Yonge/Dundas W).  We've been there before ... great place!

We started off with water therapies ... aka the indoor pool and hot tub.

We had an 80 minute couples' massage.  What this is is we are both in the same room getting a massage with our own massage therapist.  This was my bed.

Do you think Gord's ready for his massage?

My therapist was Andre and Gord's was Melody ... they gave us amazing massages!

Here's Gord with his massage hair afterwards!

Then we had a pedicure.

The Old Mill Inn Spa, Toronto, ON

Gord and I are on vacation as of today.  Whoohoo!

We spent the afternoon at the Old Mill Inn Spa.  We'd been there in March for Gord's birthday and liked it so he treated me there for my birthday.

Here is the women's change room.

Time for our services.  While waiting in the "Quiet Room", you can have tea, water, almonds, apples, etc.

Our first service was an hour long couple's massage.  Here's our room.

 I can't wait!

Belinda was my massage therapist and she was awesome!  I'd had her in March too.  She gives a deep massage.

Then we had a pedicure.

Stef gave me a Chocolate Peppermint Paddy Pedicure (Enjoy a peppermint patty while your tired tootsies are exfoliated, hydrated, massaged and polished to a high gloss.).  My feet and legs smelled amazing afterwards!

Jessica gave Gord a Men's Power Wash Pedicure (Enjoy cleansing, filing, buffing and scrubbing. Finish with a mud mask, power-washed off to leave your feet fully restored!)

While we were getting our pedicure, we had a couple glasses of bubbly.

With lots of colours to choose from, I choose "I'm Not Really a Waitress".

I felt soooo relaxed and pampered afterwards.  The staff at the Old Mill take such good care of us ... we'll be back!