18 Friendsgiving Ideas to Keep *All* Your Friends Entertained

Grace Lee
Nov 09, 2016

Seasoned hostesses know it takes time to cook a Thanksgiving turkey. So if you’re planning on hosting a Friendsgiving of your own, ease the wait and appease hungry friends with creative ideas to keep them entertained. Stack up a teetering game of giant Jenga, get crafty with mini pumpkins and nail polish or throw the ole pigskin around. Whatever your friends’ interests, check out these 18 fun and easy Friendsgiving activities that’ll keep *all* your friends entertained.

1. DIY Giant Jenga: Brighten up a giant set of Jenga blocks with a few coats of colorful paint. Let them dry and then let your friends have at it! (via Brit + Co)

2. DIY Cornucopia Piñata: If you’re still trying to work your way through all that leftover Halloween candy, no problem. Just throw it all inside this piñata. (via Brit + Co)

3. Thanksgiving Photo Booth: If you hosted the ultimate Friendsgiving and didn’t post it on Instagram, did it really happen? All jokes aside, make sure to whip up this ultra festive Thanksgiving photo booth with a clever hashtag to ensure your party gets plenty of recognition on Instagram. (via Brit + Co)

4. DIY Turkey Bowling: You can’t go wrong with a classic game of bowling. Give the pins a Thanksgiving makeover and use a medium-sized pumpkin as the bowling ball. (via The Dating Divas)

5. DIY Clay Wishbone: You’ve only got one turkey, so whip up enough DIY clay wishbones for the whole gang to make a wish. Just add one to every other place setting so each person can break the wishbone with their seat partner. (via Oh Happy Day)

6. DIY Nail Polish Marbled Pumpkins: All it takes to make these half-dipped marbled pumpkins is water and nail polish. Before you know it, each of your friends will have a pretty pumpkin to take home. (via Say Yes)

7. DIY Pumpkin Pie Slice Hat: Have your guests make pumpkin pie slice hats as soon as they walk in the door. It’ll give them something to do, and add a silly element to your Friendsgiving photo album on Facebook. (via Studio DIY)

8. DIY Pickled Vegetables: Here’s an activity that’ll have your friends puckering up! Whip out those mason jars and use vinegar, honey and salt to create these delightful DIY side dishes your friends can take home. (via Cupcakes and Cashmere)

9. Printable Turkey Coloring Page: Your friends will appreciate the opportunity to express their inner artists with this inviting coloring page. You can even turn them into placemats guests can directly doodle on by printing out the DL onto a larger piece of paper. (via Red Ted Art)

10. Pie Bar: No one can resist pie, especially on Thanksgiving. Treat your guests to a pie bar so they can customize their perfect slice with a selection of toppings and whipped cream. (via Shiny Happy Sprinkles)

11. DIY Icebreakers Thanksgiving Decor: Break the ice with this DIY Q&A dinner game. It even blends seamlessly into your tablescape until flipped over to reveal a series of fun questions. (via Homemade by Carmona)

12. Mayfair Games The Settlers of Catan ($73): Challenge your friends to see who’s the smartest settler with this addicting strategy game. Players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements and cities on their way to victory. Since the board itself is variable, it makes each game a little different from the next.

13. Printable Thankful Bingo: You can’t go wrong with Bingo, especially not this snarky Thanksgiving edition. Filled with cheeky choices like “Someone Neurotically Checks for Likes on Their Thanksgiving Instagram” and “Someone Gets Too Drunk,” it’ll have your friends cracking up. (via Almost Makes Perfect)

14. Printable Thanksgiving Spinner Game: You’ll get the conversation going in no time with this DIY spinner game. Just print it out, cut it out and use a small brad fastener to attach the arrow spinner. Of course, you can always DIY your own with your choice of questions. (via The Dating Divas)

15. DIY Tic Tac Toe: Put your spare washi tape to use by whipping up this super simple game of tic tac toe. Use mini pumpkins as game pieces and you’re all set for a classic game kids *and* adults will love. (via It’s Overflowing)

16. Hot Apple Cider: Treat your guests to some delicious hot apple cider by setting out a crockpot and small bowls filled with ingredients that’ll pair perfectly with the cider flavor. Think: cinnamon sticks, orange slices and caramel sweets. (via Camille Styles)

17. Wine and Painting: Time spent painting and sipping mulled wine is never time wasted. Plus, your pals can take their finished works of art home to spruce up their homes. (via Sabrina Nohling, Audra Zaba/Style Me Pretty)

18. Gobble Gobble Mad Libs by Roger Price and Leonard Stern ($5): Hand your friends one of these booklets and watch the laughfest begin. This edition features 21 original stories about Thanksgiving traditions, Black Friday shopping and more that’ll have your friends keeling over from laughter.

