How to Create an Autumn Cider Bar

Happy Autumn to everyone! Can't believe it is almost over and we are well on our way into Winter and 2016. I have been meaning to put this post up for over a month now but to say that life has been hectic this Fall would be an understatement. But today, on a perfectly overcast Fall day, I am cozied up with a warm cup of cider and ready to show you how Soul & Oak creates a wonderful Cider Bar for your holiday party, a la The Lumberjack and The Queen.

But before I do I have to give another huge shout out to another awesome collaborator. Christine Herrin created these amazing and beautiful paper goods to go along with The Lumberjack and The Queen Collection and they are just so beautiful. From the wedding invitation to the Cider Bar sign and the place cards, she did an amazing job. Check out her stuff here. I absolutely love her travel tag stamp set.

Aside from getting an amazing graphic artist to collaborate with to create unique and awesome paper goods to go with your Cider Bar, here is how you can easily make one at home.

1) Purchase or make cider - I purchased mine at Trader Joe's. I love both their Spiced and regular ciders that they have available. I needed 3 containers to fill up my beverage dispenser.

2) Get a hot beverage dispenser - I did not have one so I simply used a cold beverage dispenser. It looks prettier but wouldn't have been as functional when trying to mix in some of the yummy accompaniments.

3) Set out some great cider accompaniments in pretty dishes, carafs, or bottles - The accompaniments I used were rosemary, caramels, bourbon, and cinnamon sticks. Some other great accompaniments would be cranberry juice, orange slices, caramel sauce, toffee, and any other yummy treats you would use to liven up your cider.

4) Set out mugs

5) Decorate - The best way to decorate without having to go out and buy decorations would be to add any Fall fruit, veggie, or foliage. You could use more rosemary, apples, pomegranates, pears, pumpkins, or gourds, flowers, etc. I included items from The Lumberjack and The Queen collection which can be purchased here. Items included a flannel plaid table runner, gold painted bowl, re-used plaid shirt flag bunting, and gold painted pine cones.

6) Enjoy! Invite your friends over, put on some holiday music, light a fire in the fireplace, and enjoy the coziness and intimacy that comes with a warm drink on a cold night with friends.

#schoolofcreativemotivation

I'm starting something new today. It was an idea I had awhile back because I sit all day long and listen to podcasts. Podcast, after podcast, after podcast. And when I'm not listening to podcasts and working, I'm relaxing and reading a book. And most likely that book is some artsy fartsy business book. Because, you know what...I love professional development! I love learning! I love soaking in as much information as I can until I am sufficiently overwhelmed with ideas and motivation and strategies! I don't know if it's good to be overwhelmed with all of that stuff. Sometimes it can cause a paralysis through analysis complex. But that is beside the point. The point is that I want to share the knowledge I soak in every day.

There are moments when listening to podcasts or reading when I come across a quote or excerpt that makes me jump up and shout, "YES YES YES!!!!". Either it's a a-ha moment for me or I feel like someone just read my conscious or subconscious mind and replayed what was in there but much more eloquently. So as part challenge, part giving back to my followers, part a book for me and a book for all of you, I picked up an old fashioned composition book and every Thursday plan to give you one of my favorite quotes or excerpts for the week. Maybe it will be a great piece of advice or something valuable to reflect upon. I'm calling it the School of Creative Motivation. And like any good challenge, it has it's own hashtag...(insert Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake voice here)...#schoolofcreativemotivation.

This will be done mostly on Instagram but when I come across those really good ones that deserve more reflection, I plan to pop up a blog post about it on Thursdays as well.

Today's (seen below) is a really good one. I could write 100 blog posts about this very idea, and probably will eventually at one point. But today it will be sufficient to just give you what I wrote in the comments:

"First lesson for #schoolofcreativemotivation comes from Jen Lara of Upcycled Education as heard on podcast Elise Gets Crafty Episode 11.

I see so much noise and consumerism posed as art and creativity these days that it drives me bonkers. Hearing this was a huge YES! Very little I see adds value to the world and that is where my business and my industry don't mesh with my values. That is why I'm dedicating this year to refocusing my business so my art and my creativity actually will add value to the world rather than adding more consumer noise..."

Is this something other people feel? Would love to hear people's opinions on this. Please comment below.