Valentine’s day never fails to provide a gag-worthy amount of cheesy cards and cheap chocolate. But Galentine’s Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate what really matters.

What is Galentine’s Day? In the wise words of Leslie Knope from the show Parks and Recreation, it is “only the best day of the year. Every Feb. 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies.”

In other words, Valentine’s Day is for romance and Galentine’s Day is to honor our female friendships. Here are some ways to celebrate:

Homemade Galentines

Everyone remembers the childish brawl for the coolest box of valentines–some had stickers, some were metallic, but the best were Scooby Doo themed. We anxiously waited for our crush to drop a heart-shaped valentine into our decorated shoebox, only to be confronted by disappointment.

Thanks to Galentine’s Day, we no longer have to deal with rejection from our fourth grade crushes. Instead, break out your construction paper, scissors and a whole lot of glitter, and create homemade “galentines” for each of your girls. Even better–make them as a group or check out Pinterest for some ideas.  

Heart-shaped food

Everything tastes better when it’s shaped like a heart. Whether you crave festive sandwiches, cookie pops, brownies or just your classic cookie, Martha Stewart probably has a recipe for it. So round up the girls, make a batch and decorate with frosting and sprinkles to your heart’s desire.

Marathon your favorite girl-friendly shows

Save your 100th tearful viewing of The Notebook for Valentine’s Day, because Galentine’s Day is for Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation, Liz Lemon from 30 Rock and all the characters you and your friends have ever connected with on a personal level. If you don’t know where to start, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey never seem to disappoint, so check Netflix for their shows and movies while enjoying the heart-shaped food you made.

Go out to eat

In true Leslie Knope fashion, Galentine’s Day is celebrated over waffles and orange juice, but adaptations are encouraged. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, sharing a meal with your friends is a tradition worth celebrating. Some options to make the occasion more festive are to send out personalized invitations, set a dress code (formal attire, color-coordinated, casual or get as creative as you’d like) or planning a “Secret Cupid.”

What is “Secret Cupid?”

It’s the Secret Santa of Galentine’s Day, or in other words, an anonymous gift-exchange. Everyone is randomly assigned a member of the group to buy or make a gift for (with an established and reasonable spending cap). It’s a great way to bond and show each other how much you appreciate their friendship.