Ah, Galentine’s Day. A sacred holiday observed on Feb. 13 by single females and their friends everywhere. And although it may actually be Valentine’s Day, there’s no reason you can’t celebrate Galentine’s Day today or this weekend, too. (If you’re not entirely sure what that means, get the background.) Here are six ways to have an environmentally mindful, fabulous day of pampering that would make even Parks and Recreation‘s Leslie Knope envious, all while keeping your budget and the earth in mind.
DIY Mani/Pedis
Grab a bowl filled with warm water. Add some almond or grapeseed oil, a few drops of your favorite essential oil (I like lavender or eucalyptus), and soak your troubles away. RGB Cosmetics makes some great nail polishes that are produced under fair-trade conditions. Additionally, all products are cruelty-free, gluten-free, paraben-free and vegan. To top it all off, each bottle is under $10. Check out some of their trendy colors here.
Homemade Bath Bombs
Get together with some of your girlfriends and make these DIY bath bombs! Bonus: You can treat yourself to a luxurious bath when your friends go home. To make these all-natural bath bombs, you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Cream of tartar
- Arrowroot powder
- Pink Himalayan salt
- Liquid coconut oil (or other carrier oil)
- Essential oils for fragrance
- Bath bomb molds (you can also use a Norpro Stainless Steel Meat Baller)
You can likely buy most of these ingredients in bulk, which will cut down on cost and waste since you will only buy what you need. Get the full recipe here, courtesy of NaturallyHandcrafted.com!
Host a Galentine’s Day Brunch
Check out your local farmers market for seasonal produce and inspiration! You could make waffles from scratch and adorn them with pomegranate or pears, purchase bacon from a local farmer, whip up some sweet potato hash browns, and scramble some eggs from a local hen farm. Of course, no brunch would be complete without mimosas. Lucky for you, oranges tend to be in season during the month of February, which means … orange juice sales! See if you can get your hands on some fresh-squeezed juice for optimal taste. You could juice your own, but most Whole Foods locations have a juice bar with pre-squeezed fresh OJ. Mix it with your favorite champagne and drink as is, or if you’re feeling really adventurous, add some frozen pomegranate seeds to step up your brunch game.
Potluck Dinner and a Show
Plan a cute potluck dinner with your friends! While you can’t be entirely in control of what your guests bring, you can make sure that your contribution is healthy and eco-conscious. Plus, since you will only be responsible for one dish, you will spend less money overall, which is always a good thing. After dinner, treat you and your guests to a double feature of Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL. Come on, you know those movies were made for Galentine’s.
Volunteer
Grab a group of friends (heck, you can even go by yourself!), and set out to do a day of good. A lot of people are “volunteered out” after the holidays, which means there are plenty of organizations that would greatly appreciate your presence! Find a place near you that you think could use some help — a food bank, a women’s shelter, a humane society, etc., and get out there and spread the love.
Slap Anyone Who Uses the Word “Single” in Your Presence
This is 100 percent eco-friendly and 100 percent free.
Are you more of a Valentine’s Day purist? We’ve got you covered, too:
- Share the Love with Low-Waste Ideas for Kids’ Valentines
- How To: Plan a Romantic Staycation for Your Valentine
- 8 Valentine’s Day Ideas That Give Back
This story is reprinted with permission from the blog, That Girl on a Limb. Feature photo courtesy of Shutterstock.