How To Throw an Adult Sleepover
When I heard “M3GAN 2.0” was coming out today. I got a little excited. “M3GAN” was campy and weird, with an almost comically simple storyline, punctuated with dancey fighting scenes. But Allison Williams has truly never looked more beautiful, and I remember the whole thing pairing very nicely with the pint of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food I snuck into the theater. The thing I liked best about “M3GAN” was that it reminded me of the solid, female-lead B-movies that colored my childhood sleepovers. I’m talking about “John Tucker Must Die,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Easy A,” and above all, “She’s the Man.”
Back in the late 2000s and early 2010s if you didn’t know what to watch at your sleepover, “She’s the Man” was always a safe choice. More than safe, it was the right choice. With Amanda Bynes’ exceptional comic timing and physicality, a young Channing Tatum’s charm and nascent star power, and a storyline based on a Shakespeare play, the film is smart, funny, and infinitely rewatchable. I still watch it anytime it’s available on a streaming service. And you know what? It still holds up!
So anyway, in honor of “M3GAN 2.0,” which I hope is just as sleepover-worthy as the original, I have put together a list of must-haves for any adult sleepover party. I realize the adult sleepover is not really a thing, but certainly out-of-town friends come to stay, siblings visit, and girl’s weekends need a chill night. For all those times, here’s what you need to recreate the magic of a really good teenage sleepover.
Sleepover essentials
Activity
The best sleepovers start during the day. An earlier start means more time for activities. An afternoon by a pool is a classic. Lots of sun, a little sunburn, and a couple of pool-side beverages, nothing better. But let’s say you don’t have access to a pool, here are some other great ideas:
Life update PowerPoints. My friends and I did this for our last girl’s trip. It was so fun to see my friends’ personalities shine through what they chose to highlight on their slides. This activity is really great for short trips when you have to condense all the catch up.
Hikes and long walks. I love a long walk, even around the neighborhood. It’s a great way to catch up, do some people-watching, and work up an appetite for dinner.
Shopping. There are so many ways to do this thrift shopping, antique shopping, etc.
Reading. I’ve been bringing books to sleepovers since I was in middle school. Thanks to the rise of romantacy, friends sitting in silence reading their books is finally cool!
Board games, if you’re those people. Look, it’s fine if you are, just don’t expect me to RSVP yes.
Food and Bev
Beverages: A sleepover is not the time for a signature beverage. A sleepover, if done right, is the Olympics of chatting. You should leave a sleepover with new stories, new memories, new gossip, and maybe a few new secrets. It’s a busy night. We do not need to be waiting for Kim to refill an overly sweet, lukewarm pitcher of Moscow mules. We need an easily accessible fridge stocked with some combination of beer, wine, hard seltzers and the friend group’s N/A beverage of choice. I vote for Spindrift. If anything is going to be fancy about the drinks make it your coasters — protect that coffee table, girls!
Dinner: As Mary Kate and Ashley wisely said, “Gimme Pizza.” Pizza is a sleepover classic, but you’re an adult now and you don’t have to settle for Dominos. Make your own if you have access to a pizza oven (I like the Ooni Koda 2) or order takeout from your favorite local spot. Don’t forget a big salad or veggie dish.
Dessert: I love an ice cream sundae bar. It’s easy and everyone is happy to make their own dessert. We are almost in stone fruit season. As soon as it arrives, I’ll be making a simple plum sauce to drizzle over vanilla ice cream. It is truly one of my favorite things ever. It makes a perfect addition to a sundae bar!
Snacks: Chips, popcorn, and movie theater candy are all great to have on hand. If you want to go a different direction, my twin best friends’ mom used to stock up on frozen appetizers and desserts from Costco and put out seemingly endless plates of little bits during our sleepovers. Most of these treats required a short bake time or an hour or two to thaw, easy enough for a host who doesn’t want to miss out on the fun.
Breakfast: This is the meal to get everyone involved. Have someone to cook the eggs and bacon, while someone else is in charge of cinnamon rolls or pancakes. And the friend who woke up too late to help cook can always do the dishes.
Sleeping accommodations
As much as we like to think we’re young at heart, no one is going to sleep in a Rugrats sleeping bag on the floor of your TV room, Ok? Instead, make up your guest beds or air mattresses - with crisp, clean sheets. I like these from Land’s End or these from Brooklinen.
Chances are one of your guests will forget something which is why it’s a good idea to stock up on toothpaste, saline solution, makeup wipes, and hair ties beforehand.
Happy slumbering!