One of the best parts of our Hot Mom Spa Squad is that it is always growing! We’ve welcomed a handful of Moms over the past few weeks that we can’t wait for you to hear from…
Speaking of which, newest member mommy, Dawn, founder of Not Just a Mommy!, wants to help you get your spa-rty on. Dawn is a mom of two boys, proud military wife of a Marine and the owner of a very hyper mini schnauzer. With a B.S. in Mathematics, she’s admittedly a bit of a geek but her true passion is party planning. Her blog is all about entertaining, event planning, crafts and lifestyle (and, if you live in Seattle or the surrounding areas, I she’s available for all of your party planning needs, from consulting to full event hosting). See below for her favorite DIY spa party crafts plus, her fool-proof Lemon Sugar Body Scrub. It’s so important to take time out for yourself, even if you don’t leave the house!
By Dawn Smith
Every woman needs a little pampering now and then, but sometimes you just don’t have the big bucks for a full day at the spa. How about hosting a spa party at home with your girls? Here are some great ideas to inspire you…
A few years ago I put together a Spa Party with goody bag favors, like face masks, bath beads, and nail files, all kinds of spa goodies the girls used that evening. Hit up your local beauty supply and drug stores for great deals on nail polish, toe separators and more! (The stores are always trying to move those products to make room for seasonal items, so you’ll most likely get a good deal.) Purchase items like bath beads in large jars and divvy up into smaller containers to save money.
If you can’t find individual soaps on sale, make your own! A silicone ice mold and a soap-making kit from your local craft store is a fun way to custom-make soap. It’s so easy, you just melt the glycerin, add colors and scents of your choice and wrap in clear cellophane. Everyone will think you scored them from a specialty bath store.
Another great party activity is make your own sugar scrub. This is my fool-proof, all-natural lemon sugar body scrub that I’ve used at countless parties and have gifted WAY too many times. It will make all those rough areas feel so smooth and you’ll smell amazing. It can be customized. too. If you like your scrubs “scrubbier,” add more sugar, or if you want it to smell stronger, add a few more drops of the lemon essential oil.
Dawn’s Lemon Sugar Body Scrub
(Makes one batch)
Ingredients:
- 6 oz air-tight container (I’ve used plastic Tupperware and mason jars before. this container is a Lock-Up, I’ve purchased mine from The Container Store and have seen them at Jo-Ann’s Fabrics)
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons of grapeseed oil
- ½ tablespoon of olive oil
- juice from ½ of a medium lemon
- 3 drops lemon essential oil
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl then, spoon into the storage container
- Considering this is made with no preservatives, it will not last forever, so store in an air-tight container and keep in the refrigerator
Don’t forget to feed your guests! Yes, chocolate is a given but don’t forget the healthy snacks and drinks. Make food that is easy to eat and transport around the party. One Charming Party has a great smoothie recipe and tasty meat and veggie kabobs that won’t make you a slave to the kitchen.
Cheers to planning a fabulous night in, one your guests won’t soon forget.
“Silk flowers? A ceramic pot? Heated socks? Oh and you’d like me to make Mother’s Day Breakfast? Thanks?” On Sunday, May 9th, these woes will be echoed from Moms across America. We’re not saying you should go broke to show your affection, but at least make an effort. We asked some of our favorite mommy bloggers which Mother’s Day gift they DO NOT WANT, despite the delusional marketers’ beliefs that it’s “perfect for all moms!” Hilarious, but truthful answers below.
It happens every Valentines Day, Christmas, and Mother’s Day: Chain jewelry stores over-advertise one specific thing, touting how inexpensive it is. Who the hell wants to get this? You’ve seen the ads for weeks, you know your significant other spent exactly zero brain cells deciding to buy this thing, you know it’s cheap, and worst of all you know that a ton of women with sucky men are opening up the same exact gift.
Cleaning products like vacuums and items for the house such as printers & gadgets (unless it’s especially for her like an ipod touch or an iPad) that they claim are “perfect” for mom’s on Mother’s Day. Some people don’t know that Mother’s Day is just that – for the mother, not the house or anything else.
I got an email from SimpleHuman the other day promoting trash cans, paper towel holders, and recycling bins as Mother’s Day gifts. I think their products are beautifully designed, but a trash can for Mother’s Day? What better way to say I love you than here’s a place to throw out trash!
poetry plaques that gift stores sell! All they do is collect dust and really, don’t mean a whole lot more than, “I had to find something that said ‘MOM’…”. Now, when my son wrote a poem for me and my husband had it engraved in a plaque, I thought that was pretty sweet and I’ll treasure it always!
Although most of us would love to own a super awesome Dyson, I think that if my husband got me one for Mother’s Day, he’d be putting on an apron and demonstrating it’s uses in front of the camera for the whole bloggosphere to see!
