Hello Little Christmas Elves,

It’s time for the next post in the Single Girls Guide to the Holidays here on Pretty, Young & Motivated; and this week’s guide is going to share some festive activities you can do with your girl gang. Last week, I talked about activities that you can do with your family, and most of the ones I will share today are some that you can also do with family too. If you missed it, check it out right here. This week I have fallen into the Christmas spirit because it has been nonstop snowing in Michigan. I cannot believe Christmas is only two weeks away!

Spending time with some of your best friends is another great way to fill your heart with happiness. I know I love visiting friends around the holidays, especially the ones from my hometown that I do not see when I’m at school. The next few activities I am going to share are just some things that you can do when you are on holiday from university or your workplace. I know the Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year, and there is so much joy to be spread. Check out these activities to fill your holiday plans with fun:

  1. Go ice skating in the city: Many larger cities have ice rinks located in the downtown area, and they are usually very inexpensive. In Grand Rapids area, Rosa Parks circle is a popular place to go ice skating and skate rentals are only $2. This activity will surely put you in the holiday spirit! Most rinks are decorated with sparkling lights and huge Christmas trees.
  2. Wine & Christmas Movies: I mentioned something similar in the last post, but this one has the wine twist to it. Pick up your favorite bottle of wine, grab the girls and watch your favorite Christmas movie. This is a great activity for those super snowy days, when it’s too cold to go outside and you’re snowed in. You can also use this as a celebration to finishing the Fall semester if you are a college student.
  3. Attend or host an ugly sweater party: The best way to gather friends is by throwing an ugly sweater party! This is the perfect time to do a White Elephant or Secret Santa. The season is not about gifts, but who doesn’t love exchanging gifts. Also, if you are heading somewhere for the holidays, this is a great opportunity to get gang together before the holiday break.
  4. Go shopping: There are so many amazing deals around the holidays, you cannot miss the sales. Grab your girls and plan a day of shopping. Help style each other’s outfits, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the day. This is also a great time to purchase some gifts for others. Working in retail, I am at an outlet mall all the time and it takes all I got not to buy everything.
  5. Grab coffee with an old friend or a new one: I love spending time in coffee shops, but I love it even more in the winter. Cozy up with a hot latte, grab an old friend and catch up on life. This is a wonderful date to set if you are returning home for the holidays and you want to see an old friend. Another idea is to meet a new friend for coffee. Talking over coffee is a fun way to get to know someone, and brace the cold together.
  6. Volunteer: This is one of my favorite ways to spread holiday cheer; there are so many opportunities to volunteer around the holidays but it can be hard to do alone. Get a group of your friends or coworkers together and volunteer at the local homeless shelter or food bank. This will make you have a greater appreciation for the season and fill your heart with some true holiday spirit.

 

Here are some of my coffee shop suggestions if you are in the Grand Rapids area:

Ferris Coffee & Nut | The Sparrows | Lantern Coffee Bar

Check out Rosa Parks Circle for ice skating here!

You can find out where to volunteer in Grand Rapids here.

 

 

 

There is so much cheer to be spread during the holidays, and I think gathering with the people you love is a wonderful way to fill your heart with Christmas cheer. Volunteering to the less fortunate is also a great way to appreciate the things you have. Don’t get me wrong, I love giving gifts to friends & family; it’s fun! Just remember the true meaning of the holidays is to bring people together and spread kindness. Small acts of kindness will bring your heart so much joy.

Thank you for reading the second guide in the Single Girls Guide series. I really hoped you liked this one, and I would love to hear what your favorite activities to do with friends are. Share in the comments below! Be sure to subscribe to receive updates about PYM. This week I will be sharing the second Holiday Outfit Guide, and this one will include some of my beautiful fashionable friends. I cannot wait to share it with all of you. Thanks again for reading today!

Happy Monday.

xo, Lyss