GCDSpa Celebrations

Wishing and Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Wed, 15 May 2013 03:42:00 +0000

I always plan to post something every Monday that will help to motivate me (and maybe others) all week. Lately I haven't been as good about keeping to that schedule. (Hello, Tuesday!)

I usually find a quote that I like and put it with a picture I like. Sometimes that's all I share. I almost always want to say something more about the quote, to elaborate and explain why I chose it. I always wish that I had posted something more than just the photo. But some weeks it just doesn't happen.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan," and maybe that's true. But I find that it takes more energy than wishing and planning to actually execute that plan.

Are you turning wishes into plans this week? What plans are you working on?

Wednesday in the Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:32:00 +0000

Striving To Do Better

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Tue, 07 May 2013 03:45:00 +0000

Ice Cream Tacos for Cinco de Mayo

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Sun, 05 May 2013 19:00:00 +0000

We have been celebrating Cinco de Mayo for the past 13 years—not to commemorate the Battle of Puebla, but because it's my son's birthday! We've always considered it a great excuse to eat guacamole or tacos (other people might say margaritas!). This year we decided to try a new birthday dessert that seems to fit the day: ice cream tacos.

You can find many recipes for ice cream tacos, with most of the taco "shells" made from flour tortillas or wonton wrappers. I wondered if my pizzelle iron would make a decent shell, so I made up a batch of chocolate pizzelli (recipe from King Arthur Flour). If you don't have a pizzelle maker, a waffle iron also works, but makes a much thicker cookie. (My waffle iron makes thin, heart-shaped waffles that didn't want to bend into a taco shell; you may have greater success if your waffle iron makes a different shape.)

I won't go into any great detail about how to make the pizzelli; the recipe at the link above gives great instructions, and you'll need to follow the pizzelle iron manufacturer's directions to choose the correct cook time for the cookies.

We found that about 45 seconds was perfect to cook these chocolate pizzelli. Remove them quickly and while they're still warm, bend them over a folded paper plate, as shown above. Allow them to cool while you cook the next batch. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container until you're ready to serve them.

Before you can put together your tacos, you need to prepare your toppings. My son had very specific requests for candies (gummy worms and Twizzlers) but just about any sundae topping would be yummy. Chopped cherries, bananas, blueberries, coconut, nuts, sprinkles, m&m's, chocolate chips, crushed oreos, hot fudge sauce. Once they're ready, now comes the fun part....

Since the taco shells can be brittle, here's an easy way to get the ice cream in without breaking them. Scoop some ice cream into a ziploc bag and seal it tight, then squish it in your hands for a few seconds to warm it a little. Cut off one of the bottom corners of the bag and squeeze out the ice cream into the bottom of the taco shell. Cover the ice cream with your choice of toppings, working quickly before the ice cream melts! Then enjoy.

Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? What are your favorite recipes to prepare today?

¡Viva el Cinco de Mayo!

Mother's Day Gifts Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Just a few days left to order for Mother's Day (please order by May 3 so I can get your items shipped in time!). If you aren't on our mailing list, you may not know that we have a new fragrance, and that we have two special gift sets on sale through May 3.

Paradise is a blend of frangipani and muguet blossoms with ozone top notes and a base of musk and amber. Joanne in Maine tried the fragrance and says, "It is very light and tropical...reminds me of the beach. Not in a typical coconut tanning lotion smell. This actually reminds me of the sun, sand, ocean, and surrounding tropical flowers along the shore! Great "getaway" scent that will remind you of memories from vacation!"

Paradise Moisturizers Gift Set

Moisturizers Gift Sets contain hand cream, lotion, and lip balm. This is by far our most popular gift set! Take $2 off the Paradise Moisturizers set through May 3.

Paradise Bath and Body Gift Set

This special Bath and Body gift set includes sugar scrub, mineral soak (with "diamonds and pearls" salts), and body lotion, gift wrapped in white tub with wooden scoop. Save $2 on this set through May 3.

