The SPALIBRATIONS Spaliday Gift Guide

For the last few months I've been working diligently "behind the blog" to launch Spalibrations. This company born of The Spa Party Blog, exists to offer readers resources that enable them to "Celebrate Life With A Spa Party". Whether you are a party of one, or sharing a spa party with friends you deserve to reap the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of setting aside the time to pamper and celebrate yourself.

The first element of Spalibrations that I'll be sharing with the public is the online store. I've tried to make it easy for you to find high quality, natural bath and body products perfect for your celebrations. Each of the hand picked brands that are carried in the Spalibrations Shop is crafted, in small batches by Indie artisans who take pride in their work and look for the finest and most beneficial ingredients.

So without further or do I present to you the :

Spalibrations Spaliday Gift Guide 

1. For the Fitness Buff

The Muscle Rescue Home Spa Trio ($46), will help the most active people combat muscle pain and fatigue all while softening and moisturizing seasonally dry skin. The set contains a massage bar soap, a luxury bath salt, and salt scrub.

2. For the One With Child

The Eternal Maternal 2nd Trimester Gift Set ($42), is a trio of belly soothing products perfect for your pregnant friends. The all natural belly facial, belly oil and belly balm all help moisturize and restore the skin's elasticity. If you really want to treat the Mom-To-Be, order The Whole Nine Months Gift Set which includes all of these products plus a belly powder (milk bath), belly salts (bath salt), belly scrub (sugar scrub), the belly caster kit and an Eternity Stone pendant ($117)

3. For A Group

This Joyful Bath Co. Variety Pack can serve as a gift for more than one person with six different individual bath salts, it is perfect for that family that has plenty of daughters, or give one of each to folks in the office. It also makes a great hostess gift if you'll be staying at someone's home this season.

4. For The Product Junkie

Is there a product junkie on your gift list? Someone who loves to try out new products, and is addicted to ordering sample sizes of anything they can get their hands on? Well treat those hands to a new product find that is hitting the market just in time for the holiday season. The Envie Manicure Suite Mini Set ($35) is a collection of four must have products with enough for 3-4 manicures. The set includes a nourishing hand Soak,  mineral rich scrub, restorative cuticle oil, and Envie's body butter crème, the Envie Manicure Manual and a few special treats.

5. For The Non-Product Junkie

While some of us love lotions, potions and scrubs, some people would prefer a soft, cozy robe to bundle up in. This 100% cotton-terry robe with a hood is great for anytime of the year ($79.95)

6. For The Chocoholic

Feed someone's chocolate addiction without the calories.  This Body Polish, by Vintage Body Spa ($25), is crafted from Fair Trade Cocoa butter that retains it's chocolatey scent and Fair Trade Demerra Sugar. Whether you choose Chocolate Bliss, Chocolate Orange Truffle, Mint Chocolate or Morning Mocha it is sure to cause a sugar high.

7. The Adventurer

Do you have a friend who is a world traveler, and who loves to experience other cultures? Introduce them to centuries old beauty treatments from far-away places. Vintage Body Spa's Liquid African Black Soap is made from Fair Trade Black Soap crafted in Togo, West Africa; while their Rhassoul Clay harvested from Morocco's Atlas Mountains comes with beauty recipes that will detoxify and tone skin head to toe.

8. For The Tweeny-Bopper

Margarita Bloom's Fabulous Little Box of Goodies is perfect for the young and young at heart. With the colorful packaging and fun, sweet smelling scents this take out box is sure to take the cake. Filled with ten sample sized Margarita Bloom products and a bath acessory.

9. For Stocking Stuffing

These little candies are not made for eating. Hand Candies™ are mini solid salt scrubs that come in 40 different scents. At only $2 a piece they are the perfect little present to share with friends.
For YOU: Use the coupon code [spalidaygifts] before December 21st to receive 5% off your order

HAPPY SPALIDAYS!


Your Resident Spashionista!

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Handmade Spalidays!

It is once again "that time of the year" whether you'll be celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Eid or Festivus, you may be looking for "the perfect gift" for family and friends. Here at The Spa Party Blog, I believe that pampering doesn't have to be expensive. Though you may allow yourself to splurge every once in a while on yourself or others, there are plenty of ways to pamper without breaking the bank. To that end, I'm offering my abbreviated list of Handmade Spaliday items:

1. Wellness Bag from Sew, Mama, Sew

When you really want to show someone you care, you can make them a wellness bag chock full of home spa essentials, any combination of which would make wonderful gifts.

