Let’s be real: Covid sucked. No sugar coating it. But like with most hard seasons, a few incredible things came out of it. One of the best for me was finding this responsible, tough, and fiercely loyal crew of women who became my family.
I never thought I’d make new friends outside of my already solid group—especially not in my late 30s—but life had other plans. My old circle moved away, and then through work I found this one. We all started working out together in a company-sponsored class with @Faith_FueledFitness. Then Covid hit and everything changed. Suddenly, we were working from home and doing Zoom fitness classes. But we missed each other, so we found ways to meet outside, socially distanced at first.
That turned into something bigger. Someone would need something—anything—and a text would go out. Next thing you know, all of LA and Orange County would be scoured until we found it. I realized I could depend on these women 1000%, in ways I never thought possible. Fast forward five years, and we’re still going strong. We’ve been through cancer, weddings, fires—you name it. I love them more than ever.
Our Gift Tradition
Every quarter, we have a little “meeting” where we shower each other with thoughtful gifts (except at Christmas, when we really go all out). There are six of us, so that’s five gifts each, plus maybe an extra for birthdays.
At first, I’d just grab something cute at Target, keeping the budget under $30 a person. But over time, this became my favorite way to play creatively. Now, I almost always make the gifts myself—3D printed, sewn, or knitted.
- Summer: I made bomb pop earrings, little summer sandal candle holders, and a framed photo of us at the weddings we’ve attended over the last three years.
- Halloween: One of my favorite holidays! This year, I 3D printed little bone-like spiders in clear filament, then stitched webby, spidery-themed coasters “in the hoop” from Urban Threads. I tucked everything into pumpkin goodie bags with Halloween ribbon. 🎃
I even stitched a special kitchen towel and added extra coasters for the birthday girl this month. Sometimes I don’t bother wrapping, because honestly between the 6 of us there’s always enough gift bags.
Time & Cost
- Spiders: ~2 hours each to print and post-process (removing brims/supports).
- Coasters: ~15 minutes each once in production mode (making 10 is way faster than making one).
- Goodie bags: ~5 minutes each.
I had most of the materials already, so with the bags and ribbon I picked up at Michaels (to avoid shipping fees), the Halloween batch ended up costing about $15 altogether.
Why I Love It
My aunt always told me, “Presentation is everything,” so I don’t skimp there. But really, the magic is in the making. My friends always love their gifts, and I love that they feel special. Because what could be more special than something made with love that no one else in the world has?
This post is dedicated to my BPs. You know who you are. I love you to death, and thank you for being the reason I get to be creative—and for bringing out the very best in me.
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