I’m going to go ahead and say that our Favorite Things Party is my favorite holiday event. Sorry family, you’re nice and all, but this one is the best.
My First Thursday friends (girls I graduated high school with and hang out with once a month) and I started this tradition last year and it was so much fun that we decided to make it a yearly occurrence. We brought decadent, guilt-producing, delicious food (I made whipped cheesecake and holiday potatoes), drank adult beverages, and exchanged gifts. So much fun.
The premise of the Favorite Things Party is that each person comes up with a present that they love (our money limit was $10 per gift), buys enough of it for everyone (in our case, eight other people), and then we take turns explaining our gifts and why we love it while our friends open them. It’s fun to hear what my friends love, what makes their lives easier, what they do to relax, and what they hope we get out of their gifts.
What did everyone get, you ask? Well, thanks for asking.
Kristen brought everyone Indiana glassware so we could start collecting the set that she’s been coveting. I had never seen them before, but now want the rest too. Plus, she threw in some classy gum. (I can’t find the glass online, but she got her goods from this awesome, local store that sells tons of Indiana stuff if that’s your thing.)
One thing I think of when I think about high school is riding around in Melissa’s blue Mustang. We all loved that car and I remember vividly that she always had air fresheners for the vents or hanging from the mirror. Which is funny that she bought everyone car air fresheners but ones that are a million times better than the ones from the nineties. (Side note: she might have also been covering up the smell of smoke when we were in high school but those days are in the past, right Mom?) These sparkly ones from Bath & Body Works clip to your visor and then have refillable scents. Mine is already hanging out in my minivan making things sweet and peppermint-y.
Emily brought everyone a night of relaxation: fuzzy socks, popcorn, pop, and a scented candle. All I have to add is a good book and I’ll be set for hours. As someone who really likes to spend time alone, this gift really speaks to me.
My friend Heather who has been on this running quest with me this year got everyone new running socks. Not everyone in our group is a runner, but more people are testing out the waters after seeing Heather and I survive some long runs. It makes me proud to see how far we’ve run this year and that Heather wants to share that new joy with others.
Jessi is the expert pie maker; she makes tons of pies every holiday season and she surprised all of us with chocolate cream pies in customized pie dishes. We’re still working our way through our delicious pie (that she made crustless since I’m still trying to eat paleo-ish) and rumor has it my last name will be inscribed on the bottom when we finish it off. I don’t even know what to do with that, it’s just too fancy.
Jessica shared The Wet Brush with us and it is CHANGING LIVES. Have you heard of this before? Jessica cuts my hair which makes her a very patient woman, but she also has young daughters with ratty hair and less patience with them. And I, as the mom of children with the most tender heads in the world, will try anything to make the screaming stop. This brush is magical. I don’t know how it works and why, but I will use no other brush forever and ever, amen. (Another side note: does more screaming mean you brush harder or does that just happen at my house? Eh.)
Amber brought her favorite ways to make it through the winter months without getting sick. She’s got three kids and runs the children’s programing at a local health club so she gets germy often. New soap and hand sanitizer that smell great are never bad ideas.
Jennifer thinks we all stink so she got us perfume. Just kidding. I think. But a girl can never have enough perfume.
And my favorite thing this year was very similar to last year’s favorite thing. I obviously have a thing for lip gloss. I never wear lipstick, but I’ve always got gloss or Chapstick nearby. So I gave everyone C.O. Bigelow’s Rose Salve plus some of my world famous chocolate chip cookies. The Rose Salve can be used as lip gloss, cuticle repair, eye shadow, and blush, plus about a million other ways. And the cookies have to be consumed in one sitting, preferably binge-style followed by lots of guilt. At least that’s how I do it.
The party was fun, I picked up some killer gift (what Christmas is really about…I KID), and I got to hang out with some of my favorite friends for the evening. If you’re still not convinced a Favorite Things Party is for you, I don’t know what to do with you.
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