How to Host an Easy Friendsgiving

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.

A holiday dedicated to spending time with close friends and all of my favorite foods? Say less! Thanksgiving is always an amazing time, don’t get me wrong - but Friendsgiving is one of those traditions that I’ll cherish with my friends forever. Being a busy mom, it can be hard to find time to catch up with old friends. Friendsgiving is the best way to get everyone together again, and the perfect time to chat about the old, embarrassing memories while chowing down!

This year, I was in charge of hosting our Friendsgiving celebrations! From the food, to the drinks, to the atmosphere, I wanted everything to be absolutely perfect. Come along with me and get some ideas for your next Friendsgiving!

Rodney Strong Wine

Wine was essential for our Friendsgiving. I know my friends love a quality wine, so I’m picked up the Rodney Strong Cabernet and Chardonnay. I’ve always had a love for Rodney Strong’s wines because they’re constantly creating new, better, and more complex wine. Sonoma County is an ideal location for quality grapes, so Rodney Strong planted their first Cabernet vineyard in 1971 and didn’t look back from there! The reputation for “fine "Sonoma County Cabernet” is spot on with their wine. Today, they maintain three beautiful Cabernet vineyards to bring us more delicious wine. I also picked up their Chardonnay because I know their quality standards and commitment would lend to a delicious flavor. (PS, I was totally right 🤪). It features flavorful fruit right from California, aka where Chardonnay thrives. Rodney Strong made our Friendsgiving a memorable one! Find out where you can get Rodney Strong Cabernet and Chardonnay for your party!

​​Dorot Gardens

I wanted to spend as much time as I could with my friends while they’re visiting, obviously! I couldn’t do that if was in the kitchen slicing, dicing, and chopping for hours. To make my life so much easier, I grabbed the Dorot Gardens ready to use, pre-portioned crushed garlic, chopped basil, and sautéed glazed onions. They harvest all of their products when they hit peak freshness and within 90 minutes, will flash freeze the produce into easy-to-use trays. I love having these on hand all year round because they’re so easy to pop into a recipe instead of spending hours in the kitchen. If I ever have last minute company over or I want a quick snack, I’m able to throw a few Dorot Gardens cubes into some sour cream to make a quick dip. Plus, I’m no longer throwing away the unused herbs that I forgot were in the back of my fridge for days. No more peeling, chopping, or sautéing, saving you a soooo. much. time. Being a mom, my favorite part of it all is that there’s no mess! I live for easy, mess-free solutions like these.

The crushed garlic is already peeled, chopped and measured to keep your fingers garlic-free. One Dorot Garden garlic cube is equal to one garlic clove so you can choose your desired flavor with ease. I love using the garlic cubes in things like dressing for salads or in hot sauces like pasta sauce. I made the most delicious and easy garlic mashed potatoes for Friendsgiving with these! And Dorot Gardens’ chopped basil cubes were quick and delicious in any Friendsgiving side!

Friendsgiving Book

Who would be better at sharing tips and tricks on throwing the best Friendsgiving than Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, and Joey? “Friendsgiving: The Official Guide to Hosting, Roasting, and Celebrating with Friends” by Shoshana Stopek is a party guide inspired by the group from the classic favorite sitcom, Friends, to make all of your celebrations unforgettable. This officially licensed handbook is filled with yummy recipes, tips on entertaining your group of friends, and activity ideas, all based off of memorable moments from the show! Want a little sneak peak? Here’s some spoilers we used at our Friendsgiving! Part one has a must-try Righteous Mac ‘n’ Cheese recipe, part two has an adorable Friendsgiving playlist, and part three features Pin the Tail on Ugly Naked Guy (iykyk). Grab your copy of Friendsgiving before your big get-together!

Dewey’s Cookies

After your meal, everyone always says they are too full for dessert until I pull out Dewey’s Cookies! Made with 100% real ingredients and a sprinkle of Dewey’s magic, these cookies do not last long. For our Friendsgiving celebration, I’m picked up their Sugar Moravian Cookies and Ginger Spice Moravian Cookies, both in a Large Tube. These yummy cookies are baked with care at Dewey’s Southern hometown bakery in Winston-Salem, NC and use a centuries-old recipe that makes every day a little sweeter for everyone. Exceptionally thin and remarkably flavorful, its so surprising that there are no artificial flavors or colors, and no preservatives! I love picking up their cookies for holidays like Friendsgiving, but they’re also the perfect treat for birthday parties, big life milestones, or those random midnight snack cravings. I love supporting Dewey’s Bakery because their team is committed to giving back to local communities, and I’m all for supporting local! If you want your dessert to stand out at Friendsgiving, use code DEWEYS10 for 10% off site wide, valid November 10th- December10th. Find your perfect cookie with Dewey’s Bakery!

Frank’s Red Hot Almonds

When the meal is over and the games come out, you have to have some snacks ready! An all-time fan favorite has been Franks Red Hot Spicy Almonds. Say goodbye to boring, bland snacks and say hello to tasty almonds made with the classic Frank’s Original Hot Sauce. California Almonds are taken to the next level of flavor without adding artificial colors and flavorings. I usually set out a small bowl of them for everyone to pick at throughout the night, but they always go so fast. All of my heat-loving friends are obsessed. I picked up a pack for our Friendsgiving, but they’re also great in a trail mix to take on the go! If you live near a Meijer Grocery Stores, you’re in luck - they are currently available in-store. If you don’t have a Meijer close, no worries! You can order them online here.

Life can get so hectic that we don’t always have time to catch up with old friends like we used to. That’s why I adore the idea of a Friendsgiving! Getting together with old and new friends feels so good for the soul. Are you planning out your Friendsgiving celebration? Let me know some of your ideas below!