🥳 13 Stuff To Do With Friends
🍼 The Newborn Survival Kit
The first six months of parenthood are a blur of exhaustion. Stop trying to tough it out—these are the 5 absolute life-saving baby essentials that experienced moms literally refuse to live without. They will instantly solve your biggest sleeping, feeding, and soothing struggles.
🌙 Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine
The ultimate sleep hack. You can entirely control this white noise machine and dimmable nightlight from your smartphone, meaning you never have to accidentally wake the baby while sneaking back out of the nursery after a 3 AM feeding.
🤧 FridaBaby NoseFrida Snotsucker
It sounds incredibly gross until your baby has their first cold and literally cannot breathe to sleep. Throw away those useless hospital bulb syringes—this doctor-invented tool safely clears congestion in seconds, and yes, the filter absolutely prevents any germs from reaching you.
💧 Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump
Every breastfeeding mom's best kept secret. Simply suction this cheap, cord-free silicone cup to the opposite breast while you nurse to effortlessly catch every drop of liquid gold letdown that would otherwise leak onto your shirt and be totally wasted.
🧴 Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment
Forget buying ten different expensive, highly-fragranced creams. This is the only ointment you need. It miraculously cures severe diaper rash overnight, heals cracked nursing nipples, soothes baby eczema, and aggressively protects delicate skin from harsh winter wind.
☁️ Burt's Bees 100% Organic Burp Cloths
You will go through dozens of these a day, so do not cheap out on thin fabric. These thick, ultra-absorbent organic cotton cloths actually catch massive spit-ups before they ruin your only clean outfit, while remaining incredibly soft against your newborn's face.
Okay, real talk. You love your pals, but sometimes the ‘What do you wanna do’ tango gets old, right? We’ve all been there, staring blankly at each other, scrolling endlessly through streaming services. Fear not, intrepid friend-havers! I’ve cooked up a list of genuinely fun, non-awkward ways to actually enjoy time with your favorite humans. Ditch the boring, embrace the banter.
1. Host a Themed Potluck Party
Food is always the answer, especially when everyone brings their A-game. Pick a theme (e.g., ‘Taco Tuesday Extravaganza,’ ‘Pasta Paradise,’ ‘Dessert Decadence’). Everyone whips up a dish related to the theme. It’s less pressure on one host and way more variety for everyone. Make a collaborative playlist beforehand. Good vibes only. You get amazing food, shared effort, and zero decision fatigue on what to eat. Plus, bragging rights for the best dish.
2. Embark on a Thrift Store Treasure Hunt
Forget fast fashion; let’s find some vintage gold. Challenge each other to find the weirdest, most stylish, or most useful item for under ten bucks. You’ll unearth some true gems and have a good laugh at the questionable finds. Set a timer for 30 minutes in each store. Keeps things moving and adds a fun competitive edge. It’s cheap, sustainable, and surprisingly hilarious. You might even discover your new favorite sweater.
3. DIY Spa Day At Home
Who needs a fancy resort when you’ve got face masks and good company? Gather all your sheet masks, nail polish, foot soaks, and maybe even a few essential oils. Put on some chill music, light a candle, and just relax. Assign each friend a “station” – one for nails, one for hair masks, one for foot rubs. Ultimate pampering! This offers affordable self-care and quality time rolled into one. Plus, everyone leaves feeling refreshed and glowing.
4. Board Game Bonanza (with snacks, obviously)
Unleash your inner strategist (or just laugh at your friends’ terrible decisions). Dust off those classic board games or try something new. Think Catan, Cards Against Humanity, Ticket to Ride, or even just good old Monopoly if you’re feeling brave. Snacks are non-negotiable. Establish house rules before you start to avoid mid-game arguments. A friendly rivalry is fun, but no table-flipping. It’s interactive, encourages playful competition, and gets everyone off their phones.
5. Explore a New Neighborhood or Town
Adventure awaits just outside your usual stomping grounds. Pick a part of your city or a nearby town you’ve never really explored. Wander around, pop into local shops, grab coffee, and just soak in the new scenery. Look up a few highly-rated local eateries or quirky boutiques beforehand to give yourselves some direction. It feels like a mini-vacation without the travel hassle. You discover new favorites and make fresh memories.
6. Have a Themed Movie Marathon
Popcorn, pajamas, and a whole lot of screen time – but make it chic. Choose a director, an actor, a genre, or even a specific decade. Think ’90s rom-coms, Quentin Tarantino films, or classic horror. Everyone brings their favorite movie snack. Build a cozy fort with blankets and pillows. Maximum comfort, maximum nostalgia. It’s super low-key, perfect for a chill night in, and a great excuse to rewatch some cinematic masterpieces.
