Beauty isn't Just an Art it's a Science!

If you've read this blog before, you may have picked up that I heart DIY projects. I often try to feature crafts that will help to set your party apart from the pack and dazzle your guests both in my K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Soiree) feature and in my Spa Party of the Month themes.

In my Spa Party of the Month posts I often feature recipes for body products that you can make from things that are easily found in most grocery stores. What you Don't know is that in my house we have a big ole' cabinet dedicated to such pursuits which is dubbed "The Apothecary". Inspired by our love of Carol's Daughter products, my mother declared years ago that "We could make this"... and by "we" she mostly meant Me. While my mom and my little sis do dabble in making a body oil here and there I can easily be deemed the family's Chief Mixologist and the one they turn to when they want a whipped body butter. While for us body products are only a hobby, it is one that has paid off in terms of our heightened awareness of the things we use on our skin. As a mother I'm so glad that I acquired these skills, in the earlier months of my child's life I did not use commercial moisturizers on him. but instead made my own unscented products using ingredients I knew would be good for his skin.

Something else that you don't know about me is that prior to being a stay-at-home mother, and self-proclaimed Spashionista blogger, I worked as a grant writer for a children's museum. One of the focuses of our work was promoting hands-on science. The research that I came across with regard to American children and their science knowledge was to say the least somewhat disheartening. Though science/engineering careers are slated to increase over the next decade or so, our children are generally scoring lower on science and math assessments than children abroad, and are less likely to pursue science education at a collegiate level. On top of that, women are less likely than men to pursue science and math based careers.

Research by a team that includes vocational psychologists at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) indicates that the self-confidence instilled by parents and teachers is more important for young girls learning math and science than their initial interest.

So how do we instill self-confidence in girls when it comes to science? One place to start is in your own kitchen! By involving your daughter in beauty based hands-on science projects, you are exposing her to a real life career Cosmetic Chemistry. These types of projects can serve to impact not only your daughter's confidence in her science and reasoning skills, but also in her self-image. Just as there has been a push these last few years to "get the kids in the kitchen" to encourage healthy and informed eating habits, you can get your kid in the kitchen to formulate your own beauty products. Take the ingredients of your average smoothie and you can discover the humectant properties of honey, the antioxidant effects of strawberries, the moisturizing and smoothing effects of lactic acid found in yogurt, and the regenerative properties of bananas... so how's that for a tasty facial.

In a previous post I mentioned the statistic that 8-12 yr old girls spend $40 million/month on beauty products. Involving your daughter in formulating her own beauty products, not only decreases the amount of money you spend on commercial products, but it ultimately makes her a more educated consumer.

So throw on your lab coats, or bathrobes and check out some of these pre-packed kits to bring out the cosmetic chemist in your daughter:











Perfume Science & Creative Cosmetics by Thames & Kosomos














Make Your Own Lip Balm by Creativity for Kids & Spa Science by Scientific Explorer


These kits are great because they contain all the necessary equipment like droppers, measuring implements, containers, and are science based. However, you don't need a kit in order to become a mixtress, here are some great resources for recipes to begin creating your very own product line:

Make Your Own Cosmetics
The Natural Beauty Workshop
Homemade Bath Products Blog
Bath and Body Recipes
DIY Cosmetics

Perfect for Parties, Playdates, or just Mom & Me time!

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Prep School: Sight

Now that you know Esthy High's Curriculum and Lunch Room Menu it is time to pull it all together with the decor. Because this party is for back-to-school, I think a preppy look would work well. My secret to inexpensive party decor is Ribbon, Ribbon, Ribbon! Grosgrain ribbon comes in solids, stripes, polkadots, and even argyle, and makes for perfectly preppy party decor. While writing this post I found an online ribbon retailer that has a GREAT selection of stripes and solids.

The Table:

For this purposes of this party the dining room table will be used as your "lab" space. To set the table, use a place mat under each of the silver mixing bowls which girls will use to steam their faces, this adds color and helps to control spills. A cute way to display the face cloths is to use custom made napkin rings out of ribbon and d-rings, by following this easy tutorial at the Hip Hostess' Blog. A larger version of these can also be used to wrap the yoga mats (which you can find for $5 each at your local 5 Below store). Place the face cloths on top of a folded hand towel, next to each bowl. In the center of the table use some low wooden trays wrapped with ribbon to hold the products that you'll be using for the facials.You can use ribbon to dress up a plain white table cloth by using it as a table runner like these photos from Martha Stewart Weddings and Swanky Tables













More Ribbon Crafts & Gifts (b/c some people are just super crafty):

Headbands

This video from VideoJug will show you how to make ribbon headbands for your guests, like this one from Molasses Tree. These make nice gifts and are also useful for keeping the girl's hair off of their faces during their facial treatments.

