Friendsgiving is one of my all time favorite holidays. Don’t get me wrong, Thanksgiving is up there too – I love my mom’s cooking…. I could just do without the inevitable family drama for dessert. *sigh*
When I first moved to Atlanta, I had never even heard of Friendsgiving. Leave it to my blogger bestie Eating with Erica to show me how it’s done. Her Friendsgiving is one of the most anticipated events of the year and is always completely unforgettable. If you’re lucky enough to be a part of this boss babe’s trusted inner circle, she truly goes above and beyond to show you how thankful she is for your friendship by putting on this meal. This year she partnered with Ketel One, The Capital Grille, and Chelsea Floral Designs to put on a soiree that I can only imagine will rival my own wedding reception… Here we go:
The delicious Ketel One cocktails were flowing, everyone looked like they had just stepped off the red carpet, and the room was buzzing with warmth and laughter. If you took a moment to stop and look around, it was the most wonderful thing to watch. All of these smart, strong, independent women in one room? You can imagine how much we all had to be thankful for… Our incredible hostess and friend, Erica. The absolutely decadent meal. All of the unique opportunities we have each worked so hard for. And most of all, the bonds we have formed with each other.
Instead of going around the table and saying what we were thankful for (because the list could go on and on) Erica asked each of us to share what friendship means to us… All of the answers were different, but we all seemed to agree that a true friend is someone you can trust, who will cheer you on, lift you up, love you without judgement and laugh with you until you can’t breath. I’m getting teary eyed just typing this… I think it was a really beautiful moment for us all.
The meal itself was a 15/10, conservatively. I opted for the filet mignon (medium rare) mashed potatoes, and green beans to pair with my Ketel One cocktail and it was to die for. The steak was cooked perfectly and basically melted in my mouth. I’m not a big fan of macaroni and cheese, but when they brought out the lobster mac…. I tried some and it was out of this world. Would definitely recommend. We wound everything up with a super sweet creme brulee and fresh fruit. I’ve never met anyone who can outdo my momma when it comes to holiday cooking… but I have to say, The Capital Grille came dangerously close.
2017 has been a crazy year for me. I’ve had ups and downs, good times and bad – but through them all, I have always been able to call Erica. She is there to turn up the music and pop the champagne when it’s time to celebrate and she’s there to pick you up off the floor and uncork the wine when it’s time to wallow. This year, I am so thankful to have such a great friend to look up to and laugh with. She inspires me to be better and isn’t afraid to tell me when I need to step up my game. I am so proud of all of her accomplishments this year. I can’t wait to see what 2018 holds for us!
Needless to say, I left this Friendsgiving with a full belly and an even fuller heart. (And an unbelievable swag bag featuring all my fav brands like Sephora, Henri Bendel, Emerald Hare, Dress Up, and so much more. Stay tuned for a separate post just for swag bag brags!) Next year, I encourage each of you to gather your closest friends, share a special meal, and remind each other what friendship truly means. Cheers!
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