Continuing our Month of Friendship series, Shasta Nelson is an expert on new friendship: Her GirlFriendCircles website and introduction service is successfully matching women friends, in real life, across the country! She’s done a lot of thinking on both the art and the science of making friends. Below, she shares why making new friends is important at any life stage. Enjoy!

by Shasta Nelson

When I moved to San Francisco, I had an amazing circle of friends spread across the country but soon realized that as much as I loved Facebook and my iPhone—I certainly didn’t want all my relationships to be limited to them. I reached a point where I wanted to make new memories with friends, rather than the reporting of life or re-living of the past that we tend to do with “those we used to be close to.”

I needed present friends. I needed local friends. I needed new friends.

Normalize New Friends

Those are hard words to say though, for some reason. We have this stigma that to admit needing friends might somehow be misinterpreted as saying “No one likes me” or “I have no friends.” It taps into all our insecurities, fears and any shame we have over any relationship that didn’t last forever.

In fact, most friendships don’t last forever. Reported in September’s MORE magazine, Sally Koslow says that “the average person now replaces half her friends every seven years.” At first I gasped when I read that, and then I nodded in recognition.

The truth is that there are multiple times in our lives when we need to expand our circle of friends! Tons of times! Whether it’s a move, a break-up/divorce, a realization that all your friends have kids/are single/moved away, a change in jobs or decision to work from home, a life-changing experience, a new hobby, a shift in life focus when our kids move out or we retire…. The list could go on-and-on! None of those reasons are a judgment against us! They are simply stages of life that remind us that while a couple of our friendships might prevail through differences, the truth is that we all need to be constantly replenishing our circle of friends to ensure it’s meaningful for who we are now.

Need New Friends

There have been numerous reports linking a circle of supportive friends to lowering stress levels, increasing happiness, prevention of diseases, faster recovery rates for healing and greater chance of reaching life goals. Add to that the reports that relationships improve your odds of survival by 50 percent, and we have a serious reminder that our friendships are not a nice-to-have, but a necessity!

The research published in July in the journal PLoS Medicine, compared low social connectedness to have the same health impact as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, to being an alcoholic, as more harmful than not exercising and twice as harmful as obesity!

I’m not a big fan of telling people how many friends they need. We’re all different, but studies seem to suggest people are happiest with somewhere between 5-10 meaningful friendships. And other reports show that half of us have less than 2 people we’d call real friends. There seems to be some discrepancy between our experience and our ideal?

Note that there is a difference between how many people you’re friendly with versus how many people you call a friend. Huge difference. It’s common to assume we have lots of friends, but when we examine it we realize we simply know a lot of friendly people through work and school. An easy test for me is to ask myself “How many people would I feel comfortable asking for a ride to the airport?” or “Who is in my life that I could text last-minute to see if they were available to hang out without it feeling weird?” Easy things—we’re not even talking about taking care of your kids when they’re sick!

Invite New Friends

Recognizing who is in our circle and acknowledging if, and when, we need to invite more meaningful friendships into our lives is part of taking care of our wellbeing. I’ll be the first to admit, it was often more tempting to call an established friend and tell her about my need to go shopping than it was to call up a potential friend to see if she wanted to go shopping. In the beginning it was less meaningful to talk to a new friend than to call someone who already knew me, but I held the truth that, like dating, I simply had to put the consistent time into my new relationships to create those bonds.
It didn’t “just happen.” Friendships don’t just show up. Fun people might. But turning them into friendships simply is an investment we have to make.
And now, every Tuesday night, I have girls’ night with the same four women in San Francisco. I know who to call for a ride to the airport and who to text for a last-minute get together!

So, now, my passion is helping foster that process for everyone else! Do it for your health & happiness!

shasta

The Friendship Circle (a network of five organizations committed to celebrating the power of female friendships) is partnering in September for a Month of Friendship. Visit these Friendship Circle websites daily in September for more inspiration and information:

• The Friendship Blog – by psychologist, professor of psychiatry, and author, Dr. Irene S. Levine (The Friendship Doctor), author of Best Friends Forever: Surviving A Breakup with Your Best Friend. Follow Irene on Twitter.
• GirlfriendCelebrations – premier source of girls night ideas on the web. Founded by friends Dawn Williams Bertuca and Tina VanZant Bishop. Girlfriend Celebrations on Facebook and Twitter
• GirlFriendCircles.com - only online community that matches new friends offline by connecting circles of women in local areas, by Shasta Nelson. On Facebook and Twitter.
• Girlfriendology.com - online community for women based on inspiration, appreciation and celebration of female friendship. Created by Debba Haupert. On Facebook and Twitter.
• MWF Seeking BFF - chronicles the author’s search for a new best friend after moving to a new city for love, by Rachel Bertsche.

