Today marks the day where my food pantry dinner parties have changed since I started them in 2009.
Initially, I swiped the concept from Weight Watchers that for every pound I lose, each of my guests had to bring a pound of food for the local food pantry.
I held fast to that rule for the longest time, but now, I let people bring what they want and because of my financial situation, people have even chipped in to keep the dinners going.
One of the most wonderful unexpected outcomes from these dinners, is how I've met some great women and gotten to know others better. I've always opened up my table to allow my friends to bring their friends. Because I've adopted this attitude, I have gotten to make some new friends and catch a glimpse into the lives of people I may have never met in my everyday travels.
The conversations are warm, funny and honest. We share the struggles and joys of husbands, children, finances and aging (both us and our parents). It's one conversation with 6 to 8 women. We share tales or listen to others. No conversation is off limits and I never want anyone around my table to feel excluded or exclude others.
I've always read about the strong bonds women form and have friendships that are over 40 years long. However, I've gotten to see first hand how putting together a group of women, random strangers, for this one night a month, can create one of the most enriched evenings because of open conversations.
I have many things I can be sad about because of the lose of my job, but if I hadn't lost my job, I may have never started these dinners. Now...I can't imagine not having them.
7 comments:
That is truly food for the soul!
Sounds like the dinners are wonderful and fun! I love getting together with different people I've met, everyone has a different viewpoint and its great to hear and consider them all.
Plus, its for a good cause!
♥Spot
very cool...have fun at your party...it is cool to get together and just be...
Many years ago, my sister realized that we really didn't know the females in our extended family, so she started having a holiday lunch.
Some have since passed away (aunts, etc.) but she just keeps inviting more relatives to join in. I now talk to some my age who I never would've thought to talk to in years past.
Hi-We are a group of friends living in England-we call ourselves "Girls Night In" there are 12 of us in the group-we take it in turns to host a Themed Dinner Party (that's food as well as clothes)so in a year you host one party and go to the other eleven-we've been going since March 2009-some of the parties so far----1920's, Chinese, Swinging sixties, Arabian Nights, St Trinians(film), Grease(film),Bollywood Bash, Princess Party, Pyjamas Party,1970's to name a few-the whole point of the evening is to be with friends, enjoying a meal and drinks together, dressing up and having a good time. We have only one rule NO MEN ! !
Hi-We are a group of friends living in England-we call ourselves "Girls Night In" there are 12 of us in the group-we take it in turns to host a Themed Dinner Party (that's food as well as clothes)so in a year you host one party and go to the other eleven-we've been going since March 2009-some of the parties so far----1920's, Chinese, Swinging sixties, Arabian Nights, St Trinians(film), Grease(film),Bollywood Bash, Princess Party, Pyjamas Party,1970's to name a few-the whole point of the evening is to be with friends, enjoying a meal and drinks together, dressing up and having a good time. We have only one rule NO MEN ! !
Hi-We are a group of friends living in England-we call ourselves "Girls Night In" there are 12 of us in the group-we take it in turns to host a Themed Dinner Party (that's food as well as clothes)so in a year you host one party and go to the other eleven-we've been going since March 2009-some of the parties so far----1920's, Chinese, Swinging sixties, Arabian Nights, St Trinians(film), Grease(film),Bollywood Bash, Princess Party, Pyjamas Party,1970's to name a few-the whole point of the evening is to be with friends, enjoying a meal and drinks together, dressing up and having a good time. We have only one rule NO MEN ! !
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