This post is brought to you by a Healthy Slice partner.
I know I’ve mentioned my play group many times before. I met this group of girls when Hailey was only a couple months old. So now we’ve been meeting for over 2 years. We’ve watched our firstborns grow into little kids and a few of us have welcomed a new baby, too. What started off as mommy chat time while our infants sat sweetly in our laps has morphed into a loud, busy morning of toddlers tossing toys around while we yell over the chaos exchanging stories of potty training and attachment issues.
It’s the most chaotic therapy a mom could ask for. The kids are cute as can be and the moms are the best. No judgment in this group!
When we first started meeting, whoever hosted would provide a snack and drink for the group. Cute, huh? Well, that has pretty much fallen by the wayside as life became crazier. However, on my week, I thought it would be fun to revive the tradition just once.
With the help of my friends at Blue Diamond, I managed a spread of snacks for both the little ones and the moms, complete with a special treat for one mom’s birthday.
Someone was excited there was cookie cake involved.
Here’s what was offered:
Almond Tasting Station: Big hit with the moms. How often do you browse all those delicious sounding flavors in the store but are hesitant to commit? I know I am! It was fun to get to sample so many different flavors so I know which to grab next time. Not a shocker, the Habanero BBQ still ranks pretty high for me, but Salt & Vinegar is pretty delicious too.
Ranch Cracker Stacks: Name one kid who doesn’t love ranch. Yup, that’s what I thought. These Ranch Nut-Thins are so flavorful and offer the perfect light crunchy base to stack Applegate Farms Turkey and Applegate Cheddar slice on top. Of course, some of the kids were especially enthusiastic about that ranch taste and enjoyed licking the cracker clean!
There was more…
Gluten Free Chips ‘n Dip: I used these Pepperjack Flavored Nut-Thins (you guys were right… delicious!!) to pair with hummus. Ain’t nothing wrong with a classic chip ‘n dip!
Party Favors: Sliced apples were the perfect juicy sweet flavor to balance the spread and the 100 Calorie Sea Salt Almond Packs were snatched up and stuck in diaper bags and purses because, let’s be honest, errands and outings always take longer than anticipated and sometimes you need something to tide you over.
It was fun switching it up and getting to play hostess for a week!
While we are on the topic, I’ve been asked many times where I’ve found my play group and other mom friends. Here are a few places I’ve met my current mom friends:
– I put an ad in our neighborhood newsletter searching for a walking buddy. Now one of my dearest friends!
– Moms group at church.
– The blog! A reader reached out and now we meet for play group every week.
– Bonding over Smart Chicken sale price at the grocery store. I asked for her number even though she was wearing Florida Gator gear (I forgive you, Jodi! Go dawgs!)
– Striking up conversations at the park. We realized we were both calling after our two years olds, both named Hailey!
– Library story time.
It’s all about getting over being shy and going for it. Chances are the other mom is looking for friends, too!
Ladies- do you enjoy hosting events or does it stress you out?
Moms- how do you meet other mom friends?
This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond. Thank you for supporting my family!
John J. says
I’m glad you mentioned Blue Diamond almonds in previous blogs. What a tasty discovery! They boost my energy at the turn on the golf course and are a good complement to my vodka on my lake cruises!
Sarah@creatingbettertomorrow says
I love hosting people! It is so much fun and I can’t wait to have play groups, the little almond tasting station is a super cute idea! And I am in love with their nut thins!!!
Christina says
My husband and I hosted a play group at our house over Mother’s Day weekend…we had 20 kids and parents crammed into our little house and everyone had a great time! We served mimosas along with our breakfast snacks 🙂
I met one of my closest mom friends through our neighborhood newsletter as well! We started out taking walks together when we were both pregnant, and now our 2 1/2 year olds have a great time together as well.
Brittany Dixon says
Mimosas! I knew I was forgetting something. You are brilliant! 😉
Audrey @ In Shape Cupcake says
Love hosting events but don’t do it often. Having to try and meet everyone’s needs and with some people who love complaining, it can be stressful.
Becca says
Another way to meet moms and groups is through a site called meetup.com. I met my moms group through that site and they are amazing! It’s awesome having other women with kids all the same age just to talk to. Being a stay-at-home-mom is hard and it gets pretty lonely if you don’t have other people who understand and who you can talk to.
+Becca
Brittany Dixon says
Yes, it can get very lonely! Sometimes I feel like we overbook ourselves, but after only a day or two at home, I’m itching to get out. Love the Meetup.com suggestion too!
