apple cider bar - girls night!

as soon as our basement renovations were nearly complete, i knew a party was in order. and what better way to warm a basement than with a bunch of girlfriends, a great movie (the holiday), an apple cider bar and snacks?

i was first inspired to do an apple cider bar while browsing pinterest one evening. though i'm a huge fan of coffee with cream and sugar in the morning, and cream of earl grey tea in the afternoon, i love a good cup of mulled apple cider on winter evenings.

so i researched all the things that taste good in cider (cranberry juice, whipped cream, dulce de leche ice cream, caramel sauce, earl grey tea) and all the snacks that compliment it (cheddar and camembert cheeses, caramel pretzels, ginger snaps) and voila - the perfect apple cider bar!

one of my friends tried the cider with earl grey and said it was subtle, but nice. another did cider with a cinnamon stick and apple slice- for a classic taste. and i did a scoop of ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream and caramel sauce. ya, it was uh-mazing. to-die-for. so good. ice cream really does belong in apple cider.

there's nothing like a girls night and this was probably the first one i've hosted since cohen was born! yikes.  i really need to make it happen more often.

what are your favorite girls night activities?

ps. if you're planning your own apple cider bar, check out this great post for ideas, free printable labels, and more!