Streaks and curls of holiday lights reflect off the tinted windows of a hot pink stretch limo as it winds its way through the suburban streets of Bethel Park. Inside the limo, the mirrored ceiling bounces neon lights onto a group of young girls singing (shouting?) in unison, a group of girls who a mere hour and a half ago were wary strangers. Their freshly painted sparkly nails cut and wave brazen zig-zags through the air as they launch into Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, and “Frozen” songs in unison.
“We have girls that come in that are as shy as can be, and in ten minutes they’re up on that stage. They relax, they have fun, they have smiles on their face,” said Sweet and Sassy store owner Amanda Laporte on creating a space for girls at the children’s spa, salon, and party space in the South Hills Village Mall. A night at one of Sweet and Sassy’s monthly special events has the feel of a souped-up (but better behaved) all-American sleepover, with big girls who know the ropes leading the way, fixing the hair, painting the nails, and leading the sing-alongs, all over hot chocolate with the works. Repeat guests like eight-year-old Lyla Ostrowski, who this night had her hair done in a glittery, reindeer-inspired updo, show that the opportunity to feel pampered is not valued only by adults. “This is the place to be,” laughs her mother, Tracy.
Girls sing Frozen’s “Let it Go” as they drive around in a pink stretch limo during Sweet and Sassy’s lights and limo event in Bethel Park on Dec. 29, 2016. Pictured left to right are Mackenzie Downey, 5, of McCandless, Lyla Ostrowski, 8, Alyssa Lips, 7, and Julia Tengowski, 7, all of Peters Township, and Bella Trout, 9, of McCandless.“We have girls that come in that are as shy as can be, and in ten minutes they’re up on that stage. They relax, they have fun, they have smiles on their face,” said Sweet and Sassy store owner Amanda Laporte on creating a space for girls. Here, Katherine Starr, 18, of Upper St. Clair, sings along to the music a group of girls as they dance together to pop music in between making hot chocolate and getting their hair and nails done at Sweet and Sassy in South Hills Village Mall in Bethel Park on Dec. 29, 2016.Lizzy Elton, left, 17, of Bethel Park, adds a glitter heart to the cheek of Mackenzie Downey, 5, of Ross, at Sweet and Sassy in South Hills Village Mall in Bethel Park on Dec. 29, 2016. “Our goal is to make sure that every little girl that leaves feels her best,” said Sweet and Sassy store owner Amanda Laporte, who says she tries to offer two special events outside of private parties and appointments a month, one for younger girls and one for girls a bit older.Alyssa Jamison, 18, of South Park, sings along to Taylor Swift as she styles the hair of Alyssa Lips, 7, of Peters Township, at Sweet and Sassy in South Hills Village Mall in Bethel Park on Dec. 29, 2016. The girls visited the children’s salon, spa, and party place for a special lights and limos event where they were treated to glittering reindeer-inspired updos, nail polish, and makeup between sips of hot chocolate, leading up to a ride around town to see the holiday lights in a hot pink stretch limo. Waiting their turn to get glamorous are Lyla Ostrowski, left, 8, of Peters Township, and her cousin Julia Tengowski, right front, 7, of Peters Township. “I like watching T.V. while I get my hair cut,” said Ostrowski, who considers herself a bit of a regular, of her reason for returning again and again to the salon. “This is the place to be,” added her mother, Tracy.Bella Trout, 9, of McCandless, covers her eyes as Katherine Starr, 18, of Upper St. Clair, sprays glitter onto Trout’s reindeer-inspired updo at Sweet and Sassy in South Hills Village Mall in Bethel Park on Dec. 29, 2016. The children’s salon, spa and party place caters to the younger set with beauty services, themed events, and rides in a hot pink stretch limo among other pampering experiences.“I like watching T.V. while I get my hair cut,” said eight-year-old Lyla Ostrowski, who considers herself a bit of a regular, of her reason for returning again and again to Sweet and Sassy’s salon. “This is the place to be,” added her mother, Tracy. Ostrowski is reflected in the mirrored ceiling as she rides in the hot pink stretch limo to see the neighborhood holiday lights in Bethel Park on Dec. 29, 2016.
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