When I first met with Rocco and Nicole, I was very excited to see their new restaurant and learn about the plans they had for the place. Tutti Giorni has only been open about 2 months and already my friends were telling me that the food is phenomenal with great service and an impressive wine list.

Clearly, their passion is food.  I was so inspired by their story that I couldn’t wait to try it out for myself.  I first went for dinner on a Monday night. It was so comfortable there, the lighting is great and the atmosphere is very inviting.  I don’t usually eat bread (I’m the Momma that climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro!), but I could not resist the bruschetta. And for good reason, it was delicious!

We selected a top-rated wine and it was a wonderful complement to our dinner. Rocky recommended the Gnocchi Bolognese – so we ordered that as an appetizer. Again, not something I usually go for but I decided to follow their recommendation and I couldn’t have been more pleased.  It melted in my mouth and the meat sauce was perfection.  Rocky explained that the food is from Arthur Avenue and the fish is from the Fulton Fish Market – no fooling around!  We then ordered Zuppe de Pesce and Escorole and Beans – all very delicious. I was too full for dessert, but made room for some small biscotti which were perfect little bites of happiness.

The meal was so wonderful, that I returned a second time that week with my kids and parents. There were several families there and I was happy I had made a reservation – the place was hoppin!  We again ordered the Gnocchi — I really wanted them to try it. We also ordered grilled octopus – which my daughter loved!  Between the veal parm (pounded thin on the bone), chicken and arugula, clams in a red sauce and an eggplant parm…we were all extremely well fed. The service was great and the restaurant had a great vibe.

I may not be the biggest foodie but Tutti Giorni gets rave reviews from my family and me. I love eating at restaurants where the food is worth every bite. I also loved that it was a great family destination but also quieter after 7:30pm so appropriate for date night too.

And, if you take advantage of this great deal, you just might find me at the corner table happily eating my gnocchi and sipping some vino!

TH (short for Tracie Heather!)

As we worked with Bella Tu MedSpa to develop the offer we currently have available on our website, I was really intrigued by their approach to anti-aging.  As a woman who has celebrated her 40th birthday for a few years in a row now, I am just beginning to notice that the face that looks back at me in the mirror has some undeniable evidence of the years ticking by. So you can imagine that when Bella Tu suggested that a SuburbanMomma staffer come in and see what they are all about, I was more than happy to oblige.

The spa itself is a true MedSpa with equal emphasis on the “Med” as on the “Spa”. It is run under the auspices of Dr. Hakan Usal, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and member of both the Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. They offer several treatments that I have never heard of including the Laser Genesis Skin Therapy and the Dermaplane Facial, which we currently have featured on SuburbanMomma for 50% off.

The MedSpa is really quite lovely. It is located right on Main Street in downtown Nyack (not too far from the Palisades Parkway), a really charming area that I’d love to spend more time in.  I was warmly greeted by Kim, the manager, when I arrived.

Bella Tu MedSpa

I elected to sample the Laser Genesis Skin Therapy treatment because of what it promises: to treat wrinkles, large pores, skin texture and redness in a non-invasive way with no downtime. As the name suggests, it is a laser treatment that penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate the natural production of collagen which not only improves the appearance of your skin immediately, it also helps fend off and slow down signs of aging into the future.

The treatment began with a hydrating facial in a very relaxing treatment room complete with dim lighting and calming spa music. Margaret, who administered the treatment, is actually an RN as well as a certified Medical Aesthetician.  She was extremely knowledgeable and explained the procedure as she gently exfoliated and thoroughly cleaned my face and neck with lovely products that smelled wonderful and felt luscious.

Next came the fun part, outsmarting Father Time. Margaret covered my eyes with warm gauze and eyeshades and then began to pulse the light on my entire face. It felt like a very small sun lamp that emits heat. I could feel the warmth deep into the layers of my skin and I could feel my skin tightening right there on the spot. It is not painful or even uncomfortable. By the time Margaret was done, my entire face felt tighter and younger. She completed the treatment with some vitamin C serum, eye cream and moisturizer. The treatment took about an hour and when I got up to look in the mirror, I was really surprised that there was absolutely no redness, no bruising, nothing. My skin just looked good and even 7 hours later, I can still feel the tightness which is expected to last for a few months. I did love the instant gratification of it but I also love knowing that collagen productions will actively be boosted over the course of the next two weeks so I am looking forward to all the goodness that fresh collagen can do for my appearance. I also liked the fact that this is not a treatment that has to be done in a large series to see results. You can do it just a few times a year to beat back signs of aging. Of course, if you suffer from rosacea or have recent scaring, you might want to toss in an extra treatment or two given how effective the laser is.

While I was there, I also got the 411 on the Dermaplane Facial as well which is an extreme exfoliating facial that is gentler to your skin than microdermabrasion.  The Dermaplane is actually a small blade that is gently scraped against your skin. It is extremely effective at removing the top layer of dead skin making way for the healthy layer of fresh skin to emerge. As an added bonus, it also whisks away any fine, fuzzy hair you may have on your chin or cheeks. While it originally sounded scary, I learned that it is actually quite gentle and also pain free.

As much as us girls love to look our best, we are also huge fans of all things “pain free” too!

To try out the Laser Genesis Facial or Dermaplane Facial, see the SuburbanMomma deal for 50% off here: http://www.suburbanmomma.com/deals/bella-tu-medspa-nyack-929

What a tough life I have. I walk into work and our founder asks if I would mind going to Sole Revival for a 90 minute treatment. My coworker, Joy, was supposed to sample the spa, but due to a last-minute rescheduled meeting, couldn’t make it. Deborah said that I would be testing out the 60 minute reflexology massage and the 30 minute detox. Well, oookay, if I have to!

I headed out Sole Revival Reflexology in River Edge which is actually quite close to our office in Englewood. I walked in, and Catherine and Eric were waiting to greet me. The smell of lavender filled my nose. The space was nice and open, the front of the store has large open windows bringing lots of light into the spa/studio. You could tell the place was immaculate, not a dust bunny in sight.

All reflexology sessions start with a soothing foot bath, foot cleansing message, followed by a hot towel wrap while sitting on oversized pedicure chairs that were probably big enough to fit two people. When it came time for my reflexology, the lights were dimmed and tranquil music was played in the background – not a bad way to break up the workday! Eric started by using lavender oil on his hands and slowly waving them around my head so the scent would slowly trigger to my senses. I went into full-on relaxation mode.

Eric performed my reflexology for the first hour. His hands were very soft and delicate. He payed attention to my neck shoulders and hands too for the first 15 minutes and then turned his attention for the rest of the time to my legs and feet. I was so relaxed I almost feel asleep, which I never do. When it came to hitting the organs on my feet, Eric’s hands were powerful and strong. I had some tender points on my left foot and Eric was able to tell me what part of body that was!

The 60 minutes had passed and now it was time for my detox. I really did not know what to expect, but Catherine couldn’t wait to set me up and explain. I sat in another cozy cushy chair and put my feet in a soaking tub while I wore a magnet around my wrist. Catherine began to explain the toxic things that we ingest everyday; pesticides, herbicides, coloring, additives, preservatives and chemicals through water, air, and food. The water was clear from the start and 30 minutes later it was reflecting lovely shades of black and brown! Those colors indicate that I was detoxifying from my liver, cellular debris, and heavy metals. I had just been traveling and Catherine said that this was a perfect time to get a detox. I really had a great experience at Sole Revival Reflexology Spa, and I simply can’t wait to go back.