December 31, 2017

2017

Hello, everybody! Today is the last day of 2017, and it's been an absolutely wild year for me. It was a year full of milestones and events that I never, in a million years, thought would happen to me. Today I'm gonna talk you through some of the major life events that have happened to me and what my goals are for 2018! There isn't an event for every month because some months were simply for chillin'. Anyway, enjoy!

March
My sister and I got matching tattoos.


April
Sam and I skip our senior prom and go to Michigan!


May
I turned 18; officially an adult! Got the Cher tattoo to commemorate the milestone.


June
I graduated high school; Sam and I get matching tattoos!


July
My family and I go on a scenic vacation to Door County.


August
I became an aunt to my beautiful niece, Olive.


September
I started COLLEGE. (This selfie is relevant because I'm wearing a sweater with my college's name on it. Also, I have no other school-related pictures so this is what you get.)



October
I pig fell in love with me.


December
Sam and I celebrated our one year anniversary and go on a trip to California! So far on this trip, we've driven from Las Vegas to San Diego with two strangers, taken a yoga class, partied with our Airbnb host, and we plan to go to a New Year's Eve party at a mattress store tonight! I only have one vlog out now, but there should be two more coming. Subscribe to my YouTube channel to stay updated!


Also in December, I launched my very own natural products line, Lumineux by Nature! Click here to check out my first few products!



As far as goals for the new year go, I wish to not be so quick to get angry. Rather than getting frustrated over everything that happens and the little things people do to grind my gears, I plan to pick my battles and let the little stuff go. I plan to recognize that being hurt on purpose and being hurt by accident are two very different things, and that those who hurt you by accident do not deserve to be punished for it. In the new year, I plan to approach situations with a positive attitude and choose peace over anger.

That is it for this blog post, AND for 2017! I hope you've all had a wonderful year, or that you have at least learned something from it. Who knows, 2018 may be your year!

See you then,
Jordan x

December 15, 2017

The Ultimate Holiday Party Guide

Season's Greetings, my beautiful tree toppers! Welcome to Blogmas 2017, or at least my attempt at it. After skipping out on Blogmas last year, I was dead set on redeeming myself in 2017. I had so many fun ideas on blog posts I could make, but studying for my finals has left me with very little free time. Rather than skipping out on another year of festive cheer, I'm gonna make the most out of the 10 days we have left. This Blogmas, I'm going to do some revamps of my favorite posts from 2015 along with incorporating some new ideas, as exemplified in today's post.

I was originally going to kick off Blogmas with a list of holiday-themed activities you could do to get into the holiday spirit, but as I was writing it, I feel out of love with the idea. I wanna party instead. In today's post, I will show you how to throw the best holiday party imaginable. The guide will begin with a list of party-planning steps, followed by festive food and drink recipes, followed by potential party outfits, and completed with steps on how to survive a family party in case you get dragged to one. Feel free to scroll to the section that most interests you!

PLANNING YOUR PARTY

Determine the Formality
First, you must determine your party's level of formality. Would you like to host an elegant soiree or a casual get-together? Your party's level of formality will determine virtually every other aspect of your party, including the music, the menu, the decor, and the dress code.

Make a Guest List
I personally believe that the more intimate a gathering is, the better. Sticking to your closest friends or family eliminates the possibility of awkward conversations and reduces the amount of stress you put on yourself. If you’re surrounded by your favorite people, you know you’re gonna have a great time.

Choose a Location
Once you create your guest list, you must determine your party's location. It’s important to choose a venue that can accommodate the number of guests you plan to have. Would you be okay with 30 people running around your house? Do you have enough space in your house? Would a banquet hall be the perfect, sophisticated venue for your party?

Create a Menu
If you're willing to spend more money on your party, catering is always an option. It saves you the trouble of cooking and it can significantly enhance your party's fancy-schmancy feel. If your party is more laid back, you could go for a potluck meal where every guest brings one of their signature holiday dishes. Another way to make your party feel a bit more sophisticated while still being fun is to stray from the classic sit-down meal and serve hors d'oeuvres instead. Make sure to ask your guests if they have any food allergies or dietary preferences so you can be sure that everyone has something to eat!

Decorate
Luckily, most holidays already have color schemes to go along with. Great Christmas colors include the classic red and green, along with gold, silver, and white. There are SO many different ways to decorate for Christmas. You can do down the classic red-green route, or you could create a more elegant atmosphere by pairing white with either gold, silver, or copper.

Activities
What's gonna happen at this legendary party of yours? Games? Dancing? Strippers? You might wanna save that last suggestion for another party, but you never know what could happen with those few crazy relatives. Some festive activities could include cookie decorating, white elephant gifts, watching Christmas movies, or playing your favorite board games.

