Frugal & Fabulous: Staycation Spa Day (& giveaway!)

May 9, 2012

Being frugal doesn’t have to mean depriving yourself of the fabulous essentials.  I just wrapped up graduate school so it meant my life was measured by three things:  Low on time, low on money and high on stress.   In my two years as a struggling student I perfected the art of the spa staycation- you can too!

The Tennants of a Successful Spa Staycation:

Unless you’re a good cook or someone chips in to take kitchen duty- I’ve avoided food prep during my staycation spa days.  Today is the day to treat yo’self and get yourself some frivolous foods that are easy to prep- quiche, chips and guac,  cheesecake,  veggies and dip…anything that’s easy to make or pop in the oven that also makes your mouth water is a win.

Before you take your spa staycation also pick out a special nail polish color for the occasion unless you’re totally in love with a shade you have.  Remember, you’ve already been smart by DIYing your spa day-  stock up on the nail polish colors you crave,  the right mani and pedi tools and all the scrubs,  lotions and bubble bath you need.  If you don’t know how to give yourself a spa treatment, I did a mani/pedi tutorial.

Oh, and you’ll need candles and good music.  Can’t forget that!  Before you hit the bathroom for pampering,  put some of your snacks in the oven or get them prepped.

After you soak to good tunes and bask in the candle light, bundle up,  snack a bit and work your way to the t.v. and put your movie of choice on… you need to give yourself at least 4 solid hours of personal time onyour spa staycation!

Enjoy your fave movies while your nails dry, and at this juncture, order some takeout- or if you have an amazing partner, bat your eyelashes and make kissy noises until food appears (I hear that works too!)  


If you want your spa staycations to be a regular feature,  invest in a good footsoaking tub,  a plush robe and some fab slippers!  Again, you’re already saving money on the staycation- so get yourself something fancy to wear around, no tattered robes with your dairy air hanging to the wind!

 

Here are some of my favorite products for at home spa days:


Barista Bath + Body makes really great products for both men and women- best of all, their fragrances are rather gender neutral so your body scrub can be used by your male counterparts as well!
I use the One Lump Or Two Coffee Body Scrub to soften up my skin on my hands, heels and body- but another thing I love it for is to clean up my manicures!  I am notoriously bad at getting the finger paint ON MY NAILS so I usually have a excess paint on my cuticles and around my nail bed- I use a bit of scrub after painting my nails to get off any excess polish.
Barista Bath and Body Review
The Barista Leave Room for Cream is super thick and it smells great for men or women- really just a pleasant cream with almost a small hint of citrus.   The coffee scrub does make a bit of a mess in the shower, but a quick rinse down and it’s clean.  I love it to exfoliate all over, but it does wonders on rough heels without being too greasy!

Bathing Suit Prep Tip:  exfoliate before applying sunless tanner!  Also, the coffee grounds in this scrub are great for combating cellulite!

 

Onto The Polish:

CND nail polish

I recently got to try some of the products from CND:  Their polish in Tutu and Rose Water ($8)  and their awesome Effects Nail Polish in Raspberry Sparkle ($9).  I also used their Scentsations lotion in Black Currant & Fig ($10) though they have a ton of other scents I must try like Vanilla Shimmer,  Tangerine & Lemongrass and Birch & Mint…yum!

While I’m all for crazy, bright colors, I love the clean look of a pale pink  with white tips.  When I do at home manicures- I use french tip guides to get a clean line for a french maicure.  I also use a four sided nail buffer to shape, smooth and prep nails before adding polish- it usually helps my work last longer!    CND has a bunch of colors, and their Nail Effects Polish is a great top coat!

Are you ready for a spa staycation?

CND is going to hook you up!  One lucky reader will get to choose a Scentsations Lotion & two nail polishes!

 

How to enter…do the following & leave a comment for each:

 

Good luck!  Contest ends 5/18/2012 …see disclosure policy here.

59 comments so far.

59 responses to “Frugal & Fabulous: Staycation Spa Day (& giveaway!)”

  1. Karina Lee says:

    i LIKE CND on facebook

  2. amy marantino says:

    i Follow CND on Twitter

  3. Michelle says:

    Liked on Facebook

  4. Michelle says:

    Following on twitter

  5. Michelle says:

    following on bloglovin

  6. I love spa staycations!!!! I need to learn how to relax more often though. And I really would like to be able to massage my entire body myself haha.

    I will be entering once I get home since facebook is blocked at work! 🙁 Oh and I will respond to your email, I’ve just been a bit busy today!

  7. Dianna says:

    Follwing you on Bloglovin!

  8. Melissa Hansson says:

    Liked CND on FB. Thank you.

  9. Debra Lee says:

    I like CND on Facebook!

  10. Debra Lee says:

    I follow CND on Twitter!

  11. Debra Lee says:

    I already follow you on Bloglovin’

  12. Amanda says:

    Yes! I’ve been needing a staycation and never got around to actually doing it – but this is a great guide!