Marnie @ SuperSmartMama says
Play groups are the best! I love your reminder towards the end of the blog that it’s all about getting over shyness and just reaching out to people to make that connection. Having moved alot (my husband and I have lived in five different places in the ten years we’ve known each other), I fully understand the effort it takes to establish new roots and make new friends. We moved to Denver a year ago and I have yet to establish a larger group of friends. Better get out there!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
The salt and vinegar flavor is still definitely my all-time favorite. It is SO good!!
Heather says
I love hosting – just wish I had more opportunity to do so. I like your tips for meeting other moms, though. That’s been one of the most difficult things for me, especially since I work full-time. By the time the day is over and the work week, I’m ready to just hang out with my family and get things done around the house, leaving little time to make and spend time with friends. Definitely something I want/need to change.
Brittany Dixon says
I imagine that is challenging. Have you found any other moms at work that you click with? And I’m with you, I’m so protective over weekends as family time!
Katie Harding says
I LOVE hosting parties! I am so impressed that you found snacks that are mom and kid friendly so you go girl! I think the almond tasting station is a great idea, I have been thinking about branching out and trying some other flavors so I may have to do that for our next play group get together!
Jodi says
Glad you could look beyond my SEC colors! Honestly, this could work to our advantage when our teams play in Jacksonville. I mean drinking alone while while watching the worlds largest cocktail party just doesn’t seem as justified as drinking w friends!!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
Mmmm all the almond snacks sound so good! I’m thinking those salt & vinegar almonds wouldn’t last long around me.
I met my play group in Utah through a MOPS program at my church. It was seriously the best thing ever. Now that we just moved to Arizona a few months ago, I’m back to square one trying to find a play group again. I’ve registered for our MOPS group at our new church that starts in August, and I try to regularly attend library story times so hopefully something will all come out of that. I love hosting play dates and getting to know other moms – it’s my sanity and so much fun.
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, & Beers says
I love hosting, and I’m getting better about mom friends. I have a church group and have met a few via the blog, but I’m also just starting to bring E to library story time. Sounds like I’m on the right track! 😉
The best part about our church group is the free childcare for a couple hours while the ladies do church projects or Bible study. Two hours every other week is fantastic – now if only they’d meet in summer!
Brittany Dixon says
Sounds like you’ll have play dates coming out your ears soon- definitely on the right track 😉 And yes, I loved our church group for the same reasons! Sadly, it fell apart the year after I joined though.
Jaclyn @ BumpSweat says
I’m really looking forward to play dates. I think hosting with a fun spread like you did would be a blast! We host a small group in our house every weekend, and while I do enjoy preparing the food and having everyone over, the cleaning sprint leading up to everyone’s arrival can be a little frustrating.
Mrs FF says
I’m all shades of green right now. I wish I had something similar. Luckily I have a few friends that we all had kids close together but all being working moms we never get to see often. Last time I saw one was Sept and I saw another in Dec but thanks to social media at least we chat often and exchange notes and give each other tips.
And yes to your question I do love hosting people but I limit it to 4 times or there about per year
char eats greens says
Love the suggestions! I trryyyy to talk to more moms but it’s hard once they’ve already established their friend and children crews!! Luckily, I live in the town I grew up in, so I have one friend with 2 boys, and we hang out weekly, but I would like to meet more. And then, I would for sure throw something at my house like this!
char eats greens says
The ad is such a smart idea too! (PS- Hubby and his friends are huge Dawgs fans, so I’m on the wagon too ;))
Jen says
Those are great ideas for meeting moms! I totally need to act on the not being shy one. I would love to be part of a mom group now that I have a little one.
Jillian @ Baby Doodah! says
I am so glad you posted this! I don’t have any mom friends, other than my sister who lives thousands of miles away. Getting an idea of where to look for friends is really uplifting, and it gave me some great ideas.
Also, your snacks look yummy! The blue diamond Salt & Vinegar almonds are my fav!
Sarah says
Glad you posted this! You’re brave in how you go about making friends; I could take a page or two from your book:-).
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
I’m starting to look for a play group/ MOPS group! Thanks for the tips girl!
Paula says
Great post and good ideas! Just this morning I finally connected with a mom at my daughter’s daycare that I’ve been wanting to chat with (I thought we’d have a lot in common). I was so proud of myself.
Haha, I also have to say (creeper alert!) that I’ve been wanting to reach out to you. My little girl is six months old and we live in Salisbury. I feel like whenever I read your posts, I’m like “we should be friends!” 🙂 I could learn a lot from you since you’ve been around the block before. Your posts about BLW and such have been super helpful – thanks for putting yourself out there and sharing about things so we can realize others go through some of the same things.
Kate @ Indulgent Wellness says
I got involved with a great group of moms in my town through meetup.com. It is a really big group, but what it lacks in intimacy it makes up in options of events. There is always something going on for any age child.