Although I’m not a vocal feminist, I believe very strongly in women supporting women. I’m quick to brag about my amazing girlfriends, and I do my best to always be there to cheer them on and celebrate their accomplishments. A few months ago, I started thinking about how lucky I am to be friends with so many smart, strong, driven, beautiful women, and I wanted to create an opportunity to get as many of them together as possible. I decided to host a ladies’ brunch at my apartment on a Sunday afternoon. As I was going through the list of people I wanted to invite, I realized that I actually have quite the tribe here. Although living in New York City can sometimes be overwhelming and impersonal, a lot of people from different places and times in my life have ended up in New York. I invited around twenty women, and ended up with a perfect dozen. There was no agenda, just the opportunity to eat, drink, and spend time together…without the guys. Although we love them, there’s just a different energy when it’s women-only. (My husband graciously defected to our best friends’ place a few blocks away and was perfectly happy eating sushi and watching soccer.)
Because the “theme” of brunch was essentially “girl power,” I wanted to find something that everyone could take home with them as a reminder their awesomeness. After a lot of searching, I found buttons with the perfect Michelle Obama quote. I also picked up mini succulents at the Union Square Farmer’s Market, each one unique, just like the ladies in attendance.
The next big thing to think about was the food. I wanted to have plenty of options for different tastes, but also things that I could prep and/or cook ahead and heat up right before people got there. One of the best parts of being the hostess is spending time with your guests, so you don’t want to be in the kitchen the whole party! I ended up putting together mini skewers with berries and French Toast bites (inspired by this recipe), and I made three different kinds of crustless mini quiches (cheddar and turkey bacon, spinach and feta, and veggie). My best friend picked up bagels, and I provided lox and spreads.
Of course, a ladies’ brunch wouldn’t be complete without cocktails! Instead of just sticking with mimosas, I browsed blogs and Pinterest for a drink recipe that was good for a group. The one I ended up with was from a recent post by Jillian of Rhyme & Reason. I already loved her style and the snapshots she shares from life in Charleston, but this summer sangria was beyond amazing and I will definitely be making it again!
One of the best things about this brunch was that not everyone knew each other beforehand, but you wouldn’t have known. Everyone sat around chatting in smaller groups, and then we all ended up together. We didn’t talk politics or have deep discussions about gender inequality. It was just about taking time from our busy lives to spend time together, maybe make a new friend, and hopefully be reinvigorated by the pure awesomeness in the room. I’m SO grateful for every one of these ladies, and I can’t wait to see where life takes us next!
Sources:
Letterboard: Amazon
Wood Tray: H&M (similar)
Banners: Target (love this one too)
Punch Bowl: Party City
Carafe: Party City
Wine Coaster: Lilly Pulitzer
Oval Platter: Noritake
Serving Bowl: Noritake
Three Bowl Set: Gift (similar)
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