Host a Festive Family Game Night Without all the Hassle

Typically, we have a family movie night on the weekends, but lately, our girls have discovered the joy of card games — we introduced them to "Spoons," and now it's all they want to play. With family time at the forefront this holiday season, there's no better way to bond than with a cozy game night in front of the fireplace. And to make these moments even more magical and memorable, I've got a few ideas up my sleeve. Cue the holiday playlist!

This post is sponsored by Anthropologie.

Pull out the kitschy holiday dishes

I scored these Festive Bistro Tile Monogram Mugs from Anthropologie — with an initial for every member of our family — and while I was planning on saving them for a few weeks (at least until after Halloween), as soon as the girls laid eyes on them, they refused to drink out of anything else. I chalked it up to great taste and asked Chris to make his famous hot chocolate for our family game night.

I got plates to match, and something really sweet and Christmas-y happened when I pulled everything out: It looked like we had already decorated for the holidays. My mind started spinning about throwing impromptu game nights this season — without the fuss of stringing up garland or before the tree is up. Festive mugs + plates... fancy flatware... red and green playing cards... and a Balsam candle... is this the easiest holiday party hack ever??

The Bistro Tile Collection is really charming, with bright pops of red and green and glistening gold. I pulled out the gold flatware, and it turned up the tinsel effect.

Don't forget to light a candle

Anthropologie's Fresh Balsam and Cedarwood candle (also one of my favorite Pura scents) smells brightly of evergreen and effervescent citrus. With notes of white cranberry, sugared plums, and spicy cinnamon — the aromatics fill the entire first floor of our house. It really got me thinking about how decorating can be a full sensory experience — and as easy as lighting a match.

Keep the menu simple

I kept the "menu" really light and simple: a store-bought pie (shh!) in a pretty pie dish and homemade popcorn.

Grab the playing cards

The cards themselves feel festive in their emerald green jewel case, and this unlocked something for me, too: We don't need to come up with a holiday-themed game for our November and December get-togethers! Our favorite card games get a merry makeover with this Luxe Card Deck.

Here are the 5 card games we'll be playing on repeat this holiday season:

Spoons - Grab a few spoons and a deck of cards, and you'll laugh the night away with this game. Here's how you play.

Scum - This will forever be a family favorite! The best part is you can play with as many or as few people as you want, and you can get creative with some friendly smack talk. See the full instructions here.

Up and Down the River - Chris's family plays this at every gathering! It's full of (you guessed it) ups and downs and will certainly liven up any game night. Learn how to play!

Liar - Also known as BS, with this game, you can bluff as much as you want and call people out on theirs. So fun and hilarious. Play liar at your next game night.

Nerts - If you're super competitive and can think fast, then Nerts is the game for you. Here's how to play.

I'm approaching holiday entertaining so much differently this year: Don't wait until the house is decorated, and no slaving away in the kitchen on the "ultimate" menu. Pull out the red-and-green plates and mugs and the gold flatware. Light the evergreen candles. Grab a pie, and pop some popcorn. And invest in some fancy playing cards — or this really gorgeous puzzle. And suddenly, everything feels merry and bright.

Of course, when it *is* time to decorate, Anthro has us covered there, too.