Tag: thanksgiving

friendsgiving 2024

before november ends, it is imperative that i share my favorite part – well, at least my favorite part that took place in the u.s. friendsgiving 2024 was one for the books.

thanksigving has always been my favorite holiday – it really taps into my favorite love language more than any other holiday because it is all about quality time. with me being the one to host friendsgiving, it taps into my second love language – acts of service. last year, i spent thanksgiving in a hospital hotel with my dad as he went through a stem cell transplant to treat his cancer. to say i was grateful for a change of pace (and scenery) would be a gross understatement. let’s be honest – i am even more grateful for him being in a healthier space. last year, my christmas cocktails with kristin party was a hit and the girls were adamant that i did it again this year. little did they know, i only hosted that because i did not get a true thanksgiving. however, i figured: why not do both? invites to both friendsgiving and christmas cocktails with kristin went out in august.

because i knew i would be hosting in december as well, i did not want to be totally overwhelmed. i figured if i provided a little charcuterie board, ham, turkey, my baked mac & cheese and stocked the bar, each guest could bring a side dish or dessert they loved. it was the absolute best and now it looks like i will be hosting two holiday parties each year. there is something so special about having so many of your favorite people in one place.

red sangria + aperol spritz station
thanksgiving paper goods from target
stuffing prepared by melissa
caprese prepared by nick
mexican corn salad prepared by joselyn
green bean casserole prepared by ashley
parmesan brussel sprouts with bacon prepared by anthony
mashed potatoes prepared by brianna
cranberry sauce prepared by ocean spray lmao (if it isn't out of the can, i do not want it)
baked mac and cheese prepared by yours truly
ham and turkey from honey baked ham company
pies provided by maria and michael

did i have a mini meltdown when the honey baked ham company cancelled my order the day of just minutes before pickup when i had placed it a few days in advance? absofuckinglutely. did i pivot and place a new order for sliced pieces instead of having to carve into an entire animal? indeed. did that mean i had not changed or finished my makeup when my friends arrived? you betcha! am i relieved my friends are my chosen family who were down for me to spend the time doing my makeup at my dining room table so i could look remotely together for a few photos? GIRL, YES.

me with maria, brianna and ashley
anthony and me

each person there had met at least one other person before friendsgiving however with me having multiple groups, it is always a roll of the dice when combining this many people. i must be the luckiest girl alive because the evening went seamlessly. whether it was politics, sports, upbringing, holiday plans, parenting, dating or anything else under the sun, the conversations flowed effortlessly and people did not need to agree in order for the conversations to be fruitful. nick had each person go around to say what they were grateful for and asked for people to choose one serious thing and one funny one – the answers are permanently seared into my head and my heart. i feel rich with the people in my orbit. i hope you felt the same way this thanksgiving.

what was your favorite part of november?

xoxo,

k.tap

thought of the week: delve deep.

with thanksgiving being just a couple of days away, i have been seeing posts left and right from therapists about how to survive the holiday. many talk about coping strategies, topics to avoid around the dinner table and how to choose your battles when going up against your family. let’s keep it real – the holidays are not necessarily merry and bright for everyone. but here’s the thing, if you go home and find yourself triggered af while sitting around the dinner table but can’t quite figure out why, there might be some more work for you to do.

“at times, the answers to your questions are found in the places you’re too afraid to delve deep into and explore.” -rachel wolchin

a couple of weeks ago, i did a post about how to get what you need out of therapy. in order to get what you need, you have to be willing to go to therapy in the first place. and beyond that, there has to be a willingness to delve deep. something i tell each of my clients is to make sure they understand that it will often get worse before it gets better. therapy requires some digging and unearthing of things you buried and sometimes, things you weren’t even aware were tucked away. your willingness to do the work will provide a reward and inner peace that is unparalleled.

what places or topics have you been avoiding delving into?

xoxo,

k. tap