Galentine’s Day

So, apparently, Galentine’s Day is a thing. It’s a holiday that Amy Poehler’s character on Parks and Recreation invented. According to Leslie Knope, “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 we just come and kick it, breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

It’s basically a reason to get together with your gal pals, bffs, and soul sisters (not that we needed an excuse). And you can celebrate it however you want! BellinghamSTYLE chose to celebrate with an afternoon of sparkling rose and deliciously colorful treats.

The hearts that I did use were primarily in the sugar cookies and a small painting that I created myself with some paints and canvas that I had on hand. Add this to a few dollar store finds, and wha-la, you have a certified Galentine’s Day decorated party!

Setting The Scene

Even though this is a Valentine’s Day celebration, I actually used very few hearts in the decor. What brought the party to life was the bold use of pink and red, which was set against a white kitchen and hallway. Here are some of the ways that I injected color into the party:

Red glassybabies
Pink vases and candles
Pink and red striped paper straws
Seasonal flowers
Pink and red ribbons, streamers, pom-poms, fringe, and balloons. All of which I already had on hand.
An apothecary jar filled with pink and red jelly beans. Let’s face it, even adults love jelly beans! Plus, you can have some cellophane bags on hand so that the mom’s can take some home to the little and big kids at home.

Yummy!

Whenever I entertain, I like to do a combination of making something special for my guests, along with purchasing something local. When I make a new dessert or appetizer, my guests know that I went out of my way and did something special for them. Plus, I like getting their feedback when I make something new.

I also like to buy something from a local business or bakery. I find that some people are intimidated by entertaining, especially when they aren’t experienced bakers. So this gives them examples and resources for when they have people over.

In addition, sometimes we all just have a lot going on in our lives, and simply don’t have the extra time to bake something for a party or get together. Plus, buying something supports local businesses. The tasty looking cupcakes featured in this post were graciously donated by Pure Bliss Desserts.

Meringue cookies are a great gluten-free option, plus they can be fun and whimsical. When it comes to meringues, you definetly want to plan ahead and make a batch or two in order to get the hang of it. While I have a great Christmas meringue cookie recipe that I have made numerous times, it has white chocolate chips and crushed candy canes in it, so the process is slightly different than the traditional meringue recipe.

For this party, I did some research and tried a new recipe. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the best recipe, as the cookies flattened and didn’t maintain their shape. Fortunately, I planned ahead and did a practice batch, thus, I had time to find a new, and hopefully, better recipe. The second recipe turned out much better, as the tips really helped. And, as you can see in the pictures, they maintained their shapes nicely!!

Being that I didn’t have a lot of heart shapes in either the decorations or treats, I decided to incorporate the shape by making some sugar cookies. Over the holidays, I discovered the best sugar cookie recipe ever! The directions were easy to follow and my first batch was turned out great. Being that I was making some large cookies, I made them on the thicker side at about 1/4 inch. I followed the same format for my heart shaped cookies, which provided me with a nice sturdy cookie, which held up under the frosting, sprinkles. transportation and display. I recommend doing a test run with different thicknesses so that you can find out what works best for you.

Drinks

I’m keeping it simple here. Sparkling Rose or Pink Champagne! I mean, what else is there to serve at a Galentine’s Day party? Check out Serious Eats list of the best sparkling rose wines under $30 for some great recommendations.

Cake Plates, Serving Trays & Bowls, Oh My!

When it comes to serving pieces, I go one of two ways:

I either work the party theme around a whimsical set of colorful pieces that I already own or borrow from my mom.
Or, use my white and clear glass pieces as blank pallets and let the treats and desserts reflect the theme of my event.

The white and clear glass was perfect for our Galentine’s Day event. It really allowed the colors of the treats and other party pieces to POP with a capital “P”! This is a concept that you can easily adapt to any number of events, especially when you what a clean and fresh look.

Party Favors Aren’t Just For Kids

Seriously, when was the last time you received a party favor? I bet it made you smile!! Last year my mom celebrated a milestone birthday. One of her fabulous friends hosted a celebratory lunch. Not only did her friend set the table with these beautiful botanical placements, but she also included coordinating party favors as well. And let me tell you, everyone was raving about it!

Here is a list of some of my favorite party favors:

Locally made soap or bath bombs that reflect the theme of the party.
Lip balm for ‘kissable lips’, I love Ever Skincare’s Smooth!
Whimsical bracelets or earrings.
Locally made chocolate truffles.
Send some treats home with your guests using fun containers, like the one pictured above.

No matter what you choose, your friends will love it!

Whatcha Gonna Wear?

Whether you’re hosting/attending a mom’s night out or a ladies’ night in, planning your outfit is part of the fun! And just because it’s still gray outside, doesn’t mean that your wardrobe needs to be as well.

Here are some stylish suggestions on what to wear for a night out with your friends:

A cashmere sweater in your favorite spring color.
A polka dot or plaid shirt with your sleeves rolled up.
A bold striped top with a mix of fun colors.

All of these pair nicely with pair of dark skinny jeans or black pants. And don’t forget the accessories!! A colorful scarf can up the ante in a solid color sweater. Then add your favorite pair of earrings and you’re good to go!

Now all you need is to set the date and send out the invites for your own Galentine’s Day Celebration!!