Hosting an at Home "Wine and Design"

With holiday budgets and wintery weather upon us, you may be wondering how you can have a fun night with friends while still staying in! If you're looking for something to do from your own living room (that doesn't involve Netflix!), consider hosting a little "paint night" for you and a few friends! You don't have to be super artistic to have a fun, relaxing, and creative night in that beats the cold!

​All you need are a couple of blank canvases (you can get them super cheap on sale at Michael's or order from Amazon), paints, and brushes. I personally like to use "paint knives" instead of brushes for abstract stuff. 

Don't be afraid of suggesting BYOC (bring your own canvas!) if you don't have any extras lying around!

​Fill a couple of mason jars with water, set aside some cloths or paper towels, and lay an old comforter down to protect your floor. To cultivate an atmosphere that yields creativity, put on an artsy vibes station like Bon Iver on Pandora or Spotify, light a couple of candles, diffuse some peppermint and lavender essential oils, and Voila! You have the perfect set up for a relaxing night of good conversation, chill time, and crafting.

​Of course, everyone knows the best host provides refreshments for his or her guests! 

I like to set out a cheese board and some vino when having people over because it adds to the ambiance of the evening.

If your evening is scheduled in the midst of dinner time, here's a tip: throw together an easy CrockPot or InstaPot meal ahead of time! This way, you all have something nutritious and delicious to eat whenever you want throughout the night, plus you aren't busy with cooking or clean up when your guests arrive.

My meal of choice? A hearty chili! It's perfect for cold weather whether it's vegetarian style or traditional chili. 

I don't follow any recipe, but prep only takes like ten to fifteen minutes, and clean up is a one-pot breeze! I just throw together browned meat, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste, some cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, salt, and red pepper in my CrockPot and allow it to cook on low for at least six hours during the day! Provide cheese, sour cream or yogurt, basil, and whatever else you can think of for garnish toppings.

So that's it! Everything you need to have your own little "wine and design" night from the comfort of your own living space. A few art supplies, a chill atmosphere, and some simple food and drink! If you have kids like me, put them to bed a tad bit early and enjoy this inspired evening.