We’re approaching Thanksgiving weekend, with all its food and shopping and sales and family and time on TikTok avoiding constant conversation. So this batch of hot tips from HudCo members may help you get through. Below, our members share their party recipes, favorite splurges (and ways to save), and some strategies for posting on social media.
What is your go-to dinner party recipe?
Becca Licht, barre3 Rivertowns, owner:
Ice cream cake made in a large mixing bowl wrapped in Saran Wrap with layers of crushed Oreos and sprinkles to separate the ice cream layers.
Katelyn Faison, Faison Method, trainer and wellness coach:
Pasta with veggies from the market, olive oil and parsley from my herb garden.
Elizabeth Knell, Go From There, professional certified coach:
I’m more of an appetizer person, and I’m famous for my deviled eggs at holidays and parties. My recipe isn’t too fancy and it’s all by eye/taste, but adding a zing of brown mustard and chopped dill pickles is my go to.
Sophia Flores, Bright Creative Studio, social media consultant:
My homemade verde enchiladas: I boil fresh tomatillos, white onion, garlic, yellow pepper, cilantro, fresh lemon and lime, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper. Then I put it into a blender with some veggie or chicken broth until I get my desired sauce consistency.
I fry tortillas in olive oil then dip into sauce. Add cooked shredded chicken or black beans and shredded cheese into rolled tortillas in lasagna pan. Pour extra sauce over. And sprinkle cheese on top.
Put into oven at 350° for about 15 minutes until cheese is melted.
Where do you splurge, and where do you save?
Jonathan Kalsched, VideoAmp, product enablement lead:
I save on used cars; I splurge on fine hotels.
Monica Joy Taylor, strategy & team-building executive:
I splurge on self-improvement: classes, retreats, and anything that expands my knowledge and perspective. The older I get, the more I realize how much there is to learn. I save on coffee, I prefer my own inexpensive homemade Spanish coffee which is very strong and not for the weak. I can purchase an entire package of coffee for the cost of one Starbucks coffee.
Julie Cottineau, BrandTwist, founder & CEO:
I splurge weekly to get a blow out. I have a membership at a blow dry salon, so it’s really only $35 a week. But it makes me feel more confident on Zoom and live meetings and is a moment of self care.
My savings are in buying a lot of generic products, like body wash. I used to work in beauty care advertising and have seen the “behind the scenes” production.
Curtis Pope, Pope Wealth Planning, certified financial planner:
I splurge anytime I go into the city. It’s so much more fun that way. I save by biking and driving a small Prius which I rent on Turo as much as possible. My car usually makes me money—rather than being a monthly expense.
Hilary Baxendale, Westchester Birth, childbirth educator and doula:
Over the past few years, I really moved into more full-time work, and I don’t really have time to do this, but I make the trek to Trader Joe’s once a week. Definitely worth whatever I’m spending on gas because I save way more on the grocery bill when I shop there, and they have certain things that of course they’ve got me hooked on that I can’t find anywhere else.
What is your social media strategy?
Sophia Flores:
I focus on being authentic, relatable content with growth tips for small and medium businesses, feature local travel spots on Fridays, and embrace an approach that values consistency over perfection.
Curtis Pope:
I used to spend a lot of time thinking about social media but the landscape is SO competitive and I’m competing against massive banks/investment firms with huge marketing budgets. I focus much more on my google business page and encourage clients to write reviews. It’s been super helpful for SEO, allowing prospective nyc & westchester clients to find me. Google used to offer free marketing courses which I attended in the Chelsea office several years ago in order to level-up my SEO strategy.
Melissa Panszi Riebe, A D’Zine, jewelry designer and entrepreneur:
Be you. Be authentic. No one can copy your magic.
Hilary Baxendale:
My social media strategy is ever evolving. I felt like I didn’t want to admit how important social media was to growing brand awareness for a long time. I pushed past my resistance to creating Reels, for example, and I’m also now finally creating context using my face (gulp). And I see it really helping. My clients are born in the 90s, true millennial parents. they want to “get to know me” and my style/vibe before working with me. Now actually creating content regularly? That is so hard when I am so slammed with my clients, but I’m trying to get better…
Monica Joy Taylor:
Focus on quality over quantity. Attract your ideal audience by sharing content that resonates with their interests and needs. 100 engaged followers who connect with your brand are more valuable than 1,000 passive ones. Building a loyal customer base on social media is a marathon, not a sprint.