A Pumpkin Decorating Party + a White Chicken Chili Recipe!

Happy Monday!  If you’re here for the new White Chicken Chili recipe, that is the bonus content this week for paid subscribers (thank you!)  The rest of the newsletter is free!

A friend of mine has an annual pumpkin decorating party in mid-October and it’s a lot of fun and I wanted to share it with you!  She sends out a Paperless Post and each guest (she had about 30-35 ladies) brings a pumpkin and some succulents.  She organizes the rest!

Everything is set up outside at long tables.  She did something very clever which was to put tablecloths for dinner on all the tables outside and then covered them with plastic tablecloths secured with painters tape.  After we finished decorating, it was easy cleanup and the tables were ready for dinner.

On each table were the craft tools - regular glue that dries clear, moss, scissors or shears, paper plates for the glue and foam paint brushes.  Some people brought extra items for decorating like shells (we live at the beach lol), leaves and more.
I have purchased pumpkins with succulents from florists for a few Thanksgivings in the past and I am now annoyed at how much money I spent because IT’S SO EASY TO DIY!!

You basically put some glue on the bottom of some moss and attach to the pumpkin around the stem.  Then do the same thing with the succulents.  Let it dry.  That’s it.  I am the least crafty person and even I could do it with ease and it was a super fun time.

She set up a drinks area in the kitchen with a special cocktail - Apple Margaritas - plus wine and sparkling water.  She also had a beautiful cheeseboard and snacks in the kitchen.

Then she served chili, green chile-cheese cornbread, and an arugula salad with my everyday salad dressing #1.  Then there was pumpkin pie for dessert.  It was absolutely perfect and such an enjoyable way to spend time with friends PLUS I have a beautiful pumpkin that will last through Thanksgiving!

Even More Musings is an extension of my weekly newsletter, Monday Musings. My newsletter is a sponsor-free zone and is fully supported by readers like you. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to get Even More Musings! Each week, I share my tips and tricks along with a new recipe. For only $5/month or $50/year (less than $1 a newsletter), you'll also gain access to the entire archive, featuring favorites like My New Hyper-fixation High-Protein Fluffy Breakfast Bowl  and the Hillstone Copycat Emerald Kale Salad.  This week I am sharing a white chicken chili that we have been loved for 30 years.  It’s a copycat recipe from a restaurant we used to go to before we were married that has since closed.