Pamper Yourself: Girls Night In: Homemade Spa Party

Recently my girlfriends and I got together for a girls night out. We decided to go to a play that was free in our city. It had been a while since we had all gotten together. I enjoy our visits with each other and decided we should get together on a more regular basis.

The problem is that it has gotten so expensive to go out! One of my favorite things to do with girlfriends is go to the nail salon and be pampered. But the last time we went it was $40 dollars just for a pedicure. With the price of things these days that is just not in the budget to do very often but I do not want to skip out on our girls night out! So I decided to host a budget friendly girls night ‘in.’ Since my favorite girly thing to do is be pampered I decided the theme of our girls night should be a spa night.

 

Today I am sharing some of my suggestions on how to host a budget friendly girls night ‘in’ to pamper yourself, catch up with friends, escape responsibilities, relax a little; all without breaking the bank. I have shared homemade beauty treatments before and I have another one today. I think that I have become slightly obsessed with different homemade beauty treatments because, quite frankly, I am shocked with the success of them. I also like these treatments because not only of the ‘all-natural’ aspect but because they use ingredients right in my pantry (you know ones I can pronounce) and only cost a fraction of the department, heck even drug store, brands. Below are some recipes I recommend. I suggest, as the host of a spa party (focused on pampering yourself), to provide the ingredients for one beauty treatment and ask your guests to each bring a different treatment and the recipe to exchange. It is so much fun trying the different homemade beauty treatments and you and your girlfriends can compare each one and exchange the ‘recipes.’ A fun twist on the ‘old’ recipe exchange, don’t ya think!

I have shared so many homemade beauty treatments over the years but this is the first time I have shared a homemade foot bath. Which is kind of strange considering soaking my feet in the tub at the nail salon is my favorite part of the pedicure. Except this in the comfort of my own home! I love just sitting there ‘soaking’ it all in!

Coconut Foot Treatment
Printable Version
Prep Time: 5 minutes Makes one soak

1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons almonds
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 lemon, cut in half
¼ cup sea salt
Warm water, as needed

In a large enough bowl to soak both feet, combine the honey, almonds and milk. Add enough warm water to fill bowl. Soak your feet for 5 few minutes, then dip the lemon halves in the salt and rub them on your feet to exfoliate. Soak your feet for 10 minutes more.

Adapted from Everyday with Rachael Ray

Additional homemade spa treatments:

Chocolate Martini Face Mask
Avocado Banana Hair Mask
Heavenly Honey Oatmeal Mask
Vanilla Spice Body Scrub

 

Now although one of my favorite parts of visiting with girlfriends is laughing and catching up on the latest news in their lives, it doesn’t hurt to watch a few chick flicks! Pick out a few to play in the background while visiting and pampering or blast some good 80’s music!

Now for the food! To keep things budget friendly plan on serving light snacks and finger foods. Again to keep costs low for everyone, ask guests to contribute by bringing a food or drink to share. Here are a few spa worthy menu options.

 

Pamper Yourself With Drinks:

Sassy Spa Water
Tropical Sangria
Brazilian Lemonade
Pina Colada Smoothie
Cranberry Mimosa

Light Snacks and Finger Foods:

Chicken-Salad Tea Sandwiches
Chesapeake Bay Snack Mix
Ranch Crackers
Strawberry Banana Bread
S’mores Snack Mix
Greek Pasta Salad
Artichoke 'n Bacon Pizza Squares
Creamy Fruit Salad
Lemonade Fruit Dip

Pamper Yourself With Dessert:

No Bake Raspberry Tarts
The S’more Cookie
No-Bake Cheesecake
Peanut Butter Brownie Cupcakes
'Perfectly' Peppermint Brownies
Chocolate Ribbon Pie

A few more things to consider, making sure your girls night in is a hit:

• Ask husbands to watch the kiddos. If they are unavailable, team up and hire a babysitter. Go in together with friends and hire one or two sitters to watch all the kids together at one house.
• In addition to the homemade spa treatments, have baskets full of nail polish, nail polish remover, cotton balls, etc. for manicures and pedicuress.
• Have plenty of wash cloths, new hair ties, bowls (for beauty products), etc. on hand for guests.
• Don’t forget paper products for food, wine/champagne glasses, forks, serving utensils, etc.