This time of year, I don't know of anyone who couldn't use a little pick me up. We're all a little tired, slightly stressed, and unfortunately, it shows.

I know lots of folks who take a day and head off to the spa, but that's a little pricey for my taste. Plus, when you go to the spa, you're relying on their products and their ingredients, many of which might have more artificial ingredients than you'd really like.

My suggestion? Set aside a little time this holiday break for yourself (think of it as a gift, if you must) and take advantage of one or two of the all-natural, DIY beauty tips in the gallery. You'll feel better, which will help you look better, which is definitely a bonus when everyone starts snapping pictures around the Christmas tree.

When Jo Wood, the recently estranged wife of Rolling Stones member Ronnie Wood, felt her clothes weren't fitting as loosely as usual, she did what any normal woman would do -- she quickly booked herself an extended stay at an exclusive spa in Switzerland, where she lives on tea and sheep's yogurt for the better part of a week. Oh, wait a minute. That's not what a normal woman would do -- that's the kind of thing the rich and eccentric do.

Wood, 53, says, "I looked at myself when I was 65 kg (143 lbs) and I was just so depressed. I thought, 'Oh come on Jo, you're just eating all the time, all this chocolate!' So I went to the Maya clinic in Switzerland and I just lived off tea. Tea and sheep's yoghurt, for five whole days!"

Well, it's healthier than Colin Farrell's quick weight-loss diet ... but that's not saying a lot. Still, she looks pretty good. What do you think?

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We have a winner! Well, actually, we have five, which is even better. All winners, who were chosen at random, surely deserve their prizes.

Winner Ashley really needed something to cheer her up after moving across the country to start a new job. And Stephanie, who housed and fed her husband's family after they were displaced by Hurricane Ike, is looking forward to some "me time." Katheryn is a stay-at-home mom with two small children and a husband who travels, and she's still been finding time to train for races. Clearly, she needs some pampering. Robin needs an excuse to relax after a crazy week of college, and Jenna, who had a stressful summer, wants to bring a little summer vacation into her Fall.

Thanks to everyone who entered, and keep checking back -- we've got lots of other cool giveaways coming up!

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I am so excited to tell you about something new for Fit Beauty -- every other week or so, Fit Beauty will be hosting a giveaway. I have beauty, hair, and skincare products for you, gym totes, and other assorted goodies to help you look and feel your best!

I'm starting things off with a bang -- this week, our giveaway will have five lucky winners! We have five AloSun Travel and Trial Collections, each with five different products. Each pack is different, including five of the following products:

• Skin Buff Face & Body Polish
• Moisture-Lock Organic Body Oil
• Body Bare Penetrating Emollient
• Clarifying Hair & Body Shampoo
• Hydrating Hair Mask
• Lemon Lights
• Sea Salt Tress Texturizer
• Swimsuit Saver Shampoo
• After Sun Restorative Creme-Gel

I know, a lot of these products are geared more toward summer, but these are the perfect size to take traveling (all under 3 oz.), and you know you're going to want to take a trip somewhere sunny in just a couple of months, right? Or, save them for the first days of summer to give yourself a real treat!

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below saying why you deserve to be pampered.
  
• The comment must be left before 5pm ET on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
  
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  
• One winner will receive one AloSun Travel & Trial Collection (valued at $15).
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older.

Click here for complete Official Rules.

Winners are notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you're the winner!

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I recently took a trip and, for the plane ride, picked up the latest issue of Vogue, which, by the way, I also considered my daily exercise. Have you seen the size of that thing? It's enormous! But, I digress. Normally I just peruse the pages for fabulous fashion, but I was immediately drawn to a Beauty, Health, & Fitness article named Inch by Inch, about "an arm-toning, waist-cinching, thigh-whittling machine that promises miracles in minutes."

Don't get me wrong -- I enjoy working out. However, the idea of losing inches from my waist in minutes was totally intriguing. Just think about it -- all those spur-of-the-moment occasions for which you have the perfect outfit and it's just a little too tight would no longer be a problem!

Anyway, this miracle machine is called the SX-4000 Pro, and it uses technology that was originally intended for physical therapy for multiple sclerosis patients. It uses a microcurrent that "bypasses the usual brain-nerve pathways, stimulating the nerve, and causing muscles to contract." While it was supposed to strengthen and reengage muscles, patients noticed that they were losing inches in the areas affected. And that's the kind of side effect I'd like to see.

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There are plenty of medical breakthroughs out there that have changed our lives for the better, and though some might think the enema is one of them, most would prefer not to bring that up in conversation. But in the Russian city of Zheleznovodsk, located in the Caucasus mountain region, a spa recently erected a monument to the procedure.

