Galentine's Day, celebrated on February 13th, is an unofficial holiday for women and their friends. A perfect occasion for a girls-only sleepover, the checklist includes pajamas, pillow, and blanket, an overnight bag, and a sleep mask. Activities like floral arranging, vision boards, board games, and spa night add to the fun. A sleep-friendly charcuterie board, a tea bar, and a TikTok-inspired sleepy girl mocktail make for delightful eats and drinks.
If you haven’t heard of Galentine’s Day, it’s essentially an unofficial holiday celebrated on February 13th (or anytime before Valentine’s Day) by women and their gals.
It’s a day filled with things like rom-coms, sweet treats, and fun activities that allow you to spend time with your girlfriends and celebrate your special friendship. Not to mention, It’s the perfect excuse to host a girls-onlyadult slumber partyfor all the nostalgic feels!
This year, I drove out toDallasto have an early Galentine’s Day celebration with my old college roommates.If you’d like to host your very own Galentine’s sleepover party, or you’re attending your first one and don’t know what to expect, here’s our ultimate checklist for a successful girls’ night in and an even better night’s sleep.
What you should bring to your sleepover
Pajamas
Is it even a sleepover if you don’t wearpajamas? Bring out the matching sets, the pinks and reds, and the fuzzy socks that’ll make you feel cute and cozy.
Pillow and blanket
While your host typically handles sleeping arrangements and bedding, bringing your favoriteblanketandpillowthat you know will help you get a good night’s sleep is totally acceptable. In fact, it’s recommended so you feel comfortable sleeping in a new environment!
Overnight bag
Makeup, next-day outfit, toiletries—you know the drill!
Sleep mask
Everyone has different sleep preferences, even your best friends! Some prefer sleeping with the light on while others don’t, so bring a
sleep mask Blocks out light for restful sleep while protecting the delicate skin around the eyes
so you’re prepared.
Pack these items for your Galentine's Day sleepover
Sweater Knit Blanket
Wrap yourself in indulgent comfort with the weighty yet breathable softness of our sweater knit blanket. 100% long-staple cotton gets softer with every wash.
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Down Alternative Pillow
Made from two types of hypoallergenic down alternative fibers, wrapped in 100% organic cotton. Soft, plush, and breathable for cool, comfortable sleep.
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Silk Eye Mask
Drift into dreamland with our sleep-enhancing eye mask made of the finest quality mulberry silk. It keeps light out for more uninterrupted sleep—no matter where you are.
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Activities you and the girls can do
Floral arranging
Why wait for a gifted bouquet when you can make your own? Floral arranging takes some simple bouquets from the grocery store—along with tissue paper, ribbon, and a little imagination—and creates the cutest DIY party favor. It’s also pretty relaxing to do too!
Vision boards
While vision boards are typically made in the new year season, February is the perfect time to create one if you haven’t already. A vision board is a collage of words, pictures, and symbols that showcase your 2024 goals (whether that’s to stick to a fitness routine or get better sleep) and motivate you to achieve them throughout the year. Grab your old magazines and newspapers, a board, some gluesticks, and scissors to craft the vision board of your dreams!
Board games
Every sleepover needs some good ol’ board games and card games to bond and de-stress. My friend group’s go-tos are UNO, Taboo, For the Girls, and Incoherent.
Spa night
Bring out the nail polish,face masks, andcandlesto relax, refresh, and recharge with your girls and get a good night’s rest. Nothing like getting some TLC in good company!
Create a “for the girls”music playlist
Every party needs music, and a Galentine’s Day playlist is the perfect way to allow everyone to listen to songs they like as well as bond over the songs you know. My friends and I made this R&B playlist to fill the evening with nostalgia!
Give Galentine’s Day cards
Tell the girlfriends in your life how much their friendship means to you with store-bought or DIY Galentine’s Day cards. (Warning: You might get some tears!)
Watch a movie or your favorite series
While this isn’t our go-to activity, we do love a goodBachelor(ette)episode or a Disney movie playing in the background to make the party vibe cozy and give the room that “lived-in” feel.
Presentlife-update PowerPoints
Adult friendships come with distance sometimes. I don’t live in the same city as my best friends and old college roomies anymore, and that can make it difficult to keep up with everything that goes on in our lives. That’s why life-update PowerPoints are the new thing as it’s the easiest (and fun) way to show everyone what they’ve missed.
Eats, treats, and drinks you must have
Sleep-friendly charcuterie board
Charcuterie boards are a must at any event, especially during a sleepover! Not only are they good for snacking on throughout the night, but they can also help you have a great slumber. Here’s what we’re putting on ourcharcuterie boardto satisfy our cravings and get a good night’s sleep:
- Candied walnuts, pistachios, tart cherries, grapes and strawberries (melatonin)
- Cheese cubes and vanilla yogurt (calcium)
- Salted cashews (magnesium)
- Dried apricots (potassium)
- Whole grain crackers and cheddar cheese slices (tryptophan)
Homemade vegan pizza and cauliflower wings
We know vegan pizza and cauliflower wings aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the heart-shaped crust and red wing sauce bring all the G-Day vibes (and they’re so delicious too!). While any meal works for a Galentines evening, just ensure you watch out for excessivecheese, spicy, and carb-heavy foods!