Contains:

• Rice heat therapy bag
• Buckwheat cold therapy pack
• Flax cold therapy eye pillow
• Anti-stress shower gel
• Nice lotion and nice soap
• Loofah mitt
• Callous brush
• Relaxation candle
• 73% dark chocolate

2. Shower Spa Bags by Tip Nut

Bath bombs, salts and soaks are really popular and beneficial but aren't really suited for those people who generally take showers. These little hand held treats offer some of the benefits of a bath soak for the shower set.

3. Body Scrub by Martha Stewart

Of course there are thousands of great scrub recipes on the web, some of my favorites of which are at the Natural Beauty Workshop, however I choose this Martha Stewart recipe because of it's simplicity for those who may not have all the accouterments necessary to make fancier scrubs. An added Martha bonus is that she provides labels that you can print out to make your job that much easier.

4. Hot/Cold Rice Pack by Make It and Love It

Though there are instructions for making a rice pack with the Wellness bag, I thought it was worth adding another tutorial (possibly because I'm just enamored with the fabric choice). These bags are pretty easy to make even if your sewing skills are virtually non-existent (like my own). While I was pregnant with my son I made a few using socks (clean of course) that I couldn't find a match for and my husband would always steal them from me for his sore muscles. To get "fancy" I added some lavender essential oil and ripped open a bag or two of chamomile tea to add into my rice. I even made a nice sewn version, out of a super comfy old Mickey Mouse t-shirt, that I used during labor. If you use your pack often the rice can tend to scorch, however if you add a mug of water in the microwave alongside your bag when re-heating it, it will add moisture and keep it from burning. Bonus for you, you can make a cup of tea or hot chocolate to sip while you relax with your rice pack.

5. Bath Sundae

These bath sundaes, which I wrote about in a previous post, are cute, whimsical and easy as pie to make.

What are some of your favorite recipes or tutorials for Handmade Spaliday gifts?

Your Resident Spashionista!

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Winter Pedicure Products

During the colder months of the year, many nail salons and spas feature pedicures that are designed to warm feet through the use of hot stones, hot towels, warming scrubs, etc.. The descriptions of which often sound so alluring, until you realize that after getting these decadent treats, your newly polished and toasty toes will be exposed to the cold. For those of you who don't want your feet to hibernate all winter, here are a few products to check out for keeping feet warm and polish perfect.

Legwarmers 

Take a tip from the cast of Fame, legwarmers are a great way to keep feet warm by simply pulling them down, and come in a great variety of prices and styles. They are also flexible as a fashion item, and can be worn with heels, or over skinny jeans peeking out of a pretty fall/winter boot. One good place to start your search for legwarmers is Sock Dreams.


Moisturizing heel socks by Avon

These terry socks have a moisturizing heel infused with Vitamin E, grape seed, jojoba and olive oils. These are great for an extra boost after a home pedicure and in between salon visits.

 
Peeky Toes
 

Peeky Toes come in two varieties Peeky™ L U X E and Eco Peeky. Peeky™ L U X E is a real treat enveloping feet in a blend of 85% Italian-spun cashmere & silk. The Eco Peeky is "greener" version made with Bamboo and REPREVE^® Recycled Nylon and dyed with Global Organic Textile Standard

approved dyes. Both products feature a thong to help keep the sock from slipping as well as arch support.
 
Bootie Pies

If you take your pedicures really seriously, Bootie Pies might be the product for you.  These Ugg-like suede boots are lined with faux sheepskin and feature a soft patent leather toe that crushes down so that toes can sit on top.

Still not in love with the idea of braving the elements for a bit of beauty, don't give up just yet, find a mobile nail salon or spa that will bring the pedicure to you.

How do you deal with the cold weather pedicure dilemma?

Your Resident Spashionista!

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25 Delights for your Dessert Bar

Photo: Adrianne Bonafede

At my wedding back in the Summer of '05 I had an unassuming candy bar using a few soda shoppe style glass candy jars that I purchased from Target. Since then, dessert and candy bars have come a LONG way, being popularized in part by the wonderful Amy Atlas. Dessert bars are popping up at all types of events, from weddings to children's 1st birthday parties, and just about every occasion in between. Some brides are now choosing to forgo the traditional tiered wedding cake in favor of a dessert bar, or incorporate a smaller cake within the bar's theme like in the photo above.

