How to Host an Instagram-Worthy Holiday Party

Calling all holiday party throwers! ‘Tis officially the season to host annual festivities, make memories… and fill those social feeds with snapshots of good times. With the help of IKEA®, we’re bringing you pro tips for a holiday soirée that’s simple to execute, lovely for guests, *and* crazy photogenic. Go ahead — stow these brilliant tricks up your sequined sleeves.

Build an Elegant Table — Using Simple Tableware

FEATURED PRODUCTS

VARDAGEN

side plate, off-white

$2
BEHAGFULL

flatware set, stainless steel

$40
INGATORP

extendable table, black

$330

First up: the dinner table. The more subtle the colors on the tablescape, the more the color in the *food* will pop, making each dish look super appetizing. We like to layer simple, solid plates, like these VARDAGEN plates in dark gray and off-white. It gives each place setting depth, mimics fancy restaurant protocol, and means your guests can use a clean plate for the main course. Plus, these plates are so affordable that it’s a no-brainer to scoop up a few extras for unexpected guests. Bring in small pops of color with textiles and live seasonal garlands, like bay leaves or pine.

Top off each place setting with crisp white napkins, a little garland bouquet, and, if you fancy, a custom hand-lettered place card and ornament. Handmade place cards are a surefire way to make each guest feel special.

Pro Tip: Make the appetizer table and dining table one and the same by clearing away chairs until the main event. When it’s dinnertime, bring the chairs back in. Space saving, for the win!

For appetizers, make low-maintenance dishes like these easy-as-can-be fancy crostini, which are a cinch to eat sans utensils. They’re also pretty delightful to look at, no?

For the entrée, go with a unique dish with crowd-pleasing ingredients, like couscous and pomegranate stuffed artichokes, which, thanks to the oooey-gooey garlicky Parmesan topping, will definitely be well-received. Serve it up in an oven-safe tray, like this VARDAGEN oven dish, so you can keep it warm and toasty until the guests arrive.

Keep the Cocktail Bar Straightforward

FEATURED PRODUCTS

VINTER 2017

champagne flute, patterned

$3
VINTER 2017

glass, patterned

$2
SMÅÄTA

chopping board, acacia

$19

We like to stick to a three-ingredient “house cocktail” that guests can customize to their liking — without feeling overwhelmed. Supply festive glassware (like IKEA® VINTER 2017 Champagne flutes), the ingredients, and a plate of pretty garnishes on a portable cart, such as this FÖRHÖJA kitchen cart. Limit tabletop clutter by housing backup ingredients on the shelves below.

We furnished our bar with a vibrant table runner, then topped that with the SMÅÄTA chopping board (there can and will be spilling, and a wood surface means easy clean-up). We added a few stray garlands to spruce it up — a trick that makes any surface photogenic with next to no effort.

Psst! Need cocktail inspo? Try Wild Blueberry Punch: 2 Tablespoons IKEA®DRYCK BLÅBÄR Blueberry Syrup, 1 ounce gin, and ginger ale. Oh, and a handful of fresh blueberries!

Make Wall Decor That Doubles As a Photo Backdrop

Party Trick Alert! Remember that tip about using a bar cart with wheels? Simply roll it to the side to transform the wall art above into a photo backdrop!

We tied more live fronds to fishing line, then scalloped them on the wall for a quick and elegant garland. We also adorned SILVERHÖJDEN frames with wire-wrapped bundles of bay leaves.

Roll away that bar cart and snap some photos with your party pals. Easy as 1-2-3!

See? You’re just a few tricks away from a post-worthy gathering.

That’s it today, folks! Cheers to party season :)

What are your go-to hosting tips? We want to hear! Share with us on Twitter @BritandCo.

