As a huge Parks and Recreation fan, Galentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. For those of you who are new to this holiday, I’m going to let Leslie Knope, inventor of Galentine’s Day, break it down for you.
The Details
Galentine’s Day is meant to be celebrated on February 13th. But Leslie herself is the first to say that, “Anytime a group of women get together for brunch, we embody the spirit of the holiday.” So I felt like I had Leslie’s blessing to break from tradition celebrate on February 12th this year.
I didn’t have time to go all out with my decorations, but of course I never pass up a chance to put a few new special touches around my apartment for holidays.
The Menu
Mimosas are a crucial part of any Galentine’s Day celebration. If you really want the girl talk to get real, you have to let the booze flow.
There was never a question what I would serve for brunch. Waffles. Duh. Leslie wouldn’t have it any other way, and I’m always looking for reasons to use my fantastic waffle maker. Of course toppings are what really make the waffle, so for the healthy ladies, we had fresh fruit and nuts. And for those of us who like to eat like five-year-olds, homemade whipped cream and sprinkles abounded.
Also not pictured was a delicious grits casserole. Not to toot my own horn, but it was so yummy that we ate it all before I got around to taking photos. It was fun to introduce the yankees in the bunch to the concept of grits. I know they’re kind of weird to people who don’t grow up eating them!
The Real Talk
I’m sure there will be hundreds of women sharing their own Galentine’s stories today, and most of their posts will probably look a lot like mine. But here’s where I want to deviate. I don’t want you to look at these photos and think my life is all flower arrangements and party planning. In no way do I easily ‘do it all’, working crazy hours every day of the week, and then coming home to a perfect apartment that’s always party ready.
So here are some of the not so perfect behind-the-scenes details that wouldn’t be immediately apparent from looking at these photos.
- Half of my guests canceled on me in the 24 hours leading up to brunch. I was frustrated, disappointed and it put me in a pretty cranky mood right up until the party started.
- I used a mix to make my waffles. There. I said it. While I have a fantastic recipe for homemade waffles, this was just not the week to go full on Betty Crocker. So I picked up a boxed mix at Trader Joes, and honestly, I think the mix waffles taste just as good as my homemade waffles. No shame.
- Another time saver? I served brunch on paper plates because I wasn’t prepared to spend hours washing my fine china. Everything tasted just as good on paper plates, and it saved me a huge headache.
- In the weeks leading up to this party, my apartment was a total trash heap. Dirty silverware in my sink, shoes strewn around my apartment, coats hung over every chair. I needed the threat of house guests to motivate me to clean up. Otherwise it would still look like a total dump.
- I was so busy eating waffles and drinking mimosas that I forgot to take even a single picture of the group. Bummer!
I don’t want to end this on a downer note, but I hope this paints a fuller picture than just a bunch of beautiful photos of waffles and pink decorations. Life’s too short to be anything but totally real.
Please leave a note below and let me know how you like to celebrate Galentine’s Day!
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