Did you know that we'll include a handwritten gift tag with any gift set? You can specify your message at checkout.

If Mom prefers fruity or floral scents, we have lots more to choose from. Apricot Freesia and Lavender are two popular choices! Please let me know if you have any questions at all.

Flavor of the Month May 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:30:00 +0000

Once again it's time to announce the Flavor of the Month. This year's flavors have included Margarita and Spring Fever (just a few left if you haven't tried one).

This month I was planning to offer Bubblegum as the month's flavor. I was taking the pictures, preparing the post, had everything ready and then I paused. "I wonder if Circus Peanut lip balm would be good?"

I know, maybe crazy. So I asked on our Facebook page: Which do you like better? And about 85% of the responses said Circus Peanut! So here we go.

If you love sweet banana marshmallow with loads of Vitamin Orange (okay, maybe less than the real circus peanuts), make sure you pick up a Circus Peanut balm this month. Or place an order for anything else in May and we'll include a Flavor of the Month for you to try.

If you want to help choose new flavors, Facebook is the place to be. I'd love to see you! I post sneak peeks and sales there occasionally, but most of the posts are cakes and cookies, flowers, party planning stuff, sites I like...it's like a party. Hope to see you there!

Finding the Path

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:00:00 +0000

I'm a sucker for advice blogs, business gurus' posts, recipe and DIY sites. Sometimes I just want someone to tell me what to do, in 5 easy steps, in little bite-sized pieces, so I don't have to spend any time figuring things out for myself. The popularity of these sites and blogs suggests that I'm not alone.

We're all so busy, it's a big help to let someone else do some of the work, to let them "stray" to find the direct path for us. I appreciate this and try to share things here to save time for other people, too.

For the occasional recipe, DIY, or business tip, that's great. But the path to this particular moment hasn't really been simple or direct. For me, the pieces often seemed too big to handle, the steps numerous and winding. Figuring things out, finding my path, required a lot of straying. There wasn't a handy guide. If there had been, I would have been first in line to buy it. And I would have taken someone else's path to some other place.

Today I'm feeling grateful for all the help that saves me time every day. But I'm also glad for the straying that got me here.

Success

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:33:00 +0000

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." - Henry David Thoreau

It isn't always clear to me what success is. Some days success feels like getting everyone to all of their appointments on time, or getting that last order in the mail before I have to make dinner. Some days success is making it to the bottom of my "to-do" list, or the bottom of the laundry pile, or the bottom of my inbox. (Or getting to the bottom of that mystery smell coming from the refrigerator!) Last weekend success was having a good, long visit with grandparents I hadn't seen for months.

Let's face it, success means different things to different people, and even in the same person it's different things on different days. Which means that success isn't really a goal on its own. Yet how many of us go from day to day seeking it? Think of all the yearbook goals our classmates made, to grow up and "be successful." I wonder what that meant to them then? I wonder if they feel successful?

What do you think success means? What makes you feel successful?

Diva Spa Party Favors

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:30:00 +0000

Diva Spa Party Favors | Lip Balm with Personalized Labels (label 328)

I read recently that leopard print is a neutral. I'm beginning to agree that animal prints can go with almost anything, but leopard goes particularly well with hot pink. Don't you agree?

This is what I've been working on this week. I don't like to pick favorites (oh, who am I kidding?), but these were really fun party favors to put together. Not just a spa, a Diva Spa. I just love that.

Do you wear animal prints? What's your favorite?

Diva Spa Favors | Personalized Lotions and Lip Balms (tag 1363, label 328)

What is Tulle? (And why do we use tulle to make our bows?)

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:30:00 +0000

If you've seen a kid's tutu or you've read about recent fashion trends, you probably already know what tulle is.

But if you're puzzled when I ask you to choose your "tulle color"—or when I talk about our tulle bows—please keep reading to learn more about this popular material.