Music
You really can't go wrong with Christmas music; however, if you're throwing a sophisticated party, songs with an emphasis on the piano might be more appropriate than "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". Some classy holiday singers include Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr, Bing Crosby, and Perry Como.

Pick an Outfit
Choose an outfit that you will feel beautiful and comfortable in, and maybe something with a little extra room for your inevitable food baby. If you plan on wearing heels, bring a comfortable backup pair of shoes as well. Remember, it's winter, so dress for the weather! For a casual party, a Christmas sweater and your favorite pair of jeans are perfect. A knitted sweater dress is also a great casual, but still stylish option. For a formal party, dressy pants and a sweater are great. You could also wear a dress with a more formal fabric and shape. Metallics can also look really cool, as you can see above!

FESTIVE FOOD & DRINK

I'm pretty sure the food is the best part of any party. Depending on your party's formality, your menu could consist of several plated courses or a plate full of mashed potatoes and gravy, both of which are totally okay! I believe that regardless of how fancy or unfancy your menu is, your spread should always have a variety of tastes and textures. If one of the components of your meal is rich and creamy, you should have a tart, acidic component to balance it out. If you have a smooth, silky component in your meal, you should also have a crispy, crunchy one. These various tastes and textures keep your meal interesting and well-rounded.

In this section, I'm going to give you three recipes in the categories of drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and side dishes, assuming that you have the main dish of your meal already planned out. These recipes are super easy to make, and the final products are guaranteed to impress your guests!

DRINKS



Christmas Sangria
This recipe comes from Cake 'N' Knife, and the mixture of the fruits along with the fragrant rosemary make it colorful and elegant!

- 2 Bottles Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay
- 1C. Cranberries (1/4C. Halved, 3/4C. Whole)
- 1 Granny Smith Apple, Chopped
- 3/4C. Apple Cider
- 1/4C. Sugar or Honey
- Rosemary Sprigs

Combine ingredients in a larger pitcher and stir.
Refrigerate for 4 hours and serve!


Mulled Wine
Mulled wine and mulled cider are staple holiday beverages. This mulled wine recipe from Gimme Some Oven, and it looks absolutely delicious!

- 1 Bottle Red Wine
- 1/4C. Brandy
- 1/4C. Sugar
- 1 Orange, Sliced into Disks
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 8 Cloves
- 2 Star Anise (Optional)

Combine ingredients in large saucepan and bring to a simmer.
Reduce heat to low and let mixture infuse for at least 15 minutes.
Serve!


Hot Cocoa
This is just a big 'duh'. This cocoa recipe comes from Ashlee Marie, who claims it's the world's best!

- 1/4C. Cocoa Powder
-1/2C. Sugar
- 1/2t. Salt
- 1/3C. Water
- 4C. Milk

Combine dry ingredients in a saucepan.
Add water, bring to a boil, and let boil for one minute.
Add milk, stir to combine, and serve!

HORS D'OEUVRES



Roasted Tomato and Burrata Crostini
Every party must have some sort of tomato basil dish. This one comes from Authentic Suburban Gourmet, and it might just be the best tomato-basil yet. Not to mention, it's Christmas colored!

- 1 Baguette
- Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves
- 12 Grape Tomatoes, Halved
- 1 Ball of Burrata
- 1 Jar of Pesto

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place halved tomatoes on a baking tray with the cut side facing upwards. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 25 minutes.
Slice baguette into 12 half-inch slices, brush with olive oil, and bake at 350 degrees for ten minutes.
Cut garlic cloves in half width-wise and rub onto crostinis.
Spread a layer of burrata onto the crostinis at your desired thickness.
Place a dollop of pesto on each crostini and spread evenly.
Top crostinis with two tomato halves and serve!



Spinach Dip Twisted Christmas Tree
This recipe and the picture above comes from itsalwaysautumn.com, and it combines two of my favorite things: spinach dip and Christmas. Although this isn't a hand-held hors d'oeuvre, it's still great for sharing because all one has to do is tear off a "branch"! Out of all the recipes featured in this post, this one might be the most complicated. The mixing and spreading are easy, but when it comes to shaping the product into a tree, it requires close attention.