Magnet Boards & Magnets:


The photo above, from Better Homes and Gardens, shows how a few painted canvases with ribbon accents can transform a space. Take this idea further by using magnetic paint, to create functional magnet boards for the girls to use throughout the school year. To accompany them whip up some quick marble magnets, which look cute when packaged in Altoid tins.

Photo: Hip To Piece Squares

The Diva is in the Details..... more tips for super preppy party



Besides the Pink & Green color palette featured throughout the post, a few other color combos complement the preppy/girly feel including: Lavender and Green and my favorite especially for back to school Pink and Navy. You can print out the striped paper and favor flags needed to make the little notebooks above right here.

Remember those folders that you are going to hand out to each girl with the class schedule and course material, why not dress up plain folders my adding a little monogram detail on the front or even lining the inside with some pretty scrapbook paper, or if your going with the pink & navy palette just print out the striped paper from your computer after downloading the pdf from the link above.

Last, but not least! If your a whiz on the sewing machine, you can even throw together some cute little lined zippered pouches perfect for holding make up or school supplies.

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Prep School: Taste

Photo: Fort Benning Schools

A Back-to-School Spa Party is all about encouraging good habits, and starting the year off right. I know pizza and chips are the go to foods for many a kid's party but this time around I'm going to suggest something different. A Salad Bar, your daughter's complexion will thank you...

I just love both of these salad bar set ups, and the ideas can be combined to make a beautiful buffet. The photo on the left is from Southern Living Magazine, which features a planter filled with ice to keep the chicken salad, fruit salad, and pasta salad cold. The second photo is from Celebrations at Home who used vases in a variety of widths and heights to display the colorful and fresh salad toppins'. A salad bar is really only limited by one's imagination, be sure to have more than one type of green (romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, spinach, etc.), and plenty of veggies, though we all love cheese and croûtons do tell girls that in order to keep the salad healthy use ingredients like these in moderation. In addition to tossed salad toppins, you can also have prepared salads on hand such as fruit, tuna, shrimp, or chicken salads. If you are planning to turn this party into a sleepover, some of the left over salad toppings like onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and cheese would be great for create-your-own omletes in the morning. Just for fun, it's worth pointing out that plenty of salad ingredients can do double duty as skin care agents like tomatoes, eggs, avocado, and cucumber which is great for refreshing the eye area.


Personalized water bottles are popping up all over the place, from weddings to first birthday parties and every occasion in between. You can easily create your own by purchasing waterproof label paper for less than $2 a sheet from labelsbythesheet.com.





For additional drinks, and a little sugar, Southern Style Sweet Tea with a hint of mint ties in well with the theme or try making this Strawberry Ginger Iced Tea from Smuckers:
Ingredients:
• 1 (12 fl. oz.) bottle Smucker's® Strawberry Fruit Syrup, chilled
• 1 1/2 cups brewed strong tea, chilled
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 (12 oz.) can ginger ale, chilled
• Ice
• Fresh strawberries
• Lemon slices
Directions:
1 COMBINE fruit syrup, tea and juice in 2-quart pitcher. Gradually add ginger ale. Stir gently to combine. Add ice.
2 GARNISH with fresh strawberries and lemon slices. Serve immediately.

If you missed the first part of the Prep School series, Touch, be sure to check it out for fun ideas on spa party treatments, and be sure to check back for the next installment which will tie it all together with decor.

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Spa Party of the Month: Prep School

Photo:WebMD

Summer is drawing to a close. What better way to get your daughter and her friends excited about the impending school year than by hosting a spa party for them. After an almost 3 month absence youngins of either gender are eager to make a good impression on their peers on the first day back to school. If your child attends a school where uniforms aren't worn this becomes apparent in the endless hours some children can spend picking out the perfect outfit for the first day of school. With all of the pressure to impress one of the worst things that can happen is a facial breakout. Help the girls preempt this and give them a boost of confidence by inviting them all over for facials.

Welcome to Esthy High!

Esthy is a nickname used for estheticians, professionals who specialize in skincare. As the Headmistress of Esthy High it'll be your job to help your "students" learn how to take good care of their skin, and help them but their best face forward. You can set the tone for the party by creating folders for each guest that will include the class schedule as well as some course material. Some good ideas for course material include: this article on 10 Common Skincare Mistakes, and recipes for DIY facial care from Make Your Cosmetics.com like the Breakfast Mask, Blueberry Lemon Face Mask, the Egyptian Facial Mask and the Zit Zapper. You can also kick the school day off with a quiz like this What Really Causes Acne quiz that debunks common myths about where pimples come from.

