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Valentine’s Day is spent with my Dean. We always try to do something sweet, and just have a nice dinner together. However, last year I was introduced to an event that happens before cupid’s big day called Gallentine’s. A friend in my office invited all the office women to a Galentine’s event. It sounded like a lot of fun so I accepted the invitation.

We had so much fun wearing pink, having charceuterie, and a signature pink cocktail. We laughed endlessly while talking, playing games and just hanging out. I’m excited to say I have received an invitation to this years celebration and am looking so forward to an evening spent with girlfriends.

If you want to spend an evening celebrating with your girls, here are some ideas!

Parks and Rec-athon
If you and your friends are fans, what better way to commemorate a day founded by Leslie Knope than with a marathon of the show? Obviously, you won’t be able to binge all seven seasons in one night (sounds like a challenge!) but be sure to, at the very least, play the famous Galentine’s Day episode from season 2. Bonus points if you make a plate of waffles for every guest.

Prosecco Picnic Party
There’s hardly anything better than Prosecco —except for maybe Prosecco at a picnic. If you live somewhere that February isn’t frighteningly cold, feel free to take your picnic party outdoors. If not, there’s nothing wrong with spreading a blanket by a cozy fire inside, just don’t forget the snacks!

Song and Dance Soiree
Any excuse to belt out your favorite songs with your BFFs by your side is welcome, and that’s why a sing-off or dance contest (or both) makes for the perfect Galentine’s Day event. Don’t have a karaoke machine? No problem—just print out the lyrics to some of your favorite sing-along songs beforehand. Pro tip: wine is greatly encouraged.

PJ Potluck
Even if you and your friends aren’t the best chefs in the world, it’s always fun to prepare a special meal or baked good to bring along to the party. Encourage your guests to come in their snazziest set of pajamas and socks, too, and settle in for a cozy and low-key evening.

Epic Adventure
Is there a special trip you’ve always wanted to take with your girlfriends but never got around to? Make this special day an excuse to finally make it happen—be it a beach vacay or an adventurous hiking trip out West. There’s no better time than the present!

Watch a RomCom Go to the movies, or even watch a video on your favorite streaming app and have all the great snacks that are available at the theater.

Try out one of these Galentine’s Day party ideas— or come up with something yourself. Whatever it is, do it with love.

With autumn on the horizon, you may be looking forward to the cool, breezy days ahead, and you’re not alone.

In fact, your landscaping probably can’t wait to say good riddance to these hot summer days full of overactive pests and dry, thirsty soil. However, fall is not without its unique challenges. As the sun sets on summer, take some time to conduct a little end-of-season maintenance and prepare for the fall climate conditions that are just around the corner.

Start with damage control. Assess the summer casualties in your garden, such as high-moisture or sun-averse plants that just couldn’t take the heat. Uproot any dead matter, and clean the soil out of freshly emptied garden pots, as dead roots may attract fungi.

Check your remaining plants for dry, dead growths, pruning them as needed. Use garden shears for this task, not your hands, to avoid damaging healthy growths in the process. Then pick and preserve any ripe fruits, vegetables, or herbs in your edible garden. You worked hard on this produce all summer, so ensure that it doesn’t go to waste. (Besides, if you don’t eat it, some ants gladly will.)

If you plan on filling any gaps in your garden with fall foliage, such as pansies and goldenrod, plant young growths—seeds likely won’t bloom in time for Thanksgiving. This is also the ideal time to plant new trees and shrubs as their roots will have ample time to mature in the soil before the winter frost arrives. Once you’re satisfied, surround any new additions to your yard and garden with a layer of mulch to help insulate fresh roots.

Summer may be peak weed season, but this problem won’t necessarily disappear with the approach of the fall equinox. Pick all weeds out of your lawn, ensuring that you fully uproot them; resilient weeds can rebound surprisingly fast if you don’t remove all of their roots.

The first frost can occur anywhere between September and December, depending on your region of the country. (The Farmer’s Almanac has a handy guide to probable frost dates for your area.) In anticipation of this climate turning point, aerate your lawn to loosen up compacted soil, and apply a thin layer of fertilizer.

Keep your mower handy too. Grass will continue growing up until the first frost occurs, so mow your lawn regularly before then. Set the blades to 4 inches to help keep your grass healthy and neat looking throughout August and September. If leaves start collecting on your lawn prematurely, feel free to mow right over them for now. Once dense layers of leaves collect later in fall, you’ll need to rake them before you mow.

Additionally, stay on top of your watering schedule. Stick to the low-light hours of dawn and dusk, even as cooler weather trickles in. Direct sun can evaporate moisture surprisingly fast, which wastes both water and money.

Tackle these tasks now, and you can enjoy a cozier autumn with minimal effort, less stress, and delightful views of the changing season outside your window.