Friendsgiving: Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes of a Friendsgiving Segment 

I was given some products from Oriental Trading to use in styling parties. 

I'm so excited friends, I got the opportunity to show some Friendsgiving ideas on Afternoon Live.  I wanted to give three easy ideas for people to be inspired by.  I'm taking you behind the scenes to show you the pre-prep before the show. 

The set up area is located just outside where the filming takes place.  There are tables for the guests to prep and than when it's time to go on air the tables are wheeled into the studio.  Here's my table all ready to go. 

I had a little time before it was time to go on air so of course I had to get some shots of the table.  Thank you to my assistant for taking pics of me taking pics of my table set up. I know I look a little casual in jeans but all you see is my top on air so it's all good. 

Sometimes to get just the right shot you have to scrunch down.  The two ladies in the back were going on air that day too. The lady on the left was talking about yummy easy crock pot recipes and the lady on the right was talking about easy tasty fudge. They were both so cute. They saw my table and we're like, some people are so creative 😁 Yep, that's me. I seriously can't help it. My brain just loves styling parties. 

Busy snapping pics before I go on air. 

A little look at the hard cider part of my table.  

Hot cider bar area of my table.  When guests arrive show them to the hot cider bar.  Keep the cider warm in a crock pot.  If your table has room you can add some décor pieces like apples in a basket or a fall leaf garland. 

I hope you enjoyed a look at the behind the scenes.
Will you be hosting a Friendsgiving this year?  Leave me a comment. I'd love to hear about it. 

Shop this look:

Styling: Fizzy Party 

Table linen: Bed, Bath and Beyond

Red cake stand: World Market

White mugs, wood round, leaf garland, pumpkin: Oriental Trading 

Mason jars: Ball 

Plaid fabric: Craft Warehouse

Hard cider tasting printable: BellaGrey Designs 

Wire basket: Michaels 

Easy Friendsgiving Ideas

Easy Friendsgiving ideas 

Woo Hoo!! I was on Afternoon Live again.  If you missed my Halloween entertaining party tips check it out here. This time I'm bringing you easy Friendsgiving party tips. Seriously, these are so easy but add that fun party factor. Let's take a look. Now I have to warn you first, the pictures are not high quality because backstage doesn't have the best lighting and it's not pretty like on set is. 

You're guests have arrived and dinner isn't quite done.  Direct them over to the hot cider bar, tell them to mix a drink and get comfy, dinner will be in a few. Serve the hot cider in a crock pot so you can make it and forget it.  Have 'toppings' for your guests to add to their hot cider like whipped cream, vanilla syrup, rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks and red hots.  A basket full of fresh apples adds a party detail to the table. 

When you invite your guests and they say, "Can I bring anything?" Say heck yes! Bring a pie. If you're making the main meal no reason to stress yourself out making dessert too. They can bring restaurant bought like the whipped cream peanut butter pie, home made like the pumpkin pie or pie holes from The Pie Spot.  

After dinner host a hard cider tasting.  Of course you'll want to have more than two choices.  Since this was just for the filming of the show I didn't want to buy a lot.  

Make your hot cider bar interactive and tasty by setting out fresh orange slices, whipped cream, vanilla syrup, cinnamon sticks and rosemary twigs.  

Don't forget the fun red hots.  

Plain white mugs just won't do on a hot cider bar.  Wrapped them in plaid fabric and tie some jute around them to give them a cozy holiday feel. 

It was hard not to eat all these pies after filming the segment.  The whole pies we took home but those pie holes from Pie Spot didn't make it out of the back area of the studio.  The crust was flakey and the fillings were delicious.  Marion berry, chocolate hazelnut and brandy apple. 

Yep, that pie crust is a little done.  I made that pie. My man likes his pumpkin pie firm so I leave it in the oven a little longer than the directions call for.  I suppose I could put tin foil over it so the crust wouldn't get so done but meh. The pie tastes delish and that's what matters. 

For your hard cider tasting pick up some small glasses from a dollar store like the ones  I used here.  Have a piece of paper and pens on hand for your friends to jot down notes of the ciders they tasted.  Or, get in touch with my friend BellaGrey Designs who created these printables for me. 

Watch the segment 

Thanksgiving Day Dessert

Thanksgiving Day Desserts 

**Products given to me by Oriental Trading in exchange for styling a party. I work with them because I've been buying from them for years!**

When I think of Thanksgiving dessert I think pie.  Pumpkin pie and berry pie, mmm mmm.  This year why not change it up and serve up easy desserts like cupcakes, cookies and more. This works especially well if you're hosting a last minute Friendsgiving.  Save yourself time and pick up some goodies at a great local bakery. 

