Chapter 1: The Beauty of Simple Gatherings

Our family holiday meals often resemble a delightful mix of finger foods. For Easter, you might find ham sliders, crisp vegetables paired with hummus, heirloom tomato salad adorned with mozzarella and balsamic drizzle, alongside pigs in a blanket.

We have goat cheese topped with pepper jelly next to store-bought French onion dip and Ruffles chips. There’s always an assortment of this and that, and of course, way too many desserts! Each person contributes a dish, and while it may not be extravagant, it’s absolutely perfect!

During one such gathering, while we were filling our plates, I turned to my daughter-in-law and said, “One day, I’m going to host a really elegant holiday dinner.” She responded, “Is that genuinely what you aspire to do?” After a brief pause, I replied, “Not really.” We both burst into laughter!

This is who we are.

Let me clarify: elegant meals can indeed be enjoyable! I cherish occasions to dress up and savor a gourmet meal, and I’ve even brought out the fine china and stemware on numerous occasions. However, with young children and busy lives, we choose the gift of reduced stress, fewer dishes to clean, and more time for fun and meaningful conversations.

Years ago, I came across the term “Bougie,” and it quickly became one of my favorites. It’s just fun to say! (You probably said it too, didn’t you?) I often watch a cartoon with my granddaughter called “Fancy Nancy.” Once, I playfully suggested, “I’d love to see ‘Bougie Becky’!” Soon, we had “Bougie Ken,” who was really just Hans from Frozen but enjoyed hanging out with Barbie—whatever works!

But if there’s one thing our family is not, it’s Bougie. Like our holiday meals, we are far from fancy. We embrace fun, chaos, and imperfection—we are hopeful and grateful, navigating through struggles while thriving. We experience brokenness yet mend and grow together. We may not always agree, we argue, and then we forgive.

It’s real, and that is perfect.

We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but when it comes to love, we are unwaveringly sincere. Love isn’t about being fancy—it’s filled with tears and laughter, pain and hope. It fights, it surrenders, and it serves as the foundation and life-giving essence of our existence.

As we enjoy holidays or Taco Tuesdays, let’s embrace less of the bougie and allow more of our beautifully messy, authentic selves to shine!

Exploring the idea that "Bougie" attitudes often overlook the real beauty of family connections, this video discusses why adopting a genuine approach to relationships is more fulfilling.

This upbeat song captures the joy of simple pleasures in life, encouraging us to appreciate the moments that truly matter without the need for extravagance.

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