The beautiful photos of dessert bars, floating around the web are inspiring. However, some people may wonder what types of desserts fit well with this style of presentation. To that end, I've compiled a list of 25 Delights for your Dessert bar, mix and match to create your own signature spread that will surely impress your guests.

Piece of Cake

1. Tall Cupcakes via SugarBloom (w. instructions)
2. Mini Cupcakes [Photo: National Geographic Blogs]
3. Red Velvet Cake Balls via Bakerella (w. instructions)

Stick It To 'Em

4. Lollipop-Pies via Luxirare (with instructions)
5. (a,b, &C) Cupcake Pops and Cake Pops via Bakerella (w. instructions)
6. Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Pops via Closet Cooking (w. recipe)
7. Brownie Pops via Brownie Pops

Little Dippers
8. Dipped Pretzel Rods [Photo: Cute Cakes of San Diego]
9. Chocolate Dipped Fortune Cookies via DIY Wedding (w. recipe)
10. Chocolate Dipped Fruit [Photo: Dove Chocolate]

C is for Cookie
11. Decorative Cookies via The Flour Pot
12. French Macaroons via Ariel Yve Designs [Photo: Daemon's Food]
13. Bar Cookies via Women's Day Magazine (w. 10 recipes) more bar recipes @about.com

It's Worth A Shot
14. Jello Cubes infused w. fruit flavored Vodka via Brides.com [Photo:Wendell Weber]
15. Dessert Shooters [Photo: The Peabody Galleria]
Shot glass suggestions: panna cotta, zabaglione, semifreddo, pudding, mousse, trifle, parfait, tiramisu...

Candy Confections

16. Chocolate Truffles via Simply Recipes with recipe
17. Personalized Lollipops via Accent the Party
18. Custom Candy Bar Wrappers [Photo: Karen Mordechai for Amy Atlas Events]
19. Rock Candy Swizzle Sticks [Photo: Escape Concepts]
20. Truffle Sandwiches via Country Kitchen Sweet Art w. video

Pâtisserie

21. Mini Phyllo Cups [Photo: Elegant Affairs Caterers]
22. Krocant Rolls [Photo: Old Style Cakes]
23.Petit Fours [Photo: Old Style Cakes]
24. Meringues [Photo: Miss Meringue]
25. Mini Cannoli via Fine Cooking with recipe
26. Mini Cheesecake [Photo: Stephanie's Kitchen]
25. Mini Fruit Tarts via The Nibble

Now that you hopefully have a better idea of what types of desserts to serve (pretty much anything sweet and bite sized), stay tuned for the next Dessert Bar installment where I'll share inspiration on presentation. For more sweet ideas, check out my posts on Strawberry Topiaries and Dressed Up Mints.

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K.I.S.S.- 12 DIY Lighting Projects For Your Special Event

As usual for my Keep It Simple Soiree (K.I.S.S) feature I'd like to present relatively simple ways to jazz up your event. Today's focus is on simple lighting projects you can do yourself without breaking the bank. There are links to all the tutorials.

Luminarias

1 & 2









These are two variations on the lace theme, both by Martha Stewart, one using paper bags, and the second made with vellum.

3.
These ice luminaries are perfect for lighting up a walkway in the wintertime.




4.
These beautiful little luminaries are made my dipping a water balloon into wax, from candletech.com.


5.


Use any color thread to create these easy covers for LED tea lights from weddingbee.

















Bonus: The ETSY shop MadeforYouJustByMe, offers customized table number luminaries, they are available ready to use or you can assemble yourself for a little less $.



















Repurposed/ Upcycled

6.










A set of wine glasses and a little creativity provide simple table lighting, you can use ribbon, or wine glass charms to adorn the stems. Charms are easy to make using glass beads and earring hoops from the craft store.

7.














These tea tins make for an eclectic looking table setting after they are transformed into candles.

8.
Shop around at yard sales for tea cups to transform into candles for a vintage feeling table setting, don't forget to set a doily underneath.






9.
These photo frame centerpieces, by Martha Stewart would be lovely at a variety of events, and give guests an excuse to visit other tables to see more photos of the guest(s) of honor.










10.
Give frosted glass candle holders a hint of personality by putting your own stamp on them.


Paper Accents

11.
Wall paper is a great little tool for decorating you can frame some up to use as wall hangings, to mat photos or as lighting fixture.















12.
We've all seen how beautiful paper lanterns can be when used in party decor, but Martha has a way of using them a little differently for a nice effect.

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