Hosting Tips

Host a Grown-Up Slumber Party

By Jenn Rose Smith
Love this idea... how much fun is this?

Our team recently spent an entire afternoon in the office reminiscing over the fun of childhood sleepovers — the brat pack movies, the pizza, the epic games of truth or dare. So when our friends at Botanics invited us to throw a grown-up slumber party with their gorgeous plant-based skincare, it was an obvious yes. We couldn’t wait to try out the new Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask, a mineral-rich treatment made from oceanic clay. And besides, what’s a slumber party without some colorful facial treatments? We wanted to add a few more touches to the classic slumber party that our grown-up selves would be super excited about, so we booked a suite at the Hotel Saint Cecilia and donned our favorite Sleepy Jones PJs. At the end of the night we had soft dewy skin, some hilarious stories to tell, and one burning question: why don’t we do this all the time?

photographed by wynn myers at the hotel saint cecilia
wardrobe: bunkhouse and sleepy jones


Remember these? I designed the invitations for our party inspired by the fun folded paper games we used to pass around between desks at school.

(Use can download our free printable template for the invite here and write in your own party details with a pen.)

We met up in suite 4 (our favorite) at the Hotel Saint Cecilia on a rainy afternoon to get the party started wearing our best pajamas.

Pictured left to right: cream silk marina top, navy swiss dot marina top, floral pattern marina top, and elsie night shirt

 

We couldn’t wait to try out some of the new Botanics at this slumber party, including the Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask. But first, donuts…

What’s a sleepover without way too many sweets? We ordered up a dozen or so from Voodoo Donuts, and the cereal-topped goodies made for a decadent pairing with a bottle of bubbly rosé.

First things first: let’s get comfortable, then let’s make it interesting. Chanel set up for a serious game of “go fish” in our suite at the Saint Cecilia.

Chanel wears the swiss dot marina top from Sleepy Jones,  “the 1072” sunglasses from Saint Rita Parlor, and holds playing cards from Tom Sachs.

Our team discovered you’re never too old for a good old fashioned game of truth or dare (and thanks to Nathalie, we now have some pretty amazing stories to tell about the courtyard at the Hotel Saint Cecilia.)

Nathalie and Chanel wear Hotel San Jose kimono robes.

Something about getting together with your favorite girls in your comfiest clothes with a bottle of rosé… well, just brings out the silly. In the best way possible.

Thanks to a bit of drizzly weather, we couldn’t remember the last time we felt so relaxed or more content to just stay put for the entire day.

The donuts from Voodoo are known for their fun toppings like this one covered in Fruit Loops cereal. How fun is that?

After the initial shenanigans died down, we were ready to get serious about relaxing. Camille brought the pampering facial treatments and immediately broke out the Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask and Botanics All Bright Radiance Balm.

The Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask is made from mineral-rich oceanic clay and (unlike many other mask treatments) it doesn’t dry out the skin. The mask actually contains a negative electrical charge which helps to draw out deep-rooted impurities while leaving the skin soft, smooth, and wonderfully cleansed.

Suruchi rocks a pair of Master & Dynamic headphones while wearing her Elsa nightshirt.

Chanel and Suruchi were the first to try out the mask…

…while Nathalie enjoyed a few magazines from the Saint Cecilia gift shop (which, thank heavens, is now completely online for all you out-of-towners.)

From the moment we put the mask on, we could tell it was different — the unique formula utilizes the natural benefits of Willowbark extract to remove oil, tighten pores and reduce the appearance of imperfections.

Which one would you choose?

I struggled to stay awake waiting for my mask to dry. Later we washed off our masks and followed them up with Botanics All Bright Radiance Balm. Not sure if it was the masks, the location, or rediscovering the intense fun of a sleepover with your best girls… but I’ve never felt more rejuvenated. Long live the slumber party.