Feb 12

Feb 12 gratitude for your girlfriends on galentine's

For those who weren’t aware (or don’t obsessively watch Parks and Rec), February 13th is unofficially considered Galentine’s Day! It’s a day to appreciate the special gals in your life, around a time that’s typically all about love & relationships.

As I’m sure is the case for many of you, my girlfriends are such a huge part of my life. From being the confidants I trust with my biggest secrets, my partners in crime for all sorts of fun and shenanigans, and most importantly, my rocks and support system in times of need - my girls are so important and special to me!

One of my love languages is giving gifts, so I tend to gravitate towards gifts as my main form of showing gratitude. However, this year I’m challenging myself to find unique ways to show my appreciation for others that isn’t money based (what’s up wedding budget) so I thought it could be fun to share some ideas!

Read below for 5 non-gifting ways to show your gratitude for your friends!

Cook them dinner (or brunch!)

Do you have a new recipe you’ve been dying to try? Or maybe you have one that’s tried and true and always tastes delicious? Instead of meeting up for happy hour or dinner after work, invite a friend over and cook for them! Nothing shows appreciation quite like a belly full of delicious food.

If you’re feeling extra fancy, you could make a meal that is Galentines’s Day themed - like some amazing heart shape waffles that Leslie Knope would definitely approve of.

Offer to babysit for a night

If your friend has kids (or even a dog?!) offer up a free night of babysitting so that they can enjoy a night on the town or an afternoon at the spa. I find that people often don’t want to take advantage of their friends by asking, but offering some extra babysitting help is rarely declined!

Support their hobby or side hustle

Is your friend putting their energy into a hobby or side hustle? If so, show your support! If they’re planning on running a race or competing in a casual softball league, go cheer them on from the sidelines! I have a few friends who are doing blogger events or meetups and I always try to attend and show my support. It’s so great to be surrounded by a friendly face (and lots of love) when you’re working on your butt off for a hobby or side gig.

Write them a love note

Handwritten words of affection have to be one of the easiest (and most thoughtful) ways to show someone you care. So grab a cute card, and tell your friend about why they mean so much to you Be specific and give examples when you can (ie “I’m so proud of you for taking on new challenges at work lately!” or “It made me feel so supported when you checked in on me last month.” This can help your note feel more authentic and special!

Bring them flowers

Okay this is technically a gift (I’m not a saint on the budget thing, whoops), but who says flowers have to be for relationships only!? Pick up a lovely bouquet for a friend and drop it by their house or work when they’d least expect it! If you have a long distance friendship, you can always have flowers delivered as well! It’s such a great way to brighten someone’s day and show you care!