the 20-something's guide to creating a fall 2024 wellness-inspired dinner party (aka:: how to create a space for community & create fall friend dates!)
happy fall, y’all!! i have been waiting for this season… there is something about the coziness of fall & the comforting fall vibes that my body & mind have absolutely needed. if you guys missed my blog post in january, we chatted about hosting a vision board night with your friends to kickstart the year in the best way possible:: hoping, dreaming, & planning for the future! i loved creating & planning that event so much, so i wanted to do a similar post for fall! this month we are going to wellness girl chat all about creating the coziest, fall, wellness-y dinner party for you & your friends! the theme? wellness, cozy, & fall…utilizing ingredients that are seasonal & seasonings that are filled with all the healthy goodness!
the atmosphere
create a warm, inviting, fall playlist. i am actually the worst at creating playlists, so this is where i think spotify comes in so handy! there are so many pre-made playlists out there that can create the fall vibes in a pinch!
i also used some of my dinnerware to create a fall-inspired table setting. grab some little pumpkins & use those as a part of your place setting! to top off the table, change out those florals for some dried branches (compliments of trader’s joe’s!). & to top it all off, light a few candles around the main areas…or if it is too hot or your sensitive to smells (me!), try these battery-powered wax candles that look incredibly real, without the heat or smell!
knowing how important relationships are (they are the #1 predictor of our healthy, happiness, & longevity!), i’d also consider making this a phone free evening!
as a side note… you know that i love getting science-y with wellness, diving into the physiology & anatomy & chemistry about how our bodies work, how we can improve the body’s function, & how we can really feel our best! here at elää, we focus a lot on the internal changes, but we can’t forget the external, too! i used to think (& still sometimes catch myself thinking) that investing in your home, decor, hosting, & external environment was materialism. i never wanted to invest in “cheesy fall decor” because i knew it was temporary & wouldn’t last. however, i read something from jennie allen one time about how creating an inviting space for yourself, your family, & your friends was a very spiritual act…it was a way to focus on the intangible aspects of “wellness” by creating a warm & welcoming space. it helped free me from the thought that spending money or time on anything seasonal or holiday was “wasteful”, & it showed me that investing in my space & relationships through hosting & updating my interiors with seasonal decor truly was “wellness”. when my space matches the season, i feel more connected to myself, the people in my home, including my family, feel warm, welcomed, & centered. it truly is beautiful to think that “wellness” can even be creating a calming, seasonal space!
the menu
fall- inspired charcuterie board
arugula salad
parmesan & herb acorn squash
anti-inflammatory butternut squash & pumpkin gnocchi
vino!
the wellness after-party
gut health walk
we’ve talked about this on wellness big sis:: the pod, but a post-meal gut health walk does wonders for our blood glucose levels, digestion, & overall body composition. it is also a great way to build community, chat about the deep thoughts, & enjoy the company of your friends, phone-free!
gut health/digestive movement flow
there are physical ways we can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (our “rest/digest” nervous system!), our digestion, & reduce bloating after a meal! performing a self massage, doing breathwork, & putting our pelvic floor in relaxing positions can really help combat that post-meal bloat. try out a group gut health flow!
sauna sesh
if you have access to a sauna, i recommend ending the night chatting it up with your fellow wellness sisters in a sauna. i love the idea of building community while investing in our health & wellness, & with the tradition of sauna, we get so many benefits!
other fall, relationship-building, community-building, wellness-inspired party ideas…
if you’re looking for other fall get-together ideas, then here are some more we mentioned on wellness big sis:: the pod!
tea party
get a few girlfriends together, heat up the kettle, & have a tea party! i used to love this as a kid, so who says it has to stop? have your friends bring over their favorite teas to try, grab a journal or a favorite book, & get settled for a cozy, fall, night in!
have a theme night!
elevate a casual, weeknight hangout by creating a theme night! great gatsby? sweat sets? best braids? whatever it is, having a theme can turn a simple evening into a fun celebration!
schedule the facetime chat with your long distance bffs &/or sisters
no more missing those long distance bffs! schedule a time to catch up over facetime & make a date of it! grab your favorite drink (tea? a glass of wine?) & bring some questions & thoughts to the table to really catch up with a freind or sister who you miss!
hype a friend up!
probably the easiest of the bunch, but celebrate a friend through words or actions! do you ever notice yourself hyping up your friends in your head, but never actually telling them? uhm, yes…me! this one is all about making that effort to tell your friends about the cool things you see them doing & how amazing you think they are!
let me know if you try out any of these ideas! fall & the holidays are a time for us to really dive into our relationships, community, & all the cozy, fall vibes, so creating an elevated experience in the form of a dinner party, tea party, or even a casual facetime hangout is a way to invest in the relational part of our health & wellness while also filling up our cups with friendship! love y’all!
in health & happiness,
kels