Production + Styling: Maddie Bachelder + Paris Fried

Photography: Kurt Andre

Design: Torii Burnett

Models: Alyssa Asadoorian, Simon Lutrin + Rebecca Fong

There are so many ways you can reach customers today, from online marketplaces to social media platforms, websites and beyond. But which is right for you? To keep up with the fast-paced world of online selling, you want to explore ways to stand out in your market and create new revenue streams. A unique way that’s proven to be fun and actually effective for many small businesses? Live selling.

What exactly is live selling? Think of it as your own online show, where you invite new and loyal customers to chat and join in a livestreamed auction of whatever you’re selling. Entrepreneurs sell everything from trading cards, comic books, and memorabilia to fashion, beauty, electronics, and even live plants on Whatnot’s livestream platform. They share product details in real-time, chatting directly with potential buyers, and selling to the highest bidder.

Here are five reasons why small business owners are loving Whatnot to build their business, grow their online community, and connect with their customers.

1. Create new revenue streams

As a small business owner, you want to look for additional ways to boost your income or diversify your revenue streams. With Whatnot, you can tap into the rapidly growing livestream shopping market and boost your bottom line. In fact, according to Whatnot’s State of Livestream Selling Report, 66 percent of Whatnot sellers earn more than $10,000 per month through livestream selling, and one in four sellers report making over $300,000 each year! That’s a pretty sweet side hustle, andyou may even find it’s your favorite way to sell.

2. Build your community

Whatnot isn’t just a sales platform; it’s a space where you can build a strong community. Through livestream selling, you can connect with customers in real-time, build meaningful relationships, and host dynamic auctions or flash sales – turning sales into engaging experiences that drive loyalty and repeat business.

3. Reach a wider audience

Finding the right customers is critical, and your odds are better when you can reach a broader audience instantly. Whatnot’s interactive format lets you share your product or service with millions of users. Livestreaming offers a way to reach potential customers who may not have discovered your business through traditional channels.

4. Make selling and buying more fun!

Whatnot takes e-commerce to the next level by making sales more interactive and fun. Livestream selling turns ordinary sales into exciting events, with real-time auctions, flash sales, and engaging chats. This approach not only boosts sales but also creates memorable experiences that keep customers coming back for more.

5. Stay competitive

By offering a platform that blends community and commerce, Whatnot empowers small business owners to scale faster, adapt to market changes, and stay competitive. The sense of community is an element that makes the sale less transactional and more relational. And that’s good for business!

Learn how to become a seller on Whatnot today – it’s a total game changer!

2024 was the year of the internet boyfriend: Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor (Challengers), Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy), and Glen Powell (Twisters). But it looks like Glen might be taken IRL — but no, it has nothing to do with Sydney Sweeney postponing her wedding (she's got a busy schedule, y'all!). Glen was seen leaving a pre-BAFTA party with Lily James, and the internet is in a frenzy.

Here's everything we know about those Glen Powell and Lily James dating rumors following the 2025 BAFTAs.

Lily James and Glen Powell get cozy ahead of the BAFTAs.

Glen Powell and Lily James starred together in Netflix's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society in 2018, where they play lovers, but they were most recently seen together ahead of the 2025 BAFTAs. After a party thrown by Charles Finch and Chanel at Loulous in Mayfair, London, the duo hopped into a car together — and Glen lent Lily his coat (based on the rain on the windshield, he must have been protecting her from the weather. Sweet!).

These two actors match their energies so well, and now that they've been spotted together again, fans are hoping we them in a rom-com sooner rather than later. I could totally see them in a "farm girl meets city boy" love story (or maybe even an Emily Henry movie?)

Only time will tell whether these two are an item, but until we know for sure we'll just have to enjoy these super cute pics!

In the past, both actors have been linked with other stars in the past. Glen Powell dated model Gigi Paris until 2023, which is the same year rumors about a relationship with Sydney Sweeney went viral (Sydney later shut those rumors down).

Lily James has dated Matt Smith and Michael Shuman, and was spotted with Chris Evans in 2020.

Obsessed with celeb romance? Check out 35 Celebrity Couples Who Will Break Our Hearts If They Ever Split.