7. Go on a Photography Walk
Turn your everyday surroundings into an art exhibit. Grab your phones or actual cameras and head out. Challenge each other to capture specific themes (e.g., ‘patterns,’ ‘street art,’ ‘things that make you smile’). Share your best shots later. Look for unique angles and unexpected details. You’d be surprised what beauty hides in plain sight. It sparks creativity, gets you moving, and helps you see your world through a fresh lens.
8. Cook a Complicated Recipe Together
Teamwork makes the dream work, especially when that dream is delicious. Pick something ambitious – homemade pasta, a multi-layer cake, or an intricate ethnic dish. Assign tasks, blast some tunes, and tackle it as a team. Don’t be afraid to make a mess. That’s half the fun (and the clean-up is shared, too). It’s a fantastic bonding experience, you learn new skills, and you get a gourmet meal at the end. Win-win-win.
9. Volunteer for a Cause You Care About
Give back, feel good, and strengthen your friendship all at once. Find a local charity, animal shelter, food bank, or park clean-up event. Spending time helping others is incredibly rewarding and a powerful way to connect. Discuss your interests beforehand to find a cause everyone feels passionate about. You make a positive impact, gain perspective, and share a meaningful experience.
10. Host a ‘Bad Art’ Night
No talent required, just a willingness to be gloriously terrible. Gather cheap art supplies – paper, paints, crayons, glitter. Pick a silly theme (e.g., ‘your pet as a superhero,’ ‘a self-portrait if you were a vegetable’). The goal isn’t good art; it’s hilarious art. Put on a ridiculous playlist. Think ’80s power ballads or cheesy pop. It’s a no-pressure creative outlet, incredibly funny, and guarantees some memorable (and probably framed) masterpieces.
11. Go Stargazing or Have a Bonfire
Escape the city lights and reconnect under the vastness of the cosmos. Head to a spot with minimal light pollution. Bring blankets, hot cocoa, and maybe some s’mores supplies if a bonfire is an option. Just chill and chat. Download a stargazing app to identify constellations. Bonus points for spotting a shooting star. It’s peaceful, reflective, and a perfect setting for deep conversations and bonding.
12. Create a Collaborative Playlist & Dance Party
Curate the ultimate soundtrack to your friendship, then dance like nobody’s watching (because they probably aren’t). Everyone adds their favorite pump-up jams, nostalgic throwbacks, and guilty pleasures to a shared playlist. Then, clear some space and just dance it out. Assign a DJ for specific blocks of time to keep the energy flowing and varied. Music is a powerful connector, it’s great exercise, and it’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you’re jamming with your besties.
13. Learn Something New Together (Online or In-Person)
Expand your minds and maybe even pick up a cool new skill. Sign up for a beginner’s class – pottery, a language, mixology, coding, or even just an online tutorial for knitting. The shared learning experience is half the fun. Choose something completely out of your comfort zone. The shared struggle will be bonding. It’s stimulating, productive, and you’ll have a new inside joke (or a new hobby!) to share.
🧩 The Toddler Sanity & Learning Kit
Toddlers are tiny tornados. Instead of turning on the iPad in a moment of desperation, these 5 open-ended toys and clever tools foster independent, screen-free play while simultaneously saving your house from milk spills and crayon disasters.
🧱 Magna-Tiles 100-Piece Building Set
The undeniable king of open-ended play. It is the one single toy that a 2-year-old and a 10-year-old will both happily play with for an hour straight. They develop spatial reasoning, math skills, and independent focus—worth absolutely every penny.
🥛 Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cups
Stop wiping up milk puddles. These genius, dentist-recommended cups allow kids to drink from anywhere around the rim like a real glass, but they instantly seal themselves the second the child stops drinking—even if they drop it on the floor.
🎧 Yoto Mini Kids Audio Player
The ultimate distraction for car rides or quiet time without the guilt of handing over a glowing screen. Kids control it completely by inserting physical cards to play audiobooks, music, and educational podcasts completely independently.
🧹 Melissa & Doug Wooden Cleaning Set
Toddlers desperately want to do exactly what you do. This kid-sized, highly durable wooden sweeping and mopping set redirects their chaotic energy into productive, confidence-building life skills while you actually get the real cleaning done in peace.
🎒 Montessori Travel Busy Board
The secret to surviving restaurants and airplanes with a two-year-old. Packed with buckles, zippers, shoelaces, and snaps, this soft, lightweight 'briefcase' develops critical fine-motor skills and keeps busy little hands occupied for surprisingly long stretches.
Conclusion
So there you have it, folks! No more endless ‘I dunno, what do you wanna do?’ spirals. Your friends are awesome, and your time together should be too. Pick an idea, grab your crew, and go make some genuinely unforgettable memories. Because let’s be real, those shared laughs are the stuff life’s made of. Now get out there and be legendary!
