Women at the “Glitzy Gals Spa Night” on April 14 got the full princess treatment — back massages, haircuts, foot soaks and make-overs. And chocolate; don’t forget the chocolate.
The event, which featured nearly two dozen local vendors offering free services and samples, took up the main hall and two of the biggest meeting rooms at Faith Baptist Church, 25636 140th Ave. S.E., Kent.
It was offered as a joint effort by the Faith Baptist Mothers of Pre-Schoolers and Girlfriends Unlimited groups.
In past years, the MOPS Club conducted an annual spa day in the morning, which proved a big hit with members. This year the event opened its doors to all women 18 and older, as well as younger girls who came to donate hair for Locks of Love or Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths wig programs.
The open invitation was music to many women’s ears, including Michelle Hughes, a church member and attendee at the Girlfriends Unlimited events, but not a MOPS member.
“It’s great,” said Hughes. “A nice time to come and relax.”
Approximately 200 women attended the event, more than tripling the count of 60 from last year, according to Angie Swanson, the church’s women and children’s ministry director.
Upon entering the church foyer, women were greeted with a shopping bag full of raffle tickets, little heart-shaped pink soaps and a program listing the vendors. From there they passed a tea-and-coffee table, and then out to the “get your glitter” station, where they could adorn themselves with sparkly pink bracelets, tiny flower stickers and scented shimmer body spray.
After that, attendees were free to wander from stall to stall, sampling wares and entering door-prize raffles.
On one side of the main hall, Holly Jones directed women in making their own greeting cards with Stampin’ Up products. Across from her booth, Italian meatballs beckoned at the Dinners Ready! table. In the back of the room, Linda Langdon proffered free samples of healthy non-alkalized dark chocolate from Xoçai.
The booths spilled out into two large meeting rooms, where ladies could receive massages and paraffin dips from LifeQuest Chiropractic, or a foot soak, scrub and lotion treatment with Arbonne skin care products.
Two salons donated their time to provide free haircuts for donors giving 8 to 10 inches of hair for the wig programs: Salon Bella Dea of Auburn and Monkey Dooz of Covington.
By the end of the night, 12 women and seven girls had shorn off their long locks for the cause.
“All the girls have been waiting to cut their hair for this event,” said Swanson.
Victoria Roberts Salon and Spa of Kent also donated its services, offering free hair trims and brow waxing.
Stephanie Zegers, a new MOPS member and mother of a 1-year-old, took the opportunity to get a new hairstyle from Victoria Roberts stylist and owner Jenni Marshall.
“I really appreciate this,” Zegers said, relaxing in the stylist’s chair.
The goal for the evening, according to MOPS Evening Connections coordinator Cami Brecto, was to give women the chance to relax, rejuvenate and “be the princess for a couple hours.”
“Women spend so much time giving, and especially mothers of preschoolers,” Brecto said, adding that as a young mom, “it’s hard to pace yourself and give yourself the naps and the rest that you need.”
Events like the spa night give busy moms a pick-me-up.
“It’s something we (in MOPS) look forward to every year,” Brecto said.
The MOPS goal dovetailed nicely with the Girlfriends Unlimited group’s focus, which is to give women of all ages the opportunity to build friendships with other women in the community. So it was a natural step to offer the event for both groups.
Looking ahead to next year, Swanson said the two groups will probably continue offering an annual spa day.
“Next year we’re probably going to move it to a Saturday, and have some workshops to go with it,” Swanson said.
This event marked the last hurrah for Girlfriends Unlimited this season, apart from a weekend retreat set for May 16 through 18. The group’s every-other-month events will pick up again in September, Swanson said.
MOPS will continue to offer regular meetings at the church from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month through May.
For more information about MOPS or Girlfriends Unlimited, visit the church’s Web site at www.faithkent.org or call Angie Swanson at 253-631-0991.
Contact Christine Shultz at 253-872-6600, ext. 5056, or e-mail cshultz@reporternewspapers.com.
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