1. What is tulle?
Dictionary.com says that tulle is "a thin, fine, machine-made net of acetate, nylon, rayon, or silk." Tulle looks like very fine netting, sheer and see-through. The tulle we use is made of nylon.

2. How do you say it?
No fancy pronunciation necessary...it sounds just like "tool."

3. Where does tulle come from?
The name "tulle" comes from Tulle, France, which was a center for lace-making way back in the 1600s. The machine-made tulle (or bobbinet tulle) that we're familiar with today came from the UK, where John Heathcoat created a machine in the early 1800s to duplicate the complicated handwork of lace makers. Tulle is still made in the UK using similar machines, but it's also made in China and North America. Most of our tulle colors are made in the U.S.

4. Who uses tulle?
Tulle netting is used in weddings for dresses and veils as well as decorations. It's also used in the ballet, for theater costumes, and more recently for whimsical and adorable children's clothing. It has practical, non-decorative applications too: it can be used in the garden or yard to protect plants (or yourself) from insects.

5. Why do you use tulle instead of other ribbons?
We use tulle for lots of reasons: it's reasonably priced, comes in lots of colors, can be tied in several ways to make substantial, dramatic bows, and holds its shape without wrinkling (which is important for shipping).

Tulle is a perfect fit for wedding-related events, since it's so frequently used for wedding fashion and decor. Its use in ballet and theater costumes makes it ideal for certain kids' party favors, too (think perfectly girly favors that look like tutus or princess dresses!).

6. How many tulle colors do you have?

We currently offer 45 colors, including two metallic shimmer shades.

7. Do you offer anything other than tulle?

Yes! If tulle is not appropriate for your favor design or event, we do have several other types of ribbons or trimmings, including satin, gingham, polka dot grosgrain, and organza. Talk with us if you'd like a custom embellishment.

Ballet Party favors with tulle bows

Read more about tulle here:
swisstulle UK Ltd
All about bobbinet
Trendy tulle in bridal fashions

Thirsty Thursday: Frosty Lemon

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:30:00 +0000

It's no secret that I love citrus flavors (and fragrances) and lemon is probably my favorite. I like having an excuse to make Lemonade lip balms (often for a "lemons to lemonade" divorce party) or Lemon Drop sugar scrubs (bachelorette parties, mostly) or Limoncello lip balms (Italian theme, anyone?).

If you enjoy lemon, you'll love today's cocktail recipe. Frosty Lemon is tart and sweet, just what you'd expect. If life hands you lemons, make a cocktail.

Frosty Lemon Cocktail

3 ounces citrus vodka

1 ounce limoncello

3 tsp lemon juice

1 Tbsp superfine sugar

lemon peel

Add first four ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass. Garnish with peel and serve.

What's your favorite way to enjoy lemons?

Find more cocktail recipes online at about.com and Drinksmixer.com.

Kids' Spa Party Favors

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Kids' Spa Party Favors | Sugar Scrub and Lip Balm

Happiness is Growth

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 21:50:00 +0000

Thirsty Thursday: Spring Fever

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:54:00 +0000

April's Flavor of the Month is Spring Fever, based on a non-alcoholic drink. If you'd like to mix up some of the real thing, here's the recipe:

Spring Fever

3/4 ounce lemon juice
3/4 ounce mango syrup
1 1/2 ounce apple juice
2 ounce orange juice

Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a Collins glass half filled with ice. Garnish with lemon or orange slice/peel and serve.

Substitute blood orange juice for the standard orange juice to make a deeper, pinker color. (And as some of my friends on Facebook noted, this would also be good with a splash of vodka.)

Happy Spring!

Find more cocktail recipes online at about.com and Drinksmixer.com.

Berry Cabernet Lip Balm

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:30:00 +0000

"You are now my new best friend! I love that idea...I looked at all the flavors and I think the berry cabernet sounds perfect! We're having a surprise Divorce Party for a good friend by showing up with a limo for a wine tour, and these are favors for the girls :)" - Meredith, NY

Berry Cabernet lip balm | Varietals favors for showers and parties

Flavor of the Month April 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 03:54:00 +0000

Can you believe it? We're up to month 7 of our Flavor of the Month experiment. Which of our Limited Edition flavors have you tried?