- 1 Tube Thin Pizza Crust
- 12oz. (1 pack) Frozen Spinach (Thawed and Drained of Access Water)
- 6oz. Cream Cheese
- 2 to 3 Cloves of Minced Garlic
- 1C. Mozzarella or Cheddar Cheese
- 1/2C. Parmesan Cheese
2T. Salted Butter
- 1/2t. Sea Salt
- 1/2t. Onion Powder or Dried Minced Onion
- 1/2t. Garlic Salt
- 1/4t. Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4t. Black Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Combine spinach, cream cheese, minced garlic, mozzarella, parmesan, salt, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
Roll out pizza crust, spread, cut, and twist as demonstrated.
Bake for around 20 minutes or until dough is thoroughly cooked.
Melt butter and mix with garlic salt and brush over the finished product.
Serve!



Cheese Board Wreath
If a Christmas tree seems too complicated, make a wreath! Cheeseboards are fancy and super easy. This glorious wreath comes from Home is Where the Boat Is. Although I love the look of this wreath, I would also include some nuts and fruits (possibly fruit preserves) in my spread, along with some crackers to put them on.

- 2 to 4 Types of Cheese (Cheddar, Mozzarella, Pepper Jack)
- 2 to 3 Types of Olives (Green, Black, Kalamata, Stuffed)
- Fruit (Grapes, Pears, Apples)
- Fruit Preserves (Peach, Pear)
- Nuts (Almonds, Cashews)
- Crackers
- Sprigs of Rosemary (Optional)
- Toothpicks

Arrange ingredients in an aesthetically pleasing manner, alternating your components and using the sprigs of rosemary as a garnish.
Serve with toothpicks and enjoy!

SIDE DISHES



Scalloped Potatoes
Maybe it's just my family, but I feel like every party has to have potatoes in one form or another. I'm a HUGE fan of scalloped potatoes or potatoes au gratin. These dishes consist of thinly sliced potatoes baked in a gorgeous, creamy sauce and topped with breadcrumbs and cheese if you desire. The best part about scalloped potatoes is that often times, you can find it in boxes at your local supermarket where all you have to do is add the wet ingredients and bake! Easy peasy, and oh so delicious.




Honey-Roasted Carrots
Roasted vegetables are a staple side dish for me, and they're so easy to make! Christmas classics include carrots, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts, but if I had it my way, I would include beets and asparagus as well. For today's post, I made some ridiculously easy honey-roasted carrots.

- 1.5lb. Medium Carrots, Peeled
- 2T. Melted Butter or Honey Oil
- 2T. Honey or Maple Syrup
- 2 Cloves Minced Garlic
- Salt to Taste
- Pepper to Taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Peel the carrots if needed and combine all ingredients and make sure carrots are completely coated in the honey-butter mixture.
Spread carrots out evenly on a roasting tray and roast for 25 minutes. Remove carrots from oven, toss them around, and place back in oven until golden brown, if needed.



Brussels Sprout Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
If you currently don't like Brussels sprouts, you will after this recipe. I'll admit, I was skeptical about this dish because raw Brussels sprouts did not appeal to me. This festive salad completely changed my view on Brussels sprouts, and I am officially a sprout lover. This salad is the perfect, fresh side dish for your Christmas meal. It's fruity, crunchy, and acidic, making it the perfect compliment to a warm, rich holiday meal.

- 1lb. Shredded Brussels Sprouts
- 1/3C. Dried Cranberries
- 1/3C. Halved Pecans, Toasted
- 1/3C. Olive Oil
- 2T. Red Wine Vinegar (or Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar)
- 2T. Dijon Mustard
- 2T. Honey
- 1t. Sea Salt
- 1/4t. Onion Powder
- 1/4t. Garlic Powder

Combine olive oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, and seasonings in a bowl and whisk until combined.
Combine Brussels sprouts and cranberries in serving bowl and drizzle dressing on top.
Top with pecans and serve!

PARTY OUTFITS



 This knitted sweater dress is warm and comfortable, which are two things you don't usually associate with dresses! The dress' knitted texture gives the outfit a casual vibe, but that can easily be fixed with a nice pair of shoes and some statement jewelry. 


Red is the color of the season. Even if your outfit doesn't scream "Christmas", its red color will do that for you. This strapless peplum dress is PERFECT for an elegant soiree or a holiday event in the city.


The omission of black tights from this outfit can completely change its feel, taking it from work party attire to PARTY attire, if you know what I mean!


Oh, hey!


How fun is this dress?! I wore this to a production of the Nutcracker a couple years back, and I've been dying to wear it ever since. This dress is great for a fancy occasion, as metallics are quite fancy in my book.


How To Survive a Family Party

Featured below is a link to one of my favorite Blogmas posts I made in 2015. If you're dreading a family party, read the blog post below and be ready to answer any repetitive or invasive questions that get thrown your way!

How To Survive a Family Party

That's it for today's post! I hope I've helped to ease and of your any potential party planning stress. Happy Holidays, and party hard, my friends!

Until next time,
Jordan x