Often on GirlfriendCelebrations, we bring you ideas for combining girls night and charity. So we were delighted when Kimberly Wilson offered to share her very own “recipe” for a Charitea Soiree. Kimberly is a teacher, writer, do-gooder, entrepreneur, and eco-fashion designer. She is the creative director and founder of Tranquil Space, named among the top 25 yoga studios in the world by Travel + Leisure, author of Hip Tranquil Chick: A Guide to Life On and Off the Yoga Mat and Tranquilista: Mastering the Art of Enlightened Work and Mindful Play, and holds a Masters in Womens Studies. When not bookstore browsing, she can be found sipping tea, crafting new designs for TranquiliT, or leading retreats. Her work has been featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio as well as in Daily Candy, Fit Yoga, U.S. News and various books. With a passion for do-gooding, Kimberly launched Tranquil Space Foundation to bring yoga, creativity, and leadership to women and girls and is currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work.

by Kimberly Wilson

One way to raise awareness (and funds or goods) for your favorite cause is by throwing a flair-filled fete. Who doesn’t love parties? In my first book I touched on this concept and even created a downloadable tool kit to assist readers in bringing this idea to reality. Many good things start small and gain momentum through grassroots efforts. Good old-fashioned tea parties combined with activism can be a powerful and fun tool for change. A ChariTea soiree helps build community and is a great networking experience. Invite five to fifteen people and ask each to bring like-minded friends: Perfect for getting your name out there as the do-gooding “hostess with the mostess.”

Here’s the skinny: Hosting the soiree in your home allows you to create the complete vibe. If that isn’t possible, look around for a cozy local café that has the same ambience you want to create. Following is the time line for pulling this off seamlessly and tranquilly.

Timeline

Four Weeks Before
-Determine charity to highlight, and request promotional materials.
-Send invites to your fave gal pals and encourage them to bring two to three friends.
-Invite a guest speaker from the charity.

One Week Before
-Send reminder and directions.
-Buy dry goods: drinks, treats, and candles, plus assorted teacups, saucers, and cloth cocktail napkins from your local thrift store.
-Purchase goodie bags and their contents: a box of organic fair trade tea, organic fair trade chocolate, scented tea lights, bath treats, promotional materials from charity, tissue paper.

One or Two Days Before
-Buy fresh food.
-Create a playlist to set the mood (suggested: Madeleine Peyroux or John Coltrane).
-Buy flowers.
-Put together goodie bags.

Day of Event
-Tidy your surroundings.
-Prepare food.
-Set mood: light candles, arrange flowers, play the perfect music for your vibe.
-Set up a treat and libation station.
-Indulge in a restorative yoga pose prior to guests’ arrival.
-Don your most fabulous and comfy ensemble.

At Soiree
-Be the hostess with the mostess: Greet and introduce guests warmly, keep drinks and laughter flowing.
-Introduce speaker from charity.

Day After Event
Send thank-you notes to guests, speakers, and helpers via snail mail.

Tea and Tasty Treats

Here’s my suggested menu:

-Cucumber-mint and goat cheese-watercress tea sandwiches
-Lemon cream scones
-Cookies (butter and/or ginger are lovely tea accents)
-Fresh fruit selection (assorted berries, green apples, pears)
-Tea selection

About tea brewing: An intoxicating brew of tea is essential. Begin with fresh, cold water, and heat it in a kettle on the stove. Prewarm the teapot by rinsing with hot water; a ceramic teapot provides the best heat and flavor. Measure one heaping teaspoon of loose-leaf tea per cup and add to the teapot. If using tea bags, count on one bag for each teacup. Remove the kettle from the heat when it has reached the just-boiling point, and pour immediately into the teapot. Cover the pot with a lid, and brew the tea for three to five minutes before pouring. The larger the tea leaves, the longer the brewing time. Remove the leaves or bags from the brewed tea to prevent bitterness. Serve with raw sugar, honey, or agave nectar. Serve a variety of fair trade and organic green, white, and herbal teas, from chamomile to jasmine to chai. The Republic of Tea, Tulsi Tea, and Gypsy Tea have a plethora of tasty organic options.
—
Kimberly lives in a petite pink palace in Washington, D.C. with two fancy felines named after French impressionists, a supportive beau, and a sassy black pug. Indulge in musings on tranquilology through her blog and podcast, Tranquility du Jour. Learn more at kimberlywilson.com. For more ideas on divine do-gooding and entertaining with style, pick up a copy of Kimberly Wilson’s book, Tranquilista.

