The wait is almost over. While we put the finishing touches on our beautiful space and continue to build an incredible Houston-based team, we thought we’d take a walk down memory lane to share with you the process of creating our very first milk + honey in Houston.
Today — Monday, February 29 — is Leap Day! While many of us will treat today like any other day, here at milk + honey, we’re taking our cue from Modern Family‘s Phil Dunphy’s book and using this “extra” day to do something special. Whether that means creating a fun day that your childhood would be envious of or taking a few minutes to breathe and relax, we’re sharing with you some our favorite ways to spend it.
Needing a little stress relief from Mopac or the Katy Freeway? Let out your inner speed demon with a lap or 10 around the Go-Kart track.
Where to go in Austin: K1 Speed
Where to go in Houston: Track 21
Scared of heights? This Leap Day, tackle one of your biggest fears with a trapeze class! From swinging trapeze and ariel silks to bungee trapeze, you’ll spend the day moonlighting as a Cirque du Soleil performer.
Where to go in Austin: The Flying Trapeze
Where to go in Houston: Vault Houston
Put on your walking shoes and go explore some of the great murals these cities have to offer. From memorial pieces to sweet love gestures, these works of art are a must-see!
Where to go in Austin: You’re My Butter Half | HOPE Outdoor Gallery | Hi, How Are You
Where to go in Houston: Biscuit Paint Wall | Greeting from Houston | Thread Sunshine Wall
Decompress with a yoga class. Strike a pose and unwind.
Where to go in Austin: Black Swan Yoga | Wanderlust | Core Power | BFree | Sukha
Where to go in Houston: Joy Yoga | Your Body Center | Yoga One | Revolution Studio | Pralaya Yoga
Henry David Thoreau said it best, “An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” Shake up your morning routine with a hike or stroll across some of these cities’ beautiful parks!
Where to go in Austin: Barton Creek Greenbelt | Red Bud Isle
Where to go in Houston: Houston Arboretum and Nature Center | Hermann Park
It’s important to stop and smell the roses, and what better way place to do this than at a garden. Both Austin and Houston have many world-renown gardens, filled with stunning greenery and incredible sculptures.
Where to go in Austin: Zilker Botanical Garden | Umlauf Sculpture Garden
Where to go in Houston: Houston Botanic Garden | Bayou Bend Collection and Garden
Photo credits:
Track 21 Facebook
Flying Trapeze Facebook
Joy Yoga blog
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Facebook
Zilker Botanical Garden | Heather Cowper of heatheronhertravels
Our annual Valentine’s Day gift guide is here. No matter who you’re shopping for — man, woman, or best friend — in your life, we’ve got you covered.
The 2016 Valentine’s Date Night package includes a 60-minute Couples Massage and side-by-side m + h pedicures.
Set the mood with these Makana candles. Made from USA-grown soybeans, these handcrafted vegan candles will make any place a feel like a romantic getaway.
Treat him to Back Rub 101. You’ll both learn how to give relaxing neck and back massages in a 30-minute hands-on class, followed by a relaxing 60-minute Couples Signature Massage.
For the guy who loves working out, our Active Set is a must have. The set includes the milk + honey Arnica Balm, No. 18 Bath Soak, No. 18 Bath & Body Oil, and Calendula Cream,making sore and achy joints a thing of the past.
If he loves beer and coffee, then Benjamin Soap Co. Coffee Stout Beer Soap is a great gift option. Handcrafted by the Zilker Brewing Company, this luxurious soap is ultra-moisturizing for all skin types.
Indulge your best friend with our 2016 Valentine’s Head-to-Toe Retreat. This spa day includes a 60-minute Signature Massage and Lux Pedicure.
Gift your BFF with some milk + honey staples, such as our Essential Gift Set. This set is packed with beauty greats, including No. 16 Body Cream, No. 14 Body Wash, Everything Roll On, Lip Polish No. 35, and Lip Butter No. 40.
Is your friend a makeup lover? Look no further than Youngblood Cosmetics. From the Contour Palette to the Mineral Matte Lipsticks, this luxurious vegan mineral cosmetics line is cruelty-free, paraben-free, and has become the go-to for celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, and long-time fan, Jessica Alba.
You deserve the 2016 Valentine’s Ultimate Retreat. Enjoy a relaxing day at the spa with an Ultimate Massage, Ultimate Facial, and Ultimate Pedicure.
Want healthy, glowing skin for your big date night? Our HydraFacial, — available only at our 2nd Street District location — cleanses and exfoliates your skin while providing nourishing serums to create flawless skin. Head straight from the spa to your romantic rendezvous without any downtime or redness.
