Life of the party

A blog by Evite

What to buy at Trader Joe's for a shockingly impressive Friendsgiving

Pull together a mostly store-bought Friendsgiving dinner from TJ's with these potluck picks for drinks, sides, entrees, and dessert.

A woman wearing glasses and a green satin shirt sits at a desk with a laptop and tablet, raising her arms in celebration. Behind her is a decorated Christmas tree and festive ornaments and stars float around on a red checkered background.

The company holiday party etiquette guide

Don’t be the talk of tomorrow’s water cooler chat… we’ve got you covered with helpful etiquette tips to make a lasting impression at your office holiday party.

Two people sitting on a fluffy carpet, playing a card game with bowls of snacks around them, overlaid on an illustration of a large dice, playing cards, game pieces, and a pencil with a game rules sheet titled 'Threefold'.

I love hosting board game nights. These 6 convert game haters.

Guest author Heather Leith shares 6 games (Azul, Codenames & more) that turn game night skeptics into fans. See what to buy, how to play, and pairing ideas.

Hmmm… we can’t find anything that matches that 🤔

Someone holding a phone at a table with wine, pizza, candles, and flowers during a social gathering.

How to throw the perfect summer soirée

We’ve partnered with Avaline to create the ultimate cheers-worthy summer party guide.

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Baby shower games and activities setup with onesies, baby photos, jars, cards, notes, and a calendar game.

Oh, baby! These are the top 10 games & activities for baby showers

Elevate your baby shower itinerary beyond the classic gift-giving and snack-serving combo with these fun games.

Collage of classic children's books including Corduroy, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Goodnight Moon.

The 12 children’s books every baby shower registry needs

From classics like “Goodnight Moon” to new faves like “Hair Love,” see which kids' books expectant parents (and little ones) will love to receive and read.

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Wooden bowl filled with creamy potato salad with herbs, diced vegetables, and small potatoes.

Julia Turshen’s potato salad is the perfect recipe for your summer BBQs

Warning: this “side dish” might just become the star of your BBQ.

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Child wearing red mushroom hat sitting in highchair with adults holding mushroom-shaped cake.

Not to get mushy, but model & blogger Rocky Barnes’ son’s fungi 1st bday is truly adorable

Take a peek inside mama Rocky’s son’s spore-tacular mushroom-themed birthday party and learn how she brought it to life.

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Smiling girl in silver dress posing by balloon decorations and welcome sign for a sixth birthday party.

Real Parties: Maddy’s 6th birthday disco party

See how disco diva Maddy celebrated her 6th in ’70s-inspired style.

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Floral teapot, tiered tray with desserts, champagne glass, and pastries on a white tablecloth.

How to host a delightful tea party

Let's get this par-tea started—plan a fancy tea party with our tips.

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Smiling woman with curly hair and glasses wearing a red top and sitting on a decorative bench.

Actress & fertility advocate Kellee Stewart on being a fertility warrior + her personal journey

Kellee opens up about egg freezing, why reproductive education needs improvement and how she threw herself an Egg Shower.

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Children playing and laughing in a pit filled with colorful sprinkles at a play venue.

NYC’s 20+ hottest kids’ bday venues, according the coolest NYC parents

Super-cool crafts. Slime time. Sports galore. See where our trusted network of parents takes their own kids for the best birthday parties in NYC.

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Two square hand pies with heart-shaped jam centers on a plate next to fresh strawberries.

These jam hand pies are the perfect tea party pastry

No-fuss pastries that’ll impress even your poshest tea party guests.

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Four small round egg salad finger sandwiches on white bread with parsley and toothpicks.

3 finger sandwich recipes that’ll make you the queen of the teatime scene

Dainty yet delicious, these 3 adorable finger sandwich recipes by Jee Choe are perfect for any tea party.

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Two children with personalized items like a cup, hairbrush, and name tags on a light green background.

10 personalized party favors under $10 that won’t end up in the trash

We challenged moms Anda, Karen G., Olivia, and Karen K.—aka the Evite Party Picks team—to find the coolest party favors under $10 on Etsy and test them out.

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Collage with a woman in a shiny dress drinking from a glass, party photos, and champagne tower on gold background.

Ring in the New Year with style & ease: A chef’s top NYE hosting tips

Party prepping hacks and appetizer ideas for a seamless NYE soirée, from chef Sara Frost-Glaser.

Young boy and girl decorating a Christmas tree with ornaments inside a cozy home.

15 wholesome family traditions to start for the holidays

Ready to make some life-long memories with your family? We’re walking you through fun and festive traditions you can start now and repeat every year.

Smiling child in white shirt leaning toward cake with three lit candles during celebration.

The top kids’ birthday themes this winter

Don’t let your winter birthday kiddo’s special day get lost in the holiday season shuffle! We’re breaking down 8 party themes that are fun and memorable!

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Holiday party invite surrounded by gloves, slippers, lip balm, sleep mask, mug, candy cane, and bows.

How to host a favorite things party

This feel-good get-together is your next favorite thing! See how to gather friends for a party packed with meaningful connection in this step-by-step guide.

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Birthday cake with colorful candles and rainbow decorations, a child and hands nearby.

Everything you can do to make your kid’s winter birthday feel special

Kids with birthdays in November, December & January often feel like their birthdays are overshadowed by the holidays. Get our pro tips on how to avoid that!

Vintage family photos in assorted frames on old floral patterned wallpaper.

How to avoid family drama during the holidays

No more embarrassing holiday dinner fights around the table! Here are some planning & etiquette tips to ensure your gathering is extra merry.

Friends raising white wine glasses for a toast around a table with yellow candles and flowers.

5 tips for throwing the ultimate Friendsgiving

Dinner party enthusiast Amelia Edmondson shares her top Friendsgiving planning tips for a casual-yet-chic fall celebration.

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Thanksgiving dinner elements with turkey, pumpkin pie, plates, utensils, candle, invitation on checkered tablecloth.

How to host Thanksgiving dinner — from turkey to tablescape

We’ve gathered all our best tips, tricks, and reminders to plan a memorable and stress-free Thanksgiving. Plus, get our free printable checklist for hosts.

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Calendar with text Holiday Countdown surrounded by candy canes and red gift bows on brown paper.

The holidays are approaching… here’s what to do each week to prepare

The holidays are coming, and organizing things ahead of time makes them so much merrier. Here’s a handy checklist so you know what to do and when.

Pink retro phone, plush birthday cake toy with candle, and yellow toy excavator on colorful background.

Kids’ Birthday Gift Guide: Here’s what they actually want

Need some ideas for what to surprise a kiddo with this year? Here are the top birthday gifts kids are asking for and *actually* playing with!

Outdoor table with flowers, candles, slices of cake with blueberries, peaches, and two hands holding glasses.

Table with flowers in vases, two hands holding glasses, and sliced cake with blueberries outdoors.

Bougie on a budget: hosting tips from a luxury party planner

From matcha moments to flea market finds, Wala Events founder Jasmin Wala reveals how inspiration and intention, not spending, create unforgettable gatherings.

Blank recipe card with autumn food photos including pumpkin, baked dip, whipped drink, and cinnamon rolls.

Blank recipe card with autumn theme including fall foods and orange-brown leaves background.

Every cozy recipe you need to try this fall

Two out of six of these are indeed pumpkin-shaped… so you’re going to want to check this out.

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