    Liked on Facebook and Twitter. Oh, and I followed you on BlogLovin’ which I actually can’t believe I hadn’t already done haha.

  13. Angela s says:

    Follow you on Bloglovin

    andysavi.mom@gmail.com

  14. Angela s says:

    Follow CND on FB

    andysavi.mom@gmail.com

  15. Angela s says:

    Follow CND on Twitter

    andysavi.mom@gmail.com

  16. Abby Kraynick says:

    I liked CND – Creative Nail Design on FB.
    My FB names is Abby Kraynick Sovko

  17. Lauren Noel says:

    I liked CND on Facebook!

  18. Abby Kraynick says:

    I am following CND on Twitter. My Twitter name is @AbbySovko

  19. Abby Kraynick says:

    I am following Frugal Beautiful..

  20. Suzanne Drews says:

    ~ Every girl likes to feel beautiful; a new nail polish, new nail polish, and smell beautiful. ~

  21. Suzanne Drews says:

    ~ LIKE CND on Facebook ~

  22. Suzanne Drews says:

    ~ Following CND on Twitter ~ SuziQ523

  23. Suzanne Drews says:

    ~ Following Frugalbeautiful on Bloglovin ~<3

  24. Sarah Harding says:

    LIKED CND

  25. colleen boudreau says:

    I like CND on Facebook (colleen boudreau)
    holliister at gmail dot com

  26. colleen boudreau says:

    I follow FrugalBeautiful on Bloglovin’.
    holliister at gmail dot com

  27. Tami says:

    I already follow all three! 🙂
    Thanks for the giveaway and all your blogging too!!

  28. Jamie says:

    Follow frugalbeautiful on bloglovin

  29. Jamie says:

    Followed CND on Twitter

  30. Jamie says:

    Followed CND on FB!

  31. Jessica Bean says:

    “Liked” CND on Facebook @JClarice Bean
    uptownurbanblog@gmail.com

  32. Jessica Bean says:

    Following CND on Twitter! @msjclarice
    uptownurbanblog@gmail.com

  33. Jessica Bean says:

    Following Frugal Beauty on Bloglovin’! Uptown Urban Blog
    uptownurbanblog@gmail.com

  34. L D says:

    following on GFC!

  35. L D says:

    following on twitter! (i’m @snaililla)

  36. L D says:

    liked you on FB (i’m Lyra Dent)

  37. L D says:

    … by “GFC” i meant “blogloving” up there!

  38. Regina S says:

    I love CND products

  39. Mamavalveeta03 says:

    I like CND on Facebook

  40. Mamavalveeta03 says:

    I follow CND on Twitter @mamavalveeta03

  41. Mamavalveeta03 says:

    And I follow you on bloglovin’
    valhoff 3 at yahoo dot com

  42. Like CND on Facebook – Stefanie Gladden

  43. Follow CND on Twitter – @LuVx143

  44. Follow FrugalBeautiful on Bloglovin’ – stefanie gladden

  45. I like CND on FB(Sharon Siqueiros)

    lunrei at yahoo dot com

  46. I follow CND on Twitter(@SharonSiqueiros)

    lunrei at yahoo dot com

  47. I already follow you on Bloglovin’ (Sharon Siqueiros)

    lunrei at yahoo dot com

  48. Marie Howard says:

    follow cnd on fb

  49. Marie Howard says:

    follow cnd on twitter

  50. Madeline says:

    I like CND on Facebook (FB name: Madeline Brubaker).

  51. Madeline says:

    I follow CND on Twitter (@shala_darkstone).

  52. Madeline says:

    I follow FrugalBeautiful on Bloglovin’.

  53. Hofken says:

    I Like CND on Facebook – Cynthia M Richardson

    Cynthia.Richardson@azbar.org

  54. Hofken says:

    I follow CND on Twitter @hofken

    Cynthia.Richardson@azbar.org

  55. Hofken says:

    I Follow FrugalBeautiful on Bloglovin’

    Cynthia.Richardson@azbar.org

  56. Muriel says:

    I like on Facebook as Muriel Grubb.

  57. Muriel says:

    I follow on Twitter as @Azurielm

  58. Muriel says:

    I follow on Bloglovin’ as Azurielm

  59. I think DSAI is trying to make himself popular…dia nak jadi cam Tun tapi pakai negative approach. so jadilah unpopular…cuma I wonder how people has the guts to do all those things…
    For the youngsters…clear your facts first before attacking Tun… well…people make mistakes including Tun…but Tun has made a load of good deeds for Malaysia and the world which I don’t think others can challenge!
    It’s just so sad reading your writing this time…don’t bother about the “not your fan” group.if respect pun tak tau macamana nak tau all the facts….nak gali lebih….?what’s that!!!!
    cukup setuju dgn komen Biskitani.

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