friendly fodder

Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: On your way to a party, you run through some canned questions to ask or topics to discuss that you'll be able to use later to keep the conversation going. You're being proactive because you know that eventually, something will lead to a dead end ("Strange weather we're having...") or a buzz kill ("Can you believe the unemployment rate?") or, worst of all, an argument (insert contentious topic here).

This is precisely why I love TableTopics — a cube of cards with questions that are thought-provoking without being divisive. You can find cubes to fit just about every interest, age group or type of gathering. Trust me, showing up with one of these in hand will make your host (i.e., obligatory conversation facilitator) breathe a sigh of relief.

In addition to cubes, you can get napkins, place cards and coasters that are printed with these clever questions. Next time you're hosting a party, scatter a few of these around to break the ice among guests so you can take care of other hostly duties. Or just spend a little time enjoying the appetizers.