What if it’s not “either/or”? What if it’s “and”?

The perfect 70° fall day for a girlfriend birthday lunch filled with potluck dishes and recipes straight from Life at Our Table. Honestly, it felt like fall magic.

For years, my life was a lot of girlfriend lunches. I loved the tablescapes, the fall themes, the Christmas brunches—but I remember one day, lugging 200 food bags out of a giant van for kids at a Title 1 school, someone asked me why I was doing all of this. My gut reaction? “Because you can only throw so many girlfriend lunches.”

At the time, that was my truth. I wasn’t feeling fulfilled, and I almost went cold turkey on the tablescapes, the pretty details, and the themed gatherings. I went all-in on giving back—heads down, no time for what felt frivolous.

But here’s what I’ve learned over the years: it doesn’t have to be either/or. Girlfriend lunches matter too. Gathering matters. Creativity matters. The tablescape is not wasted—it’s another way of building connection, creating joy, and filling one another up.

Today was a sweet reminder that the table is still a place of giving. 🍁🧡