Happy Tuesday! If you follow along on Instagram, you may have realized that I had a heck of a week (and by that I mean busy AF). It was definitely one for the books and was worth the sleep deprivation.
Read MoreMerry almost Christmas! As much as I complain about the cold every winter, this is truly my favorite time of the year. Each year, I've tried to find ways to celebrate with friends and get everyone in the spirit. Last year, I hosted an ugly Christmas sweater party for a houseful, so this year I knew I wanted to keep it low key. I missed the opportunity to host Friendsgiving, so the idea of Friendsmas was right on target.
I have been dying to have a picnic-style, on the floor dinning situation since I hosted BLOOM this past summer and we got rained out. So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for my closest friends and I to sit around Indian-style (criss-cross-applesauce?) and eat, drink and be merry.
I teamed up with Harlow & Grey to bring my vision to life. Harlow & Grey makes THE cutest partyware of all time. They make everything from cups, plates and utensils to cake toppers and garland. And it's all so very cute!
I set a table in our upstairs entertaining area complete with a DIY hot chocolate bar (spiked, duh). We did a white elephant gift exchange and indulged in brunch bites potluck style. I had the best time with my girls.
I DIY'd these little signs on Canva and placed them around the space. They were super cheesy, but also super cute if I do say so myself.
I was inspired by Inspired by Charm and wanted to replicate his "Ornamentinis". I didn't use the same cocktail recipe, but the presentation was superb. They were so cute! And didn't taste bad either.
You should really check out Harlow & Grey for all of your party needs! The collection you see here is from their Noir collection, but I've been eyeing their Goddess collection as well.
Do you have holiday traditions with your friends? I'm thinking about making this an annual event. We literally had the best time.
Merry Christmas, ya'll!
xo,
Aquia
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Harlow & Grey. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsors who keep content fresh on thefauxfancy.com.
I'm both relieved and sad that I'm not hosting Thankshiving this year. If my memory serves me right, I've hosted the last three years. This year, however, I just can't. Between being a homeowner and having random shit malfunction around the house and having traveled SO much the last month, hosting just seemed like biting off more than I can chew. So, this year will just be us. Hubby, and Lennox and I. And hoping for a close couple friend of ours to join us as well.
Although we aren't hosting an extravagant dinner this go around, there are still some basic rules to keep in mind if it's your year to set the table.
Nothing will keep you more organized and focused. If you're anything like me, you might be tempted to make evetything on Pinterest. Don't do it. Select an appropriate amount of dishes and commit to them.
Listen, turkey sucks. Like idk whose idea it was to make this dry ass bird an annual Thanksgiving tradition, but they wouldn't be invited to any party of mine (sorry if you like turkey). If it's not a State Fair-esque turkey leg on the menu, I'm likely not interested. That said, it isn't uncommon for me to stray from tradition and serve something unconventional. Most of the time, I'll still have turkey as an option for those stuck in their bubble, but this year, I'm planning dirty rice stuffed Cornish hens... because I have no desire to have 18lbs of leftover turkey.
Enlist help. I'm really bad at this because I love things to be a certain way. But listen when I say... ENLIST HELP. Every year, my husband "helps" by walking into the kitchen and asks when the food will be done. My dad is my kitchen co-pilot. And my mom is the on-the-spot dish washer which is the most underrated job of all. I couldn't do it without them.
Unless you live with a bunch of human garbage disposals, you might have quite a bit of leftovers. To avoid eating dry turkey for a week that feels like the rest of your life, encourage your guests to take to-go plates. If you grew up in a black household, that likely reads paper plate covered in foil. But this is the Faux Fancy and we aren't sending guests away with a roll of foil and hefty plates. Get a bunch of styrofoam to go boxes from your local grocer and make transporting leftovers easy.
You might need them throughout the preparing, but you definitely need them for dinner. Decide on a signature cocktail, but also have a mini bar as backup.
On that note, I have a yummy cocktail recipe for you to incorporate into your turkey day!
I don't have a name, but it's devine and husband-approved.
Pour sweet vermouth into glass with sugar cube and muddle. In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, grenadine and ice. Shake vigorously. Pour into glass and add ice. Garnish with maraschino cherry. Enjoy.
Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! You have so much to be thankful for. Never forget it.
xo,
Aquia
Welcome to the ultimate guide to life with Aquia – featuring everything from home decor, DIY, style, beauty, everyday life, and more. I teach you how to lead a life of luxury without breaking the bank.
