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 🤔

Overhead view of people sharing various plates of food at a potluck dinner on a striped tablecloth.

No, you’re not lazy for hosting a potluck

Potluck shame is real, but it shouldn’t be. Writer Heather Leith explains why this lowkey party style is great for easing hosting anxiety.

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Close-up of triangular mini pumpkin tarts with a dollop of whipped cream on top, arranged on a metal tray with an autumn leaf background and the word 'yum!' in brown script.

Try this Friendsgiving favorite: cheese and cracker pies

Charcuterie board meets seasonal pie in this snack adored by kids and adults alike! Get the full recipe for cheese and cracker pies here.

130 merry messages for your holiday cards

Send sweet season’s greetings to your family and friends. Pick one of these holiday card messages to send out this year.

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Collage of iconic Christmas movie characters including Buddy the Elf, Kevin from Home Alone, Kermit the Frog holding a puppet, and the Grinch with a Christmas tree background and text 'CHRISTMAS MOVIE CALENDAR'.

The ultimate Christmas movie calendar

Get into the holiday spirit with our 2-month calendar of classic Christmas movies! Best served with a side of hot cocoa and candy canes.

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Collage featuring a close-up of a purple cocktail with a salted rim and a dried citrus slice, next to a glass layered dessert topped with crushed cookies and gummy worms, against a black-and-white photo of a woman speaking into a vintage microphone, with decorative sparkles and abstract orange lines on a dark textured background.

Sweet and spooky snack pairings for your next Halloween movie night

A movie without snacks is scarier than any horror film. Discover delicious treats that pair perfectly with your favorite Halloween movie.

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Collage featuring two scenes: one with two women indoors by sinks and mirrors, one sitting wearing yellow pants and gray top and holding a drink, the other standing with back to camera in pink pants and a pink backless top; the other scene shows a building with stairs and balconies and the text "Your reservation is confirmed!" along with a pink flower and seashells.

The shared vacation home survival guide

Read the guide to surviving (and enjoying) a shared vacation home with friends. Find tips and time-tested advice to make your next group trip a little easier.

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Collage of iconic Halloween movie characters like Beetlejuice, the Sanderson sisters, and Ghostface.

Collage of characters from Halloween, Hocus Pocus, Scream, and iconic horror movies.

The official Halloween movie marathon calendar

Get ready for 2 months of Halloween faves to get you in the spirit of the season! From Practical Magic to Obsession, follow along with our movie marathon.

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Collage featuring a close-up of a birthday cake with lit candles spelling 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' and hands near it, alongside a person sitting with jeans and a jacket holding a smartphone, with a speech bubble above saying 'happy birthday!'

What to text on friends’ birthdays (that isn’t just “Happy birthday”)

Express your love and birthday wishes without overthinking the text. Here are some sweet and simple messages to send to your friends on their birthdays.

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People clinking wine glasses over a table and talking while sitting on the floor.

This last minute party planning checklist is a hosting essential

Download the ultimate day-of party planning checklist for your next event. This last-minute to-do list might just save the day.

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Collage of three photos: people at a table, a red-checkered table setting, and autumn leaves with flowers.

Underrated but actually genius hosting hacks for your next gathering

Discover low-effort tips that will save you time & stress at your next gathering. These hacks will make even a first-time host look like a party planning pro.

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Postcard style image with Greek architecture and a table of food being served by hand.

Here’s how to bring Europe to your backyard this summer

Skip the plane ride and bring the Euro summer vibes back to your place! Host a European gathering at home with these easy party themes and ideas.

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Two smiling girls standing indoors surrounded by colorful and metallic balloons at a celebration.

I spent years throwing the "perfect" birthday party. Then I quit.

From birthday party "activations" to $8 karaoke microphones: why the most memorable kids' parties have nothing to do with how much you spent.

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Four diverse friends joyfully celebrating and smiling together at a lively nighttime party outdoors.

The 2024 After Party Report

You’ve thrown the parties and we’ve crunched the numbers… see what’s trending and where in this year’s edition of the After Party Report.

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New Year's Eve Times Square ball lit up at midnight with balloon, confetti, and 2026 text.

How to recreate the NYE ball drop at home

Celebrate the new year with a cascade of balloons that brings the magic of the Times Square ball drop right to your home!

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Round sugar cookies with red, green, and white swirled icing on a patterned background.

Delicious & delightful holiday swirl cookies

We called in the experts to help us with the butteriest, cheeriest holiday cookie recipe around. These holiday swirl cookies are an instant classic!

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Hand dipping a pretzel into a mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and crushed candy.

Holiday hot chocolate dip

Like fondue but wayyy easier… whip up a sweet and nostalgic dessert dip inspired by winter’s favorite: hot chocolate.

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Hand pulling cheesy garlic bread bites garnished with chopped parsley on marble surface.

How to make these delicious Christmas tree rolls

This is quite a tree-t. Dough + cheese = the most impressive yet easy holiday appetizer ever.

Close-up of triangular mini pumpkin tarts with a dollop of whipped cream on top, arranged on a metal tray with an autumn leaf background and the word 'yum!' in brown script.

Try this Friendsgiving favorite: cheese and cracker pies

Charcuterie board meets seasonal pie in this snack adored by kids and adults alike! Get the full recipe for cheese and cracker pies here.

Dinosaur-themed birthday invitation with volcano, leaves, egg, and dinosaur figurines on crumpled paper.

Children's dinosaur-themed birthday invitation with volcano, eggs, toys, and leaf decorations.

How to plan an EPIC dinosaur party

This one’s for our dinosaur lovers. Transport your party guests to the Jurassic Period using our Kids’ Dinosaur Party Playbook!

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Pajama party theme with slippers, eye mask, pillow, photos, invitation, lipstick, and bow on pink silk background.

Pajama party theme with slippers, sleep mask, photos, card, blue bow, and lip print on pink background.

Everything you need for the perfect pajama party (for adults)

Satin robes, buckets of popcorn, and the perfect throwback movie — now, that’s luxury. Host your dream adult PJ party with this Playbook!

Three Halloween party playbooks with spooky themed covers and a spider web in the top left corner.

3 Halloween Party Playbooks for frighteningly easy planning

Whether your kid’s birthday takes place during Halloween season or you just want to throw a spooky bash, these three Halloween Party Playbooks are here to slay.

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Pumpkin-shaped cinnamon rolls with icing drizzled on top and a cinnamon stick in the center on a cooling rack.

Easy pumpkin-shaped cinnamon rolls

Pumpkin-shaped treats taste better. We don’t make the rules.

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Cozy table setting with lit candles, flowers, drinks, and plates of autumn-inspired food dishes.

5 memorable potluck ideas for the coziest autumn ever

Feel the fall vibes with these creative twists on a classic party format.

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White ghost-shaped dessert with eyes on a white plate held by a hand in sunlight.

Ghost Baked Alaska Halloween dessert

The chillest 5-ingredient spooky sweet treat imaginable.

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