I love a good party. I especially love to throw a good party. So ever since Leslie Knope of the tv show Parks and Recreation introduced the world to Galentine's Day last year, I've been wanting to have one of my own. "Introducing the best fake holiday EVER: Galentine's Day! Its time to treat yo' self" So read the invitation to what turned out to be one of my top ten favorite parties ever. Simple, easy and quick to plan, Galentine's Day was not as wild or as extravagant as some of my other favorite affairs have been, which is exactly what made it so great. We did the basics: ate a yummy lunch of potato leek soup, salad and bread (recipes to follow in a post later this week!), enjoyed several desserts each, chatted, and drank mimosas on a Saturday afternoon. But we also did something special. In a letter attached to the email invitation I sent to my Galentine's guests I gave them advance warning that at this celebration, we'd be doing something none of us are very accustomed to doing. We would take a few hours on a Saturday in early February just for ourselves, just to talk about ourselves. "Whaaaa?" you say! " That sounds Awkward. Yeah, with a capital "A." Because really, as women, when do we do that? Thus, this letter, and the event that followed: "From what I know and remember its been a big year for us all. I think its time to celebrate our accomplishments and triumphs, big and small. I think its to celebrate our very “galness”. That is, its time to celebrate Galantine's day. Girls, we live too often for the people around us and the timelines we feel imposed upon us. This Saturday, for a couple of hours, its going to be all about us. We’ll celebrate each other, the year behind us, and the one in front of us. I want you to come congratulate me on my promotion at work and learning what the permanent press button on my washing machine is for, and in turn I will toast to all of your recent breakthroughs. We will boast about ourselves and not worry that we sound full of ourselves, because we’re awesome, damn it. We will eat. We will sit upon our asses. Some of us will day drink. Its going to be fun, and I can’t wait to share it with you, one of my very favorite women. Cheers, and ovaries before brovaries, Belinda Besides lifting each other up, the toasts also kept conversation flowing in an intentional way. When everyone sat down for lunch I asked them to write as many as they wanted but at least two "cheers to me" toasts on a slip of paper and put them in a tureen in the center of the table. As lunch went on I would draw them one at a time, giving each lady time to elaborate on her accomplishment and tell the story of her past year. This was a great way to keep conversation flowing. I recommend this for groups of both old and new friends, because even if you never run out of things to say with your best girl friends, this method kept our focus on the meaning of Galentine's Day. Because we are a very accomplished group, we had a whole lot of toasts and by the end of all of the "Cheers!" we were all feeling pretty darn cheerful, if you know what I mean... or bloated. The pregnant women may have been feeling a little bit full from all of that sparkling lemonade! But seriously, I think we were feeling full in general- of delicious food and of the warmth of a long afternoon wiled away in good company. I HIGHLY encourage you to throw this party for your own group of gals. Copy the heck out of this idea. Copy the letter invite, the toasting game, the menu (I will post recipes later this week), the fearless female quote placemats, anything you want. Just do it. Because Galentine's Day is the best fake holiday EVER.
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