A Girl's Gotta Spa! (sm) Top beauty blog, spa, hair care, makeup, beauty trends, skin care - Beauty Blog of Skin Care, Spa, Cosmetics and Beauty Reviews | A Girl's Gotta Spa! (sm) Top beauty blog, spa, hair care, makeup, beauty trends, skin care

Summer Protection with MDSolarSciences Mineral Creme SPF 50

No summer beauty routine is complete without the incorporation of a great sunscreen.  Which for me means one with at least an SPF of 30, one that isn't greasy feeling and oily looking and one that does not leave my skin looking chalky.  And I've found my perfect sunscreen Read more

Golden Summer Skin L'Occitane En Provence Pivoine Flora Shimmering Oil

Memorial Day weekend is upon us which also means that short shorts season, otherwise known as summer to some, is upon us and that means  glowing, radiant skin is a must.  Especially if like me, you basically live in shorts all summer long and will find a way to Read more

First Step To Getting Summer Ready Gigi and clean+ easy Wax Kit

Memorial Day Weekend is officially upon us, which means that the kickoff to summer has officially begun.  For me this has meant a frantic dash to get myself ready for bikinis, sun, short shorts, sandals and the heat and humidity that comes with summer.  My first step towards getting myself "summerified" Read more

Laura Geller Signature Superstars Collection Giveaway

Bigger IS better when it comes to Laura Geller Beauty! The Signature Superstars SUPERSIZED collection features the best in Baked, plus the award-winning Spackle® Under Make-Up Primer—all enclosed in a beautiful, limited edition gift box.You’ll love the skin-pampering ingredients of these Signature Superstars that deliver big, beautiful results. Laura Geller Read more

DIY Spa Tips From Turnberry Isle Miami

Wishing for a spa getaway? To feel royally pampered in preparation for the summer months, therapists at the legendary Turnberry Isle Miami and its Forbes-rated Four Star Spa & Fitness Center suggest these at-home treatments using natural ingredients for those times when you can't make it into the spa: Mommy-to-Be Read more

Shop for a Cure Fall 2006

It’s that time again when I organize another Shop for a Cure here in Northeast PA. It’ll be taking place on Saturday November 11th from 10am-3pm at the Hamlin Bingo Hall on Rte 590 in Hamlin PA.

I realize November is months away, but I am looking for sponsors for this event to assist in the purchase of signs, radio and print ads. Also, if your business is geared towards direct sales rep.’s and crafters, I am also looking for sponsor’s for a program I have put into place to motivate my vendors to get out there and promote this event, after all, it benefits The American Cancer Society here in Wayne County PA and I want to raise as much money as I can. I have many reasons why I organize this event:

People who have touched my life that have battled or passed away from cancer:
My great grandfather (lung cancer)
My great grandmother (stomach cancer)
My aunt Patty(Melanoma)
My aunt Gert (Lukemia)
My grandfather (survivor–skin cancer)
My uncle Ray (survivor–skin cancer)
My friend Maureen (Sarcoma)
My friend Susie (survivor–skin cancer)
My friend Kate (survivor–breast cancer)
Lori’s husband (Lukemia)
Stacy’s mom (breast cancer)
George’s cousin age 7 (currently battling non-hodgkins lymphoma)

From my husband’s side:
His sister Grace (passed away at age 18 from Liver Cancer)
His mother (survivor–several types of cancers over the years)
His maternal grandmother (breast cancer)
His maternal grandfather (lung cancer)
His aunt Patti (survivor–breast cancer)
His aunt (cervical cancer)

My contact info can be found in my “Who is LotionBarBunny” page if you are interested in sponsorship.

