For the pre-teen girls who may be a bit too old now for dress-ups, this party is a more grown-up version. The idea of glitz & glamour is appealing to most girls in this age group, even if it is only for a few hours.
Invitations:
Manicure
Hair Styling
Masseuse
Make-up
Glamour Shots
Include "When: [date if your party]"
"Come prepared to spend the night if you'd like." (optional)
"The Spa & Salon closes at [the time you expect parents to pick-up their children]."
"Disclaimer: These make-overs will last for only one evening...you will return home as normal 11 & 12 year olds!" (This is a statement meant only to comfort worried parents).
You will be acting as hostess & beautician, so I would recommend limiting the number of guests to four or five unless there will be extra volunteer "beauticians" available.
* unpolished kid-size press-on nails (or polished if you want to save yourself some time).
* clay or mud facial masque (preferably green) - St. Ives & Freeman are inexpensive brands.
* one cucumber (yes, you read that right - for thinly slicing and laying over the eyes while their masque is drying.)
* cotton balls
* inexpensive lipstick (one for each guest to use)
* dress-ups or some of mom's evening attire to wear for the "Glamour Shots".
* camera & film
* hors d'oeuvres (no real spa would serve pizza!)
* Have manicure and facial products assembled in a small basket ready for use.
* After the optional pool time, greet guests as they arrive with a "cocktail" in champaign glasses:
Have guests put on their old T-shirts, and lay on their backs; begin spreading the green goop on their faces - there will be lots of giggling and some reluctance on their part.
The final touch will be a thin slice of cool cucumber on their eyes, and a 5-minute timer during which the goal is complete silence (virtually impossible) while listening to the "Ocean's Relaxing Surf." I had some mom's who wished they could come too when they heard about it.
To the girls, it felt as though they were being pampered at a real spa & salon, and it provided a great deal of laughs too.
I also found stick-on nail jewels; each girl chose one to be applied to the finished manicure.
Glamour Shots:
Snap a few individual close-ups of each guest, to be given to them after developing the film.
Remember...the time invested now will provide your youngsters with a lifetime of special memories!
You are visitor since May 17, 1999
Supplies needed:To set the mood our invitation sparked anticipation of a day at the spa & beauty salon, which is in the comfort of your home. If you have a computer and software such as Print Shop or Print Artist, you can make these quite official looking with graphics of make-up and hair care products. We included coupons with the invitation for services at our home spa & beauty salon; these were printed on a computer using a label template about the size of a shipping label (or you can easily hand print them, and decorate with sticker or stamps). Each guest received the following 6 coupons which were stapled together as a booklet:
Our invitation read:
Facial
We were preceding out party with a short time in the pool, and soaking in a hot tub at a local public facility (better yet if you have these at home)."You are cordially invited to the
[your last name] Spa & Beauty Salon"
" Where: [your address]"
Mention any instructions such as: "Bring your bathing suit for swimming & hot tub, old T-shirt and your coupons for a make-over at the [your last name] Spa & Beauty Salon."
The Day Of The Party:* assorted nail polish
Make sure you have plenty of additional purchases to make along with your cucumber to avoid the puzzled looks from the store clerk; my poor husband was stuck going to the store at the last minute to pick up a cucumber which I had forgotten...he added a gallon of milk to his purchase as a distraction, but still felt compelled to explain to the clerk.
* facial astringent* Prepare the hors d'oeuvres: perhaps pre-cooked smoked sausage simmered in a skillet on low for several hours with your favorite barbecue sauce, and a fruit pizza.
Facials:Blend 1/2 Sprite of 7-Up and 1/2 tropical flavored juice with raspberry sherbert until you reach a desired consistency for your cocktails. A whole strawberry on the edge of the glass would be a nice touch.
Choose a room for your "Spa" where guests can lay comfortably on the floor. To enhance the soothing atmosphere for facials, our background music was Sounds of Nature: Ocean's Relaxing Surf (check with your local library for similar titles).
Masseuse:Afterwards everyone rinses their face, and it's time for toning...using a skin tingling astringent & cottonballs.
Manicures:We simply used a hand held electric back messager for several minutes (a quick back rub will do just as well). Most 10 to 12 year olds tend to be ticklish and can not stand this for very long...there's usually screaming and laughing involved.
Make-Up:Can be done with or without the press-on nails, however, the length adds to the glamourous effect.
Hairstyling:Can be as simple or elaborate as you like and as time permits. A bit of lipstick & eye shadow may be enough.
Have guests choose from an assortment of glamorous dresses & jewelry to complete the make-over. Then have a modeling show, with you as the announcer describing the dress and the transformation of each guest.Also does not have to be involved; perhaps a combing, and a curl here & there before "Glamour Shots".
I especially like the following quote: "There will always be worthwhile causes, but not always a 2-year-old in your lap"; the same holds true for a "10 to 12-year-old in your home"...consider this when deciding whether to give up some valuable time to host this type of party.Select a piece of background material to drape over a doorway - black works well, or choose a portion of your home that would provide a nice background for photos.