Ovaries Before Brovaries: Galentine’s Day

If you’re showing up late to the Galentine’s Day party with me, here is the gist: It is an unofficial holiday on February 13 (or 14) for girlfriends celebrating girlfriends. You leave your men and children at home and have a girls’ date.

Amy Poehler’s character on Parks and Rec coined the term. She explains her Galentine’s Day breakfast in a 2010 episode. “It’s like Lilith Fair minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

Moms Prefer Galentine’s Day

Before I fell completely in love with the idea of Galentine’s Day, I polled my gal pals about what they did to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

• Eat chocolate with our girlfriends.
• We (usually try to) keep it simple (because the work falls on Mama).
• Pour the love on the kiddos like syrup over heart-shaped waffles.
• We don’t want to feel fake.
• We don’t want to be disappointed.
• Designate fancy pants dinner with the masses for V-Day for daters only.
• We embrace the love and spread it freely.

In short, we edit February 14 so that it suits our expectations, creativity, and time. Galentine’s Day is the best idea.

Galentine’s Day Angles and Ideas

• Make it a mystery trip.

Invite a handful of your girlfriends out for brunch. Keep the details a secret. Pick them up one at a time, surprising each friend with who is waiting in the backseat. Pick a bright, delicious brunch place such as the Wildflower Cafe in Clearwater, Fl. (Ooh, the pomegranate mimosas!)

• Give a speech . . . or just say thank you.

I hope that my girlfriends know that I think they’re rock stars. I think that they know that. but on Galentine’s Day, I want to tell them I’m grateful for their friendship. My speech won’t be as schmaltzy as  Kristen Wiig’s in the movie Bridesmaids. I’ll keep just the right balance of sap and sincerity. If I get teary, I’ll just say thank you and sip my mimosa.

Use an ice-breaker if you’re not comfortable with giving a speech. Free printables are adorably placed on your friends’ plates. I found a checklist printable that sums up my love for my girlfriends. If you are a cook, save planning time by leaning on ready-to-go menus.

• Play with games from your tween past.

While you’re waiting for the food to arrive, play games such as MASH and Mad Libs. (I found a Golden Girls Mad Libs–hysterical.) I may make cootie-catchers for my friends that contain references to memories, inside jokes, or trivia from the year we met.

You Dig Galentine’s Day, But It Feels Too Extra

I’ve got a grand plan for my besties on Galentine’s Day, but I may not get to it. Let’s be real. If you want a Cliff’s Notes version of Galentine’s Day, try:

• • Post a video on social media that is a shout-out to your girls.
  • Send them a free e-card.
  • In honor of your girlfriends, pay for the lady behind you in the drive-thru line at Starbucks.
  • Shoot a group text full of emojis.

Remember that your girls love and appreciate you–with or without a champagne toast.