Classes

Lab:Facials

For lab have students sit around a table and supply each with a large bowl, a face cloth, and a hand towel. In the center of the table place the materials that they will need to give themselves complete facials, this includes: a pitcher of hot water, fresh mint or peppermint tea bags, a facial cleanser, facial exfoliator, and a facial mask. For this party, I'll recommend Queen Helene's line of Mint Julep facial products for a few reasons:

1. Many of the products in the line are available locally at Walgreens or a beauty supply store.

2. You probably want to throw a nice party without breaking the bank and all of the products are available for under $5. The entire line can be found at Metrobeauty.com.

3. Queen Helene's Mint Julep Facial Masque has gotten very positive reviews, it has been around a long time and is many people's go-to cheapie facial product.

4. The mint julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, which makes it ohhh so Southern Belle, and I thought it would tie in well with a preppy pamper party theme.

It is worth noting however, that the facial scrub contains ground walnut shells as the exfoliant so be careful of nut allergies; also though the tingly sensation of mint is often refreshing, those with extremely sensitive skin may find that it burns.

The headmistress will be responsible for walking the girls through each step of their facials. If you need tips on how to do a facial at home check out this How Tute video care of Howcast.

For an additional step you can also have girls give themselves lip treatments to make sure their gloss goes on smooth. Lip facials can include either 2 or 3 steps, the first is to apply an exfoliating scrub, the 2nd which is optional is to use a lip masque, and lastly all lip treatments should end with the application of a moisturizing balm or oil. BathLife has a Peppermint Kiss Lip Scrub with jojoba beads, and Peppermint Creamy Shea Butter Lip Balm,which both fit in perfectly with the mint julep facial. Alternately, you can teach girls how to make their own "lip facial" products these two recipes are a good start:

Grapefruit Sugar Lip Scrub (Beauty Secrets Revealed)

One Tbsp. Granulated Sugar
One Tsp. Honey
5-6 Drops Grapefruit Juice

Mix everything together and apply the mixture on your lips. Gently scrub after 5 minutes. It removes dead skin layer and reveals Soft and Smooth Lips.

Super Smoother Lip Masque (Nature's Gift)

• 4 teaspoons kaolin or other cosmetic clay (either white or pink cosmetic clay...green clay is more drying)
• 1 teaspoon Avocado oil
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tablespoon rosewater or neroli hydrosol (Orange blossom water)

Procedure: Measure clay and set aside. Measure rose hydrosol(rosewater), honey and oil and warm in a custard cup in a pan of HOT water for two minutes, until "baby bottle warm" Stir the liquid ingredients together until smooth. Add the clay and stir until smooth and lump-free.
Apply to lips and let dry for two minutes...no talking or laughing!
Rinse with warm water, blot dry gently and apply your favorite lip balm

Now the girls should have fresh, glowing faces, and be a bit more aware of how to keep them that way. You might want to add that staying away from boys is also a good skincare tip, if they disbelieve you say "Boys = Stress = Breakouts capisce".


Phys. Ed.: Yoga

These days our kids are busy. I may not yet be the mother of a tween/teen but between swim class, gym class and playdates my 19 month old's social calendar is about as packed as mine was at 19 years old. These busy bees often experience a lot of stress, they are dealing with increasingly test crazed schools, peers, parents, self-image and more. While it comes naturally for some people to take a deep breath, others need to be taught the skills to cope with it all. Yoga when done regularly can help kids/teens mentally by improving concentration, clarity and relaxation, as well as the physical benefits of increased strength, balance, and flexibility. It is likely that you can find a yoga instructor who will come to your house to do an hour long group lesson for between $60- $120. While the girls may not remember all the poses, tell the instructor that you'd like her to emphasize breathing and relaxation techniques that they'll be able to utilize. If you tell the instructor that you are doing a school theme, she may even have some course material that can be added to the folders.

In the next Spa Party of the Month segment, I'll discuss what to serve for lunch.

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Slumdog Slumber Party: Decor

Pink & Pistachio are the colors that I chose to center my inspiration board on. Pistachios are actually often found as a garnish on Indian desserts, and pink is one of the many bold colors often found in Indian textiles.

