Your bestie is having a baby! As you plan a shower to celebrate the coming bundle of joy, you’ll want to do it in the most whimsical way possible — with unicorns, of course! The theme will open the party up to enchanting decor galore and a pastel palette. Peruse the 21 ideas below and you’ll be ready to throw a totally magical mom-to-be bash.
Halloween may be the most popular October holiday, but we’re excited about one more fall event that gives us the perfect excuse to gorge on beer, brats, and soft pretzels. That’s right, people: We’re talkin’ Oktoberfest. If you’ve never thrown an Oktoberfest party, we’ve got everything you’ll need and more, from decor ideas to German-inspired menu items. So put on your best lederhosen, crack open a cold one, and get to party planning.
Waiting on Martha
Pumpkin Beer Cooler
Oktoberfest is all about the beer (duh). So instead of carving out a jack-o-lantern, hollow out a pumpkin, fill it up with ice and get to cooling those seasonal ales you love so much.
Brit + Co
Sparkling Pumpkin Cider Beertail
We love sipping on our pumpkin ale straight, but to switch things up, try this beertail made with pumpkin ale, sparkling cider, and lots of cinnamon.
Amazon
MyGift 2 Liter Das Boot Beer Glasses
No, you are never, ever, EVER too old for a das boot. Invest in this set of four for your upcoming shindig because, well, it isn’t an Oktoberfest party without a big ol’ beer-filled boot floating around!
Amazon
TRUE Craft Beer Tasting Glasses
These sleek glasses are the perfect beer vessel for your German-themed get-together, and they’re also just awesome bar staples. Any excuse to grow the home bar, right?
Amazon
Libbey Heidelberg Glass Beer Mugs, Set of 4
Clink the night away with these festive (and hefty!) beer mugs.
The Flair Exchange
DIY Harlequin Garland
No Oktoberfest party is complete without the standard harlequin garland. DIY this puppy and string it up right before your guests arrive.
Braided Crown
A little dress-up never hurt anybody! Complete your Oktoberfest look with this feminine and effortless braided crown. (via Camille Styles)
Etsy
Lederhosen Set
For all moms out there, dress yourlittle one for the occasion. There’s no reason they have to miss out on the party just because of… well… obvious reasons.
A Beautiful Mess
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Roast up the pumpkin seeds from your beer cooler for a light and salty beer snack.
Taryn Williford
Pretzel Necklaces
Right when your guests walk in, hand them one of these adorable pretzel necklaces. Who doesn’t love a good wearable snack?
Fashion Edible
Homemade Oktoberfest Pretzels
If beer is the Batman of Oktoberfest, then homemade soft pretzels are certainly the Robin. Serve these puppies up warm with some tangy yellow mustard for the perfect party snack.
Dine & Dish
Homemade Pretzel Bites
Not into full-size pretzels? No problem! These pretzel bites are the bomb.com.
The Flair Exchange
Pretzel Bite Mini Bucket Holders
If you go the pretzel-bite route, be sure to craft up some adorable p-bite holders, like these minibuckets lined with Oktoberfest colors.
Amazon
Maille Mustard Variety Pack
And you best not be serving up all of these pretzels without a little mustard.
Pillsbury
Pretzel Bar
A food bar is always a good idea, especially if you’re expecting lots of guests. Create a pretzel sampling bar, complete with various mustards and cheesy dips, to really get the Oktoberfest-ivities started.
Deliciously Yum
Pretzel Rolls
For those of you planning on having a DIY sandwich station, bake up these yummy pretzel rolls to stick with the theme.
Host the Toast
Pull-Apart Pretzel Skillet With Beer Cheese Dip
Pull-apart breads are everything, especially when there’s beer cheese dip involved.
Brit + Co
Wisconsin Beer Brats With Sauerkraut
Grilled brats topped with homemade sauerkraut? There’s absolutely nothing better.
Love and Lemons
Grilled Potato Arugula Salad
Serve this lovely grilled potato salad alongside those brats for the perfect Oktoberfest meal.
Gimme Some Oven
Pumpkin Beer Bread
Fully commit to the beer theme and whip up this scrumptious pumpkin beer bread made with pumpkin puree.