How many of these activities will you feature at your Friendsgiving? Follow us on Pinterest for more entertaining ideas!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

23 Thanksgiving Desserts You Won’t Believe Are Healthy

Between the stuffing, the mashed potatoes, the rolls, and the green bean casserole, it's quite the feat when you manage to leave room for pumpkin pie after aThanksgivingfeast. Luckily, dessert options that are healthy and delicious run rampant, and you'll want to make sure to save some room for a bite of each.

From Paleo pies to dairy-free ice creams, here are 20 healthy Thanksgiving desserts to please everyone at your table, regardless of their diet.

Brit + Co

Mini Chocolate-Pecan Pies

These smaller portions of chocolate pecan pie make snacking on something sweet way healthier and more realistic than reaching for an actual slice. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Sweet Potato Parfait

You'll get a little bit of sweet and a little bit of savory with this aesthetically-pleasing Thanksgiving dessert. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Double Chocolate Banana Pumpkin Bread

Though layered with chocolate, banana bread does have bananas in it, so that means it's healthy, right? (via Brit + Co)

Delicious Knowledge

Pumpkin Donuts with Pecan Frosting

No one can ever say no to a donut, and these can even double-duty as breakfast the morning after Thanksgiving. (via Delicious Knowledge)

Half Baked Harvest

Mini Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Candy Peanut Butter Cups

Who said Thanksgiving dessert had to be pie? Snack on these homemade Reese’s cups while you play games after dinner. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Natural Girl Modern World

Pumpkin Pie Parfait with Coconut Whipped Cream

The most “difficult” part of this recipe is the 24-hour wait to dig in, but don’t worry — this layered gluten-free and vegan dessert is a great way to tap into your creative skills. (via Natural Girl Modern World)

Bakerita

Paleo Pecan Pie

You won’t be in a sugar coma after a slice (or two!) of this paleo pecan pie. Coconut oil and almond flour make this a delicious grain-free and dairy-free dessert. (via Bakerita)

Healthy Maven

Spiralized Apple Crumble

Instead of spending all your time chopping apples for a healthy Thanksgiving dessert, cut your time in half by spiralizing them for a quick and healthy apple crumble. It’s sure to be a huge hit and is *totally* Instagram-worthy. (via Healthy Maven)

Joyful Healthy Eats

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Pecan Crust

Make these a few days in advance to take the stress out of the entire Thanksgiving dinner event. (via Joyful Healthy Eats)

Gourmande in the Kitchen

Coconut Caramel Pecan Bars

These vegan and gluten-free bars look and taste fancy, but are a total breeze to make. (via Gourmande in the Kitchen)

Twin Stripe

Gluten-Free Apple Berry Crumble

Apple pie is so 2014. Instead, make a gluten-free crumble with those apples for a dessert that everyone can enjoy! (via Twin Stripe)

Amy’s Healthy Baking

Maple Cupcakes with Pumpkin Pie Frosting

No one will guess that these cupcakes are healthy and gluten-free. Serving cupcakes will keep you from having to wash extra plates and forks, too. (via Amy’s Healthy Baking)

Bakerita

Paleo Pumpkin Pie

Traditional pumpkin pie isn’t gluten-free or paleo. Swap it out for this pie that’s free of dairy and refined sugar, and healthy enough to have for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving. (via Bakerita)

Hungry Happenings

Cocoa Banana Ice Cream Turkeys

Banana ice cream is vegan and gluten-free, and won’t have you missing traditional pumpkin pie. You can have your turkey and eat it too with this adorable dessert, no matter if you’re a carnivore or not! (via Hungry Happenings)

