Here are 5 ways to celebrate Galentine’s day with your gal pals while being socially distanced.
- Picnic in the Park
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If you’re comfortable hanging out with your friends outside, just pick a sunny area and have fun. However, if you’d prefer to stay six feet apart, a socially-distanced picnic is the way to go. I’ve relied a lot on picnics to hang out with friends during COVID-19, so here are a few tips:
1. Make sure to bring your own picnic blanket. If the grass is wet or you want to lie down, you’ll be happy to have an old quilt with you.
2. Bring a speaker. I took listening to music with friends for granted before corona. But it is easy to bring it back with an outdoor speaker and a Spotify playlist.
3. Bring food!
For this last one, you can stay on-theme with chocolates, heart-shaped sandwiches, berries, or anything red. Another great idea is to coordinate outfits. You can plan to wear red and pink, matching clothes, or even rosy-hued sundresses! If you’re looking for Galentine’s outfit inspo, check out another HC article here.
- Mailing Handwritten Letters
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Many of my closest friends are away at college, some as far off as Canada! I wanted to find a way to tell them how much I missed and appreciated them. I had never considered sending Galentine’s cards to my friends before, but this year, I’m giving it a try. So far, it has been fantastic. I’m writing about all the things that make my friends the best people in the world. It’s just as fun to write out compliments for your friends as it is to receive them, and who doesn’t love getting mail? You can decorate your letters with Galentine’s themed stickers and stamps, or even send Galentine’s themed candy in the envelope. If you’re starting to get bored of group facetime and zoom calls, handwritten letters are a great way to connect with your friends!
- Presentation Night
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Presentation nights are so good for so many different types of virtual get-togethers. Whether you want to analyze your friends’ star signs, plan your marriage to your favorite celebrity, or recommend a really good book, Google Slides has your back! For Galentine’s day, I’d recommend a “Ten Things I Love About You” theme complete with a lot of photos of Heath Ledger and even more of your best friends! If you want more options, Canva has tons of cute templates for Galentine’s day and more! Some other rom-com inspired themes include: “Friends, Actually”, “Four Ladies and a Groupchat”, “When (blank) met (blank)”, “To All The Friends I’ve Annoyed Before”, and “Always Be My Bestie”.
- Rom Com Netflix Party
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Anyone who’s been trying to stay connected during COVID-19 knows that Netflix Party (now Teleparty) and Amazon Watch Parties are two classics. This year for Galentine’s Day, watch a romantic comedy with your friends. Curl up with some dark chocolate, a group facetime call, and your preferred streaming service, and have a cozy night in. If you have Netflix, here are some good ones: Easy A, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, and Always Be My Maybe.
- Book Review Exchange
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For the literary fanatics out there, consider doing a book review exchange with your friends. Set up a group zoom or facetime call and share your take on the latest book you’ve read. Keep in mind that this can be adapted for Netflix shows, movies, or even your Amazon shopping cart. The premise is just sharing something you like with your friends. I recently read The Secret History by Donna Tartt based off of a friend’s recommendation, and it was amazing – a thrilling mix of elegant language and literary allusion. While a book review exchange may not be the most romantic option for Galentine’s day, it’s perfect for close friend groups. If there’s anyone who can recommend something that you’ll love to read, it’s your friends. They know you best!