The monument, an 800-pound bronze bulb syringe being held by three angels, was accompanied by a banner that read, "Let's beat constipation and sloppiness with enemas." The Caucasus mountain region is famous for its spas and mineral waters, which are used during enemas to relieve digestive problems.

The sculptor says that the statue was made with "irony and humor," while the spa's director said that, "The enema is almost a symbol of our region." I guess everyone is good at something... but I'm not sure that something needs to be bronzed!

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My mom is one of those hard-to-buy-for types. She and my dad are, thankfully, in a position where if they need or want anything, they can go out and get it. But when birthdays and holidays like Mother's Day roll around, it leaves my siblings and me with very few options. This year, I think I'll try to give my mom something in keeping with her healthy lifestyle. If you're thinking along the healthy lines for Mother's Day gifts too, here are some ideas to consider:

• A day at the spa. Moms rarely take time for themselves. Give your mom a gift certificate for the spa and help her relax.
• Skin care. Whether you give a face mask, moisturizer, hand lotion, or cleanser, skin care gifts are always appreciated.

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Sometimes the motivation to exercise can come from the desire to be a good role model to your kids. Sometimes it comes from wanting to be able to healthy enough to help take care of your community. And sometimes the motivation comes from ... well, something far less altruistic, like wanting to win a daily prize, plus be entered to win the grand-prize trip for two to Mexico, complete with spa treatments and a basket of beauty products.

For you ladies out there who wouldn't mind putting in the extra effort in the gym this year, the payoff can be some serious and much needed R&R. Sign up for the SELF Challenge: a free, easy-to-follow exercise and healthy eating plan that will help you get your best body ever in just three months! See how it works.

Just as the Self.com website says, the best prize of all will be joining the 1.3 million women who have lost weight and toned up with the SELF Challenge.

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Oh... a day at the spa. Sounds like a relaxing bit of heaven, doesn't it? How does a nail infection sound? Or a lethal overdose of hair-removal treatment? Spas offer a variety of services nowadays -- not just the run-of-the-mill facial and massage. So you should check your spa out as thoroughly as you would check out a new physician. Here are some tips:

• Don't make your first appointment over the phone. Visit the spa, ask for a tour, and see if it appears professional, organized, and sanitary.
• Ask questions! Ask if the staff is licensed and what their training was. You can also ask about the years of experience. If you're getting treatments such as Botox (and if you are, really, think twice) make sure whoever is administering it is a licensed physician or a nurse under a doctor's supervision.
• Ask friends if they've been to the spa before and see if the spa has an online rating.
  
• The spa should have a questionnaire or verbally ask you questions about existing health conditions, allergies, and so forth. If you don't feel an appropriate question has been asked, speak up! You have to advocate for you own health.

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I decided not to wait to see if I get a gift certificate to a local spa for Christmas this year. Most of us probably need the stress relief before the holiday high point anyway. In January, just having a normal life has a therapeutic effect.

So, a couple girlfriends and I have set aside a few bucks for ourselves and have booked an appointment at this place. We're getting a Roman bath and a 15-minute massage. Should be the perfect refresher. The place is old school and far cheaper than many other options in our area. There are plenty of resources for finding something close to you, including this list of spas. Or maybe you'd like this one better. If you're traveling, try this international list.

If the budget simply won't allow self indulgence, try a tub soak with some lavender oil at home. But make sure to schedule it as an appointment so you're sure to make it happen amid the holiday hoopla.

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There are few luxuries in life that I enjoy more than spending a day -- or even just an hour -- at a spa getting all prettied up. Sure, the results may only last a day or two and it tends to cost a small fortune, but taking the time to relax and rejuvenate, with the added benefit of looking good afterward, makes me feel pretty good about myself.

While I would love to enjoy a spa day at least once a month, it's not really possible because of the cost. I'm sure that many of you are in the same boat. But just because you can't afford to hand over hundreds of dollars on a regular basis for various beauty treatments doesn't mean that you have to go without. Why not try a few DIY treatments instead? Sure you've got to do the work yourself, but it's still relaxing to take some time out to focus strictly on you. Plus, it's a heck of a lot cheaper. It can also be fun to have a DIY beauty night the next time you're having an evening with the girls -- instead of hitting the bars, you can eat pizza, drink wine and have a few laughs while painting your toes.

