We were first introduced to Galentine’s Day in Season Two of Parks and Recreation. Leslie Knope holds her annual Galentine’s get-together every February 13th to celebrate the girlfriends in her life. In the episode, Knope hosts a lunch at a nice restaurant, invites all her closest girls and gives them all thoughtful, homemade gifts. Only Leslie Knope, right? While doing Galentine’s at a restaurant can be a bit pricey and hard to coordinate, an at-home (or at-dorm) version is totally doable for you busy college girls! If you’re a big Parks and Rec fan, or if you just want an excuse to get you friends together, here’s everything you’ll need to host the best Galentine’s Day at home.
The first thing you’ll need is a sappy romantic comedy. There are thousands of rom-coms out there, yet Hollywood manages to produce dozens more each year. 13 Going on 30, 50 First Dates, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Clueless are some really fun ones to watch with your girlfriends. If you’re having trouble picking one to watch, just write some movie names on slips of paper and pick one at random. One of the oldest tricks in the books, but it never fails. Don’t forget the popcorn!
It wouldn’t be a girl’s night without giving each other manicures. Pick out some Valentine’s Day colors like pinks, reds and purples. Have a hand soaking station with warm soapy water, some nice hand lotion and quick-drying topcoat for everyone to use; you don’t want everyone to have to wait an hour before they can touch anything. You can also buy quick-dry spray or drops that will make your nails scratchproof in a matter of minutes.
Having a craft or activity do to at your Galentine’s Day celebration will keep your friends engaged and it’s a bonding activity as well. You can get a kit to make each other Valentine’s Day cards, Disney Princess coloring books or some plain white mugs and Sharpie markers for quick and easy DIY activities.
Everyone loves an excuse to eat sweets, so having some treats for your friends to eat will definitely be a win. You can buy pre-made cookie dough or cupcake mix and make the desserts together or buy some from your local grocery store if you’re pressed for time. If you decide to make the treats together, decorating with frosting and sprinkles will add some festivity and excitement to your creations.
If you’re of legal age, get some pink champagne or red wine for your girls to enjoy. If you can’t or just don’t want to drink, try out some mocktail recipes. Starting with a base of ginger ale, add different kinds of juice like orange or cranberry and voila! You have yourself a delicious (and inexpensive) mocktail.
The key to hosting the best Galentine’s Day party is to invite your best girlfriends and be able to let loose and have a little fun. The whole purpose of Galentine’s is to celebrate great friendships and show your friends how much you love them. Don’t be afraid to be super sentimental and tell your girls how much you appreciate them and why you love them so much. Have a happy Galentine’s Day, Fashionistas!
