Do you remember when you were in middle school and, like, the best thing ever was to be invited to another girl’s house for a sleepover? I used to LIVE for these nights. There was just something so great and exhilarating about being in a room with six or seven of my closest pals, eating foods that were never allowed any other day of the week, telling our deepest secrets, and laughing until our stomachs hurt. Girls nights were, to put it simply, just fun!
I crave nights like this, but without the Truth or Dare and the mean pranks. If you are looking to have a night of fun with all of your favorite girlfriends, why not think like an eighth grade girl and invite all of your besties over to your house? Here are a few ideas to help you get the party started.
1. Game Night. Game nights are such a great opportunity for fun. Finger foods, new faces, a little friendly competition…what’s not to love? Some of my personal favorite group games are Trivial Pursuit, Apples to Apples, and Dominos. With games like Bunco or Pokeno, you can meet once a month with each girl taking her turn to host. These monthly game nights are a great opportunity to meet new people. Grab two or three of your closest friends, and each of you invite two or three people. Over time, these friendly acquaintances may become some of your very best friends!
2. Book Club. If you are interested in starting a book club, make sure you email or call your friends about a month ahead of time. This gives them plenty of time to find the book and read it. Then, get all of the girls together to discuss the book and enjoy some refreshments. If you are the hostess, it is important that you prepare a few open-ended, thought-provoking questions ahead of time. There is nothing worse than having a book club meeting, and nobody knows quite where to start or what to even talk about. One other tip: invite your friends who actually enjoy reading. The last thing you want to have is a book club when nobody you’ve invited has read the book! Book clubs are another great way to start meeting regularly with your girlfriends. You could meet monthly and take turns hosting.
3. Clothes swap. A clothes swap is SO MUCH FUN. I started doing these many years ago, and my friends were always eager to know when the next one would be. After all, what’s more fun than free shopping? A great tip is to avoid treating a night like this as a garage sale. Instead of telling your guests to bring along all of their unwanted clothing items, ask them to bring between five and ten of their absolute favorite items that they no longer wear. Then, have fun trying on the items! Whatever items of clothing are leftover can be donated to a charity of your choice.
4. A favorite things party. I have been invited to a couple of these, and let me just say that they are amazing. Here’s the concept: you bring three of your favorite thing (not three different things, three of the same item), having a $10 limit per item. So, if your favorite thing is Essie Nail Polish in Turquoise and Caicos, you bring three of those, individually wrapped. Once the party is going, each girl should put her name on three scraps of paper and put those in a hat or box. Then, each girl picks three names out of the hat/box. So, let’s say Suzie came to your party. When it’s Suzie’s turn, everyone who drew her name passes her one of their favorite things. Then everyone watches while Suzie opens her three presents. Some examples of items that you could bring would be lipstick, nail polish, candles, bracelets, thank you notes, CCs Gift Cards, etc. I’m telling you, ladies. These parties are GREAT.
Whatever you decide to do, the most important part is just enjoying your friends. Hopefully you and your closest girlfriends can enjoy a girls night soon!
All of those ideas were great but I believe home paint pARTies are also another great idea. I know that this being my business, I have to say good things about it but I enjoy it and I know that the people that participate enjoy it also. Having a paint pARTy at a friends/your house is the way to go. It is laid back and time is never an issue…unless it is the group asking me to stay longer :). I think the best one I have been a part of was a PJ paint pARTy, endless food, laughter and really getting in some quality time with those girl friends that have been absent to long in your life. pARTy at Your Place is my business and I travel every where. I do believe having quality time with friends is essential to a happy life.
That sounds so fun, Courtney!