Whether she’s choosing the perfect ‘fit for a movie premiere, choreographing a music video, running a marathon, or sparking viral TikTok trends like “I don’t want it,” Anna Sitar brings authenticity, humor, and a genuine positivity to everything she does. It’s no wonder she has built a community of nearly 12 million followers on TikTok, or as she calls them, “friends,” and more than a million on Instagram.

Anna has always been passionate about staying true to herself and maintaining authenticity in her content creation. By doing so, she’s fostered a community that connects with her genuine self. Over time, she’s discovered various tools and techniques that help her share her best creative ideas with her audience. Anna attributes her ability to bring her creative visions to life in a way that represents her, to having full creative control when working with tools like Photoshop.

www.tiktok.com

Replying to @laurenashleygibbs ask and you shall receive 👀 spooky season is upon us so unleash that creativity with @Photoshop !! Update or download Photoshop using the link in my bio. #AdobePhotoshopPartner

10 million new friends

Anna first learned about Photoshop in high school. It fueled her passion for bringing her creative visions to life. Then, at the beginning of her grad school career, an exciting new opportunity to express herself came along when a friend told her about this new app called TikTok that was blowing up.

Anna was getting a masters in film and television production in Los Angeles, which, she says, “was a full 180 switch” after graduating in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

“My mom and dad always instilled in me that you should take chances while you're young,” says Anna, who has always had a passion for multimedia.

She started playing around and making content on TikTok that felt natural to her creativity and sense of humor. Six months later, COVID hit, and she was sent back home to Michigan to study online.

“I was like, ‘you know what? I should really try this TikTok thing,” Anna recalls. It marked the beginning of her journey to establish herself as a content creator and commit to producing content consistently on the platform. She started doing fashion and makeup GRWM videos, and. music became a big inspiration for her during this. “I would create morning musicals where I make a music video out of my morning routine. Then, I started making these “I don't want it” videos,” she recalls, which ultimately took off as a major social trend.

While she says she was “mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared to be some director's assistant for the next 10 years,” before she knew it, she had over 10 million friends on the app.

“It was such an incredible way to not only connect with people, but to share creativity and feel so freely self-expressive too. I'm so happy to be here,” she says. “TikTok reignited that creativity that I had as a kid,” she told us.

www.tiktok.com

out with brat summer, in with feral girl fall 🍂 whats your aesthetic this fall? @Photoshop #adobephotoshoppartner

It’s all about the (creative) process

Anna admits that she’s not really a planner. “My mom always jokes, ‘I get my best ideas when I'm sleeping,’ and I feel the same way,” she says. Her creative process always starts with whatever inspires her when she wakes up in the morning. Then she’s able to turn a creative idea into something that’s fun and silly and resonates with her audiences. And that’s why she works with tools like Photoshop, the ultimate image editing and design app, that lets her bring her creativity to life at the speed of her imagination whenever and whenever her inspiration strikes.

“Photoshop allows me to just have such creative freedom. It's such a powerful app and allows me to not only have precision and creative control, but it lets me bring ideas in my head to life. I love that it's something that connects all of us,” she says.

She’s able to take a photo or video and elevate it in a way that makes it even more beautiful and powerful than it was before. Photoshop can be used in so many ways during the creative process beyond photo editing – creating mood boards to kick off the creative process, graphic design for marketing and even for storyboards for videos. Photoshop has a diverse set of features that help with inspiration too. So what is her latest obsession with Photoshop?

“I'm obsessed with making collages – that's my new little love right now in life,” she says. When we spoke, she was getting ready for a spec shoot, and using Photoshop to put all of her ideas in one place, making sure colors worked well together and idealizing and expanding images. She was focused on building the flow of her video through inspirational imagery, so she could execute the perfect setups, fashion, theme and a plan to film her video. As a creator, she doesn’t just shoot and post, but loves to get creative with tools like Photoshop to bring a larger concept to life. “I love that I have an app that just allows me to expand further from just taking a photo and posting it on Instagram versus really bringing different ideas to life,” she adds.