]]> http://www.girlfriendcelebrations.com/celebration-ideas/throw-a-charitea-soiree-for-your-next-girls-night-in/feed/ 2 http://www.girlfriendcelebrations.com/celebration-ideas/help-whip-cancer-with-the-pampered-chef-giveaway/ http://www.girlfriendcelebrations.com/celebration-ideas/help-whip-cancer-with-the-pampered-chef-giveaway/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 12:08:43 +0000 Dawn http://www.girlfriendcelebrations.com/?p=1318

Finding a cure for breast cancer in our lifetimes is a cause that GirlfriendCelebrations is proud to support. So, we are thrilled to tell you about The Pampered Chef’s efforts to raise funds for breast cancer education and early detection programs through its “Help Whip Cancer” campaign. There’s no better feeling than gathering your girlfriends for a girls night that contributes to a great cause. Our girlfriends at the Pampered Chef have given us a delicious *pink* recipe you can use at your next girls night in, plus a martini glass giveaway you’re going to love!

Since introducing the Help Whip Cancer campaign in 2000, The Pampered Chef has raised more than $7.9 million to support breast cancer programs through the American Cancer Society.  Last year, the campaign raised more than $875,000 from Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser Shows and special pink-themed product sales.

“Almost everyone knows someone, whether it be a mother, sister or friend who has been affected by breast cancer,” says Marla Gottschalk, chief executive officer of The Pampered Chef. “The goal of this campaign is not only to raise awareness and education for breast cancer, it’s also about supporting women who have been affected by this disease.” There are two ways YOU can help:

1. Raise Funds with a Cooking Show Fundraiser

This May, in honor of Mother’s Day, The Pampered Chef invites people to celebrate the women in their lives by hosting a Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser Cooking Show. Up to 25 percent of total Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser Show sales will be contributed to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer awareness and early detection programs. If you don’t already have a Pampered Chef Consultant, find one HERE.

2. Buy Special Pink-themed Products

A contribution of $1 will go to the American Cancer Society for every pink-themed product purchased from The Pampered Chef between May 1-31, 2010. The following special Help Whip Cancer products apply: Pink & White Dots Martini Glasses  (shown below); Pink Color-Coated Tomato Knife; Pink & White Twixit! Clip Combo Pack; Sweet Honey Vanilla Sprinkle; Help Whip Cancer Reusable Shopping Bags. Guests who spend $60 or more in May get Help Whip Cancer® Reusable Shopping Bags (a set of two) for free, and they are also available for purchase. See all the Whip Cancer products HERE. We are so ready to buy that pink tomato knife! These products are available for purchase online as well as at cooking shows.

“Through Pampered Chef Fundraisers and pink product purchases, people can help the American Cancer Society save lives by raising funds and awareness for breast cancer this May,” says Scott Bennett, national vice president of marketing for the American Cancer Society.  “With the continued efforts of The Pampered Chef, we are getting closer to a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays.”

Heavenly Lemon Angel Cake

The lovely pink cake pictured above would make a great addition to your next girlfriend gathering or Little Pink Party to honor a friend with breast cancer. Here’s how to make it:

5 drops red food coloring

1 pkg (16 oz or 430 g) angel food cake mix

3 lemons

2 cups (500 mL) powdered sugar

2 cups (500 mL) thawed frozen fat-free whipped topping

1 pkg (10 oz) frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed

1 Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). For cake, add food coloring to amount of water specified on package. Prepare cake according to package directions. Pour batter into Rectangular Baker. Bake on center rack 35-40 minutes or until top is golden brown, cracked

and center is slightly sunken. (Do not under bake.) Remove baker from oven; invert onto Stackable Cooling Rack. Without removing baker, let stand until completely cool (about 1½ hours).

2 Poke holes in cake about 1½ in. (4 cm) deep and ½ in. (1 cm) apart with large fork. Zest lemons using Zester/Scorer to measure 1 tbsp (15 mL) zest. Juice lemons using Juicer to measure 1∕3 cup (75 mL) juice. In Small Batter Bowl, combine sugar, juice and zest; whisk until smooth. Pour glaze over cake, spreading evenly. Let stand 30 minutes or until glaze is set.

3 Attach open star tip to Easy Accent® Decorator; fill with whipped topping. Garnish each serving with whipped topping; top with raspberries.

