Girls Night Out with Spa Girl Parties!

Summer Skin: The Essentials

For some of you, summer weather has been here for at least a month.  For me, the summer weather just hit this weekend, so excuse me if this seems a bit late to you.  You're dealing with a Seattle girl!  But regardless of where you live, one thing is for sure: come summer, our skin needs a change of pace.  Here are some products I just can't live without in the summer:

1. Cooling Cucumber Facial Toner - with it's true to life scent and it's ultra cooling sensation as you swipe it against your skin on a hot, hot day, this is a summer staple.  Refreshing as cucumber slices on your face with the added benefit of balancing your skin's natural oils. 

2. Whipped Shaving Creme - Forget those drug store foams... they dry out your skin and leave your legs less than silky.  Try these ultra rich creams.. smooth some on your legs and be amazed as you get the closest shave ever and leave the shower with beach worthy, satin smooth legs!

3. Terra Cotta Foot Scrubber - A real life saver in between your pedicures.  When the dress code is sandals, flip flops, and more sandals, your tootsies better be in perfectly smooth condition!  Use this life-long lasting, hand made foot scrubber to smooth away even the roughest of spots.

4. Body Spritzer - Perfume in summer is just too heavy.  Switch to a light body spray to smell delicious and yet not overpowering in the heat.  These body spritzers are aloe based, not alcohol based, which means they nourish your skin while making you smell fabulous instead of drying you out.  Go ahead - spray away!

5. Hibiscus and Honeysuckle Hair Treatment - What's that?  No link?  Ah, well that's because you can't purchase this item.  That is, unless you are hosting a party.  My new favorite product is available only to Hostesses and only through the end of August.  This amazing once a week hair treatment leaves my hair smelling delicious long after I leave the shower, and imparts the most impressive shine, volume, and smoothness of any hair product I have EVER tried.  It's my new obsession!  If anything can repair summer damaged hair, this is it.  Click here to see more about it.Download Hostess_only_specials_revised_march_aug.pdf  To get your very own, click here to book a party!

So go ahead - enjoy summer!  You deserve to treat your skin to these delightfully fresh summer products.

Mommies: How do you feel about this?

According to a new study published in the "American Sociology Review," more moms than ever working full time.  This contradicts previous reports that more and more women were "opting out" of the workforce.  In the new report, it's stated that only 8% of women born since 1956 have ever left the workforce for a year or more during their childbearing years.  In addition, the number of women working full time with very young children at home has dramatically increased.

I know there are many women out there who work full time with little ones at home.  I tried it, and I know how much I hated it.  I also know how hard it is to leave.  When I chose to leave my teaching career to be home with my son, it came down to living paycheck for paycheck.  For other mommies out there, it's not even a financial option.

That's why I am so thankful for Spa Girl Parties.  It has given me the chance to be home with my son and enjoy these earliest years with him.  The founder, Di Ana Ford, has a one of the greatest missions in the world: to help moms who want to be home with their babies to be able to do so.  And I take such great joy in being a part of that mission, to provide that option for other mommies.

So maybe, just maybe, with a little time and some hard work (from home!), we'll be able to slowly change that percentage of mommies who are able to be home with their beautiful babies...

Give Your Hair a Treat!

Is your hair lacking a little shine lately?  Often, you can find a quick solution with what you have right at home instead of heading out to a salon or buying an expensive, chemical filled product at the store.  Check out this super easy at home treatment I just stumbled across!

Honey Hair Shine

1 teaspoon honey

4 cups warm water

Lemon (optional for blonds)

Stir honey into warm water. Blonds may wish to add a squeeze of lemon. After shampooing pour mixture through hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as normal!

(from The National Honey Board)

OK, so we've got natural skin care covered... now what are you eating?

With a lifetime supply of bath, body and facial care from Spa Girl Parties strewn about my bathroom, I can delight in the fact that I've eliminated many of the harsh chemicals I used to apply to my body daily.  This makes me extremely happy, but I must say that it's only half the battle...  What I put outside is healthy, but what about what I put inside?

