The Favorite Things craze started with Oprah. Every year around Christmas time she would release a list of her favorite items for that year. The women in her studio audience would, literally, lose their minds when they found out they were getting Oprah’s favorite slippers, digital camera, moisturizer, etc.
We can’t all be Oprah, but we can get our friends together and exchange our own favorites just the same! A Favorite Things party makes for a really fun Mom’s Night Out (or In) or even as an afternoon playdate.
Here’s How It Works:
- The hostess decides ahead of time how many items each guest is going to bring, and what the dollar limit is. (My own group of friends agreed on 3 $10 gifts per person.)
- Every party guest brings 3 of the same item, each unwrapped and ready to give away.
- When the guest arrives at the party, they put their own name on 3 slips of paper and drop those slips in a drawing bowl.
- Once everyone has arrived, and has put their name in the bowl, the hostess begins the exchange.
- She starts by telling what her “Favorite Thing” is and then draws 3 names, making sure not to draw her own or the same name twice. Those are the lucky 3 recipients of her items.
- After she hands out her gifts, each participant takes a turn sharing their own “Favorite Thing” and draws 3 names to give their item to.
Its fun to see the different things each party guest will bring. There have been some really great gifts, and you might leave the party with something you would never have thought to buy for yourself. Highlights from the last few years have included: a beautiful mug full of specialty tea, Southern Living magazines, delicious smelling candles and tons of different beauty must-haves. So far there has been no frantic screaming or tears, but my friends and I have had a lot of fun exchanging our favorites over the years.
What sort of things would you take to a Favorite Things party?