We had Margarita in January, Valentini in February, and March was Gummy Bear (we still have a few left!).

This month, I got a fever. Not the kind that can be cured with more cowbell, the kind that comes with longer days and greener grass. Spring Fever lip balm is based on a non-alcoholic drink with the flavors of orange, lemon, apple, and mango. Pick one up this month—after April they'll be gone!

Do you have any favorite flavors you'd like to see featured? Please contact me and let me know!

Want to see our new flavors as soon as we post them? Why not subscribe to our blog by email or reader? Thanks so much for your interest!

Happy Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:00:00 +0000

How To Stencil Spring Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:05:00 +0000

I really like to bake, especially for holidays. Since I only do it for fun I don't have hundreds of different cutters, so I like to use the same cutters in different ways.

This week I'm baking spring/Easter cookies shaped like bunnies, flowers, and butterflies. I made some standard cut-out cookies and topped with royal icing, then experimented with some "sandwich" cookies with cut-out windows in those same shapes. Then I decided to try creating a cookie stencil. Here's how you can do it, too.

Of course you'll want to bake your cookies before you start this decorating part! I've shared my favorite sugar cookie recipe before, but you can use your own or use cookie dough from the store. (You can also use this tip to decorate pre-baked cookies.) I used a round scalloped cutter for my stenciled cookies; you could also use egg shapes, circles, squares, anything you'd like. Just make sure the cookie shapes are larger than the shape you'll be using for a stencil.

If you want your stenciled design on an iced cookie, prepare your cookies by outlining and flooding with royal icing, then allow them to dry before you start the following steps.

1. Choose the cookie cutter shape you'd like to stencil with, and trace the cutter onto a piece of paper. Cut a square of parchment or wax paper a bit larger than your final cookie size, and place it over your traced image. Use an x-acto knife to "trace" the image, cutting through the parchment or wax paper. Your stencil will look something like the one below right. Repeat this process for the other shapes you'll be using.

2. Prep your royal icing for stenciling. Use your favorite royal icing recipe, then thin it to the consistency of thick paint. Place the stencil over the cookie, and with your brush (I use Wilton's decorator brushes) gently apply the icing to the cookie, brushing from outside the stencil's cut edge toward the center of the design (see photo 1 below). Be careful not to move the stencil or to push the icing under the stencil's edge. Once you've filled the stencil shape with icing, gently lift the stencil off the cookie and set aside.

3. Choose your sprinkles or colorful sugar and shake onto the icing. Make sure you cover every bit of icing (see photo 2 above). Lift and tap cookie to remove extra sprinkles and reveal your shape (photo3 above). Allow to dry completely before wrapping.

Wrap cookies in cello with colorful ribbons for gifting, or plate with other spring designs and colors. Next time I think I'll try colored sugars, or I may paint the edges of the cookies with icing and roll in my sprinkles to make a colorful border.

Do you like baking cookies for Easter or spring? What are your favorite shapes?

Up, Up and Away Balloon Party Favors

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:32:00 +0000

Up, Up and Away | Balloon Theme Party Favors

The Height of Success

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:46:00 +0000

Ice Cream Sundae Lotion Favors

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:00:00 +0000

Ice Cream Sundae lotion favors (tag #1362)

Baby Sprinkle Invitations and Favors

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:46:00 +0000

I recently created some personalized favors for a baby sprinkle. When I first read about this type of party a few years ago, I had one of those, "Why didn't *I* think of that?" moments. It's such a clever idea, really. If you've never attended (or heard of) this type of shower, here are 8 things you need to know about baby sprinkles.

