Part 2: The Experience
We get out the car and head inside the studio. Immediately we’re greeted at the door by a young black woman, who ends up being our main host of the evening, Brittany Marshal’ -- owner of A Cup Full. Brittany introduces us to her mom, who’s helping out, Erin Blake -- owner of Kneaded Rose Massage & Skin Care LLC -- and the owners of the Mnemosyne Studio. They instructed us to get comfortable and have a seat in what looks like the waiting area since we’re still waiting on one other couple. Once they arrive it's time to eat! As we sat having went through the buffet line which consisted of chicken, rice, bread & butter, salad, and a large pitcher of sangria. The host did more of a formal introduction and explained the reasoning behind their event, how everyone came together, and how it all got started. Afterwards, we, the couples, all introduced ourselves and how we found the event. Why we decided on it and not other more typical Valentine’s Day plans etc.
The Main Event
Once dinner was over and we were all more comfortable with each other. Some more than others because this one attendee, started making sex jokes and it definitely made me uncomfortable. Like cool we’re all here, but I don’t know you like that. Nor did I think it was the right time or place for it. So three out of the four couples are all standing around a small table where Brittany is demonstrating several different icing techniques. The fourth couple was pulled away so that they could learn the massage techniques with Erin. Brittany would catch them up on the icing decorating stuff later. Brittany’s explaining the effectiveness of using water to help smooth of the icing. The importance of using the right nozzle to create designs and how to make sure to get out all of the previous colors icing before starting on a new design. Unless the mixed colors is what you’re going for.
She also shows us how to make:
Small flower buds
Roses
Grass
How to write
Best spreading technique for covering large areas
After the small demonstration were given about a dozen cupcakes to practice on and seated at our own little station. Kevin and I basically attempted everything on our plate. I don’t know why we didn’t just use the cupcakes. Okay maybe I do know and just don’t want to admit that we’re pretty much perfectionists and it’s hard for us to just “go with the flow”. Something I probably need to delve deeper into in another blog post.
Once the practice time as up we were meant to move on to a heart shaped cake. This would be our final product and we’d get “judged” on our design. The winner receiving a small thing of chocolate covered strawberries. Kevin and I had a hard time deciding on the design for our cake. I wanted him to be as much of a participant as possible. I was having a hard time not being a control freak and just taking it all away from him and just doing the decorating by myself with whatever creative thing I came up with. We ended up using a bear cookie cutter that a pressed into the cake and outlined then colored it in, and a heart shaped cookie cutter that we poured edible glitter into hoped it would hold the heart shape as it merged with the icing. Nope, we were wrong. Instead when we removed the cookie cutter the glitter just shifted and scattered everywhere. In the end our design was a hot mess, but I enjoyed the experience. I wish we had had more time though.
Massage Time!
We probably sat decorating our desserts for about 45 minutes before it was our turn to get our lesson in massage techniques. I told Kevin I wanted him to be the one to go in the chair first because I was nervous. I don’t do well with the unexpected. I wanted to basically know everything that was gonna end up happening to me so that I was mentally prepared for it. Oh look another topic I can revisit in another blog post.
First Kevin got himself situated in the chair. Erin begins to explain to me the three different technique that we’ll be exploring as well as emphasizing the importance of your leg stance and positioning. You never want to do anything that over stretches your back and ends up hurting you. So the stance she continually goes back to is called a warrior stance. The name reminded me of a yoga pose. After her short demonstration I am then instructed to follow her lead. As she begins doing a technique on Kevin's left side of his back I am to replicate the same on his right side.
We start off with what’s called the effleurage technique. This is where you’re doing nice long gliding strokes down the person’s back. It’s slow going down and back up the back. You can do each side or you can do the middle, it’s whatever you prefer at the time or what the person on the receiving end asks for. Erin says “this is how you say “hello” and “goodbye” when starting and ending a massage session.”
Next we moved on to the petrissage technique. This is where you make “C’s” with your hands and grip the back muscles in short circular strokes. Here you’re adding more pressure as you go up and down the back. This is also where you can massage the shoulders and neck. If you make it to the neck you have to be positioned in front of the receiver. You take your hands and you start at the base of the neck and pull towards yourself until your fingers rest nicely at the bottom of their skull. It’s complicated to describe but it feels really good on the receiving end.
Lastly, I practiced our final technique which is called kneading. Here I ball my hands into fists and I walk them up and down Kevin’s back. You have to make sure to apply medium pressure here and it’s fairly simple. Erin also has me try out using petrissage down Kevin’s arms until I get to his hands. With his hands it’s like you’re pulling them apart. You pull on each finger separately. I know from my aerial workouts during the cooldowns how it good it feels to stretch your hands and fingers with this technique.
Once we’re done with with the guided demonstration I am then given a chance to try it all out on my own. I’m supposed to do whatever comes naturally to me. When my 10 minutes are up for this portion it’s time for me to switch into the chair and be the person on the receiving end of all this feel good loving. The anticipation is honestly killing me because I’ve actually never had a real massage before. Kevin and I have played around with it but I’m always so ticklish it never works out. My mind races at this point. Will I actually enjoy this? Will I end up in a ball of giggles and laughter? Or will I be able to actually contain myself? Well, it’s time to find out I guess.
Kevin’s on my left and Erin is on my right. I’m definitely enjoying myself and I’m able to contain my small gasps of giggles. Honestly the only reason I have to fight back a laugh is because Kevin isn’t apply enough pressure at times. Otherwise I’m perfectly fine. I liked how the petrissage felt on me, and overall I really enjoyed the experience. Erin did an amazing job and I felt really comfortable with her working on me. I think it helped that she was a woman. If she’d been a man I think I might have been more self-conscious because we kept having an issue with my shirt sliding up. So Erin and Kevin kept fixing me and at one point Erin had to hold my shirt down so that Kevin could practice properly. Of course this wouldn’t have mattered if we were at home or even in a more private area of the venue, but instead everyone could see us.
Studio Talk Time
Like everyone else after we finished getting our massage lesson, we were escorted over to a small table where the studio owners were sitting. Here was were they attempted to sell us on coming back to buy a portrait photo, and also gifting us with a voucher for $200 for the studio session. They proceeded to tell us about their business, the quality of their photos, how they make it more of an experience and not an in and out ordeal. They really like to get to know their clients, and their sessions include hair and makeup by a professional. I thought it was great, but at the end of the day their prices were too steep. Even with the voucher we’d end up having to pay $75 to receive just one portrait.
Wrap Up
As the event begins to come to a close, we place all of the couples cakes together to have Brittany be the judge of who wins the chocolate covered strawberries. In the end she gifts each of us with one strawberry stating that we’re all winners. Cliche but cute. Lastly, we toast to a successful night and we head out with our things in tow.
And that ladies and gents is how my Valentine’s Day went down for 2019. Hope you enjoyed the read. It was out of my comfort zone and I’ll shoot for something different next year but I don’t regret it. Okay maybe the pricing, but the money’s gone now so who cares lol.
How was your Valentine's Day this year? Did your plans go according to plan? Was it a single's night? Did you practice self-love that day? Share on social media by tagging us on Twitter, commenting below, or sending me a private message!