I've had a look around the web for some good Do It Yourself instructions and found pages that focus on pedicures, manicures and facials, so take a look and see which you'd like to try:

DIY Facial: I think this may be my favorite of all the at-home, on-your-own treatments because it looks really simple and I imagine you'd finish with a really healthy glow. Start with a cleanse using your regular face cleanser, follow with a steam either in the tub or over a bowl of hot water, and then give yourself a massage using an exfoliator. The next step is to apply a mask, then treat yourself to another massage but this time with your regular moisturizer. Finish by applying some eye cream and your skin will look great. If you want to look really fab, check out this site for instructions on how to properly shape your eyebrows so that they perfectly frame your face.

DIY Manicure: OK, I find that painting my own fingernails can be a nightmare. Trying to use my non-dominant hand to do anything is tough and adding nailpolish to the equation often equals a huge mess. But I'm sure for those of you who have similar problems, if you take your time, this DIY Manicure will have your hands looking spa-perfect. Start by removing old nail polish, trim nails to desired length, soak hands in warm water and then use cuticle oil to soften. Follow this by pushing back cuticles with a cuticle stick, exfoliate and then moisturize hands before carefully applying polish. I'm sure the time and delicate work will be worth it!

DIY Pedicure: This one is especially useful now that summer is coming to an end. A few months of going bareful has likely left a lot of feet out there looking and feeling pretty rough. A Do It Yourself pedicure is pretty similar to the manicure, which is great because you can use a lot of the same tools. Like the manicure, begin by removing polish and then soak your feet. Once they're nice and soft use a pumice stone to buff off all that rough, dry skin and then exfoliate off any leftover dead skin. Trim your nails before moisturizing your feet and applying cuticle oil. Push back cuticles and finish with a polish. You can either use the same one as on your hands or mix it up by choosing a complimentary color.

Once you've completed your big beauty day you can either stay and home and chill out while watching a movie, or head out on the town and show off all of your hard work.

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Are you in need of some serious relaxation before the onslaught of the Christmas season hits us? You're in luck -- Spa Week is upon us. Taking place between October 15th to 21st in select cities across North America, Spa Week is dedicated to bringing the spa lifestyle to the masses. So, during this time, spa treatments will be available at $50 per treatment -- a steal compared to some of the spas treatments you can get today.

So where are the lucky cities? Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington, DC. So spa week isn't coming to my city, or even anywhere remotely close to it, but if you live in one of these places, enjoy!

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I knew long before I did anything about it that there were many changes I could make specific to diet and exercise. Heck, I even knew exactly what I needed to do -- eat less calories than I burn, stock up on fruits and veggies, nix the red meat, soda, and junk food, and work out strenuously. But something held me back. I think it was motivation.

I found just the push I needed at Canyon Ranch spa in Tucson, Arizona. This desert oasis boasts the finest in not only pampering but also in healthy living. For four days, I ate the healthiest foods, indulged in fitness classes galore, and learned from experts how to fine-tune my ways for optimum functioning and survival. It was grand. And for five months now, I have not wavered in my newly disciplined life. As a result, I am leaner, healthier, and happier than ever before. Thank goodness for my trip out west.

Sometimes it just takes a little kick in the pants when it comes to mastering the whole diet and exercise thing. And many are signing up, like me, for their own personal kick.

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Manicures, pedicures, facials and visits to a salon for haircuts, coloring and hi-lites can be incredibly expensive. So what's a girl to do if she wants to maintain a polished, movie star look but obviously doesn't have the same kind of money to spend as a star? Well, you can try some of these tips on getting an expensive look for less.

The piece offers advice on how to keep hair looking shiny, keeping a just-polished look on finger and toe nails and getting celebrity-worthy eyebrows. Tips include not washing hair every day or using mousse as both will make your mane look dry and dull, shilling out for a really great, classic and personalized haircut a few times a year rather than opting for a trendy cut that needs maintenance every six weeks and buffing nails or using light, shimmery polishes -- like opal and taupe -- to keep nails looking like you've just been for a mani-pedi.

Let's face it, unless you've got too much money to throw around -- and most of us don't -- it's not really realistic to try to keep up with all of the treatments and styles that the stars favor, but these hints will help you look great without spending a fortune.

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Since I began writing for That's Fit I've learned about some seriously wild and wacky health and beauty products but the absolute best one that I've come across is the "butt facial". The procedure, which is exactly what it sounds like -- a facial for your butt -- is all the rage at a number of spas across the US.

Going for anywhere from around a hundred dollars to as much as nearly a thousand, clients get their bums scrubbed, polished, bronzed and more, in order to get the best posterior possible. It's mostly women who are are shelling out the big bucks for the procedure, which is meant to make your bum look tighter and smoother.

I think my favorite part is that it's still referred to as a facial, albeit a "butt facial". I think "buttcial" or "bumcial" would be more appropriate. Either way, I know I love getting facials (on my face), so I admit that if I had the cash I'd give a buttcial a try. Would you?

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