Girls Night In – Slumber Parties

You Don’t Have to “Get Out” to Getaway! Grab your pillow and go…to your girlfriends’ house for a “no guys or kids allowed” sleepover….grown up style.

Kate Hudson was quoted as saying the best advice she ever got from her mom (Goldie Hawn) is to “never forget how important your girlfriends are.” While we don’t all have time to take a multi-day girls getaways to re-connect with the girls, we can still find some much-needed relaxation and rejuvenation with our gal pals at a good, old-fashioned slumber party….although things may have changed just a little. While no formal reason is ever needed to get together with your girlfriends, these sleepovers are great ways to celebrate birthdays, baby showers, engagements and bachelorette parties…I’ve even heard of a divorce slumber party.

I grew up in a very small town, so as a young girl, our main source of entertainment on the weekends were sleepovers. I remember we used to have so much fun…maybe even too much fun! Even though we are “all grown up” now, we have found ways to modify the adolescent activities into more age appropriate fun!

And the Grammy goes to…

Being the Madonna groupies that we were, I remember my girlfriends and I would dress up, put on a ton of make-up and host our very own talent show. We had a blast and undoubtedly gave some Grammy-winning and Oscar-worthy performances…or so we thought.

Although we don’t put all the effort into our shows that we once did, we still feed our “inner divas” at sleepovers with incredible karaoke numbers, compelling charades performances and endless Guitar Hero extravaganzas (just like Heidi Klum in the commercial). At least for one night, we can escape our real lives and live out our movie and rock star dreams.

Rachel Ray Look Out!

During our younger years, we thought we knew everything there was to cooking, and an audience at the house gave us reason to demonstrate these fine culinary skills. The problem is that when you are 10-years-old, the food that sounds like it would be yummy mixed together actually tastes more like dog food when combined. Good thing we always ordered pizza!

Today, with a more mature outlook on cooking, the girls and I have a blast bringing various ingredients to the slumber party and whipping up delicious gourmet-esque meals that actually bring smiles to our faces (and our taste buds). We have even staged our very own “Throw Down” where two teams are given the same ingredients and must “square off” in a unique and challenging cooking competition, which always leads to hours of great post-competition conversation and funny stories to share the next morning.

Are You Game?

Back in the day, we had all kinds of crazy games that we played, from summoning spirits on an Ouija board to “light as a feather, stiff as a board.” Today, there are tons of games we play during our regular sleepovers, including Pictionary, Partini, Apples to Apples and Bunco, these games keep us entertained in our pajamas for hours.

When we want to “re-visit” our childhood games, we host a fortune telling sleepover party complete with tarot cards, palm reading, crystal balls, lotto tickets and gypsy attire. Who isn’t a little curious about their future?

Fashionista Forever

In the days long before Project Runway, we would challenge each other to design new outfits made out of things at the hostess’ home…all in the name of fashion. It was amazing what the girls would come up with, and some of these “outfits” (or lack thereof) are stories we still tell to this very day.

So, now that we are older and (hopefully) wiser in our fashion choices, how do we continue this tradition? During one season finale evening of Project Runway, our only Girls Night In requirements were: 1) to make your own Project Runway outfit and 2) wear it that evening. Who knew I could be so trend setting in a black, belted garbage bag? We discussed the creativity and design elements associated with our “looks,” argued (jokingly) with our own judges about our level of fashion taste, and had our very own fashion show. Some things never do change!

Coming Soon to a Sleepover Near You

I’ll never forget the hours and hours we spent watching movies. One night, we spent six hours watching three movies to help a friend mourn her deceased dog. After that, we could not stay awake if we had to.

Today, we never get tired of watching the best chick flicks, and they are even better when we watch them with our girlfriends. For your next sleepover, check out Sex and the City, Steel Magnolias, Beaches, Pretty Woman, When Harry Met Sally.., What Women Want, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Fried Green Tomatoes, Titanic, Love Actually, Dirty Dancing, Grease. Guaranteed to be a great night!

Other “Girls Night In” Sleepover Tips

Prizes – Prizes are very popular and can be for anything (best pajamas, best karaoke performance, best culinary treat, best chick flick rental, etc.). Come on…we all like to win!

Midnight Martini Madness – Ask everyone to bring their favorite martini and celebrate at midnight with a sampling of each martini.

Casey Wohl, also known as The Getaway Girl®, is passionate about two things: her girlfriends and traveling the world.  By combining these two loves, Wohl has created a unique and helpful city-specific travel guide series for women worldwide. http://www.girlsgetawayguide.net