Girls Night In

Gather your ladies, your blankets, your pillows—girls night in is on! A big night out has its time and place, but a cozy gathering at home (yours or theirs) is a special kind of communion. It is certainly satisfying to put on some trash TV and scroll on your phones from opposite sides of the couch, but we have a few other ideas for making the most of the time with your best babes.

The Spread: Whatever the theme, you're going to need snacks. Go-to staples include popcorn, a cheese board, and wine, but feel free to add some high/low elements. Ask everyone to bring their favorite sweets for a candy salad. Maybe make an actual salad? Regardless, don't put all the responsibility for food and drinks on the host.

Get Crafty: Girlhood is a table covered in Elmer's Glue and glitter. Pick a craft, any craft. Our favorites include making holiday cards, friendship bracelets, or watercolor paintings. Ask everyone to bring that stack of magazines gathering dust in the corner to create collages or vision boards. The key is for the craft to be easy for beginners and doable in just a few hours.

Book club: It's great to have an organized group for a regularly scheduled book club (we have some advice on that, too), but don't feel like that's a requirement. If there's a book that you're excited about and think your girlfriends would enjoy, suggest everyone read it, then meet up in a month or so to discuss. It can be as light as a fun beach read or as deep as a thought-provoking nonfiction.

Game on: Board games are a great activity for a small group so long as no one is supremely competitive. There are a million games out there, but some that have shown up at our parties include Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Bananagrams, and Cards Against Humanity.

Sleepover: Those core memories you have of staying up late with your besties, eating pizza, watching movies, prank-calling your crushes, and having someone make you pancakes in the morning? That's not restricted to elementary school. Adult sleepovers are a blast and can incorporate all your childhood favorites and more. You can build a pillow fort, but pranking that cute boy down the street might require some extra creativity nowadays.

Now that you have all our tips for the best Girls Night In ever, the only thing left is what to wear. Comfort is obviously queen in this arena, and you'll need a roomy tote to pack your snack contributions. Discover some of our favorite pieces below.