Ideas for a Black Friday after-shopping party with your gal pals

Send evites

Your girlfriends are as busy as you are -- especially during the holiday season. Make sure to send out your invitations early by email. You can use sites like evite.com or pingg.com to create and send cute invitations in a flash. Follow up by phone a few days before Thanksgiving with anyone who hasn't confirmed. On Black Friday, shop early to get the best deals with plenty of time to hang out at home afterward.

Wrap it up

Use the party as a time to get your gift wrapping done. Set up a gift wrapping station in your home. Use the biggest room in your house and add extra tables, if necessary. Ask everyone to bring a couple of rolls of wrapping paper to share and you can supply all the extras -- bows, ribbon, scissors, tape and gift tags.

Order takeout

During the holidays, don't stress yourself out cooking an elaborate meal or paying for a big spread. This is a casual event, so just order takeout from your favorite Chinese or pizza place. Have some chips and dips on hand, as well as cheese and crackers for munchies.

Check out these dynamite dip recipes >>

Serve holiday cocktails

Get in the holiday spirit by serving seasonal cocktails. Consider eggnog, hot buttered rum, spiced beer or one of these holiday cocktails to warm up your guests. Have plenty of bottled water on hand too.

Irish winter

Ingredients:

• 1 part Kahlua Coffee Cream
• 1 part Jameson Irish Whiskey
• Freshly brewed coffee
• Whipped cream

Directions:

1. Pour Kahlua, whiskey and coffee in a mug and stir to combine.
2. Top with whipped cream.

Baileys Irish Cream latte

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces of espresso coffee
• 3-1/2 ounces of Baileys Irish Cream with Caramel
• Steamed milk
• Chocolate shavings

Directions:

1. Pour the espresso coffee into a coffee mug.
2. Add Baileys Irish Cream with Caramel.
3. Fill the mug with steamed milk.
4. Decorate the top with froth.
5. Sprinkle chocolate shavings over the top.

Play games

(Amazon.com, $25)

Connect with your girlfriends by playing some light-hearted games. Try Pictionary or Scattergories. Also, consider games designed especially to play with your friends, like The Girlfriends Box of Questions or What's a Dame to Do?!

Create some unique holiday games too. Each of you can write down the weirdest gift ever received, best gift ever received, favorite holiday family tradition, etc. The hostess can then randomly read off the lists, while your friends try to match the answers with the correct person.

Read more about how to make time for BFF bonding >>

Black Friday can be hectic and draining. Turn it into a special day of fun by hosting a party and unwinding with your gal pals.

More about Black Friday

Black Friday shopping tips: Finding the best deals
How to save money on Black Friday
Black Friday: Best money-saving retail websites and apps