A Valentine’s Day That Celebrates Friendship

This year, we’re making Valentine’s Day a time to share with friends. On the menu: gourmet bites, festive mocktails and simple ideas to create a friendly and celebratory evening to feel good… and be spoiled together.​

A Spa at Home

Make the evening a wellness break by transforming the living room into a mini spa. Swap dressy outfits for comfortable clothes and invite your friends to pamper themselves with homemade masks inspired by the flavours of Valentine’s Day: chocolate to moisturize and red fruits to illuminate the complexion. Complete the whole routine with warm towels and soothing music, and take advantage of this moment to relax together.

Sweet Chocolate Mask

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp cream or plain yogurt

Mix all the ingredients until you have a homogeneous dough. Apply to a clean face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse gently.

Good to Know: Cocoa is rich in antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and protect the skin from external aggressions.

Strawberry Glow Mask

Ingredients

• 4-5 ripe strawberries
• 1 tbsp plain yogurt
• 1 tsp honey

Preparation

Mash the strawberries into a purée with the back of a spoon and not with a blender, as the result will be too liquid. Mix with the yogurt and honey until smooth. Apply to the face, leave on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Tip: Always do a patch test before applying the mask.

Appetizers to Share

To receive friends without complicating your life, bet on simple but festive bites. Popcorn seasoned with dark chocolate or smoked paprika, a fruit platter, accompanied by melting chocolate, dips such as hummus and a few homemade or store-bought cookies: everything is there to snack with pleasure and without stress.

Gourmet Tip: After hulling the strawberries, cut them in half lengthwise, then make a small cut at the top of each half to give them the shape of a heart.

3 easy recipes to delight friends:

Prosciutto Dates

Shrimp and Brie bundles

Warm goat cheese crackers with onion and cranberry confit

Non-alcoholic drinks

Sparkling bubbles, fruity flavours and pretty cans: Alcohol-free ready-to-drink products instantly set the mood. You can also vary the enjoyment with sparkling water mixed with cranberry, raspberry or pomegranate juice, prepare a homemade mocktail based on kombucha, or serve a homemade iced tea in pretty glasses for light, inclusive options that are perfect for enjoying the evening with ease.

3 Recipes to Toast Friendship:

Mocktail Vanilla Ice

Chia bubble, strawberry, hibiscus and basil tea

Sparkling Orange & Cranberry Mocktail

More Ideas for Fun Activities

• Watch a heartwarming movie about friendship or a cult comedy to laugh and relax together.
• Exchange small intentions: small gestures, sweet words or symbolic surprises to remind each other how much your friendship matters.
• Organize a “friendship test” question game: who knows the most quirks, habits or shared memories of each person? Funny, touching and sometimes a little embarrassing questions to laugh out loud and strengthen bonds.
• Create a mini friendship capsule by slipping shared jokes, memorable photos and small letters into a box or jar, to be sealed and opened together on another Valentine’s Day for a fun and touching way to preserve your memories and prepare a nice surprise to discover later.

For more ideas, check out this article:

https://www.rachellebery.ca/en/articles/a-valentines-day-between-friends/