I got the message about a Friendsgiving get-together a few weeks before and I was hoping to attend. The universe worked in my favor and I was able to work the night before Thanksgiving; thus, it helped open up Saturday night for me so I could attend.
For the party, I bought a charcuterie board and a cheeseboard kit. I knew it would be a big hit at the Friendsgiving that my fashionable sister was holding. The board came from JCPenney and the kit from Giant Eagle. After a long, hard, couple of weeks at Giant Eagle, with lots to do to prepare the store for Thanksgiving, I felt like I was going to have earned this night off.
On Saturday, I woke up excited for two reasons. Number one, I came downstairs and saw the Christmas tree all decorated and the house looking very festive. Mom helped me put together my amazing cheeseboard. I educated my dad on charcuterie and explained that we had it at our family reunion. Number two, I was going to see my sister for the first time in almost two years and celebrate Friendsgiving!!!
I had no trouble finding the place as my GPS on my phone helped lead the way. When I got to the place, I had to call Sara so she could show me where I was going. She came out to guide me and gave me a big hug when she saw me. I returned the favor and even got some outfit inspiration from her as we made our way to her apartment. When I came in, I introduced myself and set my cheeseboard down. Sara then gave me a tour of the apartment and introduced me to everyone there. Some I knew from church, others I met for the first time. Her and Rob were excited to see me wearing my cheetah sweater, wondering if that was going to be the outfit that I picked out.
I was reserved at first due to me not being used to being out much. But, I gradually emerged from my shell and soon after, really enjoyed myself. It’s not easy when you’re home all the time and it’s hard to talk about your interests because there’s other things going on. But I digress. I had fun getting to learn about Sephora, meet everyone, and talk about life. It was nice to let my hair down for once.
The food was amazing. I provided the cheeseboard. Also included on the menu were mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, salad, and the guest of honor, tofurkey. I was skeptical at first but the tofurkey tasted really good. I wish I got a few more pieces. Here at home, we already finished off Thanksgiving but have Christmas and turkey balls to look forward to as the calendar turns to December. Don’t fill up on sides though, because we have dessert to look forward to. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and chocolate cake truffles would satisfy our sweet tooth. I had a slice of the pumpkin cheesecake and a few of the chocolate cake truffles. Thanks to Kit for the decadent desserts.
The South Side is quite the neighborhood and Rob and Sara have a lot at their disposal. When I visit again, we are definitely going to Hofbrauhaus for drinks and I am getting a tour of the South Side. I might want to try Melting Pot or Hard Rock Cafe (in Station Square) or Cheesecake Factory (in South Side Works). We’re going to set a date to get together for a meal and to exchange gifts. We might even include Momma in our adventures.
This was a special blog because not only as it for a special event, but it’s also a milestone. This will be my 500th blog post when I publish it today and I wanted to highlight Friendsgiving as the main topic. I started on this platform just before Thanksgiving four years ago. While I’m happy to achieve this milestone, it hasn’t been easy getting there. 2020 was marked by a global pandemic, but I also got too big, too quick and peaked in the early stages of COVID. 2021 saw a health scare, and big changes in my life, but I was able to keep writing and made it to 300 at the end of the year. 2022 was a step back as I tried to figure out a new routine and didn’t have technology available. 2023 has felt just right as I’m at a pace I can easily attain, although it’s had its share of obstacles too.
My roadblocks to 500 have included discouragement, doubt, sickness, discontentment, and depression. Sometimes I felt my life was not interesting enough so I didn’t post as much. But through it all, I’ve come out on top. Thank you to all who enjoy my content and continue to support me in this endeavor.
Special shout outs are needed as well. My cousin Katie has a blog of her own, and she has inspired me in my blogging journey. She started hers a few years before me and always has the best content. Reading her stuff is a joy and I’m thankful for her support of my blog. Thanks to her and her little family and their gift of a laptop last Christmas, I am able to continue doing what I enjoy and achieve this milestone.
Two other people also deserve a big shout out, and that’s Sara and Rob for their hospitality on Saturday night. I knew that it meant a lot to them having me at their Friendsgiving because I’m family. The food was the chef’s kiss, and the fellowship among friends and family was worthwhile. Sara was happy to see me and she enjoyed hearing about the people who I used to work with at WIS. Of course, she and I waxed fashion sense. I even showed her pictures of my family, as well as my outfits. I told her my dilemma, that some people don’t get my style. She told me that, “It’s just fashion.” That’s what I love about my sister.
I left after 11, as everybody was gone by then. I don’t know why I stick around so long with Sara and Rob. I did it at Friendsgiving and then after Ice Fest. But it’s so hard to leave after spending time with them because they get me. Sara and I both wish we were each other’s siblings. In this journey, I am also grateful to have some family who is supportive.
Finally, if I had to choose a favorite blog post, it’s still going to be the ones talking about my crush from WIS from 2019. That experience got me started on my fashion journey and it made me pay attention to my style. It also made that pink cherry dress seem popular, at least in my opinion. It was an innocent crush, but it was still a good time. Even now, I still think about that night and about her.
Stylish 🍒 