Sleepy-time tea bar
Speaking of tea…set up ateabar with an array of drinks thattaste good, look good, and help you snooze even better. Examples of “cute and fun” teas with great sleep benefits include:
- Butterfly blue pea tea
- Lavender tea
- Chamomile tea
- Hibiscus tea
- Banana tea
Can’t forget the add-ons! Prepare bowls with cucumber slices, strawberry slices, mint leaves, rosemary leaves, lemon slices, edible flowers, and honey to “decorate” your tea for Galentine’s Day.
Sleepy girl mocktails
Mocktailsare all the rage lately—and for good reason! My friend group isn’t one for alcoholic drinks, so for our Galentine’s sleepover, we’re opting for sleepy girl mocktails that are fun to make and will help us catch some Zs. While the mocktail recipes are endless and so hard to choose from, why not try theTikTok sleepy girl mocktail? It contains tart cherry juice and magnesium to help you snooze.
Desserts
Whileexcess sugar before bedisn’t recommended, a little sweet never hurt anybody! I mean, the heart-shaped and colorful pastries are what Galentine’s is all about. My friends and I mix it up every year by displaying new desserts (typically trendy ones off TikTok or Pinterest) and our fan favorites. Here’s what we’ll be making this year:
- Heart-shaped cream danishes
- Dark-chocolate covered strawberries
- Mini berry cheesecakes
- Red velvet white chocolate chip cookies
Bonus tip for throwing the ultimate Galentine’s Day sleepover
While every friend group is different and every Galentine’s sleepover party will vary, the most important things off our checklist are to have fun, enjoy each other’s company, and create unforgettable memories with your girlies. Happy Galentine’s Day, y’all!
Photos courtesy of Gricelda Torres
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
About Galentine's Day
Galentine's Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated on February 13th, designed for women and their friends to come together and celebrate their special friendships. It's a day filled with activities such as rom-coms, sweet treats, and fun activities that allow women to spend quality time with their girlfriends. It's often considered the perfect excuse to host a girls-only adult slumber party for a nostalgic and enjoyable experience. The celebration typically includes activities like floral arranging, vision boards, board games, and spa nights, as well as sleep-friendly eats and drinks. The holiday is a great opportunity for women to bond, relax, and create unforgettable memories with their friends.
Checklist for a Galentine's Day Sleepover
Pajamas: It's essential to bring comfortable and cute pajamas to the sleepover to ensure a cozy and enjoyable experience. Matching sets, pinks, reds, and fuzzy socks are recommended for a cute and comfortable look.
Pillow and Blanket: While the host usually handles sleeping arrangements and bedding, bringing a favorite blanket and pillow is recommended for a comfortable night's sleep in a new environment.
Overnight Bag: It's important to bring essentials such as makeup, next-day outfit, and toiletries in an overnight bag for convenience.
Sleep Mask: Since everyone has different sleep preferences, it's recommended to bring a sleep mask to ensure a restful sleep, especially if some prefer sleeping with the light on.
Activities for the Sleepover
Floral Arranging: This activity involves creating DIY party favors using simple bouquets from the grocery store, along with tissue paper, ribbon, and imagination.
Vision Boards: Creating a vision board is a collage of words, pictures, and symbols that showcase goals for the year and motivate individuals to achieve them.
Board Games: Including board games and card games is essential for bonding and de-stressing during the sleepover. Popular choices include UNO, Taboo, For the Girls, and Incoherent.
Spa Night: Bringing out nail polish, face masks, and candles is a great way to relax, refresh, and recharge with friends.
"For the Girls" Music Playlist: Creating a Galentine's Day playlist allows everyone to listen to their favorite songs and bond over shared music.
Galentine’s Day Cards: Expressing appreciation for friendships with store-bought or DIY Galentine’s Day cards is a heartfelt gesture.
Movie or Series: Watching a movie or favorite series in the background can create a cozy party vibe and enhance the overall experience.
Life-Update PowerPoints: Creating and sharing life-update PowerPoints is a fun way to keep friends updated on each other's lives, especially when distance separates them.
Eats, Treats, and Drinks for the Sleepover
Sleep-Friendly Charcuterie Board: A charcuterie board with items like candied walnuts, pistachios, tart cherries, grapes, strawberries, cheese cubes, vanilla yogurt, salted cashews, dried apricots, whole grain crackers, and cheddar cheese slices can satisfy cravings and promote a good night's sleep.
Homemade Vegan Pizza and Cauliflower Wings: Offering heart-shaped crust and red wing sauce can bring a festive vibe to the sleepover, and these delicious options cater to various dietary preferences.
Sleepy-Time Tea Bar: Setting up a tea bar with drinks like butterfly blue pea tea, lavender tea, chamomile tea, hibiscus tea, and banana tea, along with add-ons like cucumber slices, strawberry slices, mint leaves, rosemary leaves, lemon slices, edible flowers, and honey, can enhance the sleepover experience.
Sleepy Girl Mocktails: Creating fun and sleep-inducing mocktails, such as the TikTok sleepy girl mocktail containing tart cherry juice and magnesium, can be a delightful addition to the sleepover.
Desserts: While excessive sugar before bed isn't recommended, heart-shaped and colorful pastries, such as cream danishes, dark-chocolate covered strawberries, mini berry cheesecakes, and red velvet white chocolate chip cookies, can add a sweet touch to the celebration.
Conclusion
The ultimate goal of a Galentine's Day sleepover is to have fun, enjoy each other's company, and create unforgettable memories with friends. It's a time to celebrate special friendships and cherish the bond between women. Happy Galentine's Day to all!
