Girls' Night In for the Holidays

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

I know I'm not the only one who tends to overdo it during the holidays. Piling on the stress and holiday-family-induced guilt can only lead to one thing....major meltdown. I don't know about you, but one way I like to combat holiday-ish fatigue is by spending time with good friends. Girls' Night In!

source

My friend Christy and I are heading off on our annual I (Heart) New York Trip this coming Saturday, but not everyone has the opportunity to travel to the Big Apple for an entire day for less than $100.

So what can you do to have an inexpensive Girls' Night In?

1. Throw an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Christy and I just organized one for our MOPS group. You can click over for details, but the basic gist was that we invited a bunch of ladies over for some holiday fun. The deal was that each guest had to wear tacky Christmas attire and bring a dish to share. We socialized and had a fashion show with a prize for Tackiest Dressed!

2. Host a Craft Party

Find a simple craft (Christmas card, ornament, embellished picture frame), purchase supplies, and invite some girls over for some creative time. If funds are low, divide up the supply cost!

3. Movie Night

I love my Chick Flick Club, but paying $$ for movie tickets and snacks isn't appealing in December. Hit up a RedBox or pull out your favorite holiday movies and have the girls over. Sip hot chocolate while you watch Holiday Inn!

4. Cookie, Dessert, or Holiday Appetizer Exchange

My MOPS group has done this one too, and it can be as low-key as you like. Just ask guests to bring their favorite holiday appetizer or dessert and some Tupperware. Guests can sample treats at the party with Christmas music in the background, and take home extras!

The key these gatherings is that Good Food is Key! You don't have to go nuts with decorating, cooking, or planning. Your friends probably need the down-time just as much as you do! Go easy on yourself...it's not the end of the world if you use shortcuts for a little help in your food prep. In fact, it can be fun to find ways to dress up store-bought mixes!

Whatever you do, have fun with it!

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.