Marilyn Monroe once said, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” In light of social media and muckbang culture, food seems to rival that iconic solid block of carbon. The ‘I’m just a girl’ and ‘girl dinner’ movement birthed a unique generation of Dr. Pepper, Caesar salad, and French fry lovers, and the pace only seems to be picking up with the community growing bigger. So let’s be real, a well-stocked snack stash and a crispy soda are what most girls dream of.
It doesn’t take a lot to make most girls happy, and focusing on her favorite things to eat is a great place to start. National Girlfriend Day is August 1, and it’s never too early to start planning. Most of us grew up in an era with boy bands singing about if they were our boyfriends and then creating extensive Pinterest boards catered to our weddings with said members, so expectations are kind of high — even if we pretend they’re not. National Girlfriend Day might not be as popular and known as Valentine’s Day, but minus the overpriced bouquet of roses and chocolate-covered strawberries on February 14, the day feels more personal and almost has less pressure without all of the heart-shaped marketing.
Besides, National Girlfriend Day was initially founded to celebrate the bonds between women and nurture platonic female friendships. The earliest origins of the holiday mention that it was started by Mistress Susan in 2004 to encourage spending quality time with girlfriends and highlighting the importance of women supporting one another.
The holiday has evolved into a day for partners to post their girlfriends on their Instagram stories with love songs and floors sprinkled with rose petals. It might seem that August 1 is slowly becoming a second Valentine’s Day, but it doesn’t have to be. Even if it’s something as simple as gifting a Sims 4 game pack. National Girlfriend Day does not exactly call for anything lavish, so we’re going to work off the original foundation of the holiday: celebration and gratitude. What better way than to get something a couple can enjoy together?
Whether you’ve already picked the perfect gift for your girlfriend or seem to be stuck, we interviewed a few Her Campus Media interns to help get some ideas flowing. No matter if you’re gifting a girlfriend, a bestie, or just celebrating yourself next month, here are some survival kit suggestions that could be a good fit. Your wallet and partner will thank you later. Here’s what your girlfriend actually wants for National Girlfriend Day.
Stick to sweets.
There was an overwhelming amount of responses that mentioned sweets being a no-brainer when receiving edible gifts. Any sour candy and Nerds Gummy Cluster were among the candy options chosen. Cookies, Crumbl specifically, brownies, cupcakes, and cinnamon rolls were items that were consistently named as top-tier treats. Baked goods are a great way to a girl’s heart, especially when making them becomes a shared activity. With fall just mere weeks away, a seasonal cookie recipe could be a viable option. TikTok creator @inbloombakery shared a recipe for Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies that could be fun to make as a duo or group. Sprinkled with pumpkin spice sugar and stuffed with cheesecake filling, these cookies are bound to get you in the fall mindset.
We all scream for ice cream.
It’s no secret that ice cream is loved by a lot of people, and that is probably because of its ability to taste great no matter if it has one or four flavors. Besties and partners can enjoy an ice cream shop date or pick up a few pints of ice cream before kicking back for a movie night. However, if you want to be a little more adventurous, try out TikTok creator @teakandthyme’s Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwich recipe. You don’t have to worry about buying a Ninja Creami because the strawberry ice cream is no-churn, and the graham cracker crusts give it a nice crunch.
An ice-cold soda.
This answer quite literally surprised me, but I get it. For me, it’s always going to be a Diet Coke, but Poppi was an unexpected favorite among the interns. Coming in a wide range of flavors, Poppi gives a great foundation for your own dirty soda-making station. Thirst Drinks, a soda shop in Utah, posted a video on TikTok making a dirty Poppi using Raspberry Rose Poppi, cherry syrup, mixed berries, and coconut cream. A fun drink could honestly make anyone’s day.
Just a girl who runs on matcha.
Making matcha has become a peaceful daily ritual that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is tasty. Dozens of recipes flood the internet, and it’s hard not to want to try them all. The intern who chose this one knew the vibes because a good-looking matcha can uplift a matcha lover’s spirits. TikTok creator Kam makes a cookie butter matcha that is a must-try. Couples and besties can mix and match recipes to test which combo is the best.
A cute little drinky drink for happy hour.
Margaritas, Lemon Drops, Cosmos, Espresso Martinis, and cocktails that taste like juice were on the interns’ radar of what should not be debated about on August 1. Having a mini cocktail hour at home is the perfect way to test out your mixology skills and spend time with your significant other or besties. TikTok account @cocktails shared a three-ingredient summer cocktail that features pineapple juice, coconut rum, and a splash of cranberry juice to create a refreshing and minimalistic drink.
National Girlfriend Day was not invented to be stressful, so it’s important to just have fun with a romantic partner or celebrate your girlfriends in creative ways.