I don't know how many of you pay much attention to pesticides on our food, but I have long wished to be able to afford all organic food.  I fed my son all organic baby food until he was one and continue to feed him only organic milk.  The rest?  Well, it's just shame how much it costs!  I sat here pondering this today as I enjoyed some delicious organic strawberries that I happened to find on sale, and so I began looking into what foods are really most important to have organic.  I though I'd share this list with you, so we can all add to our healthy skin with healthier foods!

TOP 14 MOST IMPORTANT FOODS TO EAT ORGANIC (as found on this great site)

1. Baby Foods

2. Strawberries

3. Rice

4. Green and Red Bell Peppers

5. Milk

6. Corn

7. Bananas

8. Green Beans

9. Peaches

10. Apples

11. Cherries

12. Celery

13. Grapes

14. Apricots

To find out more about why it is so important to buy only organic versions of these foods, read up on it more here.  If you can't find them in your grocery store, consider a local farmer's market - they often have far less pesticides and toxins.

So as you sit back and enjoy your bath in Manuka Honey Drizzle or lavish yourself in Pina Coloda Lotion, here's a tasty, healthy summer treat (don't forget the organic fruit)!

Peach and Mango Popsicles (from Wholefoods Market)

Makes 6 - 8 servings

• 1 cup pureed mango (from peeled fruit)
• 1 cup pureed ripe peaches (from peeled fruit)
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• Lime or lemon juice to taste
• 6-8 popsicle sticks

Combine fruit purees in a medium bowl. Heat water and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add to purees with lime or lemon juice to taste. If you have popsicle molds, fill them, leaving some room at the top to allow for expansion, set the lids in place and insert the sticks through the holes. If you don't have popsicle molds, fill small cups or empty yogurt tubs about 3/4 full, stretch plastic or foil across the top and make a small slit to insert sticks. Freeze until firmly set, 3 to 4 hours. To remove the pops, first remove the lids or wrap, then squeeze the sides of the molds, twisting them slightly, to dislodge the pop. If necessary, rinse the outside of the molds under hot water first.

Father's Day: Men need pampering, too!

I know, I know.  Your husband, father or boyfriend is a manly man.  Give him a bar of soap and he's satisfied, right?  But let's get right down to it - men are in desperate need of a little self-care, and there are ways to help him accept that without offending his masculinity.  How do I know?  I just finished a small expirement with my dear husband (and he doesn't hate me)!

Let's talk non-girly spa.  First of all, his hands are in need of serious help.  Most guys do not have baby soft hands, and most girls wish they did.  Scratchy rough hands giving you a backrub?  No thanks!  I've got a great solution for you: try this Unscented Sugar Scrub to buff away the roughness, followed by the Nail and Hand Butter (also unscented).  Taking away the scent means it's pure function, no frills, which is much right up a man's alley.  My husband just finished this combo a few days in a row after breaking his arm and finding that the hand on that side was suddenly dry, cracked and peeling.  Wonder of all wonders, a little bit of scrub and a tad bit of a rich, natural cream was all it took to get his hand back into shape!

Next, we've got to do something about his skin in general.  Many guys get rough spots on their arms or legs, and I've got just the thing.  Have him try the Norwegian Salt Rub: with an arctic fresh scent, there is no way he'll call it girly and it will leave him feeling rejuvinated and smooth yet manly!

Lastly, let's take care of his stinky feet.  Cooling Peppermint Foot Creme ought to do the trick... it's crisp, clean, and extremely refreshing.  Try it - I know your nose will be thanking me!

It's really not so hard to convince a man to take a little extra care of himself.  Start him off with these excellent choices for men, and he'll no longer be able to tell you that this stuff is just for girls! 

Happy Father's Day to all of the wonderful dads out there!

Spa Girl Parties First Conference: Best Experience Ever!

