While most entertaining around the Holidays can be super stressful, I wanted to host one event that was the complete opposite. A gathering of my favorite girlfriends for a festive Holiday lunch, complete with lots of cocktails, a yummy lunch, decadent desserts, and even a few presents. When I suggested the idea to the girls, who are all also moms in much need of a “timeout” from their kids, families, and the hustle and bustle of the Holidays, they practically jumped for joy and began throwing around dates. We decided on a weekday so all of our kids would be in school {which is hysterical yet genius in my opinion} and thus the planning began.

In prepping for the party I partnered with Capital One® and their new Savor Card {you may remember I partnered with them over Thanksgiving as well, see here}; because the card is perfect for anyone hosting this holiday season. The card gives 3% cash back on dining, 2% on grocery {for those 100 trips to the grocery along the way}, and 1% back on all other purchases.

Here’s a closer look at the special day…

To make the day extra special I set my dining room for lunch. As you saw in my Home Tour, I hung garlands on my mirror, but for the party I also placed nutcrackers on my buffet, faux box woods on the dining table, Chilewich placemats at each setting and a yummy display of food.

The menu included whole wheat avocado toasts with a layer of grilled portobello mushrooms underneath the avocados, and then topped off with sprinkled feta and pomegranate seeds, a quinoa tabouli salad with arugula lettuce, fresh basil, chopped cherry tomatoes and black beans, two decadent cheese boards, one with manchego and cubed parmesan, the other with parmigiana reggiano and cubed cheddar, a large fruit platter, and a crudite platter.

For dessert I picked up the most STUNNING Holiday cake from Amazingly Delicious Desserts {a specialty cake company in Miami}, mini cinnamon gingerbread men, chocolate dipped pretzels, and chocolate bundt cakes.

The perfect day needed the perfect send off, so I sent each gal home with a special box of my favorite perfumes, because we could all use a bit of pampering!!!

I couldn’t think of a more special day!! And while party prepping over the Holiday season can definitely be stressful, I definitely had a bit more ease knowing all my shopping was earning me rewards with my Capital One® Savor Card.

Thanks to Capital One® for sponsoring this post.