An 80's Southern Living Christmas

If you haven’t heard of Southern Living magazine, then we can’t be friends. Growing up, Southern Living magazine would come in the mail, and my mother would take the time to read and study each page. She would cut out recipes, and make epic cakes from this nostalgic magazine. Cakes and sweets we would have for Christmas and Easter, and they would be talked about for years to come. I still remember a Christmas my Momma made this stunning peppermint cake from a Southern Living Christmas issue.

Little did I know, I would find my early self studying the home decor pages and falling in love with this magazine. I’m now into my thirties, and each month I look forward to sitting down and relaxing to an issue of Southern Living magazine. It’s fun to call my sister and say “Did you read that article in Southern Living?” These North Carolina gals just love to see our southern roots come to life in the beautiful pages of Southern Living.

An idea was born, and I knew I had to bring it to life for all my southern ladies. Inspired by those classic Southern Living Christmas edition books, I set out to host an 1980’s Southern Living Cocktail Party. For months, I scoured thrift stores to find 1980’s decor. I borrowed Southern Living Christmas books from my Mom’s personal collection. Finally put my Lenox china, in pattern Winter Greetings Plaid to good use. I mailed out invitations, and encouraged everyone to dress in their best traditional Christmas attire, but make it 1980’s southern lady. In true southern fashion, I entrusted my best ladies to bring special dishes to fit the theme.

As you can see, we took our looks as seriously as we took our home-cooked dishes. Our buffet of savory and sweet dishes was equally inspired from parties of the 1980’s. We enjoyed sausage balls, cocktail weenies, party-ham biscuits, a cheese ball, crudités, french onion dip accompanied with ruffle potato chips, a fresh baked red-velvet bundt cake, mini no-bake cheesecakes, a decorative jello mold, as well as, fluff and homemade cookies with M&M’s.

While the festive outfits were fun and the food was delicious, my favorite part was that my home was filled with so many special women I love. Socializing and catching up with old friends during the holiday season truly warms my heart. I feel so honored to have had so many ladies come out and enjoy my Christmas soiree.

I love to entertain and host parties, its definitely my love language. One of my party tricks, is to make the food buffet as lush as possible. I like to throw in small dishes filled with candy or nuts. I also like to have something I can bag up for the guests, so they can have a treat to take home. Having assorted candies out is not only festive, but it adds dimension to your food display.

Here’s to already planning next years Christmas party theme! Thank you to Southern Living magazine for giving us decades of original content. It will forever be this southern gals favorite magazine.

Photography by: Cindy Lauren Photography

Merry Christmas friends!