My Turquoise Bag

“Female friendship is life-saving. Women don’t just grow old together. We grow deeper. We sit face to face. We tell the truth”.
– Jane Fonda

As I delicately placed my antique teacups in our new display cabinet, visions of baked goods, luxurious teas and lace tablecloths came to mind.

“I’ve got to host an afternoon tea with the girls,” I thought to myself. After all, my handpicked vintage teacups were meant to be enjoyed in good company.

I drafted the invitation, and at the very last minute, I added a prompt for my guests:

“Bring your favourite flowers. We’ll be making friendship bouquets!”

Dressed in their prettiest sundresses and with blooms in hand, my friends showed up at my door ready for a Sunday afternoon of female bonding over an elegant tea spread and floral arts and crafts.

I am very lucky to have a diverse group of close female friends. Decades-long friendships that have blossomed through work, university, childhood, friends I met through my husband, the internet, and what I consider the best kind: friendships that have budded from other friendships.

In general, friends feel like nourishing water to the soil, but female friendships are the sunshine that makes the petals bloom.

Below are the highlights I will always remember as a day of beauty, laughter, feminine whimsy and dancing in the evening sun with some of my favourite humans.

The Afternoon Tea Spread

Sitting on top of linen and lace, my blue and white porcelain plates were ready to serve mini quiches, finger sandwiches of ham and brie and baguette slices with Boursin cheese and thinly sliced cucumbers.

For sweetness, we enjoyed fresh berries, jams, and a tower of scones and mini pain au chocolat. Alongside a plate of my famous lavender shortbread cookies (baked by yours truly), it all paired beautifully with teapots steeping the fragrant Heavenly Cream tea.

The Friendship Bouquets

My chosen flowers were a bright burst of yellow Gerbera daisies and spray roses. I wanted my contribution to the friendship bouquets to feel like stems of sunshine the girls can take home.

Purple snapdragons, white and orange Peruvian lilies and green and pink chrysanthemums covered our table. With Etta James’ voice serenading us, velvet and satin ribbons were handpicked to accessorize each of our handmade bouquets.

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As the late afternoon sun spilled into the room, we finished our arts and crafts project just as the shadows stretching across the wall invited us to dance.

My friends’ hair were highlighted in shiny hues of gold and amber, and their sundresses swayed in the magic hour of that Sunday afternoon in my living room.

Wishing you a season full of nourishing company, and a shared activity that feels like vitamins to your heart.

xo 🌼