I’m Lauren Crawford. I’m an ex-corporate tech executive who turned her love for entertaining, setting an inviting table and celebrating holidays into a less lucrative, but more fun career. I live in the Orlando area with my husband, two daughters and our golden retriever, Bailey.

Like life, you can’t be an expert at everything. My biggest recommendation is to decide on two or three portions of entertaining where you’ll go all in and then delegate and outsource the rest. For me, that means the decorating, table, florals, usually a fun cocktail and at least one recipe will be mine, but I might help myself out by getting pre-made charcuterie and re-plating it or asking my husband or a family member to help with some of the cooking. Also, get your kids to help! Everyone in the family should be helping prepare for a holiday meal. Even something like writing the names on the place cards is a great task for younger kids.

 
Do you have a favorite specialty cocktail that you make? 

Many Mestiza dresses are so intricate and have rich details like this dress’ jacquard fabric, gold buttons and scallop detail, so with a dress like this, I go with minimal accessories. I’m tall, so I opt for flats when I wear mini dresses and I paired my Etta with navy suede flats and simple gold hoops earrings.

 
What do you admire most about the Mestiza brand?

The attention to detail. Every dress has the most gorgeous details – whether it’s a jacquard fabric, the buttons, feminine cut, or scallop detail each dress has so many beautiful finishing touches.

 
How does wearing your Mestiza pieces make you feel?

Confident and comfortable! I need a dress that I can move around in – chasing kids, setting a table, cooking, etc. it’s got to be something that can keep me feeling beautiful during the (beautiful) chaos of the Holidays.