Spa Party!

Mother's Day may have passed, but it is always a good time to throw a spa party! Stephanie, our entertaining expert, threw the perfect spa party for our May issue. Here is some of her article.




A mother/daughter spa party is a great way for women to celebrate Mother’s Day or any day, in fact. Why not invite several generations of your family and spend a day getting pampered and enjoying each other’s company? It can be as easy as a phone call to your local spa for reservations or as budget-friendly as setting one up in your home. Whichever route you decide to go, enjoy the relaxing time with family and friends! All of us need some time in our lives to slow down and be pampered.
If you decide to host the party at your home, try hiring professionals to perform the spa services. Good sources to contact are a local beauty school, an aesthetician school or your favorite spa or nail salon to see if they’ll come do a private home party. Oftentimes, if the party happens outside of peak business times, you’ll be able to book a team of professionals to come to your house. If hiring professionals isn’t in your budget, don’t hesitate to give each other manicures, pedicures and facials with the great mask recipes that follow.

Menu
Broccoli Cheddar Quiche
Pimento Cheese in Mini Tartlet Shells
Pasta Salad
Fruit Skewers in Watermelon “Boat”
Crudite Shooters
Chocolate Covered Strawberries with White Chocolate Drizzle
Custom Smoothie Bar



Setting the Scene
Transform a living room or family room into the main spa area. Make sure to set the tone with soft lighting, lots of candles, relaxing music and plenty of comfortable chairs and fun magazines to read. Take inspiration from the spas or salons you’ve visited and try to recreate them in your house. If it means moving large, comfy chairs from other rooms of the house, do it! If you have oversized floor pillows, set them out for your guests to lounge around. You want everyone to be relaxed at this spa party.
For treatments, set up an area for each guest with small tables or wooden television trays. Make sure to include the following: a mirror, head band and rubber band, nail files and clippers, nail polish remover, tissues and cotton balls. Supply a warm washcloth at each station for guests to remove their makeup prior to the facials as well as small bowls of warm water for cuticle soaks for the manicure. If you have individual foot basins, use those as well for the pedicures. You can purchase deep bowls that can serve as foot basins at discount stores and dollar stores. Remember, this party doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s all about getting the girls together for a fun, relaxing day!
If you don’t have individual tables, you can always set up stations around a large table. The key thing is to make sure that each guest feels special and pampered. Try to include as many spa-like service items as you can, like glass apothecary jars filled with cotton balls, bath salts and nail polishes.
If you have masseuses coming to your home, set up separate rooms in the house for massages. Play soft music, dim the lights and don’t forget to incorporate candles to create that spa-like environment.
In another room you’ll want to set up the food and beverage table. For a spa party, serve one or two warm items along with plenty of fresh fruit and veggies. As for beverages, provide pitchers of water with assorted fruit slices in them. Besides limes and lemons, grapefruit slices are a perfect addition to water. The pink color of the grapefruit, along with a yummy hint of citrus, is a great combination for a spa party.
And men, if you’re trying to think of an extraordinary gift for your wife or mother, buy her a monogrammed terry cloth robe and as she opens it, tell her that you are treating her to a spa party. (You’ll score major brownie points by doing this!)


For do-it-yourself facials, mix up these refreshing masks:

Balancing Facial Mask

1 small avocado, mashed (about 2/3 c.)
1/2 small cucumber, finely grated (about 1/3 c.)
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
3 Tbsp. green clay powder (sold at natural foods stores)

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, using a fork to blend. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
2. Apply a thick layer of the mixture to clean, dry skin on your face and neck, avoiding the eye and lip areas. Keep fairly still for 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the mask to dry in place. Wipe skin clean with a damp cloth; splash with cool water and pat dry.

Recipe from wholeliving.com


Sensitive Skin Cucumber Mask

1 Tbsp. brewer’s yeast
1 Tbsp. finely ground oatmeal
1 cucumber
2 Tbsp. plain yogurt or sour cream
1 tsp. honey

1. Mix yeast and oats in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Peel the cucumber, place it in a small food processor and process until only liquid remains. Add the yogurt and honey and process further to blend. Add the brewer’s yeast and oats to the cucumber/honey mixture and process to mix fully.
3. Chill mask in your refrigerator before use to make it especially soothing.
4. To use, apply to clean face and neck and leave on for 15 minutes to a half hour. Rinse well and follow with toner and moisturizer.

Recipe from spaindex.com





For more on the Spa Party and the rest of At Home TN, check out our May issue, out now!