A few weeks ago, we started asking the women what they liked about Beauty Night Society. We also asked what they would like to change. One of the key things they like is the relationships they develop with you. The way you treat each woman with kindness and dignity makes each woman feel special. In terms of what they would like changed, they told us:
1) More Hairdressers
2) Draws
3) Healthy Snacks
4) Notification as to what services we will be offering each week
Some of these changes, we have started to add to our events. On Monday afternoons, DJ distributes flyers to remind the women what we will be offering that evening. Since last Monday when she started to promote the events with flyers, our numbers have increased. There seems to be an air of excitement when the women attend the events. The excitement is contagious and makes for exciting and interactive programming for both our participants and our volunteers.
Thank you for making last night so magical and fun for everyone! Huge thanks to Kerry, Anna, & Amanda who helped “decorate” the space. * Thanks to everyone (especially Tyla Flexman who sent a full page worth) of inspirational sayings. I think we took recycling to the next level by taking envelopes & papers and turning them into lucky four leaf clovers. Before the participants arrived, each station was decorated with shamrocks covered with words of wisdom. As each woman entered the room, they got to pick a lucky four leaf clover for her to take home with her.
With her magical Top Hat, Gwen greeted the women at the door. She collected their names so they could win prizes throughout the evening. There was an air of festivities. With excitement, the women cheered each other on as they would come up to claim their prizes after their names were called. The gift bags that Anna created were based on some of the donations that we collected during our Xmas Stocking Drive. With delight, the women opened up makeup bags full of beauty products, jewelry, and The Da Vinci Inquest Board Game. Photographer Ken Villeneuve captured their expressions of delight on film. Beauty Night moments captured through Ken’s photography were distributed to the women. Women giggled and showed their pictures to their friends and volunteers. Many a pose prompted the women to ask Ken to take a picture similar to one that a friend had from weeks previous.
Wendy Shuen does it again with her culinary mastery. Many of the women have been asking for healthy snacks. Wendy proves that snacks can be delicious and be good for us. The women LOVED the grape kabobs! Between the delectable blueberry cake (which I admit to sampling) and the fresh fruit, they were thrilled!! When someone created the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” it is obvious then never saw trays decorated in shamrock tissue paper covered with lush green grapes on skers and bite sized blueberry cakes.
I know all the women loved getting the sparkly nail art – huge thanks to Denise and Jen. Huge thanks to Gwen for picking up the silver and green glitter. The “glitter ball” manicure will be perfected next week as I promise to pick up a couple of paint brushes (thank you Jen for the recommondation) to make the application of top coat simpler. * At the very end of the night, Amanda & I found the bag that contained a few more pairs of tweezers which will make the application of the sparkles easier.
The shimmery mica flecked “pot of gold” body lotion (www.iluselu.ca thank you Meaghan!) went over well. Gwen & I walked around the room and asked them to make a wish before we poured some of the golden lotion into their hands. Like a potion, the rubbed their hands together feverently focused on making their wishes come true.
For some women, getting their brows shaped by Amanda was a service wished we had always offered. Amanda’s brow shaping was worth waiting for. The women enjoyed having the option of gettting their brows done AND makeup too.
The line up at Kerry’s massage station spoke volumes. He promised several of the participants he would be back next week. Kerry also saved the day for our Womyns Gym participants who are in need of workout clothing. (sizes 10, 12, 14 and one size 6). Thanks to his friends and familly in Cranbrook who did a clothing drive for Beauty Night and then drove it down to Vancouver. (Kerry has been slowly disbursing the clothes during the last 3 or four months . Unfortunately we can not store the clothing at our space due to potential bed bug infestation). We were able to find a selection of tee shirts and tank tops for working out. We are still collecting workout pants and hoodies. Huge thanks to Anna and Kerry for selecting some of the garments for the women to choose from.
When I walked past Anna’s Four Leave Clover Creation Station, I was thrilled to see some of the women pick up some of the inspirational sayings that were strewn around the room and using them in their four leaf clover collages. Thank you to Anna for creating the station and thanks to Franny and Vivian for giving Shianne – the little girl who usually rides her bike around a hand.
Thanks for the group effort by Gwen, Franny, DJ, and Vivian to calm the teething baby. I give kudos to Gwen who spent over 45 minutes bouncing the baby to sleep. As Gwen pointed out afterwards, we really do need 3 people minimum on childcare – 2 for the baby to take turns and one for the other children. Based on last night, I give tremendous praise for everyone who made child care work last Monday when there were 5 children. And Tyla & Felicity and the Womyn’s Gym team for providing such fantastic workout opportunities for the women participating in the womyns gym program
