You don’t need a spa appointment to enjoy a little time to unwind and treat yourself. Just call your friends, pour some sparkling beverages, and let the pamper party begin in your own home! Here are some hints for how to enjoy the time together.
Setting the Scene
Ask your guests to suggest a few slow songs they like to listen to when they RSVP. You can download them in advance from a music site to make a relaxing mix everyone will be guaranteed to enjoy. (Make copies of the music mix, and you’ll have a memorable party favor to send home with everyone.)
Place soft-colored candles around the party room to set the tone. If you go scented, be sure to choose just one fragrance and one candle that carries the scent. Fun idea: Have enough candles so that each person can blow one out and make a wish at the end of the party.
Beauty Boosts for Your Face
Plain yogurt makes a great facial mask. Apply to a clean face and enjoy for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing. What’s in it that works so well? Experts say the lactic acid in yogurt is a natural exfoliant that gives skin a glow, clears acne, and fades discoloration and fine lines.
For more of a scrub, combine 2 heaping teaspoons of fine oatmeal with 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Add enough water to make a thick paste, and rub onto your face in a circular motion for 2 minutes. Then rinse and pat dry.
Beauty Boosts for Your Hands and Feet
Drugstore manicure kits come with everything you need—files, clippers, buffers. Choose a variety of polish colors (or ask friends to bring their favorites) as well as a couple bottles of base and top coats. Hint: Paler polishes are more forgiving, and they last longer too because chipping is harder to see. Soft, light tones also draw attention away from any brown spots on your hands.
For an extra treat, start the mani/pedi process with a soak. For an inexpensive way to achieve the same moisturizing effects produced by skin creams, simply soak your hands and feet in warm water for a few minutes. Then pat off excess water and apply vegetable or mineral oil to the damp surface to seal in moisture. Or you can add 4 capfuls of a bath oil to 1 pint of warm water, and soak for 20 minutes. If your hands are really chapped, you can treat them to a sloughing treatment. The magic ingredient is (again) fine oatmeal. Just place it in a large bowl, then rub your hands in the powder, gently removing dry skin. Rinse with cool water, pat dry, and lavish on hand cream or use the vegetable or mineral oil.
A Sophisticated Menu
Try these French Roasted Vegetable Sandwiches with 219 calories and 6 grams of fat. Makes 8.
1 sm eggplant, peeled and cut into thick slices
1 red bell pepper, quartered
1 med tomato, halved
1 sm onion, cut into thick slices
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp minced garlic
½ tsp crushed dried rosemary
1 round loaf Italian bread (8" diameter)
2 Tbsp nonfat plain yogurt
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup tightly packed spinach leaves
Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Arrange eggplant, pepper, tomato, and onion on sheet. Brush with oil. Sprinkle with garlic and rosemary. Bake 45 minutes, or until golden brown and tender.
Split bread horizontally and scoop out interior, leaving a 1" shell. (Reserve bread for another use—maybe a fondue made with low-fat cheese and wine.) Spread yogurt over bottom of shell, then sprinkle with vinegar. Arrange vegetables over yogurt. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Top with spinach. Place top of bread over filling. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes, or until chilled. Cut into 8 wedges.
For dessert, let guests fill wine or champagne glasses to make a parfait. Ideas for ingredients to have on hand: yogurt, vanilla pudding, bite-size pieces of fruit, chocolate chips or shavings, crushed gingersnaps, crushed graham crackers, and slivered almonds.
Dress Up a Plain Suit