Yield: 15 servings

U.S. Nutrients per serving: Calories 220, Total Fat 0 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Carbohydrate 52 g, Protein 3 g, Sodium 300 mg, Fiber 1 g U.S. Diabetic exchanges per serving: 2½ fruit, 1 starch (3½ carb)

Now for the Giveaway

OK, girlfriends, here’s how to enter to win those gorgeous pink dot martini glasses. These fun, polka-dotted glasses are perfect for get-togethers with girlfriends, a romantic dinner, baby showers or bridal showers. Use them to serve everything from drinks to desserts! Wouldn’t they look great at your next girls night? Here’s what to do:

1.Head on over to the Pampered Chef website and check out the Whip Cancer products.

2. Come back here and leave a comment stating which Whip Cancer product is your favorite and why.

3. For extra entries, tweet about this contest using the following:

I want to win some Pampered Chef pink dot martini glasses! http://bit.ly/pcgcga #whipcancer #girlfriendcelebrations

Please note: You must use the #girlfriendcelebrations hashtag AND the link for your tweet to count as an entry.

One extra entry per day is allowed. U.S. shipping address only, please. We’ll keep the contest open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12. Winner will be drawn at random from all qualifying entries. Good luck, girlfriends!

Glorious Spring is here—the perfect opportunity to get the girls out into the garden! Gardening offers the opportunity to relieve stress and connect to nature while growing healthy food or nurturing beautiful blooms. Green thumb or not, here are some quick ideas for gardening-themed girlfriend get-togethers and activities.

Plant a group garden. Many towns have community garden plots that can be rented. Why not rent one with your girlfriends and meet weekly to garden together? It’s a built-in weekly date and everyone can share in the harvest. Or, if one girlfriend has the space for a large garden but doesn’t want to do all the work herself, she can offer the space for the group plot.

Have a “planting bee.” Many hands make light work, so bring your hands and your garden gloves to your girlfriend’s house and help get her spring planting done. Then, load up the wheelbarrow and move on to the next girlfriend’s house, and so on until everyone’s got some spring color in her yard. Be sure to have pitchers of lemonade, iced tea, and water on hand.

Learn a little. Ask a local garden club or landscaping professional to speak at your next girls night about the best new plants for your area, how to use a rain barrel, or another topic that interests you.

Share the bounty. Donate some or all of the harvest from your group garden (above) to a food pantry or to local churches who have needy families. See Plant a Row for the Hungry for tips on how to make this happen successfully.

Seed small spaces. Apartment dwellers, don’t despair! You can still enjoy all the benefits of gardening get-togethers through container gardens or square-foot gardening. Invite the girls over to lend their labor and design skills to help fill your containers (just be sure to tempt them with tasty nibbles and libations!) If you’re a gardening novice, try P. Allen Smith’s Container Gardens: 60 Container Recipes to Accent Your Garden for “plant recipes” that tell you exactly how to create beautiful container gardens.

What about party favors? Try gifting your girlfriends with seed packets, hot pink garden gloves (every time she wears them, she’ll think of you), small annuals or perennials to pot, or miniature rosebushes (yellow roses signify friendship). All are inexpensive choices that will remind your girlfriends, all summer long, that your friendship blooms brightly!

Have any great gardening resources we should know about? Share them in the comments!

While book clubs seem all the rage these days, gathering with the girls to discuss books leaves little room for a girl to express her creative side. Why not change up your next girls night in with a hip and soulful poetry party? With inspiration from National Poetry Month, Girlfriend Celebrations has created a party plan for girlfriends like you looking for a fresh, expressive outlet. A poetry jam for women who want a creative slice of life or an alternative to the humdrum girls night. Yes, you can create this party with poetic ease, even if you’re feeling at a loss for words.  So go ahead, get your guest list together and plan away with us.

Invitations

A pretty paper invitation makes a beautiful statement, especially if the verse is handwritten. Any personalized invitation with the host’s own penned rhyme always make the request seem a little more special. However, in this digital age, not all girlfriends like to take time to send the written word. So if that’s the case or you are short on time, try using MyPunchbowl. For invitation wording, we’ve provided an example below:

Join me for some

poetry and  rhyme

a charming girls night out

without spending a dime,

Sharing reverie in lines

is sure to be an awesome time

even if your tongue is tied

never fear, my dear

catty words are not spoken here.

April 27, 2010

7 pm

Be there or be square!

Setting and Setup

Give your guests the intimate coffee house feel with plenty of seats and a staging area. If you have enough room, set up little tables with chairs or stools. An ottoman and scattered floor cushions can create a cozy touch. Set aside an area for reading your pieces. This can easily be done by draping a sheet or curtains on the wall as a backdrop. You can even create a stage with shipping pallets covered in fabric.

