Favorite Things Party!

This year I once again hosted a Favorite Things Party!  It was so much fun and this is something I look forward to every year.  Each person is supposed to bring 3 identical items of their favorite thing in the $8-$10 range.  Last year we did a $6 item and everyone said how hard it was to find something in that range so this year I upped it a little.  Everyone agreed that this amount was better!

I provided all of the food and drinks which is a lot of work but it is also fun to come up with the menu.  I did a HORRIBLE job of taking pictures at the party because when you are hosting, it is busy!!  Looking back, of course, I wish I had more pictures!  Here was the menu:

Cocktail:  Raspberry Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
2 TBS Pure Pomegranate juice
2 small scoops Raspberry sorbet
Champagne
Pomegranate seeds as a garnish

These turned out yummy and festive!  Some people like pomegranate seeds and others do not.  I personally do like them, but they could be left off if you so desired.  Also, one of the moms was pregnant at the party so I subbed Lime La Croix for the Champagne and she had a yummy mock-cocktail! 

Food:
Spinach and Parmesean stuffed mushrooms (thank you Trader Joe's!)
Meatballs (Thank you Trader Joe's!)
Spinach/Artichoke dip (always a favorite!)
Baked Brie with red pepper jelly wrapped in cresent rolls (This was a big hit!)
Cheese, sausage and Fruit Trays
7-layer cookies
Milk Chocolate salted-carmel macadamia nuts (Thank you Costco!) (I've been looking for a reason to buy these!!  In a moment of weakness, I justified the purchase saying, Oh these will be perfect for my party!!!)

And of course, lots and lots of wine!  :) 

Sad, but this is one of the only pictures I got!  After people had gone through the line!! 

My friend Jenica!! 

My Cheese Christmas tree!

After we all visited, ate and talked a bunch it was time for the gift exchange.  Here is how we did it.....there were 10 people at the party so I made small slips of paper with the numbers 1-10 three times.  1,1,1...2,2,2...3,3,3....you get the idea.  I numbered everyone off and each person drew 3 numbers making sure not to get their number or 2 of the same numbers.  You then gave your favorite things to those 3 people.  So, for example I was number 9 and I drew numbers 1, 3 and 8.  I gave my 3 presents that I brought to guests 1, 3 and 8 and then I received 3 presents from people as well.  Everyone goes around and talks about their item and why they brought it and why it is their favorite thing this year!  Super fun and you walk away with 3 great new things and a whole bunch of ideas of fun new things to get!

This year I gave a new hand/nail cream that I have been using by Jenna Hipp.  It is all natural with no artificial fragrances or ingredients and I just love it!  My hands get SO dry in the winter and I carry around this cute tube of cream in my purse and use it ALL the time!  I buy it in sets of 3 at Costco! 

I received the book, Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst (sooo excited about this!!), a jar of Super spicy McClure's pickles that my friend Alicia says she buys $60 a WEEK worth of these pickles because everyone in her house loves them so much (she has 4 kids) and a super cute and supposedly comfy thong from Victoria's Secret!!  Ha!  That was the funny gift of the night!  I haven't tried it out yet but my friend Brenda swears that it feels like you are wearing nothing and that it is ALL she wears!  I'm excited to try this out because lets be honest.....I don't frequent the thongs much anymore!!  As for the pickles, I am not a huge pickle fan but I was excited to try these based on her claims.  They are SUPER spicy but have a good flavor and nice little kick and I can see how you could get addicted to that taste!  They were good! 

Other gifts that were given were the Chubby stick by Clinique (the lip one), a Pampered Chef mini spatula that half the people already had and said it really was the best thing ever!, chocolate, nail products, more kitchen products and things of the like.  It was a great party and we had a lot of fun!