Tablespoon
Beer Mug Cupcakes
These are so ridiculously amazing, we can’t. even. stand it. Those fondant beer mugs are filled with chocolate cake and with Bailey’s Irish Cream chocolate ganache…!!!
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
Party on! Game nights are the best nights, at least in our opinions. Seriously, what's more fun than sitting around the table playing a game, drinking a cocktail or two and laughing with friends?! We'd totally take that over a night sweating (and very awkwardly dancing) at the club.
We know you've made it through that Cards Against Humanity deck too many times to count, so refresh your adult game night stash with some of the best new party games around.
Game of Phones
This techy card game prompts you and your friends to compete in smartphone-based tasks. With assignments ranging from “Find your best #selfie” to “Create an emoji masterpiece,” you’re guaranteed belly laughs and conversation starters galore. Just like with Cards Against Humanity, each round has a judge that picks the winner, so get your phone stacked with game changers now.
hella awk-ward Card Game
If you want to spark real conversations with your guests, this is the game for you. By the end of this game, you’ll be surrounded by plenty of new pals. Play by drawing a card and answering the prompt to get to know friends and strangers alike on a deeper level.
What Do You Meme?
Amazon
This is the perfect game for anyone who has spent way too much time on the internet. Match funny captions with well-known internet memes (a rotating judge picks the best one) to create an afternoon or evening of hilarity.
Exploding Kittens Party Card Game
Amazon
My Ex [A Deck of Conversation Starters]
Amazon
Gather your closest BFFs and spend the night with some good ol’ trash talking (therapeutically, of course). You’ll definitely find out who had the craziest ex. Gather friends that are down for the drama and start by pulling a card. Some of the topics you’ll fill-in-the-blank include: 1. The biggest red flag. 2. What is your ex up to now? 3. The worst rebound.
WHAT DO YOU MEME? for The Girls
Shopify
Grab your girlfriends and stir the pot with this hilarious card game. To play, whoever has the most Instagram followers goes first and rolls the die. “Whichever side of the die lands face-up, take the top card from the corresponding color deck. Read it aloud to the group & perform whatever action is on the card,” the instructions read. “Some cards involve just that player, some require the whole group. The player to their left then rolls the die & the game continues like this. Every winning card gets you a point. 1 Card = 1 Point. The player with the most cards at the end wins!”
Say Anything
Walmart
If you’re looking to reeeally get to know your friends, this is the game for you and your group (um, and maybe an invite to the new person you’ve been dating is in order). By reading questions and providing answers, you’ll quickly and creatively get inside the mind of all your party guests fast.
BAD CHOICES - The Have You Ever? Game + After Dark Edition Set
Amazon
You’ll really get to know the other party guests with this game. This might not be one to play with your new coworkers or mother-in-law!
To play, each player will draw six cards. “When it's your turn, choose one of your six question cards, then ask it to the player you think is most likely to answer YES. If they say YES, you get to discard your card. If they say NO you have to keep the card and try to use it again later,” the instructions read. With Skip Cards, Draw +1, Draw +2, and ALL PLAY cards, there's a surprising amount of strategy. The player who discards all of their cards first becomes the winner.
The Game of Things
Amazon
This provocative game will leave your jaw on the floor from the hilarious, creative and outrageous things your friends say. Simply by drawing topic cards like “Things a chimp thinks about when he sees you at the zoo,” responses are sure to be out of this world. After everyone writes down a response, and the best part starts — you all guess who said what. Let the finger pointing begin.
What’s Yours Like?
Walmart
Tell it like it is and you’ll excel at this one. Players have to guess words based off of creative word clues after asking the question, “What’s yours like?” Seriously, we wanna know.If You Know You Know IYKYK - The Question Card Game
Amazon
Who knows each other best? This card game will (literally) put everyone’s cards on the table.
Getting started and playing this card game is super simple. A rotating judge asks the group a question about themselves from each of the three levels (indicated on the chosen card). Then, everyone chooses their answer. If you guess the judge's answer correctly, you get a point. The player with the most points wins.
