My son’s suiting up as an astronaut this year, and honestly, it feels fitting, because I’m also floating somewhere in space wondering how it’s already November. 🫠

Every year around this time, there’s that familiar shift. The candy bowls haven’t even been emptied yet, and suddenly everyone’s talking about end-of-year celebrations. 🥴

The “we should do something for the team” emails start rolling in, and before you know it, you’ve become the unofficial Director of Festivities, juggling venues, catering quotes, and calendar Tetris, all while pretending it’s totally under control.

I’ve been there more times than I can count, and that’s why I was so happy to discover Bondly, a platform built to make end-of-year event planning feel a whole lot less spooky. Whether it’s a team dinner, retreat, or celebration, they make it ridiculously easy to pull it all together (and actually enjoy the process).

Happy Halloween! 🎃

With love and lots of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, ☕

Chrissy

I’m currently planning our end-of-year celebration, and let me tell you, pulling off an in-person event is its own brand of organized chaos (the fun kind). It’s part logistics, part magic, and a whole lot of “did we confirm the bar tab?” energy.

In-person gatherings can create real connection when they’re done with intention, but they can also flop if they feel like another company obligation. Here are a few things I’ve learned (and re-learned) while planning one that actually feels like a celebration:

🍸 1. Lead with atmosphere, not agenda

People don’t remember the seating chart, they remember how it felt. Think cozy lighting, great playlists, and spaces that spark genuine conversation (cocktail tables over conference tables, always).

🎁 2. Make it feel thoughtful

Add a small touch that shows you care, personalized name cards, a signature cocktail, or a fun photo wall moment. Those details turn “nice dinner” into “best night of the year.”

⏰ 3. Keep it light and intentional

Nobody wants to sit through speeches between courses. A brief toast and genuine gratitude go further than a 20-minute recap of the company OKRs.

🎤 4. Add an element of surprise

Unexpected awards, a live musician, or even a quick raffle, little moments of delight keep the energy high and the smiles genuine.

✨ 5. Close with connection.

Before everyone rushes to catch their rides, take a beat to acknowledge the team, a sincere thank-you and cheers to what’s next.

And if planning your team’s celebration feels like one more thing on an already full plate, it helps to know there are platforms designed to make it easier, ones that handle the venue, and logistics so you can focus on creating the magic. (More on that below 👀)

Since I’m planning our in-person holiday event this year, I decided to take Bondly for a spin to see how it could help, and honestly, I was impressed.

Right from the start, the platform feels calm and intuitive (which is saying something when you’re juggling budgets, RSVPs, and the eternal “dietary restrictions” spreadsheet 🫠 ). I was able to browse curated experiences for in-person celebrations, everything from private chef dinners and cocktail-making parties to rooftop happy hours and end-of-year team outings.

After saving a few favorites, I requested a proposal, and within 24 hours, the Bondly team sent over a polished plan with pricing, availability, and recommendations that actually made sense for our group size and vibe. It felt like having a personal event coordinator who just gets it.

From there, I could share the shortlist with my exec, get quick approvals, and have Bondly handle everything from RSVPs and menu coordination to setup details. Everything flowed through email (and Slack, if you prefer), so it fit perfectly into my already chaotic workflow.

Planning an in-person event usually feels like herding 🐈‍⬛ , but this time, it actually felt effortless.

If you haven’t heard of Bondly, think of it as your behind-the-scenes partner for planning events that actually work. Whether it’s a small team outing, an end-of-year celebration, a virtual holiday event, or a full-scale company retreat, they make the entire process feel effortless.

Here’s what stands out:

💼 Everything in one place.
No more juggling vendor spreadsheets and 12 open tabs. Browse curated venues and experiences, compare options, chat with their team, and finalize details — all from a single platform.

⚡️ Lightning-fast turnaround.
Need something last minute? Get a customized proposal in under 24 hours. Bondly handles the research, coordination, and negotiation for you (aka: your dream words).

🫶 Built for collaboration.
Invite your team to vote on options, share preferences, RSVP, and automatically block the date in everyone’s calendar. It’s one of those rare tools that makes everyone’s job easier.

💬 Meets you where you work.
Manage everything via email, Slack, or SMS — whichever fits your workflow best.

From companies like Uber, Google, and BCG to fast-growing startups like Comun and Superwall, teams use Bondly to pull off everything from casual dinners to multi-day retreats — without the spreadsheet stress.

🎯 Book a 15-minute demo with the Bondly team to see how simple event planning can be (tell them Chrissy sent you).

Because it’s spooky season, deadlines are creeping up, and sometimes the only way to survive Q4 is to dance it out. 🕺🎃

Follow our Spotify playlist for inspo! 🎧

Where EAs say what they really mean — respectfully, of course. 😉

We’re brewing something new.

Join us for Per My Last Coffee, a monthly 12 PM ET virtual chat for Executive Assistants who need a break from inbox diplomacy and back-to-back meetings.

It’s a space to connect, commiserate, and crowdsource real solutions to everyday EA challenges. We’ll talk boundaries, burnout, wins, workflows, and the occasional “did that really just happen?” moment.

🗓️ First one: Wednesday, November 19 @ 12:00 PM ET
🌐 Free & virtual (Google Meet link after RSVP)
⏰ 45 minutes of connection, community, and clarity
💬 Cameras optional; coffee mandatory-ish (tea is fine, we guess)

☕️ Sip, share, and say what you can’t put in an email. 💅

Because when we find tools that actually make our jobs easier, we share them. Here are a few favorites we use and love, all with a little something extra for the Office of the EA community:

🗓️ Vimcal EA — The scheduling tool built for Executive Assistants. Clean interface, fast shortcuts, chef’s kiss.

🎧 Endel — Personalized soundscapes that help you focus, sleep, and recharge. Perfect background for inbox triage or deep work mode.

📦 Amazon Finds — The EA Survival Kit: from blue-light glasses to desktop organizers to the coffee that fuels these emails. (All Chrissy-approved, of course.)

💼 TealHQ — The ultimate career toolkit for EAs. Track jobs, update your resume, and organize your professional goals — all in one dashboard.

One Hope— 🍷 🍾 Gifts that pop, pour, and give back. From bubbly to bold reds—and everything in between—ONEHOPE has the perfect gift for every client, team, or celebration. Plus, every bottle gives back to a meaningful cause. 💕

Support Office of the EA by exploring any of the tools or links we share — it helps keep this newsletter (and my caffeine habit) going strong. 💪

Every issue takes a little coffee, a lot of love, and (let’s be honest) an unreasonable number of open tabs. If Office of the EA has ever made your workday brighter or your job a little easier, you can keep the coffee flowing here: Buy Me a Coffee ☕️😉