Clean Raw Living

Vegan Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Can you believe raw, vegan cheesecake is a thing? These are perfect for a treat everyone can enjoy, no matter what kind of diet they may follow. (via Clean Raw Living)

The Real Food Dietitians

Gluten-Free Healthy Carrot Cake Bars

Loaded with freshly grated carrots, warm spices, and a velvety cream cheese drizzle, this treat is all about indulgence without all the guilt. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Clean Cuisine

Gingerbread Loaf

Deck the halls with boughs of gingerbread! This gingerbread loaf is a slice of holiday happiness that'll transport you straight to a cozy winter wonderland. (via Clean Cuisine)

Crowded Kitchen

Granola Cookies

Packed with oats, nuts, and your choice of mix-ins, they're a crowd-pleaser that can be customized to perfection. These cookies offer a delightful crunch in every bite, and you can even make them ahead of time to ease your Thanksgiving prep. (via Crowded Kitchen)

A Virtual Vegan

Dark Chocolate Hummus

Creamy, dreamy, and oh-so-decadent, this dessert dip will leave your guests swooning. It's the perfect blend of healthy and indulgent, making it a delightful surprise on your Thanksgiving table. (via A Virtual Vegan)

Whole and Heavenly Oven

Browned Butter Banana Zucchini Cake

The browned butter in this healthy Thanksgiving dessert adds a rich, nutty note, while the bananas and zucchini keep it moist and sweet. This dessert is a Thanksgiving game-changer that'll have your family begging for seconds. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Where Is My Spoon?

Zucchini Bundt Cake

This beauty is all about turning a humble veggie into a dessert masterpiece. With its stunning spiral shape and tender crumb, it's a showstopper that'll have everyone reaching for another slice! (via Where Is My Spoon?)

Vanilla and Bean

Blueberry Galette

Bursting with plump, juicy blueberries and encased in a flaky, buttery crust, this treat is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Try serving it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dusted with powdered sugar! (via Vanilla and Bean)

Gastroplant

Orange and Prune Scones

These are perfect bites for breakfast or as a charming addition to your Thanksgiving brunch spread. (via Gastroplant)

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This post has been updated, featuring former reporting from Kaitlyn Ingram and Cassandra Pisone.

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Um, Anne Hathaway's "Wild" First 'Verity' Footage Is "Mind-Bending"

I've been on the edge of my seat for Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson's Verity (even before I saw It Ends With Us), and after hearing about the first look that aired at CinemaCon this week, the internet is even more locked in on the “gothic, psychosexual thriller” (as the film's described by director Mike Showalter) than they've ever been.

Here's what the Verity cast, including Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, had to say about the new movie from Colleen Hoover.

What is Verity about?

Any Colleen Hoover fan knows the Verity movie revolves around Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), who gets hired by Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett) to finish his wife's novels. Renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) is no longer able to write after a tragic accident, but what begins as an exciting project takes a turn for the horrifying when Lowen discovers Verity is hiding a terrible secret.

Anne Hathaway promises 'Verity' is worth "waiting for."

At Amazon MGM's CinemaCon presentation, the Verity cast, Colleen Hoover, and Mike Showalter offered attendees a new look at the movie via video message.

“My character Verity Crawford is an accomplished author with a tragic past,” Anne said, while Dakota joked, “Or is she?”

Josh added, “My character, Jeremy Crawford, is a devoted husband who’s committed to protecting his wife’s legacy.”

“Or is he?” Dakota said again.

“One thing we can say for sure is that seeing Verity in theaters will give fans the shared experience they’ve been waiting for," Anne promised.

And everyone's losing it over the "wild" footage from CinemaCon!

The presentation also included the first trailer for the movie, which showed Verity and Jeremy meeting at a bar — which explains those iconic set leaks of Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnettrunning through the streets of New York! And when Jeremy's introduced to Lowen and brings her to their giant home, he tells her "she's the only writer who can do this"...and then they begin their own illicit affair. And as they have a hot make out sesh on the couch, Lowen realizes she's kissing Verity and not Jeremy. Wow.

