By Marica
Next week on the 14th many of us will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with our significant other. While some revel in the idea of a day filled with heart-shaped everything and love ballads, others might find it more than a little repugnant.
Celebrate your Gal Pals!
Whether you are the former or the latter, happily taken or contentedly single, we would like to introduce you to a fresh spin on Valentine’s Day. This year, set aside a day to celebrate the special ladies in your life – your gal pals, BFFs, girlfriends, your squad. Have a Galentine’s Day…
What on earth is Galentine’s Day you might ask? Well, in the words of the unstoppable Leslie Knope (from Parks & Recreation), the woman who created the concept of Galentine’s Day:
“What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home and just kick it breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus, frittatas!”
Galentine’s Day is an opportunity to express just how much your best friends mean to you and to thank them for their loyal support – all the inside jokes, shoulders to cry on, life advice and glasses of wine.
So how does one celebrate Galentine’s?
Put some genuine thought and effort into the occasion. Do food, do decor, do activities, and definitely do get dolled up! Your gal pals should feel special and pampered!
You can be as corny or as classy as you want. Go full-out with the traditional red hearts and Cupid’s arrows or create an elegant scene with tasteful decorations… or else throw in a little bit of both. Just be sure to glam it up!
Galentine’s Day Nibbles
What is a party without good eats? Little finger foods or canapés are always a good idea. AND don’t forget the sweets – cake is a must – you are celebrating a special day after all.
Another excellent and interactive idea is to have a DIY food station – i.e. make your own pasta, or pizza, or hamburgers. Furthermore what is a good gal pal bash without cocktails?
Galentine’s Day Activities
While it is so easy to while away hours with our besties doing nothing but gabbing, Galentine’s Day should feature some rememberable activity. For instance, have a home spa day – pamper your girls with homemade facials and mani-pedis. Mimosa, please!
A rom com movie night is also a great idea. A big “Christmas bed” in front of the TV is a must – there is nothing as inviting and slothful as a room full of pillows and blankets! Then pop some popcorn and binge-watch all those soppy romantic movies that you can never get your man to watch with you. And the dress code – definitely your most comfy PJs!
Why not class it up with High Tea? Lay a table with delectable treats, a collection of teas, and beautiful feminine decorations. Oh, and don’t forget a hat!
Want to take your Galentine’s Day fun to the next level? Try a craftsy DIY activity like making your own jewellery or having a cupcake decorating challenge. The ladies at Glitter Guide had a card making session and a macramé making lady date.
Galentine’s Day Goodie Bag
Now gift bags, and don’t worry, it does not have to be in league with the Oscars gift bags – no need to break the bank. Just a collection of small, affordable gifts that will make your friends feel loved and appreciated.
Lip gloss, nail polish and a little bit of hand cream is an excellent goodie bag liner. Create a special playlist and burn it to a CD so your gal pals can have their own Galentine’s Day mix to remember the day by. Add a personalised card – it does not necessarily have to be handmade – as long as the message inside comes from the heart. Then, a nice smelling candle or cute coffee mug, and a little something to nibble on – fudge or a delicious chocolate maybe?
The Design Tabloid 
Thank you Marica for such an interesting read! This is a whole new concept for me. A whole new and different way of doing the Month of LUV. I feel ‘enlightened’. I guess that maybe that is because my generation hasn’t really encountered the Galantine’s Day event. That’s the cool thing about hanging around with the younger generation – you always live and learn.
It sounds like one has to put a bit of prep work and planning into this event. I suppose like any other event. Somehow with the commercialisation of Valentine’s Day, it has become quite easy just to buy the roses, cards, chocs and book the dinner date, that for me it has become a meaningless date. Far too commercial, something like Mother / Father’s Day. So, this is a breath of fresh air for me.
[…] years we have shared a few no-cheese Valentine’s Day ideas including a post on Galentine’s Day (in my opinion a far superior celebration), a stylish Valentine’s Day picnic, and of course […]