One of My Highlights

Instead of thinking about the sucky parts of 2009, I wanted to post something happy that happened to me in 2009: the purchase of my wonderful spa last May for my 40th bday. :) I have pics and comments about it on Facebook, but not here, so I figured I'd clue the rest of my fan base into where I spend every single evening, relaxing. I am most definitely a Hot Spring Spa Fan!



First, though, a little education: if anyone tells you they have a saltwater spa, give them a totally blank stare and ask them if they even know what that means. Most of them will tell you they run some form of bromine through their system - that can be achieved by adding the chemicals or with a system that recycles the bromine (known as a bromine generator). Either way, bromine and chlorine are both halogen salts and anyone with even a bit of brain matter should know this. It annoys me to NO end when someone smugly says, "oh I have a saltwater spa!" and they really don't have a clue about the periodic table. Some people will even add a bag of sea salt to their spa and use current to separate the chlorine from the sodium - NaCl! Either way you look at it, you're probably using either bromine salt or chlorine salt, unless you're using one of the newer systems like Baquaspa, which is neither! There are generators out there that generate one of these sanitizers but you still have to maintain water quality, you still have to change the water periodically and you still have to monitor it closely! Anybody who says they have such a great sanitizing system that enables them to go a year without changing their water - EEWW! I do NOT recommend you get into their spa because that means it's filthy on a microscopic level!

Anyway, bromine is easier on your skin than chlorine. In fact, we decided on our spa type and after TONS of research and recommendations, decided on the Brilliance System. I love the way my skin feels after getting out of the spa, how it smells - just everything about it. We decided against a bromine generator because, well, it's just not worth the expense!

SO - if anyone I know is contemplating a spa purchase, talk to me first!

OK so now that the educational part of this series is over, here's the fun part:

It comfortably seats 7 people, and I can stretch out across the whole thing and barely touch the sides! (not the case for my 6'1 hubby) It has a zillion jets that you can adjust 6 different ways, some funky 70s-like lights and well, it's just the best.

Oh, and if you DO get a spa, you MUST get a lift for the cover. I can take the cover off and put it back on with little effort - a must, because those covers are freaking heavy! And the LAST thing you want to do is have to lift it after getting all relaxed!


I couldn't write this post without thanking my loving husband for being In Charge of the Spa. I love it because he's so darned particular and wants his water perfect at all times, so our spa water ROCKS!

It's one of the best purchases we ever made.