Anna Sitar

Social media Dos and Don’ts

Anna is known for herrefreshing down-to-earth personality – you can feel it throughout her content. She’s really just herself and living her best life.

“Authenticity is an absolute DO,” she says. But that doesn’t mean you have to focus on just one aspect of yourself. “People often say to try to fit into a niche and I disagree. I don't think you should make content that's catered toward one idea. I think that YOU are the exciting idea, and everything that you have – all of these passions and things that you love – are a mosaic of what makes you creative,” she adds.

Another major DO? Finding the creative tools that most authentically support your content creation process. As an avid Photoshop user from a young age, Anna has continued to utilize the app for creative design across her channels to create content that is undeniably HER, without limits.

For all the chatter about posting multiple times a day to gain an audience, you might be surprised by Anna’s Don’ts. “You make your best content when you feel creative and when you feel like posting and making things that you're enjoying. If you're in a creative block, one, two, three days of rest are actually only going to benefit you in the long run,” she says. And along the lines of authenticity, “don't feel the need to make what everybody else is making to make something good,” she adds.

Adobe Photoshop tips and tricks

Anna has had a passion for photography since childhood. “I loved making little home movies out of our family vacations, and I grew up really loving photography,” she says. Photoshop is a tool that seamlessly fits into her life as a professional and in her day-to-day.

“I think when people think Photoshop, they think, ‘oh my gosh, I have to be doing these major changes to whatever I'm creating.’ But the truth is, I really do use it for everything from my Instagram post for my podcast page to giving a photo a different color scheme, or resizing or creating a little collage to inspire whatever I want to do next,” she says.

While talking about her community, Anna mentioned how much her Instagram community loves the black and white posters she creates withPhotoshop. “Even for the simplest tasks, the first app that I reach for is Photoshop. I really enjoy having an app that makes me feel like I can have my creativity at my fingertips. It has so many uses beyond just being a tool for elite creatives. It really is a great app for day-to-day life as well,” she adds.

Anna Sitar

Finding inspiration as a creator

As a creator, it can be easy to live your life online. Anna avoids that way of life and it makes her content even stronger for it. “When you're on a phone all the time and creating content, it's so easy to get lost in filming 90 percent of your life, and filming every time you go to a coffee shop, every time you have a hang out with a friend, every time you wear a good outfit that you're proud of. But my greatest inspiration comes from actually what I'm truly firsthand living and not documenting my life. And then the lessons that I learned and the things that I see and the value that brings to my life is only further elevating the content that I make,” she says.

Anna’s advice

If you’re someone who aspires to have a creative outlet, Anna has some advice for you.“Even if it's little baby steps that you take a photo every single day, or you make a video every single day, or you brainstorm every single day, I think action is the best way that you're going to learn,” she says.

Anna also recommends doing what she does, tinker with different tools and apps, this helps make her content shine. “You can learn so much by just testing out different features to edit photos, different ways to expand and add text and ways to make your creativity really come to life,” she says

“I think the best advice is to play and do what makes you happy."

Thanks Anna! Learn more about how Adobe Photoshop empowers big and small businesses to create without limits.

While trends in everything from fashion to interior design always come and go, certain baby names are on the brink of extinction, and it remains to be seen if they'll make a resurgence.

BabyCenter, a parenting resource website, recently shared its "Baby Names at Risk of Going Extinct" list for 2025, which used data submitted by registered website users.

The list revealed that a specific category of boy names, those ending with "-aden," are falling in usage. Jaden, for instance, hit peak popularity back in 2002 at number 62. Yet, in 2024, this name dropped 162 slots.

More millennial names are on the outs, too. From 1974 to 1996, Jamie was a name that stayed in the top 100 picks. However, it plummeted by 320 spots in 2024.