That’s What She Said
Amazon
Are you basically Michael Scott from The Office? Any sucker for jokes and innuendos will love this saucy game.
Bananagrams
This one is fun to do with the kids or you can spice it up with an adults-only game. Like speed scrabble, the game comes in a convenient banana-shaped pouch making it great to play on the go.
Never Have I Ever
Amazon
Secret Confessions Game- Adult Version
Amazon
Get ready to laugh the night away with this far too funny game. Each group member will take turns reading the cards’ prompts. With each prompt, every player will answer “yes” or “no.”
The Voting Game
Amazon
In this game, instead of voting for the funniest answer, you vote for the player each card seems to describe. Talk about finding out who your real friends are.Drawing Without Dignity
It’s part Cards Against Humanity, part Pictionary. If you have friends who are particularly good artists (or even if they’re not), this game will bring you hours of fun.
Catan Strategy Board Game
Target
Like a medieval monopoly, full of knights, peasants, robbers and everything prehistoric. This game is focused around building settlements and protecting your land.Relative Insanity
Walmart
Created by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, this game is based around familial interactions gone wrong with a Cards Against Humanity style of playing.
Influencers in the Wild
Amazon
If you follow the popular Instagram account, then you can probably guess the basics of this board game. Go places, gain followers and get famous to win this pop culture game.
We hope you've enjoyed this round-up of our favorite adult card games, and even if Cards Against Humanity is now somehow worth $500 Million your memories from these nights will always be priceless!
Keep you party going with Brit + Co.
Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, we’ve got red, white, and par-tay on the brain. If you’re hosting a backyard BBQ at your place or heading off to a picnic party at the shore, you’ll want to be ready with festive eats, drinks, and decorations. But before you start diving deep into those Pinterest feeds for ideas, check out this list of our favorite finds from the app. It’s got everything from refreshing cocktails to patriotic decorationsand even some style and mani inspo. No need to spend hours creating your own party board!
Freutcake
1. Popsicle Cocktail: Champagne? Yes, please. You can make a mocktail version for the DDs using Sprite. (via Freutcake)
Hello, Wonderful
2. DIY Cardboard Rocket Ships: It’s inevitable that there will be kids present at an event like this. Might as well have something for them to do! These also make great faux-firework decor. (via Hello, Wonderful)
Jordan’s Easy Entertaining
3. DIY Patriotic Napkin Rings: When you’re serving a large group of people, a buffet with pre-wrapped cutlery is the way to go. (via Jordan’s Easy Entertaining)
Tell Love and Party
4. 4th of July Party Poppers: Because you can never have enough confetti. (via Tell Love and Party)
Studio DIY
5. DIY Firework Sunglasses: If you don’t have firecracker sunglasses, are you even living? (via Studio DIY)
Aww Sam
6. DIY S’mores Donuts: Once the sun goes down and the fire is blazing, a tray with these ingredients will quickly disappear. (via Aww Sam)
Love The Day
7. DIY U.S Flag Letterboard: Looking for a thematic way to display the signature cocktail or what’s on the grill? This DIY letterboard is how you’ll do it in style. (via Love The Day)
The House That Lars Built
8. Printable Hot Dog Trays: With a little extra time and some funky cardstock, create these hot dog trays. Save the plates for the burgers and salads! (via The House That Lars Built)
Pretty in Pistachio
9. Red, White, and Blue Fondant Sugar Cookies: Attending a potluck BBQ means it’s one giant competition to see who can make the most Pinterest-worthy dish. You’ll win hands down with this one. (via Pretty in Pistachio)
Design Improvised
10. Star Spangled Banners: Garlands and balloons adorned with stars in red, white, and blue are details that won’t go unnoticed or under-appreciated. (via Design Improvised)
Almost Makes Perfect
11. Printable Match Box Covers: You don’t have to go over the top to celebrate the 4th. Dress up what you’ve already got and call it a day. (via Almost Makes Perfect)
Lovely Indeed
12. DIY Sparkler Packs: It’s not a real Fourth of July without sparklers. (via Lovely Indeed)
A Kailo Chic Life
13. 4th of July Treat Boxes: Bribe the kiddos with these and you won’t hear (or see) them until it’s time for dinner. (via A Kailo Chic Life)
