{HOLIDAY} Guest Post by Aleisha: The Witching Hour

My friend Aleisha is a talented party thrower. I posted a Halloween party she did here. I love her attention to detail and her menu is always perfection. This last week I went to her annual 'Witching Hour' party and I asked her to write a post and share some pictures. It was such a great party! I loved everything from the lanterns hanging in the tree to the smores on a stick to the party favor of fake eyelashes.. perfect for a witch don't you think?!

Thanks for sharing Aleisha!

Autumn is my favorite season and October is my favorite month. The weather starts to cool, the crows keep watch from their perch on branches bare and white as bone, and the fog creeps in from the ocean. Why not celebrate this season with a spellbinding ghouls' night complete with striped stockings and black hats?

For the past few years I have thrown an annual Halloween party known as "The Witching Hour." Guests come clad in their most bewitching garb and enjoy a spellbinding night of food, firelight, and, if you're really lucky, a ghost story or two. All it takes is a little magic and you're sure to have a party that your friends look forward to each year.

The Invite
Leave your warlocks at home, don your most bewitching attire and come revel in an enchanting ghouls' night filled with a sinister supper and wicked company. Brooms and black cats will be checked at the door.

The Venue

The mild October evenings in California allow me to have the party outside, under the stars. Dinner is served inside and dessert is served on the patio.
Black oil lanterns are suspended from the large tree out back, lending just the right amount of light to our chairs encircling the fire.

A Sinister Supper
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
Autumn Greens
Fresh Baked Rolls

Devilish Dainties
Spiced Raisin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
S'mores on a Stick
Individual Apple Crisp with Freshly Whipped Cream
Chocolate Chunk Molasses Cookies
Hot Spiced Cider

Warm apple crisp is served in half-pint jam jars with whipped cream and wooden spoons.

S'mores on a Stick
Marshmallows dipped in dark chocolate and crushed graham crackers.

The Favor
"Eye of Newt"
Guaranteed to increase the potency of your spells by causing your gaze to become more bewitching. Use with caution as it will affect both princes and toads.

False eyelashes packaged in flat, labeled white bags and stitched shut with black thread.

As the night draws to an end be sure to gather up your black cat and broom for your flight home under the harvest moon.