The game plan
Kitchen/Dining Area:Top a pink table cloth with a wrapping paper table runner, using paper from paper-source.com 's new India collection (I choose the Rajasthani paisley wrapping paper and matching thank you cards). If you have a round table not to worry, you can make custom placemats using cardstock available in the same print, seal them with Mod Podge decoupage glue so that they won't get soggy during the meal. In the photo above, the party planner also used wrapping paper to cover the little gift boxes at each table setting, another option is to use the beautiful fuschia with gold scrolls gift boxes also from paper-source.com. Inside the boxes include bindis or glass bangles both available from shopbeachcombers.com and/or stick on mehndi tattoos from dollsofindia.com. Since this is such an informal meal there is no need to set a placesetting for each girl, instead use pistachio colored paper plates and napkins and a mix of pink and pistachio plastic cutlery.

Inexpensive hand towels can be purchased locally and placed in each guest's chair for use during their various spa treatments, and guest towels can be used to bring the theme into the bathroom.

Movie Area: In a corner of the room, set up a small table to hold popcorn, nuts, and candy. Download your favorite Slumdog Millionaire movie poster and use it as wall decor behind your snack station. If you also want to add punches of color to the movie viewing area look for Indian inspired throw pillows at your local Home Goods, Marshall's or similar store. Be sure to have extra blankets or throws on hand for girls to get cozy while watching the films.

Above all have fun!

Decor is Pt. 3 in the Slumdog Slumber Party Series to read about food click here and here and read about the overall party theme and activities here.

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Slumdog Slumber Party- Food 2

If you're hosting a slumber party, providing breakfast is a must. Start the morning off with India's favorite and most famous drink Chai. If you recall the Slumdog Millionaire's main character, Jamal, worked as a chai runner, serving tea to the higher ups in his company.

Masala Chai is made by brewing black tea with whole spices such as peppercorns, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger, and adding milk. Chai is traditionally served hot, but can also be served iced, similar to iced coffee which is now such a popular summer beverage. There are several "chai cheats" sold in grocery stores so that you won't have to purchase all the spices necessary to brew it from scratch; chai tea bags, powders and syrups are available. Chai-Direct, has a wealth of options when it comes to chai and their taste-o-meter rating system can help you find the right brand for your tastes.

In addition to your breakfast beverage you'll need actual food. A simple fruit salad or fresh fruit tray is both healthy and easy for girls to nibble on throughout the morning as they finish up their spa treatments and do their Bollyrobic workout.

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Slumdog Slumber Party- Food

The Menu for this party is decidedly low-key. Instead of treating guests to a full blown Indian feast, I've opted for an ethnic spin on traditional movie & party foods.

Menu:
Naan Pizza
Garden Salad (optional)
Indian Spiced Popcorn
Mango Lassi

Naan Pizza














A bit of a spin on the build your own English Muffin pizzas, these naan pizzas are larger and sure to be a hit. Naan is a delicious, fluffy Indian flatbread that is often labeled pocketless pita in regular grocery stores. The following list of ingredients will allow your guests to be as daring as they choose with options for an Indian inspired pizza or a California BBQ chicken pizza.



Ingredients:
1-2 packages of Naan
6 chicken breast fillets skinned and sliced
1 large red onion sliced
1 green pepper seeded and sliced
1-2 packages of shredded Monterey Jack cheese
chopped cilantro for garnish
cooking spray
---
1 tbs rojan josh paste
1 tbs low fat yogurt
1/2 jar of rogan josh cooking sauce

*Patak's is a good brand to use for the Indian sauces and is carried in Wegman's. Try subsitituting Tikka Masala for a milder flavor.

----
1/2 c of Ken's Steak House Italian Dressing & Marinade
1tsp Grill Seasoning
your favorite BBQ sauce

Directions:

The night before: Marinate half of your chicken strips in a mixture of the rogan josh paste and yogurt, and the other half in the Italian dressing

The morning of: Remove chicken from marinade. Sprinkle the Italian marinated chicken with grill seasoning. Cook in batches over medium heat in a non-stick pan sprayed lightly with oil. Cook for 6-8 minutes until chicken is cooked through and is charred. While chicken is cooling, slice veggies and place all the toppings in separate baggies or plastic containers.

Party Time: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set up your toppins bar by placing each topping and sauce in it's own bowl or use a lazy Susan, place naan on a plate or platter. Allow guests to assemble the pizzas as they wish using either the rogan josh or barbeque sauce as the base. Bake for 10-15 minutes until pizzas are golden and cheese is bubbling.

Don't forget a pizza wheel so guests can easily slice their pizzas into manageable portions.

Indian Spiced Popcorn

A movie night calls for popcorn and this one is no exception. For a twist on your average buttered pop corn try these recipes for Bombay Popcorn or Sweet Garam Masala Kettle Corn from popcorn.org

Bombay Popcorn

8 cups popped popcorn, warm
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 teaspoons curry powder or hot curry powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup toasted coconut, golden raisins or sliced almonds, optional

• Place popcorn in a large bowl.
• Microwave butter 20 seconds or until melted; stir in curry powder until well blended.
• Drizzle seasoned butter over popcorn and stir to distribute.
• Sprinkle with salt, sugar and optional ingredients; stir gently until blended.

