Manifest & Mingle: A Dinner Party to Call in the New Year.
February (or a powerful mid-January reset) is the perfect time to gather your favorite women (or people) and realign. Manifest & Mingle is a girl-boss–inspired dinner party I host every year. It is rooted in standing in your power, setting intentions, and ushering in elevated energy for the year ahead—ideal for a New Year refresh or a modern Galentine’s celebration.
The Vibe & Color Story
Grounded yet bold, I chose a palette of terracotta for warmth, marbling for movement, and layers of grey, black, and ivory for neutrality. Style your table with black and gold flatware (Amazon has endless options), stone or marble serving pieces, and glowing candlelight. Scatter gemstones and crystals throughout the table—tucked into place settings or styled as intentional accents—to anchor the evening in clarity, confidence, and abundance. I chose a gorgeous agate napkin ring that can also double as a place card with the right calligraphy. You can shop the full look here.
The Energy: This dinner is all about power and presence:
- ‘Stand in Your Power’ Intention Setting and Clarification: Provide cards or small paper goods where guests can write what they’re claiming this year—career wins, boundaries, growth, or ease. This is also an easy conversation starter with an intimate group. Ask each person to share out loud what they are claiming. It elevates the group and starts a wholistic conversation centered around grounded need and activation.
- Crystal Energy Moment: Invite guests to choose a gemstone that resonates with their intention and learn its meaning. You can also place crystals and meanings as favors that you feel resonate. Guests can keep or trade theirs. I like to think about useful items made from these stones so that they may be used more regularly. Think perfume bottle, ring catch all, wine bottle stopper… sending guests home with a small crystal, an affirmation card, or a candle—something tactile will carry the energy of the night forward.
- Girl-Boss Toast: A moment to share one thing they’re proud of from the past year and one thing they’re boldly manifesting next. I don’t like to dwell in the negative space and rarely do we celebrate our wins enough. Being able to celebrate intentionally with sometimes strangers, offers access to collective vulnerability and space to grow with new cheerleaders.
The Menu
Keep the food nourishing but elevated. Think roasted vegetables with warm spices, a rich main served family-style, and a simple dessert with texture—olive oil cake, dark chocolate, or citrus. Sip on a signature cocktail or mocktail with herbs, bubbles, or blood orange for a confident, celebratory feel.
Attire
Chic, confident, and powerful. Encourage guests to dress in elevated neutrals—black, ivory, grey—with bold accessories, structured silhouettes, or gold accents. The goal: feel unstoppable. Honestly, for me, this is a good pair of jeans, a tshirt and a red lip. I elevate it for the occasion with a heel and a jacket.
Manifest & Mingle is more than a dinner—it’s a declaration. A moment to connect, reflect, and step fully into the year ahead, together.
XO – Danielle
Design | Ghost Host by MB