Plus, not even royal names have managed to evade the fall. Names like Phillip, Anne, and Catherine, all tied to the British royal family, have also seen notable dips.

Here are eight more baby names that could be heading toward extinction in 2025.

Scroll to find out which baby names are nearly extinct now!

1. Remy

Hồng Xuân Viên

This French name may remind you of the lovable cartoon rat from the movie "Ratatouille," but its popularity has still taken a hit.

From 2023 to 2024, Remy, which means "rower" and was historically used to honor St. Remigius, dropped a whopping 277 spots.

2. Guy

Erika Quirino

Despite the charm of this lighthearted yet masculine name, Guy is on the verge of extinction.

It was most popular during the 1950s, with usage steadily declining ever since then. Guy fell 990 spots from 2023 to 2024, landing at number 2,718 last year.

3. Liv

J carter

Short for Olivia, which means "olive tree," this name is Latin in origin and reached its height in 2016.

However, its short length and elegance seemingly haven't been enough to keep it relevant. Liv tumbled 257 spots from 2023 to 2024, landing at number 970.

4. Randall

Helena Lopes

With Old English roots meaning "wolf shield," Randall was once a beloved boy's name. But ever since peaking in 1960, this baby name has continued on a downward trend.

There appeared to be some hope in 2023 when Randall saw a rise of 63 spots. Nonetheless, it was still number 1,753 in 2024.

5. Belle

Subin Cherian

You may associate the name Belle with the classic film "Beauty and the Beast." However, this French name, which means "beautiful," has witnessed a pretty consistent downturn since 1880.

It has dropped 242 spots since 2023 and sat at number 984 in popularity in 2024.

6. Danny

Helena Lopes

Stemming from the more formal name of Daniel, which means "God is my judge," Danny is a classic and friendly name. Even so, it's faded in recent years.

Danny was most popular during the late 1940s and early 1950s. As of 2024, it sat at number 558.

7. Carolyn

Natalia Olivera

Taking inspiration from the names Carol and Linda, which mean "joyous song" and "pretty," respectively, Carolyn was most popular in 1942. A total of 14,794 baby girls per million were given this name that year.

This figure fell to 140 baby girls per million in 2023, landing Carolyn at number 1,568.

8. Arnold

Henley Design Studio

Last but not least is Arnold, a name with Germanic roots that means "eagle power."

According to BabyCenter, it was most used in 1916, but in 2024, it ranked number 3,328 in terms of baby boy name popularity.

Looking for more baby & parenting advice? Be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you never miss a thing!

In the midst of award show season, everything points to Oscar Sunday. The show, which celebrates achievement in film, is my most-important night of the year and my friends and I go all out. Themed snacks, ballots, and very loud celebrations when our favorite stars and movies win. But before the big day comes, we need to watch all the movies that are up for awards!

Here's where you can stream all the biggest movies of the year before the Oscars airs on March 2, 2025.

Dune: Part Two — Stream On Max

Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures

This sequel opens after Paul has joined the Fremen, and after he escaped the murderous Harkonnen family. Now he's out to avenge his father — and come to terms with his destiny as a savior.

Dune: Part Two is on Max and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Lea Seydoux, and Christopher Walken.

Twisters — Stream on Peacock

Universal Pictures

Twisters follows former storm chaser Kate. When she's roped back into chasing by her friend Javi, Kate meets social media star Tyler, and comes face-to-face with the biggest storms ever.

Twisters is on Peacock and stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Brandon Perea, Anthony Ramos, Maura Tierney, Sasha Lane, Harry Hadden-Paton, David Corenswet, Daryl McCormack, Tunde Adebimpe, Katy O’Brian, Nik Dodani, Kiernan Shipka, and Paul Scheer.

Emilia Pérez — Stream On Netflix

Netflix

In this musical thriller, Cartel leader Emilia enlists the help of Rita, a lawyer, to help her retire from a life of crime and live out her truth.

