Every once in awhile, instead of having a girls night out its good to have a girls night in party. It can still be a fabulous time and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Consider it the adult version of a little girls party.
First off is sending out an evite. It is the easiest way to get the word out to those you want to invite. Sure you can do it by phone, but doing it by evite allows all the guests to have the information directly in front of them, see who else is coming, ask you any questions and RSVP all in one place. It is much less of a hassle for you.
Decorations are probably going to be the most inexpensive part of the party. They can be found extremely cheap and even a good dollar store can have everything that you need. Pick up some cheap martini glasses from a dollar store or any matching long stemmed glasses. I’ll describe throughout the rest of the article what you can do with them. Candles are a good and simple decoration. They add flair without being overwhelming. If you choose not to use your own dishes, dollar stores also have simple white plastic dishes and utensils that you can use.
Regarding food, there are several ways that you can go. You can either have a pot luck, plan on ordering takeout or you can just make all of the food yourself. Either way, everyone will be able to get the food that they want without complaints. The best appetizer you could make is a mix of meats, cheese, and vegetables. You can either buy a platter already made by a store or you can do it yourself depending on the amount you think you would need and the current prices. I recommend cheddar and swiss cheeses. For the meat I recommend turkey pepperoni and prosciutto. A simple box of regular crackers can be used. For vegetables I recommend carrots, celery, broccoli and cucumbers served with a ranch dip.
Pedicures are a must. They’re relaxing and leave opportunity to do something fun. Buy some simple inexpensive nail polish and some inexpensive emery boards. On each emery board, use the nail polish to paint each guests name on it so they can each have their own one. The dollar store should have simple clear bowls. You can put nail polish in one bowl and the emery boards in another. Get a bag of marshmallows. Yes this may sound strange, but you can put these in between your toes to use when the nail polish is drying on your toenails to keep your toes separated. If you buy the actual pedicure toe separators, they’ll cost you a dollar and up for each pair. Each bag of marshmallows will cost you about two dollars for an entire bag which would probably be enough for everyone. Plus, they feel much more cushioned than the regular pedicure toe separators.
Dessert is incredibly simple and you can offer two different options. Have an ice cream bar. Pick out simple ice cream flavors, for example, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. In some places you can even buy a one gallon container with the three flavors already in there. Instead of serving the ice cream in bowls, serve them in the martini glasses that you picked up from the dollar store. Instead of putting the toppings in bowls, put them in the martini glasses. Get a simple runner and put it across your table. Line up some martini glasses and in each one put a different topping. Cherries, sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts and whipped cream are some good options. Check for coupons for these items not only in the grocery store flyer but also check online on coupon websites.
Depending on what season it is, you can fill in the gaps in between the bottom of the martini glasses that are on the runner with little decorations. For spring, you can take the flowers off of stems and put them at the bottom and in between each glass. For summer you can use little drink umbrellas or shells, for fall you can use acorns and fake brightly colored leaves and for winter you can use simple round ball ornaments or pine cones and tinsel. Some of these items are already found in nature, and can be picked up in your backyard for free.
Make a drinks section. Offer basic alcohol such as Vodka, Rum, and Triple Sec. Add a chocolate liqueur for something different. Make sure there are other drinks such as various soda flavors and cranberry juice. For those that would prefer wine, have a couple of bottles of white and red wine. For the drinks, you can add onto the evite that bringing drinks would be appreciated. Have a list of what you would like and ask the guests to respond what they are bringing. However, if you are planning on having a pot luck, don’t ask your guests to bring the drinks also. To add a little something extra to the table, print out some interesting drink recipes. Take them to a local office supply store and ask them to laminate them. Place them on the table for your guests to try if they choose to do so. The laminate will prevent them from getting dirty, and you can use them again in the future.
A girls night in party is a great and fun bonding experience that will definitely create lasting memories.