With guests coming to share a poetic piece, decide ahead of time if you want guests to write their own or if it’s okay to simply bring one to read. If you’re looking for a little more structure, ask each guest to create their poem around a set theme. The theme can be spunky, funny, playful, serious or whatever the girls in your crowd can relate to. Some ideas might include:  dating, dislikes, mom, first loves, exes, vacation, lipstick, sex or lack of, best friend, family and friendship.  Whatever decisions you make, be sure to include it in your invitation. Letting your guests know what to expect, will dash uncertainty and the embarrassed feeling of not being prepared. The ultimate goal for you and your guests is to share in the moment with no pressure but with the willingness to open up. And just in case a guest still shows up empty-handed, make sure you have a few published poems on hand, just in case. Poets.org is a online resource to check.

Food and Drink

Serve coffee shop confections, such as cranberry scones, oatmeal raisin cookies, and chocolate mini muffins. Set out a bevy of toppings, mini chocolate chips, fresh fruit, granola, and nuts for a yogurt parfait bar. Be sure to have a garnished pitcher of lemonade and bottles of sparkling water on hand for thirsty guests. To get things rocking, deliver a round of Starbucks Lattetini’s to your guests.

Connecting Activities

Create a group poem. Write the first line of a poem, then pass it around to each of the guests to add a line.  As the poem is being passed, fold the paper so that only the last line is visible to the next person. It will be amusing to see what the group comes up with.  For a twist, start the same line on different sides of the room and ask the guests to pass it to someone they choose.  It will be interesting to see how two different poems with the same beginning ended.

Create a group challenge. Separate the group into two teams.  Each team will have five minutes to create a poem with a pre-selected theme. With a set number of rounds, mix up the challenge to have a funny theme followed by a serious one.  Working together as a team is  a fabulous way for your girlfriends to get to know one another.

Create word verses. Cut out words from magazines, newspapers, fliers, etc.  Ask each guest to select ten of the words. After the word selection give each guest a pretty piece of stationery and a stick of glue to create their own word poem. Set a rule that they may add five written words to their poem. This is a great activity to spark imagination since you can only use the words that have been given to you.

Party Favors

If you are creating a monthly poetry club in lieu of a book club, don’t bother with favors.  However, if it’s just another eclectic girls night out, here are a few options:

For the do-it-yourself creative-types, buy blank mini notebooks and pens.  Embellish them with stamps, ribbon, unique artwork or even words. A personalized favor is a fabulous way for your guests to feel appreciated.

A mini journal for your guests to write in is a thoughtful gift and has a myriad of uses (even if you don’t write poems).  Tell your friends how much they mean to you with a “Girlfriends make life better” journal. Look at sites like Etsy or wedding favor websites for other great girlfriend party favors. If you take the time to look, there is something for everyone’s budget.

We’d love to hear how you’ve made your girls night out noteworthy. Drop us a line, even a comment or two, because the girlfriends always love to hear from you. And, be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter filled with the latest girlfriend goings-on.

Rachael Ray was on the cover of USA Weekend last week with party plans to celebrate spring. We love Rachael’s practical approach to entertaining, and in a lot of ways, her philosophy mirrors ours (even though we’re much more likely than she is to let Trader Joe’s do the cooking). Just like GirlfriendCelebrations, Rachael emphasizes keeping your get-togethers “easy, cost-effective, casual and fun.” Here are some of her tips that we especially agree with:

Invite by email, text or phone. Perfectionist expectations are the reason many girlfriends never invite friends over. While beautiful, cute, or inventive invitations are fun to have, they are not a deal-breaker. Do like Rachael and “just tell people to come over.”

Entertain earlier in the day. Having friends over for breakfast, brunch or lunch can be much cheaper than throwing  a dinner party. Plus, it’s refreshingly different!

Offer a signature cocktail. Mixing a big batch of just one cocktail is easier and cheaper than stocking a full bar—plus, it makes your party more special. We served up Pink Perfection cocktails at our e.l.f. Makeup Party and they were a big hit. We literally whipped them up without a recipe using vodka, strawberry lemonade (from Trader Joe’s), Sprite or club soda, and fresh strawberries.

Customize your playlist. Using music and your ipod, you can create a mood from “dance all night” to spa-like relaxation. It costs next to nothing, and you can even burn CDs for your girlfriends to take home as party favors. To get you started, see the Ultimate Girls Night Playlist created by our readers!

Here’s to a spring full of impromptu, fun, budget-friendly girlfriend get-togethers! For more great tips on food and more, check out the entire Rachel Ray USA Weekend article here.