Golden sunshine, swaying palm trees, a luxurious spa resort: this was the setting of Spa Girl Parties very first conference. With 12 of our most spirited consultants from all over the country in attendance, you can imagine the fabulous girl’s weekend we had. There is nothing as exciting as finally meeting the women you have been working with over the phone for so long! The Arizona Biltmore provided the backdrop for our meetings, and what a backdrop it was.

We started our adventure by meeting for drinks in the Wright Bar. The drinks were top notch – or at least they looked that way… being 10 weeks pregnant, I had the oh-so-cool virgin margarita. After a few drinks, we all moved to the fire pit on the expansive lawn where the hotel had set up a buffet of sorts for s’mores. That’s right – s’mores! Aren’t you jealous! We devoured our s’mores as we all got to know each other a bit better.

Saturday was filled with informational trainings and exciting new announcements. The girls all won fun raffle prizes and took home a large assortment of free product. Woohoo! My personal highlight of the day was hearing from Bella Lucce owner Lela Rain Barker, who shared with us the incredible beginnings of her company and the amazing integrity she has for her products and her business. I know I am not the only one who came away incredibly inspired by her story and her mission. We are so proud to have Bella Lucce products in our collection! Lela, by the way, is quite possibly one of the funniest women you will ever meet. If you ever get a chance to have a few drinks with her by the pool, I highly recommend it…

Saturday night, many of us met up poolside for dinner and drinks. It was at least 90 degrees even after the sunset, and having come from Seattle’s rain, there is nothing better than being able to sit in a bikini outside after dark, enjoying a good meal and good company. The pool is gorgeous and complete with a waterslide. Actually, there were EIGHT pools, in case you wanted to know. Several of us also enjoyed top of the line spa treatments over the weekend. I had a wonderful Fiji Sugar Glow treatment (mmmm, I smelled like starfruit all night) and a very relaxing maternity massage. Really, what other kind of conference do you go to that includes spa treatments? Spa Girl Parties knows how to do conferences right! Sunday, we met for half a day learning even more about Spa Girl Parties' newest programs. Plus, we had a surprise guest speaker – Belinda Elsworth! Belinda is a top speaker in the industry, and it was amazing to have her stop by to speak to us for an hour. What great tips she had!

Saying goodbye to the girls and to Di Ana and Steve was terribly hard. I wish we could all work together every day! But I know that as we each went our separate ways, we were re-inspired and invigorated to spread the Spa Girl Parties mission and to work hard both apart and together. It was a bonding experience not soon forgotten, and I thank Di Ana every day for her integrity, her mission, and her fabulous conference planning skills! Here’s to another year of incredible success. Can’t wait for next year!

What Kind of Spa Girl Are You?

Think all Spa Girls are alike?  Think again!  All of you are fabulous individuals and that’s why we’ve come up with so many brand new product collections EXCLUSIVELY MADE for Spa Girl Parties!  Read on to find out which one is just right for you!

All glammed up for a night on the town, you strut on those stilettos and turn heads wherever you go.  Life of the party, socialite in the making, you know how to get what you want.  Sound like you?  You’ll love our new HAPPY HOUR COLLECTION!

With a sweet tooth that won’t quit, you find absolute joy in fluffy white cupcakes and decadently rich crème brulees.  Making time for coffee with friends is a must, and your friends love how warm and inviting your home is. Sound like you?  You’ll love our new SWEET TREATS COLLECTION!

You dream of a warm breeze swaying the palm trees and a turquoise blue sea as far as the eye can see.  With a pina coloda in hand and the cares of the world thousands of miles away, a tropical paradise is just what you need.  Sound like you?  You’ll love our new DESSERTED ISLAND COLLECTION!

Fresh and fun, and a girly girl all the way, you make everyone around you just a bit happier.  You need a scent that is just as cheerful as you are, preferably very refreshing!  Sound like you?  You’ll love our new FRESH PICKED COLLECTION!