"Just saw the first footage for VERITY starring Josh Hartnett, Anne Hathaway, and Dakota Johnson," @JoeySpielberg says on X. It looks like it’s gonna be good but I honestly couldn’t tell you the plot is but it’s definitely gonna be wild. Seems like a movie you just don’t know what happens next."

"The footage showcases a sexy, mind-bending thriller," @howatdk agrees.

We're sure to see many more shocks and surprises when Verity hits theaters May 15, 2026.

Check out the 10 Most-Anticipated Book-To-Film Adaptations We Can't Wait To See In 2025.

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How To Dress Your Dog Like A Turkey This Thanksgiving

If you follow along on B+C, you’ve seen and admired our canine model, Turkey Temple (one of my favorite pet names, TBH). He is definitely a turkey by trade but clearly not by species. It seems like an obvious choice, but this was Turkey’s first time dressing up as a turkey for Halloween. Spooky season might be over, but it's *always* a good idea to dress your dog up for Thanksgiving if they don't mind!!

Keep reading for the cutest and easiest DIY dog turkey costume!

I’ve been making a lot of pet costumes this year, but this one has been high on my list for a long time. With some felt and One-Wrap Velcro, we created this pet costume in no time at all. Does your pet have a goofy name? Try dressing them up as their name, and make sure you snap photos and share them with us on Instagram! Oh, and don't forget to check out our 46 Cute Dogs Guaranteed To Make You Smile, too!

How To Make A Dog Turkey Costume

Tools And Materials:

  • red, orange, yellow and white felt
  • cardboard
  • One-Wrap Velcro
  • pen
  • fabric scissors
  • hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Draw large, long oval feathers on your yellow felt. Stack the yellow felt on top of the orange felt and cut them both out. Next, draw a curved rectangular shape on the white felt and cut it out.

2. Hot glue the white rectangular shapes to the feathers, then glue the feathers to one another to create a fan shape.

3. Glue a horizontal strip of cardboard to the back of the feathers to help them stand upright.

4. Hot glue a piece of felt to each edge of the feathers and attach a strip of One-Wrap Velcro that is long enough to wrap around your dog’s belly.

5. Cut out a gobble from red felt and attach some One-Wrap Velcro.

Draw 12 long feathers on your yellow felt. Stack the yellow felt on top of the orange felt and cut out your feathers. Cut 12 white curved rectangular pieces to accent the feathers.

Glue the white pieces to the feathers and then glue the feathers to one another into a fan shape.

Attach a long strip of cardboard to the back of the feathers to help them stand up straight once the dog turkey costume is assembled.

Hot glue a piece of felt to each edge of the feathers and attach a strip of One-Wrap Velcro that is long enough to wrap around your dog’s belly.

Draw a gobble onto a piece of red felt, cut it out and glue it to a small piece of One-Wrap Velcro.

Hey Turkey — here’s your turkey costume!

Attach the gobble to your dog by wrapping the One-Wrap Velcro around the collar.

Cutest turkey I ever did see!

Follow us on Pinterest for more cute DIYs like this dog turkey costume!

This post has been updated.

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Trader Joe’s Shoppers Say This New $9 Night Cream Easily Rivals Luxury Brands

A new Trader Joe’s skincare find just hit shelves, and beauty fans are already reeling about its similarities to more luxury products! The night cream features a handful of ingredients that are commonly found in pricier skincare options, but this TJ’s pick costs a fraction of its suspected competitors.

As a Versed Sweet Relief overnight cream loyalist (I use it every single day without fail), I must say I'm thoroughly convinced to try this new Trader Joe’s item after reading shoppers’ reactions!

Scroll on to discover the all-new Trader Joe’s skincare product worth adding to your routine!

Reddit

Trader Joe’s Night Cream is a brand-new addition to their collection of skincare goodies. In fact, it’s so new that it’s not listed on their website quite yet. Despite its newcomer status, tons of shoppers are already buzzing about the Trader Joe’s Night Cream.

Reddit

One TJ’s fan on Reddit surfaced the new find on the r/TraderJoe’s subreddit, and skincare lovers were super quick to chime in.

Per the post, the Trader Joe’s Night Cream is formulated with Irish sea moss extract, a fermented mushroom complex, ceramides, and sodium hyaluronate. It’s also unscented, which can be super beneficial for sensitive skin in need of moisture.

