My dad would yell out to my mom, "Evette! Call the doctor. I think Janelle has a phone growing out of her ear!" I couldn't help it. Being connected to my friends was my lifeline.
Once I became a wife and mother, I realized that I had begun to loose that connection. I was the first to get married and have children in my circle of friends, so it was very easy to get separated. But that meant, loosing a part of my lifeline. And who wants to do that?
Maintaining our friendships is a critical part of maintaining our own happiness. Friends help keep us in check and feeling like an individual instead of just someone else's mother or wife. Getting the time to spend with your friends may seem impossible with your schedule. Finding something worth doing together may be your issue. Either way, here is a list of 15 Great Ideas For Your Girls' Day (or night) Out.
1. Schedule your hair appointments together. The hair salon is a place designed for ladies to let loose and just be girls. Its a place for girl chat full of personal stories, venting and just a bit of gossip. Why not do this with your bestie? This is an appointment I make sure to keep. It means I have a guaranteed time to spend with my bestie without my kids.2. Dinner Out. For me, it just comes natural to follow up a hair appointment with dinner out. Since we are already out together, we have to eat, right? The beauty of dinner is time to talk face to face. We are able to catch up privately and share in a good meal (that we didn't have to prepare ourselves).
3. Grocery Shopping. I know this sounds weird. But, hear me out. Women spend a lot of time at the super market. When you want to spend time with your girlfriend, but schedules are tight, this is a great option. You know both of you have to hit the grocery store. So, coordinate your trip and do it together. Additional benefits come from this shopping trip together.4. Cooking in. Perhaps you could combine this one with your grocery shopping trip together. Bring the kids together for this one. Cooking together is some good quality time building. Everyone's gotta eat. This feeds you both and your kids at the same time.
5. Make over each other. Plan a shopping trip together with the goal to pick out one outfit for each other. Build it time to visit a Sephora or MAC counter. They can give you a full face make over with a purchase of $50. You might look so good, you want to join this with another activity from the list.
6. Spa Day. Massage, mani, pedi, relax. Need I say more?
7. Goal Setting. Okay. I know this one really sounds odd. Again, hear me out. Your girlfriend is a great accountability partner. She knows your dreams. She knows what you've been talking about doing for years, but haven't accomplished yet. Work together to set goals for the next three to six months. Make it visual. Write out the plan for achieving the goals. Put it on a vision board. Make your friendship work for you.
8. Walk the Bridge. I am not big on working out, but my bestie is. She knows I won't go to the gym with her, but she can get me the walk the bridge. For us it's the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, connecting Maryland to Northern Virginia. It is a 3.5 mile trail across the bridge. Check out the parks and recreation options in your own area. There has to be a comparable option for you. The point is to find a way to get out there and be active together.
9. Listen to Live Music. Many lounges and bars have regular live music events. Often times they are with no cover charge. This is a good one for a group of girlfriends. Dance, sing and hang together in a more intimate setting than a club or concert hall. Bonus option is a neighborhood karaoke night.
10. Wine and Paint Party. This is a common offering in major cities. Signing up with a Groupon is a great way to make this evening event an inexpensive way to hang out with friends and create some art to decorate your own home with later. 11. Cooking Class. Here is another idea that can be accessed at a reasonable rate if you catch a Groupon deal. Find a cuisine that you and your girlfriends like and enjoy the time together.
12. Happy Hour. I have some friends that I like to meet up with monthly. You know, not the ones that I talk to all the time, but ones I want to keep in my life because I enjoy their company. Happy hours around town are our places for these gatherings. There is always a good happy hour menu with moderately priced appetizers and drinks that are perfect for sharing, so it is easier to evenly split the check when you're done.
13. Brunch. Brunch, brunch oh brunch. It is such a cool invention. I prefer the all-you-can-eat buffet style brunch, so I can sample everything. The popularity is growing for this midday meal, so you should have options in your area.
14. Pokeno (Po- Ke-No). Never heard of it? I hadn't either until last year. It is a card game that makes for an absolute hilariously fun night in with the girls. Host a Pokeno night and you will find that your friends are all chomping at the bit for the next one. You need at least eight girls to really make it interesting. We like to play with for pennies or nickles. Putting money on the line makes it that much more competitive and therefore exciting.15. Purge Party. Well, I use the word "party" loosely. This one is for you and your good girlfriend alone. Choose whose home you will start with. The idea is to help one another to purge your closets of items that are past their usefulness. It is nearly impossible to let go of things ourselves, but your good girlfriend knows what you actually wear and haven't worn in ages. She can also tell with brutal honestly, what is not flattering anymore. The best part of the purge, is getting to take your friend's trash as your own treasure!
So, there you have it. A quite comprehensive list for nurturing your friendships. If you try any of these ideas, please let me know. I would love to get your feedback.
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