As a little girl, I can remember the delight of falling asleep to the chitter-chatter of four women, my mom among them, who met weekly under the guise of playing bridge.

Don’t get me wrong, these four women, known endearingly as the “Bridge Ladies,” do gather to play cards.

They even have an annual trophy ritual – we’re talking competitive stuff – but it’s not their card playing that I want to discuss.

It’s their secret – a secret about wellness.

The Bridge Ladies knew there is something truly unique and special about relationships with other women. They know their commitment to one another over the last 30 years is worth it. They know that while their husbands are the loves of their lives, they won’t offer them everything, particularly the kind of compassion and empathy that comes with friendship with other women.

And they know the incredible strength and fun that can come from these relationships.

I like to call their secret “Girl Power.”

Motherhood invites connection with other women. But the realities of parenting also make it difficult to nurture these friendships.

For me, play dates are the easiest way to stay connected with my mommy friends because I can combine valued time with the kiddos with cherished time with my pals. That said, conversations are not always completed, tea tends to be consumed cold, and apologies can be required when one tiny person cracks the other over the head with a toy. If this rings true for you, it may be time to consider a girls’ night out minus the munchkins.

For a few of us mommies, it was more than ringing true. It was gonging… we desperately needed some pampering and definitely needed some wine! With that in mind, an at-home spa event began to evolve. Here’s how we organized it.

We each were to bring a homemade spa product to share. Who knew the plethora of concoctions you can create with regular, household ingredients? A trillion recipes were just a “google” away.

Whipping up the spa products was fun. It brought some of us back to joyful childhood memories of making perfume from rose pedals.

And as it turns out, amazing benefits can come from easy-to-follow recipes for a fraction of the cost of store-bought alternatives. Making your own products also ensures that there are no additives or fillers in your products, just good, healthy nutrition for your skin.

A couple of us had foot soakers and facial steamers so we brought those, too. Our hostess had her place super cozy with the fire place on and candles lit. Snacks and beverages? Of course!

There were four of us so we paired up and took turns getting pampered (a public apology to my partner who most definitely got the short stick, masseuse I am not). We started by soaking our feet in a warm foot bath and then applied a salt scrub to our feet and lower legs. This was followed up with a lower leg massage using rosemary-infused massage oil.

Our tired mama feet felt rejuvenated for the first time in ages!

Next, facials.

We started by exfoliating using an oatmeal and baking soda scrub. Mixed reviews on this one. Those with sensitive skin had a bit of a reaction.

According to skin-care-recipes-and-remedies.com, oatmeal is universal in that it can be used as an exfoliant on all parts of the body and on every skin type. It also acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Apparently, however, folks with sensitive skin may find they have a reaction, not to the oatmeal per say, but to the bleaching and processing that went into making the oatmeal. Using organic oatmeal can eliminate this complaint.

After washing off the scrub, we steamed our faces. Then we applied a sweet-and-sour mask made from yoghurt, honey and lime and sat by the fire with cool cucumber slices covering our eyes while our partners massaged our scalps.

Washing off the mask completed the ritual. Nothing beats the tingle of freshly-washed skin after a facial. It somehow makes you more prepared to meet the day… or in our case, the little ones who would be waking us up in the night.

While folks at the Kingfisher Spa certainly aren’t knocking down our door, this at-home spa event was a big hit.

We broke all spa etiquette… we talked loud, laughed a lot, drank wine, ate junk food and wore whatever we felt like.

The point here is not really about living the pampered life though. It’s not even about what you do with friends. What it is about is making friendship a priority and a reminder about the power of staying connected and the incredible value of the special people in your life.

In the last few months I have seen “Girl Power” literally wrap around two of my new friends and bring them some peace and comfort during difficult times. The strength and dedication of the sisterhood that surrounds these women inspires me.

Do you have any ideas for time out with friends? Please jump in and tell us how you’re keeping Girl Power alive in your world. We can learn from one another…