With winter in full force, don’t let the idea of six more weeks of snowy cold give you the blues! Warm some hearts today by planning a charitable card party for your girlfriends. Sharing fun times and memories with the ones closest to your heart is a great way to stir up one’s soul in the still of winter. Girlfriend Celebrations has planned a unique way for you to show appreciation to friends who are loved, provide inspiration for charitable giving, and celebrate the life you cherish with your girlfriends. In honor of February’s American Heart month or March’s American Red Cross month, why not host a unique charitable hearts party for your next girl’s night in and spread some love.

Setting and setup

A few things to be taken into consideration are the size of space (since you will need a playing table for every four people) and who on your guest list will actually be interested in playing. You need an even number of people to play a progressive card game.  If you have a small setting for your party, you might prefer just a trio of friends and yourself. If you have more friends interested in playing, you could have seven friends and you to equal an even eight people or two-table card party.  The most you want to have is three tables of four or twelve girlfriends total. The ideal party would have the correct amount of people so that everyone can play.  Otherwise, if you have too many people someone (usually the hostess with the mostest) will have to ghost in and out of the game when others want to take a break or if you don’t have enough people, girlfriends will have to pair up and take turns playing (not fun if you enjoy playing cards!).

When it comes to decorating, red hearts here and there will add a pop of color.  Red paper plates and napkins can be an inexpensive addition to your theme.  If you have children, let them cut out hearts with red cardstock paper to tape on the windows or doors; their little hearts will swell with excitement to help out with the party. Pretty heart garland can be found at a local party store to drape across the windows. Just remember frugalistas, after February 14th there will be an abundance of red/heart clearance items that will be perfect for your party.

Be sure to set up enough tables well before the party.  If you don’t have enough tables, ask around. I’m sure any of your friends would love to bring a set to help you out.  Put a number (1, and/or 2, and/or 3) on each of the tables so that your guests won’t have to guess where they rotate to next.  Place a few pens or pencils on each table so that your guest will have something to write their score with.  Complete each table with a standard deck of cards.

Purchase ahead of time (two and three table progressive) Bridge Tally Cards.  They will come in a package of 12 with two tables on back and three tables on front.  We suggest the two and three table progressive cards because no matter how well you plan, you won’t be stuck if you have too many or too few people to play. You can purchase Bridge Tally Cards at any party store, drug store or place that carries bridge supplies.  Or try online here.

Number the tally cards 1 through 12 , or 1 through however many players you will have (4, 8, or 12).  As you give the cards to players, explain to them the number you’ve written on their card is their player number and will tell them which table to go to for each round and with which other players they will be playing with.

If some of the people attending have not played the card game Hearts before, it may be a good idea to write down the basics on a poster board or chalkboard for all to see. If you’re still confused, check out this dandy video demo.

Here’s an example of some basic instructions:

Hearts Progressive Card Game
Object:  to get the least amount of points.

• Dealer deals entire deck, one card at a time.
• After each deal, each player must select 3 cards to pass to person across from them.
• Two of Clubs begins game.
• Everyone must follow suit if they can, if not can play any card.
• A point care cannot be thrown on first round.
• Hearts can only be played after they’ve been broken-someone has discarded a heart on a previous trick.
• Trick is won by highest card of suit led.
• Winner of trick plays next card.

Queen of Spades = 13 points, Each Heart = 1 point

Shoot the moon: If a player takes all 13 Hearts plus the Queen of Spades, all other players get 26 points.

Since this is a table progressive game the cards will be dealt only once before each player moves on to the next table. We suggest having a marked spot at each table for the dealer. No one should deal more than twice during the entire game.

Invitations

There are a plenty of card-themed invitations or blank cards that can be purchased.  If you’re making your own invitation you could say, “Please join me to break a few hearts,” along with the details.

Sometimes, you are apt to get a better response if you call your girlfriends to get a feel for how hearts-knowledgeable they are. You can ask them if they know how to play hearts, if they enjoy playing cards, if they are interested in learning and get an idea of whether you think they will be coming or not.  Your ultimate goal is to have the correct amount of people so that everyone can play.  Otherwise, someone (usually you) will have to ghost in and out of the game when others want to take a break.

Charity

Ask each guest to give a nominal amount before the game, it is a tournament afterall. Give the proceeds to your favorite charity. Need ideas? February is American Heart Month and March is American Red Cross month. I’m sure there are plenty of girlfriends who would play “Hearts for Haiti”. (Just be sure to forewarn your friends in the invitation whether by phone or mail).

Food and Drink

Keep it simple.  Your guests will have to juggle food and cards so minimize any messiness.  Wine and cheese with some heart shaped brownies make a nice trio.  For some healthy fare, try grapes and apples with Brie cheese.

