This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com
F
ebruary is the month of love. Many think of romantic love for Valentine’s Day, but it’s so much more than that! Familial love, philia (friendship) love, and self-love are just as important and should never be overlooked or taken for granted. Each year, I throw a Galentine’s Party for the girls in my life whether they are married, single, it’s-complicated, or you name it. Whatever stage we are in life, we come together to celebrate our relationships, our friendships, and ourselves.
I show my friends how much I love them by hosting a sweet, intimate gathering where we can be ourselves and catch up. Along with quality time, I like to give little love gifts. Whenever they mention something they’d like or need, I make a mental note and then put it on my phone for a later date. This year, I gathered the intel that one friend would love new earrings, another a makeup mirror, and the last a pair of blue-light blocker glasses. The stunning sterling silver earrings are by designer Ellen Tracy. I think my friend will love how they can be worn everyday or dressed up for special occasions! I also got a great makeup zoom mirror by Ellen Tracy as well from her cosmetics line, which can be found at any TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, and Burlington. I love the simple circular design with the sleek gold rim. I know this will be super useful! For my friend who works on her computer all day, I scored blue blocker lenses from Zenni eyewear. The whimsical heart-shaped frame will make her happy while the lenses will protect her eyes from harmful screen light. As a gift for all of us, I got a bottle of Reserva by Campo Viejo from Pernod Ricard. We are all in our mid-to-late twenties and enjoy a glass of wine at social gatherings. The rich fruity wine will pair perfectly with the cheese board I'm serving. Some years, we watch The Bachelor, so I also like to provide some chocolate roses as a special final treat. It’s the ultimate girls' night full of laughter and bonding.
Here are a few of my tips on how to throw your very own ultimate Galentine’s party:
Tip 1: Pick a date that works best for everyone. It doesn’t even have to be close to February 14. As long as you are all together on the day, that’s what makes it special.
Tip 2: Have special little love gifts for all in attendance that show how you listen to them and care for them.
Tip 3: Provide festive decor for an uplifting atmosphere. It can be as simple and understated or as grand and sparkling as you want.
Tip 4: Have an activity planned to break the ice and have everyone laughing and talking in no time, like a movie you’ve all been hoping to see (ie: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 2). My friends and I are planning on a game night this year. My one request is that everyone brings their favorite game to ensure endless fun!
Tip 5: Provide drinks and snacks, but don’t stress yourself. If budgeting makes this step tricky or scary, feel free to ask each friend to bring one thing. There is no shame or harm in asking your nearest and dearest to help make the gathering the best it can be!
Tip 6: Dress comfortably and in whatever makes you feel good. My friends and I have worn workout clothes (thinking we’d work out. Shocker, we didn’t, but we still had a good time being comfortable). We even had a PJ night one year and that was a cozy blast!
This year, I’m opening up the Galentine’s Day celebration to a few of the husbands in the group. It makes sense for us all to be together rather than separate since some of my closest friends bought a house 2 hours away. They are moving soon, so we want to spend as much time together as possible while we can. How do you celebrate love in February? Let me know in the comments below! Xoxo, Shelly
No comments:
Post a Comment