Oh my goodness, I am sooo excited to share this post! I have been in work overload mode lately.  It started right around Halloween prep time and it has barely let up since.  I can always sense when I am working too much because my girls start to meltdown more and more often and they get extra fussy.  They start to crave that one on one time in such an intense way that if I don’t pick up on it quickly, things go from bad to worse quickly.  If you’re a working mom, maybe you can relate.  Well, I found my way out of the muck this month in the form of a Fort Magic Nail Salon.

*This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support.

I was actually at the therapist a few weeks ago (yes, I see a therapist and I think every person alive should do the same that has the opportunity, I mean, mama needs to vent!) and we were brainstorming ways I could spend more quality time with my girls.  She actually came up with the idea of surprising my girls with a nail salon one day after school.

I’m not sure my therapist had this in mind when she suggested it, but we tend to go pretty over the top over here on the regular, so I wanted to make a fort nail salon, specifically, a Fort Magic Nail Salon.

This fort is so easy to set up, I cannot recommend it enough.  The kit itself comes with all the bars and parts to put it together in all kinds of shapes.  This particular one was made up by my husband Ev, with the help of the girls.  Then, and this is the best part, you get about 100 little clippy things to hold the fabric onto the bars.  They are so easy to put on it makes you really love the kit that much more.

I had bought yards and yards of cheese clothe for Gigi’s first birthday and never actually used it.  You cans see a very old post of what we did do here.  I can’t believe how long I’ve been blogging and how I actually thought this was a good post at the time.  Yikes.  Regardless, you can see our play house in the very beginning stages.  Anyhoo, I had this cheese clothe and I thought it would be perfect wrapped around the nail salon fort.

Once we got the fabric up, I decorated the salon with anything and everything fabulous I could find in my girl’s rooms.  There was lots to choose from so this part was pretty quick and easy.

We made a little reading nook filled with the fluffiest pillows and rugs I could find.  Added a table and chairs and every nail polish under the sun. And of course some crystals, dream catchers and fairy braids just for good measure.

The last detail was the sign, which I think really made the whole thing come to life.

When my girls got home from school they nearly lost their $#@! when they saw it.  I mean, they just kept petting everything and staring at me and staring at the nail salon.  It was pretty awesome.  Didi’s face below was pretty much how she looked for the first hour, happily dazed and confused.  I do a lot of art with my girls, but their own nail salon, in the house, kind of took the cake.  Plus, it was such a surprise.

Of course we got right into it and did our nails.  First they got their nails done by either me or our amazing nanny, Flor, aka, Florita.

Then I was able to snag an appointment with Didi and she gave me a manicure.

Then she gave herself a manicure.

This made a special 4 year old very happy.

Gigi was busy reading (she’s in kindergarten now and pretty obsessed with learning how to read) while waiting for her appointment.

If you haven’t seen our post about AMAZING non fiction books about girls and women, please check it out.  The Frida book below is on the list and I can’t say enough good things about this series.

Then, after a much needed outfit change, Gigi got in on the manicure action.

Of course, after about an hour or so the girls begged to have their friends over.  I couldn’t say no to that.  I kind of want every child that is into nail salons to come over…by appointment only of course.

It was a truly special afternoon and gave my girls and I the connection we were all very much craving.

Our fort is still up a full week later and I just got my nails and make up done in it.  I know your jealous.  I get it.  Not to worry, I am doing a major giveaway on instagram on Black Friday and one lucky winner will get their own FREE Fort Magic Kit! I’m so excited.  This is one of those bigger ticket items that is so worth the price tag.  I really recommend it and know this is only the beginning of our own personal fort magic making.  We love it!

Happy Holidays everyone and thanks for reading along.  xo, Meri

pics by Neil Apodaca and Meri Cherry

*This post is sponsored by Fort Magic but all opinions are my own.