1. What is a baby sprinkle?
Whether you're a meteorologist or a party planner, a sprinkle is just a little shower.

2. When do you have a sprinkle?
A baby sprinkle celebrates the new arrival when the mom-to-be is expecting her second (third, fourth...) child. You can plan to have the party before the baby arrives (around six weeks before the due date) or a month or more after.

Baby Sprinkle Invitations

3. Who hosts (and is invited to) a sprinkle?
Usually a friend or family member hosts, and close friends and family attend a sprinkle. Think small and intimate.

4. Why throw a baby sprinkle instead of a shower?
By the time they're expecting their second (or third) baby, families already have most of the baby gear they need. A sprinkle is a way to celebrate the new baby without a big emphasis on gifts.

5. What type of gifts are appropriate at a baby sprinkle?
Though optional, diapers, baby wipes, bath and body products, and other "consumable" items are perfect gifts for a sprinkle. If the new baby is the opposite gender, you might also choose a gender-specific outfit or other item that you know they wouldn't have saved from the first baby.

Baby Sprinkle Favors

6. Should the parents-to-be register?
Again, this is totally optional. If you do, make sure to select items in a range of prices. Many guests will want to share a little something with the baby; but remember, the emphasis is on celebrating the new arrival!

7. Where can I find baby sprinkle invitations?
Zazzle has lots, including our own "Sprinkled with Love" cupcakes. Choose your favorite design and have them personalized for your day. You can often find coordinating stickers and other matching stationery and gifts, too.

8. What about baby sprinkle favors?
Favors are optional and often not included in a baby sprinkle, but if you choose to share sprinkle favors with your guests, we'd love to work with you! Here are some of our baby sprinkle favor designs for lip balms, lotions, bath gels, and more. Please contact us if you have any questions!

Have you ever been to a baby sprinkle? Please share your experiences and ideas in the comments!

Every Day Like Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Spring is coming, and as always I feel anything but "calm" about it.

Spring means longer, warmer, greener days, more time outside, open windows, waking gardens. All of those things are exciting! What was that Mahler talking about??

A quick look at Mahler's life tells us that while he made his living as a conductor, he loved composing. When he was 33, he spent the summer at a retreat at Steinbach, working on his compositions. He composed every summer for the rest of his life.

Is this why spring made him calm? Was he looking forward to the time he would get to spend on his own work (instead of fighting with colleagues or listening to the complaints of opera singers and musicians)?

What happens when you get to do the work you love every day instead of in stolen moments or planned retreats? Do you have a life you need to "escape" from? Is every day like spring? What do you think?

Printable: St. Patrick's Day Bookmarks

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:03:00 +0000

Printable Clover Bookmarks for St. Patrick's Day

Have you ever seen a four leaf clover? Most clover plants contain the standard three leaves, which represent faith, hope, and love. That clover with the fourth leaf (by some estimates one in ten thousand plants) is so rare that finding one takes luck.

Click to download this PDF Bookmark File!

Share some luck with a friend this St. Patrick's Day with our printable bookmarks! Download the Clover Bookmark PDF file and print onto card stock paper. Each sheet contains a total of four bookmarks in two different designs, and features a real four leaf clover photographed in my garden!

Once you've cut out the bookmarks, embellish the tops with ribbons or twine, as shown below.

Cut twine in 10 inch pieces and then fold in half to create a loop. Punch a hole in the top center of the bookmark and insert the loop through one side, then thread the loose ends of the twine through the loop and pull to knot at the top. You can also thread a single loop of decorative ribbon through the hole and knot at the top (in our example, the twine loop went through from the back of the paper, and the ribbon loop went through the front).

For a bow look, punch two holes at the top and thread ribbon through both from the back. Pull ends to make even, then tie into a single knot or a bow on the front and trim ends of ribbon as necessary.

You could embellish in lots of other ways, so feel free to be creative! Share with classroom kids, friends or neighbors, or tuck into gift books. For personal use only, please!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Flip Flop Spa Party Favors

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Caswell) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 03:49:00 +0000

Spa Party Favors | Flip Flops Lotion and Lip Balm