Back to the Book Nutrition
14. Coconut Water and Fresh Berry Popsicles: These frozen pops are delicious and healthy, and they couldn’t be any easier to make. Just drop some berries into popsicle molds, then fill with coconut water and freeze. (via Back to the Book Nutrition)
Pip and Ebby
15. Fruit Cubes: Fruity ice cubes dress up any bevy. For this Fourth of July, place red and blue berries into ice trays, then fill with water and freeze. Break out the cubes when it’s time to party, and they’ll add a festive pop to all your drinks. (via Pip and Ebby)
Life, Love and Sugar
16. Red, White and Blue Rice Krispies Treats: To deck out your Rice Krispies treats in patriotic colors, just dip them in red and blue melts, then add sprinkles and piping. The color-coordinated straws are a nice finishing touch and make them portable. That way, guests can mingle while they nosh. (via Life, Love and Sugar)
Must Love Home
17. Parmesan Chive Corn on the Cob: Reminiscent of Mexican street corn, this recipe calls for a healthy dose of butter, grated cheese, and spices. Salty Parmesan adds just the right bite to sweet corn. (via Must Love Home)
Lia Griffith
18. DIY Kraft Paper Chip Bags: Whether your chips are store-bought or homemade, they’ll have scratch-made appeal in these DIY bags. Click through for the red, white, and blue printables. (via Lia Griffith)
Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom
19. Double-Sided Red White and Blue Picnic Quilt: Made of red, white, and blue bandanas, this patriotic coverlet is just the thing for an Independence Day backyard picnic. It’s an easy DIY — no binding is needed! — so you can sew it up in just a few hours. (via Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom)
First Home Love Life
20. Squirt Gun Station: Give the kids some squirt gun action. Nothing beats water fun when the weather gets hot and humid. (via First Home Love Life)
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
21. Kiddie Pool to Keep Things Cool: Keep a large quantity of drinks cool and easily accessible for kids by corralling them in a pool of ice. A red or blue plastic kiddie pool will also complement your patriotic theme. (via Balancing Beauty and Bedlam)
If you dig these July Fourth ideas, there’s more. Follow us on Pinterest.
(Additional reporting by Ariel Garneau)
This post has been updated.
The holidays are here! Well, kind of. Thanksgiving isn’t until November 28 but as far as I’m concerned, November 1 is the day the festivities can begin. I’m pulling out my holiday candles, Christmas PJ’s, and even my How the Grinch Stole Christmas vinyl to make the dreary seasonal blues a little more cheerful. And a huge part of getting into the spirit is stacking up the perfect holiday movie marathon. Thankfully Netflix already has a bunch of holiday titles coming out over the next few weeks. Here are the best (new!!) holiday movies and specials coming to Netflix starting November 1.
Dinner Time Live With David Chang: Holiday Edition — On Netflix Now Until December 10
Adam Rose/Netflix
Nothing says the holidays like tons of delicious meals, and Chef David Chang is cooking some amazing food for his celebrity friends — and he's doing it all live. (Because, a lot of TV cooking uses swaps and stylists to make it look better than it actually is). I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
Dinner Time Live With David Chang: Holiday Edition is hosted by David Chang.
Meet Me Next Christmas — On Netflix November 6
Sophie Giraud/Netflix
Christmas in New York City is truly a magical experience, and Layla's looking for her own fairytale romance this holiday season. And believe it or not, the ticket to finding her one true love is getting into the Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.
Meet Me Next Christmas streams November 6 and stars Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, Tymika Tafari, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, Matt Sallee, Kalen Allen, Nikki Duval, and Wesley French.
Hot Frosty — On Netflix November 13
Petr Maur/Netflix
Nobody puts me in the holiday spirit like seeing Lacey Chabert onscreen, and this year, she's playing Kathy, a widow who happens to bring a handsome snowman to life. (I don't remember this in the "Frosty the Snowman" lyrics!). He helps Kathy reconnect with her emotions as they begin to fall for each other — and as he begins to melt.
Hot Frosty will stream on Netflix beginning November 13 and stars Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Craig Robinson, Joe Lo Truglio, Katy Mixon, Lauren Holly, and Chrishell Stause.