Our team is growing and we’re always looking for more exceptional talent. Click here to see our career page. But before we get ahead of ourselves, we’d like to introduce you to the newest Spa Partisans.
Meet Alana, concierge. As a certified yoga teacher, Alana has a passion and love for health and wellness, and knew that milk + honey would be the perfect fit for her. Born and raised in Austin, her favorite way to start the day is with a yoga session at Sanctuary Yoga or Wanderlust, a jog around the Greenbelt or Lady Bird Lake, and then have brunch at Justine’s Brasserie.
Meet Shantel, a massage therapist at our 2nd Street location. Originally from Montana, she’s a second generation massage therapist. After seeing her mother help people, she decided this healing and rewarding path was for her too. Though Shantel doesn’t have any pets, her housemates have two precious pups and four chickens! Her number one beauty tip is that people should drink more water and regularly receive messages.
Meet Elizabeth, concierge. She has been living in Austin for three months and is loving every second of it. Originally from Las Vegas, Elizabeth decided to become a concierge because she loves helping people. Outside of milk + honey, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her curious cat, Doug, and cheeky dog, Ringo, both of whom are in her words: spoiled rotten!
Say hello to Jennifer, concierge. She considers herself lucky having lived in Austin all her life and loves to spend her time outside of milk + honey seeing and listening to live music around the city.
Meet Celine, massage therapist at Hill Country Galleria location. Hailing from Chizé, France, she has been in Austin for just over a year and has always had a passion for people and wellness. When she’s not using her healing touch to relax and rejuvenate clients, you can find her enjoying a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse, taking swing dance lessons, or watching the bats take off from under the Congress Bridge.
Meet Dawn, concierge. She has lived in Austin for two years and enjoys visiting all of the various food trucks the city has to offer. What Dawn loves most about milk + honey is the company’s unique culture and loves working with others who enjoy creating a wonderful and excellent experience for guests. After a day of helping people relax and unwind, she loves to spend time with her two furry children, KC and Stogey, who are best buds.
Meet Jackie, concierge at our Houston location. She is passionate about health and wellness and decided to fuse her passion for these industries into milk + honey’s newest location. Born in San Francisco, she has lived in Houston almost her whole life, and has a two-year-old Red Lacy (the official state dog of Texas) named Barley Hops and a bearded dragon named Kitty.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1955, he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He unified a nation in 1963 with his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech during the March on Washington, and in 1965 he led a march through Selma to help gain African-Americans the right to vote in the South. He championed for the rights of African-Americans, and it’s because of his work that African-Americans are able to become astronauts, industry leaders, and even the president. On January 18, we honor a man who did so much for our country, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In retrospect, 2015 was an amazing year. We saw love win and the world come together to adopt the first universal climate agreement in Paris. In the African-American community, we witnessed great moments like the 50th Anniversary of the March on Selma and Viola Davis’ impassioned speech, after becoming the first African-American woman in history to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. We saw a football team unite behind a young man at the University of Missouri, who went on a hunger strike to protest the school’s handling of racial tension. It’s moments like these that allow me to believe that Dr. King would be proud to see us and what the future has become. But, as bright as 2015 seemed, it wasn’t without its shadows. So, with all the goodness in my heart, I choose to believe that in 2016 we, as a nation, will revitalize the vision of Dr. King, and what better day than January 18 to breathe life back into his dream.
What many people might not know is that Martin Luther King Jr. Day has evolved from a federal holiday into so much more. In 1983, legislation was signed to create a holiday marking Dr. King’s birth, and Americans first observed this holiday three years later in 1986. Then, in 1994, Congress chose to honor Dr. King by passing the King Holiday and Service Act and marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national day of service. Congress entrusted the Corporation for National and Community Service to lead this effort, and thus a Day of Service was born. On this day, the Corporation for National and Community Service asks us to join hands and serve our community in remembrance of Dr. King. So, on January 18, don’t just take a day off — take a day on and answer one of Dr. King’s most important questions, “ What are you doing for others?”
This year, I’ve decided to take his question to heart, and participate in the Day of Service. I will be volunteering at the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, where I’ll sort through hundreds of pounds of food that is used to feed Central Texans who suffer from hunger. For those looking to lend a helping hand in your area, click here to find Day of Service events in your community. Volunteering isn’t the only way to experience Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In Austin and Houston, there are many events going on such as parades, speech competitions, and marches in his memory. No matter how you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it’s important to remember the man who preached nonviolence, fought for the equality of others, and most importantly, helped move America forward.
