Even if we’re already in a book club and regularly get invited to our friends’ boutique parties, sometimes moms need more ideas for regular nights out with the girls. Here are some ideas for you to bounce around with your friends or neighbors.

Bunco

In my neighborhood, a group of women take turns to host a monthly fun and strategy-free game of bunco. Women enjoy catching up with one another just as much, if not more, than playing the game. Set up and equipment is easy and minimal, so it’s a fairly stress-free game idea. Feel free to use games you already have at home, too! The hostess provides the appetizers and each guest brings wine, beer, soda, or her choice of drink.

Meal Assembly Parties

When I lived in another Chicago suburb, I, along with four other mothers of babies, started hosting meal preparation parties in hopes that our sleep-deprived lives would become slightly easier. We took turns hosting the get-togethers in the evening, preparing meals that could be frozen and served throughout the month. After three hours of chopping, simmering, stuffing, and meatball forming, we all left with bags full of freezer containers that lasted us a few weeks.

Some of the items our little group prepared included meat balls, pasta shells with stuffed cheese, and white chicken chili. Each of us contributed a few recipes of our own that we knew would freeze well, but we also found many online.

Try Something New

Another idea for a monthly ladies night out is to do something different each month. You could try some live performances at Zanies in Vernon Hills or Improv Playhouse in Libertyville. Then next month, do a shopping night down Milwaukee, or a cooking class at Someone’s in the Kitchen. The fun part about this idea is that you’ll never get bored, and you have a long list of possibilities.