Some of life’s most memorable moments happen when you’re surrounded by your besties. Where inside jokes become a mainstay of future group chats, life’s wins and losses are celebrated or commiserated and there’s always one to bring up that embarrassing photo from at least a decade ago.
It’s even backed by science—social interaction is beneficial to every aspect of our health. Research shows having a reliable support network is excellent for our emotional and physical wellbeing, but we don’t need any excuses to get the girls round for a good time.
So when you’re planning your next night in, consult this handy list of ideas for things to do with your gang:
Pampering Night
We could all use extra time for self-care and stress relief so why not turn your home into a five-star luxury wellness retreat for the evening.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Bath robes and slippers are a must if you want to really feel the part (or matching onesies during chillier nights).
- Your choice of treatments. An enzyme face mask followed by a quartz/jade roller and gua sha or give each other a manicure.
- If you’ve got a friend in the beauty industry, see if you can twist their arm to do a lash lamination or eyebrow tinting.
- A relaxing playlist to set the tone.
- A room diffuser with your choice of fragrance or opt for your favourite essential oil combination. I can really recommend a bergamot and lavender blend as a relaxing yet invigorating mood lifter.
- You don’t have to be certified reflexologists (perhaps a quick YouTube tutorial will do) but try ‘your hand’ at a hand massage. You’ll be amazed at how relaxed you feel afterwards.
- And don’t forget the cucumber slices!
Host your own poker night
Ordinarily the reserve of men, recently, more and more of us have had a go at hosting a ladies poker night and it’s actually so much fun when the bravado is left at the door.
All you really need is a deck of cards—matchsticks, copper coins or buttons (anything really) can replace the poker chips. If you’re beginners, Texas hold ‘em is one of the most approachable versions of the game but there are dozens to choose from if you’re seasoned card-sharks.
Forget the trope of overly serious old men in dark, musty, smoke filled back rooms, turn your front room into your very own glamorous Monte Carlo casino.
Play for fun or up the ante and throw a few quid into the pot. If you want to make it a regular fixture in your diaries, invest in some casino chips (and practise rolling them over your fingers to psyche out your opponents—I mean friends).
Cocktail night
Your bank balance will breathe a sigh of relief to learn you’re making them yourself and not getting them at the cocktail bar. Recreate classics or have a go at making your own creations and have a taste-off to see who’s the best mixologist.
Between your friends, I’m sure you can muddle together all the necessary cocktail accessories: a shaker, a measure, a strainer, a muddler, a mixing spoon and a zester are all useful for the adventurous, but the shaker and ingredients are the only essentials. If you’ve got a travel coffee mug lying around, you can use it to easily make Manhattans or Martinis.
Gin cocktails are all the rage right now and there are umpteen ways to jazz up the humble G&T. Try this refreshing rosemary and grapefruit concoction. All you need, on top of your favourite gin and tonic of course, is grapefruit juice and rosemary.
If you’re off the sauce, there are some great virgin and fruit cocktail recipes available, like this Kombucha Spritz mocktail. And if he’s at a loose end why not get the husband to serve the drinks, as long as he doesn’t expect a tip at the end of the night.
At-home cinema night
If you’re short on time to prepare, movie night is a great fuss-free option. Order the pizzas, get the popcorn in and get comfy.
The hardest bit might be choosing the film. I don’t know about you but I feel like there is such a thing as too much choice. Hopefully one of your friends is more decisive than I am! Your favourite streaming providers usually have some handy recommendations or you can agree on a genre and peruse that category together.
Potluck Feast
Ok I might have borrowed this from our pals over the pond but they’re on to something with this one. Invite your friends over with the only stipulation being they each bring one homemade dish with them.
It’s a chance to really flex your gastronomic talents and knock up that dish that always gets good feedback. And there’s something great about catching up over a meal—after all, food shared is food enjoyed.
The American potluck favourites tend to be casseroles, fried chicken and mac & cheese but it doesn’t have to be heavy, indulgent comfort foods. Feel free to bring a zingy Greek salad with red onion and feta, Middle Eastern cauliflower, pistachio and pomegranate combo or oven roasted Mediterranean vegetables with a garlic pangritata.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to try something you’ve not tried before and the more friends on the guest list, the more choice of food to enjoy but do make sure at least one person is on dessert duty.
So what do you think? I hope this list gives you some inspiration for your next get together and you give some of these a go.
Leave a Reply