Emilia Pérez is on Netflix and stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Edgar Ramírez.

Wicked — Rent On Amazon Prime

Universal Pictures

But this year's biggest musical is definitely Wicked. This alternative origin story for the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good follows the college roommates as they come of age in Oz, and learn the Wizard isn't all as he seems. I can't for Part 2 this year!

Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and Marissa Bode.

The Substance — Stream On MUBI

MUBI

Elisabeth Sparkle gets fired from her own fitness TV show after she turns 50. But she seems to find a solution when she acquires The Substance...and creates a younger version of herself. The absolutely crazy thriller was one of the buzziest movies of the year — and won Demi Moore her first Golden Globe!

The Substance is on MUBI and stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid.

Challengers — Stream On Prime Video

Amazon MGM Studios

In Challengers, former tennis star Tashi coaches her husband Art, but her job gets way more complicated when he ends up in a match against his former best friend (and her ex) Patrick.

Challengers is on Prime Video and MGM+ and stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor.

Inside Out 2 — Stream On Disney+

Walt Disney Studios

Riley's becoming a teenager in Inside Out 2, which means Joy, Sadness, Anger, Envy, Fear, and Disgust have to make way for new emotions like Anxiety and Envy. What could go wrong?

Inside Out 2 is on Disney+ and stars Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Hawke, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter Hauser, Amy Poehler, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Kensington Tallman, Lilimar, Diane Lane, and Kyle MacLachlan.

Deadpool & Wolverine — Stream On Disney+

Marvel Studios

Deadpool teams up with the one and only Wolverine (well, after meeting dozens throughout the multiverse) after learning the TVA plans on destroying his timeline and his loved ones.

Deadpool & Wolverine is on Disney+ and stars Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapičić, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna, Owen Wilson, Matthew Macfadyen, Emma Corrin, Jennifer Garner, Chris Evans, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Blake Lively, and Dafne Keen.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice  — Stream On Max

Warner Bros.

Lydia Deetz and her daughter Astrid return to Winter River after a family tragedy, and wind up enlisting Beetlejuice's help (if you can even call it that) after Astrid opens a portal to the afterlife.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is on Max and stars Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Willem Dafoe, and Justin Theroux.

Gladiator 2 — Rent On Amazon Prime

Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures

After the death of his wife, Lucius becomes a gladiator with a mission: take revenge on the general responsible for her death.

Gladiator 2 is on Amazon Prime and stars Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Fred Hechinger, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington.

Anora — Rent On Amazon Prime

Neon

When sex worker Anora and politician's son Vanya tie the knot so Vanya can get a green card and escape his father, their lives totally flip upside down — and not just because Vanya's family sets out to end the marriage.

Anora is on Amazon Prime and stars Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, and Aleksei Serebryakov.

Conclave — Stream On Peacock

Focus Features

This movie takes place during a conclave to choose the next pope, and is totally unprepared for the scandals he uncovers along the way.

Conclave is on Peacock and stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini.

A Real Pain — Rent On Amazon Prime

Searchlight Pictures

Two Jewish American cousins who reconnect and embark on a Holocaust tour in Poland after the death of their grandmother. This was one of my favorite movies of the year and I couldn't recommend it more!

A Real Pain is on Amazon Prime and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes.

The Wild Robot — Rent On Amazon Prime

Universal Pictures

Robot Roz crashes on a deserted island and quickly adopts an orphaned gosling, teaching him to fly and prepping him for the annual migration. Prepare to cry, like, a lot!!

The Wild Robot is on Amazon Prime and stars Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Catherine O'Hara, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, and Mark Hamill.

Alien: Romulus — Stream On Hulu

20th Century Studios

A group of young space colonizers are tasked with exploring an abandoned space station and must confront the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Alien: Romulus is on Hulu and stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.

Stay tuned for the official 2025 Oscar nominations and check out 25 New TV Shows You NEED To Watch In 2025!