Activities

If you need an activity to use as an icebreaker or time filler while you’re waiting for people, try this Heart Breaker Game.

• On index cards, write out the names of famous heartbreakers and tape to each guest’s back.
• Each guest can only ask yes/no questions to other players and tries to figure out who their heartbreaker is.

Some famous heartbreaker ideas:

John Mayer
Richard Gere
Mick Jagger
Harrison Ford
Tom Cruise
Jack Nicholson
Tom Petty
Lance Armstrong
Prince William
Dennis Rodman
Bill Clinton
Jon Bon Jovi

Party Favors:

Since this card game is a tournament, giving a winners gift and losers gift is acceptable. For the winner, you could give anything with a heart on it. Chocolates always make a yummy prize or even a favorite bottle of wine.  For the loser, give a pretty deck of cards for her to practice with for next time.

It’s always gratifying to get together with those who make our lives special but it can be so rewarding to get together for charity to make a difference in a someone else’s life. Plan your party today and empower your girlfriends to give a little of themselves and a little from their pocketbook, your hearts will be fulfilled in a multitude of ways. Don’t forget to check back with Girlfriend Celebrations for the latest girls night ideas.

Girlfriends, looking for something different to do for your February Girls Night? Try a Lunar New Year Celebration to gather with your girlfriends in the spirit of new beginning, good fortune, and colorful festivity. This girls night is certain to liven up your winter routine!

Lantern photo via flickr

Sometimes known as Chinese New Year, the Lunar New Year is actually celebrated throughout Asia. This year (2010), it falls on February 14 – making it a perfect alternative for those of you who want an alternative to Valentine’s Day.

Setting and Setup

With one visit to your local Chinatown, you can score loads of inexpensive decorations and other items to help you set the mood. Party supply stores are also beginning to carry “Chinese New Year” decorations. For a more subtle look, paper lanterns make a pretty and inexpensive way to set the mood at your party. We’ve seen these everywhere from party supply stores to Pottery Barn. Luna Bazaar is a good online source.

Decorating with red  and gold is traditional and symbolic. You may want to cover your front door with red paper, for example. Red signifies happiness and luck, and gold signifies wealth. These colors are in abundance at party supply stores.

Invitations

If you’re feeling ambitious, how about making fortune cookies with the party details inside? Yes, you’d have to hand-deliver them, but that makes the invite more special. Here’s how to do it (thanks to Second City Soiree for the tip.)

Not enough time? Okay, then Evite has some Chinese New Year templates for quick and easy inviting.

Food and Drink

This party just screams “ORDER OUT,” doesn’t it? Unless you’ve mastered some Asian specialties yourself, why not let the experts do it? An assortment of Chinese takeout served buffet style would be delicious. Be sure to include noodles in the menu, as they are traditionally served as a sign of longevity. Other traditional foods include whole fish to signify abundance, and greens for prosperity. Here is a great blog post detailing a Chinese New Year menu (homemade) and the significance of each item, with lots of photos. Use it for inspiration! It details how to make Lychee Bellinis using lychee nuts and prosecco (super simple and festive.  Why not whip some up for your girlfriends?)

Connecting Activities

Prepare red envelopes for each of your girlfriends. It is traditional to gift people with money in the envelopes on Chinese New Year. If that doesn’t feel right, how about preparing a personalized wish or intention for each girlfriend to usher in the new year? OR, have each girlfriend choose an envelope and write a wish to another guest, then have the recipients take turns reading them aloud. Traditional wishes are for happiness, wealth and longevity.

If you’re lucky enough to have a kumquat tree, (many people do as patio plants)  you can decorate it with the red envelopes. Kumquats, tangerines and oranges are also considered good luck.

Fun fortune cookies, as mentioned above, can also take a personalized twist. Make them fun or thoughtful.

Party Favors

A box of these Lunar Babies Chinese Zodiac notecards would be splurgy, but adorable. (Hat tip to Amy Chen of Gadling.com)

Or, a set of Feng Shui candles would be nice (here’s a super cheap source, but you have to buy 12)

Enjoy celebrating the Lunar New Year with your girlfriends. If you do, be sure to let us know how it goes!

Thanks to our blogging girlfriends MJ Tam, Nancy Loo and Jen Luby for contributing their ideas to this party!

“There is nothing more beautiful, powerful or free than a woman who truly loves herself.”
So says our contributor and Girltalk…Taking it Deeper™ creator Christine Arylo. What do you think, girlfriends? Isn’t it true? Don’t you love to be around a girlfriend who is really comfortable in her own skin (few and far between though they may be)? How about hosting a Self – Love Soiree for your girlfriends, using a a free downloadable party kit as your guide?

