SPA PARTY I recently planned my daughter's eighth birthday party.  It was a spa party for 26 girls ranging in age from 5-11. It was held at my home in December in Massachusetts from 1-4:30.  Planning Phase---There were five Spa Stations; Manicures, Pedicures, Facials, Spa Lunch, and a 20 minute hot tub soak. There were four groups of 6-7 girls therefore leaving one station to break every so often. Each girl arrived and checked in to their appointment. I had four women plus myself braving the unknown. I planned to run the party in groups so every girl knew where she needed to be and would be able to experience each station. Each station was to run 30 minutes.  I allotted time for checking in, checking out, and moving from one station to another.  I planned to have 30 minutes at the end for some games and prizes.  Games were to be done in the station that finished fastest, and prizes to be awarded in a group upon completion of the party. Upon check in they received their Spa bag which contained one item necessary for every station. Contents included: Manicure kit, nail polish, head wrap to pull hair back for facials, a lunch card to fill out their spa lunch, and a flower loofa to use in the hot tub. Each bag was a different print therefore separating the girls into groups. (Butterfly bags were the butterfly beauties, polka dot bags were princesses etc.) Time Management- It was controlled chaos. While each girl was at their station, you could hear a pin drop. However, in between each station was a circus.  Everything went as planned and I was ahead of time and found that I had one hour at the end of the party instead of 30 minutes. How to entertain 26 girls in the middle of winter when I can't send them outside? I had back up games, prizes, spa activity sheets, movies, and spa quiz knowledge. I would have shortened the length of the party by 30 minutes, but I would have rather had 30 extra minutes that 30 less minutes.   Procurement-I borrowed 2 dozen linens and hung them between each room in my home, this decor added to the spa like feel of the party, and didn't cost a dime. I printed out signs to pin on each linen which stated things like Spa on Elliot Nail Salon". My daughters bedroom was transformed. I draped sheer linens in the doorway and over all dressers.  I used over 25 battery powered tea lights throughout the house for a spa like decor.  My daughters room had a waterfall and soft music. It wasw the cucumber relaxing room. After facials girls went into her room laid down and put cucumbers on their eyes. They mostly giggled and chatted but some were so into relaxing.  After about 15 minutes they were told to go into the bathroom one by one and wash up before continuing to the next station. My staff consisted of my mom best friend and two other moms. I had a brief outline for each station; what was expected the time they had to complete each task the materials provided and the rotation order of each group of girls.  Each volunteer was given this in advance and asked to arrive at the party one half hour early. I asked in advance what station they would like to run. What I would change is that I didn't have ample space for girls to keep their belongings.  Before and after the hot tub was chaotic. Girls couldn't find their stuff. I used my back stairs for the girls to each have one step to keep their belongings however they doubled up on steps belongings got mixed up and that was the only chaotic part I would change if I did it all over again. Evaluation-Over the course of the following week I received over a dozen emails and phone calls from parents of the spa goers.  They told me it was the best party their child has ever attended. I took many photos of the girls throughout the party and set up an online album for the parents to view.  My daughters thank you notes had multiple pictures of the girls as well.  "