Favorite Things Party

I've heard to a Favorite Things Party, but this was my first one seeing it in action.  It was such a fun idea, and I encourage everyone to try it out with friends.  It's a fun reason to give and get little presents, have a girls' night, and eat fun snacks!



A little back story: our church tries to function and operate by what area of town everyone lives in.  It's fabulous.  If someone in our church needs something, then their area of town is usually the first to respond.  Help removing fallen trees, meals to new moms and dads, or simple things like friendship and prayer.  It's really cool and I have gotten to know and depend on a great little community around us.  

For now, we're trying to do some version of small groups.  Once a month, everyone gets together, just the girls get together, and just the guys get together.  I had the girls meet at a coffee shop downtown one Saturday morning and it was a lot of fun.  This month, my friend Renee had a bunch of girls over for a Favorite Things Party and it was a lot of fun!



Here's what we did: 

Each person brought three of their favorite things, wrapped up and ready to give.

There was a limit of $6 per gift.

When we got to the party, we wrote our name on three pieces of paper and threw them in the bowl to be drawn later.

When we started giving our gifts, one girl would go at a time.

That girl (the giver) would reach in the bowl and draw three names.  

Each name drawn got a present, and so on and so on.  

Also, the hostess asked us to say something about why we chose our favorite thing.  I heard...

"well, I've been going on coffee dates with my teenage girls, so I got gift cards to Starbucks."

"I'm a nursing mama who needs to drink a lot of water, and this cup is my favorite cup to keep with me at all times."

"The doctors just told me I might be allergic to dairy, so I'm giving up chocolate.  I still wanted to buy my favorite Dove chocolate, so here you go."

"When I'm having one of those days when I don't feel pretty, I use a tanning wipe and it gives my skin a nice glow."

"Every girl loves fresh flowers and sunflowers are my favorite.  Here is a bouquet for everyone."

I passed out a little bundle of small note cards for everyone, along with a fun sharpie.
 

I've talked about my love for the handwritten note for a long time on this blog, however I haven't been sending as much as I like.  I'm constantly writing letters in my head, but never stopping long enough to execute the process.  Since returning from Belize, I decided that it's something that I really want to be part of my regular life.  Even if it's a long letter or a small note, it's something that I think is very important.  I handed out some summer banner cards that I got from Jones Design Company last summer along with some colorful envelopes I picked up at a local shop.

The hostess also had cute little bags decorated that we used to bring our treats home with us.  I got the tan towel, one of those cool cups, and a little jewelry dish that I didn't understand at first, but now I adore.

There are so many ways that this party could be used.  Instead of huge Christmas gifts for friends, to get to know neighbors, on a girls' trip, etc.  I think would be cute to use themes too.  Plant things, paper things, books, etc.  Also, I think it would be so cute for teenagers or younger to do with their friends.  Any way I look at it, this combines a few of my favorite things: giving and receiving (I love both equally), girls' night, reason to make fun food, and sharing a little snippet about our lives.

For more resources and pretty pictures, check out someone who put a lot of effort into a cute party, or go here for sweet idea to give, or just hit up pinterest for everything that pops up when "favorite things party" is entered.

Hope a favorite things party swings your way soon!