Chocolate chip cookies. Who doesn't love those? Me. I don't like chocolate chip cookies. Never have. But I'm just weird like that. People always give me the, "I did not just hear you say you don't like chocolate chip cookies" look.  But hey, more cookies for everyone else. 

I don't know about your house but football is always on on Thanksgiving and popcorn goes great with watching the game. Especially when it's kettle corn.  

Now this is what I'm talking about. Cupcakes. That smooth frosting is calling my name.  To make your cupcakes more festive you can cut out craft paper to use as cupcake wrappers. 

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving save yourself some stress and ask your family or friends to bring some dessert or pick it up at a local bakery. The day should be about enjoying time with family and friends, not stress. 

Shop this party- 

White pumpkin and pinecone candle holders- Oriental Trading

Pumpkin cake stand and white trays- HomeGoods 

Glitter Turkey- Fizzy Party on Etsy 

Hosting an Easy Friendsgiving

Hosting an Easy Friendsgiving

** Product was given to me by Oriental Trading in exchange for styling a party. FYI: I've been ordering from this company long before I was a blogger**

Does the thought of hosting Friendsgiving stress you out? It doesn't have to.  I'm here to help you stress less. 

Clean the areas of your house where your guests will be and don't worry about the rest.  Just close the doors to the bedrooms if they're messy. Give the floors a quick sweep. No need to mop unless the floors are really grungy. Bathrooms and kitchen should be spotless of course. No one wants to eat at some one's house who's kitchen is dirty and a dirty bathroom is just gross.  

You could set the table or if you're like me go buffet style because we rarely eat at our table.  You could set up the plates, napkins, utensils and glasses on a side hutch if you have one.

Use pretty paper plates to make clean up easy. Who wants to spend all evening in the kitchen cleaning up while everyone else gets to sit around chatting. 

It's just not Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving without a cornucopia. 

Offer your guests a cocktail or non-alcoholic drink while they wait for dinner to be done. 

When your guests ask, is there anything I can bring? Say YES. This saves you time and stress because you don't have to make everything.  Tell your guests what you want them to bring.  By telling your guests what to bring you make it easier on you and them. That way you don't end up with all sides or a bunch of salads.  And your guests don't have to keep asking you, "what are you missing? What do you need?"

If you'll be hosting Friendsgiving this year pop over here and let me know. 

Let's shop this party:

Wood round, gold pumpkins, paper plates: Oriental Trading 

Gold Chargers- Amazon (affiliate)

Napkins- Clearance item from Fred Meyer

Gold Flatware- A friend sent me when she was cleaning out her stash. 

Woo Hoo!! Wednesday

I know, it's WAY past Halloween and almost to Thanksgiving and I'm just now posting this. I'm a little slow this time of year. As are a lot of my fellow holiday obsessed pals.  Did we cross over into the Twilight Zone?

The last week of October, just before Halloween I got together with a few girlfriends for pizza night.  I had to fizzy it up so I made some pumpkin donuts and surprised them with this:

The recipe is from King Arthur Flour . Now personally I think they would have been much tastier had I not used wheat flour. I have 2 people in my life who think wheat flour is so much better. For me, it detracts from the pumpkiny goodness. The donuts were still very good but would have been even better with good 'ol processed white flour :)

Woo Hoo!! Go out for pizza and score some donuts :)

Happy Thanksgiving !!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!! everyone. I hope you are all spending it with family and friends and enjoying the wonderful tastes of home made food. 

Thanksgiving for me begins early. Not to cook, but to run 4 miles in the Turkey Trot. I usually do this with my step-daughter but her knees have been hurting so I'll be running with friends this year. Than it's off to my aunts where 10-15 of us gather for good food, laughter and great desserts.  My aunt is a dream, she does the bulk of the cooking. Big shout out to Aunt Sharon, Thank you! for cooking all that great food.

I bring one of the desserts.  Sometimes I make cupcakes but I always bring my homemade peanut butter chocolates. Oh yeah, I could make the turkey's look all fancy with different coloured chocolates. This of course would make them POP and look more gourmet. But all those different colours takes a long time to do and 2 seconds for my cousin to consume. So I just do all chocolate.  Maybe for Christmas I'll get all fancy with the different colours.

I got inspired this year by The Party Animals M & M turkey's. So cute. I had to make my own. These are The Party Animal's.

And here's mine, filled with my PB chocolates.  Couldn't find the mesh The Party Animal used so I improvised.  My cat got a hold of one of the heads I made and is having a blast with it!

Wishing you all a wonderfully thankful Thanksgiving

Fizzy Party !