Scout Spa Day Test: DIY Nail Soak

What's a spa day without getting your nails done?

Unfortunately our school dress code means no nail polish, but that didn't mean the girls couldn't pamper their hands a bit.

Instead, we turned to the garden for a quick and easy nail soak, taking advantage of the random dill that had sprouted in my garden from seed this summer.

I got many of the ideas for the spa party from an old book I had, "Natural Beauty for All Seasons: More Than 250 Simple Recipes and Gift-Giving Ideas for Year-Round Beauty." In it, we found seasonal ideas for homemade spa products - many of them right from the garden.

DIY Nail Soak from the Garden

1 cup water

1 tablespoon dried dill or one small bunch fresh dill (leaves, flowers and stems)

Boil water and pour over the dill.  Allow to steep until cool. Strain the dill and use as a nail soak. 

The verdict

The girls thought it was fun to soak their nails, though they said it smelled like pickles. (Having the cucumbers there too probably did not help!)

I did notice after soaking that my nails were shinier.

This DIY nail soak  was definitely replicable for the troop!

Scout Spa Day Test: Jello Foot Baths

For our Girl Scout spa party tests, one of the funnest activities but least repeatable with a large group was foot baths and pedicures.

I found this quirky recipe in an old book I had, "Natural Beauty for All Seasons: More Than 250 Simple Recipes and Gift-Giving Ideas for Year-Round Beauty." In it, we found seasonal ideas for homemade spa products - many of them right from the garden. Well, this one wasn't. It was for jiggly foot baths made out of none other than Jello.

How to do make it:

You will need one box of Jello and container per girl. Mix up the Jello with more water than typically called for in the box directions - approximately 4 cups water to a 3 oz. box of Jello - and let set for multiple hours.

Yes, mom dutifully followed the recipe. And we rolled it out to our girls -- outside -- to see what they thought on the hot afternoon.

The verdict:

They loved it. More giggles ensued. They squished and played in the Jello for a long time.

But here's why I wouldn't necessarily do it with a large group:

1. As you can see, it takes 9x13 baking dishes or large tubs. Which means a large organizing effort or buying a lot of unnecessary tubs to pull this off.
2. (Mom answer.) Not the cleanest project to pull off. I foresee Jello all over our meeting space, whether intended or not.
3. The red Jello we bought tinted the girls' feet red for a few days!

Scout Spa Day Test: Make Your Own Cocoa Lip Gloss

Our Junior Girl Scout troop is kicking off the school year with a Back to School Spa Party. Two reasons for it: I overheard more than one girl stress out already about fourth grade (and it hasn't even begun yet!) and, frankly, pampering yourself is just plain fun.

The key is finding a blend of natural - yet mostly inexpensive - items without busting the budget. So, we have opted for a number of DIY projects and spa pampering ideas.

Luckily I have an in-house tester (and a BFF) who can help me test these projects out before we try them out before a dozen girls. This week, I'm sharing some of the spa successes and failures for you to try, whether for a mom and daughter day, a Girl Scout troop meeting, or a girls spa sleepover party.

Today's test: Make your own lip gloss.

I've seen dozens of ideas on Pinterest on "DIY lip gloss." Often it involves two products: Vaseline and Kool-aid packets. Sometimes, they get a little more involved, like edible glitter, etc. 

If you are just going for the basics and don't want the sticky sweet fruit punch flavor, you can also try a brown tinted cocoa flavor. Here's how to do it:

You will need
Vaseline
Cocoa

Empty clear plastic cosmetic containers (I just bought them in bulk on Amazon, these directions are for 5 gram containers like these)

Directions
For each container: Melt 1 teaspoon Vaseline in the microwave. (This will take a 1-2 minutes, stir occasionally.) Add 1/4 teaspoon cocoa, adjusting for color/taste. Stir until dissolved. Cool slightly, then pour into cosmetic container and use.

The verdict: Easy to pull off. Easy to use. Girls liked.