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Posted on by Shannon Nelson in beauty 2 Comments

Handmade Purses & Totes by Bobbie Jo Tisher

When I was in Maryland for Country Bunny’s Moxie product launch, they had a table full of giveaways for those who attended. Many of the giveaways were from local businesses since this event was open to the public. The one giveaway that caught my eye? These beautiful handbags:


I am a sucker for a gorgeous handbag. Our Moxie theme colors were pink and brown, so these handbags fit right in. When I was disappointed to not have won, I knew I had to find out what company sold them so that I could share it with all of you. I think I was even more excited when I found out that they were not made by a company, but were handmade by a woman attending the product launch: Bobbie Jo Tisher. I’m sure I probably scared her with my enthusiasm over her handbags, but seriously, the girl has talent!

While she only has a few pre-designed handbags on her website, she makes everything per the customer’s request. You tell her what you are looking for and your wish is her design. Plus they are super affordable! Go check them out: As You Wish Designs.

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Eyebrows by Elke at Slope Suds

Want fabulous looking eyebrows? Live near Brooklyn New York? Then keep your eyes on the press release below as my most wonderful friend Elke will now be doing eyebrows at SlopeSuds in Brooklyn New York!

~~~~~~~~~
“Your Eyebrows should be as fashionable as you are!”

Top Celebrity Makeup Artist
Elke Von Freudenberg,
brings her Eyebrow Services
to New York.

Her beautiful makeup work is seen in major fashion and beauty editorials and on the runways of New York and Los Angeles. Her eyebrow services has been seen on major celebrities with her Signature “Model Eyebrow” and applied on top models from major modeling agencies in Los Angeles and New York.

With a very private clientele in Los Angeles, now her personalized eyebrow services are available also to clients in New York.

Specializing in all natural waxing and customized tweezing. Private clients are able to book Elke in New York at The Eyebrow Bar @

SLOPE SUDS SALON & SOAP BAR
433 7th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215
718 788 SUDS
www.slopesuds.com
By Appointment Only

“I don’t believe in needing to do major over tweezing or waxing to create a beautiful eyebrow. Sometimes it just takes a few hairs to remove to create the perfect balance. For the eyebrows not only balance your eyes, they balance your bone structure.” states Ms. Von Freudenberg.

“The Model Eyebrow” Service creates the perfect eyebrow that can immediately go out on the town, or back to work without any client touch ups required. Elke’s personalized touch leaves her clients leaving the salon with eyebrows completely polished and ready to be seen with a complete eyebrow, highlight and shadow application. For those not wishing for a made up touch, The Clean Eyebrow is available with customized shaping & tweezing only.

About Elke Von Freudenberg

Elke Von Freudenberg is fast becoming known for her translation of beauty as a premiere celebrity makeup artist. Believable, glamorous, fresh. Her work has been seen on runways, editorials and in major campaigns such as BISOU-BISOU, CALVIN KLEIN, DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, DOLCE & GABANA , RALPH LAUREN, CLINIQUE, KODAK, DETOUR, LATIN STYLE, NEUE, MAX, PAPER, PEOPLE, & ROLLING STONE. Online portfolio @ www.portfolio.gq.nu

Von Freudenberg often shares her beauty knowledge as contributing beauty editor, lectures students of makeup, film and photography, and regularly contributes at charity sponsored fashion shows and events and is the Author of the one of a kind Ebook, “The Makeup Course.” Her professional experiences on the set of photo shoot and her expert opinion of beauty products are read by readers on the highly popular
The Beauty Newsletter” Blog.

Her latest endeavor? Newly named as Beauty Editor of the prestigious online Fashion Tribes magazine.

Posted on by Shannon Nelson in beauty 3 Comments

Got Moxie? Bath & Body products to get your Sass on!


I just got back from my trip to Maryland for Country Bunny Bath & Body‘s east coast product launch. It was a great time and I enjoyed finally (after almost 2 years!) meeting the Founder, Nancy Bogart, in person and trying out our new products and learning more about the inspiration behind the Moxie Line.


(Shannon with Nancy Bogart)

Moxie (noun, slang): In the face of difficulty, having spirit and courage, using skill and know how.


