Did things get heated around the Thanksgiving table this year? Or perhaps you heard crickets? Let’s do things a little differently in December. Whether you’re hosting or attending holiday dinners, lighten the mood a bit (we all need it!) and stock up on party favors that double as much-needed conversation starters. This year, swap the overused Christmas cracker or paper crown with novelty toys and games at each place setting. Take quirky temporary tattoos, for example. Imagine this happy domino effect: People giggle as packaging is ripped open, then come the repeated exclamations of “What did you get?!”, then the stories of people’s real tattoos…and on and on. Just like yawns, chatter is contagious. Let’s get this party started, shall we?
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It doesn’t get sweeter than a Meri Meri surprise ball (or, we should say, a surprise cherry!). Guests will unwrap a variety of little treats, like temporary tattoos, jokes, hats, friendship bracelets, and faux mustaches. SHOP NOW: Pack of 3 Cherry Surprise Balls by Meri Meri, $12, merimeri.com
Photo: Courtesy of Meri Meri
Oh Happy Day’s party-supplies shop has tons of too-cute options you won’t see every day, like this Mini Puzzle Cube. A little competition never hurt anyone. SHOP NOW: Set of 8 Mini Puzzle Cubes by Oh Happy Day Shop, $9, shop.ohhappyday.com
Photo: Courtesy of Oh Happy Day Shop
Now these are Christmas crackers we can get behind—not too kitschy on the outside, but still with the classic joke and surprise gift inside. SHOP NOW: Set of 6 Holiday Jingle Bell Crackers by Oh Happy Day Shop, $31, shop.ohhappyday.com
Photo: Courtesy of Oh Happy Day Shop
Betcha everyone will be wearing theirs—and bonding over the absurdity—by the end of the night. SHOP NOW: Light-Up Rudolph Nose from Paper Source, $4, papersource.com
Photo: Courtesy of Paper Source
Tattoos at the table? As we said, why not. The family that applies tattoos together… SHOP NOW: Funnest Tattly Tin (25 Temporary Tattoos) by Tattly, $45, tattly.com
If you dare, give everyone a mini harmonica—and announce a talent show after dessert. SHOP NOW: Mini Harmonica by Rhode Island Novelty, 25 cents each, teacherparentsupplies.com
Photo: Courtesy of Teacher Parent Supplies
Isn’t spreading the love what the holidays are for? Each of these cards is inscribed with “meaningful contemplations and deliberations on life” that you can’t not weigh in on. SHOP NOW: 60 Kindness Prompt Cards by The School of Life, $5, goop.com
Photo: Courtesy of Goop
Choose an ornament that reminds you of each guest, then let them try to figure out how you made your decision. SHOP NOW: Ornaments by Patch NYC, from $24 each, patchnyc.com
For that moment when everyone clinks their glasses together in celebration, these little shirtless elves will surely make someone laugh. SHOP NOW: Elf Drinking Buddies from Paper Source, $15, papersource.com
Stock up on these 8” x 8” puzzles and see what food or snack each guest picks. Who is going for the New York slice? What about the cheese puff? Are you more of a cereal or birthday cake lover? SHOP NOW: Little Puzzle Thing from Areaware, $15, areaware.com
Doodling doesn’t have to be relegated to your young nieces and nephews. Give everyone a fun highlighter or gel pen and a pad of paper—maybe even have an antsy (and/or artsy) guest doodle up some place cards. SHOP NOW: Write On Highlighter Set by Ban.do, $15, bando.com
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Architectural Digest is an American monthly magazine founded in 1920. Its principal subject is interior design, rather than architecture more generally. The magazine is published by Condé Nast, which also publishes international editions of Architectural Digest in China, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Mexico, and Latin America.