Nothing brings you more peace than the serenity of pastel petals and a hint of flowers on  the cool breeze as you stroll through the gardens on a sunny afternoon.   Soft and feminine, you are compassionate and kind.  Sound like you?  You’ll love our new BLOOM COLLECTION!

Comfortable in your own skin and needing a seclusion from the harsh world outside, you retreat to your comfortable home without all the distractions.  A tad bit sensitive, you need something soothing and calming.  Sound like you?  You’ll love our new unscented NAKED COLLECTION!

Princess of the halls and the queen of making up great excuses for why your homework isn’t done, you know how to catch those boys’ eyes!  You love great gossip and never turn down the chance to hang out with your friends.  Sound like you?  You’ll love our new teen TNT COLLECTION!

You dream of being pampered like a goddess.  White robes, massages, the sound of a waterfall – you are a true Spa Girl at heart.  Bold or shy, love staying or love going out, you will adore our new signature scent in our CRAVE COLLECTION!

Don’t miss it!  Our new product collections, which are all fabulously healthy for your skin (95-100% natural!) are debuting on March 1^st!  Contact us now to book your party!

Spa Girl Parties, Inc. Introduces New Website, "Spa Girl Cafe"

Naperville, IL - Spa Girl Parties, Inc. announces the launch of a new company website, "Spa Girl Cafe". The website will feature new additions such as shopping directly from the home page, new Spa Parties Spa Girl Style (themes), and extended information on the company and contacting them. Arriving just in time for the upcoming Holiday Season, the new website will serve as a gift portal for women of all ages. Secondly, it will cater to those who need a breather during this infamously hectic time of year with pampering products and ideas.

While the url is still the same, SpaGirlParties.com, the name of the shopping division has now changed to apply everything one loves about their favorite bistro or cafe.

New and existing customers will be able to sign-up for the Spa Girl Parties' "Tickled Pink" monthly newsletter, which features spa news, tips, guest specials and current hostess promotions.

"We would cease to exist without our spa girls (their clients are referred to as "spa girls") and we take their feedback seriously. The new Spa Girl Cafe is built to provide our customers with:

• Information on the company
• Product knowledge and usage tips
• Easy-to-use ordering system
• Accessible information on joining the company
• Current consultants which can coordinate events and parties

We women like what we like, and although that is different for everyone, we are very proud that our new website has received positive reviews reflecting the many reasons a person may choose to visit us" comments Di Ana Ford, CEO.

This is the second website redesign the company has undergone in order to stay competitive with the growing desire amongst their guests for information accessibility and relevance to their visit nature.

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Spa Girl Parties was born out of a passion to make a difference in the lives of moms, wives and women. The idea of creating a direct sales company that provided a unique career opportunity for women coupled with providing products made by women to help women seemed like the perfect chance to combine my passion for pampering with my passion for living on purpose." - Di Ana Ford

For more information on the company, its products, hosting a Spa Party or on becoming an Independant Spa Girl Parties Consultant, please visit www.spagirlparties.com or call 800-524-8523. Spa Girl Parties, Inc. is a proud member of the Direct Selling Women's Alliance (DSWA).

Upcoming October Pampering Sessions!

If you feel the need to supercede, pampering is a must!

Check out what we've come up with for October"

Download october_specials_flyer.PDF

Party Theme: "Ooh La La" Honey Berry Vanilla Spa Party

Are you tired of boring ideas to gather the girls together?! Now not only is Spa Girl Parties coming to your rescue, but we're adding themed parties by the dozens!

Our Honey Berry Vanilla Party is sure to please all your girlfriends. The following products will be tested and used during the party:

Manuka Honey Drizzle

Wildberry Body Polish

French Sugared Vanilla Body Wash

French Sugared Vanilla Lotion

Imagine the possibilities..think of treats, music, and other fun ideas to go with the theme and  you've just turned your girl's night into a night to remember!

www.SpaGirlParties.com