Thick Skin Olive Butter Body Lotion
People who really know me, know that I wear my heart on my sleeve and sometimes…well most times, I often get my feelings hurt easily. The premise behind the name of this product is for when you want to guard your tender skin from insult and injury, aka have a little Thick Skin. Will you really build thick skin from using this product? Of course not, but you will have extra soft skin from the essential oils, olive butter and jojoba.

Sassy Body Spray
Do you ever have days when you really want to get your Sass on? Then spritz yourself from head toe with this Sassy glycerin and essential oil Body Spray. Walk into a room with confidence Girl! (Even if you are only in a t-shirt and jeans!)

Soak it up Sister
This is a Shower Gel that is thick enough to be a bubble bath. Wash those cares down the drain with this amazing gel that packs a punch! Not only does Soak it Up Sister have wonderful essential oils, glycerin and aloe vera, but also the same Phyto Essential Blend of the Face Collection.

Move Over Mr.
This fabulous essentail oil Lotion Bar was given this name because of the first meeting with other big wigs in the direct sales industry that Nancy went to when she started Country Bunny 6.5 years ago. She was belittled by the man running the meeting and basically wants to say, “Move over Mister! If you could see me now!” I know I have times when people put me down and I just want to prove myself; this girl has Moxie.

Pouty Lips–Stiff Upper Lip
This is a large lip tube that contains 3 of our lip bars (the picture does not do it justice on its size!). It is dye free and fragrance free. While the name of this product is simply a saying, this fabulous product will moisturize those lips in no time. Perfect for when you need to pout to get your way or when you need a stiff upper lip.

All of the products mentioned, with the exception of the Pouty Lips, are made with our M Power Mint with Ginger fragrance infused with citrus. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this scent until I got to try it out this weekend. Yum. What an invigorating and empowering fragrance. I ended up buying myself the Premier set of our Moxie line (unbeknowest to my husband) because I liked it so much.

Sticks and Stones Fragrance Diffuser is also a part of this line and you can read my post on it here.

The Moxie Premier set is on sale now through August 31st for only $50 for a savings of $8.

Where to buy it: www.BigLakeSpa.com

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Review: Lipgloss from Urban Apothecary

On my birthday I got an unexpected visit from the UPS man. He came baring gifts from Urban Apothecary. I was expecting a sample I requested, only to find the best surprise ever…3 full size lipglosses. The UPS man also delivered Mrs. Field’s Cookies sent by my brother, of which my (male) children could not understand why I was more excited about the lipgloss.

I received Swizzle Stick in Malta, Moisturizing Double Mint Gloss in Sweet & Sexy, and Lip Whip in Tart.

The fabulous Swizzle Stick. I knew when I saw this gloss the first time I wrote about it, that this would be an amazing product. Swizzle Stick is a gloss and a lip liner that detaches from the tube. So cool, so innovative. I am so rockin in the Malta color, as well. It’s not too dark and has a really great shine to it. It’s a thin feeling gloss, not goopy or sticky at all.

I love mint, so it’s no surprise that I would love the Moisturizing Double Mint Gloss. I received the Sweet and Sexy Duo. In the tube it appears as pink and red. On my lips, the pink gives a nice sheer color that immediately made me think of my No Makeup Look. The red was only a little perkier than my normal lip color and didn’t make me look overdone as I cheered on my son during his football scrimmage. The mint smell and flavor of this gloss surely does remind of me of Double Mint gum.

The Lip Whip in Tart is also a lovely color. Not as sheer as Sweet in the Double Mint Gloss, but a little pinker. It just so happens that pink is my favorite color. I also love that it’s formulated with Shea Butter, so I know it’s not only making me look pretty, but it’s keeping my lips moisturized and healthy.

If you are a lipgloss addict like I am, I know you will love these glosses. If you travel, be sure to check out their Slap Stick foundation and Joy Stick and Glow Stick blushes; solid cosmetics you can take on the plane.

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Posted on by Shannon Nelson in beauty 1 Comment