Happy February! This year is already going by so fast; I find it is important to slow down and celebrate the little moments when I can. One such moment is upon us – Galentine’s Day! No, I don’t mean Valentine’s Day, although that too is quickly approaching (that reminder is for you, sweet husband). Galentine’s Day, for those of you who haven’t seen Parks and Recreation, is a day meant for women to celebrate their female friendships. Love comes in all forms, and the love shared by gal pals is special in its own right! This year I decided to celebrate before the traditional day of February 13th and gathered some of my nearest and dearest friends for a small but festive luncheon full of big laughs, great food, and of course plenty of Galentine’s décor.
I love getting the opportunity to host at my home, which I haven’t done much of since we moved in towards the beginning of Covid times! Our dining room is a happy, colorful little spot in our home. I thought what better place to host a pink party than under my freshly painted Ward Parkway Brick ceiling! I started by decking out my bamboo bar cart with all things pink and candy. I have been looking for a reason to not only buy Valentine’s candy, but to also break out the tried and true apothecary jars I just brought home from the shop. Jars like this are so fun and easy to switch out for different themes! As we waited for the whole group to arrive, I served a bit of champagne (and in my case, sparkling water) in sprinkled glasses for a touch of whimsy as we mingled.
For the table I decided to go with a classic pale blush pink theme with a bit of a floral touch. The foundation of the look started with a crisp white tablecloth on the diagonal and pink and green table linens that will get lots of use beyond February 13th and 14th! I had been waiting for a time to bring out my pink glassware and floating stem vases and couldn’t pass up this perfect opportunity. I started with pedestal risers to add some height to the table and built my place settings with an off-white lace edged charger followed by two layers of blush scalloped plates.
When hosting, I like for my guests to leave with a little gift, and this year I had a bit of trouble deciding what that should be! I was tempted to go with a pop of red and top each setting with a box of Louis Sherry candy from the shop, however my growing baby demanded chocolate and so I was a box short! I decided on a small heart vase with fresh florals that my friends could keep at their homes for years to come. At only $13 they made for great take home gifts and they are the perfect size to tuck into any Galentine’s or Valentine’s vignette.
Once we were ready to eat it was time to set up the table and the buffet for our delicious meal. The French Market in Prairie Village has a wonderful selection, and we very much enjoyed the fresh Apple and Brussel Sprout Salad paired with a selection of their sandwiches. I’m often asked how we can eat at such an extravagantly decorated table, and the answer is a quick table flip! Before bringing out the food, I removed the cake stands from each setting and added a fruit-filled compote to get us started. I also moved a couple of our centerpiece vases to the buffet to offer us a better view of each other before inviting my guests to the table.
After our meal we finished with some of my favorite cookies from Karissa at Sugar Cookie Bliss, who some of you might know from the popups she does at the shop (don’t miss her next one on February 12th!). I love how cute and yummy these cookies are and they were a big hit (especially with our smallest special guest, Nora).
I had so much fun celebrating my dear friends and can’t wait to host again soon! Until next time – happy decorating!