Netflix Stories: A Virgin River Christmas — On Netflix November 19
Petr Maur/Netflix
It's almost time for Virgin River season 6, which means we're getting closer to the ultimate cozy TV show. I mean, just look at those twinkly lights and pine trees in this preview image! It gives me the same exact feeling as drinking a mug of hot cocoa. This year, we're getting closer to Mel and Jack’s wedding, and confronting some serious secrets and drama along the way. This might not count as a Netflix holiday movie but I couldn't NOT include it!!!
Virgin River season 6 hits Netflix November 19 and stars Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, John Allen Nelson, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Marco Grazzini, Mark Ghanimé, Kai Bradbury, Kandyse McClure, Jessica Rothe, and Callum Kerr.
The Merry Gentlemen — On Netflix November 20
Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix
Remember that One Tree Hill episode where the Ravens take part in the "Boy Toy" charity auction? Complete with a shirtless fashion show? Consider this the Netflix holiday movie response. When former dancer Ashley learns her parents' performing venue is in danger, she puts together the ultimate Christmas-themed show to raise money. Shirts not included.
The Merry Gentlemen hits Netflix November 20 and stars Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes, and Marc Anthony Samuel
Spellbound — On Netflix November 22
Skydance Animation/Netflix
Okay, this fantasy movie might not technically be a Christmas movie, but it has everything I need in my Netflix holiday movies: family, hope, and love. After her parents are turned into monsters, princess Ellian must go on the ultimate quest to put everything right.
Spellbound hits Netflix November 22 and stars Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman.
Our Little Secret — On Netflix November 27
Bob Mahoney/Netflix
If EXmas taught us anything, it's that spending the holidays with your ex is anything but calm. And in Lindsay Lohan's new movie, she finds herself at the same Christmas celebration as her ex when they realize their new SO's are siblings. No, that's not awkward at all.
Our Little Secret hits Netflix November 27 stars Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Tim Meadows, Jon Rudnitsky, Henry Czerny, Judy Reyes, Chris Parnell, Kristin Chenoweth, Dan Bucatinsky, Katie Baker, Jake Brennan, Ash Santos, and Brian Unger.
Is It Cake? Holidays — On Netflix November 28
Netflix
The only thing more enjoyable than eating delicious food is watching master bakers create beautiful food. This holiday special features edible ice skates, nutcrackers, and reindeer that will change the way you look at baking forever. Watch it in one sitting and it definitely counts as a holiday movie ;).
Is It Cake? Holidays hits Netflix November 28 and stars Jonny Manganello, Andrew Fuller, April Julian, Elizabeth Rowe, Miko Kaw Hok Uy, Danya Smith, Henderson Gonzalez, Grace Pak, and Jujhar Mann, with judges Rachel Bloom, Hannah Berner, Tiffany Haddish, Devon Walker, James Austin Johnson, Chris Witaske, Sasheer Zamata, Terry Crews, Punkie Johnson, and Randall Park.
The Snow Sister — On Netflix November 29
Netflix
Julian's turning 11 on Christmas Eve, and even though it's usually the best day ever, this year is overshadowed by the death of his older sister. A newfound friendship with Hedwig helps him heal, but he can't help but feel like Hedwig's house — and the old man that's always around — are hiding secrets.
The Snow Sister hits Netflix November 29 and stars Mudit Gupta, Celina Meyer Hovland, Ole Steinkjer Øyen, Jan Sælid, Samsaya, Gunnar Eiriksson, and Advika.
Which Netflix holiday movie are you excited to watch? Let us know in the comments!
This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.
Chris Andre
Materials + Tools:
- 1 roll of tin foil
- 2 packages of crescent rolls
- 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional
Chris Andre
Instructions:
Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.
Chris Andre
Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.Chris Andre
Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.Chris Andre
Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.Chris Andre
Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.Chris Andre
Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.Chris Andre
Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.Chris Andre
Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.Chris Andre
Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.Chris Andre
Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.Chris Andre
Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.Chris Andre
Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.Chris Andre
Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!Chris Andre
A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!
DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried
Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.
This post has been updated.