Day of pampering Day of pampering (July 30, 2004)

Shopping spree, day at salon works well for winner
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Denise Armtrout enjoyed a day of indulgence recently, after her daughter nominated her in a contest given by two Main Street businesses.

Denise, 39, was the winner of the "Not So Extreme Makeover" sponsored by Me & Emmi and Fusion 3 SalonSpa. She was chosen from about 120 entries by Karen Dauskurdas, owner of Me & Emmi, and store managers Lori Barnes and Kristen Thompson. Her daughter Kayla, a student at Amador Valley, entered her in the contest.

"Lots of kids nominated their moms. Lots of husbands nominated their wives," said Dauskurdas. "We pulled out the most compelling entries and narrowed them to five."

Kayla's nomination read:

"My name is Kayla and I'm 16 years old, and I believe that my mom deserves this, because it's just her and I living together and she barely ever has the time or money to do anything for herself because she's always making sure I always have everything I need and she is busy just trying to make it month to month. She never has anything left for herself. This is the only way that I can think of that I can make her feel special and appreciated again."

"Your daughter's description was so sweet," Karen told Denise when she arrived at Me & Emmi on a recent Friday for her day of pampering. Denise wiped away tears of emotion.

The day began with picking out two outfits, with the help of staff. Then it was off to Fusion 3 for a facial, manicure, haircut, color and styling, and makeup.

Denise took the day off from her job with Pleasanton Unified School District in Child Nutrition Services, where she dresses casually to serve food at Amador Valley High.

"I don't wear nice clothes to work," she said. She was shopping at Me & Emmi for fun, comfortable outfits for after hours.

Denise, who grew up in Pleasanton, said she looked on the day as a chance to "do something for myself and not feel selfish." She wasn't looking for a makeover, exactly, but for a relaxing, fun experience. She had plans that night to go to the Fair with a group of old friends, some dating back 30 years, and see Night Rangers, an '80s group.

The three Me & Emmi staff members are in the business of making women look good and, bitten by makeover fever, they wanted to help someone in the community. Fusion 3 owners, Debbie Weisberg, Frank King and Larry Phillips, agreed to chip in to complete the Not So Extreme Makeover.

Denise said she didn't know Kayla had nominated her for the makeover until she told her mother she had been chosen. "She enters me in everything," said Denise.

Kayla read about the makeover while checking out the Pleasanton Weekly to find a job. What she found, instead, was a way to do something nice for her mom.

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