If you haven’t realized yet, my favorite holiday is Halloween. I stretch that holiday out into 40 days of fun every year. I typically start decorating the inside of my house the 3rd week of September and then slowly transition my yard a week later. Starting with the indoor decor is my way of enjoying it all a little longer while not having the neighbors question my sanity.
It’s become quite a hobby over the years to plan my son’s annual Halloween party (which is really just a galvanized playdate), a fun Halloween night and usually a few themed happy hours with friends.
This low-key Halloween happy hour with two friends was so much fun to put together. I love doing a small friends-only Halloween themed happy hour, where we can sit around delicious food and drinks, surrounded by the Halloween decor I love (that’s a post for another day).
This particular ladies night was my first time making my own charcuterie board. Where has this concept been my entire life?! I had to follow a few instagrams and review a few pins to finally understand the layout of a board, but it’s such an easy way to present finger foods and now I’m hooked. Most of the charcuterie items were purchased from my local grocery store and (of course) Trader Joes – they have a spicy jam that’s to die for over a block of cream cheese.
No happy hour is complete without the cocktails. I wanted to try my hand at a craft cocktail for the evening, so I invented a Witches Brew – literally just vodka, mixed berry juice and frozen berries in a glass rimmed with black sugar. That black sugar on the rim was a great Halloween-touch! A few cute napkins and plates from Walmart completed this happy hour look and added some humor.
We spent the entire evening sipping, snacking and dancing to an old college playlist I had. At some point, I heard my son yell down from his bedroom “Keep it down! I’m trying to sleep!”… what a way to rain on Mom’s parade kiddo, lol.
My Extra Mom Verdict? Easy and fun! I will do this again (perhaps with costumes) with another group of friends at my next duty station. The biggest cost was the items for the charcuterie board. Since my home was already Halloween-ready, I didn’t have to spend much more time or money on anything else except preparing my signature drink and the snacks. This was completely low maintenance and such a great time.