friendsgiving at the barn (part 2)
Brown Butter Maple Pumpkin Spice Pie + outfit and decor deets
DOUBLE HEADER NEWSLETTER!!! Below you will find all of the details for my Friendsgiving lewks and table decor. Plus the recipes for my Brown Butter Spiced Maple Pie & Whole Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
Table Deets
For my tablescape, I really leaned into rich browns and deep berry hues with pops of white for contrast. The inspiration for this color pallet was sparked when I discovered these placemats and chargers from one of my favorite table decor sellers, Rebecca Udall. I had had back-in-stock notifications for the placemats on for MONTHS, and it was just my luck that they restocked right in time for my dinner. I also ordered tapered candles from Rebecca Udall to match. The rest of the table is composed of pieces I already had on hand. I think the best tablescapes have a mix of new and pre-loved pieces. When the entire tablescape is brand new and perfectly matching, it feels very sterile/ department store-like (IMO). The same goes for Christmas Ornaments. I love my tortoise glassware and flatware because they feel festive enough for a holiday table but they’re not SO festive that they can’t be used year-round. And a good set of white plates, like these ones I have from Juliska, are essential for year round hosting.
LINK TO SHOP HERE!
Outfit Deets
Like with most dinner parties, I like to do the majority of the cooking before I change into my outfit for the night. Whenever I am spending long days in the kitchen, I always gravitate towards denim. It’s one of the few fabrics that is comfortable, durable, breathable, and machine washable. I try to avoid wearing sweaters/knitwear when cooking because they easily hold on to smells, are difficult to wash, and will cause me to overheat. When selecting a party outfit for the later portion of the evening, I like to go with an easy and comfortable dress or matching set. I’m usually pretty tired, and sore, at this point so I want to avoid anything tight and stiff. Ideally, I want it to feel like I just changed into pajamas or a nightgown.
The most important component of my dinner party makeup is always my lip. I’m a yapper, snacker, and drinker, and I can’t be bothered to meticulously maintain a lip all night. Which is why I start all of my lip combos with a lip stain, then layer on lip liner, lipstick, and gloss. The new Dior Lip Sequin is ideal because it’s long-wearing, transfer-proof, and has a festive twinkly finish.
As for hair, I wasn’t blessed with a voluminous mane. My hair is thin, brittle, curly, and frizzy. It doesn’t hold heat styles and is too fragile for a slick back bun. Thus, I’ve been gravitating towards a half-up, half down look. This way, I don’t have to worry about the top layer of my hair looking frizzy, or the back of my hair looking curly as the night progresses. I realize this is a very niche dilemma to have, but I know my thin-haired girlies will appreciate.
LINK TO SHOP HERE!
Brown Butter Maple Pumpkin Spice Pie
I am extremely proud of this recipe. I believe it will satisfy both pumpkin pie haters and lovers. The inspiration for this pie comes from my favorite dessert of all time, the Crack Pie (now rebranded as Milk Bar Pie) from Milk Bar. I wanted to infuse it with the flavors of fall with the addition of pumpkin spice and maple.
The recipe has many steps and requires lots of time for cooling, so I recommend you make it at least a few days in advance. And Shout out to sous chef Seth for testing this recipe with me 1239493479123 times <3