Thanks to HoneyBaked Ham, who sponsored this post. All opinions are my own.
This year I’m hosting and toasting a fabulous friendsgiving – a get together with friends to celebrate the season and to party with the people in our lives we consider to be family, even if they aren’t technically relatives. Whether you’re hosting friends, or going traditional and having family over (or both), gather around the holiday’s best. Go for ham and turkey, with all the fixings, and a signature cocktail. The key is less prep and more friend and family time with HoneyBaked Ham. I’ve also mapped out easy tablescape ideas, and outfit options so you can enjoy the entire holiday with your loved ones and not stress over the little things.
HoneyBaked Ham made my friendsgiving stress free and so easy. Moms are usually caged in the kitchen, overworked and on the verge of meltdowns over getting the entire Thanksgiving meal together. Here is the best option to save your sanity and keep some of the drama away. Everything is prepared at HoneyBaked Ham, and you simply heat and bring it to the table. I served a half ham (but they have all sizes available), whole roasted turkey, lots of sides and dessert and I was barely in the kitchen. The ham is ready-to-serve, spiral sliced and hand glazed. You let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes, or you can heat it up. The turkey warms in the oven for a few hours, or you can get smaller glazed portions that heat quicker – but either way, your work is basically done! We had delicious sides from HoneyBaked Ham – like their cornbread stuffing and mashed potatoes with gravy. I added green beans and a medley of carrots for color. To end on a sweet note, I baked a walnut apple pie from HoneyBaked Ham, and let’s just say it didn’t even last for photos. It was the easiest Thanksgiving prep – and believe me – I’ve had lots of experience. I was able to enjoy time with my friends (and have a cocktail!) versus being stuck in the kitchen for hours.
Some tips to hosting a friendsgiving is to set a beautiful tablescape. It sets the mood and gets everyone in the holiday spirit. Simple touches such as decorative pumpkins, pretty flowers, and sparkly candles are easy to set up and add some much needed lovely to your table. I love using gold silverware with white plates and mixing in pops of autumn color, such as deep pinks, reds, oranges and mustard yellows. I also love to decorate platters with pretty garnishes such as fresh sage, rosemary, oranges, cranberries and cut pomegranates. It’s all about presentation and finishing touches.
For my friendsgiving, I created a signature drink: a cranberry prosecco cocktail – because every cocktail is better with bubbly and every party is better with a bubbly cocktail. Am I right? I love wine, but I also love a fun, unique drink that incorporates seasonal flavors and matches the theme of my party. This drink is a pretty reddish pink, and I add a few cranberries for garnish. You can use any cocktail glass, and you can also mix in a flavored vodka for a different spin. I use 1 ounce vodka, 2 ounces cranberry juice, shake, pour, add a prosecco float and a few cranberries. To make your job even easier, set up a drink station with a written recipe, and let guests help themselves.
The last key to a great friendsgiving is planning a fun outfit. You can go casual and tell everyone it’s a jeans and sweater type of event, or you can have all your besties dress up. I lean towards dressing up because as a mom, I don’t get the opportunity to wear the fun stuff in my closet unless I make an opportunity. I love this raspberry velvet pleated midi skirt (only $68) paired with a velvet and lace top. Velvet is luxe and comfortable, and feels holiday. I’ll be wearing these pieces all season long – the top with skinny jeans and boots, and the skirt with a chambray top and nude heels when I want to switch it up. See my post “Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas” for more options, and you can shop this look below.
Whether you are gathering the family or hanging out with friends this Thanksgiving, give yourself time with loved ones by letting HoneyBaked Ham do the work. All their meal prep is delicious, and super easy to serve at home. Cheers to a fun holiday!
