Another Feb. 14 is on the horizon and it’s yet another year that you may be celebrating Valentine’s Day alone. Maybe your spouse is deployed, TDY, or flying late. So much for that romantic dinner you had your heart set on.
But don’t worry — you’re sure to have friends in the same boat. Why not celebrate the important relationships with the ladies you couldn’t do life without with a Galentine’s Day celebration instead?
What is Galentine’s Day?
Galentine’s Day (typically celebrated Feb. 13) was made famous in 2010 by the popular TV show “Parks and Recreation” when fictional character Leslie Knope hosted a brunch to show appreciation for her female friends and co-workers. Since the episode aired more than 10 years ago, women have run with the idea, hosting their own fabulous get-togethers.
This year, of course, we’re dealing with an additional wrinkle to traditional Valentine’s (and Galentine’s) Day plans thanks to COVID-19 and social distancing policies in place in many parts of the country and world. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t fun ways to break out of your coronavirus sweatpants and Netflix binge sessions to celebrate with your galentines safely!
Virtual spa night
You’ve likely spent more time in sweats and pjs during this past year. So throw on your favorite pajamas (bonus points if they’re “on theme” — we’re talking hearts, red, or pink), light a relaxing candle, and hop on a video call with your girlfriends for a virtual spa night.
This is the perfect opportunity to catch up on life, sip champagne, try out a new face mask or moisturizing hair mask, and even daring nail color.
Create your own floral arrangement
Who needs red roses from your Valentine when you can create a bouquet of your very own?
Several professional florists offer online classes and even online floral arranging parties! Most send participants all of the materials they’ll need to design the perfect bouquet prior to the online event. Get your best girls together to create a floral arrangement that you will love or make one for yourself!
Virtual wine and chocolate pairing
Is it really Valentine’s Day if you aren’t enjoying some chocolate? Why not indulge in a virtual wine and chocolate pairing?
Get a few friends together for a video call, get dressed up (if you’re feeling fancy), and get ready for a delectable evening.
You can purchase wine and chocolate pairing sets online or just create your own.
Here are a few combinations to try:
- Champagne or sparkling wine and milk chocolate-covered strawberries
- Chardonnay and white chocolate
- Sauvignon Blanc and citrus-infused white chocolate
- Pinot Noir and chocolate caramels
- Shiraz and chocolate mints
- Cabernet Sauvignon and dark chocolate cherry truffles
- Red Zinfandel and dark chocolate
Take a few notes as you’re trying different pairings, and then take turns sharing which you enjoyed the most!
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Socially distanced picnic
If you live in a warm-weather climate, take your Galentine’s celebration outdoors for a socially-distanced picnic.
Make the backyard a little more festive by stringing bistro lights overhead, curating a music playlist just for the occasion, and bringing a sense of cozy to the outdoors with plenty of pillows and blankets (spaced at least six feet apart, of course!)
Since you’ll be together (but distanced), there is no need to agree on red, white, rose, or bubbles. Make it BYOB! And for food, you can each make individual charcuterie boards.
When it comes to your charcuterie board, you can go as simple or as elaborate as you like. Here are some ideas for delicious foods and condiments to include to get you started:
- Cheese (a good mix of hard and soft cheese is ideal)
- Cured meats
- Crackers/bread
- Fruit
- Dried fruits
- Nuts
- Olives
- Chocolate
- Honey
- Jam
Bake Valentine’s Day goodies together — via Zoom!
Make this Galentine’s Day extra sweet by baking some goodies with your friends. No need to all crowd into one kitchen; this baking party can be done via Zoom or another video app!
Pick out a recipe in advance (that way, everyone can ensure they’ve got all of the ingredients on hand). You can whip up anything from heart-shaped sugar cookies you can bake and decorate to Raspberry Creme Brulee.
Once you’ve finished making your sweet treats, you can reward your hard work in the kitchen and test them out together — virtually!
The best thing about some of these virtual Galentine’s celebrations? You can include friends from all over the globe, from Japan to Washington D.C. to Germany –– a proper excuse to use the phrase “It’s 5 ‘o’clock somewhere!”