Loving yourself is a radical idea to many – but we can help change that! Because she is so passionate about self-love, Christine has created a series of events, tools, and resources to help women learn to love themselves. And, she has declared Saturday, February 13 to be Madly In Love With Me Day – and it just might be the perfect antidote to the Valentine’s Day blues.

Attend an event

Self-love is taking the country by storm! Madly In Love With Me events are planned for San Francisco, Chicago, Orlando, and Detroit on February 13. What a fabulous investment in yourself, and a great way to spend the day with your girlfriends! Click here to get the details on these events, which are designed to be totally unique self-love experiences. We think you’ll agree that you’re worth it!

Have your own

When you sign up to receive the free Madly in Love With Me party kit, you’ll instructions for having “an intimate gathering of a few or a sassy and soulful soireé of many. ” The “Party Girl Guidebook” section of the kit includes:

• Soireé Snapshots
  5 fresh ideas on what you can do to create an experience you and your friends will always remember. Includes activities, inspiration and all that goes into creating a great party for girls or women of any age.
• Choosing ME before WE Book Club Chat
  Ideas on how to use Christine’s book Choosing ME before WE with friends, inspiring each other to find and create the relationships you really want (Great book!)
• Planning Tips
  10 things to think about as you plan your event to make it even more magical and memorable.

We really think you’ll find this content valuable, and we hope you’ll have a Self-Love Soiree with your girlfriends! And if you do, you had better let us know how it went!

Now for the giveaway

Christine Arylo  is giving one of our readers a ME heart token necklace!

This cute pewter pendant features a heart on one side and the word “me” on the other – to remind you to love yourself always! To enter, simply:

1. Download the free ME-Love kit from http://www.madlyinlovewithme.com/join

2. Leave a comment on this post telling either:
• The self-love dare you took and why?
• The self -love vow you took and why?
Both the dare and vows are in the Madly in Love with ME kit.

Not only is it easy to enter, but consider it a Valentine to yourself. We are really looking forward to hearing your thoughts! This contest will end at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2010. U.S. shipping addresses only, please. Good luck!

Happy Valentine’s Week! Here at GirlfriendCelebrations, we love Valentine’s Day, and we encourage celebrating it with your girlfriends. Even if there’s no romance in your life right now, you still have plenty to appreciate and celebrate – you have friends! We know one woman who sends Valentine cards to all her friends instead of Christmas cards. It’s her way of showing appreciation from the heart. In that spirit, here’s a short roundup of ideas to get YOU thinking of ways to brighten your February with Valentine-themed girls nights. Watch for new posts this week with even more creative ideas for February festivities.

“I Enjoy Being a Girl” Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Party – Our girlfriend Jen Luby at Second City Soiree has done it again! This time she’s got some great entertaining tips centered around Chinese New Year, which falls on February 14 this year, and usually occurs somewhere around Valentine’s Day. Here’s how she came up with the theme:

“I Enjoy Being a Girl” is a song from Flower Drum Song, a Rogers & Hammerstein musical which relates the tale of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco during the 1950s.  The are various opinions on the musical, and it’s not among R&H’s better-known works.  It did enjoy a brief spike of renewed interest when Sarah Jessica Parker performed “I Enjoy Being a Girl” in a 2004 Gap commercial.

See the rest of her post HERE.

Chocolate Themed Get-Togethers Are So Obvious, But Yummy! You can easily throw together a chocolate-themed party for your girlfriends on Valentine’s Day. Offer a “hot chocolate bar” by brewing up some good drinking chocolate. You provide the cocoa, whipped cream, some liqueurs to try, and perhaps some chocolate shavings, and let your girlfriends create their own drinks. Chocolate fondue is another simple idea to try–simply spear some fruits, pound cake, or whatever your heart desires. Anything tastes better covered in chocolate!  Rent the movie Chocolat to treat your visual senses (Johnny Depp–mmmm). See more on this idea, plus a past roundup of Valentine’s Day party ideas for women, HERE.

Start a Quirky Tradition. Remember this post about Carmen and the Lucky Reds? Well, you’ll just have to click on over to read it in its entirety but here’s a hint: It involves undergarments. Starting a quirky, funny, or heartfelt tradition among your girlfriends can help you not only survive Valentine’s Day, but look forward to it!

Just do Something! Why not send a Valentine e-card to all your girlfriends? It’s free and it might just make someone’s day. We like My Punchbowl’s assortment of Valentine and friendship-themed e-cards, which you can customize with your own photos and sentiments.

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