The holiday season is officially over, and we know how optimistically everyone is looking at the year ahead - us included!!
That said, January can be a tough month - especially for those braving the cold in Canada! We’re through the fun of the holidays, back to work, and into winter's darkest nights & coldest temperatures. Finding what’s left of your holiday cheer can be a challenge!
So, to help combat those pesky winter blues, may we suggest you throw a Post Holiday Boost Dinner!
Of course, we are not suggesting a gathering of a dozen friends and family, but perhaps a cozy evening filled with delicious food, warming drinks, and lively conversation with your partners in lockdown will help lift your spirits!
With just a bit of decorating, and elevated dishes, you can turn your typical Friday night into a festive family dinner party!
We're starting off with this Scandinavian inspired tablescape! It's all about textures, keeping most of the colours soft with neutral and whites, and added natural elements.
Simple, elegant, and above all else - cozy! We started by laying down a fluffy blanket as a tablecloth. Definitely a harder mess to clean if spills occur, but the risk is worth the reward in our eyes! Then it's onto the ambiance with as many candles as you can spare!
We happened to have this amazing, rustic, wood plank candle holder, but it's easy to get creative! Even a plain wooden plank from your local hardware store would do the trick! It's really just about creating the varying levels between the candles.
Then it's just some finishing touches with some leftover evergreen from Christmas, crystal ornaments from our tree, and a couple wax pine cones (or other elements found around the house)!
There is so much warmth to this table decor, you could even keep it up all month!
Speaking of tablescape - our first DIY!
As we mentioned, we really want elements of this dinner to be quite simple, from the food to the decor! The evening is really about making your own reason for a special night, and to bring the family around the table for a beautiful meal.
So, to match our effortlessly elegant tablescape, our tablesettings use the same colour tones and have a cozy feel - with a twist of fun.
We always say 'a place setting is never complete without a namecard', even if it's just you and your family! It's an easy way to step your standard family dinner up a notch!
All you need is:
Card stock paper
Scrabble Tiles
Black marker
Tape
Not only do these add the final touch to our table, but they actually tie into the idea that this night can easily turn into a family game night!
The second DIY is just as easy - and possibly cuter!
We love this project for two reasons - how simple it is, and customizable!
All you need are:
clear empty bottles (can be recycled or we found a couple at the dollar store)
greenery from your local florist
and of course candles!
They can be used as part of your tablescape, or if you leave out the candles - a simple decor piece around the house!
Now onto the best part - the food!!
For this we wanted to focus on not only warming & comfort foods, but also recipes that are super easy!