Spring into brunch like a pro!

Everybody loves spring! I’m yet to meet someone who doesn’t. The cold dark days of winter have come to an end and the sun begins to dance in the sky promising warmth and outdoor happiness for days to come. It’s a celebration waiting to happen.

What’s one thing you love to do in spring time? (Please don’t say “spring cleaning”). I love organising Sunday brunch getting friends together! Here’s my why….3 simple reasons.

I. LOVE. BRUNCH. Sunday brunch is the one day of the week I don’t have my standard breakfast. If you’ve read my piece from January When food attacks, fight back! (click to read) you’ll know I have the same thing for breakfast. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. For no particular dietary reason other than I like it and “it’s easy on my brain”. I need to engage the few brain cells that are awake up with more important tasks such as brushing my teeth. We know what to eat, ok then, let’s move on with the day. I will make an exception for kettle corn though. Don’t get it twisted. 

Feed your eyes

I. LOVE. ORGANISING. The idea of an event to get people together and I start spinning with ideas. Oooohhhh!! The hows, whats, whens, wheres, if so thens come tumbling out of my head. I’ll even help you generate “your own original idea”, should you be clueless regarding how to entertain an imminent friend/family visit. You’re welcome. My sixth sense can spot an opportunity hiding behind a tree. Brunches, lunches, picnics, my birthday, your birthday, going to the cinema, a new cake shop is opening (mmm…caaaake). Any event can be an EVENT.

Back in 2006, I even considered switching from IT to a career in Event Management after a high profile event I organised while in UK Public Sector, from concept to execution with minimal budget. Over 200 people attended! Nothing sends more adrenaline to my eyeballs than creating something from nothing. I got such a HIGH (and a bonus for my efforts, smiley face). But I wasn’t feeling the wage shift. I went into Management Consulting and found the creative licence I craved.  Be it personal or professional, I love adding a fun wow factor, regardless of event size, my “Titi Twist”…hehehehe….“what interesting thing can I do to make my friends (or clients) smile”? Their smile makes me smile.

Chocolate makes the world go round

I. LOVE. MY. FRIENDS. Ok. Obvs. They wouldn’t be my “friends” otherwise, duh. There’s a story. Since I moved from London, England to Plano, Texas in June 2012, I’ve had to almost, well, actually, start a new life! New way of driving (left-hand drive vs right-hand drive), new home, foods, language (I’m not joking, “American” is a language), way of living, dressing, working (40 hours as opposed to 37.5hrs in the UK), how taxes are done (omg, TAXES), going to the Doctors, timezones! Crikey. You can’t begin to imagine how sometimes little things can require a lot of thought. I still get into the passenger side of my car sometimes….sigh…

New friends too! Groups of friends to be precise. I have workout friends (different types), running friends, colleague friends, special interest friends, neighbour friends, business friends….friends that I’ve met through these friends! Truly diverse in every sense! I’m still stunned at the numbers when we get together. Literally, six degrees of separation – the theory that any person on the planet can be connected to another person through a maximum chain of six acquaintances. Six years ago I only knew one person here. I don’t take any of this for granted!

The brunch bunch!

Really, whether you have 2 friends or 22, or your family is small/large/local/abroad. It doesn’t really matter, work with what you have. No special skill is involved other than wanting to eat. There’s something about food that brings people together. You too can brunch like a pro! Here’s my how…in 3 simple steps.

1. Pick a DATE. Choose any random Sunday, preferably one that’s not a national day or Easter (trust me on this, I’m a pro). If you’d like some “must attends”, sound out the date with them, and the most appealing time.
2. INFORM your people. Call them, text them, whatsapp, Telegraph, email, create a Facebook event or evite. Whatever communication mode that’s convenient and accessible. Remember to send a reminder close to the date. Because, humans.
3. Find a LOCATION. Fancy or casual restaurant, it’s up to the taste buds and pockets of your friends. It’s not about “you”. Choose wisely. If less than 10 people, a simple booking may be all you need. If much more than, you might need to confirm if there’s a minimum spend/charge before you book. This is also a good way of trying out a new restaurant. But it doesn’t have to be a restaurant – you can have a pot luck brunch at your home, or rotate hosting brunch!

Steps 2 and 3 can be interchanged. Just go with the flow, it’s brunch not a conference. If you’re not having fun planning it, suggest it to xyz who you know will! 

It’s the simple things

And a bonus (optional) step because I’m extra like that…

4. Make it SPECIAL. It could be a special surprise venue, a special day, an event in an event? A walk before brunch. Straight after a race?! Or a special touch! For my first spring brunch in 2018, I had a piece of chocolate at each seat. For 2019, I invented a game to get people to interact with each other as we gathered. More chocolates were involved (know your audience). My friends get to meet each other and form friendships just like I did. That is special to me. A friend who moved back to Canada from Dallas, flew in for brunch!! How special is that?!! I think I’ll make spring brunch a habit.

Spring and “springtime” refer to the season, and also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal and regrowth. Love, hope and youth. It signifies that the cycle of life is beginning. Flowers bloom, trees grow new leaves, rain nourishes new life, birds are happily chirping! What’s not to love? Get the people you love together. Life is short, time is precious. Spread some joy!

Be a rainbow

Cheers to spring, cheers to celebrating! Friends. Family. Food. Fun. That’s a fiesta right there!

Minimal effort and maximum impact! How will you brunch?

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Toodles

Ttx

Photo creds all mine except table setting (Pixabay free images)