“Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly.” M. F. K. Fisher

Back in January, I talked about my one word resolution, but, am I following through with it? For the most part the answer is yes, but after a few weeks, I felt myself running out of steam. The stress of daily life (on top of some personal trials) was starting to weigh on me. Negative thoughts were trying to clutter my mind and bouts of “the blues” were starting to creep back in. My solitude was definitely not helping matters. This time, I was determined not to let it consume me. I was in dire need of encouragement from other women whom I love and respect. Then I realized, it’s been awhile since I’ve shared a good meal with good friends.

Not long after I updated my last post, mom and I were on a plane headed for Oregon. We were on our way to visit my cousin Esther for her all girl 30th birthday party. This event was really special because us girls hadn’t seen each other in a few years and so much has happened since our last visit. Two things were certain, we were going eat (well) and we were going to laugh!

We had the honor of staying at “Auntie Jan’s” house ( which is was better than any high end INN in my opinion). Her home was immaculately decorated with ice blue & chocolate colored walls. My mom and I shared a king size bed covered in color coordinated plush pillows that you could practically sink into. We were only staying for the weekend, so it was important we get to bed early (yeah right)! My Godmother “Nina Gracie” had stopped by for a much needed visit, and we spent the evening laughing over wine and pizza. Then, we passed around Aunt Jan’s homemade pecan icing while sharing stories and catching up on each other’s lives.

We talked about the importance of women having a tight circle of trusted girlfriends that she can turn to when in need. It’s so easy to get caught up in your family life or career while neglecting your basic needs. “The Sisterhood” is what they called it. It’s true, every woman needs a sisterhood. I was already starting to feel better. When 1:00am finally rolled around, we decided to call it a night and get some much needed beauty sleep. Mom and I had big plans to do some shopping and take advantage of Oregon’s “no sales tax” law

When we woke up the next morning, Auntie Jan had prepared a small feast. Delicious, crispy french toast, eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, orange juice and cocoanut syrup. I’ve included a photo of her spread because it was amazing! We shared more laughs and stories while stuffing our faces and it felt wonderful. Later that evening, we attended the “Lady in Red” themed party for Esther and had the time of our lives eating (of course) & dancing the night away.

It seems as though so many wonderful things come out of sharing a good meal with friends & family. If you haven’t seen your girlfriends lately, set aside some quality time for one another. It’s so good for the female soul! Get together for breakfast, cocktails or a movie night! Plan a laid back potluck picnic at a local park or beach. Daylight savings is in full affect, so take advantage of the extra sunlight! Remember, keep things simple and meaningful. Eat together often. Cheers!