Yield: 8-1 cup servings

Sweet Garam Masala Kettle Corn

½ cup popcorn kernels
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon garam masala, Indian spice blend
1 teaspoon salt

• In a large heavy-bottomed pot (with a lid), place popcorn, sugar, oil, garam masala and salt. Cover and place over medium heat until corn begins to pop.
• Once corn begins to pop, shake pot constantly over heat. When popping slows, remove pot from heat and transfer popcorn to a bowl to serve.

Yield: 10 cups

If you don't want to pop the popcorn on the stove, or buy the extra ingredients try ordering the Orange Chai & Masala Popcorn Kits from What's Eating Yin's Etsy Shop , each kit is only $2.50 and comes with everything you'll need to pop enough corn for 1-3 people right in your microwave.

Mango Lassi



















Lassi is a popular South Asian drink which is essentially a smoothie. They are sweet and refreshing, and the yogurt provides a nice compliment to some of the more spicy dishes on the menu. This recipes calls for canned mango, but fresh mango can be subsitituted if you are able to find a sweet ripe mango at your local store or farmers market. Lassis can be garnished with ground cardamom or crushed pistachios.

Ingredients:

1 cup plain lowfat yogurt
3/4 cup milk (any type)
3/4 cup canned mango pulp
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
2 teaspoons sugar, adjust to taste

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Fill four serving glasses with a few ice cubes. Pour lassi into serving glasses and serve immediately.

Recipe from Simply Delicious Indian

If you do decide to serve a salad try serving it with yogurt based dressings like those made by Bolthouse Farms. I've also come across an interesting recipe for Cilantro-Ginger Vinaigrette.


Local Tip: If you live in South Jersey, you should try the Chai Ice Cream from Pat's Pizzeria on Route 73 in Marlton. It is delicious and would make a great dessert for an Indian themed party.

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Spa Party of the Month: Slumdog Slumber Party

Over the past few weeks since I've started blogging I've introduced several ongoing blog features including K.I.S.S. & Tweet of the Week. Finally, I'm unveiling my signature feature the Spa Party of the Month! Each month I'll write a three part series based on one theme covering everything from decor and food, to types of spa treatments and suggested products. I'm so excited about this feature because I have so many different themes up my sleeve ranging from kids themes to adult; ladies only to couples and family events. 

This year Slumdog Millionaire took home 8 Oscars including Best Picture, and was a crowd favorite. The movie lends itself to a great party because of the ability to tie in cultural elements, a game night and a movie night all rolled into one.

Treatments:


Manicures &/or Pedicures: The beauty and uniqueness of henna designs attract a lot of attention to the hands and feet, so make sure you offer guests manicure and pedicure treatments. You can either hire a mobile spa technician or do it DIY style by having manicure supplies on hand.  An exfoliating scrub that fits in perfectly with the party theme is this Choco Chai Warming Scrub.

Mehndi:

Since the movie is based in India, there are so many cultural elements that can be tied in to make this party truly special; including henna of course! You can use the Henna Page's Artist Directory to find a henna artist near you; or if you think your guests are up to the challenge order premixed henna cones and take turns drawing designs on one another. Some henna/mehndi artists are also experienced in eyebrow threading which is inexpensive, quick, and easier on sensitive skin than most other methods of eyebrow shaping.


Indian Head Massage:
Another simple treatment that can be easily incorporated into your own Slumdog themed Spajama party is Indian head massage. Guests can take turns giving and receiving these by following the steps in this How Tute, optionally oils can be used to supplement this treatment such as coconut, sesame, almond or your favorite hair oil.

Facials:
One of the advantages to hosting a slumber spa party is the treatments can be broken upover the course of two days so there is plenty of time for both spa treatments and other activities. A treatment that would be appropriate for the morning is facials, using a Rhassoul Clay Masque.

Entertainment:

While girls wait for their treatments, have them test their smarts with the Who Wants to Be A Millionaire DVD game. You can even customize your own version to test how well your daughter's friends really know about her by using this PowerPoint template. When the treatments are finished have the girsl settle in for Movie Night featuring the 2008 Movie of the Year Slumdog Millionaire and one of my Bollywood faves Bride & Prejudice starring Aishwarya Rai. In the morning kick off the day with a Bollyrobics dance workout DVD.

In the next blog post I'll cover food ideas for the Slumdog Slumber Party theme.

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