The TJ’s fan that found the night cream on shelves reported that it is “very thick but dry at the same time. I really had to work it into the skin,” they said. “Very odd consistency.”

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Another shopper that tried the Trader Joe’s Night Cream weighed in on their experience:

“Using it sparingly since I’m quite pregnant and don’t want to mess with sensitive skin but so far it’s quite nice!” they said. “Thick but not greasy in the slightest. I still feel it on my skin when I rinse my face in the AM which means it held up overnight in my dry altitude climate.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Several more users compared this new TJ’s formula to other products on the market, mentioning Asian beauty and even retinol for its anti-aging benefits.

“It’s interesting to see all the fermented ingredients in this!” one person commented. “I know that they have been very popular in Asian skincare for years, but I don’t see it that often in the States. I’m excited to try this! Thanks for sharing, I’m going to be on the lookout now.”

“Based on the ingredients list, I suspect this might be a Korean product,” another TJ’s shopper agreed.

“Irish Sea Moss is considered an excellent retinol alternative so if it agrees with one’s skin, not a bad option for those who can’t tolerate or don’t want harsh actives,” one more skincare fan noted.

MARA Beauty

One Redditor confirmed that a single 2-ounce jar of the Trader Joe’s Night Cream cost just $9. Similar moisturizers that leverage sea moss in their formulas (like Wildling’s Moonbounce 2% Bioretinol Irish Sea Moss Plumping Moisturizer and MARA's SeaDream Algae Crème) average around $73, which is insane.

KoolShooters / PEXELS

This TJ’s find could be a great way to try out the sea moss skincare wave without shelling out a fortune! Per episode 87 of The Inside Trader Joe's Podcast, it’s certifiably “high-quality” and “incredibly functional.”

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more amazing Trader Joe's products!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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Juno Temple Will Star In Apple TV's New Comedy 'The Husbands'

Jenna Bush Hager chose Holly Gramazio's The Husbands as her book club's April pick in 2024 and it became an instant bestseller. Evidently, Apple TV took notice and decided it would be an excellent idea to adapt it into a new drama series! We're fond of adaptations here, so we're elated to this fresh storyline come to life. But, guess what else we're intrigued about?

The Husbands series has already found it's lead star in Ted Lasso and Fargo actress Juno Temple! Her characters are fan favorites, so we're sure she's going to do her lead role in this series justice.

Scroll to learn more exhilarating news about The Husbands series!

What is 'The Husbands' about?

Amazon

The Husbands chronicles one woman's journey as she explores an ever-changing life with different men she's never met before. But this isn't a tale of reckless one-night stands. On the contrary, Lauren will be as confused as readers and viewers because she's not sure what's happening.

It all begins with her return to her home and the realization that a man who's strangely familiar with her is calling himself her husband. Unbeknownst to her, she's been married to Michael for a while despite not knowing who he is. What's even more ironic is that her friends think something's wrong with her because they know who her husband is.

In the midst of trying to decipher this phenomenon, Lauren's shocked when Michael disappears into the attic and a new man returns in his place. As she watches her surroundings change to accommodate life with him, Lauren slowly realizes her attic has created a portal that allows her to live out different fantasies with a revolving door of men. But, she'll have to ask herself what she really wants and if she's willing to hang on to one reality instead of wishing for more.

Has more cast information been released?

Diana Patient

Holly Gramazio, Author of The Husbands

We know Juno Temple will star in The Husbands, but there haven't been more cast announcements just yet (via Variety). There's so many options for the many spouses she could have which makes us want to dream about our own casting wishlist.

Who's the executive producers of the series?

Diana Patient

Holly Gramazio, Author Of The Husbands

According to Apple TV+, writer Miriam Battye (Succession) will be executive producing The Husbands with Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya), and Annie Marter of Fortunate Jack Productions (The Devil All The Time), author Holly Gramazio and A24.

We love when authors are allowed to give their input in TV or film adaptations!

When will 'The Husbands' premiere on Apple TV? 

Production hasn't started on The Husbands TV series yet, but we'll share more information once it's available!

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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