If you’re looking to lend a helping hand in your community, or just want to experience the energy at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, check out some of these exciting events in Austin and Houston:
Day of Service in events Austin: Concordia University | Houston-Tillotson University | Austin Parks Foundation| Capital Area Food Bank of Texas
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activities in Austin: March and Festival | MLK Oratory Competition
Day of Service in events Houston: University of Houston | The Student Conservation Association | Houston Food Bank
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activities in Houston: Children’s Museum of Houston | Youth Parade | Battle of the Bands | MLK Grande Parade Houston
It’s that time of year again — the time for reflection that comes after holiday indulgence, but before the realistic onset of life in the New Year. Take this time to plan ahead and to create healthy goals and intentions (“resolutions,” if you will) that are challenging yet attainable. At milk + honey, we’re not extremists. We like balance and strive to keep it that way. So, when it comes to thinking about the year ahead, we’re setting out to engage our minds and our bodies equally — here’s how.
Sprinting, climbing rope, box jumps, kettlebells, and flipping tires are only a handful of the high-intensity exercises CrossFit utilizes in its interval training program. After your WOD, take your stretching to the next level. Our deep-tissue, full-body Sports Massage helps to ease any muscle tension and soreness in joints, which will in turn, prevent injury.
Where to go in Austin: CrossFit Central
Where to go in Houston: Urban Animal
Bikram, Hatha, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Vinyasa. Whatever your practice may be, yoga is one of the meditative ways to exercise. Extend your calming environment outside of the yoga studio to include another relaxing sanctuary: the spa. Our Ultimate HydraFacial is exactly what your skin needs after a sweaty stretch session. Smoothe rough-textured skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and bring your skin back to its natural, youthful state without any redness or downtime.
Where to go in Austin: Black Swan Yoga | Wanderlust | CorePower Yoga
Where to go in Houston: Your Body Center | DEFINE | Yoga One
Between the adrenaline-pumping music, synchronized pedaling, and the feeling of relief after that last incline (er, turn of the resistance knob), we can’t get enough of indoor cycling. It’s not for the faint of the heart, but we challenge everyone to tap it back at least once in the New Year. Plus, if you cycle to the finish line, then you’ve certainly earned our Spa Partisan treatment. This full-body brushing is followed by a brown sugar, coffee, and crushed almond skin-polishing blend that leaves you feeling relaxed and renewed.
Where to go in Austin: RIDE | Love Cycling Studio
Where to go in Houston: Revolution Studio {Bonus: take your cycling outside with Houston’s new about-town red cruisers, available for on-demand rent all around town.}
After shaking your hips and breaking it down on the dance floor, treat your feet to some TLC with our Lux Pedicure. The nail soak, shaping, cuticle maintenance, extra hydration, exfoliation, and warm oil treatment offer up an incredible one-two punch for your feet.
Where to go in Austin: Corazon Latino
Where to go in Houston: MET Dance | Vitacca Productions & Company
If you prefer to hit the trail (or treadmill), don’t overlook our Hit The Trail Retreat for the post-run cooldown. This retreat includes an hour-long Sports Massage followed by the Buff + Go Combo, 15 minutes of extra foot massage, and CosMedix SPF 30 sunblock. Leave happy and refreshed.
Where to go in Austin: Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail
Where to go in Houston: the new Sandy Reed Memorial Trail
Dance enthusiasts, unite. Barre class is composed of isometric holds, small range movements, and large dynamic movements, which in turn, effectively build strength, flexibility, and improve posture and balance. Finish your workout with our Hydrating Body Cocoon, which will leave your mind and body relaxed and your skin healthy and hydrated. Start with an invigorating full body brushing, then move to a 45-minute Signature Massage complete with an aromatherapy-infused body butter.
Where to go in Austin: Barre3 | Mod Fitness
Where to go in Houston: DEFINE | Pure Barre
Who knew jabs, crosses, and hooks could greatly improve your cardiovascular health? Thanks to the vigorous workout that is boxing, you not only work up a great, healthy sweat, but you also tone muscle and improve flexibility and strength. Once the gloves are off, consider it time to polish that right-left combo. For guys, try our Buff + Go manicure. For ladies, you can’t go wrong with our m + h Manicure.
Where to go in Austin: Austin Boxing Babes | Austin Fight Club
Where to go in Houston: Elite Mixed Martial Arts
Our excitement level is at an all-time high with the impending opening of our first-ever (and largest ever!) spa and salon in Houston.
To celebrate this (soon-to-be) milestone, we’ve launched a selection limited-time offers, exclusive to our West Ave at River Oaks location, valid for purchase through October 31, 2015.
