Why don’t you…?

Stay in!
Cook up a Storm
Order in take away
Arrange a caterer
Combine forces
Have some real conversation
Have a play
Make it easy - Go Out!

Stay in!

Are you the kind of person who loves to share her home with her best friends? It’s a wonderfully personal way to give something of yourself. You have total creative freedom and can make it as lavish or as low key as you like.

Cook up a storm!

Do you have a couple of recipes that the men in your life just don’t appreciate? You know the ones. Subtle flavours, small portions, maybe even a wicked dessert. Who better to serve it to than the women you’d most like to enjoy it with?

Fundraising suggestion:

Invite them over and ask them to donate the appropriate “going-out-for-dinner” amount to Girls Night In. Your friends will be impressed, and so will Cancer Council.

Order in take-away

You might be one of those women who have so much going on, that the thought of another night in the kitchen just doesn’t count as relaxation. Don’t sweat it. Get you local home delivery or take-away restaurant to do what they do best so you can concentrate on "girl time".

Fundraising suggestion:

You can split the bill and then match your spend as a donation to Girls Night In. It’s still a low cost way to spend quality time with the girls.

Arrange a caterer

It costs a bit more, but having a professional prepare and serve a gourmet meal is a luxury that busy women appreciate more than anyone else. They’ll even clean up!

Fundraising suggestion:

Nominate a suitable ‘ticket price’ and ask your guests to pay that into your Girls Night In.

Combine forces and ask your friends to bring a plate

When everyone chips in, there’s often a less stress. Especially if you have a couple of girlfriends who really can work miracles in the kitchen. It can be fun to set a theme – such as a cuisine type or key ingredient. You might want to task each person with a different course (appetiser, entrée, main course, dessert, cheese platter etc). It’s your Girls Night In, so do it your way!

Fundraising suggestion:

Your fellow chefs can nominate a value for their dish – or another one and donate that amount to your Girls Night In.

Have some real conversation

How often do you have the chance to engage in real conversation with your girlfriends these days? We’re not talking about a quick chat about whether you’re able to pick one of the kids up for soccer training. We mean a genuine discussion about things that matter to you. As we rely more and more on e-mail, text messaging and Facebook our face to face contact is often kept for special occasions. There are some things that can only be discussed in person, and it really is simply a matter of making the time. So – make the time. 

Have a Play!

Remember board games? While there are plenty of scrabble fanatics out there, some of us haven’t played a board game in years. It doesn’t need to be a game in a box – you can try Charades, Pictionary, Celebrity Head or a crazy game of your own creation. Your girlfriends are often the only people that let you make a fool of yourself and love you because of it. So let loose and have some real fun.

There are tons of things that are ideal for girls who stay in:

• Organise a book club (even if it’s just a one-off) and contribute the price of the book to Girls Night In.

• Arrange a hair & beauty treatment – do your own or organise a professional. Your donation could be the price of a professional treatment.

• Sit on the couch and watch a DVD and donate the cost of a ‘gold class’ movie ticket.

• Have a guided meditation session and donate the value of a class to Girls Night In.

• Arrange a private yoga class and contribute cost of your regular class to Girls Night In.

If you have any more ideas – tell us about them! Visit us on Facebook or post a message on our blog. We’d LOVE to hear all about it!

Make it easy.

Go out!

Are you due for a night out? It’s highly likely that most of your girlfriends are too. Sometimes, if you’re busy with family, work, and other commitments, it often seems like a lot of effort to get the house ready for visitors and what a treat it is to dress up and leave your troubles at home. It’s a double treat if you also have the company of some cherished girlfriends.

The biggest obstacle is often finding a date that suits everyone. There are a few free on-line polls that you can use (such as including Facebook and doodle.com) or you can simply ask your girlfriends to vote for their preferred date via your fundraising page.

Your Local

If you have a local favourite in the neighbourhood, it might be worth approaching them to be a sponsor. We can provide a fundraising letter of authority to prove you charitable intentions. If they agree, you can simply send them a link to your fundraising page where they can post a special menu or even make a donation.

Outdoors

October is a lovely time of year to throw a blanket on the grass and enjoy a shady tree or even some twilight. Picnics are great as they allow everyone the freedom to lie down, take a walk or sit and chat. To turn it into a fundraiser you might want to have a bit of fun by withholding the location details until your fundraising goal has been reached. This could create some lively chat on your fundraising page!

Movie Night

How many movies have you missed because the men in your life don’t enjoy a good chick flick? There are some films that are made especially for girls and it’s a great excuse to get yours together. Some cinemas offer discounts for bulk purchases of 10 or more tickets, so you’ll have a bit of extra cash to donate to Girls Night In.

Training Night

If your social circle revolves around your fitness regime, you might want to do an extra work out for Girls Night In. This could take place at your local gym, aquatic centre or even your scheduled team sport practice. Follow it up with some well earned refreshments and make a donation to the value of a personal training session!